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“Just hear me out, Princess,” he says. “We have a few conditions before we agree to this alliance.”
“He is right, you need to hear him.” Mom looks at me.
“Shoot.” I concede though warily. I am nervous about what Dad has under his sleeves.
“First, I will meet the boy tomorrow, and if I get a vibe that he is not good enough for you, then there is no wedding happening.” I open my mouth to argue but Dad holds out his hand. “There is more. I will have a contract drawn that at any point, if you are unhappy in the marriage, then you can walk out of the marriage without any hindrance.”
My brows furrow, trying to take in this new development as I regard him. “Is that really necessary?”
“Yes, it is, to protect my daughter.”
“Is that all?”
“No, there is one last thing. I don’t want Mr Seth to waive off the loan. Instead, I will request him to give me time to clear the loan. No way in hell will I have people thinking that I turned my daughter into some sort of a barter.”
“I agree to all your conditions, but I have one of my own.”
“What’s that, Princess?”
“You will let me help you clear the loan,” I offer.
“Princess…”
I hold my hands up. “This is non-negotiable.”
Dad and Mom exchange a look. When he gazes at me, I can see him trying to find a way to cajole me. At last, he slumps his shoulders, giving in. “Fair enough,” he agrees and doesn’t argue, though his sullen face doesn’t hide his discontentment. That was a lot easier than I expected.
No matter how bad things may get, I shall remain strong because just seeing them happy at the end of the day erases whatever misery I feel.What I would not do to assuage their worries and bring a smile back to their faces!
Chapter 5
Ranveer
“Marriage is something that I will never be willing to sign up for, but Grandpa is compelling me into an ugly bond.” I voice my contempt in a deep baritone.
“Okay let me ask you again, because the last time I questioned, you clearly evaded the question. Why are you against marriage?”
My eyes move to my best friend as I growl at him. He has this annoying habit of asking me the most ridiculous question. Doesn’t he know? For me, marriage is just a façade of false happiness with no true element in the relationship. Akshay Jain, my best friend since childhood, is well aware of my views on marriage, yet he keeps asking me the same question just to get a rise from me. But that’s how he has always been. Even now that he is a hardcore hotelier, which he has taken over from his dad, yet it hasn’t mellowed him down.
“I think it won’t be as bad as you are assuming it to be,” he opines before downing his whiskey.
I lift my glass to my lips as I study him. He is wearing a black suit with a white shirt inside. His black hair is perfectly cut and coiffed to the side while his chocolate brown eyes almost look black in the dark.
Finishing the remnants in my glass, my eyes fall on my silver Rolex. It’s eight o’clock in the evening. I am late. To tell the truth, I am beyond late, as I was supposed to be at Grandpa’s house at seven. Instead, here I am, sitting at the bar and having a drink with my best friend. I need this time to compose myself so that I don’t show up looking like a jerk.
Setting my glass on the table, I let my eyes roam around the dark pub. Wooden tables are scattered around the place with a back room where people are playing pool. The overhead lights are off, but the DJ has some lights flashing. The dance floor is packed with a small group of youngsters. Loud music is playing in the background, which is making me feel totally uninhibited.
“You do know you can refuse and put your foot down. I doubt if your granddad is even serious about his ultimatum. And I am sure, after a point, even he won’t force you,” he prompts.
I know I can knock back Grandpa’s stipulation. And I am the least bit concerned about the shares. It’s Grandpa’s feelings that matter — the man who raised me and saw to it that I never missed my parents and gave the best life had to offer, the one who loved me unconditionally without expecting anything in return — I can’t let him down. And I will be damned if I hurt him in any way.
“It is for Grandpa,” I say, my tone softer this time.
“What if you are miserable in this marriage? Will your grandpa be happy then?” He pushes, his stance a bit defensive as he gazes at me with incredulity. Even in the dark, I can see his brown orbs reflecting concern.
I frown, trying to follow the meaning of his statement.
“Like you said earlier, it might not be bad, and I may be simply blowing it out of proportion.” The words that come out of my mouth seem unconvincing to my ears.
