Takes time

"If loving you is wrong, then I shall gladly be wrong."
~Benedict Bridgerton

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Unpacking.
Settling up.

In this new room, new life.
Something none of them was eager for.

Something she was still unsure of.
What are the odds if she just returned to her parents home...?
Won't that be easier...

An easier option.
Then staying here.
Like she belongs.
Which would be a lie.

As she stood their. Staring at her now half open suitcases and then at the now half empty cupboard he had made for her.
A space for her.
In his room.
The maid had done it upon his saying.
It was rather a large portion he had given up for her.

She had noticed that though it was his room,
There were not so many things of him here.
The stuff here was rather old.
Something he had used in the past .

She didn't knew from where to start...?

For someone it must've been just few pieces of fabric. Some objects. Old.

BUT for her it was her entire identity.
Her life.
P

acked in a suitcase.

Books,sketches,journals, photo frames, jewellery.
Everything she had possesd as a girl, now ready to be settled in this room.

They weren't just some things, objects, some non living shit.
They were her things.
Her priced possessions.
A reminder of who she actually was before everything.
They carried the many memories .
Of a teenager, a adult. A girl.

And now placing them in a new place, it was being difficult.
Felt heavy.

And then came the soft knock on the door, followed by "may I come in...?"
His voice..?

Low and controlled , the kind that never rushes. Never raises.

"Yes" she says , as he emerged inside. Taking in the sight of room.
A

nd maybe her.
How the saree hugged her in the most perfect places.
How her hairs cascaded just below her waist.
The sight of her.
Her eyes. The light kohl marked in their.
Her slightly parted lips.
Her hands, which held some books.
The Red Bangles, of Glass. Along with some Gold ones, on her wrists .

For a moment he couldn't move. Breathe.
But then he shifted his gaze .

On the room .
On the walls.
On everything else .

It was better than he had expected to be , cleaner then how he had left.
Ignoring that her big suitcase was left open on the bed, from where he knew that she was definitely unpacking.

The silence did stretch for a longer time, then he says finally.
"So ....you are unpacking..." Not a question, just a statement. An obvious one at that.

"Yes" she says , for which he just nods, so she adds again
"You didn't return last night....?"

Like she knew where he was already last night.
but yet she had to do anything to make it less awkward.

But nothing could prepare her for his answer, "needed some space." A admission , then adding "Did you wait....?"

Then , she choked on literal air.
Looking at him , dumbfounded.
"No" she said sharply, then adds "not in that way" then again stops for a brief moment "just curiosity"

At that, his lips twitch, into a tiny smile.
The way she was completely taken aback by his one single word. A very simple question. 'did she wait...?'.

"Purely out of curiosity..?" he asks again .For which she nods . Just nods.

His smile, the way his lips had pressed into a thin line.
His dimples flashing.
Casually.
His grey eyes, glowing.
He was nothing like Aditya.

Aditya , was attractive.
Medium tall, lean build.
Dark hair and gentle facial features
Very light stubble.
Warm observant eyes

Him. Advik, on the other hand.
Had Grey eyes, dark, boring straight into someones soul.
The kind of eyes which saw too much, but never gave away a thing.

He was tall, with broad shoulders built. With muscles popping through his shirt .
Dark hair. Which were now set properly.

Sharp facial features like a well defined jaw and cheekbones.
The light stubble or trimmed beard.

His sleeves were rolled up, giving a wide display of his veiny hands. They were large .

Someone would have mistook him for a sharp disciplined man .

"You are laughing at me...now...?" She asks, her eyes widen, brows furrowed.

He turns to face her again, a mischievous grin on his face. "A little " is all he says.

Then, to somehow change the topic
He says , "it's lots of unpacking.. shall I summon some staff member or Adheera to help you"

His offer, she would have accepted it, but these things which lay down in the suitcase, in bed. They were too personal. Too precious. For her to show to someone. Else .
To let anyone touch them.
Each had a different story.

So she politely declines the offer.
"I will manage"

And then both of them did not know what to say. For a long time.

So he clears his throat, gaining her attention. "Are you comfortable here. In this joint family. ...?" He asks, with genuine curiosity.

"It's only the first day so ...i don't know" she says, and it was the truth.

Aditya had told her once that they would live with family in start, then move into his penthouse.
Which was very nice of him.
Like lots of personal space.
Alone time.
Just the newly weds.

Do not think of him...Arohi!!!
She says to herself before looking at the man standing next to her. Not very close, maintaining a safe space.
10 steps minimum.

Then he steps a little closer.
"To be honest, i didn't know about this Ritual. That we have to give gifts for the first Rasoi. I wasn't prepared"
He says, pulling out a small maroon velvet box from his pocket.

"It was completely fine. You do not have to do anything for the sake of rituals" she says. As she averts her gaze towards the half Open luggage of hers.

"I shall say the same to you. You should not do anything just because someone else has told you. Or for stupid traditions." He says, then he slowly forwards the box towards her.

"I cannot accept that" she says almost immediately. Her head is in a no motion.

"It's the bare minimum. " he says, opening the box with a soft clink.

A diamond studded platinum bracelet.
Not too flashy but classy. Elegant. Had a beautiful delicate work on it.

"Please accept it. I had do better than this next time" he adds in.
Before resting the box on her now forwarded palm.
Never touching.

He knew his limits.
And he knew that he has no right to cross them.

With that he turns back.
Starting to leave.
When she calls out his name.
Well not his name. Him.

"Jii. Suniye...?"

He turns back, "Advik" he says firmly.

"Advik...." She says slowly. Trying to see how that name rolled upon her tongue.
Then quickly add,
"Thank you"
and by that, She wasn't thanking him for the ring. But for something else entirely.

Thanking him for saving her dignity.
At the Mandap yesterday.
For holding her hand and taking her in.
Even though it costed him his own life. His own freedom. His own dreams.

But she couldn't say that.
Not now
Not ever.

"Never say that again." He says, his voice is low. Not rushed. Just a small sentence. But she knew not to say anything back. So she slightly nods .

(⁠･⁠o⁠･⁠;⁠)

~A A R O H I~

I was still unpacking my stuff when the servant informed me about being called by his mother.
Mrs. Swarna Oberoi.
Who once was to be my Choti Maa. After Marriage. But now it's just Maa.
If she would allow me to use that title for her.
She had been kind to me.
Ever since the start.
But since the recent incidents.
She hadn't really talked or conversed with me yet.

So I am a little nervous.
As i walk towards her room.
My mind jumping upon various reasons that she had wanted to see me.
Now out of nowhere.

When i enter the room. I see her already seated on the burgundy coffee table.
The room was ivory coloured. Modest.
With some tiny vases. Ceramics. For decor.

She faintly nodded, before motioning me to sit beside her on the chair.

I sat. For a moment we didn't know what to say. So I heavily asked.
"You wanted to talk to me ......Choti maa?"

At that she nods, with a heavy sigh. As if trying to find proper words to say whatever she had wanted to say.
Maybe she wanted to say how I was wronged. How her son was better than the Jackass Aditya .
I have heard that plenty of times in the last 24 hrs .
How my life was so pitiful..
The least i wanted was someone else to remind me that again.

But she just said.
"I am not happy with this Marriage"
Finally someone i could agree with.
The wisest words I have heard since this morning.

"Neither am I." I say , somehow. My fingers are fidgeting with the pallu of my saree.

"I do not Hate you Arohi" she says then. Firmly.
I knew she didn't hate me. Like she was always kind towards me. Even when I was marrying her nephew, and not son.

"But I Never wished for this to happen either. My son is no Aditya "she says. Her words were chosen precisely.
Every syllable said with lots of thinking.
Calculations.

"He is very different from you. I know him"

"You both didn't choose this. And i don't want to force this marriage upon you both."

"You both deserve better"

I just listen to her every word. Everything was true. It felt closer to heart . She wasn't saying anything wrong. She was being rational.

You can't just expect two strangers to get married all of a sudden and then fall in love or something.
It is suited in the movies. This was real life. Not a hallmark movie.

"I understand everything you have said." I finally responded. So that she knows that I have listened to her words .

"Once was a time when I had really hoped for you to be hitched with my son. But Not like this. Not forced."

"Aditya was Older , so he was always the first to marry. And his parents selected you."

"But i had hoped that it was Advik , in the first place."

"But now that things are different. I do not like them"

"Not when my son is suffering." At that part, her voice trembled.

Then i really saw her. She was being a mother right now. Not a woman who held power in the business circle.
But a mother.
Who wanted her son's happiness.
Seeing how her son had to sacrifice everything for the sake of this family. For me.
Her eyes were glassy. Lips trembling.

So i quickly got up. Pouring down a glass of water for her. From the side table.

"Please" i say as she takes the glass from my hand.

It took almost 5 minutes, for her to compose.
Then,
She finally gets up. Going through the nearby shelf and holding up a document.
To me.

＼⁠(⁠°⁠o⁠°⁠)⁠／

~ A D V I K~

I was in the office. My cabin. After almost 20 days. First day being here after my vacation and marriage.
And even though various files piled up on my desk and I had to review them all.
My mind was elsewhere.

I was worried.
Of her.
The sight of her crying was still fresh in my memory.
And yet somehow she had chosen to show up happily.
Today. Performing some bullshit ritual.
When all her eyes said was to stop it.
To give her a break.

I was pitying her. I knew that.
But it did break me.
Seeing her all so broken. Trembling.

She deserved so much better.
I mutter a few curses at Aditya.

My men are working to track him down. Somewhere. Anywhere in this world. Where he was hiding.
Deep Ocean..?
Dense forests...?
Dry deserts...?
I had still track him down and knock some sense into him.

I had too Many questions to ask him.
Why was he a coward .....?
A pain in everyone's ass.....?

Then my assistant Pratik, knocks on the door. I called him in.
I have been working with him for the last few years.
He has been disciplined. Thorough with his work. And a good advisor at times.

HE hands me some documents to be signed. Then adds
"Vishal Sir has asked me to schedule lunch with you"

I nod . "Pick some nearby restaurant. I do not have much time anyway"
I say as i motion my hand towards all the files.
Giving him a sad puppy face.

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At lunch time, I arrived at the restaurant chosen.
It was weird how we needed appointments to have a simple meal with my parent.

After a few brief business talks and discussion about works.
He finally starts the actual talk. Which i knew was coming up next.

"About the marriage. Am not going to say that you have to adjust to it quickly." He says, still chewing on his food.
Calculating his next words.

"Yah. I know"

"Now that Aditya is gone, you are the only one here left. No one knows when he will come back. And Adesh...?
His still an amateur. His life is full of day parties and drinking.
Adheera, i do not expect that from her.
She is way too naive for anything of this.
Which makes you the only one left.
It's your chance to make your place in company .
To prove that you are just as deserving to be the heir.
To solely own this empire. And not Aditya".
His words are sharp, i let out a mocking scoff.

"This wasn't the plan dad. You know I am not into this business bullshit. I have my own ideas."

"You are still stuck upon that idea of yours..? Having your own startup..?"
He asks , roughly. Harshly.

"Yes. I have always been serious about it"

"Well. This is not the right time. I have given my life to this company. Not for my brother's son to just walk in someday and takeover. You are my son. You must be the heir."

"What about my dreams papa...? What if i don't want to be a third generation heir and have my own dreams . I have already made it clear i am not investing my life here. Like you. "
I say, my voice is full of rage. Harsher than i had intended.
My hold on the spoon tightening. Almost that i could twist the steel cutlery.

"Then why are you working here yet...?" My father asks.

"You know. I need funds for my startup " I say. Like it wasn't the obvious.

"See. This is your chance. Get the inheritance from my father. Become the new ceo of Oberoi Group. Then think about your own startup "

"I don't want to takeover this company. It comes with a responsibility. Aditya was born for this. Trained since childhood to take over it someday. Not me"

"You are not inferior to him. And now is the perfect opportunity. With this marriage only benefits you."

That strikes a nerve.
"Do not bring the marriage. It has nothing to do -" he cuts me off

"It has everything to do. Your In-laws are powerful people if you do not know. Respected in our line of work.
And your wife. She is perfect to be a partner along with you to run this company."

"Dad . You know i married her because you forced me to."

" I know. But maybe that's an indication. Perfect timing. You marrying her. Someone with power just like us. Your cousin eloping. This is the heavens indicating something son."
Now that I look at him. His face is calmer. Which is not one of the virtues he possesses.

"It will win you over your grandfather. Your in-laws. Maybe then you can think of your dreams"

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