Arranged to love

#10: So, it's for business then?

Chapter Ten: "So, it's for business then?"

"Hey princess, you missed dinner," Akash called out, entering Meera's room where she was sitting up in her bed.

"Bhai? Oh yea sorry, I was a little tired" she said, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she adjusted to the dim yellow light Akash had turned on.

"Don't worry, I figured you wouldn't want something too heavy since it is already past ten, so I brought you a muffin instead" he replied, settling down on her bed.

Meera sighed in relief, relieved he did not bring anything big. If he had, it would be close to impossible for her to not giveaway her current eating status. This muffin was something she can force herself to eat.

"Thank you bhai," she said, kissing his cheek to which he smiled back.

Meera took a bite from the blueberry muffin when Akah started talking.

"So? You and Ajay?"

Meera groaned as she answered, "No please, I am not in the mood for your teasing. Neither do I want to listen to your big brother talk right now"

Akash laughed at the girl's words.

"Don't worry, I won't tease you, at least for now. As for the big brother talk? I'll leave that to Varun Bhai. I am here as your friend who wants to know how his princess is doing" he replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as his tone softens with care.

Meera was like his sister and he was dying to know what made her so upset. At first he assumed it would be Ajay but if it was, Meera would not have allowed him to bring her up to her room.

"I'm fine Bhai, it's just motion sickness. The past few days have been hectic and packed with travelling and it took a toll on me today" she assured him.

"Are you sure?" Akash reconfirmed, not quite believing it. Meera looked at him, not saying anything. Akash sighed and said, "If that's all it is, tell me and I'll believe you".

"That's all it is"

Ajay nodded, trusting her words.

"How about you? Soon, our parents will ask you for your decision," Meera asked.

Akash knew what she was talking about. His marriage with Nithya. Though their life partners are selected by the elders, they were given some time to think about when they want to have their marriage so that if they wanted to explore the dating option, it would still be available provided that they date their fiancé, as none of them had dating experience other than Meera. Moreover, they did not want to rush it just in case it did not work out.

Though the decision was final, if something between the couple is really incompatible and the elders strongly felt that it might not work out, the engagement could be broken. However the chances were very slim. They had a better chance of getting hit by a meteor than being able to break the engagement.

"I don't know Meera" he said honestly, suddenly looking resigned. "Nithya is an amazing cousin and everything but I never looked at her like that. It's weird to think that one day we'll live like a couple in our own house or something"

Meera recalled Nithya's answer to this question. She couldn't look at him that way either. "Maybe you could talk to our parents and break it off. Nithya said the exact same thing as you. What's the point if you guys don't like each other like that?" she suggested, wanting to get her cousins out if the situation as both were uninterested in it.

"How about you? Why don't you do that? At least me and Nithya are friends and have a good history. You and Ajay? Why do you still want to go with it?" he asked, turning the tables. Meera was a little taken aback by the question as she struggled for an answer. Akash smirked as he asked, "Why? Do you like him"