𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐈𝐭 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭

Picture Perfect - 04

I walk out of my room answering a call from my PA, Raj. Walking downstairs, I tell him to send me my today's schedule & disconnect the call. It's an untold rule to not to bring any business into family time.

So here I am, although I have a lot of work on hold in my company I will always choose my family over anything.

Everyone has sat on their places as usual. Seems like I am the last one to arrive.

"Morning." I greet everyone and sit beside Papa. Everyone of us eat in silence until Ahana, my little sister starts making faces at me without anyone noticing.

She makes a vague gesture of cutting her throat with the butter knife and points at Ma who's unusually silent today.

I lift an eyebrow at her, she just shrugs and continues eating her meal. I stare at her confused until someone clears their throat.

Looking at Ma who opens and closes her mouth like a fish out of the water, I spare her the time & ask, "What is it Ma?"

"Dada & Dadi has made a decision." She starts and waits. And when she realises that I won't ask anything further she continues, "They want to see you get married as soon as possible." She finishes tossing a casual glance at Papa who is engrossed in his phone.

"Why?" I ask as my mood sours at the idea of marriage.

Papa answers instead, "You are 27 and not getting any younger. We have decided to make an alliance with the Agarwal family. It is good for the business and they are compatible to everything we hold value." He says and goes back to texting.

Precisely money.

"Papa, Ma I don't want to get married. This is not merely a refusal. I am saying this with such certainty that I am not ready. So please don't convince me and waste your time on something pointless." I register my decision firmly.

"You just meet the Agarwal girl once. She's such a beauty! I am sure you'll like her once you meet her. And above all she's the only child for the family. Just think about it." Ma says this with such enthusiasm I almost cringe.

"Ma we have enough money & business connections. I don't want to waste a girl's life by giving her false expectations" I reprimand clearly not interested in whatever plan she weaves.

Her eyes glasses over and fills with unshed tears and immediately I feel like a jerk. "Please Vihaan. Just once. Only this time. Just meet her and that's enough for me" she sniffs.

I couldn't bear being the reason behind her worries. The relationship between me and her is already strained so I don't want to add this into that mess. I agree with a nod without any verbal consent.

Ahana rolls her eyes at Ma's behind and I smirk at her. Ma's a Rajputh through and through. She could convince anyone and anything to do her bidding.

Sometimes her stubbornness scares me. So I tell her to inform the girl to meet me in my office.