Fated Affection

Chapter 3

Across town, Rohan emerged from a meeting, the weight of business decisions still lingering in his mind. As he glanced at his phone, his attention was drawn to Aisha's message amidst the sea of notifications. Her earnestness struck a chord within him, and he remembered the name Aisha Gerwal from his family's conversation earlier that day. After a moment's contemplation, he decided to respond, intrigued by the sincerity in her plea.

"Alright," he typed, his fingers tapping out the words, "tomorrow morning, 7 am at the central park. I go there for a jog."

Aisha's heart skipped a beat as Rohan's message appeared on her screen. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips, a glimmer of hope illuminating her uncertainty. "Okay," she replied, her fingers trembling with anticipation. In that brief exchange of messages, Aisha sensed the possibility of understanding, of bridging the gap between their worlds.

Meanwhile, Rohan observed Aisha's response with a mixture of surprise and admiration. The prospect of meeting her at such an early hour intrigued him, a departure from the typical interactions he encountered on social media. As he pondered her message, a newfound curiosity blossomed within him, sparking an unexpected interest in the enigmatic girl named Aisha Gerwal.

The next morning, Aisha woke up early, a sense of determination mixed with apprehension. She dressed simply, opting for a modest kurta and jeans, her long hair pulled back into a neat ponytail. She looked at herself in the mirror, her natural beauty shining through her simplicity. Taking a deep breath, she left the house, telling her family she was going for some exercise.

Arriving at Central Park at 6:55 am, she texted Rohan, "I have arrived."

Rohan, finishing his jog, received her message and replied, "Okay." Recognizing her from the pictures he had seen, he approached her and sat down beside her, his breathing still heavy from the jog. "Hi," he greeted.

Aisha looked at him and replied, "Hi."

As Rohan took in her simplicity, he felt an unexpected attraction. Her unpretentious appearance and straightforward demeanor intrigued him. He smiled in response to her greeting, his curiosity piqued.

Aisha, gathering her courage, began, "So, look, I am not interested in marriage and all. I have my dreams to pursue. I don't believe in marriage. So please, can you deny the marriage? I can't say no because of my reasons, but you can. So please, it's a humble request."

Rohan looked at her thoughtfully and replied, "Hmm, I'll think about it and tell you."

Frustrated but trying to stay calm, Aisha pleaded, "Please, dude, try to understand. You can get a better girl than me. Just look at me. You'll find a beautiful girl. Please deny it."

Rohan, silently enjoying the conversation, replied, "I told you I'll think about it and tell you. Give me your number, and I'll text you my decision."

With a glimmer of hope, Aisha gave him her number. As she prepared to leave, she made one last plea, "Please, think about the beautiful girl you can get. Please deny the marriage."

Rohan rolled his eyes slightly but smiled, then resumed his jog. Watching him go, Aisha felt a bit of hope mingled with uncertainty. She left the park, wondering if Rohan would understand her plea and grant her the freedom she so desperately sought.

While jogging, Rohan's mind kept drifting back to Aisha. "What an unusual girl," he mused. "Every other girl in town is dying to marry, but she...she's different. How can she reject me? I won't allow her to do so." A smirk played on his lips as he considered the challenge she presented.

Meanwhile, Aisha, back in her room, anxiously hoped for a message in her favor. She didn't realize that by rejecting Rohan, she might have made a mistake that could weigh heavily on her future. It had been two days, and still, she hadn't heard from him. Should she text him? After some thought, she decided to reach out.

"Hii, Aisha Gerwal this side. Remember we met at the central park? So, did you give it a thought about what I said that day??" she typed and sent, her heart pounding with desperation.

An hour later, her phone buzzed. Rohan had replied, "No, sorry, I didn't get time to think about it." He smiled to himself, enjoying the power he held in this situation.

Aisha, frustrated by his reply, texted back, "Are you in your senses? You're saying you didn't think about it? It's been 2 days, are you serious??"

Rohan's tone turned sharp. "Don't talk to me that way. If you want it that much, why don't you just say no to your parents directly?"

Aisha's frustration peaked. "If I could have, I wouldn't have come to talk to you. I would have rejected you directly."

Rohan's smirk deepened as he replied, "Oh, is that so? Sorry, I've changed my mind. Anyway, I have to marry someone, so let it be you."

Aisha, realizing her misstep, quickly tried to calm the situation. "No, no, I didn't mean that. I mean, you should take some time from your busy schedule to think about it. It's an important thing."

Rohan, seeing her message and smiling, replied, "Will tell you my decision asap," and then went offline.

Aisha stared at her phone, a mix of hope and anxiety swirling within her. The power now rested with Rohan, and she could only wait and see what his decision would be.

Everything was going as usual in Aisha's home until, suddenly, a call came from Rohan's house. Rohan's father informed Aisha's father, Mr. Rajesh Gerwal, that the preparations for their marriage should begin as the wedding was only 25 days away. He mentioned that Rohan and his brother would come to pick Aisha up for wedding dress shopping. Mr. Gerwal, taken aback but maintaining composure, replied, "Yes, of course, that would be fine."