Unveiled promises

.03.

×Clashing wills×

|RUHI|

"Your decision shouldn't be influenced by that guy. Ruhi, he doesn't deserve you," Dad remarked during breakfast.

Should I laugh at myself or something? The man I fought for against my family has proven me wrong. I believed he would never leave my side, but I was mistaken.

"I don't want to talk," I promptly left the room, unwilling to appear foolish in love.

As I was heading out, Aarav and his parents suddenly arrived. I was dressed in brown trousers, an off-white shirt, and heels to compensate for my height.

I felt uneasy when I noticed him staring at me, and I found myself doing the same. He was dressed in a black three-piece suit with sunglasses.

"Hi Ruh!" he greeted me. I didn't respond.

"You look stunning, my dear," his mother pulled me into a hug and kissed my forehead. I greeted his parents.

Soon, my parents welcomed them inside, and I understood their purpose. Taking a deep breath, I was about to leave when my mother grabbed my wrist and took me to my room.

"They're here for you," she informed me.

"But I didn't invite them," I protested.

"Aarav is a nice boy. Why do you dislike him so much? He loves you and will treat you like a queen," she tried to persuade me.

"I don't need a man to treat me like a queen. He's just arrogant and doesn't really love me; it's just his stubbornness," I asserted, and she looked at me as if I had said something terribly wrong.

"I don't see any faults in him. He's the elder son of a prominent family, managing his own business and his father's political party. He's mature and sensible. What more could you want in a partner?" she asked.

"I don't know, but I don't want him as my partner," I declared.

"For now, get dressed in something traditional. I'll be waiting outside," she said, leaving my room without waiting for a response.

He's testing my patience right now. Should I dress to impress his parents, or should I... rebel a bit? Fine, I'll make a statement. I rummaged through my closet and settled on a dress that was subtly provocative—a fitted, knee-length dress with a daring neckline and just enough shimmer to catch the eye. It wasn't traditional by any means, but it was tasteful enough to make a point.

As I descended the stairs, I could feel the disapproval emanating from my mother's eyes. She opened her mouth, poised to protest, but I walked past her with a defiant smile.

Downstairs, Aarav's parents greeted me with polite smiles, though their surprise was evident. Aarav himself appeared taken aback for a moment, but quickly composed himself with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Ruhi, you look... stunning," Aarav's mother managed, her tone hesitant as she glanced over my attire.

"Thank you, Mrs. Deshmukh," I replied casually, meeting her gaze with calm defiance. "I hope this isn't too... unconventional for the occasion. I wanted to keep things relaxed and informal."

Aarav's father coughed uncomfortably. "Ah, yes, well... we were expecting something a bit more... traditional," he ventured diplomatically.

"I apologize if I've misjudged the dress code," I replied smoothly, maintaining a composed demeanor. "But I'm sure we can still have a pleasant conversation."