ENIGMA

CHAPTER 20

WORD COUNT :- 2760

In the living room, Advik addressed her parents with a stern tone. “We need to finalize the engagement date for two days from now. I will call Pandit ji myself.”

Mr. and Mrs. Sharma looked at him in shock. “Two days? That’s not possible with such short notice!” Mrs. Sharma exclaimed, her voice filled with disbelief.

Advik’s expression was unyielding. “It is possible. I’m taking full responsibility for the arrangements. The date is set, and that’s final.”

As the room buzzed with concern and confusion, Advik’s decisiveness left no room for negotiation. Ruhani could see the intensity in his eyes, realizing that this rushed schedule was designed to prevent her from contemplating her situation any further.

The gravity of the situation hit Ruhani hard. The quick turnaround was a clear tactic to force her into compliance and prevent any last-minute second thoughts or attempts to reach out to Ronit.

Advik’s voice cut through the murmurs in the room. “Prepare everything for the new date.”

With that, Advik’s authority was absolute, and Ruhani felt an overwhelming sense of resignation.

As the tension in the room reached a boiling point, Ruhani felt a surge of panic. She couldn’t hold it in any longer. “I have to say this,” she began, her voice trembling. “I’m in love with someone else... a guy named Ronit.”

Her words hung in the air like a heavy fog. Silence descended over the room as everyone processed what she had just confessed. Her mother, Mrs. Sharma, gasped audibly, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. Her father’s face turned an alarming shade of red as he slowly sat down on the couch, unable to speak.

Mrs. Malhotra’s eyes widened in disbelief, and Mr. Malhotra’s usual calm demeanor was shattered as he struggled to find words. The shock rippled through the room like a wave, leaving everyone stunned and speechless.

Advik’s hand flew to the bridge of his nose, pinching it as if trying to ward off a growing headache. His frustration was palpable, radiating off him in waves. This wasn’t how he wanted the situation to unfold. Ruhani’s confession, laid bare in front of everyone, had complicated things far beyond what he considered necessary. He could have handled this privately, contained the mess before it spilled out in front of their families.

His posture stiffened, shoulders tense, as he slowly lowered his hand, revealing the simmering anger in his eyes. He exhaled sharply, his jaw clenched, and for a moment, it seemed like he was holding back a storm of words. His mind raced—this was supposed to be straightforward, controlled. Now, it was anything but.

Advik straightened, his stance now commanding the attention of everyone in the room. He slowly looked around, his gaze hardening as he took in the shock and disbelief etched on their faces. His frustration bubbled just beneath the surface, threatening to erupt.

"This wasn’t the place or the time for such a revelation," he said, his voice low but laced with barely-contained anger. He shifted his weight, his hand now clenched into a fist at his side. "This could have been handled discreetly, without dragging everyone into this mess."

He turned his gaze on Ruhani, his eyes narrowing. “You’ve just complicated everything,” he continued, his voice tense. “This wasn’t necessary. Not here, not now.”

Then, all at once, the reaction erupted. Mr. Sharma, shaking with fury, pointed a trembling finger at Ruhani. “How dare you! After everything we’ve done for you, this is how you repay us? You’ve brought shame to this family! Get out! Get out of this house right now!”