In Between Us || Zhanyi

The Weight of Obligation

✒️Last worked: 10/08/2024

✅Improvement required before publish: Zhan's character development and pace of the story, think about more reactive dynamics.........the story is still stale

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When Yibo returned to their room, it felt colder. Zhan sitting on the edge of bed, immersed in thought. It was not new...Zhan often did it. Maybe he was thinking about some upcoming event in university and Yibo had no space to disturb, so he silently went to washroom for change.

Otherside...... Zhan who lashed on Yibo felt a tighten in his chest. As a mature adult, this never happened. All his life, he was regarded as a calm, composed and responsible man......the best son, best brother, best student, best professor.....he had excelled in each role of his life, taken care of his family very well even from far. He had borne all duty truthfully. But still when it came to Yibo, he always felt failed, a hint of incapability haunted him, making a man like him more frustrated, especially when he was not able to identify the reason....where he the lacked? 

Zhan was a proud man who brought up with high principles, life was like a accomplishment to him and he believed that the best could be achieved through discipline, dedication, accountability and sense of responsibility. Zhan always had everything under his control, away from any distraction. Everything in his life was planned. Starting from which subject to choose, which college to join, what profession to pursue, even marriage............what to do, when to do, how to do............everything was followed according to plan and he never missed a single milestone. He never failed, neither himself nor to others. He was a man of logic & fact, And what Zhan hated most was uncertainty.

The marriage between Yibo and Zhan was actually set up by their grandfathers decades ago, who used to be best friends. Zhan, when informed about this arrangement didn't show any repulsion, 1st for being obedient and respectful to his elders, 2nd marriage for him was just a course of life, unless his partner didn't interfere in his life, he didn't mind to marry anyone from crowd. He was a bookworm, a workaholic. In his entire school or college life or even after becoming a professor, neither he dated anyone nor he ever showed any excitement for anyone. Zhan was so functional in his approach that even being flattered to his looks, wealth...no one liked the idea to approach him for relationship. So, as per his plan after accomplishing the planned milestones of his career, Zhan informed his family about his readiness for this marriage.

To his surprise the date was arranged just within 1 week as if everything was ready and all they were waiting for his approval. But still, not out of any love or feelings rather his nature of being practical, Zhan asked to meet his partner before marriage. He wanted to have a decent talk, he wanted to share his view point about the marriage, he wanted to discuss their expectations from this marriage & from each other. Zhan never wanted to be wrong to someone. He was aware that for him the marriage was more or less a ritual, a societal obligation, another responsibility to put on but for another it could be like a fairytale story, a dream woven with fantasies and he would respect that. He had the capability to annul this marriage if he found his fiancé was not in same boat as per his ideology. So, before the finality he wanted to know the person, he was tying with.

But to dismay, his partner rejected to meet, or it was what the family of his partner informed to them. The information Zhan was provided with, only solidify the idea that his partner probably shared the same vision as him. The marriage was nothing but an family arrangement and they both willingly accepting this obligation. Now there was no room for refuse nor any reason too. Everything was planned and going smoothly according to the plan.