MY AVERAGE LIFE

Part 66

Sharath Pov:

The day had finally arrived, and I could feel the weight of it with every step I took. I had faced down boardrooms full of executives, closed multimillion-dollar deals, and guided DreamBig to being one of the most successful companies in the country. But today, none of that mattered.

 This was different. Today, I was meeting Shivani's parents.Standing in front of the mirror, I adjusted my shirt one last time, trying to calm the nerves that were steadily rising. My mind wandered back to the stories Shivani had shared with me, about how protective her father was and how her parents had misunderstood her so many times. 

I especially remembered how they'd overreacted when they heard a boy had proposed to her—jumping to conclusions without giving her a chance to explain. They had always been quick to judge, especially her father, and it had hurt her deeply. I had to be careful today, for Shivani's sake, and keep my emotions in check, even if I felt any unfair treatment.When I stepped into the living room, Shivani was pacing anxiously. 

I could see the tension in her eyes even though she looked as beautiful as ever. Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her dress, and she seemed lost in thought."Hey," I said softly, wrapping my arms around her waist from behind. I rested my chin on her shoulder, feeling her body tense slightly. "You alright?"She let out a long breath.

 "I'm nervous, Sharath. My dad... you know how he is. He's not going to make this easy. He's is going to ask about your family""I know," I replied, trying to soothe her. "But I'll handle it. I'm here for you, no matter what."Shivani turned around and placed her hands on my chest, looking up at me with worry in her eyes. "Just be yourself"I kissed her forehead and smiled.

 "I will"The drive to her parents' house was filled with quiet tension. Shivani clutched my hand tightly, her knuckles white as she stared out of the window. I couldn't blame her. This was a big deal, not just for me, but for us. Her parents had to understand that I was serious about her.We pulled up in front of their modest house—a cozy home that was worlds apart from the estate I grew up in.

 This was where Shivani had been raised, in a house filled with love, values, and simplicity. I respected that, and it made me love her even more.As we approached the door, I could feel my heart racing. Shivani squeezed my hand, and I gave her a reassuring nod as her mother opened the door with a warm, if slightly hesitant, smile. 

Behind her, Shivani's father stood with his arms crossed, his gaze hard and evaluating."Mom, Dad," Shivani began nervously, "this is Sharath."I stepped forward, extending my hand to her father. "Pleasure to meet you, sir."Her father looked at me for a long moment, sizing me up, before finally shaking my hand. 

"Likewise," he said, though his tone was far from welcoming. His grip was firm, testing me already.Her mother smiled more warmly. "Come in, come in. Please, make yourselves comfortable."We sat down in the living room, and the air felt thick with tension. I could feel her father's eyes on me, scrutinizing my every move. Shivani sat beside me, her fingers nervously twisting in her lap. I could tell her father wasn't going to waste time.

 "So, Sharath," he began, leaning back in his chair, "Shivani tells us you run your own company. DreamBig, right?""Yes, sir," I replied, keeping my voice steady and respectful.Her father nodded, but his expression remained unreadable. "DreamBig is a big name. I've seen it in the news. So, you're the CEO? That must be quite the responsibility." 

 "It is," I admitted, "but I enjoy the challenge. Building something from the ground up is important to me."Her father raised an eyebrow. "And your family? Shivani mentioned you come from wealth, yet you live in an apartment?"I could feel Shivani shift slightly beside me, clearly uncomfortable with where this was going. I kept my tone calm.