MY AVERAGE LIFE

Part 68

Sharath Pov:

The room had grown stiflingly quiet, and I could feel Shivani's father watching me with that familiar scrutinizing glare. He wasn't just protective. He was afraid. And he had every reason to be.

The silence weighed heavy between us until, finally, he broke it.

"Tell me, Sharath," he said, his tone controlled yet edged with apprehension, "are the rumors true? The company, the disappearances... the violence?" He studied me, searching for any trace of softness. But I hadn't come here to soften my truths.

"Yes," I replied, my voice even and unflinching. "Everything you've heard about me is true. The bankruptcy, the people who went missing—that was me. I had my reasons, and I would do it all again if I had to. But understand this: I don't hurt people for sport. I hurt those who endanger what's mine." My gaze was cold, and I leaned forward, allowing him to see the conviction in my eyes.

"You see, sir," I continued, keeping my voice steady, "I don't say please or sorry. Never have. I'd rather be on my knees for no one—no one, except Shivani. For her, I would apologize. I would fight. I would beg, if it ever came to that. She's the only one who matters to me."

He looked almost startled, trying to understand the depth of what I'd just confessed. The man he'd assumed I was and the man I was revealing myself to be were at odds, and I could tell it was unsettling.

"You came here to impress me, then?" he asked, his tone skeptical. "Or is this just another 'declaration' to satisfy your own ego?"

"I came here because Shivani deserves to be happy," I answered, my gaze unwavering. "And her happiness matters to me more than anything else. So if it means coming here to prove myself to you, I will. She is my reason to live. She didn't say anything because she didn't want u to ask anything about my family and thought I will get hurt answering the questions, but I'll give you the truth." I leaned back, meeting his eyes with a hardened stare.

 "My parents married for a business deal, and they've lived like strangers ever since. They barely speak, let alone function like a family. Shivani, my cousins, and my grandparents—they're the only people I've ever truly cared about."

He blinked, digesting this new information, but I wasn't finished.

"The way you saw me when Shivani was around—the gentleman I've become with her—is a side I show to no one else. No one. That softness... she brings it out in me. I don't change for anyone but her, and I never will. I want her, and I'm here for her happiness."

Shivani's father shifted, his expression one of reluctant acceptance, yet laced with caution. I could tell he was sizing me up, searching for any hint of a weakness. But he was also suspicious, and his next words only confirmed it.

"And what about the things you've done to get where you are?" he asked, his tone almost a dare. "The rumors, the disappearances... are you saying you're proud of it?"

"I accept it," I answered bluntly. "Every bit of it. I've ruined businesses, and I've made people disappear. But I don't hide from what I've done. I had my reasons—reasons I don't expect you to understand. But I'll be clear on one point, sir. When it comes to Shivani, if anyone threatens her, they'll face the same end." I locked my gaze with his, letting him see the seriousness in my eyes.He stared at me, horrified, and the silence between us thickened. "Are you saying you'd... you'd really kill for her?" he asked, his voice wavering, though he tried to mask his unease.

"Yes." My reply was calm, unshakable. "I have, and I would again if it  meant keeping her safe."There was a shocked pause as he absorbed my words, his face paling. He looked away, clearly uncomfortable with the man sitting across from him.

"Why?" he managed, his voice barely a whisper. "Why go so far?""Because, sir," I said, my tone firm, "I can't bear to see even a scratch on her hand. That 'fucker'" I felt my jaw clench as I recalled the incident. "He hurt her. He left her bruised. And he deserved everything I did to him for daring to lay a hand on her."

He flinched, his face contorted with a mix of fear and disgust. He opened his mouth, as if to protest, but I wasn't about to stop there.

"You might be wondering," I continued, lowering my voice but allowing every ounce of my anger to seep through, "how someone who claims to be a gentleman,  could do something like that. But that's where you're wrong, sir. The gentleman you see when Shivani is around—that version of me is reserved for her and her alone. I'm not that man for anyone else. And you're right to fear the man sitting across from you right now."

His face paled, and he glanced away, trying to mask his discomfort."You want me to be honest with you?" I asked, leaning in, allowing the full weight of my words to settle.

 "Fine. I know what you're thinking about. You brought Suresh around tonight as some kind of test. You may think Shivani's clueless about his intentions, but I'm not. I know exactly what he feels for her, and I know why you brought him here."

He shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting down to avoid my gaze.

"Let me make myself perfectly clear," I said, my voice darkening. "If you try a stunt like that again, if you bring anyone around who tries to come between Shivani and me, it won't end well. For anyone. Do you understand?"

The fear in his eyes was unmistakable now, and he took a shaky breath, attempting to compose himself. He looked at me with a mixture of dread and reluctant respect, as if finally seeing the lengths I would go to for his daughter.

"I..." he stammered, at a loss for words. "Sharath, this isn't... I didn't expect...""You didn't expect me to be this direct?" I interrupted, my voice unwavering. "Then let me make it simple. I'll do whatever it takes for Shivani. And I will protect her, no matter who stands in my way. If anyone dares harm her again, they'll answer to me."

His face was pale, his composure finally shattered. He struggled to look at me, his hands clenching in his lap. "I... I see," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Good," I said, my tone softening, though I maintained my intensity. "Because I came here to be honest with you, not to play games. And now that you know exactly who I am, maybe you'll understand why Shivani means everything to me."

He swallowed, his gaze shifting to the door, as if looking for an escape. He was afraid of me, I could see that clearly, but that fear was necessary. He needed to understand the depth of my commitment, even if it terrified him.

Without another word, he stood up, his hands trembling slightly. He looked at me, his expression unreadable, and nodded once, as if acknowledging some dark truth he couldn't deny.

I watched him leave, my resolve as unbreakable as ever. Shivani was mine to protect, and I'd made that perfectly clear.