MY AVERAGE LIFE

Part 69

Shivani Pov:

As the door to my father's study creaked open, I looked up from where I was arranging the table, surprised to see him walking out with Sharath in tow. They both looked tense, their faces blank yet carrying an intensity that hadn't been there before. I could feel the air shift as they joined us in the dining room, the atmosphere charged with something heavy and unsaid.

Sharath's gaze softened as he looked at me, his expression warming for just a second, a contrast to the steely resolve he'd worn when he entered my father's study. I could tell that whatever had happened between them had been significant—serious, even. My father's face held a strange look, almost as if he were re-evaluating everything he thought he knew about Sharath.

But as we sat down to dinner, the usual family chatter didn't fill the room. Instead, there was a quiet, uncomfortable pause. My mother looked between my father and Sharath, sensing the unusual silence, and shot me a questioning glance. I shrugged slightly, trying to mask my own nerves.

"So," my mom finally said, trying to break the tension, "I'm glad we're all here together. It's been a long time since we had a proper dinner as a family."

My dad gave a curt nod, though his gaze didn't leave Sharath for long. I noticed the subtle tension in his shoulders, the way his jaw clenched as if he were holding something back. Meanwhile, Sharath remained calm, composed, his usual easy smile absent, replaced with an expression of quiet strength.

"Thank you for having me, ma'am," Sharath said politely, his tone respectful but firm. I saw him glance toward my father, a flicker of resolve passing over his face before he turned back to me, his expression softening. I felt my heart squeeze. It was the way he looked at me, as if I was his entire world, his safe place in a room filled with unspoken conflict.

As the dishes were passed around, my dad's voice broke the silence. "Sharath, tell us more about your family," he said, an edge of formality lacing his tone. "Shivani hasn't told us much about them."

I could see Sharath's jaw clench momentarily before he responded, his voice steady. "There's not much to tell, sir. My parents married out of convenience, not love. They haven't spoken to each other in years, and our home... well, it's just a place we live in. I grew up with my grandparents, but they had limited say in anything. My cousins are like siblings to me, and Shivani is the one person I'm closest to."

My dad raised his eyebrows slightly, his expression a mix of surprise and curiosity. I felt a pang in my chest, realizing how hard it can be to accept he didn't have family love.

"But you've built a life for yourself," my father continued, his gaze sharp. "Quite an unconventional one, from what I've heard."

Sharath held his gaze, unflinching. "Yes, sir. I've done things... unconventional, as you put it. I don't regret them, because they've led me to where I am now. I don't hide from my past."My dad didn't respond, but I could see him processing Sharath's words, trying to reconcile the man he was beginning to understand with the image he'd likely formed from rumors and whispers.

"I'll say this," Sharath continued, his voice growing softer as he glanced at me, "I'm not the type to make grand gestures or meaningless promises. What I feel for Shivani—it isn't temporary. I'd do anything for her, even if that means fighting for her happiness every single day." His eyes met mine, and I felt my heart race as his words settled in. It was like he was telling me everything he couldn't say out loud, speaking to me through the intensity in his gaze.

My father cleared his throat, looking away uncomfortably. I could tell he was weighing everything Sharath had just said, perhaps even feeling a bit out of his depth.