His Unrequited Love

Chapter ~ 19

Reyansh entered his room, the familiar weight of the day still lingering on his shoulders. Habitually, he peeled off his T-shirt, favoring the comfort of sleeping topless. He lay down on the bed, his mind racing with thoughts of Aadrika. The moonlight streamed through the window, casting soft shadows that danced around him, yet his heart was anything but tranquil. A determined expression settled on his face as he envisioned a future woven together with the threads of love he longed to share with her.

"I will give you my all, Aadrika."

He whispered to the stillness of the night. He envisioned crafting a chain, not of gold or silver, but of the intangible, yet most valuable materials: love, respect, understanding, faith, and trust. Each link in this chain would be forged with the heat of his conviction, designed to adorn Aadrika in a way that would resonate with her soul.

"I will adorn you in that chain."

He understood that his unwavering commitment might draw her ire, that she could very well despise him for refusing to step back from their marriage. But Reyansh was undeterred; he resolved that he would transform that hate into love, nurturing it until it blossomed into something beautiful.

He recognized that perhaps he had grown a bit selfish in his desire to keep her close, yet he vowed to love her selflessly, to put her needs before his own as he navigated the complexities of their relationship. With the weight of his intentions resting heavily on his heart, Reyansh let out a deep, calming breath, allowing the quietude of the night to embrace him. As those thoughts enfolded him, he surrendered to slumber, dreaming of a future where love triumphed, and Aadrika would come to realize the depths of his devotion.

________

Aadrika sat there on her balcony, the cool evening breeze softly ruffling her hair as she gazed out at the twilight sky. Her thoughts were tumultuous, swirling around the events that had unfolded downstairs just moments before.

"You can’t do anything about it, Aadrika, other than accepting it."

She whispered to herself, trying to find solace in her own words. Acceptance felt like a heavy cloak draping over her shoulders, stifling and suffocating, yet it was a path she knew she had to tread.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, Aadrika inhaled deeply, closing her eyes for a brief moment. She felt the pull of the night around her—calm, relentless, and full of possibilities.

After some time, she got up and went inside her room, pushing away her thoughts. While doing her nightly skincare routine, she lay down and fell asleep.

___________

Three weeks later........

Today is the day of Aadrika and Reyansh's engagement, and their wedding will take place one week from today.

Aadrika's father entered her room, finding her standing in casual clothes instead of the outfit for her engagement. He shook his head and walked towards her, and she sighed upon seeing her father's presence.

"What are you doing here, Dad?" she asked. He looked at her and replied.

"We have to leave for your engagement, Aadrika. Why are you not ready yet?"

Aadrika looked at him and said with a sad smile.

"I am not going, Dad."

This statement made her father angry, but he didn't say anything and walked out of her room.

"This doesn't affect me now, Dad."

She said to herself. However, after some time, her phone chimed with a notification. Picking up her phone, she opened the notification and found a video. Her lips curved into a smile, but then she sighed and picked up her dress to start getting ready, locking her room behind her.

Aadrika heard a gentle knock on the door of her room. She walked towards the door, opened it, and found three women standing there. All three of them greeted her with professional smiles, and Aadrika reciprocated the gesture.

"We are here for your makeover, Miss Singh." One of the women informed. Aadrika nodded and welcomed them inside.

"Please take a seat. We will start with your manicure and pedicure," another woman said.

Aadrika nodded, took a seat on the stool in front of her mirror, and soon her makeover began.

________

Reyansh stood before the mirror, adjusting his neatly pressed suit, the fabric hugging him just right. He couldn't believe that today was the day—he was getting engaged to the love of his life.  A week from now, they would be exchanging vows, and the excitement sent a rush of warmth through him. After dabbing on his favorite cologne, a gentle knock on the door broke his reverie. Turning around, he was greeted by his sister, Dhriti, whose teasing smile brought an immediate grin to his face.

"So, bhai, you’re all set for your engagement—the one who never wanted to marry! Yet here you are."

She quipped, her eyes sparkling with mischief yet her playful tone betrayed a mixture of joy and disbelief.

"I’m so happy for you, bhai! You finally accepted this leap of faith. I don't know what changed your mind, but honestly, all I want is for you to be happy."

Dhriti's emotions were evident in the glimmer of tears she fought to hold back, and he instinctively wrapped his arms around her.

"Nothing happened, really," he reassured her, his voice softening.

"I was just so caught up in work and hadn’t found someone who felt right until now. Don’t stress yourself, baccha, I'm okay. I just want to make the right choices now."

As they hugged, he felt the bonds of family strengthen around him, reminding him of the love and support that would always anchor him.

As they descended the stairs, Reyansh's mother glanced at him, her smile fading as she took in his attire. She had chosen a traditional outfit for him, but he had opted for a men's suit instead.

"Why are you wearing a men's suit, Reyansh?" his mother inquired as he approached her.

"It just didn't look good, Mom. It was literally red," Reyansh replied, meeting his mother's gaze.

Dhriti, Reyansh's sister, chimed in, "Mom, what have you given birth to? He's so boring."

Reyansh shot her a stern look, but she simply turned and walked out of the house to sit in one of the cars. Reyansh's father then intervened, announcing.

"We need to get to the engagement location."

Reyansh's mother seemed about to say something, but his father gestured for her to remain silent. Then together, they all made their way to the engagement hall.

*********
To be continued....

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In the upcoming chapter, Aadrika and Reyansh will become engaged, followed by their marriage in subsequent chapter.

Let me know your thoughts about the story.