Destiny For Unlikely Vows

Chapter 17: Riya's POV

The alarm blared, playing "It's Raining Men! Hallelujah!" at full volume, jolting me awake. I loved the song but hated the loudness. Grumbling beside me, Agastya stirred, clearly annoyed.

"Who the hell is making so much noise?" he groaned, his gaze landing on me and the phone in my hand. He looked like he wanted to murder me, but before I could turn it off, the alarm went off again. Agastya snatched the phone, and did some tapping on my phone, looks like he made sure to switch off my alarm permanently, and muttered, "This woman is going to drive me crazy under my own roof." I hurried to get ready, my cheeks still hot from his gaze.

After freshening up, I slipped into my maroon blazer dress and tied half my hair into a messy bun, leaving the rest down. I chose my light yellow pumps, although flats would have been comfier. I finished with a dab of lip balm, moisturizer, and vermilion. As I checked myself in the mirror, a part of me wondered if I looked alright. Would he think I looked decent enough? I mentally shook off the thought, feeling silly for caring.

When I stepped out, Agastya was there, leaning against the doorway. His eyes swept over me slowly, taking in every detail of my outfit. There was an intensity in his gaze that made my cheeks warm, and for a moment, I felt completely vulnerable under his stare. Was I looking alright? Did something seem off? The way he looked at me-almost like he was undressing me with his eyes-made me doubt myself. But I quickly turned away, brushing off the uncomfortable yet strangely thrilling feeling.

Downstairs, his grandparents were already at the breakfast table, sipping tea and reading. I greeted them by touching their feet, and they blessed me with warm smiles. Just as I was serving them breakfast, I felt Agastya's presence behind me again. He cleared his throat, clearly wanting my attention.

"What?" I asked, a bit irritated. He just gave me a playful glare, but his grandfather chuckled, saying, "Trouble in paradise already?"

Flustered, I quickly replied, "No, Grandpa! He just likes to tease me." Agastya's grandfather patted his arm. "Agastya, stop teasing her, and make sure you take good care of her while you're in Paris. No excuses."

At that, Agastya's expression changed, and he gave me a slow, assessing look that left me both embarrassed and flustered. "Don't worry, Dadu. I'll take care of her so well that she'll never forget it," he replied, his tone holding a hidden meaning only I could understand. His grandmother laughed, seemingly amused, but I felt my heart pounding in my chest.

Once breakfast was over, we said our goodbyes. For some reason, as we left, a strange heaviness settled in my chest. I felt like I was leaving behind a safe haven, and the idea of being alone with Agastya made me uneasy.

In the car, Agastya gave me a mocking smile. "Welcome to my personal hell, ugly wifey." For a second, a chill ran down my spine as wild thoughts crossed my mind. What if he planned to abandon me in Paris or leave me stranded somewhere unfamiliar? I pushed the thoughts away, rolling my eyes-but this only seemed to fuel his annoyance.

He leaned close, his hand gripping my chin gently but firmly, his face mere inches from mine. "So, we're rolling our eyes now, huh?" he whispered. "I'll make sure you learn what I do to people who challenge me." Feeling both intimidated and strangely entranced, I muttered a quick apology.

His smirk softened, a mix of pride and satisfaction. "Good girl." I shrank back, embarrassed that I'd let him get under my skin. As I adjusted my dress, which had ridden up my thighs, I felt his gaze trailing over my legs. His intense stare was almost too much-I felt both exposed and inexplicably drawn to him.

Once we arrived at the airport, his security escorted us through the check-in process, and soon we were seated in business class. I'd never experienced such luxury, and for a moment, I was awestruck. But Agastya leaned in, his voice close to my ear. "Enjoy the luxury while it lasts," he whispered, smirking. "A gold-digger like you probably never thought you'd get this far."

The comment stung, and I clenched my fists, silently vowing that one day I'd repay him for this ticket. I wasn't poor-I earned my living honestly, paying my own bills. People like him would never understand that some of us chose practicality over luxury.

The nine-and-a-half-hour flight felt endless, but as we finally touched down in Paris, my excitement took over. Paris had always been a dream, and I was determined to make the most of it. One day, I'd repay him for every word and every assumption-but for now, I'd enjoy the beauty of the city on my own terms.
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