Book 1 of the Love and Duty Series
Anirudh Roy, the steadfast and disciplined army officer, had always lived by a set of principles, none of which involved love. His life revolved around duty, honor, and the pursuit of his ambitions. Marriage, child...
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Dhairya
"What happened? You look upset," I ask Ani, watching him poke at the plate of noodles in front of him. He doesn't look up, just shakes his head with a faint, forced smile. A fake one.
I narrow my eyes, pressing him, "Are you upset about what happened at the hall earlier?"
"No," he mutters, his voice flat. But his furrowed brows and the slight slump of his shoulders tell me otherwise. He was fine when we left the movie hall, laughing and teasing me over his bold stunt. Sure, I'd overreacted—shouted, even—but I was hungry and annoyed. That doesn't mean he gets to sulk about it now.
He's different tonight—distracted and unusually quiet. I reach across the table, placing my hand gently over his tense one. He flinches slightly, glancing down before exhaling a shaky sigh. "I... I'm sorry," I mumble, my voice soft. "I shouldn't have overreacted."
His eyes lift to meet mine, warm but clouded with worry. "It's fine," he murmurs, forcing another weak smile. "And I'm not upset about that. I'm just... thinking."
"Thinking? About what, when you have such a pretty lady sitting in front of you?" I tease, raising my brows in an exaggerated gesture to lighten the mood.
He chuckles faintly, but it doesn't reach his eyes. That half-hearted reaction makes my chest tighten. Something is wrong. This isn't like him.
"Dhairya?"
"Hmm?" I lean closer, trying to catch his gaze.
"I think... I think we should tell your parents about us."
I blink, taken aback by the suddenness of his words. "Suddenly? Why now?"
He fidgets, his fingers twisting together before he sighs. "I don't know. It just feels... wrong. Like we're sneaking around behind their backs. I want their blessings, Dhairya. I don't want to move forward with this without them knowing."
My heart clenches at the vulnerability in his voice. "Ani, they'll love you. Trust me. And besides, it's not like we're doing something illegal. We're not in the black-and-white era where people couldn't even look at each other before marriage!"
He chuckles weakly, but his expression remains troubled. "I know, but still... not every parent would be thrilled about their daughter dating an army officer. I understand if they have reservations. What if they don't think I'm good enough for you?"
"That's nonsense, and you know it," I say firmly, squeezing his hand.
He doesn't look convinced. His gaze drops to our joined hands as he whispers, "Dhairya, I just... I need to know they're okay with this. I need to know that if something happens to me—"
"Stop." My voice comes out sharper than I intended. "Don't even start with that."
"Dhairya..." His voice is quiet but insistent. "I'm being realistic. You know how my job is. It's unpredictable and dangerous. I'd never forgive myself if something happened to me and your parents didn't even know we were together."
