The Arranged One | ✔️

Chapter 11 - Does It Upset You?

"So..." Abhi finally said, attempting to start the conversation.

They were sitting on the couch on the terrace. It was around 4pm and the sun looked tame.

Abhi and Siya had spent countless Sunday evenings on the terrace. It was built beautifully. It had a greenhouse for plants, herbs and flowers. A small seating with a couch, a table and a swing.

They had spent about ten minutes saying absolutely nothing. Which was certainly not normal.

"So...?" Siya repeated, it sounded more like a question though.

"We should talk now" He said, wincing at the awkwardness between them.

"Yeah...well...you know what! lets get on with it! This awkwardness is killing me", she finally said, squaring her shoulders.

"Haha! Thank you captain obvious." He teased, but he did feel grateful for she did dispel a little bit of the awkwardness between them.

"How about we each say what we think this marriage means to us?" She proposed. He nodded in agreement.

"You go first!" He ordered.

Siya shrugged. It seemed easy, like discussing their thoughts on a new phone or operating system.

"Okay. For me marriage is a commitment of a lifetime. I will always be faithful and you'll always be one of the most important people in my life. We as a couple would have to take decisions as a team and consider the other an equal. I'm not in a hurry to start a family, but whenever we do, I believe it's as much the responsibility of a father as it is of a mother. I will never be able to quit working. So I believe we'll divide all the household tasks to facilitate each other's work. Also,..."

"Okay Siya, just hold on!"

Siya looked at Abhi, confused about his interruption.

"I thought we were going to discuss our marriage?" He asked.

"Yes. That's what I was talking about when you interrupted me!" Has he lost it? She thought looking at him in disbelief.

"You, my darling future wife, were talking as though it were some intangible philosophical entity. It's real and it's right here Siya!" He said earnestly, cupping her face in his hands, looking deep into her eyes.

Her cheeks were warming under his gaze. She didn't know what was happening, but she knew her heart was beating as if it had gone crazy.

It was nothing like discussing some random views, she realized. She waited for him to continue.

"We love each other. You are the most important person in my life and I am in yours. Correct me if I'm wrong."

He wasn't, so she motioned for him to continue.

"The only catch in this situation is that, the nature of a relationship like marriage surpasses any kind of friendship. That we are friends will definitely be an advantage when it comes to the housemate and companion aspect of the marriage. But you know that's not what we need to address, don't you", he was looking at her so earnestly that she had to look away.

She nodded silently and he guided her face back to him, so she would meet his eyes. His beautiful hazel-colored eyes, that seemed to look right at her soul.