Arranged to love

#3: I care.

Chapter Three: "I care."

Meera's outfit

Meera's car

Meera stood in front of her car, annoyed with the arrangement. Currently, all their families were heading to one of their lodges, owned by Meera's family, where the engagement of Meera and Ajay was to be held two days from then. Their parents were taking vans and they left the group of cousins to split themselves between two cars, Meera's and Arvind's. However, the problem was the way they split themselves.

In Arvind's car, was Arvind in the driver's seat, Varun next to him while Nithya, Sweta and Arvind's wife, Ramya were in the back. That left Meera with her younger brother, Vijay, Arjun, Akash and her dear soon-to-be fiancé, Ajay. What infuriated her more was that Ajay was in the driver's seat and they had left the passenger's seat right next to him, empty for her while the other three boys squeezed themselves in the backseat.

"Why is he the one driving? It's my car" Meera deadpanned, looking straight at the guys.

"Oh come on sis, we are going to have to take turns to drive anyway. We have a long trip ahead of us" Vijay reasoned with her.

Well, it was true, she can't drive for an entire 12 hours but still

She was about to argue when Ajay spoke. It was the first time she heard his voice since the announcement of their engagement.

"Just get in, I am not going to wreck you car. I don't like this arrangement anymore that you do so just get on with it. Or do you need me to open your door for you my queen" he said, sarcasm dripping in his voice.

"Oh shut up" Meera said, annoyed as she rolled her eyes before settling into her place. She clicked her seatbelt into place and immediately felt the familiar jolt of her Bugatti Chiron as Ajay pressed on the accelerator.

Meera, watched as the orange glow of the sunset slowly fading as the darkness of the night enveloped them. They had been travelling for two hours now.

The once chatter filled car was now silent except for the soothing voice of Conan Grey filling the emptiness.

The three guys at the back had all slipped into slumber, leaving Ajay and Meera to be the only ones awake.

"Do you want to take a break? I can drive" Meera asked, breaking the silence between them. She was trying to be nice but the idiot just had to ruin everything.

"Aw worried for your future husband princess?" he asked sweetly, grinning.

"You wish. I just don't want you get us all in an accident especially at night in the middle of the highway where there is barely anyone else" She retorted as she exited from her side as soon as Ajay halted at the side.

The two exchanged seats with Meera now behind the wheel, Ajay next to her.

"You think you can drive in this darkness?"

Meera expected a mocking tone, but surprisingly he sounded serious. But the teasing had to be there. He is not that nice.

Maybe he was just tired, Meera thought as she replied, "Don't concern yourself with my driving skills". He rolled his eyes as turned towards the window, his eyes fixated on the silhouettes of the trees which were barely visible.

"You okay with this?" Ajay asked softly, after a while.

"With what? The car arrangement?" Meera asked, her eyes on the road. She felt his low chuckles as he replied her.

"No silly, as in our marriage. I know we can choose to marry even three or four years later but we have to in the end. And in two days, we'll officially be engaged and there is no turning back. So I want to know how you feel"

If it was any other day, Meera would have snapped at him for calling her silly but today, something told her he didn't mean it in a rude way. She sighed before she answered, sparing a glance towards him, "Who cares about how I feel?"

She felt his gaze on her and for some reason, it made her blush. Good thing it's dark she thought, relieved that he wouldn't be able to see the red hue on her cheeks. She avoided his eyes so as to not be caught up in a staring contest with him.

"I care"

This time Meera couldn't help but look at him.

"How about you? How do you feel Ajay?" she asked softly.

He took in a deep breath before he looked at her again. "Honestly?" he asked to which Meera nodded.

"Well, I guess it hasn't sunk in yet that I am going to marry you. I am still in shock at the news. I think it will take time to actually know how I feel about all this" he answered.

Meera nodded understandingly. She wasn't the only one caught by surprise. He was too. But the fact that he did not out rightly dismiss their union as something he hates but instead was actually considering the possibility of their relationship made her smile a little.

But the fact that she was so quick to judge and that the thought of giving them a chance did not even occur to her made her a little guilty but then again was it her fault? Maybe.

Maybe she was selfish and narrow-minded. Or could it be that their fight history made her think like that? Would that really be her fault that she perceived their marriage negatively as soon as she knew about it because her selected partner always picked on her? Maybe. Maybe not. It didn't matter. It was how it is now and there was nothing she could except accept what her life was bound to be.

Silence prevailed after Ajay's answer. Meera still had not answered his question of how she truly felt about their marriage and she was in no hurry to do so.