The Lustre [On Hold]

chapter nine

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chapter nine • feel my heartbeats
Z A R A  A U R O R A  O U D H

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"I heard you've agreed to marry Raj Malhotra?"

Mom asks me with a smile on her face. "Yeah, Mom. I didn't exactly have a choice?"

"Huh?? Are you telling me that you were forced??"

"No, no! That's not what I meant, Mom. I'm not forced, I willingly agreed to marry him."

"Oh, you scared me."

I didn't have a single reaction on my face. It's been two days since Dad came to me with a proposal and I haven't talked to anyone properly. This was by far the worst semester holiday for me. Ever.

In the night, I became lazy and skipped my skincare routine so that I could sleep early. I plopped myself on the bed and was all set to sleep but someone HAD to interrupt that.

I checked my phone which was so bright for a second after receiving a notification. Specifically, a text from an unknown number.

I couldn't see the message until I unlocked the phone with my Face ID.

Unknown: Hi, Zara. I'm Raj Malhotra.

How the fuck did he get my number?

Unknown: I know everything's in a rush and I can understand your feelings. But I want to see you. I need to see you. I have to talk to you face to face and it won't take too long. Tomorrow, 10 am at Paddle's Garden. I really need you to be there, Zara. Please.

It was my first interaction with him and honestly, I didn't have a single reaction to my first impression of him. I kept reading the message over and over again to digest the fact that I was about to marry this man.

Me: Ok.

That's the only thing I send him even though I never say that. I never type that word without the 'A' and 'Y' at the back. It's always an 'Okay' with me and never just an 'Ok'.

He read my message as soon as I sent it.

Unknown: Thank you, Zara.

I read his message and I left him on read. I don't have the mood to entertain him or even just anyone at the moment. I just want to sleep.