Three days passed in a blur.

Anahita was still trying to convince Mukund, but he was aggressively busy with his work. She hadn’t heard from him again. The invites were selected, the guestlist was ready; and even the venue was booked in advance. Everyone was patiently waiting for her wedding except for her. She was dreading every passing second. It was snatching her peace, and she was hyperventilating.

Knowing that it was a complete waste to argue with her parents, she decided to talk to Yuvraaj but her will dissolved every time she thought of his parents. He might be the worst man in the world, but his parents were sweethearts. Anahita loved them to the core of her heart—even more than her own parents, and she couldn’t summon herself to hurt them. Yuvraaj would definitely tell them everything, and they would hate her. She knew she was going to hurt them ultimately, but she didn’t want to prepone that calamity.

“Okay fine. Yuvraaj is the best guy. Who am I to say anything to him? You might have chosen him after finding something exceptionally good in him. After all, I am your only daughter.” She said sarcastically, and added. “But… I still want you to meet Mukund. At least, tell me what he lacks to deserve me.”

Mr. Maurya glared at her over his rimless specs. “You are still at that point? I won’t meet that guy.”

“But why not? I am not even asking you to approve of him. You just have to meet him. That’s it. What’s the problem?” She enquired, scowling dark. Mr. Maurya removed his glasses and put them on table. “I don’t want him to nurture the thought of being with you when I’m not going to consider him at all.”

“Dad, it’s wrong.” She proclaimed, taking an offense. “You are imposing your decisions on me. I agree that you like Yuvraaj, and I accept that he is the best guy out there, but I don’t like him. I don’t want him. I like Mukund, and you have to accept it.”

“Shut up, Anu. You are going to get married to Yuvraaj after two weeks, and you want me to meet that smut. I won’t do it.” Mr. Maurya shouted at her, his calm face twisting in anger. “It’s your fault. You already know that I selected Yuvraaj for you, but you had to go and involve yourself in a relationship that has no future. I can’t do anything about it. You will get married to Yuvraaj, and that’s my final decision.”

“I don’t like him.” Anahita cried out, dissolving into tears even though her hard leash. She couldn’t see why her father was so adamant. “He is a controlfreak. He doesn’t love me. I will never be happy with him, dad. Why are you doing this to me? How can you promise me to someone without asking me?”

“Chaitanya also didn’t ask him, but the boy is taking it nicely unlike you. He went abroad. Do you think he could’t get involved with anyone there? Kids his age do this kind of things nowadays, but he came back without a single scandal under his name. He is ready to marry you because he respects his father. And look at you.” He said disparagingly, waving a hand at her. “You are hellbent on making me embarrassed. I am totally disappointed in you.”

“Dad…”

“It’s not a crime to choose lifepartners for your kids, Anahita.” She felt her heart sinking in her stomach as this was the first time her father took her name. He always called her ‘Anu’ or ‘Princess.’ Mr. Maurya was still talking, “It will be nice if you prepare yourself for the wedding because I won’t break this alliance, and I will never meet that guy… whatever is his name.”

Without a word, Anahita left her seat and came back to her room with tears hanging on her eyelids. More than Yuvraaj, it was her parents who made her so reluctant to accept this relationship. Closing the door, she sat on the floor and brought her knees to her chest. She stared at the proud engagement ring sparkling in her ring finger. An enormous, princess cut diamond was studded in a rosegold brushed platinum band, and looked perfect on her hand as if it was made for her.

“I have to do something.” She wiped her cheeks, and grabbed her phone. Chewing on her lips, she called Mukund and paced the length of her room. Her eyebrows knitted together everytime the call went to his voicemail.

“Pick up the phone, idiot.” She muttered as he rejected her tenth call. When he finally picked up the call, she didn’t give him a chance to speak. “Did you think of something?”

“Anu, I am busy.” He hissed in a low voice.

“Mukund, dad won’t ever agree for us. So please do something. We can only run away as last resort. You are my only hope.” She whimpered, and heard him groan.

“Anahita. I am busy yaar. I will call you later and please stop disturbing me. Bye.” He hung up on her without waiting for her reply. Annoying beeps of disconnected calls poured mercury in her ear.

“Hello? Hello? Mukund?” She called him desperately and yelled in frustration, “Ugh! All the men are same. Fucking cowards!”

“I am different from those who you are talking about.” She stilled as a deep voice interuuped her, chuckling. She widened her eyes and turned to witness Yuvraaj leaning against her doorjamb. She took in his dashing appearance. He was looking handsome as always in his V-neck loose white shirt and black cargo pants.

“Breathe, Anahita. This beauty is just skin deep.” He commented, stepping inside her room and viewing her dress with a critical eye. “Tsk! Tsk! This red and yellow combination isn’t suiting you at all. Are you color blind?” He mocked her.

Rolling her eyes, Anahita gave him a tightlipped smile, “You are not my designer so keep your suggestions to yourself. Thank you very much.”

“Your welcome.” He mouthed, stroking his chin. “On a side note, you badly need a designer. I’ll find one for you.”

“No, thanks. Not everyone can be a Greek God.” She taunted him, and he flashed her a wide smile. “So cute. Of course, not everyone can be ‘me’.” He jerked both thumbs at himself and made himself comfortable on her bed.

Anahita zipped her lips, giving him an evil eye. He was right. Not eveyone could be him. His male beauty was acclaimed for perfection. With six feet height, well proportioned limbs, and delicious layer of flesh shaping his body, Yuvraaj was quite popular among her cousins. He had recently chopped his hair in a pompadour, and it had only increased his followers—even among the uncles.

Every girl of her acquaitance envied Anahita for bagging an Adonis for herself, and she would always scream inwardly to invite them. They could take him along with them as soon as possible. His renowned beauty contributed zero to spark her interest in him. She would gladly pack him in a gift wrap, and hand him over to whoever wanted.

“What’s this?” She snapped out of her thoughts, and looked at him blankly when he held up her brazzier in front of her eyes. “Orange! Seriously?”

Gasping, Anahita immediately snatched it from her hands and hid it behind her. “What do you want?” She screamed at him.

“I called you. Why didn’t you pick up?”

“Why did you call me?”

“Mom wants to take you out on shopping.” He told her, and she raised an eyebrow. “And?”

“I am here to take with me. Dress up fast. I won’t wait more than ten minutes.” He took out his phone, and began to play games. Anahita cursed him thousand times already in her mind, but said nothing and walked over to her wardrobe. “Where are we going?”

“To buy what you badly need.” He looked up at her, and smirked. “Clothes.”

“I hate you.” She seethed, and he chuckled. “Not more than me. I am outside.” He got up to leave and stopped at the door, looking over his shoulder. “Don’t wear orange. It disgusts me.”

“I don’t care.” She stuck her tongue out. He turned to glance at her properly and dabbed a lip between his teeth, hiding a snort. “Try me, manni mou. I will rip it off your body.”

“Just go.” Anahita showed him the door, calling his bluff.

“This lovely attitude! Ah, it’s gonna make our married life more exciting. I am looking forward to it.” He winked at her mischievously. “Come down at five.”

“I won’t.” She yelled out in frustration and he cocked his head to a side, watching her with a pleasant smile. “You’ll love it then.”

He headed out, leaving her flabbergasted.