His name was SIDDHARTH RAI!

Shrishti widened her eyes and quickly checked her phone to see the pic of the guy. It was the same face.

"This guy.... This guy is a monster.", Shrishti said. "I saw he had blood red eyes. He.... I got married to him."

"Of course" Tanvi scoffed, "After getting obsessed with this guy and writing horror novels, it was obvious your brain would do this scenario". "You couldn't even take your eyes off him and your recent novel plus alcohol did it's job."

"Are you sure?", Shrishti said.

"200%", Tanvi smiled. "Now, quickly freshen up, they will be here till afternoon. We gotta prepare things, right?"

"Mom, is not coming?", Shrishti asked.

"She is waiting for you with her broom and slippers.", Tanvi said playfully.

"What did I do?", Shrishti asked being confused.

"She was trying to contact you since last month but someone else that's me was giving your updates to her.", Tanvi said. "So, she is a little bit mad."

"Tanu, betu (dear) is that brat awake already?", a voice echoed through the hall.

"Shit!", Shrishti quickly ran to the washroom.

------------------------------------------

Shrishti was having breakfast with Tanvi after getting a long lecture from her mother.

"Do you want more?", Shrishti's mother, Riddhima, asked Tanvi.

"Mumma, I'm full", Tanvi replied.

"Mummy, I'm also here.", Shrishti whined.

"Who are you talking about?", Riddhima asked. ''The one who abandoned her poor mother all alone?"

"Okay! That was my fault but I apologised, right?", Shrishti said.

"But avoiding your mother is way too bad, right dear?", Riddhima said looking at Tanvi.

"Mumma is right. You can't just avoid her knowing she lives all alone.", Tanvi agreed.

"Look here!", Riddhima asked Shrishti. "I only have you guys. It's obvious I will be stressed.", "I know it's your life and you stay busy but atleast take care of your health."

Shrishti nodded her head hugging her mother.

"How can you leave me guys?", Tanvi said with a pout.

Riddhima pulled her. They pulled away after sometime.

"Let's go and prepare everything.", Riddhima said getting up.

"Mummy, are you sure about me getting married?" Shrishti said.

"I know my Risu is a bit worried about marriage but it's all up to you." Riddhima said. "If you don't wanna get married then I won't force you. Just meet that guy once."

"I don't feel anything right about this guy, Mummy", Shrishti said.

Riddhima looked at Tanvi asking for explanation.

"Mumma, she saw a dream where this guy Siddharth Rai was a dark entity", Tanvi replied.

"Pagal ladki (Crazy girl) there is nothing like that.", Riddhima said while laughing, "It must be because of stress and I sent you his pic yesterday maybe you got way too stressed about the marriage."

"Mumma, that's what I told her.", Tanvi said.

"Risu, if you don't want to get married just tell me. I will cancel it.", Riddhima said. "They will be here. I will talk to them"

"Mummy, let it be", Shrishti said. "Let's meet them once"

Riddhima pecked her forehead and went away with Tanvi.

Shrishti's mind was still unsettled. I should not think much about it, she shook her head and took out her phone phone. She got a message from Tanvi. It was a video.

She clicked on it.....

Shrishti was crying while sitting inside Tanvi's car, totally wasted.

"How can she do this babe?", she said while sniffing. "What if that guy didn't treat me right?".

"That's totally fine.", Tanvi said. "Mumma told me she sent picture of him"

"I don't give a damn about that guy", Shrishti huffed and continued crying.

Tanvi quickly unlocked Shrishti's phone and showed her the pic of the guy. Shrishti stopped crying and looked at Tanvi with doe eyes.

"Am I going to marry him?", Shrishti asked.

"That's what Mumma said, Siddharth Rai", Tanvi said trying to hold her laugh.

"He iS SoOo HanDsomE", Shrishti kissed her phone screen. "ThIs GuY Is mY HuSssbAnDdd"

Shrishti took the phone infront of her face, "Hey Mr..... Mr..... Mr ShIt whatever, I'm your wiFey". "You better treat me right, or else-", she stopped trying to think something. "Or else.... Or else.... I will.... I will love you and kiss you till you get tired and beg me to stop"

"What if he didn't treat you right?"

"I will cast a love me spell on him" , Shrishti chuckled and kissed his pic.

Shrishti smiled sheepishly, being proud of herself, keeping her phone sticking to her chest and passed out.

Tanvi burst into laughter seeing her bestfriend.

"Damn, I need to show this to you darling.", Tanvi said

The video ended....

Shrishti rubbed her face with her palm being embarrassed. "I guess, they were right.", she said and slid the screen only to come across Siddharth's pic.

"Maybe he is not what I'm thinking. Let's give it a try."

------------------------------------------

Shrishti was sitting in her room, fully ready, with Tanvi beside her.

"I can't believe I'm actually considering an arranged marriage," Shrishti said.

"Relax. Not unless you say yes," Tanvi replied.

"Girl, I'm already in my late twenties. I've built my success, made my mum proud, and given her everything she deserves," Shrishti said. "I don't want anything else from life right now."

"That still doesn't mean you should marry a guy you're unsure about," Tanvi said.

"I know that," Shrishti sighed. "I won't rush into anything. I'll meet him once. If he feels genuine, we can move forward. And if not... there's nothing left to say except no."

Their conversation was interrupted by a knock. They turned to see Riddhima standing at the door.

"My baby looks so beautiful," she said, her gaze instantly settling on Shrishti.

Shrishti stood there, dressed elegantly, looking both nervous and radiant..

Shrishti's outfit

"Mumma, I'm telling you," Tanvi said confidently, "the groom will fall in love with her the moment he sees her."

"No matter whether he likes her or not," Riddhima said firmly, "It's my Risu's choice whether she wants to get married."

"But what if I like him and he doesn't?" Shrishti asked softly.

"Are you serious?" Tanvi said, staring at her in disbelief. "You should be thankful I'm straight and a girl. Otherwise, I wouldn't have waited for marriage. I'd have taken you on rounds already."

Riddhima playfully slapped Tanvi's shoulder.

"I would've been lucky to have a son like you," she said, kissing Tanvi's cheek.

"I can still be bisexual for you, my darling," Tanvi said, pulling Riddhima closer by the waist.

"Idiot, leave me," Riddhima laughed. "Everyone's waiting for the girl."

They nodded and walked to the living room with Riddhima.

They nodded and walked into the living room with Riddhima.

As they entered, every head turned toward them. A middle-aged couple sat beside a young man in his late twenties. The couple smiled warmly at Shrishti.

"Oh my, you are really beautiful, dear," the middle-aged woman, Mrs. Rai, said.

Shrishti offered a shy but warm smile. Her gaze then fell on the man sitting beside them.

Siddharth Rai....

He wasn't smiling. His eyes were fixed on her, unreadable. She sat down opposite him.

"We've already spoken to your mother about your achievements," Mr. Rai said.

"We truly appreciate how you've built your life on your own at such a young age."

"We're not an orthodox family," Mrs. Rai added gently. "You're free to live your life the way you want. We won't force you to give up your job or your passion."

"We'll support you in whatever you choose," Mr. Rai said.

Shrishti felt a wave of relief wash over her.

"You both can talk to each other if you want," Riddhima said.

Shrishti nodded and walked toward her room with Siddharth. Once inside, she gestured for him to sit on the couch. He did.

She sat on the edge of the bed, facing him. She noticed his sharp features. Dark brown eyes, a sharp jawline (Sharp enough to play fruit Ninja), broad shoulders. His white shirt fit him perfectly, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing veined hands. He carried himself with a calm, almost intimidating stillness.

Strangely, his presence felt peaceful. Nothing like the version she had seen in her dream.

Siddharth cleared his throat, drawing her attention back.

"I'm Siddharth Rai," he said. "I suppose you already know that. I'm twenty-nine. I'm a businessman."

"I'm Shrishti Sharma," she replied. "Twenty-eight. I'm a writer."

"You can ask me anything," he said after a brief pause. "I'm not sure where to start."

Shrishti smiled, and the conversation slowly eased. They spoke about their work, their interests, small likes and dislikes. The initial tension faded, replaced with something comfortable.

She found him genuine. Grounded....

After some time, they looked at each other and smiled.

"What do you think, Ms. Shrishti?" he asked.

"Any girlfriends?" she asked playfully.

"I wouldn't be sitting here if I had one," he replied. "I never really made time for love."

"Aren't you going to ask about my past relationships?" she asked.

"I don't think they matter," he said calmly. "If you say yes, I'd already be lucky to have you as my life partner. And if you had any exes before... that's their loss to let you go."

She blinked, caught off guard.

"You won't change after marriage, will you?" she asked.

"I won't claim to be perfect," he said honestly. "But I'll try to grow with you."

"And how do I trust that?" she asked softly. "People change."

"I don't know about everyone else," he said, meeting her gaze, "but one thing is sure, you won't regret marrying me."

Shrishti chuckled at his words. She locked her eyes with his....

"Welcome to my world, Mrs. Soon to be Siddharth Rai", Siddharth said.

TO BE CONTINUED

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