Chapter - 21
Hope you all like this chapter. Love you all so so much!
TARGET : 1100 VOTES, 290 COMMENTS.
Shivanya ~
The rest of the party, I was looking for a thousand ways to avoid literally everyone, even Radhika.
I slipped away into a quiet corner, leaning against the railing of the terrace, letting the cool night air calm me. I closed my eyes for a moment, just needing a break from everything—especially from thinking about him. But, as if summoned by my very thoughts, I heard the sound of his footsteps approaching.
Mr. Birdbrain didn't say anything at first, just came to stand beside me, his presence impossible to ignore.
I kept staring at the city lights, not wanting to meet his gaze. I knew if I did, I'd be exposed—vulnerable and vulnerable because tonight, for the first time, I did not feel out of place with the idea of maybe accepting him into my life and letting myself be a part of him.
I bit my lip, unsure of what to say or even how to act. My mind was a mess of tangled emotions.
"Shivanya," he finally spoke, his voice low and steady, "you don't have to worry about this, about us. You don't have to think about marrying me if you don't want to. No one, including myself in going to ask you to do anything you don't feel like doing. " His words were gentle, but there was something deeper in his tone, something that made my chest tighten.
I turned my head slightly, still not meeting his eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"It means that I want you to choose what feels right for you," he said softly, "without any pressure. If you don't feel it, I will not hold you to it. I would never force you into anything, Shivanya." His words caught me off guard. This wasn't the usual Vihaan, the man who pushed and teased, who always had a sharp retort ready. No, this was something different, something real.
I glanced at him, catching the sincerity in his eyes. For a moment, the guarded wall I kept up around him began to crack. His words, his presence, they were all pulling me in.
"Seriously Sir? I thought this was your endgame, to get me to agree to marry you and now that I have maybe agreed to give this extremely weird situation a thought, you're telling me this? Why?" I did not hold myself back and let my intrusive thoughts win as I asked him.
"Because Sunshine, what I feel for you is my headache, not yours. What is feel towards you is not infatuation that I have to bind you with me for it to sustain, I am in love with you and that is why I know that no matter how far away you are from me or however long I do not see you, this feeling is still going to be just the same, or perhaps grow. I am going to win you over, not manipulate you into being with me because that is not me." Every single word of his was currently somehow filling the hollowness within me, but I did not know how to feel about it.
My hands gripped the railing harder, knuckles turning white as I tried to steady myself. His words, they were soft but they had hit me hard. Why? Why did they feel like something I had been waiting to hear, yet something I wasn't sure I deserved? My head was spinning.
I should be walking away from him right now, far away. But something inside me, something deep and inexplicable, was pulling me toward him instead.
I clutched the railing even tighter, turning my face away from him completely, hoping he wouldn't notice the turmoil boiling just beneath the surface. Why was I feeling this way? Why was my heart reacting to his words like they meant more than just a confession? Why, after all this time of avoiding him, did I feel like I wanted to believe every single word he said?
I bit down on my lip harder, closing my eyes. My thoughts were all over the place. He was right here, standing beside me, offering me everything without forcing anything on me. No manipulation, no games. He was just being him. Raw, real, and completely open. And maybe that was what scared me the most. The honesty of it all. The vulnerability.
"I don't know if I can trust your words, sir," I whispered, my voice trembling slightly. I could feel my heart racing, could hear the uncertainty in my tone.
I felt his hand brush mine again, the light touch somehow grounding me in this moment. His fingers didn't try to grab mine; they simply rested there.
"I am not going to ask you to trust my words Shivanya. All I am going to tell you is that I am right here and that is how it is going to be till the time you tell me with your words that there is another man who you wish to call yours." He shrugged.
I let out a shaky breath, opening my eyes but still not turning to face him. My gaze stayed on the city lights, flickering like the confusion inside me. "That's the problem," I said, barely above a whisper. "Nothing about this makes sense to me. My head... my head is screaming at me to be rational, to walk away before I get hurt. But my heart..." I paused, my throat tightening as the words struggled to come out.
"My heart is begging me to give in."
The admission felt like I had torn something open inside me, exposing the truth I had been trying to bury. And for the first time, I acknowledged it, not just to him but to myself.
I slowly turned to face him then, my eyes meeting his. The sincerity in his gaze nearly undid me. I swallowed hard, my voice unsteady as I spoke. "For the first time, I'm going to listen to my heart, Mr. Raichand. I don't know why, but something inside me is telling me to o say yes... to marrying you."
His eyes widened slightly in surprise, and I could see the relief, the hope that flickered across his face. But I wasn't done.
"But..." I raised my hand before he could speak, my voice firm but soft. "I need you to understand something. I'm not doing this because I'm in love with you, not yet. I need time. I need time to figure out how I feel, to even figure out if I can fall in love with you. I can't promise you that it's going to be easy for me. You need to know that I'm trusting you with myself, with my heart and I've never done that with anyone before. So, if I do this, if I say yes to this marriage, it's because I'm trusting that you won't break me. But I need time, Sir. I need time to get there."
He didn't say anything at first, just looked at me with a gaze so intense it made my chest ache. Slowly, his hand tightened around mine, the warmth of his touch spreading through me. His thumb gently brushed over my knuckles, and in that moment, the weight of my decision didn't seem as unbearable as it had before.
"I don't need you to love me right away, Shivanya," he finally said, his voice soft, but carrying the weight of everything he felt. "I just need you to give us a chance. I can wait all you want for you to fall in love with me. I am not in a rush. All I need to know is that you're willing to give me one chance."
My breath hitched at his words, and for a second, the fear that had been gnawing at me started to fade. Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe I'd regret it. But for some reason, standing here with him, I didn't feel as terrified as I had just moments ago. Maybe, just maybe, this was the right choice.
I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "I will take that leap of faith with you," I whispered, barely audible. "But you need to be patient with me sir. You need to understand that I might not be able to give you everything you want right away. I might not be able to fall in love with you like you want me to, at least not yet."
He nodded, his expression gentle, almost tender. "I know," he said quietly. "And I'll be here, waiting, however long it takes."
My heart hammered in my chest, and I wasn't sure whether it was from the fear of what I had just committed to or the way his words seemed to wrap themselves around me like a safety net. It was strange. I had never allowed myself to be this open with anyone before, much less with him.
He took a step closer, his proximity sending a jolt through me. His voice softened further, almost a whisper as if this moment was too fragile for anything louder.
"Sunshine..." He hesitated before continuing, "you have no idea how much this means to me."
My throat tightened at his words, but I forced myself to stay still. I wasn't used to this, being so open, trusting someone with the mess that was my emotions. But I was here, and so was he, standing by my side when it would have been easier for him to let go. His patience, his sincerity... I had never expected any of it from him.
The silence between us stretched, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It felt like something was shifting, something profound and terrifying at the same time. I let out a soft breath, unsure of what to say, but Vihaan seemed to understand that.
He slowly lifted his hand, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. His fingers lingered for just a second longer than necessary before he pulled back, his gaze never leaving mine.
I wanted to say something, anything but words escaped me. All I could do was stand there, my heart pounding as his eyes held me captive.
"You don't have to say anything," he said quietly, a soft smile playing on his lips. "I can see it in your eyes Shivanya. You are giving me more than you realise right now, and I promise to not take that for granted."
For some reason, his words made my chest ache in a way I hadn't expected. I blinked, trying to hold back the sudden wave of emotions that threatened to surface.
But still, he stood there, steady and unyielding, like a rock in the middle of a storm.
I swallowed, my voice trembling when I finally spoke. "Will you promise me one thing Mr, Raichand?"
He shook his head gently, his eyes filled with a warmth I wasn't sure I could handle. "Anything, Sunshine."
"Never expect me to prioritise anything over Radhika sir. She is the only family I have." I said, looking at him in the eyes.
His expression softened, a quiet understanding settling in his gaze. He nodded slowly, not breaking eye contact. "I would never ask you to choose, Shivanya. Radhika is your family and mine too, now. She will be my priority as much as she is yours."
His words held a weight that calmed a part of me I hadn't realized had been tense. It was as if he understood the fears I carried and I took a shaky breath, still gripping the railing, though my fingers had loosened slightly.
"I don't know what's going to happen, Sir," I said softly, letting his name slip past my lips without even thinking. "But I don't want to feel like I'm losing myself in this. If I do this... if we do this, I need to stay true to who I am."
He tilted his head slightly, his eyes holding mine as he took in every word. "You will never lose yourself with me, Sunshine. I want you as you are, not some version of you that changes to fit me. I love you for who you are now, and that's never going to change."
For the first time in a very long time, I felt like I could breathe. Like maybe, just maybe, I could let someone in without losing myself in the process.
"Why are you doing this?" I whispered, not sure if I was asking him or myself. "Why do you care so much?"
He chuckled softly, the sound low and comforting. "Shivanya, I think I have made that pretty clear, have I not?" His fingers brushed mine again, a soft touch that made my heart flutter. "I care because I love you. It is as simple as that."
Nothing could prepare me for that response, even when this was the second time today that he had claimed to have loved me.
He had just said it again. He loves me.
I could feel the blood rushing to my cheeks, my face heating up despite the cool night air. I turned my gaze downward, my heart racing.
"You—" I started, my voice catching in my throat. I wasn't even sure what I was going to say. I could feel his eyes on me. "You're impossible," I finally muttered, not daring to look up, biting my lip to hold back the smile that was threatening to escape.
A low chuckle escaped his lips, and I could feel him leaning in just a little closer, his breath warm against my ear. "You're blushing, Sunshine."
I stiffened at his words, my face undoubtedly turning even redder. Why did he have to notice that? I shot him a glare, but it was half-hearted at best. "I am not!" I protested weakly, knowing full well that I was lying.
He just smiled, the kind of smile that made my stomach flip, like he was in on some secret I wasn't. "You are," he whispered, his voice soft and teasing, but not in the usual playful way. It was gentle, sweet even. And I couldn't help the way my heart reacted, speeding up like it was trying to escape my chest.
His hand, still resting near mine, shifted slightly, his pinky finger curling gently around my own. It wasn't a bold move, not like the others he had made, but it was intimate. It was sweet. And for some reason, that small gesture felt like it meant more than anything else.
And with that, a small smile tugged at the corners of my lips, one I couldn't hide, no matter how hard I tried.
Vihaan ~
When Shivanya agreed to take that leap of faith for me, everything inside me stopped.
For a moment, the world around us ceased to exist. The noise from the party, the lights of the city, even the breeze it all faded away. All I could hear was her voice and those words that I had been waiting for, hoping for.
She was agreeing to marry me.
My heart, the one I thought I had complete control over, slammed into my chest. I had played out this moment a hundred times in my mind, imagining what it would feel like if she ever agreed to give us a chance. But nothing, nothing could have prepared me for the way it actually felt. It was as if my world had finally aligned in that instant, all the pieces falling into place.
And yet, she wasn't promising love. Not yet. She was being hones and that was all I needed. She was trusting me with her heart, with her future, with something far more precious than any victory I had ever worked for and it was my job now to make sure that she realised that this was the best decision of her life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~
"So you are telling me that Shivanya has said yes to marrying you?" Ma asked after I told her what had happened once the party was over and we had got back home.
"Yes."
"So you are telling me that Shivanya, the woman who you are in love with has agreed to marry you?" She confirmed dramatically.
"Yes Ma."
"So you are telling me that Shivanya, the woman who you are in love with and works with you has agreed to marry you?" It was Dad who copied Ma's mechanism, asked and I sighed.
"Yes, Dad." I sighed, rubbing my temples, bracing for the inevitable onslaught of questions.
"Vihaan!" Ma exclaimed, her voice filled with a mix of disbelief and excitement. "Do you understand what this means?"
I sat myself down on the couch, trying to maintain my composure. "I know, Ma. It means I that have to make sure I do not lose this chance."
"I am going to have to talk to her soon. The wedding season is about to begin and I can't wait to have her home." Ma said with a huge grin plastered on her face.
"Maa don't pressurise her into anything please. She may have agreed but that does not mean that she would want to get married immediately. Let her take all the time she needs. She is not ready yet, and I don't want her to feel rushed." I told her, hoping that she would understand too.
Ma looked at me, her excitement dimming just a little as she processed my words. "Of course, beta, I would never want her to feel pressured. But... you know how happy this makes me, right? Shivanya is the perfect match for you, and I want her to feel like part of this family already."
I nodded, understanding her excitement. "I know, Ma. And she will, in time. But for now, let's just be patient. She's still figuring things out, and I need to respect that."
"This is the son you have raised Sangeeta, and you should be proud." Dad said to Ma before addressing me.
"Vihaan we are going to talk to her and her family and will go ahead with whatever she feels like." He said, before the two of them walked their own way, discussing.
I stood on the terrace, the cool breeze brushing against my face, and for the first time in years, I felt stunned. Not the kind of stunned that leaves you scrambling for words in a courtroom or outmaneuvered in a case. No, this was something far more personal. Shivanya had said yes.
I exhaled slowly, my breath mingling with the night air. I had never been the kind of man to dwell on emotions, to get lost in thoughts about what could be. But here I was, thinking about how lucky I had gotten.
Shivanya was complicated, stubborn, and guarded and that's what made her so captivating. She wasn't someone you could easily figure out, someone who would just fall into line. No, she kept me on my toes, kept me guessing. And for some reason, that unpredictability was exactly what drew me to her.
I wasn't used to feeling this exposed. But with her, it wasn't a choice. It just was.
I chuckled softly to myself, thinking back to when I told her that I had fallen for her. The way she had looked at me, so defiant, so uninterested in my attempts to ruffle her feathers. And now? Now, she had agreed to give us a chance. To give me a chance.
I rubbed my temples, trying to process how I'd gone from a man with everything under control to a man who had no idea what he was doing with his own heart. And yet, that was the crazy part. I wasn't scared of it. If anything, it made me more determined.
I could still hear her voice, soft but firm, telling me she needed time. Telling me she wasn't in love with me yet. And I respected that. Hell, I admired it. She was being brave in her own way, trusting me even though I knew she had every reason to keep her walls up.
And here I was, waiting. For her.
"Sunshine..." I whispered to the night, the nickname slipping out so naturally now. She had no idea how much it had meant to me when she said she was willing to take that leap of faith. I couldn't even begin to describe it. The world could fall apart around me, and as long as she was beside me, I knew I'd be fine.
I looked up at the sky, the stars twinkling above, and for the first time in a long time, I felt something close to hope. Real, genuine hope. She had given me a chance, a chance to show her that I could love her without conditions, without rushing her into something she wasn't ready for.
I didn't need her to love me right now. I just needed her to trust that I wouldn't break her heart.
And that? That was a promise I would keep till I was breathing.
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: ZingTruyen.Xyz