Proposal (part 2)

Author's POV

The next day arrived sooner than Ahaana expected. She spent the morning pacing in her room, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. She trusted Raghav with her life, but the thought of marrying a complete stranger unsettled her. Would he understand her passion for art? Would he support her dreams? Or would he be another man who believed a woman's place was to cater to her husband?

Siya entered the room, holding a beautiful teal-colored saree. "Ahaana, wear this today," she said with a gentle smile.

Ahaana frowned. "Bhabhi, isn't this too much? It's just a meeting, not a wedding!"

Siya chuckled. "First impressions matter. At least try, for Raghav’s sake."

Reluctantly, Ahaana took the saree and got ready. As she looked at herself in the mirror, she couldn't help but wonder—who was this man Raghav had chosen for her?

At the Agnihotri Mansion

Kairav was still in his office when his mother, Ishaani, called him. "Come home early today," she said sternly.

"Why?" he asked, already suspecting the answer.

"The girl’s family is coming. You have to meet her."

Kairav sighed. "Maa, I—"

"No excuses, Kairav. Be home by 7," Ishaani cut him off and ended the call.

Kairav ran a hand through his hair in frustration. He didn't want to get married. But something about this meeting felt… different.

Evening - At the Desai Residence

Ahaana sat in the living room, her hands nervously gripping the edge of her saree. Siya sat beside her, offering a reassuring squeeze on her hand. Raghav stood near the entrance, checking the time every few minutes.

Finally, the doorbell rang. Ahaana's heart pounded as Raghav opened the door.

And then she saw him.

Standing in the doorway, looking just as shocked as she felt, was none other than Kairav Agnihotri.

Her eyes widened. "Tum?" she blurted out before she could stop herself.

Kairav's lips curled into an amused smirk. "Miss Painter? What a small world."

Raghav, noticing the tension between them, frowned. "You two… know each other?"

Ahaana crossed her arms. "Oh, we’ve met. He ruined my painting, insulted my work, and then smirked about it."

Kairav chuckled. "And you yelled at me without knowing who I was. Twice."

Raghav sighed, rubbing his temples. "I see you two already have chemistry."

Siya suppressed a laugh. Ahaana shot her a glare.

Ishaani and Ansh stepped inside, smiling at Ahaana. "It’s nice to finally meet you, beta," Ishaani said warmly.

Ahaana forced a smile, still glaring at Kairav from the corner of her eye.

Ishaani turned to Raghav. "Shall we give them some time to talk privately?"

Raghav hesitated, but seeing Siya’s encouraging nod, he agreed. "Fine. But behave," he warned Ahaana, who just rolled her eyes.

The Garden - Ahaana & Kairav

The two sat across from each other, the air thick with tension.

"So, you’re the guy Bhaiya picked for me?" Ahaana asked, folding her arms.

Kairav smirked. "Seems like it. Surprised?"

"Shocked, actually."

Kairav leaned back in his chair. "Look, let’s be honest. You don’t want to be here, and neither do I. My mother is forcing this on me, and I assume your brother is doing the same?"

Ahaana hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah."

"Then let’s make a deal," Kairav said. "We tell our families we met, we talked, and we mutually decided it won’t work. That way, no one gets hurt, and we walk away free."

Ahaana stared at him. The offer was tempting. But something inside her hesitated.

"Mutually decided, huh?" she murmured.

Kairav raised an eyebrow. "What?"

A slow smile spread across Ahaana’s face. "Let’s see how this dinner goes first."

And for the first time since they met, Kairav felt intrigued.

Author’s POV

Kairav narrowed his eyes at Ahaana’s sudden change in tone. "Are you saying you’re considering this marriage?"

Ahaana smirked. "I didn’t say that. I just think it would be interesting to see how this dinner plays out before making any decisions."

Kairav leaned forward slightly, studying her. There was something about the way she spoke—playful yet challenging. He wasn’t used to women questioning him, let alone teasing him.

"Fine," he said, his smirk mirroring hers. "Let’s see how it goes."

They returned inside, where everyone was already seated at the dining table. Siya, ever the peacemaker, smiled at them. "Everything good?"

Ahaana and Kairav exchanged glances.

"Perfect," Ahaana said sweetly.

"Couldn’t be better," Kairav added.

Raghav narrowed his eyes. "That was too synchronized."

Siya giggled, and Ishaani smiled approvingly. "Well, I’m glad you two are getting along."

The dinner began, and the elders asked the usual questions—about values, career goals, and family expectations. Ahaana answered honestly about her passion for art, while Kairav gave diplomatic responses about his business.

But as the night progressed, their playful bickering returned.

"So, Ahaana," Ishaani asked, "What do you think of Kairav?"

Ahaana, mid-bite, nearly choked. She grabbed her water while Kairav smirked, clearly enjoying her discomfort.

"Uh, he’s…" Ahaana glanced at him. Annoying. Infuriating. Smug. "...different."

Ishaani’s eyes lit up. "Oh? In a good way?"

Ahaana forced a smile. "We’re still figuring that out."

Kairav chuckled. "She means she’s still deciding whether to kill me or tolerate me."

Raghav sighed. "That’s not reassuring."

Siya whispered to him, "They actually look… kinda cute together."

Raghav shot her a don’t even think about it look.

After dinner, Ishaani pulled Kairav aside. "I like her."

Kairav sighed. "Maa, it’s too soon—"