Abhiram POV

Did she just say yes? As in a yes to marriage? Did I say yes to the marriage? Do I have an inkling of attraction towards her? I do. But marriage? What is going on?

"Are you okay with it?" She asks me and I didn't what got into me I just nod. I mean she is not wrong, it's not like we love each other and arrange marriages are just like a pact, atleast we will have someone who will take care of us when we get old.

"Yeah, I think so too," I answer.

"Okay then, shall we go home?" She asks, and I nod.

I go out and go towards the car, but Chaitra doesn't follow me.

"Hey, you are not getting in," I say. But she doesn't seem to look at me because her head is buried in her phone.

"I am booking an auto ." She says, and it makes me furious. I am here, I have a car. Why does she need an auto?

"Why?" I ask.

" What do you mean, why? I want to go home," She says. Yes, I know that and I have a car with me right now, she doesn't need a stranger to drop her off. I am here.

"I can drop you," I say, keeping my head leveled. I am getting a bit angry but I cannot shout on her.

" I can go by myself, it's not that hard." She says, looking back at her phone. I know she hates depending on people... but this- is beyond acceptable.

"Get in the car, I will drop you," I say, but she doesn't move from her place.

"Why would you do that?" She says confused. What is there to be confused about that? It's simple, I have a car and I will drop her.

" I can't let you go in an auto it's late and I need you to get home safe," I tell her. Her safety is of utmost importance. 

"Auto's are safe, I go on them most of the time, it's-" She continues, but I stop her.

"Get in the car Chaitra" I tell her, and she just gets in angrily as I open the door for her. Maybe my voice was harsh, but her safety was more important to me. Maybe I could have dealt with it in a calmer way.

We are silent for half of the ride.

"I don't appreciate that voice at all," She says, and I could sense her anger from her words.

"And you risking your life, to go in an auto is fine?" I counter. I might be exaggerating a bit, but still it is a risk.

"It's barely 9," She counters.

" Still, Chaitra! Your safety is important." I tell her again. That's the truth.

"I can keep myself safe!"

" I never denied that, but when I'm around, it's not okay to book an auto; I have a car and a bike and am well capable of driving".

"Don't tell me what to do!" She says as she folds her hands and pushes herself back into the seat. She puffs up her cheeks and sulks looking out the window. If it were any other time I would have admired it, but right now I think we are fighting.

"I am not telling you what to do! I am requesting you to use me as an option for your commute, late at night. You are my to-be wife, and having an incapable to-be husband who can't drop you off at your home is not a flex," I tell her. Somehow the words I have used seem to desipate her anger as she unpuffs her cheeks and unfolds her hands.

"Still, I didn't like the tone you used on me," She replies, holding her nose high, maybe trying not to give away the fact that she somehow agrees with me. She is cute man, she is.

"Okay, I won't use that tone again," I promise her.

"Okay, I will be safe and use you as my personal driver." She answers with a nod.

"Done," I say. I don't mind her using me as a personal driver. Soon we reach her house.

"You will talk to your brother and mother?" I ask and she nods.

"You?" She questions back.

"My parents will be a hurricane to deal with," I answer. They will be so excited that their son is getting married. I get out of the car with her and make sure she goes in before I start the car and leave.

I reached my home and as sure as I was, my parents were at my house, but my sister being there was a surprise. I regret giving them the keys to my house.

"What happened?" She asked when she reached home.

"She told yes," I say as I remove my shoes and place them in their rightful space.

"I knew she would, no one can resist your charms." It was my mother's turn to speak. Charms? God the last thing I have are those.

"I have no charms," I quipped.

"Did you open the car door for her?"My mother asked, I nod

"Did you pull a chair up for her?" My sister asked, I nod.

"Did you let her pay for something?" My mother asked. Were they too in our meeting How do they know all this?

"Did you tell her that it's okay and she could say no if she wants to?" My sister asks again.

"God, are you guys stalking me?" I ask them exasperated.

"Saakshi, she already loves him!" My mother says.

"No doubt!" My sister adds.

"I taught him well," My dad talks to himself.

"That's not what happened!" I say, but they ignore me and keep talking about how good a wife Chaitra will be for me. That's when my dad spoke.

"Take good care of her Abhi. A wife is a responsibility, don't lose her," He says as he comes forward and pats my shoulder.

"Learn from your dad, he is a good husband," My mother says, now they are acknowledging me! Till now they were in their own bubble.

"And Niku too!" My sister follows.

"We both got good husbands, have we not?!" My mother says, and they go back to their conversation.

"I'm so happy for my children. My son is finally getting married, and my daughter is giving me a granddaughter, I am so happy." My father said.

" Why did you decide it's a girl?" I ask him.

"I don't know, I always imagined I would play with my granddaughter," He says as he shrugs his shoulders.

" I don't know, my Niku and I feel it's a boy," Saakshi says.

"Even I, too," My mother adds.

"Actually, you suit more for a son, you know you like a mom who would take her son to cricket practice every day." I tell her and she nods.

"I can practically imagine that," She says, making us all laugh.

" I think you would be such a good girl-dad," My sister says, and my parents instantly agree.

" I don't know, shouldn't Chaitra decide if she wants babies?" I answer, and my mom chuckles.

"Look at him already thinking about having babies with her," My mom says, making me and Saakshi say yuck, mom at the same time.

"Well, Chaitra loves babies soooo," My sister says.

"It's our conversation to have stop deciding for us." I declare.

"Whatever, I'm just happy I will be inviting another daughter home," My dad says and goes back to looking at his phone.

" Does Chaitra like shopping? We all can go shopping, you know?" My mom starts up her own conversation.

And just like that, the conversation kept flowing around me, Chaitra, and marriage.

🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿

I am most excited about writing Chaitra and her father-in-law's dynamic. They will be so cute together! UGHHHHHHH

How do you like things so far? What do you think bout the progress? 

I am so excited about the other things I have in store for you guys!

I will be posting the next chapter tomorrow so stay tuned!!!

~Author