Paridhi's POV
I wasn't ready for him. I had thought I'll meet him tomorrow morning not tonight. So the prep talk I needed was left out. Nandini bhabhi had video called maa, who was telling us about reyaansh and rehaan's tantrums throughout the day, and on the back they were both arguing like they did nothing and their dadi was making up stories.
That was when he came. I considered going back to my room but I knew I had to face him, so why not now. And anyways with bhai and bhabhi here what could even happen. But I think I overestimated myself, because when he came I was rooted to the spot. If I hadn't trained to keep myself poker faced or neutral during media interactions,which I never had to do and hopefully won't need to do in the future too, I never would've been able to pull it off. The indifference, the nonchalance at seeing him. He was staring at me too and strangely it didn't feel creepy. When his eyes came to my eyes, I almost got scared by the intensity of his gaze but I managed. And then bhai interrupted, thank god, or I would've really made a fool of myself.
"Anirudh Singh Raghuvanshi", he introduced himself and his voice, it was hoarse, like he was tired, but not unpleasant, deep but not too much to make it scary and authority boomed in it even when he tried to limit it. Guess it comes with being the crown prince.
No idea what my bhai said next, cuz the only thing that got my attention was, " And my sister, Paridhi Rathore. "
No idea what compelled me to do that, but when he extended his hand I took it. And I felt I shouldn't have done that, it sent a jolt of electricity through me. So, when he said " Pleasure meeting you. "
I did my best to reply like I wasn't the least bit interested in his pleasure, " Same here. " And just excused myself to my room. There's only this much a person can handle in a day. And my day was done.
Sitting in my bed, I decided to go through my past few days and how I ended up here.
My return, Vinayak bhai's coronation and then that morning.
16th October, 20XX
I was crying in my room when ananya bhabhi and nandini bhabhi knocked on my door.
"Pari, open the door na. " Ananya bhabhi said, " Not now bhabhi. Please. " I wasn't in the mood to hear them explain anything to me.
"Pari, just to listen to us once. You know us. We are not here to force you or something. We just want to talk. " It was Nandini bhabhi this time.
"We'll talk later bhabhi. For now leave me alone. "
"Fine then, we'll stay here until you open the door. Let the servants see their newly crowned queen already slacking. " Were they both taking turns speaking. And she knew I won't let that happen. Opening the door, "Urghh, you both. You can't even let me cry in peace. " I didn't want them to see me like this, I knew I looked real bad in just some minutes, my eyes were swollen, cheeks red, I looked like an idiot.
"But we don't even want you to cry. "
And then my bhabhis just sat with me in silence till I said, " Why bhabhi? "
"Pari."
"I know everyone has to get married. And I'm not against that, contrary to that I do wanna marry, have a relationship like you guys have. And I'm not even against if it's a guy that maa baba has selected. Cuz I know they'll always choose the best for me. But not now na.. Tell baba please. I don't want to marry now. I just came back. Please.. Bhabhi do something na. " I was breathless by the time I finished.
Nandini bhabhi was already crying, while Ananya bhabhi too was on the verge of it but somehow stopped herself. " Pari, you know baba. All his life he had never done anything without consulting you guys. But bache this time he's doing it. He must have his reason na. "
"But bhabhi not now. Does he not want me around. " Shutting me up by her hand on my mouth.
"Shhh listen, he said he had decided but he never said that he won't listen to you.. He's your baba, you know him the best. You should know that it is much more hard for him to have you leave him when you only came back now. He has not seen you for 3 years and you saw how he couldn't have his fill of seeing you. So don't ever think that it's because he doesn't want you around. And remove this nonsense from your head. You know it in this world your baba loves you the most. "
"So pari, you have to be strong. We don't know why but baba was very adamant in his decision, even Vinayak and Hridhaan couldn't persuade him. And you saw maa, she supported him. And moreover you're 25 now and you're not even dating anybody, maybe he got worried. "
"Bhabhi you can't joke at a time like this. "
"What? Even I and Nandini were married at this age. . Haina Nandini? "
"You're right bhabhi. " Nandini bhabhi said
"So just calm down first and then go talk to baba. Alright. Now go to sleep. "
She's right I'll talk to baba later, but I'm not that old, am I?
~Same evening
"Baba" Dad was sitting in his room when I decided to talk to him, so I just went there.
"Oh pari, come in, why are you standing outside like that. You know na you can come here anytime. "
"I know baba. Where's ma? "I said sitting beside him on the sofa in the room.
"She's with Nandini deciding about dinner. "
"I'm sorry for behaving like that in the morning. "
"Are na bache. It's my fault I should've thought from your point of view too. "
"But baba what's the hurry. I'm back now it's not like I'll run away that you want to tie me with marriage. "
"I know you won't run, but I'm getting old and I don't know when I'll di..." I didn't let him finish that. I can't. How can he say that.
"Are pari, ro mat bache. "
Hey pari, don't cry child.
"Who told you to talk shit like that. "
Realising my choice of words he laughed, the audacity of this man to laugh after saying something like this.
"Baba, it's not funny. "
"I know, but it's true pari. I'm almost 70 years old. "
Yup he is, I was the miracle child, he had me when he was 44 and maa was 36, but he's not old. I mean how can he be, he was our king till yesterday.
"So what? Don't forget you were still holding up a state up until yesterday. You're not gonna leave me this soon. "
"You said it pari, till tomorrow. See I can't anymore. Your baba is really tired. " And I saw it, the load all his work took on him, the grey hairs which stood even more today and most importantly his eyes, which were being burdened more and more. My baba was getting old. I knew it but not so soon. And the realization hurt.
"What should I do, baba? I don't wanna leave you guys so soon. "
"Everyone has to leave someday pari. And didn't you go to Harvard and then for work too. "
"But it was not like marriage baba. Then I knew I'll come back but marriage, it's permanent. "
" It is permanent but it's a relationship, commitment not some sort of bondage. It's not like you can't come to us. And moreover you'll be much near us than you were in the past 7 years. "
"But."
"Please pari, give it a chance. For me. "
"I don't know him baba. "
" I know. I know. I'll think of something. Believe me I won't send you into something I'm not sure of. So please trust me. "
"I trust you baba. "
" Is that a yes? "
"Umm hmm. "
"Thank you bache. "
" No need. We still have to see and decide. "
"Yes yes of course. "
"Then I'll leave. "
"Alright. Take care pari. "
"You too dad. "
Present time.
And two days later it was decided that I'll come to Jaipur for the project with Raghuvanshis or rather to meet my maybe-future-partner.
Along with hridhaan bhai and nandini bhabhi, leaving the management in the state to Vinayak bhai and ananya bhabhi.
The tension between vinayak bhai and baba was still there but it was less and overtime it would go away. I know it.
And so here I am in Jaipur, in our family house, with my maybe-would-be-husband on the other side of the hall. I did my research before coming here both on our project and him. But he was different than he was in the reports, I mean he looked good even in the pictures but in reality he was something else. How can a man look so good. So at least baba didn't select an ugly guy for me.
And in the career checkbox was ticked too as how can it not, he was the crown prince of Suratgarh for god's sake. He can't be dumb alright.
Urghh, I was getting irritated for no reason. Maa had told me that I should try but what, maa you should've given me a manual.
Forget it, it's not like it's the end of the world. I still have 3 weeks till the engagement, let's see if him and I can get somewhere. If not, baba had said, ' If you're still not ready then we'll just leave it. '
So yeah no pressure.
Good night pari.