Author's Pov

The bright morning sun filtered through the sheer curtains of Ishita's room, casting golden patterns on the walls. The aroma of freshly brewed tea wafted through the house, mingling with the distant hum of kitchen activity. Yet amidst the usual morning bustle, Ishita's world had turned upside down.

Sitting cross-legged on her bed in a bright pink kurta and pajama, she tossed a ladoo into her mouth, hoping the sweetness would somehow unravel the tangled mess in her head. Her usually vibrant eyes were clouded with confusion.

"Shaadi? Mujhse? Aur wo Mr. Serious Virendra Raghuvanshi?" she muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes dramatically.

[Marriage? Me? And that Mr. Serious Virendra Raghuvanshi?]

Saloni, her best friend and confidante, sprawled on the floor next to her with a bemused expression. "Matlab ekdum filmy plot lag raha hai! Rich, handsome, thoda khadoos CEO tumhare peeche pagal hai?" she teased, trying to lighten the mood.

[It sounds like a complete filmy plot! A rich, handsome, slightly arrogant CEO is crazy about you?]

Ishita nearly choked on her ladoo. "Yeh tumhein handsome lagta hai?" she asked incredulously. "Uska toh chehra aise stiff rehta hai jaise kisi ne zindagi mein smile ka license hi cancel kar diya ho."

["This looks handsome to you?" she asked incredulously. "His face is always so stiff, as if someone revoked his license to smile for life."]

Saloni burst into laughter. "Arre yaar, itni nautanki mat kar! I mean, thoda intense lagta hai, but some girls love that brooding CEO vibe."

[Oh come on, don't be so dramatic! I mean, he does seem a bit intense, but some girls are into that brooding CEO vibe.]

Ishita snorted. "Main woh wali ladki nahi hoon. Mujhe woh chhichhore hero types pasand hain - jinke saath life ek adventure lagti hai, not corporate training."

[I'm not that kind of girl. I like those playful, carefree hero types - the ones who make life feel like an adventure, not a corporate training session.]

Saloni's eyes gleamed mischievously. "But seriously, just think about it. Even your dad must be impressed, right? A proposal from the Raghuvanshis - oh my God! You're getting a guy from the elite class."

"I don't want any elite package."

Ishita declared dramatically. "Anyway, marriage isn't on my schedule at all. I want to finish college and build my career... and definitely not with Virendra Raghuvanshi."

Saloni leaned closer, her tone teasing. "But to be honest, didn't you find even a little something good about him?"

Ishita paused, chewing thoughtfully. Her mind flickered to Virendra's intense gaze and the way he carried himself with quiet authority. There was something undeniably commanding about him, but she pushed the thought aside.

"Good? Yeah, right. His sense of humor is a national tragedy. And his eyes always look like he's investigating whether I'm a sweets thief or not."

Ishita said, making a face.

Saloni burst out laughing. "You'll have to climb the Himalayas just to impress that guy."

Just then, Yashvir's voice echoed from outside the room. "Ishita! Dad's calling, Raghuvanshi uncle's on the phone!"

Ishita's stomach sank. "That's it, we're done for."

Saloni nudged her playfully. "Best of luck, future Raghuvanshi."

"Stop dreaming!" Ishita shot her a glare before stomping out of the room.

In the spacious living room, Harshvardhan Chauhan paced with the phone pressed to his ear. His face was a mix of politeness and unease. Savita, Ishita's mother, sat nearby, her brows furrowed with worry.

"Yeah...I'll talk to Ishita," Harshvardhan said before ending the call.

Ishita stood at the threshold, her arms crossed. "Papa,do you want to talk to me about something?"

Harshvardhan gestured for her to sit. "Beta, we can't reject Virendra's proposal. His family holds a lot of respect for ours."

Ishita's heart raced. "But Dad, what about my choice?"

Her mother sighed. "Beta, Virendra is a good guy. With time, you'll understand."

"Waqt ke saath toh dengue bhi theek ho jaata hai, Mumma. Matlab yeh thodi ki dengue welcome kar loon?"

[With time, even dengue gets better, Mom. Does that mean I should welcome it?]

Ishita retorted.

"Ishita!" her father warned sternly.

She clenched her fists. "Why can't you all understand that I want control over my own life? I won't compromise."

Harshvardhan's voice softened. "Beta, sometimes in life, we have to make compromises."

"I don't think marriage can be the solution to any compromise, Dad." Ishita said firmly.

Her mother placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Beta, Virendra will be good for you. His status is different, but there's a good person inside him too."

Ishita stood abruptly. "I just can't digest this."

Without waiting for a response, she stormed out, her mind a whirlwind of emotions.

The garden outside the Chauhan residence was peaceful, with birds chirping and flowers swaying in the breeze. Ishita sat on the stone bench under the mango tree, her thoughts spiraling.

"Zindagi toh meri hai, par faisla koi aur kar raha hai," she muttered bitterly.

[My life is mine, but someone else is making the decisions.]

Saloni joined her, a supportive smile on her face. "Your dad's words were really serious, weren't they?"

"Yes, according to him, Virendra Raghuvanshi is some kind of superhero. But I can only see him in the role of a villain."

Ishita grumbled.

Saloni laughed softly. "Teri problem kya hai? Shaadi ka idea ya Virendra ka idea?"

[What's your problem? The idea of marriage or the idea of Virendra?]

Ishita paused."Both. Marriage isn't even on the cards right now. And Virendra... he seems like someone from a completely different planet. I feel like if we get married, my lifetime supply of sweets will be over."

"Arre baba," Saloni teased, "shayad woh tere liye laddu le aaye!"

[Maybe he brought laddus for you!]

"Nahi re, usko dekh kar lagta hai woh sirf kaleje ke laddu khilayega," Ishita quipped, earning another round of laughter from her friend.

[No way, looking at him, it feels like he'll only serve heartburn!]

Back inside, Harshvardhan and Savita sat discussing their next move.

"Ishita won't be easy to convince," Savita said worriedly.

"I'll talk to Virendra," Harshvardhan decided. "That guy is patient. Maybe he can earn Ishita's trust."

---

Later that evening, Ishita's phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number.

"Ishita, we need to talk after college tomorrow. We have to meet. - Virendra"

Her eyes widened. "Looks like he's really insisting."

Saloni peered over her shoulder. "Wow, the text message is pretty professional."

"Professional? More like threatening," Ishita muttered.

"Go and hear him out, who knows, he might say something good."

Ishita sighed. "I'll go, but just to prove that I'm not anyone's property."