I pull in a deep breath. “I just need to make sure Sana and I are on the same page before I tell my parents about her.”
“Of course, man. Take your time. I’ve got your back.”
“Thanks. I owe you one for this,” I mutter, already feeling the storm of emotions settle into a new level of chaos.How the hell am I supposed to convince Sana when my mom’s breathing down my neck like a ticking time bomb, pushing me to get married?
“You don’t owe me a damn thing. Just make sure you do it right and get everything sorted with your girl.” Reyansh’s voice is reassuring, but I can tell he’s serious about me getting thingsstraight. He then adds with a teasing edge, “Also, let’s meet soon over beer. I want to hear every single detail about how you’ve been keeping things under wraps with this girl you’re completely head over heels for.”
“Soon,” I reply, hanging up.
Tossing my phone onto the desk, I drop my head, elbows resting on the surface, hands tangled in my hair, as the weight of what lies ahead crashes down on me —Sana, my parents, the dinner—everything pulling me in different directions.
God, when will I be able to get Sana to say yes?
Chapter 15
Sana
Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I let out an exasperated groan. A small shred of guilt gnaws at me for doubting Aditya’s intentions, but at the same time, I can’t shake off the annoyance. Seriously, did that jerk really think dumping a huge sum of money into my bank account to cover my loan was the solution?
I’m more than capable of handling my own problems. Deep down, I understand where he was coming from. He was simply trying to be a good friend, with no ulterior motive. But to me, it was completely unacceptable. My self-respect and independence weren’t up for debate, and if we were truly friends, he needed to respect that.
Amid the chaos running through my mind, a small smile tugs at my lips as his face flashes before me. Of how he had asked if we were good, looking hopeful. I just couldn’t bring myself to say no and hurt him. It didn’t erase my frustration entirely, but it made it damn near impossible to stay angry at him.
God, I really need to figure out how to stop arguing with him if we’re actually giving this friendship a real shot. Maybe if he weren’t such an arrogant, high-handed jerk, we might actually get along. But I guess it is what it is. Being bossy is just part ofwho he is. I just need to figure out how to deal with it without feeling like strangling him.
“Planning my murder, are you?” Aditya’s voice catches me off guard. I spin around and meet his gaze, and in an instant, my heart kicks into overdrive.Stupid heart.
Channelling my brave demeanour, I place my hands on my hips and narrow my eyes. “I don’t recall inviting you to my house, least of all to my room.”
He shrugs. “I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling about the argument we had. And even though you said we were good, I needed to come and see for myself.”
God, this man really knows how to keep me on edge. I let out a sigh.
“Aditya, I already told you we’re fine. You didn’t have to come all the way here just to check. A call would’ve been enough.” But despite my protest, a small part of me softens knowing that he actually did.
“Maybe I didn’t have to, but I wanted to,” he replies, stepping further into my bedroom before casually settling onto the edge of my bed as if he belonged there.
“Make yourself comfortable,” I say dryly, crossing my arms.
“You certainly know how to make someone feel welcome,” he grins, casually leaning back on the bed with his palms resting on it. “By the way, your mom asked me to tell you she’s going to the temple and then visiting a friend. She’ll be gone for a while.” With a smirk, he pats the spot next to him. “Now, why don’t you sit down instead of glaring at me?”
I roll my eyes but take a seat opposite him in my study chair, refusing to sit beside him. “I honestly don’t know how you manage to run your business. What’s even more amusing is imagining what your parents would think if they knew how their ‘capable’ son spends his time chasing women. I’m sure they’d start brainstorming ways to tie you down.”
Something shifts in his expression, the usual playfulness in his eyes replaced by something—something that tugs at my chest. But I don’t question him. I pause, choosing not to push, giving him the space to speak when he’s ready.
He looks down, runs a hand through his hair, and then meets my gaze, as if debating whether to share what’s on his mind. I give him a silent nod, signalling that he can trust me.
“My parents love me,” he begins, his voice softer than before. “They’ve given me everything—comfort, security, a life most people would envy. But with that love comes expectations… ones I never really questioned… until now.” He pauses, leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he clasps his hands tightly, his eyes never leaving mine. “For them, it’s always been about status, money, and what society thinks of you. That’s how they measure success. That’s how they measure people. And for the longest time, I did too.”
I remain silent as he exhales sharply, a bitter chuckle escaping his lips. “That’s why the women in my life were always… the same. They fit into that world. They knew how to be selfish and not care about anyone’s feelings. They lived by it. For them, all that mattered were the things I was taught to care about—power, connections, prestige. It was simple… uncomplicated.”
He shakes his head, his jaw tightening. “But lately… I don’t feel comfortable anymore. I feel like I’m drowning in something that doesn’t even give me happiness.”
I swallow, my chest tightening at the vulnerability in his voice. “Aditya…” I whisper, but he shakes his head, his gaze locking onto mine.
“I don’t want something that looks good on the outside but feels empty on the inside,” he admits, quietly. “I want something real. Something that doesn’t need a label or a price tag to mean something. Something that—” He hesitates and then swallowshard. His next words are almost a confession. “—something that actually feels like home.”
I don’t know what to say. I open my mouth, then close it again, my own emotions swirling inside me as I hold his gaze.
