Aditya finally looks away, setting his empty glass down before standing. I do the same as Mom heads to the dining room. But before I can turn, Aditya passes me, leaning in ever so slightly and murmuring, “No matter how much you fight it, Sana, I’ll always get to you.”
And just like that, he walks away, my pulse hammering against my ribs.
Luckily, the rest of lunch goes by in a blur of casual conversation, with my mom chatting animatedly with Aditya about everything from family updates to old memories. He listens, smiles, and responds to her with that same effortless charm, ignoring me completely.
Not a single teasing remark, not a glance in my direction, not even a passing acknowledgment of my presence. He focuses entirely on my mother, chatting with her effortlessly, while I clench my fork tighter, my appetite long gone.
This is what I wanted, right? For him to back off, to stop riling me up with his usual antics. And yet, the deliberate way he ignores me—the way he doesn’t even try—gets under my skin more than his teasing ever did.
It’s ridiculous. Frustrating.
And still, I can’t stop myself from stealing glances at him, as if daring him to look at me. But he doesn’t. Not once.
Ugh, I hate him. Jerk.
Chapter 26
Aditya
“When do you plan to end this silent treatment?” My mom’s voice cuts through the phone the moment I answer, making me sigh. I drag in a deep breath and shut my laptop with more force than necessary. I had hoped a few hours at the office would help clear my head, but peace is clearly out of reach.
“You can’t ignore me forever, Aditya,” she huffs in frustration.
“I’m not ignoring you, Mom,” I grit my teeth. “I just needed some space.”
I hear her sigh on the other end. “Space? Aditya, you’ve had enough space to build a whole new planet. Talk to me. I hate it when you shut me out like this.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose, my patience fraying. “And what do you want me to say? That everything is fine? That I’m not torn apart between what I want and what you have decided for me?”
Her tone softens. “Aditya, I really think Samantha is a nice girl. In fact, she has said yes.”
My grip on the phone tightens as my heart slams against my ribs.
Mom doesn’t wait for me to respond. “Now it’s your turn, Aditya. You said you’d give it a chance with an open mind. That means letting us go ahead and plan a wedding date.”
I press my fingers to my temple, a storm raging inside me. I don’t even know why I agreed to that stupid date. Yes, I did it to make Sana confess her feelings, but I should have seen it coming—that it would hand my mom the perfect excuse to start planning weddings.
“Mom…” My voice comes out strained, weighed down by the war in my head. “Mom, I said I’d meet, not that you’d start planning weddings.” I suck in a breath, but it does nothing to ease the chaos. “Mom, you really need to understand that Samantha is not the kind of woman I want,” I say, each word laced with frustration and an edge of desperation. “And if you think she’s the one for me, then… then maybe, as a mother, you’ve failed to understand what my true happiness is.”
There’s a beat of silence. I can almost hear the sharp intake of breath on the other end and feel the sting of hurt she doesn’t bother to hide. But I don’t regret it.
“It’s that Sana girl?” she accuses. “She’s still messing with your emotions. Is that the real reason you’re treating us like your enemies?”
“Mom, I don’t see you or Dad as enemies. Maybe what hurts is that you’re blind to what I truly want.” I let out a slow, measured breath, trying to keep my frustration in check. “And just so you know, this isn’t about Sana,” I say, though even I can hear the weariness in my voice.
Yes, I’m stuck up on Sana. Yes, she’s the woman I want—the only one I see my future with. But that’s not the only reason I’m saying no to Samantha. The truth is, even if I had never met Sana, Samantha still wouldn’t be the one I’d want to build a life with. She’s fake. She cares more about appearances than genuine feelings. I’ve seen how her ego matters more to her thanthe people around her. How, for her, marriage is just another challenge to win. Mom needs to understand that this isn’t about holding on to Sana. It’s about refusing to settle for something I know will never make me happy.
“Don’t lie to me, Aditya. I know you,” she presses. “You’re holding on to something that was never meant to be. And in the process, you’re turning away from something that actually makes sense.”
I shut my eyes, rubbing a hand over my face. “No, Mom. What doesn’t make sense is you deciding my life for me.”
Mom exhales sharply. “Listen, Aditya, just get married, and everything will fall into place. You’re overthinking this.”
I open my mouth to argue, but she doesn’t give me a chance. “In fact, let’s not drag this out any longer. Let’s have the engagement this weekend.”
My eyes snap open, her words hitting me hard. “What?”
“You heard me,” she says, as if it’s the simplest, most logical thing in the world. “It’s the right decision, and you’ll see that in time.”
