THE UNCHOSEN CHOICE

POV: Naira

As I stepped into the serene open-air restaurant with my family, surrounded by tall trees and a gentle breeze, an uneasy flutter stirred inside me. Was I making a mistake by agreeing to this arranged marriage meeting? Every footstep echoed with hesitation.

We were led to a spacious table, twelve seats arranged in a perfect circle beneath string lights swaying gently overhead. I took the seat beside my sister, clinging to her silent support, while my parents sat beside her. My fingers twisted the edge of my dupatta nervously as three elegantly dressed figures approached - two men in crisp black tuxedos, and a woman in a pastel pink suit.

Mr. Reyansh Kakkar, Ansh's father.

Mr. Ritesh Kakkar, his uncle.

Mrs. Madhuri Kakkar, his mother.

They greeted us warmly, but all I could think was - let this be over soon.

And then... he walked in.

Ansh Kakkar - CEO of RM Enterprises.

He wasn't what I expected. At all.

Black shirt, beige cargos, commanding stride, and eyes so dark they seemed to pull the air from my lungs. For a terrifying second, it felt like love at first sight. And that terrified me more than anything.

But I blinked the feeling away, swallowing the flutter and hiding behind a fake smile. Attraction wasn't part of the plan. I just needed to get through this meeting, say the polite things, and let it end without mess.

My sister leaned in slightly, and without a word, her eyes said it all - He's out of your league.

I agreed. We were from two different worlds. He was an empire. I was a girl clinging to normalcy.

The conversation floated around my education, my hobbies, my interests... but I wasn't really present. I was bracing myself for rejection. Ansh hadn't even looked at me properly. He barely spoke. Surely he wasn't interested.

I answered mechanically - yes, I have a master's degree in literature. Yes, I'm working right now. Yes, I love painting. Yes, I believe in balance between career and family. But with every answer, my confidence slipped a little further away.

Then came the inevitable: "Let the youngsters talk."

I nodded, because it was expected. Not because I believed anything meaningful could come from a 10-minute private conversation.

I'd only agreed to this meeting out of respect for my parents - love marriages were alien to their beliefs. And I never craved romance anyway. I had seen enough messy endings around me to know love wasn't always beautiful.

As I stood to walk with Ansh, my heart beat a little faster - not from excitement, but dread. Whatever was about to happen, I prayed it would end quickly.

---

We moved to a quiet outdoor seating corner, far from our families. I could feel his gaze - unreadable, indifferent - and just as I opened my mouth to speak, he beat me to it.

Ansh: "Name your price... and tell your parents no to this wedding."

The words hit like a slap I didn't see coming.

I had prepared for polite disinterest. A stiff "You're not what I'm looking for."

But this? This was insult wrapped in arrogance.

Naira: "How much for the ego-ectomy? Removing that oversized ego of yours might make you tolerable."

Ansh: "What?"

His eyes narrowed. I stared right back, letting my sarcasm do the shielding.

Naira: "A procedure to remove your foot from your mouth. So you don't go around humiliating girls like this again."

I stood up straighter, voice firm but quiet.

Naira: "If you want a no, you'll get it. I refuse to spend my life with an egoistic maniac who thinks women are transactions."

He shrugged, as if this whole thing meant nothing.

Ansh: "Great. Pleasure meeting you."

Naira: "I wish I could say the same."

We walked back in silence - brittle, bitter silence. I could feel his eyes on me, but I didn't flinch.

Until-

An elderly man stumbled nearby, losing his balance. Instinct took over.

"Are you okay, sir? Please sit down, I'll get you some water."

But before I could act, Ansh gently pushed past and took over.

Ansh: "Dadu, are you okay?"

His voice was softer - concerned, even tender.

The old man smiled, brushing it off. "Thanks to this young lady," he said, glancing at me.

So this was his grandfather.

For a fleeting second, Ansh looked different - not the arrogant man from moments ago, but someone who cared, deeply. That crack in his armor unsettled me more than his insults.

We rejoined the group. He helped the elderly man settle in, while my mother whispered beside me, "Such a sweet boy, see how he takes care of his Dadu."

I didn't reply. I wasn't sure what to believe anymore.

Then, just as everyone was about to speak, Ansh's voice cut through the air:

Ansh: "We like each other. We're both ready."

The entire table lit up with surprise and smiles.

My father looked thrilled. My mother pressed her hand to her heart. His family exchanged proud, knowing glances. My sister looked at me with wide eyes, almost mouthing what the hell just happened?

But me? I sat frozen.

We like each other?

We had just fought. He'd insulted me.

And now... this?

What kind of game was he playing?

I turned toward him, trying to read him - but he wasn't even looking at me. He was focused on his grandfather, who now beamed like his favorite grandson had just won the world.

I felt caught in something I didn't understand. Like the ground had shifted beneath me and no one else noticed.

Was this fake acceptance just for his grandfather's sake? A moment of performance? Or was there more behind that cold facade?

All I knew was that this man - this arrogant, confusing man - had just changed the course of my life in one sentence.

And I had no idea whether to be angry, terrified...

...or intrigued.

💬 What did you think of their first clash? Team Naira or Team Ansh?

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