I hated it, having to present myself in front of a group of people I have never met before, especially in front of the prospective groom and his entire family. Only because my family had been forced to do it by a certain someone saying it is the tradition. As much as I loved my culture and roots, this was too much.

I was decked up in makeup and jewelry, draped in a heavy silk saree. Not that I don't like getting dolled up occasionally but I didn't like presenting myself like some product waiting to be determined its selling value for marriage one bit.

I took the tray and went over to groom and his family, bending down a little to give them the drinks. The groom was sitting in the main couch with his friend beside him, he was good looking but I knew in an instant that I wasn't attracted to him at all.

His friend, on the other hand, was very handsome and I found myself looking at him rather than the groom, he offered a little smile as he took his cup of tea making me smirk while the groom, Arjun was giving me a questioning look at the exchange which I ignored and set the tray down on the coffee table.

Arranging this without asking me was one thing, but demanding that I leave my studies and job immediately for this marriage that I don't even want in the first place because the 'ladies' in their family aren't 'allowed' to work? It's time to teach them a lesson they won't forget.

They were both looking at me, I signaled Arjun towards the door with my eyes, mouthing "Get out" which made his friend laugh which he quickly hid while Arjun's eyes went wide and lips slightly hanging open in shock.

My aunty caught his friend laughing and asked why.

"Oh, nothing, abbai siggu padadandi,"
("Oh, nothing, the boy's blushing,") he quickly covered which made me laugh quietly in return. Arjun glared at both of us.

I sat down on the opposite sofa with my uncle and aunty, with what I hoped was an innocent look on my face, all the while Arjun's friend was looking at me with a look I couldn't read. Arjun's parents started talking to my family.

"I heard that she is actually your sister's daughter?" The lady who I assume was Arjun's Mom asked my uncle, rude.

My uncle laughed, "That's true, but she is our daughter too, she is our child," he said caressing my hair. I felt guilty about what I was about to do but I quickly shook it away.

Arjun's mom laughed to hide her embarrassment, his dad cleared his throat and smiled apologetically.

"So, what do you think, do you like her?" He asked his son. I gave my best glare hoping he would get the message, again signalling him towards the door with my eyes. His friend smirked at me, I glared even more.

"I..." he trailed off, just say it already, suddenly smiling, oh don't you dare!

"I like her," he grinned at me, raising one eyebrow at me cockily. I couldn't control my face morphing into pure anger. He smirked, the audacity!

"What then, it's a yes, shall we did the engagement date? Let's exchange the plates first." Arjun's relative, the guy who started all this asked, no ordered.

What the hell? Aren't they even gonna ask me if I'm okay with all this shit? What on earth! Before my uncle or aunty say anything, I have to intervene.

"No!" I said loudly, causing everyone to go silent and look at me. I closed my fingers in a fist and took a deep breath. I have to do this.

"I don't care what his answer is, MY answer is NO! I don't want this marriage and I'm definitely not marrying him." I kept my voice as calm as possible but still evidently angry and loud enough for everyone in the room to hear.

"She's still a kid, she doesn't know what she's talking about-" Arjun's relative again interfered unnecessarily.

"If I'm a kid, then marrying me off is a crime! You don't think I know what I'm talking about but I'm ready for a marriage? Do you even hear yourself?!" I couldn't believe it. "For god's sake, have some logic!"

Arjun seemed to be processing what I said after my outburst, his expression visibly going from a cocky smirk to contemplation. But I won't believe this guy.

"Listen," I took a breath to calm myself, "I know you're all really respectable people and what I'm doing is considered disrespectful because girls aren't allowed to have a voice in this country, especially in this goddamn town but I must say this. I am not willing to accept this marriage, or any other marriage with anyone else for that matter," I turned to my uncle and aunty. "Please."

"I want to complete my studies and stand on my own foot and advance in my career, not become a wife and spend the rest of my life serving a guy like a servant!"

"Shut up! Haven't you taught her any manners? Look at how she's talking in front of everyone! This marriage will happen whether you like it or not! Shut up and sit down!"

The guy who was responsible for all of this shouted, an unwanted 'family friend' on our side and Arjun's family's distant relative, I'm in this mess because of this asshole.

"This bastard!" Oh I said that out loud, oh well someone has to do it.

"Are you kidding me?! Seriously, what the hell?! Sit down, old man! I can put you in the jail for what you just said, just try! I dare you!" I completely lost my temper. He went silent and sat down quietly, muttering under his breath, still glaring. I guess he wasn't expecting me to talk back much less shout directly at him.

I turned to Arjun who was staring at me with his mouth agape, his friend's face mirroring his expression.

"Reject me, now. If you still insist on marrying me, I swear to you I'll make your life a living hell you'll wish you had never met me." And I meant every word of it.

"You can just say no, why do I have to reject you?" he started. Ha, if only.

"Because you're the guy and I'm the girl." Blank surprised stare from both boys.

"Trust me, maybe my family will agree but this guy here who thinks he has the right to decide my life won't. And as much as I would like to knock some sense into him, I don't want things to escalate then they already have. So please just reject me." He seemed to think for a few seconds.

"Ok-okay then. No thanks, I'll pass," he stuttered, putting down the tea cup and straightened his jacket, turning to his parents.

"I don't like her," he added when the relative guy looked like he didn't get what he said.

"Oh thank god," I whispered, "Thank you." Finally, I could not explain how relieved I felt.

"And I'm so sorry for disrespecting you like this, I regret it had to come down to this when it could have easily been avoided if somebody had bothered to just ask me whether I'm ready to marry instead of just going ahead and arranging this because he wanted to. Trust me this marriage would have been a failure, garuntueed. Neither of us would have been happy. This was the only way I could escape from this forced alliance and for that I apologise." I bowed slightly to his parents and my uncle and aunt.

I didn't want to give them or the crowd a chance to badmouth me just because I rejected their son and they have to accept my apology since I did it so publically. Or they'll look bad. So they did.

"It's okay, you have a right to decide when you get married, our apologies." Arjun's dad said, I felt bad but I had to take a stand for my life. I did what I had to.

"Now leave, please. Before they change your mind." I asked Arjun.

"Every girl has a right to decide when and whom she marries, it shouldn't be forced upon them." Arjun's dad stated.

"We're sorry-" My uncle started by Arjun's dad cut him off.

"Don't worry, it wasn't your fault and it's not Akshara's fault either. She has every right to refuse this. I just wish we had more time to talk and figure such important things out on both sides before we set the date to visit." He directed the last part at his relative with a steely glare.

After a few more exchange between Arjun's parents and my family, they stood up to leave, telling my uncle and aunty not to scold me for standing up for myself. Arjun and his friend trailing behind as they left while still staring at me. His friend had a small smirk as he left. Whatever, I don't care. I have bigger a problem to face.

I plopped back down on the couch, finally able to breath. My uncle and aunty turned to me, anger evident on their faces.

"I don't want to get married right now, I want complete my studies and work on my career, please!"

I sighed before launching into a lengthy explanation.

"We did this for you! We did this so you can get married while you are still young. You have to get married if you want a good life. And I know you did this because they asked you to be a housewife but you have to make some sacrifices as a woman-"

"I don't want to!" I cut her off, I love my aunt but she can be a big mysoginist sometimes and I hate it.

"Look, I know you did this for my good but trust me, I'm not ready for this, I'm not okay with this, I will never leave neither my studies nor my job for a thing such as marriage. I will not lose my agency because some old dish rag can't bear to see women being independent and standing up for themselves. This just marrying and staying at home and spending the rest of my life slaving away in the kitchen serving my husband and his family and children, oh of course birth as many children as they want cause a girl is nothing but machine to serve people's needs, I won't let myself be locked up like that. Did you not see what that asshole said, how he wasn't afraid one bit to order me to leave my life in his hands? Who was he even to think that he cab demand I do as he says? How dare he reprimand me for for boy giving up my rights? Did you not see how sexist and mysoginistic that was? How dare a girl want a life of her own, how dare she desire even for one second that she can live her life by her own terms. I will not be oppressed like that!"

"I want to, no I need to have agency, I need to have a job so I can I stand on my own, that way even when I get married and if we happen to fight and get divorced, I'll still be able to look after my own self. This, right now.. I'm not ready for this. At all."

My uncle looked somewhat convinced about my lengthy speech while my aunt looked a little pissed but she quickly gave up and sighed. I understand her worries but I need to be the one controlling the reigns of my life.

"Okay, we won't get you married until you have a job, happy? That was what we had in mind too but then Mr. Thivakar came and asked for your hand in marriage for his relative's son and we couldn't deny it. He's an influential man."

"I'm the one marrying, I should be the one deciding."

"And you will be, either if you want us to arrange it for you or if you find someone suited to put up with your craziness. But I hope we'll get to arrange it." I didn't say anything and kept my expression blank, just nodding. Who knows what the future holds.

"If you don't mind, can I leave for Mumbai next week? I know you are angry at me even though you don't show it and I think me being away for a while will help both with that and the people gossiping to forget.. I just got accepted into the STF.

"No! We let you get police training thinking you would stop after a while but now STF? Are you out of your mind? How will you get married if you get hurt?"

"Athai, athai (aunt) I'll be fine, I'll be careful and I will get married, don't worry." I hugged her trying to calm her down. She only calmed down after a minute.

"Uh, can I come in?" We all turned to see Arjun's friend standing at the door, looking unsure of what he had just walked into.

"Ah, rendi (come in)," my uncle greeted him. He thanked him and came in.

"Phone marchipoiyanu..(I forgot my phone..)" he trailed off, running his hand through his hair nervously. He looked kind of cute doing that. He had medium hair neatly but still boyishly styled and trimmed stubble covering his jaw, he looked to be fit with quite a bit of muscle visible through his patterned white t-shirt. What the- I shook my head to clear away the not so innocent thoughts. What am I thinking? Focus.

"Oh take it, no problem. Where is it?" My uncle replied.

"It was here somewhere.." Arjun's friend started looking around the sofa he was sat on several minutes ago. My aunty gestered for me to help him, I nodded obediently, I should be at least be a little compliant after the scene I caused.

I went over to help him while my aunt went inside and my uncle got a call and excused himself.

I watched as he looked around the couch, still unable to find his phone.

"Let me see," I said as I moved closer and lifted the cushions off the couch, looking to see if his phone has fallen in between them.

"It's not here.." I muttered when I felt him lightly grab my wrist, making me slowly turn to him. He was again looking at me with that unreadable expression. His brown eyes borring into mine and I hate to admit, I kind of liked it.

"I- you.. didn't have a cause that big of a scene, you know? I mean- I mean you could have just said no to your family before we came..."

"You think I had a choice? You really think he would have accepted that?"

"Arjun said tha-"

"Not Arjun, his relative who initiated this entire dilemma in the first place for whatever reason, you really think he would just take my no and walk away?" I shook my head. "Look, I don't know why he did this or what he expected to get from this but whatever the reason was, I can guarantee that marrying your friend would not have been good for either of us. I'm sorry you had to go through this but I had to do it." I drew my hand away from his as he watched silently.

"I can't find your phone, shall I call you?" I changed the topic. He took a couple seconds to answer my question yes, taking my phone that I offered into his hands and dialling his number in, it started ringing, from under the sofa.

I bent down and tried to reach it but it was farther in than I thought, I straightened up and motioned for him to get down and try. He tried and got it out after struggling quite a bit as his arm didn't fit through the tiny gap between the sofa and the floor as easy as mine did, giving me a full view of his back and the muscles flexing visible through his t-shirt, I couldn't help but look. I'll admit, I liked the view.

He drew out his hand clutching the phone from under the sofa and turned to see me staring at his back, before I could pretend to be looking elsewhere. There he was again, smirking at me with a mischievous look in his eyes while laying on the floor like it is his own house.

"Get up," I myself stood up and offered him my hand which he smilingly took.

Before he could say anything my aunt came back, thankfully. I just hope she didn't see me oggling the groom's friend. Ughh.

"Did you find your phone?"

"Yes, aunty, it was underneath the sofa." She handed him a glass of water and he took it, drinking it in one big gulp and handed me the glass.

"Thanks, I'll take my leave then." He said and bowed slightly to show his respect to her and my uncle who had returned from the phone call to which they smiled. He went but stopped at the door to look back at me and winked with a somewhat cocky grin before leaving. Okay what?

🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺

Okay, I just edited this chapter and made some very minor changes so you can read it again if you want. But you'll still understand just fine if you don't cause it's just fine minor fixes.

🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺
Okay, this was the first chapter of "Nee Prema Tho" (With Your Love).

Btw, can you guys guess which character Vijay plays?
The groom or the friend?

Tell me what you think in the comments below!

I hope you guys enjoy this story along with me.
Love - Disha