Dhruv's point of view

It's already 8:30 when I reached my parent's house. After meeting I went to my house and took a long shower before coming here. When I reached my parent's house, Priya's family still not arrived and I feel relieved.

As I entered the main hall cum living room, a two year old Reyansh run towards me calling me chachu in his gibberish language and my lips automatically turn up into a smile.

"Chachu..." He raised up his hands telling me to pick him in my arms. I bend down to his level and picked him up in my arms.

"How are you junior Nikhil Malhotra?" I asked him playfully. I don't like kids because of my fucked up childhood and I don't want anyone to go through it but he is my elder brother's baby and I am going to love it like my baby if I ever had. No matter how are our relationship now but deep down we still care for each other.

He could not speak anything other than his gibberish words which I can not understand.

"Reyansh don't trouble your Chahu." Nikita bhabhi came from kitchen while wiping her hands to her saree pallu and behind her mummy was following. Seeing her, Reyansh forward his hands to Nikita bhabhi. Bhabhi smiled and took him in her arms from me.

"Good evening bhabhi..." I greeted her.

"Good evening Dhruv." She said and leaned to my ear.

"Be careful, mummy is angry with you." She teased but I nodded my head curtly as bhabhi doesn't know the silent war between me and Mummy.

Distance created between me and my family from past years or I make my distance from them but since then this marriage topic bring into my life the distance between me and my family is larger than before as no one ready to understand me.

Mummy cleared her throat, demanding the attention. I wished her evening and went forward to touch her feet. She gave me blessings and took me in a motherly hug which can melts everyone's heart. My mother 8s not a bad woman. She just live me too much that she can't understand where my happiness lies.

"Look at you, you lost the weight. You are not taking care of yourself." Mummy said while running her both hands on my head messing with my hair.

"Don't worry mummy, the dishes you made today's dinner make him gain at least 2 kg." Nikhil said while approaching us and beside him papa was walking.

Nikhil and I both shared the brotherly hug and I touched papa's feet. He also hugged me and gave me blessings.

"Where is Divya?" I asked when everyone come to meet me except her.

"Must be getting ready. She is so excited for your marriage more than you." Nikhil rolled his eyes and Nikita bhabhi slapped on his chest playfully to stop making fun of his own little sister.

I so wanted to shouted on everyone's face that I not excited for the marriage, I don't want but I choose to shut my mouth as I don't want to spoil anyone's mood right now when everyone's looking happy.

"Dhruv, bhiya..." Divya run to me while shouting my name in happiness. She hugged me and I hold her hand to push her aside as I don't like of being touched or hugged by anyone except her.

"Finally you came, I thought you are going to be late in your own engagement date fixing." She said and everyone's laughed on her stupid joke except it.

"Okay, now it's enough let him come inside." Finally papa invited me inside. We all went inside and Nikitha bhabhi went to her room to breastfeed Reyansh as he started crying.

"Dhruv come with me..." Nikhil indicated me to the study and I follow him there.

*****

"Do you remember when was the last time you visited us." Nikhil made two glass of whiskey and asked me while giving one glass to me. I hold the glass and lean to the railing. We both are in the balcony of study room and having a brother talk.

I remember I came here when I attempted the suicide last. After that I never came before today as this marriage drama got start and I don't want to meet any of my family members to avoid this topic.

"I was busy..." I said while taking the small sip from whiskey and looked outside to the garden. In past years, Nikhil business grow up and I can clearly see that the money he spent in the interior of the small ground of the house.

"Busy..." Nikhil laughed sarcastically.

"People use this excuse when they are running from something." He said while looking at me.

"I have reason for it." I said honestly without looking at him.

"Reasons...? May I know 'Your Reasons'?" He asked.

"You know very well what are my reasons." I said in a flat tone.

"Dhruv, why are you not understanding? This is all for you. I can't look at you like this. You cut yourself to us, to your family." He said little harshly.

"I am fine." I said while liting the cigarette.

"Repeating the same thing again, truth can not be changed and what the fuck is this, when you started all this?" He snatched the cigarette from my hand and threw it away. I also didn't object because I promised someone to quit it. I didn't say anything and again turn my body and faced the garden.

"I don't want to marry Priya." I said calmly.

"Is there any other girl in your life? If yes, then I'll make sure no one force you to marry Priya. I'll handle mummy." He also calm down a little and asked me calmly.

I asked this question myself. Is there any girl in my life whom I want to spend my life with? I didn't get the clear answer but only her face coming in front of my eyes when I think someone in my life. But she doesn't have crush on me anymore.

"No..." I said flatly but I was unsure from inside.

"Then you don't have any other choice than marry Priya. Dhruv, brother, I never forced you for anything but Priya is a nice girl. You will be happy with her." He said and I saw brotherly love in his eyes.

There is no use of talking to anyone in my family members as everyone wants me desperately marry to Priya. Today I will directly talk to Priya's family and tell them my decision about this courtship.

Before I could say anything we heard the knock on the door and Divya came inside when Nikhil allowed her.

"Priya's family here. Papa-mummy are calling you downstairs." Hearing this Nikhil already leave without hearing her full sentence, leaving me and Divya

" ..and who the hell invited that Raghav." Divya scrunched her nose and I knitted my eyebrows in confusion.

*****

When I came downstairs, Priya's parents were talking to my parents, Priya was sitting beside Nikita bhabhi and talking to her while playing the Rayansh. I found Raghav and Divya talking to each other at the end of the downstairs. We not talking, Raghav was enjoying teasing Divya and she was fuming in anger.

I still don't understand what is there problem? Why the fuck they always fight. Well I know Raghav, he is like this since childhood but why Divya always fights with him?

"Stop your flirting Raghav." Divya barked on him.

"Why..? Is it affecting you?" He teased her more and I rolled my eyes.

Full of himself.

"Huh! Have you ever seen you face in the mirror?" Divya scoffed.

"I am handsome right. I know this since childhood." He teased more.

"Handsome my foot. You look like a monkey's red ass." I stifled my laugh when Divya thrown the right punch line on right time.

"Don't forget many of girls fall for this handsome face and you are one of them." He teased her more while bumping his shoulder to her and I saw the red hue on Divya's cheek and her eyes went wide in surprise but she recovers from it before anyone could notice.

"In your dream mister, by the way what are you doing here. No one invites you, you can go." She said.

"I came here to meet you sweetheart. I know you were missing me."

"Ha...ha...in your dream mister." Divya said dramatically.

"Well...you do more to me than missing in my dreams." Raghav leaned to her ear and whispered in her ear but I heard it. Divya's face turn into red, she pushed Raghav back by his chest and went where everyone was sitting.

When Divya leave I approached Raghav.

"What was that?" I asked as an protective brother.

"Nothing, I was just messing with her. I have to say something as she called me monkey's ass face. Can you believe it. Girls can do anything just to be my girlfriend and your sister just called my monkey's ass. " He said dramatically and I rolled my eyes.

He must be tease but he is not harmful. Divya and he shares this kind of relationship since school time. Divya never complaint to me about his behaviour. If Raghav is tease than Divya is not less. Sometimes they both share double meaning joks and laughed on their stupid jokes at the end. Everyone knows how they both are and they know how to ignore both of them but Raghav is mummy's favourite. He even came here nore often than me just eat mummy's hand made food. Mummy even feed him from her hand.

I told you he is a mumma's boy.

"Did you drop Aditi safely?" I asked him.

He nodded his head and said, "Yes, I did but I don't understand one thing why the hack she asked me drop her on the isolated road near her house and when I told her that I wanted to meet her family she denied and leave without saying anything. She looked worried and afraid when I requested to meet her family."

He was looking worried and irritated at the same time. I can understand him as he is confused.

"Do you know what is going on in her life?" He asked me. He is an IPS officer and it take no time for him to find things suspicious in Aditi's life as he handles hundreds of victims and criminals in a day.

"She must be don't want to look with a guy as you know how orthodox her family was." I lied to him as this is not the right time to tell him anything. He nodded his head.

"Do you tell Divya about Aditi?" He asked me and I shake my head as no.

"Not, yet. I was thinking to bring Aditi here with me some day. It will be surprise for Divya and Aditi too." I said honestly. I don't know why Divya broke all contacts with Aditi but they used to be a best friend and Aditi will be very happy if she meet Divya again.

"Hmm..Great idea. Aditi will be happy yo see Divya after long. I know Divya also missing her." He said and I nodded my head in agreement.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him.

"Nikhil invited me. He wants me to convince you to fir engagement." He said.

"Are you really going to convince me for the engagement?" I asked him. He chuckled and shake hus head as no.

"It's your life. I am not going to force for anything. Though Priya is a nice girl but she is not for you." He said and I smiled. No matter how rudely I behaved with him but he understands me more than my family and a true friend in all means. I am lucky to have him beside me but I am not going to agree this on his face as I don't want to boost up his ego.

"Dhruv, Raghav what are you both doing there. Come here join us." Mummy called us and we both went to them.

*****

I greeted Priya's parents and touched their feet. Priya's mother took me in a warm hug while her father was giving me cold shoulder. I know, I am not his first choice for Priya but he is doing this because of her and my IAS status.
We are not wealthy as Priya's parents, that's why his father always show his status and wealth in front of us. Sometimes he just laughed with Papa because of Priya's happiness.

Priya is lucky that she got such loving parents who can do anything for her happiness but not everyone is lucky like her.

Aditi, She got the worst parents in the world even her brother was douche even after going through the hell since childhood she still stood strong though she lost the hope in her life but still she wanted leave from that hell on her own.

"Hey, Dhruv." Priya greeted me while smiling shyly.

"Hey.." I said while thinning my lips.

"I called you so many times but you didn't accept my calls." She said.

"Yeah, I was busy with work." I gave a short answer.

"Oh! it's okay, after marriage I will tie you with my pallu so you can not go anywhere." She chuckled on her own thoughts and then blushed. I feel bad for her because what's going to next, gonna break her heart.

"Anyways, you look good." She said shyly and I feel little uncomfortable because I am not used to of compliments.

"Thanks..." I cleared my throat and muttered thanks. I turned my attention to everyone when they started laughing and giggling looking at both of us. I looked at Raghav and he was busy teasing Divya. Everyone settled in the living room and a maid started serving snacks to everyone.

"Anuradha ji, what date you guys fixed for rhe engagement?" Priya's mother Ritu aunty asked my mom.

"I want to make Priya our daughter-in -law as soon as possible Ritu ji Do I want the engagement soon." Mummy said and Priya smile looking at me with her red cheeks but they didn't attract me like Aditi's red cheeks dose.

"How about the next month?" Nikhil suggested. I looked at Raghav and he nodded his head. I also nodded my head. This the time I have to speak and stop all this. I know why Nikhil invited Raghav but I know him batter. He always support me and don't force me to do anything what I don't want to. He knows how my mental condition is and what I am going through so he will support me in my every decision what I take.

"Before you guys went further and set dates for my engagement, I want to say something." Everyone's attention turns towards me. Mummy was looking at me with Panic while holding Nikhil's hand, Nikita, Priya and Divya looking at me curiously, papa was as usual normal and Priya's parents waiting for me to speak further.

"What do you want to say son?" Papa asked me calmly.

"I don't want this marriage." I said calmly but the colour of Nikhil and mummy's face vanished and they are looking at me with wide eyes.

"What do you mean, you don't want this marriage? Do you need time?" I turn my attention yo Priya's father when he speak in his flat tone.

"I don't want this marriage means I don't want to marry Priya." I matched his tone. I looked at Priya and his eyes were flooded with tears. I don't want to hurt her feelings but if I continue this she will get hurt in future and I want that so it's batter to be end here.

"Dhruv, did I do something?" She asked in her trembling voice and I shake my head as no while looking at her with concern.

"No, there is no fault of yours. The fault is in me. I don't feel the same, you feel for me." I said calmly with consoling words.

"Do you love someone else?" She asked me between her sobs while Divya and Nikita bhabhi tried to calm her. Her mother was standing numb beside her.

I don't know how to answer her of this question. I don't love someone else but there is a girl whom I feel for something. Who is more than friend to me, whom I want always around me precisely in my arms.

"No..." I whispered while looking down.

Priya leave Nikita bhabhi and Divya, she walked me. I also stood up from my seat while seeing her walking to me and meet her in mid way. She hold my both hands and asked me, "If there is no one in your life then why you don't want to marry me."

"Priya, I have no reason but I can't change my feelings for you. I had never seen you more than friend and I don't want you to marry the person who don't love you." I tried to make her understand.

"Dhruv shut up what are you saying? Come to my room we need to talk." Nikhil said between his greeted teeth and stood up from his chair.

I leave Priya's hand turn to Nikhil. He was fuming with anger and so am I, seeing him like this.

"There is nothing to talk. I already announced my decision." I said between my clenched teeth and fisted hands.

"You have to take your decision back. I can't let you ruin Priya's life." He shouted. Everyone gasped loudly when he took a two long strides towards me and the way he was walking to me I probably get two punches from him but I am ready for this. But before he could reach me Raghav came, he stood between me and Nikhil and stop him by taking another step towards me.

"Dude, you can't force him for anything he don't want to." Raghav said while stopping him.

"I am not ruining anyone's life. I am saving her from forever' grief." I also shouted back.

"Dhruv my happiness is with you. Just give us a chance." Priya speak between her tears and it break my heart to seeing her like this but irritates at the same time.

"Priya, this is the high time for you to understand there is no us and can't be. I don't love you" I said calmly as much as I could while holding back my irritation and don't turn to look at her.

"Enough...." Priya's father stood and walked to while fuming with anger.

"You can not talk to my daughter like this. If you don't want yo marry her then why did you agree for the first place." He shouted.

"I was forced to." I said while holding back my anger and clenched my fist to keep me in control.

"You did the rokka with her?" Nikhil shouted.

"I didn't want to do it first place." I said while greeted my teeth and fisted my other hand.

"My daughter is not a toy that you throw it away after getting bore form it." Ritu aunty also shouted and she has tears in her eyes.

"Trust me, I always respected her feelings and doing the same right now." I said.

"What do you think yourself, you break my daughter's heart and leave you like this. You became IAS doesn't mean you can matched our standards. You still are middle class." He shouted. I know he doesn't like my family and our status because we are lower than them in wealth but I am happy at least no one in our home is corrupted.

I looked at Priya and she was looking at me with angry and wet eyes. It bring me back to the memory when Aditi's family raising their finger on my character, she still fought for me to her family knowing that her family will give her punishment latter to support me. Maybe that is the difference between Priya and Aditi. Priya clamed to love me but she can't stop her father saying such things for my family and Aditi fought to her family for me. Maybe that is the commitment she gave to her little crush on me that she will protect my dignity without thinking about the consequences.

"Prakash ji, I know Dhruv did the mistake but it doesn't give you any right to say such things to my son." Papa joined us, at the corner if my eyes I saw Nikhil was glaring to Priya's father but I don't know what is holding him back. Why he is so keen to get me married to Priya?

"Don't feel sorry, because I am breaking this engagement right now. Your daughter still have the bright future." I spat back.

"Don't forget whom you are talking to. I am the sell tax commissioner and my brother is a well known businessman in business world. So you better watch your tone before talking to me. It was my daughter who is crazy for your love otherwise I would not let her marry to the family like yours. Even though you are an IAS officer but we are much better than you, in wealth and status." His tone was irritating me. My blood boils when he talked like this about my family.

"Then keep your daughter to yourself. I don't want to marry her." I shouted back but a loud slap landed on my right cheek and it force made me turn my face to the other side. My eyes turn into red and my jaw was shaking when I clenched it more and turn to look at the person who just slapped me. Mummy was standing before me while glaring at me and I was also looking at her with same rage.

"You will marry Priya and this is my last decision." Mummy said every word clearly while pointing her finger to me.

"Over my dead body." I also said putting pressure to each word and leave from there, leaving everyone behind. I heard voices behind me, calling me by my names but I didn't stop. Raghav was following me from behind. He didn't say anything and set inside the driving seat. I also set in the passenger seat as I am not in a condition to drive my car.

"Do you want to go for a drink?" He asked while ignited the engine.

"Just drop me home." I said and leaned back to the passengers seat while resting my head on the seat head and closed my eyes.

****

My condition is same as Aditi but the difference is my family doesn't understand me while her family doesn't love her.

Why parents forced thing on us which we don't want to do? Why they don't understand they are slowly pushing us towards the dark tunnel of depression by forcing things in us. But today at least one part of me relief that I put the full stop on things which I don't want to.

Even now, as broken as I may feel, I am still strong. I was feeling like Aditi was telling me that she is with me and telling me to keep move on. She is holding my hand and telling me that she will never leave me. I used to think, I will never find peace in my life, no matter how many lovable people I was surrounded with but now I don't need people to be happy. I just need her with me to keep myself calm and feel the happiness of this world. She was providing me things which I forgot that exist in the real life. She brings light in my life and I want to fill her life with love and happiness.

I want to snatched away her pain and give all the happiness and love she disserves. I don't know anything about her past except that her family abandoned her and now she is living with her aunt who doesn't even treat her like a human. I feel pain in my heart with with every drop of tear which leaves from her eyes.

"Today, I saw Aditi was crying on the corner when we were in the meeting." It catch my attention when Raghav took Aditi name. We are still in car and he was driving me to my rented house.

"What do you mean, why she was crying?" I asked while averting my full attention to him.

"I don't know, I asked her but she said nothing." I nodded my head and noted to ask her about this tomorrow morning.

"She is not the same, she used to be in childhood."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I don't know, it was I am seeing the different Aditi after eight years. I mean, I know she was conservative before but before her eyes has the different shining but now they are look dead and fear full sometime." He asked me.

"She went through things at very young age which she wasn't supposed to. Her life wasn't easy like us." I said

"What do you mean?" He asked me in confusion while focusing on the road. I don't want to tell him anything about Aditi until she doesn't want to. It's her life and it would be her decision to tell people her story.

"Nothing." I said while sitting straight to my seat.

"Do you like her?" I snapped my head towards him when he asked me suddenly.

"What do you mean?" I asked him in confusion.

"I mean do you like her? Does she affects you when she is around?" He asked while focusing on the road and changed the gear while increasing the speed little bit.

My life was completely changed since she came back to my life. I feel alive again. I found the hope and I feel like now I can survive in this world easily. Yes, she affects me when she was around. I don't want to let her away from sight and want to spend as much as time with her.

"Yes, She affects me but I don't like her." I wasn't sure about my last sentence because I started feeling something for her.

"Oh! thank god you clear this to me. Now I can make her meet to my parents for our marriage as you know I like her a lot." My head snapped to him automatically and I feel a pain little bit when he said the last sentence. I forgot the pain on my cheek which mummy caused me and when the words leave to his mouth.

"Don't you fucking dare." I said while clenching my jaw.

"Why...? I am single and ready to mingle." The mischievous glint didn't leave his face and I really wanted to murder him right now.

"Find another one." I said through my greeted teeth.

"Then accept it you have feelings for her." He looked at me while wiggling his both eyebrows but I am not going to give him the satisfaction, winning this conversation.

"No..." I said and turn my head to window.

He laughed and silence again fell in the car. None of us said anything until he started singing a song.

Ae mere dil mubark ho yhi to pyar hai.

I turn to him and looked at him with irritation.

"Why are you singing this song?" I asked him irritated.

"My song, my choice." He said and smirked while looking at me.

"Fuck you..." I pick the tissue box and throw it to him. He laughed and dodged the tissue box. I turn my head to the window and looked outside in the dark.

When you have a feelings for someone, you noticed every single detail about, then no matter how small they were and when they do something for you, you feel so touched, no matter how simple it was.

Since Aditi has been around, I smile a lot than I used to. I stare at her when she is not around. I noticed every single thing about her even her smile attracts me. She looks beautiful to me no matter how old and rug clothes she was wearing. She doesn't wear ornaments and looked simple but still I found her attractive. I can't tell, how many times I sleep with her and woke up the same.

I wonder, Aditi feels the same when she used to have crush on me because this feeling making me crazy but smile at the same time. Every morning, I looked at the watch since I woke up and count every single second left to meet her again but I don't like the evenings when the time arrive she has to leave me it was like she takes one part of me with her.

I started liking a girl who doesn't even feel same for me.

I accepted to my heart that I have feelings for her, something romantic, strong and forever.

I like my beautiful neighbour.

......................................................................

I hope you like the chapter.

Finally our Dhruv accept his feelings towards Aditi, well not love but at least he accepted that he have feelings for aditi and he like her.

Today I don't have much to say so please do lots of comments and vote.

see you guys in next update.

Thankyou...