Marriage proposal

Saanvi 's pov ~

Yes sir, I’ll give you the contract papers by tomorrow.”

Ohhh god Finally! My shift is over. I seriously need a good cup of tea to refresh my mind—it’s been such a hectic day. Just recently, I found out that the former chairman of the Singhania Empire is visiting the Jaipur branch in three days. Because of that, I’ve been working overtime for the past two nights. Thankfully, I’ve completed all my work. Just then, my phone rang. I already knew who it was—none other than my best friend, Akansha.

Me: Hello?

Akansha: Girl, where are you? I’ve been waiting for the past ten minutes!

Me: I’m on my way, darling. Just give me ten more minutes.

Akansha: Hurry up! Did you finish your work?

Me: Yep, finally done.

Akansha: Good! Come fast. We'll talk when you get here.

Me: On my way!

After hanging up, I grabbed my scooty keys and left the office. Akansha and I had planned to meet after a long time. We’ve been friends since school, but both of us have been caught up in work and haven't had the chance to meet lately.

After a ten-minute ride, I reached our meeting spot. There she was, waiting. She gave me a tight hug.

Me: “Girl, you’re going to kill me! Stop squeezing me!”

Akansha: “Then die! Do you even realize I’ve been waiting for over half an hour? Don’t tell me you forgot about our plan!”

Me: “Of course not! How could I forget something so important? Now no more drama. I’m starving. Let’s eat.”

After that emotional moment, we ordered two cold coffees and some sandwiches.

Me: “So, how have you been?”

Akansha: “Ugh, not great. My parents are pressuring me to get married.”

Me: “What do you want?”

Akansha: “I don’t want to marry so early! I’m just 25. Imagine me holding a baby who calls me 'mom'—isn’t that way too strange?”

I burst out laughing at her dramatic thoughts.

Me: “Oh God, Akansha! You’re already thinking about babies? Just tell your parents you’re not ready yet.”

Akansha: “You think I haven’t told them? I’ve given every excuse, but they keep repeating the same thing—get married. Today it’s marriage, tomorrow it’ll be having a baby. Can you imagine having a child at 25?”

Me: “Yeah, I get it 😅. So, what’s your plan now?”

Akansha: “No idea, yaar. Anyway, forget about me—what’s going on with you?”

Me: “Same old stuff. Days and nights just pass by.”

Akansha: “So… is there someone special in your life, or are you still single?”

I laughed. “Nothing like that. You think too much.”

Akansha: “Come on yaar, at least get a boyfriend. Or are you planning to directly marry?”

Me: “No way! Marriage is not in my plans. I’ve seen how women suffer in my village after marriage. Some men even cheat despite having wives—it’s horrible. I’m not ready to risk that.”

Akansha: “You’re right. These days, cheating is so common—by men and women both.”

Akansha: “Anyway, let’s change the topic. How’s your work going?”

Me: “It’s super hectic. Since the ex-chairman is visiting in three days, we’ve been working overnight to complete pending tasks.”

Akansha: “By the way, I looked up your company’s owner. Girl, he’s so handsome! Set me up with him!”

Me: “I’ve heard he’s arrogant and full of himself. I really dislike those types.”

Akansha: “You’re crazy. He’s a successful businessman—it’s normal for him to have a strong personality.”

Me: “I just hope I never cross paths with him.”

Akansha: “You don’t meet him, but let me meet him. After that, you can babysit our child!”

Me: “Didn’t you just say you’re not ready to get married or have kids?”

Akansha: “Well, if it’s someone like him, how can I say no?”

Me: Bipolar bitch.

We both burst into laughter. After talking for another half an hour, we said our goodbyes and I headed home.

I, reached home by 9 PM. My mother asked me, “Why are you so late today?”

“Nothing much, Mata ji,” I replied, “I met my friend Akansha.”

“Oh, that school friend of yours who always talks about cricket?” she asked.

“Yes,” I said with a smile. “She absolutely loves cricket, just like I do. Whenever she calls, that’s all we talk about. But ever since we both started working, we’ve become so busy with our own responsibilities that we barely get a chance to talk.”

After chatting with my mom for a while, I suddenly remembered that I had to prepare some contract papers. I quickly got to work. By the time I finished and packed up everything, it was already 1 AM. Exhausted, I finally went to sleep.

Viyansh's pov~

It’s 4 a.m., and my day begins. Like every morning, I start with a gym session. After an intense two-hour workout, I head back to my room and walk straight into the bathroom.

The hot shower helps ease the tension in my muscles, leaving me feeling refreshed. Stepping out, I make my way to the closet. I slip into a sleek black tuxedo, fasten my Rolex around my wrist, and finish off with a spray of Cologne.

After getting dressed, I stepped out of my room and headed to the dining area for breakfast. Everyone was already seated. I greeted my elders with a polite “Good morning” and quietly began eating. The table buzzed with casual chatter, but I remained silent. I’ve never been one to speak unless it’s necessary—and I’ve never had much patience for people who talk without a purpose.

Once breakfast was over, I left for the office. Our company headquarters is in New York. My family moved to the U.S. when I was a child, after a certain incident that changed everything. That moment marked a turning point in our lives, and it’s here that I built my own business from the ground up. Today, we’ve built an empire. Still, I’ve never had any desire to return to India—the memories tied to that place are far too painful.

Lost in thought, I barely noticed we’d arrived until the driver spoke, “Sir, we’ve reached.” I simply nodded and stepped out of the car.

Just as I was about to head inside, my P.A. appeared out of nowhere—another headache I have to deal with Kritika . She’s the daughter of my father’s best friend, which is the only reason she’s working in my company. Honestly, if she weren’t the my father best friend daughter I would’ve handed her a resignation letter the very first day I saw her. To make matters worse, she lives with us and happens to be my sister’s best friend. So, for peace’s sake, I say nothing.

She greeted me with a cheerful “Good morning,” and I responded with a nod before walking into the building. As I entered the office, others greeted me as well—I nodded again, offering no words—and headed straight to my cabin.

It’s 6 in the evening, and I’ve wrapped up all my meetings.

I stepped out of my cabin — and oh no, there she was again, walking toward me. I tried to ignore her and kept moving.

Kritika called out, “Heyyy Viyansh, wait for me, yaar!”

In a calm tone, I asked, “Yes? Do you need something?”

She smiled and said, “Yes, can we have a coffee together?”

“No,” I replied firmly and walked away.

Kritika sighed, “Oh God, so many guys are always trying to get my attention, and here he is… ignoring me!”

I don’t like her—she’s constantly trying to get close to me with her actions, and I really dislike it when someone tries to invade my personal space. Once, an employee even tried to seduce me. I immediately had her removed from the company and ensured she wouldn’t be able to find a job in New York again.

After getting into my car, I chose to drive myself. I usually return home late, but today I got free earlier than usual, so I decided to visit my friend Shaurya.

Author's pov~

Fifteen minutes later, he arrived at Shaurya’s house, where he was greeted by Shaurya’s 2-year-old daughter, Eva. Shaurya had married his childhood best friend, and together they had little Eva. Viyansh and Shaurya first met in the USA when Viyansh was around 17 and Shaurya was 20. Over time, they became close friends. Viyansh had a deep affection for Eva, and ever since her birth, he had formed a special bond with her.

Eva adored her Viyansh chachu with all her heart. Every time he visited, he came bearing lot's of toys and chocolates, showering her with love and warmth.

Just then, Shaurya appeared dramatically from behind.

“Heeeyy man! Look who finally decided to show up!” he grinned. “Took you long enough to remember me. I knew it—you just can’t stay away from your first love, huh?”

Viyansh smirked and shot back playfully, “Oh shut up, you idiot! I’m here for my little Eva, not your dramatic nonsense.”

Shaurya threw his head back, laughing. “Come on, bro! We all know how much you love me—just admit it na!”

Viyansh rolled his eyes, half amused, half exasperated at Shaurya’s antics.

Right at that moment, Emma entered from behind with a warm smile.

“Heyyy Viyansh! How have you been? When did you get here?”

"Heyy Emma, how are you?" Viyansh greeted with a smile, just as the moment took a playful turn.

Shaurya chimed in dramatically, "Ohhh, now it all makes sense! No wonder you never confessed your undying love for me."

Viyansh raised an eyebrow, amused. "And why’s that?"

Shaurya grinned, pointing toward Emma. "Because of her, bro! Emma’s the reason! But don’t worry—she’s totally cool with our relationship!"

Both Emma and little Eva burst into laughter at Shaurya’s over-the-top drama.

Viyansh let out a long sigh, shaking his head. "God, what did I do to deserve a friend like this?"

"Shut up, you idiot!" he said, chucking a pillow straight at Shaurya.

Shaurya caught it mid-air with ease.

"Whoa, whoa! Calm down, man!" he laughed, holding the pillow like a trophy.

The room filled with laughter, teasing, and the kind of madness only true friendship brings.

After enjoying a lively conversation with Shaurya, Viyansh finally took his leave—but not before bidding a warm goodbye to little Eva.

At the grand Singhania Palace,

Poonam ji warmly welcomed Kritika's parents, Alok ji and Aditi ji. Kritika rushed to hug them tightly.

Alok ji smiled and asked, “How are you, my daughter?”

“I’m good, Papa. How are you both?” she replied lovingly.

“We’re doing well, baccha,” Aditi ji responded with affection.

Curious, Kritika asked, “What brings you here all of a sudden?”

Poonam ji and Aditi ji exchanged knowing smiles before Poonam ji softly said, “We’re here to talk about your and Viyansh’s marriage.”

Overwhelmed with joy, Kritika’s face lit up. She had secretly liked Viyansh for a long time and constantly tried to grab his attention—even working under him as his PA just to be closer to him. Unfortunately for her, Viyansh never reciprocated her feelings and mostly ignored her.

Poonam ji clapped her hands lightly and said, “Alright, alright! Let’s all head inside.” Once inside, Kritika’s parents were introduced to everyone.

Poonam ji then made the big announcement about the marriage proposal. While Muskan seemed genuinely excited, the rest of the family offered forced smiles. Everyone knew the kind of person Kritika truly was—except for Poonam ji and Muskan, who admired her deeply.

Alok ji asked, “Where is Manish?”

Poonam replied, “He’s in India for some work. He’ll be back by the end of this week.”

Alok ji nodded thoughtfully. “We should have at least spoken to him about this.”

Poonam reassured him, “Don’t worry. He likes Kritika a lot too. Why would he object? Besides, you and he go way back to childhood.”

“You’re right,” Alok ji agreed, and the two continued chatting casually.

Meanwhile, everyone waited for Viyansh to arrive.

After a while, I made my way back home-it was already dinnertime. The drive took about 12 minutes since Shaurya's place isn't too far from mine.

As I approached the main gate, I noticed Kritika's parents standing there. Something felt off, but I brushed it aside and stepped inside.

Just as I was heading to my room, my mom stopped me.

"Viyansh, come meet Kritika's parents," she said.

Without saying much, I gave a quick nod and continued to my room. After changing into a shirt and grey joggers, I headed to the dining area.

As I entered, everyone stared at me with odd expressions. I chose to ignore their looks and quietly began eating my dinner.

While I was eating, I noticed Vedant kept staring at me.

I looked up and asked, "What's going on?"

"Nothing, bhai," he replied quickly.

"Then why are you looking at me like that?" I pressed.

Vedant muttered under his breath, "I was just wondering how you'll react after hearing the news..."

"What did you just say?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

"Nothing at all," he said, brushing it off.

Author's pov~

After mustering a great deal of courage, Poonam ji finally decided to bring up the topic of marriage with Viyansh.

"I need to talk to you about something," she said gently.

"Yes, Mom. Go ahead," Viyansh replied.

"We've decided to arrange your marriage with Kritika."

At her words, Viyansh's eyes flared red with restrained anger. He kept his composure but spoke in a cold, firm tone, "I'm not interested in marrying anyone. Please don't bring this up again."

Poonam ji persisted, "And why not? You'll have to settle down someday, right? Look at Kritika-she's perfect for you in every way."

Viyansh snapped, his voice rising, "I already said no!"

His sudden outburst silenced the room, leaving everyone visibly shaken.

Poonam ji, stunned, asked, "What's wrong with you, Viyansh? How long will you keep holding on to the past?"

"You have to marry Kritika. That's final."

Without another word, Viyansh abruptly stood up from the table. "I said no-and that's final," he declared, then stormed off.

Alok ji turned to Poonam ji, confused and concerned. "What is this, Poonam ji?"

She sighed and replied, "Don't worry. I'll speak to him."

Aditi ji gently reassured Poonam ji, "Don't worry, we're willing to wait for him. I know we won't find a better match for Kritika than Viyansh."

Poonam ji smiled and nodded in agreement. "And I couldn't ask for a better daughter-in-law than Kritika."

Aditi ji added, "Just give him some time. He'll come around eventually."

Poonam ji continued to smile, though concern lingered in her eyes. "I'm truly sorry for how Viyansh reacted. He normally doesn't behave this way."

Aditi ji consoled her, "It's alright. He's like a son to us too."

Meanwhile, in his room, Viyansh was fuming. His anger got the better of him as he began throwing things around in a fit of rage. Known for his short temper, once provoked, he lost all control-and no one in the house dared to step in or stop him.

He ran a hand through his hair, the frustration evident on his face. Deep down, he knew his refusal to marry stemmed from the wounds of his past-scars that hadn't yet healed. Needing to clear his mind, he stepped out onto the balcony to breathe in some fresh air.

After about ten minutes, his anger began to fade, replaced by a sense of calm. Feeling slightly more composed, he returned to his room. But as he looked around at the mess he'd created, he sighed heavily and rubbed his temples in frustration. Without wasting time, he called the servants to come clean the room.

Seeking relief, he walked into the bathroom to take a cold shower. As the water poured down, he closed his eyes-but within moments, haunting memories from his past flashed before him. His eyes flew open, disturbed.

Nearly an hour passed under the stream of water. Finally, he stepped out, wrapped a towel around his waist, and grabbed another towel to dry his hair, his expression distant and heavy with thought.

servants had already tidied up the room-just an hour ago, it had looked like a complete disaster, but now there was no trace of the earlier chaos.

He tossed the towel onto the bed and made his way to the closet. After rummaging through it and creating a complete mess, he finally found his black trousers. Slipping into them, he walked back to the bed and lay down. Exhausted, he didn't even realize when sleep quietly overtook him.

Oh no, how did I oversleep today? It's already 7:30 AM-I need to rush or I'll definitely be late! I quickly grabbed my clothes and hurried to the bathroom. After freshening up, I went straight to the temple. No matter what, visiting the temple is a non-negotiable part of my day.

I first visited the jain temple, and then made my way to the Shiv temple. Even though I don't know a lot about Hinduism, I have a deep devotion to Lord Shiva. After completing my prayers, I returned home where Mata ji had already prepared breakfast for me.

Once I finished eating, I picked up my scooty keys.

"Dhyan se jana," Mata ji said with concern.

"Ha, dhyan rakhungi," I replied, waving goodbye to her as I left for the office.

While riding, I noticed a crowd gathered at one spot on the road. Curiosity got the better of me-I couldn't see clearly what was going on, so I stopped and asked an elderly man nearby, "Kaka, what's happening here?"

I knew I was getting late, but finding out what was going on felt important. Kaka told me there had been a serious accident. "The whole car caught fire... I doubt anyone made it out alive," he said.

I looked over and saw the car-it was completely charred. Just as I was about to turn away, something caught my eye-a hand, barely visible behind some tall grass. I immediately parked my scooty and rushed over.

There was a man lying there-not too badly injured, but completely unnoticed. I checked-he still had a pulse.

I shouted to the crowd, "He's alive! Let's take him to the hospital!"

One man said, "I'll call an ambulance."

But I interrupted, "There's no time to wait!"

I brought my scooty forward and said, "Help me lift him. Hold him from behind and sit tight."

He nodded, and together we rushed the injured man to the hospital, wasting no time.

We reached the hospital within a short time. As soon as we arrived, the doctors rushed him in and admitted him immediately. The emergency staff began treatment without any delay.

the doctor finally came out. I quickly approached him.

"Doctor, how is he?" I asked.

"He has sustained some internal injuries," the doctor said calmly. "The blast impact caused him to faint. Thankfully, there are no external wounds, but the internal trauma will take time to heal."

"When will he regain consciousness?" I asked.

"It's hard to say exactly. It may take some time-possibly by the evening," the doctor replied.

I nodded quietly, murmuring a soft, "Thank you, doctor," before turning away.

After completing the necessary formalities, I paid the hospital bills and made sure everything was in order for his continued treatment. Though I didn't feel like going, I headed to my office, knowing I couldn't avoid work any longer.

As I walked into the office, my friend looked up from her desk with concern.

"You're so late today. Everything okay?"

I sighed and sat down heavily in my chair. "No, not really. There was an incident... a blast. Someone I don't know was injured badly. I had to rush him to the hospital."

Her expression turned serious. "Oh my God, is he alright?"

"He's stable now, but still unconscious. The doctors are hopeful he'll regain consciousness by this evening."

"That's terrible... I hope he recovers soon."

"Me too," I replied quietly, trying to gather myself.

"Did you inform his family about the accident?"

"How could I? I don't even know who he is. The blast destroyed all his documents and his phone, so there's no way to contact anyone right now. I'll wait for him to regain consciousness and then try to get the information to reach his family."

She nodded.

After that, we both got busy with work, but my mind kept drifting back to the hospital, wondering if he was waking up, if he was in pain, and if he'd be okay.

It was 5 PM and my office hours were almost over. I picked up my scooty keys and started heading home.

I don't know why, but something in my mind urged me to check on him once, just to see if he had regained consciousness. So, I changed my route and drove towards the hospital where he was admitted.