CHAPTER 3

Armaan's POV

I woke up at 5:30 in the morning. I did my morning chores and I went out to check if anyone was awake but the house was empty, I guess no one is awake so I decided to go on a walk to the nearby park. I went back to my room to change my clothes. I wore black hoody and tracks paired with white shoes, I took my earphones and iPod and left the room.

I came back from walk and still house seemed empty so no one's still awake then I checked the time it was 7:30 AM. Since it's a Sunday no one will wake up before 9:00 AM "it's the same, nothing has changed." I thought. I decided to take shower and then come down. I went to my room and removed my clothes from the suitcase and went to take a shower.

.

.

.

.

I hadn't arranged my clothes in the closet since we were supposed to go to our home today. "God it's been so long we haven't been there." I thought. I wore white shirt paired with blue jeans and went to have breakfast. It was 9:30 and everyone was already present in the dining area. I sat near my dad talking to Karan and Vikram uncle. We were talking about business when mom started talking about my wedding. "I guess it's the right time to start working on my plan."I thought and started "Mom, don't you think it's too soon for Alisha. I mean she's just completed her studies 2 months back and she also needs to work on her career. Isn't it soon ?" I asked my mom.

"Alisha beta, do you have any problem with the wedding?" Mom asked her.

I was looking at her so that she could tell what I expected.

"Uhm...Aunty, Maa and dadda are okay with it. So I don't have any problem with it. But if Armaan has any problem then we can surely postpone the wedding or even cancel it." She told shyly. This was so unpredictable man. My anger was at peak now. She is behaving as if we've met the first time.

"Armaan beta, do you have any problem ?" Vikram uncle asked.

"No uncle, nothing like that. It's just that it's been very long that me and Alisha have talked to each other and we used to fight a lot during childhood and so many things have changed so I just want to know her before the wedding. That's it." I told not wanting to get a bad image of myself.

"Ye plan soch na hi nahi chahiye tha. Pehle waala hi accha tha. ( I shouldn't have thought of this plan. The first plan was only good)." I thought. We continued having the breakfast while I was  passing some glares to Alisha.

After finishing breakfast, all of us were chatting while I and Alisha were glaring like we'd eat each other if it wouldn't be a non-human act.

"Uncle, if you don't mind can I take Alisha out today? As I told we both don't know each other properly." I asked Vikram uncle. Alisha was shocked would be an understatement.

"Yeah sure, son."Vikram uncle agreed.

"Armaan, we will be at 'Malhotra Manision' come once your done with your date. Don't trouble my daughter."My dad warned me.

"Okay." I replied in an irritated tone.

.

.

.

.

I took Alisha to a cafe and both of us ordered food.

"Shoot." Alisha told. I was startled not because of her sudden start but because this is the first time she initiated the talk.

"What to shoot?" I asked confused.

"See Armaan, let's not beat around the bush and get to the point. I know you don't want this wedding to happen and I want the same. So I'm pretty sure you've planned something to cancel this wedding. Just tell it." Alisha told. I was more than shocked now. It's like she is reading my mind.

"If you don't want to marry me then what was that parents thing that you told in the morning." I asked.

"Frankly saying maa and dadda want us to get married and when I denied at first maa started emotional backmailing and all. That's why I told that. I was pretty sure that you hate me and wouldn't want to marry me. So I left it all to you." Alisha told.

"So,feelings are mutual. Couldn't you deny  anything? Since childhood you're lazy. You should've atleast convinced them na. This happens all the time. Lazy person. 'Left it all to you' " I told, mimicking the last part like she told.

"Lazy? Me? Why didn't you deny? You could've also denied na?" Alisha asked irritated.

"Okay, don't get irritated now. Feelings are mutual. So, why not plan something together?" I asked.

The waiter arrived with the food and served it to us. We stopped talking till the waiter left then we started eating.

"So?" I asked while eating.

"So?" Alisha asked in the same tone with a confused look on her face.

"Uhm...Remember I asked you something before the waiter came?" I told more like I asked.

"Oh yeah. So, do you have any plan or we need to think about it?" Alisha asked.

"I've thought that...uhm...you...have to...Forget it?" I stammered thinking that if I reveal the plan then she'll shout at me.

"Armaan, tell it. Maybe I can do it." She told.

"Promise me that you won't get angry or complain to our parents about it." I asked.

"Am not a kid anymore Armaan" She shouted in an angry tone.

"So what you had to do is...you had to tell your parents that you love someone else and would have to show my parents that you aren't a good wife material to...." I was telling when she cut me off.

"Tum mujhe sab ke saamne bura dikhana chahte ho aur khudh acche ban jaoge.( You want to show everyone that I'm bad and portray yourself as a good person.)" She whispered angrily without even listening properly.

"I told 'HAD'" I reminded and she nodded and mouthed a sorry to me.

"Listen properly and don't cut me off now. Since you told that you will marry a guy according to your parents wish, I dropped that plan in the morning only. So basically now we have to think something different." I told and "hmm" was all I got from her. Then she continued eating.

"Let's fight infront of them." Alisha told suddenly.

"We have been fighting since childhood but still they paired us. You think this would work?" I asked. She thought a bit and nodded in 'no'.

Then both of us completed eating and I was about to pay the bill when she insisted on splitting the bill. I refused but later on, since she was stubborn I had to agree to it.

We were in my car going to Malhotra Mansion where everyone was there. I got an idea while driving and told it to Alisha too.

"Armaan, it's not only me who doesn't want this wedding to take place, even you don't want it to happen. Then why are you hell bent on portraying me wrong. Think of something that won't ruin both our images, do you even have some sense? You want me to shout at you in front of your parents for LETTING ME SPLIT THE BILL AND PAY MY HALF. I'M NOT STINGY. OKAY?" She replied angrily focusing on the last part.

.

.

.

The rest of the journey was silent. We reached the mansion and we were shocked listening to the  discussion that was going on in the living room.