12 # Am I dreaming?

Sharanya's POV 

Sitting on the hammock, I drifted in the ocean of thoughts, and I felt as if I was floating in an endless sea and it was completely dark without a lighthouse. 

The past six months flashed in my mind like a movie. As if it was a dream. I hid from Dadaji that I already know who ASR is. Of course, I know him. He is the arrogant pig and shouts at his employees all the time. His face was attractive but cold and arrogance always sits above his nose. His brown eyes were shining like stars but when they turned red, he is not less than a wolf. The perfect body lines are reminiscent of the exquisite sculptures of an ancient Greek God, though he is a devil, monster. Why the Devil's are handsome on this earth, first of the place?

Is he coming today? As Dadaji said.

He is quite opposite of his father, he is loving and caring and this, arrogant pig is always cold and rude. 

Mr jerk!

If Dadaji didn't arrange my meeting with him, I would run away from here. Abruptly, his father's face appeared in front of my eyes. It stings.

He is no more as Dadaji said. It's unbelievable that a man like him passed away. I felt a little pity for Mr Jerk.

I also don't have parents but I have my grandfather, he is my mother, father, brother and sister, in short, my everything. I can not see him sad that's why I didn't argue and pretended as I don't know about the ASR group. I have been working there for a few days and earned more than I worked.

I was still amused and Dadaji's words are rumbling in my ears. What will I do if he will be here?

I should talk to someone. I dialled the number of Ana. As she picked up the call, I became silent.

"Hello..." 

"Hello, Sharanya, are you hearing me?" I heard her and felt embarrassed. She will surely laugh at me. I hung up the call without talking to her and within the next second my phone buzzed with the name "Ana".

I slid up with a heavy heart and said, " Hello."

"Hey, you called after so many days, how are you?" She asked as usual. She is a talking frog, whose mouth never shut down. 

"Shut up, I'm tensed," I barked as she is not understanding me.

"Ohh, miss Sharanya Sharma is tensed, how? Why?" She dramatically asked and I am assuming her facial expressions while she is teasing me. But I need consolation from her as my heart was throbbing heavily thinking about the ASR.

"Ana... ASR is coming to meet me," I informed and she shouted, "What?"

It was expected from her after hearing what I said.

"Yes, anything else,"  I dramatically shouted back.

"Will you listen to me?" I asked and she shut her mouth finally. I explained to her and she mouthed, "wow! It's wonderful."

"Shut up, are you by my side or the side of that Mr Jerk?" I asked her angrily and she again laughed. I'm hell scared of him and I don't know how am I gonna face him?

"Be calm dear, he already likes you," She asserted and I blushed. I have never witnessed this kind of feelings in his eyes. Although our gazes never met.

I know that it's useless to talk to her. I bid adieu and cut the call. With a racing heart, I laid on the hammock resting my tired and scared body. Or I'm preparing myself to face Mr ASR.

# Arnav's POV

Today's sun wasn't rising with good vibes for me. I couldn't wake up on time and I have missed my workout. That wasn't enough, I got ready and I got a call from Danil that my most important meeting has been cancelled. 

Still, I'm ready to go to the office early. I was standing in front of the floor-length mirror and gawking at myself in the mirror. Black tux, white shirt and red tie, a perfectly shaped beard and a stylish moustache, but the missing was glow and smile.

My Dad took away my smile, I regret that I couldn't save him and he died just because of me.

It has been a few months since he passed away and I felt like it was just yesterday. I can't bear this as it's a burden on my heart.

"Dad..." I sighed seeing his and my photo on the desk.

"Arnav," My chain of thoughts has been broken by Mom's voice. She was standing at the door as walked inside my room.

I hope she doesn't start again about the wedding. I whirled to see my mom, it's hard to see her living like a widow. Every time I think that I snatched her happiness.

"Yes, mom," I stole my gaze from her. And she, as usual, grabbed my chin and whirled my face to face her.

"Arnav, I know that this is not the time to talk about this. But it's necessary. Your Dad promised someone that you will marry her daughter. I have talked to the girl's grandfather and they are ready for it, I..."

"Mom," I cut her off and the anger hovered on my face. How can she talk about the wedding this time? We have lost the root of the family and how could she expect this from me?

"I know Arnav, but this was your father's last wish, won't you fulfil it?" Mom argued and I'm speechless.

"I know and I understand your feelings my son, but you have to go ahead. Forget what happened in the past, move ahead with the new hope and new point of views of life. Please, meet that girl and move ahead in your life," Mom tried to explain to me and the tears in her eyes melted my stone heart. After Dad, my family is my responsibility and I can't give them tears. 

"Okay, I will meet her," I have to agree as my mom was blackmailing me emotionally.

With saying yes, Sharanya's face came in front of my eyes. But with an angry wave, I flushed the reflection.

"We are going to meet her, now," Mom announced making me shocked.

"Wait, what?" I screamed and she giggled wiping her tears.

"You know what I can't wait to make her your bride," Mom pulled me with her and I'm feeling like I'm a small kid and going to the market with my loving Mom. She is my life, whomever she has chosen, I have to accept but it's not a guarantee that I will love that girl. As there is no word like 'love' mentioned in my dictionary.

"Let's go," She ordered as we have finished breakfast. Sanchi joined us and giggled, "I'm also coming."

I got the car from the parking area and stopped at the entrance of my home.

"Wait a minute," Mom went inside and came back after a while. She has some bags in her hands. Mom sat on the back seat and Sanchi sat on the front seat next to me.

"Where to?" I asked and she handed me Sanchi's phone setting up the location on Google map. 

Shit! It's more than two hours of driving. Whom has chosen for me? "Dad," I muttered and started driving.

As the speed increased, the smile of her appeared in front of my eyes. Her beautiful eyes and the glow in them was pursuing me.

I was feeling like she was stopping me. But I can't. Hatred took over my feelings for her. I hate her.

I don't know how long I drove but we reached there before lunchtime. Even, I didn't recognise the road and the area outside and now I'm standing in front of the old house just like an old Haweli (Palace).

It was looking ancient but it was coloured recently and it was beautiful. So many people are working around. I realised that we are in the village. There is no other house that is bigger than this one. Are we at the right place?

I looked at my Mom and her look wasn't pleasing. But I think she is doing this for the sake of my Dad's last wish.

"Ask someone, which is the house of Mr Vashishtha Sharma?" Mom ordered me and pulled down the glass of the window.

I looked here and there to ask but I don't wish to talk to anyone there. Say hi stopped someone who is passing by there.

"Hello, uncle. Can you say which is the house of Mr Vashishtha Sharma?" 

"Aree, baby. This is the house of Dadaji," The man replied happily and I drove further and entered the house like a palace. The area was quite beautiful with a massive garden and fountain in the middle. The old cars were parked in a raw and a man was washing them carefully. The man of the owner of this house is interested in the collection of old cars.

As I stopped the car in front of the main entrance, an Old man came to welcomed us.

"Namaste (Hello), I'm retired Lt. Vashishtha Sharma," An old man introduced himself and I bowed in his honour. He has a bright aura, I couldn't stop myself from bowing down in front of him.

"Hello, I'm Ananya Singh Raizada, he is my son, Arnav and my younger daughter, Sanchi," Mom introduced us and Mr Sharma led us inside with a broad and happy smile.

We sat on the sofa placed in the living room. It's bigger than my living room in my mansion. Just in a minute, an old lady came with the glasses of water in a tray and gave us. I felt thirsty now, as I didn't drink water for two hours. I took a sip of water and my gaze fell on the big portrait of the old man and a girl.

With a cough, I threw the water as it was not digestive. I gulped hard to sew in the portrait. She was not another Sharanya. 

Wait, am I assuming her?

I can't.

I turned my gaze to avoid and gulped the content emptying the glass and handed it back to the old lady. My mind was not stable and I was not interested in what mom was talking to Mr Sharma. 

I again looked at the portrait and there is Sharanya. What happened to me? I can't be so much fool. How could I assume her here?

"Laxmi, bring our daughter," The old man ordered someone. Maybe, this was the same lady who came with water and served us.

After a few minutes, the girl in a white saree with a red border. Her blushing face choked up my throat.

No, he can't be.

The girl who was stepping down was nine other than Sharanya.

Am I dreaming?

Should I marry her?

She is the reason, I couldn't help my Dad.

I can't.

My inner was shouting and with every steeping down of her, my heart was racing. I have seen her after so many months. 

Whatever!

'She is still beautiful and in the saree, she is damn hot.'

"Shut up! " My brain shouted at me. I can't admire her. Shaking my head, I turned another side not to face her. I don't know it will work or not but I can't meet my gaze with her.