3.The Truth

                                    

                                          
Ansh's POV
I arrived at the tea stall outside Naira's office at 8:30 am, earlier than our scheduled meeting. I needed time to gather my thoughts and muster the courage to reveal the truth to her. Her fiery personality intimidated me; I didn't want to inadvertently fuel her anger.
As I waited, I reminisced about the first time I saw her here, smiling and laughing with her colleagues. Her radiant smile and infectious laughter had captivated me. She is an emotional and family-oriented person, prioritizing loved ones and exploring new places. Her simplicity and beauty drew me in.
Professionally, Naira was a force to be reckoned with. She had risen to manager within a year, handling challenging deals with ease. Punctuality was her virtue, and she demanded the same from her team. Her tough stance had led to two employees being let go due to tardiness.
I admired her versatility and strength, thinking she'd be the perfect match for someone like me. She could handle my rugged nature.
Glancing at my watch, I saw it was 8:55 am. Naira walked past her office towards my car, right on time, dressed in a crisp yellow suit. Her understated elegance - minimal makeup, simple gold earrings, and a sleek bun - took my breath away.
"UFF! She's stunning," I thought, my eyes drawn to her full cheeks and delicate hands.
I walked out of my car and opened the passenger seat door for her.
"Hi, Miss Mehta. Good morning," I greeted.
Naira replied with a forced smile, "Morning, Mr. Kakkar."
Her tone was icy, and I knew I had to make amends.
"So, ready to explain the stunt you pulled yesterday in front of the whole family, Mr. Kakkar?" Naira asked, her eyes narrowing.
"I am, if you'll just give me a chance and listen till I'm done, Miss Mehta," I pleaded.
Naira crossed her arms. "Well, I'm here, aren't I? Please go on."
I took a deep breath. "Naira, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you angry or say what I did at our first meeting. It was a misunderstanding."
I explained, "When my parents told me about our arranged meeting, I was curious. After my last relationship ended badly - the girl only wanted my money - I became cautious. I came to your office to meet you, but an urgent call interrupted me. I asked my PA to gather information about you, not to invade your privacy, but to protect myself."
Naira's expression softened slightly.
"The report I received was impressive, but then I received another call from my PA on the day of our meeting. He told me about the deal your company made and the bribe involved. I mistakenly assumed you were involved and reacted poorly."
Her eyes widened as I continued, "But then my PA texted me that you were the one who reported your boss for taking the bribe. I felt ashamed of my behavior and judgment."
Naira's arms uncrossed, and her posture relaxed.
"I agreed to the marriage because I realized I might not find another person like you. I apologize for taking away your choice. If you still want to say no, I'll take full responsibility. I just wanted to explain my reasons."
"It's not that easy, Ansh," Naira said, her voice laced with frustration. "You've already told my family I'm ready, and they're over the moon. Do you think my choice even matters now?"
I felt a pang of guilt.
"You only thought about what was best for you, what you wanted," she continued, her words piercing. "What about me, Ansh? What if I don't like you? What if I like someone else?"
My heart sank and I asked, hope fading from my voice, "Do you?"
Naira's expression turned somber. "That's not the point, Ansh. The point is you took away the most important decision of my life."
Her eyes clouded with sadness, and I was at a loss for words. I could only meet her gaze, acknowledging the hurt I'd caused.
"Do you not like me?" I asked, gazing up at Naira's somber face.
"I don't know you much, Ansh," she replied. "We were supposed to discuss things before giving an answer, remember? But we didn't."
I nodded, eager to make amends. "Ask me anything you want, and I promise to answer honestly."
Naira's expression turned serious. "Can I trust you to respect me, my family, and my choices in life, as I will if we proceed with the arrangement?"
"Of course, I will," I vowed. "I promise I won't let you down."
A hint of amusement danced in Naira's eyes. "Aren't you a bit eager to marry me, Mr. Kakkar? I thought you wouldn't like me after our first meeting."
I smiled, my gaze locking onto hers. "Why did you think I wouldn't like you? You're amazing, Naira. Your beauty goes beyond physical appearance."
Naira's cheeks flushed, and she looked away, her voice laced with teasing. "You're better than I thought, Mr. Kakkar. But I still need time to get to know you, especially since you have a tendency to change your opinion quickly."
I chuckled, relieved by her playful tone. "I think we can make it work, Naira."
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