Arnav's Pov:-

We arrived in Lucknow yesterday evening and after resting and eating dinner we just decided to sleep.

Waking up this morning everyone dressed up to go to Mishra Mansion. We arrived at their house and the gates open to let our car in.

I was driving with my cousin sister, shivangi who was eating my head the whole ride.

"Oh Bhaiya, finally we arrived. I can't wait to meet my soon to be bhabhi" she said making me sigh in frustration for nth time.

"Leave the car so that I can park" I said and she got out and joined Maa and others.

They all went inside leaving their car so that staff can park but no not mine. My Porsche is too precious for me to be driven by someone else.

No one other than me dares to sit on the driving seat. I parked my car and came out and slammed the door shut.

Adjusting my blazer and my glasses I looked up at the cloudy sky, bringing my orbs down, it got stuck at a figure standing in the balcony of a room.

The standing figure was of a girl her back facing me, she has long dark black wavy hairs.

Her hands which were on railings had so many bangles in them.

I never saw my sister Harshita wearing bangles before marriage, my trance broke when she went inside.

I shook my head and made my way inside. I came inside and saw many elders and youngsters sitting all together.

I made my way towards the eldest of the Mishra family Harivansh Mishra and manyata Mishra, dada and dadi of my soon to be wife.

I touched their feet with my usual emotionless face which I have for past 4 years.

They blessed me and dadi cupped my cheeks kissing my forehead.

"Haye kitna handsome Hai hamare damadji, ruhi toh nazre he nhi mila payegi" 

[translation:- oh our son-in-law is so handsome Ruhi wont be able to even look in his eyes]

She said making me think Ruhi might be her nickname as dad said her name is Ruhanika Mishra.

I then went forward and touched feet of the one elderly man standing, I know them all of course our grandparents were best friends plus their family is also rich and influential.

Touching feet of the two elderly ladies I shake hands with Aditya brother of Ruhanika, and his other siblings.

Finally after all greeting I was sitting among all elders were talking to the panditji and my siblings were chatting and knowing about each other.

I was not interested at all that's why I was checking my emails. When I heard my maa said something which made my instincts wakeup.

"Roop ji please call my daughter in law, where is she let everyone meet her especially Arnav", She smiled and called a girl maybe her sister and said,

"Nishita go and bring Ruhi down make sure she is all ready hmm".

After 10 minutes we heard sound of footsteps and my maa said, "omg, roopji your daughter is so pretty". I still didn't look up from my phone until someone poked my biceps.

I looked at my side and saw Aayan, my younger cousin brother smirking at me gosh he is becoming more brave  and he still has his mischievous smirk.

"Ruhanika, come here sit beside Arnav" my dadi said making me look at her.

As I looked at the woman standing in front of me who is my soon to be wife. I couldn't help but to check her out, lol basic nature of every guy.

I looked at her hairs which were open and long dark black in colour. Gazing my orbs down I looked at her which were down sticked to the ground.

She has puffy squishy cheeks, a perfect pair of lips. He golden brown skin was glowing because of the cream colour dress she is wearing.

Her face screamed innocence, the dominant inside me had a sudden urge to take that away.

A cough by my brother brought me out of trance as he stood up for her so that she can sit here beside me.

"damadji you can stare at her all you want she is going to be yours only after few days", my chachi said making everyone chuckle as I looked away and fake coughed.

Everyone started talking to her and asking her questions and her whereabouts while I just looked at my phone, I know it's rude but that's how I am.

While my eyes were on my screen, my mind was focused on her voice and calm answers.

It's been half an hour and everyone has bonded with her so nicely like they knew each other from before well elders knew each other not we youngsters.

"Bhabhi, Harshita didi texted that now you are coming to our house, you will keep bhaiya in limit" shivangi said making me glare at her. She just smiled.

"Well if everyone has talked with ruhi beta, well we can call you ruhi right", my dad said. "Yes you can", she said.

"Okay beta, well then I was saying let Arnav and Ruhi too talk to each other and know each other", My dad said 

"Oh yeah, ruhi beta take Arnav to your room and you both talk there privately hmm", her aunty said.

"No need dad its okay", I said but he just shut me down saying, "Ruhi might have few questions Arnav, go now follow her".

Low-key sighing I stood up and started following her, climbing the stairs we came in front of a room.

She twisted the knob and we entered her room. Her room is completely opposite of mine.

We came inside and I locked the door to which she turned around and for the first time looked at me.

"WH...why did you lock the door" she said with a little stammering making me smirk in mind. 

I dont know if I am being sadist but I love seeing people get intimidated by me.

I started walking towards her as she stepped back and sat on bed because her leg got stumbled with it.

She was sitting and I couldn't help but notice our height difference.

I am 6'2 where as she is just around 5'6 with her 3 inch heels means her actual height is 5'3. She can't even reach till my neck properly.

I put my both arms on the bed besides her caging her, I don't know what has gotten into me but seeing her innocent face I couldn't help.

She immediately shut her eyes tight in fear yes that's what I wanted to see and seeing that I stood straight and went and sat on couch.

Not feeling anything she opened her eyes too and looked at me with wide eyes, "You are....such a " she was struggling to form words.

"What do you want to ask me Ms. Mishra" I said in my usual cold voice. She smiled slightly and shook her head as no making my eyebrows furrow.

"Why", I questioned. "I know everything about you which you want world to know" she said. "Like what?" I asked.

"Well like your age, height, weight, family, education, favorite food, cars and holiday destination, well basically everything you say in magazine interview" She said.

"So what else you want to know" I said with a boring gaze. 

"Well now we are getting married I want to know the real you not the one you show to the world. Your cold eyes are hiding many things behind them and as I am going to become your better half I want to know the real you"

she boldly stated making me stunned as I thought see is shy one, but seeing her clutching the bedsheet tightly I know she is nervous.

"Don't talk bullshit, and what you called yourself my better half, I am bursting your bubble Ms. you will be my just my responsibility nothing else and I am okay by myself" I spatted rudely but she just looked at me and smile.

I was so done with that smile, her smile was sending tingly sensation to my soul which I didn't like.

I stood up and turned towards door "if you don't have any question then I am going I have to make important calls I am not free".

I said without looking at her. Getting no response from her I sighed and started walking towards door.

I was about to open the door when I felt a warm hand around my fingers. I looked back and saw her holding my long fingers in my hand and looking down.

I don't know why but I liked her touch, the way her warmth was spreading on my skin because of a mere hold. But no I can't feel this "what now" I asked in a cold tone.

She fluttered her lashes up and her eyes met mine, she has the darkest brown eyes I have ever seen. "I do have a question to ask you now after hearing you."

I raised my brow "what is it", "do you believe the foundation and concept of marriage?", she asked with her questioning dark brown orbs.

Foundation of marriage- respect and trust for your partner.

Concept of marriage- promises, faith, communication, commitment and LOVE for each other.

I know it all because of someone who taught me.

"I know, but I don't believe in them", I said. "Why, why don't you believe in it when it's the most beautiful and holy thing one wants to experience", she inquired.

"Because such things doesn't exist in today's world, all the promises made today are fake, people are not trustworthy, and commitments are way too far away from today's generation", I said.

"What about love then" she asked and I can see sparkles in her eyes. "I don't believe in that either, its all illusion for me.

Arnav Singh Raizada despises love and promises". I can clearly see disappointment in her eyes as she left my hand and I turned and opened the door and stepped out.

But her words made me halt at my step. "Mummy bolti hai shaadi ke liye pyar hona zaruri nahi hai, pyar shadi ke baad bhi ho jata h. kya pata aap bhi mujhse pyar karne lage" 

[translation:- mom says being in love is not important to get married, love can happen after marriage too]

Her words made my heartbeat fast, gosh what is this woman but composing myself I turned around and said,

"I can't love anyone, I despise love". She smiled gosh how pretty her smile is.

What the hell Arnav get a grip, she came towards me a step closer and said "I have always had dreams about my lovely marriage, In my world I have lots of love which I want to share with my loved ones, and I will wrap you in my world of love"

Can she hear herself what she said right now, how she can say it like that, is she....hopeless romantic.

She reads books yeah I noticed the book shelf on the corner, so she is a hopeless romantic. I chuckled, "we will see about that".

Just then her sister Nishita came, "everyone is calling you both downstairs". I nodded and went down leaving her with her sister.

She too came down with her sister and sat beside me. Everyone was smiling as my dadi said, "well your marriage date is fixed now and it's on 20 November after 105days".

I nodded while her sister and brother hugged me.

Everyone congratulated us but mind was roaming around her words only;-

"Mummy bolti hai shaadi ke liye pyar hona zaruri nahi hai, pyar shadi ke baad bhi hojata h. kya pata aap bhi mujhse pyar karne lage" 

[mom says being in love is not important to get married, love can happen after marriage too]

"I have always had dreams about my lovely marriage, in my world I have lots of love, and I will wrap you in my world of love"

I looked at her she was smiling and her eyes met mine and where my eyes held coldness, and anger because of her words, her eyes held love and adoration which I hate to guts.

How will I spend my life with her, her little bubble of love will burst when she will not get anything she dreamed about.

My gaze turned towards my family especially dadi, she seems so happy genuinely very happy after dadaji's demise.

I can do anything for these precious smiles of my family whether it be marriage too.