“OUR PARENTS HAVE ALREADY FIXED OUR MARRIAGE.”

The moment Bhumi read the message, her eyes widened in shock.

Up until now, everything had felt like casual conversation, with parents and relatives merely tossing around a distant idea. They had only discussed it so far, saying how both families had known each other for years, how the two of them had grown up together, and how it would be a “perfect match.”

But fixed?

How could the marriage suddenly be fixed?

She read the message again and again, her heartbeat pounding. Then, in frustration, she slammed her hand hard against the table and shouted to herself.

“How is this even possible? How can our marriage be fixed? Have I completely lost my mind that I’d ever agree to marry him?”

Her fingers flew across the screen; she was about to type a furious reply when her phone suddenly began to ring. For a second, panic gripped her. Her trembling hand almost dropped the phone, but she caught it quickly and glanced at the screen.

It was Lakshya.

Without wasting a second, she answered, her voice rising with anger before he could even speak.

“Say whatever you want, but don’t you dare tell me that you said yes to this marriage…”

There was silence for a moment. Then came his calm reply.

“I did say yes.”

Bhumi froze. Her breath quickened sharply, deep, uneven breaths that Lakshya could even hear on the other side. Before she could say anything, he spoke again.

“I’m sitting in the car right outside your house. My dad said we should meet once and talk. Your parents already know. So come down quickly, I’ve come to take you. We need to discuss a lot.”

Bhumi shot up from her chair, fury pulsing through her veins. She stormed toward the door, but before she could step out, her mother appeared and caught her wrist. Her mother’s eyes scanned her from head to toe, her voice stern.

“Have you completely lost your mind? What’s the hurry? Lakshya is here, you’re supposed to go out with him. Spend some time together, have dinner, and get to know each other properly as if you were husband and wife. But you’re not going anywhere like this. Go to your room and get ready.”

“Get ready?”

Bhumi repeated it, confused and irritated. Before she could argue, her mother pulled her inside, opened her wardrobe, and held up a neatly folded suit against her.

“What are you staring at? Go change into this quickly. And honestly, I don’t understand why you keep messing with your hair like some wildcat all the time…”

Bhumi stood there, fuming. Every nerve in her body screamed to fight back, to throw something, to scream at the top of her lungs, but she couldn’t. She knew there was no use arguing once her mother started. She silently changed into the suit, biting down on the anger that burned through her. When she came out, the look in her eyes made her mother pause.

“Try to keep your temper in check,” her mother said, noticing the defiance on her face. “Being frustrated all the time won’t help. Your father has already chosen Lakshya for you, and the boy has no objections either. Marrying a man like him means your future is completely secure. Do you even realize how rare such boys are nowadays? You should be grateful instead of acting so difficult.”

She made Bhumi sit in front of the mirror and started fixing her hair. Bhumi could barely look at her reflection; she would rather not see herself in this version. Her mother continued speaking like every mother giving unwanted advice, her words cutting deeper than intended.

“You’re lucky, you know. After this marriage, your life will be settled. His family is respectable, the boy is well-behaved, and we trust him more than we trust you. So please, when you meet him, don’t start an argument. And one more thing, this marriage is finalized. Both families have decided. It’s not going to break now. So you’d better start seeing him as your future husband, not your friend. Talk to him nicely, with respect, and please, for once, act like a bride, not a rebel…”

Bhumi took a long, trembling breath, nodded wordlessly, and walked out.

Outside, Lakshya was sitting in the hall, waiting patiently. The moment he saw her stepping down the stairs, he smiled, a calm, knowing smile that made her blood boil. Bhumi glared at him, narrowing her eyes, but he only smiled wider, gesturing playfully as if telling her to smile back. When Bhumi’s father caught her expression, she immediately forced a smile. He beckoned her closer, placed a hand on her shoulder, and said to Lakshya,

“I spoke to your father earlier. He told me you’ll be leaving for England in a month. That means we’ll have to find a wedding date within that time frame. Tomorrow, your father and I are meeting the priest to fix the schedule. So it’s better that you two spend as much time together as you can right now. Once the ceremonies start, I won’t let you meet until the wedding day.”

“Yes, Uncle,” Lakshya said politely, smiling in that effortlessly charming way of his, which only made Bhumi angrier.

He extended his hand toward her, waiting for her to hold it. It was all for show, a perfect act for their watching families. Bhumi’s eyes narrowed further; she wanted to crush his fingers rather than hold them. But under her father’s watchful gaze, she had no choice. She forced a tight smile, placed her hand in his, and followed him outside.

Lakshya held her hand as they walked to the car, and once they were seated, he started the engine. Neither spoke as the car rolled through the colony’s quiet streets. But as soon as they hit the main road, Bhumi snapped. She turned toward him, grabbed a handful of his hair, and yelled.

“Kutte, What the hell made you say yes to this marriage?… You know we can’t marry each other…”

“Ow… Hey, I’m driving… Do you want us to die before the wedding even happens?”

Lakshya said, wincing and trying to steady the wheel. But Bhumi didn’t care. Her fury was uncontrollable. He quickly caught her hand, pressing it against his side in his armpit so he could focus on driving. But she lifted her leg, ready to kick him next.

“Crazy woman…” he exclaimed. “We’re going to a restaurant for dinner; if you walk in looking like this, they’ll think I kidnapped you, or when they check you out properly… you’ll end up washing dishes in the back...”

“Lakshya, stop the car and talk to me properly…” Bhumi shouted. “You know I would rather not get married, and you’re out here pulling some ridiculous stunt. Whatever plan you’re cooking up, forget it… Listen to me, I will never, ever see you as my husband. Not now, not ever…”

Lakshya slammed the brakes and pulled the car over. For a moment, there was silence, the kind that hummed with tension. Then he turned toward her slowly. He looked directly into her angry, tearful eyes and spoke softly.

“I know. You don’t see me that way, and you shouldn’t. But at least see me as your friend. Because right now, your friend needs you. And I know my friend needs me too.”

She looked confused, breathing heavily, her anger not fully faded. He continued, his voice steady but full of urgency.

“Bhumi, both our families think this marriage should happen. Let them think what they want; they can’t decide our lives for us. You need your education, and I need the funds for my business. For both of us to reach where we want, we need them to believe this marriage is happening. Maybe it’s selfish… but right now, I have to be selfish. I want to think about us. About what we need.”

“Lakshya, we’re best friends,” she said, her voice trembling. “You know everything about me, and I know everything about you. But that doesn’t mean we should get married!”

“You’re right,” he replied gently. “It doesn’t mean that at all. But our families think it does. Look, I know you understand everything I’m saying; you’re just too frustrated right now. So do one thing: calm down until we reach the restaurant. Yell at me there, if you still want to. I promise I’ll listen.”

Bhumi clenched her fists and swung them toward him, but he caught her hand mid-air, laughing softly.

“Give me twenty minutes,” he said. “After that, you can hit me as much as you like.”

Bhumi yanked her hand back, folded her arms tightly over her chest, and glared straight ahead. Lakshya stole a quick glance at her and smiled teasingly.

“You know,” he said lightly, “you actually look really beautiful right now.”

”Lakshay…."

Bhumi yelled, making him burst into laughter. They finally reached the restaurant. Lakshya parked the car and, without giving her time to argue, walked around to open her door. She gave him one last deadly look before stepping out. Inside, he chose a quiet corner table. As soon as they sat, Lakshya called the waiter with the confidence of someone who’d memorized her favorites.

“Hakka noodles and Manchurian, not too dry, not too soupy. Fried rice is a must. Peri-peri fries with mayonnaise.”

He glanced at Bhumi while listing the order. She stared at him, half surprised, half annoyed, momentarily forgetting her anger. When the waiter left, he reached across the table and took both her hands in his.

“I’m trying to explain something to you,” he said quietly, “but you don’t want to listen.”

Bhumi just looked at him, her eyes softening a little. Lakshya shifted from his chair to sit beside her. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, pulling her gently closer. Her resistance faltered, and her eyes began to glisten. Slowly, she rested her head against his shoulder and whispered.

“Lakshya… Why do we have to be this helpless?”

He looked around to make sure no one was nearby, then lowered his voice.

“We’re not helpless, Bhumi. For once, things are actually turning in our favor. Maybe it’s fate showing us a way out. You want to study abroad, and I want to start my business there. England has the best universities for fashion design, and I’ve already spoken to a friend’s mother there about helping you with the admission process.”

Bhumi looked up at him, startled. He smiled softly.

“You know why I want to leave India,” he continued. “There’s no other way for me. And you deserve to stand on your feet, to build the life you’ve dreamed of. If we don’t do this now, they’ll force us to marry other people anyway. But if we marry each other… we get what we both want. We’ll still be friends always. Nothing between us has to change.”

He paused, his expression sincere. “Right now, we both need each other’s support. So let’s help each other.”

Bhumi listened silently. Every word made sense; her brother had said almost the same thing earlier, and yet her heart still felt uneasy. This wasn’t how she had imagined her escape. This wasn’t freedom. It felt like another form of surrender, wrapped in logic. But deep down, she knew he was right. There was no other way. Tears welled in her eyes. Without thinking, she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly, burying her face into his shoulder.

Neither of them noticed the shadow sitting quietly in a dark corner of the restaurant, eyes fixed only on them. Those eyes burned with rage, hatred, and something even more dangerous. The man clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. The fury inside him was enough to destroy everything in sight. He stood abruptly and walked out, his footsteps echoing through the corridor like the sound of a storm about to begin.