YASHNA'S POV

"Yashna, hey, Yashnaaaaa" I came out of my thoughts when I heard Sarah, "Where were you so lost? Pay attention to the meeting, that bald head has been keeping his eye on you for a while. Careful." She warned me but with a hint of concern in her eyes. "Oh...Yeah, sure." I replied. "And what happened? I have been watching you since the morning, you seem so dull, is there anything that bothers you?" she asked me concern lacing her voice.

I seem so dull. Why wouldn't I be, when my Dad has dropped a huge bombshell over my head?

LAST NIGHT

"Yashna, to my study, in five minutes...I got some things to talk with you" My appa left with those words. Straightforward. Nothing but just those few words but God knows what he has in his mind this time.

I entered into my father's study, "Appa??" and I entered once I heard that faint yet commanding "Come in" from my dad. I stood in front of his huge mahogany desk in front of the big window giving the view of our backyard in the dark night and saw him still working on his laptop without lifting his head or his eyes to look at me.

"Yes, Appa, why did you call me?" I asked him, with the nervousness churning in my stomach. No one knows what this man thinks of any moment, but it's not like he blabbers some random shit though. He cleared his throat before speaking, still looking at that laptop. "So Yashna I have decided something important in your life and I-" I interrupted him. "Oh please, not again that "Join in my company" stuff."

He looked up at me....with that serious look? something is weird...and he continued, "Not that, different". Different? What else is there? "And what it is pa?"

"I want you to agree with me to marry the man I chose for you."

What the fuck. This isn't even on the list. Marriage? That too with the guy he chose for me? No way.

"I won't marry anyone, Appa," I said firmly. "You have to, you have no other option." He said.

The tension in the room was palpable, the silence only broken by the ticking of the clock. My eyes narrowed in frustration as I tried to grasp what my father was saying.

"How do you expect me to marry someone whom I barely knew?" I demanded, my voice tinged with disbelief and a hint of anger.

His expression was suspiciously calm and composed "He isn't someone. You know him. Very well." Confusion clouded my mind. What does he mean by that? Do I really know this guy? "Who Is It? I don't know anyone." I asked him, frustrated.

"Rudradev."

What. The. Actual. Fuck.

He said casually as if it was too easy. Of course, It'd be easy for him but what about me? This marriage thingy's too scary, especially with someone so scary like HIM. No way I'm going to marry that heartless jerk.

"NO. I won't marry him. Never ever in my life. Please don't force me." I pleaded.

"Yashna, whatever I decide is for your well-being. And Rudradev is a nice guy, he-"

"STOP. I Don't want to hear anything about him", I interrupted him again, my voice shaking with emotions overwhelming inside.

What in the world is happening right now? Marriage? That jerk? My mind raced as I turned to leave the room, feeling the weight of my father's words pressing down on me.

I was almost at the door when his voice, calm but commanding, stopped me in my tracks. "Why do you hate him?"

Why do I hate him? That's something they can never understand. To everyone, he's a saint, but only I know how evil he can be when it's me he's dealing with. This question should be asked to him, not me.

"Tell me one valid reason as to why you hate him. Not those same lame reasons."

Lame reasons? I ain't a kid, though. Do our families think we fight for fun? "I... I-I... I just don't want him to be my husband," I said, my voice losing its sound, a tremor betraying my inner turmoil.

"And why not?" My father's patience was fraying. "Appa, I just don't—"

"Ok. I'll give you one chance to escape this alliance." My face brightened instantly at his words. Could it be true? A way out? "What should I do?" I asked him, hope threading through my voice.

"I heard that your so-called company is going to take part in the important tender, so..." he stopped midway, watching me intently.

"So...?" I prompted, anxiety bubbling up inside me.

"Defeat Rudra. Defeat him, and you won't have to marry him," he said.

Defeat Rudra. It sounded almost impossible, and he knew it, which is why he was tricking me into this offer. But I would never marry him. Not in this lifetime. "I accept the offer, Appa," I said, with newfound determination in my voice.

"OK then, I wish you luck. But remember, if you lose, there's no backing down," he said, his eyes hardening as he set the terms.

"OK," I repeated, the gravity of the situation sinking in. "You may leave now," he added, dismissing me.

As I left the room, my mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. The task ahead was daunting, but I couldn't afford to lose. The stakes were too high, and the alternative was unthinkable. This was my chance to prove myself and escape a fate I dreaded more than anything.

I stormed up the stairs, my feet stumbling as I struggled to reach my room. My father's bombshell hung heavy in the air—marriage to him, of all people. In a country as vast as ours, why did it have to be Rudradev? The mere thought of being bound to him made bile rise in my throat. I slammed the door shut behind me and leaned against it, my breath coming in ragged gasps. Tears of anger and frustration pricked at the corners of my eyes, threatening to spill over.

Why does my own father do this to me? All these years, the relentless struggle, the cold war of a decade, and now this? My feet pushed me off the door, and I paced frantically across the room, my thoughts a tangled mess. Defeat him. Everything was planned out, wasn't it? A bitter laugh escaped my lips. This had to be some sort of sick joke. But reality slapped me hard across the face. There had to be a way out of this, and I would find it. No way in hell would I marry Rudradev. Not at any cost.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. The challenge ahead was immense, but I couldn't let my father or Rudradev win. This was my life, my future, and I would fight for it with everything I had. Determination surged through me, and I wiped away the tears. I would not let despair take hold. I would rise to this challenge and emerge victorious. Rudradev would not control my fate. I would make sure of it.

I stared blankly at the wall in front of me, succumbing to the comfort of my bed in the middle of the sea of chaos around me. The room felt both too small and too vast, echoing with the turmoil inside my mind. How had my life come to this point? The silence was deafening, punctuated only by the erratic beating of my heart.

Thoughts of Rudradev, the man who had and has been tormenting my life, now being proposed to be my husband, swirled in my mind like a storm. Every memory of our clashes, every insult, every sneer, resurfaced with a vengeance. Marrying him felt like a cruel twist of fate.

But I couldn't let my father or Rudradev win. This was my life, my future, and I would fight for it with every fiber of my being. The challenge ahead was immense, but the alternative was unthinkable.

The battle lines were drawn, and I was ready to face the storm head-on. Whatever it took, I would not back down. Not this time.

PRESENT

The next day dawned, bringing with it the harsh light of reality. I hadn't slept a wink all night; ever since I heard the news, my mind had been racing, refusing to let me find any peace. Like hell I would be sleeping like a baby. No, instead, I was sure I looked like a walking zombie, stumbling through the motions of the morning.

A glance in the mirror confirmed my suspicions—dark circles under my eyes, a haggard expression on my face. But that was the least of my worries. I couldn't shake the thought of the impossible task ahead of me. Defeat Rudradev? The very idea seemed ludicrous.

Yet, even if I lose, I comforted myself with the thought that Rudradev would never marry me. He despised me just as much as I despised him, maybe even more. Marrying me could be the worst decision he could ever make in his life. So, there was a twisted sense of security in knowing that even if I failed, the damage wouldn't be catastrophic on a personal level.

But for the sake of my company, I had to win. I had to. At least this time. The weight of responsibility pressed down on me, but it also fueled my determination. I couldn't let my father, or Rudradev, or anyone else see me as weak or incapable. This was a battle I had to fight and win.

Damnit. I straightened my shoulders, took a deep breath, and prepared to face the day. The road ahead was long and treacherous, but I wouldn't let fear or doubt stop me. Not now. Not ever.

AUTHOR'S POV

AFTER A WEEK

This has been THE WORST WEEK OF HER LIFE. Life had become a whirlwind for Yashna after the revelation of her impending marriage. Sleepless nights were spent agonizing over the upcoming tender meeting. She poured every ounce of her energy into preparing for it, knowing it was a life-or-death situation for her future.

Yashna entered her house, feeling a heavy exhaustion weighing her down. She immediately noticed her parents in the living room, engrossed in a serious yet slightly excited conversation.

What could be the reason?

"Go for shopping as soon as possible if Yashna's free today or maybe tomorrow," her father said.

"Hmm, okay," her mother replied, nodding in agreement.

Yashna's curiosity piqued. She approached them, her tired eyes reflecting her weariness. "What's going on?" she asked, her voice laced with both curiosity and fatigue.

Her parents turned to her, their expressions brightening slightly. "We were just talking about preparing for the engagement ceremony," her father explained, his tone gentle yet firm. "We need to get some things ready."

Yashna's heart sank. The reality of her situation hit her like a ton of bricks. Despite her efforts to focus on the tender and avoid thinking about the marriage, it was still looming over her like a dark cloud.

YASHNA'S POV

"Why Shopping suddenly? And what's the reason for it" I asked them, confused. They looked up to find me standing at the door with a deep frown on my face.

"For your engagement." My father said, shrugging his shoulders As if it was the engagement for someone else. Damn its mine.

"Oh. We still have a day left to decide appa." with confidence lingering in my voice like always. "Yes. We'll see what happens." With that, he went out. I went upstairs to my room to freshen up.

thud

The door of my room opened, and there stood my little idiotic sister Yazhini, with a mischievous grin on her face, coming in and plopping herself near me on the bed. "What do you want?" I asked, barely concealing my irritation.

"I heard that you're leaving the house?" she said, her tone playful.

"Huh? What do you mean by 'I'm leaving'? And why should I, though?" I frowned, confused.

"You are getting married, obviously you'll be leaving, right?" She shrugged nonchalantly.

"Who said I'm getting married to him? There's no chance for it to happen, they're just fooling themselves," I chuckled, hiding the churn of uneasiness in my stomach that has been forming a pit in my stomach for the past few days.

"Oh, that much confidence, huh?" she teased.

"Definitely. Anyways, he wouldn't be marrying me. He ain't that much of an idiot. How will this marriage happen?" I shot back.

"Idiot, then why did that bro accept the proposal?" she asked, her confusion evident.

"What did you say?" I felt a sudden jolt of unease.

"Didn't you know? Rudradev bro accepted to marry you," she stated like it was a matter-of-fact.

The world around me seemed to stop as I heard those words fall from her mouth.

"Yazhini, this is not something to joke about," I said, trying to calm my nerves, praying that what I heard wasn't true.

She shifted her position on the bed, legs folded, stopped playing with that random plushie...and with that look on her face?

"Hey, I know it's very... amusing to hear, but what can I say... it's the truth, though. He accepted it," she said, her tone now serious. And this idiot being serious meant... but I still couldn't accept it as the answer.

"Then why the hell do you think Appa would come and ask you such? Doesn't he know how MUCH you hate that dude? He came and asked you only after he accepted it," she said, revealing all the hidden words no one told me. Everything... every piece of this ridiculous puzzle was falling into place.

No way. This couldn't be happening. My heart raced as the reality of the situation settled in.

Rudradev had accepted the proposal.

The very thought made my blood run cold. How could this be possible?

Her words kept reverberating in my mind, again and again. Echoing from every corner of my mind. He accepted it?

WHAT? WHY? HOW? Millions of questions rang through my head with no answers found for none of them.

My heart pounded in my chest, I could feel it drumming in my ear. i could feel her arm rubbing gently over my back, trying to calm me down. But I couldn't...and could never recover from this news.

I wasted no other second as I passed her, and rushed downstairs to my father's room. My feet stumbled with one another. Every step felt heavy, my mind a whirlwind of anxiety and disbelief.

I burst into his room and found him casually engrossed in some work while I was worried as heck. he looked up from whatever work he was doing, startled by my sudden appearance.

"What's wrong, ma?" his voice was calm, almost too calm for the chaos swirling inside me.

"Is it true?" I blurted out, my voice trembling revealing my inner turmoil.

"what do you mean by 'true' here? and which truth?"

"HIM. What else. Did he...accept it? This...proposal?"

He dropped his pen and gave out a soft sigh, "Yeah, he did-"

"WHY DIDN'T ANYONE TELL ME??" my voice let out my inner frustration and disbelief. The room seemed to vibrate with the intensity of my emotions.

My father remained calm, his expression unreadable. "Yashna, we didn't want to burden you before the tender meeting. We thought it best to tell you once everything was confirmed."

"Confirmed? And what about my feelings? My opinions?" I retorted, my voice trembling with anger. "This is my life we're talking about pa!"

He sighed, looking down at his hands. "We thought it was for the best. Rudradev has shown genuine interest in making amends and moving forward."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. How could they make such a monumental decision without even consulting me? My mind raced, my thoughts a chaotic mess. The betrayal stung deeply.

"I can't do this, Appa," I said, my voice breaking. "I won't marry him. Not like this."

"You have to understand, Yashna," he replied gently. "Sometimes, life takes unexpected turns, and we have to adapt."

"Adapt? To what? To being forced into a marriage with someone like him...HIM?" I shook my head, feeling a mix of anger and helplessness.

As the weight of my words and the magnitude of the situation sank in, I felt my voice begin to waver. "Appa, I didn't mean to raise my voice. I'm just... I'm just...."

He stood up, walking over to me, and placed a hand on my shoulder. "I understand, Yashna. Give it some time. Think it over. You might find that things aren't as bleak as they seem."

I pulled away, tears of frustration welling up in my eyes. "I don't need time. I need my life pa."

With that, I turned and left the room, my heart heavy with the weight of the decisions made for me. I had to find a way out of this. There was no way I would let this be my fate.

And that fate....will be decided tomorrow.

By this time tomorrow, everyone....will get to know it...