Chapter 1 - Unexpected Proposal (2/2)

I entered my room, taking a deep breath, thinking how to face this. I loved Grandpa very much and I so wanted to fulfill all his wishes. However, this one was not I ever wished for.

The door of the room was wide open and there, he stood looking the wall, which held pictures all over it, from my childhood to till now with my family.

He, who was busy in observing those photos, turned around at the sound of my footsteps,

'Handsome.' That was the first thought coming into my mind.

”Beautiful,” he mumbled looking towards me, taking a good time to observe god knew what.

”Huh?” I asked perplexed. It was not that no one ever complimented me earlier but he made me feel the way no one ever did with that one look, and I hated to admit that.

Something in his eyes stopped me from being rude. His honey brown eyes turned darker or the light played the trick, I was not sure. However, that beautiful shade engraved in my heart. His eyes captivated me in such a manner that despite me wanting to run my eyes on his whole frame, I felt myself drowning in the ocean of emotions his eyes presented.

”Photos, they are very beautiful,” he answered after a while.

Surely, he tried covering up as his gaze gave away the secret, his lips tried webbing.

I grew nervous under his intense gaze, but surprisingly not uncomfortable though.

”Hi, Innaya... I'm Eshan, Eshan Singhaniya.” He extended his arm for a formal handshake. He might had mistaken my nervousness, as discomfort in his company.

”Hello,” I replied, relieved that my voice came normal while accepting his hand. His skin felt warm, welcoming against my cold one.

”Come sit,” Eshan said, still holding my hand and leading me to the bed as if we were in his room and not mine.

I sat, taking my hand back and keeping some distance between us, lowering my gaze to my entwined fingers in my lap. His touch made my skin tingle and his eyes, God they gazed as if they knew something I had no inkling about.

I was grateful for the silence that prevailed between us for some time, it gave time for gathering my wandering thoughts. Eshan started conversation breaking the silence in the deep husky voice that demanded my full attention not the case I was denying for.

”Innaya... I know this is not you are wishing for. You do not want to marry me and you have your reasons. Frankly speaking, I am also not expecting you to be ready for this marriage.” I looked suddenly at him, surprised at his declaration. He just smiled in response, an enduring smile providing warmth I never thought any guy was capable of.

”I know it's difficult to get committed for the lifetime to someone whom you are meeting for the very first time, without knowing anything about him. That is the reason I'm here, to know, what you want... I expect you to be honest with your opinions about this alliance.” Eshan continued in his deep soft voice looking in my eyes, putting me at ease unknowingly; implying that he does understand me.

I silently listened to him. He gave me the chance, to express what I wish rather than having me feel obliged about Grandpa's wish.

”Thank you for thinking of me. I... I-” For the first time, I not knew how to explain things to someone. Having him, a complete stranger place my comfort above everything felt overwhelming.

”Innaya,” I looked up at his face from my lap hearing his strained voice as if it emotionally unsettled him to frame his next words.

”Grandpa was the one from whom I learned the business. He was like a father figure to me. I respect him a lot,” Eshan admitted staring ahead, his face expressing sincerity of his words. The faraway look in his eyes had me thinking about his bond with my grandpa.

”He always kept talking about you. He loved you very much,” Eshan added, a small smile playing on his lips.

”I'm here to fulfill my promise given to him, his last wish. But that doesn't mean I'm doing all this just because of some responsibility.” Eshan continued, still not looking at me while I was intently listening to him, his smile vanishing.

”I'm doing this because I want to do this, from all of my heart,” he confessed looking straight into my eyes. My heart missed a beat and raced up in a speed I felt as if ran a marathon and I did not know why? Blame his sincerity, his eyes or emotions I felt because of his little speech.

”I'm not forcing you to anything... Life has taught me one lesson, everything should happen according to your will is not compulsory, some things are better left to fate. Sometimes what we feel is the most wrong decision for us, turns out to be the righteous one.” Eshan said, as if he knew, for me, this was the unfit thing in the world to do.

I sat there, lost in his words, where he kept looking at me perhaps trying to gauge my reaction. Mom knocked informing us about the arrival of his family. Eshan left, giving me privacy to decide not before passing a reassuring smile.

After a lot of battling with my inner self, I decided to leave everything on destiny and give a chance to this new relationship, perhaps not for myself but for Grandpa and my family.

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