☆:*'¨'*:.☆(¯'*•.¸,¤°''°¤,¸.•*'¯)☆:*'¨'**:.☆

Dear diary!

Today was not just another day. It was special. Ever since I got to know that I am to marry 'him' instead of my sister, there wasn't a single day I spent without seeing his picture. Yes I haven't seen him yet but here's what made today special.

I AM GOING TO MEET HIM!!

Hehe yeah that made today so special. It was going just like usual when dad came up to me - yeah even I was taken aback - and said to me that they are coming the day after tomorrow. I can't believe it is happening!

But but butt! Lol!

I was immediately lectured on how I should dress up to 'impress' him by mom. All she knows is that I have to keep him 'happy' until the marriage tenure so that we are able to collaborate with their company and gain lots of profit with the partnership.

I don't even know what to expect...

One thing I know for sure is that this marriage would be my escape. To where, I don't know. But, come on, he is regarded as the 'national crush' ever since his first and only interview came out in the media. Though he seems cold, I am sure he would be feeling the giddiness as much as I do.

He might be the Prince Charming I waited for all my life!

Uhm, one more thing happened today, I uh... I was given an ultimatum today at work... Nope it's going good but... Remember Swikriti? My senior? She is adamant on proving that I don't deserve a promotion to her senior, Mr. Basu... She has delayed my previous promotions too but this time it seems that she wants me out.

It's funny how my father owns this company and yet I don't get enough credit for all the hard work I do.

I have nothing else to say today... So that's all!

B-byee!

She sighed as she closed her diary. Hitting the bed after closing all the lights, she tried to sleep but it was far away from her eyes. Opening her eyes, she found no difference as all the lights were turned off including the night light. She always preferred it that way. While staring at nothing in particular, her mind swirls to her father's words, followed by her mother's lecture.

"We are meeting them the day after tomorrow. The whole family will come, including him. Make sure you take a leave from the office." Mr. Dilip Agrawal said and walked away, not leaving any room for her to say anything.

"I heard your dad saying that they are coming here to meet you. Make sure to dress well. As far as I know, he is a bit typical. So you will be wearing a full sleeve suit with kurti pants and your dupatta will have hand stitched embroidery and I need to make sure it has Chinese collars. Let's have it in navy blue colour so that your fair skin stands out. I will get it ready by tomorrow." Mrs. Aashna Agrawal, her mother was about to leave when she stopped in her tracks and said, "Also, don't forget to impress them. I don't want any issues in your marriage until and unless the partnership officially begins."

"Okay mom," was all she could say in front of her and she hated herself for that.

Swikriti's words pooled in her head as she thought of the importance she receives by everyone.

"Who do you think you are? Just because you are 'the daughter' of the chairman, that doesn't mean you can have your way everywhere. I won't allow you to snatch my position, you are nothing but a spoiled brat and mark my words, you. Are. Not even near. To be the best!" She spat, keeping small gaps to register her words in Karishma's mind. She pointed at her and always rolled her eyes whenever Karishma received any sort of appreciation.

The way she called her 'miss rich-ie rich' and all the taunts she showered on her were something she could never shrug off. No matter how hard she tried, she was always the undeserving candidate. Once she mustered courage and decided to tell her father about all the happenings but all she got in return was a disappointed look and a piece of advice saying that she should listen to her as Swikriti simply wants her best.

"As if!" She scoffed aloud.

'Will I gain importance after I marry and go away?' She wondered as she twisted and turned on the bed.

However, one thing she knew was that this marriage too was a deal. A deal for a merger of both the companies on a huge land. All she knew about the contract was that her late grandfather signed this with his late grandfather. Since their children were already married, they decided to marry their grandchildren so that ultimately, the business remains in the family itself.

A few years ago, there were a few mutual changes. The other party said that they need not to marry off their eldest one's son, but whoever was ready and Karishma's parents agreed on a condition that even their eldest daughter wasn't bound for the same. And the only reason for them to do so was that their beloved daughter was in love with someone else.

As the memories and thoughts flowed in her mind, her eyes closed and sleep consumed her.

Sunlight peeped through the windows and the translucent curtains and adorned her face, disturbing her precious sleep. Finally succeeding in its motives, the sunlight disturbed her and she was now awake.

Stretching her limbs she yawned, still sleepy. After the morning daze cleared, she noticed her surroundings. Her study table was occupied with charts, some of them rolled up and leaning against it, the bean bag was covered with the clothes she forgot to fold yesterday, sunlight coming from the balcony...

'Sunlight?' Realisation dawned up on her as she immediately walked to the balcony. She missed the sunrise. This also means that she woke up late. She gasped as she looked at the clock and saw it was already 7:48 a.m.. She has to reach the office before 9 anyhow which is at an hour's distance.

After getting ready in a hurry, she rushed out of the house without having her breakfast. Of course she would prefer to skip an important meal of the day than to take a half day on the day she would be asking for a leave.

Anuradha, the senior caretaker of the house sighed lightly as she saw her going empty stomach. Her parents never cared about her. They took pride in what all they provided for their children but they overlooked two things, love and care. The siblings too didn't have a good bond. But one thing she knew was that Karishma was a pure soul unlike everyone in the family, the family where relationships are nothing but a competition.

"Anuradha, where is my green smoothie?" She sighed as she heard her ma'am yelling for her smoothie. 'Get back to your work. You have to serve others too' she thought to herself and walked out with a tray in her hands.

On the other hand, Karishma rushed inside the office building she works in and immediately went to mark her attendance. Relief washed over her as she marked her presence just one minute and a few seconds before 9 a.m..

Time passed and it was the lunch break. Karishma finally decided to hand in the leave application for tomorrow. She searched for her direct senior, Swikriti, but she was nowhere in sight. Sighing in defeat, she headed towards her senior's senior, Mr. Dev Bose.

As she was getting her application approved, Swikriti barged in, startling the two inside the cabin. Swikriti's expressions shifted from confusion to irritation as she saw the letter in her senior's hands. "How many times do I have to tell you that if you need literally any guide or approval, you have to reach out to me and only me?" She spat angrily while walking in.

Karishma felt embarrassed as Dev too was present there, looking at both of them. She shifted uncomfortably and licked her dry lips before answering, "I searched for you. As you were nowhere in sight, I came here..."

"I took a half day. Now, do I need your permission to do that?" Karishma immediately shook her head at Swikriti's words. "Why are you here though?"

"I required approval for my leave application for tomorrow. As it was for tomorrow, I came here or else I would have waited for you." Karishma added, still trying to justify her actions.

"I don't approve of the leave."

"W-why?" Karishma was confused, not really understanding the reason for rejection.

"You already took a leave this month saying you were sick. You are not getting more leaves until next month."

Before Karishma could even think of an answer, Dev interrupted. "I am afraid you cannot do so, Ms. Ojha."

"Why is that so, sir?" Swikriti's voice immediately turned soft whereas Karishma stood stunned at the sudden change. She was never really sweet to anyone.

"Ms. Agrawal had taken a leave this month, of course, but allow me to remind you of the company's policy. Every employee gets 20 paid leaves yearly. And the year I am talking about here is the financial year. This financial year, she has taken only two leaves. And, there isn't any rule about how many leaves they can take at once. Am I clear?" Dev answered and Swikriti nodded feeling slightly embarrassed.

After this incident, Swikriti immediately left the cabin feeling humiliated while Karishma turned to thank Dev.

"Thank you so much, sir. It was really important for me to take a leave for tomorrow."

"And may I know why that was?" Dev asked out of curiosity. His tone felt a lot more warmer as he spoke with a small smile.

"Uhm we have some important guests coming over so I have to be there." Karishma half lied about the situation. She was too shy to say it out aloud that the person she is going to marry is visiting her with his family.

Karishma was unknown to the feelings Dev had for her. She knew she had a secret admirer due to a confession at the office party but she was still unknown of the source. She felt someone was messing with her as no one has ever developed a connection with her even after her trying her level best to please them.

Dev on the other hand, found it difficult to not fall for her. He has been in love with her almost since she joined the company. He was in love with her for almost 3 years. However, he felt himself getting shy and nervous around her, resulting in him not yet confessing directly to her.

After excusing herself, she made her way to the cafeteria sighing sadly as she had not brought her lunch and will now have to spend money in the cafeteria. She earned enough to meet her ends easily and moreover there were several policies she claimed upon reaching 18 years of age as her parents invested money for all their children. But still, she despised spending money unnecessarily.

Upon reaching the house at night, she rushed to the kitchen. She saw Anuradha making dinner with Maya, another househelp.

"What's for dinner?" She asked, walking inside the huge kitchen.

"Whatever there is, you are not getting anything." Anuradha taunted her as she continued working without even sparing her a glance.

Karishma suppressed her smile as she walked near her and said, "But I was getting late," with puppy eyes.

Anuradha sighed in defeat knowing she can't fight against those not-so-innocent but innocent looking eyes, making Karishma giggle.

Anuradha has been working at the house from even before Karishma was born. She had a lovely husband but unfortunately her twins couldn't survive for long after their birth due to premature delivery. She always looked at the children of this house as her own but only Karishma developed a bond with her while the other two just looked at her as their caretaker.

It was dinner time and she was sitting in the middle of the six seater dining table with both of her parents sitting at the extreme corners, as the heads of the family. It was completely silent, just the sound of utensils and the househelpers serving food was audible.

Karishma saw in movies that while having any meal together, families would talk about their day or anything random. She dreamed of that too. However, it remained a dream as whenever she initiated a conversation as a young girl, she was immediately shushed either by her elder sister or one of her parents that it wasn't good to speak while eating.

Slowly, she stopped trying. She stopped trying to get her family to be one of the 'normal' ones. But somewhere she still wanted to see the day when all of them would be talking happily, without any competition and taunts. She still unknowingly does all the things to please her parents and earn praise for herself. And this is still her dream. She still waits for it to happen in reality too.

Karishma desperately wanted to start afresh. Even if it meant she had to marry a person she had never met before. One thing she wanted to make sure of was that when she begins her new life, she will give her best to earn respect, importance and especially, love.

────

Jhokhim hai tumpe bharosa karna sabne kaha
Meine har kisi ko jawaab mei intezaar diya
Saari umeedein hain tumse hi yeh dil ne kaha
Meine dil ko itmenaan se samjha kar rukne ko kaha

☆:*'¨'*:.☆(¯'*•.¸,¤°''°¤,¸.•*'¯)☆:*'¨'**:.☆

Word Count - 2309

So... HOW WAS THE CHAPTER?

I eagerly await to see your responses and... Well I want a good number of votes and comments! Hehe

Eager to meet Avyaan?? ;)

Will be back soon with another chapterrr!

The better the response, the sooner y'all will get a new chapter! <3

Also, stck/scrollstack has early access! It's for free as for now and all you gotta do is follow me there!

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘠𝘰𝘶
~𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘹𝘺𝘜𝘯𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯07❤︎