The conversation didn't happen immediately.
It lingered.
Hovered between them for a while—
unspoken, but present in every silence.
Krish watched her for a moment.
She looked calmer than before.
But not settled.
"So…" he said lightly, trying to ease into it, "big news."
Aakrati let out a small breath.
"Yeah. Apparently."
A pause.
Neither of them rushed.
Because both knew—
this wasn't a casual conversation.
"I didn't expect this," she said finally.
"Same," Krish replied.
Another silence.
Aakrati looked down at her cup.
Then back at him.
"I don't want this," she said.
Simple.
Clear.
Krish didn't react immediately.
But something in his eyes—
shifted.
Just slightly.
Not surprise.
Not shock.
Because somewhere—
he already knew.
He nodded slowly.
"Okay."
No questions.
No pressure.
That made her look at him again.
"That's it?" she asked.
"What do you want me to say?" he replied calmly.
"I don't know," she said, a little frustrated. "Something?"
Krish leaned back slightly.
"You've already said what matters," he said. "You don't want it."
A pause.
"And that's enough."
Aakrati stared at him.
Because that—
was so… him.
"So you're just okay with this?" she asked.
Krish smiled faintly.
"I didn't say I'm okay with how it happened," he said. "But I'm okay with your decision."
Silence.
Aakrati looked away.
"I feel bad," she admitted quietly.
"Why?" he asked.
"Because… it's not like you're a bad option," she said honestly. "You're probably the best option."
Krish let out a soft laugh.
"Wow. That sounds like a rejection wrapped in a compliment."
Aakrati smiled slightly.
For the first time.
"I mean it," she said. "Anyone would be lucky to have you."
A pause.
"Just not me?" he asked gently.
She didn't answer immediately.
Because she didn't want to hurt him.
And that silence—
said everything.
Krish nodded again.
"Got it."
But his tone stayed light.
Because he wasn't going to make this harder for her.
"You don't have to explain yourself," he added. "You don't owe me that."
Aakrati frowned slightly.
"But I want to," she said.
Krish looked at her.
"I just…" she hesitated. "I don't feel that way."
There it was.
Honest.
Krish held her gaze.
And for a brief second—
something real flickered in his eyes.
But he let it pass.
"Fair enough," he said simply.
No drama.
No bitterness.
Just acceptance.
Aakrati exhaled.
"You're taking this too easily," she said.
Krish smiled.
"Trust me," he replied softly, "it's not as easy as it looks."
That—
made her pause.
But before she could read into it—
he changed the tone.
"Anyway," he continued, "what do you want to do about the families?"
Aakrati straightened slightly.
"I'll talk to my parents," she said. "They need to understand this isn't happening."
Krish nodded.
"I'll handle mine."
A small silence followed.
Lighter now.
"Thank you," she said suddenly.
"For what?"
"For not making this complicated."
Krish looked at her.
"I never will," he said.
And he meant it.
Because no matter what he felt—
Her comfort came first.
Always had.
Always would.
Aakrati smiled faintly.
Still unaware—
That behind his calm acceptance—
There was something deeper.
Something he had chosen—
Not to say.
Because sometimes—
Loving someone—
Means stepping back
Before they even realize
You were standing there.
That night—
Aakrati finally decided to talk to her parents.
They were sitting in the living room.
Calm.
Almost… prepared.
"Mom, Dad, We need to talk - about me and krish?" she asked directly.
Her tone wasn't angry.
But it wasn't light either.
Her mother looked at her gently.
"Aakrati, we didn't force anything. We just… thought about your future."
"My future?" she repeated. "Without asking me?"
Her father stepped in, calm as always.
"We know you."
That line—
She had heard it before.
"And we know what's right for you," he added.
Aakrati let out a small breath.
"I said I don't want this," she said.
A pause.
Her mother moved closer.
Sat beside her.
"You don't want it now," she said softly. "That doesn't mean it's wrong."
Aakrati frowned slightly.
"Marriage will happen sooner or later," her father continued. "It's not something you can avoid forever."
Silence.
"And if it has to happen…" her mother added, "…why not with someone who already understands you?"
Aakrati looked down.
"Krish is a good boy," her father said.
She didn't deny that.
"He respects you," her mother continued. "He takes care of you. We've seen it ourselves."
A pause.
"Not everyone gets that kind of partner," her father said.
That—
Hit somewhere.
Because it was true.
Krish was good.
Too good, maybe.
"You trust him, don't you?" her mother asked gently.
Aakrati nodded slowly.
"Yes."
"Then what's the problem?" her father asked.
She didn't answer immediately.
Because the problem—
Wasn't something she could explain easily.
It wasn't logical.
It wasn't practical.
It was…
A feeling.
Something incomplete.
Something unresolved.
Her mother held her hand.
"We're not against your happiness," she said softly. "We're trying to secure it."
Aakrati closed her eyes for a second.
Secure.
Safe.
Stable.
Everything Krish represented.
Everything her parents wanted.
Everything that made sense.
And yet—
A name crossed her mind.
Arsh.
Uninvited.
Unwanted.
But still there.
His voice.
His anger.
His eyes.
The way he said—
I like you.
Aakrati opened her eyes again.
"I just need time," she said quietly.
Her parents exchanged a look.
"You can take time," her father said.
A pause.
"But don't ignore something good just because you're unsure."
Her mother smiled faintly.
"Sometimes, right decisions don't feel dramatic," she said. "They feel… peaceful."
Peaceful.
Aakrati sat there in silence.
Because peace—
Wasn't what she felt right now.
But maybe—
That was the point.
Maybe peace came later.
Maybe feelings grew.
Maybe stability mattered more.
Slowly—
She nodded.
Not fully convinced.
But not resisting anymore.
"Okay," she said softly.
Her parents smiled.
Relieved.
But as Aakrati sat there—
Quiet.
Still.
A part of her mind—
Didn't agree.
Because no matter how much sense it made—
Her heart—
Was still stuck somewhere
It wasn't supposed to be.
The meeting was set for the evening.
Not too formal—
But important enough that everyone showed up on time.
Aakrati sat beside her parents.
Calm on the outside.
Quiet on the inside.
Across from her—
Krish sat with his parents.
Composed.
Respectful.
But a little… distant.
Shrisha was there too.
Sitting slightly to the side—
But fully involved, as always.
Tea was served.
Basic conversations started.
Work.
Health.
Family updates.
Normal things.
But everyone knew—
That wasn't why they were here.
Soon—
The topic came.
"So…" Krish's father began gently, looking at Aakrati's parents, "we've all discussed this already."
A small pause.
"And we think this is a good match."
Aakrati's mother smiled.
"We agree."
All eyes—
Slowly shifted to Aakrati.
She felt it.
That expectation.
That quiet pressure.
Her fingers tightened slightly in her lap.
Krish noticed.
Of course he did.
Before she could say anything—
He spoke.
"Aunty… uncle," he said calmly, "I think we should also consider Aakrati's timeline."
Everyone looked at him.
He continued—
"She just started something important in her career. It's a big phase for her."
Aakrati looked at him.
Surprised.
He didn't look at her.
"Rushing things might not be the best idea," he added.
A pause.
Her father nodded slowly.
"That's fair, But atleast you guys can get engaged now."
Her mother looked at Aakrati.
Aakrati—
Was still thinking.
She looked around the room
At her parents.
At Krish.
At his parents.
At Shrisha—
Who was already smiling like everything was perfectly on track.
Aakrati took a small breath.
She sat a little straighter.
"I don't want a big engagement."
A pause.
Her mother frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean…" Aakrati continued, choosing her words carefully, "no big function. No crowd. No extended guests."
Silence.
"Just us," she added softly. "Close family. That's it."
Krish's eyes shifted to her.
Listening.
Carefully.
Her father leaned back slightly.
"Any particular reason?"
Aakrati hesitated for a second.
Then simply said—
"I'm not comfortable with something big right now."
That was true.
Just not the full truth.
Her mother studied her face.
"You've always liked things simple," she said slowly.
Aakrati nodded.
"Yes."
Another pause.
Then—
Krish's father said "If not something big than we can do this day after tomorrow because we need to go abroad the day next due to some business work."
That—
Caught everyone off guard.
"So soon?" Krish's mother asked.
Aakrati's father nodded.
"If it's small, there's no need to delay," he said. "We don't need a lot of arrangements."
Her father exchanged a look with her mother.
It made sense.
No big planning.
No pressure.
Just a small ceremony.
Krish finally spoke.
"You're sure?"
His tone wasn't questioning—
It was checking.
Aakrati looked at him.
For a second—
Her calm expression slipped.
Just slightly.
Then she nodded.
"Yes."
Krish held her gaze.
Trying to read something deeper.
But she had already composed herself.
"Okay," he said finally.
That was enough.
Her parents smiled.
"Then it's decided," her father said.
"Small engagement," her mother added.
"Day after tomorrow."
Shrisha clapped softly.
"This is perfect," she said, clearly excited. "Simple and classy."
Aakrati gave a faint smile.
Everything—
Was moving forward.
Faster than expected.
Cleaner than expected.
Easier than expected.
And yet—
As the conversation shifted again—
And everyone started discussing small details—
Aakrati sat there quietly.
Because somewhere inside—
It didn't feel easy.
It felt like something was being decided—
Before she could fully understand
What she was leaving behind.