want to talk

Kirti sat alone in her room, the weight of everything pressing down on her. Her heart was a storm of confusion, fear, and sadness. She had always been close to her family, but now, it felt like they were pushing her into something she couldn’t control. The pressure to conform, to give in to what was happening around her, was suffocating.

She wiped away the tears, not wanting anyone to see her broken. Her mother and father were downstairs, arguing about the land deal, the marriage proposal, and what to do next. Kirti couldn’t bring herself to speak to them about how she felt, about how trapped she felt. She didn’t want to disappoint them, but she also didn’t want to marry someone she barely knew, especially someone like Xiao Zhan.

She grabbed her textbook, trying to focus on her studies to distract herself from the turmoil in her heart. But the words blurred in front of her eyes. No matter how hard she tried to concentrate, her mind kept drifting back to the events of the last few days. The sweet-talking Mr. Sharma, Xiao Zhan’s unrelenting gaze, the pressure from her family to accept a life she wasn’t ready for.

"Why is this happening?" Kirti whispered to herself. "Why does it feel like no one cares what I want?"

Her tears flowed again, and this time, she let them come. She felt so small and insignificant in this moment, so powerless in the face of her family’s expectations and Xiao Zhan’s relentless pursuit. She had always been the quiet, obedient daughter, but now, everything felt like it was slipping away from her.

The thought of marriage, of being with someone she didn’t choose, made her feel nauseous. She didn’t want this life. She didn’t want a man who saw her as a prize to be won, a contract to be signed.

But what could she do? Her parents were in deep, and they had already said yes to the proposal. She had no voice, no choice. The feeling of being stuck in a place with no escape was overwhelming.

"Why am I always the one who has to sacrifice?" she thought bitterly, wiping away her tears and trying to steady her breathing. She didn’t want to be weak, but she felt like she was drowning in a sea of decisions she never got to make.

Her phone buzzed, and she jumped, startled. It was a message from Diya, asking if Kirti was okay. Kirti paused before replying, unsure of what to say. She couldn’t tell her friend everything—how could she? Diya had always been the carefree one, the one who laughed and joked, not someone who had to deal with the weight of her family’s decisions.

With a heavy heart, Kirti typed back: I’m fine, just tired. Thanks for checking in.

But she wasn’t fine. Not at all.

As she set the phone down, her mind kept circling back to the same thought: How do I get out of this?

There was no clear answer, only the overwhelming sense that the walls were closing in around her.

The next morning, Kirti woke up to the sound of her parents discussing something in hushed voices downstairs. She felt a knot form in her stomach as she got dressed, knowing what the day held in store. Her heart was heavy, weighed down by the events that had been unfolding around her.

As she made her way to the living room, she saw Xiao Zhan and Mr. Sharma sitting comfortably on the couch, surrounded by luxurious gifts meant for the kirti and Kirti’s family . Kirti's mother greeted them with a forced smile, her eyes betraying the unease she felt. Xiao Zhan was dressed impeccably, his presence commanding attention even without trying, his calm demeanor making Kirti feel even more small in comparison. Mr. Sharma, as usual, looked like he was all business, ready to get things done.

"Good morning, Kirti," Mr. Sharma said with a smile, his voice dripping with politeness, but his words carrying an underlying pressure. "We’ve brought some gifts for you and your family. We’d like to discuss the marriage plans."

Kirti ignore Her mind was spinning with thoughts of how she could escape this arrangement, how she could take control of her own life again.

.She wanted nothing more than to run away, to hide from this nightmare, but her feet felt like they were glued to the floor.

Her mother led them to the guest room where the discussion was to take place. But before the door closed, Xiao Zhan, with his calm and collected manner, spoke up, "Mr. Sharma, I’d like to speak with Kirti alone for a moment."

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence. Kirti’s heart raced, and she quickly glanced at her mother for help. Her mother stiffened at Xiao Zhan's request. Kirti could see the hesitation in her eyes, but there was also something else—something that made Kirti’s stomach turn. Was her mother already resigned to this marriage, to this man?

"No, no," her mother interjected quickly, her tone firm. "Girls can't meet boys before marriage. You know how it is in our tradition." She forced a smile, trying to cover up the underlying tension. "It’s improper."

Xiao Zhan didn’t seem fazed. Instead, he gave a polite nod and turned his gaze back to Kirti, his intense stare making her stomach tighten further. There was no warmth in his eyes, only a calculated desire, something that unsettled her.

"I understand, Mrs. Sharma," Xiao Zhan said smoothly. "But I do think it's important to have some time alone to understand one another before marriage. It's only fair."

Kirti’s heart was racing now, and she fought to control her emotions. She couldn’t understand why he was pushing so hard, why he was insistent on having a private conversation with her. It wasn’t like they had anything to discuss. But then again, she had learned over the past few days that this wasn’t about what she wanted—it was about what Xiao Zhan wanted.

Her mother, however, stood firm, her voice a little sharper. "You may talk in the presence of others, but that is all."

There was a tense silence as Xiao Zhan finally relented, though his face remained unchanged. "As you wish."

Kirti stood silently, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and helplessness. She had hoped—prayed—that somehow, something would change, that she would wake up and find herself free from this situation. But it seemed that fate had a different plan for her.

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