Chapter 51: Chapter 48

The crisp winter morning brought a sense of calm to the Desai household. Siya was in the kitchen, humming softly as she prepared tea. She hadn’t been expecting visitors, so when the doorbell rang, she wiped her hands and made her way to the door.

Standing there was Gauri, her closest friend, bundled up in a warm shawl, her cheeks flushed from the cold.

“Gauri!” Siya exclaimed, pulling her friend into a warm hug. “What a surprise! Come in, come in!”

Gauri grinned, stepping into the house and rubbing her hands together to warm them. “I thought it was about time I came to see you. You’ve been hiding here for weeks, Mrs. Raghav Desai.”

Siya rolled her eyes, laughing. “Don’t start with that ‘Mrs. Desai’ nonsense. You know how weird it still feels.”

They settled into the cozy living room, sipping tea and catching up on everything they’d missed in each other’s lives. Gauri’s laughter filled the air as Siya recounted her latest mishaps in learning to manage household duties.

“Siya,” Gauri began, her voice turning playful, “there’s something I need to tell you.”

Siya raised an eyebrow. “This sounds serious. Spill it!”

“Well…” Gauri leaned forward, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Rudra and I are officially together.”

Siya gasped, a wide smile breaking across her face. “Oh my God, Gauri! Finally! I was wondering when you two would stop dancing around each other.”

Gauri blushed, her smile shy but radiant. “It just happened so naturally. He’s been so sweet, Siya. As sweet as pastries. I couldn’t resist sweetness.”

Siya grinned, leaning back against the couch. “About time. You’ve been pining for him since forever. I’m so happy for you!”

Gauri gave her a playful nudge. “Enough about me. What about you and Raghav? Don’t think I haven’t noticed how close you two have gotten.”

Siya’s cheeks turned pink as she fiddled with the edge of her shawl. “What about us? We’re just… getting used to this whole situation.”

Gauri narrowed her eyes. “Siya, don’t even try to dodge the question. Do you have feelings for him or not?”

Siya hesitated, then let out a soft sigh. “I do, Gauri. I love him. But…”

“But?” Gauri pressed, leaning closer.

Siya looked away, her voice quieter now. “He’s so focused on his dreams of becoming a cardiologist. I don’t want to be a distraction for him. And then there are those letters to Noorie. I keep thinking he’s still holding onto something there.”

“Siya, that’s not true,” Gauri said firmly. “Raghav cares about you. Anyone with eyes can see that.”

Siya smiled faintly. “Maybe. But I’ve decided I won’t say anything until the college’s award ceremony at the end of the year. That’s when all this ‘Deal 365’ stuff will be behind us. He deserves to chase his dreams without me complicating things.”

Gauri reached out, squeezing Siya’s hand. “You’re overthinking, as always. But if that’s what you’ve decided, I’ll support you. Just promise me one thing—don’t hold back when the time comes.”

“I promise,” Siya said softly. “But you have to promise me something too.”

“Anything.”

“Don’t tell anyone about how I feel. Not even Rudra. Please.”

Gauri smiled knowingly. “Your secret’s safe with me, Mrs. Desai.”

Elsewhere at College

Raghav leaned against the wall outside the lecture hall, scrolling through his phone as Rudra walked up, slapping him on the back.

“Hey, lover boy,” Rudra teased, a wide grin on his face.

Raghav frowned. “What now?”

“Oh, nothing much. Just wondering if you’re ever going to confess your undying love for Siya or if you’re planning to wait until you both turn seventy.”

Raghav rolled his eyes. “You’re insufferable, you know that?”

Rudra laughed. “I’m serious, though. Look at me—I laid out my life plan for Gauri. I told her everything: how I plan to marry her, our future home, and even the dog we’ll adopt.”

“A dog?” Raghav asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, a husky. We’ll name him Bruno. Anyway, this isn’t about me. It’s about you. So, what’s the deal? Are you going to tell Siya how you feel, or do I need to rent a billboard?”

Raghav sighed, his expression softening. “I love her, Rudra. I really do. But I can’t confess. Not now.”

Rudra tilted his head. “Why not? What’s stopping you?”

“This marriage was a compromise,” Raghav said, his voice serious. “I don’t want Siya to think I’m using this deal as an excuse to get closer to her. And what if she doesn’t feel the same way? I don’t want to ruin what we’ve built. It’s fragile, but it’s ours.”

Rudra nodded thoughtfully. “So you’re waiting for this ‘Deal 365’ to end before saying anything?”

“Yes,” Raghav replied. “Once the year is over, she’ll be free to choose. I don’t want her to feel burdened by my feelings.”

Rudra clapped him on the shoulder. “You’re a good guy, Raghav. But let me just say this—sometimes, waiting too long can be just as bad as rushing in. Don’t miss your chance.”

“I won’t,” Raghav said with a small smile. “But in the meantime, I need a favor.”

“Name it.”

“Promise me you won’t tell anyone about this. Not even Gauri. Siya deserves to hear it from me, when the time is right.”

Rudra placed a hand over his heart dramatically. “Your secret’s safe with me, Romeo.”

Somewhere in Parallel Promises

That evening, Siya sat by the window, her thoughts drifting to Raghav. Gauri’s words replayed in her mind, but she shook them off.

Meanwhile, at the college, Raghav stared at the starry sky, Rudra’s teasing smile flashing in his memory.

In unison, they whispered to their trusted confidants,

“Promise me you won’t say anything.”

Their friends, though amused, nodded solemnly. “I promise.”