[15]

Dehradun

It was six in the morning, and Vaani stood before a grand villa that seemed to emerge seamlessly from the lap of nature. The entrance was adorned with exquisite floral decorations, their soft hues complementing the serene surroundings. A gentle breeze carried the fragrance of fresh blooms, adding a touch of enchantment to the scene.

Vaani reached into her bag, retrieving the spare keys Kartik had entrusted her with, and stepped through the ornately designed main gate. Her sandals clicked softly against the polished marble of the expansive living area.

The grandeur of the villa was awe-inspiring, with antique furniture, opulent chandeliers, and masterfully curated paintings adorning the walls. The place exuded timeless elegance.

Ascending the spiral staircase, her fingers lightly grazing the sleek wooden railing, Vaani found herself on the second floor. She paused before the room Kartik had directed her to, her heart thudding in anticipation. The door was ajar, the faint creak of the hinges revealing a glimpse of the serene interior. Taking a steadying breath, she stepped inside.

The soft morning light streamed through the curtains, casting a golden glow over the figure sleeping peacefully on the bed.

Rishit lay there, his features bathed in the gentle illumination. His face, usually marked by a sharp intensity, now seemed unguarded, serene. His well-defined jawline and tousled hair only added to his magnetic charm.

Vaani couldn’t help herself. She moved closer, her steps cautious and deliberate, as though afraid to disturb the tranquility of the moment. She perched on the edge of the bed, her gaze fixated on him. Her fingers twitched, and then, succumbing to an irresistible pull, she reached out.

Her index finger brushed against his forehead, tracing a delicate path. From his forehead, her touch traveled down the bridge of his nose, lingering momentarily at his lips.

Her heart skipped a beat as she stared at them, an impulsive thought flitting through her mind—a fleeting desire to close the gap and feel their warmth. But she quickly redirected her touch, trailing her finger to his chin, then down to his neck, before retreating entirely.

For a moment, she sat there, her emotions laid bare in her expression. Love—pure, unguarded, and overwhelming—shone in her eyes. Leaning in closer, she enveloped him in her arms, careful not to wake him. Their faces were so near she could feel the warmth of his breath against her skin.

She pressed a tender kiss to his forehead, her lips lingering longer than necessary, as though committing the moment to memory.

“I missed you, Rishit,” she whispered softly into his ear, her voice trembling with unspoken emotions. Reluctantly, she pulled back and settled on the edge of the bed, waiting for him to stir.

After a few moments, Rishit’s eyelids fluttered open, his gaze still hazy with sleep. His brows furrowed in confusion as he tried to make sense of the blurred figure before him. Then, realization dawned, and his eyes snapped wide open.

Startled, he jolted upright, scrambling to the far corner of the bed as though to put distance between them. His jaw dropped, his expression one of pure disbelief.

“Tum… tum yaha kya kar rahi ho?” he stammered, his voice tinged with alarm, his wide eyes fixed on her.

( What are you doing here)

“Subhprabhat, patidev,” Vaani greeted with a mischievous smile, joining her hands in a mock namaste.

( Good morning )

“Tum yaha kya kar rahi ho?” Rishit repeated, this time with a firm, questioning tone as he stood up and backed further away.

( What are you doing here)

“Woh, aapka pyaar mujhe yaha tak kheench laya,” Vaani replied dramatically, her voice laced with playful theatrics.

( Your love took me this far )

“Bahut strong hai mera pyaar… kahi gym toh nahi ja raha?” Rishit shot back with a deadpan expression, his sharp wit catching her off guard as he moved toward the washroom.

( My love is very strong...maybe it is going to a gym )

Vaani stared after him, her mouth slightly agape in disbelief. She muttered under her breath, her voice dripping with exasperation, “Ajeeb aadmi hai… shabdon mein saath expressions hi nahi nikalte.”

( He is so strange..no expressions at all with words )

She shook her head, her lips twitching into a reluctant smile as she watched the door close behind him.

Fifteen minutes had passed, but Rishit still hadn’t come out of the washroom.

“Rishit abhi tak bahar kyu nahi aaya,” Vaani muttered under her breath as she made her way toward the washroom.

( Why Rishit hasn't come out yet )

Reaching the door, she raised her hand to knock but slipped on the edge of the doormat. Before she knew it, she landed directly in Rishit’s arms just as the door opened.

Rishit looked at her, his expression a mix of confusion and exasperation, and carefully helped her stand on her feet.

“Yeh kya kar rahi ho tum?” he asked, his brows furrowed as he steadied her.

( What are you doing )

“Woh… main fisal gayi,” Vaani replied with a sheepish smile, her cheeks warming slightly.

( Actually I slipped)

“Hmm,” Rishit responded nonchalantly, stepping past her and out of the washroom.

Vaani’s eyes trailed after him, and that’s when she noticed—he was clad only in a towel wrapped loosely around his waist. His damp hair glistened under the light, and water droplets trickled down his toned chest and defined abs. A mischievous grin formed on her lips.

“Btw, you’re so hot, patidev,” she teased, her grin widening as her eyes twinkled with mischief.

Rishit stopped, turning to catch her gaze lingering on his abs. A faint smirk crossed his face, and with an air of pride, he replied, “I know,” before walking away with an air of confidence.

“Such a self-obsessed person,” Vaani muttered under her breath, shaking her head but unable to suppress a small smile. She followed him to the bedroom.

Standing near his wardrobe, Rishit turned sharply to face her, his expression serious. “Ab aap hume batane ka kast karengi ki aap kab ja rahi hain?” he asked, his tone firm, his gaze boring into hers.

( Now can you tell me that when you are leaving )

Vaani, unfazed, plopped onto the couch with a carefree demeanor. “Jab aap jaenge,” she replied, her voice light and nonchalant as she crossed her legs.

( When you will go )

Rishit’s jaw tightened, his disbelief evident. “Tum mere saath yahi rahogi?” he asked, his voice raised, the shock palpable.

( You will live with me here )

“Haan,” Vaani answered coolly, maintaining her calm.

( Yes )

“No way! You are not living with me,” Rishit exclaimed, his frustration evident as he gestured animatedly.

“I am, patidev,” Vaani said firmly, standing her ground. Her tone left no room for argument as she turned to leave the room.

“You are not living with me!” Rishit screamed after her, his voice echoing through the halls, but Vaani paid him no attention. She descended the stairs with steady steps, her victorious smile unshaken as she made her way to the living room.

********************

Bangalore

Ved was sitting alone in the cafeteria, his fingers absentmindedly tapping the table. Vidhi was with a professor discussing a doubt, leaving him to fend for himself. As he sipped his coffee, he noticed a familiar figure approaching.

“Hi, Ved,” Shreya greeted, her tone overly sweet as she waved at him before taking the seat across.

Ved forced a tight-lipped smile, his mind immediately buzzing. “Yeh Shreya yaha kyun baith rahi hai?”

( Why is she sitting here )

“Tum yaha akele kyun baithe ho?” she asked, her voice dripping with an unnatural charm.

( Why are you sitting here alone )

“Basketball khelne ke liye,” Ved replied dryly, the corners of his lips tugging upward in a forced smile.

( To play basketball)

Shreya giggled, unfazed by his sarcasm. “Bahut accha mazaak karte ho tum, Ved,” she said, her laugh light and practiced.

( You are very funny )

Ved’s mock laugh followed. “Hihihi... mujhe bhi aaj hi pata chala,” he said with deliberate sarcasm, making her laugh even harder.

( I also found out today )

At another table in the cafeteria, Aarohi was sitting with her friend Amrita. Her attention shifted sharply when she spotted Ved and Shreya talking.

“Yeh Shreya phir chipakne aa gayi Ved se,” Aarohi muttered, her frustration evident as she frowned.

( This Shreya returned to Ved again )

“Aur toh aur, Ved bhi kaise has has kar baat kar raha hai usse... mujhse toh kabhi nahi ki,” she added, glaring at them with piercing eyes.

( And that's more, even Ved is talking to her... He never talked with me )

Amrita smirked knowingly. “Tu jaati hai kabhi usse baat karne? Use kya sapna aayega ki tu use pasand karti hai?”

( Do you ever go to talk to him? Will he dream that you like him )

Aarohi shot her a sharp look. “Reality check dene ki zarurat nahi hai,” she snapped, her frustration bubbling over.

( No need to give me a reality check )

Amrita rolled her eyes and leaned back in her chair.

“Kya yeh uski girlfriend toh nahi ban gayi... tabhi itne has has ke baat kar raha hai,” Aarohi muttered, her voice a mix of jealousy and frustration as she frowned even deeper.

“What... pagal hai kya? Poore college ki ladkiyan marti hain uspar aur woh ise bhaav dega? Not possible,” Amrita replied firmly, dismissing the thought.

Aarohi’s worry deepened. “Everything is possible, Amrita... what if she is his girlfriend?” she cried, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and annoyance as she gave Amrita her best puppy-dog look.

“Achha theek hai, kuch karte hain,” Amrita said with a resigned sigh.

( Okay, let's do something )

“What?” Aarohi asked, her curiosity piqued as her eyes sparkled with mischief.

“Stalk… let’s stalk them,” Amrita suggested, a wide grin spreading across her face.

“Perfect idea!” Aarohi exclaimed, pulling Amrita into a side hug, her mood suddenly lifting.

Meanwhile, Ved and Shreya continued their conversation.

Ved’s gaze occasionally flickered toward the cafeteria entrance as he muttered internally, “Yeh Vidhi kab tak aayegi?”

( When will Vidhi came )

“So, Ved, are you free in the evening?” Shreya asked, her voice pulling him back to the present.

Ved straightened, his expression polite but uninterested. “No, I have something really important to do,” he excused, his eyes darting between Shreya and the entrance.

“Oh,” Shreya said, disappointment flickering across her face before recovering quickly. “So, when are you free?” she pressed, leaning slightly forward, her eyes sparkling with hope.

“I don’t wanna go out with you,” Ved replied, his expression stern, his tone leaving no room for further discussion.

Shreya’s face fell as his words sank in. “Okay,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper, and stood up to leave.

Meanwhile, Aarohi and Amrita, who had been trying their best to eavesdrop on the conversation, exchanged frustrated glances as they failed to catch anything.

“Yeh chali kyun gayi?” Aarohi asked, her brows knitting together in confusion as she watched Shreya leave the cafeteria.

“Pata nahi,” Amrita replied with equal puzzlement, shrugging her shoulders.

Just then, Vidhi walked into the cafeteria and made her way to Ved, taking the seat across from him.

“Kya puri zindagi bhar ke doubts ek hi din puch liye?” Ved asked, his tone laced with frustration as he looked at her.

“Chid kyun raha hai?” Vidhi asked, raising an eyebrow as she immediately picked up on his irritation.

“Yaar, woh Shreya aa gayi thi,” Ved said, rolling his eyes. The very next second, Vidhi burst into laughter.

“Tujhe hasi aa rahi hai?” Ved asked in mock anger, glaring at her.

( You are laughing)

“Sorry, sorry,” Vidhi managed to say between laughs, but Ved wasn’t paying her any attention.

“Zyada bhaav mat kha,” Vidhi teased, picking up her coffee and taking a sip.

“Meri toh koi izzat hi nahi hai,” Ved said dramatically, his voice filled with mock indignation as he grabbed his own coffee.

********************

Oberoi Mansion

Meera was seated elegantly on the plush couch, her posture straight and her expression commanding. Across from her, Kartik sat attentively, his demeanor calm but alert.

“Vaani pahuch gayi?” Meera asked, her voice firm, her piercing gaze resting on Kartik.

( Did Vaani reached )

“Haan, aunty,” Kartik replied with a nod.

( Yes aunty )

“Tum kab ja rahe ho Dehradun?” Meera continued.

( When you are leaving for Dehradun )

“Aaj raat ki flight se,” Kartik answered promptly, meeting her gaze with quiet confidence. Meera gave a curt nod of approval.

( Tonight )

“Pata hai na ki kya karna hai?” she asked, her lips curling into a small, knowing smile.

“Jo aapne kaha hai,” Kartik replied without hesitation. Their eyes met briefly, and then they exchanged a high five, a silent acknowledgment of their shared plan.

( What ever you said )

“All the best, mere bacche,” Meera said warmly, pulling Kartik into a brief but affectionate hug.

“Thank you, aunty,” Kartik said, his voice filled with gratitude as he stood up. With a final nod, he turned and left for his apartment, ready to execute their plan.

____________________________________________________________________________

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