[22]

The next day unfolded much like the previous ones. Aarohi continued stealing glances at Ved during

lectures, while Ved remained steadfast in ignoring her, his demeanor composed yet distant.

Meanwhile, in Banaras, Rishit, Vaani, and Kartik spent the day exploring the city's remaining treasures, cherishing every moment as it was their final day in this timeless city.

Evening at Assi Ghat...

The golden hues of the setting sun bathed the Assi Ghat in a warm glow, the river glistening like molten gold. Rishit and Kartik sat on the wide stone steps, waiting for Vaani to join them for the Ganga Aarti.

The rhythmic sound of a payal broke Rishit’s wandering thoughts, pulling his attention toward the source. He turned instinctively, only to freeze as if time itself had stilled.

Vaani stood before him, draped in a red saree that hugged her figure perfectly, her soft curls framing her glowing face. The ethereal beauty of the moment made Rishit’s heartbeat quicken. His gaze locked onto her, unable to look away, as though the world had narrowed down to just her.

Kartik, observing Rishit’s rare expression of vulnerability, suppressed a knowing smile and quietly began capturing the scene with his camera.

Vaani, noticing Rishit’s intense gaze, felt her heart race. She took a few steps toward him, but as she neared, her sandal slipped on the uneven step. She let out a soft gasp as she lost her balance.

In an instant, Rishit was there, his arms wrapping around her waist as he steadied her. Her hands instinctively clutched his arms for support. For a brief moment, time seemed to pause again—her breath mingling with his, the proximity electrifying.

Once she regained her footing, Vaani shyly looked up and asked, “How am I looking?”

“Acc...acchi lag rahi ho,” Rishit stammered, his usual calm faltering as his eyes darted anywhere but her face. His cheeks burned with an unfamiliar warmth, and his heart raced uncontrollably.

Kartik, watching the scene unfold, chuckled softly. “Lagta hai Banaras ne apna jaadu chala hi diya,” he muttered to himself, capturing one last candid moment before the trio turned their focus to the Ganga Aarti.

The mesmerizing ritual left them in awe as they absorbed the spiritual energy of the moment. Soon after, they left for the airport, ready to head toward their next destination—Dehradun.

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

On the Plane...

As the plane prepared for takeoff, Vaani sat beside Rishit, visibly exhausted from the day’s activities. Rishit, flipping through a magazine, was jolted out of his focus when he felt a light touch on his arm. He turned to find Vaani leaning against him, her head resting on his shoulder, her face softened by sleep.

Surprisingly, Rishit didn’t feel the urge to move. Instead, he adjusted himself slightly and continued reading, allowing her to rest peacefully.

“Vaani, wake up,” Rishit said gently as the plane touched down.

She stirred slowly, rubbing her eyes. “Hum pahuch gaye?” she asked groggily. Rishit nodded, and together with Kartik, they exited the airport and headed toward the mansion.

As they arrived, Rishit noticed Vaani had dozed off again in the car. He moved to wake her, but Kartik stopped him with a smirk.

“Bhabhi thak gayi hai. Utha kar le ja,” Kartik teased, his words laced with humor.

Rishit raised an eyebrow. “Kya bol raha hai?”

“Ese ghoor kya raha hai? Teri hi biwi hai,” Kartik quipped, shrugging casually.

Without further argument, Rishit slipped his arms under Vaani and carried her toward their room.

“Hamare saman le aana,” Rishit instructed Kartik before disappearing into the mansion.

In their room, he laid Vaani gently on the bed, her features calm and peaceful in sleep. He pulled the blanket over her, his gaze lingering a little longer than necessary.

Sighing softly, Rishit turned away and headed to the washroom, leaving the room shrouded in silence, save for the quiet rhythm of her breathing.

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

The next few weeks passed predictably. Ved continued to ignore Aarohi's shy attempts to catch his attention, while Rishit and Vaani's bond grew subtly, a quiet understanding developing between them.

At the Mansion...

"Rishhiiittt!" Kartik’s voice boomed through the living room, breaking the calm atmosphere.

In the kitchen, Rishit frowned, stirring his tea with measured precision. "Chilla kyu raha hai?" he replied, his tone laced with irritation.

Kartik stormed into the kitchen, urgency written all over his face. "We have to leave for Singapore tomorrow evening."

Rishit arched a brow. "But why?"

"Wo kuch problems aa gayi hain Singapore branch mein," Kartik explained, his voice strained.

Rishit nodded. "Theek hai. Tu jaldi apne kaam nipta le, then we’ll leave", Kartik added.

"Okay," Rishit said.

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

Dinner was a simple yet satisfying. The trio shared the meal before Kartik departed for his apartment to pack, and Vaani retreated to her room for the night.

Rishit, however, remained in the living room, engrossed in reviewing a file Kartik had left behind. After some time, feeling the need for a break, he wandered into the kitchen, opened the fridge, and grabbed a tub of ice cream. He served the ice cream in two bowls before heading toward their shared room.

Knocking gently on the door, he called out, "Vaani?"

From inside, her voice carried an edge of disbelief. "Aapne hi room mein aane ke liye kaun knock karta hai, Rishit?"

"Main karta hoon," Rishit replied, stepping inside.

Vaani shook her head, exasperated. "Ek din main apna sar phod lungi!"

"Phod lo," Rishit said nonchalantly, placing the ice cream on the table.

Vaani huffed dramatically and moved toward the wall, pretending to hit her forehead against it.

Rishit sighed, striding toward her. Placing his hand gently on her forehead, he stopped her antics. "Kya kar rahi ho?"

"Wahi jo aapne kaha tha," Vaani quipped, her tone teasing.

Rishit shook his head, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips, before handing her a bowl of ice cream.

"Waise," he began, his tone turning serious, "Mujhe aapse kuch baat karni hai." He gestured toward the balcony.

Curiosity flashed in Vaani’s eyes as she followed him outside. The cool night breeze played with her hair as Rishit leaned against the railing, gazing at the moonlit sky.

"I’m leaving for Singapore tomorrow evening," Rishit began, his voice steady. "Tum yahan akeli rahogi. Main aunty ko bol dunga ki tumhare liye khaana banaye."

[ Aunty - The house helper who barely come because Rishit don't like anyone around him ]

"Aap kab tak wapas aayenge?" Vaani asked, concern lacing her tone.

"Can’t say," Rishit replied, his expression unreadable.

A comfortable silence settled between them, broken only by the distant hum of the city.

After a while, Rishit turned to her, his gaze softening. "Mera saath kal kahi chalogi?"

"Kahan?" Vaani asked, her curiosity piqued.

"That’s a surprise," Rishit said with a faint smile.

Vaani’s face lit up with excitement. "Haan, bilkul!"

Rishit nodded, the ghost of a smile still lingering on his lips. The quiet understanding between them deepened in the moonlit stillness.

Later, they retreated to their respective places for the night, a sense of unspoken anticipation lingering in the air.

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

Bangalore...

The serene afternoon at the garden was interrupted when Ved, sitting alone and scrolling through his phone, noticed someone approaching. It was Amrita, her expression unusually serious as she sat beside him.

Ved’s brows furrowed. "Tum yahan kaise?" he asked, his voice tinged with confusion.

"Tumse kuch baat karni hai," Amrita said, her tone resolute.

"Kya?" Ved asked, placing his phone aside to give her his attention.

"Tum Aarohi ko pehchante ho na?" Amrita asked, her gaze steady. Ved nodded, wondering where this conversation was heading.

"She loves you, Ved," Amrita said bluntly, her words landing like a sudden jolt. Ved’s eyes widened in surprise, though he remained silent.

"But she isn’t ready to confess," Amrita continued, observing his reaction. Ved, however, sat motionless, listening intently.

"Ved, mujhe tumhare feelings ke baare mein nahi pata, but I felt you should know—there’s someone who admires you deeply," Amrita said, her gaze now fixed on the grass beneath her.

"Wo pichle 1.5 saal se tumse pyaar karti hai," she added, finally looking at him.

Ved processed her words silently, his expression unreadable. Amrita grew impatient. "Kuch bologe?" she asked, but Ved stood abruptly and left without uttering a single word.

Amrita sighed heavily, watching his retreating figure before leaving the garden herself.

As Ved walked away, her words echoed in his mind. "She loves you, Ved." He muttered under his breath, "I knew she liked me, but I never thought she loved me."

By the time he entered the classroom, Aarohi was already there, sitting beside Amrita. His gaze involuntarily fell on her, and for a fleeting moment, their eyes met. Aarohi quickly looked away, flustered, while Ved shifted his focus to Vidhi.

"Kya hua?" Vidhi asked, noticing the unusual look on his face.

"Kuch nahi," Ved replied curtly, pretending to engross himself in his notes. However, his concentration wavered, Amrita’s words still haunting him.

Evening...

Aarohi and Amrita stood outside the college gate, waiting for a solution to their predicament when Ved and Vidhi passed by in their car.

"Ved, gaadi roko," Vidhi said suddenly.

Ved frowned but obeyed, pulling the car to a stop. "Kya hua?" he asked, slightly annoyed.

Vidhi pointed toward Aarohi and Amrita. "Unhe dekho, ghar nahi gaye abhi tak."

Vidhi stepped out of the car and approached them. "Kya hua? Ghar nahi gaye?"

"Wo meri car kharab ho gayi," Aarohi explained, her voice tinged with embarrassment.

"Main drop kar deti hoon," Vidhi offered without hesitation. Aarohi hesitated for a moment, her eyes darting toward Ved, who remained expressionless, looking straight ahead.

"Chalo," Vidhi insisted, gesturing for them to get in. Aarohi and Amrita climbed into the backseat, their movements tentative.

"Address?" Ved asked flatly, still not looking at them. Aarohi fumbled slightly before giving the directions, her voice unsure.

The drive was silent except for Vidhi’s attempts to break the awkwardness. Aarohi stole glances at Ved, her heart racing, but he resolutely ignored her, focusing on the road ahead.

When they dropped Amrita off, the tension in the car increased. Aarohi fidgeted, trying to think of something to say, but the heavy silence felt impenetrable.

Finally, Vidhi spoke. "Aarohi, padhai kaisi chal rahi hai?"

"Acchi chal rahi hai," Aarohi replied softly, grateful for the distraction. Vidhi nodded, offering her a small smile.

Soon, they reached the Mehta Mansion. Aarohi stepped out of the car and smiled politely. "Bye," she said, her voice gentle.

"Bye," Vidhi replied warmly, while Ved said nothing, his expression blank as he stared ahead.

Vidhi noted his unusual behavior but chose to remain silent. She knew there was more to Ved’s silence than he was letting on.

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

Dehradun...

The morning sunlight streamed through the curtains as Vaani slowly woke up, her eyes fluttering open to find the room empty. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she got out of bed and lazily made her way to the washroom.

Still half-asleep, she opened the door and froze in place. Her eyes widened slightly before her lips curved into a playful smirk.

Standing there, with just a towel wrapped around his waist, was Rishit.

Her gaze shamelessly lingered, causing Rishit to turn around, sensing her presence. His eyes met hers, and his expression immediately shifted to one of exasperation.

"Aap knock karke nahi aa sakti kya?" Rishit asked, his tone impatient.

"Aap door lock nahi kar sakte kya?" Vaani shot back with equal sass, her smirk never wavering.

"Wo main bhool gaya tha," Rishit replied, his voice firm yet slightly defensive.

"Toh main bhi bhool gayi thi," Vaani retorted, her tone teasing.

Rishit noticed the mischievous glint in her eyes and muttered under his breath, "Besharam." He turned to leave, but Vaani’s smirk faded as curiosity took over her expression.

"Rishit, ruko," she called out, her voice laced with confusion.

Rishit stopped in his tracks and turned to face her. "Kya hua?" he asked, a flicker of concern in his tone.

Vaani stepped closer, pointing toward his neck. "Why are you wearing this ring as a pendant? Kiski ring hai yeh?" she asked, her brows knitting together in confusion.

At her question, Rishit’s demeanor shifted entirely. His eyes darkened, a wave of sadness washing over him as he looked away. Without answering, he walked past her and headed toward the cupboard.

"Yeh mohabbat hai meri," he muttered under his breath, his voice raw with emotion. "A gift given by her."

Vaani stood frozen in her spot, her mind racing with questions. The weight of his reaction lingered in the air, leaving her unsettled.

"Yeh kiski ring ho sakti hai? Kahin—" she thought, her heart sinking at the possibilities.

But before the thought could take root, she shook her head firmly. "No, no. He is only mine," she muttered to herself, brushing away the doubt.

Later that morning, they both got ready silently, the tension from their earlier conversation hanging heavy between them. After a quiet breakfast, they prepared to leave, each lost in their own thoughts.

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