[2]

" एक दिन आप यूं हमको मिल जाएंगे,

फूल ही फूल राहों में खिल जाएंगे,

मैने सोचा न था,

एक दिन ज़िंदगी इतनी होगी हसीं,

झूमेगा आसमां गाएगी ये ज़मीं,

मैने सोचा न था "

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Ahuja Mansion....

Darsh and Vaidehi sat comfortably in the living room, savoring their tea, when Vaani stormed in, her face flushed with anger.

"Maa Papa, I wish to marry Rishit Oberoi," she declared, her voice laced with urgency.

A heavy silence descended over the room. Darsh exchanged a concerned glance with Vaidehi before setting his cup down, his brow furrowing in thought.

"But, beta, achanak se kaise, abhi tumhari umar hi kya hai," Darsh said, his voice filled with concern.

( But beta, why so suddenly, you are still so young )

"Yes, beta, in our opinion, you should wait," Vaidehi added, her tone gentle yet persuasive.

"Intezaar maa, but kis baat ka ?" Vaani questioned, her frustration apparent. "Is baat ka ki Rishit ki mom uski shadi kara de or mein use paane se phele hi kho du"

( Wait maa, but for what exactly)

( Wait until Rishit's mother finds someone else for him and I lose him before I've even had him )

Darsh looked puzzled. "What do you mean, beta?" he asked, his voice tinged with confusion.

"Meera Oberoi apne bete ke liye ladkiyon par ladkiyan dhondhe ja rahi h," Vaani explained, her tone sharp. "What if Rishit ends up liking one of them?"

( Meera Oberoi is already searching for brides for her son, meeting girl after girl )

"But why is Meera Oberoi in such a hurry to marry her son off?" Vaidehi asked, her voice filled with confusion.

"I don't know the reasons, and frankly, I don't care. All I know is that I want to marry Rishit Oberoi as soon as possible," Vaani declared, her determination unwavering.

Darsh and Vaidehi exchanged troubled glances, unsure of how to respond to their daughter's fierce resolve.

"Alright, if this is truly what you want, then so be it," Vaidehi said, her voice tinged with resignation as she gave in to her daughter's stubbornness.

"I'll speak to Meera Oberoi tomorrow, but until then, I urge you to think it over once more," Vaidehi announced, glancing at Darsh, who nodded in silent agreement.

"I've made my decision, and it's final. I want to marry Rishit Oberoi," Vaani declared with firm resolve, before turning and heading to her room, leaving her parents to absorb the weight of her words.

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

Blue Moon Restaurant.....

Kartik sat in the VIP room of the restaurant.

The VIP room was intimate and luxurious, with dark wood walls, a marble table, and velvet chairs. Soft lighting from elegant sconces and heavy drapes added warmth and privacy, creating a refined, quiet atmosphere.

After some time, a young woman entered the room with confident strides, exuding an air of arrogance.

Kartik stood, pulling out a chair for her with a polite gesture, indicating she should take her seat. Once she was settled, he sat down across from her.

After placing their orders, an uncomfortable silence filled the space between them.

"I must admit, you're really handsome, Mr. Rishit Oberoi," she remarked, breaking the silence.

"Well, thank you very much," Kartik replied with a smile. "You look stunning yourself," he added, complimenting her in return.

Their conversation flowed casually, and soon they finished their meal. After the meal, the woman stood and approached him, moving closer than Kartik had anticipated. Leaning in, their faces mere inches apart, her eyes locked onto his.

Kartik felt his pulse quicken, his face paling as she closed the gap between them. An unfamiliar fear gnawed at him, his heart racing in response to the sudden intimacy.

"So, what do you think?" she murmured, her voice soft and laced with seduction.

"A..about w..what?" Kartik stammered, barely managing to get the words out.

"Shall we go to your place or mine?" she whispered, her tone seductive.

Without a second thought, Kartik sprang back, hastily creating distance between them.

"I'm sorry, behenji, but I'm not that kind of guy. Marf karo mujhe" he exclaimed, joining his hands, his voice tinged with panic.

( Forgive me )

Without waiting for her reaction, Kartik bolted from the room, leaving her stunned and alone, before driving off as fast as he could.

"Really, Kartik? Behenji? That's the best you could come up with?" he muttered to himself in frustration, shaking his head at his own choice of word.

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

"Behenji? Really, Kartik?" A voice echoed through the room, filled with laughter as Rishit doubled over at the story Kartik had just recounted.

"Oh, shut up Rishit! Ye sab teri wajah se huaa h", Kartik shot back, glaring at his friend with frustration simmering in his voice.

(This whole disaster is your fault)

Still laughing, Rishit could barely contain himself. "Ab se mein tera jagah date par nhi jaunga",Kartik continued, the irritation in his tone unmistakable, though there was a trace of amusement creeping in as well.

( I'll never take your place on a date again )

" Haa haa mat jana", Rishit teased, his words barely intelligible through his laughter.

( Sure, you are free now )

"But honestly, Kartik," Rishit continued after catching his breath, "tujhe koi or word nhi mila, like really jiske sath date par gya usi ko behan bol kar aa gya".

( You didn't find any other word, you really called the person you went on a date with as sister )

Kartik ran a hand through his hair, clearly flustered. "What was I supposed to say? I panicked. Whatever came to my mind, I said it. It just slipped out." His voice had a trace of embarrassment, but his attempt to justify himself only made Rishit laugh harder.

Kartik shot him a mock-serious look. "You better stop laughing before I tell Meera Aunty that you sent me on a date in your place, pretending to be you," Kartik threatened, his voice now laced with playful menace.

Rishit's laughter halted, and he shot up from his seat. "No way! Don't you dare!" he warned, eyes widening with mock fear.

Kartik leaned back, a smug smile spreading across his face as he crossed his arms. "Yeah, let's see how she reacts to that. I can already hear the lectures she'll give you about honesty and integrity. Might even make you marry someone".

Rishit rolled his eyes but couldn't help grinning. "Alright, alright. You win. Just don't involve my mom in this", he said, still chuckling as he shook his head.

Kartik, now enjoying the upper hand, nodded with satisfaction. "Good. And let's agree that the next time you get a date, you handle it yourself," he said, his voice regaining its usual easygoing tone.

Rishit raised a hand in mock surrender. "Fine by me. I'm never outsourcing a date to you again," he said.

They both shared a laugh, the tension melting away as the conversation returned to their usual banter.

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

Bangalore.....

Vidhan sat at his desk, deeply engrossed in office work. Papers were strewn across the table, his laptop screen glowing with spreadsheets and emails, as he focused intently on the tasks at hand. His concentration, however, was abruptly interrupted by the cheerful voice of his younger brother, Ved, who bounded into the room with his usual exuberance.

"Kya kar rahe ho bhai" Ved asked, his tone bright and filled with excitement.

( What are you doing bro )

"Nothing special, just some office work," Vidhan replied, not bothering to look up from his computer. He was too busy to notice the mischievous glint in Ved's eyes or the playful tone in his voice.

Ved, undeterred by his brother's lack of interest, continued with the same enthusiasm. A cheeky smile spread across his face as a sly idea popped into his head, one that would definitely get his brother's attention.

"Bhai" Ved began, his voice laced with mock seriousness, "Aapo pata h aaj ek ladke ne Vidhi ko propose kiya"

( Bhai, you know, a boy proposed Vidhi today)

The words hit Vidhan like a jolt. His hands paused over the keyboard, and he slowly turned his face toward Ved, his usual calm demeanor replaced by a sudden shift in expression. His heart gave an involuntary lurch, and he could feel a knot of tension forming in his chest.

Vidhan tried his best to act unaffected, his voice deliberately neutral as he asked, "And why exactly are you telling me this?"

Ved, sensing the shift in his brother's mood, couldn't suppress his amusement. The hint of jealousy in Vidhan's voice was unmistakable, but Vidhan was doing his best to hide it. He tried to keep his face serious, but his tone betrayed him. He was obviously rattled, and Ved, being the mischievous brother he was, relished every moment of it.

"I just thought that to share it with you" Ved said, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he casually observed Vidhan's reaction.

Vidhan tried to brush off the conversation, though the thought of someone else proposing to Vidhi gnawed at him. The very idea made him uncomfortable, but he didn't want to show it.

Ved, noticing the tension, stood up as if to leave the room. "Anyway, I should go," he said casually, turning to walk away.

Just as Ved reached the door, Vidhan blurted out, "Wait. What did she say?"

Ved stopped in his tracks, a slow smile spreading across his face. He turned back toward Vidhan, clearly enjoying the moment.

"She turned him down," Ved said simply, his tone light.

Vidhan let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. A wave of relief washed over him, though he tried to hide it from Ved. But Ved, ever observant, had already caught on. He noticed how Vidhan's posture relaxed, how the lines of tension on his face softened. Smiling to himself, Ved sat back down, his expression shifting from playful to serious.

"Bhai," Ved said quietly, catching Vidhan off guard with the sudden change in tone, "Jab kisi ke liye dil me feelings ho to bata dena chahiye."

( When you have feelings for someone, you should tell them know )

Vidhan froze, feeling the weight of Ved's words. He looked away, avoiding his brother's eyes.

"What are you talking about?" Vidhan asked, his voice sounding forced and awkward. He wasn't used to having these kinds of conversations, especially not with Ved.

"I'm saying you should confess," Ved said, his tone unwavering. "Just tell Vidhi that you love her."

Vidhan's heart skipped a beat. He turned sharply to look at his brother, his eyes wide in shock. How did Ved know? He had been so careful, hadn't he? He hadn't said a word about his feelings for Vidhi to anyone, not even Ved. But somehow, his younger brother had seen right through him.

"How do you know?" Vidhan asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Ved smiled knowingly. "Saaf saaf dikhta h aapki ankhon mein, bhai just confess".

( I can clearly see that in your eye, Bhai just confess )

Vidhan felt a surge of anxiety. He had been harboring these feelings for Vidhi for so long, unsure of whether she felt the same.

"What if she rejects me?" Vidhan asked, voicing the fear that had been gnawing at him for months. "It would be so awkward after that, Ved. Things between us would never be the same."

Ved leaned forward, his expression serious now. "She loves you, Bhai. What you both need is just a confession"

Vidhan blinked, his mind reeling from Ved's words. Did he hear him right?

"What did you say?" Vidhan asked, needing to confirm what he thought he had heard.

"She loves you," Ved repeated, this time more firmly.

The words sent Vidhan into a whirlwind of emotions. His heart soared, and for a moment, he couldn't contain his excitement. He practically leaped out of his chair, his entire body buzzing with energy. His mind raced as he tried to process this new information.

"S-seriously?" Vidhan stammered, barely able to contain his joy.

Ved nodded, his smile widening. "Yeah, seriously."

Vidhan's heart felt lighter than it had in months. The weight of uncertainty and fear that had been weighing him down suddenly lifted, and for the first time, he allowed himself to imagine a future where Vidhi loved him back. He felt elated, almost giddy with excitement.

In a burst of happiness, Vidhan exclaimed, "Sach me Ved, tujhe pata nhi h mein kitna khush hu ye sun ke, bata tujhe kya chahiye, tu jo mangenga mein tujhe wo dunga"

( Ved, you have no idea how happy I am right now! I'm over the moon! Tell me, what do you want? Ask for anything, and it's yours. Whatever you want )

Ved's eyes twinkled with amusement, sensing the opportunity for some playful mischief. "Really?" he asked, his voice teasing.

"Yes, anything!" Vidhan confirmed, his joy bubbling over.

Ved stood up and backed away a little, putting some distance between them. With a cheeky grin, he said, "To isi khushi me aap apni property mere naam kar do",

( Well then, in that case, why don't you sign over all your property to me )

Vidhan's face twisted in disbelief, and without thinking, he grabbed a slipper-and threw it at Ved.

"Nikal yaha se" Vidhan yelled, trying to hold back his laughter as Ved ducked out of the way.

( Get lost from here )

Ved dodged the slipper with practiced ease and began walking toward the door, but not without muttering under his breath, "Koi izzat hi nhi h, itni acchi news dene ke baad bhi bhaga rahe h."

(No respect at all. I give him such amazing news, and he is kicking me out of his room )

Vidhan couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head at his brother's antics. As Ved left the room, Vidhan's thoughts turned inward. He leaned back in his chair, letting out a long, contented sigh. "Hayee She loves me," he whispered, almost as if saying the words aloud would make them more real. A broad, uncontrollable grin spread across his face, and he felt a wave of happiness wash over him.

The thought of Vidhi reciprocating his feelings made his heart race. For so long, he had kept his emotions buried, afraid of rejection, unsure of whether she felt the same. But now, hearing it from Ved, he allowed himself to believe it might be true. The idea filled him with a kind of joy and relief he hadn't felt in a long time.

As the excitement built within him, Vidhan couldn't help but imagine how things might change now. His mind began to race with thoughts of how he would approach her, what he would say, and how she might react. But at that moment, nothing else mattered except the fact that Vidhi loved him. The future seemed bright, and for the first time in a long while, Vidhan felt like everything might just fall into place.

Still smiling to himself, he leaned back in his chair and let his mind wander, savoring the moment. "She loves me," he whispered again, as if it were the sweetest secret in the world.

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So how was the chapter guys ? I hope you liked it.

If you found it interesting, do vote and comment your views.

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( Id - author_roohi_ )

Link in the bio....do check it out...♡

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Thanks for Reading....❤️

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~ Roohi

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