[5]

" मिलके भी हम ना मिले तुमसे, ना जाने क्यों ,

मीलों के हैं फ़ासले तुमसे, ना जाने क्यों ,

अनजाने हैं सिलसिले तुमसे, ना जाने क्यों ,

सपने हैं पलकों तले तुमसे, ना जाने क्यों "

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Oberoi Industries Office...

Vaani's eyes sparkled with admiration as she watched Rishit stride into the room confidently. His presence commanded attention, and his well-tailored suit only accentuated his already striking appearance. Rishit was accompanied by Kartik, who gave an approving nod to Vaani and her assistant, Rhea, as they entered.

"Hayee... kitne handsome lag rahe h mere hone wale patidev," Vaani muttered under her breath, a soft smile tugging at her lips. She quickly schooled her expression into one of professional poise as Rishit approached.

( How handsome my future husband looks )

"Ms. Ahuja," Rishit greeted formally, extending his hand. Vaani quickly stood up, her hand meeting his in a firm yet gentle handshake.

"Mr. Oberoi," she responded, a hint of warmth seeping into her tone despite her best efforts. The touch of his hand sent a thrill down her spine, but Vaani maintained her composure. They both settled into their chairs, followed by Kartik and Rhea.

The meeting began, with Rishit diving straight into the business discussions, his deep voice resonating with authority and command. But Vaani was only half-listening, too distracted by the way his eyes narrowed in concentration, or how his lips moved whenever he emphasized a point. To her, the numbers and graphs on the presentation screen were meaningless compared to the enigma that was Rishit Oberoi.

Rhea, sitting beside her, nudged her discreetly, but Vaani didn't budge. It wasn't lost on Kartik either, who had a mischievous smile playing on his lips. He exchanged a knowing look with Rhea, raising his eyebrows slightly. Rhea tried to stifle her chuckle, and both turned their attention back to Vaani.

Meanwhile, Rishit, though engrossed in the meeting, felt her gaze linger on him. It wasn't the first time a woman looked at him with admiration.

A little while later, when Vaani and Rhea were engrossed in discussing a point on the report, Kartik leaned closer to Rishit, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Bhai, lagta h aaj to tu apni izzat kho dega."

( Brother, it seems you will lose your respect today )

Rishit shot him a warning glare but couldn't suppress the faint smile tugging at Kartik's lips. Before Kartik could say anything more, he felt a sharp jab at his shin from Rishit's foot. Kartik winced and straightened, biting back a laugh.

"Shut up," Rishit muttered under his breath, his eyes still fixed on the report in front of him, trying to maintain his professional demeanor.

The meeting continued, but there was a charged undercurrent between the four of them, with Vaani stealing glances at Rishit, Kartik smirking mischievously, and Rhea caught between curiosity and amusement.

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

Bangalore...

The college campus was bursting with chatter and laughter as students gathered in groups, catching up on the latest gossip or simply enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of a bright morning.

Vidhan stood outside the college entrance gate, casually leaning against his car, scrolling through his phone as he waited for Vidhi and Ved. His relaxed posture and confident demeanor drew attention, but he seemed oblivious to the eyes lingering on him.

As he waited, several girls passing by couldn't help but steal glances at him, whispering and giggling amongst themselves. Vidhan, with his sharp features and tall frame, was hard to miss, and his easy smile added to his charm. Each time he brushed a lock of hair away from his forehead or shifted his stance, it seemed to amplify his allure.

Meanwhile, as Vidhi and Ved finally approached the college gate, Vidhi's eyes narrowed. She noticed a group of girls standing at some distance, openly admiring Vidhan. One girl even pointed in his direction, nudging her friend, and they both shared a look of approval. The sight made Vidhi's chest tighten with an unfamiliar pang. Jealousy flared up within her, hot and unbidden.

As Vidhi and Ved approached Vidhan, Vidhi's voice, still tinged with jealousy, rang out, "Kyu bulaya h hame?"

( Why did you call us? )

"Hame? Maine toh sirf tumhe bulaya tha," Vidhan replied casually, his gaze shifting to Ved with a teasing glint.

( Us? I just called you )

"Itni badi bezzati," Ved muttered under his breath, pretending to look deeply offended.

( such a huge insult )

"Aapne mere dost ko bulaya, matlab mujhe bhi bulaya... simple," Ved said, quickly shrugging off his feigned hurt, his tone matter-of-fact as if it was a law of nature.

( You called my friend, which means you called me too... simple )

"Nahi, mujhe tujhse koi kaam nahi hai... ja yaha se... classes attend kar," Vidhan shot back, waving his hand dismissively. Ved made a dramatic face, clutching his chest as if he'd been shot.

( No, I don't have any work with you... go away from here... attend classes )

"Girlfriend ke aate hi bhai bhai na raha... paraya ho gaya," Ved lamented theatrically, his voice rising in mock despair. Vidhan and Vidhi rolled their eyes simultaneously, both trying to suppress their smiles.

( As soon as the girlfriend came, the brother was no longer a brother... he became a stranger )

"Pehle yeh toh batao ki mujhe kyu bulaya hai," Vidhi said, crossing her arms as she looked at Vidhan expectantly.

( First tell me why you called me )

Vidhan, who had been leaning casually against his car, straightened up and took a step closer to Vidhi. With a soft chuckle, he leaned in slightly and murmured, "Ji... aapko date pe le jana tha... chalengi kya?" His words were playful, yet there was an earnestness in his gaze.

( Yes... I wanted to take you on a date... will you come? )

Vidhi's cheeks flushed at his unexpected boldness, but she quickly recovered, raising her eyebrows with a teasing smile. "Ji zaroor chalenge," she replied, matching his tone, her eyes sparkling mischievously.

( Yes )

Ved, who had been watching their exchange like a spectator in a play, sighed dramatically, making them both turn to him. "Main ja raha hoon. Aap dono karo apna romance," he announced, throwing his hands up in mock surrender before walking off, muttering something about not wanting to be the third wheel. Vidhi and Vidhan burst into laughter at his antics.

( I am leaving. You both do your romance )

As they finally composed themselves, Vidhan turned to Vidhi with a smile. "Toh chale?" he asked softly. Vidhi nodded, still smiling.

( Let's go )

Vidhan moved around to open the passenger seat door for her, but Vidhi held up a hand, stopping him. "I'll drive, and I'll take you to my favorite place," she declared confidently.

Vidhan blinked in surprise but then grinned, nodding in agreement. "As you wish."

Just as Vidhan was about to sit in the passenger seat, Vidhi stopped him again.

"What happened?" Vidhan asked, slightly puzzled.

"I'll open the door for you," Vidhi said seriously, but there was a playful twinkle in her eye.

Vidhan chuckled, shaking his head in amusement as she walked around and opened the door with a flourish. "After you, Gentleman," she said, mimicking his earlier tone.

Vidhan couldn't help but laugh as he settled into the seat. Vidhi closed the door gently and then walked around to the driver's side. She slipped into the seat, started the car, and shot him a sideways glance. "I'm a gentlewoman, right?"

Vidhan's smile widened at her antics. "Yes, my lady, you definitely are," he said, voice laced with humor. They both burst into laughter again, the car filling with the sound of their shared mirth.

As they drove off, the campus slowly faded into the background, but the easy camaraderie and affection between them lingered, wrapping around them like a warm embrace. It wasn't just a drive-it was a memory in the making, a moment that both knew would stay with them for a long time.

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Meanwhile, Ved wandered aimlessly around the garden area, feeling unusually bored. Vidhi was his only close friend on campus, and without her around, the familiar surroundings seemed dull and uninviting. He kicked at a few stray pebbles and sighed deeply, wishing the day would pick up pace.

As he strolled, lost in thought, his attention was drawn by a burst of laughter and playful shouts coming from the other side of the garden. A group of students were having fun, and amidst them, two girls were running around-one chasing the other. The girl being chased seemed to be enjoying the game, her long hair flying behind her as she zigzagged between the trees.

Suddenly, as if by fate, the girl turned sharply in Ved's direction. Startled by the noise, Ved glanced up just in time to see her barreling straight toward him. He barely had a second to react before she collided into him with a force that sent them both tumbling to the ground.

Ved's arms instinctively wrapped around her waist to steady them, while her hands landed on his chest in an attempt to break her fall. They ended up sprawled on the grass, chests heaving and breaths mingling in the sudden proximity.

For her, it felt like time had stopped. She stared down at Ved, her heart racing, her breath caught in her throat. She'd imagined being close to him so many times, but this... this was something she'd never dared to dream of. His dark eyes locked onto hers, confusion and surprise evident in his gaze.

She felt the warmth of his hands at her waist and the steady rise and fall of his chest beneath her palms. For a moment, it felt surreal, almost like a scene out of one of the countless romantic books she devoured.

Ved, however, was far from sharing her sentiment. The moment his eyes met hers, he quickly looked away, an uncomfortable frown creasing his forehead. He shifted, trying to disentangle himself as gently as he could without causing more of a scene. The situation was awkward, and he just wanted to get up and out of this embarrassing position.

"Tu theek hai, Aarohi?" a concerned voice called out, breaking through Roohi's daze.

( Are you fine Aarohi )

Startled, Aarohi tore her gaze away from Ved, blinking as if waking from a dream. She scrambled to her feet, her cheeks burning red. Ved followed suit, quickly releasing her and standing up as well.

"Yeah, main theek hoon," Aarohi mumbled, brushing off her clothes and trying to ignore the pounding of her heart. She couldn't bring herself to look at Ved again, afraid he might see the whirlwind of emotions in her eyes.

( Yes, I am )

"Ved, tum theek ho?" her friend asked, eyeing him cautiously.

( Ved, are you fine )

"Yeah, I'm fine," Ved replied shortly, his tone neutral as he dusted off his jeans. He glanced at Aarohi briefly, his expression unreadable, then turned away without a word. Without sparing her a second look, he began to walk off, wanting to put some distance between himself and the odd encounter.

Aarohi's heart sank as she watched him go, her chest tightening painfully. She knew he didn't feel anything for her, but she had hoped-hoped that maybe, just maybe, he'd look at her differently, even if just for a moment. But to Ved, she was still invisible, just another classmate he barely noticed.

"Aarohi, are you sure you're okay?" her friend asked again, noticing the way Aarohi's eyes lingered on Ved's retreating form, a flicker of sadness crossing her face.

Aarohi forced a smile and nodded quickly. "Yeah, I'm fine," she said softly, but her voice lacked its usual warmth. She turned away, trying to compose herself, even as her heart ached with the realization that the one moment she would cherish forever meant absolutely nothing to Ved.

Her friend frowned but didn't press further, sensing that Aarohi needed space. The girls resumed their conversation, their laughter resuming after a moment, but Aarohi remained quiet. She stood there, staring at the spot where Ved had been, feeling a heaviness settle in her chest.

Ved hadn't even looked back. To him, it was just an accident-a minor inconvenience to be brushed off. But to Aarohi, it was a fleeting moment of closeness, a moment where her unspoken feelings had almost felt tangible.

With a small sigh, she turned away, hiding her disappointment behind a forced smile. Maybe one day, he would see her. But for now, all she could do was cherish these accidental moments and hope that someday, things might change.

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INTRODUCING

♡ AAROHI MEHTA ♡

[ Aarohi Mehta, a 21 year old girl, who is the daughter of Sandeep Mehta and Sanvi Mehta, a well known businessman and businesswoman of India. She is Ved and Vidhi's classmate and is so in love with Ved Ahuja from the very first day of the college. It all started with an attraction and she didn't realized that when it became love. She is a shy and introvert type of person who excel in studies. ]

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

Also do check out my new book : VOW OF PROTECTION - A Life long Promise

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Thanks for reading..

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Roohi

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