Unraveling past

As the Rajawat family stood at the grand entrance, they bid farewell to the Aroras. Smiles and polite words were exchanged, sealing the formalities of the upcoming wedding.

One by one, the Arora family stepped into their cars, but Veer and Ridhima walked behind the rest—just a few steps apart, yet the air between them crackled with unspoken tension.

Just as she was about to turn away, Veer leaned in, his breath warm against her ear.

"Goodbye, sweetheart," he murmured, his deep, dusky voice sending an unexpected shiver down her spine.

Ridhima stiffened. Her heart skipped a beat—then raced uncontrollably. The way he said it, slow and deliberate, like he was savoring every syllable, made her skin tingle.

She quickly turned to look at him, her lips parting slightly in surprise. Veer smirked, his eyes holding a flicker of mischief, before stepping back and walking toward his car.

Ridhima stood frozen, watching as he slid into the sleek black vehicle. His parents were still blessing her, offering warm words about the wedding, but Veer?

Veer wasn't listening.

His eyes were on her. Only her.

And she felt it. That lingering gaze, the silent acknowledgment that she was something special—something he couldn't ignore.

Ridhima clenched her fists, forcing herself to look away. This was just a deal. Just a contract.

So why did it feel like something more?

That night, Ridhima sat in the living room with her parents and sisters, surrounded by warm laughter and cheerful chatter. The topic of discussion? Her and Veer.

"You two look good together," her mother remarked, her tone filled with admiration.

Aarini grinned. "Not just good—perfect! I mean, the way he looks at you..." she trailed off teasingly.

Devika smirked. "And the way you look at him," she added, making everyone laugh.

Ridhima, who had been absentmindedly stirring her tea, suddenly snapped back to reality. She had been lost in thought, replaying what had happened at the stairs—the way Veer had caught her, the way his hand had wrapped around her wrist, the way his voice had sent an unexplainable shiver down her spine.

Before she could react, Meera clapped her hands in front of her face.

"Earth to Ridhima!" she teased. "Are you thinking about Veer?"

Ridhima's eyes widened slightly, but she quickly masked her expression. "Meera, stop it," she muttered, trying to sound annoyed, but the faint smile on her lips betrayed her.

Meera gasped dramatically. "Oh my god! You didn't deny it!"

Aarini and Devika exchanged knowing glances, while their mother just chuckled.

Ridhima shook her head, forcing herself to stay composed. This wasn't real.

It was just a deal. Just a contract.

Unraveling the Past

Ridhima sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the city lights flickering through her window. Her mind felt like a battlefield—one side screaming that love wasn't for her, the other betraying her with memories of Veer.

"I always say love isn't for me..." she whispered to herself. "But no one ever asks why."

Her eyes welled up, the weight of an old wound pressing on her heart. A flashback hit her like a storm.

—College Days.

She was 19, madly in love, hopelessly devoted to Yash Thakur—son of Bollywood's legendary star, Rajesh Thakur. Four years. Four years of believing in forever, in promises whispered in the dark.

But forever didn't last.

"You're so... boring, Ridhima," Yash had laughed once, surrounded by his rich, glamorous friends. "You're too serious. Too simple. You don't fit into my world."

And just like that, he had shattered her. Made her feel small.

She had loved him with everything she had, and he had made fun of her love—cheating on her, humiliating her. Breaking her.

That day, Ridhima learned that love wasn't just painful—it was cruel.

—Present.

She snapped back to reality, her hands gripping the bedsheet as she tried to steady herself.

"I won't let myself fall again," she told herself. "I can't."

Veer wasn't her past. He wasn't Yash. But why did his words, his touch, the way he called her 'sweetheart,' make her feel something?

Ridhima wiped the tear that escaped down her cheek. No one knew. No one except Meera.

Among all her sisters, Meera was the only one who had sat beside her in silence when she had broken down. The only one who had listened without judgment.

"I don't want any problems," Ridhima thought, gripping her pillow. "I don't want anyone to bring up my past. I don't want to explain why I don't believe in love anymore."

Her parents, Devika, Aarini—they all saw her as strong, independent. But Meera knew the truth. She knew the nights Ridhima had spent crying, the way she had built walls around herself so no one could ever hurt her again.

And now, standing on the edge of an unwanted marriage, Veer was unknowingly testing those walls.

"I can't let this happen. I won't fall again."

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