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Video Attached: Title Track of 'Mera Pehla Pehla Pyar'. When I was writing this chapter, this song kept playing again and again and again in my mind. So, here is the song of the chapter.
"Xavier," Krishna called out his brand-new brother-in-law absentmindedly, his gaze sweeping across the room.
The formalities of the day had come to an end, and now Xavier's father had invited them over to his grandfather's house. The old man, partially paralyzed and confined to bed, had missed all the ceremonies. Krishna couldn't help but notice the affection Xavier's grandfather showered on himâconstant kisses and tender gestures that seemed reserved for a cherished child. It was surprising, especially considering how distant Xavier seemed from his own father, barely exchanging a glance of affection.
Krishna's eyes wandered, searching for a specific lady who had been missing since the ring ceremony. Something felt off; he had noticed her avoidance after their brief morning encounter. It was as if she was actively dodging him. His instincts told him something wasn't right, and it gnawed at him.
He had wanted to talk to her, to express something important, but the day's events had kept him busy. As the bride's elder brother, he had responsibilities, and he hoped she would understand. Her absence was tormenting him, and he felt foolish for not addressing the matter sooner. Her absence seemed to follow him everywhere, a constant reminder of his unresolved feelings.
Maybe you are a fool for letting her slip away?
Xavier turned at the sound of Krishna's voice and flinched, visibly uncomfortable in Krishna's presence. Despite being physically well-matched, Xavier seemed intimidated by Krishna's imposing aura. It wasn't just Krishna being police that made Xavier nervousâit was his presence, which felt almost overwhelming.
"Hm... Yes, KriâI mean Bhaiyya," Xavier stammered, his voice faltering.
Krishna noticed the palpable nervousness and sighed. Every time he tried to speak with Xavier, the young man seemed to go pale as if he had seen a ghost. Krishna couldn't quite understand why Xavier reacted this way; the last time he checked, he didn't look like a ghost. In fact, he was quite sure he looked rather handsome.
Well, if you asked a lady, she'd probably call you hot!
He's a guy.
Yeah, but I don't look like a ghost. Wait, are his eyes defective? Oh God! Did my sister marry a blind man?
Krishna eyed Xavier critically, wondering if his own appearance was somehow off-putting. He rubbed his face with his hand, "Do I look like a ghost?" he asked.
Xavier shook his head, clearly puzzled by the question.
Okay, he's not blind.
Krishna placed a reassuring hand on Xavier's shoulder. "If not, then why are you so scared?" he asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and concern.
Xavier opened his mouth, then promptly shut it again, as if unsure how to respond.
Krishna shook his head with a chuckle. "Look, I'm not going to shoot you or anything. You're not a criminal. Even if you were, a gun isn't my first go-to. I'm trying to be friendly here, so let's just be buddies. We're going to see a lot of each other now," he said, playfully raising an eyebrow. Xavier gave a hesitant smile in return.
Krishna extended his hand, waiting for Xavier to shake it, but he could see that Xavier was still too stunned. Deciding to take matters into his own hands, Krishna pulled Xavier into a friendly, manly hug. He patted Xavier's back and said, "Congratulations, Mr. Xavier Lucifer Joseph. Welcome to the Singh family. You're one of us now."
Xavier's eyes widened in surprise, and he grinned sheepishly. "Thank you, Bhaiyya," he replied, managing to speak without stuttering this time.
"Just call me Krish," Krishna said with a smile. "Choti calls me that, and you can too if you'd like. I don't want to pressure you if you prefer Bhaiyya."
Xavier nodded, "Okay. But I prefer Krishna."
Krishna gave him a light pat on the back and turned towards the group of people buzzing nearby. "Where is Samâ" he started to ask, then caught himself. "I mean, where are your friends? The two ladies I drove around as a part-time chauffeur," he asked with a playful tone.
Xavier shrugged. "They left earlier. They're heading out today, and... Ali had some shopping to do, so they left right after the ring ceremony."
"WHAT?" Krishna exclaimed, feeling a wave of panic wash over him. His heart sank at the news.
Didn't she think it was important to talk to me? Did she not want to hear what I had to say? Or worse, is she married or is she with someone else now?
He reassured himself that couldn't be the caseâhe had seen her with that same thin gold chain and heart-shaped pendant that he always dreamt about. There was no sign of her being married, no Mangalsutra, no toe rings, or no stain of vermillion gracing her head... and moreover, her dark eyes had sparkled with the same affection for him he had always known.
So, why?
He took a deep breath, trying to calm the rising anxiety and frustration. "Sorry, actually it's my brain. I mean head. Umm... I mean headache," he blabbered, pressing his fingers to his temple as if to emphasize his point.
His mother hurried over, concern etched on her face. "Krishna, beta, is everything all right?" she asked, touching his face gently.
"Nothing, Maa," he said with a forced smile. "Just work pressure." It was the best excuse he could come up with on short notice.
His mother scrutinized him closely. Krishna knew better than to try and fool herâher maternal instincts were too sharp. Thankfully, she didn't press further. "You should rest then," she said, her voice stern but understanding, and she gave him a tight-lipped smile.
Krishna nodded, acknowledging the unspoken questions in her tone. "I'll explain later," he said, leaning in to kiss her cheek. "I'm heading out now. I'll join you at the wedding reception," he said to Xavier, who gave him a side hug in return.
As Krishna made his way to the exit, he glanced back to see Xavier following him. He hesitated for a moment but decided to ask, "Well, I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to your friends before they left for Delhi."
"Oh, don't worry, I'll pass on your regards," Xavier assured him. "They're not actually going to Delhi. They have a vacation planned for a while, spending a week in Tirora with their parents before heading to Manali."
Krishna's eyes lit up with realization. "Oh! Okay then. I think some rest might help clear my head," he said with a smile. He mentally noted every detail about their plans. He had enough information to find at least all the trains connecting Nagpur to Tirora.
"Sure, Krishna," Xavier said, waving as he was called by Subhadra.
Krishna unlocked his jeep and saw Nishita approaching with Ansh in her arms. "Playing detective for your mother-in-law, huh?" Krishna asked, but Nishita just rolled her eyes.
"She's worried, okay? That's why I'm here," Nishita said, hitting his arm as he tried to open the vehicle. "Don't ignore me when I'm speaking, all right?"
Krishna sighed, realizing he wouldn't be able to brush off her concern. "What happened? Don't you dare lie to me, Krishna," Nishita demanded, with Ansh mimicking her tone.
"Samiksha happened," he murmured under his breath.
"Huh? What did you say?" Nishita asked, shifting Ansh to the other side to focus on him.
"Nishita, I need to leave now or I might miss her. Who knows, I might have already missed her!" Krishna blurted out as he opened the car door.
He jumped into the driver's seat, buckled up, and rolled down the window halfway.
"Who?" Nishita asked, leaning against the door as Ansh continued his playful patting on the door.
With a determined grin, Krishna declared, "Your Devrani."
And with that, he drove off, on a mission to find his beloved and teach her a lesson or two before their love story could reach its beautiful conclusion.
How was he going to accomplish his mission now...?