THREE

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AUTHOR'S POV

After returning from college, she headed straight to her room, too exhausted to even think. The first thing she did was freshen up—splashing cold water on her face, letting out a tired sigh as the weight of the day slowly faded.

She changed into something more comfortable—that felt like home against her skin. For a while, she stayed in her room, letting herself breathe. Maybe scrolling through her phone, maybe just lying on the bed staring at the ceiling—whatever it was, she needed that moment of stillness.

Eventually, the smell of food wafted in, warm and tempting, reminding her it was dinner time. She made her way downstairs, quiet steps echoing softly in the calm of the house.

She sat down at the dining table, ready to eat, when suddenly—her father cleared his throat, sharp and deliberate. The kind of sound that demanded attention without saying a single word.

She looked up instinctively, sensing the shift in energy. Something was coming.

“The Rathore family is coming tomorrow,” he said, looking directly at Mom. “Make sure everything is perfect. I don’t want any last-minute issues. They’re visiting after a long time.”

There was a quiet seriousness in his tone, the kind that left no room for questions or casual replies. Mom nodded silently, already running a checklist in her mind.

Then, he turned his gaze toward me.

“And you,” he added, eyes steady, “don’t go to college tomorrow. They’re coming specially to meet you.”

I blinked, a beat too slow to respond.

Wait… What?

The calm around the table suddenly didn’t feel so calm anymore.

I just nodded and said “hmm” in response—nothing more. After all, I didn’t even know them properly. Not really.

We completed our dinner and retired to our respective rooms.

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NEXT MORNING....

HER POV:

I got ready quickly, not wanting to keep anyone waiting. I slipped into a beautiful Anarkali suit—simple yet graceful, the kind that made me feel effortlessly put together. A hint of light makeup, just enough to freshen up my look, and I was good to go.

With one last glance in the mirror, I took a deep breath and made my way downstairs, the soft rustle of my outfit following me with every step.

I came downstairs and was instantly greeted by the comforting aroma of something delicious cooking. As I walked toward the kitchen, a small smile tugged at my lips at the sight before me—Mom and Dad were both in the kitchen, working side by side.

Dad was actually helping her, chopping vegetables while she stirred something on the stove, both laughing over some inside joke.

It was one of those rare, quiet family moments that made everything feel lighter.

Meanwhile, Dadu was sitting in the living room with his usual morning cup of tea, completely immersed in the newspaper. His glasses were slightly tilted, and his brows furrowed in concentration like always whenever he read the headlines aloud to himself.

The whole scene felt warm, lived-in, and beautifully normal.

And for a moment, I just stood there, soaking it all in.

Just then, the sound of car tires crunching lightly against the driveway reached our ears. The low hum of the engine, the sudden quiet—something about it made everything pause for a second.

“Maybe they are here,” Dad said, glancing toward the main gate with a hint of recognition in his voice.

Without waiting for a response, he started walking toward the entrance. And naturally, the rest of us followed—curious, a little unsure, and for reasons I didn’t fully understand… slightly nervous.

*The doorbell rang*

Dad opened the main door and there stood their whole family.

(I can't even count them)

They carried themselves with quiet elegance, dressed immaculately, their posture straight, and expressions calm yet composed. There was a certain aura around them—royal, refined, and unmistakably authoritative. The kind of presence that made you straighten your back without even realizing it.

Each of them wore a small, polite smile, the kind that didn’t reveal too much but was enough to keep things warm and civil. It wasn’t over-the-top, just graceful—like they were used to being in control of rooms, of situations… of people’s attention.

" Arey andar aaiye" dad said

come inside and greet dad with a polite smile.

Dad stepped forward with a wide smile and pulled his friend into a warm hug—the kind that spoke of years of friendship and genuine affection. There was a brief moment of laughter between them, a quiet exchange of familiarity that made the atmosphere instantly more comfortable.

After that, he slowly moved to greet each member of the family, one by one—polite, respectful, and genuinely welcoming. Handshakes, small nods, a few kind words—it was all done with the grace that only years of warmth between two families can bring.

Mom also comes and greets them with her beautiful smile.

Suddenly everyone's eyes turned towards me and i held my breath for a second.

"Arey aap log itne time se jisse milne ke liye keh rhe the , ye rahi meri beti isha" Dad said and i smile and touch elders feets and greet the youngsters.

"Bohot pyaari beti hai aapki bhaisahab" A lady with saree and heavy jewelleries said with a warm smile , i smile .

" Areyy humari beti jo hai " Uncle said

Maybe he's her husband

" Arey aap log khade kyu hai baithiye"

Mom said and we came into the hall and they sat on the couch.

"Arey veer nhi aya" Dad asked

Who's veer

Is he boy or girl?

Ohh God shutup isha jo bhi ho tujhe kya,

" Wo uski ek zruri call aagyi thi isiliye wo baat kar rha hai abhi aata hi hoga" uncle said

" Arey aap to humse pehli baar mil rhe ho na let me introduce myself to you" A young boy said

" Myself reyaan singh rathore , veer bhaii younger brother" he said with a smile and i smile back.

Then a girl beside him said with a smile " hello I am ruhi, veer bhaii and this dumbo younger sister"

I smile and said " hello"

Omg her dimples she's cute..!

Then a woman who's wearing a purple saree said " i am Riddhima, veer's chachi"

Ohh God who's veer

Then an uncle beside her said " Beta I am rishi singh rathore , she's my wife " he said pointing toward Ridhima aunty , i smile and greet both of them.

Then a woman who hugged me said with a warm smile " i am shivanya singh rathore, veer mother"

Omg, who even is he? No one's telling me anything—he’s seriously getting on my nerves!

Then the uncle beside her said " I am shivanya husband and veer father kairav singh Rathore" he smiled and i smiled too .

Then my dadu's best friend said " i know you know me, Rajesh talk about me alot " he said

I laughed and said " of course dadu tell me a lot about you , i know you very well " he hugged me warmly.

And then… we all heard it.

The sound of heavy footsteps approaching—measured, steady, almost echoing against the stillness of the moment.

I don’t know why, but the second those footsteps hit my ears, something shifted inside me. My heart skipped a beat—then another—and suddenly, it was pounding in my chest like I was in the middle of some slow-motion film scene.

I didn’t even see him yet, but I felt it. That strange pull. That tension in the air.

Like something was about to change… and somehow, I knew—it had everything to do with him.

" Shayad wo aagya " papa said with a small smile.

My eyes drifting toward the gate, unintentionally, almost like they had a mind of their own. I didn’t even realize I was searching for him… until I was.

There was this strange curiosity bubbling inside me—restless, quiet, but persistent. No matter how hard I tried to focus elsewhere, it was like something in me needed to see him.

Who was he, really?

My gaze hovered restlessly, heart beating a little faster than it should’ve.

I just… wanted to see him.

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