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HIS POV
The jet touched down on the London airstrip with a smooth thud, the hum of the engines slowly fading as we came to a halt. The moment the doors opened, a gust of cold London air hit my face-sharp, unfamiliar, and oddly calming.
As I stepped out of the private jet, a line of sleek black SUVs and luxury sedans awaited me on the runway, flanked by suited bodyguards standing in disciplined silence.
I walked towards the cars with steady, unhurried steps. My expression remained unreadable, carved in stone. The driver, already anticipating my arrival, rushed to open the door of the waiting SUV. I didn't say a word.
As i settled into the SUV, just as the driver pulled away from the airstrip, my phone buzzed, I glanced at the screen.
.Mom.
For a second, I just stared at the name flashing on the display. Of course she'd call, i swipe to answer her call
"Veer?" Her voice came through, soft but laced with concern.
"Haan " I replied, my tone flat, emotionless.
"Where are you?"
"London." That's all I could say.
There was a pause-heavy, filled with unsaid words. Then she broke the silence said, her voice firm " Akhir tum kab tak khud se or is shaadi se bhagte rakhoge ek na ek din to tumhe shaadi karni hi padegi na , to ab kyu nhi veer "
{"How long will you keep running from yourself and this marriage, Veer? One day or the other, youβll have to get married anywayβ¦ so why not now?"}
My jaw clenched instinctively. Anger simmered just beneath the surface. I shut my eyes, trying to hold it back, and leaned my head against the seat's headrest.
"Mom... please, not now," I said, my voice low but tight with frustration.
"I didn't come here to hear the same lecture. I'm here for an important meeting-nothing more."
I could hear her sigh on the other end, but I didn't give her the chance to speak.
"I'll call you later," I muttered, colder this time, and disconnected the call without waiting for her reply.
I stayed still, eyes closed, as the city of London passed me by.
Outside, everything looked calm. Inside, I was anything but.
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HER POV
I woke up that morning with a soft smile on my face, the kind that just comes without a reason-maybe it was the sunlight slipping through the curtains or the peace in the air.
Without wasting a second, I got ready quickly, slipping into one of my favorite ethnic suits-a pastel kurta with delicate embroidery, simple yet elegant. I tied my hair neatly, added a tiny bindi, and wore my usual silver jhumkas. I liked looking presentable...
I wasn't going to college today. Why? Because Aayushi wasn't coming.
Yes, I know-bestie things, right?
I mean, what's the point of attending college when your partner-in-crime, chai buddy, and secret-keeper is missing in action? It's practically illegal.
As I stepped out of my room and began coming down the stairs, I was humming softly under my breath. But halfway down, my steps froze.
I stopped.
From where I stood, I could see the living room...
And then... I saw them.
His entire family.
His mom, dad, chacha ji, chachi ji-even dadu was there, , They were neatly arranged in the living room, sipping chai with my parents and my dadu.
But wait-want to know the worst part? The absolute tragedy of the
morning?
They saw me.
Yes. Saw me. While I was halfway down the stairs, frozen like a badly written daily soap heroine in dramatic slow motion. And now-of course-every single pair of eyes is glued to me like I'm a rare museum artifact.
Great. Just great.
All eyes were still on me. Literally everyone. It felt like time had paused just to watch me descend like some awkwardly shy princess in a very uncomfortable fairy tale.
In my nervous panic, I managed to flash a small, very not-convincing smile-the kind you give when you're trying to act normal but your brain is screaming internally. And somehow, with legs that felt like noodles, I made it to the bottom of the stairs.
Once I reached the living room, I greeted everyone politely, trying my best to look composed while hiding the full-blown chaos happening inside my head.
And then-Shivanya Aunty.
She's my absolute favorite. There's something about her that just feels warm, like the kind of hug you didn't know you needed. She stood up with that same affectionate smile and pulled me into a tight hug.
"You look even more beautiful every time I see you," she whispered softly, and just like that, a little part of my anxiety melted.
After that, I bent down to touch Dadu's feet. He blessed me with that classic grandfatherly smile-
I quietly sat down beside Mom, trying to act as normal as possible-even though my brain was still buffering from the surprise gathering. Thankfully, once I settled in, everyone got back to their conversations. Smiles, laughter, the usual polite chaos..
I kept nodding along,
just then, Veer's Dadu cleared his throat.
That classic "I'm about to say something important so everyone shut up politely" kind of throat-clear.
And instantly, the entire room fell into a respectful silence-like someone had hit the pause button. Everyone turned their attention to him, and I... well, I just straightened up like a nervous schoolgirl getting called to the principal's office.
Dadu gently placed his teacup on the table, his movements calm and deliberate.
Then, he turned his gaze toward my Dadu-the one who was sitting beside Papa, silently observing everything with that wise, knowing expression he always wore.
With a soft smile and a respectful nod, Veer's Dadu said,
" Rajesh mujhe tujhse kuch zaroori baat karni hai....akele me "
{"Rajesh, I need to talk to you about something important....in private."}
The way he said it, calm but intentional, made the air shift slightly. Not in a bad way-just... serious. Purposeful. Like something important was about to unfold.
And suddenly, my curiosity went from level five to a full hundred.
Without saying another word, they slowly stood up. Veer's Dadu placed a gentle hand on my Dadu's shoulder, and the two of them quietly made their way toward the garden, their footsteps echoing softly across the marble floor.
No one questioned it. No one interrupted. Everyone just... let them go.
I tried to act casual, sipping my chai like I wasn't secretly dying to know what they were discussing. But my eyes kept flickering toward the glass doors leahe garden.
What was going on?
Somewhere deep inside, I already knew. And yet, a part of me wasn't ready to hear it.
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AUTHOR'S POV
The garden welcomed them with its usual stillness- The late afternoon sun filtered softly through the leaves, painting golden patterns on the ground as if nature itself was evesdropping.
Sujeet Singh Rathore and Rajesh tiwari walked slowly, side by side, their steps unhurried, familiar-
They reached the wooden . A little worn from time, a little creaky from use-but still strong, still comforting. Without a word, they both sat down.
There was a silence. Not awkward, not heavy. Just... thoughtful.
Suddenly, Sujeet cleared his throat, his voice steady, his expression unreadable.
"I've been thinking about something."
There was a firmness in his tone-not commanding, but certain. The kind of voice that carried weight, even in soft words
Rajesh turned to look at him, a knowing smile tugging at his lips.
"Whenever you say that, it's either trouble... or something big."
Sujeet didn't smile. He kept his gaze ahead, focused.
" Me chahta hu ki isha or veer ki shaadi hojaye "
{"I want Isha and Veer to get married."}
A moment passed. The swing swayed gently, but the words hung heavier than the wind.
No buildup. No friendly small talk. Just a direct declaration, like a man who had thought it through a thousand times already and had nothing left to question.
Rajesh blinked, taken aback for a moment-by the idea, and by how sharply it was delivered.
" Ye tu kya keh raha hai " he said with narrow eyes.
{"What are you saying?"}
Sujeet's gaze didn't waver.
" I know it in my gut-they're meant to be.
It wasn't just a proposal. It was a quiet command from a man who rarely spoke without reason. The wind blew a little stronger, as if the universe had heard.
Rajesh sighed, shaking his head gently.
"We can't do this without their consent," he said, his voice calm but firm.
"They're not kids anymore. We might have raised them, but this... this is their life. Their choice."
There was a pause, filled with quiet understanding. No anger, no conflict-just the wisdom of two men who cared deeply, even if they saw the path differently.
The swing creaked once more, as if nodding in agreement.
Sujeet jaw tightened slightly, he looked at rajesh " Me kuch nhi janta ye shaadi hoyegi "
{"I donβt care about anythingβthis marriage will happen."}
Rajesh's brows furrowed sharply, a visible sign of the growing storm of irritation bubbling within him. His patience, already wearing thin, he stared at his impossibly stubborn friend -
Taking a deep breath, Rajesh clenched his jaw for a second, trying to keep his cool. But the frustration had already seeped into his voice, giving it a steely edge.
With a slight shake of his head, he spoke, his words deliberate and laced with suppressed exasperation:
" Me isha ke sath koi zabardasti nahin kar sakta "
{"I can't force Isha into anything."}
Sujeet turned to look at his rajesh, his gaze steady and observant. There was something different in Rajesh eyes - a flicker of concern, layered beneath a hint of anger that hadn't yet found its voice. It wasn't loud or explosive, but it was there - simmering quietly, waiting.
Sujeet noticed it all. And yet, instead of reacting with the same intensity, he chose calm. His voice, when he finally spoke, was composed - quiet, but firm enough to be heard.
" Me khud baat karunga isha se , agar wo raazi hui is shaadi ke liye to theek h , nahi to mujhe hi kuch karna padega "
{"Iβll talk to Isha myself. If she agrees to this marriage, then fine. If not, then Iβll have to do something about it.}
Rajesh turned sharply, his voice rising without warning, cutting through the stillness between them.
Jo karna hai karo, Sujeet - lekin agar Isha ko kuch hua ya use koi bhii takleef hui, to mujhse bura koi nahi hoga. Yeh baat tum achhi tarah samajh lo."
{"Do whatever you want, Sujeet β but if anything happens to Isha or if sheβs hurt in any way, thereβll be no one worse than me. Make sure you understand that clearly."}
There was a crack in his voice, Sujee
t looked at rajesh and nodded with a small smirk.
And then , rajesh turned away and walked inside the house , anger radiating off him with every step.
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