Just then, she stood up from her chair and started walking away.

"Wait," I called after her. "You haven't eaten anything yet. At least wait until the food arrives."

She turned around and glared at me, her jaw clenched.

"Main washroom ja rahi hoon." (I'm going to the washroom.)

With that, she walked away.

I leaned back in my chair and took out my phone.

Everything for tomorrow had to be perfect.

I quickly texted Shesh to make all the arrangements.

The plan was clear.

Tomorrow, we would get married in the old Shiv temple located on the outskirts of the city.

After that, I would take her home.

Only Bhai and Bhabhi knew about this plan.

If Mom or Dad found out beforehand, they would definitely turn it into a grand wedding. Mom, especially, would never agree to a simple temple marriage. According to her, this was the last wedding in the family, and she wanted to celebrate it with the entire world.

A few minutes later, Dharini returned.

The moment I looked at her, I noticed something.

She looked tense.

"Are you okay?" I asked softly.

She simply nodded and quietly began eating the pizza that had arrived while she was away.

After taking a few bites, she looked at me.

"What exactly did you tell your family about me?"

She paused before continuing.

"I mean... how did we meet? How did we start dating? You told them I'm your girlfriend, right? Then what story did you tell them?"

I smiled.

"I told them we met in Australia."

She raised an eyebrow.

"You had come there for a business meeting. I liked you at first sight, and eventually we started dating."

She looked at me for a second before shaking her head.

"Wah! Kya sadak-chaap story chipkaai hai tumne... aur unhone bharosa bhi kar liya?" (Wow! What a roadside movie-like story you've made up... and they actually believed you?)

I laughed proudly.

"Of course."

She rolled her eyes.

"Hmm..."

"Then tell me about your family. Their nature, their likes, dislikes... even food preferences. Just the basics."

"If I'm supposed to act as your girlfriend, I should at least know the basics."

I nodded.

"Fair enough."

"My family isn't very big."

"It's Mom, Dad, my elder brother, my Bhabhi, and their daughter."

She nodded.

"I already know that."

"Tell me about their personalities."

"Start with your father."

"I know he's a businessman."

I smiled.

"My father is strict when it comes to rules and discipline."

"But with you..."

"He'll probably become your best friend."

She listened quietly.

"And my mother..."

I couldn't help smiling.

"She's caring."

"Very loving."

"I know you'll eventually share a mother-daughter bond with her."

She immediately interrupted me.

"See..."

"I don't want to form any bond with your family."

"For me, this is just a contract marriage..."

"...one that you forced me into by blackmailing me."

Her words made my jaw tighten.

She wasn't wrong.

I had forced this situation.

But...

Even knowing that...

I still couldn't let her go.

I simply nodded.

"You're right."

She looked slightly surprised that I didn't argue.

"Next?"

"Your brother and Bhabhi."

I smiled.

"My Bhabhi is very sweet."

"But be careful around her."

"If she senses that something is wrong..."

"She'll use every bit of her detective brain until she reaches the truth."

Dharini chuckled.

"Oh..."

"Toh chef ke saath CBI wala dimaag bhi hai. Interesting." (So along with being a chef, she also has a CBI-level detective brain. Interesting.)

I laughed.

"Exactly."

"And my brother..."

"...he's no less."

"But you'll handle him easily."

She frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"He'll see you as his little sister."

"So whenever he's serious..."

"Just make your innocent puppy face."

"He'll end up doing whatever you ask."

She looked at me suspiciously.

"How are you so sure?"

"I know my brother."

She simply nodded.

"Oh."

After finishing the last bite of her pizza, she stood up.

"Let's go."

I nodded and stood as well.

As she was about to walk ahead, I instinctively reached out and held her hand.

The hand...

...I secretly wished I could hold for a lifetime.

She stopped and looked at me questioningly.

Without saying anything, I picked up a tissue from the table and gently wiped the tiny streak of pizza sauce from the corner of her lips.

For a brief second...

My eyes unintentionally drifted toward her soft pink lips.

I quickly looked away before my thoughts wandered any further.

She looked at me.

Then gave me a small smile.

"Let's go."

I smiled back.

"Of course."

She tried to pull her hand back.

But...

Without even realizing it, my fingers tightened slightly around hers.

Not enough to hurt her...

Just enough because I wasn't ready to let go yet.

Together, we walked back to the car.

---

We had barely driven a few minutes when she suddenly exclaimed,

"Stop!"

I immediately pulled the car over.

Without waiting, she stepped out and walked toward a roadside vendor selling fresh coconuts.

She turned back and asked,

"Do you want one?"

I shook my head.

"No."

She bought one for herself and happily started drinking the coconut water through a straw.

I couldn't help watching her.

She looked oddly adorable, completely absorbed in something as simple as drinking coconut water.

After finishing it, she handed the empty coconut back to the vendor.

"I want the malai too."

I frowned.

Malai?

The vendor split the coconut open and handed it back to her.

Only then did I realize she meant the soft white coconut flesh.

She happily scooped it out and ate every last bite.

A small smile escaped my lips.

She really finds happiness in the simplest things.

After that, we quietly drove toward her apartment.

When we reached, she opened the door to get out.

I gently held her hand once more.

She turned back.

"I'll send you the revised contract tonight."

"Sign it..."

"...and give it to Shesh tonight."

She silently nodded.

This time...

I slowly let go of her hand.

Without another word, she walked toward her apartment building.

I stood there, watching until she disappeared inside.

Only then did I start the car.

As I drove back home, a smile lingered on my face.

I didn't know whether today had been the best day of my life...

But one thing was certain.

It was the most important day before our marriage.

And tonight...

Sleep wasn't going to come easily.

Not when every thought in my mind revolved around tomorrow...

Author's POV

The moment Dharini entered the apartment, she threw the handbag in her hand straight toward Mihika, who was sitting comfortably on the sofa.

The bag landed right on Mihika.

"Ouch!" Mihika complained, rubbing her arm. "Yaar, lagi mujhe bag!" (Girl, that bag actually hurt me!)

"Toh lagne ke liye hi maari thi." (I threw it precisely so that it would hurt.) Dharini snapped.

Mihika stared at her for a second before dramatically mimicking her.

"Kya bola tha tumne? 'I have a plan. Woh khud shaadi ke liye mana kar dega.'" (What did you say? 'I have a plan. He'll refuse the marriage himself.')

Dharini glared at her.

"Yaar, but maanna padega... Sir likes you so much." Netra sighed dreamily. "Kaash mujhe bhi koi aisa mil jaaye." (I have to admit... Sir really likes you. I wish I could find someone like that too.)

Dharini shot her an irritated look.

"Main pehle se hi irritated hoon, Netra. Dimag mat kharab kar." (I'm already irritated, Netra. Don't make my headache worse.)

"And what did you say? You want someone like Sir?"

She rolled her eyes.

"Tujhe bhi koi Sir jaisa mile toh.... ek kaam kar—unhe hi rakh le. Kam se kam mera peecha toh chhutega." (If you want someone like Sir so badly, then take him yourself. At least I'll get rid of him.)

Netra scoffed.

"Ha ha, jaise main rakhna chahti hoon aur woh aa jaayenge." (Yeah, as if I want him and he'll actually come running to me.)

She paused, her expression softening.

"Aur agar aa bhi gaya... toh mujhe woh vaisa pyaar nahi chahiye."

Dharini immediately turned toward her.

"Oye! Konsa pyaar? Aur kaisa pyaar? Humare beech mein na kabhi kuch tha, na hai, aur na kabhi hoga!" (Hey! What love? What kind of love? There was never anything between us, there isn't anything now, and there never will be ).

Just Chill Dharu Itna offend kyun ho rahi hai?" (Just chill, Dharu. She's only joking. Why are you getting so offended?)

Dharini huffed.

"Tum toh kuch bolo hi mat. Seedha-seedha jaakar 'no' kehne wali thi main, lekin tune mujhe poore daldal mein dhakka maar diya." (You don't say anything. I was going to simply go there and say no, but you pushed me straight into a swamp.)

She dropped onto the sofa dramatically.

"Wahan jaungi toh roz ek jung ladni padegi. Mera toh sochkar hi dimaag kharab ho raha hai." (If I go there, I'll have to fight a battle every single day. Just thinking about it is giving me a headache.)

Mihika folded her arms.

"Agar tu 'no' bolti, toh teri adopted maa tujhe ghar mein aane hi nahi deti." (If you had said no, your adopted mother wouldn't have even let you enter the house.)

"Ha, aur upar se tamasha karti alag." Netra added. (Yes, and she would've created an entirely different drama on top of that.)

Mihika thought for a moment.

"Par maybe uske ghar wale genuinely force kar rahe hon. Isliye woh shaadi kar raha ho." (But maybe his family is genuinely forcing him. Maybe that's why he's getting married.)

Dharini slowly turned toward her.

"Tujhe seriously lagta hai us insaan ko koi bhi force kar sakta hai?" (Do you seriously think anyone can force that man to do anything?)

She gave Mihika a pointed look.

"Uska ek glare padta hai aur koi bhi ho, muh par zip laga deta hai. Aur use koi force kare?"

She shook her head.

"Not possible."

Mihika smiled slightly.

"Baat kuch aur hai..." (The matter is something else...)

Her eyes shifted knowingly toward Dharini.

Dharini narrowed her eyes.

"Waisi baat hogi bhi toh bhi hamesha ek hi side rahegi." (Even if that's the case, the situation will still remain one-sided.)

She sighed.

"Aur jo kaand usne kiya hai na... uske baad meri respect uske liye aur kam ho gayi hai."(And after the mess he has created... my respect for him has gone down even further.)

"Shaadi ko usne ek game bana kar rakha hai." (He has turned marriage into some kind of game.)

"Khud bhi khel raha hai aur mujhse bhi khilwa raha hai." (He’s playing the game himself and making me play it too.)

She picked up her bag again.

"Anyway, shaam ko Mr. Shesh aayenge contract lekar. Us saand ne kaha hai sign karke de doon."

(Anyway, Mr. Shesh will come in the evening with the contract. That bull told me to sign it and hand it over.)

She stood up.

"Ab main rest karne jaa rahi hoon. Mere naam ka khana mat banana." (I'm going to rest now. Don't make food for me.)

With that, Dharini walked toward her room, leaving the other two staring after her.

Mihika and Netra exchanged a look.

Neither of them said anything.

Because both knew...

Dharini wasn't angry merely because of the contract.

Something else was bothering her.

Something she wasn't ready to admit—not even to herself.

---

Rajvansh Mansion

The evening breeze moved gently through the garden of Rajvansh Mansion.

Anubhav Rajvansh and Shivam Rajvansh sat across from each other, quietly enjoying their coffee.

Anubhav's phone suddenly rang.

He answered the call, listened for a few moments, and then ended it.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

He looked toward his father, who was calmly admiring the garden.

"Tomorrow, a young daughter-in-law is coming into the family."

Shivam looked at him.

"Daughter-in-law?"

He smiled.

"No."

"Say daughter."

"Every daughter-in-law is a daughter in this family."

Before Anubhav could respond, Varuni, Anubhav's wife, spoke from nearby.

"Look at you, Babasa. You haven't even met her, and you're already taking her side." Her tone was serious, but the amusement in her eyes gave away the fact that she was teasing him.

Shivam chuckled.

"For me, every daughter-in-law is a daughter."

He looked at Varuni fondly.

"But don't worry. You'll always be my dearest elder daughter."

Varuni laughed.

"Babasa, I was just joking."

"I know."

She smiled.

"By the way, what's her name?"

"How is she?"

She paused.

"I mean... do you think our vibes will match?"

Anubhav chuckled and took out his phone.

He showed her Dharini's photograph.

Varuni's eyes immediately lit up.

"She's beautiful."

She zoomed in on the photograph.

Then her expression changed.

She stared at Dharini's eyes.

"Wait..."

She looked at Anubhav.

"Her eyes..."

"They look just like yours, Anubhav."

She quickly turned toward Shivam.

"Babasa, look."

She showed him the photograph.

Shivam looked at the screen.

His gaze remained fixed on Dharini's face.

Especially her eyes.

For a moment, something unreadable crossed his face.

"Ayla..."

The name slipped quietly from his lips.

Anubhav's entire expression changed.

His fingers tightened around the armrest.

Without saying a word, he stood up.

He turned and walked inside the mansion.

Varuni watched him leave.

Her smile disappeared.

She looked helplessly toward Shivam.

She knew there was an old wound between father and son...

A wound she had never been able to heal.

Shivam continued staring at the photograph.

Then, almost hesitantly, he asked,

"By any chance..."

"Can she be our Vani?"

Varuni's expression softened.

"Baba..."

"Her name is Dharini."

"She has parents who live in Kasol."

"Her father works at a bank, and she has a sister."

"She has a whole family."

She gently shook her head.

"How can she be our Vani?"

The small hope that had appeared on Shivam's face disappeared.

He lowered his gaze.

"Yes..."

"That's right."

"How can she be Vani?"

He gave a bitter little smile.

"I am a fool for expecting that she would simply come back to me after everything I have done."

He handed the phone to Varuni.

Varuni looked at him with sympathy.

"Baba, please don't lose hope."

"One day..."

"We'll find her."

"I'm sure of it."

Just then, another call appeared on her phone.

Varuni glanced at the screen and stood up.

"I'll take this call."

She walked away.

Shivam remained alone in the garden.

He looked at the flowers blooming around him.

Then slowly lifted his gaze toward the evening sky.

His eyes carried a mixture of regret, longing, and an old pain that time had never managed to erase.

"I'm sorry..."

His voice was barely a whisper.

"I couldn't keep my promise."

He closed his eyes for a moment.

"But one day..."

"I will."

And somewhere inside the mansion...

An old secret remained buried beneath years of silence.