Roohi's POV
We arrived at the farmhouse, and everyone was already buzzing with excitement, preparing the lawn for the bonfire. The cool breeze mixed with the smell of wood and earth, setting the perfect scene for a fun evening. It didn't take long for the usual chaos to start.
"Shivansh, you're hopeless! You're stacking those logs like a toddler!" Aadya's voice rang out as she stood with her hands on her hips, shaking her head in disbelief.
Shivansh shot her an exaggerated look of disbelief. "Excuse me, Princess, I've been building bonfires since before you learned how to strike a match."
Aadya snorted, rolling her eyes dramatically. "Oh please, Shivansh, you'd probably need Google to light a candle."
The rest of us exchanged amused glances, well aware that this was just the start of their daily dose of bickering. I leaned closer to Navya, whispering, "Here we go again. Who do you think will win today?"
Navya grinned, "Shivansh always pushes her buttons, but Aadya's on fire today, no pun intended. My money's on her."
As expected, Shivansh fired back. "You seem awfully concerned about this bonfire, Aadya. You wanna show us how it's done, Your Highness?"
Aadya stormed over to the pile of logs, muttering under her breath about "incompetent idiots," and just as she reached to adjust his so-called masterpiece, the entire stack collapsed, scattering logs all over the ground.
Shivansh threw his head back, letting out a victorious laugh. "Oh wow, Aadya. Truly a work of art! Can we expect an encore?"
I couldn't help but chuckle at the scene, enjoying the playful chaos unfolding in front of us. Everyone was getting into it, egging them on.
"Aadya, you can't let him win this one! Show him how it's done!" Bhumi called out, laughing.
"I swear, one day I'm going to set you on fire, Shivansh," Aadya shot back, grumbling as she picked up the logs.
Vivaan, ever the peacekeeper, chimed in with a mischievous grin. "Shivansh, quit it. Aadya might just set you on fire instead of the logs."
The group burst into laughter, and Aadya grinned, clearly enjoying the banter despite her frustration. "You know what, Vivaan? That's actually not a bad idea."
At this point, even I had joined in on the teasing. "Maybe we should just let them wrestle it out."
Before I could respond, I noticed Advay sitting on a chair in the corner, completely absorbed in his phone, oblivious to the lively scene around him. My frustration bubbled up. Why even come on this trip if you're just going to work the whole time?
Without thinking, I stormed over and yanked the phone out of his hand. "If you're here, at least be here! What's the point of being on this trip if you're just going to work?"
He looked up, caught off guard, clearly about to protest, "I was just-"
I cut him off, crossing my arms. "No excuses, Mr. Busy Birla. You're helping with the bonfire."
To my surprise, instead of arguing, he simply stood up. "Fine," he said, walking towards the group, leaving me momentarily stunned. I had fully expected him to demand his phone back. Instead, he was actually listening?
As he joined the group, Advay glanced over at Shivansh, who was still teasing Aadya. "Shivansh, stop troubling her. Just let her be."
Shivansh scoffed, "Troubling her? She's the one trying to 'fix' my perfect bonfire."
A smirk tugged at my lips. "I'm siding with Shivansh. Aadya is just creating mess."
Aadya gasped dramatically. "Roohi, you traitor!"
Bhumi joined in, "Well, I'm with Aadya. It's time the guys see what we're capable of."
Vivaan, always quick to add fuel to the fire, grinned, "Oh, I'm definitely on Shivansh's team. He's clearly the bonfire expert here."
Reva nudged me, "Obviously Shivansh Bhai is the better choice. He's never lost a debate yet, right?"
Avya, always ready for drama, announced, "Nope, I'm siding with Aadya. Shivansh, you've been slacking. Aadya will win this one."
Before we knew it, everyone was picking sides. Bhumi, Avya, Advay, and Navya were all cheering for Aadya. Shivansh's supporters-me, Ishaani, Reva, Vivaan, and Anaya-weren't backing down either. The air was full of friendly teasing, everyone calling out their support for their chosen side.
"Come on, Aadya, show them how it's done!" Navya cheered, pumping her fist in the air.
Shivansh smirked confidently. "Just admit it, Princess. You know I'm going to win."
Aadya rolled her eyes, refusing to back down. "In your dreams, Smug face."
Just as the fun was reaching its peak, a sleek car pulled up, grabbing everyone's attention. A man stepped out in a crisp white shirt, looking every bit as polished as the car he drove.
Ishaani squinted. "Wait, is that-?"
Reva said. "That's their brother, Reeyansh!"
Avya practically sprinted across the lawn, shouting, "Reeyansh bhai! Finally, you're here!"
Reeyansh smiled, catching her in a tight hug. "How could I say no when my favorite sister called?"
Shivansh said, "Oh, so now we're playing favorites? The guy who's been MIA for years gets all the love?"
Avya stuck her tongue out at him. "Bhai, don't be jealous."
I noticed that Shivansh and Reva were not really happy seeing him.
Reeyansh made his way over, giving Advay a brotherly hug, and then turned to me with a warm smile. "Hello, bhabhi! I'm Reeyansh, your to-be brother-in-law."
I smiled back, matching his warmth. "Hi, I'm Roohi. Nice to finally meet you."
As everyone greeted him, I suddenly realized I hadn't seen Navya around. I leaned closer to Ishaani and whispered, "Hey, where's Navya?"
"Probably in the washroom," she replied casually, but something about her absence felt strange.
Just then, Advay came up to me, holding out his hand. "Can I have my phone back now?"
I blinked, realizing I still had it. "Oh! Right, your phone." I handed it over, feeling a bit sheepish.
Vivaan, ever the observer, couldn't resist teasing. "Oh ho, Mr. Busy Birla doesn't even carry his phone anymore? What's next, Advay bhaiya, you going to let Bhabhi handle all your work?"
Avya chimed in, giggling. "Looks like someone's getting special treatment."
Advay muttered a quiet "Shut up," as walked away, clearly embarrassed.
The group burst into laughter, and I could feel my face heat up as well. All this teasing was new, Flustered I made a quick escape to the washroom to splash some water on my face.
Looking at my reflection, I let out a small sigh. This man... He's definitely going to be trouble just then i got call from my secretary.
Navya's POV
The farmhouse was a whirlwind of chaos. Avya and I were in a corner, chatting away. She's my junior in the same field, and we ended up gossiping, as doctors often do. Of course, she brought up Aditya. Everyone knows about our relationship-he's a senior doctor, well-respected, and rumors tend to fly. I just smiled, brushing off her question, but before I could respond, she suddenly jumped up and ran off.
Curious, I turned to see where she was headed. That's when I saw him-Reeyansh. My heart skipped a beat. How did he end up here? I heard Reva's voice behind me, chatting with Roohi and Ishaani, "That's their brother."
Not wanting to make a scene, I excused myself and slipped into the house. But seeing him brought back a flood of memories. I wanted to run to him, give him a tight hug, just like old times, but I couldn't.
Seeing him triggered flashbacks of that party night-how I had been betrayed. Sometimes, when emotions run high, you start remembering things that make you feel even worse. Aditya's betrayal, his blackmail, and how he was holding my job over me. It was suffocating. I found myself alone in a room, and before I knew it, I was crying. No matter how much I tried to stop, I couldn't.
Suddenly, I heard the door creak open. Panic washed over me, and I quickly turned away, not wanting anyone to see me like this. With my back to the door, I mumbled, my voice thick with emotion, "Sorry... I just came to use the washroom." I tried to sound normal, but my voice betrayed me. As I moved toward the bathroom, I heard the door softly lock behind me. A moment later, I felt strong arms wrap around me, pulling me into a tight hug.
I knew instantly who it was. Him.
Tears flowed freely as I leaned into him, the comfort of his embrace washing over me like a wave of peace. His hand gently stroked my head, and I didn't know how long we stood there like that, wrapped in each other. Just then, we heard a knock at the door.
"Bhaiya?" Avya's voice called out from the other side.
"I'm coming, Avya. You go ahead," he replied, his voice soft but commanding. Then, turning back to me, he said quietly, "Bas, Navya. Stop crying now."
He gently pulled me away, his hands resting on my shoulders. I clung to him again, desperate not to let go. "Please... just a little longer," I whispered.
His voice turned tender, almost pleading. "You keep running away from me, Navya. Why? When you know you find peace right here..."
I pulled back, trying to compose myself. As I turned to leave, he stopped me. "Sit for a while, please." His tone wasn't a request-it was soft, yet firm.
Reluctantly, I sat back down on the bed. "Small world, huh?" I said, trying to change the subject. "I didn't know you were Advay's brother."
He chuckled softly, sitting beside me. "I didn't know either. I was just as surprised to see you on the lawn earlier."
My heart fluttered. "You saw me?"
"How could I not?" he said, his voice low. "I always see you."
Just then, we heard voices calling for us from outside. As I stood up to leave, he grabbed my hand. "Wipe your face first." His eyes softened as he handed me a tissue.
"Thanks," I whispered, quickly wiping away my tears and heading to the washroom.
When I came back, he was still there, standing with his phone. I guessed he was plugging in a charger, but his gaze was locked on me. "Navya," he began, his voice a mix of concern and authority. "Don't waste your tears on someone who doesn't deserve them."
He came closer. His eyes dropped to my hand, and before I realized it, he was holding my fingers, his thumb brushing over the engagement ring Aditya had given me. Without warning, he slipped it off.
"What are you doing?" I gasped, reaching to snatch it back, but he held it out of my reach, shaking his head.
"I can't give it back," he said simply, walking to the window. And with a swift flick of his wrist, he tossed the ring out.
"WHAT?!" I stood there in shock, staring at him. "Why would you throw it out like that?"
He shrugged, taking a step closer, his voice low and playful. "I didn't like it."
"You didn't have to! It wasn't on your hand!" I snapped back, glaring at him.
"But it was on your hand," he whispered, his face inches from mine now. His gaze dropped to my empty finger, his voice even lower, "And I hated seeing that bastard's ring there."
Before I could respond, he grinned, his teasing back. "Come on, my sister's waiting for me. I'll talk to you later, love."
He grabbed my hand, tugging me toward the door. As we stepped out, he paused, looking back at me with that infuriating smirk. "And this time, you're not running away, got it? I won't let you."
He closed the door behind him with a soft click, and I kicked it in frustration. "Asshole!" I muttered under my breath, knowing full well he probably heard me. I even thought I caught a faint chuckle from the other side.
But his last words lingered in my mind, sending butterflies swirling in my stomach.
I sighed, heading to my room, exhausted from all the crying. My head was pounding, but somewhere deep inside, a strange warmth had settled. The butterflies wouldn't stop fluttering.
Advay's POV
I was sitting in my room, engrossed in work, when the door swung open without so much as a knock. Classic Roohi. I didn't even need to look up to know it was her.
"You know, knocking is a basic courtesy," I said dryly, still not glancing away from my laptop.
"Do you know about Ahuja?" she fired back, her voice sharp and full of urgency.
That caught my attention. I looked up to meet her fiery gaze. "What about him?"
She shoved her phone in my face, her frustration practically radiating off her. "Look. He's trying to acquire a majority of my company's shares. Is this because of...?"
Before she could finish, I cut her off. "Yes, Roohi, it's because of that day. The day you confronted him, and he swore he'd ruin you."
She began pacing the room like a caged lioness. I sighed, stood up, and gently grabbed her shoulders to stop her. "Roohi, pacing won't solve anything."
I guided her to sit on the edge of the bed and handed her a glass of water. "Breathe."
Pulling out my phone, I dialed my secretary. "Get me the details on Ahuja's move with the shares and see if we can b-"
She interrupted again, standing up, her voice tight with irritation. "I don't need you to buy the shares, Mr. Birla. I just wanted your help to-"
Without thinking, I placed my finger gently against her lips. "Shh."
Her lips parted slightly, and she froze, staring at me wide-eyed. I held her gaze for a moment longer than necessary, then turned back to my call. "Acquire the shares. Make sure he doesn't get his hands on them."
I hung up, only to find her glaring at me. My finger was still resting on her lips. Slowly, I pulled it away, smirking at the fire in her eyes.
"I don't need your money," she snapped.
"And I'm not giving it to you," I teased, thoroughly enjoying her frustration.
She crossed her arms, her brow furrowing. "I'm not taking it either. I just wanted your help to intimidate him. He seemed a little scared of you that day."
Leaning against the desk, I couldn't help but grin. "Roohi, this isn't about favors. It's business. He tried to harm you because of me, and I won't let him get away with it. Your company is struggling because of that scandal."
Her posture softened, and for a moment, she seemed to let her guard down. "Thank you."
I raised an eyebrow. "You're welcome, Miss Agrawal. And don't worry. You'll get those shares back."
She shot me a fiery look again. "Oh, so you doubt me? Don't forget they call me the crazy shark in the business world."
I chuckled at her defiance. "Oh, trust me, I know, dear fiancée."
A smile finally broke through her frustration, a genuine one. "Thank you, Advay," she said softly, then quickly corrected herself. "Oh, sorry-Mr. Birla."
I smirked. "You can call me Advay. After all, you are my fiancée now, right?"
She rolled her eyes but smiled playfully. "Right. But seriously, who has a desk in their farmhouse bedroom? Do you work even when you're on vacation?" she teased, reaching for my hand. "Come on, let's go downstairs. Everyone's waiting."
"Wait," I said, closing my laptop and standing up. As we walked downstairs, it felt like I was following her lead, not that I minded.
She glanced back at me with a sly grin. "You're being way too obedient today. What's going on?"
I raised an eyebrow. "And why would that be a problem?"
She stopped abruptly, turning to face me with a mischievous smile. "Don't tell me you've fallen in love with me, Busy Birla."
I smirked, grabbing her wrist and pulling her close, pinning her lightly against the wall. Her breath hitched, her eyes wide with surprise. I leaned in, my lips just inches from her ear. "I don't think so."
Her cheeks flushed, and she stammered, "W-What are you doing?"
"Roohi," I whispered teasingly, "you're blushing."
"I am not!" she shot back, her voice shaky. "It's... it's just makeup! Blush, you know? It's a makeup product."
I chuckled, stepping back. "Of course. Makeup," I said, my tone dripping with mock agreement.
She huffed, crossing her arms in frustration, trying to regain her composure. I walked ahead, leaving her momentarily speechless.
"Bold Roohi is fun," I called over my shoulder with a grin. "But speechless Roohi? Even better."
Ishaani's POV
I was sitting by the pool, wrapping my arms around my knees, staring at the stars scattered across the night sky. The cool breeze gently brushed against my skin, but I was too lazy to go grab a jacket. The noise of the day had finally quieted, leaving behind a peaceful silence that I wasn't sure I was ready to let go of.
Just as I was losing myself in my thoughts, something warm and soft draped over my shoulders. I turned to find Vivaan, that sunshine-like smile on his face, holding two cups of coffee.
"Figured you might need this," he said, handing me one and sitting down beside me.
I blinked, feeling the warmth from both the coffee and his gesture. "You're not sleeping?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
He shrugged, taking a sip of his coffee. "I was finishing some work and then saw you sitting here all alone. Thought I'd keep you company."
I smiled softly. "Thanks for the coffee, though you didn't need to do that."
"Of course I did," he said, nudging me lightly with his elbow. "You looked like you were deep in thought. What's bothering you?"
I sighed, biting my lip. "Am I that easy to read?"
He chuckled, the sound light and comforting. "Only to me."
I hesitated for a moment before admitting, "I don't know... I had fun today, but sometimes I feel like I don't deserve all this. Like I don't even deserve my friends. It's silly, right?"
Vivaan's smile faded as he turned toward me, his expression serious. "That's not silly at all. But you're wrong. You deserve every bit of happiness and more, Sunshine."
I blinked, surprised by the intensity in his voice. "Vivaan, it's not that big of a deal-"
"It is to me," he interrupted, shaking his head. "You light up every room you walk into. You're the sunshine in everyone's life."
I blushed slightly, trying to hide my face by taking a sip of my coffee. "You really are offended," I teased.
"Of course I am! You think your friends wouldn't be offended too if they heard you talking like this?" he said with mock indignation.
I giggled. "Fine, fine. I won't say it again."
"Good," he said, his smile returning. "Now, just enjoy the stars with me, okay?"
We sat in silence, our shoulders brushing. His jacket warmed me, but his presence warmed me more. For some reason, being near him made everything feel... better.
Vivaan's POV
As I walked to my room, I noticed Ishaani sitting by the pool, staring up at the sky. I always find her in the quietest corner, I thought. I decided to make her some coffee and keep her company-she looked like she could use it.
But then, as we talked, she said something that really hit me. How could she feel like she didn't deserve her friends? It made me realize that despite her sunny smile and easy laughter, there were parts of her that no one saw. Parts of her that were insecure. And it made me want to show her just how wrong she was.
As we sat in silence, I suddenly felt her head resting on my shoulder. My heart skipped a beat, and I froze, trying to process the fact that Ishaani, was leaning on me.
The world seemed to stop for a moment. She looked so peaceful, so... perfect. I didn't want to move. Hell, I didn't want this moment to end. But I knew she'd catch a cold sitting out here all night, so, gathering all my willpower, I carefully wrapped my arm around her and lifted her up.
I prayed no one would wake up as I carried her to her room. Luckily, her door was already open, and her bed was waiting. I laid her down gently, like she was made of glass, and pulled the blanket over her.
Just as I was about to turn and leave, I felt her hand tighten around mine. My heart raced, my breath catching in my throat. She was still asleep, her face calm, but her grip on my hand was strong.
I smiled softly, my heart swelling as I reached out with my free hand to gently push a few strands of hair away from her face. Leaning down, I whispered, "You're incredible, Sunshine. You're going to see that one day. And when you do, I'll be right here."
Unable to help myself, I pulled out my phone and snapped a quick picture of her sleeping, looking so peaceful. Before I could stop myself, I leaned down and pressed a soft kiss on her hand. "Goodnight, Sunshine," I whispered.
Slowly, I slipped my hand free from hers and tiptoed out of the room, my heart already missing the warmth of her touch.
Shivansh's POV
Two days ago, Vivaan hit me with his grand plan: take bhabhi and her friends to the farmhouse for a "getaway." I could already tell which friend he was interested in-Ishaani. Vivaan isn't exactly subtle when it comes to his crushes. I wanted to bail out because my work schedule was insane, but then Vivaan gave me the whole "We need to help Bhai and Bhabhi reconnect" speech. Like a fool, I agreed.
What they didn't tell me? Reyaansh was also coming. I only figured that out when we were already in the car. Typical. I'm sure this was all part of Advay, Vivaan, and Avya's master plan. Advay isn't one for drama, but he's way too invested in "fixing" things between the cousins. Vivaan's the peacemaker, and Avya? Well, she's always backing Reyaansh, her favorite brother. They knew that if they had told me or Reva earlier, we wouldn't have set foot in the farmhouse.
My goal for this trip? Avoid Princess. But let's be honest, avoiding her is impossible. It's way too fun watching her get worked up. We've got history from college-partners in crime back then. Now, it's like she's on a mission to make my life difficult. And trust me, she's doing a damn good job of it.
The farmhouse was as beautiful as ever, nestled amidst greenery and peaceful silence. Everyone scattered to freshen up, and by evening, we had a bonfire going. I was setting up the logs when Princess walked over. For a second, I thought she was here to help. Silly me.
And then she started arguing with me just then I saw car getting pulled.
Bugatti La Voiture Noire I know who owned it it was reyaansh he came and greeted Advay Bhai and bhabhi and then as he was about to hug Reva she backed out he seemed little upset by that but who cares he is the one who ditched us years ago and I was next but I went from there giving reason that I got call I didn't wanted to create scene infront of bhabhi and her friends neither I wanted to spoil everyone's trip.
All of us were sitting near bonfire and playing games
Later that night, everyone drifted inside, leaving just Aadya and me by the fire. She was sitting across from me, the bonfire casting warm, golden light between us.
"You're not going inside?" I asked casually.
"Who are you to ask?" she retorted, not even looking at me.
I sighed. Princess strikes again. "Can't you answer nicely for once?"
She finally looked up, exasperated. "I don't sleep well in new places."
I paused, thinking. "Wanna go for a ride?"
Aadya's eyes met mine. "On?"
"My bike."
Her face lit up. "You have it here?"
I nodded. "I do."
She practically jumped up, suddenly excited. "Let's go!"
We hopped on my bike and took off into the quiet night. As we hit a speed bump, she instinctively grabbed my waist, holding on tightly. I smiled to myself. I'd bet she was about to let go, so I took the bike over another pothole, making her grab on even tighter.
"Idiot!" she smacked my back. "You don't even know how to ride properly!"
I laughed. "Princess, hold tight. There are plenty of potholes ahead."
She mimicked me sarcastically, "Plenty of potholes ahead," and then added, "If you call me Princess one more time in front of everyone, I swear I'll kill you!"
I grinned. "So, you want me to call you Princess in private?"
She groaned, frustrated. "You're impossible."
"So make me possible."
She didn't reply, and I took that as a win.
We pulled up to a small roadside dhaba. As soon as she saw it, her eyes lit up, and she hugged me in excitement. "Oh my god! I love you ! You're awesome!"
I froze. She realized what she'd done and awkwardly stepped back. "I didn't mean that."
I smirked. "I know you didn't."
We sat down, and Aadya immediately started talking about how hungry she was. She admitted she hadn't eaten dinner, and I nodded, realizing I hadn't either. She rambled on about how her father had started giving her cases to handle and how she didn't like being here.
"I don't know," she sighed. "I don't like it here. There's so much helplessness around, and I feel like I can't do enough. I hate feeling this way."
I looked at her, understanding what she meant. She had always been someone who wanted to help others. Even in college, she spent her pocket money helping people.
"You can't help everyone," I said, "but you can help those you can reach. Running away isn't going to change anything. You're in a position to make a difference."
Just then, the food arrived, and I served her. She stared at me in disbelief. "Wait, what do you do, exactly? Don't tell me you're just spending generational wealth."
I replied. "I'm a lawyer."
She choked on the water she was drinking. "You're lying."
"I'm not," I said, pulling out my business card and handing it to her.
She stared at it, shocked. "You have your own firm?"
"I do. Named it after someone who inspired me."
She blinked, taking that in. "You didn't even want to do law. You hated the idea."
I smiled softly. "That was until someone changed my mind."
Flashback (College Days)
We were sitting in the college library one afternoon. Aadya was flipping through her law books with that passionate glint in her eyes, talking about how she would defend the innocent one day.
"Shivansh, you don't get it," she'd said, her voice filled with excitement. "Law is power. It's the power to protect, to fight for the people who can't fight for themselves. One day, I'm going to open my own firm, and I'm going to do exactly that. Help people."
Vivaan and I had laughed at her idealism, but I remembered how those words stuck with me. How I'd stayed awake that night, thinking about the fire in her voice.
Flashback ( Shivansh's Fight with His Father )
"I don't want to join the family business," I said, for what felt like the hundredth time.
My father looked at me, unimpressed. "This is a phase, Shivansh. You'll go through your little law adventure and come running back to us. Mark my words."
I gritted my teeth. "This isn't some phase. I want to make my own name. I want to-"
"You'll come back," he said, cutting me off. "I'll be waiting."
Back at the Dhaba
I didn't tell Aadya that I named my law firm after her. She didn't need to know that.
She stared at me, wide-eyed, and muttered, "I can't believe this. You hate me so much you became a lawyer just to compete with me!"
I groaned. "Seriously, Princess? That's what you think?"
She crossed her arms, looking away. "I knew you'd never move on from our rivalry."
I leaned back in my chair, exasperated. "If that's what you want to assume, I can't stop you. But it's not like that."
She gave me one last glare, stood up, and stormed off, leaving me sitting there, wondering how she could possibly misunderstand everything.
Aadya standing alone, looking lost in her own thoughts. I walked over to her and said, "Let's go."
She didn't argue this time and i don't know i felt bad that she didn't argue. She just quietly walked to my bike and sat behind me. The ride back was silent, the tension still hanging between us. I couldn't help but wonder, How could she misunderstand me so badly?
As soon as we reached the farmhouse, she hopped off the bike without a word, not even sparing me a glance, and disappeared inside. I sat there for a moment, staring at the door she had walked through, shaking my head.
Women... impossible.
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