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Isha's POV
After all the dancing, we moved to the dining area—a long, beautifully set table in the grand hall.
The seating arrangement? A carefully orchestrated game.
I was seated between Dhruv bhai and Shivansh. Today he didn't sat on his regular king seat and i don't know why he sat besides me.
But i am feeling good and thing is I also don't know why I am feeling this happy seeing shivansh sat besides me.
Ishu and prisha was directly across from me.
Juhi, much to her dismay, was seated two seats away from shivansh.
Avi bhai and arjun sat between shivansh and juhi.
The meal was a feast fit for royalty—because, well, it was.
There are many thing in dinner like Paneer tikka, crispy corn, Butter naan, dal makhani, and shahi paneer and dessert Gajar ka halwa and kesar pista kulfi.
I could barely focus on the food with Juhi's cold glares reaching me every now and then. But what truly made her blood boil was when Shivansh casually leaned forward and took a piece of naan from the plate in front of me instead of the one in front of him.
The action was so small, so normal, but in Juhi's mind, it was probably treason.
I almost wanted to smirk. Almost.
Dinner followed—a lavish spread, laughter echoing around the long table. Stories were shared, teasing remarks were exchanged, and for a fleeting moment, everything felt… right.
But soon, it was time to leave.
Standing near the entrance, I hugged Prisha and Ishika, their excitement still bubbling. The elders gave their blessings, and as I turned, my gaze landed on Shivansh.
We didn't say much. We didn't need to.
A slight nod. A shared glance. And then, I stepped out, the cool night air hitting my face as I left the grand palace behind.
My heart, however, seemed to carry a piece of the evening with it.
The night drew to a close, and it was finally time to leave.
Prisha hugged me tight. "I'll call you, first thing in the morning!"
Ishika beamed. "Best Roka ever!"
The elders gave their blessings, one after another, until my gaze fell upon him.
Shivansh stood a few steps away, hands in his pockets, watching.
No words. No formal goodbyes.
Just a lingering moment. A quiet acknowledgment.
And then, I turned and walked away, stepping into the cool night air, carrying the weight of the evening with me.
Behind me, Juhi still stood in the grand hall, her forced smile failing to hide her clenched fists.
The night was quiet, the distant hum of conversation fading as I stepped outside the palace. The cool air touched my skin, a sharp contrast to the warmth inside. My mind was heavy, my body exhausted. I just wanted to get into my car and leave.
Papa and mummy already left in their car with arjun and i am going with ishika and prisha, today I am not going to drive. today ishika will drive I am to tired.
I already change in morning dress, roka dress was to heavy but I am too much tired now.
But just as I reached for the car door, something firm wrapped around my wrist, and before I could react, I was pulled into the shadows.
I stumbled back, my heart slamming against my ribs, panic surged through me as a strong arm wrapped around my waist, pressing me against a firm chest. The world blurred for a moment, my breath caught in my throat.
A startled gasp left my lips. My back hit something solid—a chest. A strong arm curled around my waist, locking me in place.
My heart pounded wildly. Panic flared inside me.
Who—?
I struggled, my breath coming in short, fast bursts. Just as I opened my mouth to scream, a warm palm covered it, silencing me.
"Shh," a deep voice murmured near my ear, sending an involuntary shiver down my spine. "It's me."
The familiar scent—woody, expensive, undeniably him—hit me first.
Shivansh.
A shiver ran down my spine--not from fear, but from something else. His hold was firm yet careful, his body heat surrounding me in the dimly lit space.
The tension in my body melted into something else, something unexplainable. My fingers, which had instinctively gripped his sherwani, loosened.
He must have sensed my realization because, slowly, he removed his hand from my mouth, his fingers grazing my lips for a brief second.
I exhaled sharply. "What the hell was that?! " I turned, glaring up at him, my pulse still unsteady. "Are you crazy?"
A smirk tugged at his lips. "Maybe."
His voice was maddeningly calm, as if he hadn't just dragged me into a secluded corner like some kind of romantic villain.
I turned sharply, glaring at him. "Are you insane?" My voice was low but heated. "You scared me to death!"
His lips curved into a slow smirk, his eyes glinting in the dim light. "If you weren't so impatient to leave, I wouldn't have had to drag you here."
I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest. "If you wanted to talk, You could have asked."
"And where's the fun in that? And miss the chance to see you all flustered?" His tone was teasing, but something in his gaze was deeper. "No, thanks."
I hated how effortlessly he got under my skin.
I wanted to argue, but then he pulled something from his pocket—a small, and a little big, wrapped box.
My breath caught.
I frowned "What's that?" My voice came out quieter than I intended.
"A gift."
A strange flutter spread in my chest as he placed the box in my palm, his fingers brushing against mine. I swallowed and carefully unwrapped the little on first.
A velvet case sat inside.
My pulse quickened. I flicked it open, and my breath hitched.
A bracelet.
Beautiful. Pretty. Fabulous.
"It's beautiful, thank you. " My voice was barely above a whisper.
"This is your roka gift. Now open the second one. " His voice was full of warth. kept the second in my hand.
My breath hitched as I flicked the second one.
A ring.
But not just any ring.
A sapphire, deep blue and stunning, sat at the center, encircled by diamonds. The band was intricately designed, and when I tilted it slightly, I saw something engraved on the inside.
My name.
My stomach flipped.
I glanced up at him, wide-eyed. "It was stunning. This isn't the Roka ring, is it?"
A slow shake of his head. "No."
My lips parted in surprise. "Then…" I hesitated. "Who knows about this?"
"No one." His voice was quiet, firm. "Not my mother. Not Avi. Not Dhruv. No one."
I couldn't tear my gaze away from him. There was something raw in his expression, something he wasn't saying.
Then, before I could fully process it, he took the ring from the box and lifted my hand.
His fingers were warm as he slid the ring onto my finger, slow and deliberate. My skin tingled where he touched me, a strange awareness settling in my chest.
The cool metal pressed against my skin, but i could barely focus on that. All i could feel was him--his presence, his touch, the weight of his words settling deep inside me.
"I bought this," he murmured, his thumb brushing over my knuckles, "only for you."
My breath hitched.
The moment felt… heavy. Too intimate. Too personal.
I swallowed, my voice barely above a whisper. "Why?"
His eyes darkened slightly.
Then, without warning, he leaned in.
The space between us disappeared, and before I could react, he pressed a soft kiss to my forehead.
A sharp inhale escaped me.
The warmth of his lips lingered against my skin, and for a second, I forgot how to breathe.
"You ask too many questions," he murmured against my forehead.
My fingers curled into his shirt, my pulse erratic. "Shivansh—"
He pulled back just enough to meet my gaze. His hand cupped my cheek, his thumb grazing my jaw in an achingly slow motion.
"Don't lose it," he whispered, his voice dangerously soft. "Or I might have to put another one on you…" His lips brushed the edge of my ear, his breath warm against my skin. "…in a way you won't forget."
A shudder ran down my spine.
Heat spread across my cheeks, my heart hammering like a wild drum.
"You—" I swallowed hard, trying to gather my thoughts. "You're impossible."
He smirked and chuckled, dearly enjoying my reaction. Stepping back, his thumb still teasingly stroking my jawline, he let his eyes linger on me for a second longer before tilting his head toward my car.
"Go," he murmured, his voice laced with amusement. "Before they start looking for you."
I took a shaky breath, stepping back, but the weight of the moment—of his touch, his words—clung to me.
As I turned and walked away, I felt the cool metal of the ring on my finger.
I hesitated, glancing down at the ring one last time.
Then, without another word, I turned and walked away, my heart still pounding in ways I didn't want to understand.
And somehow, I knew… this night would stay with me forever.
I slipped into the back seat of the car, my heart still racing from what had just happened. The weight of the sapphire ring on my finger felt both surreal and thrilling. I kept my hands in my lap, fingers curled slightly, as if hiding the proof of my stolen moment with Shivansh.
But I wasn't fast enough.
"Isha, where the hell did you disappear to?" Ishika demanded, twisting in her seat to look at me.
Prisha, seated beside her, narrowed her eyes. "Yeah, you were right behind us, then poof—gone. What happened?"
I hesitated. My cheeks felt warm. "Nothing. I—"
My attempt at a casual response was cut short when ishika's sharp gaze fell on my hands.
Her eyes widened. "Wait a second." She reached forward, grabbing my left hand. "What is this?"
I tried to pull back, but she held on, staring at the sapphire ring now glittering under the dim car light.
"This wasn't on your hand before!" she exclaimed. "Where did this come from?"
Ishika and Prisha leaned in instantly, their curiosity ignited.
"Did someone propose to you while we weren't looking?" Prisha teased.
"Or did it just magically appear on your finger?" Ishika added, grinning.
I sighed, realizing there was no escaping this. "Shivansh gave it to me."
The car filled with gasps.
"WHAT?!"
I winced at the collective outburst.
"He pulled me aside before I got in the car and gave me this," I admitted, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "He also gave me a bracelet, and… this ring—" I paused, glancing down at it, my voice softer, "—he bought this secretly. No one knows about it. He gave me they as roka gift. "
Silence stretched for a second before Ishika let out a dramatic sigh. "Wow. Shivansh personally putting a ring on your finger. That's practically a private engagement."
Prisha gasped. "Wait—he pulled you aside?" Her eyes gleamed with mischief. "How exactly? Did he grab you? Pin you against the wall? Did he—"
"Enough!" I cut her off, feeling my face heat up. "You guys are so dramatic."
Ishika smirked. "You're so red right now."
I groaned. "Can we change the topic?"
"Nope." Ishika grinned. "We need details. Did he whisper sweet nothings? Did he kiss you?"
At that, my stomach flipped as I recalled the way Shivansh's lips had pressed against my forehead, the warmth of his touch, the teasing edge in his voice.
I avoided their gazes.
That was all the confirmation they needed.
"Oh. My. God." prisha shrieked. "HE DID SOMETHING!"
Ishika gasped. "Tell me he at least kissed you properly—"
"I swear, I will jump out of this car," I muttered, covering my face.
They laughed, teasing me more, throwing in exaggerated scenarios, but I refused to give them the satisfaction of a response.
Finally, Prisha took pity on me and changed the subject. "Okay, fine. We'll let you breathe. But Isha, do you know if your mom and dad already bought the gifts for today's Roka ceremony?"
I frowned, my mind shifting. "I actually don't know."
Ishika tapped her chin. "I asked Auntie in the morning about the gifts, and she told me she had already called Bhai. He bought everything earlier and even had the house keys, so he picked up the gifts himself from the living area."
I nodded, but something nagged at me. "Wait. So, they already had the gifts before they told me about the Roka?"
Ishika hummed. "Seems like it. Bhai picked them up, and he also bought the extra things—fruits, sweets, coconut—since uncle asked him to."
I processed that for a moment, then my brows furrowed. "Then… why didn't Bhai come inside for the Roka? He didn't even meet me before he left yesterday also."
Silence.
Then, ishika sighed. "Bhai had to leave."
I blinked. "Leave?"
"He had an urgent trip outside India," she explained. "That's why he couldn't stay."
I felt a pang in my chest. "He didn't even get to meet me?"
Ishika gave me a small smile. "He met me before he left. He said he doesn't know when he'll return—it could be days, weeks, even months." Then, she grinned. "So, from today onwards, I'm staying with you."
I shook my head, but a smile tugged at my lips. "You're impossible."
She winked. "I know."
As our conversation continued, the car finally pulled up to my house.
I took a deep breath, gripping the ring on my finger.
Today morning was the Roka.
And tonight…
Tonight, I had a secret that only Shivansh and I shared.
As the car pulled up in front of my house, I stretched my arms, feeling exhaustion settle in after the long night. The Roka was happening tomorrow, but my mind was still spinning from everything that had happened tonight—Shivansh's unexpected gift, the teasing from my friends, and now, the realization that bhai had already left without seeing me.
Before stepping out, I turned to Prisha. "Call your mom and let her know you're staying here. It's already too late for you to go back."
She nodded, pulling out her phone. "Good idea. She's probably asleep, though."
Iahika chuckled. "Even if she is, just let her know before she starts calling every ten minutes asking where you are."
Prisha rolled her eyes but made the call while we headed inside.
The house was quiet when we walked in. It was late, past midnight, and most of the lights had been dimmed. The only person waiting for us was Papa, sitting in the living room with his reading glasses perched on his nose, flipping through a newspaper.
He looked up as we entered. "You three are finally back?"
Iahika smiled. "Yes, uncle."
He sighed, setting the newspaper aside. "Arjun already left for his room, and so did your Mummy. It's just me here."
I nodded. That explained why the house felt so empty.
"Go and sleep. It's late. If you need anything, tell me now because I'm heading out." He stood up, adjusting his kurta. "I'll be back after locking doors."
We exchanged glances, but none of us said anything.
And it's good that he didn't notice the boxes in my hand. Nhi toh he ask question about that.
"Goodnight, Papa," I said.
"Goodnight, beta."
Iahika and Prisha echoed my words before we headed toward my room.
Once inside, I let out a relieved sigh. "Finally."
The three of us had extra clothes in each other's houses, so we didn't need to worry about borrowing anything. We each grabbed something comfortable to wear before taking turns changing in the washroom.
By the time I stepped out in my oversized T-shirt and shorts, I found both of them already sprawled on my bed.
And i kept the bracelet safely in locker but the ring is still in my hand. I don't want to remove it and even he said to don't remove.
Prisha had curled up on the left side, hugging a pillow, while ishika had taken the center, half-asleep already.
I shook my head. "You two didn't even wait for me."
Iahika groaned. "We're tired, Isha."
I rolled my eyes and climbed into the bed, taking my usual spot on the right. Sliding under the warm blanket, I finally let myself relax.
But as I reached for my phone, I realized something—I hadn't checked it all day.
Great. Let's see what I missed.
Unlocking the screen, I was immediately bombarded with notifications.
My office messages filled half of them, updates about projects, meetings, and deadlines. I groaned. Tomorrow. I'll deal with that tomorrow.
Then, a message from bhai.
Bhai: I'm leaving for London, don't know when I will return cause of work. So, Take care of u and ishu.
And sorry that i didn't tell u this before and didn't meet u before leaving but congratulations for roka. Okay.
Take care bachha.
My heart clenched a little. He had already left, just like that. No goodbye. No final hug. At least he messaged.
I was about to put my phone away when a new notification popped up. My heart nearly stopped when I saw the sender's name.
Him.
My special one.
I hesitated for a second before tapping the message open.
Him: Guess what?
I frowned, curiosity piqued.
Me: What?
A typing bubble appeared almost instantly.
Him: I'm coming back.
I blinked. Coming back?
My fingers hovered over the keyboard.
Me: What do you mean?
His reply came within seconds.
Him: I mean, I'm finally coming home, Isha. After years. I'm finally going to see you.
My breath hitched.
He's coming back?
It took a moment for his words to sink in. After all these years—after countless late-night calls, stolen moments over texts, and watching him build a new life miles away—he was coming back.
A slow smile stretched across my lips, excitement bubbling in my chest.
Me: Are you serious?! When?
Him: Soon. Very soon.
I wanted to scream. To jump out of bed and wake up Misha and Prisha just to tell them. But they were already fast asleep, so I bit my lip, barely containing my excitement.
Me: You better not be lying to me. You've said this before!
Him: I know, I know! But this time, I swear it's real. Tickets are booked, bags are packed. I'm finally coming home, Isha.
A warmth spread through me. It had been so long since I last saw him—years, really. Too many years. We had kept in touch, but nothing could replace the feeling of actually being with someone in person.
Me: I can't believe it. You're really coming back?
Him: I am. And I can't wait to see you.
I clutched my phone, my heart hammering.
He's coming back.
A mix of excitement and nervousness rushed through me. I hadn't seen him in so long, and now he was suddenly showing up?
My heart pounded in my chest. This night just got a whole lot longer.
I stared at my phone, gripping it tightly. How does he still have this effect on me?
I turned to look at Misha and Prisha, who were already half-asleep.
I wanted to wake them up and tell them, but instead, I bit my lip and kept the excitement bubbling inside me.
I buried my face into my pillow, a happy sigh escaping me.
Today was the Roka.
But now, there was something else to look forward to.
A long-lost piece of my past was finally returning.
And I couldn't wait.
Then looking at the ring I slept think about shivansh and him.
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