Riya's pov

Two months ago,

I got engaged to Rakshit for one month ago. No, it wasn't a love marriage, but I have a little crush on him, as our fathers knew each other and arranged it. While our parents planned our marriage, I was looking for a job. That's when I found the Singhania Company, which only hires married or engaged women. I immediately applied for the job, but during the interview, I accidentally told them I was already married. I thought I would be married by next month, so there wouldn't be any problem. I only wanted this job for a few months, so I signed a two-month contract until they found the perfect PA for Angad Singhania, who had just joined the business.

I started my job and everything was going well. One weekend, I decided to spend time with Rakshit to get to know him better. As we went out for a movie, I noticed he seemed silent and lost. I told him my plan to spend more time together, and that's when he confessed that he loved someone else. Before he could tell his parents, they had already arranged our engagement.

I went home and told my father everything. For my happiness, he immediately called off the engagement and informed Rakshit's parents, who were glad my father told them.

Now, with my engagement canceled, I was tense. According to the office rules, I couldn't work there anymore. I decided to keep this secret for the remaining month. I would quietly complete my contract and then leave the company on my own terms.

Author's POV

As she finishes making coffee, she steps into the cabin and hands the cup to him. He is still leaning on the desk, his expression unreadable. She thanks him again, her voice filled with gratitude, and tells him that she will now leave for work. His slight nod gives her permission to go, and she turns towards the door.

Just as she reaches for the handle, a sudden tearing sound stops her in her tracks. Her heart skips a beat, and she turns her head slowly to see him ripping up his resignation letter. Her eyes widen in shock, and she gasps softly. Letting go of the door handle, in confusion as she walks back towards him.

She watches him as he finishes tearing the letter and looks at her before throwing the pieces into the air. She continues to look at him through the falling pieces of paper.

"Sir, you told me you're not angry."

"I'm not angry, Ms. Riya," he replied, cutting through her soft voice with his rough, cold tone.

"But..." she started, but his intense gaze met her eyes.

"Before leaving this job, you have to do one task for your boss."

Riya was startled, seeing the deadly smirk that spread across his face.

"What task?" she asked.

"You have to plan a big wedding. For me," he added, as he noticed the question in her eyes.

Inside her mind, Riya thought, "I don't know who that poor girl is."

Angad turned around and ordered, "You can leave now."

She quickly moved towards the gate and opened it, only to hear him say, "The coffee is really nice today," making her angry. She could feel the smug smile on his lips.

"Argh..." She closed the gate a bit too loudly and kicked the wall in frustration.

"Ouch..." she winced in pain, clutching her foot.

"It seems my Kundli is like Jethalal's. Trouble comes first," she muttered to herself.

Flashback end...

They all looked towards the car as it came to a sudden halt with a loud screech. They exchanged glances, the unspoken worry palpable. Slowly, they began walking towards the car, their hearts pounding in their chests.

Inside, Kabir and Aakriti sat in anxious stillness. Aakriti’s hands trembled as she kept adjusting her saree, her nervousness making it impossible to stay still. She stole a glance at Kabir, who sat frozen, trying to summon the strength to face his family.

The car door on Aakriti’s side suddenly swung open, and she looked up to see Angad standing there, his smile as warm and reassuring as ever. He extended his hand towards her, his eyes conveying a silent promise of support, urging her to trust him and take his hand.

She stepped out holding his hand as they reach the vacant room.

As Aakriti’s gaze fell upon Siya and Drishti, who were standing nearby with soft smiles on their faces, she felt a wave of relief wash over her. The two women moved towards her, and as they embraced, Aakriti’s nerves finally began to settle. The hug was a silent exchange of reassurance and support, grounding her amidst the overwhelming emotions. They pulled back, knowing they had to maintain composure for the public eye. Media or onlookers could arrive at any moment, so their emotions had to be kept in check.

Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed through the air, drawing everyone’s attention. Abhiram Singhania and Vyom Singhania were approaching with urgency, their steps quickening as they saw their brother. But their steps faltered as they noticed the women, their faces etched with unspoken emotions.

Abhiram’s gaze landed on Aakriti, and he moved towards her. She looked up at him with teary eyes and softly whispered, "Bhaiya." The word was barely audible, but it carried all the weight of her emotions. Abhiram reached out and gently placed his hand on her head, a silent gesture of protection and comfort as she lowered her head, her tears falling silently.

Abhiram then turned his attention to Kabir, who was standing with his back to them, his entire body tense. Abhiram hesitated, the moment he had waited for so long was finally here, but he found himself almost paralyzed by the depth of the emotions he felt.

"Kabir," Abhiram finally managed to say, his voice thick with emotion. He had envisioned this reunion countless times, but now that it was happening, the reality of it was overwhelming.

Hearing his name from his brother, his bhai, after all these years stirred something deep within Kabir. He could feel the dam of emotions he had kept bottled up for so long starting to crack. He swallowed hard, gathering the courage to turn around, to face the man who had always been his ideal.

As their eyes met, it was as if time stood still. The air between them was charged with unspoken words, memories of the past, and the pain of separation. For a long moment, they simply stood there, eyes locked, communicating more in silence than words ever could.

Kabir's voice trembled as he finally tried to speak. "Bhai, I—" But the words caught in his throat, choked by the torrent of emotions threatening to overwhelm him.

Abhiram closed the distance between them in a heartbeat, wrapping his arms around Kabir in a tight embrace. Kabir hesitated for just a second, as if afraid to believe this was real, before he clutched his brother back, holding on as if letting go would mean losing him all over again. This embrace was more than just a hug; it was a reunion of souls that had been apart for far too long.

Vyom swallowed hard as he watched the emotional reunion between his elder brothers. His eyes began to well up, and he blinked rapidly, trying to push back the tears. He clenched his jaw, attempting to maintain his composure.

With a heavy heart, Kabir and Abhiram slowly parted from their embrace. Kabir’s gaze shifted towards Vyom, his youngest brother. The boy he once knew had grown up, no longer the innocent, wide-eyed child, but a young man who had seen and endured much. In that moment, Kabir saw not just his little brother, but the maturity and depth that had shaped Vyom into who he was today—his Om.

Vyom hesitated for just a moment before he stepped forward, joining the hug that had been years in the making. As he embraced his brothers, Kabir couldn’t help but recall something Vyom had confided in him: each time Vyom came home, claiming to drop off Sameer, it had merely been an excuse. In truth, Vyom had been desperate for a glimpse of his older brother, hoping to see him, even if just from afar.

Kabir had known this all along. He had kept his distance, staying out of sight whenever Vyom visited, knowing that if they met, he wouldn’t be able to resist pulling Vyom into his arms. Yet, Kabir would watch from the shadows—through the window, or while pretending to water the plants—catching glimpses of his brother as he longed to be close to him again. And Vyom, in turn, had always sensed Kabir’s presence, though neither had spoken of it until now.

As they hugged, Vyom’s voice broke through the silence, laden with the emotions he had carried for so long. "I hate you," he mumbled.

A soft chuckle escaped Kabir’s lips, a sound filled with warmth and affection. He tightened his hold on Vyom, responding in a low voice, "And I love you, like always, Lil bro."

Siya and Aakriti watched the reunion unfold, their own hearts full, eyes shimmering with unshed tears. There was a shared understanding between them, a recognition of the pain and love that had defined these brothers. Drishti, standing nearby, had a small, content smile on her lips, witnessing the healing that was taking place.

As they separated from each other, Kabir glanced around, searching for his other brothers, but realized one of them was missing. He looked at Abhiram with questioning eyes, and Abhiram nodded, saying, "He’ll be here soon."

Kabir hesitated before speaking. "Bhai, about Maa—"

"I haven't seen her face in years. I just want to see her once before we go outside, please," he pleaded desperately.

Abhiram placed a hand on his shoulder. "Kabir, please—"

"This isn’t the right time. I know you want to see her, but not like this. We need to go outside."

"Don’t let your emotions show too much. You’ll only make it harder for her."

"It’s time for us to head outside."

                           ******

Hope you like it.

Do vote and comment.