68. The yes

At noon, as Ivaan was going back to his car, he noticed Riya standing. She looked hesitant, her eyes slightly puffy from crying earlier.

She took a deep breath before stepping closer and knocking on the window. Ivaan rolled it down, raising an eyebrow. “Riya? What’s up?”

“Can I join you?” she asked, her voice quieter than usual.

Ivaan studied her face for a moment before nodding. “Of course, get in.”

She slid into the passenger seat, fastening her seatbelt. For a few moments, neither of them spoke, the hum of the car filling the silence. Then, Ivaan glanced at her and said lightly, “Okay, what’s wrong? Because you look like you either need ice cream or to punch someone in the face.”

Riya let out a small, humorless laugh. “Maybe both.”

Ivaan smirked but didn’t push further. “Wanna talk about it?”

She sighed, looking out of the window. “Not yet.”

He nodded. “Alright. But if you do, you know I’m a great listener.”

Riya gave him a small smile, appreciating his presence. For now, just having someone there was enough.

Arav stood frozen in place, watching as Riya got into Ivaan’s car. His jaw clenched, his hands balling into fists at his sides.

He had called out to her, begged her to listen, but she had only glanced at him with tear-filled eyes before turning away. And now, she was leaving—choosing to go with Ivaan instead of giving him a chance to explain.

As the car drove off, Arav exhaled sharply, running a frustrated hand through his hair. He had never felt this helpless before. He was a spy, trained to handle the toughest situations, yet right now, he had no idea how to fix this.

“I won’t let this end like this, Riya,” he murmured under his breath. He had to make things right.

As Ivaan and Riya arrived at the palace, she quickly got out of the car, her face still pale from everything that had happened. She wiped her tears before stepping inside, not wanting anyone to notice her distress.

Ivaan, sensing something was off, walked beside her. "Riya, are you okay? You’ve been quiet the whole ride."

She forced a small smile. "I’m fine, bhai. Just tired."

Before he could question her further, Niharika walked toward them. "Oh, you both are back! How was college today?"

Riya avoided her gaze and simply nodded before walking past them, heading straight to her room.

Ivaan sighed. "Something’s wrong, bhabhi. She’s upset but won’t talk."

Niharika watched Riya disappear upstairs and frowned. "I’ll talk to her."

Niharika knocked on Riya’s door before stepping inside. She found Riya sitting on the bed, hugging her knees, lost in thought.

“Riya?” Niharika’s voice was soft as she sat beside her. “What happened?”

Riya looked up, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. She wanted to say she was fine, but the lump in her throat wouldn’t let her. Seeing that, Niharika gently took her hand. “You know you can tell me anything.”

For a moment, Riya stayed silent before finally whispering, “He lied to me, bhabhi. Rohit… he’s not who he said he was.”

Niharika frowned. “What do you mean?”

Taking a shaky breath, Riya murmured, “His real name is Arav Gupta. He’s not just a bodyguard. He’s a spy.” Her voice cracked as she added, “And he never told me.”

Niharika’s eyes widened in shock, but seeing Riya’s pain, she pushed aside her own surprise and pulled her into a comforting hug. “I’m so sorry, Riya.”

Riya clutched onto Niharika tightly, her tears finally falling. “I trusted him…”

Niharika gently stroked her hair. “It hurts, I know. But maybe… maybe he had a reason?”

Riya shook her head. “I don’t care. If he really cared about me, he wouldn’t have lied.”

Niharika sighed, knowing this wound wouldn’t heal easily. “Take your time, Riya. But don’t run from your feelings. If he’s important to you, you’ll have to face this one way or another.”

Riya closed her eyes, exhausted. Right now, she didn’t know what hurt more—the betrayal or the fact that despite it all, her heart still ached for Arav.

Niharika gently wiped Riya’s tears and sighed internally. I’m sorry, Riya… I wish I could tell you the truth. But I promised your brother I wouldn’t.

She had known all along who Arav really was. Shivaay had told her, swearing her to secrecy. It wasn’t her place to reveal it, no matter how much she wanted to ease Riya’s pain.

Riya pulled away, sniffling. “Bhabhi, am I a fool for trusting him?”

Niharika forced a small smile. “No, Riya. Trusting someone isn’t foolish. It just means you cared. And that’s never wrong.”

Riya looked down, lost in thought. Niharika squeezed her hand. “Take your time to process everything. But don’t let anger cloud your heart completely.”

Riya gave a small nod, but the hurt in her eyes remained. As she rested her head on Niharika’s shoulder, Niharika silently vowed to support her—while keeping the promise she had made to Shivaay.

As Riya finally drifted into sleep, exhaustion taking over her emotional turmoil, Niharika gently adjusted the blanket over her. She watched her for a moment, her heart aching for her sister-in-law.

With a quiet sigh, she stood up and left the room, closing the door softly behind her. As she walked down the hallway, she ran into Shivaay, who was leaning against the wall, waiting for her.

"How is she?" he asked, his voice low.

Niharika shook her head. "Hurt. Confused. She feels betrayed."

Shivaay exhaled, placing a reassuring hand on her waist. "She’ll need time."

"I know," Niharika murmured. "I just hope Arav finds a way to make her listen."

Shivaay smirked. "If he really loves her, he will."

Niharika gave a small nod, hoping he was right. But deep down, she knew Riya’s trust had been broken—and that was never easy to mend.

Riya sat on her bed, her mind clouded with emotions—anger, betrayal, and confusion all swirling together. Her phone buzzed in her hand, displaying Arav’s name.

She clenched her jaw and cut the call.

A few seconds later, it rang again. Her grip tightened around the device, her heart pounding. She rejected it once more.

For the third time, his name flashed on the screen. This time, she didn’t even hesitate—she immediately cut the call, her frustration reaching its peak.

Without a second thought, she switched off her phone and threw it onto the bed. Crossing her arms, she leaned back against the headboard, blinking back the sting in her eyes.

"Why did you lie to me, Arav?" she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible in the silence of the room.

Then Riya went to the bathroom and when came out Riya froze in place, her breath hitching as she spotted Arav sitting on her bed, his intense gaze fixed on her. Her eyes darted to the open balcony door, realization dawning upon her.

"You—" she started, her voice laced with both anger and disbelief. "You broke into my room?"

Arav stood up slowly, his expression unreadable. "You weren’t answering my calls. You left me no choice."

She clenched her fists, her wet hair dripping onto her shoulders. "So now you think you can invade my space just because I refused to talk to you?"

Arav took a step forward, his voice soft yet firm. "Riya, just listen to me once."

But she shook her head, her eyes filled with hurt. "No, Arav. I trusted you, and you lied to me. There’s nothing left to say."

She turned away, but before she could take another step, he grabbed her wrist gently. "I had my reasons, Riya. Please, just give me five minutes. Then if you still want me gone, I’ll leave."

She looked at him, torn between her emotions. Could she really hear him out after everything?

Riya took a deep breath, crossing her arms. "Fine. Five minutes. Speak."

Arav exhaled in relief, running a hand through his hair before stepping closer. His voice was firm, yet there was a softness in his gaze.

"Around a month ago," he began, "when you were coming back from college, there was a planned truck accident. It was an attempt to kill you. Shivaay sir was out at that time, so he assigned me to watch over you in his absence. I was the one who saved you that day. You didn’t realize it, but I was there."

Riya’s heart skipped a beat. She remembered that incident—how she had narrowly escaped. But she had never thought someone was behind it, let alone Arav.

He continued, his eyes locked onto hers. "And Riya…" He hesitated for a second before confessing, "The first time I saw your photo, I was captivated by you."

She sucked in a breath, taken aback.

Arav's expression was unreadable as he went on. "After that, your brother assigned me as your bodyguard. He didn’t want anyone to know my real identity, so I had to change it. That’s why I became Rohit Parihar."

Silence stretched between them. Riya’s mind spun, trying to process everything.

"You… you mean to say all this time, my life was in danger, and you were protecting me?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Arav nodded. "Yes. And I didn’t tell you because I couldn’t risk it."

Riya looked away, her emotions a storm inside her. She didn’t know what to feel—betrayed, relieved, or something else entirely.

Riya lowered her gaze, her fingers clutching the fabric of her dress as guilt slowly crept into her heart. She had been so angry, so quick to judge, and now the truth was unfolding in front of her—Arav had been protecting her all along.

She swallowed hard, her voice shaky. "I… I misunderstood everything." Her fingers curled into fists as she struggled to meet his gaze. "I thought you betrayed me, but all this time, you were just keeping me safe."

Arav sighed, stepping closer. "I never wanted to lie to you, Riya. But I had no choice. Your safety was my priority."

Her chest felt heavy with regret. She had ignored his calls, pushed him away, refused to listen. And yet, he had never stopped looking out for her.

She glanced up at him, her eyes filled with guilt and something else—something she wasn’t ready to admit. "I’m sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Arav softened at her words. "I don’t need an apology, Riya. I just need you to trust me."

She nodded slowly, still processing everything, but one thing was clear—she had been wrong about him.

Riya felt the weight of everything she had been holding inside suddenly release. She stepped forward and, without thinking, pulled Arav into a tight hug, her arms wrapping around him as if she never wanted to let go. The emotion in her chest was overwhelming, and the words escaped her lips before she could stop them.

"I love you," she whispered, her voice filled with both relief and vulnerability.

Arav was taken aback for a moment, his heart pounding in his chest. He had never expected those words, not like this, not with so much emotion and rawness behind them. But as he held her, everything seemed to fall into place.

He pulled her back slightly, his hands resting on her shoulders as he looked into her eyes, his voice barely above a whisper. "Riya, I—"

Before he could say anything else, she leaned in, her lips gently pressing against his, silencing his words. The kiss was soft, but filled with everything they had both been holding back. When they pulled away, Riya looked at him, her eyes searching his, hoping to see that he understood.

Arav's heart raced, and with a slow, tender smile, he replied, "I love you too."

Riya’s face lit up with a sense of relief and joy, and she pulled him back into her embrace, as if she could lose herself in him completely.

Ishaan stood at the edge of the serene lake, his hands in his pockets, looking out at the rippling water. He was anxious, waiting for Kanika. He had asked her to meet him here because he needed to talk. The way the conversation had gone at dinner with Mr. Brijesh and Mrs. Ashna had left him with a knot in his stomach. He knew he had to be honest with her, but he wasn’t sure how she would react. His feelings for her were too strong to ignore, but he was afraid of what her answer might be.

The sound of footsteps behind him broke his thoughts, and he turned to see Kanika walking toward him. She was looking beautiful as always, but her expression was slightly unreadable. Ishaan’s heart skipped a beat as she came closer.

“Hey,” she said softly, stopping a few feet away from him.

“Hey,” Ishaan replied, trying to steady his voice. “I’m glad you came.”

Kanika smiled faintly, though there was an air of curiosity around her. “You wanted to talk?”

“Yeah, I’ve been thinking a lot,” Ishaan began, his gaze shifting to the water. “About everything that happened ... and about us.”

Kanika raised an eyebrow. “Us?”

Ishaan nodded. “I know things have been a bit complicated, especially with your parents and the whole proposal thing... But I need to be honest with you, Kanika. I care about you a lot. More than I probably should.”

Her breath caught slightly at his words, and she stepped closer. “Ishaan...”

He took a deep breath. “I don’t know where this will go, but I can’t keep pretending that I don’t feel something. I don’t want to lose you as a friend, but I don’t think I can keep pretending that it’s just that.”

Kanika stared at him for a moment, the wind gently blowing through her hair. She was silent for a long time, processing everything Ishaan had just said. Finally, she looked at him, her eyes soft.

“Ishaan,” she began, “I don’t want to pretend either. I think... I think I feel the same way.”

Ishaan’s heart lifted at her words, but there was still a trace of uncertainty in her voice.

“But?” he asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.

Kanika sighed, glancing away for a moment before meeting his gaze again. “But... it’s complicated. My parents are pushing me into this marriage proposal, and I don’t know how to handle everything.”

Ishaan reached out, gently touching her arm. “I know. I’m sorry about everything that’s been happening with your family. But whatever happens, I want to be there for you. No matter what.”

Kanika looked at him, her eyes searching his, and for a brief moment, the world around them seemed to fade away. She nodded slowly, a soft smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

“Okay,” she said quietly. “We’ll figure this out. Together.”

Ishaan smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. He was finally being honest with her, and it felt like the first step toward something real.

As Ishaan and Kanika stood there, the weight of their words hanging in the air, they both felt an undeniable pull toward each other. Without thinking, they took a step closer, and in that moment, everything around them seemed to quiet down. The cool breeze from the lake swept past them, but it felt like time had slowed.

Kanika's arms instinctively wrapped around Ishaan's waist, and he hugged her tightly, his hands gently resting on her back. It wasn’t just a hug; it was a shared understanding, a moment of comfort and connection. The unspoken words, the uncertainty of the future, all seemed to fade in that embrace. They were together, and for the first time in a while, both felt a sense of peace.

Ishaan whispered softly, his voice barely audible against her ear, “We’ll figure it out, Kanika. I promise.”

Kanika’s voice was just as soft as she responded, “I know. I trust you.”

They stayed like that for a while, holding each other tightly, not needing to say anything more. It was enough to simply be there, to share this moment together.

Saanchi sat at a corner table in the Pink Cafeteria, her fingers nervously tapping against the surface. She kept glancing at the door, her eyes scanning every person who entered, hoping to see Ivaan. The warmth of the café felt distant, the soft chatter of others fading into the background as her mind raced.

She checked the time again—it was already past five, and Ivaan was nowhere to be seen. Her heart sank, and doubt crept in. Did he forget? Was he avoiding her? A part of her told her to leave, to not wait any longer, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

The emotions swirling within her were a confusing mix—anticipation, frustration, and even a bit of fear. She had been looking forward to this moment, hoping it would give her clarity about what was between them. Saanchi’s thoughts were interrupted by her phone buzzing. She looked down, hoping it was a message from Ivaan, but it was just a reminder of a class she had to attend. She sighed and tucked the phone back into her bag.

She couldn't help but wonder if Ivaan had changed his mind about meeting her. Maybe he didn’t feel the same way anymore. Would he even show up?

Saanchi paused, her heart leaping in her chest as the door to the café opened. Ivaan walked in, his eyes scanning the room before locking onto hers. For a moment, everything else seemed to fade. His presence alone calmed the storm of emotions inside her.

Saanchi felt a rush of relief, but also a swirl of nervousness. Ivaan’s gaze softened as he made his way toward her, and she instinctively took a step forward, her heart beating faster with each passing second.

“Ivaan…” she started, her voice trembling slightly.

Ivaan smiled gently, his usual confident demeanor softened by something more sincere. “I’m sorry I’m late. I got caught up with something, but I’m here now.”

Saanchi’s breath caught in her throat as he pulled out the chair across from her and sat down. She tried to hide her smile, but it was impossible not to feel the warmth spreading through her at the sight of him.

“I was about to leave,” she admitted, her voice almost teasing.

He chuckled, leaning in slightly. “I’m glad you didn’t. I didn’t want to miss this.”

The air between them shifted, and for a moment, it felt like they were the only two people in the room. Everything they’d been through, all the tension, was forgotten in that brief, quiet moment.

Saanchi’s eyes softened. “You always know how to make me smile, don’t you?”

Ivaan met her gaze, his voice low and sincere. “Only because you’re worth it.”

The smile that spread across her face said it all.

Ivaan raised an eyebrow, his gaze flickering with both curiosity and something deeper as he listened to her words. Saanchi’s confession hung in the air, vulnerable and raw. She was laying her heart out in front of him, and the intensity of her feelings seemed to pulse between them.

"Ivaan," she continued, her voice steady but laced with a hint of nervousness, "actually, as you know, you’re my first friend... my first enemy. Would you mind... being my first in everything? From the start, I’ve admired you, and now, I can’t push all these thoughts away."

Her words were like a confession, a mixture of hesitation and yearning, and they made Ivaan’s heart race. He had never seen this side of Saanchi—the side that was so open, so vulnerable. It took him a moment to process everything she was saying.

Saanchi looked down, avoiding his gaze, as if ashamed of being so forward. "I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t be saying this, but I just... I had to tell you."

Ivaan’s voice, when it came, was soft but filled with an emotion she couldn’t quite place. "Saanchi, you don't have to apologize for your feelings. I..." He paused, studying her for a moment. His heart beat faster, realizing just how much her words meant. "I’ve always thought of you more than just a friend too, you know."

Saanchi looked up, surprised by his response. The room seemed to close in around them as they shared a moment of silent understanding, the air charged with unspoken words. Ivaan reached across the table, his hand brushing lightly against hers.

"I guess we both have a lot more to figure out," he said quietly, his thumb gently caressing the back of her hand.

Saanchi nodded, her heart racing but filled with a sense of relief. For the first time, she felt like the walls between them were crumbling, leaving nothing but the truth of what they both felt.

"I’m not pushing you, Ivaan," she said softly, "I just needed you to know."

Ivaan smiled, a hint of warmth in his eyes. "And I’m glad you did."

Ivaan’s voice softened, his eyes locking with hers, a hint of vulnerability breaking through his usual calm demeanor. "And I would love that," he said, his words carrying sincerity, "if I could call you my everything."

Saanchi’s breath caught in her throat, her heart fluttering at the intensity of his confession. She hadn’t expected him to say that, but the words felt like a promise—one that had been slowly forming between them all along, unspoken until now.

"Ivaan..." she whispered, her voice barely audible, but her eyes held a thousand emotions—relief, joy, and something deeper. Her heart, which had been in turmoil for so long, finally settled, and in that moment, she realized that everything had changed between them.

Ivaan smiled, his hand still gently resting on hers, his thumb tracing light circles over her skin. "You don’t need to say anything right now, Saanchi. Just know, you mean more to me than words can express."