glimpse

Veer adjusted his cufflinks, staring at his reflection in the mirror. His face was calm, but his heart felt heavy. Today, he was leaving for Udaipur, and maybe—just maybe—it was for the best.

Just as he grabbed his phone, it buzzed.

Ridhima.

His fingers hesitated for a moment before he finally picked up.

"Are you going today?" Ridhima's voice was soft, almost hesitant.

"Yes," Veer replied shortly, keeping his tone indifferent.

There was a pause before Veer sighed and asked, "How's your ankle? Is it alright now?"

"Yes, it's fine now," she answered, her voice carrying an unspoken tension.

Another silence stretched between them before Ridhima finally spoke again.

"I have to tell you something. Can you meet me?"

Veer's heart clenched. He wanted to meet her. He wanted to hear whatever she had to say. But something inside him stopped him—maybe it was fear, maybe it was his own pride.

"I can't, Ridhima," he said, his voice devoid of emotion.

Before she could say anything else, he ended the call.

He exhaled deeply, running a frustrated hand through his hair. Why now, Ridhima? Why, after everything, did she want to talk now?

Shaking off the thoughts, Veer picked up his bag and walked out. If she really wanted to tell him something... she'd have to wait.

Ridhima sat in her room, staring at her phone after Veer had cut the call. Her heart felt restless, but before she could dwell on it, her phone rang again. It was Veer's manager.

"Mrs. Arora, Dr. Meera needs a lawyer for her hospital case. The first hearing is in two days."

Ridhima's grip tightened around her phone. Meera... She knew how much this case meant to her.

"Don't worry. I'll handle it," Ridhima assured before ending the call.

Meanwhile, at the hospital...

Dr. Meera Rajawat sat in her cabin, flipping through OT notes, her mind sharp and focused. She was used to pressure, but today, an unwanted guest interrupted her.

Aryan Rawal.

He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips.

"After two days, your first hearing is scheduled, Dr. Meera. Your future is finished," Aryan said, his voice dripping with mockery.

Meera didn't even flinch. Instead, she smirked, looking up at him with unwavering confidence.

"You should be more concerned about your own future rather than mine, Mr. Rawal," she replied coolly.

Aryan took a step closer, lowering his voice. "If you just apologize to the minister in front of the media, everything will be fine. But no... you had to exaggerate it."

Meera closed her file and leaned back in her chair.

"I am soft-spoken, Aryan, not spineless. I won't bow down to them just because they want me to." Her tone sharpened. "And let me remind you—you don't even know what they did. So, please, make your way out of my cabin."

For a moment, Aryan just stared at her, his smirk faltering. He had underestimated her.

Without another word, he turned and left, leaving Meera with a victorious glint in her eyes.

"I know how to make my way," she whispered to herself, determination burning in her veins.

Veer reached Udaipur, checked into his hotel, and threw his bag on the couch. His mind was already heavy with thoughts of Ridhima, but before he could process anything, a familiar voice cut through the air.

"Are you sure you didn't fake your marriage, Veer? Because from where I see it, you probably did it for business power," Karan Rathore smirked, arms crossed as he leaned against the hallway wall.

Veer exhaled sharply, already irritated. "Can you mind your own business, Karan?" he snapped.

Karan chuckled, stepping closer. "What you did to my sister, I will never forget, Veer." His voice carried an edge of anger.

Veer clenched his jaw. "We were just college friends, Karan. You know me better than that."

Karan shook his head, his eyes burning with old resentment. "I thought I did. Even after knowing that our families are rivals, we still remained friends. But then you rejected my sister's proposal—after she fell so deeply in love with you."

Veer's patience snapped. He took a step forward, his voice low but firm.

"Because I never loved her. From the very first day, I never did. But she refused to accept it. Why don't you understand that, Karan?"

Karan let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. "Maybe because you never really cared about who got hurt in the process, Veer. And now, you expect me to believe you actually love your wife?"

Veer stiffened. He wasn't going to justify himself anymore.

"Believe whatever you want, Karan. I don't owe you an explanation." With that, Veer turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Karan staring after him.

Ridhima sat on her bed, gripping her phone tightly. Her heart raced as she finally admitted it to herself—she was in love with Veer. No more running, no more hesitation. She needed to tell him.

Without wasting another second, she opened her laptop and booked a late-night flight to Udaipur. A secret trip. No one needed to know—not her father, not Veer's family. This was her moment, and she wasn't going to let anything ruin it.

Just as she zipped up her suitcase, Aarini walked in and raised an eyebrow. "Going somewhere, sis?"

Ridhima hesitated for a second before smirking. "Udaipur."

Aarini's eyes widened in excitement. "Oh my god, you're going to surprise Veer, aren't you?"

Ridhima nodded, her cheeks turning slightly pink.

Aarini clapped her hands. "Wait, wait, wait. This calls for something special!" She rushed to Ridhima's closet, rummaging through her clothes before turning back with a horrified look. "Why do you have only boring outfits? Where are the sexy dresses?"

Ridhima "did you help me to find some sexy dresses?"

Aarini gasped dramatically. "Did I just dream, or did my sister just say she wants sexy dresses? Who are you, and what have you done to Ridhima?"

Ridhima laughed, shaking her head. "Just help me pack, Aarini. I need to look good when I see him."

Aarini smirked. "Oh, sis, we're not just making you look good. We're making sure Veer Arora forgets how to breathe."

With that, they packed a few stunning dresses, high heels, and just enough mystery to drive Veer crazy.