REYANSH'S POV

The sun had just begun to rise as Reyansh tied the last lace of his training shoes. His mornings were predictable—gym at 6, shower by 7:30, and then office prep. But today felt... different. As he dried his hair with a towel and picked up his phone, a familiar notification lit up the screen.

“@ira_verma accepted your follow request.”

He froze.

The next moment, a soft, disbelieving smile curled up on his lips.

"She accepted it? Am I dreaming?” he whispered to himself, eyes gleaming like a boy handed his first dream.

With a flutter in his chest, he tapped her profile and started scrolling—each photo telling stories from a world she no longer showed to the world. As he walked downstairs still lost in her old pictures, his smile deepened.

His mother, seated at the breakfast table with his father, looked up and paused mid-bite. Reyansh was smiling. Really smiling. Like the boy he once was. Not the cold, guarded man he'd become after the last heartbreak.

"Reyansh beta," she called, teasingly narrowing her eyes. "Itna kya dekh raha hai phone mein? Tab se muskura raha hai jaise koi schoolboy hai."

(“What are you looking at on your phone that you're smiling like a schoolboy?”)

Startled, he blinked and immediately composed himself.

"Aree kuch nahi Ma, bas ek meme tha. Funny tha," he said, slipping the phone in his pocket and grabbing a toast.

(“Nothing Ma, just a meme. It was funny.”)

His mother exchanged a knowing glance with his father.

Moments later, his black BMW hummed to life, and Reyansh drove off—unknowing of the storm heading his way.

---

IRA'S POV

Ira stirred awake to the soft chime of a notification, but her thoughts immediately flicked back to something else—the message from her PA came last night , The Khanna Industries offer. She had left it unanswered yesterday.

Without delay, she dialed her PA.

"Reject the proposal from Khanna Industries," she said, voice firm.

"But ma'am, it's a massive deal. Is there any issue? Some concern?" he asked.

"Yes, personal. I'm getting married this week, I won’t be available for the project," she replied.

"Ohh! Congratulations ma’am!"

She smiled faintly and cut the call.

Just then, a knock.

Vedant peeked in, all smiles. "Didi, aap ab uthi ho! Varun bhaiya's family is arriving in a few hours!"

"What? Aaj aa rahe hain? (They’re coming today?)" she asked, confused.

"Haan! Didn’t you know? Blessing ceremony and engagement are tonight!"

And before she could respond, he was gone.

Her heart skipped a beat. "Kal dadi ne kaha tha 10 din ka waqt hai… toh phir itni jaldi kyu?"

(“Yesterday Dadi said the wedding will be after 10 days… then why so soon?”)

---

REYANSH'S POV – AT HIS OFFICE

Standing tall before the floor-to-ceiling glass window on the 17th floor, Reyansh scrolled through Ira’s profile again. Most posts were years old. Her laughter in the pictures felt like echoes from another lifetime.

"Why doesn’t she post anymore? Kya hua us sparkle ko?"

(“What happened to that sparkle?”)

A knock broke his thoughts. His assistant walked in.

“Sir, ITA Industries has rejected our proposal.”

“What? Any reason?” Reyansh asked sharply.

"Yes, sir. Heard that the CEO—Ms. Ira Verma—is getting married this week and won’t be available."

Everything inside Reyansh stilled.

"Okay… you may leave," he muttered, voice faint.

As the door closed, he leaned against the glass, eyes wide in disbelief.

“She’s getting married? This week?”

"No… no, this can’t happen. I need to tell her… I need to tell her before it’s too late. Even if she hates me… but I can’t live without her."

A single tear slipped down his cheek.

"Main uski nafrat ke saath jee sakta hoon… par uske bina nahi."

(“I can live with her hatred… but not without her.”)

---

IRA'S POV – THE CEREMONY BEGINS

The house buzzed with energy, family members moving around , laughter echoing, but Ira sat with Vedant, completely unaware of the emotional storm about to hit her.

The doorbell rang.

Varun’s family had arrived.

Everyone rushed to the door—except Ira. She stayed frozen, watching from the corner.

Varun’s mother approached her with open arms.

"Ira beta, can’t wait to make you our daughter."

Ira forced a smile.

Fake. Hollow. Tired.

Then, with sudden resolve, she stepped forward.

"I’m sorry if I hurt anyone with what I’m about to say. But I don’t want a grand wedding. No huge gathering. Just family. Today, I had to let go of a huge work opportunity. I’ve always respected my work and want to maintain a balance. I hope you’ll understand… especially you, Varun."

Varun nodded, surprised but calm. “It’s okay, Ira. I understand.”

His mother smiled. “That’s okay, beta. Now go get ready for your blessing ceremony. We’ve brought your dress—you’ll love it.”

As Ira turned to leave, her grandmother gripped her wrist and pulled her aside.

"Kya ho gaya hai tujhe? Sab kuch tujhe apni marzi se kuyu chahiye hota hain haan? Hamari izzat ka kya? Log kya kahenge socha bhi hain?"

(“What’s wrong with you? Why you want everything as your wish? What about our respect? What people will say?”)

Ira looked into her eyes, cold and composed.

"Mainne aap sab ke liye yeh shaadi ke liye haan kiya… ab mujhse aur umeed mat rakhiye."

(“I agreed to this marriage for you all… now please don’t expect anything more from me.”)

She walked away.

---

HER ROOM – BEFORE THE ENGAGEMENT

The soft organza saree lay neatly on her bed. Beautiful, delicate… lifeless.

"Yeh wo shaadi nahi jisme main khush hoon… toh phir yeh sab ka kya matlab?"

(“This isn’t the wedding where I’m happy… so what’s the point of it all?”)

She dressed simply. A touch of kajal. Nude lipstick. Jhumka. Light diamond necklace. Bangles.

As she sat before the mirror, her phone buzzed.

Reyansh Khanna Calling.

Her breath hitched. She picked up.

"Hello?"

“Hello, Ira…”

"It’s Ms. Verma for you, Mr. Khanna," she replied sharply.

“Why did you reject the offer?” he asked.

“For personal reasons.” she said firmly.

“Are you getting married?” he blurted.

“Why do you need to know?” her voice cold.

“Because…” he paused.

“Because what, Mr. Khanna?”

“…Because I deserve to know why a client walked away from a massive deal. There must be something serious.”

“Yes, I’m getting married. Okay?” she snapped.

Silence.

Then suddenly, he spoke without thinking.

“Why, Ira? Mere sath yeh sab kyun kar rahi hain aap ? Aap aisa nahi kar sakti…”

(“Why, Ira? Why are you doing this to me? You can’t do this…”)

“What?” she asked, stunned. “What the hell are you talking about?”

"I need to tell you something very important… that is—"

Just then, her mother knocked.

“Ira, jaldi aa ja! Sagai ka muhurat nikal raha hai!”

(Ira, hurry up! The engagement auspicious time is passing!)

She looked at the phone.

Cut the call.

But Reyansh, heard everything behind the call. Engagement? Everything.

---

THE CEREMONY

She walked downstairs, the room glowing with soft lights and muted decor. Only family. Only silence.

Varun stood waiting.

“Ira, you’re looking so beautiful,” his mother said, eyes shimmering.

Ira smiled. Distant.

One by one, everyone blessed them.

Neither Ira nor Varun exchanged a word.

Then the pandit spoke.

“Exchange the rings.”

Varun slipped the ring on her finger.

As she lifted hers, her hand trembled. Her aunt gently nudged it forward. The ring slid on Varun’s finger.

It was done.

She was now someone’s fiancée.

This word echoed in her mind, fiancee

---

LATER THAT NIGHT

Back in her room, she washed off the makeup, changed, and sat on her bed.

Her eyes dropped to her hand.

The ring glinted softly in the light.

She just stared.

A single drop of water slipped down her cheek and hit the metal.