Hello my divs, hope you all are happy and healthy

Here's the first chapter of until the end of us 𐙚

I hope you all will love it and enjoy reading it

Vote and comment 𐙚

Maybe this chapter is a bit messy, but I had to explain everything properly before getting into the actual story. 😭

The lakeside was quiet.

The soft golden sunlight danced over the surface of the water, turning every little ripple into a trail of shimmering light. A gentle breeze moved through the grass, carrying with it the faint scent of wildflowers.

Nitya stood near the edge of the lake, wearing a beautiful blue dress that hugged her figure perfectly. Her hair was left open, the soft strands moving with the breeze, a little blue bow tied delicately into them.

Her hands were clasped together in front of her as she admired the view, A soft smile slowly appeared on her lips For a moment, everything felt perfect.

No worries, No overthinking, No uncertainty.

Just peace.

She closed her eyes briefly as the breeze brushed against her face before turning around.

Krish stood a few steps behind her, He was wearing beige trousers paired with a blue shirt, unintentionally or perhaps intentionally twinning with her.

His hands were tucked casually into his pockets, his usually stern expression replaced by a faint, almost shy smile "You like it here?" he asked.

Nitya simply nodded, A little smile played on her lips.

Krish chuckled softly "Good."

Nitya turned back toward the lake, completely unaware of what was happening behind her.

Krish watched her for a few seconds, Then slowly stepped closer, And lowered himself onto one knee.

His hand slipped out of his pocket, A small velvet ring box rested in his palm He looked at her back, his eyes softer than she had ever seen them "Nitya..."

She turned around, Her eyes widened "K...Krish?" she whispered.

Krish opened the box, A delicate ring glittered beneath the sunlight.

Nitya's breath caught, For once, she had absolutely nothing to say.

Krish looked up at her "Nitya..." His voice was quiet, almost vulnerable. "Will you...."

RING! RING! RING!

The loud sound shattered the silence.

Nitya's eyes flew open,The lake disappeared, The sunlight vanished, Krish was gone, There was no blue dress, No ring, No proposal.

Only her bedroom ceiling staring back at her.

RING! RING! RING!

Her alarm continued mercilessly beside her, Nitya blinked several times, still dazed, Her hand instinctively moved toward her chest as her heart continued racing.

She turned her head toward the alarm and groaned "Ughhh..."

Then she remembered the dream, Her cheeks immediately turned pink.

"Krish..."She covered her face with both hands "Why did that stupid alarm have to ring now?"

She fell back onto her pillow, staring at the ceiling with a dreamy smile.

But then reality slowly settled in, It had only been a dream, A very beautiful, very dangerous dream.

Because now she couldn't stop wondering...What if one day, it wasn't a dream?

Ughhh!

I wanted to see the rest of the dream, Why did this stupid alarm have to ring at that exact moment?

I groaned and buried my face into my pillow "Ughhh, I was about to find out what he was going to say!"

I kicked the blanket in frustration before suddenly going still.

Wait...Why was I even dreaming about him?

I pressed my palms against my burning cheeks "Ahhhh! Why is he making me feel like this?"

That tiny little crush I had on him...It was no longer feeling tiny It was crushing me.

I glanced down at my hand, staring at my ring finger as if the imaginary ring from my dream might somehow still be there.

He was thirty, I was twenty two.

(🧘🏻‍♀️ Deko guys 10 year's ka gap jav bola tha tab maine kabhi Nehi Socha tha ki kabhi Krish and nitya ki book aayegi, Maine toh shocha the krish ko tapka dungi 😭🙏🏻 aab mujhe inki age main problem ho Rahi hai)

Eight years

I mentally calculated the difference and then, instead of stopping myself like a sensible human being, my brain immediately went somewhere else.

"Awww... what a good match."

Krish and Nitya.

Nitya and Krish.

It actually sounded cute My eyes widened "Oh my God..."

What if

No.

No, Nitya.

Stop.

But my brain had already betrayed me, If we had a baby girl.. "Nisha?" I tilted my head "Niyati?"

My imagination continued running at full speed "And if it's a boy..." I gasped dramatically.

"Niskarsh?"

I stared at the ceiling, Then slapped both hands over my face "AHHH! What am I even thinking?!"

I had only met him thrice!

Thrice!

One of those times was at the hospital!

That's it!

And yet here I was, mentally naming our imaginary children.

"God..." I groaned "Why did you have to make him so handsome?"

And masculine, So annoyingly masculine, that deep voice...Those eyes...

That ridiculously calm attitude...Everything about him screamed trouble.

And as if that wasn't enough, he had to embarrass me too, I remembered the time I'd met him properly.

I had actually called him"Mannerless Money." I squeezed my eyes shut "Oh God, Nitya. Why are you so stupid?"

Who even says something like that?

And now I had developed a crush on the same man.

Fantastic, Absolutely fantastic Before I could torture myself any further, my phone suddenly started ringing.

I glanced at the screen.

PINK PANTI 💗

I immediately smiled "Ahh, Sakshi."

(She is a very important character)

My best friend since our school days. the girl was anything but peaceful The same Sakshi who had once broken a boy's nose because he had teased me.

And then, as if that wasn't enough, she had proudly accepted a one week rustication like it was an award.

I picked up the call "Bakkk."

Her voice immediately came through the speaker "Aaj college jaldi aana. Kisi ki fielding set karni hai."

[Come to college early today. We need to set someone up.]

I sighed "Ahh... here we go again."

Of course, Because apparently Sakshi's life mission was to fight with people.

"Done, done." I barely finished speaking before she disconnected the call.

I stared at my phone "Wow." I shook my head "Very violent."

Then my eyes drifted back toward my ring finger, And despite myself...that stupid dream came rushing back again.

Especially the way Krish had looked at me before saying "Nitya... will you..."

I bit my lip "Ughhh! I threw the pillow over my face "Stupid Krish Arora."

Rome, Europe

The sun shone brightly over Rome, its golden rays reflecting against the towering glass buildings that filled the heart of the city. The streets were alive as always people rushing toward their workplaces, conversations blending into the distant honking of cars, cyclists weaving through traffic, and the city moving with its usual restless rhythm.

Among those magnificent structures stood one building that demanded attention, A towering glass skyscraper, sleek and intimidating, with the name AKIRA shining boldly across its facade.

Inside, the atmosphere was entirely different.

Everything moved with discipline.

Employees walked through the polished corridors with files in their hands, conversations kept professional and voices lowered. Every department functioned with precision, reflecting the reputation of the man who ruled the company.

Krish Arora.

The boardroom was silent except for the soft clicking of a presentation remote.

Krish sat at the head of the table.

His dark suit fit perfectly over a crisp white shirt, the first few buttons left undone, making him look effortlessly dangerous. A strand of his perfectly styled hair had fallen onto his forehead, but he didn't bother moving it.

His sharp eyes remained fixed on the presentation screen Beside him sat his assistant, Luca, silently taking notes.

Across the table sat the collaborators for their latest international deal.

One of them, Mr. John, barely paid attention to the presentation, Because his eyes weren't on the screen, They were fixed on the young woman giving the presentation.

His gaze travelled over her far more than necessary, making his intentions painfully obvious.

Krish noticed.

His fingers slowly tightened around the pen in his hand.

His jaw clenched, He said nothing, For now, The presentation finally came to an end.

Krish glanced at the screen once before closing the file "The meeting is done."

His voice was calm, Too calm "Everyone, leave." Within seconds, chairs scraped against the floor as the employees gathered their belongings and left the room.

Soon, only Krish, Luca, Mr. John, and their respective security guards remained

Mr. John leaned back in his chair, wearing an unpleasant smile "I must say," he began, glancing toward the door through which the female employee had disappeared, "you have some very beautiful employees."

Luca's expression immediately hardened, He knew exactly where this conversation was heading.

Krish, however, remained silent.

Mr. John adjusted his cufflinks "Well, I think we can agree to collaborate on this deal but.."

Krish finally looked at him "But?"

Mr. John's smile widened "But I have a few... requirements."

Krish tilted his head slightly, one eyebrow lifting, His fingers tapped against the polished table twice.

Tap.

Tap.

Luca immediately understood the silent command, He looked toward John "You can proceed. What's your demand?"

John leaned forward "That girl who was giving the presentation."

Krish's eyes became colder.

"I want her."

Silence.

"I want her in my office."

Luca's expression turned disgusted.

John continued as though he had said nothing wrong "You know how this world works. It's quite common in our business circles. You can also...."

He never got to finish.

CRASH!

A flower vase flew across the table, It struck John's head with brutal force.

The vase shattered, John's chair toppled backward, and he hit the floor with a groan, blood immediately beginning to trickle down the side of his forehead.

The guards instantly reached for their weapons

"Don't." Krish's single word froze the entire room, He stood behind the table, His palm was bleeding from the shattered glass, tiny fragments embedded against his skin.

His chest rose and fell slowly, His eyes were terrifyingly calm, He looked down at John "You're disgusting."

John stared up at him, stunned.

Krish took one slow step forward "You walked into my company." Another step "You insulted one of my employees."

His gaze dropped briefly to the blood staining his own palm, Then returned to John "And you thought I would hand her over to you?" His jaw tightened

The room fell completely silent.

His gaze remained fixed on John, who was still on the floor, groaning as he clutched the side of his bleeding head.

Krish's guards had already drawn their guns, pointing them directly at John's guards, leaving no room for anyone to make a stupid move.

Krish looked at John with nothing but disgust "Fucking parasite," he muttered under his breath.

John slowly lifted his head, his face twisted with anger "You will pay for this," he spat. "I will destroy you."

A faint, humorless smile appeared on Krish's lips "First, you should think about whether you're ever going to see the next morning's sun," he said coldly. "Let alone think about destroying me."

John's expression faltered.

Krish straightened his suit and glanced toward his guards "Take this dog away. He's making my office unholy."

The guards immediately grabbed John and dragged him toward the door, his protests disappearing down the corridor.

Within moments, the boardroom was empty, Only Krish and Luca remained.

Luca's eyes immediately dropped to Krish's hand. Blood was still running down his palm, small shards of glass glittering against his skin.

"Sir, your hand"

Before he could finish, Krish's phone buzzed against the table.

The screen lit up.

Anu calling...

The confrontation began, something in Krish's expression softened, His eyes stayed on the name for a moment before he picked up the phone.

Then he glanced at Luca

"Go bring the first aid kit."

Luca nodded immediately "Yes, sir."

As Luca walked away, Krish finally answered the call, His voice, which had been cold enough to freeze the entire room moments ago, changed completely.

"Hello, Anu."

My hand was still bleeding.

Tiny fragments of glass were embedded in my palm, and a thin line of blood had already travelled down toward my wrist, staining the cuff of my white shirt. I barely noticed it.

My mind was still stuck on that man's disgusting gaze.

I leaned back against the chair, slowly tilting my neck from one side to the other, trying to release the tension that had settled there.

My phone was pressed against my ear.

"Hello, bhaiii. How's the business trip going? And the deal?" Anu's familiar voice came from the other side.

I exhaled through my nose "The deal is fine." My eyes shifted toward the shattered vase still scattered across the boardroom floor "The client, however, isn't."

There was a brief silence, I could practically imagine her raising an eyebrow "What happened?"

I rubbed my thumb against my bleeding palm before answering "I just hit him with a vase."

A beat of silence, Then "You did what?"

I leaned back, completely unbothered "He was staring at one of our female employees throughout the meeting." My jaw tightened at the memory. "And that parasite had the audacity to ask me to send her to his office as part of his 'requirements.'"

My fingers curled into a fist "I hit him with the vase." I glanced toward the door "I sent him out with our guards. They'll handle the rest." I rolled my shoulder and slowly tilted my neck from one side to the other, the muscles still tense from what had happened a few minutes ago

"Tsk." Anu's voice carried absolutely no sympathy for the man "You should've shot him on the spot."

A reluctant smirk tugged at the corner of my lips "You're unbelievable."

"Anyway," she continued, completely ignoring my comment, "my Ray is getting fresh meat, my baby."

I closed my eyes for a second "Damn you, psycho Anamika Arora."

I could practically hear her offended expression through the phone "What? Can't I think about my baby's food?"

I scoffed "You're talking about Ray like he's your child."

"He's my baby." Anu said

I shook my head, unable to stop the small smile that appeared on my face,

Only Anamika could casually move from discussing an injured businessman to talking about feeding her terrifyingly beloved pet.

I was about to say something when another thought crossed my mind "What about you and Rajveer?" My voice softened "You need to tell him everything."

The playful tone on the other end disappeared.

I knew my sister well enough to recognize the silence that followed.

"Yes, bhai. I know..." She sighed, I could picture her perfectly probably sitting somewhere with that thoughtful expression she wore whenever something genuinely bothered her.

"But whenever I try to tell him..." she continued quietly, "my mouth just refuses to cooperate. I don't know why."

A faint chuckle escaped me "So the fearless Anamika Arora is scared?"

I could almost see her rolling her eyes "Don't tease me. I'm serious."

"I'm listening."

"I'll tell him..." She hesitated "Maybe today."

I didn't interrupt.

"He has a doctor's appointment today. Maybe after that..." Her voice became quieter. "I'll finally say it."

I exhaled slowly "Better." My tone was gentle this time "Don't keep him waiting forever."

"I know..."There was a softness in her voice that made me pause, For all her strength, all her secrets, all the things she had survived and all the things she was still carrying...

Rajveer mattered to her.

I knew that, And perhaps that was why telling him the truth terrified her so much Before I could say anything else, I heard something faint through the phone.

Soft footsteps, My attention immediately sharpened Anu had gone quiet too.

Someone was approaching her I straightened slightly, my expression changing as I listened.

The footsteps grew closer.

The moment I stepped into the living room, I found Bhabhi sitting comfortably on the sofa with a cup of tea in her hand, The atmosphere was peaceful, almost too peaceful for the amount of nonsense currently running inside my head.

Lavanya bhabhi looked up and smiled "Nitya! College se aa gayi? Aao, baitho."

I smiled back and walked toward her, In the middle of talking to me, Bhabhi absentmindedly placed her phone on the table beside her.

I didn't think anything of it, I simply sat down next to her and, for absolutely no reason whatsoever, started smoothing the tiny wrinkles on my kurti.

My heart was already beating slightly faster, I had been thinking about asking her something all day.

And now that I actually had the chance.., Why was my mouth refusing to cooperate?

"Haan... woh... Bhabhi..." I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

Bhabhi took another sip of tea "Haan, bolo."

I swallowed.

Okay, Just ask normally, It's not a big deal, I'm only asking about a relative.

A very handsome relative A very, very handsome...... Nitya, shut up.

I cleared my throat "Aapke... jo bhai hain..."

Bhabhi blinked innocently "Hmm? Bhai ko kya hua?"

My eyes widened "Nahi! Kuch hua nahi!" I immediately shook my head "Main... woh... pooch rahi thi..."

I bit my lower lip "Aapke jo bhai hain..."

Bhabhi nodded "Haan, bhai."

I took a breath "Woh... aaye nahi."

There, I said it.

Bhabhi frowned "Bhai? Woh kyun aayenge?"

I instantly started waving my hands "Arey, mera matlab..." My brain desperately searched for an explanation that didn't sound suspicious "...Rajveer bhai aur Avyansh bhai ko goli lagi thi na. Sab kuch itna serious tha..."

I paused "...aur woh ek baar milne bhi nahi aaye."

I quickly added, before she could misunderstand "I mean... aapko unhe bulana chahiye na?" I nodded repeatedly as if that would make my excuse believable "You know... lunch ke liye. Ya dinner. Ya..."

I waved my hand vaguely "...something." My ears were beginning to feel suspiciously warm "You know... family gathering type."

Bhabhi slowly lowered her teacup.

I looked at her.

Why was she looking at me like that, Then that little mischievous smile appeared on her face.

"Ohhh..." She dragged the word out "I know exactly what you mean."

My eyes widened "No!" I immediately looked away "I don't mean like that!"

Bhabhi's smile grew, "I just meant..." I nervously played with my fingers "...guest."

I nodded firmly "Bas guest."

Bhabhi nodded dramatically "Haan haan. Guest." Then she added, "Very special guest."

"Bhabhiii!" I buried my face in my hands., I could practically hear the teasing in her voice.

Why had I even opened my mouth Why couldn't I have simply said How are you? like a normal person?

Instead, here I was, giving a full presentation about why her brother should come home, After a few seconds, I peeked through my fingers.

"So... when are you inviting him?" I tried to sound casual, Very casual, Extremely casual "I mean... if guests are coming..."

I hesitated."...mujhe bhi parlor jaana padega."

Silence.

My brain stopped.

I froze.

Did I just say that out loud? Slowly, I turned toward Bhabhi.

She was staring at me, I immediately panicked. "I-I mean..." I started speaking faster "Accha lagna chahiye na..." My voice became smaller "...guest ke saamne."

Bhabhi raised one eyebrow "Guest ke saamne?"

"Hmm." I nodded "Sirf guest?"

I nodded so quickly that I almost gave myself whiplash "Bilkul."

Please stop talking.

Please stop talking.

Please stop talking.

Bhabhi hid her smile behind her teacup "Hmm..."

She took another sip "Bhai toh abhi out of country hain."

My face immediately fell "Oh..."

I couldn't even hide the disappointment "Out of country..." I stared at the floor for a second, "Accha."

My excitement deflated almost instantly Then I remembered that Bhabhi was watching me.

I forced a smile "No problem."

Inside, however, Of course, Of course he's out of the country Why couldn't he just be here? Why was I even disappointed?

I had no reason to be, It wasn't like I was waiting for him I wasn't, Definitely not.

Bhabhi continued casually, "As soon as he comes back, I'll invite him."

My eyes brightened for half a second, Then I quickly controlled my expression "Okay..."

A tiny smile escaped anyway, There was an awkward silence, I stared at my hands, Then another thought struck me.

Actually...If he was out of the country, there was still one way I could

No, Maybe not, I looked at Bhabhi "Waise..."

She looked at me "Hmm?"

I tried to sound completely uninterested "Aapke bhai..." I paused "...social media use karte hain?"

Bhabhi tilted her head "Instagram?"

I nodded.

"Facebook?"

Another nod.

"Anything?" I shrugged. "I mean..." I looked away "Rishtedaar hain na. Jaan pehchaan honi chahiye."

Bhabhi's lips twitched "Aww..." She was definitely enjoying this "Sorry, baby. Bhai social media bilkul use nahi karte."

My heart sank "Nothing?"

"Nope." I frowned "Not even a secret account?"

Bhabhi laughed "No."

"Business account?"

"No."

I stared at her "Fake ID?"

That finally made Bhabhi laugh properly "No!" She shook her head "But tumhe kyun chahiye?"

I sighed dramatically "Areyyy Bhabhi..." I desperately tried to find another excuse "I mean... rishta..."

I stopped.

Oh God.

"Matlab..." I corrected myself quickly "Relationship..." My eyes widened.

"No, I mean relative!" I was digging my own grave "I mean..." I closed my eyes for a second "...emergency type."

Bhabhi's shoulders shook as she tried not to laugh "Hmm..." She nodded very seriously "Emergency." She took another sip of tea "Very important emergency."

I stared at her, She was enjoying this way too much, I suddenly stood up "Okay! I'll go freshen up."

That was it, I was leaving before I embarrassed myself any further.

Bhabhi gave me an innocent smile "Haan, jao."

I turned around and walked away as quickly as possible The moment I was out of her direct sight, I pressed my palms against my burning cheeks.

Oh my God.

What was wrong with me?

I had asked about his favourite colour.

Then his arrival, Then his social media Then I had practically announced that I needed to visit the parlour because he was coming.

I stopped walking.

My eyes widened.

Wait Had Bhabhi noticed everything?

Obviously she had not....ig

I groaned silently "Great, Nitya..." I shook my head and continued toward my room.



I had barely placed my phone on the table when I heard Anu's voice again.

"Nitya! College se aa gayi? Aao, baitho."

I paused, My fingers stopped midway as I reached for the glass of water beside me, The call hadn't ended.

Apparently, Anu had simply forgotten about it, A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips.

Interesting.

I leaned back in my chair, deciding not to interrupt, If my sister had forgotten I was still on the call, I wasn't going to be the one reminding her.

Then I heard a familiar voice "Haan... woh... Bhabhi..."

Nitya.

My eyebrows lifted slightly, She sounded nervous, Not her usual bold, argumentative self.

I listened.

I could hear the smile in my sister's voice.

"I wanted to ask something."

"Haan, bolo."

A few seconds of silence followed.

Then "Aapke... jo bhai hain..."

I immediately straightened.

My sister's brother? Me

Then Nitya clarified.

"...Krish."

A slow smirk appeared on my face.

Oh.

So this was about me.

Lavanya, pretending to be completely innocent, asked, "Hmm? Bhai ko kya hua?"

Nitya immediately rushed to correct her "Main... woh... pooch rahi thi..."

She hesitated again "...aapke jo bhai hain..."

"Haan, bhai." My sister was enjoying this, I knew that tone, She had already figured out what Nitya was trying to ask.

"Woh... aaye nahi.".

I blinked, I haven't even arrived, and apparently someone noticed.

Lavanya sounded genuinely confused "Bhai? Woh kyun aayenge?"

Nitya immediately began defending her question "Arey... mera matlab..."

I could practically imagine her scratching the back of her neck "...Rajveer bhai aur Avyansh bhai ko goli lagi thi... sab itna serious tha..."

She was talking about the incident.

Then her voice softened "...aur woh ek baar milne bhi nahi aaye."

I looked down at the floor, So she noticed my absence.

Nitya quickly continued, almost as though she was afraid her words would be misunderstood "I mean... aapko unhe bulana chahiye na..."

Then she started searching for an excuse "You know... for lunch. Or dinner. Or... something."

A pause.

"Family gathering type."

Another pause "...You know..."

I pressed my lips together, I already knew exactly where this was going.

My sister's voice came "Ohhh..." There was unmistakable mischief in her voice. "I know exactly what you mean."

Nitya immediately panicked "No! I don't mean like that!"

I couldn't stop the small smile from appearing.

"I just meant... guest. Bas guest."

Lavanya replied dramatically "Haan haan, guest."

Then she added, "Very special guest."

A muffled groan came from Nitya "Bhabhiii..."

I quietly chuckled, She was terrible at hiding things Then Nitya asked the question she had apparently been building toward.

"So... when are you inviting him?"

I raised an eyebrow "I mean... if guests are coming..."

She paused "...mujhe bhi parlor jaana padega."

Silence.

I stared at the phone...Did she really just say that?

Then Nitya realized what she'd admitted "I. ...I mean..." Her voice became hurried "Accha lagna chahiye na... guest ke saamne."

Lavanya immediately caught it."Guest ke saamne?"

"Hmm." Nitya sounded painfully embarrassed.

"Sirf guest?"

Nitya answered so quickly that I could practically hear the panic "Bilkul."

I shook my head, a quiet laugh escaping me, Definitely convincing.

My sister was clearly having the time of her life "Hmm..." She paused deliberately "Bhai toh abhi out of country hain."

There was silence.

Then "Oh..." The disappointment in Nitya's voice was immediate "Out of country..." A tiny pause "...Accha."

I frowned slightly, She actually sounded disappointed, For some reason, that caught my attention more than everything else.

Then she forced herself to sound casual "No problem."

I could almost picture the fake smile on her face.

Lavanya continued, "As soon as he comes back, I'll invite him."

Nitya's voice brightened slightly "Okay..."

I leaned back against the desk.

Interesting, Very interesting.

I thought the conversation would end there.

Apparently, Nitya wasn't finished, After another awkward silence, she cleared her throat.

"...Waise..."

I waited.

"Aapke bhai..."

I raised an eyebrow.

"...social media use karte hain?"

My expression changed.

Social media?

"Instagram?" Nitya immediately added, "Facebook? Anything."

I almost laughed, She was trying so hard to sound casual that it was becoming painfully obvious.

"I mean..." she continued, "Rishtedaar hain na. Jaan-pehchaan honi chahiye."

Lavanya was barely holding herself together. "Aww... sorry baby."

She paused "Bhai social media bilkul use nahi karte."

There was genuine disappointment in Nitya's voice "Nothing?"

"No."

"Secret account?"

I smiled.

She really wants to find me.

"No..."

"Business account?"

"No."

"Fake ID?"

I let out a quiet laugh, I couldn't help it.

My sister laughed too "No. Par tumhe kyun chahiye?"

Silence.

A long, painfully obvious silence.

Then Nitya sighed dramatically "Areyyy Bhabhi..."

She was scrambling for an excuse "I mean... rishta..."

She stopped "...matlab..."

I waited.

"Relationship..."

My eyebrows shot up.

I covered my mouth to suppress another laugh.

"I mean relative..." Another pause "...I mean..." She finally surrendered "You know... emergency type."

I shook my head.

Emergency?

Apparently, finding my social media account was just for an emergency.

Lavanya's voice was full of amusement "Hmm... emergency."

A pause "Very important emergency."

I could hear Nitya's embarrassment through the phone.

A moment later, there was the sound of movement.

"Okay! I'll go freshen up."

Clearly, she'd reached her limit Before she could embarrass herself any further, she was escaping.

"Haan, jao," Lavanya replied innocently.

The footsteps slowly faded.

I remained silent for a moment, Then I looked at the phone in my hand.

A faint smile lingered on my lips.

So...The girl who had once called me mannerless money had apparently threatened me to file a case on me now wondering why I hadn't visited, planning to go to the parlour before meeting me, and desperately searching for my social-media accounts.

I shook my head "Emergency, huh?" A quiet chuckle escaped me.

For someone who supposedly didn't mean anything by it...Nitya had certainly made her interest impossible to miss.

I glanced toward the phone again, For the first time, I found myself wondering what exactly would happen when I finally returned to India.

Lavanya casually picked up her phone, Only then..".Shit." Her eyes widened "I forgot to cut the call."

She quickly lifted the phone, "Hello?, Bhai?, You still there?"

A deep chuckle came from the other side "Unfortunately...Yes."

Lavanya froze "...Bhai."

"Everything, I heard everything." He said from the another side

She covered her face with one hand "Oh God..." Lavanya shook her head, trying hard not to laugh.

On the other end of the call, Krish's amused chuckle only grew louder "I guess..." he drawled teasingly, "...someone is missing me."

Lavanya immediately rolled her eyes, "Shut up, bhai, She must've been asking normally."

"Obviously." Krish hummed dramatically "Come on, Anu..Tell me honestly."

He paused just to annoy her "Is there any chance....your sister-in-law is in love with me?" A laugh escaped him.

Lavanya stared at her phone for a second before bursting into laughter "Stop daydreaming, Mr. Krish Arora."

She folded her arms dramatically "Shakal dekhi hai apni?, Shamkadar kahike."

"And then look at my Nitya..."She placed a dramatic hand over her heart "A complete goddess, So elegant, So beautiful, So intelligent." She clicked her tongue "Tsk, No chance."

Krish gasped in fake offense "Ouch, That hurts, I am handsome, okay?"

"I know the truth, The real problem is...You're jealous, Because I'm more handsome than your husband."

Lavanya laughed so hard she nearly dropped her cup "Ha... ha... ha...What a joke." She clapped sarcastically "My husband is Rajveer Raghuvanshi You don't even come close."

Krish placed a dramatic hand over his heart "Heartbreak, My own sister betrayed me, Fine, I'll go cry."

She smiled before her tone softened "And listen...Finish your business trip quickly, As soon as you're back..."

"You are coming straight to Raghuvanshi Mansion."

"For dinner."

She added the last part with an innocent smile "I'm sure...nitya will be very happy."

There was silence for a moment, Then Krish sighed quietly "Anu..." His teasing tone disappeared "I'll come."

"But...Jokes apart."

"If..." He chose his words carefully "If she really feels something for me...You should stop it before it becomes serious."

Lavanya's smile slowly faded, Krish looked out of the hotel window, his expression distant.

"I loved someone once." His voice carried a quiet ache Silence filled the call for a few moments.

Lavanya's expression softened.

She knew exactly who he was talking about, The girl he had waited years for, The girl who had unknowingly become someone else's wife.

"I don't think I'll ever be able to love someone like that again, I don't even want to."

Silence settled between the siblingsz Lavanya knew that tone, It was the tone Krish used whenever he touched a wound that had never truly healed.

She spoke gently "Don't worry, bhai, Nitya doesn't believe in love, She's too ambitious for all that."

"Her first love is her law books, Second is her career."

"And third..." She laughed softly "Probably arguing with people."

"Right now her world only revolves around her studies, career, and becoming the best lawyer."

"So don't overthink, Relationships are probably at the bottom of her list."

Krish let out a small breath, "Good, Then let's keep it that way, I don't want anyone getting hurt because of me."

Lavanya smiled softly "You worry too much."

"Maybe." He admitted with a quiet chuckle "Anyway...Take care of yourself, And don't forget your medicines, And don't trouble Rajveer too much."

Lavanya snorted "He troubles me."

"I've heard enough stories to know that's a lie." He Said

She laughed "Love you, bhai."

A warmth filled Krish's voice "Love you too, Anu, Take care."

"You too."

The call ended.

The car finally came to a halt in front of a vast, magnificent mansion that looked as though it had been carved out of another era.

The ancient Roman architecture rose proudly against the sky towering stone pillars, intricate carvings, enormous arched windows, and walls that carried the quiet grandeur of generations before it. Warm golden lights illuminated the exterior, making the old mansion look almost regal

This wasn't merely a house.

It was the Arora House.

The massive iron gates slowly parted as the guards recognized the approaching Rolls Royce. The vehicle glided through the gates and stopped beneath the grand entrance.

Above the doorway, an elegant nameplate gleamed beneath the warm lights.

ARORA HOUSE.

The chauffeur immediately stepped out and opened the rear door.

Krish emerged, his coat already in his hand He adjusted the cuffs of his shirt before walking toward the entrance, his expression composed and unreadable. The exhaustion from the long day was buried beneath the effortless authority he carried everywhere.

The moment he stepped inside, the servants standing along the hallway bowed respectfully "Buonasera, signore."

[Good evening, sir.]

Krish acknowledged them with a small nod without breaking his stride.

He had barely taken a few steps when one of the servants hurried after him "Signore, desidera fare un brunch?"

[Sir, would you like to have some brunch?]

The servant's question reminded him that he had skipped breakfast entirely, Krish didn't even slow down "No, manda solo un caffè in camera mia.."

[No, just send a coffee to my room.]

The servant immediately bowed "Ve bene, Signore"

[Ok, sir.]

Krish continued toward the staircase while the servant turned away to carry out his order.

KRISH'S ROOM

Krish pushed open the door to his room and stepped inside, The room was enormous, elegant, yet surprisingly warm.

Cool green walls blended with beige furnishings, creating a sophisticated contrast. Tall windows overlooked the sprawling gardens outside, while dark wooden furniture and subtle golden details added to the old world character of the mansion.

Originally, Krish had wanted the entire room to be black

Simple.

Cold.

Minimal.

Exactly how he liked it.

But his beloved sister had taken one look at his proposed design, rolled her eyes, and rejected it without even giving him a chance to argue.

According to her, black would make him look "even more gloomy."

So she had transformed his room into shades of green and beige, He had complained about it for weeks.

And secretly...he loved it.

Krish tossed his coat onto the chair and pulled his shirt over his head before throwing it carelessly onto the bed.

His bare back revealed the intricate sword tattoo stretching across his skin, the dark ink standing out against his sculpted physique. Years of discipline had carved strength into every line of his body

He rolled his shoulders, trying to release the tension that had settled there, Then he slowly tilted his neck from one side to the other.

But the moment his eyes closedl someone else entered his thoughts.

Nitya.

His expression changed, The relaxed ease vanished, His mind immediately returned to his earlier conversation with Lavanya.

His sister's words kept replaying inside his head, There had been something in her tone.

Something that hadn't felt like simple curiosity, And now, the more he thought about it, the more uneasy he

became.

Nitya.

Krish rubbed a hand over his face, frustration slowly building inside him.

He walked toward the bathroom, but his mind refused to leave the matter behind.

______________________________________________________________________________________

That's all for the First chapter I hope you all enjoyed and sorry for the mistakes

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