Aryan turned and looked at his mother.
Devika continued,
"I used to have doubts… but you confirmed it that day when you didn't let her go. And now, yesterday—she came here. Why? You both like each other, don't you?"
Aryan frowned.
"What are you talking about, Mom? Who told you that we both like each other?"
Devika cut in,
"Then why did you react like that when she left?"
Aryan raised his voice,
"Because it wasn't her fault that Prerna's wedding was called off!"
Devika looked at him in confusion.
Aryan continued,
"I just wanted to clarify things. And about yesterday—Aanya came here because she left her bag."
Devika stared at him.
"So you're telling me she came here just to take her bag?In a hurry, without telling her mother, without even eating?"
Aryan was taken aback. She didn't eat? he thought.
"Answer me, Aryan," Devika said firmly.
Aryan paused for a moment, then replied,
"Yes."
Devika looked at him intently.
"What was so important in that bag that she came here in such a hurry?"
Aryan lowered his gaze.
"I don't know, Mom."
Aryan added,
"If you don't believe me, you can ask her yourself… at her wedding. Ask her why she came here."
Devika looked at him deeply.
"So you really don't love her?"
"Mom, please stop. I don't know why you're asking me all this—"
"Because I want to know, Aryan."
Aryan sighed in frustration.
"I don't love her, okay? And how can you even think like that? She's just 20, Mom… she's young. And me? There's a nine-year age gap between us."
"So what?" Devika replied calmly.
Aryan fell silent.
"It's not like you're in your 40s or 50s," she continued. "You're 29, and you need to—"
"Need to what?" Aryan cut in sharply.
"Marriage? You know I have no interest in marriage."
"Why, Aryan? Why don't you want to get married?"
Aryan turned his face away.
Devika watched him closely.
"You weren't like this before… you—"
She suddenly stopped.
"Wait… are you thinking that what happened to your father will happen to you too?"
Aryan froze, his emotions rising, but he tried to control them.
Devika continued softly,
"Aryan, what happened to your father was wrong. We all know that. But people don't understand… they talk nonsense without knowing the truth. You shouldn't care about that."
Aryan clenched his fists, holding back his emotions.
"Your father loved you so much. He would never—"
"Mom, please stop!" Aryan shouted.
Devika fell silent.
Aryan took a deep breath.
"It's not about others. It's about me. I don't want to marry Aanya… not just her—I don't want to marry anyone."
Devika's eyes filled with emotion.
"How long will you stay like this? I'm your mother, Aryan. I care about you. Parents always want their children to be happy."
"I'm happy, Mom," Aryan said firmly. "And I don't need anyone."
Devika just looked at him.
"I'm getting late. I need to pack my things and leave. I have to reach there by evening."
He walked to his room.
Devika followed him.
Aryan was putting files into his bag when she asked,
"Where are you going to stay?"
"Simran said she'll book a hotel room."
Devika paused.
"Why don't you stay at Aanya's house?"
Aryan immediately looked at her.
"What?"
"What's wrong with that?" Devika said casually. "Aanya stayed in our house… now you can stay in hers."
Aryan hesitated, thinking of Aanya.
"No need, Mom. I'll stay at the hotel."
"Even though it's just for two days, you don't like outside food, right? So you can stay at their house."
Aryan stayed silent.
Devika narrowed her eyes.
"Is it because of Aanya?"
"Mom, I already told you—"
"Then what? If you don't go, I'll think the same."
Aryan sighed.
"They'll be busy with wedding preparations."
"No problem," Devika replied. "I'll talk to Naveen ji. I know they won't mind."
Aryan had no choice left.
After a pause, he said,
"Fine."
Devika smiled.
"Good. I'll inform them."
She was about to leave, but suddenly stopped and turned back.
"By the way, did you tell Aanya anything about Prerna?"
Aryan shook his head.
"No."
Devika nodded slightly.
"Okay… it's better if we don't tell her. They would get worried."
Aryan nodded in agreement.
Devika then left the room.
Aryan stood there, lost in thought…
Thinking about Aanya.
At Aanya's house, Aanya was fast asleep on her bed.
Her phone kept ringing, but it was on silent, so she didn't hear it.
After some time, Radha entered the room holding her phone.
"Aanya, wake up," she said.
Aanya stirred slightly and replied in a sleepy voice,
"What, Mom…?"
Radha said,
"Kunal wants to talk to you."
Aanya, still drowsy, frowned.
"Who…?"
"Kunal," Radha repeated. "He's on the phone. He wants to talk to you."
Aanya suddenly opened her eyes and sat up.
Radha handed her the phone and walked out.
Aanya took the phone and said softly,
"Hello…"
On the other side, Kunal's voice came immediately,
"Do you know how many times I called you?"
Aanya quickly looked at her phone and noticed multiple missed calls from an unknown number.
"I'm sorry," she said. "My phone was on silent… I was sleeping."
"You were sleeping at this time?" Kunal asked.
Aanya hesitated.
"I… well…"
"Don't keep your phone on silent from now on," he said.
"Hmm… okay," Aanya replied quietly.
"Listen," Kunal continued, "I'm coming to your house at 6 PM to pick you up. We'll go out for dinner."
"Tonight?" Aanya asked, surprised.
"Yes," he said. "We'll have dinner and get to know each other better."
"Okay, see you—"
But before she could finish, Kunal had already cut the call.
Aanya stared at the phone for a moment.
She went downstairs and handed the phone back to her mother.
Radha immediately asked,
"What did he say?"
"He wants us to go out for dinner tonight," Aanya replied.
"Really?" Radha smiled. "That's good! Go and get ready."
Aanya frowned.
"Mom, it's only 2 PM. You want me to get ready from now?"
Radha said casually,
"I said that because you take a lot of time to get ready—choosing dresses and all. And when Kunal comes, don't make him wait."
Aanya rolled her eyes.
"Go and select your dress," Radha added.
Aanya sighed.
"When I want to go out with my friends, you say 'no need to go.' And now you're telling me to get ready four hours early…"
"Enough!" Radha snapped. "Whenever you speak, it's only nonsense."
Aanya looked at her silently, then turned and walked back to her room.
She lay down on the bed again.
And suddenly…
Aryan's face flashed in her mind.
Tears slowly filled her eyes.
After some time, Radha received a call. She looked at her phone—it was Devika.
She immediately answered.
"Hello, Devika ji."
Devika told her everything about Aryan coming to their house. Then she added at the end,
"I hope you don't have any problem with this."
Radha smiled warmly.
"What are you saying, Devika ji? Why would I have any problem? I'm actually very happy that Aryan is coming to our house."
Devika smiled in relief.
Radha continued,
"Tell him to stay here until Aanya's wedding."
Devika just smiled.
"When will he come?" Radha asked.
"He didn't mention the exact time, but he'll reach before 7 PM," Devika replied.
"Oh, okay. And by the way, when are you and Prerna coming for the wedding? You both should be here for all the events."
"Sure, we'll come," Devika said.
After that, they ended the call.
That evening, at 6 PM, Aanya got ready and waited for Kunal.
She thought of calling him… but then decided not to.
Looking at the clock, she muttered,
"He hasn't come yet…"
Radha said casually,
"Ten minutes here and there is normal.
Aanya frowned.
"Not ten minutes, Mom. It's already 6:30. He said he would come at 6."
Just then, they heard the sound of a car horn.
Radha smiled.
"See? He's here."
Aanya walked out and sat in the car. They both left.
While driving, Kunal said,
"There's so much traffic."
Aanya just listened silently.
After a moment, he added,
"Aanya, we're going to one of the most expensive restaurants in Mumbai."
Aanya gave a faint, forced smile.
"I've been there many times," Kunal continued. "I don't think you've been there before, right?"
Aanya felt a flicker of irritation but controlled herself.
"No, I haven't."
"No problem," Kunal said cheerfully. "Now we're going together."
After a pause, he added,
"The food there is really good."
"I'm not a foodie," Aanya replied coldly.
Kunal went silent for a moment.
"Oh… okay."
Then he tried again,
"By the way, you look very beautiful in this saree."
"Thank you," Aanya said politely.
"Actually, blue is my favorite color," he added.
"Oh…" Aanya responded briefly, clearly uninterested.
She turned her face toward the window, staring outside.
Soon, they reached the restaurant.
They stepped out and went inside.
Kunal said to the staff,
"Table for two."
"This way, sir… ma'am," the staff replied.
They began walking.
And suddenly—
Aanya's steps slowed.
Her eyes froze.
In the distance… she saw Aryan.
He was walking with a few people, talking, completely unaware of her presence.
Aanya stood there, motionless, staring at him.
Aryan didn't look at her.
He simply walked past… and left.
Aanya slowly turned back, her eyes still searching for him as he disappeared.
She stood there, lost.
Kunal noticed she wasn't beside him anymore. He turned and saw her standing at a distance.
He walked back to her.
"Aanya?"
She snapped out of her thoughts and looked at him.
"Why did you stop? What are you looking at?" he asked.
"Nothing…" she said nervously.
"Come, let's go."
"Yeah…"
She followed him.
They reached their table and sat down.
But Aanya's mind was elsewhere.
Was that really Mr. Aryan…?
What is he doing here…?
"Aanya?" Kunal called.
"yes…?"
"What would you like to order? Check the menu."
Aanya looked at the menu, but her thoughts were spiraling.
No… it can't be him.
Why would he be here?
Am I imagining things…?
"Aanya?" Kunal called again.
She didn't respond.
"Aanya!"
"Yeah…"
"What are you thinking?"
Aanya stayed quiet.
Kunal smiled lightly.
"Don't think about prices, okay? Just order whatever you want."
Aanya closed the menu slowly.
"Could you order for me?"
"Yeah, sure."
Kunal placed the order for both of them.
(To be continued...)
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End Of Chapter 68.