The night began to wind down, but the air still carried the warmth of celebration.
One by one, everyone started leaving, offering hugs, blessings, and lingering smiles. The laughter softened into quieter conversations, and the house slowly exhaled after the long evening.
Krish and his parents stood near the entrance, ready to leave.
"Goodnight, aunty," Krish said politely. "Everything was perfect."
"Come again soon," Aakrati's mother replied warmly.
Siddharth cutely said, "And next time, I expect better dessert."
Shrisha rolled her eyes. "You already had three servings."
"Still not enough," he shot back, making her suppress a smile.
In the middle of all this, unnoticed by everyone—
Arsh moved.
He found Aakrati standing alone near the side of the hall, her mind still tangled in everything that had happened.
"Aakrati," he called softly.
She turned, slightly startled. "You're leaving?"
"Yeah," he said, stepping closer.
Before she could react—
He pulled her into a quick hug.
It was sudden.
Too close.
Too familiar.
Her body stiffened instantly.
And then—
A light peck on her cheek.
Her eyes widened in shock.
Arsh leaned in just enough for his words to reach only her.
"You'll be mine, darling," he whispered, his tone calm but dangerously certain. "Don't worry about this marriage… it's not happening."
He pulled away before she could respond.
Before anyone could notice.
And just like that—he walked out.
Aakrati stood frozen.
Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.
What just happened?
This wasn't the Arsh she knew.
Or maybe… it was a side of him she had never seen.
She had never taken things this seriously. Never imagined it would reach this point. Everything had always felt… uncertain, undefined.
But now—
Everything felt real.
Too real.
Across the room, Siddharth waved casually at Shrisha before leaving, still throwing her playful looks.
Krish, however, wasn't smiling as easily anymore.
Something about Arsh's behavior hadn't sat right with him all evening.
And he knew.
He knew there was something unresolved between them.
—
The next morning felt almost too normal.
As if the previous night hadn't shaken anything.
Krish arrived to pick Aakrati up.
"Ready?" he asked, leaning casually against his car.
Aakrati nodded, forcing a small smile. "Yeah."
They drove together, light conversation filling the silence.
"So, today's schedule is pretty packed," Krish said. "But don't worry, I'll make sure you're not overloaded."
She glanced at him. "You don't have to take care of everything."
He smiled slightly. "I want to."
She didn't reply.
At the office—
Everything looked calm on the surface.
Siddharth walked in with his usual relaxed confidence, instantly spotting Shrisha. "Good morning," he said, a little too smoothly.
She smirked. "You're early. That's suspicious."
"For you? Always," he replied.
She shook her head, but didn't walk away.
And then—
Arsh entered.
His eyes immediately found Aakrati.
Focused.
Sharp.
Unwavering.
While others settled into work, Arsh didn't seem distracted by anything else. Every time he got a chance, his attention drifted back to her.
Krish noticed.
Of course he did.
He stayed composed, handling work effortlessly, but something in him had shifted.
He wasn't ignoring it anymore.
He was watching.
Waiting.
—
Later that day, when Aakrati stepped out briefly—
Krish walked straight into Arsh's cabin.
Closed the door behind him.
The air changed instantly.
Arsh leaned back in his chair, unfazed. "What's up?"
Krish didn't waste time.
"Listen, Arsh," he said, calm but firm. "I know you had feelings for her. Maybe you still do."
Arsh's expression didn't change.
"But things are different now," Krish continued. "She's my fiancée."
Silence.
"You need to stay away from her."
For a moment, nothing moved.
Then—
Arsh straightened, his jaw tightening.
A faint, humorless smile appeared on his face.
"Stay away?" he repeated.
Krish held his gaze. "Yes."
Arsh let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "No, dude."
The tone shifted.
"This marriage isn't happening," Arsh said, his voice low but intense. "I'm not giving up on her."
Krish's expression hardened.
"She'll be mine," Arsh added, his confidence almost unsettling. "Eventually."
The room felt heavier.
Krish had been calm till now.
Controlled.
Respectful.
But something in his eyes changed.
This wasn't just about emotions anymore.
It wasn't a possibility.
It was reality.
"She's not a choice anymore," Krish said, his voice steady but stronger now. "She's my fiancée."
Arsh stood up.
"And I'm telling you," he replied, stepping closer, "this isn't over."
For a second, they stood face to face.
Two completely different kinds of strength.
Krish—the composed, protective one.
Arsh—the intense, unyielding one.
Krish exhaled slowly, holding his ground. "I won't repeat myself."
Arsh smirked faintly. "Good. Because I'm not listening."
The silence between them wasn't empty anymore.
It was a warning.
And somewhere outside that cabin—
Aakrati walked back, unaware that the lines had just been drawn.
Not just in words—
But in intention.
Krish stepped back just a second before the door opened.
By the time Aakrati walked in, his expression had already shifted—calm, composed, almost as if nothing had happened.
Arsh, too, leaned casually against his desk, though the tightness in his jaw hadn't fully disappeared.
Aakrati paused at the door, her eyes moving between them.
"The air feels… tense," she said lightly, though her voice carried a hint of suspicion.
Krish didn't miss a beat. "You're overthinking."
Arsh smirked faintly but said nothing.
Aakrati knew better.
She didn't ask.
—
A few moments later, Krish turned to her.
"Aakrati, you're coming with me for dinner tonight."
She blinked, surprised. "Dinner? But… we didn't plan anything, Krish."
He shrugged slightly, his tone unusually firm. "I don't need plans anymore. I can surprise you whenever I want."
That… was new.
Aakrati studied him for a second.
This wasn't the calm, easygoing Krish she knew.
Something had changed.
Still, she nodded slowly. "Okay… whatever you say."
Arsh added, "We're working overtime today."
Aakrati frowned. "Overtime? But why? Our work is almost done. We don't have anything pending until implementation starts."
Arsh looked straight ahead. "I have some work for you. Don't worry."
There was no room for argument in his tone.
"Okay," she said quietly.
And just like that—
Everyone stayed.
All five of them.
Hours passed.
The office, once busy, slowly emptied until only their section remained lit. Keyboards clicked, chairs creaked, and the clock ticked louder with every passing minute.
10 PM.
Finally.
Siddharth stretched dramatically. "I think I forgot what my bed looks like."
Shrisha laughed. "Same. And I'm starving."
Krish stood up. "Good. Because I'm not done yet."
Everyone looked at him.
He added casually, "I know a place that should still be open. Let's go."
Siddharth's eyes lit up. "Can we join too? Please? I'm too hungry to even think about going home and cooking."
Shrisha nodded instantly. "Same here. I don't have the energy for anything right now."
Aakrati hesitated, but before she could say anything—
Arsh spoke.
"If everyone's going, I'm coming too."
Krish's eyes flickered toward him for a second.
Then he nodded. "Fine."
—
The parking lot was quiet, lit only by dim yellow lights.
"Let's split into cars," Siddharth suggested casually, already moving toward his.
Without waiting, he grabbed Shrisha lightly by the shoulder. "You're with me."
Shrisha frowned slightly but didn't resist.
That left—
Krish, Aakrati.
And Arsh.
She hesitated for a moment.
Krish unlocked his car, "Come."and he held her hand softly and guided her towards the car.
She didn't respond verbally, just walked toward the passenger seat.
Arsh went to his own car slightly annoyed.
—
Aakrati and Shrisha stood quietly for moment while Siddharth, Krish and Arsh were parking the car.
Then Shrisha nudged her. "Come on. Let's go inside. I'm starving."
Aakrati nodded faintly.
As they walked toward the restaurant,
Shrisha leaned toward her, lowering her voice. "So romantic holding hands and all."
Aakrati looked at her, disbelief clear. "You're enjoying this?"
Shrisha shrugged lightly. "Honestly? Yes. I've never seen him like this. It's… interesting."
Aakrati shook her head. "I'm tense here. Can't you see that?"
Shrisha smiled faintly. "Don't worry so much."
Then Aakrati narrowed her eyes slightly teasingly asking. "And what about you?"
"What about me?" Shrisha asked innocently.
"You and Siddharth," Aakrati said directly. "I can see it. You're not behaving normal either."
Shrisha looked away for a second. "There's nothing going on."
"Don't lie to me."
Shrisha sighed. "In your dreams, okay? Nothing is happening."
Aakrati wasn't convinced.
—
Meanwhile—
Krish, Arsh, and Siddharth came back.
The tension followed them.
Krish held Aakrati's hand and started moving towards their seat.
Arsh sarcasticallysaid. "You need to control yourself, You dont have to be all lovey-dovey in front of us."
Krish scoffed. "You don't get to tell me that."
Siddharth stepped in between slightly. "Guys, not here."
They ignored him. Arsh said " Don't you know her?, She doesn't like getting touched without permission."
Krish stepped closer. "I'm protecting what's mine."
Arsh's voice dropped. "She's not yours."
Silence.
Thick.
Heavy.
Siddharth raised his hands. "Enough. This isn't helping anyone."
Neither of them moved.
But neither pushed further.
Not yet.
Aakrati whispered coming in between them, "I think, I am the one who should decide. Yes, You are right I don'tlike getting touched without permission but Krish is my fiancée, So I dont have with this."
Aakrati said this so that both of them feels that they are right and could step back.
The tension fades as both of them looks at her.
Shrisha and Siddharth looks at each other surprised at what they both just witnessed.
All of them went in and sat at a round table and ordered food, Shrisha said " Let's play a game."
Siddharth scoffed, " Can't you sit quietly for a while."
Shrisha said, "Ignore him please, So we will play never have I ever."
Siddharth whispered "Have you gone mad, Don't you remember what happened last time."
Shrisha says " What is meant to happen will happen, no matter how you try to stop it, so chill."
Shrisha calls out a waiter and orders wine for the game, Everyone just nods to Shrisha as a yes.