Chapter 29

I came out of the shower and settle in our bed, ayanshi was using her phone

“ ayanshi sleep now” I said to her and she nodded and put her phone away and laid down

I was about to turn off the lights, but suddenly my phone rang

I picked my phone from the side table ayanshi too sat up straight

“ maa? Voh bhi Itni raat ho?” we both said at the same time.

I picked up the video call and took ayanshi the in frame

“ Namaste maa,
Namaste maa, kese ho ” we both said
And they too greeted

Ma and papa was on video call with us, but their faces express sadness

“ maa is something alright?” i asked, my voice carries the comfort, confusion and fear

“ papa kahi maa ne apko mara to nahi?” ayanshi said and I glared at her like wtf? And she just gave me a smile And maa and papa chuckled

[ Papa does beated you? ]

“ Do I look like this to you guys?” Mom said while maintaining the tease
But soon mom’s face changed as before.  Before i can say someone, mom continued

“Vani, I’m so sorry, meri bacchi.”

Confusion clouded my mind, but I didn’t interrupt Maa.

“I know I shouldn’t have done it… or at least, I should’ve listened to your side of the story. But I failed.”

Tears began to fall from her eyes, yet she continued.

“I failed as a mother, Vani. I failed to see my child’s pain. I failed to understand that Paras wasn’t the right one for you.”

✧

After a brief talk with maa, I turn off the lights and told ayanshi to sleep.

I lay down quitely, but my pillow was the only one who was collecting my storm into him. All my tears into him silently

Finally.

I took a deep breath and was about to sleep when

My phone ping with a notification, i looked at the screen and scoff and rolled my eyes

“ sleep tight miss responsible ” Mr.brar you will regret this.

✧

Ughhhhhhhhhhh.
I groaned.

Since 2 AM, my alarms have been going off like crazy.

I know exactly who did this. But why mess with my sleep?!

I hadn’t set any alarm for today. And when I checked my clock app—there were none. Not a single one. I swear, I’m going to kill whatever hacker is working for her. That son of a—

I didn’t get a blink of sleep because of this.

My eyes were bloodshot. I hadn’t rested properly at all. Yeh meri neend ki dushman kyu hai?

Every hour, Vani had scheduled a different alarm. And the best part? The respectful titles she gave them:

“Rise and shine“

“Time to be responsible, Mr. Brar“

“Nikaame mat bano”

(Don’t be useless)

“Achhe ghar ke ladke subah jaldi uthte hai”

(Boys from good families wake up early)

“Jai ho Shera Vali Mata ki“

(Glory to the goddess )

“Dhoom tananana“

“Notes on how to be less like a karela”

(less bitter)

And many, many more.

Now I’m sitting in her meeting hall, sulking next to Subh, while she’s in another meeting.

“nav, coffee?” Subh offered.

I shook my head.

“It’s bad. Look at your face,” he said with concern.

I checked my reflection in my phone camera. We sat in silence for a moment, until he spoke again.

“But honestly, she strikes good
So, audience,the scores are:
Vani – one,
Nav – zero.” he said dramatically
And chuckled.

He stopped when I glared at him and immediately looked back at his phone.

Yeh bhi saala hai mera. (This idiot’s still my brother.)
I can’t curse him more. Aawara hai toh kya hua, bhai toh mera hi hai. (So what if he’s aimless? He’s still my brother.)

My eyes shifted as the door opened.

And there she was—Vani entered the meeting room. She still wasn’t fully recovered, but she wore her strength like armor, hiding every weakness.

She extended her hand, and I shook it.

“Mr. Brar, hungover already this early?” she asked with her usual sarcasm.

Subh chuckled.
He’ll pay for that once we get home. Badi hansi aa rahi hai isse. (He’s laughing way too much.)

“Miss Rathore—” I began, but got cut off by yet another alarm.

Title:
Don’t forget to dream about being responsible.

I internally cursed
She stifled a laugh and turned her head, but I caught it.
A smirk played on my face as I snoozed the alarm and stepped toward her.

She made eye contact—a clear warning.

And I quote: “Don’t you dare step forward, Mr. Brar.”
Oh, I will. Who cares?

“Vani, do you think this is funny?” I asked, my tone serious.

“Do you think those stupid texts you sent me were funny?” she shot back.

“You think it was funny to mess with my calendar? Do you even realize how much that could’ve cost me?” My voice rose with intensity.

“veere,” Subh called softly, but I ignored him. My eyes burned with anger.

“You think it was funny to make me wait the whole day? To not even send a text saying you weren’t coming?” she added, her voice fierce—maybe fiercer than mine.

“I did send a message, Vani. Along with a bouquet and a note saying I was sorry. Was that not enough?”
I said, frustration pouring out.

Her expression shifted.

“What bouquet?” she asked, genuinely confused.

I paused, reading her face.

“You didn’t get the bouquet?” I asked.

Without a word, she dialed someone and asked about it. I waited patiently, my eyes never leaving hers. I watched as the fire in her gaze softened.

She hung up the call.

There was a confusion. The receptionist forgot to inform the higher-ups,” she said, then paused, debating whether to meet my gaze.

I didn’t push. I waited.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Brar. If I had known you sent the bouquet, I wouldn’t have reacted that way. It’s all my fault. I’m really sorry.”

And I smiled—not a sarcastic one, but a genuine one.

We were looking into each other’s eyes without saying anything.

Our eye contact get broken by another alarm with title

Reminder: Never mess with Vani Rathore again

“ VANIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII STOPP THIS NONSENSE RIGHT NOW” I said in utter annoyance, irritation, frustration or any other word you find, while holding my head in my both hands. I am never setting an alarm again. Behind me I heard Subh sneered

✧

After this Chaos, we’ve been sitting and discussing the plans, and presentations for galla.

Subh was silently listening to us.

“ Nav, by the way, why is galla so important? Why are all people going crazy over this?” He asked and my and vani’s attention fixed on him.

I leaned to my chair and started to explain

“The winner of the Gala gets an exclusive contract with the city’s biggest project – the new tech hub.
It’s a multi-billion dollar deal. Whoever wins the Gala gets the contract, and with it, control over the city’s tech industry for the next decade.” I said and miss Rathore nodded

“ That’s why many companies work together for a strong establishment.
Because Galla happens only once after every 10 years” vani said and I nodded

“ exactly” I agreed with her.

Wait. Did I agree with her?

Subh processed our words.

“ I want to work with you too.” he said

“ No subh. Your college is starting soon. You will be going back.” I said and he definitely doesn’t look good with my decision.

“ Let it be Mr brar. I have been  thinking of including ayanshi. The more minds, the more ideas. And there’s a lot of time until their college starts” ughhh this is going to be hard.

“ veereeee. Please.” Subh always calls me veere when he need something or he wants to flatter me.

“ Okay fine.” I said annoyingly.
______________________________________

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