Chapter 50

Ki hall chal soneyoo????

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He laughed with me, properly, openly like the weight of the world had slipped off our shoulders

And then…
his laughter slowed.

I noticed it before I understood it.

His eyes stayed on my face even after my laugh faded, like he was memorising something he didn’t want to forget.

Something about me.

Certainly, a thought struck his mind
I could almost see it happen.

He tilted his head slightly, still smiling.

“Solnyshka…”

I hummed in response.

“So… we’re a thing now?”

I blinked.

“Agar main naa kar doon toh?”

(What if I say no?)

He gasped dramatically, placing a hand on his chest like I’d just stabbed him.

“Oh!”

“You’ll have to take responsibility for me.”

(Tumhein meri zimmedari leni padegi.)

“Tumne mujhe kisi ko muh dikhane layak nahi chhoda.”

(You’ve ruined my reputation completely.)

I stared at him, shocked – but amused.

“Maine?”

(Me?!)

My voice came out louder than intended, teasing.

He immediately turned his face away, shoulders slumping, eyes lowered.
He started fidgeting with his fingers on the bench like a shy, nervous girl full performance mode.

“Haan, tumne.”

(Yes, YOU.)

He sniffed dramatically.

“Meri izzat toh lut hi gayi.”

(My honour is completely destroyed.)

“Ab tumhein meri zimmedari leni hogi.”

(Now you HAVE to take responsibility for me.)

He wiped an imaginary tear.

“Zamana mujh jaise abla mard ko kya-kya bolega, pranpriye.”

(What will society say about a helpless man like me, my beloved?)

He sighed deeply.

“Mujh jaise abla mard ko kaun apnaayega?”

(Who will even accept a helpless man like me now?)

I tried.
I really tried to hold it in.

But my laugh finally escaped
loud, uncontrollable, genuine.

“You are SO lame.”
I said between laughs, shaking my head.

He peeked at me from the corner of his eye.

A slow grin spread across his face – victorious.

And for the first time in a long while,
I realised something quietly, without panic

I was laughing with him.

Perfect. I get exactly what you want.
No drama. No filmy monologue. Just quiet realizations – the kind that hit harder because they’re internal.

I’ll do this in two short, clean sections:

Her laugh didn’t just sound nice.

It did something else.

It loosened something in my chest that I didn’t even know was tight.

I leaned back slightly, resting my hands on the bench, pretending I was relaxed
but my eyes stayed on her.

Not staring.
Just… there.

She laughed with her head tilted back a little, eyes half-closed, like she wasn’t thinking about how she looked.
Like she wasn’t guarding herself.

And that’s what hit me.

She doesn’t do this often.

The real laugh.
The unfiltered one.

I’d seen her angry.
Sarcastic.
Sharp.
Guarded.

But this?
This was rare.

I found myself smiling without realising it.

Not because I’d said something funny
but because she was laughing.

Kitni khoobsurat laag rahi hai

(She is looking so beautiful.)

Not dramatic.
Not loud.

Just… light.

Ek full ki pankhudi ki tarh.

For a second, I wondered who made her laugh like this before me.

Then I immediately shut that thought down.

Doesn’t matter.

What matters is that right now,
she’s here.
With me.

I didn’t say anything.
Didn’t tease.
Didn’t interrupt.

I just watched her
quietly hoping I never become the reason this laugh disappears.

My laughter slowed, turning softer until it faded on its own.

And suddenly, I noticed something strange.

I wasn’t tense.

Not bracing.
Not waiting for a comment that would sting later.

I looked at Nav from the corner of my eye.

He wasn’t smirking.
Wasn’t judging.

He was just… sitting there.

Watching me like my laugh was enough.

That’s when it hit me, slowly, unwillingly.

Nav alag hai. He is different

Paras never laughed with me.

He laughed at things.
At people.
At my reactions.

If I laughed, it was usually followed by
“why can’t you be gentle like other girls, yeh khe khe jaruri nahi.”

(This laughter is not necessary)

Or silence.
Or irritation.

With Nav, it was different.

He didn’t shut me up.
Didn’t make me feel loud.
Didn’t make me feel too much.

Even when he teases
there’s no edge meant to cut.

I hate that my mind went there.

Comparing.

Measuring.

But it did.

And that scared me a little.

Because somewhere between his stupid drama and my stupid laughter,
I realised something quietly

Shayad main galat thi.

(Maybe I was wrong.)

About him.

About how kind he can be without trying.

About how gentle he is without announcing it.

And about how easily he makes space for me
without asking me to shrink.

I didn’t say anything out loud.

I just looked away, biting the inside of my cheek.

Because if I let myself think any longer…

I might start wanting things
I’m not ready to want.

I looked away, biting the inside of my cheek.

Because if I let myself think any longer…

I might start wanting things
I’m not ready to want.

“Vanii ji… thodiya gallan ch toye ho jaaney aa.”

(Vani ji… your cheeks will get holes.)

I instantly turned to face him.

“Toy?
What- like- kya?”

He burst out laughing.

“If you keep chewing your cheeks like this, they’ll get holes.”

“Gallan matlab cheeks. Toye matlab hole.”

I stared at him.

“Tum seedha-seedha nahi bol sakte?”

(Can’t you just say it normally?)

He leaned slightly closer, voice dropping just a little.

“Asi tah seedhiyaan dil di gallan karde aa…”

(I talk straight from the heart…)

“Par tusi ho ke dil nu bolan hi nahi dinde.”

(But you don’t even let your heart speak.)

I narrowed my eyes.

“Nav…”
A warning. Clear enough.

He smiled instead.

“bolo vani ji…mai suni jana”

(Say it. I’m listening.)

The softness in his tone completely ignored my warning.

“Mujhe Punjabi nahi aati.”

(I don’t know Punjabi.)

He tilted his head, pretending to think.

“mai sikhada?”

(Should I teach you?)

I narrowed my eyes further.

“Zarurat koni.” i said in Rajasthani, showing him, that if he can talk in his language i can talk in mine too

(No need.)

He blinked.

Then his eyebrows shot up dramatically.

“Toh mhane ab Rajasthani bhi sikhni pade?”

(So now I’ll have to learn Rajasthani too?)

My eyes widened.

“Kaabsse?”

(Since when?)

I was genuinely surprised. I asked him , like i was surprised how can he speak even this much Rajasthani while I can’t even understand basic punjabi

He shrugged, like it was obvious.

“Asi Punjabi gabru aa, Vani ji.”

(I’m a Punjabi guy, Vani ji.)

Then, quieter-almost careless:

“Baaki… thari pasand khatir itno toh kar hi sakoon na?”

(And anyway… for your liking, I can do at least this much, right?)

That did it.

I stared at him, completely caught off-guard.

A small, unplanned smile slipped onto my face.

Not because of what he said.

But because of how easily he said it
like adjusting himself for me was normal.
Like effort wasn’t a burden.

I didn’t say anything.

I just smiled, still a little stunned.

“Nav ji, aapne yeh meethi-meethi baatein
kitne aur logon ke saath ki hain?”

(How many other people have you said these sweet things to?)

Yes.

Life itni toxic reh chuki hai
ki agar zindagi mein thoda sa bhi dukh na ho,
toh sab kuch ajeeb sa sunna-sunna lagta hai.

He made a dramatic, disheartened face.

“Sirf aapke saath hi karte hain, Vani ji.”

(Only with you.)

“Par aap humein ghaas hi nahi daalti.”

(But you don’t even give me any attention.)

I frowned.
“Tum kya ghode ho
jo tumhe ghaas daaloon?”

(Are you a horse that I should feed you grass?)

He froze.

Actually froze.

For one beautiful second

Nav Brar was speechless.
His lips parted slightly.
Eyes widened just a little.

Finally.
I grinned.

He cleared his throat.

“…Iska jawab main baad mein dunga.”

(I’ll answer that later.)

“Kyun?” I teased.

“Speechless ho gaye na?”
I chuckled.

And that very moment my phone made a noise

Ping.

My phone vibrated.

I glanced down.

Papa.

“Aaj ka Asia-Pacific revenue breakup bhejo.Abhiii.
Singapore aur Dubai ke numbers missing hain. Send them all
Abhi k abhi”

My smile vanished.

Not panic.
Not fear.

Just… urgency.

I locked my phone and stood up immediately.

“I have to go”

Nav straightened.

“Kya hua?”

I grabbed my bag, already mentally running through spreadsheets.

“Papa ne Asia-Pacific data maanga hai.”

(Dad needs the Asia-Pacific numbers.)

“Singapore aur Dubai ka revenue split.”

I took a step toward the exit, already half distracted.

“Abhi ke abhi manga hai, i have to go and send him, otherwise he’ll question, ki late kese hui.”

Nav watched me for a second

He raised an eyebrow.

A slow, dangerous smile crept onto his face.

“Doubt?”

I looked at him.

“Vani ji…”
he said calmly, almost amused,
“…unhe already pata hai
ki humne kiss kiya.”

My eyes widened.

“Kya?”
“Nav- kya bakwaas kar rahe ho?”

(What nonsense are you saying?)

“Unhe nahi pata-“

He leaned back slightly, crossing his arms.

“Proof chahiye?”

I swallowed.

“Nav, stop it.”

He stood up.

Came closer.

Too close.

“i bet He’ll call you right now.”

Before I could react-
before I could even process-

he kissed me.

It wasn’t just a peek, but a slow deliberate one, my bag fell from my hand and instinctively went to his hair

He left my lips with a pop sound.

I want more.
My eyes must have said this.
Why did he pull out, i was looking into his eyes not wanting to move

But

Ring.

My phone started ringing in my hand.
I stared at the screen.

Papa.

My eyes widened even more.

“Ho… wow.”

Nav smirked.
Not arrogant.
Not smug.
Just… irritatingly confident.

“Dekha?”
I looked at him, stunned.

“This is a coincidence.”

He shrugged casually, running a hand through his hair.
“Ho sakta hai.”

(Maybe.)

“Par yeh bhi ho sakta hai
ki unhone kaafi log laga rakhe hain tumhare aas-paas.”

(Or maybe he’s planted quite a few people around you.)

My heart skipped.
“but why?”

“So they keep me, from away you.”
I stared at him.

“Tum overthink kar rahe ho.”
He smiled faintly.

Didn’t argue.
Just said

“Ho sakta hai.”
And that silence?

That told me he wasn’t lying.

Nav pov:- Ab isse kaise bataoon
ki koch aadmi ko toh main pehle hi pakad chuka hoon…

(How do I tell her I’ve already caught some of them?)

She picked up the call, pressed the phone to her ear, grabbed her bag, and started walking away, still talking.

“Haan, papa.
Abhi mails bhej rahi hoon.”

(Yes, Dad. I’m sending the mails right now.)

“Main gym mein thi.
Do-teen minute mein bhej deti hoon.”

I watched her go.

From the way she didn’t hesitate.
From the way she didn’t look uncomfortable.
From the way she didn’t pull away after that kiss.

At least one thing was clear.

She didn’t hate it.

That was… enough for now.

She turned slightly while walking, her cheeks still flushed , that soft red, like she was trying to hide it but couldn’t.

Cherry-red.

Cute.

Dangerously cute.

I dragged a hand through my hair, ruffling it, heat creeping up my own neck as the memory hit me again

our first kiss,

I exhaled slowly, smiling to myself like an idiot.

“She didn’t say no.”

I nodded once, convincing myself.

“She didn’t push me away.”

Another nod.

And then, very quietly, to myself

“She said yes.”

I paused.

Corrected it immediately.

“Okay… not in words.”

I grinned.

“But still.”

I clenched my fist and threw a small victory punch in the air.

“My girlfriend.”

I stopped.

Looked around, making sure no one was watching.

Then whispered again, slower, more real this time-

“My girlfriend.”

The smile didn’t leave my face.

Not because everything was sorted.

Not because life suddenly became easy.

But because for the first time in a long while,
something felt like it was moving forward.

Author’s POV

Ranvijay Rathore was pacing in his study like a caged tiger, desperate for attack.

The air conditioner was on full blast, yet heat prickled under his skin. His mind kept replaying the scene

his gudiya, his Vani, that little girl who used to sit on his shoulders, now looking at that boy with stars in her eyes. Nav. Navdeep Singh Brar.

” mujhe pehle se pta tha… Yeh brar kamine hi hai… Voh chachunder kahi ka… How dare he get close to gudiya…”

“gun.. gun kahan hai meri… Abhi flight krunga…” But he paused

(“I knew it from the start… these Brars are all scoundrels. That rat of a man… how dare he get close to my doll…”

“Gun… where’s my gun… I’ll shoot him right now—”
But he paused.)

” Randeep wouldn’t be too happy if i kill his son.”

Every instinct in his body was screaming.

The thought of that boy, with his easy smile and modern ideas, being anywhere near his daughter’s heart made Ranvijay’s blood pressure spike.
He was pacing in his study non stop, thinking for a solution, that make that bandar back out without being murdered.

He couldn’t take it. The restlessness was a physical ache. He needed to act,

His college best friend. His partner in countless misadventures. Randeep Singh Brar, father of navdeep singh brar.

✧

In punjab, Randeep was having a better evening.

A soft melody played in the background, the lights were dim, and his wife, Jasmeet, was laughing at something he’d just whispered, her head resting on his shoulder. It was a perfect, stolen romantic moment.

Which was exactly when his phone erupted, shattering the mood. The caller ID flashed, vijay. He hung up the call and looked at his wife sweetly, and continue dancing. He was about to kiss her when his phone rang again. He sequeeze his eyes shut in annoyance.

” utha lo na, koi kam hona veer ji nu.”

” should i kill him for disrupting out moment ?”

Jasmeet laughs.

” seriously, itni raat ko kon bhadw–” jasmeet gave him a glare. ” I mean bhagwan ko yaad krne wala banda yaad krta hai.. ese bol rha rha mai.” his father suddenly shifts the topic..

” baap beta bilkul ek jese ho… Yeh saab nav bhi seekh rha hai apse… Aap thoda thyan dejiye apni boli pai… Haadh hoti hai bilkul.”

(“Seriously, who comes at this hour of the night, you bas—”
Jasmeet shot him a glare.

“I mean… a person who remembers God remembers Him like this… that’s what I was saying,” his father suddenly changed the topic.

“Father and son are exactly the same… Nav is learning all this from you. Please pay some attention to your language. There’s a limit, honestly.”)

Randeep was about to console his now angry wife when ranvijay calls again…

” sayd madat ki jarurt ho veer ji ko, aap call kyun nahi utha rhae …” jasmeet scolded him

(“Maybe Veer ji needs help. Why aren’t you answering the call?” Jasmeet scolded him.)

Randeep angryly picked up the phone

” kya hai?? Itni raat ko kya tuffan aya hai??”

(“What is it? What kind of storm has come in the middle of the night?”)

Ranvijay’s voice, tense and grating, cut through the speaker. “Keep your useless son away from my daughter.”

Silence.

Randeep blinked, pulling the phone away to stare at it before putting it back to his ear. Jasmeet, raised an eyebrow, her amusement growing.

“Main samjha nahi,” Randeep said slowly, the irritation beginning to simmer. His perfect evening was ruined.

( I don’t understand)

“You heard me, Deep!” Ranvijay snapped, the old nickname falling out in his irritation “That boy of yours… Nav. He is always around Vani. Hamesha! What are his intentions? My daughter is focused, she has a future! And your son is… is… bigaad reha hai use! (He’s ruining her!).”

Randeep felt annoyance and frustration. He was not able to understand is This the same man who’d once convinced him to steal a professor’s motorcycle, and was sent to dean and now he was having a meltdown over their kids working together.

“Ranvijay,” Randeep said, his tone flat. “Calm down. They are adults. They work together . What am I supposed to do? Chain him to a radiator?”

” HE IS NOT WORKING.. He is just… Woh awaragardi kar rahe hai meri beti ke sath..”

Randeep raise his eyebrows not being intrested

“Warn him! Tell him the Rathore family is not to be mess with! Tell him Vani is off-limits!”

Randeep’s patience, already thin from the interrupted moment with his wife, snapped. He leaned back, throwing a wink at Jasmeet. “Oh, so now you remember family legacies? Listen, yaar, let me give you some free advice, father to father.”

He took a deliberate pause, letting Ranvijay seethe on the other end.

“If you think my son is ‘useless’ for wanting to be around a brilliant, kind girl like Vani…” Randeep’s voice dropped to a dry, pointed murmur.

“…then maybe look in the mirror. Because her father was just as ‘useless’ when he’d climb three floors and risk getting caught by the warden, just to talk to my sister for five minutes in the library. Remember that?” ( randeep considered divay ( vani’s mother) as his sister. )

The silence from Ranvijay’s end was too loud.

” i don’t remember doing that. And jo kam ke liye phone kiya woh kar na… Apne us bete ko meri gudiya se dur rakh bash.”

Randeep continue again with his voice firm and final. “bilkul nah. I decline. I’m not doing anything. Jo hona hai, ho ke rahega. What will be, will be. My useless son and your precious daughter? That’s their story to write. Not ours.nethier you can cage your daughter nor i can cage my son, so Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a far more important person to attend to.”

And with that, Randeep Singh Brar ended the call, tossed his phone onto the sofa, and turned back to his wife, leaving his over protective friend.
______________________________________

Kya lagta hai kya hoga ageee????