Chapter 52

2200+ words

Ki haal chall sohneyooo??

brooo tusi bore ho re ho ke tangled temptation to??? Ja mera vehm aa???

Bakki enjoy the chapter.. do tell ne about your views in the comment section don’t be shy 😭…

The engine of my car roared softly as we drove through the windy road,

Her breathing was steady beside me.

Calm.

I glanced at her
her relaxed posture, her face free of worry.

Things had changed.

With her.
With me.

The man who once wanted nothing but her company’s success

had quietly lost his own heart to her.

“Kya kar diya hai, Vani, tumne.”
(What have you done to me, Vani.)

✧

I picked her up gently, careful like she was something fragile,lighter than a flower,making sure I didn’t wake her.

She stirred a little but settled instantly.

I carried her toward the elevator.

✧

In My Apartment

I laid her down on my bed, slowly slipping off her heels, removing her accessories one by one so nothing bothered her sleep.

She looked peaceful.

I changed quietly, then pulled out another comforter from the cupboard and headed to the sofa.

I paused for a second.

She is my girlfriend.

Still

I didn’t want her to wake up and feel uncomfortable, confused, or pressured seeing me beside her.

So I chose the couch.

Simple.

As I lay down, thoughts crept in
her laughter, the way she sat on the grass without caring about dirt, the way she looked at the city lights.

Somewhere between those thoughts, sleep found me.

✧

In the Morning

The smell of coffee filled the kitchen as I poured two cups.

Behind me, I heard soft footsteps.

She walked in, still sleepy, hair messy, eyes half-open.

“Good morning,” she mumbled, sitting on the kitchen slab.

“Good morning, Vani ji,” I smiled.
“Slept well?”

“Hmmm…” she nodded.
“But… tumne mujhe uthaya kyun nahi?”

I scoffed softly.

“Not a chance,” I said.
“I’m not waking up that cute little kaleshi koala.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Nav…?”

“Hm?”
I handed her the coffee, looking at her like she was the only person alive in the room.

She took a sip, then frowned slightly.

“Tum couch pe soye the?”
She pointed.
“Woh comforter hai couch par.”

I mentally cursed myself.

“Haan…”

She looked at me, confused.

“But Nav… this is your house.”

“I know.”

I leaned in and kissed her forehead.

She didn’t let it go.

“Phir kyun?” she asked again.

“Because you snore,” I said seriously
too seriously.

Her eyes widened.

She slapped my arm playfully.

“I don’t!”

“You do, miss,” I laughed.
“You just don’t know it.”

She jumped off the slab, ready to fight.

I instinctively stepped back.

“Dekho, Vani- coffee pi lo,” I said quickly.
“Itni subah-subah phenkne ke liye nahi banayi…….Baad mein ladh lena.”

(Drink the coffee, I didn’t make it just to throw it away.)

She scoffed, picked up her cup, and walked to the living room.

I followed
maintaining a very safe distance.
Kya pta kaab kaleshi atma jaag jaye?

“Tumhare liye main meri coffee kharab nahi karungi,” she said.

“Achhi bani hai?” I asked.

She took another sip, smiled, and sat on the couch.

“Tumse kam.”

And just like that

she took my soul with her words
and sat there like nothing had happened.

I stared at her.

“…did you just flirt with me, Miss Vani Rathore?”
My voice carried more amusement than I felt.

She shrugged lightly.
“Maybe I did.”
A pause.
“Agar tumhe acha nahi laga, toh dobara nahi karungi.”

(If you didn’t like it, I won’t do it again.)

I straightened instantly.

“Ky-kyun? Kisne kaha mujhe acha nahi laga?”
The words tumbled out too fast.

Then I saw it.

The corner of her lips.
Barely lifted.

Achhaaa,
Toh mere saath mazaak ho raha hai?

She looked at me, innocent.

Beta, tum ruko,
Tumhe toh main-

I grinned.

“Ek baat batao,” I continued, leaning back.
“Tumhe lagta hai yeh flirting thi?”
A beat.
“Yeh toh bas halka fulka sa flit tha.”
I smirked.
“Aur waise bhi… romance initiate kaun karta hai zyada?”

Her cup hit the table with a thud.

God, I loved getting a reaction out of her.

My smile faltered.

“Kehna kya chahte ho tum?” she asked sharply.

I should have stopped.

I didn’t.

“Yahi ki-jitne bhi kisses hue na…”
I lifted a finger, counting.
“Sab maine initiate kiye.”

Her eyes widened.

“Lekin pehle din maine kiya tha!” she shot back.

“Haan,” I said quickly, “par propose toh maine kiya tha na?”

Silence.

Then

“Mujhe baat nahi karni tumse.”
She turned toward the door.
“Nahi. Tum ruko-main jaa rahi hoon.”

Shit.

I moved fast, like a lighting speed, and stood in front of her before she could take two steps.

“Majak vanii… Majak c…,” I said immediately.
“gussa na ho yar… Please “

“Hato.”
Her voice was flat.

“Side hato.”

“Nahi.”

She tried to move past me. I blocked her again.

“Sorry, solnyshka yaar” I said softly now.
“mai ta sirf majak krda c… menu ni pta c tu serious leje gi.”

” achaa…. To yeh bhi meri galti hai….”

” nahii…nahi bilkul bhi nahi… Its all my fault… Ullu da patha mai…”

” achaa….. To tum apne aap ko ullu ka… Jo bhi bol rhe ho… Ki tumne mujhse baat hi kyu ki… Bow you are regretting… Har ladka same hota hai… Bus argument khtm ho jaye to sorry bol do…” she was blasting

” nahi …nahi… I know.. i shouldn’t have said like this…”
I searched her face.
“acha…Batao… kaise manau tumhe?”

She paused.

” abbb yeh bhi mai btau??”

I instantly got scared.. i fucked up again…

She Looked at me.

Then

“Kan pakdo apne.”
(Hold your ears.)

I blinked.

“…hein?”

“Abhi.”
(Right now.)

I sighed.

And lifted both hands to my ears.

He sighed.
And actually did it.
Both hands. Ears held.
Just like that.

I looked away
so he wouldn’t see the smile I couldn’t control anymore.

He is cute.

I pulled his cheek and kissed on his cheek, his eyes widened

” You are soooooo puppy faced…”

” Hein??” I laughed at his reaction..

” Matlb meri shakal kutte jesi hai??” He said and i laughed more.. i didn’t mean it i like that …but it sounds good…

He was looking at me still being confused

” Budhuu kan to chord do.. maaf kiya tumhe…” I said and he smiled showing all this teeth…

” Dramebazz…” I murmed and his smile widen more while he rub his neck

Navver is shy?

✧

My employees must be having a good day.

I didn’t shout.
Didn’t snap.
Didn’t even correct mistakes the way I usually do.

All because of one man.

Navveer Singh Brar.

He was that cute today
actually holding his ears when I told him to.

My phone pinged.

I turned it over, already knowing who it would be.

And yet

Bhagwan ji, aaj-kal aap meri baat zyada hi sunne lage ho.
Kahin kuch gadbad toh nahi?

(God, these days you listen to me too much. Something feels suspicious.)

Nav:-

“Waiting for you, Miss Madam…”

A smile crept onto my face before I could stop it.

I decided to tease him.

“Yaar… time lagega.”
(It’ll take some time.)

The reply came instantly.

“Koi ni. Main free hi hoon.”
(No problem. I’m free anyway.)

I shook my head, amused.

Sab aadmi starting mei itne hi pyaare hote hain kya?
(Are all men this sweet in the staring?)

Grabbing my bag, I finally headed downstairs.

He was leaning against the car door, hands relaxed, posture easy.

Waiting.

He looked up before I could even reach him.

“Vani ji,” he said, smiling,
“aapne toh kaha tha time lagega. Itni jaldi?”
(You said it would take time. Came so quickly?)

I raised an eyebrow.

“Aapko acha nahi laga main jaldi aa gayi?”
(You didn’t like that I came early?)

“Bilkul bhi nahi—”

“Kya?!” I snapped.

He immediately corrected himself.

“Mera matlab—bilkul bhi aisa nahi hai ki mujhe acha nahi laga.”
(I mean—it’s not that I didn’t like it.)

I scoffed.

“Jhoothe.”
(Liar.)

“Aur jo ladkiyan dekhni thi… ab nahi dekh paoge na.”
(You wanted to check out other girls. Now you can’t.)

The thought alone made my blood warm.

He smiled knowingly.

“Mujhe pata tha woh tum hi ho, Miss Jalkukdi.”
(I knew it was you, Miss Jealousy Queen.)

I frowned.

“Kaise pata chala, Mr. Nav Brar?”
(How did you know?)

He leaned closer, voice low.

” Because you always smile like chocolate … I can smell you from a mile.” He said, and I rolled my eyes.

“Bilkul kutte jaisi naak hai aapki.”
(You’ve got a dog’s nose.)

He chuckled.

Then stepped closer.

Too close.

His hands folded behind his back as he bent slightly, his breath brushing the curve of my neck.

A shiver ran through me before I could stop it.

“ If getting addicted to your smell, and   identify you by it, is making me a dog, then I’ll happily be called dog forever.”

He smiled softly.

He stepped back.

Looked at me.

Didn’t look away.

I tried to control my smile.

Failed.

“Aise mat dekho,” I muttered.
(Don’t look at me like that.)

“Tum pyaari ho.”
(You’re cute.)

Then, lighter

“Chalo. Tumhare liye kuch plan kiya hai.”
(Come on. I’ve planned something for you.)

He took my hand and led me toward the car.

Opened the door.

Once I was seated, he walked around to the other side and drove off.

And just like that

My workday faded into something else entirely.

✧

” Nav ji hum kya terrace se kudne wale hai??” I said making him shake his head… I am so gonna make him crazy.. i laughed in my head

” Itni jaldi nahi chordu ga tumhe mai .. you’ll not get rid of me that easyly…” He said while stepping out of the elevator and i follows him…

What i saw next shocked me.
My palm went to cover my mouth.

I looked at him in awe

” Kesa hai?” He asked …

” Nav….. Am speechless…”

”  Tumne kya roj roj mujhe shock krne ka socha hai..??”

” Nahi… Har din khush rkhne ka socha hai…aur yeh pehli shuruyaat hai…”

He held my hand and starts taking me towards the tent

( Something like this… But instead of carpet, i imagined a mattress, and cushions, with food, and snacks.)

” Ab hum is tambu mai beth ke karege kya?” I said and he widen his eyes

” Tamb–” he stopped and close his eyes for a second i pressed my lips together at his reaction

” Vani ji… Thoda sa… Thoda sa.. ituuu sa.. ” he show me ituu sa with his finger sign ” itu sa romantic to ho jao… Tambu?? ” He was so shocked and i started laughing…

” Kyu bachuu… Jab tum mujhe ese irritate krte the tab…??” He release a breath when he realised i was joking and he started laughing with me too…

” This is so beautiful…” I said and he replied ” tumse kam”

” Flirting mai to tumhara koi.mukabla nahi.”

After we sat in that cozy ” tambu”
Nav slid a small paper bag toward me.

It was light—but not empty.

There was a box inside.

I looked at him.

“Are you proposing this early, Mr. Brar?”
I tried to joke.

He didn’t.

He just looked at me.

Steady.
Unrushed.

“Kya leke aaye ho?” I asked again.

“Khud khol ke dekh lo.”
(Open it yourself.)

Something in his eyes told me—
this wasn’t a joke.

I pulled the box out.

Opened it.

And froze.

No ring.
No diamonds.
No sparkle to impress

Just a kada.

I looked up slowly.

“Nav…”

He reached for it and extended his hand.

“Do.”
(Give me your hand.)

I placed my wrist in his palm.

His fingers were warm. Careful.

He slid the kada on—slowly, like the moment mattered to him as much as it did to me.

“Kada?” I whispered.

“Haan.”
A pause.

“Main promise ke naam pe cheezein bolna nahi jaanta.”
(I don’t know how to make big promises.)

His thumb brushed my wrist once.

“Par jo maanta hoon… usse jeeta hoon.”
(But what I believe in—I live by it.)

I swallowed.

“Isse pehne rehna matlab—” he continued quietly,
“tum meri zimmedari ho… bina meri milkiyat bane.”
(You’re my responsibility—without being my possession.)

My breath caught.

“I’m not asking for forever,” he said.
“Bas yeh keh raha hoon—jab tak ho… sach se ho.”
(I’m not asking for forever. Just that whatever this is—be real.)

I stared at the kada.

It felt heavier than gold.

Not because of weight

but because of intent.

“You’re dangerous, Nav Brar,” I said softly.

He smiled.

“Kyun?”

“Kyuki tum bina shor machaye…”
I touched my wrist.
“…dil jeet lete ho.”
(Because without making noise—you win hearts.)

He didn’t say anything for sometime but then

“Pasand aaya?” he asked.

There was no pride in his voice.

Just quiet curiosity.

“Bahut.”
I answered without hesitation.

Our eyes met.

And stayed there.

Longer than necessary.

For a moment, the city below faded into background noise.
The lights.
The distance
The worries,
Everything else.

I lowered my gaze, fingers brushing the kada again.

Mahadev…sambhal lena.

✧

“Movie dekhegi?” he asked suddenly.

Not dramatic.
Not loaded.

Normal.

I smiled.

“Hm.”

He picked up his laptop and sat back comfortably, like
this, was the most natural thing in the world.

We started debating movies.

Romance.
Thriller.
Comedy.

The discussion went nowhere.

It always does.

But somewhere between arguing about subtitles
and stealing snacks from his side

I realised something.

This wasn’t butterflies.

This was calm.

And that scared me.

_____________________________________

Kya lagta hai…. Asani se jeene dungi m enhein???

( Devil laugh)

See you in the next chapter… Bie biee for now .. love you ❤️