Chapter 59

Are you guys getting bored? Or you think am just dragging it?

Total words:- 2400+
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I stood on her balcony, still catching my breath from the climb.

Through the glass, I watched her step out of the bathroom, a soft towel still damp around her hair. She moved toward the dressing table, unaware of me, humming something under her breath.

For a second, I just… stared.

She was wearing a baby-pink plazo suit-simple, comfortable. No makeup. No jewellery yet. Just her. Effortlessly beautiful.

She picked up a pair of silver jhumka, and golden jhumka, from the table, turning them in her fingers, deciding, and looking in the mirror

I leaned forward slightly, my hand brushing the curtain aside to get a better look.

“yeh, silver waala zyada acha hai.”
(The silver one looks better.)

I spoke without thinking.

She startled, the jhumkas slipping from her fingers onto the floor.

She turned, eyes wide, breath stuck, then relief flooded her face the moment she saw me.

“Mere ghar pai darwaje hai!!!” she snapped at me
(My house have doors)

I stepped inside fully, closing the balcony door behind me.

“I know. Sorry,” I said softly, before kissing her forehead, then reaching down to pick up the fallen jhumkas.

She sighed, dramatic but smiling, and sat down on the dressing chair.

I stood behind her, watching her in the mirror as I gently helped her wear them-one by one. My fingers brushed her neck by accident, and she inhaled sharply.

“Kabhi kabhi unka bhi istemaal kar liya karo, Mr. Brar ji.” she said about using the doors
(You should use door sometimes, Mr. Brar.)

I smiled.
God, she liked teasing me.

“this is way more fun,” I replied honestly.

She rolled her eyes.

I held out my hand.
“Chalo, chalein.”
(Come on, lets go.)

She placed her palm in mine without hesitation.

✧

The feeling in the way was something warm with her.

Street shopping.
Her struggling to choose.

Every item she touched, she looked at me first, like she needed silent approval. I waited patiently, looking at her,

she lingered over a pair of jhumkas, but didn’t buy it, don’t know why though, she obviously liked them, and she went ahead, I bought them all from the vendor, without a second thought.

She noticed only later.

“Yeh kab liye tumne?”
(When did you buy these?)

I just shrugged.

She laughed and pinched my cheek.

We walked more. Talked more.

Who says vani doesn’t talk? She just need a person who’ll listen to her.

She won a gollpapa challenge against me, by pure cheating,

Itni mirch dalwa di bawli ne

( Crazy women got me so much spice)

At a flower stall, she stopped suddenly and buy a flower bouquet, while i tried to pay, she paid first
I narrowed my eyes at her tactics

“Yeh lo.”

( Take this.)

I frowned.
“Kyun?”

( Why?)

She smiled, that soft, knowing smile.

“Investigation reveals-boys never receive flowers. So… for you. I won’t let my one go flowerless “

I didn’t say anything for a long second.

Just stood there, holding them.

No one had ever given me flowers before.

” thankyou maam.” I smiled and tried to make finger heart, mehak tried to teach me, but i think i failed

She laughed, and pinged my cheek.

Later, sitting in the car, she asked casually,
“Long drive pe chalain?”

I glanced at her and smiled.

” jesa aap kahe… Jahan aap wahan hum.” i said , and started the car

(“As you say… wherever you are, there we are.”)

Anything.
Anywhere.
With her.

” jahan Jahan jaati hu wahi chale atte ho, chori chori mere dil mai samate ho.. yeh to btau ki tum… Mere kon ho??” she sings the song, and turned to me with a huge smile

(“Wherever I go, you end up there too.
Quietly, you slip into my heart.
Just tell me this—
what are you to me?”)

I unbuckled my seat belt and lean towards her

” mujhse na pucho ki tum, mere kon ho.” I sing the other half.

(“Don’t ask me who you are to me.”)

” ese ni chale ga mr brar, kis hak se mujhe roj ghumate ho aap??? ” she asked her lips twitching, which i knew she is teasing me, but she is not wrong either, I’ll give her, her answer today

(“This won’t do, Mr. Brar. By what right do you take me out every day?”)

” boyfriend…. ” i pointed to myself ” girlfriend…” i pointed to her ” na na na na…”, she said moving her finger in a no, we both chuckled.

✧

They walked barefoot along the beach.

The sand was cool under their feet, uneven, slipping slightly with every step. The car was parked far behind them now-out of sight, out of mind. Just the sound of waves, steady and patient, and the night stretched endlessly ahead.

Vani’s dupatta fluttered softly with the breeze. She kept looking around, confused but calm.

Then-

Far away, something golden flickered, something like light

She slowed.

She turned her head slightly, looking at him. Question in her eyes. Curiosity.

Nav didn’t say a word.
He just kept looking at her

And they walked toward it together.

The closer we went, the clearer it became.

A pathway had been made on the sand-rose petals scattered carefully, forming a narrow trail that led forward, on the side of the petal rode there were placed candles, glowing softly under the moonlight

My breath hitched.

I stopped walking.

I looked at Nav.

He was already looking at me.

Hands in his pockets. Shoulders relaxed. That gentle smile on his lips, i pointed, below at the path, silently asking what is this, or who did this, or many questions,

” follow it, and know it yourself,” his eyes said.

My heart started pounding.

I stepped forward.

The sand felt different under my feet now-firmer, warmer, compared to the beach water.

I followed the rose path.

Step by step.

The sound came before the sight.

A soft hum, electric, like the power being switched on

Then suddenly, the space opened up.

Light flared.

And I froze.

Right there, glowing against the dark night, surrounded by white flowers and candles-

Will You be my forever?

The words shone in warm light, steady and real, not trembling the way I was.

My chest tightened.

My vision blurred.

I took another step forward-and looked down.

I was standing inside a heart.

A heart outlined with soft golden lights and roses, petals scattered so thick it looked unreal, like something imagined and brought to life.

My knees went weak.

Tears welled up before I could stop them.

I turned around.

Instinctively.

To look for him.

To tell him something-anything.

But-

Nav wasn’t there.

The place behind me was empty.

Just

The waves.

The night.

My breath caught in my throat.

“Nav…?” I whispered.

My heart started racing-not fear, but something deeper.

And then-

Footsteps.

I turned back.

I was still standing inside the heart when I heard him.

Not rushing

Just… footsteps. Steady. Certain.
I turned.

Nav was walking toward me from the shadows, the soft lights catching his face little by little. The wind tugged at his shirt, the sand clung to his feet, but his eyes—

they never left mine.

He stopped a few steps away.
For a second, he just looked at me.
Like he was memorizing this version of me.

Then—

He went down on one knee.

The world went quiet.
No waves. No wind. No breath.
My heart slammed so hard I thought I might collapse.

Nav looked up at me, one knee in the sand, one hand resting on his thigh, the other holding a small box

“Vani,” he said softly.
Got it. I won’t change the content, meaning, or tone.

“I know,” he continued, his voice steady.
“That trusting is not easy for you. You are still scared to move forward, but I want to give you peace.”

My throat tightened.
My fingers curled into my palms.

He took a breath.

“I know that people took your peace in the name of love,” he said.
“I don’t want to fix you, or own you, or cage you with promises.”

“I want to walk beside you—
on days you are strong,
and on days you can’t get out of bed.
On nights your past screams louder than the present”

“I want to be with you every single second.”

Tears spilled freely from my eyes now.

He lifted the ring slightly.

“I want to be the place your body rests without fear.
I can’t erase what happened to you, but I swear—
I will love you so much that you’ll forget the pain.”

My chest hurt.

“Vani,” he said again, slower this time,
“will you make me the happiest man and marry me?”

My legs wobbled.

In that very moment, flashes of my past started coming in front of my eyes.

Thousands of doubts crawled in my chest.
Thousands of what ifs.

My fingers curled into my palms, my throat tightening.
I wasn’t afraid of love.
I was afraid of losing it after believing in it.

“Kareli haan ya na????
I am done by the fear, that you’ll drift away, i want to wake up beside you every morning, all i want is you, so please say yes” my thoughts were broken my him

“ I used to think” i continued, tears streaming down my cheeks, “ that if someone really saw me, they’d walk away.”

“But with you… my heart learned something my mind couldn’t teach it.”

“So yes,” I whispered, a smile breaking through my tears.

“Yes, Nav. Itna reham to kar hi skti hu mai tum par.”

His breath left him like a prayer.

He slid the ring onto my finger-slow,

Then he stood, pulled me into his arms,

“ Thank you so much mujh par reham karne ke liye.”

✧

On the other side, Vikram handed him the photographs.

“Sir… that Brar boy proposed to the princess. And she said yes,” Vikram reported calmly.
“Do you want me to do something?”

Ranvijay didn’t answer immediately.

He looked at the photos
Vani smiling.
Not the polite smile she wore for the world, but the one that reached her eyes.

Something eased in his chest. Just a little.

He shook his head slowly.

“No,” he said.
“He’s a good boy, Vikram.”

The words surprised even him.

Ranvijay forwarded the pictures to Randeep and typed

Although I hate to be related to you,
I won’t stand in the way of my daughter’s happiness.
Cheers to becoming in-laws, Deep.

A second message followed almost instantly.

But remember—
if my daughter sheds even a single tear because of your son,
I will kill him in the worst way possible.
And you know I mean it.

✧

After telling everything to her parents and sitting with them for a while,
And shameless flirting with vani, and buttering up divya,

while ranvijay was sulking up whole time, finally being fed up by his dramatics, he spoke

“Ho gaya tera?” Ranvijay said suddenly, leaning back.
“Ab apne baap ko leke aana. Chal, nikal ab.”

(“Done?” Ranvijay said suddenly, leaning back.
“Now go bring your father. Come on—get out.”)

Nav, who had been sitting obediently on the sofa, startled

“Papa!” Vani whined instantly.

“Vijay ji…” Divya intervened gently, though there was a smile playing on her lips.

“Ab woh hamare daamaad banne wale hain. Aise kaise baat kar rahe hain aap?”( “He’s going to be our son-in-law now. How can you talk like that?”)

“Exactly, sasur ji,” Nav jumped in, shameless as ever.
“Aise kaun baat karta hai?”

( Who talks like that?)

Ranvijay’s eyes snapped to him.

“Beta, baat ka toh pata nahi,” he said calmly, dangerously calm,

“par aur bahut kuch kar sakta hoon main.”
“Apne gharwalon ko leke aa.”

(“Son, I don’t know about words,” he said calmly—dangerously calm,
“but I’m capable of doing a lot.”
“Bring your family with you.)

Nav understand thr threat behind his calm words

“Waise, Nav,” Divya added softly, bringing the conversation back to sanity,

( By the way nav)

“Vijay ji theek keh rahe hain. Tum apne ghar walon ko le aao. Phir hum rishte ki baat kar lenge.”

(“Vijay ji is right. Bring your family with you. Then we’ll talk about the proposal.”)

Nav looked at Vani.

She was already looking at him—hopeful, nervous, waiting.

“Ji,” Nav said, nodding, eyes steady on Divya.
“Main turant jaa kar baat karta hoon.”

(“I’ll go and talk to them right away.”)

He stood up, about to leave, when Ranvijay spoke again—casually.

“Waise, Divya ji,” he said, as if remembering something random,
“aaj-kal Vani ke kamre mein machhar kaafi ho gaye the.”

“Toh maine temporarily poore ghar ki balconies band karwa di hain.”

(“By the way, Divya ji,” he said, as if remembering something random,

“there had been quite a few mosquitoes in Vani’s room these days.”

“So I’ve temporarily had all the balconies in the house closed.”)

Silence.

Vani froze.
Nav blinked.

They looked at each other—pure panic passing between them.

They both knew exactly which machhar he was talking about.

✧

Later that night, Nav called her downstairs.

She tried to refuse.
He didn’t listen.

She came to the gate anyway, glancing around nervously.

“Pagal ho kya tum?” she whispered harshly.
“Itni raat ko yahan—”

(“Are you crazy?” she whispered harshly.
“Here at this hour of the night—”)

He cut her off with a kiss—quick, firm his hand cradling the back of her head.

“Punjab jaa raha hoon,” he said calmly.

( I am going to Punjab)

“Abhi?” Her voice cracked, shock rushing in.

( Right now?)

“I can’t wait anymore,” he said quietly.
“To make you mine.”

Then, softer—Punjabi slipping out naturally:

“Agli vaari main aaun ghar-deyaan naal.”
“Karni ni gal pardeeyan naal.”

(“Next time, I’ll come with my family.”
“we won’t have to talk about this from behind veils.”)

She frowned slightly.
“Nav… matlab? Mujhe theek se samajh nahi aaya.”

(“Nav… what do you mean? I didn’t quite understand.”)

He chuckled, brushing his thumb against her cheek.

“Next time,” he said gently,
“I’ll come with my family.”
“we won’t have to talk by hiding”

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Aj ka chapter yahi samapt hota hai…. Vapis jald ayenge…