110.
I stepped out onto the balcony, resting my hands lightly on the railing. The entire Shekhawat estate stretched out below—workers moving around, lights being strung up, flowers being arranged.
It looked... grand. Too grand.
Honestly, at this point, it felt like Shaurya had decided no other wedding would ever happen in this family after ours, considering how much he was pouring into it.
I understood, in a way—we hadn't done things properly the first time.
Still... it felt strange now. We have a child now. Things are different.
"Dangg," Yug's voice came through my phone, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I angled the camera slightly so he could see better.
"Wait—are those red roses?" he frowned. "You don't even like red roses."
I smiled a little. "I know. But apparently for 'aesthetic,' they're mandatory."
I didn't add that the "decorator" was actually Eve—who had basically taken over everything from flowers to what the bodyguards would wear at each function. And, of course, she had specifically told me not to tell Yug she was here. She wanted to "surprise" him.
"By the way," Yug said, shifting on his bed, "did you do what I asked?"
I sighed, looking away from the screen for a moment. "No... I don't even know how to start."
He gave me a disappointed look.
"Do you want me to talk to him?" Yug offered.
I nodded instantly. "Yes, please. Actually—better idea. Why don't you talk to him directly?" I added, a small grin forming.
Yug raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"I mean... you used to be a practicing psychologist. Think of it as a session."
He let out a small huff. "Not a bad idea. But I doubt Shaurya will open up to me that easily." He paused, his tone turning more serious. "And even if I try—if he doesn't want to talk, that's his choice. He's... not easy to read."
I nodded quietly. "Yeah."
Before I could say anything else, a familiar presence moved behind me. A hand wrapped around my waist, steady and warm.
"What's so hard to understand about me?" Shaurya's voice came, low and calm, right near my ear.
I stiffened slightly, then rolled my eyes, trying to ignore the way my body reacted to his sudden closeness.
"We were just discussing what an idiot you are," I shot back, keeping my tone light.
Shaurya huffed a quiet laugh.
"You can't just bring Aarya here whenever you miss her," I continued, turning my head slightly to look at him. "She's already missed a lot of classes."
There was a hint of frustration in my voice now—soft, but real.
"Shhh," Shaurya murmured, then leaned slightly to look at the phone. "Well, Yug... if you want, I can send Ravi to pick you up today. He's been annoying me a lot lately. Probably missing you."
Yug coughed awkwardly on the other end.
I snorted. ""Wahh, aapko abhi akal aayi.
Actually aapko pata hai, Ravi ki abhi bhi shaadi kyu nahi hui?
Aapki wajah se. Bechare ko aap time kaha dete ho thora romance kr lene liye," I said, pointing at Shaurya.
"So I guess that's why he keeps third wheeling between us.
Yug don't worry he'll be at your place today only".
Yug shook his head slightly. "That's okay. I have a meeting tomorrow."
"Don't worry," I said quickly. "I've already taken care of it. No meetings till my wedding. C'mon, at least spend some time with Ravi, okay? And you have to be here... I miss you."
Yug's expression softened just a little. He nodded.
"I think I should hang up now," he added after a second. "Shaurya's looking at you weirdly." Yeah, I didn't need to even look since Shaurya's hands were massaging my ass. I don't know why he keeps doing this.
And before I could respond—call ended.
I slowly turned toward Shaurya. "What's wrong?"
"You've been looking... more beautiful lately," he said simply.
I rolled my eyes. As if he isn't the one with the most beautiful eyes in this whole world.
"I have something for you," Shaurya muttered.
From inside his coat, he pulled out a white rose. It had slightly browned at the edges, the humidity getting to it.
I took it, a small smile slipping through despite myself, and leaned in to give him a quick peck.
"This doesn't mean I'm not worried," I started again, my tone turning serious. "Shaurya, I'm really—"
"I'll handle everything. I'll kill everyone who comes our way alright?", he cut in, his voice calm but firm. "No one's going to ruin anything. My men are there."
I exhaled, half-annoyed, half-amused. "Daaku kahike."
Shaurya smirked.
"Wait... that's not even an insult. You literally are," I muttered, shaking my head.
He chuckled softly, and we both turned to look out at the estate again.
After a moment, I nudged him slightly. "You know what I've been thinking?"
"What?"
"When we take the pheras... how fast should we walk?
Like, slow and emotional? Ya thoda fast?
What if people get bored?" I paused dramatically.
"And what if the cloth gets stuck somewhere like in those daily soaps?
What if catches fire? Shaurya, I'm telling you—I'm hiring Ekta Kapoor to direct our wedding. "
Shaurya laughed under his breath, shaking his head. "I love you baby. Let's meet my mother someday".
I froze for a split second—then immediately broke into a grin. That's what I've been dying to hear from him. It's for my own satisfaction because I know now that Shaurya's healed. That's what I want. I don't want anything to trouble him or anything he hides from me.
"I love you so much," I said, stepping closer, trying to hug him—
"Haaye—main marjavaan!"
Mami's voice rang out from behind us.
I groaned, dropping my head. "Of course..."
"Puttar ji, tum dono darwaza lock kyun nahi karte?" Mami said, walking in like she owned the entire place—which, honestly, she behaved like she did.
She stopped right in front of Shaurya, her face lighting up. "Hai rabba..."
Before Shaurya could even react, she grabbed his cheeks and pinched them.
Shaurya blinked, completely caught off guard, then slowly turned to look at me—help?
I was already trying not to laugh.
And then—
"Oye, tu bhi aa idhar."
She pinched my cheeks next. Hard.
"OW—Mami!" I pulled back, rubbing my face immediately.
"Waise toh mujhe yeh ladko ke beech ka pyaar-vyaar samajh nahi aata," she continued casually, as if she hadn't just assaulted us, "but tum dono bade cute ho."
She turned back to Shaurya again, completely smitten. "Bilkul gulaab ka tukda lagta hai."
Shaurya shoved his hands into his pockets, pressing his lips together to stop himself from laughing.
"Mami, kuch kaam tha aapko?" I asked, trying to move things along.
"Haan, woh tumhara jungli dost—"
"It's Eve," I corrected immediately.
"Jo bhi hai," she waved it off. "Uske baal dekhe hain? Lagta hai Holi khel ke aayi hai."
I sighed.
"Toh woh tum dono ko bula rahi hai," she added. "Kuch angrezi mein bol rahi thi... samajh nahi aaya. Tum log hi dekh lo."
"Okay," I nodded.
She gave Shaurya one last admiring smile—clearly her favorite—and walked out.
The moment she left, Shaurya turned to me, amusement still lingering in his eyes.
"Waise... Pari ji ke blue sheeshe kaafi kamaal ke hain," he said casually.
I narrowed my eyes. "Shaurya, if you call her that one more time, I swear I'll kick you."
He chuckled.
"Aur itne hi pasand hain toh aap bhi pehen lo unke jaise blue sunglasses," I added.
"Tempting," he said, clearly enjoying this way too much.
"Don't."
He laughed softly, then reached out, intertwining his fingers with mine.
"Chalein?"
I rolled my eyes—but couldn't stop the small smile that followed.
"...Chalo."