Chapter Thirty Seven
Thirty-Seven
As evening approached, Priya sat at her desk, trying to power through the work she had ignored all day. The creak of the front door sent a jolt through her, her fingers freezing mid-keystroke.
Ethan was back. A moment later, she felt his warmth behind her, his lips brushing her cheek in a soft kiss. “Ready?”
“Almost.” Saving her work, she turned slightly, eyeing him. “You’re still not going to tell me where we’re going?”
“Not a chance.” He dangled a blindfold before her.
“You’re killing me. You know that, right?” Priya grinned, clicking her laptop shut. She could barely sit still, buzzing with curiosity over whatever surprise Ethan had been out planning. “Are you sure I’m okay wearing this?” She gestured toward her sweatshirt and jeans.
“You do realize you just made pajama pants the most sought-after look of the year, right?” He slid her glasses back up her nose before tying the blindfold around her eyes. “No peeking.”
Priya expected him to lead her to the car, but instead, he guided her past it.
It was warm for September, and although the sun was setting, the air still carried a trace of heat.
The familiar crunch of gravel turned into the whisper of grass under her feet.
Priya recognized the route they were taking.
It led past the tracks to the open field beyond.
“A picnic?” Priya guessed.
“You’ll see soon enough,” Ethan said.
After a few more steps, they stopped.
“Ready?” His voice was right next to her ear, his breath warm on her neck.
As he untied the blindfold, Priya’s eyes adjusted to the soft glow of twilight. The first thing that came into focus was the freight car. A vast sheet of white canvas had been draped over one side, masking the rusted exterior.
“What’s going on?” she asked, looking from Ethan to the transformed space around them.
It was as if she had wandered onto the dreamiest film set, a private, cozy screening under the stars.
A large rug lay on the ground, with pillows and chairs arranged on top.
Marigold and rose petals formed a scattered trail around the edges.
The smell of buttery popcorn filled the air.
Twinkling lights were strung above them, their glow illuminating trays of drinks and snacks.
Ethan’s arms circled her from behind. “You said you were disappointed about missing the premiere, so I brought the movie to you.” He pressed a kiss against her temple.
“Truth is, not having you at TIFF hit me hard. I kept thinking back to when I invited you, and it made me sad that we were in the same city, but so far apart.” A soft smile played on his lips as his gaze met hers. “So, this is our do-over.”
Priya turned in his arms, eyes wide with wonder. “It’s beautiful. Like we’ve stepped into another world.”
As they settled onto the floor pillows, Ethan placed a bowl of popcorn on his lap and fed her a few pieces.
“All set?” he asked, his hand on the remote.
“Couldn’t be more excited.”
The projector hummed to life, casting a glow on the makeshift screen. But instead of the opening credits, bold white text appeared: “For Priya.”
Priya’s head snapped toward Ethan. “What’s this?”
On the screen, Ethan appeared, standing in the very spot they were now. He looked into the camera and began to speak.
“Pri, tonight isn’t about the movie. It’s about us,” he said.
“Out of all the roles I’ve played, the only one that really matters is the one I get to share with you.
Not for a fleeting scene or a single act, but for the full-length feature of our lives.
I want you as my costar, my partner, my love—through every take, every plot twist, and every sequel life throws our way. ”
Priya’s fingers curled into the blanket beneath her as her heart threatened to take flight. It fluttered in her chest, wings unfurling—ready to soar straight into the unknown.
On-screen, Ethan let out a breathy chuckle.
“I know what you’re thinking—this is insane, right?
But Pri, this story? Our story? It’s been in production for years.
I felt drawn to you the moment I laid eyes on you.
Right here in this field—kneeling over me, your hair catching the wind like something out of a dream.
And something shifted in me. Even before I understood what that meant, before I had the words for it—I knew you were special.
If I kept my distance, it wasn’t because you didn’t matter. It was because you did.”
Ethan’s voice was steady, but there was something raw beneath it that made Priya’s chest tighten.
“I always knew you had a crush on me,” he said.
“I saw it in the way you looked at me when you thought I wasn’t paying attention.
And even though you never said a word, your silence was the loudest thing I heard.
But you weren’t just another girl. You were untouchable, Pri.
I couldn’t think of you that way. You were too important to be part of some reckless phase of mine.
“Then I came back.” Ethan exhaled. “And there you were, impossible to ignore. And this time, I wasn’t some stupid kid with no direction. I knew exactly what I wanted. And it was you. In any way, in any form, on any terms, you’d have me.
“But when the fire happened and I saw you lying there, I thought…I thought I’d lost you for good. That was when everything changed. That deal we made—to walk away from each other? It shattered in a heartbeat.
“Because the truth is, Pri, I’ve never wanted anything more in my life. I don’t need any rehearsals. I don’t need another take. I know exactly how this ends—with you.”
Priya’s pulse thundered in her ears, her vision blurring with unshed tears as the Ethan on-screen dropped to one knee. At the same time, the real Ethan reached into the popcorn for a small box and held it open for her.
“Will you marry me?” both Ethans asked in perfect unison.
For a heartbeat, Priya was split into two people. The one who had spent years aching for him in silence. And the one here now, standing on the brink of something extraordinary.
Her breath hitched. This wasn’t a dream. It was really happening. On-screen Ethan remained frozen, waiting and hopeful. The one beside her held out more than an engagement ring—he held a future, the promise of forever.
A breathless, giddy laugh escaped her. “Priya 1.0 and Priya 2.0 have only one answer for both Ethans. Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!”
Ethan let out an incredulous laugh as the ring settled perfectly onto her finger. Priya couldn’t take her eyes off the design—simple, timeless, and impossibly lovely.
“It was my mother’s,” he said quietly, watching her reaction.
Her breath caught. “How did you even get it?”
“I told Brooke about the proposal when she picked up Sir Puffington. She came back with the ring not long after.”
“But…Harry?” Priya’s mind flashed to the man who couldn’t even bring himself to shift a single photo or trophy his wife had left behind—let alone part with something as precious as her ring.
“Apparently, it was his idea,” Ethan murmured, cupping her face in his hands. When he kissed her, it was as if the world had stopped spinning for a beat.
Priya melted into him, her hands tangling in his shirt.
They fell back on the pillows, their embrace deepening until a sound pricked the edge of Priya’s awareness.
She frowned, her body going still. Something…
or someone…was moving nearby. Glancing over Ethan’s shoulder, she saw a figure creeping away in the dim light.
“Mumma?” she called, sitting up.
The figure froze mid-step. Just ahead, another guilty shape emerged.
“Puppa?”
Priya’s parents turned around slowly, looking like two kids caught snooping.
“Hello, beta. Hello, Mr. Ethan,” Mumma greeted. “We thought you were…uh…inside. We saw all these cars arriving and wanted to see what was going on.” She waved at the setup around them before turning to Puppa for backup.
Puppa looked everywhere but at his daughter, currently sprawled out on a pile of pillows with Ethan Knight. “Yes, well. We will be on our way.” His head bobbed, as if trying to shake off the image of what they had just interrupted.
“Please stay.” Ethan propped himself up on his elbows and rose. He reached for Priya’s hand, helping her up.
“I asked Priya to marry me,” he stated, his fingers lacing with hers. “And she said yes.”
Mumma let out a soft gasp. Puppa blinked, his expression unreadable.
“You are going to marry our Priya?” he asked.
“With your blessing, I hope.” Ethan gave Priya’s hand a small squeeze, his shoulder brushing hers in silent support. Priya glanced between her parents, heart caught in her throat as she waited for them to speak.
Mumma’s hand flew to her chest, and Puppa blinked as if rebooting his thoughts.
“We saw you two on the red carpet last night,” Mumma finally spoke. “But we thought it would end in another public scandal.”
“This isn’t like before, Mumma,” Priya said. “I wouldn’t have said yes if I wasn’t sure.”
“I truly love your daughter,” Ethan added. “And I would love to be a part of your family, if you’ll have me.”
Mumma and Puppa exchanged a long look.
Finally, Puppa cleared his throat and held out his hand. “If that’s the case, then you have our blessing, Mr. Ethan.”
“Thank you.” Ethan shook his hand. “And please—call me Ethan.” He looked at Priya and smiled before turning back to her parents. “We’d love for you to join us,” he continued. “There’s plenty of food, and we haven’t even started the movie yet.”
Puppa hesitated, glancing at Priya and Ethan’s interlocked hands before nodding. “Thank you, son. But you two enjoy.”
Priya’s smile wobbled, her heart so full it left her breathless.
She had hoped Puppa would drop the formality, but he had gone a step further and welcomed Ethan into the family.
When she looked at Mumma, she found pride shining in her eyes.
A smile bloomed across her mother’s face, and the knot in Priya’s chest finally began to loosen.
They had accepted her choice. They had accepted him.
“I love you both,” Priya said, her voice thick with feeling.
Mumma reached over, gently squeezing her hand. “We know, beta. And we love you more.”
“Come, Seema,” Puppa said, waiting for Mumma to join him.
“We’re about to start the new movie,” Ethan called after them.
Puppa stopped mid-step. “Your new movie?”
“The very same,” Priya said, biting back a smile as Puppa’s eyes flickered toward the screen.
“Well…” Puppa’s fingers twitched at his sides. “Maybe just a few minutes then.”
Ethan grinned and guided Mumma and Puppa toward the chairs. Priya watched as they sank into the cushions—trying, and completely failing, to contain their excitement.
A private screening.
Under the stars.
Of a Hollywood blockbuster.
Starring their future son-in-law.
Any objections about Priya not marrying within their community? Completely obliterated. Because their daughter had found her place. She wasn’t living a bare-minimum, acceptable version of happiness. She was glowing, thriving, flourishing.
Priya could see the exact moment they let go and relaxed. As the opening scene lit up the screen, Mumma sighed, settling against Puppa. And Puppa—her stoic, reserved father—draped an arm around his wife and kissed her forehead.
Priya’s heart swelled as she settled back on the pillows beside Ethan.
He laced his fingers with hers, pressing a silent question into her palm.
You okay?
She was more than okay. She was the happiest she’d ever been.
Her fingers curled around his, her head finding its perfect place against his shoulder. As the movie played on, Priya felt strong and rooted, like she was finally on solid ground. Somewhere between Moksha and Hollywood, she had found her place—one where she was truly and irrevocably untouchable.