RIVAN apologies and bathroom romance #2
She placed her book beside her.
Her fingers reached toward the elegant ribbon wrapped around the gift box.
She untied it slowly.
The satin ribbon slipped away.
Then came the premium wrapping paper.
Layer by layer...
The mystery disappeared.
Finally...
She lifted the lid.
The room fell silent.
Nestled against rich midnight-blue silk...
Lay a breathtaking silver charm bracelet.
The polished silver shimmered beneath the bedside lamp like liquid moonlight.
But it wasn't merely beautiful.
It was...
Personal.
Every single charm carried a memory.
The very first charm was a tiny silver ice cream cone.
Devyani's lips slowly parted.
She immediately remembered the day they had argued for thirty minutes over which ice cream flavour was superior.
The second charm...
A miniature hockey stick.
She laughed softly through the lump in her throat.
The third charm...
A tiny airplane.
London.
New beginnings.
The fourth...
A little graduation cap.
"For the day you proved everyone wrong."
His voice was filled with pride.
The fifth...
A tiny lioness.
Not because she was fearless...
But because she had become one.
Strong.
Independent.
Unbreakable.
The sixth charm made her breath catch.
A tiny family.
A man.
A woman.
A little child holding both their hands.
Her fingers trembled.
"...Kaizan."
She whispered.
Zaid nodded.
There was one final charm.
Still empty.
A tiny heart-shaped frame.
No engraving.
No symbol.
Nothing.
She looked at him questioningly.
He smiled.
"That one..."
"...is for whatever memory you choose next."
"Maybe your wedding."
"Maybe another dream."
"Maybe something none of us can predict."
"I wanted to leave one space..."
"...for your future."
Tears gathered silently in her eyes.
She gently picked up the bracelet.
Running her fingertips over every tiny charm.
Every memory.
Every laugh.
Every milestone.
It wasn't jewelry.
It was...
Her life
Forged into silver.
Preserved forever.
A tear slipped down her cheek.
"...Idiot."
She whispered.
Zaid smiled.
"You made me cry."
"I know."
"You missed my engagement..."
"...just to make this?"
He nodded.
"It took longer than expected."
"I wanted every charm handcrafted."
"So..."
He shrugged lightly.
"I figured missing one evening was worth giving you something you'd keep for a lifetime."
Her eyes filled completely.
Without saying another word...
She threw herself forward.
Wrapping both arms tightly around him.
The bracelet remained clutched safely in one hand.
Zaid smiled, gently hugging her back.
"There..."
he whispered.
"So I'm not blacklisted anymore?"
She sniffled loudly.
"No."
A pause.
"...You're promoted."
He laughed.
"To what?"
She smiled through her tears.
"My permanent best friend."
For the first time that night...
The gift wasn't measured by its price.
But by the memories it carried.
And that made it priceless.
She touched the tiny silver hockey stick, a watery smile breaking through her stubbornness.
"I had to track down a master silversmith in London who could engrave these details by hand under a microscope," Zaid explained softly, watching her face.
"And the flight back got caught in a massive storm delay, which is why I missed the actual ring ceremony."
He leaned in a bit closer, his eyes incredibly warm. "I know you don't have a past filled with family heirlooms, Devu. But I wanted to give you something that celebrates the incredible, beautiful life you have built for yourself."
He gently tapped the tiny silver crown. "Every single piece of your history is right here. And I wanted you to wear it on your wedding day to remind you of how far you've come."
A single tear slipped down Devyani's cheek.
Before Zaid could react, she threw herself again forward, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, burying her face in his shoulder.
"You are the absolute worst," she sobbed happily, squeezing him with all her might. "And the absolute best. I hate you so much."
"Yeah, yeah, I love you too, you emotional drama queen," Zaid laughed, patting her back affectionately.
"Now please don't get tear stains on my jacket. It's dry-clean only."
She pulled back, wiping her eyes and sniffing loudly as she carefully clasped the heavy bracelet onto her wrist, admiring its polished gleam.
"And," Devyani pointed an accusing finger at him, her mischievous spark returning, "you still have to deal with the corridor monster."
Zaid's eyes narrowed in confusion. "Corridor monster?"
"Yes," she giggled, shaking her wrist so the charms chimed.
"Aradhya. I saw her walking down the hall earlier looking like she wanted to murder someone. Did you run into her?"
Zaid's mind immediately flashed back to the girl hanging in his arm while he typed an email.
A slow, knowing smirk crept back onto his face.
"Oh, her," Zaid said casually, stretching his legs.
"We had a brief meeting. She has very poor balance, but her vocabulary in insults is highly impressive."
She looked up at Zaid, her fingers twisting slightly in her pajama fabric.
"Zaid..." she began, her voice dropping to a low, quiet hum. "I actually want to request something of you."
Zaid instantly straightened himself up from his relaxed posture at the foot of the bed, his eyebrows shooting toward his hairline in mock alarm.
"Devyani? A request? Did the world stop spinning? The Thakur princess is known globally for issuing absolute executive orders, not requests. Should I call a doctor?"
"Shut up and be serious for a second," she whined, though a fond smile broke through.
She looked back down at the glittering silver charms on her wrist, her tone turning deeply earnest.
"Whatever you say, Devu," Zaid murmured, his teasing fading into the quiet warmth of a protective best friend.
"What's on your mind?"
"You are coming with me to India for my marriage," Devyani stated firmly, her eyes locking onto his with fierce determination.
"And I don't want to hear a single 'no' or any of your corporate excuses. Please, Zaid. You are my absolute best friend and like a brother to me. I need you right there by my side during the biggest phase of my entire life. Just... please don't say no."
Zaid blinked, completely caught off guard as the weight of her words settled over him.
The playful bantering atmosphere evaporated. "Par Devyani..." he began hesitantly, his mind automatically scrambling through the mountain of high-stakes business meetings and international flights lined up for the coming weeks.
"My schedule for the next week is completelya??"
"Nahi, Zaid!" she interrupted loudly, crossing her arms and cutting him off with a stubborn pout.
"No par, war, or kya. No ifs, ands, or buts.
Tomorrow morning, you are boarding that flight to India with me, and that is the absolute end of the discussion. If I have to drag you by your expensive collar onto that jet, I will."
Zaid stared at her for a long, quiet moment, taking in the fierce, unyielding hope shining in her eyes.
He knew exactly how much she had fought to build a life of her own, and he knew how much this wedding truly meant to her.
He let out a long, slow breath, inhaling deeply as he mentally threw his entire calendar directly into the trash can.
"Yeah, okay," Zaid said softly, a genuine, helpless smile finally breaking across his face. "I'll go. I will personally clear my entire schedule by tonight. The corporate world can survive without me for a few weeks."
Devyani's eyes instantly brightened to the size of saucers, completely lit up with pure joy.
"Really?!" she gasped, leaning forward. "You're not lying just to make me happy?"
"Yeah, really," Zaid laughed, giving her a reassuring nod. "I wouldn't miss the chance to see Rivan panic at the altar for anything in the world."
With a victorious squeal, Devyani completely forgot about her "annoyed burrito" status.
She tossed the blanket aside and jumped up in pure happiness right on the mattress, her charms chiming wildly as she celebrated the ultimate victory over the corporate titan.
a?￠
.
.
.
Reyansh walked down the quiet, dimly lit corridor of the villa, his fingers working impatiently to loosen the silk tie choking his neck.
He was completely exhausted, both by the endless social obligations of the engagement party and the mental checklist currently running on loop in his brain.
He had his phone pressed to his ear, his voice low and clipped as he finalized the logistics for the next morning.
"Make sure the private jet is fueled and cleared for departure by nine," Reyansh instructed the coordinator, his tone brokering no delays.
"The cars should be at the villa gates by seven-thirty sharp. We are leaving for India tomorrow, and I do not want a single minute of delay. Yes, confirm the luggage transfers tonight."
He hung up, letting out a heavy, tired breath, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
He just wanted to lock his bedroom door, pack his remaining essentials, and get a few hours of shut-eye.
But as he turned the corner near the guest wing, a soft, muffled sound made him freeze in his tracks.
It was a low, painful groan.
Reyansh stopped, his sharp eyes scanning the hallway.
Just a few feet away, tucked into a shadowy alcove of the corridor, Jinal was sitting flat on the cold marble floor.
Her expensive evening gown was crumpled around her, her face pale, and her hands clutching her right foot in sheer agony.
Reyansh didn't hesitate. He pocketed his phone and immediately marched toward her, his long strides eating up the distance.
He bent down, dropping to one knee beside her. Without uttering a single word, and completely ignoring her startled gasp, he reached out and firmly took her slender foot into his hand.
"Ahhhhh! Stopa??!" Jinal cried out, her fingers digging into his shoulder as a sharp wave of pain shot up her leg.
"What are you doing?!"
Reyansh ignored her protest, his grip steady and unyielding.