The chaos slowly settled as people moved back into laughter and teasing, leaving behind traces of haldi, scattered petals, and a strange kind of stillness between them.

Sanvi stood there for a moment, lightly brushing the haldi off her hand, but her eyes—kept drifting back to him.

Rudra, on the other hand, adjusted his kurta, clearly annoyed… yet not entirely focused on it anymore.

For a brief second, their eyes met again.

This time—no rush, no collision… just a pause.

Sanvi quickly looked away, pretending to fix her dupatta.

“Pagal hai kya sab…”

(Are they crazy or what…)

She muttered under her breath, more to herself than anyone else.

Avi suddenly appeared beside her, trying hard not to laugh.

“Maine bola tha na, haldi se bach nahi paayegi tu.”

(I told you, you wouldn’t be able to escape the haldi.)

Sanvi sighed, shaking her head.

“Great, ab dekho kya haal ho gaya.”

(Great, now look at this mess.)

But even while saying that… her eyes unknowingly shifted again—toward him.

On the other side, Rudra stood with his friends, who were still laughing at his failed attempt to escape.

“Bhai, itna bhi kya bhaagna?”

(Bro, why were you running so much?)

Rudra exhaled softly, clearly done with them.

“Tum logon ka kaam hi ye hai na.”

(This is all you guys do, right.)

But his attention wasn’t fully there.

For the second time—he looked in her direction.

She was standing a little far… talking to her friend… fixing her hair…

And somehow, in all that chaos—she stood out.

He didn’t know why.

Sanvi felt it.

That gaze.

Not direct. Not obvious.

But there.

She turned slightly—

And this time, their eyes met again.

No words.

No interruption.

Just a quiet, unfamiliar curiosity.

“Kaun hai ye…”

(Who is he…)

She whispered softly, almost unconsciously.

Avi followed her gaze and raised her brows.

“Kisko dekh rahi hai?”

(Who are you looking at?)

Sanvi immediately looked away.

“Kisi ko nahi.”

(No one.)

Avi smirked slightly but didn’t say anything.

Rudra looked away first this time, running a hand through his hair as if snapping himself out of it.

“Focus…”

(Focus…)

But even he knew—

Something had shifted.

***********************************

Back at the Agarwal house, the atmosphere was completely different—calm, relaxed, and filled with a different kind of chaos.

Vihaan, Dhruv, and Vaidehi were sprawled across the room, laptops open, papers scattered, and snacks lying untouched as they were deeply invested in something serious for once.

They had been searching for the perfect singing university for Vaidehi for the past hour…

And rejecting almost everything.

“Yeh wala bhi average hai yaar…”

(This one is also average, yaar…)

Vaidehi said, scrolling through the screen with a slight frown.

Dhruv leaned over her shoulder, squinting at the laptop.

“Haan matlab theek hai… par Vaidehi Agarwal k standard match nahi krta hai.”

(Yeah, I mean it’s fine… but not Vaidehi Agarwal level.)

Vihaan chuckled softly from the other side, arms crossed as he observed both of them.

“humari behen ka standard itna high hai na, university khud apply karegi Vaidehi ko.”

(She have such high standards, the university itself will apply to Vaidehi.)

Vaidehi rolled her eyes but a small smile appeared on her face. Said “Very funny.”

(Very funny.)

She sighed, about to close another tab—

When suddenly, something caught her attention.

Her fingers paused.

Her expression changed. “Wait…”

(Wait…)

Both Vihaan and Dhruv immediately looked at her.

“Kya hua?”

(What happened?)

Vaidehi straightened a little, her eyes now focused, scanning every detail on the screen.

“I think… ye wala…”

(I think… this one…)

She turned the laptop toward them.

“This is good.”

(This is good.)

Dhruv leaned in closer, reading quickly.

Vihaan stepped forward too, his expression turning serious for the first time.

A few seconds of silence.

Then—

Dhruv’s eyes widened slightly.

“Okay… yeh actually impressive hai.”

(Okay… this is actually impressive.)

Vihaan nodded slowly, clearly approving.

“Curriculum strong hai… exposure bhi kaafi acha hai…”

(The curriculum is strong… and the exposure is also really good…)

Vaidehi’s eyes lit up, hope slowly building. With a sparkle in her eyes she asked “Right?”

(Right?)

She looked at both of them, almost waiting for confirmation.

Dhruv suddenly clapped once, grinning.

“Finally! Mil gaya kuch tere level ka!”

(Finally! Found something at your level!)

Vaidehi couldn’t help but smile widely now.

“Shut up! Bhaiya”

(Shut up!)

Vihaan walked a little closer and gently placed his hand on her head. Said “Apply karte hain.”

(Let’s apply.)

Vaidehi’s face lit up instantly, her eyes sparkling with pure excitement as she looked at both of her brothers.

“Love you bhaiyaa! Aap bohot ache ho!”

(Love you bhaiyaa! You are the best!)

She almost jumped from her place and hugged Vihaan tightly, unable to hide her happiness.

Vihaan smiled softly, patting her head with a warmth that only an elder brother could hold.

“Ek hi to behen hai… ab uske liye itna bhi na kare to bhai kaise.”

(She’s our only sister… if I don’t do this much for her, what kind of brother would I be.)

Dhruv watched them with a small smile, shaking his head lightly.

“Emotional mat ho jao ab dono…”

(Don’t get emotional now, both of you…)

Vaidehi pulled back, still smiling widely, her happiness clearly overflowing.

Vihaan glanced at his watch and sighed slightly, shifting back to his usual composed self.

“Achha, main office jaa raha hoon ab.”

(Alright, I’m heading to the office now.)

He picked up his keys from the table, moving toward the door.

“See you guys… enjoy.”

(See you guys… enjoy.)

“Bye bhaiyaa!”

(Bye bhaiyaa!)

Vaidehi waved cheerfully, while Dhruv gave a casual nod.

Vihaan smirked slightly at that and walked out.

***********************************

As soon as Vihaan sat in his car and started the engine, his expression shifted completely—from the warmth of home to a calm, focused, professional demeanor.

He picked up his phone and dialed his assistant’s number, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

“Hello sir, good morning.”

(Hello sir, good morning.)

“Haan, good morning. Jo new CA appoint karna hai uske interview ke liye candidates aaj hi aa rahe hain?”

(Yes, good morning. The candidates for the new CA position are coming today, right?)

There was a brief pause before the assistant replied.

“Ji sir, saare candidates scheduled hain. First interview 11 baje hai.”

(Yes sir, all candidates are scheduled. The first interview is at 11.)

Vihaan gave a slight nod, his grip steady on the steering wheel.

“Theek hai. Main time pe pahunch jaunga, sab ready rehna chahiye.”

(Alright. I’ll reach on time, everything should be ready.)

“Ji sir.”

(Yes sir.)

He ended the call and placed his phone aside, his focus now entirely on work.

The car moved smoothly through the traffic, and just like that, Vihaan had stepped into another part of his world—where emotions took a backseat, and responsibility took over.

The car moved steadily through the traffic when suddenly Vihaan’s eyes caught a figure standing by the roadside, waving slightly as if asking for help.

He slowed down instinctively, his brows narrowing a little as he noticed the urgency on her face.

For a second, he hesitated…

Then pressed the brakes.

The car came to a smooth stop beside her.

She immediately stepped closer to the window, slightly out of breath, clearly stressed.

“Meri car kharab ho gayi hai… aur mera interview hai, please aap help kar sakte hain? It’s very important for me.”

(My car has broken down… and I have an interview, can you please help me? It’s very important for me.)

Vihaan looked at her for a brief moment—taking in her anxious expression, the sincerity in her voice.

He glanced at his watch.

Time mattered.

But so did something else.

He unlocked the door.

“Baith jaiye.”

(Please sit.)

Relief instantly washed over her face.

“Thank you… thank you so much!”

(Thank you… thank you so much!)

She quickly got into the car, still trying to catch her breath.

Vihaan started the car again, merging back into the traffic smoothly.

“Kahan jaana hai?”

(Where do you need to go?)

She held her file tightly, still a little nervous but hopeful now.

“Agarwal Diamonds… interview ke liye jaa rahi hoon.”

(Agarwal Diamonds… I’m going there for an interview.)

For a split second—

Vihaan’s expression stilled.

But he didn’t say anything.

“Hmm.”

(Hmm.)

The car moved ahead…

***********************************

Chapter complete ✅

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