Aarav took the cone of henna from the artist.

He adjusted it slightly in his fingers.

Then gently held Siya’s hand.

Carefully.

Like he was afraid to hurt her.

The first stroke of mehndi touched her skin.

Her heart started pounding faster.

She could feel his fingers lightly supporting her palm.

Around them, cousins giggled and whispered.

But their voices felt distant.

Kavita stood a little away, watching quietly.

Her eyes softened.

Her son — who used to avoid family functions, who only cared about work — was now sitting in the middle of celebration.

Smiling.

Trying.

Not out of obligation.

But because of his wife.

And not with pressure.

With patience.

With love.

Siya cleared her throat softly.

In a low voice she muttered,

“Don’t you have any other work always wandering around?”

Without looking up, he replied,

“Nothing is more important than you.”

Her breath hitched.

He added “And I want to do this myself.”

She looked at him.

He was focused.

Careful.

Serious about something as small as drawing mehndi on her hand.

“You are shameless,” she whispered.

He chuckled lightly.

“Yes. But only for my lovely wife.”

Her cheeks warmed instantly.

She tried to pull her hand slightly.But he didn't leave her hand.

She sighed and said “I can’t win against you.”

He paused for just a second.

Then looked up into her eyes.

“You’ve already won over me.”

The world felt still again.

She couldn’t look away.

And for the first time—

She didn’t immediately deny it.

Siya sighed softly and tried to pull her hand away again.

She said “How much time will you take?”

“Just a little,” he said calmly, not letting go.

He focused carefully, drawing clean, steady lines.

The design was simple.

Not overly intricate.

But elegant.

Balanced.

When he finally turned her palm toward her, she examined it.

She thought "it's nice" but said "it's actually good "

He raised an eyebrow. “Actually?”

She looked at him teasingly.

“How do you even know how to draw this?”siya said.

“I was good at drawing,” he replied casually.

“Oh,” she smirked looking at her mehndi. “A topper with drawing skills? Interesting.”

He smiled quietly.

She was still admiring the design when—

Very carefully—

He extended one last thin line.

Curved it softly.

And hid his letter.

A small “A”.

Blended perfectly into the pattern.

She didn’t notice.

After a moment he said,

“It’s done.”

“Finally,” she replied.

Paakhi leaned closer immediately.

“Ohhh, it’s pretty!”

Kavya added proudly,

“See? Don’t underestimate Bhai.”

Aarav just smiled.

Satisfied.

He stood up and walked away.

Paakhi’s eyes narrowed playfully as she examined the design more closely.

“Wait…”

She looked at Siya.

“Oh Bhai! He even hid his letter!”

Siya blinked.

“What?”

She looked down again.

This time carefully.

And there it was.

Subtle.

Clever.

Hidden in plain sight.

His “A”.

Her lips curved slowly.

“You just wait, Mr. Goenka,” she murmured under her breath.

Her eyes sparkled for the first time — not in defense.

But in challenge.

Siya was sitting on the edge of the bed when he walked in.

She looked up immediately.

“Aarav.”

“Yes?” he replied calmly.

She lifted her hand toward him.

“Why did you hide your letter?”

He pretended innocence.

“I didn’t.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“You did. And you even forced mehndi on my hand.”

He crossed his arms lightly.

“You agreed.”

She sighed in frustration.

“And your cousins? What am I supposed to do? They shout like I’m some celebrity.”

He smiled faintly.

“It’s not fair,” she continued. “I end up alone in all this.”

He stepped closer.

“You’re not alone. I’m with you.”

She shook her head instantly.

“No. You’re just trying to get closer to me.”

He looked at her.

Her tone hardened.

“Listen carefully. It’s an act.”

His expression changed.

“It’s not,” he said quietly. “You feel something.”

“No,” she replied firmly. “Never. I don’t feel anything for you.”

The words came too fast.

Too sharp.

“I just want to get out of here.”

“Why are you not accepting it?” he asked softly.

“Accept what?” she shot back. “There’s nothing to accept.”

He walked toward her.

Slowly.

Then sat down in front of her so their eyes were level.

Her heartbeat quickened but she didn't show it .

And so did her ego.

“I don’t need to prove anything,” she said defensively. “You know this is forced proximity.”

“Yes,” he agreed calmly.

“But feelings don’t care about proximity.”He said calmly.

She smirked, trying to regain control.

“See? This is what you do. You twist everything.”

He didn’t argue.

Didn’t raise his voice.

He just looked at her.

Long enough that her smirk slowly faded.

Because deep down—

She knew he wasn’t wrong.

And that scared her more than anything.

He looked at her for a long moment.

Then finally said it.

“I really like you Siya.”

There was no smirk this time.

No teasing.

Just honesty.

She stared at him.

And then—

She laughed.

“Oh really?”

Her tone was light.

Almost mocking.

“That’s a joke, right?”

His expression slowly hardened.

“Because before all this,” she continued, sitting straighter, “you couldn’t even stand me. You argued with me. You were irritated by me.”

Her voice sharpened.

“And now suddenly you like me? You save me from everything?”

She shook her head.

“I don’t need you.”

That sentence landed hard.

“I can fight alone.”

He froze.

Because she wasn’t wrong.

He had argued with her.

He had been harsh.

And now—

He didn’t even know when it changed.

She turned away from him.

“Whatever. I’m going to sleep. Tomorrow I have to continue the act too.”

Her words were like quiet knives.

“I’m tired.”

She lay down.

Turned her back toward him.

And closed her eyes.

He stood there.

Not moving.

Her every word echoed inside him.

She was right.

He had fought with her.

He had misunderstood her.

But somewhere between arguments and ego—

She had become the only one who could challenge him.

The only one who didn’t fear him.

The only one who stayed in his thoughts.

Even when he convinced himself he hated her.

He walked slowly to the balcony.

The night air was cold.

But not as cold as the space between them.

He leaned against the railing.

Trying to understand his own heart.

Because this wasn’t sudden.

It wasn’t impulse.

It wasn’t attraction.

It was something that had grown silently—

In arguments.

In glances.

In protecting her.

In worrying about her.

He closed his eyes.

And for the first time—

He wasn’t fighting her.

He was fighting himself.

The next day was the baraat.

The palace courtyard was decorated grandly.

Dhol beats echoed in the air.

Siya stood near the balcony for a moment before stepping down.

She was wearing a soft peach lehenga.

Her hair left open, flowing over her shoulders.

She looked beautiful.

But distracted.

Her eyes dropped to her phone again.

Everything is getting delayed…

And now the Mittals are targeting the Goenkas.

Her jaw tightened slightly.

How am I going to protect them without raising suspicion How?

She was lost in thought when Paakhi walked in.

“Bhabhi! Where is Bhai?”

Siya blinked and looked at her.

“I don’t know.”

Paakhi frowned slightly.

“I thought he would have told you.”

That small sentence hit harder than it should have.

Siya masked it instantly.

“It’s fine,” siya replied calmly.

Kavita entered.

“Mom, where is Bhai?” Paakhi asked again.

“He went to the office this morning,” Kavita said. “He said it was important.”

Siya’s fingers tightened slightly around her phone.

“Oh.”

It was subtle.

But noticeable.

For the first time—

He hadn’t informed her.

Usually, no matter how small the thing—

He would tell her.

I’m going.

I’ll be late.

Don’t wait . Even though she never noticed he always tell her.

But Today—

Nothing.

Kavita added, “He’ll come soon.”

Siya nodded lightly.

“Hmm.”

But something inside her shifted.

Last night siya told him it was an act.

Today he acted accordingly.

And for the first time—

The distance felt real.

Not dramatic.

Not loud.

Just… silent.