Chapter 11

𝑯𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒐 𝒄𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔🎀

𝑰 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍..💓

𝑷𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔✨❤️ 🥀

𝑯𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚𝒚𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 ✨

✦·┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈·✦

"A-aa... aap?" Naina blinked rapidly, clearly startled by the unexpected presence before her.

"Jii" Ved replied with a soft smile, slowly removing his glasses, his gaze calm yet piercing.

He looked down at the delicate jhumka resting in his palm, turning it gently between his fingers "Waise ye kaafi pyaare lag rahe hai" he said thoughtfully, almost admiringly.

Naina's heart skipped a beat. She had been admiring those same earrings a few moments ago.

"A-actually s-sir... wo mujhe bhi acche lag rahe the" she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper. Her cheeks warmed with an unfamiliar emotion.

As Ved continued to examine the earring, a wave of doubt hit her “Ye yahan kya kar rahe hain? Kahin inki koi girlfriend to nahi?” The thought struck a chord she wasn’t prepared for. Her face fell slightly “Kya Naina... pehli baar kisi se pyar hua aur wo bhi shayad committed hai? Ye kya Bhagwan ji…”

She instinctively looked up at the sky, as if seeking an answer from the heavens.

Ved had noticed her silence "Miss Naina" he called gently.

No response.

"Miss Nainaa" he repeated, this time a little louder.

Snapping out of her thoughts, she flinched slightly "S-sorry... sorry sir" she stammered, her eyes lowering in embarrassment, fingers nervously fidgeting with the end of her dupatta.

“Actually mai apni behen ke sath aya tha’ he said while looking at Kaushiki’s direction.

“Haaasss… jaan mein jaan aayi!” Naina whispered to herself, letting out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding.

Toh ye sir apni girlfriend ke saath nahi… behen ke saath aaye hain! Relief bloomed in her chest, and an involuntary smile crept to her lips.

Just then, Kaushiki bounced over to them, her face lit up with excitement. She didn’t notice Naina at first.

“Oye dust daanav! Ye dekho, maine ye wale jhumke final kiye!” she said dramatically, holding it up like a trophy.

Naina couldn’t hold back her laughter. “Dust daanav?” she repeated in her mind, amused. Hearing someone call the usually serious Ved by such a nickname was refreshing.

Ved gave his sister a mock glare. "Kaushiki..." he warned lightly.

Hearing the unfamiliar voice, Kaushiki turned—and her eyes widened in recognition.

“Areeee Bh—I mean... Naina di!” she corrected herself quickly, grinning sheepishly “Aap yahan? Jhumke lene aayi ho?”

Naina smiled warmly, a gentle calm in her eyes “Hanji” she replied softly, nodding.

Kaushiki stepped closer, peeking at the display. “Achha taste hai di, waise... ye wale aap par bohot sundar lagenge,” she said with genuine admiration.

Ved watched the interaction silently, a small smile playing on his lips. Something about Naina's comfort around Kaushiki pleased him.

“Toh, jhumke select ho gaye?” he asked, looking at Naina.

“Almost,” she said, glancing back at the pair of earrings she liked, then back at Ved—eyes twinkling now that her doubt was gone.

_______________________________

_Next Day_

Lunchtime banter. The school ground buzzed with chatter, but in one corner, three boys sat on the grass — Aryan, Isharth, and Aryansh — sharing their tiffin and laughter.

Aryan chewed on his sandwich, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Bhai, woh tere bacchon ka kya hua?” he asked, deliberately locking eyes with Isharth.

Aryansh, who had just taken a big gulp from his water bottle, choked and instantly sprayed the water out in shock. “Bacche?! Kaunse bacche? Kiske bacche?” he sputtered, wiping his mouth and glancing back and forth between the two.

His eyes landed on Isharth, wide with mock-horror. “Bro... tune kuch bataya nahi!”

Isharth threw a glare at Aryan. “Abbe saale, kaunse bacche?” he snapped, leaning back on one hand, annoyance creeping into his tone. He turned to Aryansh, deadpan “Aur tu mujhe aise kyun dekh raha hai jaise mai jail se bhaga hua kaidi ho?”

“Kaun sa baccha? Main chacha ban gaya, bhai?” Aryansh asked dramatically, his eyes wide as he looked at Aryan.

Isharth shot him a death glare. “Abbe o jale hue tyre ke nashe karne wale insaan, chup ho ja!” he snapped, clearly annoyed.

Then he turned to Aryan, eyebrows arched and voice dripping with suspicion. “Aur tu, saale… bahut baccha-baccha kiye pada hai tu aajkal kahin tujhe sach mein bacche toh nahi chahiye, haan?”

Aryan just gave a lazy whistle, clearly unaffected.

“Pehle bacchon ki maa toh mile” Aryan muttered under his breath.

That did it—both Aryan and Aryansh burst into uncontrollable laughter, clutching their stomachs like they'd just heard the funniest joke of the year. Isharth just shook his head, trying (and failing) to suppress a grin.

________________

The soft hum of the air conditioner blended with the quiet ticking of the wall clock. Naina sat cross-legged in her revolving chair, her brows furrowed in concentration as she flipped through the dense file marked “Mehta Group – Joint Venture Proposal.” The table was neatly cluttered—highlighters, sticky notes, a coffee mug with “Boss Lady” printed on it, and her phone lying silently beside the laptop.

She made a few notes in the margin and was about to turn the page when her phone buzzed, lighting up with a new notification.

Casually, she reached for it. One glance at the screen—and she froze.

“Ye... ye sach hai?” she whispered, her voice barely audible, eyes glued to the name on her Instagram notification.

Her jaw dropped. Then came the scream.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!”

She shot up from her chair so fast it almost toppled behind her.

“Follow back mil gaya! FOLLOW BACK MIL GAYAAA!!” she squealed, spinning around the room like a whirlwind of joy. “Ved Mehta ne follow back diya!”

Clutching her phone like a precious trophy, she did a little victory dance right in the middle of her cabin. Her hair swirled with her movements as she twirled like a kid on a sugar rush.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you Bhagwan ji!” she beamed, looking up as if the heavens had personally granted her this blessing.

She rushed to the mirror near the coat stand and checked her reflection.

“Naina, you’re officially seen by Ved Mehta” she giggled, still not quite believing what just happened.

Her serious business mode had vanished, replaced with fangirl excitement as she hugged her phone to her chest.

Still giggling, Naina did another small twirl, hugging her phone to her chest then a shadow fell across the cabin floor. She paused, frowning slightly. Slowly, she turned her head toward the door—and froze.

There he stood.

Leaning casually against the doorframe of her cabin, his arms folded, one brow slightly raised, and a teasing smile playing on his lips. He wore a perfectly tailored charcoal grey suit, crisp white shirt underneath, and a classic black tie that accentuated his tall, commanding presence. His dark goggles reflected the soft cabin light, making it hard to see his eyes—but that smirk said it all.

Naina’s mouth parted in disbelief. Her phone slipped from her hands and landed softly on the carpet.

For a second, her brain failed to process reality. Was she dreaming? Was Ved Mehta—the Ved Mehta—actually standing at her door, watching her celebrate his follow back like a maniac?

Ved took a step forward, removing his sunglasses with an effortless flick and sliding them into his blazer pocket. His eyes—warm brown with a spark of amusement—met hers.

“I hope I didn’t interrupt the celebrations?” he said, his voice rich and velvety, laced with mischief.

Naina blinked, her cheeks heating up faster than a lit match. She tried to speak but only managed a squeaky, “Y-you… here?”

Ved chuckled softly, stepping further into the cabin. “Well, I guess we had a meeting at 2 p.m” He said, checking his watch.

She opened her mouth again, then shut it. Her brain had clearly checked out “Y-ye-yes sir”

Moments ago, she was thanking the universe. Now, the universe had walked in wearing formalwear and a killer smile.

__________________

The golden hue of the setting sun spilled through the large French windows, casting a warm, inviting glow over the elegantly furnished living room. The air buzzed with the comforting aroma of freshly brewed masala chai. Everyone was gathered on the plush couches—Kaushiki, Ved, Ashish, and Shobha engaged in light-hearted banter and evening chatter. Laughter rang out as Kaushiki teased Ved about something, and he shook his head with a grin, raising his teacup in mock defeat.

Just then, a knock echoed from the main door. The servant immediately stepped forward and opened it. Ved’s gaze shifted instinctively—and then froze.

His eyes lit up, widening in pleasant shock as he jumped to his feet.

“Vardaaaaan!” he shouted, his voice brimming with disbelief and excitement.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Ved rushed forward and enveloped the man at the door in a tight, brotherly hug.

“Saleeeeee! Kitneee dino baad!” he exclaimed, holding him even tighter as if to make up for the lost time.

Vardaan laughed heartily, patting Ved’s back just as firmly. Dressed in a well-fitted blazer and carrying the air of someone both brilliant and grounded.

“Aaiye aaiye Barrister Sahab!” Ashish called out cheerfully, setting his teacup down and rising to greet him. His tone was playful, filled with affection.

Vardaan entered with a warm smile, folding his hands in a humble greeting before stepping further into the room. Kaushiki stood as well, her expression curious but welcoming.

“Aur batao London se waapis aake sabse pehle humare yahaan?” Ashish teased.

“Aur kahan jaata Uncle ji? Dil toh yahin basa hai,” Vardaan replied with a chuckle, taking a seat beside Ved, who still hadn’t stopped grinning.

“Accha kiya beta” Shobha said warmly, her eyes glowing with pride.

Ved chuckled, nudging Vardaan playfully. “Ab to yeh mahanatma barrister ban gaya hai! Aur ab main bhi flex karunga ki bade bade logon ko jaanta hoon,” he added, bursting into laughter.

Vardaan turned toward Kaushiki with a teasing glint in his eyes. “Aur batao, koala bear... kya hal chaal?” he said, gently pinching her nose.

Kaushiki narrowed her eyes at Ved, a faint smile playing on her lips “Woh sab chhodiye. Pehle yeh batayiye—apko mera naam kisne bataya?”

Vardaan followed her gaze and immediately burst out laughing. “Haan haan, usne hi bataya hai!” he confessed, nodding toward Ved.

Both boys laughed while Kaushiki rolled her eyes, trying to hide her smile.

Soon, Vardaan sat beside her, genuinely curious “Toh, school kaisa chal raha hai? Kaunsa subject pasand hai? Aur future ka kya plan hai?”

Kaushiki, a bit surprised by his sudden seriousness, shared her goals, and they chatted for a while, lost in conversation.

Just then, Ved looked up from his phone and turned to Ashish “Papa Taneja group ke CEO Mr. Ranjan ji, ne humein apne ghar bulaya hai kal unke bete ka birthday hai... and he’s invited the whole family.”

Ashish paused for a moment, thoughtful. Then he nodded “Thik hai hum chalenge”

On the other side of the city, Naina stood in front of her mirror, holding up dress after dress with a dramatic sigh.

“Ohhooo, kya pehnu kal?” she muttered to herself, lifting a sleek black bodycon dress. She eyed it for a second and then quickly tossed it aside. “Nahi, nahi… ye zyada ho jayega. Accha hai, par nahi.”

Soon, her bed was buried under a pile of rejected outfits. She slumped onto it and groaned theatrically. “Mere paas to dhang ke kapde hi nahi hai!” she whined, fake-crying into a pillow. “Aur kal to Ved bhi aa raha hai… aise kapdon mein toh bilkul bhi achhi nahi lagungi uske saamne.”

She sat up and crossed her arms, pouting—until her eyes caught a glimpse of something at the back of her wardrobe. Curious, she walked over and pulled out a pastel-coloured Punjabi suit set, elegant in its simplicity.

“Umm... ye sahi rahega?” she held it up against herself in the mirror. A soft smile curved her lips. “Haan, ye toh pyara lag raha hai.”

Excitedly, she moved to her jewellery stand and opened her jhumka box. Her eyes scanned through until she picked a delicate pair with little pearl drops.

“Umm… ye wale jhumke perfect rahenge.”

She spun around once, beaming with excitement. “Done! Finally, sab kuch set ho gaya!”

Then she stepped onto her balcony, looking up at the sky with a dreamy gaze. “Kal Ved ke family wale aa rahe hain…” she whispered, her voice laced with hope. “Kaash… kaash kal hi meri mangni ki baat bhi ho jaye.”

She giggled, shaking her head at herself. “I know, I know… Bhagwan, kuch zyada hi delulu ho rahi hoon… par kehte hain na, delulu is the solulu… hihihihi.”

𝑺𝒐 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓??

𝑫𝒊𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 11?

𝑷𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒎𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 ✨❤️

𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒎 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒔.

𝑩𝒚𝒆𝒆𝒆𝒆𝒆𝒆!!

𝑻𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆 💖

𝑳𝒐𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 💕

~𝑵𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒙𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒔_