Past:
Pari arrived at Rey’s manor for her summer holidays, just like every year. She adored spending time with her Reyansh uncle, Vaishu aunty, and their children—everyone except Ishaan, who hovered around her as though she were his favorite candy.
It wasn’t that Ishaan was rude. Quite the opposite—he was too much. Overly caring. Always sharing his favorite snacks, sweets, and even things he’d never share with anyone else. And all of it felt like some endless attempt to impress her. It all seemed to be sweet initially but with years it only annoyed her especially after the school incident.
The moment she stepped into the living room, Reyansh and Vaishu greeted her warmly. She plopped down between them, immediately enveloped in their familiar hugs.
“Our favorite darling is here, We should start planning this year’s vacation!” Reyansh declared with a grin.
“Of course, uncle, I’ll go meet my partners in crime first” Pari chirped, springing to her feet.
She rushed upstairs to the second floor, where Ishika, Adhvika, and Ayaan’s rooms were. Unfortunately, Ishaan’s room was on the same floor.
And just her luck, she bumped right into him.
“I was waiting for you, Pari, Finally, my exams are over. We’re going to make the most of this vacation. Where do you want to go this year?”, Ishaan said, smiling as though they hadn’t spent months apart.
Pari rolled her eyes and brushed past him without answering.
Unfazed, Ishaan hurried after her, walking beside her like an excited puppy. His heart thudded with joy at the thought of an entire month spent with his family and his Pari.
“Dad said I’ve changed a lot, I’ve been really good lately.”, he tried again, grinning.
Pari shot him a glance, then slipped into Ishika’s room and shut the door in his face.
Ishaan groaned, raking a frustrated hand through his hair. No matter what he did, she kept her distance.
” Why doesn’t she see that I really love her? I was stupid before, letting her see my temper, but that’s only because I care for her. Now she treats me like I’m some mafia guy. God… why does love have to be so damn complicated? ” he thought.
Sighing, he went back to his room to think of ways to win her over, especially to erase her fear of him.
He was sprawled on his bed when his phone pinged. Pari had posted a new photo on Instagram. Ishaan instantly liked it, his lips curling into a smile at her radiant grin. But his smile faded as he scrolled through the comments, some were disgusting, vulgar remarks about her being chubby.
A dark fury burned in his chest. He stormed out of his room and knocked hard on Ishika’s door. When she opened it, he walked straight in, planting himself in front of Pari.
“Do you even realize you’re still in school?” he demanded, his voice low but dangerous. “What’s the need to post pictures like this ? People can misuse them. Take them down, now. In fact, I’m telling mamu—you’re not using social media until you turn eighteen.”
Pari’s eyes widened at the fire in his gaze.
“Why do you care what I do? Stop meddling in my life” she snapped, tears spilling over.
The sight of her crying punched a hole in Ishaan’s chest. He sighed, trying to soften his tone.
“I’m sorry, Pari… but can’t you see I care about you? Social media isn’t safe. You’re only sixteen.”
He left before she could answer, pulling out his phone to call his Mithun mamu. He told him about the vulgar comments and pleaded for Pari to be kept away from social media for a few years.
That night, Pari’s dislike for Ishaan only deepened when her father confirmed the restriction. The rest of the summer turned into a disaster. She avoided Ishaan entirely, treating him like he was the human embodiment of a dangerous virus.
Present:
The living room of Mithun’s sprawling bungalow glowed under the soft shimmer of fairy lights and the fragrance of fresh flowers. Only close family and trusted relatives had been invited, Mithun had made certain that there would be no media presence tonight.
Varun’s parents sat in eager anticipation, their smiles fixed on the grand entrance. Their eyes darted to the door every time the guards moved, until it finally swung open to reveal Reyansh, walking in with his family. Vaishu glided beside him, elegant as ever. Even after all these years, they still looked like the ultimate power couple.
Reyansh joined Mithun on the plush couch, exchanging warm greetings, while Vaishu, Ishika, and Adhvika made their way to Pari’s room. Varun’s parents sat opposite Reyansh, engaging in polite conversation.
Inside Pari’s room, Vaishu took a seat beside Kajal. They quietly observed as the stylist added the final touches to Pari’s hair. Vaishu arched a brow at Kajal, silently asking about the subdued atmosphere. Kajal only shrugged. They both knew Pari was battling an inner storm—agreeing to Varun’s proposal had been far too sudden.
The quiet was broken when Ayaan appeared, knocking lightly on Pari’s head before announcing, “Mom, Kajal aunty—you’re wanted in the living room.”
Downstairs, Varun waited near the stage, looking sharp in a tailored black three‑piece suit. His impatience was obvious.
Then, the lights dimmed. A spotlight caught the top of the staircase, where Pari appeared in a pastel green lehenga, her jewelry catching the light like dewdrops. She looked every bit the angel her name promised. Slowly, she descended, the beam of light guiding her path. Conversations hushed.
But then—footsteps was heard. Slow, deliberate, echoing against the polished marble. Heads turned. And there he was.
Ishaan.
For the first time in years, Pari saw him, not as the reckless boy from school or college she remembered, but as a man who had stepped straight out of a business magazine. His suit, the shirt we wore a perfect match to her lehenga, wasn’t a coincidence.
Her heartbeat stuttered, palms growing cold. She clenched the fabric of her lehenga, but it did little to steady her. Ishaan’s stride matched her pace. He didn’t look at her, but she could feel him in her very bones.
He stopped beside Vaishu, the first woman whom he wanted to greet. He hesitated not sure if she was ready to forgive him. He was taken back by surprise when Vaishu hugged him. his tall frame engulfing her and silent tears escaped from his eyes which he quickly wiped if off.
” I m sorry mom “
Vaishu shook her head and pat his back and pulled back from the hug touching his cheek with love. He had missed her, she has missed her son all these years. Ishaan caught his mother’s hands and kissed her knuckles.
” I missed you ” Vaishu mumbled and Reyansh pat Ishaan’s back and gestured them to hold themselves. Ishaan and Vaishu understood, there were guest and they are not suppose to make anything obvious.
Pari, after greeting her father and Reyansh, tried to walk past Ishaan without looking at him. But her heel caught. She gasped—only to feel a warm hand steady her by the bare skin of her waist. The contact jolted through her like lightning. He let go almost instantly, as if it had never happened.
Before she could process it, Varun was at her side, holding her hand with a reassuring smile. Together, they stepped to the center of the room.
“Thank you, everyone, for joining us tonight to celebrate our princess and Varun,” Mithun announced, pride swelling in his voice. “Welcome to our family, Varun.”
Kajal appeared with a tray of petals and two small ring boxes. Varun wasted no time. Before Pari could even extend her hand, he took it himself and slid the ring onto her finger.
Applause erupted. Music swelled. But Pari barely heard any of it. The world narrowed to a single point—the weight of someone’s gaze on her. She didn’t need to look to know. Yet when she did, she found Ishaan, champagne flute in hand, sipping leisurely as though this was just another night. He didn’t look at her, but the tension in his grip on the glass betrayed him.
“Pari?” Varun’s voice pulled her back. She slipped the ring onto his finger, her movements stiff. He hugged her, and the parents blessed them. Guests lined up with their congratulations.
And then Ishaan approached.
“Congratulations to the lovely couple,” he said, his voice smooth, unreadable. Varun lit up at the words, but Pari only managed a small nod. Ishaan reached into his blazer, withdrew a gift box, handed it to her without another word, and walked away.
Reyansh turned, pulling his son into a strong embrace. Ishaan chuckled at the affection, feeling his father’s firm pat on his back. Ishika, Adhvika, and Ayaan swarmed him with excited hugs.
Soon, music shifted for the couple’s first dance. One by one, Mithun and Kajal, Reyansh and Vaishu, and other couples joined the floor. Ishaan set down his empty glass and stepped toward the dancers.
Pari’s breath caught, her grip tightening on Varun’s shoulder. But Ishaan passed her without a glance, stopping before Vaishu.
“May I have a dance with the most beautiful lady here?” he asked.
Reyansh laughed, glancing at his wife. “Do I need to step aside?”
“Come on, old man, Let me dance with my son, I have missed him so much and we deserve this “, Vaishu teased, nudging him. Reyansh smirked and offered her hand to Ishaan before stepping away.
As they danced, Vaishu looked up at him. “How are you, Ishu?”
He smiled. ” I’m Ishaan Rey. Do you think I’d have any reason not to be fine ? I have a loving family and an alpha father who’d destroy the world for me. I know you love me though we had be apart all these years, your blessings and love has kept me sane. Also your son is grown now, ready to take care of himself… and even the old man.”
Vaishu smacked his arm playfully for calling Reyansh old. Ishaan wiped the tears from her eyes and hugged her.
The party had long ended, leaving Mithun’s bungalow cloaked in an almost eerie silence. Only the muted sounds of servants moving about, clearing the last traces of the celebration, lingered in the air.
In her room, Pari had changed into her comfortable night shorts and a soft camisole. She sat cross‑legged on the bed, absently rotating the engagement ring on her finger. A heavy sigh escaped her lips, the tightness in her chest refusing to ease. She felt caged—like her heart had forgotten how to breathe.
Seeking air, she slipped downstairs, deciding to spend a few quiet moments in the balcony. As she passed through the room, her gaze briefly caught on the pile of gifts neatly arranged on a long table. She would normally ignore them, leaving her mother to sort them out in the morning. But tonight… one particular box made her pause.
It was the one Ishaan had handed to her.
Slowly she reached for it. The wrapping felt heavier than it looked, the ribbon smooth beneath her fingertips. She loosened it, peeled away the paper, and opened the box.
Her breath caught.
Inside lay the most exquisite bracelet she had ever seen, —a delicate band of platinum inlaid with diamonds, adorned with a crescent moon, a shimmering star, and a tiny angel charm. It wasn’t just beautiful—it was intimate. Personal. A piece that spoke in a language words could never carry.
Clutching it gently, she walked to the balcony and sank into the cushioned couch. She set the bracelet on the tea table before her, leaned her head back against the seat, and closed her eyes.
She should be happy, shouldn’t she? Ishaan wouldn’t be in her life anymore—not in the way he used to be. He would return to his family. She would marry Varun, her kind and soft‑spoken friend, unlike the brooding man whose temper could ignite without warning. By every logical measure, she should be relieved.
Yet… she felt it like grief. Like she was mourning a death—not of a person, but of her own heart. Her mind was replaying the scene of Ishaan and Pari.
” Why did they react like they met after years ? I m sure, Vaishu aunty had tears and looked too emotional. What happened to them or what am I missing ? “
Across the bungalow, on the road a car sat quietly parked. Inside, Ishaan watched her from the shadows for a while before he drove.
At Rey’s manor, Reyansh was in his study, a file in hand, when the door opened. His face softened into a smile as Ishaan stepped inside and collapsed onto the couch. Moments later, Vaishu entered, carrying two steaming mugs of hot chocolate—one for Reyansh and one for herself.
“Ishu,” Vaishu began, settling beside him, ” Please forgive me Ishu. I .. I .. couldn’t. Please don’t hate me. “
Ishaan placed his finger on her lips and shook his head.
” You had all rights to be mad at me and your actions were justifiable. I deserved that and I could never hate you maa. “
Vaishu hugged him and Reyansh watched their reunion sipping his hot chocolate.
” Ansh, we could have simply exposed Varun and his family to Pari. Why go through all this engagement drama? Once she knew their real intentions, she’d walk away on her own.”
Father and son exchanged a knowing smile and Reyansh sat beside Vaishu.
“Vaishu, this isn’t just about exposing him. This is Ishu’s last chance to prove his love and Pari’s last chance to understand what real love is. This is his battle to fight. We’ll let him fight it his way. And maybe we men enjoy toying with our enemy a little while we’re at it. Am I right, son?” Reyansh said, draping an arm over her shoulder, a glint of mischief touched his eyes.
“Of course, Dad,” Ishaan replied with quiet confidence.
Not wanting to intrude on their moment, Ishaan excused himself to his room, where he found his siblings waiting. Ayaan was already armed with the gaming console, Adhvika had queued up a movie, and Ishika was placing mugs of coffee and hot chocolate on the table.
They played, argued, and laughed late into the night. Eventually, Ayaan and Adhvika dozed off on Ishaan’s bed, while Ishika sat beside him on the floor.
“Pari isn’t happy,” she murmured, watching him carefully. “She’s at war with herself. She doesn’t love him, Ishu. Please… fight for her. Don’t give up. She’s an adult now, she’ll understand if you just explain that love and life don’t always happen the way we plan.”
A faint, pained smile curved his lips. “She won’t understand, Ishi. She needs to see it for herself… feel it for herself. Until then, all we can do is wait.”
When Ishika finally retired to her room, Ishaan stepped out onto his own balcony. Pulling out his phone, he unlocked it and lingered on a photograph of her.
His Pari.
************************
A/N:
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