Ishaan and Pari arrived at the airport wearing masks and boarded his jet. Pari had no idea about the surprise he had planned for them. Once they were in the air, she unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to face him.
“Ishu, will you now tell me where you’re taking me?” she asked eagerly.
Ishaan shook his head playfully to tease her. She huffed in annoyance and tried to move to the other side of the cabin, but Ishaan caught her wrist and pulled her onto his lap. Wrapping his arms around her, he kissed her cheek.
“Patience, baby. It’s a place very familiar to you. We’re going there just to spend some time together,” he whispered.
Pari hummed softly and returned to her seat holding his arms, leaning over his shoulder. When they landed, she guessed he was taking her to their Ooty estate. They got into the car, and Ishaan raised the partition for privacy. Pari leaned against his shoulder for the rest of the ride.
The huge gates of the estate opened, and the car glided through the pathway before stopping at the porch. The manager rushed forward and opened the door for them. Ishaan stepped out first, then helped Pari down, holding her hand as they walked in together. Pari glanced around the bungalow, feeling a wave of nostalgia as old memories flooded her mind.
“It’s been such a long time since we visited here,” Pari said softly.
Ishaan suddenly scooped her up in his arms, carrying her bridal style as he ascended the steps. Pari giggled and looked at him when he walked past her room.
“Mister, Where are carrying me ? you were supposed to drop me in my room,” she teased.
Ishaan playfully bit her cheek, making her hiss.
“We’re here to spend quality time together. How do you expect that to happen if we stay in two different rooms? You’re staying in my room, no more discussions,” he said firmly.
Pari shook her head and pinched his cheek in mock protest. Ishaan dropped her gently on the bed and lay down, resting his head on her tummy.
“Let’s rest for a while. I have plans for us tonight,” he murmured.
They slept for a while, later had lunch, and spent the afternoon watching movies. In the evening, they went for a walk in the garden. Pari sat on the swing while Ishaan stood behind her, giving her gentle pushes.
“Appa made this swing for Amma. I’ve seen so many photos of them here, from the time he brought her for the first time. Ishi and I were toddlers then, crawling all over the garden. This place is very special to Amma,” he said, smiling at the memories.
Pari looked over her shoulder to meet his eyes, and he kissed her forehead as she leaned closer.
“You remember how we used to play here during weekends and vacations? I’ve always loved this garden. Rey uncle made it especially for Vaishu aunty. She used to share all those stories of them when they would visit here with us all as kids. My uncle is such a sweetheart… a true lover boy,” she said with a smile.
Ishaan’s chest swelled with pride hearing her praise his father, but he also wanted to impress his girl and he definitely had plans to do that. They shared more memories, laughing and reminiscing about the moments they had once spent there.
When they returned to the room, Ishaan slipped into the closet and came out with a bag in his hand.
“I bought this dress for you. Get ready, I’ll wait for you in the living room,” he said with a wink before walking out, knowing she would be flabbergasted once she saw the outfit.
Pari’s curiosity grew. After all, it was the very first gift he had ever given her after they had got back together. She shut the door and opened the box inside the bag. The moment her eyes fell on it, she froze. Her jaw dropped. It was the same wine-red gown Varun had once forbidden her from wearing. She picked it up, her palm brushing against the soft fabric. Beneath the gown, she found a folded note.
“To the most beautiful girl, who stole away my breath the moment she was born.”
Pari sat down on the bed, tears slipping from the corners of her eyes. Inside the bag were jewels and other accessories that completed the outfit. She quickly stepped into the washroom and took her time grooming herself, ensuring everything was perfect.
Finally, after what felt like forever, Pari stepped out dressed in the gown. She looked at herself once more in the mirror, blew a playful kiss at her reflection, and walked out of the room.
Ishaan was waiting for her. He was dressed in a sharp black suit with a wine-red pocket square that perfectly matched her gown. At the sound of her heels clicking against the floor, Ishaan turned around and his breath caught in his throat. She looked breathtaking.
He immediately stretched out his hand, and with a shy blush, Pari placed hers in his. Ishaan lifted it gently and kissed her knuckles, his eyes never leaving hers.
She was about to speak, but he placed a finger against her lips, stopping her.
“I know you have a lot of questions, and we’ll talk once we reach our destination. Not before I compliment your beauty the way you truly deserve.” he whispered brushing her cheek with his knuckles.
Pari nodded, her curiosity only deepening. Ishaan led her outside to the waiting car. He opened the door like a gentleman, and once they were both seated with their seatbelts buckled, Pari realized her heart was racing. She was beyond curious about what awaited her that night.
In less than 15 minutes, the car drove through a huge gate and Pari was so curious to look at the place. Ishaan opened the door for her. Ishaan got down and stretched out his hand to help her step out. He led her forward, and Pari looked around at the surroundings. There stood a simple yet beautiful cottage. Ishaan opened the door, and inside was a single bedroom with a small open kitchen and a medium-sized living room, with their photos all over the wall. It looked very cozy, and Ishaan watched the amusement in her eyes as she looked at the photos of them—from their toddler days to the latest one Ayaan had clicked when Ishaan carried her in bridal style at the hospital.
” Wow, Ishu this is amazing. Thank you so much ” Pari whispered looking at every photo.
Ishaan hugged her from behind and placed a smooth, gentle kiss on her shoulder blade.
“You have got this power to skip a beat of my heart every time I see you, and today my heart just forgot its duty to beat. I lost my senses for a while. You are gorgeous, Pari.”
Pari felt shy and turned around, burying her face in his chest. Smiling, Ishaan held her hand and led her to the terrace. Pari gasped and covered her mouth on seeing a beautiful romantic setup with flowers and fairy lights. She noticed a notebook with a satin ribbon tied around it and a pen placed beside it. She looked at him, and he gestured for her to open it.
Pari removed the ribbon and read the title: “The Silence Between Us.” She looked at him once more before opening the first page, and a tear immediately rolled down her cheek. The first photo showed a three-year-old Ishaan lying beside baby Pari, her tiny hand holding his little finger. Beneath it was written: “Beginning of a forever.”
Pari gulped, and as she flipped through, she found handwritten pages—small memories, fragments of their conversations, jokes, doodles, and little things only the two of them would understand. Their heated arguments, doodles of him hurting her, the day he left, recent pictures, caricatures of them—it was a journey of their lives across the years. She flipped to the next page and froze at the lines written there:
“The story is incomplete without you. Will you write the rest of it with me?”
She quickly turned around and saw Ishaan on one knee, holding a box in his hand with a beautiful ring inside.
“Pari, I know I’m not a perfect man and I have hurt you a lot. Fuck, I even know that you are such a kind angel and I don’t deserve you, but the heart wants what it wants. I have been craving your love ever since I saw you crawling in just a diaper. You deserve only the best, and definitely I’m not the best, but every day I will try to be a better man for you. I couldn’t leave you, Pari. I could never leave or give up on you—even when you hated me—because I know… I know that behind the hate was only a façade you wore to hide the love you felt for me. You had always loved me, Pari. I felt it every time you were jealous when I spoke to some other girl. Your hate was because you loved me more than I love you. Our love is true, and we are two perfect and imperfect people destined to be together. I love you, Pari. Be my girlfriend, marry me, and be the mother of our kids.” Ishaan proposed his love.
Pari, who had been biting her lips, knelt before him and crashed into his chest, sobbing.
“I love you, Ishu. I’m sorry for hurting you all these years. You didn’t deserve that, and I’ve been stupid, a fool to push you away. Please forgive me. We both are imperfect, but I’m the one with more flaws. Please forgive me. I love you, Ishaan. I love you. I love you so much.” Pari confessed, tears rolling down her cheeks.
Ishaan smiled through his tears. Cupping her face, he wiped her cheeks and kissed her forehead and eyes.
“Place your heart in my hands, and I will guard it like a prayer. Gift me your smile, and I will lay the world beneath your feet. But do not gift me your tears—for I will silence the sorrow that caused them, even if that sorrow is me.” Ishaan said looking into her eyes.
Pari smiled at his words, and Ishaan showed her the ring.
“Four years ago, I bought this diamond in an auction and had this ring customized for you. I waited patiently all these years, and every damn year was worth it,” Ishaan said as he picked the ring from the box.
Pari stretched out her hand, and Ishaan slid the ring onto her finger. He lifted her off the floor and twirled her around. At the same time, a helicopter flew over them, showering roses. Pari squealed and stretched out her hand, enjoying the most beautiful moment of her life. Ishaan turned on some music and asked her for a dance. As they swayed together, hundreds of lanterns floated into the sky. Pari’s eyes widened in surprise on seeing the beautiful sight of their most beautiful moment.
Ishaan cupped her face and kissed her, their lips moving in perfect sync. When they parted, Pari looked up at the sky, leaning against his chest. It was the most beautiful and perfect night.
They returned to the table, and Ishaan pulled out a chair for her. But before he could serve, Pari held his hand to stop him.
“Pari, I’m not running away. You will get all your answers today, but let me feed my baby first. I don’t want you starving.”
Pari agreed to his words, and they enjoyed the dinner before returning to the swing on the terrace. They sat facing each other on either end of the swing.
“Let’s get started.”
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