Pari and Varun arrived at the restaurant, his choice for what he called their first official date.
To her, Varun was still the friend she had always known, so she was happy to spend time with him—at least until she saw where he had brought her.
Her breath caught.
Standing before her was the grandeur of one of Ishaan’s hotels—magnificent, elegant, and breathtaking.
Her heart gave a nervous lurch. This was his world, his creation, his touch in every corner. She swallowed hard and forced a polite smile as Varun placed a guiding hand at the small of her back, leading her inside.
Her gaze roamed over the interiors, unable to deny the truth, Ishaan’s taste was impeccable. His hotels weren’t just popular, they were coveted by the elite, a symbol of luxury both in India and abroad.
They were escorted to the rooftop, adorned with twinkling lights and fragrant flowers, a scene pulled from a romance film.
Pari’s pulse quickened, the same way it always did when Ishaan was near.
Her instincts whispered to her—he’s here, somewhere, watching. Her body seemed to sense him before her mind could.
Varun pulled out her chair with a smile, and she sat, her eyes still scanning the space as if she might catch a glimpse of that familiar figure.
“I’m truly happy we’re a couple now, I can’t wait to marry you, Pari. I’m the luckiest man in the world.” Varun said warmly, leaning forward to take her hand.
She offered a soft smile but gently withdrew her hand.
“Varun, you know I’ve always seen you as a friend. When you proposed, I didn’t see a reason to say no. I thought, maybe we could be good partners. But I need you to understand that I need time. I agreed because you said you loved me, but in my heart, I still need to see you as more than a friend.
We’re very different, you and I. You love your coffee, I swear by hot chocolate. You’re an early riser, and I’m a creature of the night. You thrive on schedules, while I prefer going with the flow. I’m deeply involved in my dad and mamu’s business, now run by Ayaan—your work life is entirely different. We’re poles apart. And yes, they say opposite poles attract, but it takes more than that.”
She paused for a breath, her words hanging in the air between them.
Varun ran a hand through his hair, studying her.
“Are you saying you’re not happy about the engagement? Don’t you think you’ll fall in love with me someday?”
She poured wine into his glass before answering, her voice calm but certain.
“I’ve never been in love, Varun and the idea itself scares me. But when I marry, I want to be madly in love with that man. Now that we would be engaged, I want to try. I want to fall for you, but it won’t happen overnight. I need time to understand you, to understand us. Rey mamu was right—we need that time before we step into the final destination “
Varun chuckled softly at her honesty, though she wasn’t sure if it was out of amusement or discomfort.
” Final destination ? Seriously Pari ? you think your life would end up some tragedy if you fall in love ? “
Pari shook her head.
“I didn’t mean it like that, Love and marriage are the most beautiful feelings. I’ve seen it all my life—my parents, my Rey mamu and Vaishu aunty. It would be foolish to expect someone to love exactly as they do, but I don’t want to settle for anything less than a love that feels real. Maybe this is a testing phase for us, to see if we’re truly compatible, if we can live under the same roof and share a life as husband and wife. I hope you understand.” Pari said softly.
Varun nodded thoughtfully, taking a slow sip of his wine.
“How about this,” he said after a pause, “we move in together—try a live-in relationship. We could spend more time with each other and see if we work as a couple day-to-day.”
Pari let out a small laugh, picking up her glass.
“Tell me you’re joking. I just confessed I’ve never been in love and that I want to fall madly for the man I marry, and your solution is a live-in arrangement? Varun, I want this to work, I really do. I might be a modern girl from a billionaire and political family, but I value the principles my family raised me with. I won’t have a physical relationship before marriage, not even a kiss. If we’re set to marry, I hope you don’t mind waiting six months.”
Varun looked startled for a moment, but quickly masked it with a smile.
“I’ll wait, Pari, because I love you and I see my future with you.”
He served dinner onto her plate, and the conversation drifted into lighter topics, just like in their old friendship days.
Halfway through the evening, Varun’s phone buzzed. He excused himself to take the call, while Pari rose from her seat, drawn toward the soft glow of the rooftop decorations. She wandered between the flower arrangements, pausing by the glass wall . Her fingers brushed over the petals of the lilies, her favorite flower arranged in tall crystal vases.
She smiled faintly, but then a thought struck her. Her expression shifted.
Slowly, she lifted her gaze to the glass wall.
On the other side, Ishaan stood, watching her with that knowing smile. He could tell she had felt him there—why wouldn’t she? She always did. Over the years, he had witnessed the moment of recognition on her face, and tonight was no different.
“Deny it all you want, baby, but your heart knows it only ever wanted me. You’re my stubborn queen, you won’t admit it easily. That’s fine. I’m back to show you the world you belong to, the one you deserve. You won’t settle for anything less, my queen. That’s my promise… and Ishaan Rey never breaks a promise.” Ishaan’s voice was low and assured.
Ishaan, clearly captivated by her presence, stood rooted in place, watching her every move. The discreet AirPod linked to a hidden Bluetooth device in the vase on her table fed him every word of her conversation with Varun. She had just set her boundaries and to him, that only made his work easier.
Now, it was time to step in and show her what love truly felt like.
Pari lingered by the glass wall for a while, but when she could no longer see through the tinted glass, she returned to her table. Varun was still on his call, but a waiter arrived, carrying a silver platter of desserts.
She smiled politely—until her gaze landed on the centerpiece. Kulfi and honey cake.
As children, those had been their shared favorites, the indulgence her family always brought out whenever someone had a craving. They were hers. They were his.
The lilies. The kulfi. The honey cake. She didn’t need confirmation anymore—he was here. Watching.
“Where is your Chairman?” she asked suddenly, her tone calm but edged with suspicion.
The waiter, startled, bowed respectfully before replying. “Madam, I’m only a server. We usually have no knowledge of the Chairman’s schedule. But… I did hear the manager mention that he visited this morning and left for Paris. He was telling housekeeping to prepare his suite for cleaning.”
Pari hummed in response, her eyes unreadable, and the waiter took his leave.
From his hidden vantage point, Ishaan caught the man’s return and gave him a brief nod of acknowledgment before dismissing him with a flick of his hand.
Pari glanced at her watch, then at Varun, who was still glued to his phone. She couldn’t help but think of her father and Rey uncle—men who always left their mobiles at home whenever they took their wives on a date. She used to tease them for being hopeless romantics.
Now, she found herself wishing Varun had inherited a little of that trait.
Shaking her head, she watched him continue his conversation. Eventually, he caught her gaze, smiled, and casually served himself dessert—still talking into the phone.
When he finally ended the call, he leaned toward her with an apologetic smile.
“I’m so sorry, Pari. That was an important business matter I couldn’t avoid. By the way, did you order all these desserts? Looks like a whole platter.”
Pari took a bite of honey cake, dabbed her lips with the napkin, and rose from her seat.
“Thank you for the dinner, Varun. I think we should leave now.”
As she stood, Varun reached for her hand. Her eyes immediately flicked to their joined fingers.
“I hope holding hands isn’t a problem,” he said lightly. “Just… baby steps toward being a couple, right?”
Pari gave a small nod.
They stepped out together, but before crossing the exit, she glanced over her shoulder.
The moment the rooftop door closed, Ishaan emerged from behind the glass wall, his gaze fixed on the flowers she had touched minutes ago. He reached out, brushing his fingers over the same petals, before walking to the railing and watching Varun open the car door for her.
“Pretend all you want,” his voice was a quiet promise to the night, “but you won’t be able to hold back when I finally stand before you.”
He turned and headed back to his suite, already shifting his focus to work.
Meanwhile, at Rey’s manor, Reyansh and Mithun were in the study. Mithun’s eyes lingered on the grand portrait of their two families—everyone smiling, the children holding hands, inseparable in those days.
“Rey, I want Ishaan at the engagement, It’s time he came back.” Mithun said, still looking at the painting
Reyansh, half-buried in a file, didn’t even glance up. “Who’s stopping you?”
Mithun smiled faintly at the response, then snatched the file from his friend and tossed it onto the desk.
“You know he won’t come unless you call him back. Businessman or not, he’s still your muffin and our Ishu. He loves and respects us. Give him the chance to win his love.”
Leaning back in his plush chair, Reyansh smirked.
“I might be older now, but I’m still Reyansh Badrinath. I’m his father and your friend. You think I don’t know what he’s up to? He’s my blood. I know exactly what Rey’s blood would do.”
His eyes narrowed, just slightly.
“And you, my dear friend, I know you’ve been helping your soon-to-be son-in-law with his little moves. So stop pretending.”
Mithun chuckled, caught red-handed, his expression equal parts guilty and amused.
Reyansh picked up his phone and dialed his son’s number. Ishaan answered on the very first ring.
“Muffin… welcome back, son,” Reyansh said warmly.
“Love you, Dad.” Ishaan spoke with more love and affection.
Without another word, Reyansh ended the call, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. Mithun, unable to contain his excitement, pulled him into a quick hug before rushing out to spread the news.
In the dining hall, Vaishu, Ishika, Adhvika, and Ayaan were halfway through dinner when Mithun burst in and dropped into the seat beside Ishika. The moment he shared the news, the room erupted in delighted screams.
Vaishu, hearing Reyansh’s footsteps, ran to him and wrapped him in a tight embrace, tears welling up in her eyes.
“Stop crying, Avi. You know I can’t bear to see your tears. Some things in life are inevitable, especially when our children have grown. It’s time you forgive him. He has redeemed himself for his past actions. I know how much you’ve been hurting all these years, keeping him at a distance. Every time he steps into our home, he’s been yearning for your love and your forgiveness. He is our Ishu, and this is his one last chance to win his happiness. Don’t let him suffer any longer—he doesn’t deserve it. And neither does Pari.”
Vaishu bobbed her head, her fist clutching onto his shirt on his chest. Reyansh pressed a kiss to her forehead. Around them, their children exchanged warm smiles; they had always admired the deep bond their parents shared. With his arm snugly around Vaishu’s waist, Reyansh guided her to the table, and together they joined the family for dinner.
At the hotel, Ishaan was already in motion. He called his PA with crisp instructions to clear his schedule for the next several weeks. Returning to his penthouse, he headed straight to the walk-in closet.
A towel hung low around his hips, another in his hand as he ruffled the dampness from his hair. He reached for his nightwear, but his gaze froze on a small velvet box tucked neatly in the corner of the wardrobe—a box that had sat there, untouched, for years.
Lifting it with deliberate care, he opened the lid. Inside gleamed a custom platinum ring, its tiara design crowned with a flawless teardrop diamond—crafted for one woman, his woman.
His lips curved in a quiet vow.
“All these years… every moment will be worth it, when I finally put this on your finger. I believe this time, I would win both the important woman in my life “
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