Phir mulakat hogi khabi✔️

chapter 4

Author pov......

It had been a month since she last met Shaurya.
And in that time, she had thought—overthought, in fact—about every word he had said. She tried her best to push thoughts of him aside.

He was right. Falling in love with an Army officer was a recipe for heartbreak.

Being an Army man's daughter herself, she was no stranger to the emotional whirlpools that came with such a life. She had always dreamt of something simple—something grounded. She didn’t want to live with the constant dread of loss again. That kind of fear, the kind that gnaws at your soul every time the phone rings unexpectedly, wasn't something she ever wanted to relive.

She had already lost once when her father left them for the country.

They were proud of him—no doubt about that—but the void his absence left behind still ached. Still echoed. And she didn’t want to invite that pain again.

So, she made a promise to herself—to stay away from the charming captain who had the uncanny ability to make her heart forget logic.

Meanwhile, Shaurya had immersed himself in his duties—overseeing border drills, supervising logistics, and managing a new road construction project vital for rapid military deployment in emergencies. He remained on his toes, inspecting upgraded airbases and engaging in tactical meetings. But no matter how occupied his days were, one name kept echoing in his mind—Niyati.

He would find himself pausing amidst the buzz of activity, wondering how she was.

Yet, he reminded himself it was better this way. Better to stay away.
His life came with no certainties. As a captain, he had already surrendered his tomorrows to the nation. Dragging someone into this unpredictable life felt selfish.

His family had been urging him to consider marriage, to settle down. But he had firmly turned them down every single time.

Because love, no matter how sweet, didn’t change fate.

But then again, life had its own blueprint. Unknown to them, destiny had already started interlacing their paths.

After all, the heart doesn’t follow logic. It doesn’t ask for permission. It beats, it craves, it remembers.

That evening, Akshay walked into Shaurya’s cabin and casually plopped onto the chair opposite him. Shaurya barely looked up before returning to the files in front of him.

“It’s already 5 o’clock, Captain sahab. Wrap up your work. I’m taking you somewhere special,” Akshay said, fiddling with the paperweight on the desk.

The title Captain sahab stirred something inside Shaurya. It reminded him of how Niyati used to address him—softly, teasingly. He glanced at Akshay, curiosity piqued.

“Special place?” he asked.

“A famous bakery in Chamoli. One of the finest in town. Let’s go—you’ll love it.” Akshay’s voice held excitement.

Shaurya instantly knew what he meant. A part of him had been craving this chance—to see her, even if from a distance. It would be less awkward, going with Akshay.

“Okay then,” he replied, standing up and locking away his files. “Let’s go to your special bakery.”

When they entered the cozy, fragrant bakery, something shifted in Shaurya. He felt her presence. As if the air itself whispered her name.

They took a seat, and moments later, the boy named Mohan—whom Niyati had once introduced—approached them to take their orders.

They settled on coffee, special muffins, and tea cake.

Back in the kitchen, Niyati was carefully baking a fresh batch of her signature cookies when Mohan walked in, a slight grin on his face.

“Didi… your Army friend is here,” he whispered teasingly.

Niyati froze, her heartbeat faltering at the sudden rush of memories. Her hands paused mid-motion, fingers still dusted in flour.

She didn’t even bother fixing her appearance. She rushed out of the kitchen, breath catching when her eyes found him.

There he was—Shaurya. Sitting there, looking around, unaware that her heart was waging a full-blown war inside her chest.

Their eyes met. The world dimmed for a heartbeat. Just him. Just her.

She had longed to see him again, tried to suppress that longing, but now that he was right there, she couldn’t hold back the smile tugging at her lips.

“Hiiiii,” she said enthusiastically, her voice laced with unspoken emotions.

“Hiii Niyati,” Akshay greeted warmly, smiling back as he was now a regular at her bakery. Shaurya gave her a small nod with a faint smile.

“Meet my friend Shaurya Thakur. I dragged him here today to your special bakery. So please… get him some of your special cookies too,” Akshay said with a grin, unaware of the connection already shared between the two.

Niyati’s smile faltered. So, he didn’t come here for me. Akshay forced him.
The realization sank deep. Her eyes dimmed just slightly, but it didn’t go unnoticed.

Shaurya cursed Akshay in his head. He could see how his words had unintentionally hurt her. And he couldn’t even say anything to explain, not here.

They sat quietly as Mohan returned with their order, including a plate of Niyati’s famous cookies.

Shaurya sipped the coffee, savoring the familiar taste. The same cookies she had gifted him a month ago—he remembered every bite. And now, guilt gnawed at him. He never meant to hurt her.

Excusing himself, he got up, pretending he needed to wash his hands, and walked toward the kitchen, drawn by the need to speak with her.

She was back at work, muttering something under her breath as she kneaded dough, her face streaked with flour. Loose strands of hair danced around her cheeks, adding to her natural charm.

Shaurya cleared his throat softly. She looked up—and then deliberately looked away, resuming her work as if he didn’t exist.

A smile tugged at Shaurya’s lips. Her silent protest felt adorably childish.

“Ummmh... Hi Niyati,” he began awkwardly. “I actually wanted to come earlier, but something urgent came up and I didn’t get the time to come here.”

He glanced around, hoping for a sign she was listening.

“But I must say, you serve very delicious cakes and coffee. And I’m not getting enough of your special cookies. I already finished the ones you gave me a month back.”

It was perhaps the most he’d spoken in one go, fumbling and rambling just to see her smile.

Even though he had been the one to pull away, he hadn’t wanted to hurt her like this.

“Ok… thank you so much. I’m glad you liked it,” she replied curtly, not meeting his eyes, brushing a lock of hair back using her shoulder.

Shaurya noticed the small gesture.

Without thinking, his hand reached out, gently tucking the rebellious strands behind her ear, his fingers lingering for a moment as he gazed into her eyes—soft, innocent, and brimming with unshed emotions.

In that quiet kitchen, time seemed to pause again.

And even though both had reasons to stay away, destiny had its own plans—stubborn, relentless, and already in motion.

Comments needed 😌......