Phir mulakat hogi khabi✔️

chapter 17

Author's pov ...

“Explain!!!!!” Mahima asked sternly, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her sharp eyes fixed on her daughter.

Niyati glanced at her Naani, silently pleading for support, but Kalyani simply shrugged, subtly signaling her to face the situation on her own. Nakul, seated beside his grandmother, was unusually quiet, his curiosity piqued at the unexpected revelation of his sister’s love story.

“Mumaaa... actually...” Niyati began nervously, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her kurti, but Mahima’s cutting voice interrupted her.

“I only want the truth this time. No circling around, Niyati.”

Her mother’s tone held no room for games, and Niyati realized she could no longer hide what was in her heart. Taking a deep breath, she finally confessed.

“His name is Shaurya Thakur. He is a Captain in the Indian Army.”

A brief silence followed, thick and heavy.

“From how long this has been going on, Niyatii...” Mahima asked, her voice low but taut with tension.

“Around... two months,” Niyati murmured, eyes dropping to her lap in guilt and fear.

“Wow... and here I am looking for prospective grooms for my daughter while she already has someone in her life,” Mahima scoffed, her voice laced with disbelief and hurt. “Excellent, beta. I never knew my children would hide their feelings from me... would do things behind my back, fooling me...”

Niyati's heart clenched at her mother’s words. The disappointment in Mahima's eyes was harder to bear than any scolding.

“You were with him that night when you stayed out...” Mahima asked suddenly, her piercing eyes narrowing.

Niyati froze. Her throat felt dry, and her hands turned clammy. But she knew she couldn’t lie anymore.

“Yesss...” she whispered almost inaudibly.

Mahima shook her head in disbelief, a deep sigh escaping her lips.

“I gave you freedom thinking you were responsible enough... but you’ve let me down this time. How could you be this careless, Niyati? And since when did you start lying to us?”

Her mother’s angry words felt like lashes, each one cutting deeper than the last.

“I’m sorry, Mumma... but trust me, nothing like that happened between us. Shaurya isn’t that kind of man. He was even reluctant to give in to his feelings, knowing the demands of his profession. He’s a man of high values, Mumma. He was going to come home to meet you, but his parents arrived today, so the plan had to be postponed.”

Niyati’s voice cracked slightly, desperate for her mother to not misunderstand Shaurya, to not judge him harshly without knowing the real him.

But Mahima’s anger wasn’t just about rules or traditions—it was rooted in fear. The fear of seeing her daughter go through what she had once endured. The fear of watching her lose someone she loved.

“Niyati, you might not like it, but I am not at all in favor of this relationship. You better stay away from him.”

The firm declaration struck Niyati like a thunderbolt.

“Mumaa! I love him. I can’t even think about anyone else other than Shaurya. I know you’re angry right now, but please, for God’s sake, don’t say things like that. I can never give that place to anyone else... not in this lifetime at least.”

Tears brimmed in her eyes as she ran upstairs, her heart breaking under the weight of her mother’s rejection.

Mahima stood silently, her chest rising and falling with suppressed emotions. She wasn’t ready to let her daughter walk down a path that might lead to heartbreak.

Kalyani placed a hand on Mahima’s shoulder. “Mahima, I understand your concern, but it’s not right for you to dictate Niyati’s life just because of your fears.” Saying that, she walked to her room, leaving Mahima with her thoughts.

Nakul, still seated, struggled with his words. He knew his sister. And he had seen the light in her eyes every time she spoke about Shaurya. Deep inside, he felt Shaurya was a good man—someone who would protect and love Niyati truly.

Upstairs, Niyati leaned against the door of her room, her back sliding down until she sat on the floor. The tears she had held in now flowed freely. The mere thought of being away from Shaurya felt suffocating. In just two months, he had become the most significant part of her world.

His presence was her peace. His smile, her source of joy. And his love? It was everything she never knew she needed.

Never before had she felt this sense of completeness. With him, she didn’t just feel loved—she felt safe, seen, and cherished. The way he looked at her, like she was the only one who mattered. The way he remembered her tiniest preferences. The way he always gave in to her silly demands with that rare, teasing smile. It was magic.

Wiping her tears, she pulled out her phone. Her fingers hovered over his contact, tempted to call, to just hear his voice. But she stopped. He was probably busy with his parents. She didn’t want to stress him. He deserved happiness today, and she didn’t want to dampen that.

Her eyes fell on his photo. She gently touched the screen, her fingers lingering on his face.

“I love you...” she whispered, kissing the screen, her tears silently falling again.

Just then, her phone pinged. A message from Shaurya.

He had sent a photo—his parents smiling as they savored the food she had made.

"They really loved the food... you're successful in your attempt to impress your future in-laws ;)" he texted.

A soft smile broke on her tear-streaked face. Even from miles away, he knew how to lift her spirits. Her heart warmed at his words, and the ache lessened, even if just for a moment.

Meanwhile, Shaurya was caught up in family warmth. His father, a man of few compliments, had praised the cookies. His mother, equally impressed, was amazed at the variety of baked treats in the house. Proudly, Shaurya had told them about the famous bakery in Chamoli, only briefly mentioning Niyati as “a talented baker.”

He wasn’t hiding her... just waiting for the right moment. After their visit to Badrinath, he planned to introduce her properly.

He knew his parents would be thrilled. After all, they’d been nudging him toward marriage for a while now.

A fond smile appeared on his lips as he thought about her.

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