"Di, I know you had your reasons for telling me to hate the Shekhawats, even though our parents were culpable. But my feelings of intense loathing and blistering rage need time to heal."

Aditi gave a quick nod and let out a deep breath. She had anticipated her brother's reaction, but she was grateful he decided to talk it out with her instead of shutting down.

"I had to tell you the truth, Golu. I'm sorry," Aditi told him as she placed her hand gently on his shoulder for a moment before walking away, leaving him alone with his reflections.

****

"You're actually forgiving him?" Pranav asked, taken aback. Although Diya was pleased about the decision, he knew her better than anyone and had not foreseen this outcome. It was natural for him to wonder why she'd chosen to accept the apology when even she hadn't expected it.

"Had this been yesterday, I don't think I would have gone for this option."

She picked up a bite of the chaat that Pranav had bought to celebrate their decision and wolfed it down.

Pranav paused for a second and blinked his eyes quickly while attempting to decipher the words she had said.

He raised an eyebrow. "That sure is something," he said. Her mouth curved into a bittersweet smile. "He declared his love to me this morning. Di and Atharv had an argument yesterday because of their varying opinions related to the situation I was in, and I played them against one another. He was still believing my parents killed his for my sake. Despite all this, he didn't stop himself from professing his devotion."

Pranav nodded, seeing where her line of thinking was leading. "So," he said, "you figured if he can forgive and forget, why not you?"

"Partly, yes. I felt guilty for the wrong my parents had done to him. It changed a generous boy into an unforgiving adult. It was like it was up to me to make things right again. Plus..."

"And?"

She released the air she had been unconsciously retaining. "I wanted to live the love story I desired. The multitude of possibilities, the countless possibilities of a happily ever after—I wanted to know if they could become my reality, if presented with the opportunity."

Pranav smiled at his companion fondly. Underneath her solid exterior of logic and sass, there was a hopeful romantic who would quietly cry and contain her tears in those exciting books that she liked to read.

He scoffed, "I'm sure reality will be much better than whatever you can come up with. Now, how should I act when we see our parents? Should I look ecstatic like your friend or devastated and betrayed like a jilted lover?" He pretended to wipe away tears from his face as he put on the betrayed lover's role, making her roll her eyes.

"Must you always put on a show?" she questioned, her mouth forming a tight line.

Pranav chuckled. "You get some kind of amusement out of it! That's why we're still friends! It helps to break up your boredom!"

She lightly hit his arm in jest. "Do whatever makes you feel better, since this attitude isn't exactly making you any new fans! You can only impress people in your dreams!"

Pranav couldn't contain his laughter at her words. "Even though I lost, I still won the challenge. You found the love of your life before me, so you owe me a treat! I'm kind enough to let you choose the time and place, but you must pay up!"

As Diya remembered their deal, she groaned internally for being on the losing side and cursed Pranav's excellent memory. She attempted to argue for her case before giving in and fulfilling her end of the agreement. "That's hardly fair!"

"Leaving me single while you gallivant with your new fling is hardly fair, don't you think?" he teased. He crossed his arms over his chest and pretended to be angry, only to break out in a laugh shortly after. She was relieved to have him by her side, helping her resolve her issues once again, and he was glad to see her unburdened from the stress of the past few days.

****

He gave her a polite greeting. "Thanks for coming!" Diya frowned and narrowed her lips, suggesting that she was not a fan of formalities, except his tidy hairstyle, perhaps. He had passed the entire night without sleep; he could not stop picturing and imagining every possible thing that might take place during their meeting. In the midst of it all, a distant voice warned him of the disaster that his parents had once caused.

He had their picture taken out of his room, too distraught to look at the grinning images without asking himself a barrage of questions. How could they think of manipulating a sixteen-year-old and turning her into the daughter-in-law they wanted?

Grateful that Diya managed to dodge their schemes, he was relieved that her curious eyes, cheeky smile, and biting comments were still intact: it was these qualities that stole his heart in the first place. He couldn't even fathom what would have become of her if his parents had gotten their way.

Atharv chuckled as he realized his friend had been admiring his hairstyle. She blushed, her cheeks growing hot as he gave her a wink. He looked so laid-back and happy that she could hardly keep from grinning along with him. The joy on his face was infectious and the more time they spent together, the wider her smile became.

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and a cheeky smile spread across his face. "Do you want me to pull over, so you get a better look?"

The awkwardness of getting caught made her cheeks flush bright red and she let out an anxious giggle.

"Where are you taking me?" she asked, hoping to avoid the conversation he wanted to have.

Atharv shook his head in response, keeping her guessing. "It's a surprise. You'll find out soon enough. Now tell me: how did your parents react to this?"

Mentioning her parents wiped the smile off her face. She propped her elbow up on the armrest and rested her head in one hand as she gazed out at the skyscrapers of the city.

"They were far from pleased. Father accused me of having Stockholm Syndrome and mother assumed Iwas just blinded by infatuation. Neither of them wanted to accept the blame for what had occurred in the past. Justifications and excuses abounded."

He huffed in frustration as his fist clenched tightly around the steering wheel.

"Who would let their daughter go to the man who kidnapped her? If they had any doubts about me because of my parents, everything I've done is surely proving them right," he said in a shaky whisper. His conscience was punishing him with every word he spoke, and his usual confident demeanor had faded into the background. It seemed impossible for them to overcome this situation, and it was only dragging him deeper into an abyss of despair. But she offered unwavering love and support, giving him hope that things could still work out between them. She placed her hand gently on his wrist, and he felt the life pouring back into his body as if a dam had been opened inside of him. The grip of guilt around his heart loosened, allowing him to breathe again.

"A lot more than a few events define you, Atharv. My parents can't decide my path in life after they arranged my marriage at sixteen and hid it from me for ten years. But I understand that they were trying to correct what they had done wrong, and so are you. Maybe now they'll realize it."

She looked up at him with a warm and compassionate smile, thawing out the ice of remorse in his heart. He returned her smile and steered the car onto the right side of the road.

A suspenseful atmosphere hung in the car as they made their way along the winding roads, past lush fields and grandiose homes. Diya felt a strange recognition that she couldn't put her finger on. Then, all of a sudden, the car stopped in front of an enormous mansion. Her jaw dropped as she turned to Atharv, completely astonished.

"Where are we, Atharv? Are we going to meet someone?" Diya asked.

Atharv nodded his head. "Yes, your honorary brother has been eagerly waiting to meet you for years now. I thought it would be nice if I were the catalyst for this reunion."

Diya almost smacked her forehead at forgetting about their secret hideaway lanes they used to frequent when escaping from their families. Memories flooded back as she smiled widely and rushed out of the car, eager to plunge into them once more.

Watching her sprint towards the door filled him with joy. He had almost forgotten how much he loved seeing her smile, and it was worth any effort to make sure it stayed on her face. The feeling of being able to give her joy was enough to make him prioritize her happiness over his own.

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