Namrata grinned mischievously, looking at both Ranbir and Prachi. "Ranbir bhaiya, Prachi jiji, ab dono upar jaake baithiye aur aapas mein baat kariye. First conversation toh hona hi chahiye na?"

Prachi hesitated, her hands twisting the edge of her saree, but Namrata nudged her gently. "Jiji, ab toh jaana hi padega. Main yahan sambhaal loongi sabko(Sister, now you will have to go. I will take care of everyone here.)"

Ranbir stood, his heart pounding a little harder than he'd like to admit. "Chalein, Prachi(Let's go, Prachi?)" he asked softly.

She nodded, her eyes lowered, and they made their way upstairs. The room Namrata had prepared was simple yet elegant, with a soft breeze drifting through the open windows. Prachi sat on the edge of a cushioned chair, her posture straight and formal, while Ranbir took a seat across from her, trying to seem casual but clearly nervous.

Ranbir broke the silence, "Toh... Namrata ne toh humein yahan bhej diya, ab baat shuru karein(So... Namrata sent us here, now let's start talking?)"

Author Esha: Haan aage badho(Yes go ahead.)😏

Prachi looked at him, her eyes steady. "Kijiye, baat shuru aap hi kijiye(Come on, start the conversation yourself.)"

He chuckled awkwardly. "Alright, toh sabse pehle... aapke hobbies kya hain(Okay, so first of all... what are your hobbies?)" 

Author Esha: Kya tum mujhse majak kar rahe ho? Pehla question typical hai(Are you kidding me? The first question is the typical one.) 😤

Prachi thought for a moment. "Mujhe bachchon ke saath samay bitaana pasand hai. Woh nirdosh hote hain aur unke saath rehkar insaan apne mann ki shuddhata ko mehsoos kar sakta hai(I like spending time with children. They are innocent and by being with them a person can feel the purity of his thoughts.)" 

Ranbir smiled. "Bachchon ke saath? That's sweet. Aur(With children? That's Sweet. And?)" 

"Main kitaabein padhna pasand karti hoon(I like reading books)," she replied with a small smile.

"Kaisi kitaabein(What kind of books?)" he asked, leaning forward, genuinely curious.

"Devotional aur itihasik. Tulsi Das ki 'Ramcharitmanas,' Kalidas ka 'Meghdoot,' aur Mahadevi Verma ki kavitaayein mujhe pasand hai. Aur Bharat ke purane sahitya, jaise 'Abhigyan Shakuntalam,' aur Vidyapati ki rachnaayein bhi. Adhyatmik kitaabein bhi

(Devotional and historical. I like Tulsi Das's 'Ramcharitmanas,' Kalidas's 'Meghdoot,' and Mahadevi Verma's poetry. And also the old literature of India, like 'Abhigyan Shakuntalam,' and Vidyapati's Rachnaayein. Academic books too.)" Her voice carried a quiet passion as she spoke.

Esha: Vah achchi tarah se educated hai yaar...main keval kuch ko hi jaanta hoon(She is well educated yaar...I only know a few.)😲

Ranbir blinked, slightly overwhelmed. "Wow... that's... deep. Main toh zyada popular culture ke cheezein pasand karta hoon. Movies like Titanic ya modern novels. Lekin, yeh sab jo aapne kaha, fascinating hai(Wow...this...is deep. I prefer things from popular culture. Movies or modern novels like Titanic. But, everything you said is fascinating.)" 

Prachi raised her eyebrows slightly. "Aapko yeh sab samajhne mein samay lagega. Bharat ke sahitya ka apna ek gehra arth hota hai(It will take time for you to understand all this. Indian literature has a deep meaning of its own.)" 

Ranbir nodded, adjusting his tie nervously. "Definitely. Toh, aapke sapne kya hain? Matlab, future mein aap kya karna chahti hain(Definitely. So, what are your dreams? Meaning, what do you want to do in the future?)" 

"Main chahti hoon ki ek samarpit patni aur maa banoon. Mujhe bachchon ka pyaar pasand hai, aur ek din main apne parivaar ke liye sab kuch karna chahti hoon(I want to be a devoted wife and mother. I love children, and one day I want to do everything for my family)," Prachi said earnestly, her sincerity shining through. "Aur mujhe America jaane ka mann hai. Maine suna hai wahan ke school aur hospitals kaafi ache hote hain(And I want to go to America. I have heard that the schools and hospitals there are very good.)" 

Ranbir tilted his head, surprised. "Wow... main toh hamesha sochta tha ki mujhe wahi rehna hai jahan mera kaam hai. Lekin aapke sapne impressive hain. Aapko America pasand hai(Wow... I always thought that I have to stay where my work is. But your dreams are impressive. Do you like America?)" 

Prachi nodded. "Haan, lekin Bharat meri jaan hai. Main America mein bas iss liye jaana chahti hoon kyunki wahan zyada sambhaavnaayein hoti hain(Yes, but India is my life. I want to go to America just because there are more opportunities there.)" 

He smiled. "Aap traditional hain, lekin sapne modern hain. Interesting combination(You are traditional, but your dreams are modern. Interesting combination.)" 

Prachi glanced at him curiously. "Aur aapke sapne? Kya aapko kabhi kisi ladki se prem hua hai(And your dreams? Have you ever been in love with a girl?)" 

Ranbir almost choked on air. "Kya?"

Esha: Aapake paas hai(Do you have any?)😟

She continued with a faint smile, "Main samajhti hoon ki aapke jaise logon ke saath toh pratidin saath ladkiyan hoti hongi. Aap toh film ke hero hain, na(I understand that people like you must be with girls every day. You are the hero of the film, right?)" 

Ranbir laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Haan, mera profession glamorous hai, lekin mera vishwas hai ki prem aur shaadi bhagwan ke yojana ke hisaab se hoti hai. Maine kabhi apni zindagi mein kisi ladki ke liye aise kuch nahi socha. Bas yeh tha ki ek din mera parivaar mere liye woh ladki chune jo bhagwan ne mere liye sochi ho (Yes, my profession is glamorous, but I believe that love and marriage happen as per God's plan. I have never thought so much about any girl in my life. It was just that one day I would choose that girl for my family that God had planned for me.)" 

Esha: Hayee! Mujhe bhi uske jaisa aadmi chaahiye(I want a man like him too!)"

Prachi's eyes softened slightly at his honesty. "Aap sach mein itne seedhe aur vishwas-yogya hain, jitne dikhte hain(Are you really as straightforward and trustworthy as you seem?)" 

He smiled, meeting her gaze for the first time. "Woh toh aapko samay ke saath pata chalega(You will come to know that with time.)" 

For a moment, there was a comfortable silence between them. Ranbir felt a strange sense of peace, while Prachi's apprehensions began to ease. They were as different as night and day, yet something about their conversation felt... natural.

And in that quiet exchange of words, a foundation of understanding began to build between two hearts destined to meet.

As their conversation concluded, Ranbir excused himself and stepped outside for a moment, feeling the cool breeze against his face. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his thoughts. Suddenly, a sneeze escaped him.

"Acchho!" The loud sound startled even him.

Inside, Prachi paused, hearing the noise. She peeked outside to see Ranbir standing near the garden, shivering slightly in the chilly Sheetgiri evening. A smile tugged at her lips. "Ranbir ji?" she called softly, stepping out.

Ranbir froze mid-sneeze, his embarrassment evident. He turned toward her, his cheeks flushing slightly. "Uh... main theek hoon(Uh... I'm fine)," he stammered, avoiding her gaze.

Prachi observed him for a moment, noticing how his jacket was slightly unbuttoned, and the cold wind seemed to have gotten to him. She folded her hands, her expression half-amused, half-concerned. "Aap thand mein kyun khade hain? Andar chaliye. Varna bimaar pad jayenge(Why are you standing in the cold? Let's go inside. Otherwise you will fall ill.)" 

Ranbir attempted a casual laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Nahi, nahi, main theek hoon. Bas... thodi fresh hawa lene aaya tha(No, no, I'm fine. Just... came to get some fresh air.)" 

Esha: Yeah right! 😬

Another sneeze interrupted him. "Acchho!"

Prachi giggled softly, her laughter like the sound of gentle chimes. "Aap toh sach mein thand kha rahe hain, Ranbir ji(You are really freezing, Ranbir ji)," she teased, stepping closer.

He looked up at her, and for a moment, the world seemed to pause. The way her dupatta lightly fluttered in the breeze, her soft laughter fading into a serene smile—it all felt surreal to him. He was completely lost in her.

"Ranbir ji," she repeated, snapping him out of his daze. "Aap yahan rukiye. Main jal laati hoon(You wait here. I will bring water.)" 

"Jal(Water?)" he asked, confused.

She smiled again, a little shyly. "Paani. Jal bolte hain usse(Water. We call it water(suddh hindi)." 

Before he could respond, she disappeared inside and returned moments later with a glass of water. "Lijiye, jal. Yeh aapko behtar mehsoos karayega(Take this, water. It will make you feel better.)" 

Ranbir hesitated, his fingers brushing hers slightly as he took the glass. His heart skipped a beat at the simple yet intimate gesture. "Dhanyavad, Prachi ji(Thank you, Prachi ji)," he said softly, his voice sincere.

Prachi nodded, her eyes softening as she watched him drink. "Aapka dhyan rakhna zaruri hai. Agar aap bimaar ho gaye toh aapko dekhne waale toh hazaaron hain, lekin(It is important to take care of you. If you get sick, there are thousands who will look after you, but...)"—she paused, her voice dropping to a tender whisper—"par aapka khud ka dhyan rakhna aapki zimmedaari hai(But it is your responsibility to take care of yourself.)" 

Esha: Awww! Tum apne hone wale pati ka bahut khayal rakhti hain(You care alot for your future husband.)🥰

Her words struck a chord in Ranbir's heart. It wasn't just care—it was genuine concern, something he hadn't felt in a long time. He placed the glass down and looked at her, his voice breaking slightly as he spoke. "Aap sach mein itni achhi kyun hain, Prachi ji(Why are you really so nice, Prachi ji?)" 

Prachi blinked, surprised by his question. "Achhi(Nice?)"

"Haan," Ranbir said, his gaze unwavering. "Aap ek simple si ladki hain, lekin aapka har shabd, har muskaan... woh ek dum alag hai. Aap... bas alag hain(You are a simple girl, but your every word, every smile... it is completely different. You... are just different.)"

Prachi lowered her eyes, her cheeks flushing a light pink. "Ranbir ji, aap bade hain, samajhdaar hain. Aise toh mat kahiye(Ranbir ji, you are big and wise. Don't say that like that.)" 

Ranbir smiled softly, watching her fidget nervously. Her humility, her simplicity—it was unlike anything he'd ever known. For the first time in years, he felt seen, not as a superstar but as just... Ranbir.

Prachi spoke again, her voice gentle. "Aap andar chaliye. Agar yahan aur ruke toh sach mein bimaar pad jayenge(You go inside. If we stay here any longer, we will really fall ill.)" 

Ranbir stood still for a moment, wanting to say something more, something meaningful. But instead, he simply nodded. "Haan, chaliye(Yes, let's go.)" 

As they walked back inside, Ranbir glanced at her one last time. There was something about her—a quiet strength, a genuine care—that tugged at his heart. He realized that, for the first time in his life, someone's laughter, someone's concern, someone's mere presence had the power to make him feel complete.

Hey lovelies! 🌸

How did you all like this chapter? I had so much fun writing the little nuances of Ranbir and Prachi's first real conversation. Their differences are so stark yet somehow complement each other perfectly, don't they? Ranbir's easygoing charm vs. Prachi's depth and quiet strength—honestly, it feels like two puzzle pieces slowly clicking into place.

I especially enjoyed writing the garden scene. 🥰 It's those small moments, like Prachi bringing water for Ranbir or him being completely mesmerized by her simplicity, that truly make my heart flutter. What about you? Did you feel their bond deepening too?

I can't wait to hear your thoughts—on their conversation, their dreams, or even Ranbir's little sneezes! 😂 Let me know what your favorite part was and what you're hoping to see next. And don't forget to tell me how you think Namrata's matchmaking is going. Is she doing a good job or what? 😏

As always, thank you for your love, support, and comments! Your words motivate me to keep weaving this story with as much heart as possible. 💕

Until next time, keep dreaming, keep smiling, and stay warm (unlike Ranbir)! 😉

Love,
Esha 💖