The air in Delhi felt different. The hum of the city outside his window wasn't as comforting as it usually was. Ranbir sat on the balcony, his phone in hand, glancing at the screen. It had been almost two days since they left Shetgiri, and yet, the thought of Prachi still lingered in his mind like a soft melody. He hadn't even realized how much he'd come to like her, and now... now he missed her.

"Ranbir, yaar," Kartik muttered to himself, scrolling through his phone absentmindedly. "Tu kya kar raha hai? Prachi ko call kyun nahi kiya(What are you doing, Ranbir? Why haven't you called Prachi?)" 

Ranbir, sitting in the sofa, was just as distracted. His eyes kept flickering to his phone, expecting a message that never came. "Arghh," Ranbir muttered under his breath, throwing himself back on the couch. "Maine Prachi ka number hi nahi liya! Kabhi socha nahi tha ki usse yeh galti ho jayegi(I didn't even get Prachi's number! Never thought I'd make such a mistake.)"

Esha:  Duniya ka sabase bada moorkh(World's biggest fool!)

"Bro, what's up? Why are you staring at your phone like that?" Kartik's voice broke his concentration as he walked into the room, holding his own phone.

"Yaar, main kya bataoon... Prachi ko call karna tha, lekin maine number hi nahi liya tha," Ranbir sighed, exasperated(Man, what should I say... I was supposed to call Prachi, but I didn't even take her number.)" 

Kartik shook his head, exasperated. "Yeh tu kaisa insaan hai, Ranbir? Aise kaise number nahi liya(What kind of person are you, Ranbir? How did you forget to take her number?)"

Ranbir ran his fingers through his hair, frustrated. "Main... main bas yeh nahi chahta tha ke koi aur impression bana. Prachi ko zyada clingy lagna nahi chahta tha(I... I just didn't want to make a wrong impression. I didn't want Prachi to think I'm too clingy.)" 

Kartik's expression softened. "Arre, tu bilkul ulta soch raha hai. Agar tum dono ko yeh relationship chahiye, toh thoda apne dil ki sun(You're thinking all wrong. If you both want this relationship, just listen to your heart.)" 

He paused for a moment and then smiled knowingly. "Koi baat nahi, tu dekh, hum kuch karenge. Maan le, maine uska number lene ki planning kar li thi. Tumhare liye, Ranbir(Don't worry, we'll figure this out. I had planned to get her number anyway. For you, Ranbir.)" 

Ranbir shot him a grateful look. "Tere jaise bhai kisne socha tha. Thanks, yaar(Who could've thought I'd have a brother like you. Thanks, man!)" 

Back in Shetgiri, Prachi sat on her bed, staring out the window. It had only been a couple of days, but she missed Ranbir terribly. Her heart felt heavy every time she thought of him. His smile, his respect for her, and the way he had treated her—everything made her feel safe in a way she had never felt before. But she couldn't just call him. She didn't even know how.

Namrata noticed the sadness in her sister's eyes. "Jiji, tum kaafi udaas lag rahi ho. Kuch toh batao na," Namrata asked, sitting beside Prachi(Sister, you look really sad. Tell me, what's going on?)" 

Prachi sighed, running her fingers through her hair. "Choti... Ranbir ji ko miss kar rahi hoon, par unse baat kaise karun? Number toh liya hi nahi(Little sister... I miss Ranbir, but how do I talk to him? I didn't even take his number.)" 

Namrata's eyes widened, and she gasped. "He Bhagwan, tum dono ki itni achi bonding thi, aur tumne number nahi liya(Oh my god, you two had such a great bonding, and you didn't take his number!)" 

Esha: Main jaanta hoon, hai na(I know right! These two)

"I know, I know..." Prachi muttered, feeling embarrassed. "Yeh sab galti se ho gaya. Main usse khud bhi message nahi bhej sakti(This all happened by mistake. I can't even message him myself.)" 

Namrata grinned mischievously. "Jiji, main ek kaam kar sakti hoon. Tum Instagram par usse search kar ke message bhej sakti ho. Tumne toh suna hoga uske Insta ke baare mein(Sister, I can help. You can search for him on Instagram and message him. You must have heard of his Insta, right?)" 

Prachi's eyes lit up. "Instagram! Kya yeh sach hai? Tumhe lagta hai wo wahan hoga(Instagram! Is this true? Do you think he'll be there?)"

Esha: Vah insta par kyon nahi honge yaar(Why would he not be on insta, man)

"Bilkul! Tum bhi try kar lo(Absolutely! You also try)," Namrata urged, pulling out her phone and helping Prachi search for Ranbir's profile.

A few taps later, they found him. Ranbir Kohli. The profile was sleek, with professional pictures, some candid shots with friends, and a few with his family. His bio was simple yet elegant:

"Living life the best way I can | Always chasing the dream 🏙️."

Namrata nudged Prachi. "Yeh lo, ab bhejo message(Here you go, now send him a message!)" 

Prachi took a deep breath and typed out a simple message in her signature Suddh Hindi:

"Ranbir ji, namaste. Mujhe pata nahi tha ki aap Instagram par hain. Main aap se baat karna chahti thi. Mujhe bahut khushi hui thi aap se milke. Umeed hai aapka din accha ho(Ranbir, hello. I didn't know you were on Instagram. I wanted to talk to you. I was really happy meeting you. I hope your day is going well.)" 

She hit send, her heart racing.

Meanwhile, Ranbir was sitting in the living room, his phone vibrating on the coffee table. He picked it up, seeing the message from Prachi pop up. His eyes widened, a smile spreading across his face as he quickly read it.

His fingers hovered over the screen as he typed back:

"Prachi ji, it's so good to hear from you. I'm glad we could connect. I was thinking about you too. Hope everything's going well in Shetgiri. 😊"

He hit send, and almost immediately, Prachi's phone buzzed. She opened it, her heart skipping a beat when she saw his reply.

"Ranbir ji ne jawab diya(Ranbir replied)," she whispered to herself, her face lighting up with a smile. 

Namrata looked at her sister, her face full of excitement. "Dekha? Tum dono ke beech kuch toh hai(See? There's something between you two.)"

Prachi smiled, but her heart was still uncertain. She had started to feel something for Ranbir, but what if this was all just a fleeting moment? Still, a small part of her couldn't help but hope. "Shayad(Maybe)," she said softly. "Shayad kuch ho sakta hai(Maybe something could happen.)" 

Ranbir sat back in his seat, looking at his phone screen, reading Prachi's message over and over. He could feel his heart race with excitement. "Prachi ji..." he murmured to himself, a soft smile on his face.

For the first time, he wasn't worried about the future. He wasn't worried about what would happen next. All he could think about was the connection he had with her, and how he couldn't wait to see where it would go.

Esha: Hayee!

2 weeks later:

The small room was bustling with energy as Namrata flipped through various outfits she had laid out on the bed. The two-week wait was finally over, and their family was preparing to visit the Kohli family in Delhi. But what Namrata was most excited about was giving her "jiji" a complete makeover.

Prachi sat on the edge of the bed, fidgeting nervously, her fingers tightly clutching her simple cotton saree. "Choti, mujhe toh yeh sab nahi karna hai. Main apne kapdon mein hi theek hoon. Jeans-waali toh kabhi nahi bani(Little sister, I don't want to do all this. I'm fine in my own clothes. I was never made for jeans.)" 

Namrata rolled her eyes dramatically, hands on her hips. "Jiji, aapko pata bhi hai Ranbir jiju Delhi mein kaise ladkiyon ke saath ghoomte honge? Woh sab fashionable hoti hain, heels pehenti hain, make-up karti hain(Sister, do you even know what kind of girls Ranbir brother-in-law hangs out with in Delhi? They're all fashionable, wearing heels and makeup!)"

Prachi frowned, her cheeks turning pink. "Par mujhe aise kapde pehan ke ajeeb lagega. Mujhe toh saree hi pehni achhi lagti hai(But I'll feel strange wearing such clothes. I feel more comfortable in sarees.)" 

Namrata let out an exaggerated sigh and grabbed a pair of jeans from the bed, holding them up in front of Prachi. "Jiji, agar aap aise jaayengi toh Ranbir jiju ko lagne lagega ki unhone galat ladki chuni hai. Kya aapko yeh pasand hoga ki woh koi fashionable ladki ke saath bhaag jaye(Sister, if you go like this, Ranbir brother-law might think he chose the wrong girl. Would you like it if he ran away with some fashionable girl?)" 

Prachi's eyes widened in horror. "Choti! Yeh kya bol rahi ho tum? Ranbir ji kabhi aisa nahi karenge(Little sister! What are you saying? Ranbir would never do that.)"

Esha: Awww! Is someone jealous!

Namrata smirked, knowing she'd struck a chord. "Pakka? Delhi ki ladkiyan toh Ranbir jiju jaise cool ladke ke aas paas hi ghoomti hain. Agar aapko unke liye achhi lagna hai, toh thoda makeover toh banta hai, jiji(Are you sure? Delhi girls hover around cool guys like Ranbir brother-in-law. If you want to look good for him, you need a little makeover, sister!)" 

Prachi bit her lip, still unsure. "Par yeh sab mere liye nahi hai, Choti. Main toh bas(But all this isn't for me, little sister. I'm just...)" 

Namrata cut her off, grabbing her shoulders and giving her a reassuring smile. "Jiji, bas ek baar meri baat maan lo. Main aapko itna sundar bana dungi ki Ranbir jiju aapko dekhte hi behosh ho jayenge(Sister, just listen to me this one time. I'll make you so beautiful that Ranbir brother-in-law will faint the moment he sees you.)"

Prachi let out a soft laugh, her nervousness melting away just a little. "Theek hai, Choti. Tumhare kehne par kar leti hoon (Fine, little sister. I'll do it because you're insisting.)"

Namrata got to work immediately. She pulled out a crop top and a pair of fitted jeans, holding them up triumphantly. "Pehle kapde. Phir make-up. Aur baad mein hairstyle. Aapka pura makeover hoga, jiji!" (First clothes. Then makeup. And finally, hairstyle. You're getting a complete makeover, jiji!)

Prachi hesitantly took the outfit and went to change. When she stepped out, the jeans and crop top clung to her frame in a way that made her feel exposed. 

"Choti, yeh toh bahut ajeeb lag raha hai(Little sister, this feels so strange)," Prachi mumbled, tugging at the hem of the crop top. 

Namrata clapped her hands excitedly. "Jiji, aap toh bilkul filmon ki heroine lag rahi ho! Abhi aur acha lagega jab make-up karenge(Sister, you look just like a movie heroine! You'll look even better after the makeup.)" 

She sat Prachi down in front of the mirror and began working on her face. A little foundation here, some eyeliner there, and a hint of lipstick to bring everything together. By the time she was done, Prachi barely recognized herself.

Prachi touched her face, her eyes wide. "Yeh main hoon(Is this me?)" 

Namrata grinned proudly. "Bilkul aap hi ho, jiji. Ab baal banate hain(Of course, it's you, jiji. Now let's do your hair.)" 

Namrata let Prachi's long, thick hair cascade down her shoulders, adding soft waves with a curling iron. She completed the look with a navy blue cap, and a pair of comfortable sneakers.

Esha: My God! Stunning! 

"Ab dekho apne aapko(Now look at yourself)," Namrata said, stepping aside. 

Prachi stood in front of the mirror, her reflection a vision of elegance and modernity. She still felt a little awkward but couldn't deny that Namrata had done a great job.

"Choti, sach mein thoda alag lag rahi hoon(Little sister, I really do look a little different)," Prachi admitted with a shy smile.

Namrata laughed. "Alag nahi, jiji. Sundar lag rahi ho. Aur dekhlena, Ranbir jiju ki nazar aap par se hategi hi nahi(Not different, sister. You look beautiful. And you'll see, Ranbir brother-in-law won't be able to take his eyes off you.)"

Prachi shook her head, still unsure but touched by her sister's enthusiasm. "Theek hai, Choti. Tumhari wajah se main yeh sab kar rahi hoon. Agar kuch galat hua toh tumhari zimmedaari hai(Fine, little sister. I'm doing this because of you. If anything goes wrong, it's your responsibility.)" 

Namrata winked. "Kuch galat nahi hoga, jiji. Bas dekhti jao(Nothing will go wrong, sister. Just wait and watch.)" 

Esha: Yes! Just wait and see! 

As they finished packing their bags, Prachi couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. This trip to Delhi was going to be very different from the last one, and somewhere deep down, she hoped Ranbir would notice the effort she was making for him.