The sun rises over the snow-covered mountains, casting a golden hue across the landscape. Prachi steps onto the terrace where Ranbir stands alone, leaning against the railing, his face etched with the pain of last night. She gathers her courage, her heart thudding in her chest as she approaches him.

Prachi: (softly, her voice trembling)

"Ranbir ji... mujhe maaf kar dijiye. Main aapse kuch zyada hi door chali gayi thi, lekin woh sirf mere dimaag ka dar tha. Mere dil ne kabhi nahi chaha ki aap itna dukhi ho(Ranbir ji... please forgive me. I distanced myself too much, but that was just my fear. My heart never wanted you to be so hurt.)"

Ranbir turns to look at her, his eyes guarded, but the flicker of hope is unmistakable. He doesn't respond immediately, his silence pressing down on her like a weight.

Esha: Please kuch bolo baklu(Please say something baklu)😭

Prachi: (stepping closer, her voice breaking with emotion)

"Mujhe pata hai maine aapka dil dukhaya hai. Lekin main yeh wada karti hoon, agle teen din mein main apne dil se saari baatein samajhne ki koshish karungi. Main aapko aur apne aap ko ek mauka dungi(I know I hurt you. But I promise, in the next three days, I will try to understand everything in my heart. I will give you and myself a chance.)"

Before Ranbir can react, Prachi steps forward and wraps her arms around him, hugging him tightly. He freezes at first, the shock of her action overwhelming him. Slowly, his hands rise to rest on her back, pulling her closer. The warmth of the embrace melts away some of the cold walls he had built overnight.

The soft, haunting melody of "O Re Piya" fills the air, perfectly encapsulating the emotions between them.

Esha: Their first embrace! 😘🤗

https://youtu.be/ySYHcfvrmyw

Prachi (thinking, her heart speaking):

"Udne laga kyun mann bawla re,

Aaya kahan se yeh hausla re..."

(Why has my heart begun to fly like a madman,

Where has this courage come from?)

Ranbir pulls back slightly, looking into her eyes. Her sincerity is clear, and for the first time since last night, his lips curve into a soft smile. Prachi blushes under his intense gaze, her own feelings surfacing faster than she anticipated.

"O re piya haaye, O re piya

O re piya haaye, O re piya

O re piya haaye, O re piya

(O beloved, oh beloved

O beloved, oh beloved

O beloved, oh beloved)

Ranbir: (gently, cupping her face)

"Prachi, tumhare maafi ka koi matlab tabhi hai, jab tum sach mein samjho ki tumhare aur mere beech jo hai, woh kya hai(Prachi, your apology only matters if you truly understand what lies between you and me.)"

Prachi: (smiling shyly)

"Issi liye toh, agle kuch din yeh samajhne ke liye maine socha hai(That's why, I've decided to spend the next few days understanding it.)"

Sargam plays softly in the background, intensifying their closeness.

"Ta na na re, ta na na re,

Sa ni dha ni sa re ga, ni sa re..."

(The melodic notes echo in the air, fast and vibrant like their racing hearts.)

Prachi steps back and holds out a small box, her cheeks glowing with a mix of nervousness and excitement. She opens it to reveal a delicate, handcrafted snow globe. Inside, there is a miniature scene of two figures standing in a snowy landscape under a streetlamp. The streetlamp glows faintly, symbolizing light in the darkest times.

Prachi: (softly, her voice filled with emotion)

"Yeh aapke liye hai, Ranbir ji. Yeh mere dil ki ek chhoti si tasveer hai. Mujhe nahi pata tha ki yeh perfect hai ya nahi, par main chahati thi ki yeh aapke saath rahe(This is for you, Ranbir ji. This is a small picture of my heart. I didn't know if it's perfect or not, but I wanted this to stay with you.)"

Esha: So beautiful! 😊

Ranbir looks at the snow globe, his heart swelling with emotion. He takes it from her, his fingers brushing against hers, sending a jolt of electricity between them.

Ranbir: (with a slight chuckle, his voice soft)

"Yeh perfect hai, Prachi. Bilkul tumhari tarah... aur tumhare jaisa kuch bhi kabhi imperfect nahi ho sakta(This is perfect, Prachi. Just like you... and nothing like you can ever be imperfect.)"

As they stand there, the tension between them dissipates, replaced by a growing warmth. Just then, their siblings walk in, catching the tender moment. Kartik and Namrata exchange a knowing look and nudge each other.

Kartik: (teasing)

"Ab samajh gaya ki itna drama kyun ho raha tha. Ranbir chote kaise maan gaya ab(Now I understand why all this drama was happening. How did Ranbir little brother agree now?)"

Namrata: (grinning)

"Drama nahi Kartik bhaiya, yeh love story ka first phase tha(Not drama, Kartik brother, this was the first phase of their love story!)"

Naira, wiping away tears of joy, walks forward and hugs Prachi tightly.

Naira: (excitedly)

"Prachi! Mujhe pata tha ki aapke dil mein kuch zaroor hai(Prachi! I knew there was something in your heart!)"

Prachi laughs, feeling her heart lighter. For the first time, she feels the courage to truly explore her feelings, even though the shadows of Kunal linger in her mind.

The family gathers in the beautifully decorated hotel ballroom, where the aroma of spiced cider and gingerbread fills the air. The soft crackle of a fireplace and the tinkling laughter of children create a festive ambiance. A local Irish music troupe begins playing a lively jig, the rhythmic beats echoing through the hall. Everyone is drawn to the energy, especially Ranbir, whose eyes immediately search for Prachi.

Ranbir: (grinning and walking toward Prachi, who is standing near the dessert table)

"Prachi, come dance with me. Dekho, itni energetic music hai... tumhe toh zaroor aana chahiye(Prachi, come dance with me. Look, the music is so energetic... you definitely need to join!)"

Prachi: (widening her eyes, shaking her head, and stepping back)

"Nahi, Ranbir ji! Mujhe toh yeh sab bilkul nahi aata. Aur aap jaante hai, main kaise girti rehti hoon(No, Ranbir ji! I don't know anything about this. And you know how I keep falling!)"

Ranbir: (playfully narrowing his eyes)

"Toh kya hua? Main hoon na tumhe sambhalne ke liye. Girne ka chance hi nahi milega(So what? I'm here to catch you. You won't even get a chance to fall!)"

Before she can protest further, Ranbir grabs her hand gently and leads her to the dance floor. The music picks up pace, and Ranbir effortlessly matches the rhythm, his feet moving skillfully. Prachi, on the other hand, struggles to keep up, her nervous laughter bubbling out.

Prachi: (trying to mimic his steps, completely flustered)

"Arre Ranbir ji, yeh kya kar rahe hai? Yeh toh mere bas ka bilkul nahi hai(Oh Ranbir ji, what are you doing? This is completely out of my league!)"

Ranbir: (teasing)

"Achha? Toh bas khadi raho aur mujhe dekho. Tumhari nervousness bhi dance karne lagegi (Really? Then just stand here and watch me. Even your nervousness will start dancing!)"

He twirls her suddenly, catching her by surprise, and she almost stumbles into him. He steadies her, his arms wrapped protectively around her waist. For a moment, their eyes lock, the music fading in their minds as they get lost in each other.

Ranbir: (softly, his voice tinged with humor and affection)

"Dekha? Main na bola tha, tumhe girne nahi dunga(See? I told you, I won't let you fall.)"

Esha: Hayeee!😍

Prachi: (blushing, looking away shyly)

"Aap toh hamesha baatein banate hai. Dance karte rahiye, mujhe chhodiye(You're always making excuses. Keep dancing and let me go!)"

Ranbir: (smirking)

"Chhod doon? Kabhi nahi(Let you go? Never.)"

The family notices Ranbir and Prachi in their moment and joins in, cheering loudly.

Kartik:

"Arre Ranbir, Prachi ko toh pura ek dum Irish dancer bana diya(Ranbir, you've turned Prachi into a proper Irish dancer!)"

Namrata: (laughing)

"Prachi jiji, aapke expressions dekh kar lagta hai, Ranbir jiju aapko zor zabardasti karwa rahe hai(Prachi sister, looking at your expressions, it seems Ranbir brother-in-law is forcing you to dance!)"

Babita:

"Hume bhi shamil karo! Yeh Ranbir aur Prachi ka exclusive performance nahi hai!(Include us too! This isn't an exclusive performance for Ranbir and Prachi!)"

The music reaches its crescendo, and everyone pairs up, dancing enthusiastically. Ranbir and Prachi find themselves laughing and enjoying despite her initial hesitation. Finally, the music slows, and the dancers begin to still. Ranbir and Prachi are left standing in the middle, their hands intertwined and their faces inches apart.

Ranbir: (whispering, looking into her eyes)

"Ab kya bologi, Prachi? Tumne yeh dance toh kamaal ka kiya(What will you say now, Prachi? You danced amazingly.)"

Prachi: (breathlessly, trying to look away)

"Mujhe toh bas aapne sambhala hai. Main toh aise hi gir jaati(You just kept me steady. I would've fallen otherwise.)"

Suddenly, the faint sound of a phone vibrating breaks their moment. Prachi instinctively steps back, adjusting her hair nervously. Namrata, standing nearby, notices Prachi's sudden change in demeanor. Prachi excuses herself, murmuring something about needing water. Namrata quietly follows her to check if everything is okay.

Prachi picks up her phone and sees the screen light up with a message: "Main tumhe chhodunga nahi, Prachi. Tum jahan bhi jaogi, main tumhare peeche hoon. – Kunal" 

(I won't leave you, Prachi. Wherever you go, I'll be right behind you. – Kunal).

Namrata: (horrified, reading over her shoulder)

"Jiji, yeh Kunal ka message hai? Yeh yahaan bhi tumhe tang kar raha hai(Sister, is this Kunal's message? He's bothering you even here?)"

Prachi: (panicked, putting her phone away quickly)

"Namrata, please kisi ko mat batana. Main iss trip ko kharaab nahi karna chahti. Main sambhal loongi(Namrata, please don't tell anyone. I don't want to ruin this trip. I'll handle it.)"

Namrata: (angrily, her voice trembling)

"Par Ranbir ji ko toh kuch batana chahiye. Woh aapke liye itna concern karte hai(But you should tell Ranbir ji. He's so concerned for you!)"

Prachi: (teary-eyed)

"Main unhe aur pareshan nahi karna chahti. Woh already mujhe lekar itne worried hai. Bas, tum samajhne ki koshish karo(I don't want to trouble him further. He's already so worried about me. Just try to understand.)"

Meanwhile, back in the ballroom, Ranbir feels something amiss. His protective instincts kick in, and he looks around for Prachi. Kartik and Naira notice his restlessness.

Kartik:

"Kya baat hai, Ranbir? Kahi Prachi ke peeche peeche toh nahi jaana(What's wrong, Ranbir? Are you planning to follow Prachi?)"

Naira: (teasing)

"Woh abhi ayi hogi. Tum yeh mat sochna ki woh tumse door jaane wali hai(She'll be back soon. Don't think she's going to stay away from you!)"

Ranbir: (forcing a smile)

"Bas aise hi. Tum log enjoy karo, main abhi aata hoon(Just like that. You guys enjoy, I'll be right back.)"

As Ranbir moves toward the hallway, a shadow of doubt looms over him, and he wonders why Prachi seems to be pulling away despite their growing closeness. Meanwhile, Prachi composes herself, hiding her fear of Kunal once again, as she walks back to the group with Namrata trailing behind.

The Irish jig resumes, but beneath the joyous laughter, a storm brews silently in Prachi's heart.

Prachi's heart skips a beat when she returns to the group and doesn't see Ranbir anywhere. She scans the room quickly, her anxiety bubbling up. Kartik notices her uneasy expression.

Kartik:

"Prachi, kya hua? Tum itni tension mein kyun ho(Prachi, what happened? Why are you so tense?)"

Prachi: (looking around frantically)

"Ranbir ji... woh yahan nahi hai. Aap logon ne dekha unhe? Unhone mujhe dhoondhne ke liye gaya tha, right(Ranbir ji... he's not here. Did anyone see him? He went looking for me, right?)"

Namrata: (stepping closer, trying to calm her)

"Jiji, relax. Woh zarur kisi kaam se gaye honge. Tumhe tension lene ki zarurat nahi hai(Sister, relax. He must have gone for something important. There's no need to worry.)"

Prachi: (shaking her head, tears forming in her eyes)

"Nahi, Namrata. Tum nahi samajh rahi ho. Agar kuch... agar kuch galat ho gaya toh? Agar Kunal(No, Namrata. You don't understand. What if... what if something bad happened? What if Kunal—)" she stops mid-sentence, realizing she said too much.

Esha: Prachi...calm down! 😣😥

Naira: (hugging her tightly, her voice soothing)

"Prachi, kuch nahi hoga. Tum abhi itna overthink mat karo. Ranbir safe hoga. Woh tumhare liye kuch le jaane gaya hoga (Prachi, nothing will happen. Don't overthink right now. Ranbir must've gone to get something for you.)"

Prachi: (pulling away slightly, her voice trembling)

"Naira di, aap samajhti kyun nahi? Mujhse kyun nahi sambhalta kuch bhi! Pehle rafting mein aur ab yeh... yeh sab meri wajah se ho raha hai(Naira sister, why don't you understand? Why can't I handle anything? First during rafting and now this... all this is happening because of me.)"

Kartik: (his voice firm, his protective instincts kicking in)

"Choti behen, tumhe iss halat mein dekhna mere liye bhi asaan nahi hai. Par mujhe pata hai Ranbir ko kuch nahi hoga. Tumhe uss par bharosa karna padega(Little sister, it's not easy for me to see you like this. But I know nothing will happen to Ranbir. You need to trust him.)"

Prachi: (breaking down)

"Mujhe nahi pata... bas mujhe unhe dekhna hai. Agar unhe kuch ho gaya toh main(I don't know... I just need to see him. If something happens to him, I...)"

Namrata: (taking her hands, her voice calm but determined)

"Jiji, Ranbir jiju tumhare liye itne strong hai. Woh sirf tumhare liye hi wapas aayenge. Tum darna band karo, samjhi(Sister, Ranbir brother-in-law is so strong for you. He'll come back just for you. Stop being scared, okay?)"

As Prachi continues to panic, the sound of the ballroom door opening catches everyone's attention. Ranbir walks in, holding a small velvet box in his hand. His hair is slightly ruffled from the cold, and his expression is calm, but he freezes when he sees Prachi's tear-streaked face.

Ranbir: (hurrying toward her)

"Prachi, tum ro kyun rahi ho? Main toh bas kuch lene gaya tha (Prachi, why are you crying? I just went to get something.)"

Prachi: (rushing toward him, unable to control her emotions)

"Ranbir ji! Aap kaha chale gaye the? Maine socha... maine socha ki aapko kuch ho gaya(Ranbir ji! Where did you go? I thought... I thought something happened to you!)"

Ranbir: (softly, placing his hands on her shoulders)

"Prachi, main sirf 15 minute ke liye gaya tha. Tumhe kuch sochne ki zarurat nahi thi. Main yahan hoon, bilkul safe aur tumhare paas(Prachi, I was gone for just 15 minutes. You didn't need to worry. I'm here, safe and with you.)"

Kartik: (teasing, but also relieved)

"Ranbir, tumne toh hum sabko hilaa diya. Tumhare jaane se Prachi ka toh pura panic mode on ho gaya(Ranbir, you shook us all. Prachi went into full panic mode because you left.)"

Ranbir: (looking at Prachi, his voice soft and teasing)

"Sach mein, Prachi? Tum itni tension le rahi thi mere liye (Really, Prachi? You were so worried for me?)"

Prachi: (embarrassed, trying to wipe her tears)

"Nahi... woh bas aise hi. Mujhe laga aap bina bataye chale gaye toh kuch... kuch galat na ho(No... it was just like that. I thought if you left without saying, something... something bad might happen.)"

Ranbir: (smiling warmly)

"Mujhe kuch nahi hoga, Prachi. Tumhari tension lene ka right toh sirf mera hai(Nothing will happen to me, Prachi. The right to worry is mine alone.)"

He opens the velvet box, revealing a stunning necklace with the word "Pranbir" delicately inscribed in gold. Everyone gasps softly at its beauty.

Ranbir: (holding the necklace out to her)

"Main yeh tumhare liye lene gaya tha. Woh din poora nahi tha, toh socha abhi perfect hoga. Tumhare aur mere naam ka ek hissa... hamesha ke liye(I went to get this for you. That day wasn't complete, so I thought now would be perfect. A piece of your name and mine... forever.)"

Prachi: (gazing at the necklace, her heart swelling with emotion)

"Yeh toh... bohot hi sundar hai. Aapko meri yaad mein yeh lene ki zarurat nahi thi, Ranbir ji(This is... so beautiful. You didn't have to get this for me, Ranbir ji.)"

Ranbir: (chuckling softly)

"Zarurat ka sawal hi nahi hai. Tumhare liye kuch karna hamesha ek khushi hai, Prachi(There's no question of necessity. Doing something for you is always a joy, Prachi.)"

Naira and Namrata exchange a knowing smile, while Kartik leans closer to whisper to Naira.

Kartik:

"Kya chal raha hai in dono ke beech? Yeh toh pura Christmas ka magic lag raha hai(What's going on between these two? This feels like complete Christmas magic.)"

Naira: (smiling)

"Bas, Kartik. Pyaar apna raasta dhundh hi leta hai(Stop, Kartik. Love always finds its way.)"

Ranbir gently clasps the necklace around Prachi's neck, his fingers brushing against her skin. She looks up at him, her eyes filled with gratitude and something more she can't yet name. The moment feels sacred, as if it's just the two of them in the world.

Ranbir: (softly, just for her)

"Ab yeh necklace yaad dilayega ki tum mujhe har moment mein apne paas rakhti ho. Chaahe door kyun na ho(Now this necklace will remind you that you keep me close every moment. Even if we're far apart.)"

Prachi: (tearing up, her voice trembling)

"Shukriya, Ranbir ji. Aap hamesha mere liye itna karte hai (Thank you, Ranbir ji. You always do so much for me.)"

The family erupts into applause, lightening the heavy emotions of the moment, but there's an unmistakable shift in the air between Ranbir and Prachi.