Prachi sat curled up on a chair in the guest room, her head leaning against the armrest, her features soft in the glow of the bedside lamp. She had drifted off in the middle of helping Namrata with some wedding arrangements, her exhaustion finally catching up with her.

Ranbir entered quietly, holding a blanket he had grabbed from the hall cupboard. His eyes softened as he saw her—her face so peaceful, yet lined with traces of the pain and struggles she tried so hard to hide.

He sighed, a mixture of love and guilt washing over him. She had borne so much, stayed so strong despite everything.

Ranbir (murmuring):

"Tum kyun itni ziddi ho, Prachi? Apne dard kisi se kyun nahi baat karti(Why are you so stubborn, Prachi? Why don't you talk about your pain to anyone?)"

Gently, he leaned down, carefully sliding one arm under her knees and the other around her back. She stirred slightly, her head falling onto his shoulder, but didn't wake up.

As he placed her onto the bed, her hand instinctively reached out, grabbing his shirt. Ranbir froze, unsure of whether to move or wait. Slowly, she shifted in her sleep, her head resting against his body.

For a moment, he was caught off guard. But then, as her breathing evened out again, he felt an ache in his chest—a bittersweet mix of tenderness and sadness. He brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, his fingers lingering for a moment.

Ranbir (softly, almost to himself):

"Tumhe aise dekh kar lagta hai ki main sab kuch sahi kar sakta hoon. Lekin sach yeh hai, Prachi... tumne jo sahaa hai, uska hissa bhi main samajh nahi sakta(Seeing you like this makes me feel like I can do everything right. But the truth is, Prachi... I can't even understand what you have endured.)" 

Her lips curved into a faint smile in her sleep, as though his presence brought her comfort even subconsciously. He couldn't help but smile, despite the heaviness in his heart. He begins to sing their favourite song, to give her comfort and to relive their memories for one last time, unsure if the future will unite them.

(Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon Sad Version- Dil Ke Vivah)

Chorus: Iss pyaar ko kya naam doon,

Tu hi toh hai mere sukoon.

Iss pyaar ko kya naam doon, kya naam doon,

Kya naam doon... kya naam doon...

(What name should I give to this love?

You are my peace.

What name should I give to this love, what name should I give to it,

What name should I give... What name should I give...)

Flashback to Second Chance: 

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.

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.

Verse 1: Jab se tu mujhse door gaya,

Har pal yeh dil toot gaya.

Dil ko samajhaya maine baar baar,

Par teri yaadon ka hai sab se zyada asar.

Meri har dua thi tere liye,

Par mujhse jhoot bola tu har khushi ke liye.

(Ever since you went away from me,

This heart broke every moment.

I explained to my heart again and again,

But your memories have the most impact.

My every wish was for you,

But you lied to me for every happiness.)

Chorus: Iss pyaar ko kya naam doon,

Tu hi toh hai mere sukoon.

Iss pyaar ko kya naam doon, kya naam doon,

Kya naam doon... kya naam doon...

(What name should I give to this love?

You are my peace.

What name should I give to this love, what name should I give to it,

What name should I give... What name should I give...)

Flashback to Nishpraan:

Ranbir (shouting, voice hoarse):

"Prachi! Tum thik ho? Kahan gayi thi tum(Prachi! Are you okay? Where were you?!)"

She stumbles forward, her legs unsteady, but she's trying to hold herself together. Her voice is weak, barely above a whisper, but she forces herself to speak as she looks at him, her eyes still wide with fear.

Prachi (shakily):

"Ranbir... main... main theek hoon(Ranbir... I'm... I'm fine.)"

She can see the worry etched on his face, the way he's looking at her, as if trying to figure out what happened. He pulls her into his arms, his hand brushing her hair, holding her as if he never wants to let go.

Verse 2: Teri awaaz ke bina,

Meri duniya hai khali,

Jab se tu gaya, sab kuch keh raha hai

Par kuch na samajh paaya hai.

Dard se guzarte hum,

Meri khushiyan, tujhse milti thi,

Par kyun yeh faasla, kabhi samajh na paaya.

(Without your voice,

My world is empty,

Since you left, everything has been saying

But could not understand anything.

We go through pain,

My happiness came from you,

But I could never understand why this distance.)

Flashback to Disagreement:

But Ranbir didn't respond. Instead, his gaze landed on Prachi, whose face was blank. She wasn't arguing. She wasn't stopping him. That silence stung more than any words could have.

Ranbir (mockingly, to Prachi): "Tumhe toh kuch kehna hai nahi, hai na, Prachi? Tumhe toh sirf sabki khushi chahiye. Toh yeh deal bhi sahi hai tumhare liye(You don't have anything to say, right, Prachi? You just want everyone's happiness. So this deal is also right for you.)"

Prachi swallowed hard but didn't look up.

Prachi (whispering): "Agar yeh faisla tumhari family ke liye sahi hai, toh main kaun hoon kuch bolne wali(If this decision is right for your family, then who am I to say anything?)" 

Chorus: Iss pyaar ko kya naam doon,

Tu hi toh hai mere sukoon.

Iss pyaar ko kya naam doon, kya naam doon,

Kya naam doon... kya naam doon...

(What name should I give to this love?

You are my peace.

What name should I give to this love, what name should I give to it,

What name should I give... What name should I give...)

Flashback to Truth About the Past:

Ranbir (gently, yet with authority): "Sun, Prachi... chahe jo ho, chahe Kunal jo kare, ya koi bhi... is duniya mein sirf ek hi insaan hai jo mujhe 'Baklu' bula sakta hai. Aur woh insaan tum ho. Aur sirf main woh ho jo tumhe 'Chikchiki' bula sakti ho. Aur kisi ko yeh haq nahi hai. Samjhi(Listen, Prachi... no matter what happens, no matter what Kunal does, or anyone else... there is only one person in this world who can call me 'Baklu'. And that person is you. And I am the only one who can call you 'Chikchiki'. And no one has this right. Got it?)" 

Prachi hesitates, her heart racing. She opens her mouth to speak, but Ranbir raises his hand, stopping her, his voice filled with an unshakable resolve.

Ranbir (with a soft but determined smile): "Koi bhi jang, koi bhi toofan, koi bhi aandhi, ya aag, ya waqt... kuch bhi, kuch bhi humari yeh baat tod nahi sakta, Prachi. Na abhi, na kal, aur na kabhi. Tum aur main... jo rishta hum dono ka hai, woh kabhi nahi tut sakta. Jitni der mein main zinda hoon, aur meri maut ke baad bhi(No war, no storm, no darkness, no fire, no time...nothing, no matter can break this thing of ours, Prachi. Not now, not tomorrow, and never. You and me... the relationship we both have can never be broken. As long as I am alive, and after my death too...)" 

Verse 3: Tum thi, toh tha main,

Meri rooh mein basi thi tum,

Jab se tu gayi, sab kuch chhuta hai.

Dil mein jo raaz the, woh tu samajh na paayi,

Tumse juda hokar, hum apne hi dard mein,

Ghar ki raah bhool gaye.

(You were there, I was there,

There was only you in my soul,

Since you left, everything has been lost.

You couldn't understand the secret that was in your heart,

Separated from you, we are in our own pain,

Forgot the way home.) 

Flashback to The Dinner Announcement 

Ranbir (softly, stepping closer): "Prachi... tumhe kuch nahi dikh raha hai? Tumhare liye yeh theek nahi hai. Tum khud ko nuqsan mat do(Prachi... can't you see anything? This is not good for you. Don't hurt yourself.)"

Prachi looks up at him, and for a moment, she sees something in his eyes — a mix of care, frustration, and tenderness. She sways as she stands up, almost losing her balance.

Prachi (mumbling): "Tumhe pata hai... Ranbir, tumne kabhi... kabhi kaha tha na... ki main sabse khoobsurat hoon... ab... ab main kaise lag rahi hoon(You know...Ranbir, you had sometimes said...that I am the most beautiful...now...how am I looking now?)"

 Ranbir (gently but firmly): "Prachi... yeh tumhara jawab nahi hai. Tum jo ho, woh tumhare dil ki khoobsurati hai... Tumhare chehre par jo roshni hai, woh tumhari jaan hai. Tumhe apne aap ko samajhna hoga(Prachi...this is not your answer. Whoever you are, that is the beauty of your heart... The light on your face, that is your life. You have to understand yourself.)"

He pulls her close to him, his arms around her for support, feeling her warmth seeping into him. Prachi's head rests against his chest, and she closes her eyes, almost as if she's finally letting go of all the tension she's been carrying.

Chorus: Iss pyaar ko kya naam doon,

Tu hi toh hai mere sukoon.

Iss pyaar ko kya naam doon, kya naam doon,

Kya naam doon... kya naam doon...

(What name should I give to this love?

You are my peace.

What name should I give to this love, what name should I give to it,

What name should I give... What name should I give...)

Flashback to Manipulation: 

Prachi (interrupting, tears streaming down):

"Nahi, Ranbir. Shayad tum samajh nahi rahe ho. Main ab thak chuki hoon... tumhare har faisle ko samajhne ki koshish karke. Tum shaadi ke liye ready the, Ranbir... but not with me. Tumne mujhe hamesha ek second choice banake rakha(No, Ranbir. Maybe you are not understanding. I'm tired now...of trying to understand your every decision. You are ready for marriage, Ranbir... but not with me. You always kept me as a second choice.)"

Her words left Ranbir stunned. He wanted to defend himself, to tell her she was wrong, but deep down, he knew she wasn't.

Prachi (whispering, broken):

"Mujhe samajhne ki zarurat nahi hai, Ranbir. Tum wahi karo jo tumhe karna hai. Main tumhe rokungi nahi... bilkul nahi(I don't need to understand, Ranbir. You do what you have to do. I won't stop you... not at all.)"

She walked past him, her shoulders stiff, leaving Ranbir standing there, grappling with the weight of his decisions and the pain he had unknowingly caused her.

Verse 4: Har raat bas teri kami mehsoos hoti hai,

Khud ko apne sapno mein kho dete hain,

Par sach kehna chahta hoon,

Meri duniya se tu door hai.

Phir bhi chaahunga tujhe,

Har pal, har lamha,

Chaand ke saath jeene ki tamanna abhi hai.

(Every night I just feel your absence,

lose yourself in your dreams,

But I want to tell the truth,

You are away from my world.

I still want you,

Every moment, every time,

I still wish to live with the moon.)

Flashback to Confrontation:

Ranbir hung his head, unable to meet her eyes.

Ranbir (quietly):

"Dhavani, main yeh sab karna nahi chahta tha. Par main kisi aur se pyaar karta hoon... Prachi (Dhavani, I did not want to do all this. But I love someone else...Prachi.)"

Chorus: Iss pyaar ko kya naam doon,

Tu hi toh hai mere sukoon.

Iss pyaar ko kya naam doon, kya naam doon,

Kya naam doon... kya naam doon...

(What name should I give to this love?

You are my peace.

What name should I give to this love, what name should I give to it,

What name should I give... What name should I give...)

As the minutes stretched on, he stayed there, afraid to move and disturb her. The warmth of her trust in that vulnerable moment filled him with a resolve.

Ranbir (whispering):

"Main tumhare liye sab kuch theek karunga, Prachi. Yeh wada hai(I will fix everything for you, Prachi. This is a promise.)" 

The room was silent except for the sound of her soft breathing and the faint rustle of the curtain as the breeze from the open window swept in. The scene was tender and bittersweet, a quiet promise unspoken, sealed in the solace of their shared silence.

Ranbir sat there for hours and kisses her hand, unwilling to let her go, cherishing the fleeting moment of peace in a storm they both knew was far from over.