"Darling!! Come meet Mrs. Iyer," Sathvik drawled, startling Devangana.

Devangana looked at him with wide eyes and an open mouth.

"What?" She asked in surprise, making Mrs. Iyer frown.

"Why does your fiance look as if she is informed about your engagement only now?" Mrs. Iyer asked.

"Fiance?" Devangana whispered in disbelief.

Sathvik cursed himself for being so impulsive. He turned towards Devangana, pleading with his eyes.

"Darling, I know we decided to keep it a secret until Mom and Dad come back from the trip. But Mrs. Iyer, here, wanted to meet you," Sathvik said.

Devangana didn't understand anything, other than the look of desperation in her boss's eyes. So she simply nodded at him and shot a nervous smile at the older woman in the cabin.

"So, how did you two actually meet?" Mrs. Iyer asked.

"It's an arranged marriage," Sathvik said.

"It's a love marriage," Devangana said at the same time.

Sathvik closed his eyes in dread.

"Love or arranged?" Mrs. Iyer asked.

Devangana chuckled nervously.

"Sathvik ji, why are you so shy? It's okay to tell everyone that we are having a love marriage," Devangana said.

"Where did you meet?" Mrs. Iyer asked, finding something fishy.

"It's a long story, ma'am," Devangana said.

"Tell me the simplified version," Mrs. Iyer said.

Devangana looked at Sathvik in panic. Sathvik mirrored her expression.

"Actually, we met during a train journey," Devangana said.

"A train?"

"Yes, Sathvik ji was heartbroken after his ex-girlfriend's marriage. He boarded a random train. And I happened to be on that train. Destiny! Right, Sathvik ji?" Devangana asked, looking at Sathvik.

"Yeah, yeah," Sathvik mumbled.

"How did the heartbroken Sathvik fall in love with you?" Mrs. Iyer asked.

"Oh, he was so depressed. And I kept on talking, trying to cheer him up. But he got annoyed with me. Then, at one station, I got down to buy a bottle of water. He had also gotten down at that station. I didn't realise that the train would only stop for two minutes there. I missed the train. Then some rogues started following me, and I ran to Sathvik ji for help. The next train was only after twelve hours. So we had to stay somewhere. During that time, we got to know each other and became friends. Slowly, we fell in love," Devangana narrated her supposed love story.

Sathvik closed his eyes in disbelief. He hoped to hell that Mrs. Iyer had not watched the Bollywood movie "Jab We Met." He remembered watching it with Priyanka long back.

"Okay. Are your parents happy with the marriage?" Mrs. Iyer asked.

"Yes, yes," Sathvik was the one to answer, not wanting Devangana to launch into another filmy story.

Mrs. Iyer looked at baby Muskaan playing with Devangana's chain.

"Well, in that case, I am relieved. I will proceed with the legalities. I will keep in touch with Mr. Bhosale. And yes, if something goes wrong from your side, Mr. Acharya, I will be forced to change my decision," Mrs. Iyer said.

Sathvik and Devangana, along with baby Muskaan, walked towards the cabin door with a polite smile, escorting Mrs. Iyer out.

"It was nice meeting you, Devangana. Hope you guys will get married soon," Mrs. Iyer said and walked away, leaving the employees on the floor looking at them in surprise.

"What have you done, Sathvik?" Harsh asked as soon as they were back in the cabin.

"Harsh uncle! You wanted me to pretend that I am engaged."

"Yes, but I didn't ask you to introduce her as your fiance."

"What was I supposed to do? She wanted to meet my fiance. Where was I to go and find one? Devangana walked in with Muskaan at that time, and I didn't think further."

"And that impulsive decision has complicated things."

"We could say we broke up," Sathvik said.

"She already looked suspicious at that filmy story Devangana narrated. The only solution is for you to get married now," Harsh said.

Devangana gasped.

"What is going on here? Who was that woman? Why was I introduced as your fiance?"

"I think you should explain it to her in detail, Sathvik. I will see you later." With that, Harsh walked out of the office.

"Down, down," Muskaan demanded as soon as the strangers went out.

Devangana set the little girl down carefully, who then waddled on her chubby little legs towards the Barbie doll she abandoned earlier.

Devangana smiled watching her. The baby is so adorable.

"Sit, Deva. This will take time," Sathvik mumbled.

Devangana sat on the couch, with Muskaan close by.

Sathvik took a seat next to her and told her about his sister and the jerk who married her for money, how his family is now plotting to get Muskaan's custody to get the properties in her name.

"They don't really want her. But they want Muskaan's inheritance," Sathvik said.

Muskaan, who heard her name, looked up at them.

"Mussy?" She asked, pointing at herself.

"Yes, Mussy," Sathvik smiled at her, and she went back to playing with the doll.

Sathvik walked towards his desk, opened a drawer, and came back with a small photo frame.

"This is Priyanka."

Devangana looked at the photo of a younger Sathvik with a girl who looks so similar to Muskaan.

Muskaan, who heard her momma's name, held onto Devangana's knees and stood up.

She saw the photo and squealed.

"Momma!" She squealed, patting on the photo.

Devangana picked the little girl into her lap.

"Mussy, momma," Muskaan again said, touching the photo.

Sathvik took in a shaky breath.

Devangana hugged the little girl closer, feeling anguished for the little one's loss.

"Momma, where?" Muskaan asked, and her chin trembled slightly.

"Mussy wants momma." The trembling turned into sobs.

Sathvik picked Muskaan in his arms and hugged her closer to his heart.

He gently walked to and fro in his cabin with a sobbing Muskaan, singing softly for her.

An exhausted Muskaan fell asleep in his arms, and Sathvik laid her in her baby basket.

"Poor baby," Devangana mumbled.

"They wouldn't love her, Deva. Not like I do. I can't let her go, Deva," Sathvik said.

Devangana looked at him helplessly.

Sathvik took her hand in his.

"I know I am asking too much of you. Nobody likes to take on someone else's kid. But I am desperate, Devangana."

"Sathvik ji..."

"Will you marry me, Devangana?"

Devangana gasped.

"Sathvik ji, what are you saying? Marriage is not a child's play. And I cannot make a decision alone like that. I belong to a conservative Indian family, Sathvik ji."

"I will talk to your parents, Devangana," Sathvik said desperately.

"But we don't know each other, Sathvik."

"Devangana, are you in love with anyone?" Sathvik asked.

"Of course not. My mommy will kill me," Devangana said, scandalised.

"So it would have been an arranged marriage for you anyway. You will be getting into a relationship not knowing anything about him. Why can't that be me?" Sathvik asked.

"I don't know. I don't know what to say, Sathvik," Devangana said, feeling confused.

"What is it that you want in life, Devangana? You must have some concepts about your future husband, right?"

"I never thought about that. I only wanted my husband to be someone who will support me in achieving my dreams," Devangana said.

"What are your dreams, Devangana?"

"I wanted to open my own bakery," Devangana said and explained the reason why she joined the job.

"I will open a bakery for you, Devangana. I will invest in your dream," Sathvik said enthusiastically.

Devangana smiled sadly.

"If I let you do that, how will I be different from Rajveer?" Devangana asked.

"Don't compare yourself with him, Devangana. He married Priyanka only for her money. You won't do that, right? If we get married, will you be able to love me and Muskaan, Devangana?" Sathvik asked.

"I... I don't know. I will try," Devangana mumbled.

"That's all that matters. Not all marriages start with love, Devangana. We have a lifetime together. We will get to know each other. We will go on dates. We will support each other. And eventually, we will fall in love," Sathvik said, and Devangana looked on doubtfully.

"Okay?" She said, which came out more like a question.

"My only request is that you treat Muskaan like your own."

"I will never mistreat a child, Sathvik ji," Devangana said.

"Thank you so much, Devangana," Sathvik said.

"Sathvik ji, please don't rush about it. I can't marry you if my parents do not agree," Devangana said.

"I will make them agree, Devangana. I will talk to them," Sathvik said, holding Devangana's hands in his.

The door of his cabin opened with a bang, and they both looked up to see Ishaan rushing inside. He stood shocked seeing Sathvik holding Devangana's hands.

Devangana quickly extricated her hands from Sathvik's hold and stood up, gulping.

"What the hell?" Ishaan asked in outrage.

A/n

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SF❤️