Rai POV:

After dropping Rudy off at his office, I made my way to my own company, the weight of the morning pressing down on me. The air was thick with anticipation, and as I stepped into my cabin, the familiar scent of polished wood and lingering coffee greeted me.

I settled into my chair, determined to drown myself in work, hoping to escape the chaos that was my personal life.But just as I began to focus, the door burst open with a dramatic flair.

"Surprise!!" Preeti di exclaimed, her eyes sparkling like the sun breaking through storm clouds.

"Preeti di? You? Here?" I blinked in disbelief, my heart fluttering at the unexpected visit.

"Yes!! I come bearing good news!" she chimed, practically bouncing on her feet.

"Good news? Ahh please, come and sit! Why are you standing there like a whirlwind?" I gestured to the plush couch across from my desk.

As she flopped down, her excitement radiated around the room, momentarily lifting the heaviness in my heart.

"Mmhmm. Good news! Guess what?" she asked, her eyes wide with mischief.

I stared at her, a mix of confusion and anticipation swirling within me.

"Offo, how unromantic you are, Rai! Okay, so... the thing is... I'm getting married!!" she squealed, her voice ringing with joy.

The words took a moment to register, and I blinked at her, my mind racing to process what she had just said.

"What!? When? How did this happen?!"

She chuckled, her laughter infectious. "Well, my family found out about my relationship with Vidyut. At first, they didn't approve, but somehow, Vidyut managed to win them over! Can you believe it? I'm getting married!"

A wave of happiness washed over me as I watched her face light up with excitement. Preeti, my cousin sister, always filled the room with her bubbly personality and infectious energy. It was hard to believe that we had both grown up so fast—now she was embarking on a new adventure, one I had never thought would come so soon.

"Oh, by the way... I heard about the incident—Rudy's engagement, and Nisha... how could her family do that? They just killed his grandpa? I was utterly shocked when I heard," Preeti di exclaimed, her voice rising with a mixture of disbelief and concern.

"But honestly, I still don't know what happened between you and Rudy. It's really not nice, Rai. How did you both let this marriage happen? If there was a problem, you two should've talked about it instead of just moving on to someone else! You're both such dumb-asses!"Her mock-seriousness was almost comical, yet it pierced through the layers of my defenses like a sharp arrow aimed straight at my heart.

"Not again, Preeti di! I told you, there's nothing!" I protested, my voice rising defensively as I avoided her piercing gaze. It felt like daggers were stabbing at my conscience, forcing me to confront feelings I wasn't ready to face.

"Yeah, yeah, I know." She rolled her eyes, but the concern etched on her features was undeniable. I let out a heavy sigh, torn between gratitude for her fierce loyalty and a deep desire to escape the scrutiny that felt suffocating at times.

"Whatever. You're going to Singhaniya Palace with me this evening! This is final; you can't deny it. We will spend some quality time together!" she declared, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"Fine! Fine! I'll go. But let me work for a bit; otherwise, I can't go," I conceded, returning to my computer screen, trying to drown out the confusion swirling in my mind.

The prospect of an evening at the palace felt like a looming storm cloud, heavy with unspoken emotions.As I typed away, Preeti settled back on the couch, her phone in hand, chatting animatedly with her soon-to-be husband.

I glanced at her, and despite the turmoil in my heart, I couldn't help but smile. The happiness radiating from her was infectious, like sunlight breaking through the clouds after a long, dreary rain. She was truly in her element, blissfully unaware of the chaos that had become my life.

The minutes passed slowly, but Preeti di's laughter echoed through the room, a sweet reminder that life could still hold joy amid uncertainty. I watched her, a whirlwind of energy and excitement, and it struck me how different our worlds had become. She was moving forward, stepping into a new chapter filled with love and commitment, while I felt anchored in a past that refused to release me.

"Rai, you're going to love it at the palace when everyone will gather after so many days!" Preeti's voice snapped me back to the present, her enthusiasm radiating like a beacon.

"Yeah, I'm sure it'll be great," I replied absentmindedly, my fingers still tapping away at the keyboard, but my mind was elsewhere—lost in thoughts of Rudy and the engagement that had shattered many thing. I myself pushed him away that now I can't even go near him.

"Seriously, you need to let go of whatever is bothering you." Preeti urged gently, her tone softening as she leaned forward, concern etched on her face.

"You deserve to be happy too."Her words hung in the air, a lifeline thrown into the turbulent waters of my emotions. Maybe she was right. Maybe it was time to embrace the present and all its possibilities, even if that meant confronting the pain of the past head-on.

With a deep breath, I closed my laptop and turned to Preeti, my resolve strengthening. "Okay, let's do this. Let's go to the palace and celebrate. I'll try to be present, even if it's hard."

Preeti's face lit up with a radiant smile, and in that moment, I felt a flicker of hope ignite within me. Perhaps tonight would be a step towards healing, a chance to rediscover the joy that life still had to offer.

And as we prepared to leave, I couldn't help but feel that maybe, just maybe, there was still a path forward—a path that could lead to new beginnings, even amidst the shadows of the past.
                       (To be continued)
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