Siddharth couldn't help but feel a mix of annoyance and relief as he hung up with Jessica. He had been concerned about her well-being, but he couldn't deny that Vishal had a unique talent for getting on people's nerves.

As he shifted his phone away from his ear and returned his gaze to the screen, Siddharth wondered what had prompted Jessica's furious outburst. He couldn't fathom what Vishal might have done in her apartment to elicit such a reaction.

Before he could ponder it further, a familiar voice chimed in from the other end of the line. "Hello, Sidde!"

Siddharth's eyes widened in recognition. It was Vishal, the troublemaker himself. His friend's presence at Jessica's apartment was becoming more surreal with each passing moment.

"Come down right away, Vishal," Siddharth replied firmly, his patience wearing thin as he heard Vishal mumble something under his breath, including the phrases 'my sweetheart' and 'fuck you.' Vishal had a way of pushing Jessica's buttons, and it seemed he had struck a chord this time.

Siddharth then turned his attention back to Jessica on the phone, apologizing profusely for Vishal's behavior. Her response, however, was laced with dark humor. "It's fine, just help me bury his body next time."

Chuckling at her response, Siddharth replied, "Sure thing," before hanging up the call. He had a feeling that Jessica wasn't entirely serious, but he appreciated her good-natured banter.

Moments later, a loud banging echoed from his door, and Siddharth moved swiftly to answer it. There stood Vishal, one of his best friends, grinning from ear to ear, with his bag slung over his shoulder.

No matter how much Vishal irritated him to no end, Siddharth couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie and comfort in his presence. Vishal was the friend who always cheered him up when he needed it the most, even if he did it in the most exasperating way possible.

"Hey, there, sunshine," Vishal exclaimed dramatically, tossing his bag to the floor and opening his arms wide. Siddharth rolled his eyes but obliged with a manly hug, patting his back.

"You couldn't just come like a normal person, could you?" Siddharth remarked as he ushered Vishal inside and closed the door behind him.

Vishal sprawled out on the couch, his feet casually propped up on the table. "Where's the fun in that? Anyways, thanks for not picking up my call," he quipped with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Siddharth gave him a stern look. "I'm warning you, Vishal, don't bother Jessica. She's been through enough tonight."

Siddharth's attempt to warn Vishal about not bothering Jessica had been duly noted, but Vishal, in his usual cheeky manner, replied, "Warning taken, dad." He stretched, clearly exhausted, and requested that Siddharth help him with his luggage to the guest room.

As Vishal stood up, stifling a yawn, Siddharth couldn't help but feel conflicted. He knew Vishal well enough to anticipate his endless teasing and jokes about any girl he came into contact with. Revealing that there was a beautiful stranger sleeping in his guest room was something he wanted to avoid, at least until he could find out more about her.

So, Siddharth had to make a quick decision. He raised his voice to stop Vishal in his tracks. "No!"

Vishal turned around, his expression a mixture of curiosity and annoyance. "What?" he grumbled, clearly puzzled.

Siddharth weighed his options and then decided to share his room with Vishal. He had known Vishal long enough to predict that it would lead to endless banter, but it was still a better alternative to revealing the presence of the gorgeous stranger in the guest room.

"You've arrived after such a long time. You can sleep in my room," Siddharth suggested, fully aware of the playful ribbing that would follow.

Vishal, always one to seize an opportunity for humor, feigned exaggerated surprise. "Oh, my goodness! Sunshine, I had no idea you cared so much about me," he said, wiping away imaginary tears with a dramatic flair.

Siddharth rolled his eyes, muttering a warning not to call him "sunshine," and led Vishal to his room, hoping that this arrangement would keep his best friend occupied and away from prying into the matters of the guest room.

As Vishal headed to the bathroom to freshen up, Siddharth seized a moment to check on the mysterious guest. He tip-toed to the slightly ajar guest room door, peering inside. There she was, sleeping soundly, her grip on the sheets gentle but determined, her features relaxed in slumber.

Siddharth couldn't help but smile as he watched her for a moment. He found himself intrigued by this stranger who had entered his life so unexpectedly. With a final glance, he quietly closed the door and retreated to his own room, leaving her to her peaceful sleep, while Vishal prepared for his teasing and Siddharth prepared for a night of laughter and banter with his boisterous friend.

As Siddharth settled beside Vishal on the bed, he couldn't have anticipated the news that his best friend was about to share. It was a family matter, something related to his elder brother Abhishek's roka ceremony, and it immediately piqued Siddharth's interest, especially given his family's recent refusal to answer his calls.

Vishal began to recount the sequence of events that had unfolded during Abhishek's ceremony, and as Siddharth listened, his brows furrowed in concern and frustration. It turned out that his younger brother Bhavesh had made a terrible mistake during the ceremony, and Vishal explained that it wasn't entirely his fault because someone had spiked his drink, leaving him unaware of his actions.

Siddharth was livid. He couldn't comprehend how his own brother, regardless of the circumstances, could act so recklessly. "How could he do that, whether he was conscious or not?" Siddharth muttered angrily.

Vishal continued his narration, informing Siddharth that despite the apology, the elders had decided to go through with the marriage. According to Vishal, a large number of people had witnessed the ceremony and believed that the couple was now married.

Siddharth couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Bullshit," he exclaimed. "Taking pheras around a bonfire and filling the partition with blood is not the way to get married. This may happen in movies, but marriage is a holy connection in real life. In the presence of a pandit, you take pheras around a holy fire!"

Vishal sighed, understanding Siddharth's anger but feeling helpless himself. "Everyone tried to reason with them, but Dadi and Avneet's mother are adamant. They're concerned about Avneet and Bhavesh's image and they think that marriage is the solution," he explained.

Siddharth was outraged by the absurdity of the situation. "This is completely ridiculous. It's a mistake. And, more importantly, did anyone ask Bhavesh and that girl?"

Vishal's response was grim. "They don't know yet. Your parents are too angry with Bhavesh to question him, and that girl is clueless."

Siddharth couldn't believe what he was hearing. "And they fixed the marriage?" he asked incredulously.

Vishal reluctantly nodded. "That's not all," he mumbled, anticipating Siddharth's reaction.

Siddharth, still seething with frustration, demanded, "Is there anything else?"

Vishal hesitated before delivering the final blow. "They fixed your marriage with Avneet's sister."

Siddharth's world seemed to crumble around him. He leaped to his feet, staring at Vishal with disbelief and anger, although his ire was truly directed at his parents for making decisions without consulting him.

"What the hell is going on?" Siddharth exclaimed, feeling a surge of emotions. His life had suddenly spiraled into a chaotic mess.

Vishal, understanding Siddharth's predicament, explained the situation further. "At home, things are not going well. Avneet's father was enraged and was about to file a complaint against Bhavesh, but he was calmed by your father. Then Dadi proposed this solution: she asked for both of their daughters' hands in marriage, and Avneet's mother agreed. We have no say in the matter."

Siddharth let out a heavy sigh. He felt trapped in a situation not of his making. What could he do now? It was his brother's mistake, intentional or not, and he was the one who would have to pay the price. Now, he was bound by familial obligations to marry a complete stranger, and the thought weighed heavily on his mind.

Stranger.

Just hours ago, he had spent a delightful evening with a stranger, considering the possibility of meeting her again the next morning. But now, everything had changed, and Siddharth couldn't help but wonder how his newfound connection with the mysterious guest would be affected by these unwanted arrangements, but now, with the unexpected marriage looming over him, everything felt uncertain.

Turning to his best friend Vishal, Siddharth hesitated for a moment, his voice hushed with apprehension as he asked for a favor. "Would you mind doing me a favor?"

Vishal, said, "Yeah, sure, what is it?"

Siddharth lowered his voice even further, a sense of urgency in his tone. "There's a girl sleeping in the guest room—"

Before Siddharth could finish his sentence, Vishal's eyes widened in disbelief, and he gasped in shock. But Siddharth was determined to explain himself.

"—can you attend to her in the morning? I won't be able to, and please, don't tell her my name."

Vishal's jaw dropped, and he couldn't hide his astonishment. "Wait, is there really a girl in your guest room? You've got to be kidding me. Is she your girlfriend?"

Siddharth's patience was wearing thin, and he snapped, "She isn't my girlfriend. My car broke down today, and she assisted me on the way. Then the weather turned bad, so I asked her to stay."

Vishal's eyes narrowed as he tried to comprehend the situation. "Okay, but why the secrecy? Why not tell her your name and everything?"

Frustration laced Siddharth's voice as he replied, "Just do it," before storming off to the restroom, leaving Vishal bewildered and curious about the enigmatic guest in the guest room.

Siddharth's request hung in the air like an unresolved mystery, and Vishal couldn't help but feel his curiosity piqued. He watched Siddharth storm off toward the restroom, leaving him alone in their shared room with a barrage of questions swirling in his mind.

Vishal couldn't contain his astonishment and concern. He muttered to himself, "A girl in the guest room? And Siddharth is acting so strangely about it..."

Unable to resist his natural inclination toward mischief, Vishal decided to get to the bottom of this mysterious situation. He quickly dialed Jessica's number and waited impatiently for her to answer.

"Hello?" Jessica's voice sounded groggy, as if she had been rudely awakened from her sleep.

"Jess, it's Vishal. I need a favor."

Jessica let out a frustrated sigh. "What now, Vishal? It's the middle of the night."

Ignoring her irritation, Vishal whispered urgently, "I need you to do some snooping for me. Siddharth's acting all mysterious about a girl in the guest room. Find out who she is and why he's keeping it a secret."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line before Jessica finally replied, "You're unbelievable, Vishal. Fine, I'll see what I can do."

Vishal grinned triumphantly, pleased with himself for initiating this covert operation. "Thanks, Jess. You're a lifesaver. And keep it hush-hush, okay?"

Before Jessica could respond, Vishal hung up and leaned back on his bed, his mind buzzing with anticipation. He couldn't help but wonder what secrets lay hidden in that guest room and why Siddharth was being so cryptic about it.

As the minutes ticked by, Vishal's curiosity only intensified. He had a feeling that this unexpected twist in their night was far from over, and he was determined to uncover the truth about the enigmatic guest who had entered Siddharth's life so unexpectedly.

Reviews please 🥺