Ishita paced back and forth in her room, her phone pressed to her ear as she whispered, “Dhruv, mujhe bahut tension ho rahi hai. Papa aur tumhe saath baithke baat karte hue dekh kar mujhe pata nahi kya hoga!”

On the other end, Dhruv’s voice was calm but laced with nervousness. “Ishita, relax . Sab theek hoga. Main zyada kuch galat bolne ki koshish nahi karunga.”

“Galat bolne ki baat hi nahi hai!” Ishita almost hissed, keeping her voice low. “Mujhe pata hai Papa kitne protective hain. Tumhe pata bhi hai woh mujhse kitna pyaar karte hain?”

“Pata hai,” Dhruv replied softly. “Aur isi liye toh main unse baat karne ke liye ready hoon. Main kuch galat karne nahi aaya hoon, Ishita. Woh samjhenge.”

Ishita sighed, finally sitting down on the edge of her bed. “Tumhe toh bilkul tension nahi hai, na?”

Dhruv let out a short laugh. “Haan, bilkul. Main toh bas yeh soch raha hoon ki agar kuch galat bol diya, toh career ke saath-saath meri jaan bhi gayi.”

Ishita groaned. “Dhruv!”

“Okay, okay, sorry,” he said quickly. “Main bas keh raha hoon ki tum mujhpe bharosa rakho. Sab sahi hoga.”

---

The time finally came. Dhruv arrived at Ishita’s house, dressed in a crisp white shirt and jeans. He looked confident on the outside, but Ishita could see the nervous energy in his posture.

As they entered the house, Ishita’s father was already seated on the sofa, his face calm but serious.

“Papa,” Ishita said softly. “Yeh Dhruv hai.”

Her father nodded, his sharp eyes studying Dhruv for a moment before gesturing to the chair opposite him. “Baithiye.”

Ishita lingered for a moment, unsure of whether to stay or leave.

“Tum andar jao, Ishita,” her father said firmly.

She hesitated, looking at Dhruv. He gave her a small reassuring nod, and she reluctantly walked away, glancing back one last time before heading to her room.

---

The silence in the room was heavy as Dhruv sat in front of Ishita’s father. He clasped his hands together, trying to keep his nerves in check.

Her father finally broke the silence. “Ishita meri beti hai, Dhruv. Aur main uske liye hamesha protective rahoonga. Woh mera garv hai. Main uske liye galat insaan nahi chahunga.”

Dhruv nodded, taking a deep breath before speaking. “Main samajhta hoon, Uncle. Aapka protective hona bilkul sahi hai. Woh deserve karti hai ki koi uska khayal rakhe.”

Her father leaned back, observing him carefully. “Tumhe pata hai, ek ladki ka dil todna kitna asaan hota hai? Aur uska bharosa jeetna kitna mushkil?”

Dhruv stayed quiet for a moment, his gaze steady. “Mujhe pata hai. Aur main bas itna kehna chahta hu ki mera aisa koi iraada nahi hai. Main Ishita se pyaar karta hoon.”

Her father’s expression didn’t change, but he didn’t interrupt.

“Mujhe pata hai ki abhi yeh sab thoda jaldi hai,” Dhruv continued, his voice steady despite his nerves. “ Use apna career banana hai. Mujhe apna career banana hai. But in the future, I would.. like to marry her. Mere koi bure intentions nahi hain, uncle. I genuinely love her a lot.”

There was a long pause as her father looked at him, his expression softening slightly.

“Tumne yeh toh theek kaha,” he finally said. “Abhi career pe dhyan dena sabse zaroori hai. Lekin main tumhe ek baat kehna chahunga—agar tumne meri beti ka dil toda ya usse rulaaya, toh main tumhe kabhi maaf nahi karunga.”

Dhruv smiled faintly, nodding. “Mujhe pata hai, Uncle. Aur main kabhi aisa kuch nahi karunga.”

---

When the conversation ended, Ishita’s father called out for her. She rushed into the room, her heart racing as she saw the two of them sitting together.

Her father looked at her and said, “Ladka accha hai . Par abhi main sirf yeh keh sakta hoon ki sab kuch time pe chhodo. Career pe dhyan do dono.”

Ishita’s relief was palpable, and she couldn’t help but glance at Dhruv, who gave her a small smile.

As they left the house together, Dhruv whispered to her, “Tumhare Papa ne toh mujhe itna dara diya tha ki main sach mein bhaag jaane ka soch raha tha.”

Ishita laughed softly, feeling a newfound sense of ease. “Lekin tum ruke, aur woh sab kuch hai jo maine tumse chaha tha.”

*****
Since, aiby_21 and ictcoded12_ said, shaadi karvado, but it's too early for that. So abhi toh issi se kaam chalana padega :)