A few days later, Hira found herself sitting in the back seat of a cab with her mom and her dad in the front, their conversation barely registering in her mind. 

They were on their way to a restaurant in Delhi to meet the boy's family. She stared out of the window, lost in her thoughts.

The recent past had been a whirlwind—her complicated feelings for Shubman, the unexpected night they spent together, and the looming prospect of an arranged marriage. 

As the cab moved through the bustling streets of Delhi, she couldn't shake the thought of Shubman's reaction when he found out about her meeting him as a potential match.

"What if he thinks I've broken his heart and came back to his life as a potential bride for him? Or worse, what if he doesn't care at all?" she wondered, her heart heavy with uncertainty.

Her mother's voice broke through her thoughts. "Betu, are you okay? You've been awfully quiet."

She forced a smile. "Yes, Mummy. Just a bit nervous, I guess."

Her father turned slightly in his seat, giving her a reassuring look. "It's natural to feel this way. Just remember, we're meeting them to get to know each other. There's no pressure."

Hira nodded, though the knots in her stomach didn't ease. She leaned back, closing her eyes for a moment, and tried to calm her racing mind.

 Despite her attempts to focus on the upcoming meeting, her thoughts kept drifting back to Shubman. She recalled their last conversation, his concern for her, and the way he made her feel.

The cab pulled up in front of an upscale restaurant, and Hira's heart began to race. Her parents got out first, her father turning back to help her out of the car. 

She took a deep breath, stepping out onto the pavement and smoothing down her saree.

As they walked towards the entrance, Hira's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. 

She was about the meet a boy her parents thought was suitable for her, while she couldn't stop thinking about Shubman, they boy they chose for her.

The hostess greeted them warmly and led them to a reserved private dining area. The room was elegantly decorated, with soft lighting and tasteful decor, creating an intimate atmosphere.

Hira and her parents arrived early, and as they settled into their seats, She adjusted her saree and smoothed down her hair. 

Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, primarily centered on Shubman. She couldn't help but wonder what he would think if he knew she was here, about to meet a potential suitor for an arranged marriage.

She glanced at her reflection in the nearby mirror, trying to calm her nerves. "Tu sundar lage che beta, (You look beautiful beta) her mother said reassuringly, noticing her anxiety.

"Thanks, Mummy," Hira replied, forcing a smile. "I'm just a bit nervous, that's all."

Her father checked his watch and looked around the room. "They should be here any minute now. Just remember to be yourself, Hia. We're not expecting you to make any decisions today."

Hira nodded, taking a deep breath. She knew her parents had her best interests at heart, but the situation felt surreal. 

Just as she was about to voice her thoughts, the door to the private dining area opened, and the hostess reappeared, escorting another family.

As they entered, Hira's heart skipped a beat. The Gill family stood there, looking as poised and elegant as ever. 

Her father immediately stepped forward and hugged Shubman's father, Mr. Gill, warmly. "It's been too long, Lakhi!"

"kesa hai tu, Pranav?" Mr. Gill replied, patting Hira's father on the back. "I'm so glad we could finally arrange this meeting."

Hira's mother exchanged pleasantries with Mrs. Gill, who smiled warmly at Hira.

 "Shubman is just parking the car," Mrs. Gill explained. "He should be here any moment now."

Hira's heart pounded as she tried to process this information. 

She had been worried about meeting a stranger, but now she was about to see Shubman again, in the most unexpected context.

Shubman entered the room. He was polite, nodding at the hosts and taking the only empty seat available—directly across from Hira, next to his mother. 

As he settled into his chair, his eyes drifted around the table, landing on Hira's bowed head.

"Beta, put your phone away," Hira's father gently nudged her. She glanced up and locked eyes with Shubman.

For a moment, everything froze. Hira's eyes widened and Shubman's jaw dropped. He couldn't believe what he was seeing—the girl his parents had chosen for him was none other than Hira.

"Hira?" Shubman blurted out, unable to hide his astonishment.

"Shubman?" Hira echoed, nodding awkwardly .

The rest of the table fell silent, their parents watching the interaction with curiosity. 

Shubman's mother, noticing the palpable tension, smiled warmly. "It seems you two already know each other."

Hira's mother raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? How do you know each other?"

Shubman cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. "We...uh, we met at the airport a while ago. And...we've run into each other a few times since then."

Hira's heart was pounding. She anticipated and expected this at all. The coincidence seemed almost too surreal. 

Her father looked between the two of them, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Well, this is an interesting twist. Its such a small world, isnt it?"

She nodded slowly, still trying to process the situation. "Yes, exactly"

As the conversation resumed around them, Both Hira kept stealing glances at each other, their minds racing with thoughts of their past encounters. 

They could barely focus on the conversations around them.

"So, Hira, tell us about your career as a pilot,"  Shahneel, asked with genuine curiosity.

Hira tore her eyes away from Shubman and managed a polite smile. "I've been a commercial pilot for three years now. It's always been my dream to fly."

Shahneel nodded, clearly impressed. "That's amazing! It must be such an adventurous job."

"It is," Hira replied, her voice steadying as she spoke about her passion. "Every flight is a new experience, and I love the feeling of being up in the air."

Shubman's father leaned in, joining the conversation. "And how do you manage the long hours and being away from home?"

Hira glanced at her parents before answering. "It can be challenging, but I've learned to balance my personal life and my career. My family has been very supportive."

Hira's father chimed in, looking at Shubman. "What about you, Shubman? How do you handle the pressures of professional cricket?"

Shubman, still somewhat dazed by Hira's presence, cleared his throat.

 "It's definitely demanding, but I love the game. The travel and the matches can be exhausting, but it's all worth it when you step onto the field."

Their parents nodded, clearly proud of their children's achievements. 

The conversation shifted to more general topics—favorite travel destinations, memorable experiences, and hobbies. 

Shubman and Hira answered dutifully, but their thoughts kept drifting back to each other.

At one point, Shubman's mother asked, "Do you two have any mutual interests?"

Hira glanced at Shubman and then back at his mother. "Well, we both travel a lot," she said with a small smile. "And I think we both appreciate the dedication required in our respective fields."

Shubman nodded in agreement. "Yes, and I think we both value our families a lot. They've been our biggest support systems."

Their parents exchanged pleased looks, clearly hoping that these commonalities would help form a bond between the two. 

Shubman and Hira, though still reeling from the surprise, knew they had a lot to discuss beyond the pleasantries of this dinner.

both exchanged uneasy glances as their parents suggested they step away for a private conversation.

 Both were hesitant, but a stern glare from their mothers silenced any protests. Reluctantly, they stood and walked out of the dining area, moving to a quiet corner of the restaurant.

As soon as they were far enough from their parents, Shubman grabbed Hira's arm, his grip firm but not painful. 

His eyes blazed with anger and frustration. "Why didn't you contact me?" he demanded, his voice low but intense.

Hira was taken aback by his sudden aggression. She pulled her arm away, her own temper flaring. "Why should I have contacted you? After that night, I needed time to think."

"To think?" he echoed incredulously. "You just left without a word. Do you have any idea how that felt? I thought we were friends, Hira."

Her eyes flashed with hurt. "Friends? Is that what you think? Friends don't do what we did. I needed space to figure out what that meant for us. I was scared, okay?"

He ran a hand through his hair, trying to calm down. "You could have talked to me. We could have figured it out together. Instead, you shut me out."

her  voice softened, her anger giving way to vulnerability. "I was scared, Shubman. That night brought back memories I wasn't ready to face. I didn't know how to deal with it."

Shubman's expression softened as he saw the pain in her eyes. He stepped closer, his voice gentle now. 

"Hira, I didn't know. I would never want to hurt you. But you can't just run away. We need to communicate."

She looked down, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know. I'm sorry. It's just...complicated."

He nodded, understanding dawning in his eyes. "I get it. But let's not let this ruin what we have. Let's talk, figure things out, and see where we stand."

Hira looked up, meeting his gaze. "Okay. Let's talk."

She took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly as she prepared to open up about her past.

 "Shubman, there's something you need to know," she began, her voice shaky. "I had a boyfriend five years ago. He was always interested in getting physical with me, but I always denied him. I wasn't ready. But one night, he did exactly what I never agreed to."

Shubman's expression changed from confusion to anger and sorrow as he listened. His hands clenched into fists at his sides. 

"Hira, I... I didn't know. I'm so sorry," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

she continued, her voice cracking with emotion. "Since that day, I've always been scared of standing near a man, except for my papa. It left a scar, Shubman. That's why that night with you... it brought back all those memories. I didn't know how to handle it."

He felt a surge of emotions—guilt for doubting her, anger towards the boy who had hurt her, and a deep sadness for what she had endured. 

He took a step closer, his eyes softening with understanding. "Hira, you should never have gone through that. I'm so sorry for everything," he said gently.

He reached out, kissing her forehead tenderly, his lips lingering there for a moment. He then caressed her face, his touch light and comforting. 

"I'm here for you. We'll take this one step at a time, okay? You don't have to go through this alone."

She nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "Thank you, Shubman. It means a lot."

As Hira observed Shubman, she saw the understanding and determination in his eyes. He was willing to make this marriage work, and that realization brought her a sense of calm.

 "Shubman, thank you for understanding. I can see you're committed to this, and I want you to know that I'm ready to try and make this work too," she said softly.

He smiled warmly at her. "I've always liked you, Hira. Even before all this, there was something about you that drew me in. We'll take our time and get to know each other better."

With a newfound sense of mutual understanding and hope, they walked back towards their parents. 

Shubman cleared his throat and spoke confidently, "We've talked, and we like each other. But we want to take our time to get to know each other better before we get engaged."

Their parents' faces lit up with joy. "Of course, take all the time you need," Shubman's mother said, her voice filled with happiness. 

Hira's father beamed with pride and relief. The families exchanged sweets in celebration, the atmosphere filled with laughter and cheer.

Shahneel, rushed forward and hugged Hira tightly, then embraced Shubman. "I'm so happy for both of you!" she exclaimed.

Hira felt a warmth spread through her as she hugged Shahneel back, her heart light with happiness. 

Shubman stood beside her, his arm around her shoulder, both of them smiling brightly.

As the dinner closed, the room buzzed with the joyful chatter of two families coming together, celebrating the beginning of a new and promising journey. 

Hira and Shubman exchanged a look, filled with hope and the promise of a future they would build together, step by step.

Outfits just for reference

Hellloo guysss
This was the fourteenth chapter of the book!

Hamare baccho ki shaadi hone wali haiiiii

Anyways how did you react to listening Hira's backstory? The reason she was so scared?

Dw i wont make them marry right away, story ese hi nahi aage badhaungi

Anyways back to the topic
How was it?

Ab vote aur comment kar hi do!

Any guesses for the next one?

Till then
Yours sincerely
Author ♌️🎀