|Prologue|

Nasha tha unke pyar ka

jis mein hum kho gaye,

Unhe bhi nahi pata chala

ki kab hum unke ho gaye.

Raj stood by the doorway, his gaze fixed on Mishti, who sat on the edge of the bed with her arms tightly crossed over her chest. Her cheeks were puffed out in an unmistakable display of irritation. The sight of her childlike stubbornness brought a gentle smile to his lips, despite the tension hanging between them. He stepped closer, his movements deliberate, trying not to stir the frustration bubbling within her.

Reaching out, he lightly brushed his index finger against one of her inflated cheeks, teasingly releasing the trapped air with a playful "fuuuuuutttt." Mishti instantly turned her head away, refusing to let him coax her out of her foul mood.

"Mishti... sun naaa yaar," he pleaded softly, his hand hovering near her shoulder, hesitant but wanting to connect. He finally let his fingers rest gently on her arm, attempting to guide her gaze back to him.

Mishti resisted at first, her heart pounding with a mixture of hurt and defiance. But something in Raj's voice—a blend of tenderness and frustration—made her relent. She met his eyes, searching for the sincerity she knew lay behind them, despite her anger.

"Mom isn't saying she dislikes you," Raj began, his voice low, trying to soothe the tension. "She's just concerned that if people discover you're marrying into a wealthy family, they might assume you're using me... and that could make things difficult for you."

Mishti's jaw tightened, her eyes narrowing. "And how will it change when I move into your house?" she shot back, her tone edged with suspicion.

Raj felt a small wave of relief wash over him. Finally, she was engaging in the conversation after what felt like an hour of cold silence. He took a deep breath, hoping to navigate this delicate moment without setting off another spark.

"See," he explained, carefully choosing his words, "you'll have to shift there after the wedding, right? So if you move in with us now, it'll be better for everyone, including you. You'll get to know everyone, and no one will know about it until the wedding. After that, you'll officially be mine, and no one will question you."

Mishti's lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes flashing with indignation. She pushed herself up from the bed, moving toward the window where the city lights blurred into the night. "Just say it outright— you don't want to tarnish your reputation. If people find out you're marrying an orphan with no background, it could harm your family's standing."

Her words were like tiny daggers, piercing through Raj's calm facade. He followed her to the window, his heart tightening at the sight of her standing there, framed against the night, looking so small yet so fierce. He reached out, his hand brushing against the curtain as if to touch her, but he hesitated, letting his fingers fall back to his side.

"I don't like it, Raj," Mishti continued, her voice wavering slightly. "Your mom made it clear that if I move there, I can't leave until the wedding. It's like a lockdown for me—why?" She turned to him, her eyes reflecting a mix of frustration, confusion, and something else—perhaps fear of losing herself in all of this.

Raj's heart ached seeing the turmoil in her eyes. "You're overthinking, Mishti," he urged softly, taking a step closer. "Please, accept this. You're going to have a family with me. Don't you want that? Can't you do it for our future?" His voice trembled with unspoken fears, his eyes pleading with her to understand, to see the hope he held onto so desperately.

Mishti's shoulders slumped slightly as she looked away, her mind racing through the implications of what he was asking. She took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on her chest. Part of her wanted to resist, to hold onto the life she knew, but the sight of Raj's hopeful eyes, the love that lingered in his gaze, tugged at her heart.

"But..." She hesitated, chewing on her bottom lip as she considered everything. Finally, with a heavy sigh, she nodded. "Okay, fine—only for you." She raised her index finger, a small gesture of concession, of trust.

Raj's face lit up with gratitude. He intertwined his finger with hers, the simple touch sending a wave of relief through him. "Thank you, meri jaan," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. He brought their intertwined fingers to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to her hand, silently promising to make it all worth it.

Mishti's heart fluttered, but in a flash, she jerked her hand away, retreating as if the touch had startled her.

Ooo

Raj leaned against the wall, his phone pressed to his ear as he listened to a playful laugh from the other end. Mishti entered the room, her eyes narrowing as she noticed Raj engaged in a long conversation.

"Whom are you talking to, Raj? Baate hi khatam nahi ho rahi hai." (The conversation doesn't seem to end.) Mishti's tone was casual, but her eyes were sharp as she locked eyes with him.

Raj turned slightly, giving her a faint smile. "Just a friend, Mishti," he replied, his tone smooth but evasive. Mishti scrutinized him for a few seconds, her lips pressed tightly together before she turned on her heel and walked away.

Once Mishti was out of sight, Raj's tone changed, and he whispered into the phone, "Jaan, I'll talk to you later. My real 'jaan' will take my 'jaan' if she knows I'm flirting with you." A giggle erupted from the other side before Raj abruptly ended the call, sighing deeply.

Ooo

Dining Area:

Entering the dining area, Raj found everyone gathered around the table, happily eating. Mishti moved gracefully among them, serving food with a strained smile.

Raj grinned, amused. "Wahh... tum toh abhi se bahu ban gayi." (Wow... you're already becoming a daughter-in-law.)

Mishti shot him a tight-lipped smile and muttered under her breath, "Bahu kaha, kamwali bol lo naa." (Call me a maid, not a daughter-in-law.)

Raj chuckled lightly but missed the sharpness in her tone as he settled into his seat.

Ooo

After Dinner - Kitchen Scene:

Later that evening, after everyone had finished their meal, Mishti remained in the kitchen, cleaning up the mess. Her hands moved swiftly, but her mind was elsewhere, swirling with thoughts.

Raj entered the kitchen and leaned casually against the counter, watching her. "Raj, why doesn't your mom have a maid for this?" Mishti asked without looking at him. "I mean, I don't have any problem doing this, but my studies are suffering. All my time is being wasted here."

Before Raj could respond, a stern voice came from the doorway. "Do you think it's a waste of time doing housework?" Raj's mother, Shalini, asked, her tone icy.

Mishti froze for a moment, then turned to face her. "Aunty, I need to study too," she said, trying to keep her voice calm but firm.

Shalini's lips thinned into a disapproving line. "No studying from now on," she declared before walking away, leaving the tension simmering in the kitchen.

Mishti clenched her fists, visibly frustrated. She shot an angry glance at Raj. "Raj, now this is too much."

Raj held up his hands, trying to calm her. "She's saying this because we'll be busy with wedding preparations. After the wedding, you can resume your studies."

Mishti's eyes flared with anger. Her hand instinctively went to her slipper, and she raised it, her glare cutting through Raj. "Chappal se maru khana hai tumhe?" (Should I hit you with a slipper?)

Raj stepped back, hands raised in surrender. "Wait!"

But Mishti was already charging forward. "Wait...?? samajh kya rakha hai tum maa-bete ne mujhe?" (What do you and your mom think of yourselves?) she demanded, waving the slipper at him. "Agar kamwali lani hai toh lao, mujhe nahi karni ye shaadi." (If you want a maid, go ahead. I don't want to go through with this marriage.)

She tried to storm past him, but Raj caught her by the wrist, pulling her gently but firmly back towards him. "Mom didn't mean that, Mishti," he tried to explain, looking into her eyes with desperation.

Mishti scoffed, yanking her hand away. "Jao na apni mummy se shaadi karlo, maa ke chamche." (Go, marry your mom, you mama's boy.)

Raj flinched but didn't let go of her arm. His voice softened, his eyes pleading with her. "Mere liye... bas wedding tak." (For me... just until the wedding.)

Mishti's shoulders slumped, her anger dimming into reluctant acceptance. She nodded with a sad expression, then turned and walked away, leaving Raj standing there, taking a deep breath as the tension slowly drained from the room.

Ooo

Balcony Scene:

Later that evening, Mishti sat on the swing in her balcony, plucking rose petals and scattering them on the floor. Her face was scrunched up with frustration as she mumbled to herself, "Samjhte kya hai iske ghar wale khudko, specially iski mom." (What does his family, especially his mom, think of themselves?)

She tossed another petal onto the ground, biting her lip. "Bhaag jau kya? Mujhe nahi karni shaadi. Par fir ye Raj se pyaar bhi toh hai, sadu kahika." (Should I run away? I don't want to get married. But then there's also love for Raj... what a grump he is.)

Mishti sighed, glancing at the sky. "Yaar, ye ameer log bhot ajib hote hai, itne tante kon jhelta hai?" (These rich people are so strange. Who tolerates so many tantrums?)

She picked up another flower and dropped it. "Bhagwaanji, ya toh inko gareeb kar do ya toh mujhe kuber ka khazana dedo." (Oh, God, either make them poor or give me Kubera's treasure.)

Raj stepped into the balcony quietly, leaning against the doorframe with a smile playing on his lips as he watched her. "Kya karne ko bol rahi ho bhagwan ko, Mishti?" (What are you telling God to do, Mishti?)

Mishti jumped slightly and turned her head to look at him. "Ohhoo... games se fursat mili janab ko. Koi bolega is namune ki shaadi hone wali hai." (Ohho... you found time from your games. Someone should tell this specimen his marriage is imminent.)

Raj chuckled, stepping closer. "Aur ye batao, ki ye roses k bich mein kyu baithi ho?" (And tell me, why are you sitting amidst these roses?)

Mishti shifted slightly in her seat, rolling her eyes. Raj moved even closer, placing his hand on the swing handle and leaning towards her.

Mishti's heart raced. She swallowed hard, her discomfort evident. "Kya kar rahe ho, Raj?" (What are you doing, Raj?)

Seeing the unease in her eyes, Raj gently placed his hand on the back of her neck, his touch warm but careful. "We've been together since school, Mishti, and now I'm going to be your husband. Still, why do you feel uncomfortable whenever I come near you?"

"I... I... voh," Mishti stammered, her eyes darting nervously around the balcony.

Raj tilted her chin up, forcing her to look into his eyes. "Kya voh?" (What 'voh'?)

"Voh... tum kambal toh nahi ho jisme mai comfortable feel karu." (Well... you're not a blanket that I feel comfortable with.) Mishti stood up abruptly, creating space between them.

Raj raised an eyebrow, amused. "Bhot bakwaas bahana tha." (That was a really bad excuse.)

Mishti shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "Dekho, jaisa bhi tha, bahana bahana hota hai." (No matter how bad, an excuse is still an excuse.)

As Raj advanced toward her, Mishti instinctively took steps back. "Raj, aise kyu samne aare ho? Itna bada ghar hai, tumhara udhr jake ghumo." (Raj, why are you coming in front like this? Your house is so big, go wander there.)

Raj grinned and reached for her. "Nahi, yahi aauga. Ab bhot bhag li tum mujhse door." (No, I'm coming here now. You've run away enough from me.)

Before Mishti could escape, Raj wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close. Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly slid her hand under her shirt.

Raj frowned slightly, confused. "Not bad, Mishti..."

But before he could finish, she pinched him hard on his waist, causing him to yelp and loosen his grip. Taking her chance, Mishti darted out of his arms and ran off, locking herself in the washroom.

Raj rubbed his side, wincing. Meanwhile mishti inside the washroom "Iske andar kabhi-kabhi janwar kaha se aa jata hai?" (Where does this wildness come from inside her?) she muttered to herself before sighing, "Shaadi tak ruk nahi sakta kya... pyaar bhi janwar se hua hai." (Can't he wait until our wedding? Yet, I fell in love with this animal.)

Ooo

Days Later:

Some days had passed, and Mishti had been confined to the house, growing restless. When she saw Raj return home, she rushed towards him with a hopeful smile. "Raj... bahar chalo na, bore ho raha hai... itne dino se is ghar mein padi hoon." (Raj... let's go outside. It's getting boring... I've been stuck in this house for so many days.)

Raj collapsed onto the couch without even looking at her. "Yaar, abhi nahi, thak gaya hoon." (Yaar, not now, I'm tired.)

Mishti's face fell. "Chalo na, please. Konsa main roz boltee hoon." (Come on, please. It's not like I ask you every day.)

Raj finally turned his head slightly, his tone harsher. "Nahi bola na, Mishti. Jao yahan se." (Didn't I say no, Mishti? Go from here.)

Tears brimmed in Mishti's eyes as she looked at him, hurt. "Marriage nahi, koi final paper ho gaya. Aana-jana sab band. Abhi tumhare peeche ghumti hoon, isiliye kadar nahi hai na meri?" (It's as if it's not a marriage but a continuous final exam. They don't even allow me to step outside. I always run after you, that's why you never value me, right?)

Raj blinked, guilt flashing across his face, but Mishti continued, her voice trembling. "Dekh lena, ek din chali gayi na, vapas nahi aaungi. Rooge fir bhi nahi aaugi." (If one day I decide to leave your life, I won't return. You'll cry, but I won't come back.)

With that, she ran towards her room, leaving Raj lying on the couch, staring up at the ceiling. "Tum mujhe kabhi nahi chor sakti, Mishti." (You can never leave me, Mishti.) He murmured softly before closing his eyes

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