WAJHA TUM HO

4. || Serendipity In The Storm ||

Friday 8:30 PM, At Joshi Residence.

Dev sat in a dimly lit room, clutching a knife in his hand. He gazed out of the window at the pouring rain outside.

With tears rolling down his cheeks, Dev traced Ananya's picture with the knife, a bittersweet smile on his face. Finally, he let go of the knife.

With determination in his eyes, Dev muttered,
"I never thought this love would end like this,
I had promised that my loyalty would lead to this.
I had lost myself in your love,
But now, you are the punishment of this restlessness,
You are the cure for all my pain,
The reason for the agony burning me, it's you!"

He sank back into his chair, lost once again in memories of her.

---

Monday, 9:45 PM, at Dev's Office

Dev excitedly recounted how he met Ananya to Sid, who listened intently with a smile. Suddenly, Sid winced in pain as someone twisted his ear from behind.

Turning around, Dev saw Karuna Ji, her eyes filled with anger.

Sid pleaded, "Ouch... Mom, please, it hurts."

Karuna released his ear, demanding, "Speak up! How did you come home without telling me or when did you left, before having breakfast? And when did you return from Paris last night? I didn't even know."

Sid stood up, making Karuna sit in his place. "Mom, I came home at three in the morning. You were asleep, and I had the spare keys to the house, so I came in. I had breakfast at Avneet's place..."

He stopped abruptly, biting his tongue.

Karuna Ji seized his ear again. "Now who is this Avneet? Why didn't you tell me about her? Look at my dear child, He tells me about Ananya before seeing her."

Suppressing a laugh, Dev watched as Sid winced in pain.

Sid promised, "Sorry, Mom, I'll tell you everything. I'm going to get information about Ananya right now."

Karuna released his ear once more. " Ha sid ab tu hi kar kuch iss dev se to kuch hone nahi vala mujhe to lagata hai rishta bhi hum dono ko hi lekar jaana hoga."

Sid smiled and left to gather information.

Dev smiled sadly, holding Karuna Ji's hand. She looked at him, and he said, "Mom, it's not that I don't have the courage to propose to her. But mom, I'm afraid. If she says no, I won't force her. But it's better to live in that pain that she's not mine than to be in this dream. Mom, what if I never got my love..."

Karuna Ji caressed his hair. "Who in this world will refuse my son? I know how sweet he is, how good he is, how much he wants to cherish her. If she doesn't accept it, I will try."

Dev asked hopefully, "Mom, will she accept my love?"

Karuna smiled. "Of course she will. Every girl wants a life partner who loves her, respects her, and trusts her. And I know my son has every ability. Once she says yes, see, I'll get you married in a week."

Dev smiled and hugged his mother.

After a while, Sid returned with a file containing information about Ananya.

Sid handed over the file. "Here, bhaii, all the information and her address too."

Dev patted his shoulder and smiled, then read the file. "Miss Ananya Sharma works in her own company 'Sharma Corporation' as a manager. She wants to stand on her own feet after establishing her own company, the daughter of businesswoman Devki Sharma, her father is no more..."

A lone tear escaped Dev's eye as he remembered his father who had passed away. Sid wiped his tear, placing a hand on his shoulder and nodding in understanding. Dev read further, "Best friends with Ray and Rhea." At Ray's name, he rolled his eyes.

Dev: "Well done, Sid. I expected this from you."

Sid smiled. "No problem, bhaii, Mom also asked for a copy."

Dev nodded. "Okay, good. Let's go home now, all the office work is done."

Sid nervously smiled. "Dev, you go, I'll come, I have some work."

Dev smirked, singing, "Offcourse some work, at certain someone avneet kaur house."

Sid nervously smiled more and said, "Nothing... nothing like that, I'm going to meet my friends."

Dev's smirk grew wider. "Yes, go, but you should be home before 11."

Sid threw his hands up and down chuckled, and left for home, while Sid left for his Friends Of course.

----

On the way home, Dev noticed a girl inspecting her car. He smiled, stopped his car, approached her, and tapped her shoulder. She turned around and smiled at him.

Dev greeted her with a smile. "In this rainy weather, often only deceivers are found. Looks like you also got cheated by your car."

Ananya smiled. " kya kare insan ko todhe na pata chalta hai usse kab kon dokha de jaye well filhal to isne de diya dokh aur aas pass koi repair shop bhi nahi ha per aap yaha?"

Dev smiled and said, "Tum, tum better, no need to be formal. I was just going home. If you don't mind, can I drop you?"

Ananya smiled. "Thanks, but it's okay, I'll manage. And then this car..."

Dev smiled and took out his phone, calling his manager to pick up Ananya's car and send it to the repair shop.

Dev assured Ananya, "Look, now your car is safe. It will be repaired by tomorrow. So shall we go now?"

Ananya protested, "You're unnecessarily troubled for me. It's okay."

Dev murmured under his breath, "You can never be a trouble for me."

Ananya asked suspiciously, "Did you say something?" Dev shook his head.

Dev tried to convince her, "I mean, there won't be any trouble. Anyway, this weather doesn't seem right. The rain had stopped earlier, but it could come back. So how can I leave you alone on this rainy night?"

Just then, Dev's staff arrived, picked up Ananya's car, and left.

Ananya stared at her car, lost in thought. Dev broke her trance, saying, "Don't worry, I won't steal it."

Ananya burst into laughter upon hearing this, and Dev admired her laughing face, a smile spreading across his own.

After Dev's staff left with Ananya's car, he asked, "Shall we go now?"

Ananya nodded. They started walking inside, but a raindrop fell on Ananya's hand. She smiled, looked up, and the rain began pouring down on them.

Dev took her hand and said, "Let's get inside, otherwise, you will get soaked in this rain."

Ananya smiled, tightened her grip on his hand, and pulled him gently. "It's raining, Dev. Let's enjoy this beautiful rain. I promise you'll fall in love with this rain."

Dev smiled and muttered under his breath, "I'm already in love with you. Why make the mistake of falling in love with someone else?"