Destiny: Time To Fall In Love

Chapter 20 - The Bittersweet Glow

The drive from the cafe to the Malhotra residence was filled with the comfortable silence of two souls finally reunited. When Aashi pushed open the front door, however, she was met with a wall of pitch-black darkness.

"Why is it so dark here?" she mumbled, fumbling for the switch. The moment the lights flickered on, a roar of voices broke the silence.

"SURPRISE!"

Aashi gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. The living room was packed. Her mother was there, beaming, but standing beside her was a man Aashi hadn't expected to see for another month.

"Dad!" she cried out, her eyes brightening with tears of joy. She sprinted across the room, throwing herself into her father's arms. "When did you come back from Australia? I missed you so much!"

"I know, Princess. I missed you too," Mr. Malhotra said, patting her back gently. He glanced over her shoulder at a grinning Aryan. "Aryan asked me to come back early. He said we had another surprise for you."

Aashi pulled back, her brow furrowed in confusion. she looked at the crowd—her parents, Aryan's parents, and even her best friend Richa, who was winking at her. "Wait a minute... did you all know about Aryan's return?"

They all nodded in unison, enjoying her shock.

"But that's not your surprise," Mrs. Malhotra added, her voice full of excitement.

"Then what is it?" Aashi asked, her heart racing.

Mrs. Oberoi stepped forward, taking Aashi's hands in hers with a wide, maternal smile. "Aashi sweetheart, we have officially fixed your engagement. It will be in two weeks, and two months after that... the marriage."

The room went silent for a heartbeat as Aashi processed the timeline. Her life was moving at lightning speed.

"Are you okay with it, Princess?" her mother asked softly, searching her daughter's face for any sign of hesitation.

Aashi didn't need to think. She looked at Aryan—the man who had just promised to stay awake with their future children and let her have the remote—and felt a wave of absolute certainty. She nodded shyly, hiding her blushing face against Aryan's chest.

Aryan let out a deep, triumphant chuckle, wrapping his arms around her securely. "My silly girl," he whispered into her hair.

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It was nearly 11:00 PM, but the adrenaline of the day's events kept sleep at bay. Aashi stepped out onto her balcony, the cool night air refreshing her skin. The city was quiet, and the moon hung low, mirroring the peacefulness in her heart.

She was lost in thought when two warm hands suddenly slid around her waist, drawing her back into a firm, familiar chest. Aashi didn't flinch or scream; she knew that scent—of cedar and rain—too well.

"What are you doing here at this hour?" she asked, leaning back into him without turning around.

"I was missing you," Aryan whispered, resting his chin on her shoulder.

"You just left an hour ago," Aashi reminded him, a small smile playing on her lips as she watched the moon.

"So what? I still miss you." He leaned in and gave her a small, lingering peck on her cheek.

Aashi finally turned in his arms to face him, her eyes dancing with curiosity. "How did you get in? My windows are locked."

"You see," Aryan said, winking at her playfully, "my soon-to-be mother-in-law is pretty chill. She let me in through the front door."