When Hearts Collide

|•Chapter 15•|

**Naina’s POV**

The next few days passed in a whirlwind of activity. I hadn’t had a chance to talk to Riya yet, and I knew she was getting impatient, especially after I had teased her with my vague messages. Between work, family obligations, and the ever-present pressure of our parents’ business venture, it felt like every moment was accounted for. But despite the chaos, one thing kept me grounded: Ekansh.

We had decided to take things slow, just like we had talked about. No sudden changes, no dramatic confessions to our families—just us, figuring things out one step at a time. But even though we hadn’t made anything official, there was a shift in the way we interacted. A subtle electricity in the air every time we were in the same room.

Today, however, that electricity was tinged with something else—nervousness. My family and the Singhanias were gathering again, this time at our house, and while it was meant to be another business meeting, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to happen.

“Naina, beta, are you ready?” My mother’s voice echoed from the hallway, breaking me out of my thoughts.

“Coming, Maa!” I called, giving myself one last glance in the mirror. I had chosen a simple, elegant outfit—something that wouldn’t attract too much attention but still looked put-together. I didn’t want anyone to suspect that there was anything different about me and Ekansh.

As I headed downstairs, I could already hear the familiar murmur of voices from the living room. The Singhanias had arrived, and the atmosphere was buzzing with polite conversation and laughter. But beneath the surface, I could sense the underlying tension—something unspoken, hanging in the air.

I walked into the room, immediately greeted by Ekansh’s mother, Mrs. Singhania.

“Naina, darling, you look lovely,” she said, her smile warm but her eyes sharp, as though she were trying to read something in my expression.

“Thank you, aunty,” I replied, forcing a smile of my own.

Ekansh caught my eye from across the room, giving me a small nod. It was a silent acknowledgment, a reassurance that we were in this together, no matter what. But even so, I couldn’t shake the feeling that today wasn’t going to be as simple as we had hoped.

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