Together Forever

Chapter 15

Anika's POV

After meeting Uday, I drove home with a heart so full it felt like it might burst. The world seemed a little brighter, and a soft smile played on my lips the entire way. I had Uday by my side now, and the thought filled me with a quiet joy. Of course, I'd still have to convince Mom, but Uday was a good man, and I was sure she would love him once she saw what I did.

As I pulled into the driveway and made my way inside, I found Piya lounging on the sofa, looking up at me the moment I walked through the door.

"Why are you so late?" she asked, her tone half-curious, half-scolding.

I gave her a quick, apologetic smile. "Sorry, I was... busy."

"Busy where?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.

"With Uday," I answered, unable to stop the smile that tugged at my lips as I said his name.

Piya's eyes widened as she caught the change in my expression, and she immediately sat up. "Wait... did something happen?" Her voice was brimming with excitement.

I nodded, feeling my cheeks heat up slightly.

She practically jumped off the couch, rushing over to me. "Tell me! What happened?"

I couldn't help but laugh at her eagerness as I sat down. "Uday and I... we're dating now," I said softly, barely able to contain the giddiness in my voice.

"What!" she screamed, her hands flying to her mouth in shock. "Finally! Oh my god!"

"Keep your voice down!" I whispered, glancing nervously at the door. But her excitement was contagious, and soon, I was grinning from ear to ear.

"I can't believe it!" Piya beamed, practically bouncing on her heels. "I need all the details. Right now."

I laughed and settled into the sofa, recounting the entire evening to her—the proposal, the ring, everything. Her expressions shifted from surprise to joy and a little bit of awe, but the whole time, she kept smiling.

"Anika, I'm so happy for you!" she said once I finished, squeezing my hands tightly. "Uday is such a good guy. I always knew there was something special between you two. And don't worry about your mom. She'll be convinced. And if not, then I'll convince her!"

I chuckled, feeling lighter than I had in days. Having Piya's support meant the world to me, and hearing her say those words gave me hope. "Thanks, Piya. I really hope she sees what I see in him."

"She will," Piya said confidently, patting my shoulder. "And even if she doesn't right away, she's going to love Uday eventually. Just give it time. Plus, you're her daughter—she wants what's best for you. And Uday is the best."

Piya and I had dinner together, chatting and laughing, her excitement still bubbling over as she continued to ask more questions about Uday. But eventually, the night wound down, and I made my way to my room, feeling exhausted but happy.

As I lay on my bed, staring up at the ceiling, I felt a sudden urge to hear Uday's voice before I fell asleep. Smiling to myself, I reached for my phone, deciding to call him. But just as I was about to dial his number, my phone lit up, and his name appeared on the screen.

My heart fluttered. I immediately picked up the call. "I was just about to call you!" I said, a soft laugh escaping me.

Uday chuckled on the other end of the line. "Looks like we're already in sync, huh?"

I smiled, curling up on my bed. "Yeah, it seems like it."

There was a comfortable silence for a moment, just the sound of his soft breathing in the background. Then, his voice came through again, a little more serious this time. "Anika... I was thinking," he began slowly.