His Unrequited Love

Chapter ~ 20

Reyansh was on the phone with his brother, disappointed that he hadn't shown up to his engagement.

"Vihaan, why didn't you come to my engagement?" Reyansh asked.

His brother sighed and replied, "I'm busy right now, bhai. I can't come at the moment."

Reyansh let out a sigh and then asked,

"Okay, fine. But at least come to the wedding."

"I can't come for another six months, bhai. It's about my career. You could have waited to get married until after I returned. First, you weren't ready to marry, and now, it's not even two months to your visit in India, and you're getting married next week," Vihaan said teasingly.

Reyansh smiled , shook his head and replied, "Yes, because I hadn't found anyone suitable until now. But now, I want to give myself a chance."

Vihaan chuckled over the phone and said.

"I am so happy for you bhai."

"So you're not coming, Vihaan?"

"I want to come, bhai, but I can't. I'll come soon after I finish my work"

After a pause Vihaan again utter.

"Because I have to fix something that I broke," Vihaan said, causing Reyansh to furrow his eyebrows in confusion.

"What?" Reyansh asked, not understanding.

"Nothing, bhai. I'll come as soon as my work is finished," Vihaan reassured him.

Reyansh sighed, nodded his head, and said.

"Okay, take care of yourself."

"I will, bhai," Vihaan replied.

After their conversation, Reyansh returned to the hall where the engagement was taking place.

________

Entering the hall, he made his way towards his family, who were engrossed in conversation.

"What did Vihaan say, Reyansh?" his mother inquired.

He glanced at her and replied, "He can't come, Mom. He's busy with work that will take around six months to finish."

Reyansh's mother looked disappointed, but his father reassured her, placing a hand on her shoulder and saying.

"It's okay, Kalyani."

She sighed and expressed her frustration.

"First Reyansh doesn't want to come, and now Vihaan. What is wrong with my sons?"

Reyansh looked at his mother and softly said, "Mom."

She turned to him and asked.

"What Mom, Reyansh?"

"Nothing," he muttered, and then his grandmother interjected.

"Everyone, we should focus on the engagement ceremony now. The Singh family will be arriving soon, and the engagement will begin. Let's concentrate on that for now," she suggested.

Everyone nodded in agreement with the elder's advice.

"Maa is right. Let's shift our focus to the engagement," Raj chimed in, and they all busied themselves with attending to the guests.

_____

Reyansh was standing with his family, lost in the hum of conversation and clinking of glasses, when suddenly his gaze shifted towards the entrance. His eyes locked onto the Singh family as they made their way into the gathering, their presence commanding attention. But it wasn't the entire family that caught his eye - it was one person in particular.