I Found You

62.

Vikram adjusted the cuffs of his sleeves as he stepped into the cafe, his gaze scanning the place. His eyes settled on a corner booth where a familiar figure sat across from a young man.

"Bhai!" Mukti got up from her seat, waving a hand in his direction.

Vikram nodded, his steps measured as he reached their table. The man sitting across noticed him and stood up immediately.

"Hello, Bhaiya." He extended a hand.

Bhaiya. Vikram glanced at him from head to toe, assessing. Tall, lean, neatly dressed and overall confident.

"Raghav Dixit." Vikram acknowledged, shaking his hand briefly before sliding into the seat next to Mukti.

"So," Vikram's tone was casual but his eyes remained sharp. "What are you studying?"

"I'm in my final year of engineering," Raghav replied. "Computer science."

"Same course, Bhai." Mukti chimed in, a hesitant smile playing on her lips.

Vikram gave her a small nod, before turning back to Raghav. "And how long have you known my sister?"

"We have been dating for two years now." Raghav didn't hesitate. "And I really like her, I am serious about her."

Vikram leaned back, studying Raghav's expressions. The man didn't flinch. Good. But that didn't mean Vikram was going to make this easy.

"Serious in what way?"

"I want a future with her." Raghav's hand rested on the table. "I'm not wasting her time or mine. I want to build something strong and secure with her."

"You sound very confident?" Vikram cocked an eyebrow.

"I am," Raghav blinked, unfazed. "I know we still have careers ahead of us, but my intentions won't change."

"Bhai," Mukti who had been listening till now, finally looked up, her voice quieter than usual. "He's been sincere with me since day one."

Vikram didn't look back at her. His gaze remained fixed on Raghav. "And what if my sister decides she doesn't want to be with you anymore? Or realises that you're not the one she can spend her life with?"

Mukti tensed beside him. Her eyes shifted to Raghav who seemed to be staring at her back. A brief silence hung between them.

Before Raghav could answer, a waiter broke their moment, as he delivered their order.

As soon as the waiter left, Raghav cleared his throat before saying. "If that happens, I'll try to work on the things she thinks are the reason she doesn't want to be with me anymore."

"But," Raghav continued. "If she still feels the same, I won't force anything. If her happiness doesn't lie with me, then I'll let her go."

A part of Vikram was almost impressed with his answer. But words were easy to say. Either he had rehearsed this answer in his head, or maybe he genuinely meant it.

Vikram let out a small breath, glancing at Mukti. "Two years is a long time. You must have had arguments, fights. Did you ever think about breaking up with him?"

Mukti shook her head almost immediately. "He's never given me a reason to. He knows when to give me space and when to talk things through."

Vikram narrowed his eyes, watching her.

"Even if he's angry, he never forgets to be respectful. To care." She paused, her eyes searching his. "We never walked out on each other. Not even once."