Memories

21

Shivani

"Will you marry me?" Rahul asked, his voice shaking just slightly, but his eyes steady, fixed on Anjali like she was his whole world.

"Yes," Anjali whispered, her eyes glistening with tears. The word slipped out of her like it had been sitting on the tip of her tongue for years, waiting for the right moment to bloom.

The whole room seemed to hold its breath before bursting into applause. Granny clapped her hands, her face glowing with pride. Karthik and Manoj uncle was grinning from ear to ear, their laughter loud and unrestrained, as if the happiness of the moment had spilled into them.

And me? I stood there with my heart swelling, watching my best friend—no, my sister—step into the life she had always dreamt of. Tears pricked at my own eyes. From the first day I had met Anjali, she had never left my side. Through laughter, through heartbreak, through nights of crying on each other's shoulders, we had built something stronger than blood. And now, to see her love story find its perfect turning point—it was overwhelming.

A few tears slipped down my cheeks, uninvited but welcome.

Meanwhile, Mohan's uncle and Sona stood stiff in the corner, their faces soured as though happiness was poison to them. I ignored them. Tonight wasn't theirs to ruin.

Anjali practically ran into my arms. "OMG, I'm getting married! I can't believe it! AHHH!" she squealed, shaking me by the shoulders.

"I know, right?" I laughed, hugging her tight. "I can't believe Rahul actually had it in him to finally propose. Took him long enough!"

We pulled apart, both wiping at our faces, grinning like fools. Then I turned to Rahul, who was still blushing from all the attention.

"Congrats, bro," I said, wagging my finger at him dramatically. "But listen to me carefully. If you hurt my sister even once, I swear, I will end you. Do you understand? You'll be a dead man. Keep her happy, or else!"

Rahul chuckled nervously, holding his hands up. "Understood, ma'am. Loud and clear."

"Good." I softened, smiling. "But seriously, congrats. I'm so happy for you both."

Granny clapped again, her voice echoing in the hall. "Now we can start wedding preparations! My grandson's getting married!"

The house filled with laughter and chatter, plans being made instantly, the atmosphere shifting into celebration.

But later that night, when the house finally quieted down, I slipped out into the garden.

The garden was my sanctuary—tucked away from the noise of the household, hidden from the ever-watchful eyes of Mohan and Sona. Tonight, the moon hung low and golden, bathing everything in soft light. The cool breeze whispered through the leaves, carrying the faint fragrance of jasmine.

I needed this peace. A place where I could think, breathe, and talk to Karthik without worrying about spies lurking in every shadow.

I was lost in thought, replaying the day's events, when I heard footsteps. Before I could turn, strong arms wrapped around me from behind, pulling me into a familiar embrace.

"Hey," Karthik's voice murmured against my hair.

I closed my eyes, leaning into him. "Hi."

"You sound... different. Happy."

I smiled, though my throat felt tight. "Yes, I am. My best friend—my sister—is getting married. How could I not be ecstatic?"

He held me for a moment longer before loosening his grip, enough to look at me. His eyes were dark pools in the moonlight, searching mine. "Hmm. So... did you find anything yet?"

I sighed, shaking my head. "Not yet. But I feel like I'm close. I've been going through the accounts, hacking into personal and business ledgers, watching for sudden increases in shares or large transfers. Something's there, I know it."

He frowned slightly. "Bharat said the same. He's close too. He'll call when he finds something."

We fell silent, the tension of the investigation hovering between us, heavy and unspoken. But beneath it, there was something else too—a pull, magnetic and impossible to ignore.

Karthik reached out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering just a moment too long. My heart skipped. His touch was gentle, almost reverent, as if he was afraid, I'd vanish if he wasn't careful.

"You know," he said softly, "I hate that you're involved in this. It's dangerous. If anything, ever happened to you..." His voice broke slightly, and he swallowed hard. "I don't know what I'd do."

I looked at him, really looked. The weight of everything he had been carrying—the accident, the memory loss, the secrets, the fear—it was all there in his eyes. And yet, there was something else too. Something that had been there long before the accident: us.

"Karthik," I whispered, placing my hand over his. "We're in this together. Always. Don't shut me out."

He exhaled, the tension in his shoulders easing as he pulled me closer. My chest pressed against his, our breaths mingling in the cool night air.

"I don't deserve you," he murmured, his lips dangerously close to mine.

I felt my pulse quicken, my hands tightening around his shirt. "Maybe," I teased faintly, though my voice trembled. "But you're stuck with me."

He chuckled softly, the sound low and warm, before his expression shifted. The laughter faded, replaced by an intensity that stole the air from my lungs. Slowly, almost hesitantly, he tilted his head closer.

"Shivani..." he breathed.

I didn't let him finish. My lips met his in a kiss that was both desperate and tender, a stolen moment under the moonlight. For a heartbeat, the world melted away—the enemies, the secrets, the danger. There was only us.

His hands cupped my face, deepening the kiss, pouring all his fear and longing into it. I clung to him, my fingers threading through his hair, anchoring myself to him. It was everything—our unspoken words, our hidden battles, our love that refused to be silenced.

When we finally pulled apart, both breathless, his forehead rested against mine.

"I love you," he whispered, raw and vulnerable.

Tears pricked at my eyes again, but this time for a different reason. "I love you too. Always."

We stayed like that for what felt like forever, wrapped in each other, letting the night guard our secret.

But as the wind rustled the leaves, I couldn't ignore the truth that crept back in. This moment was ours, but danger still lurked. The mystery of who tried to kill Karthik still hung over us like a sword, ready to fall at any time.

And yet... for the first time in a long time, I felt hope. Because no matter what came next, we would face it together.