Jodhbir and his cousin Jashn sat in the cozy living room of Jashn's home, sipping on cups of steaming coffee. The evening sun cast a warm, golden glow through the curtains.

As they chatted about various topics, Jashn suddenly cleared his throat and wore a mischievous grin. "You know, Jodhbir," he began, "I've been giving something some thought."

Jodhbir raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What's on your mind, Jashn?"

Jashn leaned in, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "I think it's high time we do something about Ruhani and you."

Jodhbir blinked, surprised by the unexpected topic. "Ruhani and me? What do you mean?"

Jashn chuckled, "Come on, Jodhbir, it's no secret that you've got your eyes on her. And let's be honest, she's pretty smitten with you too."

Jodhbir blushed slightly but tried to maintain his composure. "Well, we're not even friends, Jashn. We are only acquaintance."

Jashn waved a dismissive hand. "Yes, but there's potential for something more, something deeper. I've seen the way you both look at each other."

Jodhbir couldn't deny the truth in Jashn's words. There had been moments when their gazes lingered a bit longer than they should have. "But, Jashn, it's not that simple. We come from different worlds, different backgrounds."

Jashn leaned back, considering his cousin's words. "True, but love has a funny way of bridging those gaps, doesn't it? And besides, our family adore Ruhani. You'd have our blessing."

Jodhbir sighed, torn between his feelings for Ruhani and the complexities of their situation. "It's not that I don't care about her, Jashn. I do. But I don't want to rush into anything. We need to be sure."

Jashn nodded thoughtfully. "Fair enough, Jodhbir. Take your time. But promise me one thing – don't let this opportunity slip away. Sometimes, waiting too long can be just as risky as rushing in."

Jodhbir smiled, touched by his cousin's concern. "I promise, Jashn. I won't let her slip away."

Jashn grinned, satisfied with the conversation. "Good. Now, let's enjoy the rest of this evening, and who knows what the future holds for you and Ruhani?"

As they continued sipping their coffee and chatting, Jodhbir couldn't help but wonder if Jashn might be onto something. Love had a way of surprising people, and perhaps, in the end, it would lead him down a path he never expected.

🕊🕊🕊

Ruhani and her composed cousin, Chahana, lounged in the opulent living room of the Shekhawat Mansion, surrounded by elegance and luxury. The sun outside filtered through the lavish curtains, creating a warm ambiance.

Chahana, couldn't hide a mischievous twinkle in her eye as she turned to Ruhani. "You won't believe what Jashn told me last night, Ruhi."

Ruhani, leaned in with curiosity. "Oh, do tell, Chanu Di. What's the latest scoop?"

Chahana leaned forward, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "He's got this quirky idea, you see."

Ruhani giggled. "Quirky? Jiju's ideas are always intriguing. What's he up to now?"

Chahana couldn't help but chuckle. "He wants to see you and Jodhbir together. He thinks you'd make quite the pair."

Ruhani's eyes widened in playful surprise. "Jodhbir? Seriously?"

Chahana nodded, her expression composed as always. "Yes, Jashn believes there's something special between you two. He's seen those glances you share."

Ruhani couldn't help but blush at the thought but maintained her adorable demeanor. "Well, isn't that something? But Di, you know we're from completely polar opposite, right?"

Chahana nodded in agreement. "Yes, we all know that. But Jashn's convinced that both of you will make an adorable couple."

Ruhani gave her cousin an affectionate look. "Di, Jiju is a true romantic, isn't he?"

Chahana smiled serenely. "Indeed he is. But think about it, Ruhani, just imagine the amusing chaos it would bring to family gatherings if you two actually got together."

Ruhani couldn't help but giggle at the mental image. "You're right, it'd be quite a spectacle!"

Chahana leaned closer and asked with a hint of playfulness, "So, what's your take on Jashn's whimsical idea?"

Ruhani, with her adorable charm, blinked in confusion. "Well, it's cute and all, but I'm not sure, Di. Jodhbir and I, really?"

Chahana simply smiled in response, leaving Ruhani with a playful sense of bewilderment.

🕊🕊🕊

Life often takes unexpected twists and turns, leading us down paths we never imagined we'd travel. For Ruhani, Jashn's proposal to get her married with Jodhbir was one such sharp turn in her life's journey, and it left her both intrigued and bewildered.

Surrounded by family, Ruhani sat in the elegant living room of the Shekhawat Mansion. Chahana and Angad occupied the seats on either side of her, while their parents were positioned opposite them. Jashn, the planner of this unusual proposal, lounged comfortably on a nearby couch to Chahana's left.

It had been a little over three months since the whirlwind wedding of Jashn and Chahana, a union that had taken everyone by surprise. But as their relationship had blossomed, they had embraced married life with open hearts.

"Ruhi, what do you think about this proposal?" her Bade Papa inquired. Her father was sitting beside him. His nervousness manifesting in the form of intermittent zoning out, clammy hands, and a noticeable pallor.

Concern etched Ruhani's features as she asked, "Dad, are you feeling alright?" All eyes in the room turned to Sahib Shekhawat.

He took a deep breath before responding, "Yes, beta, I'm alright. Just a mild fever, I guess." He attempted a reassuring smile, though Ruhani couldn't help but notice her uncle's firm grip on her father's hand, silently offering support.

Angad, never one to cut words, interjected, "He gives me bad vibes."

Chahana, the composed voice of reason, countered, "But you can't judge a person solely on vibes, Angad."

"Angad, he's a reserved individual, and his childhood was ruined by trauma," Jashn defended his cousin. "We can't expect him to pretend to be cheerful all the time."

Angad wasn't one to back down easily. "But then how can we expect him to make Ruhani happy?"

Ruhani was taken aback by Angad's protective stance. It was unusual to see him so concerned for her. She pondered his question, realizing it was indeed a valid concern.

"Marriage isn't solely about making your partner happy, Angad," Chandni, Angad's mother, gently pointed out. "It's about understanding, support, and a willingness to grow together."

As the discussion continued, Ruhani felt a swirl of emotions within her. She couldn't deny that the proposal had taken her by surprise, and she was torn between the complexities of the situation and her family's well-being.

Finally, she decided to voice her thoughts. "I appreciate all your concerns and opinions. However, I believe that making a decision of this importance requires more than just words. I'd like to meet him in person, spend some time with him, and see if there's a genuine connection before making my decision."

With those words, Ruhani rose from her seat and gracefully ascended the grand staircase, leaving her family to contemplate the unexpected turn of events. The future held uncertainty, but she was determined to navigate it with an open heart and an open mind.

🕊🕊🕊

Two days had slipped by since the initial proposal discussion, and Ruhani found herself stepping into a posh restaurant where she was to meet Jodhbir. A sweep of her eyes quickly located him, sitting discreetly at a corner table, avoiding the prying gazes of onlookers. She approached him, offering a subdued greeting, "Hi," before taking her seat opposite him.

"Hey," Jodhbir set his phone aside on the table, welcoming her with a warm smile.

In an attempt to dissolve the initial awkwardness, Ruhani initiated a casual conversation, inquiring with a gentle smile, "How's life going?"

"Smooth," he responded, mirroring her smile.

Yet, despite their best efforts, an uncomfortable silence descended between them, leaving them grappling with the intricacies of pretending to be friends when they barely knew each other.

A young waiter came over, pad and pen in hand, and politely asked, "Can I take your order, please?"

Jodhbir took the initiative, "Yes, please. I'll have the lasagna. Ruhani, what would you like to eat?" he inquired.

"Chicken barbeque," she answered, opting for the first item she spotted on the menu.

The waiter jotted down their orders and informed them, "Your orders will be served in fifteen minutes," before departing, leaving them in another silence, which hung heavy between them.

Determined to break the ice, Ruhani decided to delve into the subject that had brought them together. "So... what was your reaction when Jashn Jiju proposed this alliance?" she inquired.

Caught momentarily off-guard, Jodhbir gathered his thoughts before replying, "I was surprised, to be honest. But upon some reflection, it didn't seem like a bad idea."

Intrigued by his response, Ruhani probed further, "Why?"

"Because I think I need a family. Sometimes I feel like this loneliness will drive me insane," he confessed candidly, breaking free from his usual veneer of friendliness.

Her curiosity piqued, Ruhani couldn't help but question, "But... why do you pretend to be so friendly when you seemingly want nothing to do with others?"

With a cryptic statement, he replied, "I simply pretend to be normal," leaving her bewildered.

Wanting to dig deeper, Ruhani carefully ventured, "Will you be comfortable telling me about your childhood?" She was aware of the delicate territory she was treading on, and her nerves were palpable.

With a polite refusal, Jodhbir replied, "No, maybe some other time."

"Alright, no problem," she nodded, empathizing with his reluctance. She continued, “Jodhbir, why did you have that picture of mine in your phone's gallery?”

Jodhbir smiled sheepishly, remembering the cuteness of the moment when he clicked that picture, “You looked adorable and cute. I couldn't help but capture that moment.”

“So you found it cute when I was licking my fingers?” She asked in surprise.

He nodded with a smile.

As they navigated the complex terrain of their budding acquaintance, Jodhbir suddenly asked, "So, are we meeting again?" His words took her by surprise, for she hadn't expected someone like him to exhibit genuine interest in this potential alliance.

"To be honest, I don't know. You are strange, and I'm not sure yet if I can handle your strangeness for my entire life," she admitted candidly.

"So, I conclude, we are meeting again."

Their conversation was momentarily interrupted by the arrival of their food. "Here's your order, sir and ma'am. Enjoy your meal," the young waiter stated as he placed their dishes on the table, then departed.

Ruhani's eyes sparkled with anticipation as she gazed at the delicious-looking platter before her, and she eagerly dug into her meal. Across from her, Jodhbir savored his lasagna.

During a pause in their meal, Jodhbir brought up another topic. "Umm... I'm attending a business party this Saturday, but there's a slight problem—it's a couple-themed event. Would you like to be my date for the party?" His eyes remained fixed on her, gauging her reaction.

"Okay, I do enjoy attending parties. Do you drink?" Ruhani asked, her genuine interest in social gatherings evident.

"I do," he nodded, curious about her line of questioning.

"How often?" she probed further.

"Depends on my mood, but it's a once-in-a-while thing," he replied before taking another bite of his lasagna.

"I hope you're being honest," she remarked, her curiosity piqued once more.

Jodhbir met her gaze with a playful smile as he responded, "When I'm angry or sad, I like to have strong drinks. When I'm partying or just chilling, I prefer beer or champagne. Does that count as honest?" His eyes held a hint of mischief.

Unfazed by his answer, Ruhani continued to delve into his past. "What about girlfriends?" she inquired, her curiosity undeterred.

"I had one in college and never dared to date again. It was a terrible experience. What about you?" he asked as he indulged in another bite of his lasagna.

"To be honest, it never occurred to me. I was either busy with studies or my family," Ruhani confessed between bites of her chicken barbeque.

"Nice to know," he blurted out.

"Why did you say that?" she asked, now genuinely puzzled.

With a shrug and a mischievous smile, he replied, "I don't know."

The rest of their lunch was shared in a comfortable silence, as both of them left with lingering doubts and uncertainties but also a growing sense of intrigue about the potential alliance that lay ahead.

•••

Thoughts 💭