K A I R A

I said yes.

I said yes to the love of my life when he bent to one knee in front of me.

"Why were you carrying this ring?" I teased, as we walked back into the room, hand-in-hand, the diamond ring shining on my engagement finger.

"Well, I had a good feeling that it might come handy, and it did," he said smugly.

"Ah!" I laughed, "You might be amongst the only boys to get a 'good' feeling about proposing his ex-girlfriend after they had a break up."

His hand, lingering on my waist, pulled me close to him. My eyes widened and I wriggled. We were almost on the door of the hall and although our parents were used to us being close, there were a lot of guests inside, and the one thing I hated a lot during marriages were gossip aunties.

Ofcourse.

"You think you'd say that you don't love me anymore and I'd believe that? Seriously?" He asked.

I timidly played with the buttons of his kurta.

"I'm sorry to tell you Kaira Singhaniya, but you're bound to me. I love you, and I'm not letting you walk away. You have anxiety? We deal with it. You feel depression coming back? We deal with it. Together. You're not a burden, and you're definitely not a liability. You are the love of my life and it'll be nothing but my pleasure to be able to help you in any and every way you allow me to. Are we clear?" He said, his voice strict, yet full of love.

I nodded, "But what about you, Krishh?"

"What about me, love?" He retorted.

"I spoke to Karan and...." my voice trailed as I noticed the anger in his eyes though he tried to mask it.

"Why would you speak to him?" He asked calmly.

"Oh, we were just two bestfriends catching up after long," I mocked back and then glared at him, "Of course he forcefully told me this, and as much as I would like that, hearing isn't voluntary. You can't shut your ears for a while. I had to hear. And now I'm glad I did because otherwise, I would have never known th...."

He cut my blabbering off. "Yes, what did he tell you?"

Impatient.

"That... after what happened years ago, and then you proved witness for me....," I said calmly, "Your family, they disowned you?"

He raised his eyebrows and tore his eyes away from me.

"But that's not possible, right? I've spoken t9 your parents and met your cousins and...." my voice trailed.

"It's... it's not that way. They didn't 'disown' me," he explained, "We just... had some differences. I live in a joint family, right? So my dad's brother, he was angry with me and he had a right to be, but my parents were not, they were proud that I chose the truth. But until everything gets better with time, my parents asked me to stay a little away from them. But, my parents love me and support me and so do my cousins. They all love you, you've met them..." He said but I cut him off.

"But not your parents," I say, "I've never met your parents, do they know about me?"

"You've spoken to them on the phone and FaceTimed, I spoke to them before buying the ring, ofcourse they know how much I love you. Hell, they love you too and they're so happy about us," he said, but I looked down, unconvinced.

"Kaira," he breathed, "You can't put all the years away because of one statement said by Karan. He was in jail, he doesn't know everything. You and I do. Have my parents ever made you think you are unwelcome because of the past?"

"No," I answered in a light whisper.

"Because they love you. They adore you like their own daughter. Even the time I called them to tell them I wanted to buy and a ring and a propose to you, first they were mad about why I called alone. They wanted to see you. Hell, they didn't even understand the logic of how I could have called with you and told them I'm proposing. And when I did, my mom said this is the best decision I've made in my life. They love you, and I don't give a fuck about my Uncle and what he thinks about us. If anything, he should be sorry to you. I don't know what else to say."

"Krishh," I pull on a smile, "I know your parents love me. And I feel very, very lucky to know them. My only concern is... why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you what?"

"That all of this happened. Five years, and not once you told me that you and your uncle aren't on good terms or anything happening?" I ask.

"Because it didn't matter," he shrugged.

"Seriously?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Yeah, you and I were happy. My parents were happy, your parents were happy. Fuck the rest of the world, why should I give a shit about them?" He argued.

"Maybe because they're family, and I know you. I know how much you love every single person who is close to you, and you've known them for most of your life. Ofcourse you were missing them and their absence hurt you, and you never told me... why?" I retorted.

"Because of this you see. You get guilty and you've been through enough pain because of my family. I couldn't let my uncle's stupid whatever come in way of your happiness. You've dealt with enough shit because of him and his son. I wasn't letting my shit come in way of your shit," he argued hysterically.

"When there's some shit in my life, if you have a right to know then I have right to know about your shit too. Your shit is my shit," I argued back.

"If that's what you want, we'll share shit," he blatantly agrees.

"Okay, this sounds fucking gross," I say as i laugh and in a brief moment, he laughs with me.

"God, I love you so much," he murmured, "And I can't live with the fear of losing you."

"Then you won't," I reply, "No more secrets between us, please."

"You're the one saying," he laughs, pulling me even closer and I rest my head on his chest as he wraps his arms around me.

"So now, who's going to tell my parents?" I ask, giggling.

"You," he says in an obvious voice.

"What?" My eyes widened.

"I told my parents, you tell yours," he repeated in the same obvious tone.

"You're not serious," I deadpanned.

"Absolutely am," he agreed.

"Whatever," I raise my eyebrows, "Maybe I'll just wait for them to see the ring themselves."

"And what if they don't?" He asked in a fake-panic tone.

"Then maybe I'll tell them by next year," I shrug as move away from him and walk inside.

He follows me in but before he could stop me, Aarav pulls me into the corner.

"Bored of your fiancé already?" I tease.

"Never," he grinned, "But what's up with you both? You followed him out and then you were long for so out?"

"Yeah...," I reply sheepishly and then raise my hand to show him the ring.

He stares at my hand blankly for a moment and I roll my eyes when realisation finally strikes him and then shouts.

"What the fuck? When?" He shouted and so many people looked at us. He apologises and then asks slowly, "The last I checked, you said you broke up?"

"Yeah, but remember I also told you I found a ring box in his cupboard in the morning today?" I ask and he nods, "So we patched up outside and then he got on his knee and asked. I couldn't say no."

"Did you want to?" He deadpanned.

"What?" I asked, confused.

"Did you want to say no?" He repeats.

"Ofcourse not. I love him," I reply instantly.

"And why had you broken up then?" He raised his eyebrows.

"Some secrets are best kept secret," I give him a smile.

"Whatever," he sighed, smiling, "I'm still glad you told me first. Now let's go announce it."

"Announce what?" My eyes widen, "Are you mad? No announcements happening whatsoever. It's your special day, and I hate attention. That's a win-win situation."

"But–" Aarav interrupted.

"No, shush it. And don't tell the girls, especially not your fiancé, she will not just announce it here, she's probably also announce it on Instagram and call up the media to tell them. I and Krishh will tell everyone together, later," I instruct him.

"Got it, ma'am," he laughs, "Anything else?"

"Yes," I remember, "When we tell everyone, please act surprised. Remember, even you didn't know about this beforehand. We promised to not have secrets amongst the group."

"Only if you tell me I'm your most favourite person in the group," he teased.

"Yeah, of course," I roll my eyes and he chuckled before walking back to his fiancé while my eyes tried finding mine.

My fiancé.

Wow.

The love of my life was now my fiancé.

I spotted him talking to my parents a few meters away and I walked there, wrapping my hand around my Dad's back.

"My parents," I gently reminded him with a smirk.

"I know, jealous bugger," he teased back with a even bigger smirk.

"Technically, we're his parents too," Mom smiled. My brows knitted in confusion. My dad added, "parents-in-law. Don't worry, we're not making you two siblings."

"You told them already?" I asked Krishh with wide eyes. "I swear to God you have no chill. I wasn't serious when I said I wouldn't tell till last next year. I thought we could tell them a little more privately when we have dinner tonight..." I teased, but I as actually very relieved. I didn't want to tell my parents myself. I don't know why, I get very awkward with such conversations.

"Tell us what?" My dad asked in confusion. Krishh smirked at me.

Shit. He hasn't told my parents a word.

Mom was quick and her eyes immediately went to my hand which was full wrapped around my Dad.

And then her reaction was pretty similar to Aarav's.

She screamed in excitement.

Dad was shocked as he stared at his wife. I moved away from Dad and quickly moved towards Krishh and he happily let me hide my face in his chest.

"Mr. and Mrs. Singhania, I am sorry I couldn't ask beforehand. This is not how I had planned anything to go at all... but, would you allow me to marry your daughter?" Krishh said with nothing but sincerity in his voice.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" My mom whisper-screamed as if she was the one asked.

"What if I say no?" Dad retaliated.

"Toh bhaga le jaunga," Krishh smirked at me.

"Then it's a yes," Dad grinned, "Do you want me to announce here or..."

"The dinner conversation sounds perfect. Perhaps I'd like to tell my family first too and I'm sure our friends would appreciate if they hear it from us before. Plus, Kaira hates attention of gossipy ladies," he teased me with the last line and I rolled my eyes.

"As you kids want," Mom grinned.

"Now can I get ten minutes alone with my fiancé?" I ask, finally lifting my head off his chest.

"Fiancé and all, hah? I like it. Go, go, have fun!" Mom teased as Krishh pulled me away and from
The crowd until we reached the balcony.

"So, fiancé, hmm?" He teased.

"Well, you proposed," I replied coyly. There were very few times I was actually shy.

"And I'm glad you said yes. I must be the only idiot who proposed on the same day that we broke up," he laughed.

"I'm sorry," I say, in a low voice, embarrassed.

"It's a tale I'm going to tell my children. You have to get used to being embarrassed by this story, fiancée," he teased.

"As you like it," I shrug, "But don't you think we're moving a little fast?"

"What? You don't want kids?" He teased, having fun watching me go red.

"I do, but now... this time is ours. So we let it be ours, and I'll appreciate if we stop talking about hypothetical future children," I reply, barely being able to contain my smile and he laughed loudly.

I took a moment to stare at his laugh.

Just in the morning, I felt guilty because I thought I was the reason his laughter was lost and maybe I'd never be able to see him smile this way again, not for me.

But all's well that ends well, they say.

"So I'm going to call you my fiancée from now?" He asked.

"I'd rather stick with sweetheart," I say.

"Me too," he raised his eyebrows, "You can be my girlfriend or my fiancée or my wife, but you'll always be my sweetheart."

"I can live with that," I flirt, nodding.

"Can you?" He kissed my nose.

"Always," I reply, looking up at him as his linger on mine.

"Always," he repeats, taking my breath away.

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