Mandira was over the moon seeing her longtime crush Raghbir Ranavat in front of her eyes. Even Vidyut noticed the shift in her mood. But he let go of the thought and instead shared hugs and handshakes with his group of friends - Ansh, Shashank, and Adyant. Well, Raghbir was also present but Vidyut didn't consider that problematic guy as his friend.

“Meet my wife Mandira,” he introduced Mandira to everyone and she shook hands with the guys and also the ladies beside them. Shashank Agnihotri and his wife Miraya Yaduvanshi. They looked like a power couple. Mandira, for a fact, knew that the law students in Awadh worship Miraya as their goddess and the business students are fans of Shashank. Adyant Acharya, as Vidyut introduced him, was the owner of the club Kismet and his wife Kiran Anand... well, who doesn't know about her. The girl who killed her mother and was saved from the sentence because of her unstable mental condition. She was infamous in the entire Awadh. Next came Ansh Shekhawat, the cutie pie who was tall like Burj Khalifa and just looking up at his face could give you cervical. Hehe, just joking. Then, of course, the prince of her heart - Raghbir Ranavat. There was no excitement in Vidyut's voice as he introduced her to Raghbir, which made it clear to Mandira that her husband was not fond of her crush. But Mandira was so happy that Raghbir's wife wasn't present there. She didn't hate her, but it breaks her heart to think that her crush was happily married and he doesn't even know that there's a girl living in Mehergarh who is crazy about him.

But now that she was standing face to face with him, no words came to her lips. Somehow she felt embarrassed for crushing over a married man. And she didn't want to tell anyone about her crush. Not even Vidyut. So she crushed the feelings of the fangirl inside her and quietly sat down next to Vidyut.

Everyone was drinking alcohol, but Mandira politely refused when offered alcohol by a waitress.

“Are you comfortable?” Vidyut asked her in a hushed tone.

Mandira nodded with a smile while her eyes looked around in a hope to get a glimpse of Devika somewhere. But she didn't appear.

Soon Miraya and Kiran got up, going to meet their other friends and Miraya offered Mandira to join them. First, Mandira admired the way Miraya worded out even a simple sentence so elegantly. But then she refused. Because first, she didn't want to admit this but she was scared of Kiran and second, Vidyut was holding onto her waist tightly to not let her get up even if she wanted. Because she had promised to not leave his side even for a second.

“Her feet are already sore from wearing heels,” Vidyut gave an excuse to the girls, who nodded understandingly and left.

Mandira sighed in relief and leaned back against the plush sofa. Vidyut took small sips of the drink in his hand, careful to not get drunk though. But soon Mandira started getting bored. The guys were chatting among themselves. Even Raghbir left after he received a call from his wife that his daughter is not falling asleep without him. And with Raghbir gone, Mandira felt empty inside her heart. But she met her crush! And hopefully she will see him again during the wedding functions.

She rested her head against Vidyut's arm and closed her eyes.

“Aye, why were you looking at Raghbir like a fangirl?” But Vidyut's question forced her to open her eyes and look at him.

“Because I am his fangirl.”

“I'm quite disappointed at your choice of crush, Mandy,” He shook his head.

“Yeah, even I'm disappointed at marrying a-” A man who slept with his brother's wife. But she stopped herself before those words left her mouth.

But Vidyut understood what exactly she was about to say, “Marrying a? Complete your sentence.”

Mandira stayed quiet.

“You don't want to?” He wasn't exactly angry, just a little disappointed that she almost joked about his past mistakes.

“I'm sorry, my tongue just slipped. Almost,” Mandira apologized sincerely. Because she would herself hate it if Vidyut ever joked about how she ran away from their wedding.

Their eye contact got intense. But their intense moment was broken when a waitress accidentally dropped alcohol on Mandira's dress and Mandira accidentally ended up resting her hand on Vidyut's crotch, instead of his thigh. But she quickly pulled her hand back when she realised what she did.

The waitress began apologizing profusely, “I'm so sorry, ma'am. ”

“It's alright,” Mandira wasn't angry at all. The alcohol couldn't stain her black dress. She just needed to wipe it so the fabric doesn't feel sticky against her skin.

“Vidyut, I need to use the restroom.”

Vidyut nodded and guided her out of the party after waving bye to his friends. He led her to the corridor of the suite section and took keys from the receptionist sitting by the entrance.

“There's a hotel in this club?” Mandira asked in a surprised tone.

“Yeah, you know, people sometimes get horny while partying so they come here and...” But Mandira cut off his words.

“You don't have to complete the sentence.”

She knew she made him horny by touching him down there by accident. And maybe, just maybe, she will have to help him relieve himself down there.

✿ ✿ ✿

Devika reached the terrace but saw a guy leaning against the railing and smoking a cigarette. She sighed in disappointment and turned to leave. But she heard his voice.

“Hey, Devika!”

She turned around hearing her name. His voice was quite unique and could not be mistaken.

“Yuvraj ji?” She asked while trying see his face in the moonlight.

That ‘Ji’ after his name amused him. He quickly threw the cigarette on the floor and smashed it under his shoe before looking at her again, “Don't go. I'd like some company.”

Devika was skeptical. He was behaving how Suraj behaved around her earlier. Like a shy loverboy.

“Umm... no, I should leave,” And she began walking away only to be stopped by him again.

“I admit I fancy you. But please stay.”

Devika was taken aback by how easily he admitted about having a crush on her. Suraj took years to admit that.

Ugh, she needed to stop comparing them.

Going back to the party meant encountering Mandira and Vidyut, which she didn't want. And staying there with him meant... having a conversation about how and why he likes her. Though Devika had pledged to not date rich guys. But... a part of her wanted to know what made him fancy her. Especially, when they didn't interact at all. She could give it one try, at least. She walked towards the railing and stood next to him, her eyes focused on the full moon.

Yuvraj looked at her with a smile which expressed his happiness, but she didn't witness that.

They stayed silent for long moments. Yuvraj had a lot to say but he couldn't decide where to start. He didn't want to come off as arrogant. But he didn't know how to not sound arrogant when you know you are one hell of an arrogant man.

Devika's mind wasn't racing like Yuvraj's. She felt calm in the comfortable silence she was sharing with him. But then she felt the need to have a conversation with him. Just to know something about him. Even if it's only his age, or what book he read recently. Just anything about him.

“Why are you here? It's your best friend's Bachelorette party,” Devika asked him while continuing to stare at the full moon.

Yuvraj smiled and leaned against the railing, “I just saw someone I hate. But why are you here? It's also your cousin's Bachelorette party.”

Devika hesitated initially but then replied honestly, “I saw my best friend. We aren't on good terms anymore for some reason. So I'm avoiding her.” 

“Hmm, maybe we were destined to meet here. On the terrace,” He was smiling more than he smiled in the entire year.

“You should stop liking me. I'm skeptical of relationships now.”

“Why?” Devika imagined him frowning.

“I've had a fresh heartbreak. Even now I'm mentally comparing you with him,” and she felt guilty for doing that. Yet she couldn't stop her mind from doing that, if that makes sense.

“Tell me about him then. Why are you comparing us?” Yuvraj just wanted to talk to her, even if the topic was her ex-lover.

“I don't know. Both of you are totally different from each other. He is shy and reserved. He never confessed his feelings, but his actions told me what he couldn't. I only have good memories with him,” and her beautiful memories with Suraj began flashing in front of her eyes.

“Then why the heartbreak?” Now he was curious to know what went wrong in their love story.

“I ended things with him. His mother would have made my life hell if I had married him in the future,” Again, she replied honestly.

“That's... a brave decision. Choosing dignity over love,” He praised her.

“It wasn't that hard to leave him, which surprised me as well. A lot of things happened with me. Breakup was least painful among them,” Devika was surprisingly being way too honest with this guy, and it concerned her as well.

“Wow, you are like an open book. I was assuming you must be quite reserved.”

“I'm usually reserved. I don't know why I told you all this,” She had a cute frown on her forehead as she wondered when did she become so honest. Or maybe the guy standing next to her was a smooth talker. Or worse, a hypnotizer!

“Maybe the universe wants me to be your secret keeper,” Yuvraj smirked.

“My secrets aren't for you,” And she turned around to leave.

“I'll tell you mine, if you tell me yours,” He offered while looking at her walk away.

“Then tell me one,” She yelled without looking back.

“I no more fancy you,” He shouted and his words halted her steps.

“I have fallen in love with you. Right now. In this moment.”

Devika turned around and saw his handsome face shining under the moonlight. She was left speechless by his confession. But no words were needed to express her disbelief. She just walked away, unable to wrap her head around what just happened.

Did he just propose to her?

♧♧♧

Did he just propose to her? 😯
It was totally unplanned.

•••

This chapter was supposed to have a steamy scene 😁
But Devika and Yuvraj completed the word count without even me realizing that 🥰
So the steamy part will happen in the next chapter 😉

•••

Btw, Raghbir is Mandira's crush 😧
Guess who is Devika's crush? 😄

•••

Raghbir might visit your dreams if you vote on this chapter 🙃
He told me that before leaving the party, okay 😌