A/N: Hey Readers! This story is for the Fanfiction Contest "Downtown to Love"

I've used the following prompts.

Prompt 2: Choose your desired Fandom but the plot should have a cupid.

Prompt 6: "long-distance are true until you meet someone better. And I found one... " the person said and turned to see..

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Word count: 2500 words

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"Life is a blessing, and love is a musing."

It's a blessing to have been born a human and to hold all the privileges that the Almighty has granted. It's beautiful if you open the eyes of your soul. Yes, the path might be hard and topsy-turvy, or it may seem like you can't pass through it, but you have to keep moving until you reach your destination.

And that is why it's said, "Zindagi ka dusra naam hi chalte jana hain."

That's quite true! Life is chaotic and peaceful at the same time.

*****

These are the thoughts of two young minds, two sisters — Siya and Shriya Arora. These two were born one year apart, which is why they have grown up close to each other. The two sisters got their good names from the divine goddess Lakshmi.

The girls' lives have changed since their parents were killed in a car accident five years ago. They sold their bungalow in Delhi and moved to Mumbai. Shriya and Siya now own a lavish 3-BHK flat in the metropolis. It's beach-facing and calm, as they like it.

Shriya is a journalist by profession. She works with the Inspire News and Media Agency. She works as an investigative journalist and is also in charge of the media agency's magazine. Currently, she's not involved in a project. She works for a magazine, and writing articles and gathering information from various sources is a huge task in and of itself. She enjoys it, without a doubt.

Siya is an IT engineer. She works in Mumbai for the well-known company Accenture. She's a manager at the company and leads many teams in the office. Also, Siya is lucky enough to have someone in her life.

It's a certain someone—Raghav Shekhawat, who's her colleague and friend. They've been in a relationship for two years.

That's how life is going for Siya and Shriya.

*****

It's a fine day, and Shriya is standing on the balcony, lost in her thoughts. Many thoughts are bubbling in her mind, and she's looking at the sea waves. A simple tap on her shoulder breaks her trance, and she finds her sister beaming at her. She passes a mug of coffee to her.

"Hm, so, what's on your mind?" Siya asks.

"Nothing! Random stuff!" Shriya replies in the same manner.

"Ah, please don't bluff me. I know, there's something on your mind. Spill it." Siya says, slapping her sister's arm.

"Siya, it's becoming difficult. You know what I am talking about, right?" Shriya looks at her sister.

"Yeah, I know, and you must move on!" Siya comments and sips her coffee.

"I don't know, Siya. Kabhi kabhi lagta hain, main galat hoon, toh kabhi lagta hai, ye sahi bhi hai. After all, it is love." Shriya says, looking at her sister.

"It looks good in stories, Shri. Let me tell you, if he cared about you, he'd have met you." Siya glances at her sister.

Shriya sighs. Her sister is right. He could've met her when he was here in Mumbai. He said that he has some urgent work and won't be able to meet her.

He's Rishi Singh. They met in London for some work. They fell in love, and he proposed, but their relationship became a long-distance romance. Siya never approved of it; she always felt that Rishi was only mocking Shriya.

"Shriya, you can see the difference for yourself; he didn't come even after you requested him, whereas Shreyas has been waiting for you for so long," Siya says, holding her sister's hands in hers.

Shriya agrees with her sister. Her birthday is in two weeks, and they have plans to celebrate with their friends and loved ones.

*****

Shreyas!

The name brings back a lot of memories for Shriya.

It happened a month ago when her sister planned and forced her to go on a blind date.

*Flashback Begins*

Shriya and Siya are getting ready when, out of the blue, the latter asks the former to go on a date. The proposal astounds the former.

"What is this, Siya?" Shriya rolls her eyes at her sister.

"It's high time, vo Rishi kisi kaam ka nahi hai, I am telling you." Siya makes a face. She doesn't like him.

"Siya! Please! I love him." Shriya sighed. She doesn't know how to convince her sister.

"Look, Shriya, I am telling you. Or if you say Raghav and I can arrange a blind date for you," Siya says.

Shriya glares at her sister, who keeps mum at the moment, but she has made a plan to find a blind date for her sister. She can't see her waiting for the person who doesn't pay heed to her.

They leave for the party, which is organised at Raghav's home. The party is in full swing when the sisters reach it. Raghav welcomes them, and they mingle with the party mood. The party is lit with all their friends, decorations, and good food. What else would one want? Shriya is adoring the decoration when someone taps her shoulder. It's Raghav.

He smiles at Shriya and talks with her. He also asks her to trust her sister's intuition.

Shriya gets that Siya has told him everything. She doesn't know what to say to him. Raghav assures her that she can share her feelings with him. He can't fill Siya's place, but he can be a good friend. Shriya is left in thought. She knows that she can't change Siya's mind. All she hopes for is a good step from her sister, since she's not interested in stuff like blind dates.

*****

The party ends on a happy note. The guests leave the house, and only Siya and Shriya are left. Raghav asks them to stay for the night and shows them the way to the guest room. Shriya is a little hesitant, but Siya is not. Well, she's been here many times, and this will be her home soon, she hopes. She loves him after all. Shriya moves into the room upstairs and leaves her sister and Raghav alone.

*****

Raghav and Siya move into his room. She walks into the bathroom to change her dress. Ten minutes later, she comes out, and she finds him sitting on the bed. She hugs him, keeping her head on his chest. They stay in the same position for many moments, and Siya later breaks the silence.

"Raghav, is what I'm thinking wrong?" she asks.

"No, Siya. It's fine. Let's play cupid for Shriya." Raghav agrees.

"But she's not ready, and I don't trust Rishi," Siya says, expressing her feelings.

"Alright, Siya. I will plan something for tomorrow. We will also get some alone time." Raghav says.

Siya looks at him while he kisses her head and asks her to rest for the night.

*****

Siya finds Shriya lost in her thoughts. She sits on the bed and keeps her head on Shriya's lap, which breaks her trance. She asks him to stop thinking about Rishi.

Shriya realises that her sister is correct. If Rishi loved her, he'd have come to meet her and talk about their relationship. but he didn't do so. These days, they're hardly talking to each other. She knows that it's high time to move forward. She sighs and dozes off.

*****

The next morning, Siya and Shriya go back to their home. The sisters go to the market to do some shopping, and they return home after having lunch. They take a nap, and Siya asks Shriya to get ready.

Shriya can't refuse her sister now. She knows Siya must have planned something exciting. She gets ready in a yellow churidar suit.

She leaves her hair open and does minimalistic makeup. Siya is mesmerised by seeing her sister. She compliments her and asks her to take a step ahead.

Shriya is unsure and nervous too. A blind date is not her cup of tea. But she's there; little did she know her life would change forever.

*****

Shriya reaches Hotel Sky High, where her sister has already booked a table for two. She asks at the reception, and a lady leads her to the table. A young, tall, handsome guy greets Shriya. He's dressed in a black shirt and off-white jeans. They introduce themselves to each other.

"I am Shreyas Singhania! And you?" He asks for a formal introduction.

"Shriya Arora." She smiles.

"I am glad to meet you, Ms. Shriya." Shreyas smiles at the lady in front of her.

"I am glad too. Do you believe in blind dates?" she asks him.

"Yeah, and that is why I am here in front of you." He smiles.

"Oh! So, have you ever been in love?" Shriya comes straight to the point.

"Ah, very straightforward!" Shreyas beams at her, and Shriya smiles.

"Yeah! Please tell me." Shriya asks.

"Love happens when you least expect it." He says.

"I have the same opinion,Mr. Shreyas," Shriya says, agreeing with him.

"That's great. I already felt that we would sync well. And here, a rose for the lady." Shreyas says this and presents a rose to her.

Shriya is awestruck but takes the rose, thanking him. They talk about various things, and somehow Shriya feels that this young lad is of her kind. Yeah, he's not into late-night parties like her; he loves to drown in his fantasy land. She's staring at him.

"Hello! Where are you lost?" He asks, snipping his fingers in front of her.

"You're different, Shreyas." She smiles, and he rolls his eyes at her.

"I mean it, Shreyas. Ab tak jo main sach samajh rahi thi, wo sach nahi tha. Aapse milne ke baad mujhe lagta hai ki har insaan ek sa nahi hota hain. You are different and sweet." Shriya smiles at him.

"Mutual feelings, Shriya." He smiles at her.

Shriya and Shreyas smile at each other. He is different from Rishi. He's trying to start the conversations; he's trying to make the environment comfortable for her. Moreover, he is being honest. This is what she likes about him.

Soonish, they have their dinner with light chit-chat. All the while, Shriya smiled and laughed with him. Indeed, she's having a good time. The date ended on a happy note.

*****

On the other hand, Siya and Raghav are in the same place, having their dinner. They're having their own good time. After dinner, the two are strolling around the garden when Siya's eyes fall on her sister, who is laughing. She tilts her head over to Raghav and thanks him.

"She looks happy. I guess the plan has worked. Shri is happy." Siya says.

"I planned it after all. " Raghav winks.

"I am glad; thank you." Siya thanks Raghav and touches his forehead with hers, and they share a soft kiss.

*Flashback Ends*

Shriya traces her past. Their meetings have increased since that blind date with Shreyas, and she has grown fond of him.

"You know you like him, Shri. Please tell me that you find Shreyas better than Rishi." Siya looks at her sister.

"You are right, Siya. Yes, long-distance relationships appear to be beautiful, but true love is when someone goes the extra mile for you," Shriya says.

"Now that you've realised it, what is your answer?" A masculine voice falls into the sisters' ears.

Siya and Shriya turn around, only to find Shreyas standing before them. Shriya is shocked to see him there. She walks toward him only to clarify that he's not her hallucination. He grabs her hand and kisses her knuckles, only to make her believe. Siya chuckles at that and begins to tease him. Shriya gazes at him. When they met a couple of weeks ago, he asked her if she wanted to move forward in their relationship, and she asked for some time.

He's talking about the answer to this question.

Shriya hugs him instantly. Silence has always been the language of communication between them. And he's got his answer.

******

The days pass by, and it's Shriya's birthday. Everything is well-organized to Shriya's liking. Their friends arrive, and soonish, the party starts. Shriya cuts the cake, and she is loaded with gifts.

Shreyas invites Shriya to dance, and she agrees. Raghav also follows his lead, taking Siya by surprise. All of them are enjoying themselves when the doorbell rings. The sisters glance at each other. They wonder about the guest at such a late hour.

Shriya moves to open the door, and Siya follows her. They're shocked to find Rishi at the door. Shriya didn't expect him, and she backstepped away from him.

"Shriya! What happened?" He asks.

"Rishi, why did you come here?" Shriya asks.

"It's your birthday! I planned to surprise you." Rishi smiles.

"Why? I mean, we've known each other for so long, and you chose today to give me a surprise! What happened to your promise last year? You promised me that you would be with me on my birthday?" Shriya questions him.

Rishi is shocked, and before he could answer, Shriya spoke again.

"I have been supportive, but you're not! I understood your life and, your work! But you didn't! Yeah, long-distance love is good, but not anymore." Shriya glares at him.

"Long-distance relationships are true until you meet someone better. And I have found one." She looks at Shreyas.

"Meet him; he's Shreyas! He's far better than you, Rishi. He travels long distances to be with me, unlike you. Can you please leave?" Shriya says, turning away.

Rishi stands dumbfounded at his place but leaves the house. Shriya looks at Shreyas.

"I am sorry for taking so much time. I have realised what you mean to me. You mean the world to me." She says it emotionally.

"Hey, I knew you would realise it soon. I love you too." He pulls her into an embrace.

Siya smiles looking at them, and at the same time, Raghav hugs her and kisses her cheek, taking her by surprise.

"Please say yes!" He says it naughtily.

"Propose me, then I will think." Siya chuckles.

Raghav glares at her, and Siya giggles. She knows he has been her helping hand. Now that Shriya and Shreyas are together, she's thankful to him. But she wants a special proposal.

"I love you, Mr. Raghav! But I need a proposal!" Siya chuckles and pecks his lips and runs in the other direction, and Raghav follows her.

*****

Shriya looks at Shreyas as they stand on the balcony. She's thankful to him for being patient and waiting for her. He cups her face and kisses her forehead.

"I felt you were different the very first time we met. I did what a loyal and caring partner should do." Shreyas says.

"And I am thankful to the Almighty for sending you my way. I love you, Shreyas!" She confesses her love.

She hugs him, resting her head on her chest. Finally, they've found the true love that they'd been searching for.

Love has happened to them at the right time, with the right person.

**THE END**