Hope you all like this chapter. Love you all so so much!

TARGET : 1100 VOTES, 270 COMMENTS.

Shivanya ~

The final day of the wager.

I had spent the last ten days trying to push Mr. Birdbrain away, resisting his every move, every little attempt to break down the walls I had carefully built around my heart but none of my attempts seemed like they were enough.

Maybe it was the way he looked at me, with such quiet intensity, or how he seemed to understand me in ways I didn't even understand myself. Or maybe it was the way he never gave up, even when I thought he should.

I hadn't seen Vihaan all day, and a part of me was grateful for the space. But another part of me, one I wasn't willing to acknowledge, kept waiting for him, wondering what he would do. Would he finally accept defeat? Or would he show up with one last grand gesture, thinking he could win me over?

I was sitting in my cabin with the laptop open for the past two hours, unable to focus. My brain kept revisiting the conversation with him from last night over and over again.

Unlike these past nine days, there was no note waiting for me on my desk from him today and neither did he come around, wanting to talk and tease like he usually did.

I pulled my drawer open, my fingers already reaching for one of the nine notes he had left me over the past days.

I unfolded one of the notes, reading it for what must have been the tenth time. "I am not going to give up on my chance of having a life with you, Sunshine. Not until you tell me that there has not ever been one single moment where I have given you butterflies."

I reached for another note. This one had a little doodle of a cup of coffee and a smiley face. Below it, he had written, "Coffee's on me today. I'll even pretend I don't know it's your third one."

A soft smile tugged at the corners of my lips. I hated that he made me smile like this. I hated that his notes, these simple, almost trivial gestures, were doing exactly what I had been trying to avoid, making me feel something.

I shook my head and closed the drawer, pushing the notes aside, as if hiding them away would stop them from affecting me. But deep down, I knew it was a little late late. Vihaan had already gotten under my skin.

Where was he today, anyway? The thought drifted in before I could stop it. He hadn't left a note this morning, hadn't shown up at my cabin with his usual self. There was this strange emptiness in the space he usually occupied, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

I checked my phone for the time. It was late afternoon, and I hadn't seen him at all. The usual banter, the light sarcasm, the teasing remarks—all of it was missing, and I didn't like how much I noticed.

I leaned back in my chair, letting out a sigh. Today was the last day of the wager. The thought should have filled me with relief, but instead, there was an odd tension building in my chest. The past ten days had been a whirlwind of emotions - anger, frustration, and something else I wasn't ready to name yet.

The bet had started off as a game, a challenge to prove that I wouldn't fall for his charms. But somewhere along the way, it had stopped feeling like a game. I had started noticing the way he looked at me, the way he listened when I spoke, the way he never pushed too far but always seemed to know when to pull back just enough to keep me on my toes.

And now, here I was, waiting for him to make his final move. Waiting for the grand gesture I was sure he had planned, the one he believed would be enough to win me over.

But Mr. Birdbrain wasn't the type to do what I expected, and that made me nervous.

Just as I was about to pack up and leave for the day, my phone buzzed with a message. It was from him.

Meet me at the park, you will not regret this.

With the message, this was a location link attached.

My heart skipped a beat seeing the location where he wanted to see me. It was the one place where Radhika and I used to go as a child, the one where our parents would take us to feed the ducks, where they'd push us on the swings and laugh as we squealed in delight.

I hadn't been there in years. Not since they passed away.

A lump formed in my throat. Why would he want to meet me there? What could he possibly have to show me?

I hesitated, my fingers hovering over the screen. I could ignore it. Pretend I never saw the message. But something in the pit of my stomach told me this wasn't just another one of his games. Something felt...different.

With a sigh, I grabbed my bag and headed out, my legs feeling heavier with every step I took toward my car. As I drove, the familiar streets blurred around me, but the growing unease didn't go away. Instead, it sat like a weight on my chest, tightening the closer I got to the park.

When I arrived at the park, my breath caught in my throat. There, by the swings, was Vihaan. But he wasn't alone. He was standing with an older couple—people I recognised immediately.

Sameer uncle and Vidhi aunty. My parents' closest friends.

"Aunty? Uncle?" I whispered, frozen in place. My heart skipped a beat, disbelief clouding my senses as I blinked to make sure I wasn't imagining it.

Aunty, with her soft, aging face and kind eyes, smiled at me, her arms opening wide. "Shivanya, beta."

I felt like a little girl again, standing in front of these two people who had been like second parents to me during my childhood.

Emotions hitting me like a wave. The last time I had seen them was during one of the hardest days of my life—after my parents passed away. They had flown all the way from the UK to Mumbai to help me and Radhika with the last rites.

I walked over slowly, as if in a daze, barely noticing Vihaan watching me from the side. My eyes were locked on Uncle and Aunty, who stood up to embrace me.

"We've been looking for you, beta," Uncle said, his voice thick with emotion. "When we came back to India, we went to your old house, but it was locked. We didn't know you had moved, and your phone number had changed."

I swallowed hard, guilt swirling inside me. I had changed my number after that time, after everything. It was too painful to hold on to old connections when I was trying to move forward. I never thought they'd come back looking for me.

"I'm sorry," I managed to say, my voice barely a whisper. "I didn't know..."

Aunty cupped my face with her hands, "Shh, it's alright, beta. We understand. We just didn't want to lose touch with you. We were worried about you."

Tears pricked the corners of my eyes, and I blinked them back, trying to stay composed.

"We recently moved back from the UK," Aunty explained, "It's been a long time, hasn't it?"

I nodded, my voice lost in the flood of memories. "The last time I saw you was... after Mumma and Papa..." I couldn't finish the sentence, my voice cracking.

Uncle stepped forward and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "We were heartbroken too, Shivanya. Your parents were like family to us. We tried our best to help back then, but when we left for the UK again, we couldn't find a way to stay in touch."

I bit my lip, trying to keep my emotions in check, but it was impossible. Seeing them, hearing them talk about my parents, brought back so much—the grief, the love, the loss. I had been so focused on surviving, on getting through the pain, that I had closed myself off from everything that reminded me of those times. But now, it was all rushing back.

Aunty pulled me into a tight hug, and I finally let the tears fall, unable to stop them any longer. "I missed you so much," I whispered into her shoulder.

"We missed you too, beta, how is Radhika? Vihaan told us that she got married just recently?" she asked softly, stroking my hair in that comforting way only mothers seem to know how to do.

"She did aunty and she is extremely happy." I told her with a smile.

"You have been such a strong person, my child," Uncle stepped a little closer, keeping his palm on my cheek and I could see a layer of tears in his eyes, mirroring my own.

Then, with a smile, I looked up to him and extended my hand towards him, closing my eyes.

"Sammy uncle, aren't you forgetting something?" I asked, peeking with one eye open at him, only to find a wide smile on his face.

"Sammy uncle can never forget Shivi special candies." He said the exact same words he used to earlier, putting a packet on my open palm as the three of us laughed.

When I finally pulled away, my gaze shifted to Vihaan. He was standing a few feet away, his expression unreadable, but his eyes... they held something I couldn't ignore. He had orchestrated this. He had found them, brought them here for me.

Why? Why would he go to such lengths for me?

"Thank god for Vihaan, he called Sameer up last night asking if we wanted to meet you and of course we were over the moon!" Aunty said, breaking my trance of thoughts.

Uncle smiled gently, "We've been trying to reach out to you for ages, beta. We want you to know that we are here for you now, if you ever need us."

"But how did Mr. Raichand know to contact you?" I asked, glancing over at him. He stood quietly, his arms crossed, but there was a softness in his gaze that made my heart flutter with confusion and gratitude.

"Ah, that's a funny story," He said, chuckling softly. "We were trying to find out how you were doing after all this time, so we reached out to some of your old friends and family. But guess what happened?" He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a fun whisper.

"We accidentally texted Vihaan instead of someone else! We were sending messages asking about you, and he got back to us almost immediately, wanting to help."

"And how do you know about him?" I asked, again.

"He represented me in a lawsuit in UK a few years ago. We won, of course." He replied.

We talked for some more time before they left with a promise that Radhika and I would go over to their place for the weekend for dinner and of course, we exchanged our contact numbers.

As they left, I glanced back at Vihaan who was standing some hundred meters away and my breath caught in my throat. His arms were crossed casually as he leaned on the tree, but there was nothing casual about the way he looked at me. It was a look that sent shivers down my spine.

For a split second, I hesitated, unsure of how to react but then I found myself running towards where he stood, everything around me blurring except for him. The distance between us closed as I sprinted across the grass, my heart pounding louder than my thoughts.

"Mr. Raichand..." I started, but my voice cracked, and I couldn't find the words.

But then, at the last moment, I stopped.

I couldn't do it.

The wager. The ten days. It all came rushing back, reminding me that this wasn't real. That I couldn't trust what I was feeling.

I stepped back, putting distance between us once again but Vihaan's expression didn't change. He didn't look disappointed or upset. If anything, he looked like he understood.

"I... I can't," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Vihaan nodded slowly, standing straight. "I know."

He stepped closer, his gaze never leaving mine. "I know you have been trying to keep me at arm's length, Shivanya. I know you don't want to think accept that there might be a possibility of us in our future. But today was not about any wager. This was not about winning or losing. It was about finding a chance to help you reunite with a piece of your past and perhaps about telling you that I understand you. And that no matter what happens, I am not going to walk away from you."

I stood there, staring at Vihaan.

Finally, I managed to speak, my voice low and uncertain. "Why did you do this?"

I tilted his head slightly, his eyes softening. "Because I wanted to. Because I knew it would mean something to you."

"But... you didn't have to," I said, taking a step closer without even realizing it.

Vihaan's gaze softened as he took a deep breath, his voice low and steady. "I didn't do it because I had to, Shivanya. I did it because I wanted to see you smile and if you are in my destiny, I will find another way to claim your heart in exchange of mine."

"Aap kismat mein vishwaas rakhte hain sir?" I asked, raising a brow.

("Do you believe in fate, sir?")

"Kismat hi hai meri," Vihaan's voice was a low murmur, thick with meaning, his eyes never leaving mine. "Jisne ittefaak se kal raat Sameer Gaur ko mere paas aapki tasveer bhijwayi." He paused, watching the flicker of confusion cross my face, but he didn't stop.

("It is my fate Shivanya, that last night Sameer Gaur accidentally sent me your picture.")

"Woh kismat hi hai," he continued, his tone taking on a soft, almost teasing lilt, "jiski wajah se aap aaj daudi chali aayi hain meri taraf."

("It is my fate that almost made you run right into my arms today")

His gaze was intense, piercing, as if daring me to deny what he was saying. "Toh aap hi batayein," he said, taking a slow step closer, the space between us shrinking, "ki kismat mein kaise na vishwaas karein hum?"

("Now you tell me, how do I not believe in fate?")

I stood there, caught in the intensity of Vihaan's gaze, his words wrapping around me like a warm blanket.

"Mr. Raichand," I started, but the words caught in my throat. "You make it sound so simple, but..."

"But it isn't," he interrupted gently, stepping even closer. "I know it's not. But that does not mean it's not worth dreaming for it, working for it and the most important of all, standing up for it."

I looked up at him, my eyes searching his face for something, anything, that would help me make sense of what I was feeling. But all I saw was sincerity. No teasing smile, no sarcastic quip—just the raw truth in his eyes.

His gaze softened, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of something vulnerable in his eyes. "Because, Shivanya," he said quietly, "I see you. I see beyond the walls you've put up, the defenses you cling to so tightly. And what I see is worth fighting for."

I swallowed hard, his words hitting me like a punch to the gut. It was everything I didn't want to hear, everything I had tried so hard to avoid. But there it was, laid bare in front of me, and I couldn't pretend it didn't affect me.

"You're going to really regret this, regret all the effort because honestly Mr. Raichand, I'm not worth it. Look at me." I took two steps away from him, finally taking my eyes away from him, trying to keep my tears in.

Why would he like me? I'm not beautiful, I'm not someone who is free spirited, spontaneous or any definition of fun. I am curvy and insecure about myself all the time and he?

Look at him. That's called the textbook definition of a man who is talked about in novels and movies, a man with whom women fall in love with.

I stood silent, letting my words hang in the air. I could see the shadows of concern and understanding flicker across his face. But I couldn't bear to lock eyes with him.

"Shivanya look at me." His voice was firm yet gentle, pulling me back from the spiral of my insecurities.

"You're asking me to look at you Sunshine? When do I not? When am I not looking at you? I don't even have to close my eyes to see your face anymore in your absence. You are in front of me every second of every day, even when you are not and you're saying that you're not worth it? You? If you are questioning if you are worth it, then I will have to question my whole damn existence Shivanya and I am not strong enough for that." His words sliced through my fears, leaving me raw.

"I should go, thank you again for today sir. I would be thankful to you for the rest of my life. But I really have to go now." I found myself saying and turning around.

Shivanya, wait," he said, his voice a low, urgent whisper as he reached out and grasped my wrist, stopping me in my tracks.

hesitated, my heart pounding in my chest. "Let go of me, Mr. Raichand, I really have to go."

He stepped closer, "If you're trying to run away from me, it's no use, Sunshine. You know it, and I know it."

"Don't," I whispered, but the tremor in my voice betrayed me. I was fighting a losing battle.

"There is no way I'm accepting your resignation letter tomorrow morning if you try to give me one," he continued, his grip firm but gentle. "Because you and I both know that tonight, I won and I am not talking about the wager even though you were about to throw yourself into my arms, and that counts for something."

My breath caught in my throat, and for a moment, I forgot to breathe. The thought of what could have happened sent a shiver down my spine.

"You cannot ignore this and I'm not letting you walk away from that just because you're scared." His eyes bore into mine, steadfast and determined.

I tried to pull my hand away, but he held on. "You think running away will make these feelings disappear?" he asked, his voice softer now, coaxing me to confront my fears. "They will not. They'll follow you. Just like I will."

With that, he slowly released my wrist, but the heat of his touch lingered, leaving me breathless and torn. I stood there, caught in the whirlwind of my emotions, knowing that he was right. Running away would only delay the inevitable. But could I let myself fall?