Dhruv’s pov!

I don’t know when it happened or how, but something shifted in me. Every time I am around Shraddha, I feel this pull — this irresistible urge to be closer to her. It's madness, really, feeling this deeply for someone I barely know. Yet, every fibre of my being tells me not to let her go. To hold on tight and never look back.

She’s not like anyone I have ever met before. I can’t explain it, but whenever I am with her, the weight I have been carrying seems to lift, if only for a moment. She makes me forget why I am even here in the first place. Diya — my sister, the reason I came. She told me Shraddha was having an affair with Sid, that she was the reason for the cracks in their marriage. But every time I look into Shraddha’s eyes, I find it hard to believe it.

Shraddha doesn’t seem like the type of woman to destroy a family. She craves one too much for that. She’s spent her life searching for a sense of belonging, yearning for a family she has never had. Why would she ever want to break someone else’s home? It doesn’t make sense. But what if Sid’s the one who’s interested in her? That could be it — Shraddha might be completely unaware of his intentions.

If that’s the case, then marrying her is the only solution. It’ll make it clear to Sid that Shraddha is off-limits. She will be mine, and Diya’s home will be safe. It’s a perfect answer— tidy, clean. Or so I tell myself. But a part of me already knows that I am doing this for myself rather than for Diya.

Just as I start to drift deeper into these thoughts, my phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out and see Vedant Khoda’s name flash across the screen.

“Ved,” I answered, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. “What’s up?”

“Dhruv, man! You have been MIA.” Ved said.

“Just… busy,” I reply, leaning back in my chair.

“Busy, huh? I hope that’s code for making sure everything’s on track for our merger. We are going to be the hottest name in the wedding industry, and I don’t want anything slowing us down.”

“Everything is on track,” I assure him, though my thoughts are far from business right now. “Our teams are working through the final details. The collection launch is still on schedule.”

“Good.” His excitement is palpable, and normally I would be just as thrilled. But right now, my mind is elsewhere.

“When are you coming to Bangalore, then?” Vedant continues. “We need to go over the last few integration plans. I have got some fresh ideas for the line. We can talk about it over some beer.”

I paused, glancing at the courtyard where Shraddha had sat just last night. 

“I have got something more important at hand right now, Vedant.” I said and heard Vedant scoffing at that. 

“More important than the merger? What could possibly top that?” Ved asked, his disbelief evident in his tone.

“I am planning to get married,” I said, the words slipping out before I can stop them.

There’s a beat of silence on the other end. Then I heard him laughing. 

“Wait… what? You are joking, right? Dhruv Khuranna is getting married?” Ved asked.

“Not joking,” I reply, my tone serious.

“Holy—! To who? When did this happen? And more importantly, why am I only finding out about it now?” Ved asked in shock.

“It’s complicated.” I said, running a hand through my hair.

There’s a pause, then a sigh. 

“Dhruv, man… you have got to tell me what is going on. This doesn’t sound like you at all.”

“I know it doesn’t,” I admit. “But trust me, Vedant. It’s the right thing to do. It’s what I want to do.”

“Are you sure about that?” he asks, concern creeping into his tone. “Because it sounds like there’s a lot more going on here than you are letting on.”

I take a deep breath, realising how fast this is moving. 

“I am sure about it. It’ll solve a lot of problems.”

Vedant was quiet for a moment, then let out a low whistle. 

“Alright, if you are sure. But I am going to need a lot more details next time we talk.”

“You’ll be the first to know,” I promise.

“Damn right I will. And Dhruv?” Vedant adds, his voice turning serious again. “Just… don’t rush into anything you will regret later. Marriage is a big deal.”

“I know,” I murmur. “Trust me, I know.”

As I hang up, I stare at my phone for a moment, Vedant’s words echoing in my mind. Don’t rush into anything you’ll regret later.

But it didn’t feel like a rush. It felt like the only thing that made sense. It feels like the most right thing to do.

I stepped out of the room, my mind still lingering on Vedant’s words, but something else was pulling my attention now. As I moved into the hall, I caught sight of Sid standing near the living room doorway, watching something with an expression that immediately set me on edge.

My gaze followed his line of sight, and there she was. Shraddha. She was laughing softly, playing with Ansh, her face glowing as she engaged with him. The easy way she moved, the tenderness in her gestures — it all made her look more like a mother than a nanny. Why was Diya never seen with Ansh like this? What is stopping her from being with her child.

But it wasn’t just Shraddha that caught my attention. It was the way Sid was watching her. His smile wasn’t simply a smile. It held love and tenderness.

A surge of possessiveness hit me hard. It gripped my chest and coiled tightly around me. Sid had no right to look at her that way. She was mine. I didn’t even think, my feet already moving towards her, my body on autopilot as I crossed the room.

Before I knew it, I was standing in front of Shraddha, blocking Sid’s view entirely. The sudden movement made Shraddha look up, and the second our eyes met, she smiled.

That smile. It was enough to send a flood of satisfaction through me, but what followed next made it even better. A soft blush crept up her cheeks, turning her expression even sweeter. She hadn’t blushed like that while Sid was watching her. In fact, she probably hadn’t even noticed him. It was all for me.

"Dhruv," she said, her voice laced with warmth. "Everything okay?"

I nodded, my eyes not leaving hers, drinking in the pink hue on her cheeks. 

"Yeah. Everything is fine." I said, my heart quickening its pace just by hearing her voice. What the hell is she doing to me?

Sid cleared his throat behind me, breaking the moment. 

"Shraddha," he called, stepping forward. My lips thinned in annoyance realising that he was trying to butt in.

“Haa Siddhant ji..” Shraddha looked at him in a query.

“It’s dinner time for Ansh, isn’t it?” Sid asked, looking at his wrist watch.

“Oh is it? I didn’t realise. Come on, Anshu. Let’s have some yummy yummy food..” Shraddha said and took Ansh to the dining area.

“So, Dhruv? It’s been more than a week since you arrived. You have never stayed with us for more than two days in the past five years. What happened this time? No immediate business to attend to?” Sid asked in a casual tone, but I could sense the underlying tension in his voice.

He seems desperate to get me out of here.

“Why, brother in law? Already feeling burdened by my presence?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Of course no. I was just wondering. By the way, you look very friendly with Shraddha. What’s up with that?”