Third person’s pov!

Two months passed by very quickly.

Vedant leaned back in his chair, letting the familiar hum of the coffee shop fill the silence between them. Dhruv sat across from him, nursing his espresso, a small grin playing on his lips.

“So?” Vedant broke the silence, folding his arms over his chest. “How’s it going, being the son-in-law of the illustrious Agnihotri family?”

“Don’t ask!” Dhruv groaned, though his smile widened as he spoke. “It’s all chaos.”

“Tough crowd?” Vedant chuckled.

“Tough isn’t the word. I have got brothers-in-law from hell, man! They act like I have no idea how to take care of my pregnant wife. Every single move I make is scrutinized!” Dhruv rolled his eyes dramatically, leaning forward as if to share a secret. “They genuinely believe they know better than me how to take care of my wife.”

“Karma, Dhruv. You have got no one but yourself to blame. Remember the hell you put Siddhant through just because he had the audacity to fall in love with your sister?” Vedant laughed out loud, shaking his head.

“Point taken. The universe does have a sense of humor.” Dhruv groaned again, rubbing the back of his neck. 

“So how is Shraddha?” Vedant asked, his tone softening.

“She is glowing.” Dhruv’s grin turned fond, the corners of his eyes crinkling with warmth.

“You are glowing more, Dhruv.” Vedant smirked. 

“Well, blissful marriage does that to a man, I guess.” Dhruv shot back, but his gaze sharpened as Vedant’s smirk faltered. The shift in his friend’s demeanor didn’t go unnoticed.

“Any news on Vaidehi?” Dhruv asked cautiously.

“Nope.” Vedant shook his head.

“Are you even trying to find her?”

Vedant let out a slow breath, setting his coffee cup down. 

“Not really. She left on her own. She didn’t want this marriage, Dhruv. I have to respect that. She was forced into it, after all.”

“But you always believed in the sanctity of marriage. Are you saying you have just moved on from the whole ordeal?” Dhruv’s brow furrowed.

“I don’t have answers for that.” Vedant’s voice was calm but resolute. “If it’s meant to be, we will cross paths again. And if we do, I am not letting go without a fight.”

“So you have already accepted her as your wife?” Dhruv studied him for a moment, his expression unreadable.

“What kind of question is that? I married her. She is my wife.” Vedant’s gaze hardened. 

“But you were forced into it—”

“No,” Vedant cut him off sharply. “If I wanted out, I could’ve been out of there in a heartbeat. I had my phone. All I had to do was call Karna, and he would have pulled me out. But that would have been like throwing Vaidehi to the wolves.” He paused, his voice softening. “You have no idea how her family treated her, Dhruv. If I had walked away, they would have killed her.”

“Killed her?” Dhruv blinked, startled. Vedant nodded grimly. 

“Honor killings still happen, Dhruv. Maybe not in our world, but in theirs? It’s a harsh reality. I couldn’t leave her to that fate.” He sighed, his fingers tracing the rim of his coffee cup. “I could have involved the police, sure. But how long would she have stayed safe? I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to her.”

“You are something else, Vedant Khoda. Protector of all mankind.” Dhruv leaned back, letting out a low whistle. 

“It’s not about that. It’s just... sometimes, you do what’s right, even if it costs you.” Vedant smiled faintly. 

“Yeah, some people aren’t so lucky when it comes to family.” Dhruv’s gaze turned distant, his voice quieter when he spoke again. 

Vedant knew Dhruv was talking about his own fractured family, and he didn’t push further.

“Anyway,” Vedant said, shaking off the tension. “I am not letting Vaidehi’s family off the hook. I hired a PI to track down the man who attacked her that day. I have got some very interesting information now. It’s just a matter of waiting for the right moment to crush Raghav Naik’s arrogance. He is going to sweat.”

“And Vaidehi? Did the PI find anything about her?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t ask him for any information regarding her.” Vedant admitted. “As I said, if we are meant to meet again, we will. And if that happens, I won’t give up without a fight.”

“Does anyone in your family know about your marriage?” Dhruv asked.

“Only Yug. If Maa or Dadi finds out, they will force me to find her and bring her back. I don’t want that.”

“Speaking of Yug, is he planning to return anytime soon?” Dhruv nodded slowly, then tilted his head.

“Not for a while, I think,” Vedant said. “Anyway, I have got my hands full. I am heading to college tomorrow. There has been an issue with students using drugs on campus. You know how dangerous that can be.”

“Be careful. Drug junkies can be unpredictable. Trust me, I have been there.” Dhruv’s face darkened slightly. 

“I can handle it. Don’t worry.” Vedant gave him a reassuring smile. 

“Just don’t play the hero too much. I would hate to have to step in and save your ass.” Dhruv smirked, but his gaze remained serious.

“Always ready to take on the world, Dhruv. Don’t worry about me.” Vedant chuckled, raising his coffee cup. 

“Good,” Dhruv said, lifting his own cup. “Because the world isn’t ready for two glowing married men to take it down.”

The conversation took on a lighter note until Dhruv’s gaze shifted toward the entrance. His expression twisted into something halfway between amusement and dread.

Vedant followed his line of sight, his brow raising as he spotted Drishti Maheswari and Siddharth Agnihotri entering the cafe. The two were mid-argument, their voices just shy of loud enough to disturb the tranquil atmosphere.

“Uh oh,” Dhruv muttered, sinking slightly in his chair. “The brother-in-law from hell and the chaotic sister-in-law. Just what I needed.”

“These two are joined at the hip, aren’t they? I always see them together.” Vedant chuckled under his breath.

“Their friendship is something else,” Dhruv admitted. “Honestly, I don’t know how I would have handled Shraddha having a friend who knows her better than I do. But Shravan manages it all so well. It’s actually fun to watch the three of them together. Shravan’s like the strict father, and these two are the naughty kids.”

Before Vedant could respond, Drishti spotted them and called out loudly, “Jiju!”

Dhruv groaned as she made a beeline for their table, dragging Siddharth behind her.

“Okay, Dhruv. Looks like your in-laws need your attention. I’ll get out of your hair.” Vedant smirked, standing and clapping Dhruv on the shoulder. 

“Ved, don’t leave me—” Dhruv began, but Vedant was already slipping away, ignoring his friend’s pleading look.

“Enjoy some family time,” Vedant tossed over his shoulder with a sly grin.

A/n

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SF❤️