As soon as dinner ended, Hriday made his way toward Gauri’s room.
He wasn’t entirely sure what stirred within him—perhaps restlessness, perhaps longing—but he needed to see her. The family gathering had left him uneasy. Disha’s overt attempts at flirtation hadn’t gone unnoticed, and while he had been polite for the sake of appearances, it left a bitter taste.
It felt… wrong. Deeply wrong.
Especially because he belonged to someone else.

He gently pushed open the door—but the room was empty.

His heartbeat quickened, thudding louder with each passing second.

"I believe in you, Hriday."

He recalled Gauri's words from earlier, a whisper that had anchored him then.

Stepping back out, he spotted a maid.

“You there,” he called.

“Yes, sir?”

“Did you see Gauri?”

“Yes, sir. I saw her walking toward the pool area,” she replied.

Without another word, Hriday strode quickly in that direction.

He entered the garden, and his heart calmed the moment his eyes fell on her—sitting by the pool, her silhouette outlined in moonlight.

“Sweetheart...”

Gauri turned at the sound of his voice and smiled.

“I never knew you had a pool, Hriday,” she said lightly.

Hriday walked over and sat beside her.
“I forgot to mention. I’m not particularly fond of water,” he confessed.

“Is that so?” Gauri arched a brow.

He nodded. “Yes, sweetheart. But why are you out here this late?”

“I was getting bored in the room,” she replied simply.

“Is it because of what we talked about earlier?” he asked, concerned.

“No, not at all. I meant what I said—I believe in you, Hriday. That moment was just… a moment. I can't control such things. I only stepped out to get some fresh air.”

Hriday nodded, relieved.

“Then allow me to lighten your mood,” he said, pulling out his phone and showing her pictures. “Look—these are from Dadaji’s latest trip.”

Gauri laughed as she flipped through them.
“Standing on a rock at that age? Your grandfather is quite the adventurer.”

“He is, sweetheart. Wait until you meet him—you’ll see how energetic and mischievous he can be. But don’t be fooled, he’s strict too. He once took me on a long drive to Jaipur without telling anyone.”

“Seriously?” Gauri blinked.

“Yes! Mom and Dad went mad searching for me. They even called the police. Eventually, Jaipur police found us and informed my parents.”

She looked at him, eyes gleaming with amusement.

“How old were you then?”

“One year, maybe,” Hriday said with a grin.

Gauri gasped. “He took a one-year-old on a road trip?!”

“Yes.”

Hriday laughed aloud at her shocked expression. They chatted quietly for a while, until the cool breeze urged them back inside.

“Something feels... off,” Sanjana muttered, sipping her wine.

“Why, Bua?” Disha asked, perplexed.

“My dear niece, you’re far too naïve. Didn’t you notice him? Constantly glancing at his watch and smiling at his phone?”

“He probably had meetings. You know how work-obsessed he is,” Disha reasoned.

Sanjana shook her head. “There’s a difference between a workaholic and a man in love.”

“In love?”

Disha repeated, stunned.

“Yes. Mark my words—Hriday is in love. Maithili hinted at it too.”

“Hriday Singh Shekhawat... in love? No, Bua. He’s unlike other men. He’s never even looked at another woman.”

“Exactly. That’s how Shekhawat men are. When they fall, they fall hard. If he loves someone, you won’t be able to separate them.”

“Then how will I marry him?” Disha asked, panic rising.

“You will, Disha. Leave it to me. Your Bua is not done playing yet.”

Back in Gauri’s room...

Gauri adjusted the pillows, glancing at Hriday.

“Hriday, why do you keep coming here to sleep at night?”

He looked up from his book.

“Sweetheart, did you say something?”

“I said,” Gauri repeated, arms folded, “why are you always sleeping here? Don’t you have your own room?”

“I do, but I like being near you. What’s yours is mine, and mine is yours. Besides...” He hesitated.

“Besides?” she prompted.

“I have a little fantasy,” he confessed shyly. “You, in a red saree, sitting in the middle of my bed, with rose petals all around.”

Gauri blushed furiously and quickly turned off her bedside lamp.

“I’m sleepy,” she muttered, diving under the covers.

“But I was still reading!” Hriday protested.

She didn’t answer. He chuckled, watching her back.

“My shy sweetheart,” he whispered, as she shut her eyes tightly, too flustered to speak.

Next morning...

“Hriday, stop that—someone might see!”

“No one will,” he murmured, planting another kiss on her cheek.

Gauri was chopping vegetables in the kitchen, and Hriday stood behind her, arms wrapped around her waist, cheek to cheek, whispering sweet nothings.

“Go away, Hriday!”

“You taste sweeter than these tomatoes,” he teased.

“Hriday!” she hissed, hearing footsteps.

“Someone’s coming!”

Hriday quickly pulled away and started pretending to search the shelves.

“What are you looking for, my dear husband?” Gauri asked with a grin.

“You—!”

Hriday realized he’d been fooled.

She giggled and darted away. Hriday gave chase, catching her just as she turned a corner.

“Sweetheart, I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I just want to hold you forever.”

“Stop talking like a shameless teenager,” Gauri said, laughing as she wriggled free.

Later that day…

Maithili sat alone in the living room, a little forlorn. Hriday approached her.

“Mom, why are you sitting here all by yourself?”

“What else should I do? Your workaholic father ignores me, and my foolish son does too. I don’t even have a daughter-in-law to chat with.”

“Mom, seriously?” Hriday looked exasperated. “You just called me foolish.”

“And who else do I have to talk to? Helpers aren’t the same, Hriday. I want a bestie.”

“Isn’t Sanjana aunty free today?”

“She has a case.”

“I’ll talk with you, then,” he said, sitting beside her.

“Hriday, are you going to receive Papaji from the airport?”

“He asked for the driver instead.”

“Alright, I’ll tell Kamla to arrange it.”

Just then, Shikhar emerged from his study, visibly annoyed.

“Hriday, to the study. Now.”

Hriday followed him. Maithili watched with a knowing sigh.

It was business, she could tell. Their expressions gave it away.

She picked up her phone and resumed her chat with her best friend.

At the gate…

A sleek car pulled up in front of the Shekhawat mansion. Harshvardhan stepped out, followed by a young woman in a floral dress. She was slender, poised, and strikingly beautiful.

“Come, child,” Harshvardhan said warmly.

Maithili looked up from her phone.

“Papaji, how was your trip?”

“Very good, Maithili beta.”

A maid arrived with water. Maithili handed it to him, but her eyes were drawn to the unfamiliar young woman.

“She’s Rushali—my friend Amit’s granddaughter.”

“Namaste, Aunty,” Rushali said politely.

“Hello, beta. Please, have a seat.”

“What would you like to have—tea, coffee, juice?”

“Juice would be nice,” Rushali smiled.

“Ritu, bring some juice,” Maithili instructed a maid.

“So, Rushali, what do you do, beta?”

“I’m a fashion designer. I work in LA.”

“Oh, wonderful! You must give me some fashion tips.”

“Aunty, you don’t need any. Your style is already fabulous.”

Maithili laughed, pleased.

“She’ll be staying with us for a few days,” Harshvardhan added.

“I’ll have the guest room prepared.”

“Treat this house as your own, Rushali,” Maithili said.

“Thank you, Aunty. I’d love to explore the city with you—maybe we can hang out?”

“I’d love that too,” Maithili smiled. “I get bored here anyway.”

In the boardroom…

Only Hriday, Mayank, and Shikhar were present.

“Mayank, inform Mr. Jindal we’re pulling out of the deal,” Hriday said.

“Are you sure? It’s a strong offer,” Mayank replied.

“He has the best tech for the project,” Shikhar reminded him.

“I don’t trust a man who never shows up himself. He keeps sending his secretary. Does he think he’s too important to meet us? Mayank flew from Guwahati. And Mr. Jindal? Not even a courtesy visit. I hold 45% of the shares. Unless he shows up in person, the deal is off.”

“He might be shy,” Mayank reasoned.

“He may have personal issues,”

Shikhar added.

“During business hours? I doubt it. That’s final.” Hriday stood. “Unless he comes himself, this deal is dead.”

He walked out.

Mayank turned to Shikhar. “He’s… intense.”

“Just like his mother,” Shikhar smirked.

They both laughed.