RICHA'S POV

Next morning

I had changed my outfit four times already.

A crisp white shirt with tailored trousers lay abandoned on my bed.

Next to it was a pastel co-ord set I'd convinced myself looked "professional but approachable."

Then there was a navy-blue formal suit that screamed corporate.

None of them felt... right.

"Why am I even overthinking this?" I muttered, staring at my wardrobe.

It was just a meeting.

Just a meeting with Pranav.

Five years.

Five whole years had passed since I'd last seen him, and somehow the thought of facing him again had me questioning every little thing what I should wear to how I should greet him.

Professional?

Semi-formal?

Western?

Indo-western?

Or...

My eyes landed on my favorite yellow chikankari kurta.

A smile found its way to my lips.

"Ethnic it is."

Within a few minutes, I was ready.

The sunshine-yellow chikankari kurta paired beautifully with a flowing white palazzo. Silver jhumkas swayed gently as I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. A touch of my favorite lip tint, a light spritz of perfume, my trusty tote bag filled with files and documents...

Perfect.

Or at least, good enough.

I took one last deep breath before booking a cab.

The ride felt unusually long.

The closer we got to the mansion, the faster my heart seemed to beat.

"Relax, Richa".

"You're here for work".

"Nothing else".

The cab finally stopped in front of the massive gates.

I paid the driver, adjusted the strap of my tote bag, and walked inside.

The mansion looked just as grand as I remembered.

A housekeeper guided me toward the dining area.

"They're having breakfast, ma'am."

The moment I stepped inside, the first person to notice me was Didi.

"Richa!" Riddhi's face instantly lit up.

"You're here! Come, have breakfast with us before you both leave for the meeting."

I smiled.

"Good morning, Didi."

My eyes immediately found Kush, who was happily sitting in his high chair.

"My little prince," I whispered, ruffling his soft hair before planting a kiss on his forehead.

He giggled.

I greeted Aryaman with a smile.

"Good morning."

And then...

He walked in.

Pranav

Dressed in a perfectly tailored charcoal-grey suit, he adjusted the cufflinks on his wrist as he entered the dining room with the effortless confidence that had always surrounded him.

Time stopped.

My breath caught.

For a second, I wasn't standing in the mansion anymore.

I was twenty again.

Watching him from the college corridor.

Stealing glances whenever he wasn't looking.

Pretending not to notice him while secretly noticing everything.

The way he laughed.

The way he spoke.

The way he carried himself.

Every memory rushed back at once, making my chest tighten.

Five years had passed...

Yet one look at him was enough to awaken feelings I had spent years convincing myself I'd buried.

"Good morning, Richa."

His voice snapped me back to reality.

I blinked.

"Oh... h-hello."

Brilliant.

I had actually stumbled over a simple greeting.

He offered me a polite smile, as though nothing unusual had happened.

"It's good to see you after so long."

"You too," I managed, hoping my voice sounded steadier than I felt.

Aryaman pulled out a chair.

"Come on. Let's have breakfast first. We can head to the office afterward and discuss everything there."

I nodded quietly and took my seat.

Throughout breakfast, conversations flowed naturally around the table.

Riddhi talked about Kush's latest antics.

jiju cracked jokes.

Kush demanded everyone's attention.

Pranav occasionally responded while checking something on his phone between bites.

I tried to focus on my food.

I really did.

But every now and then, my eyes drifted toward him before I quickly looked away.

Five years had changed him.

He looked more mature.

Sharper.

More composed.

And somehow... even more difficult to ignore.

Thankfully, breakfast came to an end before my thoughts could embarrass me any further.

Pranav stood, picked up his car keys and turned toward me.

"Ready?"

I tightened my grip on the files in my hands.

"As ready as I'll ever be."

Together, we walked out of the mansion and headed toward his office, where the real reason for my visit was finally about to begin.

_________________________________________________________________

👁️ AUTHOR's POV

Role

The conference room overlooked the city skyline through floor-to-ceiling windows.

A large screen displayed market reports, consumer insights, and sales projections for Pranav Group's newest venture.

Richa took a deep breath before opening her laptop.

The meeting had officially begun.

Pranav sat at the head of the table while Kabir, his personal assistant, occupied the seat beside him, occasionally taking notes and pulling up reports.

"So," Pranav began, "our product is ready for launch.

What we're lacking is a campaign that creates anticipation before the release. We don't just want sales—we want people to wait for it."

Richa nodded.

"I've gone through your previous campaigns," she said professionally.

"They're successful, but they're product-focused.

Consumers today connect with stories before they connect with products."

Kabir looked up from his notebook.

"So you're suggesting emotional marketing?"

"Exactly."

She clicked the presentation forward.

"Instead of revealing everything on day one, we'll build curiosity.

Short-form videos, behind-the-scenes content, influencer collaborations, interactive campaigns, and user-generated content."

She pointed toward the presentation.

"Social media will be our strongest weapon.

People trust people more than advertisements.

If we create enough curiosity before launch, your audience will do half the marketing for you."

Pranav listened without interrupting.

She continued confidently.

"We'll divide the campaign into three phases—teaser, engagement, and launch.

During the teaser phase, we reveal almost nothing. Just enough to make people ask questions."

Kabir nodded thoughtfully.

"And after that?"

"We start conversations. Polls. Interactive stories. Limited previews. Creator partnerships. We make people feel involved before they even know what they're buying."

For the next hour, strategies, budgets, timelines, and projections filled the room.

Richa answered every question with confidence.

Not once did she think about the man sitting across from her.

To her,

he wasn't the senior she'd once admired from afar.

He wasn't the man who unknowingly occupied years of her heart.

He was simply...

A client.

And she intended to give that client her very best.

The meeting finally came to an end.

Kabir gathered the files.

"I'll get these printed and schedule the follow-up meeting, sir."

"Perfect,"Pranav replied.

Kabir excused himself, leaving the conference room.

Silence settled between them.

Richa quietly packed her laptop into her tote bag, making sure every document was in place before she left.

Just as she reached for the zipper—

"How have you been, Richa?"

Her hands froze.

She slowly looked up.

Pranav wasn't speaking as the chairman of a company anymore.

He was speaking as someone who had known her years ago.

"It's been a long time," he said with a small smile.

"Five years, isn't it?"

"Y-yes..."

She cleared her throat.

"I'm doing well."

Doing well?

Really?

Her heart almost laughed at the lie.

How could she possibly explain that seeing him again had awakened memories she'd spent years trying to bury?

The countless times she'd watched him from across the college campus.

The silly crush that had slowly become love.

The love she had never confessed.

The goodbye she never got.

All of it came rushing back in a single morning.

"So..." Pranav said, leaning casually against the table.

"if you're free sometime, would you like to grab a coffee? We could catch up."

For a moment...

She almost said yes.

Just like she always had in college.

If Pranav suggested something, she never refused.

Never.

But that was another version of Richa.

The girl who believed love alone was enough.

She wasn't that girl anymore.

She smiled politely.

"I'd love to, but I should probably get started on your project. There's quite a lot to prepare, and I'd rather not delay it."

A faint flicker of surprise crossed Pranav's face.

Then he smiled.

"Of course."

He slipped both hands into his pockets.

"My mistake. Work comes first."

"I'm afraid it does."

"Maybe another time."

"Maybe."

She gave him a courteous nod, picked up her bag, and walked out of the conference room.

Only after the elevator doors closed did she finally let out the breath she'd been holding.

The moment she settled into the cab, she leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes.

Five years...

Five years without seeing him.

Without hearing his voice.

Without knowing anything about his life except the occasional headlines that appeared online.

And today...

She had spent nearly two hours sitting across from him as though he were just another client.

Life really did have a strange sense of humor.

She opened her eyes and looked out of the window as the city blurred past.

"No," she whispered to herself.

"This changes nothing."

Work was work.

Feelings belonged to the past.

She would keep it that way.

She had to.

Nearly an hour later, she reached her office.

It wasn't a huge agency.

Just a cozy workspace with three desks, a glass cabin, a pantry that barely fit two people, and walls covered with mood boards, campaign ideas, and colorful sticky notes.

Small.

But hers.

The moment she stepped inside—

"There you are!"

Before she could react, someone wrapped their arms around her.

"Preeti!" Richa laughed.

Her best friend, business partner, and self-proclaimed life manager finally let go.

"Where were you last night?" Preeti demanded dramatically.

"I called you at least ten times!"

Richa blinked.

"Oh... I wasn't feeling well."

"Hmm..."

Preeti narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"You? Ignoring my calls? That's illegal."

Richa chuckled weakly.

"I'll make it up to you."

"You better."

The conversation ended there as both of them settled into work.

This project was the biggest opportunity their young agency had ever received.

They couldn't afford mistakes.

At least...

That was what Richa kept telling herself.

Yet every few minutes, she found herself staring blankly at her laptop.

The cursor blinked.

The document remained empty.

Her thoughts drifted back to a familiar pair of eyes.

Again.

And again.

And again.

"Richa."

No response.

"Richa!"

"Huh?"

She looked up.

Preeti had folded her arms.

"You've zoned out at least six times in the last twenty minutes."

"I have?"

"You always lose yourself in work. Today you're losing yourself in your thoughts."

Richa forced a smile.

"It's nothing."

Preeti didn't look convinced.

But she decided not to push.

Not today.

Outside, the evening slowly settled over the city.

Inside, Richa tried to convince herself that meeting Pranav hadn't changed anything.

Deep down...

She knew she was lying.

_______________________________________________________________

The mansion, which had felt unusually quiet for the past few days, was finally filled with laughter again.

That morning,

Mr. and Mrs. Singh had returned to India after nearly three weeks of travelling across Europe.

Their flight had landed early, and by noon, they were home.

The moment the front doors opened, little Kush came running on his tiny feet.

"Dadu!"

Before he could reach them, Mrs. Singh bent down and scooped him into her arms.

"Oh, my little prince! Did you miss Dadi?"

Kush answered with an excited nod before immediately reaching for the shopping bags in their hands.

Everyone laughed.

"I knew it," Mr. Singh chuckled.

"He's more interested in the gifts than us."

"Just like his father used to be," Riddhi teased, earning an amused look from Aryaman.

Within minutes, the living room was covered with neatly wrapped gift boxes.

There were toy cars, storybooks, miniature suits, puzzles, chocolates, and even a tiny pair of sneakers that instantly became Kush's favorite.

"Thank you, Dadu!"

Kush exclaimed, hugging his grandfather as tightly as his little arms could manage.

Mrs. Singh smiled at Aryaman and Riddhi.

"You both look exhausted."

Aryaman sighed dramatically.

"That's because your grandson has enough energy for all four of us."

"I heard that!"

Riddhi laughed, nudging him lightly.

Mrs. Singh walked over and hugged Riddhi warmly.

"How have you been, beta?"

"I'm good, Mom. We all missed you."

"We missed you too."

After everyone settled down with tea and snacks, Mr. Singh looked around the room.

"Where's Pranav?"

Aryaman glanced at the clock.

"He had an important client meeting today. He said he'll be a little late."

Mrs. Singh shook her head with a smile.

"That boy... Always buried in work."

"He'll be home by dinner," Riddhi assured her.

"He called a while ago."

"Good," Mr. Singh replied.

"It's been weeks since we all sat together at one dining table."

Aryaman smiled.

"I'm sure he'll be happy to see both of you".

By the time dinner was served, the entire family had gathered around the long dining table.

The aroma of freshly prepared food filled the room as conversations flowed effortlessly.

Mrs. Singh kept adding more food to everyone's plates despite repeated protests

while little Kush happily sat beside Aryaman, proudly showing his new toys to anyone willing to look.

Just then, Pranav walked in.

"Sorry, everyone. The meeting took longer than expected."

"There he is!" Mrs. Singh exclaimed before pulling him into a warm hug.

"You've become impossible to catch these days."

Pranav smiled.

"I missed you too, Mom."

He greeted his parents properly, took their blessings, hugged Riddhi, playfully ruffled Kush's hair, and finally settled into his chair.

Dinner resumed.

For a while, the discussion revolved around business.

Mr.Singh looked at Aryaman

"So, how's the expansion project coming along?"

"It's progressing well," Aryaman replied.

"We've finalized the marketing agency, and if everything goes according to plan, we'll begin the campaign next month."

"Good."

Mr. Singh nodded approvingly before turning his attention toward Pranav.

"And what about you?"

Pranav looked up.

"My projects are on schedule."

"I know that."

His father smiled knowingly.

"I'm asking about something else."

Pranav immediately sensed where the conversation was heading.

"Oh no..."

Riddhi hid a smile behind her glass of water.

Aryaman simply continued eating, already expecting what was about to happen.

Mr. Singh folded his hands on the table.

"Pranav, you're twenty-eight now."

The dining table suddenly grew quieter.

"I think it's time we started looking for your marriage."

Pranav sighed.

"Dad..."

"No, let me finish."

He continued calmly.

"You know Mr. Reddy has been asking us for months now. He wants both families to meet. His daughter, Shaina, is well educated, sensible, and we've known their family for years."

Mrs. Singh nodded in agreement.

"They're wonderful people, beta. We've seen Shaina grow up. She's a lovely girl."

Pranav put down his spoon.

"I'm not saying she's not."

"Then what's the problem?" his father asked.

"The problem is..." Pranav exhaled slowly.

"I'm not ready."

Everyone looked at him.

"I've only just started expanding my work in India . There are so many goals I still want to achieve. Marriage isn't something I want to rush into."

"But you'll never feel completely ready," his father replied.

"Life doesn't wait for the perfect time."

Pranav shook his head.

"I understand that, Dad, but I don't think this is the right time."

Before anyone could speak, Mrs. Singh gently placed her hand over his.

"Beta..."

Her voice softened.

"Your father and I aren't getting any younger."

Pranav looked at her.

"We've always dreamed of seeing both our sons settled."

She smiled, though her eyes carried a hint of emotion.

"We want to see our grandchildren growing up while we're still healthy enough to enjoy those moments."

The table fell silent.

Even Aryaman looked at his younger brother.

Pranav rubbed the back of his neck.

"Mom..."

"You don't have to marry tomorrow," she continued gently.

"Just give this a chance."

He closed his eyes for a brief moment.

He hated it whenever his mother became emotional.

She knew exactly how to melt his stubbornness.

After a long silence, he finally spoke.

"...Fine."

Everyone looked at him.

"I'll meet Shaina."

Mrs. Singh 's face instantly brightened.

"But," Pranav added firmly, "I have one condition."

"What is it?" his father asked.

"If everything goes well... I don't want the wedding immediately."

He paused.

"I need at least six months."

"I have commitments, projects, and responsibilities that I can't leave halfway. If I do get married, I want to enter that phase of life with a clear mind."

Mr. Singh exchanged a glance with his wife before smiling.

"That's fair."

Mrs. Malhotra nodded happily.

"Six months it is."

His father laughed.

"Then it's settled. I'll call Mr. Reddy first thing tomorrow."

"He and Shaina can come over tomorrow evening."

Pranav gave a reluctant nod.

"Okay."

The conversation slowly shifted back to lighter topics, but deep inside, Pranav couldn't shake the strange feeling settling in his chest.

He had agreed.

But whether he was truly ready for what lay ahead...

Only time would tell.