"Some first meetings are less about beginnings and more about awakenings — a part of you stirs that you didn't know was asleep."

A few days later...

"Taani, wake up now, it's already 10 in the morning," her father's soft voice broke through the haze of her dreams, his gentle hand resting on her head, rousing her from sleep.

She smiled, feeling a rush of warmth fill her heart. 'Coming back home feels like such a blessing,' she thought, her eyes fluttering open to meet the sight of her father's smiling face above her.

"I missed you, Dad." she whispered, a sigh of contentment escaping her lips as she grasped his hand tightly, savoring the moment.

These were the moments she missed the most—when her father treated her like his princess, and she could lose herself in the love and protection he always offered.

"I missed you more, mera bachcha," her dad replied, his voice thick with emotion, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.

He hadn't realized how much he missed waking her up. "Teri baatein, teri hasi, tere nakhre, sab kuch miss kiya humne." (Your conversations, your smile, your tantrums, we missed everything.)

"Aww, Papa, don't make me cry now," Taani said, blinking back tears of her own, her heart swelling at the affection. "Aur mere konse nakhre?" (And what tantrums are you talking about?)

Her father chuckled softly, teasing her as he recalled their moments together. "Mumma mujhe ye nahi khana, Papa mujhe movie dekhne jana hai, Amma bhaiya ko bolo na mere liye ye manga dein, Chachi, please mere liye chai bana do, aap sabse achchi chai banate ho! Haan, tu kahan hi nakhre dikhati hai?" (Mom, I don't want to eat this, Dad, I want to go watch a movie, Grandma, tell brother to buy me this, Auntie, please make me tea, you make the best tea ever! Yeah, sure, you don't throw tantrums at all.)

Taani's face flushed with embarrassment, but her father's teasing only made her smile wider. She swatted at him playfully as she finally sat up. "Haan haan, samajh gaye. Ab taane maarne ki zarurat nahi hai!" (Alright, fine, I get it. No need to taunt me now.)

Her father smiled affectionately, cupping her face in his hands. "Tumhe kabhi koi taane nahi maarega meri bachchi, aur kisi ne kabhi himmat bhi ki aisa karne ki, to fir unhe mai khud dekhunga." (No one would ever taunt you, my child. And if anyone ever dares, they'll have to deal with me.)

Taani smiled softly, her heart swelling with love for her father. He was her protector, her strength, the one person who would always stand by her side. "Aap chalo, hum taiyaar hoke aate hain thodi der mein," she said, getting up with a warm smile. (You go ahead, I'll be ready in a while.)

As she walked into the bathroom, she couldn't help but reflect on the depth of her bond with her father. He was everything to her.

She had already decided that she would only marry someone who could treat her with the same love, respect, and care as he did—or no one at all.

Taani stepped out of the shower, feeling relaxed and refreshed. She ran her fingers through her damp hair, her mind already on the task ahead: picking out an outfit.

After a quick glance through her wardrobe, she settled on a white crop top paired with light blue jeans that were ripped at the knees—an outfit that had become her go-to for casual comfort.

As she made her way downstairs, she was already prepared for the inevitable comment from her grandma. 'Every time,' she thought with a smirk.

Sure enough, as soon as her grandmother laid eyes on her, the words tumbled out. "Ye kya fati hui jeans pehen li hai tumne?" (Why are you wearing these tattered jeans?)

Taani, though accustomed to her grandmother's fashion critiques, rolled her eyes with a grin. "Fati hui nahi, Amma, ise 'ripped jeans' kehte hain." (It's called 'ripped jeans', Grandma.) She settled into her seat at the breakfast table, trying to suppress a chuckle.

Her brother, always quick to join in the teasing, added from beside her, "Ek hi matlab hai dono ka." (It's one and the same.) Taani shot him a furious glare, already bracing for the sibling war that was sure to follow.

"You shut up," she snapped, nudging him sharply with her elbows. Avi, ever the troublemaker, retaliated by tugging at her hair.

"Oww, bhaiya!" she cried out, slapping him on his upper arm. Not to be outdone, Avi quickly grabbed her wrist and twisted it in retaliation, causing Taani to yelp in pain. "Amma! Dekho na bhaiya kese mera haath mod rahe hain!" (Grandma! Look at how he's twisting my hand!)

Sumitra, who had been sitting quietly, turned at the commotion. "Avi haath chhodo uska!" (Avi, leave her hand!) She ordered, her voice firm. Avi, startled by the sudden scolding, released her arm with a pout, though not before giving her one final shove.

Taani shot him a mocking glare. "Amma ki laadli. Khud mai to koi dum hai nahi, bas Amma Amma karti rahegi pure din." (Grandma's darling. Doesn't have a spine of her own, just keeps calling out to Amma all day long.)

Taani stuck her tongue out at him, already feeling the satisfaction of getting the last word, even if it wasn't the most mature move.

The rest of the family watched the exchange with knowing smiles, shaking their heads in disbelief. 'Ye dono kabhi bade nahi hone wale,' (They're never going to grow up) thought Siya, looking at the sibling rivalry with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

Dhriti, who had been trying to get Kiki to finish her cereal, sighed deeply. "Kabhi kabhi lagta hai mai do do bachcho ko paal rahi hu." (Sometimes I feel like I'm raising two children.)

Avi, ever the mischief-maker, leaned over and whispered in a teasing tone, "Don't forget I gave you that child!" He couldn't resist.

Dhriti gasped, her face flushing with embarrassment. "Avi, shut up!" she snapped, slapping him on the forearm in frustration.

The playful chaos that surrounded Taani was comforting, a reminder of the love and closeness that defined her family. Even if they drove each other crazy sometimes, there was no place like home.

Taani had just taken a sip of orange juice when her grandmother's words hit her like a brick.

"Ab teri shaadi ki umar ho rahi hai beta, ese kapde achche thodi na lagte hain ab." (Now you're at the age of getting married, these kinds of clothes don't look good on you anymore.)

Taani immediately choked on the juice, coughing violently as the words echoed in her ears. Her father quickly rushed over, patting her back to help her breathe again, his touch gentle and reassuring.

Marriage was the last thing on her mind right now. Yes, it was something she'd probably do eventually, but definitely not now, and not with this much pressure!

Once she regained her breath, her voice was laced with confusion. "Kaisi shaadi? Kiski shaadi?" (What marriage? Whose marriage?)

Sumitra, clearly thinking that the time had come to start nudging the topic, replied, "Teri shaadi aur kiski? Tum to ese kar rahi ho jese tumhari kabhi shaadi hi nahi hogi." (Your marriage, who else's? You're acting like you'll never get married.)

Taani, now fully recovered, couldn't hold back her frustration. "Amma itni bhi kya jaldi hai hum abhi 24 ki hi to hain." (Grandma, what's the hurry? I'm only 24!)

Sumitra, with a glint of mischief and maybe some impatience, replied, "Haan aur meri shaadi 16 saal mai hi ho gayi thi." (And I got married when I was just 16!)

Taani shot back without missing a beat, "Haan to aapko apni mummy se bolna chahiye tha, hume kuch nahi pata, hum abhi shaadi nahi kar rahe hain." (Yeah, well, you should've talked to your mom about it. I don't know anything, I'm not getting married right now.)

Her voice was firm, and despite her playful tone, the message was clear: she wasn't ready.

Siya and Ranveer exchanged concerned glances. Both of them, though aware of the pressures surrounding their daughter, weren't ready to push her into marriage either.

"Taani theek hi to keh rahi hai maa, itni bhi kya jaldi hai shaadi ki, aakhir abhi to uski padhai puri hui hai, ab wo kuch din humare saath bhi to rahe." (Taani is right, Mom, what's the hurry with marriage? She just completed her studies, let her stay with us for a while.) Ranveer's voice was calm but firm, patting Taani's hand affectionately. He was on her side in this, and Taani felt a wave of relief wash over her.

Her grandmother's silence spoke volumes—she wasn't happy but knew better than to push any further, especially since Yuvi had yet to reply, and there was no immediate rush anyway.

Taani took a deep breath, grateful for her father's understanding. For a moment, she allowed herself to feel a sense of peace. As much as she loved her family, they still had a way of making everything feel like a big deal.

Soon, the family settled into breakfast, the familiar sounds of clinking plates and casual chatter filling the air.

"Aaj ka koi plan?" (Do you have any plans for today?) Ranveer asked, sipping his tea and eyeing her over the rim of his cup.

Taani shrugged a bit cluelessly. "Abhi breakfast ke baad mai Sid se milne jaungi, uske baad ka pata nahi." (I'll meet Sid after breakfast, but after that, I don't know.)

"That good-for-nothing, stupid friend of yours, who doesn't know anything other than ogling at girls." Avi's voice was laced with teasing, and Taani couldn't help but laugh.

"He doesn't ogle, he just likes to admire them, that's it." Taani said, half-joking, fully aware of Sid's reputation as the playful, flirtatious type. She had to admit, Avi wasn't completely wrong.

"Usse kehna ghar aaye kabhi, jabse tum gayi ho ek baar bhi ghar nahi aya hai." (Tell him to visit sometime. He hasn't been over even once since you left.) Grandma chimed in, her tone warm. Taani nodded, knowing exactly why Grandma was so fond of Sid. He'd been around for years, he was more like family now, and his easygoing nature always put her at ease.

Taani took a final gulp of her orange juice, barely touching her food. She was meeting Sid soon for breakfast, after all. "Achcha mai chalti hu, bye." (Okay, I'm heading out now, bye.)

"Dhyan rakhna apna!" (Take care of yourself!) Avi called out as she practically dashed toward the door.

Taani's heart lightened as she stepped outside, eager to meet Sid. No matter how much he flirted or ogled at girls, she knew the goofy side of him all too well. He could always make her laugh, and his friendship meant the world to her. 

In fact, she almost regretted not letting him come with her, though she'd insisted there wouldn't be enough time for them to hang out. But the truth was, she missed him more than she'd let on.

Taani arrived at the café, finding it empty save for a few scattered patrons. Sid wasn't there yet, so she slid into a seat in one of the center tables, quickly texting him to hurry up or else she'd leave. Of course, they both knew she was just kidding.

Meanwhile, Yuvi was sitting with Rishi and his best friend Karan Ahuja, when Rishi nudged him and gestured toward the entrance. 

A girl stood there, scanning the café. Yuvi's gaze immediately locked onto her. After seeing her photo more times than he'd dare to admit, he immediately knew exactly who she was: Tanisha Mittal. 

The girl his grandma was trying to set him up with. 'She's even more breathtaking in person,' Yuvi thought, unable to tear his eyes away. 'That photo didn't do her justice... not sure any camera could capture her beauty.'

His eyes darted around, and he realized he wasn't the only one watching her. Other patrons turned their heads too. But Tanisha seemed completely oblivious to their attention, her focus solely on finding the person she was meeting. When she didn't spot anyone, she chose a seat in the middle of the café, right near their table, and began texting.

"Isn't that Tanisha?" Rishi asked, breaking the silence. Yuvi just nodded, a strange sort of tightness in his chest he couldn't quite explain.

"Woah! She's a real beauty. Who is she?" Karan asked, clueless about the tension brewing under Yuvi's cool exterior.

Yuvi's fingers clenched around his cup, but he knew it wasn't worth hiding anything. Irrational jealousy or not, he'd let Rishi tell Karan, though he wasn't exactly thrilled about it.

"She's Tanisha Mittal. Who our dear grandma wants Yuvi to marry," Rishi said, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he enjoyed his brother's reaction.

"Don't tell me you said no!" Karan widened his eyes, feigning shock.

"I haven't thought about it yet," Yuvi replied curtly, not eager to reveal anything else.

"Wow. From a straight 'no' to 'I haven't thought about it yet'? Improvement, bro, I like it." Rishi grinned, clearly enjoying this moment too much.

Yuvi glared at him before muttering a sharp "Shut up." He turned back toward Tanisha, his gaze involuntarily softening when he saw her again. 

But just then, the café door opened, and a man in sunglasses stepped inside. His hair was slightly disheveled, but he had an air of confidence as he walked right up to Tanisha.

He opened his arms, and she jumped into them, laughing as he lifted her into a hug. The sound of her laughter was so loud that it filled the entire café, but neither of them seemed to care.

"I missed you, Sid," Taani said, grinning as she pulled away from the hug and looked him over, her face lighting up at the sight of her best friend. Sid still had that goofy grin, his hair as messy as ever, dressed to impress. Of course, the girls nearby couldn't help but stare.

Yuvi's jaw tightened. 'Even her voice sounds melodious,' he thought, unwilling to acknowledge the strange pang of jealousy gnawing at him.

"Not more than how much I missed you, cutie pie," Sid replied, ruffling her hair affectionately. Taani swatted his hand away, scrunching her nose at him in mock annoyance.

"Ugh, how lame," Yuvi muttered, barely interested in their conversation, but the knot in his stomach told a different story.

Rishi exchanged a knowing look with Karan, both smirking at the scene unfolding before them.

Taani sat down, and Sid tried to pull the chair out, only for it to remain stuck. He tugged a few more times before finally speaking.

"It seems to be stuck, would you mind coming here to take a look, cutie pie?" Sid said, flashing her that trademark grin.

Taani rolled her eyes, amused but not fooled. "That's like the oldest trick in the book," she said, leaning back in her chair. "I'm not coming over there to pull the chair out for you, princess. Just sit the fuck down!" She couldn't help but mutter, "Chivalry is seriously dead."

The café patrons laughed at her sharp retort, including Rishi and Karan, while Yuvi raised an eyebrow, surprised. 'So little Miss Mittal swears as well... Interesting,' he thought, leaning back in his seat, unsure of what to make of this.

Sid laughed along, taking the joke in stride. He pulled out the chair and sat down, removing his sunglasses and picking up the menu. "So what are we eating, Ms. Mittal?"

"Oh, I know him. He's Siddharth Mehra, the only heir to Mehra Enterprises. I've crossed paths with him a few times at parties. The guy's a total playboy, lives up to his reputation, but he's fun to be around," Karan said, recognizing Sid as he took in the sight of him.

Yuvi narrowed his eyes, taking in Sid's carefree demeanor and the way he and Taani were interacting. For some reason, it irritated him. They looked completely at ease with each other—laughing, joking, and bickering about what to order. 

Yuvi had been hoping Sid might be her boyfriend, someone to take the pressure off him when it came to rejecting the marriage proposal. But now, knowing what Karan had said, Yuvi didn't like the idea of Sid being a part of her life any more than he had to be.

They were still chatting away almost an hour later, their conversation never ending. It looked like they hadn't seen each other in years, and the thought of that made Yuvi uneasy. 

He wondered what it would be like to talk to her like that, to share his thoughts with her, to hear her voice as she spoke passionately about something. The image of her eyes sparkling as she gestured animatedly filled his thoughts, and Yuvi found himself liking it a bit too much for his comfort.

He decided to meet and get to know her, while he had a chance to do so without the possible prospect of marriage, hanging over their heads. "Come on, introduce your friend to us, Karan," Yuvi finally said, standing up and making his way over to Taani's table. Rishi and Karan followed him quickly.

Taani felt someone standing next to her and looked up, only to find herself staring at quite an attractive man. His expression, however, was anything but welcoming. 'Mr. Grumpy,' she thought with a small, amused smile, her eyes lingering on him longer than she intended.

Before she could say anything, someone cleared their throat.

"Hey, Sid, I'm Karan, remember me?" Karan called out from behind the quiet man.

Sid jumped to his feet, grinning widely as he gave Karan a hearty hug. "Of course, Ahuja! How could I forget you? The last party was a blast, man! We need to do that again soon," Sid said, his voice filled with enthusiasm. Taani rolled her eyes—of course he met him at a party, that was Sid for you, always a social butterfly.

"These are my best friends, Yuvraj Singhania and his younger brother, Rishiraj Singhania." Sid continued, gesturing to the two men standing nearby. Taani's eyes lit up with recognition at their last names.

And Yuvi didn't fail to notice how she curiously turned around to look at him and Rishi after Karan's introduction. "Nice to meet you guys," Sid said, shaking their hands. He turned to Taani. "This is a close friend of mine, Tanisha Mittal."

Taani smiled politely, nodding her head in greeting. But before she could say anything, Karan stepped forward, took her hand in his and planted a kiss on it.

Taani blushed, caught off guard by his forwardness, but mumbled a soft, "It's nice to meet you."

Yuvi's eyes darkened at the display, his hand twitching. He wanted to strangle Karan right there. He didn't know why, but something about the gesture made his chest tighten in frustration.

"The pleasure's all mine, to meet such a pretty lady like you," Karan said, flashing a flirtatious grin at her.

Sid immediately pulled Taani's hand back, his protective gesture not going unnoticed by either of the men. "Lay off a bit, dude," Sid said with a smirk, making it clear that Taani wasn't interested in Karan's advances.

"May we join you guys?" Rishi asked politely, his tone casual but expectant.

Taani hesitated for a moment before nodding, still processing the new dynamic at the table. Sid moved to sit beside her, while Yuvi and Karan took the seats across from them. Rishi sat between them, with Taani on his right and Yuvi on his left—and directly in front of Taani.

They settled in, the tension palpable. The waitress came by to take their order, and they all decided on one more round of coffee before continuing the conversation.

"I think I met your family a few days ago. You both are Aadesh uncle's sons, right?" Taani asked, her curiosity piqued. Rishi nodded in agreement.

"I didn't know they were going to meet you guys, or else I would've joined them," Rishi said with a friendly smile. Taani offered a polite smile in return.

"So, what did you talk about?" he asked, leaning forward slightly.

"Nothing much. He mentioned that Yuvraj is heading the company right now, while you're learning and working under him," Taani replied, recalling the conversation she'd had with Aadesh the previous day. Yuvi couldn't help but notice how her voice softened when she said his name—it sent a pleasant jolt through him.

"Yeah, I'm still getting the hang of it," Rishi said, sipping his coffee. He seemed at ease, the playful atmosphere lingering around him.

"He even suggested I join the company," Taani added, her eyes flicking toward Yuvi for a moment.

"That would be wonderful. You should totally do it!" Rishi exclaimed, flashing her a grin. "I think it'll be fun to have you around. And just so you know, I'm awesome company to be around."

Taani grinned back, already feeling at ease with Rishi's lighthearted charm.

"What about you, Tanisha? What do you do right now?" Yuvi suddenly asked, his voice sharp, and his tone made her jump a little.

'Oh my God, even his voice is as sexy as his looks,' she thought, a small frown forming as she refocused.

"I just finished my MBA. Still waiting on the degree, though," Taani replied, meeting his eyes.

Yuvi nodded, his attention fully on her now, a hint of interest in his eyes. "Planning on working anytime soon?"

"Not right now. Maybe sometime in the future," she replied thoughtfully.

Yuvi's expression darkened slightly, though he tried to keep it neutral. 'Knew she didn't want to work and sit at home all her life,' he thought bitterly.

"Of course, why would daddy's little princess want to work?" Yuvi's sarcastic comment sliced through the conversation, and the table went quiet. The air around them suddenly shifted, Rishi glanced at him with a look of disappointment.

Sid, sensing the shift, opened his mouth to say something but stopped, knowing Taani could handle herself just fine.

Taani, however, seemed unfazed. She picked up her coffee cup, took a sip, and then, without missing a beat, replied calmly, "That was simply rude and uncalled for."

Yuvi's brow furrowed slightly, but he kept his gaze fixed on her. Taani's lack of reaction to his comment only made him more irritated, though he couldn't deny the flicker of guilt that followed.

'If only a pretty face guaranteed an equally pretty personality as well. What a waste!' Taani thought to herself, her irritation bubbling up. After that, she chose not to engage with him, which only made Yuvi more uncomfortable, though he didn't show it.

The conversation continued on, with everyone but Yuvi enjoying the lighthearted exchanges. As the minutes ticked by, he couldn't help but notice that Taani didn't mention the marriage proposal even once. 

In fact, she hadn't even recognized him when he first walked up to her. Maybe, he mused, her family hadn't told her about it yet.

Despite the pleasant flow of conversation, Yuvi's mind remained preoccupied with his own assumptions. He was still convinced that Taani was just another spoiled rich kid, someone who would rely on her husband after marriage and had no interest in building her own career.

"So, the Malhotra twins are throwing a birthday party next week. You coming?" Karan asked, nudging Sid with his elbow.

Before Sid could even respond, Taani cut in with a teasing smirk. "Of course he is. As if he'd ever pass up a chance to drink and flirt with girls. Never!"

Sid placed a dramatic hand over his heart. "Aww, Taani partner, you wound me! You know my eyes are only ever for you." He reached out, pinching her cheek playfully.

Taani swatted his hand away with a glare. "Sid, I swear—touch my cheeks again, and I'll break your fingers. And please, spare me your flirting, or I might just vomit right here. I honestly don't know how girls find you attractive."

Laughter erupted around them, but Sid gasped in mock offense. "Taani, how could you? My poor heart!"

"You'll live," she deadpanned.

Just as Sid was about to retort, he decided to turn the teasing up a notch. He shot Taani a cocky grin. "Don't be so mean, partner. After all, I'm your future husband."

The words were said in jest, but the impact was immediate.

Yuvi's easy stance stiffened, his jaw tightening as his dark eyes narrowed dangerously at Sid. Rishi, sitting beside him, noticed the shift in his brother's demeanor and widened his eyes slightly.

"Wait, you guys are getting married?" Rishi asked, trying (and failing) to sound nonchalant.

That was the final straw—Taani burst into laughter, clutching her stomach as she doubled over. Tears formed in the corners of her eyes from laughing so hard.

Yuvi, despite himself, found his gaze lingering on her. The way she threw her head back, the way her whole face lit up, just like how he had seen her in that photo—it was captivating. He hadn't seen someone laugh so freely in a long time.

Taani finally caught her breath and shook her head. "He wishes!" she declared, still chuckling.

Sid let out an exaggerated sigh, pressing a hand to his chest. "You wound me, Taani partner. Truly."

But behind his playful pout, Yuvi caught the briefest flicker of something else—a hint of sadness, quickly masked by Sid's usual charm. 

That moment of melancholy was enough for Yuvi to realize something: Sid wasn't just joking. He actually had feelings for Taani.

Yuvi inhaled quietly, almost relieved when Taani dismissed Sid's antics with an eye-roll. For a reason he wasn't ready to admit, he didn't like seeing Sid so close to her.

Taani stretched her arms with a satisfied sigh. "Alright, I'm heading home. See you guys later."

She turned, wrapping Sid in a tight hug. Yuvi's fists clenched by his sides, though he kept his expression neutral.

"And it was nice meeting you all..." She paused, throwing a cheeky glance at Yuvi. "...two of you, at least."

Rishi and Karan chuckled, while Yuvi narrowed his eyes at her remark. She simply grinned.

As she stepped away, she turned to Sid once more. "Oh, by the way, Amma was asking for you. She said you haven't visited her since I left."

Sid's teasing demeanor softened. His voice was quieter when he said, "Mai aata hoon ghar." (I'll visit soon.)

Taani nodded, giving him one last pat on the arm before heading toward her car. Sid walked her there, saying something that made her laugh again before she finally got in and drove off.

Yuvi watched her leave, the lingering warmth of her presence still hanging in the air. He hadn't decided on anything yet, but one thing was clear—he didn't like the idea of anyone else being this close to her. Not even Sid.

Hello my lovely readers!!!🎀

Well, that escalated quickly, didn't it??

I loved writing their first real interaction — and let's just say, this is only the beginning.

Mr. Grumpy is jealous, Sid's being a flirt, and Taani? Oh, she's just out there stealing scenes like a queen!

So... what do you think?

Was Yuvi being protective or just plain rude?

Is Sid just joking around—or is there more to his feelings than he's letting on? 

Let's hear your theories! Drop them below! 

Don't forget to vote and comment!

You guys know how much I love hearing your thoughts — seriously, your reactions keep this story alive!

Shukriya and lots of love!✨

Until next time,

-Your Author

Exquisite🕊️