As Aarav called her name. Aadhya snapped out of the moment and turned away from the stranger—who still stood silent and unreadable. Her brows tightened, but she didn't press further. Fine. Stay mysterious. Mujhe kya?
She walked away in her bold, elegant stride and joined her brother. The grand living room had transformed into a royal engagement venue. Soft fairy lights danced across the walls, jasmine and rose petals floated in the air, and the sound of laughter echoed across the halls. It was a celebration in its truest form.
The engagement ceremony had begun.
Shanaya, glowing like a queen in her pastel lehenga, stood next to Dr. Veer Malhotra—her soon-to-be fiancé, a well-known cardiac surgeon from Delhi. They were the perfect couple. Calm, respectful, visibly in love.
Aadhya watched her sister from a distance—smiling politely, but somewhere deep inside, she didn't understand it.
Love?
Her mind whispered: "Isse kehte hai pyaar? Is this real? Or just another story that eventually fades?"
Shanaya had always believed in fairytales. She believed in soulmates, in promises made under stars, in forever. And Veer matched her beautifully in that dreamy belief. Their eyes spoke volumes even without words.
But Aadhya? No. She was different.
To her, love was just a beautiful lie, a distraction from goals, a feeling that demands too much, gives too little, and leaves scars when it ends. She believed no one in this world could love her more than her own family. Why chase something that doesn't last?
"People leave. Feelings fade. Family doesn't. That's the only truth I know," she had once told her brother.
And yet… somewhere tonight, something had shifted. That face she saw earlier. That stranger who made her heart skip, whose presence sent flashbacks she couldn't explain—it lingered in her thoughts like a stubborn storm.
Could destiny really rewrite what she believed?
Was it possible... that her past life was calling?
As the couple exchanged rings and everyone clapped, Aadhya smiled wide for the world—but her thoughts were far away. A spark of something unknown had ignited. Something old… and yet new.
And little did she know, her story was just beginning.
The story of a girl who didn't believe in love…
…until love remembered her first.
Aadhya's POV :
After the rings were exchanged and cheers filled the room, the engagement atmosphere turned warm and lively. Everyone was smiling, talking, laughing—celebrating love and family. The music was soft in the background, sweets were being served, and I stood beside my sister, enjoying the happiness on her face.
Suddenly, I heard my father's voice from across the room, clear and firm as always.
"Aadhya, come here."
I turned immediately.
Whenever Papa calls me like that during events, I know it's something important. I've always been his right hand when it comes to business decisions, deals, or first impressions. I quietly adjusted my outfit and walked over.
He stood beside a tall, sharply dressed man in his mid-50s, oozing class and charisma. As I reached them, Papa placed a hand on my shoulder with pride in his voice.
"Meet Mr. Rajeev Khandelwal. A very respected and powerful name in Rajasthan's business world. We're planning something big together, Aadhya. He might be our next long-term partner."
Of course, I had heard the name before. Rajeev Khandelwal.
I'd heard Papa mention him many times—one of the finest businessmen, reputed, strong-willed. I nodded respectfully and greeted him with a polite smile.
Before I could speak further, Mr. Khandelwal turned slightly to the side and said,
"Beta, come here."
That one moment… just that second…
Time felt like it paused.
As his son walked into view, my heartbeat weirdly skipped. My eyes widened just a bit—not too obvious, but enough to feel the air shift.
It was him.
The same guy.
The sweet shop guy.
The one I bumped into earlier.
The one who caught me.
He stood next to his father now, calm and confident. And I? I was confused. Angry. Embarrassed. And for some reason… unsettled.
He looked at me, a faint smirk tugging the corners of his lips like he was enjoying this way too much.
"Aap?" I mumbled under my breath.
What is he doing here?
Why didn't he tell me earlier?
And that's when my father, absolutely unaware of the drama bubbling inside me, smiled proudly and said,
"Aadhya, meet Shivaay Khandelwal. Rajeev ji's son."
Shivaay.
His name felt oddly familiar. Like I had heard it somewhere… before this lifetime.
I froze for half a second. My mind went blank.
But I pulled myself together and nodded slightly.
"Nice to meet you," I said, my tone cold yet controlled.
He smiled like he knew something I didn't.
"Nice to meet you again," he replied. Just loud enough for me to hear.
And just like that, everything changed again.
As I stood there beside my father, I kept my expression neutral, though my mind was in chaos. What are the chances that the same guy I bumped into earlier is now standing here, introduced as Shivaay Khandelwal? My Papa's new project partner's son? Unbelievable.
Mr. Rajeev Khandelwal looked at me with a proud smile and said,
"Just like you, my son Shivaay is also handling our business now."
He gave a soft laugh and added, "Actually, to be honest, the way our business is rising now—it's because of him."
I glanced sideways at Shivaay. He didn't react much. He stood there with a composed face, slightly serious, arms crossed. He had that CEO energy—the calm yet commanding kind. Cold. Confident. The type of man who walks into a room and makes people pause.
Shivaay Khandelwal.
Tall. Sharp. Too serious for someone his age.
Known in the industry already, and now he's also started his own company apart from his father's empire. I had heard the name before in business articles, but never connected the dots.
Mr. Khandelwal continued, looking between the two of us with interest.
"You both are young minds. Future of the business world. I told Suket ji"—(that's my Papa)—"let the kids talk. They'll understand each other better. Discuss the new project. Shivaay will explain the plan."
I raised an eyebrow at that. Talk? To him? Again?
But I nodded politely. My Papa looked at me proudly and whispered,
"He's impressive, na?"
I faked a soft smile, "Let's see, Papa."
Mr. Khandelwal then turned to Shivaay and said,
"Beta, tell her the details. Get comfortable. I want this project to be a smooth success."
And to my dad, "Suket ji, they'll take care of it. We can relax now."
Great. Now I was stuck with Mr. Sweet-Shop Stranger-turned-Business Tycoon.
As everyone slowly walked away into the crowd, leaving us alone again, I sighed and looked at him.
He smirked.
"Fate, huh?" he said quietly.
I crossed my arms, annoyed.
"Let's just get to the point."
Because this wasn't going to be easy.
Not when our souls had met once before…
Not when fire still lived in our flashbacks…
And certainly not when this cold businessman might be the very one my fate is tangled with.