Reyansh Oberoi had been out of the city for an important business trip for almost a week.
Work had kept him constantly busy. He was caught in a non-stop loop of big corporate meetings, presentations, and client calls. He barely had time to breathe. His phone had not stopped ringing for days. Every ring felt like another heavy demand on his time.But while he was busy winning business deals, his world was falling apart back home.
Four days ago, his mother had collapsed. Without any warning, her health broke down, and she was rushed to the hospital.The family had decided to lie to Reyansh. It was a planned silence.
Everyone knew how important this business trip was for the family company. They decided his work was more important than his right to know the truth. They treated him like a machine that could not afford to lose focus.
But on the fourth day, the guilt became too heavy for Vikram, his father.Reyansh deserved to know. Vikram could no longer carry this terrifying fear alone.
That evening, Reyansh was sitting in his hotel room. His desk was covered in business files. The air conditioning was freezing. Suddenly, his phone buzzed on the wooden desk.
The screen showed one word: Dad.He answered immediately, his mind still half-buried in his work.
"Hello, Dad."Silence followed. It was a heavy, scary silence that instantly made Reyansh feel uneasy. A knot formed in his stomach before his father even spoke.
"Reyansh..." Vikram's voice sounded old and tired.
"Nandini was admitted to the hospital four days ago."The world lost its sound. Everything inside Reyansh froze.
The papers he was holding slipped from his fingers and fell to the carpet. The tough businessman vanished, leaving behind pure panic. His face turned dark with disbelief.
"What?" he said sharply.
He stood up so fast that his chair crashed backward into the desk.
"What do you mean four days ago?""She collapsed suddenly," vikram continued.
His voice was terrifyingly calm-the kind of fake calm people use when they are trying not to cry. "The doctors are treating her. She's stable right now, but..."
He paused, taking a sharp breath. "I think you should come home."
Rage, hot and blinding, flooded Reyansh's veins. It was the only way his mind could fight the sudden, paralyzing fear of losing his mother. He ran a frustrated hand through his hair, gripping the roots until it hurt. His eyes turned bloodshot.
"Why the hell wasn't I told earlier?" he snapped, his voice echoing off the cold hotel walls. He felt betrayed by his own family.
"We didn't want to disturb your work-"
"It can wait!" he roared into the phone.
The business meant nothing if his mother was not there.
"My mother is in the hospital, and you worried about work?"His voice dropped, turning dangerously cold.
The anger did not leave; it just turned into ice. Without wasting another second, he grabbed his car keys."I'm leaving right now."
"I'm leaving right now."
He hung up before his father could offer another excuse. Within minutes, Reyansh threw his clothes into a bag, walked past the hotel staff, and strode out to his car. His bodyguards had to run to keep up with his long, furious steps.
The drive back to the city was pure torture.His knuckles turned white as his hands gripped the steering wheel tightly. The black car screamed down the highway, cutting through the night.
His mind was a storm of angry thoughts.Why did they hide this? Did they think he was that cold? That he cared more about money than his mother?What if she had died while he was signing a contract?For the first time in years, Reyansh felt the terrifying feeling of helplessness.
He was a man who controlled billions, yet he could not control his mother's health. Every red light on the road felt like a personal insult. Every slow driver was an obstacle.His vision narrowed.
The world outside his window became a blur.And that was exactly why he almost hit a girl crossing the road.A flash of a white top..Reyansh slammed his foot on the brake. The tyres shrieked loudly against the road. The smell of burning rubber filled the air as the heavy car stopped just inches away from her knees.
The girl-Aadhira-stumbled back, her eyes wide with shock. Reyansh rolled down the window, his chest heaving, his face twisted in fear and anger. He did not see a person; he only saw a delay.
"Are you out of your mind? Look where you are walking!" he shouted, his voice shaking with the stress of the last hour.Aadhira recovered from her shock and shot back with fierce anger.
"Speeding through a city street does not mean you own the road! You could have killed me!"
Reyansh did not have the time or patience for an argument. He did not care about her shock or her anger. His mother was hooked up to hospital machines.
"Get out of the way," he said, his voice dropping into a low, scary tone that warned her not to push him. He gave her one last cold look, rolled up the window, and hit the gas, leaving her behind.When the car finally stopped outside the hospital entrance, Reyansh did not wait for anyone.
He threw the keys at the valet and burst through the glass doors.The smell of medicine and sickness hit him hard. The quiet, tense atmosphere of the corridor made his chest feel heavy and tight.As he reached the floor where his mother was, he saw his family waiting outside.
Vikram stood near the window, his shoulders slumped as he spoke in low whispers with the doctor. Yatin sat stiffly in a chair, his face completely blank and serious. Meera sat nearby, her eyes red, her hands folded tightly as she prayed under her breath. Myra paced the floor nervously, her shoes clicking loudly, while Aryan sat in quiet silence.The moment Reyansh's heavy footsteps echoed down the hall, everyone looked at him.
"Reyansh," Vikram said, walking toward him.Reyansh walked past his father's hand, stopping right in front of him. "How is Mom? Give me the truth."
"The doctors are watching her closely," Vikram replied, his voice cracking slightly.
"The biggest danger has passed. She's stable, but her heart is very weak, Reyansh. She needs absolute rest."
Reyansh did not answer. He could not look at his father without feeling deep resentment. He turned around and pushed open the heavy door to his mother's room.
The room was dim and very quiet. The only sound was the steady, electronic beep of the heart monitor. It was a terrifying sound-a machine counting the seconds of his mother's life.
His heart clenched painfully. Nandini Oberoi looked so small.The strong, graceful woman who always ran their household with a smile was buried under white hospital blankets. Her skin looked pale and fragile under the lights.
Reyansh slowly walked over. The tough mask of the businessman completely broke. He sat down on the stool beside the bed, his large frame looking bent and broken.
"Mom..." he said softly, his voice trembling.Nandini opened her eyes slowly. She was heavily medicated, but when she saw his face, a faint smile touched her lips.
"You came," she whispered.A wave of painful guilt washed over him. Of course I came.
"You should have been the first person to tell me," he said, his voice thick with emotion. He gently took her hand. It felt cold and thin.
"Don't talk. Just rest. I'm here now."But her weak fingers tightened around his hand with sudden desperation.
"No... Ansh. Listen to me. The doctors think I have time, but my body knows better."
"Maa, stop it," Reyansh cut her off, his jaw tightening painfully as he fought back tears. He could not handle this. He could handle a corporate war, but he could not handle his mother talking about dying.
"The doctors know what they are doing. You are going to be fine."
"Let me speak," she insisted, her voice barely a whisper but full of urgency. "I've been lying here thinking about everything. About what really matters. You are alone, Ansh. You have the company, you have the money, but you have no one who truly belongs to you."
Reyansh frowned, a bad feeling settling deep in his chest. .
"I don't need anyone."
"You remember the promise our family made years ago..." she went on, ignoring his words. "Your grandfather's word. Your childhood engagement."Reyansh's face hardened.
His mental walls went right back up. "Mom, this is not the time for old stories."
"It is not a story," she whispered, her grip tightening even more. Her eyes locked onto his. "The girl... Aadhir.mujhe meri bahu dede. "
The name Aadhira made him freeze. For a split second, the image of the girl from the road flashed in his mind-the fierce, stubborn look in her eyes as she stood her ground against his car. But he dismissed it instantly. It was a common name. Just a coincidence.
"Maa, please," Reyansh pleaded, feeling frustrated.
"Marriage? Now? I am running a massive business. I don't have time to be a husband to a stranger."
"Ansh..." A tear slipped from the corner of Nandini's eye.
"I don't know how many days I have left. If I go into surgery next week knowing you are all alone, I won't find peace. Do this for me. Let me see you settled. Let me know someone will hold your hand when I am gone."
Reyansh looked down at their hands. The silence in the room was heavy.He felt trapped. It was an emotional trap, but it was set by the woman he loved most in the world.
To say no to her right now felt like it would break her heart and kill her. If her stress levels went up because of his stubbornness, and she passed away... he would never forgive himself.
His own freedom was a small price to pay for his mother's life.After a very long pause, he let out a slow, defeated breath. He nodded.
"If this gives you peace," he said quietly, the words feeling heavy in his throat, "then I'll meet her. I'll keep the promise."
Relief washed over Nandini's face immediately. The tension left her face. She smiled softly, her eyes closing as the medicine made her sleepy.
"Thank you, Ansh..." Within seconds, she fell into a deep sleep.Reyansh sat there for a long time, staring at her. Then, he stood up and walked to the large window, looking down at the bright city lights below.
He felt like a man who had just given up his freedom. He was going to marry a girl from his past-a girl he did not know, did not care about, and would probably resent.
He had no idea that the very girl he had almost crushed on the road hours ago was the one whose name was now tied to his future.
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After the terrifying sound of those brakes, Aadhira's legs felt like jelly. She walked away from the road, her heart beating fast inside her chest like a trapped bird.
The image of that man-his sharp face twisted in pure, cold arrogance-made her blood boil.
"Seriously, who does he think he is?"
she muttered to herself, kicking a stone on the pavement.
"Just because he drives an expensive car does not mean he owns the road."
She took a few deep breaths, forcing the anger down. She could not let a rude stranger ruin her evening. She had somewhere important to go.Ten minutes later, she reached the busy local market where Vedika was already waiting, her arms crossed dramatically over her chest.
"Finally! I thought you got kidnapped," Vedika complained, frowning.
Aadhira let out a tired laugh. "Worse. Almost got run over by a big black car."
Vedika's dramatic pose instantly dropped. Her eyes widened.
"WHAT? Are you hurt? Did you get the car number?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine," Aadhira said quickly, waving her hand.
"Just some rich guy with zero patience and a massive ego. I yelled back at him, don't worry."
Vedika rolled up her sleeves with a mad look. "If I ever see that car, I am scratching it. I swear."
Aadhira burst out laughing, her fear finally disappearing. She took Vedika's arm and pulled her into the crowd.
"Come on, let's just buy the party decorations before the shops close."
The market was full of life-bright fairy lights hanging everywhere, loud music playing from a shop, and people walking around. They spent the next hour buying banners, balloons, and props for the college party.Vedika suddenly held up a bright, shiny gold banner.
"Look! This one is absolutely perfect!"
Aadhira looked closely at the letters. "...Vedika."
"What? It's pretty!"
"It says 'Happy 50th Birthday, Uncleji.'"
Vedika blinked, looking down at the banner, then back at Aadhira.
"...Oh. Right. Wrong party."
Aadhira laughed out loud, while Vedika put the banner back with a dramatic sigh.By the time they finished, their arms were full of heavy shopping bags.
Aadhira said goodbye to Vedika and took a ride back home just as the sun went down.The moment she stepped inside her house, the quietness caught her attention.
Her parents, Anita and Raj, were sitting on the sofa. They were staring blankly at the TV screen, looking completely tired after a long day.A mischievous smile appeared on Aadhira's face. This house was too quiet.
She sneaked past them into the kitchen and dropped the shopping bags. She pulled out her phone, connected it to the speaker, and turned the volume all the way up.
The loud, happy music of
Mere Khwaabon Mein Jo Aaye blasted through the house.
Aadhira grabbed a large metal spoon, holding it like a microphone. With a dramatic hair flip, she walked out of the kitchen, lip-syncing with total energy.
Aake mujhe chhed jaaye...
She danced around the dining table, her body moving to the rhythm, using a kitchen towel like a Bollywood scarf. She threw her head back, fully enjoying herself.
In the living room, her mother, Anita, looked up in surprise before bursting into a wide smile.
"Aadhira! Pagal ladki!" she called out, laughing.But Aadhira was completely lost in her performance. She danced toward the hallway, pointing her spoon at an imaginary camera.
Usse kahon kabhi saamne toh aaye...
Just as she struck a grand, dramatic final pose near the fridge, a shadow fell over her.Her father, Raj Malhotra, was standing at the door. His arms were folded across his chest, his face completely serious and unreadable-like a strict judge watching a bad dance show.
"Aadhira Malhotra"
Aadhira stopped singing instantly. She slowly brought the spoon down, clearing her throat nervously.
"Uh... hi, Papa."For three long seconds, Raj kept his strict face. Then, his eyes crinkled, and he burst into a loud laugh.
"I think Bollywood just found its next big star. Someone call the directors."
Anita laughed harder, holding up her phone.
"Too late, I already recorded it. I am sending it to the family group chat."
"No! Delete that right now!"
Aadhira gasped, though she smiled and took a proud bow anyway.
"Thank you, thank you. No autographs right now."Raj shook his head with affection, walking over to pat her shoulder.
"Alright, superstar. Go wash your hands. Dinner is ready."A few minutes later, the three of them were sitting around the small table, eating a simple meal.
"Papa, when is Kairu coming back from her school trip?"Aadhira asked while eating.
"Tomorrow morning," Raj replied gently. "The bus will drop them off by eight. Your mother will pick her up."Aadhira nodded, then remembered something.
"Oh, by the way, that big wedding... we are still going day after tomorrow, right? I need to get my clothes ready."
Anita sighed softly, shaking her head. "No, beta. There were some problems on the groom's side. The wedding has been put off for now."
"Oh," Aadhira said, frowning a little. "That's sad." She then turned a dramatic look toward her father.
"Well, whenever it happens, Pops, promise me you won't be late this time. You missed the last function because of your office work."
Raj's smile faded just a tiny bit. A small shadow of worry about money passed over his eyes before he quickly covered it with a warm grin.
"I promise, beta. I will be the first one there."
After helping her mother clean the dishes, Aadhira finally went up to her bedroom. She changed into comfortable clothes, turned off the main lights, and dropped onto her bed with a long sigh of relief.
Her mind was finally quiet.
She thought of the market, Vedika's jokes, and the laughter with her parents.
But like a sharp thorn, the memory of the rude driver came back. Those cold, dark eyes. There was a dangerous intensity in them that she could not forget. He looked like a man carrying a very heavy burden, even if he was a jerk to her.
"Forget it. You will never see him again," she whispered to herself.
She rolled onto her side, pulling the blanket up. As she moved her hand, the moonlight caught something shiny on her finger.The silver glint of her childhood engagement ring.
Aadhira lifted her hand, holding it up against the dim light coming from the window. She stared at the simple metal band.
"This strange childhood engagement..."
she thought, feeling a sudden wave of quiet sadness.It was a promise made a long time ago when her family was still rich, a pact made over old friendship and family honor. She had never taken it seriously.
In today's world, who actually marries their childhood fiancé? It felt like an old story, not real life. She did not even know what the boy looked like now. All she had was a name from a fading memory.
Reyansh.
She rubbed the edge of the ring with her thumb.
"I wonder what kind of person you turned out to be," she whispered into the quiet night.
"Probably some spoiled, rich guy who does not care about old promises or opposite..anyway."
She let out a soft breath, dropped her hand, and closed her eyes, letting sleep finally take over.She had no idea that under the very same night sky, just a few miles away in a quiet hospital room, Reyansh Oberoi was staring out of the window.
His mind was gripped by her name, his life completely tied to hers by a dying woman's wish.The collision was coming, and neither of them was ready for it.
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Guyssss! Uploaded 2nd chapter🐣.. Hope you all are enjoying this story of mine🙂🌺..
In wattpad, I already upload 12 chapters..if possible check out the book there also. And yes story to sab same hi hai but shayad kuch extra or extra spicy wale yaha upload karungi😁.. Maybe for followers ke liye hoga price nhi hai iss story ke liye.. Cause you all know it already.. It's my first BOOKKKKKKKKKK 😭🧿🎀
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