He wasn't kidding when he said he had let go.
He really tried this time not out of spite or punishment, but because he finally understood the truth some love stories don't get happy endings. At least, not the kind you imagine.
Back at home, Kavi moved like someone trying to feel normal again. He threw himself into the engagement preparations learning every step of the choreography, trying on fits, fixing minor things that usually didn't concern him.
His presence was full this time. He laughed when he was supposed to laugh. He smiled when the cameras came on. And when Amma looked at him from across the room, she could tell something had shifted.
It wasn't a mask.
It was surrender.
Not the weak kind. The brave kind.
He stayed close to Riya, answered her when she needed help, even teased her during fittings like old times. Everyone thought Kavi was finally in a better place, that the silent retreat had done its magic.
But only he knew how much it still hurt.
He even nodded when someone joked that Kiaan was lucky to be joining their family. That was the thing he had stopped reacting. Not because he didn't feel anything, but because he felt too much and had learned to hold it in.
At night, when the world quieted, Kavi would lie in bed and stare at the ceiling. Sometimes, he'd catch himself reaching for his phone, fingers hovering over Kiaan's name. But he never pressed call.
Instead, he'd whisper to Kiki, holding the cat close to his chest, "We're okay, aren't we? It's just us now."
Letting go wasn't loud. It didn't come with dramatic goodbyes. It came with small choices keeping a straight face when someone mentioned the word wedding.
It was slow, painful, and private.
But still, he did it.
He reminded himself that love wasn't always meant to last. Sometimes, it was just meant to be felt. Even for a little while.
And now, he was doing the one thing he never imagined he could—supporting the love of his life… as his sister's groom.
That was his naseeb.
And he was living it. Silently. Completely.
One breath at a time.
Engagement Eve
The Oberoi mansion had transformed.Not into a palace of traditions but a playground of the young, rich, and unfiltered. Neon lights bathed the backyard, champagne popped every ten minutes, and a curated playlist of Hindi-English fusion bangers kept the guests moving.
Tonight wasn't for rituals.
It was for chaos.
Riya had insisted on having her engagement eve as a private, invite-only bash—no aunties, no uncles, no press. Just her people.
Her guest list included two social media influencers, a TV actress, one of her brand reps, and her favorite childhood friend who now lived in Dubai and only wore mini skirts and Chanel perfumes.
Kavi had invited Pinky, Roy, and Alina. And though Pinky had promised to be "well-behaved," she was already double-fisting drinks before dinner.
By 10 p.m., the group had split into small clusters, drinking, dancing, spilling secrets. Kavi was barefoot by the pool, laughing his lungs out while Roy tried to mimic Shah Rukh Khan's infamous "Palat" scene.
Riya, glowing in a silver co-ord dress with glass heels, stood on one of the deck chairs holding a mic made from a champagne bottle.
"Okay, bitches! We're playing Truth or Dare no filters, no flaking. If you skip, you take two shots. Kavi, you're playing, and you're not escaping this time!"
Kavi groaned dramatically. "I'll regret this in the morning."
The circle formed some on lounge chairs, some on the ground, some already slurring. The bottle spun, the questions flew, and the dares got increasingly inappropriate. Clothes were almost removed. Pinky dared one of the influencers to do a lap dance on Roy. Roy nearly fainted.
Then the bottle stopped on Kavi.
"Truth," he said, eyes slightly glazed from too much white wine.
Riya's friend from Dubai grinned devilishly. "Have you ever kissed someone of the same gender?"
There was a short silence. The kind that bubbles up before either scandal or laughter.
Riya giggled, ready to move on.
Then Kavi said, completely calm, "Yeah."
Someone coughed.
Riya blinked. "Wait, like—jokingly, right?"
"Nope." Kavi took a sip from his drink. "It was… not a joke."
Laughter erupted. Pinky choked on her drink. Alina covered her face in shock and amusement, she didn't expect him to confess casually but she was more then happy he had get over Kian, after the engagement she is going to make a move be his emotional support . Roy clapped once loudly.
One of Riya's influencer friends grinned. "I KNEW IT! You always gave off bi vibes!"
Kavi just smiled faintly, leaning back. The topic changed, as most drunken party topics do, and moved to someone else kissing a DJ at a beach party.
But Riya was still staring at her brother.
Her mouth twitched.
She laughed again, a little forced this time, "Kavi, you're full of surprises."
He clinked his glass with hers. "Only the best kind."
And just like that, the party carried on sweaty dancing, pool dips, and secrets half-said under disco lights. The night was wild.