Adhya was performing on stage, while Kabir sat below, sulking. He had never let even Sia touch those shoes before—he was unusually attached to anything that Raghav had ever given him. He always kept those things carefully, almost like treasures.
A little later, Sia and Anurag's performance began. Sia was wearing a sky-blue lehenga, and Anurag matched her in royal attire of the same color. Together, they looked perfect.
Sia delivered her first line:
"My king, I love you with all my heart and soul. I cannot even imagine anyone else in my dreams... If I'm not married to you, I shall renounce my life…"
Anurag placed a finger on her lips and replied:
"No, Princess. Don't speak such inauspicious words. Our love is true, and no force in the world can stop us from being together—not even your father."
Sanyogita (Sia) responded nervously:
"No, my lord, I am scared. My father will never agree to our marriage… If our love fails, I shall give up my life. I swear on our love."
Saying this, she covered her face with her hands and wept.
Prithviraj Chauhan (Anurag) gently removed her hands from her face, wiped her tears, and said:
"Trust me, Princess. I will make you my queen. Be at your swayamvar tomorrow—I will be there."
Sanyogita returned to her palace, and the king also left. With that, the stage curtain fell. When it rose again, the scene was Sanyogita's swayamvar. Many princes stood in the royal court. Sanyogita walked forward and placed the garland on the statue of Prithviraj Chauhan. Her father, King Jayasingh, enraged, drew his sword. But just then, Prithviraj arrived on his horse, took Sanyogita with him, and they got married.
The audience showered them with applause.
Meanwhile, Raghav was watching the entire performance on his laptop. Seeing the smile on Sia's face brought a smile to his own. He closed his laptop and lay on his bed with his eyes closed, cherishing her happiness. Just then, Adit spoke from behind:
"So, Romeo's son, did you get a good look at your Juliet?"
Raghav quickly opened his eyes and stammered:
"No! I was just… studying…"
While tying his shoes, Adit said:
"Yeah, I can clearly see what kind of 'studying' you're doing these days…"
Raghav looked around sheepishly. Adit continued:
"It's just five years, buddy. Have some patience. She'll be yours then—stare at her all you want. Why this desperation?"
Raghav finally gave in, folding his hands:
"Okay, fine. I admit I was watching Sia. But please, don't tease me anymore… have mercy!"
Adit raised his hand as if giving a blessing:
"Go, child. I spare you."
Then he put on his goggles and said:
"Raghav, we're all going trekking. You coming?"
Raghav got off the bed, packing his stuff:
"Nah, man. Professor Niketan is doing a new research session on Brahma Kamal. It's super important. I can't miss it. Opportunities like this don't come often."
Adit shrugged:
"As your wish..." and walked out.
Raghav packed his bag, threw on a black hoodie, and stepped outside. To ward off the biting cold, he started rubbing his hands. The wind hitting his face made him pull up a mask.
He was in Auli, Uttarakhand, a place that remains cold year-round. Most tourists visit during winter for snow, but it's relatively quiet during other seasons. Raghav walked silently on a deserted road. A few people passed by, but they were very few.
After walking a bit, his phone rang. It was Jhanvi. Raghav picked up.
Jhanvi asked sweetly:
"Raghav ji, can I ask you something?"
Raghav replied briefly:
"Hmm…"
Jhanvi smiled and said:
"Those plants you sent… they haven't grown yet. Not even a single flower has bloomed. So I was wondering—what fertilizer should I use?"
Raghav thought for a moment:
"No need to do anything. It's an Adenium plant. It takes time to flower…"
Jhanvi inhaled the imagined scent of flowers:
"Oh, okay. I just wanted to check—I thought maybe I made a mistake."
Raghav, in a serious tone:
"Anything else?"
Jhanvi:
"No… just that."
Raghav said, "Okay, I'm hanging up," and ended the call. Jhanvi looked at her screen and muttered while tapping the phone on her forehead:
"I keep bothering him with such tiny things…"
Then she went back to trimming her plants.
Raghav was planning to start his own plant farm. That's why he had planted a lot in his grandfather's garden. Since he moved to Auli, Jhanvi had been taking care of them, asking for advice from time to time. Over time, her interest in plants grew—planting new species, feeding them, and watching them grow became her source of peace.
Back at the event, after her performance, Sia went to change clothes when Anurag blocked her path and asked:
"Won't you compliment me?"
Sia raised an eyebrow:
"Why?"
Anurag, full of attitude:
"I mean, I gave such a great performance!"
Sia made a face:
"Yeah, right. I was just lazing around while you did all the work…"
Anurag, running his hand through his hair:
"Exactly. Well, thanks for the acknowledgment."
As he turned to leave, Sia said from behind:
"Were you choking on your breath without my compliment? Is that why you came all the way here?"
Anurag clenched his fist, biting his lip in anger. But then he suddenly smiled and said:
"Don't think too highly of yourself. I just wanted to show you that when Anurag Chauhan stands in front of you, everyone else fades into the background—no matter who they are… anyone."
Sia, grinding her teeth:
"And I am not in that 'anyone.' Sia Prajapati is a benchmark in herself—she cannot be compared to anyone. No one."
Before Anurag could reply, Kabir arrived, pulled Sia away, and said:
"Dad's waiting for you. Come quickly."
As she left, Sia glared at Anurag, who gave her a crooked smile—it boiled her blood.
As soon as they were gone, Anurag punched the wall and muttered:
"Your fearless attitude makes me doubt my own charm and presence… But I'm not someone who gives up easily. I will make you fall for me—even if I have to cross every line. This barren heart of yours will bloom with my love. You can't escape these feelings… The fire in your eyes today will someday burn for my presence. Mark my words, I will make it happen."
Auli, Uttarakhand
When Raghav returned from his lecture, evening had fallen. Fog had descended thickly. Visibility was so low that even people or objects at a short distance couldn't be seen. The cold had worsened. Raghav rubbed his hands and began walking home, stomach growling. Adit was expected back only at night.
While walking, Raghav spotted a restaurant. The posters made his mouth water. He checked his pocket—he had enough money. Hunger in the belly, money in the pocket, desire in the heart—what more does a man need?
Raghav smiled and entered the restaurant. The warmth inside brought instant relief. He ordered a bowl of Korean noodles, a sandwich, and a slice of cheesecake. Just as he was about to take a bite of the sandwich, he noticed a puppy sitting outside.
Raghav paused mid-bite, glanced around—very few people were inside. Quietly, he brought the puppy in and placed a piece of sandwich in front of it.
The puppy jumped with joy. Raghav tried to hush him, but it was too late—everyone had noticed. Embarrassed, Raghav gave an awkward smile, but within moments, the restaurant owner threw both him and the puppy out.
Raghav looked helplessly at the puppy, who continued staring at him with shining eyes. He sat down on a nearby bench, handed the puppy another bite, and said:
"Life shows strange colors… Try to help someone, and you get thrown out. Anyway, eat up fast. I'll take you home after this…"
The puppy nodded as if understanding everything.
Raghav quickly ate his food. He felt uncomfortable eating in public, especially with fog all around—people couldn't see from far, but if someone passed nearby, he felt extremely awkward.
Once done, he threw the container into the bin and spoke to the puppy:
"Hey pup… uh, what's your name? I guess you don't have one yet. Let's just call you Puppy for now. I'll think of a good name at home. Now, just follow me, okay?"
The puppy ignored him and started licking its paws. Raghav raised his voice:
"Hey! Puppy! Can't you hear me?"
Some people turned toward him, making him uneasy. He quickly scooped the puppy into his arms and ran home as fast as he could. 🏃🏃🏃