Bound To Be Yours

When Paths Cross Again

Writer's POV

The morning sun filtered softly through the intricately carved windows of the Singhania mansion. Sarla Singhania sat comfortably on the velvet sofa in her room, holding her phone at just the right angle. A warm smile lit up her face as the screen connected—her younger son, Arjun Singhania, appeared on the video call from thousands of miles away.

“Arjun beta!” she beamed, her voice filled with excitement.

“Arey maa! Aap itni khush lag rahi ho aaj... kuch khaas baat hai kya?”
(“Oh Mom! You look so happy today... is there something special?”)

Arjun asked, raising an eyebrow curiously.

Sarla leaned a little closer to the screen, lowering her voice like she was about to reveal a delicious secret.
“Tere bhai ne shaadi ke liye haan kar di hai!”
("Your brother has agreed to get married!")

Arjun’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Acha maa?! Bhaiya ne to mujhse tab se dhang se baat bhi nahi ki jab se vo sab hua tha…”
("Really, Mom?! Bhaiya hasn’t even spoken to me properly since all that happened…")

Sarla smiled softly, a mix of relief and emotion in her eyes.
“Wahi to… lekin ab main khush hoon ki usne vo sab hone ke baad bhi life mein aage badhne ka socha.”
("Exactly… but now I’m happy that after all that happened, he still chose to move on in life.")

Arjun paused for a moment, then said thoughtfully,
“Bhaiya chahein jitne bhi strong dikhte hoon, par andar se abhi bhi tutey hue hain, maa.”
(“No matter how strong Bhaiya appears on the outside, he’s still broken from within, Maa.”)

Viraj's POV

I entered the hall and saw Mom talking to Arjun.
The moment she noticed me, she smiled and handed me the phone.

I took it and asked, “Aur Arjun, kaisa hai? Kisi cheez ki zarurat toh nahi?”
("And Arjun, how are you? Do you need anything?")

Arjun grinning playfully replied
“Main toh mast hoon bhaiya! Zarurat ki baat chhodo, bas ek request hai—next time shaadi ka plan banaao toh mujhe breaking news ke through mat pata chale!”

("I'm doing great, bhaiya! Forget about needing anything—just one request: next time you plan to get married, don’t let me find out through breaking news!")

(Then added teasingly)
“Waise, bhabhi audition kab dene wali hain? Hero toh aap already ho, villain wala attitude jo leke ghoomte ho!”
("By the way, when is bhabhi going to audition? You're already the hero—with that villain attitude you carry around!")

My face turned serious for a second. The teasing in Arjun's tone didn’t match the weight in my chest.

I replied calmly, “Maa jisey dhundengi, usse shaadi kar loonga.”
("I'll marry whoever Mom chooses.")

Arjun (softening a bit, but still lighthearted):
“Oye, itna serious kyun ho gaye bhaiya? Main toh bas mazaak kar raha tha. Waise... agar maa pasand karengi, toh ladki surely dhamaka hogi!”
("Hey, why did you get so serious, bhaiya? I was just joking! Anyway... if Mom picks her, the girl will surely be a firecracker!")