I didn't reply immediately.
I just kept looking at him... quietly, trying to take in everything he had just said, but it felt like there was something deeper beneath his words that I couldn't fully grasp yet.
My fingers tightened around his wrist without me even realising it.
"You..." I whispered, my voice softer than I intended, slightly unsteady, "you say things like this so easily."
He shook his head faintly. "It's not easy."
I searched his face for a moment, as if I could find the truth of that somewhere in his eyes.
Then I let out a small breath, one I didn't realise I had been holding in.
"I don't know if I'm as fearless as you are," I admitted quietly, my voice honest but unsure. "I don't know if I can always be... this strong, or this sure."
And that was the truth.
There was no drama in it. Just something real and a little fragile.
"But..."
I moved a little closer to him, closing whatever distance was left between us.
"I know I don't want to lose you."
That was all I could say.
Because anything more felt too big... too overwhelming to put into words.
My hand slipped into his, holding it firmly now, like I needed that anchor.
"And whatever this is..." I continued softly, my voice calmer now, steadier, "I want it. With you."
I looked up at him again, this time without hesitation.
"So no... I'm not saying yes just because you asked."
I took a small pause.
"I'm saying yes because it's you."
And somehow, saying that felt enough. Because I know he'll understand what I want to convey.
I watched him smile—soft, almost disbelieving—and then he took my hand in his. His fingers trembled slightly as he slipped the ring into my finger, and for a moment, everything went quiet around me.
Like the world had paused just for this.
He lifted my hand gently and pressed a slow kiss against it, and a lot inside me stilled... something that had been restless for a long time.
"I know this feels sudden..." he said quietly.
I didn't interrupt him.
"Maybe even rushed."
His thumb brushed lightly over my hand, and I found myself focusing on that small movement more than his words.
"But I've been carrying this ring in my pocket for a month now... just waiting, trying to gather the courage to ask you this."
I looked at him then.
A month?
"And today... I just realised I don't want to wait for the 'perfect moment' anymore. I don't want to lose even a single second with you."
My heart tightened at that.
"So I know you might be unsure... or maybe scared that we're rushing into this..."
"No... it's not that," I said quickly, shaking my head.
Because it wasn't.
What I was feeling right now... wasn't doubt.
It was something else.
Something deeper.
Something that felt like it had always been there, just... waiting.
I moved more closer without thinking, and he leaned in too, like it was instinct for both of us.
The next moment, I wrapped my arms around him.
"I have so many things I haven't told you yet..." I whispered against his chest, my voice barely steady now.
And I meant it.
So many things that still lived inside me... things I didn't even know how to say out loud.
He didn't pull away.
He didn't ask.
He just held me.
"And we have a lifetime for that," he murmured.
A lifetime.
The word settled somewhere deep inside me, stilling everything, the weight of these words are too much.
I pulled back slightly, just enough to look at him.
"But... don't you want to ask me anything?" I asked quietly, my eyes searching his, almost expecting him to.
Almost bracing myself for it.
He shook his head gently.
"No," he said softly. "I won't ask you anything you're not ready to tell me."
The weight on my chest loosened at that.
"Whenever your heart feels ready... you tell me. Until then, it stays with you."
I held his gaze for a moment longer.
And slowly... I nodded.
And maybe because everything felt too intense... too overwhelming...
I shifted to something lighter, to balance this moment.
"I don't want a grand wedding," I said suddenly.
He raised a brow slightly, listening.
"I just want something simple... just our families, bhaiya... and our friends. No extra people, no crowd... just us."
It felt important to say that.
To keep it all... simple.
He smiled immediately.
"Honestly... I want the same."
His words came so easily, so surely... like there was no doubt in him at all.
My gaze slowly dropped to my hand.
To the ring.
It still felt unfamiliar... like something new resting against my skin, something I wasn't used to yet—but at the same time, it didn't feel wrong.
If anything... it felt like it had always been meant to be there.
I turned my hand slightly, watching how it caught the light.
A lot of warmth spread through my chest.
This is real.
The thought came quietly, but it settled deep.
Not a dream. Not something temporary.
Real.
A lifetime.
My breath slowed a little, but my heart... it still hadn't caught up.
I don't even know when everything changed this much...
Just a few days ago, things were so different. Uncertain. Messy. Heavy.
And now...
Now I was standing here, wearing his ring.
Choosing him.
A part of me felt calm.
It felt safe, protected and that is the best part of it.
Like I had reached somewhere I didn't even realise I was searching for.
But another part...
Another part was still catching up, still trying to understand how everything had fallen into place so suddenly.
My fingers curled slightly, holding onto that feeling.
Then, almost unconsciously, I looked up at him again.
He was already looking at me.
Not saying anything.
Just... watching me.
Like he was waiting.
Not pushing. Not rushing.
Just there.
And that made it easier, easier to be his.
I let out a small breath, moved a little closer to him and and his arms immediately came around me. And he hugged me protectively.
"Let's go home," he said softly.
I nodded, still holding his hand, my fingers curling around his like I wasn't ready to let go yet.
Then after a small pause, I let out a quiet breath.
"I haven't told papa anything yet..." I said, almost to myself. "And now suddenly I'll have to tell him that we've already reached the proposal stage."
Even I couldn't believe how fast everything had changed.
A small, nervous laugh escaped me.
He chuckled lightly beside me.
"Yeah... I think I might be in serious trouble."
I looked at him instantly, eyes widening.
"Exactly! You should be."
But I couldn't stop the smile that tugged at my lips.
We reached my house, and the car slowly came to a stop.
For a moment, neither of us moved.
The silence wasn't awkward... just full. Like everything that had happened today was still settling between us.
Then he quietly stepped out and walked around to my side. Before I could even reach for the handle, he opened the door for me.
I smiled faintly and stepped out.
The night air felt cooler than before... or maybe it was just me.
He held my hand again—naturally, and walked me up to the gate.
We stopped there.
Neither of us said anything for a few seconds.
I could feel it... that quiet hesitation, like neither of us really wanted to end the night.
Then he moved a little closer.
I felt my breath slow as he leaned in and placed a soft kiss on my forehead, letting it linger just for a moment longer than usual.
"Go inside," he said gently.
I nodded.
I took a step toward the gate... but stopped.
Something pulled me back.
Before I could overthink it, I turned around, stepped closer to him again, and pressed a quick, soft kiss to his cheek.
The moment my lips touched his skin, my heart skipped—like I hadn't even planned it, like it just... happened. And indeed it did.
I didn't wait, and turned around to run, but he held my wrist.
He pulled me back to him, and I collided with his chest.
And then he leaned closer to my face, letting his breath ghost over there.
He looked at my lips and then into my eyes, searching for permission silently.
I didn't say anything just leaned closer to him.
He smiled and cupped my cheek and closed the remaining distance kissing me.
I melted into him kissing him back. He smiled into it and held me more firmly, pulling me closer.
I fisted his shirt leaning more, while he deepened the kiss. Everything around us faded into nothing, and what remained was just us.
His hand moved from my cheek to the back of my neck, steadying me like he was anchoring me there with him.
Then he pulled back and kissed my forehead.
My forehead rested against his, both of us breathing a little unevenly, neither speaking. His hand was still at the back of my neck, but softer now.
For a moment, I just stayed there, eyes closed, holding onto the feeling.
Then I opened them, met his gaze, and something unspoken passed between us and a wave of shyness passed over me. He was looking at me deeply, I looked down not being able to hold his gaze anymore.
I was flushed red at this point, so I turned immediately and rushed inside, my steps quicker than usual, my fingers still tingling.
I closed the gate behind me, but instead of going in, I just stood there for a second, my back against it, my hand slowly lifting to touch my lips and forehead.
A small smile formed on my lips.
What was that...
I walked inside and went straight to my room.
The moment I closed the door behind me, I didn't even bother turning on the lights properly. I just walked to the bed and fell onto it, staring at my hand.
At the ring.
For a second, I just looked at it... like I still couldn't believe it was actually there.
And we kissed.
And then—
I squealed, burying my face into the pillow to muffle the sound.
This is real.
The thought hit me again, stronger this time.
I lifted my hand, turning it slightly, watching the ring catch the light.
A smile spread across my face, uncontrollable.
Without wasting another second, I grabbed my phone, clicked a picture of it—probably ten, because none of them felt perfect—and finally sent one to the group.
The response was instant.
My phone started buzzing non-stop.
I picked up the call, already smiling.
"Nainaaaaaa!" they all screamed together from the other side.
I laughed, pulling the phone slightly away from my ear. "Okay, okay! Relax!"
"So???" Megha practically shouted. "Don't tell me this is what we think it is!"
"He proposed," I said, trying to sound calm... and failing miserably. "While he was dropping me home."
There was a second of silence.
And then chaos.
"WHATTTT—"
"No way—"
"Finally—"
"Oh my god—"
Their voices overlapped, laughter mixing with excitement, and I couldn't stop laughing along with them.
"Details!" Shreya demanded.
"No details," I said quickly, already anticipating where this was going. "I'm hanging up before you all start teasing me."
"NAINA—"
"Bye!"
I cut the call before they could say anything else, still smiling to myself.
I stayed like that for a moment... just lying there, staring at my phone, at my hand, at everything.
Then I got up, freshened up, changed my clothes... but even while doing all that, my mind kept drifting back to him.
To everything he said.
To the way he looked at me, his confession.
I exhaled slowly.
Then, without thinking much, I walked out of my room and towards bhaiya's.
I knocked lightly.
"Come inside."
I opened the door slightly and peeked in.
He was sitting on the bed with his laptop.
"Naina? When did you come home?" he asked, surprised.
"Just now," I said, walking in.
"Had dinner?"
I nodded.
He looked at me for a second longer, narrowing his eyes slightly. "What happened? Why are you looking like a thief?"
"What thief?" I said quickly, trying to look innocent... and failing.
He just stared at me.
I walked over and sat beside him.
"What do you need now?" he asked suspiciously.
Instead of answering, I slowly lifted my hand and showed him the ring.
He looked at it... confused for a second.
Then his expression shifted.
"Oh," he said normally, like it suddenly made sense. "So he proposed?"
I blinked. "What? You don't look surprised at all, bhaiya. Do you already know?"
He gave me a look, almost amused.
"Of course I do," he said casually. "Do you think he would propose without my permission?"
My mouth literally fell open.
"Wait... what?" I stared at him. "You're telling me he took your permission to propose to me?"
"Hmm," he nodded, like it was the most normal thing in the world.
"When?" I asked, still trying to process it.
"About a month ago."
"A month ago?" I repeated, completely stunned.
He closed his laptop and looked at me properly now.
"Yes," he said simply. "He did."
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