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Continue..............

The afternoon bell rings through the grand corridors of St. Xavier's, signaling the end of the final lecture. The campus empties out as students head toward the gates in lively groups.

Drishya and Suhana walk side by side down the stone pathway toward the main exit. Suhana is still talking a mile a minute, her hands gesturing dramatically as she maps out potential theme colors for the engagement ceremony.

Suhana: "...and I'm telling you, a royal pastel theme would look absolutely stunning. You in blush pink, and Mr. CEO in a classic charcoal suit with a matching pocket square. It’s a literal visual masterpiece!"

Drishya just giggles, adjusting her handbag strap, her eyes scanning the street outside the heritage gates.

Right there, parked smoothly against the curb, is Advait’s sleek, midnight-black luxury sedan. The polished tint of the windows gleams under the afternoon sun, making it look incredibly imposing.

As they approach, the rear door opens, and Kabir steps out first, wearing a casual white linen shirt and dark sunglasses, a massive, trademark smirk on his face. Moments later, the driver's door opens, and Advait steps out. He looks effortlessly powerful, having discarded his formal blazer for a crisp, light blue button-down shirt with the sleeves precisely rolled up to his elbows. His dark eyes instantly lock onto Drishya, his rigid posture relaxing the split second he sees her healthy, smiling face.

Suhana: (Gasping softly, nudging Drishya with her elbow) "Oh my god, look at the security detail. The Singhania brothers have officially arrived to hijack our campus."

As the girls step up to the car, Advait nods respectfully to Suhana before his gaze settles entirely on Drishya, his deep baritone carrying a quiet, protective warmth.

Advait: "Good afternoon, Drishya. Lectures time par khatam ho gaye?"

Drishya: (Smiling beautifully, her brown eyes twinkling) "Good afternoon, Advait. Haan, completely on time. System execution was perfect today."

Before Advait can reply, Suhana steps forward, crossing her arms and looking at India’s leading corporate tycoon with a brilliant, entirely fearless, and teasing grin.

Suhana: "Good afternoon, Mr. Singhania! Waise, kal raat ki news sunne ke baad mera poora academic balance hil gaya hai. Maine suna hai aapne humari St. Xavier’s ki star student ko permanently lock-in kar liya hai? Matlab, National Stage par targeted counseling dene ka itna bada return on investment milega, yeh maine socha nahi thha!"

Advait clears his throat smoothly, a subtle, rare warmth creeping up his neck. He is used to dealing with aggressive board members and ruthless journalists, but Drishya’s fiercely protective best friend is a completely different territory.

Advait: (His lips curling into a very faint, incredibly handsome and respectful smile) "Business world me use 'prioritizing a priceless asset' kehte hain, Suhana. And I believe in securing the best before anyone else tries to pitch."

Suhana: (Squealing softly, clapping her hands) "Oh my god, direct corporate vocabulary me romance! Drishya, tu sach me jhel legi inhe. Congratulations, Mr. Singhania. Humari Drishya ka bohot acche se khayal rakhna."

Advait: "Hamesha. That’s a permanent commitment."

While this witty banter is playing out, Kabir is leaning against the car door, his sunglasses pushed slightly down his nose. His usual hyperactive, mischievous tongue is strangely silent. His sharp eyes are completely locked onto Suhana. He observes the way her expressive eyes light up when she speaks, the fierce, unpardonable loyalty she has for Drishya, and the casual, confident way she carries her clipboard. Unknown to Suhana, who is entirely focused on teasing Advait, Kabir is silently admiring the sheer, vibrant energy radiating from her.

Kabir: (Suddenly snapping out of it, clearing his throat and opening the rear door for Drishya) "Chalo, chalo, bahar bohot dhoop hai. Bhabhi, aap please andar baithiye, varna Bhai ka mood phir se factory restriction mode me chala jayega."

Suhana laughs, giving Drishya a tight side-hug. "Tu ghar ja kar mujhe text karna. Bye Drishya, bye Kabir, bye Mr. CEO!"

Drishya waves as she slides into the plush leather back seat. Advait gets into the driver’s seat, while Kabir hops into the passenger side next to him. The powerful engine roars to life, and the luxury sedan glides away from the St. Xavier's curb, cutting smoothly into the Mumbai afternoon traffic.

### The Drive Back to Bandra

The interior of the car is cool, the air conditioning a sweet relief from the humid outside heat. Advait occasionally tracks Drishya through the rearview mirror, his eyes sharing quiet, comforting glances with her as she details a minor class assignment.

Halfway through the drive, Kabir casually leans his arm against the windowpane, looking out at the passing buildings. He maintains a thoroughly neutral, casual expression, keeping his face entirely blank as he turns his head slightly toward the back seat.

Kabir: (Voice smooth, completely masking any trace of personal interest under his usual nonchalant tone) "Waise, Drishya... woh jo aapki dost thi, Suhana... woh aapke sath hi padhti hai psychology honours?"

Drishya pauses, a subtle, sharp psychological spark lighting up her brown eyes. She looks at the back of Kabir's head through the mirror.

Drishya: "Haan, Kabir. Suhana meri classmate bhi hai aur hum dono college ke saare events sath me coordinate karte hain. She is practically my sister. Kyun, kya hua?"

Kabir: (Shrugging casually, looking back out the window, his voice completely flat and devoid of any emotion) "Nahi, kuch nahi. Bas aise hi pooch raha thha. Kafi loud hai... pure campus ke samne Bhai ko tease kar rahi thi, isliye dimaag me reh gaya. Baaki toh thik hai."

Advait, whose hands are steady on the steering wheel, subtly shifts his eyes toward the rearview mirror, catching Drishya’s gaze. A highly knowing, silent look passes between the new love birds. Advait knows his brother cover-to-cover; Kabir never asks unnecessary questions about anyone unless his interest has been intensely piqued.

Drishya bites her inner lip to hide a knowing, clever smile. The "Strict CEO" had been successfully handled, and now it looked like a brand new psychological case study was quietly developing right in the passenger seat of the car.

Drishya: (Voice teasingly normal) "Haan, woh thodi vibrant hai. Par dil ki bohot saaf hai, Kabir."

Kabir: "Hmm. Accha hai."

Kabir doesn't push the conversation further, turning up the car’s jazz music to close the topic. The luxury sedan rolls smoothly toward the Sharma residence in Bandra, carrying a quiet mix of deep, established love in the driver's seat and a mysterious, unspoken curiosity in the front.

The car pulls up smoothly in front of the Sharma residential tower in Bandra. Advait cuts the engine and steps out to open the door for Drishya, his movements naturally attentive. Kabir slides out of the passenger side as well, slipping his hands into his pockets and stretching casually, his eyes briefly scanning the bustling Bandra street before focusing back on the lobby entrance.

Advait: (Looking down at Drishya, his voice rich and steady) "Ghar pahunch kar thoda aaram kar lena. No extra reading tonight, Drishya. Main shaam ko call karunga."

Drishya: (Smiling up at him, her eyes soft) "Ji, Mr. CEO. Aap bhi lunch time par kar lena, aur zyaada files ke peeche mat chupna. Bye, Kabir!"

Kabir: (Flashing a quick, effortless grin) "Bye, Bhabhi! Khayal rakhiye."

With a final, lingering look exchanged between her and Advait, Drishya turns and walks into the lobby, her heart humming with a sweet, comfortable warmth.

The moment the elevator doors close behind her, the atmosphere outside the car shifts. The two Singhania brothers stand by the vehicle. Advait walks back to the driver's side, pausing with his hand on the door handle, his sharp, dark eyes locking onto his younger brother.

Advait: (Voice cool, an amused undertone tagging his words) "Gadi me baitho, Kabir. Hame office ke liye der ho rahi hai."

Kabir doesn't offer his usual rapid-fire witty comeback. He simply nods, slips back into the passenger seat, and pulls his sunglasses back down over his eyes. As Advait steers the luxury sedan back into the mainstream traffic toward Nariman Point, the silence inside the cabin stretches, comfortable but heavy with unspoken thoughts.

### 4:30 PM: The Singhania Headquarters (Advait’s Private Office)

The afternoon passes in a blur of corporate efficiency. Advait sits behind his massive mahogany desk, reviewing the final clearance reports for the new shipping terminal. Across from him, Kabir is typing away on his laptop, tracking the logistics dispatch data.

Suddenly, Kabir stops typing. He stares at his screen for a few seconds, rubs the back of his neck, and then looks up at his older brother. He tries to keep his posture entirely relaxed, slouching slightly in the leather chair to look as casual as possible.

Kabir: (Voice completely detached, as if asking about a random inventory balance) "Waise, Bhai... woh jo bhabhi ki dost hai, Suhana... Woh bhabhi ke sath humari engagement me toh aayegi hi na? I mean, she mentioned something about a designer group chat."

Advait sets his premium fountain pen down on the glass desk. He slowly leans back in his executive chair, interlacing his fingers. A rare, thoroughly knowing, and highly amused smirk plays on his usually stern face. He reads Kabir like a well-audited balance sheet.

Advait: (Voice deep and smooth) "Suhana, Drishya ki best friend hai, Kabir. Woh sirf engagement me nahi aayegi, woh saari functions me sangeet coordination se lekar designer selection tak sab handle karegi. Kyun? Koi specific logistics issue hai usse?"

Kabir: (Instantly defensive, though his voice remains flat as he looks back at his laptop) "Nahi, issue kya hoga? Main toh bas functions ka workflow check kar raha thha. Woh kafi loud aur opinionated hai, toh maine socha sangeet ke dance rehearsals me coordination thoda chaotic na ho jaye. Baaki mujhe kya farak padta hai."

Advait lets out a very low, rare chuckle, shaking his head. He doesn't push his brother any further, knowing exactly how Kabir’s mind works—the more you tease him, the more he hides.

### 5:00 PM: The Sharma Residence (Bandra)

Meanwhile, in her bedroom, Drishya is sitting on her bed with her laptop open, but her phone is buzzing continuously beside her. The newly formed WhatsApp group, creatively named "The Royal Pastel Affair 🌸" by Ananya, is completely blowing up.

Ananya: "Drishya di! Look at this lavender and mint green palette for the stage setup! It matches your kurti from today!"

Suhana: "Approved! 10/10! Aur सुनो, Advait ji ka outfit standard black nahi hona chahiye. Let's force him into a soft charcoal grey or pastel tint to break his board-meeting matrix!"

Riya: "Omg yes, Suhana! Let's style Bhai differently for once! 💃"

Drishya giggles, her heart fluttering as she reads the chaotic messages. She switches to a private chat room and highlights Suhana's message, typing a quick reply.

Drishya: "Suhana, tu directly Mr. CEO ke framework ko override kar rahi hai? Badi himmat hai tumhari. Waise... aaj car me Kabir tumhare baare me pooch rahe thhe."

A solid two minutes pass. The typing status flashes on and off repeatedly before Suhana finally replies.

Suhana: "What?! Woh hyperactive junior Singhania mere baare me pooch raha thha? Why? Kya bola usne? Surely he was complaining about my loudness!"

Drishya: "Nahi, he was just 'checking the coordination workflow' 😉. He looked very quiet today when you were speaking, Suhana. Just an observation from a psychology student."

Suhana: "Shut up, Drishya! Padhai karo apni! Main designs check kar rahi hoon! 🙈"

Drishya drops her phone onto the mattress, a clever, brilliant smile spreading across her face.

Right then, a fresh notification pops up at the top of her screen. The contact name reads "Advait ❤️".

Advait: "Just finished the terminal briefing. Kabir is strangely quiet and focused on his laptop today, which is a corporate miracle. I assume your friend Suhana has something to do with it. Are you resting?"

Drishya curls her legs up, holding the phone close, her heart completely full as she types back to her corporate king, realizing that their beautiful story was already weaving a completely new, unpredictable rhythm into the entire Singhania household.

The following week passes in a beautiful, whirlwind blur of fabrics, color swatches, and high-energy planning. The countdown to the engagement has officially shrunk to just ten days, and the Singhania Mansion has transformed into a bustling command center.

Every evening, the grand living room table is entirely buried under designer lookbooks from Sabyasachi and Manish Malhotra, gourmet catering menus, and digital floral floorplans.

### 5:30 PM: The Styling Showdown at Singhania Mansion

Nisha and Drishya arrive at the mansion for a final coordination meeting. The moment they walk into the living room, they are greeted by a chaotic, lively sight. Ananya and Riya have laid out over twenty heavy velvet and silk fabric hangers on the long sofas, while Suhana stands in the center, aggressively pointing her clipboard toward Kabir, who is leaning against the marble pillar with a half-amused, half-defensive smirk.

Suhana: (Voice authoritative, tapping her pen) "Kabir, listen to me. As the chief choreographer and coordinator, I need the final headcount for the boys' entry dance by tonight. If your friends don't send their confirmation, I am cutting the center stage formation!"

Kabir: (Raising his hands in mock surrender, his sharp eyes twinkling as he looks at her) "Boss, chill. Maneuvering a squad of corporate guys into a Bollywood rhythm takes time. I’m working on the backend logistics. Zero errors, promise."

Drishya giggles, walking in alongside her mother. Renuka rushes forward, pulling Nisha and Drishya into warm hugs.

Renuka: "Aao, Nisha! Aao, Drishya beta. Dekho, tumhari pasand ka lavender and ivory lehenga abhi-abhi designer ne bheja hai. Ek baar check kar lo."

As Drishya steps closer to examine the stunning, intricate silver zardozi embroidery on the pastel fabric, a deep, commanding stride echoes from the grand hallway.

Advait steps into the room, fresh from a board meeting, wearing a pristine white formal shirt and dark charcoal trousers. His eyes instantly bypass the colorful chaos of the room, locking entirely onto Drishya. A soft, breathless smile touches his lips as he sees her standing amidst the beautiful wedding fabrics.

Advait: (Voice dropping into a deep, velvety baritone) "Good evening, Drishya. Tumhaari health ab bilkul perfect hai?"

Drishya: (Looking up, her eyes sparkling with pure affection) "Good evening, Mr. CEO. Main 100% thik hoon. Aur aapki family ne mujhe bilkul thik se kaam par laga diya hai."

Ananya: (Running over, grabbing Advait’s arm dramatically) "Bhai! Aap sahi waqt par aaye! Please, humare saath baithiye. Designer ne aapke liye ye velvet sherwani ka fabric bheja hai, par Suhana keh rahi hai ki aapko pastel tone pehenna chahiye!"

Advait frowns slightly, looking at the soft lilac fabric Suhana is holding up. The idea of India’s most ruthless corporate tycoon wearing soft pastels sounds like a massive system anomaly to him.

Advait: "Pastel? My wardrobe framework doesn't support that color palette, Ananya. Let's stick to deep navy or classic charcoal."

Suhana: (Step forward, completely fearless, crossing her arms with a brilliant grin) "Mr. Singhania, with all due respect, aapka corporate matrix yahan kaam nahi karega. Drishya ka lehenga lavender and ivory hai. Agar aapne dark corporate suit pehna, toh pictures me coordination bilkul fail ho jayega. You have to match her framework!"

Advait clears his throat, slightly caught off guard by Suhana’s direct attack. He looks over at Drishya, silently asking for tactical support.

Drishya: (Arching a playful eyebrow, a beautiful, mischievous smirk on her face) "I think Suhana is right, Advait. A true leader needs the courage to experiment with new color schemes. Lavender aap par bohot accha lagega."

Advait looks at Drishya's teasing eyes, and his strict, defensive armor completely crumbles. A helpless, incredibly handsome smile breaks across his face. He lets out a soft, defeated laugh.

Advait: "Fine. If the Head Psychologist approves the configuration, main compromise karne ke liye taiyar hoon. Lock the pastel fabric, Suhana."

The room erupts into cheers. Kabir claps loudly, leaning toward Suhana. "Wow, Boss. Maine pichle das saal me Bhai ko ek bhi negotiation haarte hue nahi dekha. You just cracked the uncrackable CEO."

Suhana flips her hair confidently, her cheeks dimpling with a proud smile. "Mujhe pata hai kisase apni baat kaise manwani hai, Kabir."

Kabir stares at her for a second too long, his nonchalant smirk softening into a quiet, intensely captivated look that doesn't escape Drishya’s sharp psychological eyes.

### 8:00 PM: A Quiet Moment in the Corridor

Later in the evening, as the families gather around the dining table for high tea, Drishya steps away to get her phone charging block from the side corridor.

As she reaches the quiet alcove near the library, a large, warm hand gently catches her wrist, pulling her softly into the dim space. Drishya’s breath hitches, but her heart instantly recognizes the familiar, woody scent of his cologne.

Advait steps out from the shadows, pinning her gently against the polished wooden paneling, his tall, imposing figure completely shielding her from the rest of the house.

Drishya: (Voice a breathless, fluttering whisper, looking up into his dark, intense eyes) "Advait...? Koi dekh lega. Subah se humare rishte ki hi baatein chal rahi hain."

Advait: (Leaning down until his lips are just inches away from her ear, his deep voice carrying a raw, magnetic intensity) "Let them see, Drishya. Poori duniya ko pata hai tum meri mangetar banne wali ho. I’ve been sitting in board meetings all day, but my entire focus was stuck on how you’d look in that lavender outfit."

He reaches out, his thumb gently tracing her jawline, his touch sending a beautiful, electric shiver straight down her spine. His dark eyes lock onto her lips before moving back to her expressive brown eyes.

Drishya: (Squeezing his shirt fabric with her fingers, her heart pounding wildly) "Aap sach me bohot ziddi hain, Mr. Singhania. Lavender pehenne ke liye itni aasani se haan bol diya?"

Advait: (A deeply captivated, soft smile touching his lips as he leans in closer, his breath brushing against her cheek) "Main sirf tumhare samne haarta hoon, Drishya. Because losing a negotiation to you feels like the biggest victory of my life."

He slowly tilts his head and prints another soft, lingering, and profoundly tender kiss right on her forehead, holding her close against his chest for a quiet, golden moment. Drishya closes her eyes, wrapping her arms around his waist, feeling an absolute, overwhelming sense of safety and belonging.

The chaotic wedding planning, the music tracks, and the designer lehengas were just background noise—in the quiet security of his embrace, Drishya knew that her most beautiful reality was just ten days away.

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Continue......

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