Moksh's P.O.V
"I'll help you."
I don't know how Rahul and I ended up in my room together, but after my confrontation with Kira, he barged right in with a proposal I couldn't deny.
He saw me coming out of Kira's room earlier. "Is that why you were in there? Peeking into her business?" He completely ignored my defensive glare and got straight to the point.
"My sister will be arriving shortly for Kira's wedding," he said.
"And why are you telling me that?" I asked, eyeing him with suspicion. I knew he despised me.
"I don't know if you realize this, but Kira is extremely possessive of what she considers hers." He sat down leisurely on my bed, crossing his legs. His tone was sharp, but his expression was calculated. "I don't know what she sees in you, but she's drawn to you. That's for sure."
"How are you so certain?"
"I've spent most of my life as her best friend. I think I know her well enough," he replied coolly. "Let's not beat around the bush. She's marrying Naveen out of spite and fear, and I can't watch her destroy her own life."
So I was right all along. She's marrying him to escape what she feels.
"So, what do you want from me?" I stood in front of him, too restless to sit down.
"Do you love her?" His sudden, direct question caught me off guard.
"Y-yes."
"No. I want a real answer," Rahul pressed, his eyes intense with genuine concern for Kira. "Do you love her enough to fight for her?"
"Yes! I do! I love her enough to fight for her."
Rahul nodded, seemingly satisfied with my response. "Then I'll help you. My sister is arriving, as I said. You two are going to pretend to be completely absorbed in each other. I want you to flirt with her—especially whenever Kira is watching."
"And what good will that do?"
"Are you really that naive? It will make her jealous. Kira likes you, but she'll never admit it unless she's forced to face the thought of losing you. Otherwise, you can kiss any chance with her goodbye."
"Will it actually work?" I asked, setting aside my resentment toward him. My feelings for Kira were far stronger than my distrust of Rahul.
"We'll see," Rahul said, looking out the window before turning back to me. "I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this for her. I can't stand seeing her ruin her own happiness."
Kira's P.O.V
"Shall we head back inside now?" Naveen's voice jolts me back to reality.
The last sip of my milkshake tastes sour, completely ruining my appetite as I watch Moksh laugh in the distance.
We came to this restaurant after a late shopping trip, only for me to spend the entire evening watching Moksh and Riya. Hours turned into days, and they haven't left each other's side. He devotes all his time to her—eating with her, laughing with her, completely ignoring me.
By the time I wake up the next morning, the entire house is already buzzing with activity. Today is the Haldi ceremony—a tradition meant to bless the bride and groom and ward off bad omens before the wedding day.
Naveen is undeniably a cheerful groom, but as I look in the mirror, I feel no sense of fulfillment. This decision was supposed to bring me peace and honor my father's memory, yet everything inside me feels wrong.
Naveen's parents have arrived for the ritual. They greet me with warm hugs and happy smiles, welcoming me into their family. The house is beautifully illuminated, with vibrant yellow decorations adorning every corner. Guests have gathered, offering their congratulations as Naveen and I take our seats on the raised wooden platforms.
The ceremony begins, and relatives take turns applying the yellow turmeric paste to Naveen's face as he chuckles happily. When they approach me, I force a polite, empty smile, thanking them for their blessings.
Suddenly, Moksh appears, walking into the courtyard alongside Riya and Rahul. A confident, unexpected smile rests on his face.
When it's his turn, he steps up to my platform, dipping his fingers into the turmeric paste. He gently brushes the yellow paste over my cheeks, leaning in close to whisper, "Congratulations. I hope you find the happiness you claim you're earning from this."
Moksh's P.O.V
Her eyes hold the exact emotion I wanted to see—trouble, confusion, and raw irritation.
I offer the same polite congratulations to Naveen before stepping back toward Riya. Riya leans in close to my ear, murmuring, "Dhab a little on my face too." I comply with a smile, catching the sharp glint in Kira's eyes as she watches us.
Before I can even react, Kira suddenly grabs my wrist and drags me out of the courtyard and into the empty storage room nearby.
"What the hell was that?" she growls, shoving me against the wall the moment the door shuts.
I maintain my composure, looking down at her with a calm expression she has never seen on me before.
"What are you asking about?" I reply smoothly. "Can you be more specific?"
Her jaw clenches tightly. "Don't play dumb with me. Do you really think this irrational behavior with Riya is going to affect me?"
"Isn't it?" I counter softly. "It seems to be affecting you enough to pull me out of a room full of guests."
She steps back, running a hand over her forehead in frustration. "I see what you're doing. You're flirting with her right in front of me, making a complete display of it! What is your goal here?"
"My goal?" I look her dead in the eye. "You made your choice, Kira. You chose Naveen. So why does it matter what I do with my time or who I spend it with?"
"Because you're doing this just to provoke me!" she snaps, stepping back into my space, her eyes blazing with anger.
"You think you can have it both ways?" I ask, my voice firm and grounded. "You want to marry him to keep your promise, but you still expect me to stand around waiting for your attention? Wake up, Kira. You can't have everything on your terms. It's either him or me."
She freezes, her breath hitching at my words.
"If you're going through with this wedding, then let me move on with my life," I say softly. "I will stand there and watch you marry him, and you'll have to watch me walk away. Unless... you stop this wedding right now."
She looks utterly overwhelmed, her mask completely slipping as she stares at me in silence.
I reach out toward her, but before either of us can say another word, the storage room door suddenly swings open, exposing us both to an unexpected guest.