Chapter 66 Surprising Arrival
Meanwhile, Rimjhim stands frozen near the entrance, her feet feeling as though they are glued to the ground. The flashing cameras, media lights, and glamorous crowd overwhelm her completely. Her heartbeat races wildly.
She looks up and realizes Vihan has already walked a few steps ahead, unaware of her condition. Panicking, she instinctively grabs his hand tightly.
Startled, Vihan turns to look at her. One glance is enough. Her face is pale, her eyes shimmer with anxious tears, and her fear is painfully obvious.
He gently holds her hand between both of his, his voice low and reassuring. “Relax…”
Rimjhim nods slowly, trying to calm herself. Vihan gives her hand a firm, grounding squeeze, his gaze steady and protective, “Just hold onto my hand… and walk with me.”
Together, they walk inside, hand in hand, ready to face the glamorous world ahead.
As soon as Ruhi enters the grand hall, her eyes immediately fall on Neeti and Shorya, who are sitting quietly at a table. The spotlight, however, is entirely on Neeti. She looks breathtakingly beautiful tonight, and it isn’t just Ruhi who notices. Everyone’s attention is on Neeti, and that is something Shorya absolutely cannot tolerate.
Shorya sits stiffly, his jaw clenched as he watches people’s admiring glances drift toward Neeti. His possessiveness rises by the second, and his mood darkens visibly.
Just then, Samar and I make our entrance. The moment Samar steps into the hall, all the businessmen stand up in respect. But within moments, their attention shifts to me, walking beside him. I am dressed in a graceful black gown, my long hair flowing freely with soft curls framing my face. I can feel the weight of their gazes, and it makes my steps slow slightly.
The entire room falls silent for a moment, eyes glued to me. Many people here are seeing Samar with a woman for the first time, and it causes quite a stir. Somewhere in the room, a few hearts—especially among the women—break silently.
A girl whispers softly to her friend, “So he already has such a lovely girlfriend…”
Another girl replies with a small giggle, “It’s fine. He has a brother, right? He’s also super handsome!”
As their whispers fade, Vihan enters, dressed in a sharp white suit, carrying his usual aura of control and authority. But the moment people notice the girl walking beside him, the hall fills with murmurs.
It is Rimjhim. Tonight, she looks like a real-life porcelain doll. Her white shimmer dress, delicate features, and soft expressions leave everyone stunned. Even the women in the room look momentarily shocked by her innocence and beauty.
Vihan notices something that instantly irritates him, today, people aren’t looking at him. All eyes are on Rimjhim. The attention she receives annoys him deeply.
Leaning slightly toward her, he whispers harshly,
“Couldn’t you have worn something else?”
Rimjhim turns to him with innocent, confused eyes, not understanding his tone. That innocence disarms Vihan, and whatever he is about to say dies on his lips.
Meanwhile, Samar and I walk over to Neeti and Ruhi’s table and take our seats. I glance at Shorya, hoping just for a moment for some warmth. But he coldly ignores me. A quiet hurt settles in my chest, my smile fading slightly, yet I remain silent.
Rimjhim moves toward the same table to sit, but Vihan notices that the only empty seat left is right next to Samar. He doesn’t want to sit beside him—perhaps because of guilt, or the awkward tension he can’t shake off.
Trying to avoid it, he quickly grabs Rimjhim’s hand and says, “Let’s sit somewhere else.”
Unaware of his discomfort, Rimjhim replies sweetly, “No, I want to sit here with everyone.”
Samar, expressionless, says calmly, “Let her sit.”
Rimjhim immediately takes her seat beside me. Vihan, left with no choice, sits silently next to Samar, his mood unreadable.
Just then, Rohit walks in, wearing a sleek black blazer suit. He approaches Samar and says, “Sir, you’re here too?”
Samar looks up and smiles slightly. “You’ve been missing lately.”
Rohit replies, “I wasn’t in India, sir.”
He pulls a nearby chair and sits beside Samar, chatting casually. Soon, his eyes land on Ruhi. Tonight, she looks like a tiny rabbit in her elegant yet adorable outfit. His heart races, but what hurts him deeply is that Ruhi doesn’t even look at him once. It is as if he doesn’t exist.
Everyone sits chatting, laughter filling the elegant hall. Soft music plays in the background, and the atmosphere feels light and warm. Suddenly, a slight commotion breaks the calm, someone comes from behind and places their hands on Samar’s and Vihan’s shoulders. Both of them turn at the same time.
At that very moment, a familiar voice echoes with a joyful laugh.“Karan bro!”
Ruhi jumps up excitedly, her eyes sparkling as if she has just received the sweetest surprise.
Neeti looks at him in shock and says, “Bro… you? When did you come?”
Karan stands there with his signature energetic smile. He hugs everyone warmly and says,
“What did you all think? That I’d let you enjoy the party without me?”
Mischief dances in his eyes as he adds,
“I landed this morning… didn’t come home because I wanted to surprise you all.”
Everyone laughs, but just then, Karan’s eyes land on Rimjhim. He pauses for a moment, then smiles and asks, “And who is this?”
Ruhi, bursting with excitement, points toward Rimjhim and says, “She’s our sister-in-law! Our eldest bhabhi!”
Surprise spreads across Karan’s face. He looks at Vihan, then back at Rimjhim, and with playful drama says, “Wow! Everything’s set now. I’m the only one left single!”
Everyone bursts into laughter. Suddenly, Neeti’s voice cuts through the moment.
“And who is that?”
Everyone turns in the direction she is pointing. A cute girl stands there, dressed in red shorts and a white top. Her long, curly hair cascades over her shoulders. Soft makeup, a hint of blush, and light lipstick give her face a natural glow. It is Riya.
Karan freezes for a second when he sees her. His reaction instantly draws everyone’s attention. He quickly speaks, “She’s… my friend!”
Riya looks around nervously, clearly unsure of what to do. Her eyes reflect both shyness and hesitation.
Samar and Vihan both narrow their eyes at Karan, their expressions filled with suspicion. Their silent gaze clearly asks, “Really… just a friend?”
Seeing their seriousness, Karan immediately raises his hands in surrender. “Hey! Don’t look at me like that. I’m not like you two… I’m not doing anything wrong!”
His face turns red in embarrassment. “I’m just kidding, okay?”
Laughter fills the air again. Trying to escape the awkwardness, Karan quickly moves to sit beside Shorya and gestures for Riya to sit next to him.
Turning to Riya, he says warmly, “Meet my family. I told you I’d introduce you to them.”
TO BE COUNTINUE...!!!