[][] Author's POV [][]
Kalki Watson had lost count of how many times he had asked the same question in the past week.
"Where is Sunakshi?"
And every single time, he got the same irritating answer.
"We don't know."
The answer echoed through the massive Watson mansion like a curse. Staff members avoided his eyes, relatives suddenly found important work elsewhere, and even Dylan and Rajveer had begun choosing their words carefully around him. Nobody wanted to be at the receiving end of Kalki's temper.
Tonight was supposed to be one of the most important nights in the history of the Watson family.
Mr. Kalki Watson's engagement.
The entire mansion had been transformed into something straight out of a royal celebration. Golden chandeliers hung from temporary glass ceilings built across the enormous garden, while thousands of fairy lights wrapped around every tree, pillar, and balcony. White roses and lilies decorated the pathways, and a massive crystal stage stood at the centre of the lawn beneath the open evening sky.
The Watson estate already looked grand on normal days, but tonight it looked untouchable. Powerful. Elegant. The kind of place people only saw in magazines.
Yet despite all the beauty around him, Kalki felt nothing but frustration.
Because Sunakshi was missing.
Not actually missing—everyone knew she was safe somewhere—but she had disappeared from their lives completely. She wasn't answering calls, replying to messages, or contacting anyone. And to everyone's absolute shock, she had blocked Kalki everywhere.
Everywhere.
Kalki still remembered staring at his phone in disbelief three nights ago.
Blocked.
The word alone had felt like an insult.
Nobody blocked Kalki Watson.
Nobody ignored him.
And yet Sunakshi had done both without hesitation.
"What do you mean she blocked you?" Rajveer had asked that night, trying—and failing—not to laugh.
Kalki had glared at him so hard that Dylan immediately stepped between them before a fight could start.
Now, one week later, the irritation inside him had only grown worse.
"She cannot just disappear before the engagement," Kalki muttered while adjusting the cufflinks of his black suit. "Does she think this is some kind of joke?"
Dylan leaned against the dressing room wall with crossed arms. "Maybe she's angry."
"Angry?" Kalki scoffed. "For what?"
Rajveer looked up from his phone with an expression that clearly said you seriously don't know?
Before either of them could answer, the dressing room doors burst open dramatically.
Dadi entered like a queen inspecting her kingdom.
She wore an emerald-green silk saree decorated with diamonds that sparkled brighter than most of the lights outside. Behind her trailed three terrified staff members carrying invitation lists, jewellery boxes, and flower samples.
"Kalki!" she exclaimed. "Why are you still here? Guests are arriving."
Kalki pinched the bridge of his nose. "Dadi, why are there more people outside than at a political rally?"
"Because," she said proudly, "I invited everyone I know."
Rajveer almost choked.
"Dadi," Dylan said carefully, "we already talked about security concerns—"
"And I already told you boys to stop acting like bodyguards," she interrupted sharply. "This is a Watson celebration. People should talk about it for years."
"They will talk about it," Rajveer muttered. "Mostly about how impossible parking was."
Dadi ignored him completely.
Outside, the mansion buzzed with life. Luxury cars lined the entrance gates endlessly while photographers crowded near the grand staircase, desperate to capture glimpses of celebrities, business tycoons, politicians, and socialites arriving for the engagement.
Inside the garden, live musicians played soft classical melodies while waiters moved through the crowd carrying trays of expensive drinks and desserts. The laughter of guests blended with the sound of fountains, creating an atmosphere of celebration so extravagant that it almost felt unreal.
But beneath all the glamour, tension lingered.
Everyone could feel it.
Because despite tonight being his engagement, Kalki Watson looked anything but happy.
He stood near the balcony overlooking the decorated garden, his sharp gaze constantly drifting toward the entrance gates.
As if he expected someone.
Or hoped for someone.
Dylan walked over quietly. "Still thinking about her?"
Kalki didn't answer immediately.
The cool evening breeze moved through his hair while distant fireworks briefly illuminated the dark sky above the mansion.
"She should be here," he finally said.
Dylan sighed softly. "Maybe she needs time."
"It's been a week."
"And in that one week," Rajveer added while joining them, "you've called her seventy-three times."
Kalki shot him a deadly glare.
Rajveer raised both hands defensively. "What? I counted."
For a second, silence settled between them.
Then Kalki spoke again, his voice quieter this time.
"She wouldn't leave without a reason."
That sentence changed the atmosphere instantly.
Because deep down, all three of them knew it was true.
Sunakshi wasn't dramatic. She wasn't immature. If she had disappeared and cut contact completely, then something serious had happened.
But nobody knew what.
And that uncertainty was beginning to destroy Kalki's patience.
Below them, the engagement decorations glowed beautifully beneath the night sky. Guests admired the luxury of the Watson estate, unaware of the storm building behind the perfect smiles of the family.
The music became louder as more people entered the garden.
Dadi moved proudly among the guests like she personally owned the entire city.
The engagement stage sparkled beneath crystal lights.
Everything looked perfect.
Yet for Kalki Watson, the night already felt incomplete.
Because no matter how grand the celebration became…
His eyes continued searching for only one person.
[][] Kalki's POV [][]
"Kalki ji, chai pe lijiye…"
Her soft voice drifted through the study, breaking the heavy silence that had settled around me since morning.
Without looking up immediately, I continued staring at the file open in front of me. Numbers, contracts, signatures—none of it made sense anymore. The words blurred together while another face kept appearing in my mind.
Sunakshi.
I clenched my jaw.
Finally, I lifted my eyes toward the door.
Noor stood there quietly, holding a silver tray with breakfast and tea. The warm smell of cardamom filled the room instantly. A small smile rested on her lips—the same polite smile she carried around everyone in this house. Calm. Gentle. Perfect.
And somehow that irritated me even more.
Because this…
This was exactly what Sona used to do.
Every morning without fail.
She would walk into my study without knocking, place tea near my files, and then lecture me for skipping breakfast. Sometimes she would talk nonstop while I worked, and other times she would simply sit quietly beside the window, filling the room with a strange kind of peace.
Now the same tray sat in front of me.
But it wasn't her hands placing it there.
Noor carefully set the cup down on the table before looking at me expectantly.
"Please drink it before it gets cold."
"Nahi."
The answer came out cold and immediate.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the tray, but she quickly masked it with another small smile.
Over the past few days, this had become a routine between us.
She would bring food.
And I would refuse it.
Every single time.
"You drink tea every morning," she said softly after a moment. "Then what happened today?"
I almost laughed at that.
What happened today?
Nothing.
And everything.
The same question. Again and again.
People kept asking what was wrong while pretending they couldn't see the obvious answer standing right in front of them.
Sunakshi was gone.
And this house had stopped feeling alive the moment she left.
I leaned back slightly in my chair, my expression blank.
Noor waited patiently for an answer, but I had stopped explaining myself a long time ago. If she wanted to stay here… if she wanted this relationship… then she would have to face this version of me too.
The colder one.
The side nobody liked.
"I don't want it, Noor," I said firmly, my eyes returning to the papers in front of me. "Please leave."
For a second, silence filled the room.
I could feel her standing there, unmoving.
Then slowly, she spoke again.
"Kalki… I'm going to be your wife." Her voice carried hesitation this time. "So let me take care of your things."
My grip around the pen tightened.
That sentence alone was enough to ruin whatever little patience I had left.
Wife.
The word sounded wrong.
Uncomfortable.
Like clothes that did not belong to me.
I slowly raised my head and looked directly at her.
"Why are you so sure of that?"
The question was calm.
Too calm.
But the hidden meaning behind it hit exactly where I wanted it to.
Noor blinked in confusion. "Of what?"
"That you'll become my wife."
The smile disappeared from her face instantly.
Good.
For the first time since entering the room, she looked shaken.
"What do you mean?" she asked quietly.
I didn't answer immediately.
Instead, I simply stared at her.
Noor was beautiful. Kind. Educated. Any man would probably feel lucky to marry her. Dadi adored her, the family approved of her, and the media had already started calling her the future Mrs. Watson.
Everything about this engagement looked perfect from the outside.
Then why did it feel so wrong?
Why did every discussion about marriage make me think of someone else?
And why did the silence left behind by Sunakshi hurt more than I was willing to admit?
Noor took a small step toward me. "Did I say something wrong?"
Her voice sounded careful now.
Almost nervous.
But I was in no mood to comfort anyone.
Not when my own thoughts were tearing me apart.
Without saying another word, I closed the file sharply and stood up from my chair.
The sudden movement startled her.
"Kalki—"
I walked past her before she could finish.
The study doors opened forcefully, and cold air from the hallway brushed against my face. Behind me, the untouched tea continued releasing faint steam into the silent room.
I could feel Noor's eyes following me.
Confused.
Hurt.
But I didn't stop.
Because staying there for one more minute would have forced me to confront something I had been avoiding for days.
This engagement was moving forward.
The wedding preparations had already begun.
Families were celebrating.
Guests were congratulating him.
Yet somewhere in the middle of all this perfection…
Kalki Watson still could not accept the idea of Noor becoming his wife.
And the worst part?
He knew exactly whose absence was responsible for it.
[][] Engagement Garden [][]
The mansion stood like a dream carved out of moonlight and gold, its towering walls glowing softly beneath the evening sky. Every balcony shimmered with warm lights, and the grand windows reflected the celebration unfolding across the vast garden. The air carried the fragrance of fresh roses and the quiet melody of distant music, blending perfectly with the calm night breeze.
The garden itself looked transformed into a royal paradise. Pathways covered in delicate flower petals led toward a beautifully decorated engagement stage, wrapped in blooming roses and sparkling fairy lights. Crystal lanterns flickered gently along the lawns, while fountains danced under the golden illumination, adding life to the elegant silence of the estate.
From where I stood, the entire scene felt almost unreal — a place where luxury met emotion. The mansion was not merely a building; it felt like the heart of the celebration, watching over every glowing candle, every flower arrangement, and every moment waiting to become a memory. The decorations carried a sense of warmth and love, turning the grand estate into something deeply personal and magical.
As the twilight deepened, the lights became brighter against the darkening sky, making the engagement setting appear like a scene from a timeless romance. Every corner of the garden reflected beauty, wealth, and celebration, yet beneath all the elegance, there was a quiet feeling of anticipation — as though the night itself was waiting for a beautiful story to begin.
[][] Karishma's POV [][]
The engagement was about to begin, and honestly, the entire atmosphere was irritating me more than impressing me.
The first thing the hosts announced after welcoming everyone was—
"Guests are requested not to use their phones during the ceremony. Photography and posting on social media are strictly prohibited."
Wow.
I folded my arms across my chest with a sarcastic smile.
Although the whole world already knew that the great Mr. Kalki Cheater Watson was getting engaged tonight, apparently we still weren't allowed to post pictures.
Very classy.
Beside me, Marshall nearly snorted into his drink while Krish muttered, "As if people won't leak photos anyway."
We were standing near one of the decorated tables in the massive garden, watching the entire setup glow beneath thousands of lights.
And honestly?
It was beautiful.
Painfully beautiful.
Because every single detail standing in front of me belonged to Sunakshi's dream engagement.
The floral arch covered in soft roses.
The candle-lit pathways.
The hanging chandeliers.
The warm gold-and-champagne theme.
Even the arrangement of the stage.
I remembered Sunakshi showing us sketches months ago with excitement sparkling in her eyes.
"This one," she had said while pointing at a design. "I want something magical but elegant."
And now here it was.
Exactly the same.
Just with another girl standing in her place.
My jaw tightened instantly.
"How cruel can someone be?" I muttered under my breath.
Marshall looked around before leaning closer. "Forget TV serial saas. Noor is on another level."
"Certified chor," Krish added immediately.
I almost laughed despite my irritation.
Because truly—
Noor hadn't just stolen Kalki from Sunakshi.
She had stolen her engagement too.
Every decoration around us screamed Sona.
Yet Noor stood somewhere inside this mansion pretending the ideas were hers.
Disgusting.
Soft classical music filled the garden as waiters moved through the crowd carrying drinks and desserts worth more than most people's monthly salaries. Politicians, business families, celebrities—every important person imaginable seemed to be attending tonight.
Typical Watson event.
Everything had to be grand enough to blind people from the truth.
Then the ceremony officially began.
A host welcomed everyone while repeating the same phone instructions again, probably terrified that one leaked photo would destroy whatever image the family was trying to maintain.
And then…
The groom entered.
A small wave of whispers spread across the garden instantly.
Even I had to admit—
Kalki Watson looked dangerously handsome tonight.
He wore an all-black designer sherwani with detailed embroidery shining beneath the lights. The fitted outfit, polished shoes, expensive watch, and calm expression gave him the exact appearance expected from someone like him.
Powerful.
Elegant.
Untouchable.
Women around us were practically staring at him without blinking.
Marshall clicked his tongue dramatically. "What a waste of good looks."
Krish nodded seriously. "Character development failed."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't stop myself from looking at Kalki again.
If he hadn't broken Sunakshi's heart…
Maybe I would have understood the obsession people had with him.
But now?
Naah.
Absolutely not.
Looks mean nothing when the person inside disappoints you.
As if sensing our presence, Kalki's gaze shifted toward our table.
For one brief second, our eyes met.
And all three of us rolled our eyes together.
Childish?
Maybe.
Satisfying?
Definitely.
His expression hardened slightly, though he quickly looked away and walked toward the podium where the family members stood waiting.
Good.
Let him know we weren't impressed.
The music changed softly.
And suddenly the entire garden turned toward the entrance again.
The bride was arriving.
Or as I liked to call her—
The Chor.
The massive gates opened slowly while golden lights reflected against the marble pathway.
Noor entered beneath a shower of flower petals, wearing a heavily embroidered champagne-gold lehenga that sparkled under every chandelier hanging above the garden. Her face remained hidden beneath a delicate veil, adding dramatic mystery to her appearance.
Guests looked mesmerized.
People whispered compliments immediately.
"She looks stunning."
"Perfect couple."
"Made for each other."
I almost gagged.
Because all I could see was Sunakshi.
Not physically.
But everywhere else.
In the decorations.
In the theme.
In the atmosphere Noor was proudly walking through.
For a moment, anger twisted painfully inside my chest.
How unfair was this?
The girl who dreamed of this night was nowhere here.
And the people responsible for her tears were standing beneath those lights like royalty.
Beside me, Marshall quietly said, "Sunakshi should've been the one walking there."
Nobody replied.
Because all three of us were thinking the exact same thing.
Meanwhile, on the stage, Kalki stood completely still while watching Noor approach him.
But something about his expression felt wrong.
He look happy.
really!!!
After all of these he is happy.
The guests saw a perfect groom waiting for his bride.