"Bhai, let's go fast! I want you to meet someone really special," Aarav said, pulling me towards the car and practically shoving me inside.

He started driving while I was scrolling through my phone, keeping myself updated on upcoming assignments.

"Bro? Really?"

"What?" I asked, looking at him with a raised eyebrow.

"You're on leave. VACATION. Do you even understand what that means? Huh?" He sighed before continuing. "It means you should rest and enjoy, not work."

"Aarav, I work for the Indian Army. A soldier is never off duty."

"I know, I know. But please, don't start with that lecture again. It's my wedding—you should enjoy it."

My face fell instantly hearing the word wedding. I slipped my phone into my pocket and looked out of the window.

Wedding. Yes, his wedding—with the woman who should have been mine. But as always, God hates me. He's doing what he does best—giving me pain.

"What's wrong?" Aarav asked, glancing at me.

"Um... nothing. You didn’t tell me about the special person you’re taking me to meet?" I asked, changing the topic.

"Oh, it’s a surprise," he replied with a grin.

Suddenly, he stopped the car.

"What’s wrong?" I asked.

"Wait here, I’ll be back soon," he said before stepping out of the car.

Shaking my head, I unlocked my phone again.

How my dumb, foolish brother is going to marry an equally foolish woman.

He returned with a bouquet of red roses and threw it into my lap.

"What’s this?" I asked, confused.

"You’re going to meet her for the first time. You can’t go empty-handed," he replied, getting back into the car.

We arrived at a café—or at least, it looked like one.

"Bhai, let’s go."

We got out of the car.

"Vihaan!" came her annoying voice. Ugh. Why does this girl always have to be behind me? Can't she understand I don’t want her? One day, I’ll have to be admitted into a mental asylum because of her. I ignored her and took out my phone—but when I looked up, I froze.

The sight before me.

Vanya? Here?

She was talking to someone.

She lifted her head, and her cold grey eyes met mine. I instantly lowered my gaze—because she is my Goddess. How can I look into the eyes of the person I worship literally every day?

I forgot how to breathe. Heat crawled up my neck. God, why does she always have to look at me like that?

She looks so pretty today—no, she looks this pretty every day.

My legs moved on their own, and before my mind could even register, I was already standing in front of her.

"Oh, heyy Vihaan," her voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Heyy," I replied, scratching the back of my neck. Why the fuck do I get so shy in front of her? I’m a soldier, for God’s sake.

"You guys know each other?" Aarav asked, clearly confused.

"Yeah, I mean... there will hardly be anyone in this country who doesn’t know Major Vihaan Kapoor," she replied.

"Ohh," Aarav said before excusing himself and going inside the café.

Just then, I felt someone holding my arm. I turned slightly—only to see Mehak gripping it with both hands. No. I can’t let Vanya misunderstand or even think that Mehak and I are a thing.

Before I could pull my arm away—

"Oh, I’ll just get myself a coffee," Vanya said and walked toward the counter.

I exhaled sharply.

"If you love your hands, don’t you dare touch me again," I said to Mehak without looking at her and went behind Vanya.

She was ordering her coffee. I unlocked my phone and snapped two, three pictures of her without her knowing.

I do this every time. Whenever she’s not looking, I click her pictures secretly. I know it’s not right, but she always looks so breathtaking I just can’t control myself.

God, my woman looks so gorgeous all the time.

I silently stood behind her, closed my eyes, and inhaled deeply.

A mix of chocolate and something uniquely her.

Just as I opened my eyes, I saw her looking at me.

"Do you want to order something?" she asked, and I could already feel heat creeping up my neck. My whole body was on fire just because she was standing so close—looking at me with those pretty eyes. Fuck, why does it have to be like this?

"Umm... yes."

"Fine, then bring my coffee along with your order," she said and walked off.

She commands me like I’m her personal servant. Or maybe I am—because she is the only woman who can command me. The only one.

"Sir, your order?" the waiter asked.

"What did she order?" I asked, pointing toward Vanya.

"Cappuccino with extra sugar."

I knew it. This brat can’t eat anything healthy, not even once.

"If you don’t mind, can I make her coffee myself?" I asked hopefully.

"Sure, sir. This way," he said, guiding me toward the counter.

I rolled up my sleeves and started making coffee for her.

I wondered why she ordered coffee here. As far as I know, she doesn’t eat or drink anything that isn’t made by her personal chefs. So why now?

Whatever. The good thing is, I’m here—so she doesn’t have to compromise on her coffee.

---

After ordering my coffee, I stepped outside to soak in the view. The serenity of this place was overwhelming—the mountains stretched endlessly into the horizon, painted in golden hues by the setting sun. The calming evening breeze kissed my cheeks gently, and I couldn't help but smile to myself.

God, this place is magical. I could live here forever, away from the noise and chaos of the city, away from the messiness of my life—without any luxury, without any drama. Just me, the mountains, and peace.

"Uttarakhand is such a beautiful place, right?" came the familiar voice of Shikha, my best friend, as she joined me outside.

"Yes," I replied dreamily, my eyes fixed on one particular person sitting inside the café. "But more than the place, I think it's the people here who are so sweet."

My gaze hadn’t left Vihaan even for a second. That fool. My heart chuckled bitterly as I watched him through the glass. He was pacing around like he wasn’t aware that he had already captivated me completely.

"Oh, I'll just be back in a minute," Shikha said, interrupting my thoughts. She probably noticed how distracted I was and didn’t even wait for a reply before disappearing inside.

But her words barely registered. My entire attention was on the man who had unknowingly become my whole world. Vihaan Kapoor. That idiot must be thinking I don’t care—that I don’t see the way he looks at me when I’m not paying attention, that I don’t notice how he makes sure every small thing related to me is taken care of with such tenderness, and without expecting a damn thing in return.

How can he not see? How can he not know that I’ve been carrying him in my heart for years now?

I feel so lucky—blessed even—that I met him all those years ago. And since then, he’s been the only light in my otherwise dark and twisted world. He thinks I don’t feel the same way. He doesn’t know how many times I’ve stopped myself from just running into his arms and confessing everything.

And of course, I knew him. I knew if he found out I had ordered coffee, he’d insist on preparing it himself. Because that’s just who he is. Thoughtful. Intense. Quietly obsessed. And mine, whether he knows it or not.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me out of my thoughts.

It was the same unknown number that had been bothering me for over a week now. No messages, just calls. Silent and unnerving.

Before I could decide whether or not to pick up, Vihaan’s voice reached me.

"Your phone is ringing," he said, walking out with two cups of coffee—his eyes, as always, soft when they looked at me.

"Umm... nothing important," I replied quickly, slipping the phone back into my pocket without checking the screen. I took the coffee from his hand and smiled. "Thank you."

He didn’t say anything, just nodded.

I took a sip of the coffee, closing my eyes dramatically before grinning.

"Hmm... the waiters here are quite good at their job. This coffee is amazing."

I peeked at him through my lashes, and there it was—the little twitch in his jaw. He didn’t like that I gave the credit to someone else.

And that annoyed expression on his face? It was the highlight of my day.

God, I love annoying him for absolutely no reason. It makes me feel closer to him somehow—as if teasing him keeps our fragile bond from slipping through the cracks of everything we can’t say out loud.

And I know Vihaan. He’s dying to say something right now. But as always, he won't. Because he thinks he's not allowed to want me.

---

“Hmm, fine... go ahead and praise the waiter for my hard work,” I muttered under my breath, pouting internally. “Whatever. I won’t talk to her now—she’s being mean to me. Bad girl.”

“Are you thinking something, soldier? Wait… are you sulking?” Her teasing voice snapped me out of my stormy thoughts, slicing through my imaginary grudge like a hot knife through butter.

I straightened, trying to recover my pride. “No! I’m a soldier—I don’t sulk.” Then quickly, before she could tease me more, I changed the subject. “Umm... do you like it here?”

Her eyes flicked toward the snow-capped mountains, the wind playing with her hair. “Yes,” she replied softly. “The weather here is really good. Peaceful.”

“Umm, if you don’t mind… where are you staying while you're here?”

She turned to me with that unreadable expression of hers. “Oh, I have a farmhouse nearby.”

“Ohh…” Of course she does. So there goes my plan of inviting her to stay with us. But no worries. Think, Vihaan. Think.

And just like that, a devious idea bloomed in my mind. Oh, Vihaan, you’re such a genius. I mentally patted myself on the back.

“Actually… since Aarav is your fiancé,” I said carefully, forcing the word out even though it tasted bitter, “why don’t you come stay with us?You both will get time to spend together, you know… for wedding stuff.”

She paused for a second, as if weighing her options, then nodded casually. “Not a bad idea. I’ll consider it.”

I swear to God, in that moment I wanted to leap into the air and do a full Bollywood-style dance routine right in the middle of the street. But I controlled myself. Barely.

“Let’s take a small walk,” she said suddenly. Not asked—said. She didn’t even wait for a response. She just started walking ahead like she always does.

And I, like the fool in love that I am, followed.

I walked behind her, exactly where I wanted to be—protecting her, keeping my eyes on her, making sure no harm ever came her way. She’s clumsy, reckless even. And I can’t afford to let anything happen to her. Not on my watch.

“Vihaan, look! Puppies!” she suddenly squealed, clapping her hands in giddy excitement.

I smiled. My fierce, intimidating, invincible Vanya… giggling over puppies. Who would believe it? Who would even dare imagine that this was the same woman who had entire governments shaking at her command?

I quickly took out my phone and began snapping pictures—candids of her smiling, laughing, sitting on the grass, letting two little furballs crawl over her lap. Then I switched to video, capturing the way her fingers curled gently around the pups, her laughter, her glow. She was so beautiful. Too beautiful.

“Vihaan, look! They’re so cute!” she said again, holding one of the puppies up for me to see, her eyes wide with joy.

“Not more than you,” I blurted, the words slipping out before my brain could process the consequences.

Her head tilted. “Huh? Did you say something?”

I blinked, panic setting in. “Uh—no! I was just saying… they’re small. The puppies. Really tiny.”

“Yeah, they are. Must be newborns.” She giggled and turned her attention back to the puppies.

“Yeah… maybe,” I murmured, and sat down beside her on the grass, our shoulders brushing.

But our moment didn’t last long.

“Bhai? What are you guys doing here?” Aarav’s voice cut through the calm like a poorly timed commercial in the middle of a romantic movie.

I internally cursed him for the interruption.

“We’re playing with the puppies! Look at this one,” Vanya said cheerfully, holding up one of the pups to show him.

“Ohh. By the way, we brought flowers for you,” Aarav added, pulling the bouquet out from behind his back and handing it to her.

Red roses.

Damn it.

Her favorite flowers are black roses. He doesn’t even know that. I do. I made a mental note to bring her the right ones later and properly apologize. She deserves perfection, and I can’t let her receive anything less.

“Thanks,” she said politely, accepting the bouquet with a neutral expression.

Just then, my phone started ringing. I excused myself and walked a few feet away to answer.

“Yes, sir?” I answered in a low voice.

The response came immediately, clipped and cold. “Is everything going according to the plan?”

I looked back at her.

Her back was to me, but I knew that even without looking she could feel my eyes on her.

“Yes, sir,” I said. “Things are going exactly as planned.”

The line went dead.