CHAPTER 3

Loveneet Singh — the man Sirat loved without knowing him

Loveneet Singh was the kind of man people noticed without him trying.

Tall, calm, well-groomed, with a quiet confidence that sat naturally on him. He didn’t talk too much, but when he did, his words carried weight. His smile was soft, not loud—more comforting than charming—and his eyes held a depth that made people trust him easily.

He was practical, responsible, and deeply rooted in family values. For Loveneet, marriage wasn’t about romance alone; it was about companionship, stability, and respect. He believed love could grow with time, with understanding. He wasn’t someone who fell easily—but when he decided something, he stood by it firmly.

On social media, he appeared simple—occasional pictures, calm reels, a composed presence. But behind that calmness was a man who observed more than he spoke, who believed in destiny even if he never said it out loud. When his family showed him girl profile first, he felt a strange sense of familiarity and comfort, mistaking peace for certainty.

He never imagined that somewhere else, a girl named Sirat had already woven him into her prayers, her dreams, and her entire world—without him ever knowing.

Loveneet wasn’t heartless.

He was just unaware.

Lovedeep Singh — the misunderstood cousin

Lovedeep Singh was the opposite in many ways.

Warm, expressive, and a little impulsive, he wore his heart closer to the surface. He laughed easily, talked freely, and had a way of making people feel comfortable within minutes. Where Loveneet was reserved, Lovedeep was approachable.

He wasn’t careless—just emotional. He believed in love deeply, but life had taught him patience. He respected family decisions, even when his heart hesitated. He trusted people easily, sometimes too easily, and that trust often left him standing in confusion when things didn’t go as planned.

Meeting Day — Sirat’s POV

That morning felt different.

I woke up before my alarm, my heart already racing as if it knew today wasn’t just any day. Sunlight filtered softly through the curtains, and for the first time in years, I smiled without forcing myself to. Today… I was finally going to see him. Not on a screen. Not in pictures. But in real life.

I sat up in bed, pressed my palms together, and whispered,

“Waheguru ji… please. Just let today be good.”

From the kitchen, I could hear my mother humming—a sound she only made when she was truly happy. The house felt warmer, lighter, as if even the walls knew something special was about to happen. My family moved around with excitement—soft laughter, hurried footsteps, the clinking of bangles and cups.

“Sirat, get ready early,” my mother called. “We don’t want to be late.”

Late.

The word made my heart skip.

I opened my cupboard and stared at my clothes longer than usual. What do you wear when you’re meeting someone you’ve loved silently for years? Something simple, I decided. Something… me. I didn’t want to pretend. I didn’t want to look like someone else.

As I got ready, my hands trembled slightly. My reflection looked the same, yet different—my eyes held a nervous glow, a quiet hope I’d carried for so long.

Is this how dreams feel right before they come true?

The car ride felt endless. I sat quietly in the back seat, watching the roads of Mohali pass by, my thoughts louder than the traffic outside. Every red light made my heart pound harder. Every turn brought me closer to a moment I had imagined a thousand times.

Then it happened.

Traffic.

The car slowed… then stopped.

“Haye Rabba,” my father sighed. “What is this jam?”

I looked out the window, my fingers twisting nervously in my dupatta. A strange uneasiness crept into my chest, though I didn’t know why. The clock ticked forward, each minute stretching longer than the last.

God ji… please don’t let us be too late.

Finally, after what felt like forever, the traffic cleared. The restaurant came into view—warm lights glowing behind glass windows, people moving inside, unaware that for me, this place held the weight of my entire heart.

We arrived.

As I stepped out of the car, my breath caught.

This was it.

I smoothed my dupatta, took a deep breath, and followed my family inside—unaware that fate had already arrived before me… and made its choice.Meeting Day — Sirat’s POV