Chapter 3

Morning sunlight slipped softly through the curtains.

Peaceful.

Quiet.

A complete contrast to the chaos of the previous day.

Nancy Chauhan walked into her house, dropping her bag lazily on the couch.

“Maa… paani!” she called out, stretching her arms.

“Pehle yahan aao.”

Her mother’s voice came from the living room.

Calm.

Too calm.

Nancy frowned slightly.

“Ab kya ho gaya…” she muttered under her breath, walking in.

Her parents were already seated.

Waiting.

That alone—

Felt suspicious.

Nancy slowed down.

“Kya hua? Itna serious kyun baithe ho dono?”

Her mother gestured for her to sit.

“Nancy beta… woh hum tumari baat kar rahe the…”

Nancy dropped onto the sofa, crossing her legs casually.

“Kis liye baat kar rahe the?”

A brief silence passed between her parents.

Then—

Her mother spoke.

Softly.

“Beta… tumhari shaadi teh ho gayi. Next month ki 4 ko hai.”

Silence.

Complete.

Absolute.

Nancy blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Processing.

Failing to process.

“…Meri? Aur shaadi?”

She let out a short laugh.

“Seriously?”

Her father nodded, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

“Haan. Aur ladke ka ghar-baar sab kuch accha hai. Ladka bhi accha hai.”

Nancy stared at them.

Still waiting for someone to laugh.

To say it was a joke.

No one did.

Her smile slowly disappeared.

“Aap log serious ho…”

Her mother quickly added—

“Tension mat lo. Uski job stable hai. Lawyer hai.”

Nancy’s expression froze.

“…kya?”

Something clicked.

Something familiar.

Uncomfortable.

“Tere phone pe photo send kar di hai. Number bhi. Khud baat kar lena. Naam hai… Ishaan Verma.”

And that was it.

Nancy’s brain—

CRASHED.

“OH MY GOD!!!”

She jumped to her feet instantly.

“Mummy! Koi aur nahi mila tha kya?!”

Her voice echoed through the house.

Her parents looked confused.

But Nancy—

Was already pacing.

Heart racing.

Mind replaying one single moment—

A police station.

A collar in her grip.

And those calm, dangerous eyes.

“Nahi… nahi nahi nahi… yeh nahi ho sakta…”

She grabbed her phone with trembling hands.

Opened the message.

And there it was.

The same face.

The same man.

“Yeh wahi hai…”

She whispered.

Half shocked.

Half horrified.

“Yeh toh wahi hai!”

Her mother frowned.

“Kaun?”

Nancy looked up at her.

Still processing.

“Maa… main kal police station gayi thi na…”

A pause.

“Usi ka collar pakad liya tha maine.”

Dead silence.

Her father blinked.

Once.

Slowly.

“Kya…?”

Nancy nodded, still in disbelief.

“Haan! Aur woh hi… mera hone wala pati hai?!”

And somewhere—

Between shock, embarrassment, and pure chaos—

One thing became very, very clear.

This marriage—

Was not going to be normal.

...----------------...

The clock struck around 3 PM.

The sun had softened, but the heat still lingered in the air.

Nancy stood outside a small café, arms crossed, tapping her foot impatiently.

“Itni urgent baat hai… aur khud late hain dono.”

Before she could complain more—

“NANCYYY!”

Two voices echoed together.

Nancy turned—

And there they were.

Isha and Aarushi.

As they settled down on the chairs, the noise of the café fading into the background, an awkward silence lingered for a second.

Then—

Nancy spoke first.

“Guys, kal toh tum mazaak kar rahe the meri shaadi karva denge… Aaj pakka ho gaya… shaadi hai meri next month ki 4 ko.”

She exhaled, still not fully believing it.

Isha leaned back, equally stunned but trying to act normal.

“Yaar, hume bhi aaj subah hi pata chala… mera bhai tere se shaadi karega.”

Aaru’s face lit up instantly.

“Yaar tu toh bhabhi ban gayi… bestie se!”

Nancy stared at both of them in disbelief.

“Mujhe kya pata tha tum jaise namuno ki itni pohonch hai ki mere parents ko tumhara bhai hi mil gaya…”

Isha scoffed dramatically.

“Hume kya pata tha kisi ko mera bhai bhi accha lag sakta hai.”

Nancy narrowed her eyes.

“Accha lagta hai? Maine kab bola mujhe accha lagta hai?”

Aaru smirked.

“Abhi bol degi… thoda time de.”

Nancy picked up a tissue and threw it at her.

“Chup reh tu!”

Then suddenly—

Her expression shifted slightly.

“Yaar… sab kuch toh sahi hai… but kal jo kaand kiya tha uske baad ab shakal kaise dikhaungi uske saamne…”

Aaru instantly leaned forward.

“Accha jo kal tune collar pakad ke dhamki di thi use?”

Isha slapped her own forehead dramatically.

“Wow behen… tere toh lag gaye.”

Nancy groaned, hiding her face in her hands.

“Tum log samajh nahi rahe… woh banda normal nahi hai. Usne react hi nahi kiya! Aur ab… main usse shaadi karungi?”

Isha crossed her arms, thinking.

“Haan… yeh toh hai. Bhai thoda alag hai.”

Aaru nodded seriously.

“Thoda?”

Then both looked at each other—

And burst out laughing.

Nancy glared at them.

“Meri life barbaad ho rahi hai aur tum dono ko comedy show lag raha hai.”

Isha leaned forward, grabbing her hand.

“Arre relax… itna bhi bura nahi hai. Bas thoda… control freak hai.”

Aaru added—

“Aur thoda scary.”

Nancy blinked.

“THODA?!”

A waiter came and placed their order.

But none of them were really focused on the food now.

Because this—

Was way more interesting.

Aaru suddenly smirked.

“Waise ek baat bata… jab tu usse milegi na… kya bolegi? ‘Hi, main woh hoon jinhone kal aapka collar pakda tha?’”

Isha burst out laughing again.

“Ya phir—sorry ji, galti se haath lag gaya tha.”

Nancy grabbed the spoon and pointed at them threateningly.

“Kasam se… ek aur word bola na… yahin maar dungi dono ko.”

Aaru raised her hands in surrender.

“Theek hai bhabhi ji… gussa mat ho.”

Nancy froze.

Slowly turned.

“Kya bola?”

Isha grinned wickedly.

“Bhabhi.”

Aaru joined in—

“Bhabhi ji.”

Nancy closed her eyes.

“Main tum dono se dosti tod rahi hoon.”

“Nahi tod sakti. Rishta ho gaya hai ab.” Isha said proudly.

For a moment—

All three went quiet.

Not awkward.

Just… thinking.

Because beneath all the jokes—

This was real.

Too real.

Nancy sighed softly.

“Sach bolu… thoda darr lag raha hai.”

Isha looked at her, this time serious.

“Kyun?”

Nancy hesitated.

“Pata nahi… woh samajh nahi aata. Matlab… woh control mein rehta hai. Aur main… main waisi nahi hoon.”

Aaru softened a little.

“Tu adjust kar legi.”

Isha nodded.

“Aur nahi kiya toh… bhai ko adjust karna padega.”

Nancy looked at her.

“Sach?”

Isha smirked.

“Obviously. Tu meri best friend hai… usse zyada importance hai teri.”

Aaru added—

“Aur agar usne tujhe pareshan kiya na… toh pehle main maarungi usse.”

Nancy couldn’t help but smile a little.

“Tum dono pagal ho.”

“Haan. Par tere hi hain.” Isha said softly.

And just then—

Nancy’s phone rang.

All three looked down.

The name on the screen—

Ishaan Verma.

Silence.

Instant.

Heavy.

Aaru slowly whispered—

“Pick kar… bhabhi ji.”

Nancy shot her a deadly glare—

Then took a deep breath and answered.

“Hello…”

On the other side—

His voice.

Calm.

Direct.

“Kal ke baad milna hai. Kuch baat karni hai.”

No hello.

No hesitation.

Just… authority.

Nancy’s grip on the phone tightened slightly.

“…Theek hai.”

The call ended.

She lowered the phone slowly.

Isha leaned forward immediately.

“Kya bola usne?”

Nancy sighed.

“Parso milna hai…”

Aaru smirked.

“Official meeting.”

Isha added dramatically—

“Shaadi ka trailer shuru.”

Nancy shook her head.

But her heart—

Was already beating a little faster.

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