"Ooh madam, zara mere liye toh rukiye. Kuch zyada jaldi nahi hai aapko mere Bhaiya se milne ki jo apni best friend ko bhi bhool gayi?"

("Oh, madam, at least wait for me. Are you really in such a hurry to meet my brother that you've forgotten your own best friend?")

I called out dramatically while dragging my suitcase behind me after collecting it from the airport counter. Vriti, on the other hand, had already walked a little ahead without even bothering to look back.

"Haan toh hai jaldi mujhe. Tujhe toh roz hi dekhti hoon aur sach bataun toh bohot bore ho gayi hoon tera chehra dekh dekh ke."

("Obviously I'm in a hurry. I see your face every single day and honestly, I'm getting bored of looking at you.")

She replied as she stopped in the middle of her tracks.

I immediately ran towards her and clutched my chest dramatically.

"Hawww! Kaisi best friend hai tu? Mujhse bore ho gayi itni jaldi?
Aur ek main hoon jo tujhe apni bhabhi banana chahti hoon, par yahan toh tu hi mujhe dhokha de rahi hai.
I don't want to talk to you. Go far from my eyes!"

("Hawww! What kind of best friend are you? You got bored of me this quickly? And here I am dreaming of making you my sister-in-law, while you're the one betraying me.")

She simply rolled her eyes at my overacting.

"Ohh Miss Nautanki, drama band kar apna aur chup chaap chal. Ab woh aate hi honge."

("Ohh Miss Drama Queen, stop your drama and come quietly. They'll be here any minute.")

"Haan haan, theek hai. Ab woh mil jayenge toh best friend ka kya hai? Koi nahi... hume toh sehna padega."

("Yeah yeah, fine. Once he gets here, who cares about the best friend? I'll just have to suffer.")

"Kitne drame karti hai yaar tu. Ab chal."

("You really are impossible. Now come on.")

I laughed teasingly before the two of us finally made our way towards the airport parking area.

We had reached a little early, so now all we had to do was wait.

Bhaiya had called five minutes ago to tell me he'd be there in another ten minutes.

While waiting, I glanced at Vriti.

She looked... worried.

Her eyes kept scanning the ground while she nervously looked around.

"What happened?" I asked, confused.

"My watch!" she exclaimed anxiously. "Where's my watch?"

"Which watch?"

"I was literally wearing it till a few minutes ago. It's gone!"

"Maybe it slipped off somewhere."

"I'll go check near the counter. Maybe it fell there."

"Have you lost it? This airport is huge! How are you even going to find it? Leave it, we'll buy a new one."

She immediately shook her head.

"No. Just wait here. I'll be back."

Before I could stop her, she hurried inside.

I watched her disappear through the entrance, completely confused.

It was just a watch...

Why was she so stressed?

I wanted to go after her, but all our luggage was with me, including important documents and other belongings. I couldn't leave everything unattended.

So all I could do was wait.

A few minutes later, she finally returned, holding up her wrist with a bright smile.

"Mil gayi... haash!"

("Found it... thank God!")

I let out a small laugh before looking at the watch in her hand.

"What is so special about this watch that you practically searched the entire airport for it?"

She looked down at it lovingly.

"Special nahi... bohot special hai yeh. Unhone di thi mujhe, mere birthday gift mein... last time before we went to England, remember? Toh aise kaise kho jaane deti isse main?"

("It's not just special... He gave it to me as my birthday gift before we left for England, remember? How could I ever let myself lose it?")

She said softly while showing me the watch.

And just like that...

I remembered everything.

I still remembered how crazy she'd been after Bhaiya gifted it to her.

"Haan toh kya hua? Dusri de dete Bhaiya."

("So what? Bhaiya would've bought you another one.")

She smiled sadly before shaking her head.

"Tu nahi samajh sakti... rehne de. Jo pyaar karte hain, woh hi samajh sakte hain."

("You won't understand... leave it. Only those who truly love someone can understand.")

She said quietly, disappointment clearly visible in her eyes.

I rolled my eyes.

"Well, I don't understand, and honestly, I don't even want to. Love isn't really my thing."

She chuckled.

"It'll make sense when you fall in love."

I immediately shook my head.

"No, that's not gonna happen. I don't need love. Tu hi kaafi hai. Main toh tujhe dekh dekh ke hi pagal ho gayi hoon."

("You're already enough for me. I've gone crazy just by dealing with you.")

She laughed, knowing I was only trying to dodge the topic.

"How can someone love a person from the age of twelve? I just can't believe it."

It sounded impossible to me.

"So don't believe it," she replied with a small smile. "But I have."

I looked at her mischievously before an idea popped into my head.

"Vaise mujhe ek baat bata... agar Bhaiya kisi aur se pyaar karte ho toh? Tu kya karegi phir?"

("Tell me something... what if Bhaiya loves someone else? What would you do then?")

I asked only to tease her. I knew she'd loved Bhaiya for years, yet she'd never found the courage to tell him.

Her smile instantly faded.

"Tu aise kyun keh rahi hai? Aisa kaise ho sakta hai yaar?"

("Why would you even say that? How is that even possible?")

She said, her voice filled with fear.

"Kyun nahi ho sakta? Waise bhi tune kabhi unhe bataya toh hai nahi ki tu unhe like karti hai. Aur ho sakta hai unhe tu pasand hi na ho."

("Why not? You've never even told him that you like him. What if he doesn't feel the same way?")

"Kuch bhi mat bol. Mujhe pata hai... he also likes me. Unki aankhon mein dikhta hai."

("Don't say that. I know... I can see it in his eyes.")

I raised an eyebrow, trying hard not to laugh.

"Haan, tujhe bada logon ki aankhein padhna aata hai."

("Oh really? So you've become an expert at reading people's eyes?")

She smiled without a hint of hesitation.

"Logon ki nahi... sirf unki."

("Not everyone's... only his.")

I couldn't help but smile at the way she said it.

"Accha accha, waise bhi mazaak kar rahi thi main. Ab bas band kar apni yeh cheesy lines. Main aur nahi sun sakti."

("Alright, alright. I was only joking. Now stop with your cheesy lines.")

I teased, making her laugh again.

"And I know Bhaiya likes you too."

"So... has he ever told you anything?"

"No, but I know he also feels the same for you. I mean, I'm his sister. Who can know him better than me?"

I said, making her blush shyly.

And then, as I turned around, I saw Bhaiya walking towards us, wearing a formal suit, looking like he had come straight from the office.

I instantly ran towards him with the biggest smile on my face.

"BHAIYAAAAAAA!"

I threw my arms around him the moment I reached him.

He chuckled softly before wrapping his arms around me just as tightly.

"Annu! How are you? And how was the journey?"

He asked, his voice carrying the same concern it always did whenever it came to me.

"I am very much fine, Bro. Aap bataiye, aap kaise hain? Aur baaki sab?"

("I'm perfectly fine, Bro. You tell me, how are you? And how's everyone else?")

"Mujhe kya hona? Main bhi mast, fit and fine hoon. Aur baakiyon ka... tu ghar chal aur khud jaan le."

("What could possibly happen to me? I'm perfectly fine too. As for everyone else... come home and find out yourself.")

I smiled brightly.

"Yes! I am missing everyone so much."

He smiled back before finally looking past me.

Towards Vriti.

The smile on his face remained... but the words disappeared.

Just like every single time.

Whenever Vriti stood in front of him, Bhaiya suddenly became so quiet, as if he simply forgot how to speak.

And Vriti...

She wasn't any different.

She stood there looking at him with the exact same expression.

Honestly...

It looked as if two long-lost lovers had finally met after years.

I simply stood there, silently watching them.

I didn't want to interrupt.

They had finally met after so long.

Yes, we used to visit during holidays, but this entire year we couldn't come because of our projects and work.

Now the wait was finally over.

I just wished these two would stop being so stubborn, confess their feelings and finally have the beautiful life they both deserved.

Bhagwan ji, please Bhaiya aur Vriti ko hamesha khush rakhna.

("God, please always keep Bhaiya and Vriti happy.")

I was probably the only person who knew about their feelings.

I had seen the way they looked at each other.

They never confessed through words...

...but their eyes always said everything they were too afraid to.

I came out of my thoughts when Bhaiya finally spoke.

"How are you?"

His voice was unusually gentle... patient... and filled with the same quiet respect it always carried whenever he talked to her.

Vriti looked adorably nervous.

"I... am... nice."

She managed to say, stumbling over her own words.

Bhaiya simply nodded with a small smile.

"Let's go. Everyone is waiting at home."

He picked up my luggage without even asking.

Vriti bent down to lift her suitcase, but before she could, Bhaiya reached for it.

"Laiye, mujhe dijiye."

("Here, let me carry it.")

She looked at him in slight confusion for a moment before quietly handing it over.

The three of us then walked towards the car.

"Bhaiya, you know... I have missed you sooooo muchhhhhh!"

"Hm... rehne de. Don't lie. Itna miss kiya tha toh holidays mein kyun nahi aayi thi?"

("Hmm... stop it. Don't lie. If you missed me that much, why didn't you come during the holidays?")

I pouted.

"I already told you that I had to submit my projects, and then the trip got planned, so I couldn't."

Without saying another word, he walked ahead and opened the front passenger door for me.

I got inside.

Then he walked around the car and opened the rear door for Vriti as well.

She quietly got in while thanking him with a small smile.

I simply sat there watching everything with the biggest grin on my face.

Kaise log hain yeh... abhi ke abhi bol do apne dil ki baat. Mujhse aur wait nahi ho raha.

("Seriously, what's wrong with these two? Just tell each other how you feel already. I can't wait anymore.")

Aur kitna wait karayenge yeh log mujhe inki shaadi mein dance karne ke liye?

("How much longer are they going to make me wait before I finally get to dance at their wedding?")

Helloooo Cuties! 🥰

How was Chapter 1? I hope you enjoyed meeting Anvika and the people who mean the world to her. 💗

If you loved this chapter, I'd truly appreciate it if you could give Bound Into Forever the same love and support you gave His Compelled Bride. It would mean so much to me. 💝🤗

Don't forget to vote, comment, and share your thoughts because I absolutely love reading them. Your support motivates me to keep writing and bringing this story to life. 🌸

See you in the next chapter! 🎀

𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙒𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙥𝙖𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙢 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙪𝙥𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙨. 𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙖 𝙞𝙙 - 𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙩𝙥𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙨 ✨