They walked in silence after Aryan said,
"We have to go back home. If someone finds out we're not there, it'll become a problem."
Aanya followed him quietly, but suddenly she stopped.
"Mr. Aryan… I need to tell you something."
Aryan didn't stop walking.
"Up to now, you were only telling," he said dryly.
Aanya puffed her cheeks.
"No, Mr. Aryan! I mean something important. About Prerna."
That made him stop instantly.
He turned to her, brows tightening.
"About Prerna?"
Aanya nodded.
"Yes, Mr. Aryan. It's important."
He faced her fully now.
"What is it?"
Aanya took a breath.
"From the past few days… I've been noticing Prerna. She doesn't seem happy."
Aryan stared at her silently.
Aanya quickly added,
"I know, I know—she's getting married. She'll have to leave you and aunty… so obviously she'd be sad. But I don't think that's the reason."
Her voice softened.
"I feel like… something else is bothering her."
Aryan narrowed his eyes.
"What do you mean by 'something else'?"
Aanya hesitated.
"I… don't know, Mr. Aryan. Maybe she's not happy with this marriage."
Aryan's jaw tightened.
He paused before asking,
"Did she tell you that?"
Aanya shook her head.
"No."
His voice dropped lower.
"Did you hear her telling someone else?"
Again she shook her head.
"No, Mr. Aryan… but—"
"But what?" he asked sharply.
"If she didn't tell you anything, how did you come to this conclusion? Prerna agreed to this marriage. No one forced her."
Aanya lowered her eyes.
"You're right, Mr. Aryan. She didn't say anything. It's just… my feeling."
why are you feeling like that?" he asked, softer this time.
Aanya looked up at him.
"Because it's clear in her eyes. I can just see it. She's sad."
Aryan raised a brow.
"Oh? Do you know telepathy or what?"
Aanya blinked.
"Meaning?"
He shrugged.
"Reading minds through eyes."
Aanya smirked dramatically.
"Well… maybe yes."
Aryan sighed.
"Oh really? Then tell me—what can you read from my eyes?"
Aanya looked directly into his eyes.
Their steps slowed…
Her heart beat louder…
And she smiled.
"Well, Mr. Aryan… I think you're falling in love."
Aryan stopped.
Completely froze.
For a moment he didn't even breathe.
Then he sharply turned away, refusing to meet her eyes.
"Stop talking rubbish," he muttered.
Aanya giggled.
"No, Mr. Aryan. I'm not talking rubbish. I just said what I felt."
He began walking fast.
Aanya hurried after him, teasing,
"Well? Did I say it right?"
"No." His voice was quick, almost defensive.
Aanya smiled wider.
"Maybe… sometimes I might be wrong."
She glanced at him—and caught the tiny smile he was trying so hard to hide.
And her heart fluttered.
They reached home.
Max wagged his tail happily and ran straight to his favourite corner.
Aanya looked at Aryan and smiled softly.
"Thank you, Mr. Aryan… for giving me company. I'll always remember this night."
Aryan's expression softened, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
Aanya added playfully,
"And I hope… for my next night walks also, you'll give me company."
Before he could reply, she wished,
"Good night,"
and walked toward her room, her smile lingering.
Aryan watched her go, a small smile still tugging at his lips.
He turned to walk to his room—
When suddenly, a sharp voice echoed through the hall.
"Aryan."
He froze.
Slowly turned.
Nandini stood there.
He swallowed once.
"Aunt… what are you doing here?"
Nandini walked closer, her eyes narrowing.
"Where are you coming from at this late hour, Aryan?"
Aryan froze, unsure what to say.
"I… I was just—"
Nandini didn't let him finish.
Her voice dropped, cold and accusing.
"Aryan, I saw you coming in just now… with that girl. With Aanya."
Aryan's jaw tightened as he turned his face away.
Nandini's voice sharpened.
"How could you do this? Going out with her at this hour? What will people think?"
Aryan sighed.
"It's not what you think. We were just—"
"Just what?" Nandini cut him off.
"Going to say nothing happened? Don't try to fool me."
Aryan fell silent.
Nandini continued firmly,
"You know very well she is so much younger than you."
Aryan lifted his eyes sharply at her words.
She stepped closer, lowering her voice.
"And what will people think when they find out you're in love with a girl so young?"
Aryan's eyes widened.
"Who told you I love her?"
Nandini raised an eyebrow.
"If you don't, then why did you go with her?"
He clenched his fists but stayed silent.
Nandini sighed heavily.
"You know what happened to your father, Aryan."
Aryan's expression hardened instantly.
Nandini continued, voice emotional yet strict,
"Even though he was innocent, look at how much loss the company suffered… how much our family was insulted. People believed whatever rumours they heard."
Aryan stared at her coldly, remembering everything.
"And now imagine," Nandini added bitterly,
"if people see you with Aanya—if they think you like her—what will happen? Think about your mother. Think about your sister! Her wedding will be at risk if such rumours start!"
Aryan finally snapped.
"Stop it."
His voice was low but filled with anger.
"Enough, aunt."
Nandini froze.
He stepped forward.
"I'm only silent because you are my aunt. I don't need anyone's advice on what is good or bad for me."
His eyes burned with restrained fury.
"I care about my family. And I will NEVER let my family suffer because of me."
Nandini swallowed nervously.
Aryan added with a sharp, cutting tone,
"I'm not like your brother."
Nandini's face fell completely.
Aryan took a deep breath, turned away, and said the final line—
"And for the last time… I do NOT love Aanya."
With that, he walked into his room and slammed the door shut.
Nandini stood there silently, stunned and speechless, the echoes of his words filling the empty hallway.
The next day was bustling. It was Mehandi day.
Everyone was busy—decorations, music checks, seating, lights.
Aanya moved everywhere helping Devika, and even Aryan was handling arrangements.
Every few minutes, Aanya found her eyes drifting toward Aryan.
He didn't look back. Not even once.
He worked calmly, his face serious, as if she didn't exist.
Prerna, meanwhile, tried to hide her sadness. Though her wedding was tomorrow, her smile kept slipping the moment she thought no one was watching.
Devika noticed the chaos and called out,
"Aanya! Is the decoration done? Everything ready?"
Aanya nodded.
"Yes, aunty. Everything is ready."
Devika sighed in relief.
"Good. By the way, did the mehendi wali come?"
Aanya blinked.
"No, aunty. Not yet."
Devika's worry returned instantly.
"Oh no… they haven't come till now? Call them once."
Aanya bit her lip.
"Aunty, I… don't have their number. Mr. Aryan has it."
Devika immediately called out,
"Aryan!"
He walked over, phone already in his hand.
"What happened, Mom?"
"Call the mehendi artists and ask where they are."
"Okay."
He dialed the number and spoke in a calm, firm tone.
Aanya couldn't stop watching him.
His voice.
His presence.
His seriousness.
She blushed before she even realised it.
"Mom," Aryan said, finishing the call, "relax. They're stuck in traffic. They'll reach soon."
Devika exhaled.
"Okay." She walked away, still fussing.
Now Aryan and Aanya were standing close—alone for a moment.
Aanya smiled nervously and said,
"Well… Mr. Aryan—"
But Aryan turned and walked away before she could finish.
Aanya blinked.
Stood there.
Frozen.
She didn't understand what just happened.
Maybe… he's just busy, she thought slowly, trying to convince herself.
A few minutes later, the mehndi artists finally arrived, and the whole ceremony began in full excitement. Devika immediately rushed to them.
"My daughter's mehndi should be the best," she insisted.
Prerna gave a small, soft smile, though her eyes still held hidden sadness.
Aanya's friends arrived too, joining the crowd of women singing and dancing. The house was filled with colors, laughter, and music.
But Aanya's eyes kept drifting toward Aryan.
He was helping with arrangements, talking to staff, giving instructions…
not once looking in her direction.
Her smile slowly faded.
Tara nudged her.
"By the way, your Mr. Aryan is looking very serious today."
Aanya sighed.
"Yeah… I mean, I don't know."
Nisha raised an eyebrow.
"Did something happen between you two? Or did you do something?"
Aanya shook her head quickly.
"No! Not at all. Yesterday night he was so good… we talked a lot. He even smiled."
Her voice softened with disappointment.
"But today… I don't know what happened. He didn't even talk to me. Didn't even look at me."
Her friends looked at her with concern as Aanya stared at Aryan from far away—
Aanya's phone suddenly buzzed in her hand.
She glanced at the screen.
"Mom calling…"
She picked it up quickly.
"Hello, Mom? Hello?"
But inside the house, music, laughter, and dhol beats were so loud that she couldn't hear anything.
She pressed her finger to her ear, sighed, and slipped outside where it was quieter.
"Ha, Mom… now I can hear you," she said, leaning against the wall.
Radha's voice came clearly now.
"Aanya, is the mehndi ceremony happening?"
"Yes, Mom. Inside there's too much noise, that's why I came out."
Aanya smiled faintly.
"But what happened, Mom? You called suddenly."
Radha cleared her throat.
"Aanya… I need to tell you something."
Aanya straightened.
"About what, Mom?"
Radha spoke carefully, choosing every word.
"Aanya… do you remember our neighbors? Rupa ji and her family?"
"Yeah, I remember them," Aanya replied casually.
Radha continued,
"They have a relative… named Kunal. He's a software engineer in the US. He recently came to India."
Aanya frowned slightly, listening.
"Okay…?"
Radha took a deep breath.
"Actually… they are seeing matches for that boy."
Aanya didn't understand.
"So what?"
Radha paused—and then said it.
"So… they asked about you, Aanya. They're interested in you for that boy."
Aanya froze.
Her smile dropped instantly.
Her heart crashed.
---
End Of Chapter 48.