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?24?

His words hit Kavya like a slap. The room seemed to spin for a moment, her heart racing as she processed what he had just said. She opened her mouth to respond, but Krishiv was already turning on his heel, his frustration boiling over.

He spun around and stormed toward the door, his fists clenched, his jaw set in anger. "Bahut ho gaya," he muttered, his voice low but tinged with fury. "She’s just a kid, Kavya. Just a kid." Without another word, he slammed the door behind him, the sound of the impact echoing through the office like the final note of a broken symphony.

Kavya stood frozen, her hand still raised as if she could still feel the sting of Krishiv’s words. Bulbul looked up at her, her eyes wide with confusion, her lips parted as if trying to understand everything that had just happened.

The afternoon sunlight filtered softly through the windows, casting a warm glow over the living room as Akshat and Amrit sat together, a sense of calm between them. Akshat was sipping his tea, glancing at Amrit occasionally, enjoying the silence. Just as they were about to speak again, the sound of Pratibha's voice echoed from the hallway.

"Arre, jaldi sab sahi karo, damad ji aa hi gye hain!" Pratibha’s voice rang out, filled with excitement.

Amrit frowned in confusion. "Kon?" she asked, turning toward the hallway, her curiosity piqued.

"Arre, Niharika is here with her husband," Pratibha replied, her voice full of eagerness as she bustled around.

Amrit’s eyes widened, clearly shocked. "Husband?? Uski shaadi kab hui??" she asked, her voice tinged with surprise. She didn’t know Niharika had gotten married, and the news seemed to have come as a complete surprise to her.

"Last week hi..arre, lagta hai aa gaye," Pratibha said, her voice trailing off as she disappeared down the hallway.

Amrit, still processing the news, turned to Akshat. "Who is Niharika?" he asked, genuinely curious since he hadn’t heard much about her.

"Pratibha Masi ki bhateeji… She’s like a friend to me," Amrit replied, her expression softening a little as she spoke. "But she didn’t tell me about her marriage," she added, her voice trailing off in slight disappointment.

Akshat raised an eyebrow with a smirk. "Tumne bhi toh nahi bataya," he teased lightly, poking fun at her.

Before Amrit could respond, a loud voice cut through the air, drawing both of their attention. "Amruuu!!"

Amrit grinned immediately, recognizing the voice. Her eyes lit up, and she stood up excitedly. "Niharika!!" she exclaimed as the woman entered the room, dressed in a light blue saree that shimmered slightly in the sunlight. Her hair was neatly tied, and she wore sindoor and a mangalsutra, proudly displaying her married status.

"Niharika!!" Amrit rushed to her, and the two embraced in a warm hug. It had been a while since they’d seen each other, and Amrit couldn’t contain her joy at meeting her old friend.

"Kaisi hai tu?? Aur shaadi kab hui?? Bataya nahi tune?" Amrit asked eagerly, pulling back slightly to look at her, a grin still on her face. "You didn’t even tell me you got married!" she added, playfully scolding her friend for not sharing such important news.

Niharika chuckled softly, her eyes glinting mischievously. "Tune jaise bataya na!" she teased.

Before Amrit could reply, Pratibha entered with an almost exaggerated sense of excitement. "Arre Amrit, let her sit na!" she said, ushering the two women towards the nearby couch. As they walked toward the seating area, Amrit’s attention was caught by a figure standing a little behind Niharika. The man stood tall in a perfectly tailored suit, exuding an air of confidence. He was serious-looking, with an intense yet handsome presence. His face was sharp, his jaw set in a manner that commanded respect. His eyes, however, glinted with a mischievous light, making it clear that despite his serious demeanor, he had a playful side.