Karan's pov.

The same night they visit temple.

I entered inside the room and got a warm hug from someone. I pulled out of the hug and saw Mummy hugging me.

"Mumma, Tusi ethee?" (Mumma, You here?) I asked.

"Haan ji putar, I got some work here so I came" She said.

"What work?"

"Ah- first get fresh you all and then we'll talk"

"Mumma, First tell me, for which work?"

"Oh ho, I'll tell later you na"

I know she adamant as much as I'm. So she'll not give up, Giving up I went to washroom to get fresh quickly. After that our dinner was served in our room.

We four had our dinner and now sitting on a couch.

"Maa, Now tell, How you're here? Why didn't you told me that you're coming?" I asked.

"I'm here for trip. I also want break and want to roam" She said calmly..

"Ok ok, Then why you didn't told anyone of us" Parth asked.

"I told Samksh" She said cleaning her hand and left from there.

We both look at samksh, "g-guys listen" he shutter which means that's true. When we took a step ahead he run to the bed to save himself. I picked the pillow and throw on him.

"Ayii, lag rahi hai na Bhai" (it's hurting brother) he said.

And then the pillow fight started.

Time skip..

Next evening...

Author's pov.

Karan was lying on the bed in his vest and tracks, aimlessly scrolling through the reels and randomly laughing. His hair was still damp from the shower. Parth was in the shower, his loud singing faintly coming out of the bathroom. The other one, Samksh, was down in the hotel lobby - he wanted to develop his personality, and that only happened in front of girls, according to him.

Meanwhile, Gurleen stood by the door, looking at the mess created by these boys.

She walked to the dresser, "Hayee Rabba," she mumbled, cleaning the dresser which was covered with tons of clothes. "Pura desh sambhal sakta hai, par apne kapde nahi."

(Ohh God!!! You can handle the country but not your clothes)

"I'm off-duty, Mumma," Karan said, still glued to his phone. "Army ke rules ghar pe nahi chalte."

(Army's rules don't follow in home)

"Tujhe dekh kar toh aisa lagta hai jaise tu itna ka hi sipahi hai."

(By looking at you, I don't think you're a solider)

Karan smirked playfully, "Digital Soldier, Mumma."

She sighed dramatically, walked over, snatched the phone, and tossed it on the side table.

"That's it. Hun meri sun." (Now listen to me)

He groaned, hands behind his head. "Haan ji." (Yes)

Giving him a glare, she sat on the bed beside him. "Kal subah na, ek kudi ke ghar jaana hai." (Tomorrow morning, we have to a girl's house)

Karan blinked. "Rishta type?" (Alliance??)

Gurleen nodded slowly, "Haan... waisa hi. Girl's name is Suchitra - simple, grounded, educated. Family is also good. ."

Karan groaned, "Mumma, tusi ethe vacation layi aaye ho ya bride hunting te?" (Mumma, you brought ne here for vacation or fir bride hunting?)

"Agar main tere Papaji se milne ke liye itne nakhre karti na, jaise abhi tu kar raha hai, fir toh you wouldn't even exist in this world," she said with a straight face.(If I would have thrown tantrum to meet your father, like your doing, you wouldn't even exist in this world)

He clutched his chest dramatically, "Mumma, personal attack."

Gurleen smirked, "It's emotional but also the truth."

He rolled his eyes, "First you took me shopping, then fed me some yummy dosa, and now you're telling me your real motives?"

"From whom did I learn this strategy..." she winced. "Army wala hai, toh mission briefing end mein milti hai." (You're Army, so Mission briefing will give you at the end)

Karan narrowed his eyes, "You're manipulating me."

"Putar ji, main maa hoon, emotional blackmail toh mera janmsiddh adhikar hai." (My son, I'm your mother, Emotional blackmail is my birth right)

Karan groaned, "I was thinking to chill in my room as it's the last day of the trip, but you're taking me to meet a girl."

"Bas ek meeting," she said softly. "Na rishta, na pressure. Just meet her, like strangers meeting at a coffee shop. I'm just saying... uss ladki mein kuch baat hai. Dil ko ek alag hi sukoon mila uske naam se hi." (Just one meeting. No alliance no pressure. This meet her like stranger meeting at a coffee shop I'm just saying... This something in that girl. I found unknown peace by her name)

"Hmm... naam kya bataya? Suchitra?" he asked. (What name you said? Suchitra?)

"Haan," she replied. (Yes)

"Fine. Let's meet her tomorrow. But no awkward rishta stares, okay?"

She raised her hand and said, "Bilkul nahi. Only vibe check." (Not at all)

As she got up, she ruffled his hair. "Aur haan, naam achha laga na? Suchitra." (And yes, did you like the name? Suchitra)

He smiled faintly and whispered to himself, "Hmm... Suchitra."

"Now come here, let me dry your hair," she said, dragging him to the edge of the bed to dry his still damp hair.

Next day...

As soon as the four reached Cochin International Airport, Karan was paying the taxi bill. Parth started clicking Gurleen's pictures.

"Let's go," Karan said after paying the bill, but then his expression changed into worry.

"Where is Samksh?"

"He was here a few moments ago," Gurleen said.

"Look there, personality develop karne gaya hai," he said, pointing at Samksh, who was flirting with a girl.

Karan went to him and dragged him back, holding his back collar. In no time, they boarded their flight. Entering the plane, Parth sat on the window seat.

"Parth, get up. I'll sit there," Samksh said, looking at him with big eyes.

"No way, sit somewhere else. This seat is mine now," Parth said, sticking his tongue out.

"Putar, tu kahin aur baith ja," Gurleen said.  (Son, you sit somewhere else)

"Naa, Mata ji, mainu toh window seat te hi baithna si," Samksh said adamantly.  (No mummy, I want to sit on window seat)

But hearing something, he sat on the outer seat in swag, wearing his shades. The other three looked at him in confusion but took their seats. In no time, an air hostess came.

"Sir, would you like to have coffee?" the air hostess asked calmly and sweetly.

"A strong coffee," he ordered.

She gave it to him and was about to leave, but he stopped her. "It's really strong, just like me."

"Lekin sir, this coffee is cold, just like your pick-up line," she smiled sweetly and left.

The three controlled their laughter but eventually burst out.

"It'S rEaLlY sTrOnG, jUsT lIkE mE," Karan mocked him, and again they all laughed.

"Putar, tu rehnde, tujhse na hogi ee flirting-shirting," Gurleen said, patting his shoulder. Samksh pouted and sat like an angry child.

(Son, just let it. You can't do flirting and all)

For some time, everyone fell asleep, but Karan was wide awake. His mind was full of that girl whom he had met a day before yesterday in the temple.

"I don't even know her name... but why can't I stop thinking about her?"

He shifted in his seat slightly, trying not to wake the others.

"There was something about her-so natural, so peaceful. The way she moved, the way she laughed with the kids, the way the sun hit her face at just the right angle... it felt unreal. Like a scene you watch in slow motion."

He smiled faintly to himself.

"Maybe it's silly. Maybe it was just one moment. But... it didn't feel ordinary. That one small glimpse... it stayed."

He looked out the window again, clouds passing slowly.

"Just once. I want to see her again. Even if I don't talk to her. Even if I just stand across the street. I want to know her name."

As soon as they came out of the airport, wrapping their hands around their arms, shivering in the cold, "Bhai ye thandi toh Delhi ki garmi ka bhi confidence tod de," Parth said.  (Brother cold will break Delhi's cold confidence)

They booked a taxi and left from there to Suchitra's house. They reached outside her house. Not too big but not small either, giving a total South Indian vibe, with some greenery and a faint flower smell.

Karan was getting nervous. Samksh saw him, so he thought to take revenge. He stood by his side, patted his shoulder, and said, "Hum sirf ladki dekhne aaye hain na, ki teri shaadi karne." Karan's glare made him back off.

They rang the doorbell, and soon the door was opened by Ramanathan.

"Namaste, Akka," he said, folding his hands properly.

"Akka?" Gurleen asked.

"Ohh, it means sister," Ramanathan cleared her confusion.

"Ohh, acha acha."

"Please come inside," he welcomed them.

Karan touched his feet. He gave him blessings. Even Parth and Samksh also did the same.

They all took seats on the couch-Karan and Gurleen on one sofa, and on the other, Samksh and Parth.

"Anu, bring some snacks," Ramanathan asked the lady who was in the kitchen. Atya came and served them some snacks and coffee.

After talking for half an hour, Ramanathan told Anulaxmi to call Suchitra. Karan's heart raced with excitement, anxiety, and tension. He didn't even know what was happening to him-why he was feeling this way. But soon, his heartbeat returned to its normal pace as he heard the sound of anklets. His heart and mind calmed.

He felt something near his biceps. It was his mother elbowing him.

"Look, look... how beautiful she is," she whispered.

But he just shook his head.

"Tu dekh toh sahi," his mother insisted. (You just look at her)

He shook his head again.

"Tu dekh raha hai ya batau?" Hearing his mother's threat, he looked up-but forgot to look away. (Are you looking or not?)

An angel was sitting in front of him in a green saree. Same eyes, same nature. He just stared at her without blinking.

"First, you weren't looking up, and now you're not even blinking," his mother said, giggling. But he wasn't paying much attention to her words.

His heart skipped a beat when the girl looked up. Now, they were sharing soft eye contact.