Chapter 16: The Gravity of Us
[System Notification: Hidden Quest Triggered — 'The Ten-Year Promise']
The climb to the cliff was silent. The air in Lonavala had cooled after the storm, smelling of damp earth and wild jasmine. Ishaan didn't let go of my hand the entire way. His grip was firm, as if he was afraid that if he let go, I'd turn back into the girl who hid behind blueprints and "vintage" clothes.
We reached the edge of the plateau. The valley stretched out below us, draped in a blanket of misty clouds.
"Meera," Ishaan said, turning me to face him. The orange glow of the setting sun caught the amber in his eyes. "Five years ago, before I left for Delhi, I came to your window at midnight. Do you remember?"
I nodded, my throat tight. "You said you had to go. You said you'd call."
"I came to tell you I loved you," he confessed, his voice dropping into that raw, jagged register. "But I saw you through the glass. you were surrounded by your sketches, looking so determined to conquer the world. I was terrified that if I stayed, or if I asked you to wait, I'd be the weight that held you back. So I left. And then the letters... I thought you'd moved on."
"I never moved on, Ishaan," I whispered. "I just got better at pretending."
The Un-Fake Proposal
Ishaan reached into the pocket of his hiking jacket. My heart stopped. No. It's too fast. We just admitted the lie!
He didn't pull out a velvet box. Instead, he pulled out a crumpled, yellowed piece of paper. It was a "Contract" we had written when we were ten years old on the back of a math worksheet.
I, Ishaan Malhotra, promise to marry Meera Sharma if we are still single at 25, provided she stops stealing my tiffin.
"I'm twenty-seven, Meera," he said, his smile turning soft and heartbreaking. "I'm two years late on my contract."
He didn't get down on one knee. Instead, he stepped closer, invading my space until our hearts were practically beating against each other. He took a simple, thin silver band from his pinky finger—a ring he'd worn for years.
"I don't have a diamond. I don't have a curated 'proposal aesthetic' with rose petals. And I know we just told everyone we're engaged as a lie."
He took my left hand, his fingers trembling just a fraction.
"But I'm tired of the performance, Meeru. I want the real thing. I want the fights over the remote, the 3:00 AM medical emergencies, and the blueprints all over our dining table. I want to be the person who catches you every time you trip—not because it's a trope, but because I'm already standing right there."
He slid the silver band onto my ring finger. It was too big, but it felt heavier than lead.
"Meera Sharma, will you make the lie a reality? Will you actually, truly, be mine?
[System Notification: Choice Selection...]
[A: Yes | B: Yes, but with more bickering]
The Cliffhanger (Literally)
Before I could answer—before I could tell him that I'd been his since the day he shared his last samosa with me in the third grade—a familiar, shrill voice echoed from the trail behind us.
"ISHAAN! MEERA! THE PRIEST IS HERE!"
I jumped, nearly slipping off the edge. Ishaan caught me, pulling me flush against his chest, his arms locking around my waist.
We looked back to see Mrs. Sharma and Mrs. Khanna panting as they reached the summit, followed by a very confused-looking local priest and Ananya, who was face-palming so hard her forehead was red.
"Since you're already 'engaged' and viral on the internet," my mother gasped, wiping sweat from her brow, "we decided! Why wait? We'll do a small Roka ceremony right here on the mountain! It's very 'modern'!"
Ishaan looked at the priest, then at the mothers, then back at me. A low, wicked chuckle escaped his lips.
"Well," he whispered into my ear, his breath hot against my skin. "The 'Fake Dating' phase was short. Are you ready for the 'Accidental Wedding' chapter?"
"Ishaan Malhotra, if you let them do this, I am stealing your Harry Potter book back and burning it!" I threatened, though I was smiling so hard it hurt.
"Too late, fiancée," he grinned, turning to face our mothers. "Hey, Mom! Does the priest take credit cards?"
[Author's Corner]
HE PROPOSED WITH THE CHILDHOOD CONTRACT! 😭❤️ My heart is a puddle! But the Moms... they actually brought a priest to the mountain?! This is peak K-Drama chaos!
Status Update:
Ishaan: Officially off the market.
Meera: Engaged (for real this time).
Ananya: Currently wondering if she can cater her own best friend's surprise wedding.