Ahaan said, "No worries, Rey. We'll see you at the palace. Just drive safe, okay?" and after a few minutes, hung up the phone.

"Everything okay, love?" Amyra asked, looking at Ahaan.

Ahaan smiled and nodded, reassuring her. "Yeah, everything's fine, Sunshine. Reyansh and Vihaan are just running a bit late because of some work. They'll meet us at the palace."

Amyra nodded, smiling. "Okay."

As they reached the cars, Ahaan opened the door for Amyra like a gentleman.

After making sure she was comfortable, he went to the other side and sat beside her, intertwining their hands.

Samaira and Ruhi sat in the next car, followed by Kartik, who first opened the door for them and then sat in the passenger seat, making sure that security was alert and prepared.

The cars drove off towards the Oberoi Palace.

As they drove, Amyra laid her head on Ahaan's shoulder. She was nervous and was trying her best to hide it, but Ahaan was not the Mafia King just in name.

He had the capability to mask his expressions and feelings and, at the same time, sense others' emotions. He gently caressed her head and tried to distract her as he said, "Look outside, Sunshine."

Amyra looked outside the car window, her eyes widening in awe.

She could see the Oberoi Palace, and it was mesmerizing. The palace was a perfect blend of modern and traditional architecture and design.

"Wow, the palace is so beautiful, just like a fairytale," Amyra said in an excited voice.

Ahaan smiled to himself, seeing Amyra excited. "I'm glad you liked it, Sunshine," he said to her as he kissed her forehead.

Soon, they reached the palace gates. Once the guards saw Ahaan, they opened the gates wide, and the fleet of cars drove towards the palace entrance.

Ahaan got out and walked towards Amyra, helping her out. He knew Amyra didn't like formalities and preferred staying casual, but he also knew he had to ensure no one ever disrespected her or thought of her as less than him. For that, he had to make sure that everyone, his family, friends, and people, saw that Amyra was their future queen, and before bowing to him, they had to bow to her.

Samaira and Ruhi also stepped out as the guards opened their car door. They were feeling the same way about the formalities as Amyra but decided not to be bothered by it, considering they were at their best friend’s in-laws’ home. No matter how carefree they were with Amyra, they knew they had to show basic manners and etiquette at least.

As Amyra and Ahaan stepped out of the car, followed by Ruhi and Samaira, they were greeted by Ahaan’s family members, who were waiting for them at the palace entrance.

Ahaan’s father, Vikram Oberoi, smiled warmly and opened his arms wide. "Welcome, beta," he said, embracing Ahaan and Amyra proudly.

Ahaan’s mother, Nalini Oberoi, also rushed excitedly towards Amyra, embracing her warmly. "Welcome to our family, Amyra beta," she said, her eyes shining with motherly warmth.

Amyra smiled as she hugged her mother and father-in-law back.

She bent down to touch their feet when, suddenly, every member of the Oberoi family shouted in unison, shocking her, Samaira, and Ruhi.

"You guys scared her. Hi, Bhabhi, sorry if you all got shocked," Nitya said, looking apologetically at Amyra, Ruhi, and Samaira, who were still looking stunned. "Actually..." Nitya looked at her father.

"Beta, no need to do that," Ahaan's father said, smiling. "You are our daughter now, and daughters do not bow down to anyone in our family."

Amyra nodded, feeling a little relieved. She had heard about this custom before but was still unsure. She was really shocked when everyone shouted together. Samaira and Ruhi smiled to reassure her, knowing she was feeling very nervous.

Then Amyra moved towards Ahaan's chote papa and choti maa, Rajeev and Vandana Oberoi. They both hugged Amyra and blessed her happily.

"We now also have a cardiologist in our family. Welcome to the team, Amyra!" Vandana exclaimed excitedly.

"Of course, Aunty, we are going to cause chaos in the house," Amyra replied, winking at Vandana, making everyone laugh.

"And now my favorite person, Nitya." Amyra hugged her, making her smile wide.

"Finally! I really thought you forgot me," Nitya said, sulking.

"Not at all, bacche. How can I forget my one and only hot and badass sister-in-law?" Amyra said, smirking.

"That's my Bhabhi! Now introduce me to your Best Friends. I am very excited to meet them too," Nitya said, eyeing Samaira and Ruhi, who were watching Amyra meet everyone with a smile.

"Okay, so meet Samaira. She is a fashion designer and a CEO. And Ruhi, she is also a cardiologist. Though they are my best friends, you could say we are sisters. not by blood, but by bond," Amyra said as Samaira and Ruhi greeted everyone with a "Namaste."

Nitya’s eyes lit up with excitement as she hugged Samaira and Ruhi warmly. "I've heard so much about you guys," Nitya said, beaming. "I'm so happy to finally meet you."

Samaira and Ruhi smiled, happy to meet Nitya too. "We've heard a lot about you too, Nitya," Samaira said, laughing. "Amyra told us all about your adventures."

Nitya grinned mischievously. "Oh, I'm sure Bhabhi told you all about my exploits," she said, winking. "But I’m sure you’ll love my stories more."

"I'm sure I will," Ruhi said, smiling.

As they chatted, Ahaan's family members welcomed Samaira and Ruhi warmly, making them feel like part of the family.

Vandana Oberoi, Ahaan's chachi, smiled at Samaira. "So, Samaira, I hear you're a fashion designer and a CEO too," she said, her eyes shining with interest.

Samaira nodded, smiling. "Yes, I am, Aunty," she said. "I love designing clothes and experimenting with new styles."

Nalini’s eyes lit up with excitement. "That's wonderful," she said. "I'd love to see some of your designs."

Samaira smiled. "Of course, Aunty. I'd love to show you my designs. Also, I’ve already designed outfits for the engagement function for everyone, as Ahaan Jiju gave me the responsibility."

"That's great! We’ve seen some of your work when Amyra showed us her favorite outfits, and they were amazing, so we’re excited," Vandana said, as Nalini nodded in agreement.

Rajeev Oberoi, Ahaan's chacha, smiled at Ruhi. "And Ruhi, you're a cardiologist, right? We have so many amazing doctors in the family," he said, his eyes shining with admiration.

Ruhi nodded, smiling. "Yes, I am, Uncle."

They all chatted for some more time until Nalini said, "Okay, enough, guys. At least let the kids freshen up. Nitya, go and show Samaira and Ruhi the guest rooms. Amyra, go with Ahaan; customize it however you like."

"Okay, Mummy, I’ll take Samaira and Ruhi to the rooms first. Come with me, guys," Nitya said to Samaira and Ruhi.

Samaira started walking up the stairs when she saw some notifications on her phone. She began checking them and then realized she was halfway up the stairs without Nitya or Ruhi beside her.

"Shit, I should just keep my phone switched off," she mumbled to herself and turned around to see Ruhi and Nitya still downstairs. Just as she called out to them, her foot slipped on a loose step.

She let out a terrified shout as she felt herself falling. Everyone’s heads turned towards her, their faces filled with alarm.

Amyra and Ruhi rushed towards her, trying to catch her, but they were too far away.

Just as Samaira was about to hit the floor, someone spun her around, saving her from the fall. She felt strong arms wrap around her, lifting her up.

As she opened her eyes, she saw a young man, almost her age, staring back at her. His eyes were a deep brown, and even after years, they both recognized each other in an instant.

They both spoke at the same time, their voices in sync.

"Samaira."

"Vihaan."

They both looked shocked and surprised.

Suddenly, they all heard everyone shouting, and Ruhi and Amyra came running toward Samaira, ready to scold her.

Samaira tried to separate herself from Vihaan, but to everyone’s shock, he picked her up and brought her down the stairs near Amyra and Ruhi.

The family watched with amusement as Ruhi and Amyra scolded Samaira.

"First of all, take off those fucking heels. I do not want my best friend to be in a wheelchair during my engagement," Amyra said, looking mad and exasperated.

"Okay, ma’am," Samaira said, trying to cool them down, but neither Amyra nor Ruhi was in the mood to listen.

After Ruhi and Amyra were done scolding Samaira for her carelessness, they turned to see everyone looking worried but amused.

Nitya looked at Samaira and Vihaan with curiosity, noticing that her brother was still holding Samaira’s hand. "So, Samaira, how do you know Vihaan bhai?" Nitya asked in a mischievous tone, looking specifically at her brother.

Samaira looked at Vihaan, and for a moment, they just stared at each other with unknown emotions.

The air was filled with tension; everyone looked at Samaira and Vihaan for an explanation, but neither of them said anything and just looked away from each other.

Ahaan looked at Vihaan and Samaira with doubt, his eyes narrowing slightly as if to detect something. He had never seen Vihaan and Samaira interact before, heck, he didn't even know that Samaira and Vihaan knew each other and he couldn't help but wonder what was going on. The only person whose expression he couldn't read was Samaira, and he didn't know if it was because she was so good at masking emotions or because of something else.

When Amyra introduced Ruhi and Samaira to him for the first time, he could see that while both Ruhi and Samaira were reserved, Samaira had an unexplainable aura of mysteriousness around her.

Vandana Oberoi, Ahaan's chachi, looked at Samaira and Vihaan with an amused look and said, "It seems like we have a story here to tell, right, Didi?"

Nalini Oberoi, Ahaan's mother, also looked curious and agreed with Vandana. "Yes, Vanu, I am also very fond of stories, you know."

Samaira looked at Vihaan with hesitation and said, "Vihaan and I... we went to school together."

Ruhi looked at Samaira's tensed face and said, "Yeah, Vihaan was our classmate."

Amyra nodded, explaining, "We all went to school together."

The family members looked quite surprised but didn’t say anything. They never knew that; Vihaan never told them before about his classmates and all. Then suddenly, Nitya's eyes widened as she looked at Vihaan and then Samaira. She saw how her brother looked at Samaira, and a squeal left her mouth.

Nitya went near Ahaan quietly and said in a low tone, "Ahaan bhaiya, do you remember Vihaan bhai's one-sided love?"

Ahaan looked at Nitya with furrowed eyebrows, and then suddenly it hit him. He looked at Samaira and asked, "Oh, by the way, from which class are you all classmates?"

"From the 8th, I think," Samaira said and looked at Amyra and Ruhi for confirmation.

"You mean 14 years ago?" As the words left Ahaan's mouth, the whole Oberoi family suddenly understood something and gave a very sweet smile to Vihaan, which was definitely confusing for Amyra, Samaira, and Ruhi, but they didn’t say anything.

Nitya came to the rescue of her youngest brother and said, "We can talk about the school days later; first, all of you should get changed and freshen up." She looked at Ruhi, Samaira, Amyra, and Ahaan, who nodded and walked upstairs. "Vihaan bhai, do you want to come?" Nitya asked, looking at Vihaan, who was looking at Samaira but then nodded.

"Yeah, I am coming," Vihaan also followed the group upstairs.

They all walked through the long corridor, chatting and laughing as they went. Nitya was showing the beautiful palace to the girls, while the boys silently followed them.

Ahaan and Vihaan were walking a little behind the girls. Ahaan turned to Vihaan, a mischievous glint in his eye. "So, Vihaan, it seems like you have a story to tell," Ahaan said, raising an eyebrow.

Vihaan's eyes widened in shock, and he looked like he had been caught red-handed. "What are you talking about, bhaiya?" Vihaan asked, trying to play it cool.

But Ahaan just chuckled. "Don’t play dumb, Vihaan. I know all about your one-sided love in school. And just to let you know, the whole family has caught on to that," Ahaan said, grinning.

Vihaan's face turned bright red, and he looked like he was about to explode. "Bhai, you are joking, right?" Vihaan hissed, trying to silence him.

But Ahaan just laughed. "Too late for that, Vihaan. The cat’s out of the bag now. Be careful, Maa and Choti Maa won’t leave you until they get the whole story, and you know that, right?" Ahaan said, teasing him.

Vihaan looked like he was about to kill Ahaan, but then he suddenly stopped and looked ahead. His eyes locked onto Samaira, who was walking ahead of them, chatting with Nitya and the others.

Ahaan followed Vihaan’s gaze and smiled. "I think I know why you’re so quiet, Vihaan," Ahaan said, grinning.

Vihaan turned to Ahaan. "Bhaiya, do you think...?" Vihaan started to ask, but Ahaan just cut him off.

"I think you’ve got a second chance, Vihaan. And this time, it’s not necessary that it’s going to be one-sided. It’s all up to you now," Ahaan said, winking at him.

Vihaan’s face lit up with a bright smile, and he looked like he was walking on air. He quickened his pace, eager to catch up with Samaira and the others.

As they all turned a corner, Ruhi’s phone suddenly rang. She stopped to answer it, signaling others to carry on without her.

"I’ll catch up with you guys in a bit; it’s an urgent call," Ruhi said, to which everyone nodded.

Ruhi talked on the phone for a few minutes, completely absorbed in her conversation. When she finally hung up, she looked around to see any trace of anyone. But to her surprise, the corridor was empty. The palace was vast, and she had no idea which direction to go.

"Oh no," she muttered to herself. "I’m doomed."

She looked around frantically, trying to spot a landmark or a sign. But everything looked unfamiliar, of course. How could she be so dumb? She should not have let Nitya go. This place was like a maze, and she was completely lost.

Just as she was starting to panic, Ruhi spotted a door nearby. She hurried over to it and knocked loudly.

But to her surprise, the door swung open under her touch, and Ruhi, who had tried to knock with all her might, lost her balance and tumbled forward.

She landed with a thud on a hard, muscular chest. Ruhi’s eyes flew open, and she found herself staring up at a handsome, chiseled face.

The face belonged to none other than Reyansh Oberoi, the second prince of Rajasthan. He was lying on the floor, with Ruhi on top of him, but his expression was completely relaxed and amused, which irritated Ruhi to the core.

Just as Ruhi was trying to get up from him, loud voices echoed through the room, making them freeze in their places. They looked at each other in surprise and both muttered simultaneously, "Shit."

"Ruhi! What’s going on here?" Samaira’s voice was followed by Nitya’s surprised tone. "Rey bhaiya, what are you doing?"

Ruhi’s eyes widened as she saw Samaira, Nitya, Ahaan, Amyra, and Vihaan standing in the doorway, their faces a mix of shock and amusement.

Reyansh’s eyes never left Ruhi’s face as he slowly got up from the floor, pulling Ruhi up with him.

"Ah, perfect timing," Reyansh said, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I was just... um... showing Ruhi the palace’s unique architectural features."

The group in the doorway burst out laughing, and Ruhi’s face turned bright red with embarrassment.

Ruhi’s eyes narrowed at Reyansh. "You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?" Ruhi asked, her voice low and annoyed.

Reyansh grinned, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Maybe just a little," Reyansh said, chuckling.

Samaira and Nitya rushed to Ruhi’s side, laughing.

"Ruhi, what happened?" Samaira asked, still chuckling.

Ruhi shook her head, her face still red from both anger and embarrassment. "I was lost, and I knocked on the door. It swung open, and I fell on him," Ruhi explained, gesturing to Reyansh.

Two hours had passed since the incident with Ruhi, and Ruhi was sitting in her room, checking some emails. Just then, someone knocked on the door.

"Come in!" Ruhi called out.

The maid entered the room, bowing slightly. "Bade Hukum is calling everyone downstairs, didiji."

Ruhi nodded, getting up from the bed. "Okay, I am coming."

She walked out of her room and was surprised to see Reyansh and Vihaan already standing in the corridor.

"You can go now; I will call everyone else," Ruhi told the maid.

The maid nodded and hurried off. Ruhi turned to Samaira’s room and knocked on the door.

Samaira opened the door.

"Hey, Samaira! We have to go downstairs. Vikram Uncle is calling everyone downstairs," Ruhi said.

Samaira nodded, closing the door behind her, looking troubled.

"Is he still calling you?" Ruhi asked, her voice low and concerned.

Samaira ignored her and walked out of the room. "I’ll go call Amyra and Ahaan jiju," Samaira said.

Ruhi watched her go, feeling a bit worried. She muttered to herself, "I promise, if that asshole tries to trouble Samaira again, I will kill him."

Vihaan’s eyes narrowed as he heard Ruhi’s words. "Ruhi, what’s going on? And what are you talking about?" he asked, his voice low and concerned.

Ruhi turned to him, her eyes flashing with anger. "Samaira has a stalker," she said in a low voice so that only Vihaan and Reyansh could hear.

Reyansh’s eyes widened in surprise. "What?!" he exclaimed.

Ruhi spoke exasperatedly. "She is really troubled but is not ready to tell us anything."

Vihaan asked worriedly, "Can we do anything to help?"

Ruhi nodded. "Just make sure someone is with her all the time. That’s all I’m asking."