Bound By Fate

Chapter 2

Ranbir's POV

The Kapoor mansion buzzed with excitement.

Servants hurried from one corner of the house to another, carrying trays of flowers, sweets, and gifts.

Today was my cousin Viran Kapoor's wedding.

Laughter echoed through every hallway.

Today was a day of celebration.

Ranbir's cousin, Viran Kapoor, was finally getting married.

The Kapoor family had been preparing for this wedding for weeks. Relatives had arrived from different cities, the family temple had been beautifully decorated, and musicians were already setting up outside the mansion.

Everyone was excited.

Everyone except Ranbir.

Inside his bedroom, he stood silently before the large mirror, adjusting the cuff of his ivory sherwani.

His face remained calm.

Expressionless.

Anyone looking at him would think nothing was wrong.

But behind those dark eyes was a man who had buried his heart two years ago.

A gentle knock interrupted his thoughts.

"Ranbir?"

He didn't have to turn around to recognize the voice.

It was his mother.

"Come in, Mum."

Neha Kapoor slowly pushed the door open.

She wore a beautiful emerald-green silk saree with delicate gold embroidery. Diamond earrings sparkled beneath her neatly tied hair, yet the first thing she noticed wasn't her son's handsome appearance.

It was the sadness in his eyes.

She smiled softly as she walked towards him.

"My handsome son."

She gently straightened his collar before brushing an invisible speck of dust from his shoulder.

"There," she said proudly. "Now you truly look like the eldest grandson of the Kapoor family."

Ranbir forced a small smile.

"You've been saying that since I was ten."

"And I'll keep saying it until I'm too old to speak."

He chuckled quietly.

Only his mother could make him smile, even if it lasted for only a second.

Neha stepped back to admire him.

"You look exactly like your father when we got married."

Ranbir sighed.

"Mum..."

"I know."

She smiled knowingly.

"You don't like compliments."

"They're unnecessary."

"They're deserved."

She looked around the room before her eyes landed on a neatly wrapped red box resting on the table beside the window.

Her smile slowly disappeared.

"You still have it."

Ranbir followed her gaze.

His chest tightened.

The box.

He had hidden it in the wardrobe months ago.

He had completely forgotten it was there.

Neha slowly walked over and carefully lifted the box.

She hesitated before opening it.

Inside lay a breathtaking crimson bridal saree decorated with intricate golden embroidery.

She gently ran her fingers across the soft fabric.

"I remember choosing this."

Ranbir looked away.

"So do I."

For a few moments, neither of them spoke.

The room suddenly became painfully quiet.

"You never threw it away," Neha whispered.

"I couldn't."

"Why?"

Ranbir gave a bitter laugh.

"Maybe because it reminds me never to trust anyone again."

Neha closed the box.

"Ranbir..."

He slowly sat on the edge of the bed.

"I really loved her, Mum."

His voice was calm.

Too calm.

"I know."

"I thought we'd grow old together."

Neha's heart ached.

She remembered how happy her son had once been.

He laughed more.

He smiled more.

He believed in forever.

Until...

Two years ago.

---

Two Years Earlier

The entire city was covered by dark rain clouds.

Ranbir parked his car outside the Sharma residence with a smile on his face.

Beside him rested the same red bridal saree.

His mother had spent nearly three weeks searching for the perfect one.

Parvani had once told him that red was her favourite colour.

He couldn't wait to surprise her.

Picking up the carefully wrapped box and a bouquet of fresh white lilies, he walked happily towards the front door.

The security guard greeted him with a smile.

"Good afternoon, sir."

Ranbir smiled back.

"Is Parvani home?"

"Yes, sir."

Without another thought, he entered the house.

The servants all knew him.

After all, in less than three months, he was supposed to become their young mistress's husband.

He climbed the staircase two steps at a time.

A smile played on his lips.

He imagined showing her the saree.

She would tease him for ruining the surprise.

Then she'd hug him.

That was how it had always been.

Or so he believed.

As he approached her bedroom, he heard laughter.

A man's laughter.

He stopped.

Perhaps her cousin had come to visit.

Still smiling, he knocked gently.

No answer.

He knocked again.

Silence.

His smile slowly faded.

Carefully, he pushed the bedroom door open.

The gift box slipped from his hands.

The bouquet followed.

White lilies scattered across the polished floor.

His entire world froze.

Parvani stood beside the bed.

Her hair was untidy.

Her saree was carelessly wrapped around her.

Standing beside her...

Was another man.

For several long seconds...

Nobody spoke.

Nobody moved.

Ranbir couldn't even breathe.

Parvani's face drained of colour.

"R... Ranbir..."

She instinctively stepped forward.

"It's not what you think."

Ranbir looked at the man.

Then at her.

Then back at the flowers lying on the floor.

A slow, humourless laugh escaped his lips.

"Really?"

His voice was frighteningly calm.

"I can explain," Parvani pleaded, tears already forming in her eyes.

He looked at her as though she were a complete stranger.

"You don't have to."

She grabbed his wrist.

"Please listen to me."

He slowly removed her hand.

"You made your choice."

With those words, he turned around and walked away.

He never looked back.

Not once.

The sound of Parvani crying followed him down the staircase.

But by then...

The man who had believed in love had already disappeared.

Only a broken heart remained.

Rabir mum called out

The memory faded, but the pain remained.

Ranbir stood motionless, his gaze fixed on the floor where, two years ago, the bridal saree had slipped from his hands.

His fists slowly tightened.

Even now, remembering that day made his chest ache.

Neha quietly closed the gift box and placed it back on the table.

For a long moment, neither mother nor son spoke.

The silence between them was heavy.

Finally, Neha walked over and sat beside him on the bed.

She gently placed her hand over his.

"Ranbir."

He didn't answer.

"I know you still blame yourself."

He let out a faint laugh.

"Shouldn't I?"

She frowned.

"Why would you blame yourself for someone else's betrayal?"

"I should have noticed."

He looked out of the window.

"There were signs."

"I ignored them."

"I trusted her too much."

Neha slowly shook her head.

"No."

"You loved her."

"There is a difference."

Ranbir remained quiet.

"You knew Parvani since you were children."

"You both grew up together."

"Everyone believed you'd get married."

"So did I."

A bitter smile crossed Ranbir's face.

"So did I."

Neha sighed softly.

"The day you came home..."

She paused, remembering it clearly.

"...you didn't say a single word."

"You walked straight into your room."

"You locked the door."

"And for two whole days you refused to come out."

Her eyes became moist.

"Do you know what hurt me the most?"

Ranbir looked at her.

"It wasn't seeing that girl betray you."

"It was watching my son stop smiling."

Ranbir lowered his eyes.

"You stopped laughing."

"You stopped celebrating festivals."

"You buried yourself in work."

"You even stopped playing cricket with Ayush on Sundays."

She smiled

Ranbir Kapoor's POV

The city lights stretched endlessly beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows of Ranbir Kapoor's penthouse office.

Normally, he found comfort in the silence.

Tonight, it only reminded him of how empty everything felt.

A file lay open on his desk.

Inside was a photograph.

The woman he was supposed to marry.

Ishita Malhotra.

Ranbir picked up the picture and stared at it for several moments.

She was undeniably beautiful.

Large expressive eyes.

A bright smile.

The kind of face most men would find impossible to ignore.

Ranbir felt absolutely nothing.

Not curiosity.

Not excitement.

Not anticipation.

Nothing.

With a bored expression, he placed the photograph back inside the file.

Marriage.

A word that once held meaning.

A word he had once associated with trust, commitment, and forever.

Now it was simply another obligation.

Another responsibility.

Another business arrangement.

The sharp knock on his office door broke his thoughts.

"Come in."

The door opened.

His mother stepped inside.

Neha Kapoor carried a tray with two cups of tea.

She smiled softly when she saw him.

"Still working?"

Ranbir glanced at his watch.

Nearly ten o'clock.

"Someone has to."

Neha sighed.

"Your father says the same thing."

She placed a cup in front of him before taking the seat opposite.

For a few moments neither spoke.

Then her gaze landed on the file.

"Ishita's photograph?"

Ranbir didn't answer.

His silence was answer enough.

Neha carefully studied her son.

There had been a time when Ranbir smiled often.

A time when laughter came easily.

A time when his eyes held warmth.

That man seemed like a distant memory now.

"You should be happy."

Ranbir let out a quiet laugh.

The sound held no amusement.

"Should I?"

"You're getting married."

"I'm signing a contract."

Neha frowned.

"Ranbir."

"You know I'm right."

The sadness in her eyes deepened.

For years she had watched her son build walls around himself.

Walls no one could break.

Not even family.

Not anymore.

And she knew exactly who was responsible.

Parvani.

The name alone was enough to reopen old wounds.

Neha reached across the table and gently touched his hand.

"It has been two years."

Ranbir's jaw tightened.

"I know."

"You need to let it go."

His expression hardened instantly.

A familiar anger stirred beneath the surface.

An anger he rarely allowed anyone to see.

Unfortunately, memories didn't care whether they were welcome.

They came anyway.

---

Two Years Earlier

Ranbir stood outside the luxury hotel suite holding a small velvet box.

Inside was a bracelet.

A surprise gift for his fiancée.

Parvani had always loved surprises.

At least that was what she claimed.

The thought brought a smile to his face.

Back then, he still smiled.

Back then, he still believed in love.

Without knocking, he entered using the key card she had given him.

The moment the door opened, laughter reached his ears.

A man's laughter.

Ranbir frowned.

Parvani had said she would be alone.

His steps slowed.

Then he heard her voice.

Soft.

Playful.

Intimate.

A voice he knew better than his own.

Confusion quickly turned into dread.

The farther he walked, the louder the voices became.

Until finally he reached the bedroom.

Everything stopped.

The world.

His breathing.

His heartbeat.

His future.

Parvani wasn't alone.

She was with another man.

For several seconds Ranbir simply stood there.

Unable to process what he was seeing.

Parvani looked up.

Their eyes met.

Shock flashed across her face.

Then guilt.

Then something even worse.

Acceptance.

As though she already knew this moment would come.

The velvet box slipped from Ranbir's fingers.

The bracelet fell to the floor.

Neither spoke.

There was nothing left to say.

Everything had already been said by the betrayal unfolding before him.

That day something inside him died.

Not his love for Parvani.

Ranbir blinked.

The memory vanished.

But the bitterness remained.

"It wasn't the betrayal that changed me," he said quietly.

Neha looked at him.

"Then what was it?"

"The realization that I was the fool."

"Ranbir—"

"I trusted her completely."

His voice remained calm.

Too calm.

"People call that strength."

He laughed coldly.

"I call it stupidity."

Neha hated hearing him speak this way.

This wasn't the son she had raised.

This wasn't the boy who once believed the best in people.

"One woman hurt you."

"One woman was enough."

Silence settled between them.

Finally Neha stood.

"You deserve happiness."

Ranbir looked away.

"No."

The answer came too quickly.

Too honestly.

"No, Mother. I deserve reality."

Her heart ached.

Before leaving, she paused near the door.

"The Malhotras are expecting us tomorrow."

"I know."

"The priest will compare your horoscopes."

Ranbir nodded.

Another tradition.

Another family expectation.

Another reminder that his life was no longer his own.

"Try to keep an open mind."

He didn't answer.

Because they both knew he wouldn't.

After Neha left, the room became silent once more.

Ranbir reopened the file.

His gaze settled on Ishita's photograph again.

Beautiful.

Elegant.

Perfect.

The type of woman most men dreamed about marrying.

Yet all he saw was another stranger.

He wondered whether she believed in love.

Whether she had dreams about marriage.

Whether she imagined a happy future waiting for her.

It didn't matter.

None of it mattered.

He picked up the photograph one last time.

Then placed it back inside the folder.

"Whoever you are," he murmured quietly, "it changes nothing."

Marriage wasn't about love.

Not anymore.

It was about responsibility.

Duty.

Family.

Nothing else.

The next morning, the Kapoor mansion buzzed with activity.

Servants moved through the halls.

His grandmother, Savitri Kapoor, supervised preparations personally.

Unlike Ranbir, she seemed genuinely excited.

The moment she spotted him descending the staircase, her face brightened.

"There you are."

Ranbir forced a polite smile.

"Dadi."

She immediately adjusted his collar.

"Stand properly."

"Dadi."

"You are meeting your future bride's family today."

Ranbir sighed.

"And?"

"And you should at least pretend to care."

For the first time that morning, a small genuine smile touched his lips.

Only his grandmother could speak to him this way.

Savitri softened.

Her eyes filled with affection.

"Just give this a chance."

Ranbir looked at her.

Unlike everyone else, she wasn't asking him to fall in love.

She was asking him to heal.

Unfortunately, he didn't know how.

A few minutes later the family gathered outside.

Luxury vehicles waited.

Drivers stood ready.

The convoy would soon leave for the Malhotra mansion.

Ranbir took one final glance at the morning sky.

He felt nothing.

No excitement.

No curiosity.

No hope.

As the cars began moving, he had no idea that fate was already rewriting the story everyone thought they knew. still talks about those matches."

A faint smile appeared on Ranbir's lips before disappearing again.

Neha gently squeezed his hand.

"My son..."

"Not every woman is Parvani."

Ranbir slowly withdrew his hand.

"I know."

"But one betrayal is enough."

He stood up and walked toward the large window.

Outside, guests were arriving for Viran's wedding.

Children ran around the garden laughing.

Musicians adjusted their instruments near the entrance.

Everything looked joyful.

Yet none of it reached his heart.

"I used to believe love was forever."

His voice was calm.

"So did Parvani."

Neha stood beside him.

"No."

"She only said she did."

"There is a difference."

Ranbir looked into the distance.

"I don't know if I can trust anyone again."

"You don't have to trust everyone."

She smiled warmly.

"Just trust your family."

He turned to look at her.

"You, your father, Dadi..."

"We would never choose someone who would intentionally hurt you."

A gentle knock sounded on the bedroom door.

"Come in."

Ayush poked his head inside with his usual grin.

"Brother, Dadi is asking for you."

He suddenly noticed the serious expressions on their faces.

"Oh..."

"Am I interrupting?"

Neha smiled.

"No."

"We're done."

Ayush nodded before disappearing again.

"Five minutes, Bhai!"

The door closed.

Neha looked back at Ranbir.

"After Viran's wedding..."

She spoke carefully.

"...five days from now, we'll visit the Malhotra family."

Ranbir remained silent.

"The priest will compare your horoscope with the girl's."

Still no response.

"If the stars approve..."

She smiled.

"...we'll fix your engagement."

Several seconds passed.

Finally...

Ranbir spoke.

"I'll come."

Neha's eyes widened slightly.

"You will?"

"Yes."

Relief washed over her face.

"Thank you, son."

"But..."

His voice became firm.

"I'm only agreeing because of you and Dadi."

"Not because I believe in love."

Neha nodded slowly.

"I understand."

"I'll marry whoever this family chooses."

His expression became unreadable.

"I'll respect her."

"I'll protect her."

"I'll provide everything a husband should."

He paused.

Then quietly added,

"But don't expect me to love her."

"My heart stopped believing in love the day Parvani betrayed me."

Neha's smile slowly faded.

She wanted to tell him that hearts could heal.

That true love still existed.

But looking into his eyes...

She knew no words would change his mind today.

Instead, she gently cupped his face.

"I'll keep praying."

"For what?"

She smiled softly.

"That one day..."

"...someone will make my son smile again."

Ranbir didn't answer.

He simply picked up his car keys and walked toward the bedroom door.

Outside, wedding music echoed through the mansion.

Life moved forward.

Whether he wanted it to or not