Arranged by Fate

Meeting

As the evening sun painted the sky in shades of orange and pink, Rivan stepped into his house, exhausted from the long day. But before he could even put his bag down, he noticed something unusual. The atmosphere at home was different—there was excitement in the air.

Neelam was smiling warmly, Karan looked like he was about to burst with excitement, and even Dr. Rajiv Malhotra had an unusual calmness about him. Something was definitely up.

Rivan: "What’s going on here?"

Karan jumped up from the couch, barely able to contain himself.

Karan: "Bro, there’s amazing news for you!"

Rivan raised an eyebrow and tossed his bag on the sofa.

Rivan: "What news?"

Neelam stepped closer, her eyes twinkling.

Neelam: "We met Arya."

Rivan froze. His heartbeat quickened, but he kept his face neutral. He had expected this day to come, but hearing it out loud felt… different.

Rivan: "And?"

Neelam and Karan exchanged glances before Neelam continued, her voice full of warmth.

Neelam: "She’s a wonderful girl, Rivan. Beautiful and intelligent too."

Karan smirked and added quickly,

Karan: "And a little stubborn too."

Rivan let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. He wasn’t surprised. He had heard about Arya before—strong, independent, career-focused. But now, knowing that his family had met her made everything feel more real.

Rivan: "Did she like this proposal?"

There was a pause. Karan folded his arms, teasingly dragging out the suspense.

Karan: "Yes… but it’ll take some time."

Rivan exhaled, rubbing his jaw thoughtfully. He wasn’t sure what he was feeling—relief? Nervousness? Curiosity? Maybe all of it.

Dr. Rajiv: "You should meet her."

Rivan looked up at his father, who was watching him closely. It wasn’t a suggestion—it was a decision. And strangely, Rivan didn’t mind it.

He nodded slowly, a small smile playing on his lips.

Rivan: "When do I have to meet her?"

Neelam’s face lit up.

Neelam: "Tomorrow evening."

Rivan took a deep breath. Tomorrow. He would meet Arya tomorrow.

And for the first time in a long while, he felt something unexpected—excitement.

---

Rathore House

Arya sat by the window in her room, the soft glow of the moonlight casting shadows on her face. Her fingers absentmindedly played with the edge of her dupatta as her thoughts drifted back to the evening when Rivan’s family had come to see her.

She had been nervous—more than she had expected. Marriage was a big step, and even though she had always been strong, independent, and confident, this was different. This wasn’t just about her; it was about two families, two lives intertwining.

Her mother, Aarti, had fussed over her all day, making sure she looked perfect. Arya had chosen a simple but elegant pastel pink salwar suit, the soft fabric flowing around her. Her long, wavy hair was neatly set, falling over one shoulder, and a pair of delicate jhumkas dangled from her ears. She hadn’t overdone her makeup, just a light kohl lining her expressive eyes, which always carried a hint of quiet determination.

When she had stepped into the living room, all eyes had turned to her. She had felt their gaze—the curiosity, the silent judgment, the unspoken questions.

Neelam had been the first to smile, a warm and genuine smile that put Arya at ease.

Neelam: "You are very beautiful, Arya."

Arya had smiled politely, her fingers tightening around the edge of her dupatta.

Rajiv had remained formal, observing her with a keen eye, his years of experience as a doctor making him a natural observer.

Karan, on the other hand, had been quick to lighten the mood.

Karan: "I thought whoever becomes my sister-in-law would be the serious type. But I think you can actually compete with me!"

Arya had raised an eyebrow at his playful challenge and responded smoothly,

Arya: "Not just compete, sometimes I can even win."

The room had filled with soft laughter, and for the first time that evening, Arya had felt herself relax.

They had talked—about her work, her thoughts on marriage, her dreams. She had been honest, not trying to impress but simply being herself.

When the question of meeting Rivan had come up, she had paused.

She wasn’t someone who made impulsive decisions. But something about the way Neelam looked at her with hope, the way Dr. Rajiv analyzed her with quiet approval, and even the way Karan had effortlessly included her in their conversation—made her feel that maybe this was worth considering.

So she had said yes.

Arya: "I would like to meet Rivan."

And just like that, the decision was made.

Now, sitting in her room, Arya let out a deep breath. Tomorrow evening, she would meet the man who might become her future. She wasn’t sure what to expect, but one thing was certain—she would go as Arya Rathore, the woman who knew her worth, who had dreams, and who wouldn’t settle for anything less than what she deserved.

Next Morning

The sky was still dark when Rivan’s alarm rang sharply at 3 AM. The world outside was silent, wrapped in the calm of the night, but for Rivan, there was no time for sleep.

He sat up immediately, rubbing his eyes before reaching for his phone. A message from the hospital flashed on the screen—**Emergency case. Need immediate assistance.**

Without wasting a second, he got out of bed. His movements were quick, practiced. Years of being a doctor had made him accustomed to these sudden calls, but today, there was an underlying restlessness in his chest. Maybe it was the thought of the evening ahead—the meeting with Arya.

He shook his head, pushing the thought aside. Work came first. Always.

By the time he had showered and changed into his hospital scrubs, the house was still asleep. As he made his way down the stairs, he heard a voice behind him.

Neelam: "Who’s calling you so early, son?"

He turned to see his mother standing at the staircase, her eyes heavy with sleep but filled with concern.

Rivan: "There’s an emergency at the hospital, Mom."

She sighed, stepping forward to adjust his collar like she had done since he was a child.

Neelam: "I don’t know when your life will step out of the hospital."

Rivan gave her a small smile.

Rivan: "At least for this evening, it will."

Neelam's face softened. She cupped his face gently, her heart swelling with emotion.

Neelam: "I just hope this evening goes well."

Rivan nodded before stepping outside. The cold morning air hit his face as he got into his car and drove toward the hospital. His mind was focused on work, but somewhere in the background, a thought lingered—Would Arya be anything like he imagined?

But for now, he had to push that thought aside. Right now, a life depended on him.