u/Dull-Gear-3045

Synopsis and Intro

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Heer left home after yet another argument with her mother. She could not understand why Neelu wanted to continue living with the Sandhus. She had a full scholarship and a job that could support her mother and sister. Every time her phone rang during the day, she feared someone was calling her to come identify her mother’s body.

Barely a week ago, her mother had been hit so hard that she lost her balance. Those animals had refused to call a doctor. Heer had threatened to call the police if her mother was not treated. But if her own mother was her own worst enemy, what could she really do?

After kicking the door in frustration, she headed to her university. She absolutely had to pass her year with good grades to keep her scholarship. As she walked, she noticed a body lying in the grass surrounded by a crowd. She pulled her dupatta over her head to shield herself from the sun, but mostly so no one would stop her.

Ajit Sandhu loved the bottle as much as she hated it. His days started in the gutter and, like the pig he was, with his face buried in the mud.

An old woman recognized her. Heer shot her a vicious glare before continuing toward her bus stop. She had no time for this kind of drama; she had an exam. After mentally flipping off the disgusting man who happened to be her biological father, she rushed toward her local university. She had four months left to complete her year. Until then, she had neither the time nor the energy for distractions.

Miles away, a young man had just thrown a glass against the wall. He was so angry he no longer knew what to think. His father, his best friend, had decided he should get married! Him, at only twenty-two years old! What kind of ridiculous obsession was this now? At first, he had wondered if his father wanted to see his youngest son married before dying, but the medical tests had shown nothing.

Just because he had been caught speeding… Alright, it was the fifteenth time that month, but so what? He controlled his car and motorcycle as though they were extensions of himself. Nawab looked at himself in the mirror. Fine, there was an entire line of girls chasing after him, some even came to his house, but it was not his fault he had been born this handsome, was it?

He had a dream, and he intended to achieve it. He picked up the flyer lying on his bed and decided this was the perfect opportunity. Four months? By then, his father would have forgotten this madness. He scheduled a message for the family group chat to be sent the next morning when they woke up. Until then, he would be gone. A bark stopped him.

His Champion… how was he supposed to leave without him? He scratched the dog behind the ear, gave him a treat, and pulled him into a hug. The animal said goodbye by licking his cheek.

“The future is ours!” they both shouted in unison, miles apart from one another, yet already so close.

The gears of fate had begun turning to bring these two hearts together.

Synopsis

They had been promised to each other since childhood. They grew up together, supporting one another through every bit of mischief; when one was hurt, the other cried too. Then he had to move away.

Distance created a gap that seemed impossible to bridge… until that promise was renewed.

Strong and rebellious, she wasn’t against it, but she had her doubts. She had never had a good example of a father or a husband in her life. Would he be able to heal her wounds?

He wanted no attachments. He had a dream to achieve, and besides, why did he absolutely have to get married? His brothers were already taking care of the family business and carrying on the family name. Couldn’t he stay single for life?

But what destiny had decided, no man could fight against.

He was about to discover what it truly meant to love. His passion would reveal itself without him even realizing it, to the point of turning into an obsession.

Intro

I’m back with a new story.

I’m almost done writing the other one. I already have 2 completed chapters, one chapter currently being written that’s nearly finished, and I still have 2 left to write, which will make a total of 14 chapters.

Once I get started, I have a hard time stopping, but I think I’ll slow down with this one since it might end up being longer than the previous story.

Anyway, here are a few things you should know.

Nawab and Heer’s families are the same, and some problems remain the same too, but certain relationships have been changed.

Just one detail: Gulab is not like she is in the series. She’s strict, but not completely crazy.

As for the rest, you’ll discover it while reading fanfiction.

Character List

Heer’s friends

• Koyal
• Neha
• Maddy
• Simran

Nawab’s friends

• Buzo
• Tina
• Snake
• Arjun

Nawab’s enemies

• Karan
• Siddharth
• Ranveer
• Krish

The crazy one (the surprise)

• Rajpreet

Synopsis and Chapter 1 : So hard, but necessary

Chapter 2 : Engagement

Chapter 3 : New Semester

Chapter 4 : Masked Ball

Chapter 5 : Truth

Chapter 6 : Vows

Chapter 7 : Long-awaited

Chapter 8 : Warning, danger!

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Chapter 9 : Living with respect

Nawab had lost himself in contemplating Heer and had no idea when he had fallen asleep. He felt someone struggling beside him, and that was what woke him up.

— Nawab, wake up!

— Let me sleep.

— Nawab!

Nawab jolted when he heard Heer’s voice. Then he remembered where they were. He felt her warmth before realizing that during the night, they must have searched for each other and ended up in one another’s arms.

— Good morning, Biwi darling.

— What good morning? Let go of me.

— Ah, my wife is so romantic.

— Nawab, you want me dead.

Nawab opened his eyes and sat up. He looked at Heer in front of him.

— I already told you not to speak about your death like that.

— What am I doing here?

— You fell asleep. I didn’t have the heart to wake you up, and besides, you’re with me. I informed Maa.

— And my grandmother?

— I’ll handle her.

Heer sighed. She wasn’t going to win, so she preferred not to think about it anymore. She got up to freshen up and prepare breakfast. Heer had to admit it—she had missed this period of living here.

— Nawab, you can go take your shower.

— As my wife wishes.

— Stop it, Heer said with a laugh.

She noticed that everything she had left behind was still in the same place. She realized just how difficult this separation had been for Nawab.

Lost in her thoughts, that was how Nawab found her.

— Heer?

She didn’t hear Nawab calling her. Heer started crying. She had to admit it—she had hurt him, she had hurt them both. Even though it was in the past, she knew the wound had been huge for him.

— What’s wrong? Nawab asked worriedly.

She stood up and hugged him. She had been doing that more and more lately. It surprised Nawab, but he wrapped his arms around her.

— What are you thinking about?

— I’m sorry. I know it wasn’t easy, but I thought I was doing the right thing.

— Don’t cry too much or you’ll look ugly in our photos.

— I’m serious, Nawab.

— I already forgave you. Actually, I never blamed you. Yes, I was hurt, but I understood what you were trying to do. Now I don’t want to think about it anymore. We’re going to redo our wedding this time because we chose it, and we’ll start our life together.

— A young married couple continuing their studies, isn’t that strange?

— Why would it be strange?

— It’s rare.

— Then we’re starting a new trend, Nawab said with a laugh.

He held her in his arms and kissed her forehead. Lost in each other’s eyes, they didn’t hear the knocking at the door. After Buzo shouted, Nawab stepped away from Heer.

— Bro, we have an appointment.

— They are enemies of our love. I need to do something about them.

Heer pushed him away laughing. She had also noticed that their moments were always interrupted by someone or something. Nawab opened the door, half annoyed.

— What’s so important that you couldn’t wait? Nawab asked irritably.

— Good morning, Bhabhiji, Buzo said before turning to Nawab. Remember, you asked me to look for someone for you? I found them.

— What… Ah yes. Fine, I’ll drop Heer off and then we’ll head out.

— I can go back alone, Heer offered.

— Are you sure? Didn’t you want me to handle your grandmother?

— No, it’s fine.

— Alright.

Nawab came to give her one last hug. Buzo covered his eyes with his hands, pretending not to see anything. Nawab looked at Heer one last time before leaving. He grabbed Buzo by the arm.

— Couldn’t you have come a little later when you saw I wasn’t answering?

— I thought you wanted Bhabhi’s dress to be ready on time.

— Buzo…

— I’m only following your instructions. Next time I’ll know I’m supposed to disobey.

Nawab muttered something about how he hadn’t had a single moment of privacy all this time before someone interrupted them. Buzo shivered and thought Nawab might eventually hit someone once his frustration reached its peak.

They arrived at the most renowned stylist’s place in the city. He had ordered four matching outfits: one for their engagement ceremony the following evening, then for the Sangeet-Mehndi the next day, as well as their wedding and finally the reception. All of it over four days. He knew Heer would be tired, but he didn’t want to drag things out. He trusted no one with this.

He looked over every outfit, listed the alterations that needed to be made, then was satisfied with the final adjustments. Their next stop was the hotel where everything would take place. He had booked the last two floors to accommodate the entire Sandhu family as well as his own. They would not leave that place until Heer officially became his wife in front of the whole world. Their first marriage had bound them together, but it was still a secret to the city.

— I checked everything, Bro. The bar has been locked.

— No need to worry about it anymore. The one who wasn’t invited won’t be there. Speaking of which, let’s go see my father.

— He called me last night.

— Oh? Tell me.

— Ajit has been imprisoned and he’ll stay there for at least ten years.

— Perfect, that should be enough.

— Except soon his family will find out and maybe…

— No, Nawab said firmly. Not even in their dreams. Everyone who hurts Heer will pay for it.

Although he couldn’t do anything to his mother, the only thing he would do was treat her coldly. That should be enough punishment for her.

— Alright, let’s go to the CPU. I need to submit a leave request or I’ll get suspended.

— Did you tell Heer?

— She would’ve requested leave anyway.

— Shadhi Mubarak mere bhai, Buzo said as he hugged Nawab.

Nawab smiled and returned the hug. He was happy. He had to repeat it to himself over and over to make sure the universe understood his deepest wish: NOTHING AND NO ONE was to stand in his way over the next few days until he officially took Heer’s hand.

Once at the CPU, Nawab sent invitations to his friends and even to their professor, who had unknowingly played cupid for them, as well as their principal. He submitted a one-week leave request for both Heer and himself. Of course, for those who would be attending the celebrations, the university would probably be empty over the next few days.

On Heer’s side, after tidying up the apartment, she realized Nawab had kept the place clean, which surprised her. She remembered how he used to leave everything lying around and how she constantly had to scold him for it. Then she headed home.

The first thing she heard was her grandmother’s screaming and her mother’s crying. Heer sighed before opening the door. The courtyard was in chaos. Her mother was at her grandmother’s feet, which angered Heer. She rushed to help her up.

— What’s going on here? Heer asked.

— Oh, the Queen has returned, her aunt mocked.

Heer ignored her and wiped her mother’s tears before asking again:

— What’s going on?

— Your father… she sobbed.

— Ah…

Bebe kept yelling behind her. Heer closed her eyes to calm herself down. But after hearing her grandmother curse her mother over and over again, she lost patience. Even though Neelu tried to stop her, Heer pushed her mother’s hand away.

— Your so-perfect son kidnapped me to demand money from Nawab and his family.

— Kidnapped? You’re his daughter.

Heer stared at the old woman. Sometimes she no longer knew what to think of her.

— Bebe, besides raising a worthless son, you never taught him to respect his wife. As a woman, did it never occur to you to protect my mother?

— Why would I do that? What use is she anyway?

— Oh, what use is she? Who keeps this house clean? Who makes sure you eat on time? When we left the first time, you begged her to come back. I see ingratitude runs in the family, Heer said while looking at Pummi.

Pummi turned her head away, and Heer couldn’t care less about their behavior. That was it—enough was enough. On the way home, she had called the former owner of the apartment she had found. Luckily for her, it was still available, so she asked him to rent it to her again. He agreed.

— Since she’s useless, starting today you can forget she exists. We are leaving this house. For the sake of your image, you’re still invited to my wedding, but after that, you can forget about us.

Heer pulled her mother into their room, helped her pack their bags, then came back out. She looked at her uncle. She still respected him, but the attachment she once felt for him had ended after the false theft accusation.

— It’ll be easier for you now. I’m taking back the promise I once asked you to make.

— Heer…

— No, Uncle, enough is enough. We are human beings. We have the right to live with dignity, and as long as we stay in this family, that will never happen.

Heer saw her aunt and Pummi whispering to each other. Knowing what was about to happen, she grabbed her mother’s hand and left. Emotional blackmail no longer worked on her. Ungrateful people. This family had two daughters-in-law, but because her mother came from a less wealthy family, she was expected to work like a servant, while superficial Pummi dreamed of marrying a Canadian citizen. This time, they would see whether they still had the audacity to ask her Nawab for help! Over her dead body!

The cameraman Rahul on Instagram just said they've replaced the screenwriter.

It’s been two days.

We saw his new work on screen today.

He congratulated us on it. I guess we went to check it out. Now we just have to see how it turns out.

He didn’t give the name. He’s going to find out.

Synopsis and Chapter 1 : So hard, but necessary

Chapter 2 : Engagement

Chapter 3 : New Semester

Chapter 4 : Masked Ball

Chapter 5 : Truth

Chapter 6 : Vows

Chapter 7 : Long-awaited

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Chapter 8 : Warning, danger!

Nawab looked inside the bag and noticed the phone was missing. Relief washed over him before he pulled out his own and activated the tracker.

While waiting for the GPS to connect, he ran to join Buzo, who was waiting in the parking lot with Koyal.

The place where Heer was located was a bit far. He hoped nothing serious had happened to her. If it had… He didn’t even dare imagine it. Today, someone was going to pay for this.

— Buzo, shouted Nawab. I’m sending you a location, bring the inspector and my father to this address.
— What’s going on?
— Don’t waste time, I don’t know how long I’ll be able to stay calm.
— But…
— Go.

He threw his car keys to him and took his motorcycle keys from his friend’s hand. He sped off, leaving a confused Buzo behind, but the latter understood that Heer must be the reason for all this and set off on his mission.

Meanwhile, Heer was tied and gagged to a chair. She had barely had time to slip the phone Nawab had given her into her pocket before her sister sent her a message asking her to meet her behind the CPU. She thought they had run away from home because of yet another foolish act by their father, but she should have known it could be a trap.

Some men had put a bag over her head and kidnapped her. She had tried to struggle at first but gave up, not wanting to anger them and risk being hurt.

She didn’t know how much time had passed before she started struggling again. The waiting was slowly killing her.

— Mm mm.

She tried to move the chair, thinking that if she fell, she didn’t know whether she might hurt herself.

— Mm mm, she continued, hoping someone would answer.
— Ah ah ah.

A man started laughing. Then the smell reached her nose. She understood who was behind all this.

— How nice it is when you keep your mouth shut. Bla bla bla. I thought I could finally control you, but that Nawab had to be too clever for his age. But then again, who is his mother? the man laughed.

The man stepped out of the shadows and approached her unsteadily. He sat down in front of her, a bottle of whisky in his hand.

— How much would he be willing to pay to get you back? I couldn’t get all their fortune, but one property will be enough.
— Mm mm.
— I don’t want to hear anything from you. I’ll wait until night falls and panic sets in before sending my ransom demand.

Heer clenched her jaw. Until the very end, the man who had helped bring her into this world only caused her problems. She knew Nawab would give in to his demand, then she smiled. She had forgotten one very important detail. Her hero must already be on his way.

She settled comfortably in the chair. Why waste time with this man? She closed her eyes and listened to her father talk about what he planned to do with the money he would receive. Heer didn’t know how much time had passed before the sound of a fight was heard. If she could have, she would have laughed.

— What’s all that noise? asked Ajit.
— Your worst nightmare, said Nawab.

Ajit got up, stumbling. He tried to step back, but there was nowhere to run.

— I thought I had warned you three times. Not to touch Heer, her mother, or her sister.

Nawab stopped in front of him. He had already seen that Heer was fine, so he focused entirely on Ajit Sandhu.

— I thought that even if you are not trustworthy, you at least know what fear is.

Nawab grabbed him by the collar and pulled him closer. He stared straight into his eyes, jaw tightening.

— I have a strong urge to beat you like the others outside. However, the bond that ties us—against my will—holds me back. So I’ve planned a long, very long journey for you.

Ajit began to panic, trying to break free, but Nawab, who had picked up a rope along the way, turned him around, tied his hands behind his back, then made him sit on the floor and bound him to his legs. The pain would be intense—that was all he could do to calm his anger.

After making sure his work was secure, he turned to Heer. He untied her and removed the gag.

He spun her around several times to make sure she was unharmed before pulling her into an embrace.

— I was so scared.
— You came to save me.
— Always.
— What are we going to do with him?
— I have a surprise prepared for him. The backup shouldn’t take long to arrive.

He kept her in his arms until Buzo, the police, and Dilip arrived.

Dilip had been worried ever since Buzo came to get him from his office. He hadn’t told him anything except that Nawab needed him. He had imagined many things, especially if Heer was at the center of it all. He feared his son’s anger—he no longer recognized him; his fight for Heer went beyond his understanding.

— Are you alright, children?
— Yes, Papaji, replied Heer.
— Yes.
— Who did this?
— He’s right there, Nawab pointed. I want him to pay for this. If I see him outside before several years, I don’t know what I might do.
— Leave it, I’ll take care of it.

Nawab took Heer’s hand and walked out. Buzo was waiting for them in the parking lot.

— Bhabhiji, are you alright?
— Yes, said Heer.

Nawab gestured to Buzo for the keys. Another exchange of vehicles between them. Nawab led Heer to his car and made sure she was properly seated before starting the engine.

— Where are we going?
— Away from everyone.
— I’m fine.

Heer knew he had been scared. The adrenaline and anger began to fade as Nawab grew increasingly unsettled. What did he have to do for everyone to let them live their story without drama?

They were married. They were going to renew their vows. An idea formed in his mind, and he smiled. He drove for a few minutes before stopping in front of a print shop. He told Heer to wait and not move.

Just as Heer was starting to think she should go look for him, he returned with a cardboard box in his hands.

— What is it?
— Invitations.
— For?

He handed her one of the cards so she could read it. Every detail of their upcoming union was written on it. He hadn’t spared a single detail. Heer looked at the card, then at Nawab, then back at the card.

— Was that necessary?
— Yes. And now, time to distribute them.

Nawab stopped in front of every publishing house. Whether it was a TV channel or a simple newspaper, he handed out each card. Once satisfied with his work, he returned to their favorite dabba.

The server recognized them immediately. He sighed and brought a bottle of water and two glasses.

— Papaji, how are you?
— Good, and you? Back with your wife this time?

Heer looked at Nawab in surprise, then at the server.

— He often came back without you. I thought Bhabhiji was ill.

Nawab lowered his head and placed his order to make him leave.

— You came back?
— It was the first place we ate together. It’s symbolic.

Heer smiled. She had often thought of coming here, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it, and over time she had started avoiding every place that reminded her of Nawab. She realized that every corner of the city carried his mark.

— Nawab, can I ask you something?
— Yes.
— Why do you love me?
— I don’t have an answer to that question, he said, surprised himself. I just know that I love you. You are my sun, you are my oxygen. I can’t imagine a world without you. Whether you are in my life or not. With me, it’s better, but just knowing you exist somewhere and being able to see you would have been enough.
— And if I hadn’t loved you?
— I wouldn’t have wanted you. I didn’t expect you to return my love, even though the fact that you do fills me with joy. But even if you hadn’t, I would have loved you with all my being.

The love Nawab has for Heer is selfless. He had lived with people who claimed to love him, yet always expected something from him or wanted to possess him.

And by getting to know Heer, he saw that she gave without expecting anything in return. He began to love her without realizing it and eventually told himself that even if she didn’t return his love, nothing could change his feelings. He is possessive and protective because he is a man, after all. But her happiness and well-being come before his own.

Knowing she was well put him in a good mood. Knowing she was happy made him happy. Whenever a difficulty appeared in her path, he did everything to eliminate the problem without waiting for praise—that’s why he did everything without her knowing. He doesn’t need a reward.

Loving her is enough. Having her by his side is a plus; her loving him back is a bonus. All of this completed him. Made him Nawab Brar 2.0.

They ate in silence. Sometimes, Nawab stole a bite from Heer’s hands. She ended up feeding him more than she ate. Then he fed her in return. These were the simple moments he longed for. No arguments, no drama. Just a husband and his wife. Nawab and Heer.

After finishing their meal, Nawab had no desire to part from her. But Heer was tired—she yawned several times—so he decided to take her home. On the way, she fell asleep, so he stopped at the apartment.

He laid her on the bed and took his place on the other side. They had already shared a single bed and even a mat on the floor. This large bed shouldn’t be a problem.

Synopsis and Chapter 1 : So hard, but necessary

Chapter 2 : Engagement

Chapter 3 : New Semester

Chapter 4 : Masked Ball

Chapter 5 : Truth

Chapter 6 : Vows

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Chapter 7 : Long-awaited

Heer was on cloud nine, determined not to let anyone ruin her mood. She ate under the disapproving gaze and the curiosity-filled eyes of her family. Neelu hadn't had a single moment to herself since, so just before going to bed, her mother came to join her.

— Heer.

— Yes, Mom.

— Are you happy?

— More than ever. Knowing I was never divorced has been the greatest relief of my life.

— My little girl. You've suffered so much. I feel ashamed that I couldn't do anything for you.

— You were there when I felt sad and lost. That's already enough, Mom.

Neelu tucked Heer into bed. Their mother-daughter moment was limited.

— Mom?

— Yes.

— It's time to leave this house for good.

— Heer.

— No, Mom. I won't be able to move forward in my life with the fear that Dad might end up killing you or another member of this family.

— I don't want to be a burden to you.

— You won't be. We already tried, we just didn't go all the way last time. This time, it will be for real.

— Alright.

Neelu understood that this was the only way her daughters could be happy. Why insist when she knew nothing would change? She left after Heer had fallen asleep. She went to Preeti's room—that's where she slept now.

Nawab and his family arrived at the Brar mansion. The tension was at its peak, and he had no intention of pretending.

— Nawab! Gulab shouted. You can't bring her here.

— Who's going to stop me? We're married. The divorce never happened. If she doesn't live with me, her husband, where is she supposed to live?

— If she comes here, I'm leaving.

— Are we really going to start this chapter again?

— What do you mean?

— Emotional blackmail. Are you also going to say you'll kill yourself? That you'll go on a hunger strike or just bang your head against a pillar?

He stared at his mother with an empty gaze.

— Please, go ahead if it amuses you. But you and I both know you're incapable of hurting yourself. You love yourself too much for that. You just don't know how to make everyone follow your wishes, so you start plotting.

He turned to his brothers, sisters-in-law, then his father.

— I've learned the hard way how far Gulab Brar will go to impose her views. She's ready to destroy her son's future by making him take the blame for drugging his teammate—and that's just one of her sins.

Dilip let out a sound of surprise. Anmol covered her mouth. Sunny, Richa, and Jimmy showed no reaction.

— You're just as guilty as she is through your inaction. Silence is the same as saying yes. But I will fight for what belongs to me, and I won't let anyone steal it. I know what it means to work hard to get something. So I'll go all the way. However...

He turned to his mother.

— You're threatening to leave this house where you have everything you can't live without. I've already lived away from this luxury, and it only made me stronger. So I can walk away from it all again without looking back.

He let his words sink in before concluding.

— This isn't a threat. It's a warning. One wrong move, and I will never set foot here again. It's Heer and me, or no one.

Nawab headed to his room, leaving behind a furious and devastated Gulab. She didn't know who to direct her anger at, so she turned to her husband.

— All of this is your fault.

— One day, you had to understand that we are not puppets, but human beings.

— She's taking my son away from me! she shouted.

— No, it's your stubbornness that's pushing your son away. Just accept Heer, and your son will always stay close to you.

— Never!

— Then prepare to lose him, Dilip said before heading to his room.

One by one, everyone left for their rooms, leaving Gulab consumed by rage. Every time she thought of Heer, she remembered the month she had spent without her son. Then came the betrayal of knowing he hadn't tried to see her even once, yet he was with her every day.

What did that girl have that made him forget the woman who gave birth to him? A friend had advised her to see a psychologist, but she had no problem—why would she do that? Unable to find answers to her questions, she locked herself in a room with a bottle of alcohol.

The next morning, Nawab came to pick Heer up from her house instead of meeting halfway. After saying goodbye to her mother, Heer ran to join him. On the way to the university, she remembered she had forgotten to ask him what had happened at the party—so many things had happened since.

— Who's responsible?

— For what?

— You know exactly what I'm talking about.

— Oh, it's settled.

— Nawab.

— It's settled.

— How?

— Are the details really important?

— You didn't do anything serious, did you?

— He's alive, if that's what you want to know.

Heer let out an annoyed sigh. She knew the culprit was alive. However, she was afraid he might lose his place on the team after all the sacrifices they had made.

— Who was it?

— Heer, let it go.

— I'll ask Buzo.

— And he won't tell you anything.

— I thought there were no more secrets?

— Secrets that could harm us. This won't hurt us or tear us apart.

Heer looked at Nawab and decided to drop it for now. She didn't want to argue with him. She would eventually find out what had happened.

Nawab glanced at Heer—he knew she would try to find out. He had buried the matter; if she discovered it, there was only one person who would give in to his wife. And that's what would happen later that day.

After several classes and some time in the cafeteria, he left for practice. He was getting ready when he heard the door slam open. He sighed.

— Arjun.

— Nawab? Where are you?

— At the back.

Heer searched among the lockers before spotting him cleaning his cricket bat. He kept at it as Heer stopped in front of him, arms crossed.

— You hit him so hard they had to put him into an induced coma at the hospital. Do you realize that?

— And do you realize what he was planning to do after drugging you?

— You wouldn't have let anything happen.

— Heer, I love the trust you have in me to protect you, but you know I'm not omnipresent. And if, by some misfortune, a second of inattention had been enough for everything to go...

Nawab slammed his bat onto the bench and stood up. He walked around Heer so she wouldn't see the emotions raging inside him. Sometimes, he wondered if it was normal to love someone this much. Just imagining something happening to her made him sick.

— Nawab?

— Heer, for God's sake, your moral lectures aren't something you should switch on all the time.

— But...

— I know, it's for my own good, my future, my career—I've heard it enough. Let me handle my future; you tried once, and you saw the result.

— Nawab, that's not nice, bringing that up.

Nawab sighed, closing his eyes to compose himself before returning to her. He took her hands.

— When it comes to protecting you, you let me handle it. The rest, I'll listen to you.

— I'm scared for you.

— I know, but let me handle it.

— Alright, I trust you.

— That's all I ask.

She hugged him, not liking when they argued.

— Go train, I'll wait for you in the library.

— Alright. Do you have your phone?

— In my bag.

— Which you don't have with you right now. Heer.

— Yes, sorry, I promise I'll put it in my pocket.

— Good. See you later.

Nawab had a bad feeling. He hoped it was just his overprotective side and nothing more. But it wasn't the first time he had felt this way—and it always ended badly.

His fear became reality when he went to pick Heer up after his training. He only found her bag in its place—and she was nowhere to be found.

This series is called And If.

These will only be one-shots. I’m rewriting moments that I personally felt were ruined.

There is no chronology.

Thank you for joining me on this journey.

-------------------

I went back to the scene where Heer discovers the truth in the field. 

—--------------

Heer was sitting with Koyal, planning her birthday as well as an apology party for Nawab, when Arjun arrived.
He had a serious expression on his face. Heer didn’t want any drama today, so she ignored his sarcasm and continued speaking with Koyal, but Arjun was persistent, so she stood up and confronted him.

— I know I told you that our relationship is over, but Arjun, whatever is going on between Nawab and me, he is my husband. Why are you always so defensive when it comes to him? If you try to get to know him, you might realize you could even become good friends.

— With Nawab? Never. A man who says he loves a girl and spends the night with another. I don’t want him as a friend.

— What?

It was at that moment that Nawab arrived. He saw Heer’s face and understood that something serious was going on. During the whole ride with Buzo, they had been thinking about the evening, which had led him to go and get a blood test done. His wife only functioned with proof, even though he wished she would trust him blindly the way he trusted her. He knew his past did not work in his favor.

— What’s going on? he asked as he stood beside Heer.

Heer turned to him, her expression serious. She didn’t want to get angry and ruin everything because she might react before thinking again. After taking a few deep breaths, she lifted her head.

— Don’t you have anything to tell me?

— Happy birthday?

— You already told me this morning. Nothing else?

Nawab looked around and decided he would rather do this privately, just the two of them, when Arjun started mocking her.

— See? I told you he wouldn’t tell you anything.

— Will someone explain to me what’s going on? Nawab asked, between irritation and worry.

— Arjun just told me that you asked Tina not to tell me about the night you spent together.

Nawab looked at Arjun and understood why Tina had suddenly become so obedient. She knew Arjun was going to tell Heer everything.

— From the moment you met Heer until you found out I was her husband, your obsession with her never left you.

— Nawab, said Heer.

— I will answer all your questions, Heer. But right now, I think it’s time to put Arjun in his place, otherwise he will become a problem in the future.

Nawab pushed Heer aside. He saw Koyal approach her and hold her back. Buzo stepped in front of them protectively, and Nawab focused on Arjun.

— I let a lot of things slide because Heer kept telling me over and over that you were just a friend. I’m not someone who doesn’t believe in friendship between a man and a woman. But you would make me change my mind.

— What are you talking about?

— Heer is married. Do you know what that means?

— Yes.

— So why are you still longing for a married woman? Do you even have a bit of self-respect? I already told you to stay away from what belongs to me, didn’t I?

Arjun stepped back while Nawab kept walking toward him, invading his personal space.

— This is your final warning. Whatever you dream about when you sleep, it’s none of my business, but if you do it while you’re awake, then it becomes my business. Heer is my wife. I’m telling you again. MY WIFE. NAWAB BRAR’S WIFE. Whether the whole world knows it or not doesn’t change who she is. HEER NAWAB BRAR. Don’t forget that. Now disappear.

Arjun looked at Heer. Since she didn’t say anything, he finally turned and walked away. Nawab took a deep breath and saw Tina stop Arjun. He didn’t know what they were saying, but Nawab signaled Buzo.

— Heer, one last thing, Nawab said without turning to her.

— What?

— No matter what you hear, I’m asking you one last time to trust me.

— I will, until you tell me otherwise.

— That’s all I’m asking.

Tina arrived and looked at the group. She had thought about what Arjun had told her. But she hadn’t said her last word.

— Heer, aren’t you ashamed?

— Should I be?

— He doesn’t love you. He’s not interested in you. Why are you sticking to him like glue? Sign the divorce papers and disappear.

— Is that what you want?

— What?

— You want me to sign the papers so you can marry him, right?

Taken aback, Tina didn’t know what to answer. Heer pushed past Buzo and walked past Nawab. One after another, they each decided to settle their scores with the person interfering in their relationship.

— You know, Tina, go find a good psychologist. You need one, you’re crazy.

— What? Tina screamed.

— You’re obsessed with possessing Nawab. But he’s a human being. He’s not an object you can own as you please. Before, he didn’t accept our marriage and I had other things to worry about, so I didn’t pay much attention to your little show. But now you know I’m his wife, you’ve even heard him say it to me, and you’re still chasing after him?

— I can give him what you can’t.

— Good for you. That just means I will at least be able to give him what you can’t give him.

— Being arrogant won’t put him back in the team.

— We have one year. By then, I’ll have enough time to make him a man who can prove himself on his own. Without his mother or a friend’s father’s help. Now if I ever see you trying to separate us again, you’ll see who Heer San… Heer Brar really is.

It was the first time she used her married name. It made Nawab smile, which angered Tina. She eventually walked away as well. Heer didn’t wait and turned toward Nawab, arms crossed.

Nawab gave her a small smirk and walked toward her. Koyal and Buzo quietly left.

— My tigress spoke. Grrr.

— Stop flirting and talk.

— There’s nothing to say, you just need to read this.

Nawab handed her the blood test results. Heer looked at them without really reading and gave them back to him.

— Why did you agree to have a drink with her?

— I wasn’t in my right mind. You argued with my mother. I wanted to come see you, but I ended up stuck between my mother and my wife again. You’re going to kill me.

— Nawab.

— And I knew you wouldn’t believe me, because you always trust proof more than me.

— That’s not… Heer started.

— It’s fine, Heer. I’m used to it now. Maybe one day you’ll trust me as much as I trust you.

— I’m trying, Nawab, I’m trying.

— I know. And I thank you for listening before making up your own mind. It’ll avoid misunderstandings.

— I promise you.

Nawab and Heer sat down on the blanket. A few minutes later, Koyal and Buzo joined them, and they continued discussing plans for their party.

Heer looked at Nawab and thought that maybe, if she were more rational sometimes and didn’t listen to what others said, many misunderstandings between them would never have happened.

Synopsis and Chapter 1 : So hard, but necessary

Chapter 2 : Engagement

Chapter 3 : New Semester

Chapter 4 : Masked Ball

Chapter 5 : Truth

-----------

Chapter 6 : Vows

Ajit realized he had lost, and that if anyone could change things, it was Gulab, so he gave her a sign to act.

— So this is what was happening behind my back, said Gulab.
— You’re not the only one who knows how to scheme. Unlike you, I’m doing this for my son’s happiness, against Dilip.
— Heer is not Nawab’s happiness! shouted Gulab.

Nawab stepped slightly in front of Heer. He had imagined too many times his mother doing something irreversible to her. That fear never left him.

— Have you ever asked me what I wanted? The first time, it was Dad who decided I had to get married so I could learn about life. At 21, while my friends were still thinking about what to do with their day, I had to figure out how to share my space with a stranger.

He turned to Heer and gave her a regretful smile.

— On the wedding day, I felt like I was suffocating. I only had one dream: to join the regional cricket team, and to me, this marriage was going to steal that dream. So I ran away. I was immature. I blamed Heer because I had no one else to blame.
— I’m sorry, he said softly, only for her.

Heer shook her head, her eyes filled with tears. Nawab turned back to his parents.

— Fate, chance, call it whatever you want, put her in front of me every single day. I didn’t even know she was the girl I had abandoned, because I didn’t know what she looked like. But she did… I can’t even imagine her pain. I wasn’t kind. I kept telling myself I hated her, and yet, day after day, I felt drawn to her. Heer taught me about life, taught me what it means to be loyal. During those months away from you, she took care of me just as much as I did for her.

Nawab felt Heer’s hand on his back. She must have been thinking about their moments together, just like him.

— She encouraged me several times to come back, saying maybe a solution would be found if I faced reality. Then one evening, I discovered that the girl I had come to know was the one I was tied to. What a strange game fate plays with me. It didn’t change the fact that my feelings were there. Then life’s trials played their part. Dad’s crisis, Mom’s accident… She was my support every time I thought I couldn’t get back up. I became her protector. I didn’t know that all the problems she was facing were caused by someone I trusted completely. It only brought us closer day by day. And I learned what selfless love really means.

Nawab looked at his mother. He had to make her understand today, once and for all.

— Everyone always thought that this or that would be good for me. That if I took a step on my own, I’d fall. Or that I was just incapable, a failure. She taught me that I’m capable of doing what it takes to achieve my dream without relying on my name. She never tried to control me. Heer has been my advisor, my support, my pillar.

He turned this time to his father.

— She explained to me the expectations you had of me. I told myself I was the youngest of two older brothers. I still had time to live my youth before thinking about responsibility. But carrying the Brar name means carrying responsibilities. So I learned to be responsible. I became a waiter. For others, it’s a degrading job. But it taught me humility, the value of money, and what it means to make an effort for someone other than myself.

He turned again to Heer.

— Despite the trials, the lies, the betrayals, the threats, and the separation… every day since I met you has only strengthened my love for you. I didn’t know what it meant to love. First love? Thinking about someone other than myself? That was unknown to me. With you, I learned to grow, and you became my world. I’ve already asked you, and I’m asking you again.

Nawab slipped his hand into his pocket and took out a ring. It was silver, engraved with their initials inside.

— Heer Nawab Brar, will you stay my wife forever?
— Yes… yes, replied Heer, tears in her eyes.

Nawab removed the other ring and slid the new one onto her finger. He took her hand and turned back to his family.

— Our divorce never happened. We are still husband and wife. Fate brought us back together. It all started with a lie, but it became the greatest truth of my life. Mom, you may not love her, but I do. Find the strength in the love you have for me to accept her.

Gulab clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white. Nawab had to reveal his truth in front of everyone if they wanted to move forward.

— I’m warning you, whoever stands between us, I will forget the ties that bind us. Mother, father, brother, father-in-law… it doesn’t matter. We have our whole lives ahead of us. Let us decide for ourselves what is right or wrong. And if we fall, at least we will have tried.

Dilip was the first to act. He stepped forward and placed his hands on their heads.

— My blessings will always be with you.

He was followed by Neelu and Heer’s uncle. No one else moved toward them. It didn’t bother Nawab. He had said what he needed to say, hoping they would now let them live their lives.

— I have something else to tell you.

He didn’t know how Heer would react to this, only hoping she would support him for now.

— Our first wedding isn’t a good memory for us. The emotions that future spouses should feel weren’t there. So I want to renew my vows with Heer. Redo every ritual one by one, and end with a grand reception worthy of the Brar family.

It was the only way for him to let the whole world know they were married. No more secrets, no more lies. Nawab and Heer Brar. Students, but married.

Heer looked at him in surprise, though it wasn’t entirely unexpected. She hadn’t thought that after canceling the divorce, he would truly want to redo their wedding.

— We’ll start with the sagai in two days. Everything will take place over four days. Sagai, Sangeet-Mehndi, Shadi, and the reception. After that, I think everyone will understand that this marriage is meant to last. And my threats are not to be taken lightly. One wrong move, and you’ll see who I really am.

Nawab absolutely did not want to leave Heer with the Sandhus. He had to set things right and erase his past mistakes. He turned to Neelu.

— I’ll leave her with you today, but I’ll come back soon to take her. Your duty is to protect her. You’re her mother—find the strength to fight for her. She needs you more than ever.

He didn’t want to judge Neelu, but many things Heer had done and would do were independent of her mother’s choices. His wife had been forced to take on the role of protector when it should have been the other way around.

Heer looked at him, then at her family, then took his hand and pulled him into her room. She waited until the door was locked before turning to him. Not knowing where to begin, she threw herself into his arms.

— Nawab…
— Yes, said Nawab, holding her tightly.
— How…

Emotion clogged her throat. She didn’t want to cry anymore. Heer told herself she had to be strong and a fighter, just like him. Together, they could move mountains. As Nawab was her pillar, she had to become his without conditions.

— Something wrong? You can tell me anything, Heer. If you disagree with something, I’ll try to improve it or explain my choice.

Could she have found a better life partner than Nawab Brar? This young man who had once been immature had become the most mature of them all.

— Thank you.

Heer had no other words to express her gratitude. He had grown because of her, and she had learned to trust a man completely. Things had never been easy, but she believed in them—and that was what mattered most.

— Thank you, truly, for being in my life. I can’t imagine it without you.
— That’s why, Biwi darling, I’m not going anywhere. I’m sticking to you until death.

Heer smiled and went back into his arms. She knew they couldn’t stay like that long. After one last embrace, she let go.

— Let’s go back.
— Wait, said Nawab, stopping her.

Nawab took a phone and a set of keys out of his pocket.

— These are spare keys to the apartment. And this phone must never be turned off. It’s for your safety.
— Why so much?
— I told you, it’s for your safety. I don’t want to take any risks. I trust no one. I would have even hired bodyguards, but I know you wouldn’t want that.
— Have you become paranoid?
— Heer? I’m serious. Until I come to get you officially, this phone is an extension of you.
— Alright… alright.
— Good. Let’s go before a war breaks out.

When they left the room, they heard shouting, and the loudest voice was Gulab’s. Heer looked at Nawab; his face was closed off. She didn’t dare ask what would happen with his mother, not wanting him to have to choose between them again. The first time, he had chosen her, and she hadn’t been enough.

— You will always be my priority. I love my mother, and that will never change. But I can’t stop loving you just to make her feel better in her need to control everyone.
— I don’t think she’ll tolerate me in your home.
— Wherever I am is your home.

Heer found his answer strange, but she didn’t have time to ask what he meant. They reached the courtyard. Neelu was standing in front of Gulab, which shocked Heer. She was about to go to her, but Nawab refused to let go of her hand.

— Let them.
— But…
— Your mother is an adult, Heer. She needs to learn to fight her own battles. And she’s my mother, not your father.

Heer didn’t dare argue. The argument between the mothers reached a level that even Heer, who knew her mother as calm, found shocking.

— I told you, what God does, man cannot undo. With the help of my so-called husband, you tried—but you failed again.
— I haven’t given up.
— Even if it means losing your son?
— He’s my son. Why would I lose him? He doesn’t know life. I’m his mother—who else knows what’s best for him?
— He’s a human being. He knows what’s good for him. You have to let him choose, and he told you what he wants. Your need to always be right will make you lose everything.
— If it means Heer disappears from our lives, I’ll take that risk.
— Mom! shouted Nawab.

None of the adults had noticed their arrival, making everyone jump. Nawab’s eyes were red. Heer gripped his arm, feeling his anger rise. She didn’t want him to do something he might regret later. She signaled to Dilip to intervene.

— It’s time for us to go.

He turned to Heer’s uncle.

— We’ll send you the details. You don’t have to do anything except be on time at the place we’ll inform you of.

The uncle didn’t dare object, simply nodding. Neelu turned to Heer. Heer looked at Nawab. Nawab looked at his mother. It lasted only seconds, but it felt like hours, the tension at its peak.

— Nawab, said Heer, go prepare me the most beautiful wedding that has ever existed.

She knew it was the only thing that could calm him—bring him back to them.

— I want the most beautiful dress in the city. One no one else can wear. A unique piece.

Nawab slowly turned toward her, a slight smile on his lips.

— I see my wife is demanding.
— This time, I’m marrying the man I chose.
— I thought I was the one who chose you?
— Who will have the answer to that question?
— Then let’s say we chose each other. Mission accepted.

He squeezed her hand one last time before heading toward the exit. Heer watched his back, waiting for him to turn around. He did, just before leaving. She smiled and gave him a small wave. As soon as the Brar family left the Sandhu house, a storm broke out. Heer didn’t stay to answer questions or accusations. She turned on her heel and went back to her room.

Synopsis and Chapter 1 : So hard, but necessary

Chapter 2 : Engagement

Chapter 3 : New Semester

Chapter 4 : Masked Ball

--------

Chapter 5 : Truth

Heer felt that something was wrong as soon as she opened her eyes. The bed didn’t seem to be hers, and the smell of the room was unfamiliar. She sat up abruptly and groaned, holding her head. The pain was unbearable. She couldn’t see anything — everything was black. Heer began to panic when a small source of light illuminated a corner of the room.

— Are you okay?

She stared at Nawab. He was sitting upright on a chair at the back of the room. His shirt was completely unbuttoned. He looked like he hadn’t slept all night. She tried to remember where she was and what she was doing there, but her memory was blurry. Heer realized that something terrible had happened to her.

— Nawab?

Her voice was small. As she raised her hand, she noticed she was wearing a T-shirt that wasn’t hers. Her heart began to race. She felt no physical pain, and Heer understood what had happened. Pulling the blanket up over her body, she began to tremble.

Nawab came to sit beside her. He kept his distance and remained careful in his movements.

— You were drugged last night. I couldn’t take you home, so we’re in the apartment where you once stayed, in Buzo’s building.

None of this made sense to her. Her mind was starting to clear, and her panic doubled.

— What are we going to do, Nawab?

— About what?

— I spent the night out. How am I supposed to explain that to my family? My father is going to kill me.

The panic left her frozen. Nawab took her hand, still keeping his distance. He had spent the night thinking of a solution, he had even written to his father to ask for help. The only possible answer was to tell Heer the truth and move forward with their plan.

— Heer.

— Nawab, we are doomed. I thought this time we would succeed, but now it’s too late.

— Heer, listen to me.

She kept talking without listening, saying that no matter how much they tried to defy fate, they were only humans and could not go against God’s will. Nawab knew she had withdrawn into herself and that he had only one way to bring her back.

He moved closer and shook her a few times until she finally looked at him.

— Heer, he shouted. Everything will be fine.

— How?

She began to cry. He didn’t like seeing her like this. He wanted to give her all the happiness in the world and bring her back to a place where she could feel safe and no longer afraid.

— I asked you for two weeks to sort everything out. I spent the night making progress.

— But what are you going to do?

— I was looking for someone. We found her.

— Who?

— A nurse who worked at the hospital where you were born.

Heer sat up. She understood what Nawab was getting at. She knew he was capable of anything. He would never let anyone stand in his way.

— Today, the truth will be revealed. Our marriage was cancelled because you thought you were a minor? On that basis, the cancellation can be overturned.

— We didn’t cancel the marriage. It’s a divorce, Nawab.

— It’s the same thing, Heer. You can still withdraw your request. It hasn’t been finalized yet. I asked Vivek Bhaiya.

Heer didn’t know whether to feel relieved or simply shocked. She had thought everything was over. Making that decision had been the hardest thing in her life. Maybe she should have told Nawab from the beginning. Maybe they could have avoided all this pain. But seeing him being taken away by the police had been more than she could bear. She could not play with his future.

— Before going to your house, we will go to court to fix this detail, and then we will deal with your father.

— Are we still husband and wife? Heer asked timidly.

— Yes, Biwi darling. But I promised you a wedding, and you will have it.

Heer smiled. For weeks, her heart had been heavy. Today, she finally felt alive again. She would be able to return to her life, walk beside him without fear, and most importantly, their story could finally begin.

Nawab left her to go get lunch while she changed.

Heer thought she was lucky to have met Nawab. He was the kind of husband every woman on earth dreams of having.

Many thought his sacrifice would be pointless if everyone suffered because of it. But for her, he was the only one who mattered. He might suffer for a while, but she hoped he would eventually move on.

The trip to the court was silent. Nawab was lost in his thoughts and Heer didn’t dare ask what he was thinking. This peace was fragile, and fear had not yet left her.

When they arrived, she found Dilip, Vivek the lawyer, a man with a military appearance, and another man with an older woman.

She received Dilip’s blessings. He hugged her gently for comfort.

— Dad, is everything ready? Nawab asked.

— Yes, only you were missing.

— What is going on? Heer asked.

— This is the private detective we hired to find the gynecologist who delivered your mother, as well as this retired nurse. You were indeed of legal age when you got married, Dilip explained.

Heer sighed in relief and looked at Nawab with a smile. Everything was going to be fine now. Ajit could no longer destroy Nawab’s career, and she would be able to return to her husband.

— Here, sign this, Vivek said, handing her a document. It is the withdrawal of the divorce request.

— I thought we were already divorced?

— There is a three-month period for administrative processing before the final confirmation letter is sent. For now, we are still in the withdrawal period.

Heer quickly signed the documents and handed them back. The lawyer went inside the court to wait for their hearing.

— Everything will be fine, Nawab said.

Heer realized she was holding his hand tightly out of nervousness.

A few minutes later, it was their turn. The hearing was quick. The judge listened to the witnesses, reviewed the evidence, and annulled the previous procedure.

— You are husband and wife again, the judge said, stamping the document.

— Thank you, Your Honor.

— The session is closed.

Vivek stayed behind to finalize the paperwork while they headed to their car.

— We have one more stop, Nawab said. Dad, mom?

— I already informed her. She doesn’t understand why we are going to the Sandhus. I made an excuse, she will be there.

— And the others?

— Everything has been arranged, don’t worry.

Nawab got into his car while Dilip returned to his, accompanied by the others. Heer felt like she was floating. An urge to dance suddenly came over her.

— Nawab.

— Yes?

— Can we go get ice cream?

Nawab laughed as he started the car. He understood how she felt. He too wanted to dance and eat tons of ice cream.

— I’ll buy you the entire ice cream shop, but first, we have a lot to do.

The drive to the Sandhus’ house was lighthearted. Heer was no longer worried. Whatever happened now would not change anything. They were husband and wife again. Everything else no longer mattered.

— Heer.

— Hmm?

— I know you are happy that the divorce was cancelled. But you know my mother is also against our union?

— Yes, I know.

— And you also know that today she might cause a scene.

— Where are you going with this?

— No more secrets. If someone blackmails you, you tell me everything. The rule from now on is no secrets between us. Whether it is for my good or not, you let me decide. Then together we will make a decision and find a solution.

Nawab held out his hand so she could promise him.

— I promise, Heer said without hesitation. I won’t make the same mistake again.

— Good.

He parked behind his father’s car. His mother was standing in front of her car with Richa, Jimmy, Anmol, and Sunny beside her.

— Ready?

— Always.

Nawab got out first and opened her door. Gulab was the first to see them. She removed her sunglasses in shock before her expression turned angry.

Dilip led everyone inside. Nawab and Heer were the last to enter, holding hands.

— Whatever happens, stay by my side, Nawab told her.

— I have no intention of going anywhere.

— You are quite obedient all of a sudden.

— Enjoy it, it doesn’t happen every day.

— Too bad, I like this Heer too.

— In your dreams.

— Oh, if only you knew what I dream about, he said laughing.

She elbowed him lightly. She saw her grandmother stand up from her usual seat, her aunt holding Pummi’s arm, and her uncle approaching Dilip.

Her mother and sister looked at her in surprise. From their place, Heer signaled that everything was fine.

The detective and the two witnesses were waiting outside for their call. No one knew about them. The element of surprise.

Ajit, watching from his perch, felt that something was about to happen and that he would be at a disadvantage. So he decided to open hostilities.

— Heer?

Heer refused to look at him. She didn’t want to ruin her mood, so she looked at her mother or Nawab instead.

— Ajit Sandhu, Dilip said. I have never seen a father more harmful than you.

— What do you mean?

— Destroying your own child’s happiness. Is there a worse parent than you in this world?

Ajit laughed and looked at Gulab. She shot him a furious warning glance, but Ajit was not afraid.

— You have one at home.

Dilip understood what he meant and did not argue that point.

— We are talking about you. Heer was a minor at the time of her marriage with Nawab, correct?

— Yes, and I have the certificate to prove it.

— The fake certificate, you mean?

— Real, fake… If I say she was a minor, then she was. Do you have proof otherwise?

Instead of answering, Dilip brought everyone inside and presented the facts. Along with hospital records and the gynecologist’s operation register, it proved that Heer was an adult when she got married.

Neelu collapsed into a chair, relieved that it had all been nothing more than a bad dream. She had constantly prayed to God to give her daughter the happiness she deserved—the man she had learned to love and trust.

Synopsis and Chapter 1 : So hard, but necessary

Chapter 2 : Engagement

Chapter 3 : New Semester

-----------

Chapter 4 : Masked Ball

Friday night, the masquerade ball was about to begin. The hall had been decorated by an event planner Nawab had hired. Everything had been arranged to ensure the evening would go as smoothly as possible.

Nawab held two black masks in his hand: one in a masculine style and the other made of lace for a woman. He had ditched Priya as soon as they arrived.
He had no intention of upsetting his little wife over a first-class chatterbox. Nawab still wondered how he had endured the entire journey—she hadn’t stopped talking once.

He kept watching the door, waiting for Heer to arrive. She eventually showed up with Koyal, Buzo, and Arjun.
Arjun stood behind her, jaw clenched. He remembered that he was the one who had sought her out. Still, he had to play his role as her fiancé. It irritated him deeply, but for now, there was nothing he could do.

The small group approached him. Today, they could afford to be close to each other. It was a celebration in honor of the cricket team.
As captain, Arjun could go wherever he pleased—even stand next to Nawab.

— Here, Nawab said, handing the mask to Heer.
— Just one?

Nawab ignored her remark. He was too busy looking at her. The black saree suited her perfectly, her carefully styled hair left loose just the way he liked it. Her earrings brushed against her shoulders. He had to restrain himself from pulling her away from everyone’s gaze.

— Is there an after-party? Buzo asked.
— That’s the plan, Nawab replied, still staring at Heer.

Feeling his gaze, Heer grew uneasy. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other in her uncomfortable shoes. She knew she had done her best to look as beautiful as possible. But no matter what she wore, Nawab was always captivated.

She wondered if love truly made one blind, as the saying went.
He looked stunning too, dressed entirely in black like her. His black shirt was slightly open at the chest. He never missed an opportunity to show off his body. He could be proud of it, but couldn’t he at least keep it away from others’ eyes?

Nawab Brar knew his charm and how to use it. Even though he no longer made an effort to attract attention, women still chased after him. It irritated Heer deeply.

Nawab understood where her thoughts had wandered and decided to button at least one button, hiding a smile. He turned to Buzo and gave him a nod.
The — planting doubt” mission could begin.

The first part of the evening was a partner-switching dance, something like a simple version of musical chairs.
At the right moment, he would change the game to the paper game and pair up with Heer. He congratulated himself for coming up with so many strategies just to be near her.

At first, Heer was not very cooperative. She absolutely didn’t want to be passed from one partner to another. Even though she knew most of Nawab’s teammates, he was sure she knew who had once been interested in her.

She had avoided telling Nawab, fearing he might end up hitting some of them, but she decided to set her concerns aside for now.

When it was Ramesh’s turn, Heer kept her distance. He always had a cold, calculating look when he watched her. He gripped her hand a little too tightly and tried to pull her closer. Heer tried to free herself without making any sudden moves, afraid of drawing Nawab’s attention.

— I heard you’re not chasing Nawab anymore.

Heer ignored him, hoping the partner switch would happen quickly.

— Don’t you want to try with me? I’ve got plenty to teach you. I like girls like you—tough, but easy to break,” he said with a laugh.

Heer wanted to kick him but didn’t want to cause a scene. She felt a presence behind her before seeing hands grab Ramesh’s and pry his fingers away one by one, making him wince in pain.

— I thought I made myself clear this morning, Ramesh?

— I didn’t do anything—we were dancing.

— Do you take me for a fool?

Heer turned around and placed her hand on Nawab’s chest to calm him. She knew her touch had that effect on him. It was the only thing she could do to defuse the situation.

— It’s okay, Nawab. Everything’s fine.

Nawab didn’t release his grip immediately. He shoved the young man into someone else’s arms—someone Heer didn’t even notice—then wrapped his arms around her and resumed dancing.

The partner switching continued, but she stayed with him. She began to worry they might arouse suspicion, but Nawab was still angry, so she chose not to say anything.

— They all know what you are to me. They know that whatever binds us—whether it exists or not—my reaction will always be the same. So they’ll think I’m forcing you. No one will believe it’s mutual.

— Still, it’s dangerous.

— If you prefer, I can go punch him again. That would make an even bigger scene.

Heer didn’t argue. She knew she wouldn’t win. Eventually, she begged for mercy as her feet began to hurt. After that, she spent the rest of the evening massaging them. Koyal came by occasionally. Buzo brought her drinks.

Arjun stayed at the table like a prison guard. Nawab roamed the room like a madman.
She wondered if it was her fault.

Neither of them noticed the shadow slipping something into Heer’s glass.

Nawab had to play his role. He greeted everyone. He accepted flirtation, even though his heart wasn’t in it. He kept an eye on her as much as possible, but sometimes he had to pretend she didn’t exist. And that was when someone took advantage of it to trap Heer.

Heer felt a heat rising inside her. She didn’t understand where it was coming from. From her toes to her scalp, she felt tingling sensations. Her clothes rubbing against her skin made it worse.

She desperately wanted to take them off. Without thinking, she removed the pin holding the top of her saree. That’s when Nawab noticed what she was doing. He pushed through the crowd to reach her.

— Heer, what are you doing?

— I’m hot, she said in a strange voice.

Nawab looked at her and saw her glassy eyes wandering aimlessly.

— Your job was to watch her, Nawab said coldly to Arjun. — And you can’t even do that.

— What are you talking about?

— Look at Heer. Someone gave her alcohol.

Nawab took the glass and smelled it. At first, nothing seemed unusual, until he noticed the bottom.

— Someone drugged her!” Nawab shouted.

He turned to Arjun.

— Go find Buzo and bring me that bastard—fast.

Arjun sprang into action. He returned minutes later with Ramesh. Buzo helped force him to his knees. After securing Heer to a chair for her safety, Nawab joined them.

— Do you have a death wish?

— I didn’t do anything.

— Do you take me for a fool?

Without waiting for an answer, Nawab punched him in the stomach. He heard Heer struggling behind him, which only fueled his anger. He beat him mercilessly. Buzo, who knew Nawab’s temper, feared he might lose control. The only person who could calm him was unavailable.

Arjun thought he knew Nawab, but it was the first time he had seen this side of him. He wondered if Heer knew. Should he tell her? He closed his eyes to avoid watching. He didn’t know how long it lasted, but he eventually heard Nawab stand up.

— Take him to the hospital. Just say you found him in the street.

— Okay, bro.

— And send Koyal to me. I need to get Heer out of here.

They left with Ramesh, leaving Nawab to return to Heer. Koyal arrived quickly. They struggled to get her out of the party without drawing attention.

The car ride was long and difficult. He couldn’t take her home, nor go to a hotel, so he headed to Buzo’s building. He had eventually bought the small apartment he used to stay in.

Whenever he felt lonely and wanted to see her, he would go there to relive their good memories. He wished he could go back to that time.

After settling Heer on the bed, Koyal left to wait for Buzo.

Nawab sat on a chair and watched Heer jump on the bed, sing, and laugh. A few minutes later, she tried to undress again. Nawab rushed to stop her and realized he had only one solution to help her.

He dragged her into the shower and turned on the cold water. She tried to escape, so he stepped in with her under the spray. After a few minutes, Heer finally calmed down. Nawab wrapped her in a towel. He wondered how he would manage to change her clothes.

He left her in the middle of the room and turned off all the lights. He figured he would have to rely on touch to help him.

Nawab closed his eyes and helped Heer change. Once he was done, he tucked her into bed until she fell asleep.

He sat back down on the chair and began thinking about how to get her out of this situation.

Synopsis and Chapter 1 : So hard, but necessary

Chapter 2 : Engagement

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Chapter 3 : New Semester

The morning of the return was calm.
She hadn’t seen her father since the evening of the engagement. He had gotten what he wanted, so he must still be drinking somewhere. He hadn’t come home since, and her mother was worried. She had tried to make her understand that it was useless, but she couldn’t understand her mother’s devotion to her father.
She no longer looked for answers.

She got dressed and decided to change her hairstyle. She smiled when no one was looking at her. She looked at her ring, her hairstyle, and told herself she was ready for her role. Heer had forbidden Arjun from coming near her house, except in case of absolute emergency.

She took a rickshaw to the CPU. The closer she got, the faster her heart beat. Halfway there, a car stopped in front of the vehicle. She knew he wouldn’t have been able to resist. He got out and came to get her. He paid and pulled her toward him. She stared at him, incredulous, but he was lost staring at her.

— Heer, you’re going to be the death of me.

She let out a small laugh and pushed him away to get into the car. He kept saying that she absolutely wanted him to declare war on every boy who looked at her today. She was pleased with her little surprise.

— When I ask you to stay away from them, you refuse, and today when I have to stay away from you, you do this?

— It’s my reward.

He rested his head on the headrest and closed his eyes. She didn’t really understand what was wrong with him, but she thought she was pleasing him and felt a little disappointed. She looked for a hair tie in her bag to redo her braid, but he stopped her.

— No, leave it.

— I thought you didn’t want it.

— Heer, you don’t realize the effect you have on me.

She stared at him with wide innocent eyes. Nawab used to say she was 19, that she had never had a boyfriend before marrying him. He refused to think about the past; however, he knew he had greatly wronged her. Still, he had his whole life ahead of him to discover this kind of things.

A few streets before the university, Heer got out of the vehicle. They couldn’t arrive together. Buzo was waiting in the parking lot; he was deep in conversation with Koyal. Their couple was the strangest, but it seemed to work, without complications like hers.

Koyal went to join Heer, and Buzo followed her. For this semester, he didn’t have many classes: he had more training sessions and matches than credits to complete. That left him more time to do a lot of things.

He saw his brother drop Anmol off at the gate of the CPU. One more person in his team to carry out his plan. Now that the mission was back, Heer could begin.

The day was calm. He stayed away from classrooms, remaining either in the locker rooms or on the field training.

In the early afternoon, the coach announced the selected team for the season. Nawab took the opportunity to announce invitations for a masked ball. Heer watched him from a distance, and he didn’t miss a single piece of her body language.

Neha and Priya walked up to him.

— Who are you going to choose as your partner now that there’s no Heer or Tina?

Nawab almost laughed when he saw Heer take a step forward, but Koyal held her back. There was something good in seeing her jealous. It was rare for her to show her feelings. He was still waiting for her to tell him she loved him.

— No one. I’m free after so long, so I’m going to enjoy it.

— Oh come on, Nawab, Priya said, pressing closer to him. Give me at least a chance.

Nawab stepped back. Even though he liked seeing her jealous, it wouldn’t help anyone, and Heer was losing her calm.

— I’ll do a draw. I’ll leave a box at the entrance. Tomorrow, I’ll announce who will be my date.

The girls, delighted with the idea, screamed with joy. Heer gave him one last look before turning away. He knew he should go calm her down, but he liked it too much to go immediately.

He waited until she had a free hour to pull her into the storage room of the library, which was now managed by Anmol, making it their meeting place.

— Let me go, Heer said sharply.

Nawab laughed silently. He tried to hug her, but she pushed him away. He continued until she gave in.

— You knew this would happen, right?

— That doesn’t mean I like it.

— Don’t worry, I won’t dance with her. Why do you think I said masked ball?

— I know Mr. Nawab Brar thinks of everything.

— Your husband is smart. He leaves nothing to chance.

— Thank you, thank you.

She pushed him away and looked for somewhere to sit, but saw nothing except a table. Nawab lifted her and placed her on it. It reminded her of a scene at her mother’s club.

How she wished she could go back to that time. Even if he hadn’t yet accepted their marriage, there was understanding between them. She sighed. Nawab stood in front of her. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on top of her head.

— Do you think I enjoy this situation? Just knowing Arjun has to play the role of your fiancé makes me want to hit him.

— You know I feel nothing for him, while those girls dream of becoming the next Mrs. Brar.

— There was a time when Arjun also wanted to make you his wife.

— That’s in the past.

They continued their verbal sparring for a few minutes until Nawab placed his hand over Heer’s mouth to silence her.

— Can we not argue? We only have this hour; after that, we’ll have to see each other from afar and I won’t be able to drop you off.

Heer looked at him. Hiding felt good, but also not. The temptation to run to him was strong, even though before they could talk anytime, even if no one knew who they were to each other. This time would be different, right?

— Nawab?

— Hmm?

— This time, will everyone know about our marriage?

Nawab looked at her. He knew where she was going. Even if, by misfortune, he had to hide their marriage again, he would never allow that to happen.

— It will even make the headlines.

Heer laughed. She thought he was joking. Nawab was dead serious. To avoid any misunderstanding, he had planned to invite the media to their wedding. Nawab Brar, son of Dilip Brar, owner of Brar Industries, would marry the woman of his life. What a title.

They spent the hour talking about everything and nothing, enjoying each other’s presence. When the time ended, Anmol texted him. Heer left first, and Nawab stayed in the room after she left.

He received a message from his mother saying that his friend’s daughter was arriving in two days. Another obstacle in his path. He didn’t yet know how he would handle her presence. He would find a solution. He had to.

The week passed quickly and their routine remained the same. He picked her up in the morning halfway and dropped her off a street before the CPU. When he had free time, he locked himself in the storage room. If not, he brushed her hand in the hallway.

He eventually drew Priya’s name.

She followed him everywhere, to the point where Heer lost patience. She ended up staying away from them to avoid making mistakes. On the third day, Arjun entered the equation. He understood it was another one of Heer’s revenge moves. He caught her in a corridor and locked her in a broom closet. She was angry.

— What?

— You’re not going to start again, are you?

— What did I do? she said irritably.

— Arjun?

— Yes, what about Arjun?

— I thought you didn’t want to be his friend anymore?

— He apologized. I decided to forgive him.

— Heer!

— There’s nothing. I’m not using him to annoy you. Besides, if my father sends a spy, Arjun needs to be near me, right?

Nawab had to admit she was right, but he didn’t like it. Her new way of calming herself was playing with her engagement ring. He looked at their hands and sighed.

— Don’t give him false hope.

— No chance. He seems interested in Tina.

Nawab almost laughed, but if those two, who had been caught in the middle of their story, ended up together, he would be more than happy.

— Fine. I bought you a saree, Koyal will give it to you later.

— Why a saree? A dress would be perfect.

Nawab laughed. He remembered the dress she wore to trap Single. He would never let her wear that again.

— A beautiful outfit for a beautiful person. I’m counting on you for the hairstyle.

— Loose, like you like it.

— Good, Mrs. Brar. It’s time to go.

Heer never corrected him when he said that. She told herself that, for him, she had never stopped being his wife, even though she had asked for a divorce without telling him.

A day before the ball, Gulab Brar set a trap for her in the university parking lot after classes. Heer truly could not like that woman. Just as she hated her father, she felt the same for Gulab.

— Heer Sandhu.

— Mrs. Brar.

— I heard you got engaged.

— Thanks to the intervention of a well-meaning person, yes.

— Oh, so you figured it out.

— My father, as much as he wants me away from Nawab, wouldn’t have thought of remarrying me so soon.

— I couldn’t let you come back and manipulate my son.

Heer stared at the woman. She wondered why a mother would go against her child’s happiness. Her father was just her father; he had no emotional bond with her.

Gulab had always been Nawab’s support, the identity of his foundation. She still remembered how sad he had been when he saw what she had done to separate them. She saw Nawab from a distance and gave him a discreet sign that everything was fine.

— I hope one day you pay for everything you’ve done.

— Oh, I’m not afraid of anything. I got what I wanted.

— No one knows what tomorrow holds. Take care, Heer said before walking away.

Nawab, who had witnessed the scene, had restrained himself from intervening. He couldn’t show the slightest reaction to his mother, or everything would fall apart. He waited until Heer had gotten into the rickshaw before joining his mother.

— Mom, what are you doing here?

— I came to pick you up.

— For?

— My friend’s daughter has arrived. She invited us to dinner.

— I have training.

— I spoke to your coach, he agreed you could skip training today.

— Mom, I asked you not to interfere in my career, didn’t I? So why are you still doing this?

— It’s just for one day, it won’t change anything.

Nawab became more and more angry. He could clearly see she didn’t think she had done anything wrong. As long as she got what she wanted, nothing else mattered.

— Mom, I’m going to training. Next time, ask me if I’m free or not.

— But Nawab, I gave my word.

— And does mine not matter?

Gulab knew her son no longer had his former patience. There were things he let pass and things he didn’t. She knew she shouldn’t push him, or she would lose control.

— Fine, I’ll invite her on Saturday?

— Sunday. I’m busy Friday and Saturday night.

— Nawab.

— Take it or leave it.

He turned toward the training field. He could no longer let her control his life, or he would lose Heer forever, and that, he would not allow.

Chapter 1: So hard, but necessary

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Chapter 2 : New Semester

Since they couldn’t contact each other directly, they decided to use Koyal and Buzo. It would be difficult to lull their parents’ suspicions, but they were their best friends, so the trick would be easy.

That evening, during dinner, Gulab was in a good mood, so she took a photo out of her bag and handed it to Nawab.

He looked at his mother, then the photo, then his mother again.
He controlled his anger as he glanced at his father, who gestured for him to take it.

— She’s the daughter of a friend from my club. She’s just come back from the United States. She’ll be joining CPU soon.
— And? Nawab asked flatly.
— It would be nice if you got closer to her.
— Mom, I told you I want to focus on my cricket.
— That doesn’t stop you from becoming friends with her.

He saw a hint of obsession in her eyes. He knew exactly what she was trying to do. He really felt like breaking something. Nawab looked at the photo and saw his mother in that girl: same jewelry, same style. No way.

— And what’s this girl’s name?

For now, he had to play along. But at CPU, he had no intention of becoming her friend.

— Pooja Singh.

He put the photo down and stood up. Gulab wore a satisfied smile. Dilip watched her, then looked at Nawab’s retreating figure. He hoped his son wouldn’t lose control, or their plan might suffer.

Meanwhile, Ajit told Bebe to create a profile for Heer to quickly find her a husband. She nearly threw up what she had just eaten. Her stomach was in knots.

— You asked me to refuse his proposal. I did. I left him and protected his career instead of our marriage. What more do you want? she shouted.

Ajit smiled cruelly. She held herself back from attacking him. She looked at her mother, who signaled her to calm down.

— Did you really think I’d let you go back to CPU with Nawab around while you’re single?

Heer understood what was happening. She guessed who was behind all this. What was she going to do now?

She locked herself in her room and sent a message to Koyal. Koyal told her she would handle it. It took a full hour—the longest hour of her life—before there was a response.

She pretended she was going to the temple to leave the house. Her father wasn’t suspicious; his guard was down at the moment. She ran to the same park as that morning and waited.

Five minutes later, Nawab parked his car. Buzo and Koyal stayed behind as he walked toward her.

She jumped into his arms and held him tightly. He hugged her back, stroking her back to calm her trembling.

— What are we going to do? she asked immediately. He wants me to marry the first man he finds.
— My mother found a girl for me too.

Heer lifted her head; her eyes flared with anger, which brought a slight smile to Nawab’s lips.

— Biwi darling, calm down. Neither you nor I are going to marry anyone. We’re together, right?

Heer didn’t answer and rested her head against his chest. Her thoughts were racing in every direction when she heard the sound of a motorcycle.
She stepped out of Nawab’s arms; not liking the distance, he placed an arm over her shoulder.

They watched the motorcycle approach and park near Nawab’s car. The newcomer walked toward them with Koyal and Buzo.

Heer looked at him, then at Nawab, not quite understanding what was happening.

— Nawab?
— I’ll explain everything.

Nawab made Heer sit down. Koyal sat beside her, and the three men stood facing them. Nawab had wanted to punch Buzo when he first told him about the plan, but in the end, he hadn’t found a better solution. He still felt like hitting someone. He was seriously considering finding Ajit and breaking his leg.

— About this engagement situation, I called Arjun and asked him to help us.

Heer still didn’t understand and felt she wouldn’t like what was coming next.

— We let your father create your profile, and we send the proposal in Arjun’s name. He’ll pretend to be your fiancé for the two weeks I told you about.
— No.
— Listen to the end.
— No, Heer said, shaking her head. I don’t think this is a good idea.

Heer didn’t look at Arjun. She was still upset with him about the situation with Tina. And hadn’t he said he didn’t consider her a friend?

Nawab sensed he had missed something, and he didn’t like it.
He crouched in front of Heer and signaled the others to step away. He waited before lifting his head.

— What’s going on, Heer?

Heer, who knew Nawab well, hesitated, which only triggered his suspicious side.

— Heer.
— Arjun told me the truth about what happened with Tina… and it didn’t happen calmly.

Heer avoided Nawab’s gaze. She saw him clench his fists.

— Heer.
— He said he doesn’t consider me a friend. We didn’t part on good terms.

Nawab was about to stand up, but Heer stopped him.

— Don’t do anything. He was angry because of the money situation.
— That doesn’t give him the right. First, he comes to you about it, then tells you the truth. What did he want? To separate us?
— He thinks…

Heer chose not to say what Arjun thought about their relationship. Nawab turned his head to look at Arjun. No good thoughts came to mind before he sighed.

Their current problem was bigger. He would settle things with him later. He took a deep breath before looking at Heer again.

— We need him. I can handle my mother. She just doesn’t want me near you. But your father wants to keep me in check—that’s the difference.
— Yes, but why Arjun? We could pay someone.
— No. That would mean he could be bought, and we wouldn’t know how to deal with that.

Heer had to admit Nawab was right. She didn’t like it, but she agreed, if it could calm her father. Nawab called the group back and turned to Arjun.

His anger was visible, but he had to control himself. He signaled Buzo to explain what they had planned. Koyal would replace them on-site on the day of the engagement to keep an eye on everything, and Nawab planned to cut the power during the ring exchange: he would have the real ring, and Arjun would have a slightly altered copy.

Once everyone understood their role, Nawab tossed his keys to Buzo and told him to come back in half an hour after dropping Koyal off.

He sat beside Heer, both lost in their thoughts. Eventually, he pulled her into his arms and breathed in her scent. He wondered when he would be able to be with her without fearing that another problem would tear them apart.

He knew small separations led to big reunions, but that didn’t calm his impatient heart.

— Two weeks… just two weeks.

He didn’t know whether he was trying to reassure her or himself. For now, he had to deal with this engagement situation.

Two days. It only took two days for Arjun to knock on her door and ask for her hand. Her father, who knew their story, was overjoyed. Even though she knew it was fake, she couldn’t stand Arjun’s closeness.

Heer went with her mother and Koyal to buy the ring. Koyal helped distract her mother so they could buy both rings.

Nawab had already bought his engagement ring—not the one he had used to propose—which he added to his collection as a reminder of everything he would make Ajit and his mother pay for.

He had sent her a picture: not too expensive, not too flashy, so as not to raise suspicion. He had also shown her the one he intended to give her later. They had their initials engraved inside. She had to keep saving to give him one too.

On the evening of the engagement, Ajit didn’t touch a drop of alcohol; on the contrary, he had stored it away in a cabinet to celebrate his victory after the party. Heer kept up the act.

She even cried while being helped to get ready. Pummi mocked her, but one look from Heer silenced her. She enjoyed laughing at her misery, but didn’t cross the line. She had tried to spy on her during the first few weeks on her father’s orders, but Heer had threatened her; since then, she kept a low profile.

Ingratitude was not something she lacked. Heer had planned to find her a husband, and this time, even if it was the worst man on earth, she wouldn’t save her.

As planned, the power went out. While everyone tried to calm down and find a solution, Nawab slipped his ring onto her finger, and she did the same. She handed Arjun his ring so he could put it on himself. The whole thing lasted only five minutes.

When the power came back, everyone looked at them strangely, but Heer showed nothing. Her father laughed and forced a ladoo into her mouth.

With a calm heart, she watched her family celebrate her misery. Only her mother and sister stayed by her side, looking at her with sadness.

She couldn’t tell them anything, but she squeezed each of their hands. Once she was back with Nawab, she would make her father pay for all of this—and this time, she would push her mother to divorce him. There was nothing left to expect from him anymore.

Hello,

I am ReadLo or ReadLo2106, a name I use across social media and YouTube.

My native language is French; my story is written in this language and then translated afterward.

I understand Hindi and Urdu, which is why I know the series Tu Juliet Jatt Di. I'm a fan of the storyline, but like everyone else, this new chapter leaves a bitter aftertaste. We know that Heewab will prevail, but I've taken a break until that happens. The journey will be long—about a month or more. While waiting, I decided to create my own version.

So please excuse any mistakes.

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SYNOPSIS

She thought everything was over.

But she forgot that the one she had become an extension of himself never knew the meaning of losing. After all, it was Nawab Brar.

He promised to cross every mountain to find her. For that, she would have to learn to trust him blindly. Not an easy thing—but she eventually discovered there was nothing easier in the end.

Heer and Nawab are beginning a new chapter of their story.

The obstacles will be many, but together they can overcome everything.

Their enemies better watch out—HeeWab is back, stronger than ever.

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Chapter 1: So hard, but necessary

She thought everything was over.
But what she forgot was that the man she had become an extension of never knew the meaning of losing. After all, he was Nawab Brar.

The proposal she had waited months for, she had to refuse it, as if tearing a part of her heart out.
Over the past months, they had learned to know each other. She had seen love in his eyes; his jealousy and protective side had grown alongside that love.

This young man, whose life once revolved only around flirting, playing cricket, and going out with friends, had quickly redefined his priorities—long before he even considered running away. He accepted their marriage and began planning their future, yet here they were, facing the pain that fate seemed determined to place in front of them.

Why was God against them? Was it their fault for underestimating the world too much?

A father determined to destroy their lives. Minor? Major? No one had the answer, but he had decided it was all in the past and that he would rebuild their story. A new chapter had to begin, yet even that felt like nothing more than a dream.

But how could she tell him the truth? Today she had to break his heart, even though she knew he would understand it was not done lightly. She wanted to run into his arms, but first she had to come up with a flawless plan—one that would allow them to be together without a sword hanging over their heads.

That reflection lasted a month. A long month in which she had to avoid him. It wasn’t easy, because Nawab Brar was not someone you could ignore. How many times did he try to trap her into meeting him? But one day, he simply stopped showing up.

She cried all night, thinking he had given up. But two days before classes resumed, she was sitting in a park after a run, watching the scenery with a heavy heart, when she felt it.

Her body tensed. A shiver ran through her. She knew it was him without even seeing him. Then came his scent, his warmth.

He placed his hand over hers—his firm, reassuring grip, steady as always. Heer closed her eyes, trying not to cry, but a tear still escaped.

He tightened his hold. The gesture said so much. Yet she still couldn’t look at him. She didn’t have the strength. She still hadn’t found a solution to their problem.

— Heer.

His voice was calm, but trembling at the end. It had been weeks since she last heard it. She took a deep breath, but courage still failed her. She knew him. He would do what he came for. She just had to wait.

— I did what you asked. I earned my place in the team through my own merit, without my mother’s help. I focused these last three weeks on training camp and delivered my best performance. I’m now second in the team—the starting batter.

Another tear fell. She wanted to congratulate him, but feared her voice would break. She simply nodded and gave a small smile.

— You know it wasn’t easy. But I told myself it was for us, so I never looked back. Every time I saw your empty room, every time I saw that black thread you tied to my door, I wanted to run to you. But I remembered the promise I made—to become the husband you need. I’m not fully there yet, but I’m getting there. But now… we need to stop running. I can’t keep going like this for long.

He turned fully toward her. She kept her head down, staring at her feet. Her pink outfit still suited her perfectly. If there hadn’t been so many people, he wouldn’t have taken her hand—he would have taken her entirely. He had to restrain himself. He was angry at the entire world for this distance between them.

Heer—his wife, his light, his universe. Whatever the law said—divorce, annulment—he refused all of it. She was, and would always be, his wife: Heer Nawab Brar. She no longer deserved the Sandhu name. That family, that father who only wanted to destroy her… he had investigated everything.

It hadn’t been easy. But he eventually met Neelu, who begged him to save Heer.

He now had a plan—an infallible one. With Buzo, he had gone through several scenarios before deciding to deceive everyone who stood against them.

He started with his mother. He loved her, and she loved him, but she had to be distanced from her need to control every part of his life. Then he turned to his father. He didn’t know how to approach him, so he asked Anmol for help. She acted as a bridge between them.

One evening, Dilip invited him to dinner. At first, he was surprised—he didn’t think his father would help him—but he listened because he loved Heer. Nawab no longer expected anything from him anyway.

He explained everything: how he and Heer met at the CPU, how their story evolved, and how he fell in love with her. He also revealed everything she had suffered because of him, Tina, and Gulab.

Dilip listened without interrupting once.

Before the end of dinner, Dilip made a call and hired a private detective to uncover Heer’s real birth date and anything useful against Ajit.

Nawab knew his father did not forgive his enemies. He didn’t ask what would happen to Gulab. That was no longer his concern. His only priority was protecting the woman who carried his name and entrusted him with her life.

The detective gave the answer the previous night. He had wanted to rush to her, but his father told him to wait while he dealt with Gulab, who was watching everything closely.

Now he could move more freely.

He knew she went jogging thanks to Buzo’s surveillance. He had waited two hours when he finally saw her and followed her at a distance to the park.

Now that he was close to her, he could no longer bear the distance. He took her hand and led her to his car. He drove to an open field. She didn’t resist or ask questions.

He stopped the engine, got out, and signaled her to follow. He stopped under a tree, turned around, and pulled her into his arms. He finally breathed again. His heart matched hers. That was where he belonged.

— Nawab…

Her voice was small, broken with tears.

— We can’t, she said, defeated.

— We can. And we will. Trust me. We’ll make it.

She looked at him. Her eyes always spoke more honestly than her mouth.

— In two days, the new semester starts. We’ll see each other every day at the CPU. For now, we act like we’re not together. It won’t last—two weeks at most. I just need time to finish preparations.

— What do you mean? We can’t be together anymore, Nawab, she said, pushing him back. My father won’t allow it, and neither will your mother.

— I told you to trust me. Everything will go back to how it was.

She shook her head, wiping her tears.

— You don’t understand! she said angrily.

She didn’t even know why she was angry. She wanted to be with him—but couldn’t see how.

— Heer.

She stepped back, but he grabbed her arms.

— Heer. Trust me. I can’t tell you everything yet—but trust me again.

She remembered all the times he had said those exact words. She closed her eyes and cried. She fell into his arms, like every time she felt lost. In his arms, she always found comfort.

Time passed. She didn’t even know when they sat at the foot of the tree, but she felt him stroking her back, calming her.

— I promised I would fix everything. We will have our wedding—with all the rituals, on a grand scale. Nothing and no one can change that.

She believed him. When Nawab Brar made a promise, he kept it.

Her way of not fully trusting was her attempt to change him—but even though his actions proved him right, the fear of losing everything always paralyzed her.

Most would think she trusted Arjun because he was naturally kind—but no. It was because she expected nothing from him, so disappointment wouldn’t hurt. But Nawab? He was her everything. He was not allowed to fail.

On that promise, she placed her hope in him. She agreed to play along. Two weeks was nothing to reach the ultimate goal.

What they didn’t yet know was that fate, which had brought them together, seemed ready to test them once again—and that very evening, they would learn it the hard way.