Chapter 1

Jodha was carefully quickening her steps without making it too obvious.

That man had been following her since the other end of the mall.

It had started near the food court-too many lingering glances, too close behind her. Then, near the bookstore, when he brushed past her, his hand lingering longer than necessary.

She had ignored it.

Until he grabbed her wrist near the perfume counter and whispered, "Come on, baby. One coffee. Don't be difficult."

Her refusal hadn't deterred him. Now, he was trailing her again, his presence closing in, her heart pounding louder with every step.

Then she saw him.

A tall, broad-shouldered man kneeling a few feet away helping a homeless woman, wrapping his coat over her tattered blanket. There was something about the way he moved-protective, calm.

Before she could second-guess herself, she hurried towards him.

Grasping his wrist, she uttered urgently, "Thank God you're here, honey! I thought I lost you-look at me, I'm so scared."

Her thumb brushed gently over his hand, pressing, pleading for help.

The man- Jalal, as he'd later introduce himself-stiffened for just a heartbeat. Then his gaze shifted behind her, taking in the man closing in, and he instantly understood.

He pulled her into a protective hug, his voice steady and warm.

"Shh... It's okay, jaan. I'm here now."

Jodha felt his strength, his steady heartbeat against her cheek as he held her close, shielding her.

The stalker approached, his sneer darkening.

"Who the hell are you?" he snapped.

Jalal didn't flinch.

"She's my woman," he said with quiet steel. "Back off."

The stalker laughed, his voice oozing malice.

"Are you sure? Because she never mentioned you when she rejected me. Where do you two live? Something feels off here."

Jalal's voice sharpened.

"Why the hell do you need to know? It's none of your business. Do you need help finding the exit, or should I call the cops to escort you?"

The stalker lingered, glaring, but eventually turned away.

Once he was gone, Jodha exhaled shakily and stepped back.

"He was following me from five blocks away. Kept asking for coffee after I said no. Thank you so much, I-I don't know what I'd have done without you."

Jalal offered a small, reassuring smile.

"I'm just glad you're okay."

They shook hands, exchanged names.

"Jodha."

"Jalal."

And just like that, their paths separated, or so they thought.

-------

The Bookstore Meeting

Three weeks later.

Jodha wasn't thinking of him anymore.

Until she saw him again.

This time, at her favorite independent bookstore tucked into a quiet street.

She was browsing the poetry section when a voice broke through her thoughts.

"Good choice. Rumi never disappoints."

She turned-and there he was.

Jalal.

Looking slightly more casual this time, a dog-eared copy of The Alchemist tucked under his arm.

"You again," she said, pleasantly surprised.

His lips quirked and his eyes had a mirthful glee. "Me? You're the one following me now." He shrugged playfully.

"Fate's dice throwing the same numbers" She laughed softly, the tension melting. They browsed together, talking about their favorite authors, her work as an artist, his architectural firm, food choices, music, movies, teasing over book preferences, and whatnot, soon feeling a sense of quick connection and friendship.

Jodha, however, had avoided mentioning anything personal-her family, her past, the walls carefully built around her.

When they were leaving, Jalal looked at her, his eyes soft but perceptive.

"You know," he said lightly, "neither of us seems to talk about our family much. It's like we both don't let people in easily, huh?"

Jodha met his gaze, surprised by his insight. She could tell he was holding back too, not really mentioning his past or his own personal life.

"Maybe we just don't trust people that easily," she said quietly.

And with that, they parted ways.

--------

The Rainstorm Ride

A month later.

The rain was relentless.

Jodha stood stranded under a broken bus stop, cursing herself for forgetting an umbrella. Her kurta was already soaked, the water dripping from her hair.

A sleek black Audi pulled up.

The window rolled down.

"You've got to be kidding me," she muttered, recognizing him instantly.

Jalal smirked. "Fate, remember?"

She hesitated, then climbed in.

The ride was quiet at first. Then, he broke the silence.

"Why do you live in Mumbai all alone?"

She stiffened slightly but kept her voice neutral. "Work."

He pressed gently. "And family?"

She turned to the window. "I prefer not to talk about them."

And he let it go.

------

The Charity Gala

Two months later.

The charity gala sparkled with crystal chandeliers and silk gowns.

Jodha hadn't expected to see him here. But there he was.

Jalal.

In a sharp black suit, speaking to a group of influential architects and designers. He looked untouchable.

For a moment, she considered approaching him.

Until she saw her mother, Menaka Bharmal Singh.

Jodha hadn't seen her since that incident. The resemblance between them was undeniable, and the press, always eager for gossip, took notice.

"Is that Bharmal Singh's estranged elder daughter Jodha? The same one accused of selling his business secrets after cheating on her fiancé?"

She stiffened, the words slicing deep.

Then, she felt his eyes on her. Jalal.

He approached, but as he neared, the whispers grew louder.

"Jalaluddin Mohammed? The same man accused of using his ex and nearly tanking his career?"

Their gazes met.

Hesitation.

Mistrust.

Pain.

They both turned away.

-------

The Art Gallery Clash

A week later.

Silence had stretched long enough.

Fate, however, wasn't done with them.

It was an art gallery this time. Jodha's latest painting was on display.

And Jalal was there.

She saw him. He saw her.

This time, they didn't avoid each other.

"You walked away," she said softly, voice tinged with hurt.

Jalal exhaled. "You think I didn't notice the rumors? About your father disowning you after you cheated on your ex?"

Her face paled. "And you believed them?"

His voice cracked. "Didn't you believe the scandal about me using my ex too?"

Silence stretched.

Because both of them had.

-------

The Coffee Shop Revelation

It had been a week since the gala - silent, strained, and heavy with unspoken words. Fate, however, had other plans.

The small, cozy coffee shop was quiet this afternoon. The hum of soft music and the smell of roasted coffee beans filled the air. Jodha was seated in her corner, sketching absentmindedly, trying to lose herself in the art.

Then, she heard the familiar voice.

"Mind if I join you?"

She looked up and saw Jalal, standing there with a tentative smile, his hands stuffed in his coat pockets. His eyes were searching hers, unsure, like he was waiting for her to throw him out.

She took a breath before gesturing to the empty seat across from her. "It's a free world."

He chuckled softly and sat down, looking at her with the kind of intensity that seemed to burn through the air between them.

"Jodha, I owe you the truth," Jalal began, his voice serious, his usual playful demeanor gone. "I... I should've told you earlier, but I didn't know how. You've probably heard the rumors, about me and my ex. The whole mess with her spreading lies-about how I used her for publicity to cover up my own failings."

Jodha's fingers tightened around her coffee cup, but she said nothing. She had heard the whispers. She had read the articles, the gossip that painted Jalal as a man who had used his ex-fiancée for his career, broken her heart, and was just another player in the game.

"None of it was true," he continued, meeting her gaze. "I was engaged to Rubina because my father thought it was a good match - business deal, you know. But I never loved her. She didn't love me either. When I found out she was seeing someone else behind my back, I confronted her. That's when she started the rumors. She said I was manipulating her to fund my business. And that I tried to embezzle her funds when I couldn't. And... I won't lie, I've made mistakes, but using her like that? No, that wasn't me."

Jodha stared at him, processing his words. His voice wasn't defensive, it was calm, almost resigned.

"You... you've been through a lot," she said softly.

Jalal looked away for a moment, as if trying to gather himself. Then, he nodded. "Yeah. And I lost everything. The scandal, the media, people questioning my integrity. It all came crashing down. I had to rebuild from scratch, Jodha. And now, I can't even look at relationships the same way. I trust people so little because of what she did."

Jodha's heart clenched. It mirrored the pain she carried, though her wounds were different. Her hands trembled slightly as she set the coffee cup down.

"I... I never thought you'd believe it," she said, her voice small. "The scandal. About my father..."

Jalal leaned forward, his expression intense. "I didn't believe it. Not for a second. But when you disappeared after the gala... I didn't know how to reach you. I didn't know what to believe anymore."

Jodha nodded, her mind racing. She had to tell him the truth too, or they would keep dancing around each other in confusion.

"My ex-fiancé, Amar" she started, pausing to steady her breath, "he was the one who spread those rumors. But not because of us... It was about my father. My father, Bharmal Singh, is a bigshot businessman in Jaipur. And blindly orthodox in his beliefs. He was looking to solidify a deal with my ex. When I broke up with him - because I found out he was selling our business secrets to the competitors and was also cheating on me- he retaliated. He went to my father and turned everything around. He told him I was cheating, that I was with another man, that I was a disgrace to our family. My father also believed it was me who betrayed the business secrets and cut off all ties with me. He chose to protect his name and his empire."

Her voice broke towards the end, but she forced herself to continue.

"And that's why I moved to Mumbai. I left everything behind to escape the shadow of my father's business, to try to make something of myself on my own. I didn't want to be tied to the scandal, to the gossip. I thought if I stayed far enough away, maybe I could start over."

Jalal's expression softened, and for a moment, there was only silence between them. Then, in a quiet voice, he spoke.

"Jodha... You don't have to carry this weight alone."

Her eyes glistened with the unshed tears she had kept hidden for so long. "It's hard. Everything's hard. I thought I could move past it, but then... then I meet you. And I find out how much I don't trust people anymore. How every time someone gets close, I pull away. I was wrong about you, too."

Jalal reached across the table, his hand warm and reassuring against hers.

"You weren't wrong, Jodha. You were protecting yourself. I get it now. I didn't trust you blindly either. Not after everything I'd been through. And I didn't give you a chance to explain. But now..." His thumb brushed over her knuckles gently. "I'm sorry for everything"

Jodha looked up, her heart racing as she met his eyes. "And I'm sorry too."

For a long while, neither of them spoke, both lost in their own thought. The weight of everything between them seemed to lift just a little. It wasn't solved, not yet. But it was a start. Their connection, fragile but real, was stronger than before.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Jodha smiled-a real smile. "I guess we're both a little messed up, aren't we?"

Jalal chuckled softly, his thumb continuing its slow, soothing path over her hand. "Messed up? Yeah, maybe. But I'd rather choose to be messed up with you than anyone else."

Jodha's eyes shimmered in agreement, their fingers intertwined.

--------

The First Date - The Leap of Faith

A simple dinner. Warm conversations flowing from the heart. Life, work, childhood, passion, beliefs, opinions, regrets, small joys, shortcomings...

They talked.

And when they kissed goodnight- slow, gentle- it felt like the beginning of something real.

-------

The Second Date - The Passion

They took a walk along the beach under the starry sky, holding hands and felt like doing nothing but submerge in the comforting silence they shared. Soothing, serene, needless to say anything, faces glowing in love.

Soon after, they sat down on the shore, feet dipped in the dancing waves shining of moonlight.

Hearts brimming with peace, the night seemed too short to part so soon. However they had to go back to a new day, and stood up to leave.

As they turned to each other's gaze, they pulled closer into a passionate embrace, his arms fully enclosing her waist and her hands hugging him completely, making way to his shoulders and pressing to support herself standing on her tiptoes. And their lips brushed, planting loving pecks.

His fingers weaved through her hair, tilting their heads and they deepened to a smooch. It wasn't gentle anymore.

It was desperate. Consuming.

Jodha's hands twisted in his shirt as he pulled her closer, heat igniting where their bodies pressed.

The world blurred.

When they finally parted, breathless, foreheads joined, Jalal's voice was low, intense-"Falling. Hard."

Jodha's lips curved into a soft smile as she met his eyes-"Falling harder."

And in that moment, both of them knew there was no turning back.

-------

Epilogue - Love as a Choice

It wasn't easy.

But love never is.

It may have been fate that brought them together, but staying together strong despite the ups and downs was no mere serendipity. It was a choice. Day after day, they chose each other-through the misunderstandings, the scars, and the silence.

And they did.

Always.

THE END.