Bang.

Bang.

Bang.

He did not move even after the last shot. One eye remained closed while the other stayed fixed on the target ahead. The bullet had landed exactly where he wanted, right in the centre of the board. Applause broke out behind him.

He slowly opened his other eye and looked at the target once more. A small smile appeared on his face as he lowered the gun and finally turned towards the people standing behind him.

Satyam was already clapping, shaking his head with an amused smile. He walked closer to him, looking at the target and then at his friend as if he had seen the same thing a hundred times before.

"Man, I give up… Competing with Rajveer Rajawat is impossible. You calculate everything so perfectly. Whatever you do, you already know exactly how it is going to end."

Rajveer gave him a calm look before taking the cigarette from his hand. He placed it between his lips and lit it without saying anything, taking a slow drag before finally looking at Satyam.

"Rajveer Rajawat does nothing without calculation."

Everyone around them laughed. A horse neighed somewhere behind them, making Rajveer turn his head. His expression softened immediately as he walked towards the animal and ran a hand gently over its neck before looking back at his friends.

"You guys enjoy yourselves. I am going for a short ride. After that, I am leaving, so do not wait for me."

He placed one foot into the stirrup and mounted the horse in one smooth movement. Satyam immediately looked at him with disbelief while the others laughed, already knowing that there was no point arguing with him.

"Come on, man. That is not fair. We are supposed to enjoy the drinks tonight."

Rajveer adjusted the reins and looked at him with an easy smile.

"I promised my sweetheart that I would not drink this time. She is already expecting me, and I need to be there. I will take a short ride and leave."

A few of the men laughed at that, while Satyam rolled his eyes and shook his head. Rajveer only smiled before giving the reins a slight pull, sending the horse forward at an easy pace.

"Say whatever you want, Rajveer."

The men behind him laughed again as they watched him disappear down the open trail. One of them looked at Satyam with an amused expression, clearly entertained by the fact that Rajveer had called someone his sweetheart.

“She can wait…”

He shouts loudly, but he has already vanished with his horse. The laughter that followed was loud enough to carry across the open ground.

Meanwhile, Rajveer rode farther away from the noise, the wind moving through his hair as the horse picked up speed. He leaned forward slightly, enjoying the cold air against his face while the familiar peace of the hills surrounded him.

After riding for some time, he slowly brought the horse to a stop. He closed his eyes for a moment and breathed in the fresh mountain air before getting down and walking towards the edge of the hill.

He slipped both hands into his pockets and stood there quietly, looking at the view below. The noise from the shooting range had completely disappeared, leaving only the wind and the distant sound of his horse moving behind him.

His phone rang. Rajveer immediately pulled it out and looked at the screen. The name displayed there made the smile return to his face. He answered within a second, his voice changing into something much softer.

"Yes, sweetheart."

"I don't think you need to call me sweetheart."

Rajveer laughed quietly and looked towards the horizon.

"I promised I would be with you by eight. Why do you think I will not keep my word?"

"I know you… You will find some excuse."

He smiled again, checking the time on his watch.

"There are still three hours until eight. Your Rajveer will be with you before then."

A soft laugh came from the other side. Rajveer's smile grew as he listened for another moment. He ended the call, slipped the phone into his pocket, and immediately turned towards his horse.

Within seconds, he was back in the saddle. The horse took off as soon as he gave it the signal, running faster across the open trail. Rajveer leaned forward as the wind hit his face, his attention fixed ahead while the horse carried him towards the private airstrip.

The horse slowed near the hangar, and Rajveer jumped down before handing the reins to a waiting staff member. He barely stopped to acknowledge anyone before heading towards the small aircraft parked nearby.

He climbed the steps almost hurriedly, still wearing the same smile that had remained on his face since the phone call. The man waiting inside looked at him and shook his head with an amused expression.

"Sir, you look very excited."

Rajveer settled into his seat and immediately began checking the controls, his attention shifting between the instruments as the staff prepared the aircraft for takeoff.

"How can I not be excited when I am going to meet my sweetheart? She is waiting for me, and I am waiting even more to see her."

The engine roared to life. Rajveer looked ahead through the windshield, his smile still present as the aircraft began moving down the runway. Within moments, it lifted into the sky, carrying him towards the woman he could not wait to see.

.

.

Rajveer stepped out of the car and hurried inside without waiting for anyone. Everyone was already seated around the dining table, having dinner, but his eyes moved across the room, searching for only one person.

His father, Vishnu, looked up and smiled the moment he saw him. Rajveer barely noticed him. He looked around once more before his eyes finally stopped on the old housekeeper standing near the dining area.

"Ramaya, where is my sweetheart?"

Ramaya smiled at him and shook her head.

"She is in the back garden. She hasn't eaten anything either because she is angry with you."

A laugh escaped Rajveer as he immediately turned around. He hurried through the corridor and pushed open the back door, not even bothering to slow down before calling out loudly.

"Sweetheart…"

She turned around at once. Before she could say anything, Rajveer reached her, lifted her into his arms, and began turning around with her, laughing as she repeatedly hit his shoulders. Vaishnavi Rajawat, his grandmother clutches his shoulder tightly.

"Have you gone mad? Do you want to kill me? There is hardly any strength left in my bones. At least let me see your wedding before you decide to kill me."

Rajveer laughed even harder and continued turning her around until she finally grabbed his shoulders more tighter. He stopped immediately, keeping her in his arms for another moment before looking at her face.

"My sweetheart is angry with me, and you think I will simply let that happen?"

Clutching her head she almost shouted.

"Of course not… I have already decided that your affection needs to be divided a little. That is why I have found a girl for you."

The smile on Rajveer's face slowly disappeared. He lowered his grandmother carefully and looked at her for a few seconds, as if waiting for her to laugh and tell him that she was joking.

"You know I don't want to get married."

"Yes, I know. You are almost thirty, you don't want marriage, and apparently you plan to spend your entire life alone. But I don't want that. Before I leave this world, I want to see you married."

Rajveer took a deep breath and looked at her with quiet concern. He stepped closer and gently touched her arm, his expression changing completely at the thought of losing her.

"Sweetheart, why do you always talk like something is going to happen to you? Nothing is going to happen to you."

"That is not how life works. My breaths are going on today, but one day they will stop. Before I leave, I want to see you settled and happy with someone."

Rajveer looked away for a moment before shaking his head. Marriage was something he had never wanted, and no amount of emotional pressure from the person he loved most was going to make that decision easier.

"Look, I don't like any girl. So there is no question of marriage."

“So you like boys…”

“Come on sweetheart…”

He turned away and started walking towards the house, then reached back and caught her hand, gently pulling her along with him. Vaishnavi followed without resisting, a small smile appearing on her face.

"Yes, I know you don't like anyone. But I already found someone for you... I am informing you of that."

Rajveer's steps suddenly stopped. He slowly turned his head towards her, his expression changing as her words finally sank in.

"Someone?"

Vaishnavi simply smiled.

"Yes, I found your bride… and you are going to marry her.”