Ten years ago, Zahir Khan left India with an unspoken promise buried in his heart. He came back with it still intact. Everyone expected New York to change him—to return with a wife, a fiancée, or at least someone who had finally replaced the girl next door. Instead, he returned with an empty ring finger... ...and a heart that still belonged to Y/n Sharma. At a family dinner, one harmless question changes everything. "Why is your ring finger still empty?" Zahir smiles. "Apni jaan ke liye." The room falls silent. For years, Y/n pretended not to notice the way he looked at her. Now, pretending is no longer an option. A slow-burn childhood friends-to-lovers story filled with shameless flirting, longing, family chaos, stolen glances, unspoken feelings, and a man who waited ten years for the only woman he has ever loved.