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Author's POV
Inside the bridal suite, Isha took a deep breath as she stood before the full-length mirror. The deep maroon and gold lehenga she wore sparkled under the lights, the intricate embroidery a testament to the craftsmanship behind it. Her jewelry complemented her outfit—a delicate choker, matching earrings, and bangles that jingled softly as she moved.
Prisha adjusted her dupatta, smiling at her in the mirror. "You look breathtaking, Isha."
Isha let out a nervous chuckle. "It still feels unreal."
Ishika, fixing the final touches of Isha's makeup, grinned. "Well, it's very real. Now, let's go. Everyone's waiting for you."
Taking one last look at herself, Isha exhaled deeply, smoothing down the fabric of her lehenga before stepping out of the room.
The ceremony was held in the grand ballroom, a place that exuded both royalty and warmth. Chandeliers cast a golden glow across the room, flowers draped the walls, and guests filled the space, murmuring with anticipation.
As Isha walked toward the main hall, the soft murmur of guests quieted, and all eyes turned to her. The subtle gasps and whispered praises followed her as she stepped onto the beautifully decorated stage.
Her gaze met Shivansh's. He was already there, dressed in an elegant black sherwani with intricate gold embroidery that matched her attire perfectly. His eyes lingered on her for a moment longer than necessary, and something in his expression made Isha's breath hitch.
Isha walked in gracefully, her heart pounding as all eyes turned to her. Shivansh stood at the front, waiting, his gaze locked onto her the moment she entered.
He had seen her countless times before, in moments of irritation, in moments of laughter, in moments of quiet stubbornness. But never like this. Never draped in gold, never looking as if she had stepped out of a dream.
And for the first time in his life, he forgot how to look away.
He extended his hand toward her. She hesitated for a fraction of a second before placing her hand in his. His grip was warm, steady, and grounding.
The priest chanted the sacred mantras, guiding them through the ritual. Finally, the rings were brought forward.
Isha reached him, her breath uneven as she stood beside him.
The priest recited the prayers, the families exchanged smiles, and then the moment arrived.
Shivansh took her hand in his, his touch firm, steady, as he slid the ring onto her finger. The cool metal settled against her skin, and Isha swallowed, feeling an unexplainable rush of warmth.
When it was her turn, her hands trembled slightly as she placed the ring on his finger. Their gazes met—something unspoken passing between them.
Commitment. Uncertainty. A strange, undeniable pull.
The moment was sealed with a shower of flower petals, applause echoing through the room.
After the ceremony, it was time for the customary photo session. Isha wasn't sure what was more exhausting—the actual engagement or the constant posing for the camera.
Shivansh, of course, stood unaffected, his usual composed self.
"Stand a little closer," the photographer instructed.
Isha hesitated before stepping nearer, only to be pulled in further as Shivansh placed a firm hand on her waist. She stiffened slightly, but he leaned down, voice low.
"Relax."
Easier said than done.
The next few photos had them in various poses—traditional, candid, and some that felt almost too intimate. In one, Shivansh leaned close as if whispering something in her ear. The shutter clicked at that exact moment, capturing the way her eyes widened slightly, the way his lips almost brushed her skin.
Juhi stood at a distance, watching, her expression unreadable.
The formalities were over, and it was time for celebrations to begin. The lights dimmed slightly, casting a romantic glow over the hall. The soft melody of a love song began playing, and someone from the crowd called out, "Now, let's see the couple's first dance!"
Isha turned toward Shivansh, her brows slightly raised. "We didn't plan this."
Shivansh smirked. "We didn't plan a lot of things."
Before she could protest, he extended his hand. "Dance with me."
With everyone watching, she couldn't refuse. Placing her hand in his, she allowed him to guide her to the center of the dance floor.
As the music played, Shivansh pulled her closer, his hand resting at her waist while hers hesitantly found his shoulder.
They swayed gently to the rhythm, the world around them fading away. The intensity in his gaze made her heart race, and she found herself unable to look away.
At one point, he spun her around, pulling her back into him, their faces mere inches apart.
Her breath caught as his hand slid from her waist to the small of her back, holding her steady. The music slowed, their movements growing softer, more intimate.
For a fleeting moment, she thought he was going to kiss her. His gaze dropped to her lips, and her heart pounded in anticipation.
But just before anything could happen, the song ended, and a round of applause broke their trance.
Isha quickly stepped back, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks.
Shivansh, however, remained unfazed, his usual composed expression returning as he guided her off the dance floor.
The engagement ceremony had been a whirlwind of emotions, traditions, and celebrations. The ring exchange was complete, the photos had been taken, and now, as the evening settled, the families gathered for dinner in the grand engagement hall.
The hall, adorned with soft golden lights and floral arrangements, had a warm yet regal ambiance. The long dining tables were set with exquisite silverware, and an elaborate feast had been prepared for the occasion. Waiters moved swiftly, ensuring everyone was served properly.
Isha sat beside Shivansh, her hands resting on her lap as she listened to the gentle hum of conversation around her. Both families were engaged in cheerful discussions, their laughter blending into the soft instrumental music playing in the background.
"Isha beta, you must be starving," Shivansh's grandmother said kindly, looking at her with a knowing smile. "You've been running around since morning."
Before Isha could respond, Shivansh silently placed a bowl of dal in front of her, then added a serving of paneer and rice to her plate.
She blinked at him. "I was going to serve myself."
He didn't look at her, simply picking up his glass of water. "You weren't going to eat unless someone reminded you."
His brothers, Avi and Dhruv, immediately caught onto the interaction.
"Bhaiya, since when did you start serving food to someone?" Avi smirked.
Avi nudged Isha playfully. "Looks like you've tamed our ice-cold brother, Bhabhi maa."
Isha felt her cheeks heat up. "It's nothing like that. He's just—" she stopped, realizing she didn't have a good excuse.
Shivansh, however, remained unfazed, sipping his water while his mother chuckled.
"Shivansh has always been like this," his mother said, her eyes twinkling. "He won't say much, but he will always make sure the people he cares about are taken care of."
Juhi, who had been sitting a few seats away, clenched her jaw, her spoon resting untouched on her plate. Her gaze flickered between Isha and Shivansh, jealousy burning in her chest.
As dinner continued, the families chatted about the wedding preparations.
"So, Isha," Dhruv grinned, leaning forward. "How does it feel to officially be part of our crazy family?"
Isha laughed softly. "I'm still processing everything. But so far, it has been… interesting."
"Interesting?" Avi repeated. "Bhaiya, what does she mean by that? Are you troubling her already?"
Shivansh shot his younger brothers a sharp look. "Eat your food."
"Avoiding the question, I see," Veer mused. "That means we are right."
Isha hid her smile behind her glass of water.
As plates were cleared, Shivansh leaned slightly toward Isha. "Did you eat enough?"
She turned to him, surprised by the softness in his tone. "Yes, I did."
His gaze flickered over her plate, ensuring she wasn't lying. "Good."
There was something about the way he cared—silent yet firm—that made her heart feel oddly warm. She wasn't used to it, but she didn't dislike it either.
As everyone finished their meals, Isha's mother said, "We should leave now. It's been a long day."
But Shivansh's mother shook her head with a smile. "Let her stay for a while. It's her engagement day; she should spend some time with us before leaving."
Isha hesitated. She knew she had to get back, but at the same time, something in her told her to stay a little longer.
Juhi, watching all of this, clenched her fists under the table.
The night wasn't over yet, but one thing was certain—this wasn't the engagement she had expected.
Later that evening, the guests had begun mingling again, leaving Isha and Shivansh with a rare moment alone on the palace terrace.
The night breeze was cool against her skin as she rested her hands on the marble railing, staring at the lights flickering in the distance.
After dinner, the families moved to the garden area for a little while. The cool night breeze was refreshing after the long evening.
As Isha stood near one of the decorative fountains, lost in thought, she felt someone step beside her.
"Tired?" Shivansh's deep voice broke the silence.
She nodded. "It's been a long day."
A rare softness touched his expression. "You handled everything well."
She looked up at him, surprised. "Is that a compliment?"
He smirked. "Don't get used to it."
They stood there in silence for a moment, the weight of the day settling between them.
Shivansh, watching Isha as she gazed at the star-lit sky, felt something shift within him.
She wasn't just any girl.
She was the woman he was going to marry.
And for the first time, that thought didn't feel like an obligation.
It felt like something else entirely.
Shivansh joined her, standing close. Not touching, but close enough for her to feel his presence.
"Tired?" he asked.
She exhaled. "Completely."
A small smirk ghosted his lips. "Then go rest."
She turned to him, arching a brow. "You sound like your mother."
Shivansh chuckled, and it was such a rare, unexpected sound that Isha found herself staring.
He caught her gaze, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. The distance between them felt smaller than before, the night air humming with something neither of them could name.
Then, almost as if drawn by an unseen force, he leaned in.
It wasn't hurried. It wasn't planned.
It was slow, deliberate, a moment stretching between them. Isha's breath caught as his fingers brushed against hers, his face inches from hers.
Her heart pounded.
Just as their lips were about to meet, a distant voice called out.
"Bhaiya, Bhabhi maa! Everyone's looking for you!"
They both froze. The moment shattered like delicate glass, leaving behind the weight of what almost happened.
Isha stepped back first, her pulse still unsteady.
As Isha took a breath, trying to calm the erratic beating of her heart, Shivansh exhaled, running a hand through his hair. The weight of what had almost happened still hung between them, unspoken yet undeniable.
And then, just as she turned to leave, his voice—low, firm—cut through the silence.
"Isha."
She looked back at him, her heart still racing.
His eyes were unreadable, dark pools of something she couldn't quite name. And then he said it.
"Don't fall in love with me."
For a moment, she just stared at him, the words settling heavily between them.
He said it like a warning. Like a fact. Like an undeniable rule she was supposed to follow.
Isha felt her fingers curl at her sides. She wanted to laugh at the irony of it. Because wasn't it already too late? Wasn't she already falling?
She swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. She could have denied it. Could have told him she had no such intentions.
But she didn't.
Instead, she met his gaze, steady despite the storm inside her. "Too late," she thought, though she didn't say it out loud.
Because the truth was, she had never been one to follow the rules.
And when it came to Shivansh, she wasn't sure she even wanted to.
Shivansh didn't say anything, but his gaze lingered on her for a second too long before he finally turned away.
Later that night, long after the guests had left and the palace had quieted, Shivansh sat in his room, rolling the engagement ring between his fingers.
He wasn't a man who believed in fate. He wasn't the type to get lost in emotions.
But tonight… tonight was different.
Isha was different.
He had told himself from the beginning that this was just an arrangement. A formality. Yet, with every passing moment, she was becoming something more.
And that—more than anything—was dangerous.
Isha took a deep breath before stepping downstairs, her heart still racing from everything that had happened earlier. But as she descended the grand staircase, her eyes suddenly locked onto a familiar face—a face she hadn't seen in years but had been waiting to meet for so long.
"Arav?" she whispered, disbelief flashing across her face before her expression melted into pure joy.
The tall, broad-shouldered man turned at the sound of her voice, his eyes lighting up the moment they landed on her. "Isha!"
Before another second could pass, Isha dashed forward, wrapping her arms around him in a tight, almost desperate hug. Arav laughed, spinning her slightly before setting her down. "You have no idea how much I missed you!" he said, still holding onto her.
"I missed you more, idiot!" she smacked his arm playfully before pulling away to look at him properly. "When did you come back? You said three weeks ago!"
Arav sighed dramatically. "I know, I know. I was supposed to be here earlier, but you know how life is. I wanted to surprise you, but looks like you surprised me instead!" He folded his arms. "Since when do you keep big secrets from your best friend, huh?"
Isha blinked. "What secrets?"
He gave her a pointed look. "Oh, I don't know… maybe the fact that you got engaged while I was gone?"
Isha bit her lip, looking slightly guilty. "Okay, to be fair, even I didn't know things would move this fast…" she trailed off, suddenly remembering where she was. Turning to the others, she gestured towards Arav.
"Everyone, this is Arav, my best friend since forever. And Arav, this is… well, my fiancé's entire family." She chuckled awkwardly before introducing each of them, finally stopping at Shivansh.
"And this is Shivansh."
The moment their eyes met, there was an unspoken tension. Shivansh, who had been watching everything with an unreadable expression, gave Arav a polite nod but said nothing. His fingers curled slightly against his palm. He didn't like this. Not one bit.
Arav, being Arav, noticed the cold demeanor and smirked slightly before extending his hand. "So, you're the lucky guy, huh?"
Shivansh shook his hand firmly, his grip a little stronger than necessary. "And you're the best friend?" His voice was smooth, but there was a sharp edge to it.
"Yep, her best friend. The one who's known her longer than anyone here." Arav grinned, and Isha rolled her eyes at his teasing tone.
As the evening continued, Isha found herself effortlessly catching up with Arav, laughing and reminiscing about old memories. Arav cracked jokes, teased her about her engagement, and pulled her into conversations like old times.
But what she failed to notice was the way Shivansh's gaze never left her. The subtle clench of his jaw. The way his mood darkened every time Arav made her laugh.
Ishika, standing next to him, leaned in slightly and whispered, "Jealous much?"
Shivansh didn't answer. He just took a sip of his drink, eyes locked onto Isha and Arav.
This was going to be a long evening.
After the initial introductions and greetings, elder left the venue, the younger group moved towards the lounge area of the venue, where the warm glow of golden chandeliers reflected against the glass walls. Outside, the shimmering lights of Paris stretched into the horizon, creating a breathtaking view.
The youngsters—Juhi, Dhruv, Ishika, prisha, Isha, Arav, and Avi—settled into the plush seating. The atmosphere was light, filled with chatter and laughter as they caught up, exchanged stories, and enjoyed the evening.
Arav stretched his arms behind his head, grinning. "So, Isha… how does it feel to be engaged? Did you ever think this day would come so soon?"
Isha groaned. "Ugh, don't even start. Everything just happened so fast, I barely processed it." She took a sip of her drink before narrowing her eyes at him. "And you! You disappeared for years. You could've at least attended my engagement if you had come earlier."
Arav smirked. "Trust me, if I had known you were getting engaged, I would've crashed it just to object at the right moment."
Shivansh, who had just taken a seat nearby, stiffened slightly at that comment, his fingers tightening around his glass. Ishika noticed and immediately bit back a laugh.
Ishika, who had been messing with his phone, suddenly looked up. "Wait, wait… guys, listen to this. I was going through some old voice notes, and I found this one where Isha and Arav were arguing over who was the better friend. It's gold!"
Isha's eyes widened. "Ishu, don't you dare!"
Too late. He pressed play, and suddenly, Isha's recorded voice filled the air.
"Arav, admit it! I've always been the one who saved your ass in every situation. You'd be lost without me!"
Then Arav's recorded voice followed.
"Oh, please. I was the one keeping you out of trouble. Who was it that covered for you when you sneaked out that night, huh?"
The whole group burst out laughing, while Isha groaned, covering her face. "I swear I hate you all."
Avi chuckled. "Nah, this is the content we live for."
Shivansh, however, stayed quiet, his gaze flickering between Isha and Arav. He wasn't sure if it was the easy way they bantered, the way Arav looked at her, or the fact that she seemed so effortlessly happy with him. Whatever it was, he didn't like it.
Dhruv leaned forward, smirking. "Shivansh, man, you're awfully quiet. What do you think about all this?"
Shivansh took a slow sip of his drink before replying, his voice calm yet firm. "I think some people just like living in the past."
The room went silent for a beat before Arav chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "And some people just don't like competition."
Isha's eyes darted between the two men, sensing the unspoken tension. Ishika nudged her slightly and whispered, "Girl… I think someone's jealous."
Isha sighed. This was going to be an interesting night.
As the evening stretched on, the group continued chatting and teasing each other, the atmosphere light and filled with laughter. Isha, completely at ease, leaned slightly against Arav's shoulder as they talked. It was an unconscious, familiar gesture—something she had done countless times in the past when they were younger. To her, it was second nature.
To Shivansh, however, it was something else entirely.
Seated across from them, he watched silently, his jaw tightening as Arav effortlessly pulled Isha into their old rhythm of banter. Arav, with his easy grins and teasing remarks, had the advantage of time—years of shared memories, inside jokes, and a history Shivansh could never rewrite.
Arav, for his part, was in his own world. Every so often, his gaze would linger on Isha, his eyes softening as if he were drinking in every moment with her. The way she laughed, the way her eyes lit up when she spoke, the way she effortlessly became the center of every conversation—it was clear he had missed her.
Shivansh saw it all.
And he hated it.
Isha, oblivious to the silent battle between the two men, continued chatting away, completely lost in the conversation. She had no idea that every time she playfully nudged Arav or casually rested against him, Shivansh's grip on his glass tightened just a little more.
Dhruv, who had been silently observing, leaned toward Shivansh and whispered with a knowing smirk, "Careful, Shivansh. If you glare any harder, you might just set him on fire."
Shivansh exhaled sharply, his voice low. "I don't glare."
Ishika chuckled. "Right. And Isha isn't completely ignoring you right now."
Shivansh's eyes darkened slightly. He hadn't realized until now that Isha hadn't even looked his way since she sat down. She was too wrapped up in catching up with Arav, too lost in memories that didn't include him.
And for the first time, he found himself feeling something unfamiliar.
Something dangerously close to insecurity.
Arav, noticing the slight shift in Shivansh's expression, smirked. Leaning in, he lowered his voice just enough for Shivansh to hear.
"You should've met her years ago. She was even more adorable back then."
Shivansh's expression remained unreadable, but his grip on the armrest tightened.
This night was going to be much longer than he had anticipated.
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