Suman stood before the mirror, carefully adjusting the pleats of her shimmering, netted floral pink saree.
The delicate fabric shimmered in the soft glow of the vanity lights, its floral design accentuated by the intricate white pearl embellishments on her blouse.
She tucked in the final pleat with precision, the excitement of the evening lighting up her face.
The clock on the wall ticked to 6:50 PM.
Amay had mentioned he would be home by 7:00 PM, and they would leave shortly after.
She glanced at the clock, a small smile on her lips.
"Right on time," she thought, reaching for her matching bangles.
She slid the delicate white and pink bangles onto her wrist, their soft jingles filling the quiet room.
Just as she was about to secure her last bangle, the sound of the door opening caught her attention.
She turned around, and there he was.
Amay stood at the doorway, his tie loosened and the top button of his shirt undone, a sign of a long day at work.
His gaze immediately fell on her, and he froze for a moment, taking in the vision before him.
Suman's saree shimmered under the light, her soft curls framing her glowing face, her smile radiating warmth.
Suman's lips curled into a bright smile upon seeing him.
"You're early," she teased gently, her voice soft yet playful.
Amay took a step closer, his eyes still on her. "And you're stunning," he said, his tone sincere.
Suman blushed, lowering her gaze as she adjusted her pallu. "You said I could wear anything I was comfortable in," she replied, her fingers nervously fidgeting with her bangle. "Is this... okay for the party?"
Amay chuckled, closing the distance between them. "It's perfect. You'll outshine everyone there."
Her cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink, matching her saree.
She turned back to the mirror, pretending to fix her hair as Amay stood behind her.
His reflection met hers in the mirror, and their eyes locked.
"Ready to leave?" he asked softly, placing his hand lightly on her shoulder.
"Almost," she replied with a small nod, her smile still lingering.
"Take your time," he said, stepping back but not before adding, "I don't mind waiting if I get to see you like this."
Her laughter rang out softly, easing any lingering nervousness about the evening ahead.
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AMAY'S POV
Beautiful, no, beyond beautiful.
I don't even know what other words to use because there are no words sufficient to define Suman.
How can someone be so stunning?
I can't comprehend it.
Every time I see her, she looks even more beautiful.
Am I going mad?
Yes, perhaps I am, because ever since I saw Suman, I've lost all sense of myself.
At first, she was just my first glance's admiration.
Then she became my love.
And now... now it feels like my very breath depends on seeing her.
It's love, but now it's a bit more.
It's passion, but even more intense than before.
I tried so hard to convince my heart, but if the heart could be convinced, what would be the point?
Her eyes remind me that I'm alive.
Her smile makes me smile.
Her pain brings tears to my eyes.
And her lips... whenever they say my name, I'm utterly undone.
Her little gestures drive me even more insane.
Even if my heart were shattered into a hundred pieces, Suman would reside in every fragment.
I've already confessed my love to her; now, I'm just waiting for her answer.
And this wait?
I could endure it for a lifetime.
He sighed deeply and leaned back, glancing toward the stairs, waiting for her to come down so they could leave for the party.
AMAY'S POV ENDS
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Ayush entered the house, his mind still reeling from what he had witnessed at the bungalow earlier.
As he stepped into the living room, he noticed his mother, Meena, sitting on the couch with an expression of anger and irritation etched on her face.
Frowning, he murmured under his breath, "Ab kya ho gaya jo yeh aise baithi hai?"
("What happened now that she's sitting like this?")
Meena looked up as soon as she saw him. "Accha hua jo tu aa gaya," she said, her tone sharp.
("It's good that you came.")
Ayush sighed, already feeling a headache forming. "Kya hua, Maa?"
("What happened, Mom?")
Meena's voice grew louder, tinged with melodrama. "Tujhe pata bhi hai teri biwi kya karti hai hamare saath?"
("Do you even know what your wife does to us?")
His confusion deepened. "Ab kya kiya Tina ne?"
("What did Tina do now?")
Meena folded her arms, her expression one of exaggerated frustration. "Meri zindagi ki sabse badi galti thii jo main Tina ko bahu banane ke sapne dekh rahi thii! Pata nahi kyun main khush thii tum dono ke rishte ke liye."
("My biggest mistake in life was dreaming of making Tina my daughter-in-law! I don't even know why I was happy about your relationship.")
Ayush frowned, not understanding the sudden onslaught of accusations. "Maa, saaf saaf bolo. Hua kya hai?"
("Mom, speak clearly. What happened?")
Meena took a dramatic pause before launching into her version of the story.
She narrated how an alliance had come for Aarushi and claimed that Tina had beaten the prospective groom.
Conveniently, she omitted the part about the man being a total jerk who had misbehaved with Aarushi.
Ayush's expression darkened, his anger bubbling up as he absorbed his mother's twisted version of events.
Without another word, he turned and started toward the stairs leading to his and Tina's room, his mind clouded with anger.
Behind him, Meena smirked, satisfied with her handiwork. Finally, a big fight will happen, she thought gleefully.
She was willing to do anything to drive Tina out of her son's life.
As Ayush ascended the stairs, he heard a hesitant voice.
"Bhaiya..."
("Brother...")
He stopped and turned around to see Aarushi standing at the foot of the stairs, nervously fidgeting with her hands.
Concern immediately replaced his anger.
He walked back down and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Sab thik hai na, Aaru?"
("Everything okay, Aaru?")
She nodded but hesitated before speaking.
"I know what happened," Ayush said, trying to reassure her. "Maa ne sab bataya. And I'm sorry ki Tina ne yeh sab kiya. You must have felt bad."
("I know what happened, Mom told me everything. And I'm sorry that Tina did all this. You must have felt bad.")
Aarushi's eyes widened. "Nahi, Bhaiya! Jo hua usmein Bhabhi ki koi galti nahi hai. Ulta, unhone toh mujhe aaj bachaya hai."
("No, Brother! What happened, sister-in-law is not at fault. In fact, she saved me today.")
Ayush blinked, confusion spreading across his face. "Matlab?"
("What do you mean?")
Aarushi took a deep breath and began explaining. "Maa ne shayad aapko puri baat nahi batayi. Maasi jis ladke ka rishta lekar aayi thii, vo accha nahi thaa. Woh akele baat karne ke bahaane mujhe room mein le gaya aur badtameezi karne laga. Main chillayi, lekin kisi ne suna nahi. Phir achanak se Bhabhi ki awaaz aayi. Maine darwaza khol kar jaise-taise unhe sab bataya."
("Maybe Mom didn't tell you the whole story. The guy who came with the proposal was not a good one. He tried to take me to the room under the pretense of talking alone and started misbehaving. I screamed, but no one heard. Then suddenly, sister-in-law's voice came. I opened the door and somehow told her everything.")
Ayush listened intently, his anger shifting into guilt.
"Bhabhi itni gusse mein thi ki unhone usse bahut maara," Aarushi continued, her voice almost proud. "Aapko pata hai, Bhaiya, uss ladke ne Bhabhi ko bhi ganda bola. Par unhone aur maar diya, phir usse ghasit ke bahar le gayi."
("Sister-in-law was so angry that she beat him badly. You know, Brother, that guy even spoke badly to sister-in-law. But she hit him even more, then dragged him out of the house.")
Ayush felt a surge of pride and protectiveness for Tina, mixed with guilt for almost confronting her without knowing the truth.
He imagined the scene Aarushi described and couldn't help but feel rage toward the man who had dared to insult Tina.
"Bhaiya," Aarushi said softly, "Bhabhi ko kuch mat kehna. Main jaanti hoon ki aapki shaadi normal circumstances mein nahi hui hai, aur pehle shayad mujhe Bhabhi pasand bhi nahi thi. Lekin vo itni bhi buri nahi hai. She's a nice person. Bhaiya, main bas yeh chahti hoon ki aap dono ke beech sab thik ho jaaye. Please, ho sake toh iss shaadi ko ek chance zaroor dena."
("Brother, please don't say anything to sister-in-law. I know your marriage didn't happen under normal circumstances, and maybe I didn't like her before. But she's not as bad as I thought. She's actually a nice person. Brother, all I want is for everything to be okay between you two. Please, if possible, give this marriage a chance.")
Ayush was stunned to hear such words from Aarushi, who had always been indifferent toward Tina.
He nodded slowly, then placed a loving hand on her head. "You're okay, right?"
Aarushi smiled. "I'm more than okay, Bhaiya. Aur waise bhi, main shaadi ke liye taiyaar nahi hoon abhi."
("I'm more than okay, Brother. And anyway, I'm not ready for marriage yet.")
Ayush chuckled at her candid confession and watched as she walked away, leaving a faint smile on his face.
Maybe, he thought, this marriage deserves another chance.
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Amay and Suman arrived at the party venue, stepping out of the car as the cool evening air wrapped around them.
The moment they entered the garden, Suman's breath caught in her throat.
The venue was nothing short of magical.
The garden was adorned with soft twinkling lights that hung from the trees, casting a warm glow over the lush greenery.
Flowers of every color surrounded the space, and delicate lanterns were hung on every corner, adding a romantic and serene feel to the whole atmosphere.
It looked like something out of a dream, and Suman couldn't help but be in awe.
Her eyes sparkled with happiness as she looked around, the charm of the place enchanting her completely.
Amay, who was standing beside her, watched her with a soft smile.
He could see the joy beaming from her face, the gleam in her eyes reflecting how much she loved the setting.
Leaning a little toward her, Amay whispered in a low voice, "So, you like it?"
Suman shivered slightly as she felt his breath on her neck.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she could feel her throat go dry as she tried to control the flutter in her chest.
With a soft, nervous laugh, she nodded. "I loved it... Kitna sundar hai yeh sab."
("It's so beautiful, all of this.")
Amay smiled even wider, his eyes filled with affection. "Tumse zyada nahi," he said, his voice filled with warmth and sincerity.
("Not more than you.")
Suman froze, stunned by his words.
She immediately looked up at him, and what she saw in his eyes-so full of love, affection, and something deeper-left her breathless.
The intensity in his gaze was too much for her to handle, and she quickly averted her gaze, feeling her cheeks warm.
Amay gently took her hand and guided her toward Mr. Kevalramani, the host of the party, who was celebrating his 30th anniversary with his wife.
Mr. Kevalramani and his wife warmly greeted Suman and Amay.
They exchanged pleasantries, and Suman wished them a happy anniversary, her smile genuine and heartfelt.
They chatted for a while, enjoying the warmth of the conversation.
Half an hour later, Suman's stomach growled loudly.
She immediately blushed, not wanting to embarrass Amay, but her hunger had taken over.
Amay, hearing the sound, turned to her with a teasing smile. "Bhookh lagi hai?"
("Are you hungry?")
Suman nodded immediately, almost excitedly, like she had just found her favorite candy.
Amay chuckled softly, amused by her response. "Chalo, we'll eat the dinner."
("Let's go, we'll have dinner.")
Suman smiled, feeling relieved that Amay was so understanding.
He led her to the food section, where a variety of appetizers were laid out.
Suman scanned the spread and said, "Pehle kuch starters try kare?"
("Shall we try some starters first?")
Amay agreed, and the two of them enjoyed the delicious starters, laughing and chatting happily as they ate.
Amay, ever observant, noticed a small dab of sauce on the corner of Suman's lips.
Without thinking, he gently wiped it away with his thumb.
As he did, his thumb brushed slightly against her lips, making her freeze.
A flutter of excitement rushed through her, and she felt a strange warmth spread through her chest.
What happened next sent her heart racing.
Amay casually licked his thumb as if the sauce was the tastiest thing he had ever tasted.
Suman stared at him with wide eyes and a slightly open mouth, stunned by his carefree and playful gesture.
Amay chuckled at her reaction, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Muh band karlo, Suman. Varna macchhar ghus jaayega."
("Close your mouth, Suman, or a mosquito will get in.")
Embarrassed, Suman quickly closed her mouth.
Amay laughed softly and teased her further. "Ab hum khaana khaa le?"
("Shall we eat the food now?")
Suman nodded, and Amay led her to a nearby chair.
As she sat down, he turned to go fetch the food.
Just as he was about to leave, she called out to him. "Ek plate mein hi laana. Main aapke saath share kar lungi."
("Bring it in one plate. I will share it with you.")
Amay paused and looked at her in confusion. "Kyun?"
("Why?")
She smiled sheepishly. "Kyunki itna sab khaa liya hai, ab aur nahi khaaya jaayega. Issliye aapke saath khaa lungi."
("Because I have already eaten so much, I won't be able to eat more. That's why I will share with you.")
Amay's heart swelled at her words.
To anyone else, it might have seemed like a small, simple request, but to him, it meant everything.
His wife, Suman, wanted to share her meal with him in one plate.
It was such a simple, yet incredibly special gesture.
His heart felt like it was dancing in joy.
He filled the plate with food, a genuine smile tugging at his lips, and made his way back toward her.
As he approached, he couldn't help but feel how blessed he was to have Suman by his side.
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Ayush stepped into the room and stopped in his tracks.
The scene before him made him pause.
Tina was sitting on the floor, her hair a tangled mess, and her legs sprawled out like a child throwing a tantrum.
She looked like a kid who had just been denied her favorite toy, now sitting in a huff and trying to make someone feel guilty.
For a moment, it looked almost funny, like a little kid trying to get attention.
He suppressed a small giggle but couldn't help the smile that tugged at the corners of his lips.
She looked up at him, and when their eyes met, a wide smile spread across her face.
He froze, taken aback by how bright her smile was, so innocent and carefree.
"You're really here?" Tina asked, her voice slurred, eyes half-lidded as she studied him.
Ayush blinked, still a little in shock. "What do you think?" he replied, his voice a mix of humor and caution.
She leaned forward slightly, poking his cheek with her finger. "O," she said, teasingly, before giggling, "This must be a dream. Because in reality, you wouldn't be sitting so calmly with me."
Her chuckle made something stir inside him, something unfamiliar.
For a second, he saw through the veil of her defiant exterior.
Beneath the drunken smile, there was something fragile, vulnerable.
He couldn't explain it, but a wave of concern swept over him.
He grabbed the bottle she was holding and set it aside, his expression softening.
Tina immediately whined, her voice a whiny plea. "No, give it back! I haven't finished it yet!"
"Enough, Tina," Ayush said softly but firmly. "You've had enough. If you keep drinking, you're going to make yourself sick."
She pouted, her eyes starting to water as she looked at him.
He noticed her lip trembling, and before he could stop himself, he cupped her cheeks with both hands. "Hey, shhh," he said gently. "What happened? Why are you crying?"
Tina stared at him with her big, doe-like eyes, still pouting. "Do you actually care about me?" she asked in a soft, almost fragile voice.
His heart squeezed in his chest.
Without hesitating, he answered, "Of course, I do."
She blinked, her expression slightly stunned. "You know... you're the first one who actually cares about me."
Her voice cracked just a little, and Ayush felt his protective instincts flare up, stronger than he expected.
He kissed her forehead gently, a soft, reassuring gesture.
A single tear slid down her cheek as he did, and it made his chest tighten.
"You smell nice," she said, sniffing him a little, like she was trying to identify a new scent.
He chuckled, though there was a hint of playfulness. "And you... well, let's just say, you stink."
She frowned dramatically. "Hey! I smell good, okay?"
"I don't think so," he teased, raising an eyebrow.
Tina grinned mischievously. "Oh yeah? Want me to prove it?"
Ayush, not expecting what was to come, shrugged, thinking she might do something normal like spray perfume or wave her hand around her.
But the next moment, he froze in shock.
Her lips were suddenly on his.
His eyes widened, and his breath caught in his throat.
He didn't regret it, but it was so unexpected, and the shock left him unable to move for a moment.
Her lips stayed on his, and then, to his surprise, she slowly stuck her tongue out and licked his lips, grinning like she'd just won a victory.
"See?" she giggled. "I smell nice."
Ayush blinked, caught in a daze.
Before he could say anything, she leaned in again, her voice playful. "Wait, your lips are tasty. Can I lick them once more?"
He was speechless, completely taken aback.
But Tina was clearly lost in her own world, unaware of the effect she was having on him.
She leaned in and kissed him again, her tongue tracing his lips slowly, lingering.
Ayush sat there, completely frozen, his heart racing in his chest.
The sensation, the suddenness, it left him disoriented and unsure of what to do.
Then, to his shock, Tina bit down on his lower lip, making him wince.
She giggled again, sounding like a child who had just gotten into trouble, and Ayush, still frozen in place, didn't know how to respond.
His heart was fluttering wildly, his thoughts in chaos, and he couldn't bring himself to stop her.
The room around them seemed to blur as he sat there, unsure of what had just happened.
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