Epilogue

The sun streamed through the window, casting a warm glow over their cozy apartment. Niharika stretched and smiled as she woke up, the soft scent of chai already in the air. Today was special—their one-year anniversary. She couldn't believe how far they had come since that secret, whirlwind wedding a year ago. Their world knew now, their marriage was no longer hidden, and life had taken on a whole new rhythm. And still, waking up next to Mayank every day felt like a dream.

After a quick shower, Niharika dressed herself in his teeshirt and shorts, her hair still damp. As she walked into the kitchen, she couldn't help but smile at the sight of Mayank, standing at the counter, expertly stirring a pot of chai.

"Good morning, monkey," she said with a grin, rushing over to him.

Mayank chuckled, turning just in time for her to jump into his arms. He caught her effortlessly, his laughter filling the space as he wrapped his arms around her. "Happy anniversary, koala," he teased, holding her close.

Niharika laughed against his chest, soaking in the warmth of the moment. "I can't believe it's been a year already. Time flies when you're having fun."

He kissed the top of her head. "Fun and full of chai, obviously."

They pulled away from each other, still smiling. Mayank gestured to the table, where a spread of breakfast waited—pancakes, fruit, and, of course, more chai. "Sit. I made your favorite."

She grinned and sat down, picking up a fork. "You spoil me."

They ate together in comfortable silence, the familiarity of their shared mornings making this anniversary feel just like every other—except, of course, for the significance of the day.

After a few moments, Niharika got up, excusing herself to grab something from the bedroom. When she returned, she had a small, neatly wrapped gift in her hand.

"This is for you," she said, placing it in front of Mayank.

His brow furrowed slightly in curiosity as he picked it up. He carefully opened it to reveal a delicate, simple hair tie—one of her favorite designs. A soft, patterned band with the initials "M" and "N" sewn on it in tiny, neat stitches.

He looked up at her, surprised. "Did you sew this?"

Niharika smiled proudly. "Mhm. Took me a while, but I wanted to make something special for you." Her voice softened as she added, "Something that reminds us of us."

Mayank's heart swelled as he gently touched the hair tie. "This is beautiful, Niharika." His eyes softened as he met her gaze. "Thank you."

Without missing a beat, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. He handed it to her with a grin. "This is for you."

She raised an eyebrow, feeling the warmth of his gesture before opening the box to reveal a beautiful bracelet—elegant yet simple, with a small charm shaped like a heart engraved with her initials.

Her face lit up, and she slipped it onto her wrist. "I love it, Mayank. It's perfect."

"Just like you," he whispered, leaning forward to kiss her cheek. "Happy anniversary, koala."

She chuckled, resting her head on his shoulder. "Happy anniversary, monkey."

The world outside faded as they sat there together, surrounded by love, laughter, and the quiet certainty that their journey was just beginning.

~•~

The evening sky was painted with hues of orange and pink as Mayank and Niharika walked into a grand hall, both dressed to the nines. Niharika wore a gorgeous midnight blue dress that sparkled subtly under the lights, while Mayank looked every bit the charming gentleman in a tailored suit.

"Wow, this place looks amazing," Niharika whispered, looking around at the elegant decor. "I didn't realize this was going to be so fancy."

"Yeah," Mayank said, adjusting his cufflinks. "I thought it was just a simple dinner, but... guess we're in for something bigger tonight."

As they walked further into the room, the lights suddenly dimmed. Niharika frowned, confused, and Mayank looked around, bewildered.

Before either of them could say anything, the lights flickered back on in a flash, and the entire room erupted in unison, shouting, "Surprise!"

Both Mayank and Niharika stood frozen, their eyes wide with shock.

"Wait, what?" Mayank stammered, looking at Niharika.

Niharika looked just as stunned, her mouth slightly open in disbelief. "This is... this is for us? But I thought—"

Just then, Siya and Rohan stepped forward, grinning mischievously.

"You guys should've known," Siya teased, her eyes twinkling. "Niharika was planning a party for you, Mayank, and Mayank was planning one for you, Niharika. You both contacted us separately, so we decided to give you one big joint surprise party! Since you two only think about each other and not yourselves, we thought you'd appreciate it."

Niharika's face broke into a wide, happy grin. "You guys! This is amazing!" She looked at Mayank, who was still processing the shock, then back at Siya and Rohan. "Thank you so much!"

Mayank chuckled, shaking his head. "I can't believe you pulled this off. You two are sneaky."

Everyone laughed, and the room filled with warmth as the celebration began. Mayank and Niharika walked over to where their parents stood, both looking incredibly proud.

Mayank's mom, Maya Datta, embraced them both. "I'm so happy for you two. You make such a wonderful pair," she said, her eyes shining with joy.

Niharika's mom, Yangeeta, smiled warmly, nodding in agreement. "You've both grown so much over this year. I'm glad to see you so happy together."

Niharika's eyes shimmered with emotion, and she leaned in to give her mom a hug. "Thank you, Ma."

They walked over to Madhun and Abhijeet—who were silently taking photos of their children's first anniversary. Niharika walked to them, "Baba, Papa." She bent down to touch their feet. Abhijeet chuckled and hugged her, followed by Madhun.

"Happy anniversary you two." Madhun said and looked at Mayank, "You have grown a lot. I'm so proud of you."

Siya grabbed the microphone and called for everyone's attention. "Alright, everyone! Let's take a moment to relive some of the best memories of Mayank and Niharika, shall we?"

The lights dimmed again, and the large screen at the front of the hall flickered to life. A video began to play—a compilation of Mayank and Niharika's goofiest and funniest moments, captured on camera throughout the year. There were clips of them laughing during their trip to Italy, moments of Niharika posing with her favorite Bollywood star SRK, and plenty of candid, adorable snapshots—like the time they tried to cook together and ended up with flour everywhere.

As the video came to an end, the entire room erupted into applause. Mayank turned to Niharika, his eyes filled with pride. "Nihu, you made this?"

She blushed slightly, biting her lip. "Yeah, I wanted to give you something special. A reminder of all the fun we've had together."

Mayank pulled her into a tight hug. "This is amazing. I love it. Thank you."

After the video, the music kicked in, and the party shifted into full swing. People gathered around the dance floor, drinks in hand, chatting and laughing. Mayank and Niharika, feeling the energy of the celebration, found themselves drawn to the dance floor as well.

As they moved to opposite sides of the room, their eyes met across the crowded space. The world seemed to slow down around them as they began to walk toward each other, smiles lighting up their faces.

Finally, they stood together in the middle of the dance floor, the music fading into the background—as if they couldn't focus on anything but themselves.

"I love you. You make me so happy—you're my heart's desire." Mayank said softly, his voice filled with sincerity.

Niharika's heart swelled, and she smiled up at him. "And you're mine. I love you, too."

They shared a quiet moment, surrounded by friends and family, amongst the music, then got swept into another dance—a dance that was just for them, as their love story continued to unfold in the most beautiful way.

And with that, the night was theirs, full of joy, laughter, and love. The end was only the beginning.

T H E • E N D