15. Wedding Bells

Navya's POV :

I sat in the university canteen, twirling my straw in my juice absentmindedly, my gaze lingering on Reeyansh as he focused intently on his salad. The way he ate with such purpose made me smile-it was such a quintessentially "Rey" thing.

"You know," I began, breaking the silence between us, "Frederick is getting married this month."

He paused mid-bite, his fork hovering in the air. "Frederick? Your friend from the literature club?"

I nodded, swirling the straw in my drink. "Yes. Isn't it amazing? Loving someone so much that you're willing to promise forever, announce it to the world, and build a life together?"

Reeyansh set his fork down, his gaze softening as he looked at me. "It's more than amazing," he said quietly, his voice filled with sincerity. "It's what I want with you."

My heart skipped a beat, his words leaving me momentarily speechless. Without breaking eye contact, he leaned forward, tugging my chair closer until our knees touched. His hand found mine, his thumb brushing across my knuckles. Then, with the gentlest smile, he leaned in and kissed me-a soft, fleeting peck that sent warmth spreading through me.

"Rey!" I exclaimed, laughing as I pushed him back. "Don't kiss me right after eating cucumber. It's disgusting!"

He grinned, unabashed, and leaned in again. "What? I taste fine."

"Reeyansh!" I glared at him, swatting his arm playfully.

"Alright, alright!" He laughed, leaning back in mock surrender. "But you can't blame me for wanting to kiss the love of my life. You look so pretty today."

Rolling my eyes, I tried to suppress a smile. "Fine, Mr. Romantic. Since you're in such a dreamy mood, tell me-how do you imagine our wedding?"

He leaned back, pretending to mull it over. "Our wedding, hmm? Honestly, it doesn't matter how it happens, as long as it's you I'm marrying. But..."

"But?" I prompted, leaning closer in curiosity.

"I'd like it to be intimate," he said after a moment, his voice thoughtful. "Just our families and closest friends. No chaos, no huge crowds. Just us, celebrating our love."

His eyes met mine, and his tone turned tender. "And I'd love to see you in a white saree. I know it's not traditional, but you'd look breathtaking."

"White?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow. "You'd really want me to wear white at our wedding?"

"Yeah," he murmured, his thumb now tracing slow circles on the back of my hand. "I don't care about traditions. I care about you. And in white, you'd look like an angel-my angel."

My cheeks burned at his words, and I quickly looked away. "You're so cheesy, Rey," I mumbled, my voice betraying the smile tugging at my lips.

"Maybe," he said with a wink. "But you love it."

I let out a laugh, shaking my head. "You know, I always imagined a big, fat wedding. But your idea... it feels special. Intimate, just like you said. I think I'd love it more."

"You would?" he asked, his eyes lighting up with a boyish enthusiasm.

Leaning forward, I kissed his cheek. "Yes. But only because it's with you."

He grinned, leaning closer, but I stopped him with a hand on his chest. "No more kisses, cucumber man! And I have class now, so bye!"

As I stood to leave, he caught my wrist, gently pulling me back. "Navya," he said, his voice filled with warmth. "I love you."

I smiled, leaning down to press a kiss to his forehead. "I love you too, Rey. Always."

The memory faded, and Ishaani's voice pulled me back to the present.

"Navya! Wake up!" Ishaani said, shaking me lightly.

I blinked, disoriented, and realized I had dozed off at the dining table, my head resting on my arms. Roohi's familiar dining room came into focus, and Ishaani's concerned face hovered above me.

"Did they find her jewelry yet?" I asked groggily.

She sighed, shaking her head. "No, and everyone's starting to panic."

"Doesn't she have something similar in her collection? Or maybe in her office locker?" I suggested, rubbing my eyes.

Ishaani's eyes lit up. "That's a great idea! Wait, I'll call Aadya and ask her to check with Roohi."

As she pulled out her phone, I stretched. "Where did Roohi go, anyway?"

"She had to sign some documents, and aunty insisted she take Aadya along. But she told them to be back within two hours, and time's ticking."

"Do we have any work to do in the meantime?" I asked, already dreading the answer.

"Of course," Ishaani replied briskly. "We need to finalize Roohi's mehndi design and style her outfits for today. There's a puja in two hours and the mehndi function tonight."

"Two outfits?" I groaned. "I only brought something for the mehndi. What about the puja?"

"We'll raid Roohi's wardrobe," Ishaani said confidently, already heading towards Roohi's room.

Watching Ishaani work was like witnessing a master artist in her element. She sifted through outfits with precision, discarding jewelry and accessories with a single glance.

"No, this necklace is too heavy," she muttered, handing me another box. "Pass me the earrings in that velvet case-yes, those! And grab the pastel dupatta from there."

"You're so bossy," I teased, earning an exasperated glance.

"Navya, styling is an art," she said seriously. "The right jewelry, the perfect drape, the hairstyle-it all has to align. Roohi deserves to look flawless."

"Noted, Miss Perfectionist," I said with a laugh, passing her the items she needed.

"Thanks," she muttered, focused entirely on her task. Then, without looking up, she added, "You should learn a thing or two about this. It might come in handy for your wedding."

Her comment caught me off guard, and I froze for a moment. "Oh, shut up," I retorted, masking my emotions with mock annoyance.

She chuckled, finally looking up. "You're so transparent, Navya."

As I watched her work, I couldn't help but admire her dedication. "You're amazing, Ishaani. Roohi's lucky to have you."

"And you're lucky to have me too," she quipped, her grin infectious.

We both burst into laughter, the tension lifting as we returned to preparing for the day ahead.

Roohi's POV

As soon as we reached home, Chachi was standing at the door, engrossed in a phone call. The moment she spotted us, she sighed dramatically.

"You're late! Go inside through the back door before your mothers notice."

I handed her the box in my hand, grinning sheepishly. "Found this in the office locker. I must have forgotten it when I sent the other jewelry."

Her eyes widened as she opened the box, revealing my wedding day necklace. "Oh, thank God you found it! We were so worried."

"By the way, Chachi," Aadya chimed in with a playful smile, "you look stunning as always."

Chachi gave her a knowing look and preened. "I always look pretty, but you two need to hurry up and look pretty too!"

The three of us chuckled as Aadya and I slipped inside through the back door.

When we reached my room, chaos greeted us. Clothes were scattered everywhere, and Navya and Ishaani were mid-makeover. Navya had just finished her makeup and was now adjusting Ishaani's dupatta, all while complaining, "Now no one's going to say anything to Roohi or Aadya madam for being late. But me? I'm always the target!"

Aadya smirked, sneaking up behind Navya and placing a hand on her shoulder. Navya jumped, slapping Aadya's arm in retaliation, while Ishaani and I burst out laughing.

Aadya, ever the instigator, teased, "That's because we're not always late, unlike someone who answers her phone while sleeping and says, 'Oh, I'm on my way.' Or someone who forgets things and just blames it on being busy with patients!"

Navya rolled her eyes. "You don't understand! For a doctor, sleep is a luxury."

The two of them continued bickering for what felt like forever. The only silver lining was Aadya getting ready during the argument, while Navya lounged on the couch, already done with her makeup.

I finally intervened. "Okay, enough! Get ready quickly."

As I finished getting dressed, Ishaani came over to the makeup artist. "A small bindi would look good," she suggested.

The artist nodded and adjusted it. Ishaani smiled at me. "You look beautiful, Roohi."

I grinned back. "All thanks to you."

I turned to see Aadya doing her makeup, while Navya was still lounging on the couch. My patience finally snapped. "Navya, at this rate, you're going to end up at the puja in your night suit!"

Navya groaned. "Your clothes don't even fit me!"

I raised an eyebrow. "Then ask Naina for something."

Navya's face lit up. "Good idea!" She quickly called my cousin Naina, who arrived within minutes holding a gorgeous outfit.

Naina handed it over with a warm smile. "Try this, Navya Di. If it doesn't fit, come to my room, and we'll find something else."

Navya beamed. "You're my savior, Naina!"

Naina turned to me, hugging me tightly. "Oh my God, Roohi Di! You look so beautiful!"

I smiled. "Thank you."

Glancing at Navya scrolling through her phone again, I sighed. "Navya, you have ten minutes to get ready, or I'm dragging you downstairs in that night suit!"

She gave me a dramatic look. "Seriously, Roohi? You have to do the puja. What will I do there?"

"Yes, seriously. Put the phone down and get ready, or I'm not leaving this room."

Navya sighed but finally stood up and went into the closet to change. Meanwhile, I pointed at a pair of earrings in the jewelry box. "Those will go perfectly with her outfit," I told Aadya.

When Navya returned, I handed her the earrings. "Now wear these." She reluctantly complied, at least sparing us further delay.

"Let's go," she finally said, and I smiled in relief.

Aadya couldn't resist teasing. "Such an attention-seeker you are, Dr. Navya."

Navya smirked. "You're jealous, Aadya. Admit it."

Before they could start bickering again, Ishaani interjected. "Enough now."

Finally, we left the room, feeling relieved that the chaos was under control.

Downstairs, the hall looked stunning, decorated with white flowers and diyas. The gathering was small, with just our families and close friends, as this was a puja my dadi had insisted on before the wedding rituals began.

My eyes scanned the room, and I found Advay deep in conversation with my father. A small smile crept onto my face. Something about the way he interacted with my family filled me with warmth.

As the puja began, we sat side by side. He leaned closer and whispered, "Miss Agrawal, are we ready for this?"

I glanced at him, smirking. "Never been this ready."

His flawless side profile and the slight brush of his hand against mine sent butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

When the puja ended, he extended a hand to help me stand. The warmth of his touch was grounding, comforting. We stood for the aarti together, and it felt... natural, as if we'd done this a thousand times before.

Afterward, we joined the elders at a table. Sitting with our dadis and some relatives was peak awkwardness. One relative leaned in conspiratorially. "Now that you're getting married, you must have children soon. Don't be like those silly modern couples."

Advay and I exchanged a quick, panicked look.

Another elder chimed in. "Yes, having kids is such a blessing!"

His dadi tried to diffuse the situation. "Lalita, let them decide. We cannot force them."

Just as I was silently thanking her, my dadi decided to make it more awkward. "But having children within the first year of marriage is always best."

Under the table, Advay's hand found mine-a small, reassuring gesture. Finally, he spoke up. "Dadi, Roohi and I need to discuss some work-related matters. Excuse us."

The excuse was weak, earning chuckles from the elders, but it gave us the escape we desperately needed.

As we walked away, I couldn't help teasing him. "'Work-related matters'? Really, Advay?"

He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I panicked! What was I supposed to say?"

I smirked. "And here I thought the great Advay Birla was smooth-talking and composed. How do you manage your company with skills like these?"

He shot me a look. "Corporate is formal. I don't give anyone the liberty to discuss my personal life there. And... what they were talking about was-"

"Way too personal," I finished for him.

He nodded, flustered. I grinned. "Wait... are you getting shy, Mr. Birla?"

Before he could reply, I added playfully, "By the way, having kids in a year isn't such a bad idea. What do you say, Mr. Birla?"

His gaze darkened, and his voice dropped. "Absolutely not. Let me have you all to myself for a while, and then we'll see about those ideas."

He leaned in, and I instinctively closed my eyes, only to hear him chuckle. When I opened my eyes, he was holding a flower petal he'd plucked from my hair.

The huskiness in his tone sent shivers down my spine. Before I could respond, he placed a quick kiss on my forehead and whispered, "You seem in a hurry, Miss Agrawal."

I touched my cheeks, muttering under my breath, "Why do I always end up in these situations?"

Shivansh's Pov :

After the puja, the Agrawal family, the Birlas, and a handful of close family friends gathered in the expansive lawn to share a meal. A single long table stretched across the space, laden with food, the air buzzing with cheerful conversations and occasional bursts of laughter. It was a perfect afternoon, one that would have been relaxing if not for the weight of work lingering on my mind. I'd been fielding calls all morning, and though I'd silenced my phone, my mood was still decidedly off.

I was seated between Aadya and Shanaya. Aadya, as expected, was toying with her food, pushing pieces around her plate without any intention of eating. Barely five minutes had passed when she nudged me with her elbow, offering a piece of paneer on her fork.

"Will you have this?" she asked, her tone casual yet familiar.

Without hesitation, I leaned over and took it, our exchange requiring no words. Aadya hated paneer, and I'd long since gotten used to finishing it for her.

In return, I slid a brownie from my plate onto hers. "Here. Take this."

She shot me a skeptical look. "I don't want it."

"You do," I replied with a small smirk. "You're just being stubborn. Eat it before I change my mind."

She rolled her eyes, but the corners of her lips tugged into a reluctant smile as she took the brownie. It was a rhythm we'd fallen into years ago-a quiet give-and-take that needed no explanation.

But the moment didn't last.

"Shivansh," Shanaya's overly sweet voice interrupted, pulling my attention away. She held her plate toward me with an expectant smile. "Will you have this?"

I frowned, caught off guard. "What?"

"I don't eat paneer," she explained. "I'm lactose intolerant."

I blinked, unsure how to respond, but Aadya stepped in before I could.

"Why would he eat your food?" she asked sharply, her tone colder than I'd heard in a while. "Finish it yourself."

Shanaya's smile faltered, replaced by a look of surprise. "But he ate yours," she retorted, her voice tinged with irritation. "What's the difference?"

Aadya sat up straighter, her gaze unwavering as she responded, "The difference is that you and I are not the same to him."

The table fell into stunned silence. The hum of conversation around us ceased as heads turned our way. My cousins, Roohi's friends, even Aadya's parents-all eyes were fixed on the three of us. Shanaya, however, wasn't backing down.

"Oh, you're right," she shot back, her tone dripping with mock sweetness. "We're not the same. I'm his friend, someone he actually talks to, while you're nobody. You fought with him, didn't even speak to him for years, and now you're acting like you own him!"

I opened my mouth to intervene, but Aadya beat me to it.

"Of course, I own him," she said coolly, her voice calm and precise.

A collective gasp rippled across the table. Shanaya's eyes widened in disbelief, her cheeks flushing with anger. I could feel the weight of everyone's stares on me, and the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.

"Aadya," I murmured, my voice low and warning, but she ignored me entirely.

Shanaya leaned forward, her voice rising for effect. "He doesn't even like you. Remember that?"

"Shanaya-" I began, but before I could finish, Aadya delivered her final blow.

"He doesn't like me because he loves me."

The lawn fell into stunned silence. Vivaan, mid-drink, choked loudly, and Ishaani scrambled to hand him water. I caught Roohi exchanging wide-eyed glances with her friends, while my cousins gawked like they'd just witnessed a scandal unfold before their eyes.

As the weight of Aadya's words settled over me, I turned to her, my expression unreadable. She sat there, composed and unyielding, but as our eyes met, I saw the faintest flicker of emotion-something between defiance and regret.

The silence stretched on, broken only by the faint rustling of leaves and whispered murmurs from the guests. My jaw tightened as I exhaled slowly, trying to piece together what had just happened.

What had she done? And why did it feel like everything had just changed?

Chapter Aesthetics

Roohi's Outfit

Ishaani's Outfit

Aadya's Outfit

Navya's Outfit

Advay's Outfit

Doc & Rey