[28]

The Next Morning

The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a golden hue across the room. Vaani stirred awake, her eyes fluttering open to find herself securely wrapped in Rishit's arms. His grip was firm yet comforting, and his face looked peaceful, his eyes still closed.

Her gaze softened as she looked at him, studying every detail of his serene expression. A gentle smile graced her lips as she leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on his cheek.

She lingered for a moment before kissing his other cheek, then his forehead. Her eyes finally settled on his lips, and after a brief hesitation, she leaned down and gave him a quick peck.

"Hayee, kahin yeh koi sapna toh nahi hai," Vaani whispered to herself, her voice barely audible, a playful smile tugging at her lips.

To her surprise, a deep, teasing voice responded, "Nahi, haqeeqat hai yeh."

Vaani's eyes widened in shock as she saw Rishit slowly opening his eyes, a sly smile spreading across his face.

"Aap jaag rahe the?!" she asked, her tone a mixture of disbelief and embarrassment.

"Haan," Rishit replied, his teasing smile growing wider as he watched her cheeks flush.

"Bataya kyun nahi?" she demanded, her voice laced with mock anger.

Rishit chuckled, his tone playful. "Main toh bas dekhna chahta tha ki aap mere neend me hone ka kitna fayda utha sakti hain." His eyes glinted mischievously as he dramatically added, "Aur dekha, poora uthaya!"

"Aap bahut gande hain, Rishit!" Vaani exclaimed, her face turning crimson. She quickly got up from the bed, unable to meet his gaze, and darted toward the washroom.

Rishit remained on the bed, his head propped up on one hand as he watched her retreating figure with an affectionate smile.

"You healed something you never broke, Vaani," he muttered under his breath, his voice soft and filled with gratitude.

A bittersweet expression crossed his face as he added, "Mere dil mein Nandini hamesha rahegi, par aap mere zehan aur dimaag mein bas gayi hain."

He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the emotions wash over him before sitting up, ready to face the day with the woman who had slowly but surely brought light back into his life.

********************

The dining table was filled with the clinking of plates and the aroma of fresh breakfast, but the atmosphere was otherwise quiet until Vidhi decided to break the silence.

"Bhai, aap wapas kab ja rahe ho?" Vidhi asked, looking at Rishit.

"Dekhta hoon, abhi kuch decide nahi kiya hai," Rishit replied, taking a sip of his coffee.

Vidhi's eyes lit up with an idea. "Achha, toh phir hum aaj garden mein party karte hain!" she suggested enthusiastically.

"Haan jiju, karte hain na! Mazaa aayega," Ved chimed in, his excitement unmistakable.

Vidhi smirked, her teasing tone making an entrance. "Aur Aarohi ko bhi bula lenge." She shot a knowing glance at Ved, whose expression immediately turned to one of betrayal.

"Jab dost aise ho, toh dushman ki kya zaroorat," Ved said dramatically, throwing his hands up in mock disbelief.

"Zyada nautanki mat kar, warna sach mein bula loongi," Vidhi retorted, rolling her eyes.

Vaani, sitting beside Rishit, furrowed her brows in confusion. "Kaun Aarohi, Vidhi?" she asked.

Vidhi chuckled. "Wahi stalker," she said, her tone full of mischief.

"Woh? Haan haan, bulao! Main bhi toh miloon usse jiski choice itni kharaab hai," Vaani teased, glancing at Ved with mock pity.

By now, Rishit, feeling thoroughly out of the loop, raised a brow. "Mujhe koi batayega ki yeh kiski baat ho rahi hai?"

Vidhi grinned and launched into the story, detailing Ved's interactions with Aarohi, the so-called "stalker," while everyone listened with suppressed laughter.

Once she finished, Rishit joined the teasing. "Haan haan, use bhi bulao. Mazaa aayega," he said, shooting Ved a playful look.

Ved groaned, standing up abruptly. "Aap sab bahut gande ho!" he exclaimed, stomping off toward his room in mock annoyance.

The moment Ved was out of sight, the room erupted into laughter. Even Rishit couldn't hold back, his laughter mixing with everyone else's, filling the air with joy.

********************

At Night...in the Garden...

The garden glowed under the soft light of fairy strings, the bonfire crackled to life, and the cool breeze carried the scent of grilled vegetables. The atmosphere was filled with warmth and joy, perfect for an intimate evening with friends and family.

Rishit and Vidhan stood by the grill, expertly flipping paneer and capsicum skewers, their casual banter blending into the night.

Meanwhile, Ved, Vidhi, and Vaani sat near the bonfire, struggling to get the flames going when two cheerful voices broke through the calm.

"Hii Vidhi!" Aarohi and Amrita walked into the garden with radiant smiles, carrying an air of excitement with them.

Vidhi immediately got up to greet them, while Ved froze in his spot, his jaw dropping at the sight of Aarohi.

"Welcome, welcome!" Vidhi said enthusiastically, motioning for them to join.

As they approached, Vidhi introduced Vaani with pride. "Aarohi, Amrita, this is my bhabhi and Ved's elder sister."

Vaani stood up gracefully, extending a polite smile. "Hi, I'm Vaani Rishit Oberoi. Nice to meet you both."

Aarohi and Amrita greeted her warmly, and Vidhi added, "Chalo, ab main tumhe Rishit bhai aur Vidhan se milwati hoon."

As they made their way to the grill, Aarohi's gaze briefly met Ved's, who quickly looked away, pretending to focus on the bonfire. Aarohi bit her lip and followed Vidhi, her expression unreadable.

Vidhi introduced them to Rishit and Vidhan one by one before everyone returned to the bonfire area. However, Ved pulled Vidhi aside, his tone frustrated.

"Aarohi ko kyun bulaya?" he asked, his brows knitting together.

Vidhi smirked. "Meri marzi," she replied nonchalantly before walking off, leaving Ved muttering to himself.

"Meri toh koi izzat hi nahi hai," Ved grumbled, reluctantly heading back. To his dismay, the only seat left was between Vidhan and Aarohi.

"Sabko dekh lunga main," he muttered under his breath as he sat down, maintaining a deliberate distance from Aarohi.

"What should we do now?" Vidhi asked, glancing around the group.

"Let's play passing the parcel!" Vaani suggested, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

Everyone agreed, but Vidhi raised a practical question. "Lekin music kaun handle karega?"

"I'll do it!" Amrita volunteered enthusiastically, earning approving nods from the group.

Vidhi grabbed a pillow as Amrita sat near the music system. The game began with laughter as the pillow moved quickly between hands.

Vidhi passed it to Vidhan, who passed it to Ved, who hesitated briefly before handing it to Aarohi. As their fingers brushed, an unexpected jolt traveled through both of them, leaving Aarohi momentarily flustered. But Ved, determined to avoid the tension, averted his gaze. Aarohi, masking her disappointment, passed the pillow to Vaani.

Vaani handed it to Rishit, and just as he was about to pass it back to Vidhi, the music stopped.

"Ab aapko dare milega," Vidhi announced with a wicked grin.

"Okay, do. Kya dare dena hai?" Rishit asked, raising an eyebrow with a playful smile.

Vidhi thought for a moment before smirking. "Do a paper dance with Vaani bhabhi, but first, ask her to dance in a romantic way!"

Rishit stood up confidently, brushing his hands together. Without a trace of hesitation, he walked over to Vaani and knelt down in front of her, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"May I have the pleasure to dance with you, madam?" he asked in a mock formal tone, his lips curling into a smile.

Vaani giggled, playing along. She placed her hand in his and said dramatically, "Sure."

The group burst into laughter and cheers as Rishit helped Vaani to her feet. The couple stepped onto the makeshift dance floor.

The music began, and Rishit gently placed one hand on Vaani's waist, the other holding her hand firmly yet tenderly. Their movements were fluid yet cautious, stepping carefully to stay within the boundaries of the paper. The soft glow of fairy lights danced on their faces, highlighting the quiet smiles they shared.

As the paper shrank with each round, their proximity grew, forcing them to hold each other closer. Vaani's arms wrapped instinctively around Rishit's neck, while his hands rested securely on her waist. Their steps became smaller, their breaths mingling as they swayed in perfect rhythm.

The world around them faded, the cheers of their friends turning into a distant hum.

After their dance, the group resumed their game of passing the pillow, the lively atmosphere buzzing with excitement. This time, as the pillow came to a halt, all eyes turned to Ved.

"Ab ayega na maza," Vidhi muttered under her breath, her lips curling into a sly smirk as she exchanged a mischievous glance with Vaani.

Vaani, catching on to the teasing mood, announced, "So Ved, tumhara dare yeh hai ki we will blindfold you and you will find us."

Ved gave a casual nod, accepting the challenge with a confident smirk. The group wasted no time, blindfolding Ved with a scarf. The second his vision was obscured, everyone scattered in different directions, laughter and playful shrieks echoing through the open space.

Vidhi and Vidhan bolted together, their steps quick and synchronized as they disappeared behind a cluster of trees. Vaani and Rishit headed toward the far corner, sharing a laugh as they dodged around a bench. Aarohi and Amrita dashed toward the another direction of garden, their giggles trailing behind them.

Ved stood still for a moment, his senses heightened, trying to discern the faint sounds of movement around him. With slow, deliberate steps, he began moving toward the faint rustle of leaves-Aarohi and Amrita's hiding spot.

From a distance, Vidhi, Vidhan, Vaani, and Rishit observed Ved's movements, their hushed laughter barely contained. "Look, he's heading straight for them," Rishit whispered, his tone laced with amusement.

As Ved approached, Aarohi and Amrita exchanged panicked glances. Amrita, with a sudden burst of mischief, gave Aarohi a playful shove towards Ved. The unexpected push caused Aarohi to lose her footing, stumbling directly into his arms.

Caught off guard, Ved instinctively reached out, but the momentum caused both of them to lose balance. They tumbled to the ground, Aarohi landing atop Ved with a soft thud. For a heartbeat, neither moved.

Ved, slightly stunned, pulled off his blindfold. As his gaze locked with Aarohi's, the world seemed to blur around them, fading into oblivion. The laughter, the rustling leaves, the murmurs of their friends-all melted away, leaving just the two of them suspended in the moment.

Their minds betrayed them, conjuring a memory from few months ago-a day in the college garden when they had found themselves in the exact same position. A mix of nostalgia and unspoken emotions flickered in their eyes, and for a brief moment, neither dared to break the spell.

Aarohi, snapping back to reality, scrambled to her feet, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Ved followed suit, brushing the dust off his shirt. His expression hardened as he glared at the group, his piercing gaze silencing their laughter momentarily. Without a word, he turned on his heel and headed back to the mansion, his demeanor unreadable.

The group watched him retreat, the playful mood slightly dampened but the smiles still lingering. Aarohi and Amrita exchanged awkward glances before quietly heading back to their own house.

The remaining group members dispersed, retreating to their rooms, though the memory of the moment lingered, unspoken yet vivid, in everyone's mind.

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