115.
We were already at the altar. Shaurya was holding my hand.
"I do," he said, a soft smile playing on his lips.
My grip on his hand tightened.
"Do you take Shaurya Shekhawat as your lawfully wedded husband?" the priest asked.
"I do," I replied.
Before anything else could be said, Shaurya pulled me in and kissed me.
Everything faded. No noise, no people—just us. The kiss was intense, consuming, like the world had narrowed down to that single moment—
"AARAV—AARAV!! WAKE UP, FOR GOD'S SAKE!"
I jolted upright.
Wait... what?
It was a dream.
What the hell—and why were we having a white wedding in the first place?
I scratched my neck, still dazed, and looked over. Eve and Yug were standing there, dressed like they were about to attend prom.
"Look at him drooling—the pillow's soaked," Eve said, pointing.
I glanced down. She wasn't wrong.
"I'm pretty sure you were dreaming about Shaurya's thing" she added with a smirk.
Yug made a disgusted face.
"What are you guys doing here so early?" I muttered, yawning. "And why are you dressed like that?"
They both looked they were dressed up for prom.
Eve stared at me like I'd just committed a crime. Hands on her hips.
"Aarav, it's not early. It's 9 a.m. The sun is out, people are already melting in this heat."
Wait—what?
"Yes," Yug added casually, "which means you're getting married in less than two hours."
I froze.
Then I shot out of bed and rushed to check the clock.
No prank.
"Shit."
I bolted into the bathroom, turning the shower on without another thought. My mind was racing—I had to get ready, and fast.
By the time I got out, brushed my teeth, and threw on something decent, I stepped back into the room.
They'd brought breakfast.
Eve was already halfway through it.
The stylist was there too—a well-known one, judging by the confidence—and her assistants were already setting things up.
Everything moved quickly after that.
I slipped into my suit—a deep wine color. Black and white felt too I don't know... tacky.
The makeup artist kept it light, just enough to enhance. Nothing over the top.
Somewhere in the middle of all the movement—voices, adjustments, final touches—I realized we'd even hired a photographer.
Everything was falling into place.
And yet...
As time passed, something shifted.
A strange feeling settled in my chest.
Nervousness.
The first time, everything had happened so fast I didn't have time to think. But now... I did.
This wasn't just a moment.
This was life.
A lifetime.
Holding Shaurya's hand—not just today, but every day after this. Through everything.
I took a slow breath, steadying myself.
Yeah.
I was nervous.
But I was also sure.
And I was going to do this.
Because no matter how much had happened... it was Shaurya.
And even a thousand times over, I would still choose him.
Because he was mine.
"Are you thinking about something?" Yug asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I shook my head lightly. "Nope. Just a bit tired from all the dancing yesterday."
"I figured," Yug said with a small nod.
"Can I take a picture of you both?" the photographer interrupted.
"Sure," I replied.
Yug stepped beside me, and we both smiled at the camera. We gave a few poses—some normal, some slightly ridiculous—until the photographer seemed satisfied and moved on to Eve.
Yug turned back to me.
"So... it's happening," he said, a soft smile forming on his face.
I nodded, letting out a quiet chuckle. "Yeah. Crazy, I know."
He patted my shoulder. "I'm happy for you. I just... don't know what else to say."
"I'm just happy you're here," I said, holding onto his arm for a moment. "It really means a lot to me."
There was a pause before I spoke again, my voice softer this time.
"Yug... this is one of the best days of my life. And I'm really grateful to you. For everything. Truly." I glanced toward Eve. "You too."
Eve paused mid-shoot, then walked toward us.
"It's not just me who's scared of change," I continued. "You both are part of my life—have been for years. And now... things are shifting. There's distance creeping in, whether we like it or not."
I swallowed, trying to keep my voice steady.
"But I don't want to lose this. I want you both in my life—always."
I looked at Eve.
"I don't think I've ever thanked you enough. But... thank you. For everything. You gave me something I didn't even know I needed." My voice softened further. "My daughter... she is everything she is today because of you."
Then I turned to Yug.
"And you... thank you for standing by us. For protecting this family. All four of us."
Silence settled for a moment.
Eve wiped her tears, her lips trembling into a smile.
"You're crying," Yug said softly, pulling me into a hug. "I don't want you to cry."
I held onto him tightly.
After a moment, he pulled back and cupped my face, his expression serious but warm.
"I'll always be there for you. Every single day," he said. "Shaurya's a great guy, I know—but if you ever feel like punching him, you call me first."
I let out a small laugh. I could tell he wanted to say more... but didn't. Instead, he just gave me a reassuring smile.
"I want a hug too!" Eve chimed in, stepping closer.
"Careful," Yug warned, glancing at her. "Your makeup will ruin his outfit."
Eve smacked his arm. "Shut up."
The three of us wrapped into a group hug, holding on a little longer than usual before pulling apart.
"Janmo ke saathi, hum saath saath hain!" Veer sang dramatically, clapping his hands.
I groaned.
Ravi stood beside him, casually recording everything on his phone, looking far too entertained.
"What are you guys doing here?" I asked. "Shouldn't you be with Shaurya? Keep an eye on him—he's basically a toddler when it comes to getting ready."
"Relax," Veer said. "Aarohi's handling it. And there are others too."
"Damn, Ravi," Eve said, eyeing him up and down. "You're looking really good today. Too hot."
"I look good in everything," Ravi replied smoothly, slipping his phone into his pocket, "except that shitty uniform."
I glanced at Yug.
Yeah.
He was staring at Ravi.
Not just staring—staring.
I knew that look.
Man was practically devouring him with his eyes.
Good going, Ravi.
"Uh... I'll be back," Yug said suddenly. "Need to make a call."
And just like that, he rushed out.
"Gay panic," Eve whispered near my ear.
"Definitely," I muttered.
"By the way," I added, turning back, "did Dadi finalize everything with the pandit ji? He was saying some items were missing."
"Yeah, all sorted now," Ravi said casually. "He's pretty chill. Was eating pizza in his room."
"Cheat day hoga unka," Veer added with a grin.
----------------------------------------
My mother once told me I didn't deserve to be loved.
I was seven... maybe eight. Aarohi had just been born. And somehow, she had already figured out her son was... different.
For years, I convinced myself I was the problem.
That my existence was the reason my parents' marriage fell apart.
My dad always stood by me. That never changed.
The funny thing is—I never even had to come out to him. He just... knew. And he accepted me the way I was.
But even that wasn't enough to silence the voice in my head telling me I was the reason everything broke.
Until one day... he came back into my life.
The guy who was supposed to marry my sister.
And yet—here we are.
Standing side by side.
Holding hands.
His eyes... they still shine the same way they did the first time he told me he loved me. Like he's seeing me for the first time, every single time.
He's the one who made me realize... I was never the problem.
That I was worthy of love.
But loving him hasn't been easy.
Not for us.
The past few years have been messy.
Tattoos.
Drugs.
Bad decisions.
Scars.
But instead of doing what most people do—walking away from a bad decision and starting over—he stayed.
He stayed.
He fought with himself... and for me... just to make us happen.
He made it feel like a celebration.
He took all my chaos and turned it into something that sounded like music.
He looked at every flaw I tried to hide—and loved it anyway. Not out of pity. Not to "support" me. But because he loved me as a whole.
And today...
He becomes my family.
The man who loves me so much that I want to carry his name for the rest of my life—because somehow, our names just fit.
He's someone I could brag about every single day.
And I will.
To our children.
—
Now we're standing in the main hall of the mansion.
It's a mafia wedding—though honestly, it feels less like a celebration and more like we're about to be sacrificed. You can't really expect warm smiles from elite crime families.
Except...
My people.
My chaos.
They stand out like little minions in a room full of shadows—grinning, cheering, completely out of place among a bunch of well-dressed threats.
Veer is busy fixing Shaurya's sleeves like he's preparing him for a fight instead of a wedding.
"BITCH, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT?" Eve suddenly screams into my ear.
I flinch, blinking back to reality.
Right.
The rings.
We were supposed to exchange the rings.
"You guys are lucky this is your second time," Ravi mutters dryly. "Be quick."
"Wait for us! Wait for us!"
Aarya's voice echoed through the hall as she came running toward us, dragging Vayu along like a helpless ragdoll in her grip.
She was dressed in a long gown, her hair tied into a neat bun adorned with tiny flowers. For a moment, my chest tightened. I placed a hand over it, exhaling slowly.
She looked... beautiful.
A little too beautiful.
Both Aarya and Vayu stretched their arms toward Ravi, making grabby hands. Ravi chuckled and effortlessly picked them both up.
Two microphones were handed to them.
Oh.
So there isa speech.
"Good afternoon, uncles and aunties," Aarya began confidently.
"Welcome to the wedding of my Big Papa and Mamu," Vayu followed, slightly less steady but just as proud.
"They're also my daddy and papa," Aarya added quickly, raising her hand. "So I'm more important."
Laughter rippled across the hall.
Even the bald photographer laughed a bit too loudly, like he'd just heard the greatest joke of his life. Honestly, photographers could be... a lot. Some of them practically shoved their cameras into your face.
Aarya suddenly turned her head toward Veer.
Veer cleared his throat.
"I thought you were smart enough to remember the speech," he said.
"I'm six, Chachu," Aarya pouted.
"Right, right... fair enough." Veer scratched the back of his neck, stepping forward. "I'm not that smart either, but I'll handle it."
He took a mic.
"So, ladies and gentlemen," he began, straightening slightly, "thank you for joining us today. This is a very special day, and I'm lucky to be both a brother and a friend to these two."
He gestured toward us.
"They mean a lot to me. And today, we're here to celebrate the union of these... old lovebirds."
I blinked.
Of course he had to add old.
"When I first found out my best friend liked my brother," Veer began casually, "trust me—I created entire fake scenarios for them in my head. Like... full-on imagination. Positions and all."
A few people coughed. Some laughed.
Ravi nodded like this was completely normal. Shaurya just chuckled under his breath.
These people.
"I used to think Aarav was the bigger idiot—being all cringe and in love," Veer continued. "But trust me, my brother is worse." He pointed at Shaurya. "Look at him—he's already throwing hearts at Aarav with his eyes. Get a grip, man."
"Beautiful," Shaurya mouthed to me.
I couldn't help it—I smiled, tightening my hold on his hand. His thumb brushed over mine gently, grounding me.
"I should probably say something poetic here," Veer went on, glancing around. "But honestly, with this crowd? Half of you are already thinking nonsense. So let's keep it simple."
I wanted to disappear.
But I held my composure.
Veer's tone shifted then—subtly, but enough for everyone to notice.
"But seriously..." he said, quieter now. "I've never seen two people love each other like this. Well—except me and my wife, obviously."
A small ripple of laughter eased the moment.
"They just... fit," he continued. "And I'm really happy Aarav is back in our family." His gaze found mine. "Thank you, Aarav... for choosing my brother again. It means more than you know."
Something in his voice cracked.
Aarohi gently held his arm.
"I was... alone," Veer admitted softly. "These past few years." He swallowed. "Except for my wife—she never stopped believing things would get better."
His eyes flickered between us.
"I hope... we can go back to how things were. I really do." A small, emotional smile formed. "I love you. And... welcome back."
Silence settled over the hall.
Even Aarya and Vayu seemed to sense it, their expressions turning quiet and unsure.
My chest tightened.
Veer deserved a hug.
And he was going to get one.
"Alright," Veer cleared his throat, forcing his usual tone back. "Now comes the best part—where these two finally speak."
A soft wave of awws passed through the crowd before everything went quiet again.
And just like that...
All the attention shifted to us.
I hate this part.
"If you don't remember your speech, just exist and kiss your man," Ravi said, patting Shaurya's back.
Shaurya smirked faintly. "Can't wait to do that. But... I do have something to say."
My breath hitched.
"I made you promises," he began, his voice steady but soft. "Promises I couldn't always fulfill the way I should have."
No, you did.
"So I made a promise to myself," he continued, his gaze locked on me. "That no matter what happens... I'll never stop choosing you. I'll never stop chasing you. I'll never stop reminding you how much I love you—and how proud I am of you."
My throat tightened.
"For taking care of my daughter. For taking care of yourself." His voice deepened slightly. "And you can trust me now. I'll hold us together. Our family. And anyone who dares speak a word against you or Aarya..." His jaw tensed. "I'll rip off their mouth"
My eyes blurred.
"Baby..." he said softly, his expression melting. "I love you. You look beautiful. As always."
That one word—
Baby.
It broke me.
Tears slipped down before I could stop them.
"He's crying," Shaurya said immediately, worry flickering across his face. "Can I hug him?"
"No," Eve cut in flatly. "Let him look ugly. It's necessary for the photos."
Shaurya pouted like an actual child—but still pulled me a little closer.
I looked down, unable to meet his eyes. If I did, I'd completely lose it.
"I'm never getting tired of us," he said, quieter now, like it was just for me. "I promise I'll hold you. You can rely on me—for everything." His thumb brushed against my hand. "I'll hold you till I die".
"Stop saying that," I finally managed, my voice shaking. I lifted my hands to hold his face, tears still falling. "You're not going anywhere. Ever."
I probably looked like a complete mess.
Didn't matter.
He was right in front of me.
"I'll hate you forever if you leave me, you idiot," I said, my voice breaking halfway through. For a second, I forgot there were people watching us.
Eve was crying beside me too, her arm wrapped around me, trying to steady me.
I took a shaky breath before forcing myself to look up at him again.
"Sorry," I whispered.
"I didn't really prepare anything... so I guess I'll just say what I remember. About you. About us."
A small, broken laugh left me.
"I remember the first time I cooked for you. It was Maggi—and it was so bad it made me choke. But you still ate it."
"I remember how I used to talk nonstop... still do, a little. I remember keeping you up an entire night, rambling about some random business deal. You didn't complain. You just listened."
"I make fun of your moustache all the time..." I smiled faintly. "You never complain. You never judge me."
My voice softened as I looked down again.
"And then... we broke up."
"It felt insane. Like I was stuck in some kind of horror movie with no way out. I kept replaying everything—every word I said, every mistake I made."
"I thought you hated me. For the things I called you. I thought you were angry because I just... wasn't enough for you."
My fingers curled slightly as I spoke.
"So I tried to fix myself. I talked less. Buried myself in work. Tried to become someone... better. Someone you wouldn't leave."
A pause.
"I even learned how to cook properly this time," I let out a weak laugh. "Got a little wild too, sometimes."
My voice dropped.
"But then I got scared... that maybe you never cared in the first place."
"Anyway... enough of the sad stuff," I said, wiping my face with the back of my hand, a small smile breaking through. "I just want you to know—I'm always going to cook for you. Whether you like it or not. You have to eat my food."
A few laughs echoed around us.
"And I'm never going to stop talking about your moustache," I added, glancing at him. "Because you look really good in it."
My smile softened.
"You're... ridiculously handsome. And I already know people are going to be jealous—like, how did I manage to pull someone like you?" I let out a quiet laugh. "I'm going to brag about you to everyone. Jalne do sabko."
Shaurya didn't say anything. He just lifted my hand gently and pressed a kiss against it.
My heart—
Look at him.
My man.
Yeah... my man.
This is the best day of my life.
I love him.
I turned toward Veer. "I think we're done."
Veer was already a complete mess, wiping his face like it personally offended him. "My best friend... and my brother..." he choked out.
Aarohi groaned, snatching the mic from him. "Okay, enough. Let's move this along. Aarya, continue."
Aarya stepped forward, holding the mic in her tiny hands with full confidence.
"I want to say something first," she said, grinning mischievously. "Daddy, you look handsome... but not more than Papa."
The entire crowd melted.
Even the grumpiest faces in the room couldn't help it.
I glanced at Yug, standing a little away from us. But even from here, it was obvious—he and Ravi hadn't looked away from each other the entire time.
"Daddy," Aarya's voice pulled me back, "do you take Papa to be your husband?"
Shaurya didn't hesitate.
"I do."
My knees almost gave in right there.
God... I already wanted to kiss him.
"Mamu," Vayu said, his tiny voice wobbling with excitement, "do you take Big Papa to be your husband?"
A soft laugh slipped out of me.
"I do."
Cheers erupted around us. Veer was clapping the loudest, like his life depended on it.
"Clap for me too—I didn't lose the ring!" Ravi said.
"Oh shit, we actually forgot that," Eve said, quickly stepping in and handing us the rings.
Shaurya took my hand, his touch steady, and slid the ring onto my finger. I did the same, my hands slightly trembling.
Ravi gently set the kids down and stepped aside.
And then—
Shaurya cupped my face and kissed me.
Warm.
Soft.
Unhurried.
Not as intense as the ones I'd imagined a hundred times... but somehow, better. Real.
Someone—probably Roy—whistled loudly from the crowd.
I could feel Shaurya smiling against my lips before I slowly pulled back.
"Hi, Rajkumar Aarav," he murmured.
"It's Aarav Shaurya Shekhawat," I corrected, my voice quieter now.
His smile widened, and he pressed a soft kiss to my forehead.
Right.
I was meant to marry this man.
Even the name felt... complete.
"Wait—one more thing left," Veer announced, stepping forward with two glasses of wine—and a small knife.
I frowned slightly, but before I could say anything, Shaurya took the knife. Without hesitation, he made a small cut on his thumb—just enough for a drop of blood to surface—and let it fall into one of the glasses.
I swallowed... then did the same.
The room had gone quiet now.
We exchanged the glasses.
And then—
We drank.
That's how people in the mafia get married. A promise sealed in blood instead of words.
As if that chaos wasn't enough—
The big, loud, desi wedding was still waiting for us.
In the evening.