Epilogue
One week later
Sehgal Plaza Hotel
Goa
Akash sat beside Shauna at the center of the crowd, stage lights washing over them as their sangeet performances carried on.
Music thumped through the air, while laughter and cheers rang all around them as Mehak and Rishi, Aisha and Rithwik, and Diya and VJ finished their performance.
The lights dimmed, and seconds later, Keya, Sheena, and Raashi came on the stage.
Everyone around them cheered as they began to dance.
The three of them moved in perfect sync, their steps effortless, their smiles easy, like they’d been dancing together all their lives.
And in a way, they had. Their friendship stretched back decades, through schoolyards and college corridors, through heartbreaks and celebrations.
It had remained unchanged, unshaken, carrying them forward through every phase of life.
Akash found himself grinning as he clapped along with everyone else, a swell of affection rising in his chest. These three women had cared for him, nurtured him, and shaped him to be the man he was. He loved them all.
The music came to a slow halt, but the three of them remained on stage, exchanging quick, knowing smiles as the crowd buzzed in anticipation.
And then… Kabier, Rajiv, and Sameer strode onto the stage.
The crowd went wild. Cheers doubled, whistles rang out through the audience as the three men joined their wives, slipping into their place beside them like this had always been part of the plan. The music kicked back in with a popular Bollywood track, and the six of them danced to it.
His heart pulsed with happiness. God, these were his people. All of them. And here they were, together, lighting up the stage and looking absolutely spectacular. He was on his feet, hooting along with the rest of the crowd.
Shauna leaned forward, laughing and clapping loudly. “Oh my God, look at them!”
“This is insane!” he shouted, grinning as he watched them.
“So amazing,” she cheered when the couples finally stepped off the stage.
So far, all their friends and family had taken the stage. Damien and Aaliya had performed alongside Rishi and Mehak, as well as Sabrina and Aditya. Amara had danced with Vir, while the Oshnov siblings—Armaan, Vedant, and Mihir—had taken the floor with their spouses, Navya, Reina, and Ananya.
It had been quite a shocker to see Mihir dance. He was always so quiet and reserved. And yet, there he was on stage, moving with surprising ease, a small, uncharacteristic smile playing on his lips. Akash had cheered the loudest for him.
The Rajpoot siblings—Shaurya, Vihaan, Aaryan, and Avantika—had followed, paired with their other halves, Myra, Tiya, Sanjana, and Dev. Each performance had been spectacular in its own way, full of vibrant energy and moments that had the crowd cheering endlessly.
But the real highlight had been the kids.
All of them—every couple’s children—had been brought onto the stage together for a short performance.
Barely thirty seconds long, just tiny feet trying to keep up with the music, swaying more than dancing, some missing beats entirely, others spinning the wrong way.
It had been thirty seconds of pure, unfiltered, utterly irresistible cuteness.
He sighed. Tonight had been perfect so far.
He watched as the lights came on and Armaan and Vir walked toward the center of the stage, mics in their hands—the designated emcees for the night.
Shauna turned to look at him and gave him a brilliant smile.
He reached for her hand, lacing his fingers through hers.
Dressed in a golden lehenga, its cropped top and flared, shimmery skirt catching every flicker of light, she looked…
unreal. Radiant. Her face glowed with happiness and her eyes sparkled.
His chest tightened. God, she was so beautiful. And tomorrow morning, he would be marrying her.
“You look stunning,” he said.
“You’re not doing too badly yourself, Mr. Karia.” She kissed his cheek. “I like you in all black.”
He grinned. She’d selected the outfit for him. A simple black and gold sherwani that matched her gold lehenga.
“I’m glad you’re having a good time,” he said, brushing his thumb over her hand.
Her smile widened. “The best.”
He studied her for a moment, then added, “I’m still upset that you didn’t dance because I wasn’t going to.”
Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “Well, if you wanted to see me dance, you should have agreed to dance too.”
On the stage in front of them, Vir and Armaan started to speak.
“Weren’t all those performances simply fabulous?” Vir asked Armaan.
Armaan grinned. “They were splendid indeed. Potryasayushche.”
Akash let out a soft laugh. It still amused him sometimes how seamlessly Armaan blended Russian words into his speech.
“So, this spectacular night is almost coming to a close, da?” Armaan continued, his voice carrying easily across the crowd.
“You’re right,” Vir agreed with a nod. “Only two final performances remain. Let’s start with Shauna’s closest girls.” He gestured toward the stage with a flourish. “We bring to you Rhea and Jiya.”
Applause echoed through the space as the lights dimmed and Rhea and Jiya took the stage. They blew a kiss at Shauna before taking their positions.
The music kicked in. The song was fresh and infectious, a new Bollywood track with a teasing rhythm and a playful, irresistible beat that instantly had the crowd leaning in. Rhea and Jiya stepped into it effortlessly.
Their movements were fluid yet sharp, perfectly in sync, every turn and flick of the wrist matching the song’s flirtatious energy.
They glided across the stage, their expressions alive, their eyes sparkling, and their chemistry undeniable as they played off each other with practiced ease.
The crowd cheered as they danced like they owned every beat.
The music slowed for a beat, and Rhea and Jiya exchanged a quick glance before breaking formation. Before anyone could quite register what they were doing, they hopped off the stage and made their way straight to Shauna.
Shauna laughed, caught completely off guard as they tugged her toward the stage.
The crowd rippled with excitement as they pulled her up between them. Akash knew she hadn’t practiced this, hadn’t even expected it, but as the music picked up again, she danced to the main beats of the song in rhythm with them, matching their energy, her movements natural and graceful.
Akash was on his feet, unable to take his eyes off her. As the music ended, the crowd erupted in cheers. Rhea and Jiya pulled her into a quick hug before pressing a kiss to each of her cheek, laughing as they all took a bow together and slipped off the stage.
Slightly breathless, Shauna made her way back to him, a shy smile tugging at her lips. He pulled her closer and kissed her smiling mouth.
“Wow, you were brilliant,” he murmured. “I hate that you didn’t perform just because I’m not into choreographed dancing.”
She rolled her eyes fondly and flicked his nose. “It was my choice, Mr. Karia.”
Before he could protest, Armaan and Vir returned to the stage for the final performance.
The music hit hard. It was pulsating, electric, a popular song from one of Vir’s superhit films, and the two of them launched into it without hesitation. Their steps were wild, energetic, full of unrestrained confidence as they moved with the beat.
Akash let out a disbelieving laugh, shaking his head as he watched them. They were amazing. And then the music paused for a split second. Out of nowhere, Nirvaan, Rohan, and Dheer joined them on stage. Akash shot to his feet.
“Oh my God,” he said, turning to Shauna. “I can’t believe they’re all performing for us.”
Shauna was already standing, clapping excitedly, her eyes wide with delight.
Rohan, Dheer, and Nirvaan were as reclusive and quiet as Mihir. All these men avoided attention. And yet, here they were, right at the center of it all, dancing, celebrating… for them. For him.
His chest tightened, and warmth flooded through him as he watched them. Those men on that stage, laughing, moving, letting go… they were his tribe. His closest friends. And he adored every single one of them. He cheered the loudest as they finished their performance.
Jiya linked her arm through his. “I’m so grateful you’re Rohan’s friend. He’s changing, coming out of his shell, and a lot of it has to do with you.”
Akash laughed. “Actually, that’s all you, Jee. But I’ll happily take the credit.”
He looked ahead as Armaan and Vir returned on stage, mics in hand, and Jiya disappeared from his side.
He frowned. The performances were all over. So what were these two up to?
“Didn’t we say that those were the final two performances?” Vir said, a naughty gleam in his eyes.
“We did, da,” Armaan replied smoothly. “But we never spoke of the grand finale.”
“Yes, we have one last performance for the night,” Vir added, grinning. “Get ready for one last dance, the showstopper of the evening.”
A ripple of excitement moved through the crowd as the two of them stepped off the stage.
The lights dimmed once again as anticipation built in the air.
Akash turned to Shauna, his brows knitting together. “What grand finale?”
She smiled quietly and held her hand out to him.
He stared at it, confused.
“You said no choreographed dances,” she said.
“Yeah… so?”
“This night would be incomplete without you dancing.” Her smile widened. “Besides, it’s also customary for the bride and groom to dance together at their sangeet. So… shall we?”
He blinked, then let out a surprised laugh. “We wing it?”
She nodded, her fingers curling around his, and then, without giving him time to overthink it, she led him toward the stage.
The music began, soft at first, then building into a familiar rhythm. Akash took just a second to catch the beat, to recognize the flow of it. And then he moved. Not with rehearsed precision, not with practiced steps, but with her.