Chapter 68
Aditi's Perspective
The day I had both dreamed of and dreaded had finally arrived—my engagement to Kabir. I stood in front of the mirror, trying to still my racing heart. The maroon and gold lehenga I wore shimmered under the soft light, the intricate embroidery heavy on my skin but carrying the weight of this moment beautifully. I was 24, the eldest among my siblings and cousins, and today, I was about to take the first step into a new chapter of my life.
As I adjusted my dupatta, Anaya, my 12-year-old sister, appeared at my side, her eyes wide with admiration. "Didi, you look like a princess!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement. Anaya had been more excited about this day than I had. Her childlike enthusiasm had been a constant reminder of how special this moment was.
I smiled at her, reaching out to fix a stray hair from her neatly braided hairstyle. "Thank you, Anu. Are you ready for your important job today?"
She nodded enthusiastically. "I won't drop the ring, I promise!" Her face was serious now, as though she'd been entrusted with a mission of utmost importance.
Before I could reply, the door to my room swung open, and in walked my cousins—Arushi and Ridhima, both of them younger than me, but only by a couple of years. Arushi, who was 22 and pursuing her BDS, entered first, looking stunning in her royal blue saree. Ridhima, also 22 and currently in her MBBS, followed behind, wearing a gorgeous green lehenga. They were grinning, which only meant one thing: they were about to start teasing.
Arushi circled me, her eyes wide with mock admiration. "Aditi Didi, you look like a Bollywood heroine! I'm telling you, when Kabir Bhaiya sees you, he'll forget how to breathe."
Ridhima, ever the cheeky one, added with a smirk, "Forget breathing—he might just faint. We should have some water ready, just in case."
I could feel my cheeks warm under their teasing. I hadn't even seen Kabir yet, but the thought of him waiting downstairs, dressed in the black sherwani I'd heard so much about, made my heart pound harder. "You both are impossible," I muttered, though I couldn't hide my smile.
Just then, Atharv, our 20-year-old cousin who was also doing his MBBS, entered the room, grinning from ear to ear. "Didi, Kabir Bhaiya's pacing downstairs. You better hurry up before he wears a hole in the floor."
Ridhima nudged him, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I told you, Atharv. He's going to faint. It's just a matter of time."
"Or," Arushi said, smirking, "he might just start crying when he sees her. Either way, it's going to be entertaining."
I shook my head at them, but their banter helped calm my nerves. There was something about their teasing that grounded me, reminding me that while today was big, it was also about family, love, and laughter.
As I stood there, trying to gather my thoughts, Papa entered the room. His eyes softened when he saw me, and for a moment, the room fell silent. He didn't say anything right away, but the look in his eyes said it all—pride, joy, and a little bit of sadness.
"Papa..." I started, but my voice caught in my throat.
He smiled, his voice gentle. "Aditi, you look just like bhabhi maa did on your parent's engagement day."
His words wrapped around my heart, and I could feel tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. Maa and Papa weren't here, but in so many ways, they were.
"I miss them today," I whispered, my voice barely above a breath.
"I know," Papa said, pulling me into a hug. "But they are here with us. They are proud of you."
I held onto him for a moment longer, trying to absorb his strength. When we pulled apart, he cupped my face with his hand. "Are you ready, my little girl?"
I nodded, though my heart was still doing somersaults. "Yes, Papa."
Atharv, always the one to lighten the mood, stepped in again. "Alright, alright, enough of the emotional stuff. Kabir Jiju's downstairs waiting, and I'm pretty sure if we make him wait any longer, he might just run up here himself."
Ridhima and Arushi chuckled, and with one last look in the mirror, I took a deep breath. I was ready.
The engagement hall was a sight to behold. Gold drapes lined the walls, and marigold flowers hung in garlands from every archway. The hall was filled with family and friends, the air buzzing with excitement. But despite the festive atmosphere, the moment I stepped into the room, my eyes searched for only one person—Kabir.
And there he was, standing at the front near the stage, dressed in a black sherwani that made him look impossibly handsome. His hair was styled perfectly, and the way the light reflected off his outfit made him look like something straight out of a Bollywood movie. I could feel my breath catch in my throat as our eyes locked. The noise of the room faded, and for a second, it was just the two of us.
"Didi, look! Kabir Jiju can't stop staring at you!" Anaya whispered excitedly, tugging on my hand. Her innocent excitement made me smile, but inside, my heart was racing.
Arushi leaned in close, smirking. "I told you, Didi. Kabir Bhaiya's already losing it."
Ridhima, never missing a beat, added, "Forget losing it. He's done for."
When I reached the stage, Kabir stepped forward, his eyes still on me as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. He extended his hand toward me, and when our fingers touched, I could feel an electric jolt shoot through me.
"You look..." he started, his voice low, "beautiful, Aditi."
I smiled, my nerves melting away at the warmth in his eyes. "You don't look too bad yourself," I whispered, teasing him. "Very Rahul Raichand."
Kabir chuckled softly, his grip on my hand tightening just a bit. "Well, I had to match up to you, didn't I?"
Before I could respond, Arjun, Kabir's 12-year-old cousin, bounced over, grinning from ear to ear. "Kabir Bhaiya, don't let Atharv Bhaiya get to you. He was telling me that you might faint when you see Aditi Didi!"
Kabir laughed, reaching out to ruffle Arjun's hair. "Don't worry, Arjun. I think I'll survive."
Just as Kabir said this, Raghav, his best friend and colleague, and Sahil, his former colleague-turned-full-time YouTuber, appeared, smirking.
"You sure about that, Kabir?" Raghav teased, folding his arms. "I mean, you've been looking like you're about to pass out since Aditi walked in."
Sahil, never one to miss an opportunity, chimed in. "Yeah, we were taking bets in the back. I gave you ten minutes before you turned into a puddle."
Kabir rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the grin tugging at his lips. "I'm not giving you the satisfaction," he shot back, though I could feel the slight squeeze of his hand in mine.
Raghav laughed. "Well, if you do faint, I'll be here to catch you."
As the teasing continued, the panditji called us forward, signaling the beginning of the ceremony. The soft hum of the mantras filled the air, and the excitement from the room seemed to quiet as everyone gathered around us. Kabir's presence beside me grounded me, his hand brushing against mine from time to time in subtle reassurance.
When the time came to exchange rings, Anaya was practically bouncing in place, clutching the ring box like it was a precious treasure. Her serious expression as she handed it to me made me chuckle.
"Here, Didi. Be careful," she whispered, her wide eyes watching my every move.
"I've got it, Anu," I whispered back with a smile.
I turned to Kabir, who was waiting patiently, and as I slid the ring onto his finger, our eyes met again. The world seemed to still in that moment—no noise, no teasing, just the two of us. It was a quiet promise, a commitment sealed with a small band of gold. As I placed the ring on his finger, the room erupted in cheers, but all I could focus on was the warmth of Kabir's gaze and the future it held for us.
Kabir took the ring from Arjun, who grinned mischievously. "Don't mess this up, Kabir Bhaiya. Aditi Didi might change her mind if you do."
Kabir chuckled, shaking his head as he gently slipped the ring onto my finger. "I think I'll manage, Arjun."
As the ring slid into place, there was a palpable shift in the air. We were officially engaged. The room filled with applause and cheers, but my heart was still, filled only with the warmth of Kabir's touch.
Before we could bask in the moment, Raghav's voice broke through the applause. "So, Kabir, are we supposed to bow now? Or should we get the roses ready?" His grin was wide, and everyone around us burst into laughter.
Sahil, not one to miss out, chimed in. "Yeah, yeah! Where's the grand speech, Bhai? Tell us all how you swept Aditi off her feet."
Kabir shot them both a playful glare, but there was a fondness in his expression. "Don't you two have anything better to do than try to embarrass me?"
Raghav shrugged. "Nope. This is way more fun." He then turned to me with a wink. "Aditi, you'll let us keep teasing him, right? He needs someone to keep him in check."
I laughed, feeling the tension in my body melt away. "Oh, absolutely. You guys have my full permission."
Kabir sighed dramatically but squeezed my hand as the panditji signaled that the rituals were over and it was time for lunch. The family and friends began moving towards the dining area, but I could feel eyes on us as Kabir led me towards the main table.
As we sat down, Anaya rushed over to sit beside me, still brimming with excitement. "Didi, was I good? Did I do everything right?"
"You were perfect, Anu," I told her, smiling warmly.
Arushi, who had just sat down across from us, gave Kabir a teasing look. "So, Kabir Jiju, how does it feel? Officially engaged now. I think I see a few tears in your eyes."
Kabir raised an eyebrow. "Tears? The only tears I see are the ones Atharv will have after I beat him in cricket next week."
Atharv, sitting nearby, scoffed. "Oh please, Kabir Jiju. I've improved a lot since last time. Don't underestimate me."
Sahil, who had taken a seat next to Raghav, laughed. "Okay, okay, let's not turn this into a cricket match right now. We're here to celebrate Aditi and Kabir's engagement, not argue about who's better at cricket."
Everyone chuckled, and as the food was served, the teasing continued. Kabir's hand found mine under the table again, his thumb brushing gently against my palm. I glanced at him, catching his eye. He gave me a small, reassuring smile that sent warmth flooding through me. It was a silent conversation—one that didn't need words. We were in this together.
As we started eating, Chachi, who had been relatively quiet until now, leaned forward with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "So, Aditi, how are you going to manage Kabir now that he's your responsibility?"
The table erupted in laughter, and I blushed under the attention. "I think I'll manage," I said, trying to sound confident.
Raghav couldn't resist. "Oh, don't worry, Aditi. We'll be here to make sure Kabir behaves himself. Though, to be honest, that might be a full-time job."
Sahil nodded enthusiastically. "Yep. We'll make sure he's kept in check."
Kabir groaned, though he was clearly enjoying the banter. "Why do I feel like I'm the only one getting roasted here?"
"Because you are," I said sweetly, unable to resist the urge to tease him.
Anaya, always eager to join in, piped up. "Don't worry, Kabir Jiju. I'll help Didi keep you in line!"
The table roared with laughter at her innocent declaration, and Kabir reached over to give her a playful tap on the head. "Great. Now I'm outnumbered."
"You'll survive," I whispered to him, leaning slightly closer so only he could hear. His eyes flicked to mine, and for a brief moment, the teasing faded into the background as we shared a quiet smile. His presence beside me felt solid, comforting—like a promise of all the days to come.
As lunch continued, the atmosphere remained light and playful. Ridhima and Arushi traded jokes, Atharv and Arjun were busy plotting something mischievous, and Kabir's friends seemed determined to keep the spotlight on him. Every now and then, I would catch Kabir glancing at me, his gaze softening in a way that made my heart flutter.
At one point, Kabir's mother, who had been talking with the elders, leaned in toward me with a gentle smile. "You know, Aditi, you've been part of our family for a while now, but today it feels real. I'm so happy to officially welcome you."
Her words touched me deeply, and I felt a lump in my throat as I smiled at her. "Thank you, Aunty—" I hesitated and then corrected myself with a shy smile. "Thank you, Maa."
Her eyes softened further, and she reached over to pat my hand. Kabir noticed the exchange, his gaze warming as he saw the affection between us.
After lunch, there was a brief lull as people started moving around the hall again. Kabir and I excused ourselves to check on the gifts, a task that felt more like a brief escape from all the attention. As we made our way to the back, Kabir's hand brushed against mine, and I felt his fingers intertwine with mine.
"You're doing great, by the way," he said, his voice soft as we walked side by side.
"Thanks," I replied, glancing up at him. "You too. Though I'm still waiting for you to faint, like everyone's been predicting."
He chuckled, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. "Not going to happen. You're stuck with me now."
We exchanged a look, another silent conversation passing between us. There was so much to say, but in that moment, words didn't feel necessary.
Once we checked on the gifts—sweets, fruits, sarees, all beautifully arranged—Kabir's mom joined us to see if everything was in order. There was a flurry of movement as Raghav, Sahil, and Arjun helped pack up the gifts for our family, while the rest of us prepared to leave.
"Alright, you guys better take care of Aditi's family's gifts properly," Kabir called out, mock-serious.
"Of course," Sahil said with a grin. "We wouldn't want to disappoint our future bhabhi."
Arjun, carrying a box that was almost as big as him, added with a mischievous smile, "Don't worry, Kabir Bhaiya. I'll make sure everything's perfect."