5
The sun had finally shaken off its morning haze as the Joshi family car rolled to a gentle stop in front of the wedding resort's grand gates.
A small welcome team was already present, adorned in soft cream kurtas and pastel turbans, holding marigold garlands and smiling politely as the car doors opened one by one.
Ramesh and Sunita stepped out first, greeted instantly by Mahesh and Jaya Deshmukh. There were polite smiles, a warm handshake, and a loud laugh from Mahesh that echoed off the stone tiles of the entryway.
The kids were trailing behind, of course.
Vaani stepped out last, holding a large square box in both hands.
It was heavier than she had expected-but when her mother had hesitated to carry it, and her father had begun rubbing his lower back with that familiar grimace, she had immediately insisted.
She always did. "I got it, Aai," she had said softly, with a smile.
"You both go ahead. I'll come with Vihaan and Vedant. "
"You sure?" Sunita had asked, already adjusting her pallu.
"Absolutely," Vaani had nodded, even as her fingers struggled to grip the edges of the awkwardly shaped box. Her tote bag kept slipping off her shoulder, her sandals clicking on the tile, but she maintained her calm-one steady step at a time.
Vedant was beside her, holding two backpacks. Vihaan was dragging a suitcase behind with one hand while his other hand holding a few plastic bags.
"I swear, Vedant, this box is getting heavier every second," she muttered under her breath, adjusting her grip as they walked past the ornate entrance.
"I offered to take it, tai," Vedant said with a grin. "You had that stubborn look on your face."
She puffed out a breath. "Still do."
Behind one of the carved marble columns just off the entryway, Dhruv stood leaning slightly, phone in hand, glancing at an email. His black kurta was crisp, sleeves rolled up neatly to his forearms, the subtle hint of his watch catching sunlight. His face was unreadable, but focused.
He heard the faint sound of her voice first-then looked up. And paused.
There she was, walking toward the resort entrance, dressed in a breezy sky-blue kurta set, hair tied in a loose braid over her shoulder, skin flushed from the Mumbai sun and the exertion.
She was saying something to her younger brother, and even though she was clearly struggling with the box in her hands, she hadn't slowed down.
Dhruv watched for a moment, thumb hovering over the screen of his phone.
And then, without a word, he locked the device and slid it into his pocket. He stepped forward, just as she stumbled slightly over an uneven tile.
"I'll take these," he said, coming to her side, his voice steady.
Vaani blinked in surprise. Her brows raised. "It's okay, I got it."
"I'm sure you do," he said calmly, already reaching for the box. "But I got it."
Her fingers tightened around it. "No, really. I'm used to carrying things, it's fine."
His lips curled slightly-not a smile, exactly, but something close. A knowing expression as he watched her go ahead.
And then he turned his head. "Vedant," he called out casually.
Vedant looked over his shoulder. "Yes, jijaji?"
The word landed on Dhruv with a strange thud. He didn't flinch-but something shifted in his expression. It felt... foreign. Almost like it wasn't meant for him yet. Like a title borrowed before it was earned.
Still, he nodded. "I'll take this. You go take that box from your sister."
Vedant looked amused, but didn't hesitate. "Sure," he said, walking over and gently prying the box from Vaani's hands. "Tai, let it go. Come on."
She gave Vedant a half-annoyed glare but let the box go, too tired to ask where his backpacks went.
And Vaani stood for a beat, readjusting the dupatta that had slipped from her shoulder. She caught Dhruv's back as he walked beside his friends, saying something in that composed, deep voice of his. She hadn't expected him to offer to help. And yet-he had.
She followed after them, a little quieter now, her expression unreadable.
Behind them, Jaya Deshmukh watched it all unfold with quiet satisfaction.
"You saw that?" she whispered to Mahesh, nudging him with her elbow.
"Saw what?" he asked, distracted, chatting with Ramesh.
"Our son. Acting like he's not paying attention, but clearly he is."
Mahesh chuckled under his breath. "Let the boy handle it."
And just like that, two families entered the grand resort together, arms full of luggage and hearts full of questions. The week had only begun.
And the first stitch had been sewn.
~·~
The sun was just beginning to dip beyond the horizon, casting golden rays through the wide French windows of the resort.
Vaani stepped into her room, her skin slightly glistening from the heat of the travel and the effort of unpacking.
It was a tastefully done-up suite, the walls a muted almond, the sheets white, soft as clouds.
Her suitcase sat half-open at the foot of the bed.
She walked into the en suite bathroom, her fingers unbuttoning her kurta slowly.
The water ran warm, a calming contrast to the energy outside.
As she stepped into the shower, the weight of the day washed off her.
The sound of her family's laughter, the slight stiffness of her first meeting with Dhruv, the sense of unfamiliarity beginning to loosen around the edges.
It was still surreal, being here - standing in the prelude to something so permanent.
After her shower, she wrapped herself in a towel and padded across the room, pulling out a soft white kurta with delicate embroidery along the neckline and a pair of light blue jeans.
She towel-dried her long, dark hair, leaving it damp and parted loosely down her back.
No makeup - just a tiny silver bindi and a fresh face.
By the time she came down, the hall was humming with chatter.
The Joshi and Deshmukh families were all gathered together - uncles, aunts, cousins.
Trays of steaming chai were passed around, along with platters of bhajiyas and khari biscuits.
Someone had brought out a bluetooth speaker, and old Marathi songs were playing in the background.
"There she is!" Jaya Aunty called, waving her over warmly.
"Vaani, come beta," Sunita smiled, making space on the couch beside her.
Vaani smiled shyly and tucked a strand of damp hair behind her ear as she approached. Someone handed her a cup of chai before she could even sit down. The heat of it seeped comfortingly into her palms.
She settled into the cushions, the sound of familiar voices around her. It felt nice - like a soft hum of family.
"Where's Dhruv?" someone asked, glancing around.
"Yeah, yaar," one of his cousins added. "He disappears more than he shows up."
"He's in his room, probably checking some work emails or something," Jaya said with a sigh.
"Vaani, beta," Mahesh said suddenly, turning to her, a little teasing smile on his face. "Will you call him down?"
Everyone chuckled.
Vaani blinked. "Me?"
"Ha ha, jao na," her own mother chimed in. "Go knock on his door and bring him here. It's time he sat with everyone."
She nodded, cheeks warm, and stood, placing the cup on the table. Her feet padded softly on the polished wood floor as she walked through the corridor, past the indoor plants and marble idols on the corners, until she reached the room she remembered being pointed to earlier. Dhruv's.
The door was ajar slightly.
She knocked gently.
Inside, Dhruv was adjusting the sleeves of his blue kurta in front of the mirror.
The collar sat a little off center, but he hadn't noticed.
He was distracted, going through muscle memory-roll, straighten, pat.
The knock didn't immediately register, but then the door creaked a little, and he looked up, stepping over and opening it absentmindedly while still adjusting the sleeve with one hand.
He didn't expect her.
"Vaani?" he said, blinking.
The sound of her name in his voice made her momentarily still. It was the first time he'd said it-no formality, no generic 'you.' Just her name. Low and clear.
She gulped slightly, recovering. "They're calling you down... everyone's in the hall."
His brow lifted slightly. "Ah. I'll come-one second."
He walked back in, picked up a perfume bottle, gave himself two quick sprays, then turned to her at the door. "Let's go."
But she didn't move.
He noticed. "What happened?"
"Vo... aapka..." she hesitated, lifting her hand slightly before pulling it back. "Kurta's collar... it's not straight."
He looked down, chuckled softly under his breath. "Oh."
She watched as he fixed it, turning slightly to the mirror.
"Good now?" he asked, genuinely unsure.
Vaani nodded, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Yes."
He looked at her for a beat. Then stepped to the side, opening the door fully.
"Okay then. Let's go," he said, letting her pass first.
She walked ahead quietly, aware of his presence just a few steps behind. Neither spoke on the way down - there was no need to. Something subtle had shifted. The silences between them no longer felt uncomfortable, but stretched-gently, like threads being woven.
And though she didn't say anything out loud, she smiled slightly to herself as she walked back into the warmth of the waiting families, her pulse soft and steady.
As Vaani and Dhruv stepped into the main lounge together, the low hum of conversation dipped just slightly before rising again-this time, brighter, warmer, layered with amusement and fondness.
"Haye, look at them," someone whispered loudly enough for it to be heard. "Kya jodi hai, na?"
"Ram milayi jodi!" chuckled one of the older aunties from the Deshmukh side, nudging her husband, who nodded with a soft grin.
"They look so good together," said Aditi, Dhruv's cousin, barely hiding her delight as she exchanged looks with her mother.
Vaani's cheeks flushed with a quiet pink. She smiled politely, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and moving toward the couch, where her parents were seated. Dhruv followed beside her, calm and unreadable as always, his long frame folding into the seat just next to hers with practiced ease.
"Beta, chai?" someone offered him from the other side of the room.
"Already gave him," Jaya said with a playful smirk, sliding a cup into his hand.
"Maa..." Dhruv muttered under his breath, taking the cup without further protest.
Vaani sat down, quietly taking another sip of her own tea. The sweet masala chai was comforting, the subtle hum of cinnamon and cardamom familiar against her senses.
"Alright, now that we're all here," Jaya began, clasping her hands together like a general calling for order, "Let me just go over the plan once, so everyone's on the same page."
All conversations paused as people leaned in a little, their attention turning to her.
"So," Jaya said, voice light but practiced, "Tomorrow, we'll start with the mehendi in the morning. Nothing too formal, just a relaxed function. Girls will have their mehendi done, boys can chill or help. In the evening, light music, maybe some dhol - we'll keep it breezy."
Mahesh nodded beside her, his smile warm as he watched her steer the conversation with her usual efficiency.
"Then, on the 1st, everyone gets to rest," she continued. "We'll keep it free - let the kids and families roam the resort, do their own thing. No events that day. Just breathers."
"Good," said Ramesh Joshi, Vaani's father, "The kids deserve it."
"Then," Jaya picked up again, "on the 2nd - Haldi in the morning, nothing too messy," she chuckled. "Followed by the sangeet in the evening. That's going to be our biggest function. We've got the stage ready, dance floor, lights - everything's in place."
The murmurs around the room picked up again with excitement. Someone already mentioned bringing extra outfits. Another aunty leaned toward her daughter to talk about choreography.
"And finally," Jaya said, raising her voice just a bit to be heard, "wedding on the 3rd - shaadi in the morning, pheras around 11:30, followed by lunch. And then, the reception in the evening."
Everyone nodded approvingly. The plan was smooth, spacious, and allowed everyone time to enjoy.
"We've booked the return flights to Dubai on the 5th early morning," she added. "So, by the evening of the 5th, we can do the grihapravesh and all the rituals at home. Everything will be done in time. The kids will have the 6th to rest and settle before real life begins again."
There were murmurs of agreement from both sides of the family. Someone even clapped lightly.
"Well planned," Sunita Joshi said fondly. "You've really thought it through."
"I had to," Jaya smiled. "Shaadi isn't just one day, it's a whole event."
As the adults carried on talking, the room filling with conversations about catering, guests arriving from different cities, and compliments for the smooth logistics, Vaani simply sat back, hands wrapped around her chai cup.
The steam curled into the air between her and Dhruv, who sat beside her, equally silent.
Neither of them spoke. But every now and then, Vaani could feel his presence - the quiet steadiness of it. He didn't feel like a stranger, not anymore, but he wasn't familiar either. It was a space in between - unlabelled, unexplored, waiting.
He took a sip from his cup, the movement casual, his wrist lightly brushing against the side of hers on the cushion between them.
Vaani shifted slightly, clearing her throat gently. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, his expression unreadable, then looked away again, his focus returning to the conversation around them.
She wondered if this quiet between them was how it would always be. Respectful, unintrusive, low-key. It wasn't cold - not really. It was just... composed. That was the word.
Someone laughed loudly across the room. Another cousin jumped in to talk about decorations. Her mother was now scribbling something in a small diary.
Beside her, Dhruv reached for a tissue and calmly wiped his hands.
It was strange, she thought - how the room was filled with warmth, noise, music, and yet the two of them sat like an island of calm in the center of it all.
Vaani sat quietly, nestled between her mother and Vedant, the edge of her cup now empty but still warm in her hands.
The gentle buzz of conversation floated through the room, light and comforting.
Beside her, Dhruv remained composed, scanning the room once with those unreadable eyes before focusing again on nothing in particular.
Her phone buzzed softly in her lap. She glanced down to find a message from the group chat:
"We've reached!! Outside the lobby now, woman. Come get us or we're storming in screaming."
- Ria ????
"This resort is gorgeous wth??"
- Naina ??
"We've brought the madness, tell your dulha to prepare ??"
- Simran ??
A grin slowly tugged at Vaani's lips, unguarded and honest. Her eyes flicked up, catching her mother's, and she leaned in slightly.
"I'll be right back," she said softly, rising to her feet.
The smile she gave the group was polite but laced with unmistakable excitement - the kind that lit up her face, drawing warmth to her expression. She didn't wait for their reactions, slipping out of the room with light steps and a flutter of her dupatta.
Sunita looked after her fondly, sighing as she took another sip of chai. "I'm sure it's her friends. That gang is inseparable."
Everyone around chuckled knowingly. The Joshi family had often spoken about Vaani's close-knit group, her "Dubai sisters," as Ramesh liked to call them.
"Good," Mahesh said, stretching his legs a bit, "We need that kind of madness to set the floor on fire during the sangeet."
"I'm telling you," Jaya added with a laugh, "We won't need to hire backup dancers. These girls will take over."
And almost on cue, through the open hallway, they all heard it-
A shriek. "OH. MY. GOD!"
Another voice followed instantly, "Vaaaniiiiii!"
Then a chorus of cheers, laughter, high-pitched squeals, and footsteps running somewhere near the resort's entrance. Even from a distance, the sound of that reunion carried enough energy to fill the entire lounge with joy.
The Deshmukhs and Joshis exchanged amused looks.
"There they are," Ramesh said, shaking his head fondly. "The hurricane has arrived."
Mahesh grinned. "I like them already."
Jaya nudged Dhruv gently with her elbow. "Go, say hello to your bride's friends. They'll be curious about you."
Dhruv looked up slowly, brows lifting just slightly, not out of protest but calculation. He didn't move right away.
"They seem excited enough," he said, mildly.
"That's why you should go," Mahesh added, teasingly. "They'll want to meet you - their dulha raja."
Before Dhruv could say anything more, Sunita leaned forward slightly with a soft smile.
"It's okay, beta. You don't have to go if you're not in the mood. They're overhyped right now anyway," she chuckled. "You'll meet them properly later."
But Dhruv straightened up, slipping his phone into his pocket. "No, aunty. It's okay, I'll go."
"'Aunty,' he says," Jaya interrupted with a mock scowl. "This aunty business is only for a few more days. Then you call her 'mom.'"
The group burst into warm laughter.
Dhruv gave a single nod, the corner of his mouth twitching into what might've been a faint smile - a shadow, a trace.
Without further words, he stood and headed out of the lounge toward the entrance where the laughter still echoed.
His steps were measured, calm, his posture easy but sure.
As he turned the corner, the voices grew louder, more animated - an unfamiliar energy compared to his usual world, but somehow not unwelcome.
The sunlight pooled across the marble-tiled lobby of the resort, casting long, warm shadows across the space as Dhruv walked toward the entrance. The voices grew louder - feminine, effervescent, unmistakably close-knit. As he turned the corner, he spotted them.
Vaani stood slightly ahead of the group, her arms wrapped tightly around a girl with shoulder-length curls and a blindingly wide smile. The hug was the kind you only shared with someone who had seen you through every chapter - the bad haircuts, the heartbreaks, the study stress, the growing up.
Another friend was behind them, impatiently hopping on her feet, waiting for her turn. A third one, with a sleek ponytail, was already digging into the trunk of a suitcase that had been wheeled into the lobby by one of the resort staff.
He paused for a beat, observing - not with judgment, but a quiet curiosity. The way Vaani's face lit up around them was... different. Unrestrained. Familiar in a way he hadn't yet seen.
Then, the one with the curls - the first hugger - noticed him approaching.
She nudged the girl beside her and whispered something that made them both turn to look at him.
Their eyes immediately lit up with mischief, their expressions smoothing out in a matter of seconds to a practiced calm that only women capable of teasing were good at.
Vaani, still smiling from the hug, followed their gaze and turned around to see what had caught their attention.
Her eyes met his.
The smile didn't vanish, but it did shift - a little more polite, a little less spontaneous.
"Hi," Dhruv said, closing the remaining distance between them, his voice calm and even. He extended his hand, directing it to the group. "I'm Dhruv, Vaani's fiancé."
One by one, they took it.
"Ria," said the curly-haired one, shaking his hand with an approving raise of her brows.
"Naina," the ponytail one said next, her grip firm.
"Simran," added the third, the shortest of the three, offering a dimpled grin.
Dhruv nodded at each, registering names the way he registered contracts - precise, deliberate, stored.
"Nice to meet you," he added.
"Same here, dulha ji," Ria teased, her voice light.
He chuckled quietly, a mere breath of a sound. "So... you've all flown in from Dubai?"
"All but Simran," Naina said. "She came from Delhi, she's been here a couple of days already, spending time with her family."
"And you all work together?" Dhruv asked, tone still neutral but clearly interested in making the small talk count.
"Kind of," Simran said. "Ria and I are in marketing - same firm as Vaani. Naina's in operations "
"Sounds like a creative bunch," he replied.
Ria grinned. "We try. We're the chaos to her calm."
"Still settling in?" he asked, gesturing subtly to the suitcases.
"Yeah, we were going to head up, but we thought we'd meet Vans first," Naina answered, nudging Vaani gently.
Dhruv's gaze shifted back to her. Her hair was pulled back now, loose tendrils framing her face. Her eyes flickered up at his briefly before glancing back down.
"Well, you guys carry on," he said after a short pause. "I just wanted to come say hello, formally. I'll see you all tomorrow, I'm sure."
There were nods, a few waves. "Looking forward to it," Simran said warmly.
He turned to leave, but then paused, glancing back at Vaani. "Will you be joining us back in the hall, Vaani?"
She looked slightly surprised that he asked, like she hadn't expected him to notice.
"I don't know..." she said, voice quieter now. "I might just... hang with them for a bit."
He caught the hesitation. It wasn't defiance, just choice. Her comfort zone. And he wasn't about to challenge that.
He nodded with the faintest smile. "No worries. I'll let them know."
She blinked once, a little surprised by how easily he let it go. "Thanks."
He inclined his head slightly, then turned and began walking back toward the lounge, leaving the cluster of girls in his wake.
Behind him, the friends immediately turned to Vaani with wide eyes.
"Okay, wow," Ria whispered. "He's so not what I imagined."
Simran chuckled. "I thought he'd be stiff. But he's like... intense."
Naina nudged Vaani. "You didn't tell us he was so hot."
Vaani shook her head, smiling in disbelief. "You guys are ridiculous."
But even as she turned to lead them inside, her thoughts were on how smoothly Dhruv had handled that whole interaction. No awkwardness. No effort to impress. Just calm, direct... present.
It was disarming. Not in the charming, flirtatious way - but in the way that made her feel strangely... seen.
And she didn't quite know what to do with that.
~·~
That night, Dhruv sat on the edge of his bed, the low hum of the resort settling into silence around him. The soft glow from his phone screen was the only light cutting through the dark room. He was scrolling through Instagram-half distracted, half deliberate-when his eyes caught something new.
Three follow requests.
@ria_desai, @naina.patel, and @simran_kaur
He smirked to himself, a quiet knowingness settling in.
It was as if he had been expecting this moment.
With a calm tap, he accepted their requests and almost instinctively followed them back.
The screen refreshed, showing their profiles - photos of editorial meetings, group shots with cheerful colleagues, candid moments from their travels.
It wasn't just a social media connection; it was a small window into the world Vaani belonged to.
His thumb hovered over the "mutuals" section beneath each profile, where he spotted familiar names:
@vihaan_j and @vedant_joshi
Vaani's brothers, he thought.
The idea flickered in his mind - should he send them a follow request too? After all, he was about to become family.
Why not? He thought. Might as well get ahead of it.
Without hesitation, he sent follow requests to both accounts.
He leaned back, satisfied with the small gesture, and then his phone buzzed-an incoming work call.
He switched gears instantly, attending to the meeting with his usual precision, voice steady, focus sharp.
When the call ended, he exhaled, laid back on the pillow, and glanced back at his phone.
The notifications had piled up. The follow requests he sent to Vihaan and Vedant were accepted and reciprocated.
Ria had started posting stories. Among them, one caught his attention-a group selfie featuring the three girls with Vaani, all bundled up in cozy pajamas, some with flower crowns.
It was a simple bridal shower, nothing extravagant, just an intimate, warm gathering of friends celebrating the upcoming wedding.
Her friends surrounding her, with her soft smile and glowing skin in the middle.
Vaani's smile was subtle but genuine, her eyes glinting with a quiet happiness that Dhruv had never seen outside of family settings. She looked comfortable, relaxed-her smile was frozen in a frame that somehow made his chest tighten a little.
For a moment, Dhruv's usual reserve softened. He found himself drawn in by the warmth radiating from the photos, the sense of belonging and camaraderie. He wasn't sure when he'd seen Vaani like this - so free, so alive - and it made the weight of their upcoming days feel less daunting.
He pocketed the phone gently and lay back, the faintest trace of a smile lingering on his lips.
??