Chapter 34
Aditya
I smile, my gaze sweeping over the intimate gathering of close family and friends in my parents’ backyard garden.
As expected, the décor is breathtaking—elegant and grand, just the way my parents prefer for their gatherings.
Soft golden lights twinkle among the lush greenery, casting a warm glow over the beautifully arranged seating.
Floral centrepieces, rich with fresh blooms, adorn every table, while delicate drapes and subtle candlelight add a touch of sophistication.
Standing on the stage, I still find it hard to believe that today is my engagement. Finally, the first step toward making Sana my wife… Mrs. Aditya Thakur.
But amidst all the happiness, my mind keeps drifting back to my conversation with Sana.
There was something off in her voice—something impossible to ignore.
I felt it, sensed it. Still, I didn’t push.
I wanted her to tell me when she was ready.
Yet, at the back of my mind, a quiet resolve takes root.
If she didn’t speak soon, I would figure it out myself.
Because no matter what, I wouldn’t let anything cast a shadow over her happiness.
Taking a deep breath, I glance at my watch, then shift my gaze towards the entrance. But Sana is nowhere to be seen. A strange unease coils tightly in my chest, and I take another deep breath, steadying myself. Why isn’t Sana here yet?
I try to tell myself that she’ll be here soon, that she must have been held up. But the nagging feeling only grows stronger with each passing moment. Something isn’t right.
Guests continue to come up on stage, offering their congratulations. My parents stand nearby, engaged in conversation with high-profile guests, but I can’t focus on anything. My gaze restlessly scans the crowd, searching for her. Where is she?
“Relax, she’ll be here,” Reyansh says, patting my shoulder, but it does little to settle the unease gnawing at me.
Before I can snap back and tell him to keep his smart-ass mouth shut, the air shifts. Instinctively, my head whips toward the entrance… and my breath catches, my chest tightening as I take her in. Relief floods through me at the sight of her.
“You’re drooling,” Reyansh teases.
I barely acknowledge him. My eyes are fixed on Sana as she walks toward me, her mother by her side.
She looks beautiful in a simple peach salwar suit, the soft fabric draping elegantly around her. Her long hair falls loosely over her shoulders, framing her face in a way that makes my breath catch.
“Can you blame me?” I respond to Reyansh, unable to look away.
As Sana walks closer, our eyes meet. She offers me a small smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. My chest tightens, but I force a smile, even as nagging doubts from earlier creep in —something’s not right.
After what feels like a lifetime, she finally reaches me, and a fierce calm washes over me, grounding every restless thought. Her mom stands beside her, her expression warm yet laced with emotion.
Gently, I take Sana’s hands in mine, feeling a faint tremble run through her fingers, and the unease in my chest flares up again. God, is this just the usual anxiety women feel at times like this… or something deeper? Whatever it is, I won’t rest until I find out.
Her mom presses a gentle kiss to Sana’s forehead before turning to me. With tears glistening in her eyes, she cups my cheeks. “Aditya, my daughter has always been my pride, my little girl. And today, I entrust her to you. Take care of her… always.”
A lump rises in my throat, and I tighten my hold on Sana’s hands. “I promise, Aunty. She’s my world, and I’ll cherish her, always.”
Her mom nods, her eyes full of love as she leans in and presses a gentle kiss to my forehead. “I wish you both all the happiness in the world.”
With one last glance at her daughter, she steps down from the stage and makes her way to the front row. I watch as she takes her seat, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
Turning back to Sana, I see her blinking rapidly, trying to hold back her tears. But when one sneakily escapes, trailing down her cheek, I instinctively reach up and brush it away with my thumb.
“Hey,” I murmur softly, “no tears today.”
She tries to smile, but her eyes betray her emotions. “I—I don’t even know why I’m crying,”
I give her hands a reassuring squeeze. “Because this is a big moment,” I say, my voice low so only she can hear. “I love you.”
She holds my gaze for a long moment, and just like that, the hesitation I saw earlier softens—but the sadness remains. Damn, how long until I find out what the hell is weighing on her and put an end to this torment for both of us?
Reyansh steps forward, a wide grin on his face as he opens the two red velvet boxes, revealing the diamond rings nestled inside. “Alright, lovebirds, time to make it official,” he says, earning a few chuckles from the guests.
I reach for her ring, smiling at her. Not taking my eyes off hers, I lift her hand and slide the ring onto her finger.
Then, without holding back, I bring her hand to my lips and press a soft kiss against her fingers.
“I still can’t believe I get to call you mine.
You’re the most beautiful part of my life. ”
With a teary smile, she picks up my ring and gently slips it onto my finger.
“You were always meant to be in my life, Aditya,” she smiles. “I just didn’t realise how much until now.”
I so badly want to cup her face and kiss her, to make this moment ours. But the applause around us reminds me now isn’t the time.
So instead, I lace my fingers with hers and turn to the guests. I can’t wait for some alone time with her, away from the crowd. More than that, I can’t wait to give her the surprise I’ve been holding close to my chest.
But as the guests start coming up one by one, I know there are formalities to get through before it’s just the two of us. I smile and nod, accepting their well wishes, but my attention never truly wavers from Sana. She stands beside me, smiling, her hand still tucked in mine.
Soon, my parents step onto the stage, joined by my mom’s oldest friend. The older woman congratulates us with her usual air of arrogance and then turns to my mom. “So, tell us about Sana’s family, Seema. What do they do?”
My mom gives a slight, almost disappointed shrug. “Her father passed away couple of years ago. It’s just her mom now. Sana helps run their small café.”
“Mom…” I say, my voice low and warning, but she just shoots me a look that says, I didn’t say anything wrong. Before I can even open my mouth again, the older woman turns to me.
“A simple café? Quite a contrast to your business background, Aditya.” She smiles politely, though there’s a subtle edge beneath it. “But I suppose love doesn’t see class.”
That’s it. My jaw tightens, ready to snap back, but before I can, Sana’s fingers tighten around mine.
“Yes, Aunty, I own a café,” Sana says, her voice steady with quiet confidence.
“It may not be grand, but it means the world to me. And I take great pride in what my father built.” There’s no hesitation, no embarrassment—just pure, unwavering dignity and pride.
And as she speaks, I can’t help but feel a swell of admiration for her.
The older woman offers a tight, measured smile, but the judgement in her eyes lingers. Then, without another word, she turns to my parents, exchanging a look—one I can’t quite read. My parents remain silent, their expressions carefully composed, before they step down from the stage.
I squeeze Sana’s hand, leaning in just enough for only her to hear. “I’m proud of you.”
She doesn’t speak, but her fingers tighten around mine for a brief second before she exhales softly.
I watch her for a beat before a smile tugs at my lips, ready to distract her. “I have a surprise for you.”
She blinks up at me, curiosity flickering in her eyes. “A surprise? What is it?”
“Come with me.”
Hesitantly, her gaze flickers to the guests around us. “Aditya, everyone’s here…”
“They can survive a few minutes without us. Trust me, they won’t even notice we’re gone,” I argue.
Before she can protest, I gently hold her hand, leading her away from the stage.
She follows, though there’s a hint of hesitation in her steps, her gaze flickering over her shoulder to the guests.
But I don’t give her a chance to overthink it—I tighten my grip just enough to reassure her and keep moving forward.
Once we step inside the house, away from the watchful eyes of the guests, I guide her down the quiet hallway. Stopping in front of my dad’s study, I push open the door and turn to her. Holding her gaze, I gesture for her to step inside.
Sana looks at me with uncertainty. “Aditya, what are we doing here?”
“You’ll see,” I say with a small smile, placing my hand gently on her back as I nudge her inside. Once she steps in, I shut the door behind us.
My fingers move to the buttons of my coat, undoing them slowly, my eyes never leaving hers. Sana’s breath catches, her eyes widening slightly, and the reaction makes me chuckle.
Before she can let her thoughts spiral, I reach out, cupping her face gently. My thumb brushes against her cheek as I tilt her chin up and bend my head towards her. But just before I reach her forehead, her hands instinctively rise, resting over my chest.
“Aditya, we can’t…” she whispers.
I grin, pressing a kiss to her forehead before pulling back to meet her gaze.
“Relax,” I murmur. “It’s not what you’re thinking.”
Her brows furrow slightly, but before she can question further, I slip my hand into my coat pocket and pull out an envelope. Holding it up, I say. “Your engagement gift.”
Sana blinks, her gaze flickering between me and the envelope, uncertainty clouding her eyes. Slowly, she reaches out and takes it from my hands, her fingers trembling slightly as she opens it.
She pulls out the papers from inside, her brows knitting together as she begins to read. I watch her closely, anticipation thrumming in my chest, waiting for the moment she realises what’s in her hands.
Sana’s eyes widen as she stares at the papers, her lips parting in shock. “Aditya…” she breathes, looking up at me. “These… are land papers.”
I grin, nodding. “Yes, a land for my soon-to-be wifey, so she can open a new branch of her café.” I cup her face. “In fact, I’ve already spoken to the architect, and the project can commence as soon as you give your inputs.”
Her fingers clutch the papers tighter as she shakes her head. “Aditya, this is too much. I—I can’t accept something this expensive.”
“Expensive?” I ask, annoyance creeping into my voice. “Sana, don’t reduce this to money. This isn’t about the price—it’s about you. About giving you what I know will make you happy.”
She exhales shakily. “You’re wrong, Aditya. This exorbitant gift isn’t something that will make me happy.”
I drop my hands from her cheeks, my excitement from earlier dimming. “Oh, so now I have to check the price tag before I give to-be wife something?”
Sana steps closer, cupping my face, her thumbs brushing against my jaw.
“Aditya, please try to understand. Accepting something so extravagant would only fuel the rumors and doubts that I’m here for anything but love.
” I open my mouth to argue, but she shakes her head.
“I know you want to say that what people think shouldn’t matter, but, Aditya, sometimes it does.
Ignoring it won’t make it go away.” She takes a deep breath, her voice softening yet firm.
“I know you mean well, and I love you for it. But Aditya, you need to understand who I am and what I stand for. I don’t want you to give me an exorbitant gift to make me happy.
I want our relationship built on trust and respect, not flashy displays that could overshadow what truly matters—us. ”
For a moment, I just look at her—damn, I love her even more, if that’s even possible.
I rest my hands over hers. “I just… I wanted to do something for you, something that would make you happy. But if it doesn’t feel right to you, then that matters more to me than anything else.”
She smiles softly, resting her forehead against mine. “Thank you.”
I exhale as I change the subject. “I didn’t like how that aunty spoke to you.”
Sana pulls back slightly, her eyes on mine as she offers a small, reassuring smile. “Aditya, it’s fine.”
I narrow my eyes. “It’s not. You didn’t deserve that.”
She takes my hands in hers. “When I said yes to you, I knew exactly what I was getting into. I knew there would be judgements, comparisons. But I also know I’m not weak enough to break over a few careless words.”
Her strength should comfort me, but it doesn’t. There’s still this lingering unease in my chest, a fear I can’t quite shake.
I tighten my hold on her hands and swallow hard. “Just… promise me you’ll never leave me.”
Sana’s gaze softens, and without hesitation, she whispers, “I promise.”
I close my eyes for a second, letting those words sink in. When I open them again, she’s smiling playfully. “Now, can we go back to the party before the guests start wondering where we disappeared?”
I shake my head. “Not yet. First, there’s something I need to ask you.”
She gives me a questioning look. “What is it?”
“Is something bothering you? Your voice on the phone sounded off. Even throughout the ceremony, I could sense something was wrong,” I say, locking eyes with her.
She falters for a second—a flicker in her eyes. Before I can press further, she forces a small laugh. “God, you know how we women get on emotional days like this,” she says lightly.
I narrow my eyes, still not convinced. “Is that really the truth, Sana? Or are you hiding something from me?”
She rolls her eyes. “Like I can hide anything from you. You’re just being over-paranoid,” she says, brushing it off. “Now stop overthinking. We need to get back to the party.”
Maybe I am overthinking this. Damn, I used to think only women got all worked up before big moments—looks like I’m the one losing it now.
I let out a reluctant breath. “Fine. Let’s head back.”
But as I lead her back, the nagging feeling in my gut doesn’t fade that something is coming, something waiting to shatter this happiness.
No. I shove the thought aside, my grip on Sana’s hand tightening. Nothing—and I mean nothing—is going to ruin us.