Proposal and engagement #6
After everything these two had endured the misunderstandings, the separation, the heartbreak, the years spent apart seeing them look at each other like this felt like witnessing a prayer finally answered.
No one interrupted.
No one hurried them.
Some moments deserved to be lived in their own time.
And this was one of them.
The host announced cheerfully,
"Ladies and gentlemen..."
"Please welcome the soon-to-be engaged couple..."
"Mr. Rivan Thakur and Miss Devyani Sehgal."
She walked toward him slowly beneath a canopy of flowers.
Every step graceful.
Every smile making his heartbeat faster.
She wasn't walking.
She was floating.
He had seen countless beautiful women in his life.
None of them came close to her.
Not even for a second.
She finally reached the stage.
Their eyes met.
Neither spoke.
They simply smiled.
Virendra and Yashodha stepped onto the stage.
Reyansh stood beside Devyani.
Virendra held the ring box before Rivan.
Rivan nodded.
His throat too tight to speak.
Yashodha handed the second ring box to Devyani.
She lovingly kissed her forehead.
"My daughter..."
She whispered.
"Welcome home."
Tears instantly gathered in Devyani's eyes.
The host smiled warmly.
"It's time."
Rivan picked up the delicate diamond ring.
His fingers trembled slightly.
Reyansh immediately noticed.
He whispered loudly enough for only the siblings,
"Someone hold the groom."
"He might faint."
Payal burst into laughter.
Rivan shot him a deadly glare.
"Later."
Reyansh grinned.
"I'm counting on it."
Everyone chuckled.
Rivan turned back toward Devyani.
He gently held her left hand.
She looked at him.
He looked at her.
The world seemed to disappear.
Only their joined hands remained.
Slowly...
Very carefully...
He slid the ring onto her finger.
It fit perfectly.
Applause erupted around them.
Cheers echoed through the garden.
Flowers rained gently from above.
Then...
It was Devyani's turn.
She picked up his ring.
Smiled mischievously.
And deliberately stopped halfway.
Rivan frowned.
"What happened?"
She looked thoughtful.
"Hmm..."
"I don't know."
"Should I?"
His eyes widened.
"Kitten..."
Everyone laughed.
She giggled before finally sliding the ring onto his finger.
The moment it settled into place...
The entire family erupted into loud applause.
Whistles echoed everywhere.
Payal screamed dramatically,
"Finallyyyyy!"
Rudraksh shouted,
"Our brother is officially trapped!"
Rivan proudly wrapped an arm around Devyani's waist.
"I walked into the trap willingly."
"Awwww..."
The girls collectively teased.
Aradhya pretended to wipe tears.
"Our dangerous bhai has become poetry."
Even Virendra laughed loudly.
The photographer quickly called,
"Sir! Ma'am!"
"Please look here!"
Rivan obediently turned.
The flash clicked.
Then another.
Then another.
Soon everyone gathered on stage for family photographs.
One serious picture.
One smiling picture.
One where everyone looked at each other.
And one...
Where Reyansh deliberately pushed Rivan toward Devyani.
Rivan stumbled.
Devyani laughed.
The photographer immediately captured it.
"Perfect!"
"That's the best one!
After the photographs...
The DJ suddenly changed the music.
A loud Bollywood beat filled.
Payal pointed toward the dance floor.
"No one escapes!"
Rudraksh immediately dragged Virendra.
"Papa!"
"Come!"
Virendra laughed.
"I don't dance."
"You do today!"
Soon...
Yashodha was pulled onto the floor too.
Aradhya grabbed Reyansh's hand.
"Move!"
"I don't know how."
"You'll learn."
Within minutes...
Almost everyone was dancing.
The younger cousins formed a circle.
Laughter echoed endlessly.
Even the elders clapped along happily.
Aru suddenly walked toward Rivan.
"Bhaiyya"
He looked suspiciously.
"What?"
"You and Bhabhi."
She pointed toward the center.
"Couple dance."
Rivan looked at Devyani.
She looked equally embarrassed.
"No..."
Both spoke together.
Everyone shouted,
"YES!"
"YES!"
"YES!"
With no escape left...
Rivan sighed dramatically.
"Traitors."
He extended his hand toward Devyani.
"My fiancée?"
She smiled softly.
"Always."
She placed her hand in his.
He gently pulled her closer.
One hand settled respectfully around her waist.
The other held her fingers.
Slowly...
They began swaying to the music.
No complicated choreography.
No dramatic performance.
Just...
Two people smiling at each other.
Occasionally laughing.
Occasionally looking away shyly.
The family watched with content smiles.
As the song ended...
Rivan leaned slightly closer.
"So..."
he whispered.
"We're engaged now."
"Hmm."
She smiled.
He looked at the ring shining on her finger.
Then at his own.
His smile widened.
"You know what this means?"
"What?"
"You legally can't escape my flirting anymore."
She laughed so hard she nearly lost her balance.
He caught her instantly.
"I rest my case."
The family clapped once again, watching the two laugh together beneath the glowing lights.
For everyone present...
It wasn't merely an engagement.
It was the celebration of two hearts that had lost each other...
...and somehow found their way home again.