Kaizan is back
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The final applause slowly faded into the night, but the joy lingering in the air refused to leave.
The engagement ceremony had officially come to an end.
Golden fairy lights shimmered above the beautifully decorated garden, their warm glow reflecting off crystal chandeliers and fresh flowers. The fragrance of jasmine and roses drifted lazily with the evening breeze while soft instrumental music continued playing in the background.
No one seemed ready for the celebration to end.
Almost instinctively, the entire family slipped into what Payal proudly called "photo session mode."
"Everyone here!"
"Bade papa, move a little!"
"Rudraksh, stop looking at your phone!"
"Papa, smile!"
"Maa, look at the camera!"
The photographer laughed.
"Perfect... everyone a little closer."
Within seconds, chaos returned.
Children ran between everyone's legs, chasing each other around the stage.
The elders laughed at their antics.
Payal kept fixing Devyani's dupatta every thirty seconds.
Aradhya complained that Rudraksh was ruining every photograph by making weird faces.
Reyansh deliberately stood behind Rivan, making bunny ears over his head whenever the photographer counted to three.
The first flash went off.
Click.
Then another.
Click.
Another family combination.
Click.
"Cousins only!"
Click.
"Siblings!"
Click.
"Only elders!"
Click.
"Everyone together!"
Every photograph carried genuine smiles.
No forced expressions.
No hidden pain.
Only happiness.
Standing in the middle of it all...
Rivan's arm rested securely around Devyani's waist.
Not possessively.
Protectively.
Naturally.
As though that place had always belonged to him.
The soft blush on her cheeks refused to disappear.
Whenever the photographer asked them to stand closer...
She would become even more flustered.
Rivan noticed every tiny reaction.
The way she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear whenever she grew nervous.
The way she bit the inside of her cheek to hide her smile.
The way her innocent eyes sparkled beneath the fairy lights.
God...
She looked breathtaking.
He found himself looking at her more than the camera.
The photographer lowered his camera for a second.
"Sir..."
He chuckled.
"If you keep looking at Ma'am instead of the lens..."
"I'm going to have an entire album of you admiring her."
The entire family burst into laughter.
Rivan didn't even look embarrassed.
He simply shrugged.
"I don't see the problem."
Payal dramatically held her heart.
"Our bhai has become hopeless."
Reyansh sighed loudly.
"Someone please save us."
"The romance level is becoming unbearable."
Even Virendra laughed, gently shaking his head.
The photographer smiled.
"One last picture."
He looked at the couple.
"Just the two of you."
Everyone quietly stepped aside.
The world seemed to grow still.
Rivan turned toward Devyani.
Without saying anything, he gently brushed a loose curl away from her face.
She looked up at him.
A small smile curved across her lips.
Click.
The camera captured the exact moment.
No pose.
No instructions.
Just...
Love.
The photographer looked at the screen and smiled.
"Perfect."
The final photograph was taken.
The camera lowered.
People slowly began stepping off the stage, chatting among themselves.
Some discussed dinner.
Some admired the decorations.
Some continued laughing over the photographs.
Rivan, however...
Never moved.
His eyes remained fixed on Devyani.
She noticed.
"What?"
she asked, tilting her head.
He smiled.
A slow...
Mischievous...
Dangerously familiar smile.
"I have a surprise for you."
The words instantly caught her attention.
Her eyes grew round.
"A surprise?"
"Hmm."
Her entire face lit up like a child discovering a hidden treasure.
"Really?"
She stepped closer.
"What is it?"
He folded his arms.
"If I tell you..."
"It won't be a surprise."
She frowned dramatically.
"That's unfair."
"It is."
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"Wait..."
A sudden thought flashed across her mind.
Her eyes sparkled with unmistakable excitement.
She gasped.
"...Ice cream?"
Rivan blinked.
She grabbed both his arms excitedly.
"You bought ice cream tubs?"
Her imagination had already begun running wild.
"Chocolate?"
"Cookies and cream?"
"Belgian chocolate?"
"Salted caramel?"
"Strawberry?"
"Wait..."
She looked at him with absolute seriousness.
"...Did you buy all the flavours?"
The innocent excitement dancing in her eyes made him laugh helplessly.
She bounced lightly on her toes.
"Tell me!"
"Please!"
"Is it ice cream?"
Her voice had become softer.
Almost pleading.
Her eyes...
Those impossible kitten-like eyes...
Were glowing with hope.
Rivan couldn't stop staring.
How could someone become this excited over ice cream?
He gently cupped her face between his palms.
"No..."
he whispered with a smile.
"It's something even sweeter."
She frowned adorably.
"Sweeter than Belgian chocolate?"
"Hmm."
"Impossible."
He chuckled.
"I promise."
She crossed her arms dramatically.
"If it isn't better than ice cream..."
"I'm cancelling the engagement."
Rivan laughed so loudly that everyone nearby turned to look at them.
Reyansh immediately walked over.
"What happened now?"
Rivan pointed toward Devyani.
"She just threatened to cancel our engagement."
The entire family stared at her.
Devyani nodded with complete confidence.
"If his surprise isn't worth more than ice cream..."
"...I'm filing a complaint."
Payal dramatically announced,
"Breaking news!"
"Our future bhabhi values ice cream above romance."
Aradhya nodded solemnly.
"A true queen."
Rivan looked back at Devyani.
"So..."
he asked, still smiling.
"Ready for your surprise, Kitten?"
She looked at him for exactly one second before answering without hesitation.
"Hmm."
Then she leaned closer and whispered innocently,
"...But if there are secretly ice cream tubs involved..."
"...I'll love you a little more."
Rivan closed his eyes and laughed.
There she was.
His beautiful...
Dangerously adorable...
Ice-cream-obsessed fiancée.
Rivan let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head as he looked at the woman standing before him.
He gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his fingertips lingering against her cheek for just a heartbeat.
"Nope."
His voice was soft, almost teasing.
"It's not ice cream."
Devyani's shoulders visibly dropped.
"Oh..."
She looked genuinely disappointed.
"For one second..."
"I thought you loved me."
Rivan blinked.
"I do."
She sighed dramatically.
"Then where is my ice cream?"
The family nearby burst into laughter.
Reyansh pinched the bridge of his nose.
"This girl..."
"...has her priorities perfectly sorted."
Rivan smiled helplessly before leaning a little closer.
"My surprise..."
He paused deliberately.
"...is a baby."
Silence.
Complete.
Utter.
Silence.
Devyani's eyes grew impossibly wide.
"...Hein?"
Her lips parted.
A full five seconds passed before her brain attempted to process what she had just heard.
"A..."
"...baby?"
She slowly looked down at his stomach.
Then at her own.
Then back at him.
Her brows knitted together in absolute confusion.
"...You're pregnant?"
Rivan choked.
She continued thinking aloud with complete sincerity.
"But..."
"...without me?"
"I mean..."
She scratched her head.
"It's scientifically impossible."
She said with sarcasm.
Payal literally bent over laughing.
Rudraksh held onto Virendra's shoulder to stop himself from falling.
Aradhya covered her face.
"Oh my God..."
Yashodha couldn't stop smiling.
Reyansh stared blankly at the ceiling.
"I've officially seen everything life had to offer."
Rivan looked absolutely speechless.
He opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
No words came out.
Finally...
He exhaled.
"Kitten..."
His voice was filled with painful patience.
"I..."
"...am not pregnant."
Devyani smirk.
"Oh."
Another pause.
"...You're not?"
"No."
She nodded mischievously.
"Hmm."
"That makes more sense."
Rivan couldn't help laughing.
"You reached that conclusion now?"
She looked at him innocently.
"I was trying to understand."
He gently held both her shoulders.
"No..."
he said between quiet chuckles.
"That's not the surprise."
Her curious eyes lifted toward him again.
"Then?"
He smiled.
"The baby..."
"...is waiting for you."
Without another word...
He slowly turned her around.
His palms rested lightly on her shoulders as he guided her to face the beautifully lit entrance of the garden.
The music softened.
The laughter gradually faded into the background.
Everything around them seemed to slow.
Devyani followed his movement without questioning him.
One slow step.
Then another.
Until she stood facing the pathway lined with glowing fairy lights.
Her brows furrowed slightly.
"...Where?"
she whispered.
Rivan didn't answer.
He simply nodded toward the entrance.
"There."
Her heartbeat quickened.
She slowly lifted her gaze.
A tiny figure stood beneath the golden lights.
For a brief second...
Time stopped.
The music faded into nothing.
The chatter disappeared.
The only sound Devyani could hear...
...was her own heartbeat echoing inside her chest.
Her eyes widened.
A breath caught in her throat.
And Rivan...
Never took his eyes off her face.
Because this
This exact expression...
This mixture of surprise, innocence, curiosity, and overwhelming emotion...
Was the real surprise he had wanted to see all along.
The moment Rivan stepped aside...
Time itself seemed to stop.
Kaizan.
For two years...
He had existed only in Devyani's memories.
In sleepless nights.
In silent prayers.
In the ache of a mother's empty arms.
Now...
He was standing right in front of her.
Safe.
Real.
Devyani's entire body went rigid.
Her heartbeat thundered inside her chest.
She blinked once.
Twice.