Even after hiring a wedding planner, mom wanted to do everything herself. She was running everywhere and getting in arguments with caterers, decorators, our maids or anyone she saw in front of her.

One time Arman almost got beaten up by her for breaking an expensive set of vase she had bought. No one was safe, not even me. The responsibility of all the house work was given to me and I had to make sure that all the maids did their work on time.

Fortunately, my friends were there to help mom or she would have killed us by just complaining about every little thing. With all the preparations going on, we didn't even realise when the time flew by and the engagement was just few hours away.

We had booked a hall for three days to carry out all the ceremonies except engagement which was going to be held at home. Keerti and Upasna were given the task of accompanying wedding planner and making sure that all the decorations were as per mom's preference. Poor Arman had to call all the guests and send out the invitations.

There was a lot of chaos and today was no different. It was 11 pm and I was resting on the couch in the living room. Our home was looking something out of a fairytale. Long blue and white curtains hung from the windows and pillars accompanied with matching flower decorations. A huge chandelier hung from the ceiling lighting the whole room. Everything looked so beautiful.

I saw dad come out of his study room to see what was going on. Unlike mom, he was not directly involved in the preparations.

He had a lot of work pending and he kept himself locked in his room, not wanting to get disturbed. He would just ask mom what else was needed to be done and would give her money to take care of the rest.

"Oh man! I am so tired!" Keerti groaned and plopped down beside me.

Upasana also joined her and I told them to relax and not overwork themselves. They were really excited and had decided to stay at my house till my wedding. I was really grateful for their help.

"Are you nervous, Reyna?" Keerti asked and laid down her head on my lap.

"Of course I am but I am excited too," I said and my friends started teasing me.

They finally got to meet Yuvaan last week and completed their goal of clicking numerous selfies with him and posting it on social networking sites. For the last two weeks, his mom helped us in everything and brought us a lot of gifts too.

I had asked Upasna about the meaning of some Sanskrit words which I remembered and she came up with some translations like 'all the best' and 'unpredictable'. When I kept pestering her she got annoyed and told me not butcher the language.

So, I left the topic then and there only. I didn't even remember completely what Pandit uncle had said and I ended up making up some of the words too.

"Soon, you will be Mrs. Reyna Yuvaan Raichand. Don't forget us, okay?" Upasana said and I punched her on the shoulder.

We all laughed together and spent some time chatting before mom scolded all of us and sent us to sleep. The muhurat (auspicious time) for engagement ceremony was in the morning, so we had to get up early and be ready for it.

All three of us went to my room and laid down on my bed. Keerti fell asleep within a few minutes while Upasana and I were still awake. She used this time to tell me all sort of things which I should do after marriage.

I shut her up when she started getting in too much details and I forcefully made her sleep. I laid down beside Keerti and closed my eyes. I tried to relax myself but I was overly excited for my own wedding.

Is every girl excited like this? Sleep, Reyna. If you won't wake up on time, mom will kill you.

After half an hour of daydreaming, I fell asleep and soon, it was time to wake up again. I was jolted out of my sleep when mom yelled my name loudly near my ear. She looked pissed off. I looked beside me and the girls were fast asleep.

I quickly got up and ran into the bathroom. It was 7:30 am and the ceremony was on 10 am. I left my friends to suffer mom's wrath and got under the shower. I took my time to clean myself and got out of the bathroom to see my friends running helter skelter.

I laughed at them and they glared at me. They had taken the responsibility of getting me ready but how were they supposed to do that when they themselves were so slow? They ran past me into the washroom and yelled profanities at me.

I dried myself up and waited for them to come out. I had washed my hair so I wrapped a towel around them and wore my pyjamas. I told my friends to hurry up and after fifteen minutes, I went in the balcony to dry my hair.

I was swatting my hair with the towel when I noticed few luxurious cars entering through our main gates. The cars halted in the parking area and Shaurya got out of one of the cars. After him, Yuvaan's mom came out from another car and her helper carried some gifts which she had brought.

Advait, Yuvaan's another best friend got out of his car followed by some men in black suits who glanced around themselves and got spread in different directions. He was the head of security and worked for Yuvaan. He went inside the house but the person I was waiting for didn't make his appearance.

I tapped my fingers on the safety railing impatiently but when I realised that he hadn't arrived yet, I pouted and went back to drying my hair. I pulled my hair to the front and started rubbing the towel on them.

After a few seconds, I sensed a very familiar stare on me and snapped my eyes in that direction. Yuvaan was staring up at me and I stopped what I was doing. Our eyes locked and we stared at each other. I forgot that I was still in my pyjamas, with my messed up hair hanging in front of my face and a towel in my hand.

I blinked rapidly and very quietly, retreated my steps, inch by inch. He was still looking at me and I shot him a quick smile and ran back into my room. I collided with Upasana and we both fell down.

Keerti started laughing her ass off and Upasna groaned and tried to push me off of her. I got up and told them to hurry. Yuvaan's family was already here and I was still dressed in my nightwear.

They shared a shocked expression and started with the work. I was getting pulled in every direction and my friends had to work at ninja speed since we only had one and a half hour left. But they got the job done before we got late and started gushing after they had dolled me up.

"You look so awesome, Reyna! Yuvaan will surely faint after seeing you," Keerti commented and I rolled my eyes.

I was the one who was going to faint.

Mom came into my room and she was going to scold us but she stopped when she saw me. She took in my appearance and I could see unshed tears in her eyes. She came towards me and told me that I was looking beautiful.

I told her that all the credit went to Keerti and Upasana. Mom complimented them for their commendable work and told us to relax for sometime since we still had half an hour to begin the ritual.

She went downstairs and we were called soon after. My besties held my hands and walked with me. My heart started beating really fast and Keerti and Upasana sensed it too. We giggled like small girls and Upasana tried to crack a joke to ease my nervousness.

I was getting engaged today!

We reached the living room and I suddenly felt really self-conscious. I was looking down but I could feel everyone's stares on me as I walked towards the centre of the room. I could see my reflection in the glass tiles and for the first time, I saw it smiling back at me.

I was wearing a pink coloured net and silk lehenga with detailed embroidery on it and a matching dupatta. The dress was too beautiful for me but I didn't say that aloud or else I would have gotten tons of lectures as a result.

(Reyna's dress👆)

Finally, I managed to look up but all of my nerves got tangled up when my eyes landed on Yuvaan. He had changed clothes and I couldn't take my eyes off of him. He looked like an angel in that light pink kurta and jacket.

(Yuvaan's outfit👆)

Keerti nudged me and I quickly averted my eyes. I greeted my mother-in-law and when I went to address Shaurya, he bent down and whispered something in my ears. He laughed at my reaction and teased me that my ears had turned red.

Advait also joined him and I gave them a fake glare. I was trying hard not to stare at Yuvaan but it was no use. I kept stealing glances at him as my best friends chatted with him. I was too nervous to talk to him.

Reyna, he is going to be your husband. Stop acting like you have a crush on him.

Arman came beside me and told me that I looked like a monkey. I pinched his cheek but I was thankful to him for distracting me. While we were bickering, Pandit ji arrived and the ceremony started.

Yuvaan and I sat beside each other on the sofa while others sat around us. Mom applied tilak on Yuvaan's forehead and then on mine.

(Applying Tilak👆)

After Pandit uncle said some sacred chantings, he told us to exchange the rings. Yuvaan's mom handed him the ring and he took my left hand in his.

I felt a jolt of current pass through me. It was the first time that he had touched me and I didn't dislike it. I felt my cheeks heat up and my hand started shaking. Yuvaan chuckled in a low tone and rubbed his thumb on the back of my palm.

I gave him a small smile and ignored my friends who were wiggling their eyebrows at me. Yuvaan slipped the platinum diamond ring on my finger and everyone clapped in joy. Then it was my turn. Mom gave me the ring and he moved his right hand towards me.

(Reyna's ring👆)

(Yuvaan's ring👆)

I held his hand in mine and put the ring on his finger. We were engaged now. I felt really joyful when I saw our rings. When I sensed him looking at me, I looked back and gave him my brightest smile.

"Are you happy?" he asked.

"A lot," I replied and he smirked.

"You look good today."

"Thank you." I blushed at his compliment.

After the exchange of the rings, both families exchanged gifts and Pandit uncle concluded the ceremony. My stomach growled and I asked mom if we could eat now. She nodded and everyone went in the dining room.

I noticed that dad was smiling throughout the function and kept complimenting Yuvaan and his mother. Mom also shared the same expressions while Arman was sulking in a corner. I sat beside him and patted his head.

I asked him why he didn't bring Neeya and he answered that she had some family emergency. I fed him the first morsel and after I talked to him for sometime, his mood lightened up.

"You won't forget me na, Di?" he asked.

"How can I forget you Aru? You are the only reason why I am still living," I replied and he looked at me with furrowed eyebrows.

"Why do you always say that?" he questioned.

"Because it is true."

"But you don't have to from today onwards. You have Yuvaan jeeju now."

"You have learned to talk a lot, don't you? Eat up." I changed the topic and he tried to tease me.

I continued eating my food and ate till my stomach yelled at me to stop. The food was really delicious so I couldn't help myself. Other times, I worried about what others would think but whenever I was eating, I wasn't concerned about that.

"Slow down, Reyna. You are acting like you didn't get to eat for months," Upasana scolded me and added that Yuvaan was looking.

"He doesn't mind," I told her and she rolled her eyes.

I ignored mom's scolding too and Yuvaan's mom told her to relax. She said it was okay and smiled at me. I smiled back at her and after finishing all of my food, I relaxed back in my seat.

I got up after everyone was done eating. I didn't know what I was supposed to do now. Mom and dad were busy chatting with Shruti aunty while Yuvaan was in a heavy conversation with Shaurya. Keerti and Upasna were flirting with Advait and Arman was talking to his girlfriend on the phone.

I was the bride but no one paying me any attention.

I went back in the living room and switched on the TV. I flipped through channels and stopped at Cartoon network. It was playing Tom and Jerry. I laughed as soon as Tom got busted by Jerry and the chase started.

I heard someone calling my name but it sounded really distant. I ignored it. I kept hearing my name but I concentrated on the TV. I never liked when someone disturbed me when I was watching my favourite show.

"Reyna!"

The voice boomed in my ears and I turned my head to look at dad who was glaring at me. He shut off the TV and gave me a pointed look. I got up from the sofa and he motioned for me to follow him. I absentmindedly did as he told me and we got outside the house.

Everyone was waiting for us and my friends came beside me. They hit me on the arm and told me that I was watching TV for one hour and didn't notice that Yuvaan was leaving.

"Why are you blaming me? You both were busy with Advait, what was I supposed to do?" I complained.

They narrowed their eyes at me and Keerti was about to say something when mom called me. I went to say my good-byes to Yuvaan's family and aunty gave me a tight hug. She caressed my hair and gave me one more gift.

I opened it up and saw two golden bangles which were Yuvaan's family heirloom. I thanked her and she told me to wear it on my wedding day.

I nodded and went to meet Yuvaan. He was standing by his car and I walked towards him. His eyes darted all over me as I stood in front of him.

"Thank you for today, Yuvaan ji," I said.

"Yuvaan ji? You need to stop calling me that. It makes me feel old. Yuvaan is sufficient," he replied.

"Are you sure?"

He gave me an okay sign and I opened my mouth to say his name.

"I will call you Yuvaan from now."

He gave me a lopsided grin and I heard my heart making a huge 'Ding' sound. I twiddled my thumbs and looked down to hide my blush. I could feel his gaze burning through me and when I looked up, I saw him staring hard at me.

"Bye, Reyna," he said and opened his car door.

"Bye, Yuvaan," I replied and waved at him.

One by one, all the cars left and I was left with my family and friends. Everyone was happy and so was I. I looked at my engagement ring on my finger and admired it.

It was shining so brightly, oblivious to the darkness around it.

Reyna is finally engaged! 💍

Thank you for reading 💜