Author's POV

Mr. Singh stood up from his seat, making his way to the middle of the hall with a confident stride. The crowd watched him curiously, but before anyone could react, the lights suddenly dimmed, plunging the room into darkness. A wave of whispers spread through the guests.

The hushed murmurs of the crowd were abruptly silenced by the sound of a familiar melody, followed by a deep, resonant voice. Trisha's heart skipped a beat as she felt warm breath brush against her ear.

जानम, देख लो, मिट गईं दूरियाँ
मैं यहाँ हूँ, यहाँ हूँ, यहाँ हूँ, यहाँ

She startled, instinctively wanting to turn towards him, but before she could, a single spotlight illuminated the center of the hall. There he was, standing under the light, having moved so quickly that it left her momentarily stunned.

जानम, देख लो, मिट गईं दूरियाँ
मैं यहाँ हूँ, यहाँ हूँ, यहाँ हूँ, यहाँ

He slowly turned and began to walk towards her.

Trisha, feeling the intensity of his gaze, rose from her seat and instinctively took her father's hand.

जानम, देख लो, मिट गईं दूरियाँ
मैं यहाँ हूँ, यहाँ हूँ, यहाँ हूँ, यहाँ
कैसी सरहदें? कैसी मजबूरियाँ?
मैं यहाँ हूँ, यहाँ हूँ, यहाँ हूँ, यहाँ

As he approached, he saw her dancing with her father. A tender smile spread across his face, and he shook his head slightly, amused

तुम छुपा ना सकोगी, मैं वो राज़ हूँ
तुम भुला ना सकोगी, वो अंदाज़ हूँ
गूँजता हूँ जो दिल में तो हैराँ हो क्यूँ?
मैं तुम्हारे ही दिल की तो आवाज़ हूँ

The song words, they echoed in her mind, bringing back memories of past events. But her father, sensing her distraction, spun her around, sending her straight into Mr. Singh's arms. He caught her effortlessly, holding her close.

सुन सको तो सुनो धड़कनों की ज़बाँ

He placed her hand over his heart, making her freeze. She looked up into his deep blue eyes, her breath catching in her throat.

मैं ही मैं अब तुम्हारे ख़यालों में हूँ
मैं जवाबों में हूँ, मैं सवालों में हूँ
मैं तुम्हारे हर एक ख़्वाब में हूँ बसा
मैं तुम्हारी नज़र के उजालों में हूँ

He slowly turned so that his front was pressed against her back, his arms encircling her protectively. With one hand, he gently held her hand, and with the other, he produced a ring, sliding it onto her finger. The crowd erupted in cheers, their excitement filling the room as Trisha, overwhelmed, looked down in surprise and disbelief.

देखती हो मुझे, देखती हो जहाँ
मैं यहाँ हूँ, यहाँ हूँ, यहाँ हूँ, यहाँ

The light flickered once more, casting fleeting shadows around them.

जानम, देख लो, मिट गईं दूरियाँ
मैं यहाँ हूँ, यहाँ हूँ, यहाँ हूँ, यहाँ
कैसी सरहदें? कैसी मजबूरियाँ?
मैं यहाँ हूँ, यहाँ हूँ, यहाँ हूँ, यहाँ

"Sagai Mubarak ho, jaan!"

Her breath hitched as she heard those words. She turned quickly, catching a fleeting glimpse of his intense eyes before darkness engulfed her once again, just like in the haunting dreams that had been plaguing her. She felt his arms slide around her waist, pulling her close. His head rested gently on her shoulder, and just as she braced herself for his touch, he placed a soft kiss on the side of her head before vanishing into the shadows.

मैं यहाँ हूँ, यहाँ हूँ, यहाँ हूँ, यहाँ

As the lights came back on, Trisha blinked rapidly, scanning the hall, but there was no sign of him. All she could see was Mr. Singh standing across from her, his presence calm and composed, as if nothing unusual had happened. How could someone disappear so suddenly, so mysteriously? She looked at Mr Singh, something unspoken in her eyes.

The song ended, and the crowd erupted into applause.

With the formalities over, it was time for dinner. The guests moved towards the dining area, where an elaborate spread awaited them. Trisha and Mr. Singh were seated at the head of the table in chairs that had been decorated with intricate floral arrangements. Their family members joined them, sitting close by, while friends and relatives filled the other seats.

One by one, Trisha's friends approached the couple. Their smiles were warm, but there was something mysterious in their expressions that didn't escape Mr. Singh's notice.

He raised an eyebrow, returning their smiles, then leaned closer to Trisha and whispered, "Itni khatirdari..."

Trisha raised her eyebrows in mock innocence. "Mil rahi hain toh le kyu nahin rahe..."

Mr. Singh chuckled softly, a playful glint in his eyes. "Bade naseeb walon ko yeh khatirdari naseeb hoti hai... Har kisi ko nahi..."

Trisha's mother, noticing their exchange, leaned forward with concern. "Beta, are you okay?"

Mr. Singh smiled reassuringly. "More than okay, Aunty."

He glanced at the table, where the dishes were laid out before him, each one looking more delicious than the last. "Do I have to finish all of this?" he asked, looking back at Trisha with a teasing glint in his eye.

Trisha shrugged slightly, feigning nonchalance. "Your choice. But if you want to upset your dear saalis, you can. Just look at their innocent faces-they're watching their jiju with such expectation."

Mr. Singh turned to look at Trisha's friends again, and though they tried to maintain their innocent smiles, he couldn't detect even a hint of true innocence in their expressions. They were up to something, but he couldn't quite figure out what.

As he started tasting the dishes, he found himself pleasantly surprised. Each dish was delicious, seasoned to perfection, with no trace of the prank he'd been half-expecting. He sighed in relief, glad that he could enjoy the meal without any unpleasant surprises.

Later, as the guests began to leave, Trisha returned to her room, the events of the evening replaying in her mind. She couldn't help but remember her first meeting with Mr. Singh-the moment that had set everything in motion.

Flashback Start

Trisha was speeding down the road, gripping the steering wheel, while Mihir sat beside her, holding his breath.

Earlier, her father had found out that she had been sneaking out, leading him to punish her by taking her beloved cars away for a month. He made it clear she wouldn't be allowed near them.

Today, after attending aarti at the temple, Trisha had insisted she should leave. Her father reluctantly agreed, sending her with Mihir in his car. However, midway through the journey, Trisha had requested Mihir into switching seats.

But for Mihir she had not requested but she threatened him.

Little did she know, her father had planned this. He knew she wouldn't miss the chance to drive, and although he had agreed to let her go after his wife request.

Trisha sped down the road, gripping the steering wheel with a gleeful smile, while Mihir sat beside her, his knuckles white as he clutched the edge of his seat. He was silently praying, his heart racing with each sharp turn she took.

"Trisha, slow down, yaar! I just bought this car!" Mihir shout.

"It doesn't matter," Trisha replied with a mischievous grin. "You can drive my new car. Hisab barabar."

Mihir's face paled. "No, stop the car or at least slow down! I'm not even married yet!"

They continued their banter, with Trisha enjoying every moment of Mihir's panic. The road ahead seemed deserted, and in her excitement, she turned her head to tease him further.

But Mihir suddenly screamed, "Ahhh!"

Trisha snapped her head back to the road, her eyes widening in shock. There, lying in the middle of the empty road, was a man. How did he get there when the road was clear just moments ago?

Her reflexes kicked in as she jerked the wheel to the side and slammed on the brakes. The car screeched to a halt, barely missing the man sprawled out on the pavement. Mihir, meanwhile, let out a breath of relief, silently thanking every deity he could think of.

Trisha quickly removed her sunglasses and stepped out of the car, hesitating for a moment before grabbing the gun. Mihir followed suit, immediately checking the man's condition. The man, a robust-looking Punjabi wearing a turban and sporting a full beard, seemed strangely unscathed.

Trisha handed Mihir a water bottle. "Here, sprinkle some on his face."

Mihir did, and the man slowly stirred, his eyelids fluttering open. As his vision cleared, his gaze settled on Trisha. Dressed in white, she seemed almost angelic to him-a beautiful apparition against the glaring sunlight.

Mihir leaned in, asking urgently, "What happened? Why were you lying in the middle of the road?"

The man's eyes, which had been fixed on Trisha, slowly turned towards Mihir. He closed them again, his voice faint and strained as he murmured, "I... I feel dizzy."

Trisha, her skepticism evident, watched him closely. When he closed his eyes again, she returned to the car and grabbed the mandir Prasad, and returned to his side, sitting next to him.

Mihir snatched the gun from her hand and tucked it behind him.

"Here, eat this," she said softly, her voice calm and reassuring. She placed the Prasad in his mouth, and as he tasted it, he slowly opened his eyes again, unable to look away from her.

"Are you feeling better now?" she asked.

The man nodded weakly. Mihir and Trisha helped him to his feet just as a driver came running towards them with a water bottle in hand. The driver thanked them profusely before guiding the man back to their vehicle.

As they drove away, Mihir finally exhaled, and this time he insisted on taking the driver's seat. Trisha handed over the keys to him silently.

Flashback End

---

Singhania Mansion

"Hey brother, apply it correctly; it's my boss's wedding!" Riya called out to a worker, her tone firm but friendly as she supervised the decorations.

"Well, he's my boss," she muttered, "but just a few more days, and I'm outta here."

"That light should be hung straight, and make sure the flowers are fresh!" Riya continued, her eyes darting around to catch every detail.

Suddenly, her phone rang. She stepped away from the bustling activity to take the call, but the moment she answered, she had to pull the phone away from her ear as loud screams erupted on the other end.

"Oof! God, my ear is going to blast!" she muttered, wincing.

"Oh God, Navya, what is this...?"

"Di, us kutta..." Navya's voice came through, sobbing.

"Kamine..." Riya replied, joining in.

"Nalayak..." Navya continued.

"Ullu ka patta..." Riya added.

"Badtameez..." Navya cried.

"Chadar ki kameez..." Riya retorted.

"Ne mera dil tod diya," Navya finally said, her voice breaking as she continued to cry.

Riya sighed, rolling her eyes. "What do I do now? Pehla breakup hain, sadma hi lag gaya. Kahin meri behan ko mujhe doctor ke paas toh nahin le jana padega," she muttered to herself.

(First breakup, huh? Looks like I might have to take my sister to the doctor.)

"Di, I can hear you!" Navya snapped.

"Oops, sorry, sorry, baby."

Just then, Angad and Aadir entered the scene, overhearing Riya's conversation. Angad eyes widened in amusement.

"Wow, what a sight! She says sorry to someone other than me!" Angad speak, raising an eyebrow.

"She has a boyfriend too?" He added, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Meri jaan, kya hua? Ismein itna bura maane ki kya zarurat hai? Yeh toh ek baar sabke saath hota hai," Riya continued.

(My dear, why are you taking it so hard? It happens to everyone at least once.)

Angad's eyebrow shot up at the word "jaan," as he glanced at Riya, his curiosity piqued. "Seems like this is more serious than I thought," Aadir remarked.

"Shut up, otherwise I'll slap you when I get there!" Riya snapped.

Angad coughed, his eyes wide with surprise. "She has a very scary girlfriend. May God protect whoever crosses her path," he murmured, exchanging a look with Aadir.

"Right," Aadir agreed, and the two brothers walked away, chuckling.

"Navya, give the phone to Mom; I'll talk to her," Riya instructed.

"No, she'll just slap me!" Navya protested.

"Well, you deserve a slap for crying so much! I didn't even cry this much after my last breakup," Riya replied, exasperated.

"Haan, kyunki aapko aadat ho gayi hai, Di!" Navya shot back.

(That's because you're used to it, Di!)

Riya gasped in mock offense, "Beta, itna sach bhi nahin bolte hain!"

(Hey, no need to be that honest!)

"Sorry," Navya mumbled.

"Navya, I'll talk to you later," Riya said, trying to end the call.

"No, come home right now!" Navya demanded.

"Navya!" Riya's voice took on a stern tone, immediately silencing her sister. "Now give the phone to Mom."

A few seconds later, her mother's voice came on the line.

"Mummy, yaar, usse samjho aur aaj uske liye uski manpasand kuch bana dena, upset hai voh."

"Beta, I've tried explaining to her, but she just won't listen! I told her this happens to everyone in their first relationship. Life doesn't end here. The same thing happened to me!"

"So, what happened next?"

"What happened? Your father came into my life, and then you two," her mother said.

"Oooo...." Riya teased.

"Okay, bye! Mwah!" Riya blew a kiss into the phone and cut the call, a smile on her face after teasing her mom.

                           ******

𝗜 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲!

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴! ❤️✨