A concerned relative approached her gently. "Siya beta... Ritika chali jayegi abhi... ek baar mil toh le."

Siya's breath hitched, and within a second, she shot up from the sofa, her heart pounding. Her feet moved before her mind could process, her hands trembling as she ran outside.

The moment Ritika saw her, fresh tears brimmed in her eyes. The moment Siya saw Ritika, the dam broke.

Siya ran straight into Ritika's arms, hugging her with all the strength she had left.

"Didi!" Siya sobbed, clutching onto her tightly as if letting go would mean losing her forever.

Ritika's own cries grew louder as she held Siya close, burying her face in her shoulder.

The sight was heart-wrenching. Shashwat, Arav, and the others stood frozen, their own hearts clenching at the raw display of emotions. Their eyes welled up, but they knew-this was necessary. Some goodbyes needed to be felt, to be cried out.

But someone was missing.

Between the waves of tearful embraces, Ritika's eyes frantically searched for the one person who hadn't come to her yet.

"Reyansh?" she called softly, looking around.

No response.

Her eyes landed on him near the house entrance, where he stood keeping himself busy. He was picking up her belongings, stacking them carefully, avoiding looking in her direction.

"Reyansh!" she called again, louder this time.

He still didn't look at her. Instead, he turned to one of the elders. "Masi, aur kya rakhna tha? Kuch reh toh nahi gaya na?" he asked, forcing his voice to sound normal.

Richa came forward, embracing Ritika tightly, her own eyes filled with tears. Soon, other family members surrounded Ritika, giving her their blessings, whispering words of comfort.

But Ritika's eyes never left Reyansh. He was slipping away, avoiding her, keeping himself busy so he wouldn't have to face what was happening.

Just as he was about to walk inside again, Arushi caught his wrist.

He turned to her, startled.

"She is waiting for you," Arushi whispered softly.

Reyansh shook his head quickly. "Nahi... mujhe aur kuch kaam hai..." he said, his voice almost defensive.

Arushi didn't let go.

"Reyansh... you can show your emotions. She is your sister. It's okay." Her voice was gentle, understanding.

He swallowed hard and turned his head slightly, his gaze finally meeting Ritika's.

She was watching him. Again and again, between hugs, between goodbyes-she was still waiting for him.

As Reyansh finally gathered the courage to step forward, his breath was heavy, his heart pounding louder than ever. He had held it all in, avoided the moment, convinced himself that if he didn't acknowledge it, maybe it wouldn't feel real. But now, as he stood before Ritika, the reality of her departure crashed into him like a storm.

Ritika saw it in his eyes-the pain, the helplessness, the unspoken words choking him. She lifted her trembling hands and cupped his face gently, her thumbs brushing away the tears that had begun to spill down his cheeks.

And then, without a word, Reyansh broke down.

He lunged forward, wrapping his arms around her, burying his face in her shoulder as sobs tore through him. His entire body shook with the weight of emotions he had refused to acknowledge until now.

"Please... please stay here... just for a little longer..." he whispered between his sobs, his grip on her tightening as if holding her back could change fate.

Ritika's heart twisted painfully, fresh tears streaming down her own cheeks. She stroked his back soothingly, trying to comfort him even though she was struggling herself.

He clung to her like a child who wasn't ready to be left behind, his chest rising and falling in uneven breaths.

Minutes passed, and even as the world around them continued its rituals, Reyansh remained frozen in his grief, refusing to let her go.

Tara finally stepped forward, placing a gentle yet firm hand on his shoulder. "Reyansh, beta... muhurat nikal jayega." Her voice was kind but firm, reminding him that they couldn't hold on forever.

But Reyansh stubbornly shook his head, his grip not loosening.

Tara sighed, her own eyes welling up, but she knew this moment had to end. "Reyansh...," she called again, and this time, his hands slowly fell away.

Siya immediately held his hand, squeezing it, as if grounding him. His face was still wet with tears, but now there was only silent acceptance in his eyes.

Ritika turned to Harsh, her father, and bent down to touch his feet, seeking his blessings.

But before she could, he stopped her.

For the first time in days, Harsh allowed himself to break the walls he had built. He pulled Ritika into a tight embrace, holding her as if this was the last time he would ever be able to do so. His hands cradled her head, and he kissed her hair softly, a single tear slipping down his face.

"Hamesha khush rehna, aur kuch bhi problem ho, you just have to call me." he whispered, his voice thick with unshed emotions.

Ritika nodded, closing her eyes, soaking in the warmth of her father's embrace one last time.

Then, it was time.

Harsh walked beside her, as per the ritual, to guide her to the car. His steps were steady, but his heart was heavy.

As they moved forward, Ritika's foot suddenly hit a small stone on the ground, and she lost her balance. She gasped, her hands flailing to catch something-

But before she could fall, Arav was there.

With lightning-fast reflexes, he caught her, his arms wrapping securely around her waist as he steadied her.

"Are you okay? Lagi toh nahi?" Arav asked immediately, concern etched on his face as he kneeled in front of her, gently checking her feet for any injury.

Ritika looked at him, her lips slightly parted, as emotions swirled in her chest.

Harsh watched this moment unfold, and for the first time, he smiled.

Because in that instant, he saw what he had always wished for his daughter-someone who would always be there to catch her, protect her, love her.

He had chosen the best hands for his daughter.

Arav looked up at Harsh, and without any words, an understanding passed between them.

Harsh slowly placed Ritika's hand in Arav's, sealing his silent blessing.

But just as Ritika was about to step into the car, something inside her screamed that this wasn't enough.

She turned around swiftly, her heart hammering against her chest.

Without a second thought, she rushed back and threw her arms around her father again, sobbing into his chest.

"Papa..." she choked out, her fingers clutching onto his shirt as if she could freeze time.

Harsh let out a shaky breath and wrapped his arms around her once more, closing his eyes.

"Ritika... sambhalna apne aapko..." he murmured, stroking her head, trying to be strong for both of them.

"Maa!" Ritika suddenly called out, reaching for her mother.

Tara immediately stepped forward, and the three of them stood there, wrapped in each other's embrace, crying together one last time.

Divya and Siya and Reyansh couldn't hold back any longer. They rushed forward and clung to Ritika, their sobs filling the air as they held onto her as tightly as they could.

Darsh stepped outside, his usually playful expression subdued as he saw Divya sobbing, her face buried in her hands. His heart clenched, he had never seen her cry like this.

With a quiet sigh, he pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and stepped closer. Gently holding her hand, he placed it in her palm.

"Please don't cry," he said softly, his voice unusually sincere.

Divya sniffled, looking up at him with tear-filled eyes, before taking the handkerchief with a small, wobbly smile. But as soon as she pressed it against her nose,

"ACHOOO!!" A violent sneeze escaped her lips, followed by another and another.

Confused, she pulled the handkerchief away, only to find white powder covering her face.

Her eyes widened in disbelief, realization dawning upon her.

Darsh took a cautious step back, seeing the storm brewing in her expression.

"DARSH KE BACCHE!! KIDMADA KE AVATAR! KUTTE, BAKASUR!! I WILL KILL YOU!!" she screeched at the top of her lungs.

The entire family turned to look, startled by her sudden outburst.

Ritika, who had been struggling to hold back her tears, giggled at her sister's white, powder-covered face. Soon, soft chuckles turned into loud laughter as everyone else joined in.

Darsh, now realizing his life was in grave danger, turned on his heels and bolted.

"Aaaaa!!! Arre maine mazak me..." he began to explain, but Divya was already grabbing stones from the ground, aiming at him with alarming precision.

"Aaj tu gaya, Darsh!" she yelled, launching the first stone in his direction.

"Bhabhi! Save me!" Darsh yelped, dashing behind Ritika, using her as a human shield.

Divya narrowed her eyes, hands on her hips. "Jiju, move aside. Aaj iska band bajana hai."

Arav, who had been observing the chaos, crossed his arms. "Darsh, ye kya harkat hai? Thappad khana hai kya?" he asked, shaking his head.

"Arre, he was just joking," Ritika interjected, laughing as she defended her brother-in-law.

"Ye kaisa mazak hai!! Bechari ki shakal dekhi hai??" Shashwat pointed out, trying not to laugh.

Akash, smirking, took a step forward and wiped Divya's face with his stole. "Lo, ab toh theek lag rahi ho."

But Divya was far from pacified.

She turned to Darsh with narrowed eyes. "Ab tu gaya beta," she declared ominously.

Darsh gulped. "Main toh bas mazak kar raha tha..." he tried again, but Divya cracked her knuckles, stepping forward with full intention of murder.

Finally, Ritika took one last look at her family, tears glistening in her eyes, before stepping into the car.

The atmosphere in the car was thick with emotions. Ritika sat quietly, her hands resting in her lap as she stared out of the window, watching her home fade in the distance.

Shashwat, who was driving, glanced at her through the rearview mirror. Sensing the sadness settling over her, he exchanged a quick look with Akash and Darsh.

They knew exactly what to do.

"Toh bhabhi, ab aap officially humari ho gayi," Darsh smirked, wiggling his eyebrows. "Welcome to the gang!"

Ritika blinked at him, confusion momentarily distracting her from her sorrow.

"Kaun sa gang?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Akash turned to her with a serious expression. "Husband's torture gang. Yeh ek pura organization hai jo naye dulhon ki class lene ka kaam karta hai."

"Aur tu uska president hai?" Ritika shot back with a smirk.

"Vice-president." Darsh corrected, earning a glare from Akash.

"Arre, tum dono bas dhang se introduce bhi nahi kar paa rahe ho!" Shashwat chimed in dramatically. "Main hoon is gang ka founder!"

Ritika let out a soft laugh despite herself.

The house felt painfully silent. The laughter and chaos of the vidai had faded, replaced by an emptiness that settled over everything like a heavy blanket.

Reyansh walked into Ritika's room, his steps slow and hesitant. As soon as he entered, his composure crumbled.

The room still smelled like her-the soft floral scent of her perfume, the faint traces of her favorite jasmine-scented oil. Her neatly arranged books, the scattered hair ties on the dresser, the little post-it notes she had stuck on the mirror with motivational quotes, everything screamed of her presence, yet she was gone.

His chest tightened. His vision blurred.

With a choked sob, he slumped down on the bed, burying his face in his hands as his body trembled with suppressed cries. He had held back for too long. Pretending to be strong, keeping himself busy, avoiding looking at her directly during the farewell-none of it had helped.

The dam finally broke.

His sobs filled the silence of the room, raw and unfiltered. His shoulders shook as grief overwhelmed him, each breath labored, each cry heavier than the last.

A soft creak of the door echoed behind him.

Siya and Divya walked in, their eyes red from crying, their expressions soft with understanding.

"Jaao yahan se," Reyansh mumbled, his voice muffled by his hands as he tried to hide his face.

Siya rolled her eyes. "Ye kya baat hui? Hum bhi rote hain na. Akela rone ka kya faida? Sath milkar rote hain."

Reyansh let out a watery chuckle despite himself. Before he could say anything, Siya and Divya settled beside him, wrapping their arms around him from either side.

Divya rested her head on his shoulder, her grip tightening slightly as if grounding herself. Siya ruffled his hair lightly, her own eyes glistening with tears.

For a while, they just sat there, silent except for their sniffles.

"I miss her," Reyansh finally admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Me too," Siya murmured.

"Me three," Divya added.

Reyansh swallowed, his throat aching. "I don't know... you both will return to your work... but I have to stay here only." His voice wavered, his fingers clutching the bedsheet. "Aur... after a few years, you both will also leave..."

Siya, in an attempt to lighten the mood, nudged him. "Aww, kutte ko humari yaad aayegi?" she teased, sniffling.

Reyansh lifted his head, shooting her a glare before smacking the back of her head. "Chup reh!"

Siya pouted, rubbing the spot where he hit her. "Arre, mazaak kar rahi thi!"

Reyansh shook his head with a small, teary smile before glancing around the room. His gaze softened as he took in every little detail-the little stuffed teddy on the bed, the half-burnt candle on the bedside table, the family photo hanging on the wall.

"We will keep her room like this only," he said firmly, his voice filled with quiet determination.

Siya and Divya nodded.

The reception was in full swing, with the ballroom buzzing with laughter, chatter, and the occasional sound of camera flashes. Guests lined up to congratulate Arav and Ritika, each bringing beautifully wrapped gifts that were placed on a grand table beside the stage.

The newlyweds stood at the center of the stage, receiving guests with warm smiles. Ritika, radiant in her silver lehenga, gracefully accepted every gift and compliment, while Arav, in his dashing tuxedo, responded with equal charm. Their families stood nearby, ensuring everything went smoothly, while the photographers captured candid moments of them laughing and sharing heartfelt conversations with loved ones.

In one corner of the hall, Siya and Shashwat stood slightly apart from the crowd. Siya looked stunning in a pista green gown, her curls cascading over her shoulders, while Shashwat, dressed sharply in a navy blue suit, couldn't take his eyes off her.

A few steps away, Reyansh leaned slightly toward Arushi, subtly pointing at her forehead. Arushi frowned in confusion until he mouthed, "Bindi... thoda idhar," motioning for her to fix its position. She huffed, rolling her eyes, but still adjusted it. Reyansh smirked, clearly enjoying how well he knew her little details.

Akash folded his arms, scanning the room with an unimpressed look. Everywhere he turned, someone or the other seemed lost in their own world of romance. Arav and Ritika were busy entertaining guests, but the way Arav subtly held Ritika's hand whenever possible didn't escape his notice.

Reyansh and Shashwat came to him.

"Shakal bana ke kyun khada hai?" Reyansh said frowning.

Akash let out a dramatic sigh, "Sabka alag hi romance chal raha hai, abhi Harsh uncle ko bula dunga sab pyaar mohabbat nikal aayega. Ye dono sala-jija, jija-sala ka" His voice carried a teasing edge, but there was a hint of exasperation too.

Shashwat smirked, leaning towards him. "Tujhe kya jalan ho rahi hai? Ab Richa ki mummy yahan hain, tu uske paas nahi jaa paa raha, toh hum kya karein?" he quipped, nudging Reyansh in amusement.

Akash rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "Ye toh aur chipki rehti hain usse..." he muttered, eyeing Richa, who was standing with her mother, deep in conversation. "Pata nahi uska graduation kab complete hoga, kab hum shaadi ki baat karenge."

Reyansh chuckled, exchanging a knowing glance with Shashwat. "Shukr mana uske papa ko abhi tak nahi pata," he said, lowering his voice slightly. "Warna Akash se pataal ho jata."

Among the crowd, Divya walked carefully, holding a glass of juice in her hand. The black saree she wore hugged her frame perfectly, draping elegantly around her. The subtle shimmer of the fabric caught the light every time she moved, and a few eyes turned to admire her. But her own gaze was scanning the room, searching for someone.

Darsh.

Unbeknownst to her, the man she was looking for had already spotted her. Leaning casually against a pillar, Darsh smirked, his sharp eyes taking in the way she looked in that saree. The deep black color contrasted against her skin, making her look even more breathtaking than usual.

Deciding to make his presence known, he walked up behind her, his steps silent.

Then, leaning in just enough for his lips to brush near her ear, he whispered in a deep voice-

"Mujhe dhund rahi ho?"

The sudden warmth of his breath against her ear made her flinch in surprise, and in the process, the glass in her hand tilted. The next second, the cold liquid spilled straight onto Darsh's coat.

Her eyes widened in shock.

"Oh no!" she gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.

She knew him too well-Darsh was not one to let things slide so easily. If she had ruined his coat, then he would definitely take his revenge. Her eyes darted up to meet his, already bracing herself for what was to come.

But to her surprise... he didn't react.

There was no playful threat, no attempt to throw juice back at her. Nothing.

Instead, he was just staring at her.

His smirk had faded slightly, his gaze trailing from her face, down to her saree, and then back up again. There was something different in his eyes-something deeper.

For the first time since he'd met her, he found himself speechless.

Divya felt her cheeks heat up under his intense stare. Why is he looking at me like that?

Breaking the silence, she quickly said, "I am sorry."

Her voice seemed to snap him out of his daze.

Darsh blinked, and in an instant, the mischievous glint was back in his eyes.

"Hawww!! Ye kya kiya!?" he gasped dramatically, clutching his coat as if she had committed a crime.

She looked at him in guilt, but before she could say anything, he continued in a mock-serious voice, "Ab main kya karunga? Poora suit kharab kar diya!"

Divya rolled her eyes at his overacting. "Arre sorry na... Mai saaf kar deti hoon!" she said quickly, eager to fix her mistake.

Darsh crossed his arms, watching in amusement as she grabbed his wrist and pulled him towards a quieter corner of the venue, behind the pillars where a small water dispenser stood.

Reaching the spot, she grabbed some water in her palm and sprinkled it on his coat in an attempt to clean the stain.

Then, without thinking much, she lifted the edge of her saree's pallu and started dabbing at his coat to absorb the moisture.

And that was when she felt it.

The rapid, uneven beat of his heart against his chest.

Her movements stilled as realization dawned upon her.

She looked up, only to find Darsh staring at her, his expression unreadable. His playful smirk was gone. His arms, which were once crossed in amusement,