Engaged

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Trisha's Pov:

That night is the most beautiful night ever. It feels like surreal- this feeling is new to me, and I think I am in love with this feeling or maybe, with the man who give this feeling to me. Now I don't feel embarrassed admitting that I blush just at the mention of his name. Yesss.

I am love with Tarun Gautam.

We still have a lot to learn about each other, but he gives me a kind of security I never knew I needed. Uff.

Right now, we all are at Sanjana 's house because today the great Karan Grover going to propose- correction "official proposal" to my baby girl. The house is subtly decorated. Karan and his family will bring Sagun to her or say small engagement ceremony.

Kanika is busy arranging samosa in plates while avoiding Yug's intense gaze. Rehan is not here- obviously he is with his girlfriend. Tarun earlier was coming with Karan, but I don't know what happen, so he is here giving instructions to Yug for arranging garland on main door.

He is looking effortlessly handsome. I swear, he's going to give me heart attack one day he needs to stop wearing traditional.

Kanika and I quickly finished kitchen chores and went to Sanju's room where she is chiding like a kid. This drama queen.

"Ye bekar hai dadi.. dusra do" she whispers yell.

("This is useless, grandma... give another one.")

"Beta mai to ja rahi hun ye teri paanchvi saree hai. Mar aese hi nalayak" Dadi shouted at her. Meanwhile me and Kanika standing at the doorstep controlling our laughter. Dadi stomps out the room.

(Beta, I am going. This is your fifth saree. You useless one.)

" aap to aese behave kar rahi ho jese Karan bhai pehli baar dekh ne aa rahe hai" Kanika teased her.

("bhabhi, you are behaving as if you are seeing Karan for the first time.")

"Sanjana takes this and wear no more arguments" I ordered her handling a red saree with golden embroidery. This simple saree has a beautiful elegance.

She is looking very beautiful. Just like goddess. Karan definitely need an aspirin.

"hayeee mai mar jawan. Kya lag rahi hoo Bhabhi ji" Kanika said to her and hugged her tightly. We did her minimal makeup and let her hair open. She is definitely prettiest girl in our group.

"Thank you, guys," Sanjana whispers. Her eyes sparking with unshed tears. "I thought... this... day will never be come in my life". She breathed heavenly. We both hugged her tightly. Her sobs are soft and small.

"Suhh.. relex makeup karab ho jayega." She chuckles between her sobs.

"Once mumma said that she will... she will get me ready for my weeding. Once me and didi had fight on weeding. Papa said he will marry off her fast. So... so we live happily...." She is smiling, and her tears are not stopping. "Mumma told me 'Karan ko bol de na khana banana Sikh le' kyunki meri nalyak beti ko nahi ata, but Kaniii...Trisha she is not here... she is not with me papa is not here to threat Karan..." and that's it she stats crying in my arms. Kanika sniffing silently beside us.

A loud knock-on door. And Yug entered without any warning.

"ohh my my... aaj ja kar ladki lag rahi hai ye... kaya kiya tum dono ne meri behn ke sath, hww" if Sanjana is drama queen, then he is also drama king. But his own eyes are red. Definitely he is listening from outside.

"Yug..." Sanjana called him and hugged.

"Suhh. It's ok we all re here na baccha. Your Karan is here. We all are with you always. No crying. and we are waiting for this na, hmm" He wipes her tears and signing me not to cry either. "Dekh Sanjana. You are fighter. You know this..."

"han bhabhi" Kanika added gently. "God also knows who is strong enough to handle this drastic situation. God is just taking your test. Aur apke pass ham logo ko bheja. Karan bhai jesa husband diya.... Relax Bhabhi. You are the strength of this chaotic group." Kanika is smaller in our group she is literally just 18 and here she is so sensible. Just like her brother.

Horn...

"Aree... Sanju aagaya vo... jaldi kar chal mere sath" I take her to the mirror and set her makeup. "Yugggg..." I shouted on him; his gaze was stuck on Kanika like a silent prayer- his eyes full of love... passion... longing. And Kanika... she is avoiding him.

Karan's POV:

I thought I had imagined every moment of this day. How she'd look. How her eyes would widen seeing me. How my heart would race hearing her laugh. I even thought about what to say, how to ask her properly-officially-to be mine.

But I wasn't prepared for this.

As she walked toward me, dressed in a simple red saree with golden embroidery, my world stilled. Her elegance, her softness, her strength-it all hit me like a wave. But my heart clenched the moment I saw her eyes. Beautiful, yes-but red. Swollen. Still shimmering with unshed tears.

She had been crying.

And no one told me.

I clenched my jaw and looked past her-to Trisha, Kanika, and Yug-standing behind her like clueless bodyguards. "You all were with her, right?" I said, my voice barely calm. "And still-she cried?"

"Karan-" Trisha started.

"You let her cry alone?" My voice rose without warning. "Do you have any idea what she's been through? This was supposed to be her day! Not a reminder of what she lost." We all are standing near staircase, and my family is in hall with Dadi.

"Karan bhai, please-" Kanika whispered, guilt written across her face.

I took Sanjana's hand gently, ignoring the ache in my chest. She tried to smile, tried to pretend she was okay. But I know her better.

She still wipes her tears before anyone sees. She still carries the silence of her parents' absence like it's her duty. "You three were with her-why didn't you hold her before the tears came?" I looked at Yug last, the only one I could yell at properly. "You call her your sister, right? Where were you when she needed your shoulder?"

"Karan..." her soft voice stopped me. "They didn't leave me. I just... broke a little today. It happens." She smiled up at me.

I couldn't speak. Just pressed my forehead to hers and whispered, "Next time, cry in front of me. I'll take every tear. But don't hide from me, jaan. Not you. Please"

The sagun ceremony went on. Smiles, rituals, the sound of bangles clinking and elders blessing echoed in the decorated hall. Dadi was glowing as she did the aarti, her voice trembling with hidden joy. The moment was perfect-at least for everyone else.

But my eyes never left Sanjana.

She was trying. Smiling, folding hands, touching elders' feet. She played her part well. Too well. But only I saw how her fingers were slightly shaking when she held the aarti thali. Only I noticed how her eyes blinked a second too long, holding back the tears that were still threatening to spill. And I couldn't take it anymore.

"Sanjana," I whispered, gently holding her wrist. "Come with me."

"Karan-"

"I said come." I didn't let her protest, just guided her out of the hall through the side veranda and then to the garden on the balcony-I don't care what everyone will say.

Only us. Only silence.

She stood there, arms folded, still trying to keep it together. And then... I saw it. That one tremble in her lower lip.

I stepped forward and cupped her face, forcing her to look at me.

"Bas... ab ro lo," I murmured. "Rukna mat, don't hold it in." The second I said that she broke. Her tears fell silently, lips quivering, her hands holding my kurta tightly like it was the only thing keeping her upright. All adorned in henna, beautiful.

"I'm sorry," she whispered between sobs. "I didn't want to ruin this day... I tried so hard..."

"Shhh..." I pulled her into my arms, wrapping her tight, as if I could shield her from her own grief. "You didn't ruin anything. You are the day, Sanjana. You're the reason I even breathe with purpose."

"I miss them... I miss them so much, Karan." she choked.

"I know, jaan... I know." I kissed her hair, holding her even closer. "But you don't get to break anymore without me beside you. If you cry, I cry. If you fall, I fall with you. But don't-don't hide your pain. Not from me. Ever."

She looked up at me, eyes swollen but shining with something else, trust. "I love you, Karan," she said softly.

And for once, I didn't need to say it back. I just kissed her forehead and whispered, "Forever."

After My Lady's crying session, I was standing front of her parents' frame. Touches the frame and silently whispers. "Ab sambhal lunga, mai aap ki beti ko. han pehle mujhse galti ho gai uskae liye mai mafi mangta hun. Ab aap ki beti meri zimmerdari hai'" I fold my hands and slightly bow to them.

("Now I will take care of your daughter. Yes, I made a mistake earlier, for which I apologize. Now your daughter is my responsibility.")

She is standing beside me. I whispers to her "I love you". She smiles shyly. 'ouch', I put my hand on my chest in dramatic way.

She giggles. yes, I just want to hear this. Her giggle is my only music of life.

"let's dance guysss, Uncle dhol bajo, chal Kanika" Trisha drag Kanii with her. Soon everyone joins dhol dance, I was admiring everyone, this is so perfect My lady is also enjoying her day. Family full of joy and happiness. Even my dad is also dancing with them. Yug came near to me and said "aao jijaji, dance karte hai. And one more thing..." He stops for seconds like his words is not coming from his mouth, "Please take care of her." he said while looking at her. The shine in his eyes, shows how much he loves his sister.

"Yug..." I called him. "Thank you for taking care of her at that time." that's all I can say to him. I am really grateful that he was there at that time. He just smiles and drag me to the ground. The day is so beautiful, everyone is so happy. Mom already chatting with Dadi and her to be bahu. Her bahu, sounds too... mine.

I look down at my ring, my cheeks burn instantly by the mere thought of her, we are engaged, after marriage.

God.

Kanika's pov:

The day is pure bliss. The family the couple the friends the Roka ceremony just beginning the love life. How beautiful. Wow. We all have our lunch and sitting at veranda. Karan bhai is admiring his new fiancé. Rehan jiju and Rehana di is in their own world and also my bhaiya too. Ah, everyone has their partner. And this playboy is looking at me like, ... I am only thing in this world for him. Ahh, I should stop reading books. I am so dramatic, but what if he seriously looking at me like this only. Well, we had an argument, I think I have to talk to him.

"Sorry" I mutter, he is still looking me. My eyes drop for a second then I again look at him. "I know I was too harsh, but Whatever I say I didn't mean it. Sorry" I confess.

Dil par pathar rakhke maine ye sab keha diya.

"It's Okay, and I know you were jealous, that's fine." look at the audacity of this bandar... I sulk and turn towards the other. I knew it, I was making mistake.

"Okay guys I know you all have beautiful and hot partners but iska ye matlb nahi ki mai bore ho jaoun. So please someone tell me about our spotlight couple, how they meet, and how they get married." I whisper last line. Because Sita aunty and Dadi still inside the house.

"Oh, is that. Then the whole story will narrate by Author" Trisha Bhabhi said.

"Yeah. Please author take us back, when we both meet for the first time." Sanjana Bhabhi added.

Author's Pov:

Once upon a time, somewhere in Delhi before summer vacations. A boy in his 20s-standing front of the school, under the tree. The weather was calm only breezes were whispering and the occasional hum of passing vehicles filled the silence.

He was leaned casually against a sleek SUV, dressed in plain T-shirt, jeans, and hat tilted low over his sharp eyes. There is no expression on his face, but his eyes have a shine.

His phone buzzed.

Tarun: Enjoying vacation?

Karan: hmm. But also becoming a driver.

Tarun: so, as I... :(

He chuckled softly, slipping his phone back into his pocket. Just then, the school bell rang.

And like a spell was lifted, the quietness burst into color-laughter, chatter, giggles, gossips. Girls and boys in uniforms ran out the gates, earliest quit atmosphere began alive with giggle, laughter, and gossips.

And somewhere in the crowd...came the group of giggling girls and boys-Sanjana, Rehan, Trisha, Yug, and Karan's younger sister, Rehana-chatting, gossiping, exchanging project files like it was their tiny world of inside jokes and shared classes.

But Karan's eyes didn't follow all of them.

His gaze paused... fixated... drawn to a girl walking in the center of that small group, almost like an unspoken leader. There was something in the way she walked-not overly graceful, but confident. Unbothered.

Her two ponytails bounced with each step, catching the afternoon light. Her body, softly curved, slightly chubby radiated a kind of effortless beauty. Not runway perfect-but real. Warm. Magnetic. She didn't know someone was watching her like a living dream. She didn't know that in the story written by fate, her chapter had just begun.

Rehana came near to Karan and introduce her brother to everyone.

"Here, this is Karan bhai, and Karan bhai these are my friends. Trisha. Sanjana. Yug. and here Rehan." as she finished Karan's daydream also broke. He just gesture 'HI' to everyone. yes, they all are childhood friend, but Karan is very reserved that is why they never meet. And after then Karan goes to Mumbai for graduation and Military trainings. He was in his early graduations. Currently they all friends are in 8th grades. Sanjana's eyes also looking at him, she has sunshine personality and here Karan- reserved winter breeze. Their first meeting already holds an understated spark.

"Hello..." her voice is soft, cheerful, like someone who didn't believe in awkward silence.

Karan nodded slightly, "hi" his tone was short, neutral, almost like he was insure what more to say. Rehana rolled her eyes, whispering to Sanjana, "He's like this only. Introvert alert." They both giggle, and Karan's ears turned slightly red.

Sanjana tilted her head with a teasing smile. "Introvert, huh? That's okay. I talk enough for two people."

Karan didn't smile, not fully, but the corner of his lips twitched like he almost did. Almost.

"Okay, time for samosas and juice," Yug declared, dragging Trisha with him toward the small stall nearby. The group began to scatter. Sanjana stayed back for a moment, standing beside Karan in that awkward silence that didn't feel awkward to her.

"You're not as cold as you pretend to be," she said casually, like it was a simple truth. He looked at her, brows slightly raised.

"You noticed?" he finally asked.

She shrugged. "It's hard not to."

And just like that, she walked away with a smile, ponytail swaying, leaving him with a question in his mind-and maybe, just maybe, the beginning of something he didn't know he was waiting for.

That day was the day where cold breeze met sunshine.

Kanika's Pov

Everyone has smile and nostalgia feeling on faces.

"Vese Karan ka face abhi bhi aesa hi hai, ALL STONE" Yug laughs at his own joke, but it's true. Karan bhai rolls his eyes but smiles faintly.

"Okay then issi baat par golgape ho jaye..." Sanjana Bhabhi suggested.

"Sounds good, Bhabhi, why not have competition." I smirk. With that our chats, laughter mingles and create a comfort cocoon where we all do not want to leave.

Never.

*********

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