Author's POV:-
As Meera moves around the table, serving generous portions of kheer to each family member, she reaches Aaryansh, only to be stopped by his mother's gentle hand on her arm. "Meera, beta, just give him a small serving. You know he doesn't have much of a sweet tooth," she advises kindly, a knowing smile playing on her lips.
Meera nods understandingly, offering Aaryansh an apologetic glance before serving him a modest portion of the kheer.
Advay, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, adds to the teasing by chiming in, "Bhabhi, why don't you make bhaia eat from your sweet hands? We all know food tastes better that way!" He winks playfully, earning laughter from the rest of the family.
Meera's smile falters slightly ,
the reminder of her status as a replaced bride weighing heavily on her heart. She tries to mask her unease with a forced smile, but the pain lingers in her eyes.
Sensing the unease of Meera, his mother intervenes gently, "Advay, that's enough.
Let's focus on enjoying the kheer."
Her tone was gentle yet firm.
As Aaryansh takes a spoonful of Meera's kheer, his initial reluctance gives way to surprise as the rich aroma and creamy texture envelop his senses. Inwardly, he admits, Although I'm not particularly fond of sweets, I suppose I can make an exception for her kheer.
As the first spoonful touches his lips,he can't help but think , this is truly delicious,
"Mmhh, this is so delicious, bhabhi!!" Riya exclaims, her voice filled with genuine admiration. "I loved it!"
Advay, not one to hold back his praise, chimes in enthusiastically,
"Wow, bhabhi! This kheer is so amazing! I can't get enough of it!" his eyes twinkling with delight.
His mother and father join in the chorus of praise, expressing their admiration for her culinary skills.
"Meera beta, you've truly outdone yourself," Aaryansh's mother says with a proud smile.
"This kheer is simply divine."
As the compliments continue to pour in, Meera's heart swells with gratitude. However, her joy is tempered by a sense of unworthiness as her parents-in-law present her with a sagun or gift as a token of their appreciation.
"Meera, dear" her father-in-law begins, his voice filled with warmth, "this is for you." He holds out the gift with a gentle smile.
Meera's breath catches in her throat as she gazes at the beautifully wrapped package. "Nahi please .. iski koi jarurat nahi..hai" she protests softly, her cheeks flushing with emotion.
"Beta" Naina begins softly,
"this gift is a symbol of our love and appreciation for you.
Take it as our blessings , it would mean a lot to us if you would accept it."
Meera's heart swells with emotion as she gazes at her parents-in-law, their sincerity shining through their words. Slowly, she nods, her eyes brimming with tears. "..Thank you.." she whispers softly.
Overwhelmed by their kindness, she instinctively reaches out to touch her mother-in-law's feet in a gesture of respect and gratitude. Then, turning to her father-in-law, she bows her head in reverence, silently expressing her thanks.
"Whoa, whoa, hold up!" Advay exclaims with mock seriousness, dramatically waving his hands in the air.
"Let's put a stop to this emotional rollercoaster, shall we? We're here to enjoy some kheer, not to turn this into a tearjerker Bollywood movie"
His exaggerated theatrics prompt laughter from the rest of the family, the tension in the room dissipating instantly.
As Aaryansh observes the heartwarming exchange between Meera and his family, a sense of contentment washes over him. Seeing her being accepted and cherished by his loved ones fills him with a quiet happiness, knowing that she is finding her place within the family.
Just as the laughter begins to subside, Aaryansh's mother clears her throat to get everyone's attention.
"I have an announcement to make." she says with a smile, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "Today, we will be hosting a reception party for Aaryansh and Meera."
As Meera hears the announcement of the reception, her heart skips a beat, a mixture of emotions swirling within her.
"Yayyyy!" Riya exclaimed
"Mom, I'll get going now" Aaryansh said .
Naina, interjects with a gentle reminder,
"Wait wait , make sure you arrive home on time for the reception. We don't want to keep our guests waiting."
Aaryansh nods .
____________________________
(At the evening)
Meera's POV:-
Sitting in my room, I couldn't shake off the nerves. The upcoming reception had me feeling anxious for no apparent reason. Glancing at my outfit, doubts crept in, and I worried about facing the paparazzi.
Would they judge me for being the replacement wife?
Just then, The sound of the doorknob turning startled me, and I instinctively stood up.
It was him..
..
It wasn't until I dared to glance at him that I realized he had been staring at me the whole time.
Doubt gnawed at me as I wondered
Did I look less than presentable?
"Aapko...kuch chahiye ?" I stammered, my voice betraying my nerves
He seemed to snap out of his reverie, shaking his head. " Huh? No.. nothing," he replied curtly.
"Mom's calling us."
With a nod, I followed him out.
.. time skip...
As he stepped out of the car, I moved to follow suit, but he extended his hand, a gesture of unexpected chivalry.
Guilt gnawed at me as I again remembered I had deceived this gentleman,
This guilt will surely consume me someday.
I took his hand, allowing him to lead me inside.
As we walked through, the royalty of the place spoke for itself, each grandiose detail adding to the overwhelming atmosphere. My anxiety reached its peak as we navigated through the opulence. Okay, I'm an introvert. I don't do well with gatherings or anything remotely social. All I want is to live alone, peacefully, in a room where no one can disturb me. But jokes on me , coz my fate has some serious personal issues with me.
Just then, I hit the jackpot - paparazzi central. Flashing cameras, reporters shouting questions - the whole nine yards.
I want to disappear into thin air. Seriously, someone just put me out of this misery.
But wait , amidst this , he didn't let go of my hand.
He held on tight, It's like he understood my inner turmoil...?
I feel like he is my knight in shining armor or something.
I can't help but wonder if guys like him were even real anymore. Like, where do you find them?
Author's POV:-
Soon, Aaryansh's mother approached them, with a warm smile,
"You're looking very beautiful, beta" she complimented Meera, her eyes sparkling with genuine warmth.
"Come, let's introduce you to some of our relatives."
Meera nods.
Before they could move, a sudden commotion erupted behind them. Someone came from behind and wrapped his arms tightly around Aaryansh, engulfing him in an unexpected embrace.
"MY BROTHERRRRRR!" the voice exclaimed loudly, causing Aaryansh to stumble slightly in surprise.
He quickly regained his composure, his expression shifting from bewilderment to mild irritation.
"What the heck? Let go!" he demanded, his tone laced with annoyance.
But the newcomer paid no heed to his protests, continuing to cling to him with fervent enthusiasm.
"My brotherrrr, I missed you so much!"
the newcomer exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine affection.
Aaryansh's mother chuckled lightly at the unexpected intrusion, she greeted the newcomer with a mixture of amusement and fondness.
"You're here? When did you arrive, dear? And why didn't you come to meet me?" she inquired, her tone playful.
The newcomer, undeterred by Aaryansh's earlier protests, grinned mischievously and replied,
"Oh, aunty, I wanted to give a big surprise to your oh-so-arrogant yet handsome son!"
With a dramatic flourish, he enveloped her in a bear hug, much to her delight.
After releasing her from the hug, his gaze landed on meera, and he raised an eyebrow inquisitively.
"Ah, so this pretty lady is the wife of our arrogant fellow?" he quipped, his tone dripping with playful teasing.
"Well, hello there, pretty bhabhi.
Myself your dear husband's ultimate great, handsome, sweet, charming best friend, Sid " He punctuated his introduction with a flamboyant bow.
"Done with your grand entrance?" Aaryansh asked
Sid, always ready with a quip, jumped in with a mischievous grin. "Acha, why did the tomato turn red?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Wtf?" Aaryansh asked
" Tell na "
After a pause , Aaryansh replied ,
"don't know, why?"
"Because it saw the salad dressing." he exclaimed with a flourish, bursting into laughter at his own joke. lame joke.
"Wtf?" Aaryansh said, with a hint of annoyance in his voice.
Meera, witnessing the exchange, couldn't suppress a giggle at the unexpected humor, finding herself drawn into the lively atmosphere of the moment.
Aaryansh's mother chuckled and remarked,
"You'll never mend your ways, will you?"
He laughed in response, saying,
"Not in this life, aunty!"
She then nodded and said,
"Alright then, you two enjoy yourselves. I'm taking Meera with me to introduce her to some of the guests."
With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he interjected,
"Hold on, aunty... Aren't they the newlyweds? Why separate them now?"
She raised an eyebrow, curious.
"What do you have in mind, dear?"
With a mischievous grin, he replied, "They're newlyweds, and today is their reception party. Don't you think they should dance on this beautiful day?"
Meera was taken aback by his unexpected remark.
Aaryansh, sensing Meera's discomfort, leaned in and muttered, "Shut up, Sidharth, what the hell are you saying?"
But Sid, being himself, quipped,
"Is the groom, shy?"
Aaryansh shot him a perplexed look, mouthing a silent "WTF?"
Sid, undeterred, raised his voice for all to hear,
"Attention, attention, attention!
As today's party is in honor of this newly -wedded couple, don't you all think they should grace us with a dance on this memorable day?"
Meera's eyes widened in shock at his bold suggestion.
Meanwhile, Riya and Advay joined in enthusiastically, exclaiming,
"Oh yes , yess!" And soon, the room erupted in the cheers of "Dance, dance, dance!"
Meera's POV:-
What on earth is happening here? I feel like diving underground and disappearing from this awkward situation
I glance around the room, hoping to find a way to escape this unexpected situatiom. The cheering and chanting for us to dance only add to my discomfort. How did I end up in this surreal situation? All I want to do is disappear, to find a quiet corner where I can gather my thoughts and make sense of this whirlwind of events. But as the clamor grows louder, it becomes increasingly clear that slipping away unnoticed is no longer an option.
Author's POV:-
Aaryansh's mother seizes the moment as an opportunity to bring Aaryansh and Meera closer ,
With a warm smile, she nods and says, "Yes, why not?
Aaryansh , not knowing what to say or do , just simply gives a
"What are you saying, mom?" look to his mother.
"What happened? The groom doesn't know how to dance , is that so ?" Sid asked
Aaryansh glares at him.
With a mischievous grin, Sid continues
"Yes, definitely! You don't know how to dance, that's why you're denying it.
So, prove us wrong. Show us that you can."
Meera's POV:-
His words leave me stunned,
But before I can protest, Aaryansh ji's hand is already extending towards mine.
Meanwhile, the crowds cheering "Wooohhhhhhhh!!!"
No, no, no, With this outfit, I'll definitely fall or do something stupid and embarrass him,
Suddenly, his voice breaks through my racing thoughts,
"May I?" I hesitate, unsure how to respond.
"I... I don't know how to dance.."
I stammer nervously.
But his reassuring words, filled
with warmth, dissolve my worries, "Don't worry, I'll lead. Just follow my lead, and everything will be fine."
With a hesitant nod, I agree, feeling both embarrassed and relieved.
________________________
As the familiar strains of the song filled the reception hall, she felt a knot of nervousness tighten in her stomach.
She glanced nervously at Aaryansh, her heart pounding with uncertainty. She was a replaced bride, standing beside a man she barely knew, about to dance in front of a room full of people.
Sensing her unease, he said softly,
"Don't worry, just follow my lead,"
his eyes filled with warmth.
"May I?" He offered her his hand.
Taking a deep breath, she placed her hand in his, feeling the reassuring warmth of his touch.
Mere Haath Mein Tera Haath Ho Saari Jannatein Mere Saath Ho... (x2)
Tu Jo Paas Ho Phir Kya Yeh Jahaan Tere Pyar Mein Ho Jaaun Fanaa
Mere Haath Mein Tera Haath Ho Saari Jannatein Mere Saath Ho
Tu Jo Paas Ho Phir Kya Yeh Jahaan Tere Pyar Mein Ho Jaaun Fanaa
Mere Haath Mein Tera Haath Ho Saari Jannatein Mere Saath Ho
As the music enveloped them in its melody, he impulsively pulled her closer by her waist, their bodies coming together in a spontaneous embrace.
Meanwhile , her heart racing as she found herself pressed against him, their movements becoming more fluid and intimate with each step.
Tere Dil Mein Meri Saanson Ko Panaah Mil Jaaye
Tere Ishq Mein Meri Jaan Fanaa Ho Jaaye
Jitne Paas Hain Khushbu Saans Ke
Jitne Paas Hothon Ke Sargam
Jaise Saath Hain Karvat Yaad Ke
Jaise Saath Baahon Ke Sangam,
Jitne Paas Paas Khwaabon Ke Nazar
Utni Paas Tu Rehna Humsafar
Tu Jo Paas Ho Phir Kya Yeh Jahaan
Tere Pyar Mein Ho Jaaun Fanaa
(Music)
Feeling the exhilaration of the moment, He swept her off her feet, lifting her effortlessly into his arms as he spun her around in a graceful arc.
With each spin and dip, she felt herself falling deeper under his spell, her fears and insecurities fading away in the warmth of his embrace.
In that fleeting moment, she felt truly alive, her heart soaring with a sense of freedom and abandon she had never known before.
Jitne Paas Paas Dhadkan Ke Hain Raaz
Jitne Paas Bundon Ke Baadal
Jaise Saath Saath Chanda Ke Hain Raat
Jitne Paas Nainon Ke Kaajal
Jitne Paas Paas Saagar Ke Lehar
Utne Paas Tu Rehna Humsafar
Tu Jo Paas Ho Phir Kya Yeh Jahaan
Tere Pyar Mein Ho Jaaun Fanaa
Mere Haath Mein Tera Haath Ho Saari Jannatein Mere Saath Ho.
As the final notes of the song faded away, They stood there, their breaths mingling in the quiet intimacy of the moment as they leaned their heads together, their foreheads touching in a gesture of silent solidarity.
Author's POV :-
As the applause filled the room, They found themselves at the center of attention, basking in the glow of their impromptu dance.
"You said you didn't know how to dance, but it seems like you've been hiding your skills from me.
Care to share any other hidden talents?" He said while leaning in slightly closer to her.
Meanwhile, Amidst the applause, Sid couldn't resist adding his own touch of humor to the atmosphere.
"Well, well, well, look at these two lovebirds," he exclaimed, clapping Aaryansh on the back with a playful grin. "Who knew our serious Mr.
had some dance moves hidden up his sleeve?"
"Shut up, Sid will you?," Aaryansh quipped with a grin, shooting his friend a good-natured glare.
"Oh hello , No need to fly off in the clouds. You can't even dance half as well as pretty bhabhi." Sid retorted.
"I admit" Aaryansh spoke under his breath.
"Wow bhabhi you were amazing out there !"
"Thank you," Meera replied with a shy smile, her heart warmed by the genuine warmth in riya's eyes.
Advay , joined them, his face lit up with excitement.
"Bhabhi, you totally stole the show!" he exclaimed, his enthusiasm infectious.
"By the way , I've never seen bhai so animated on the dance floor before...."
Riya playfully thumped his back and gave him a knowing look.
"Hush, bhai," she said with a laugh, her tone teasing.
"Let's not embarrass them too much with our praises."
Turning to Meera, Riya flashed her a warm smile.
"Alright, bhabhi, I think it's time to head home," she said, linking her arm with Meera's.
"Bhai will probably be tied up with all the Q&A sessions and formalities for a while longer anyway."
Meera nodded in agreement.
____________________
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