Love Struck At The Wedding

24. AVNI

“Kaashi, the day I've been dreaming about for months is finally here,” I said, trying to keep the excitement from overwhelming my voice as I spoke to her on the phone.

“Yes, Avni, but are you absolutely sure about this?” Kaashi's voice was concerned, but gentle.

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,” I replied confidently.

“But why today? We talked about this months ago. What’s so special about today?” she asked, curious.

“It's his birthday,” I explained. “I wanted to surprise him. Plus, today’s the start of our semester break, and exams are coming up next week. The faculty has a dinner planned tonight, and I’ve prepared something special for after. I just want it to be perfect.”

Kaashi let out a soft laugh. “Does Shaurya know about this ‘special’ plan of yours?”

“Not yet, but I’ll tell him when I get to college,” I said, biting my lip nervously.

“Alright then! Good luck, Avni. I want every single detail afterward,” Kaashi said, her laughter making me smile.

“I’ll keep you updated! Talk soon,” I chuckled and hung up the call as I reached the staffroom.

“Oh my god!” I heard Shaurya's voice from across the room, sounding genuinely shocked. Startled, I turned to see him standing there, his hands covering his mouth in disbelief, his bag hanging loosely on his shoulder.

Before I could say anything, he crossed the distance between us and wrapped his arms tightly around me.

“Happy birthday, Shaurya,” I whispered into his chest, smiling against the fabric of his shirt.

His hands slid down to hold my waist gently as he pulled back just enough to look at me. “You’re wearing a saree?” His voice was filled with awe. “Are you trying to kill me on my birthday?” he teased, a playful glint in his eyes.

I chuckled softly, resting my chin on his chest. “No, I just wanted to surprise you… and I have something special planned for tonight.”

His smile was tender, his fingers lightly brushing my cheek before trailing down to my jaw. “You don’t need to plan anything. Just being with you is more than enough.”

I smiled at his words, but before I could reply, Deepti and Sumit burst into the room, calling out to Shaurya and wishing him a happy birthday.

The moment was interrupted, and I quickly stepped out of Shaurya's embrace, knowing we were in the staffroom and anyone could walk in.

The rest of the day flew by in a blur, with no opportunity to tell Shaurya about the date I had meticulously planned. I even sent him a message to meet me for a few minutes, hoping to catch him between classes, but he seemed completely engrossed in work and receiving birthday wishes from colleagues.

By the time I made it to my last class, disappointment weighed heavily on me. My carefully laid plans seemed to be slipping away, and I couldn't shake the feeling that the evening would pass without a chance to surprise him.

Maybe tonight isn’t meant to be... I thought as I headed toward my class.
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Later that evening, as we were all prepared to leave for dinner, Deepti groaned, “Of all days, why does it have to rain now?”

Sumit shrugged. “It’s June. The weather is always unpredictable this time of year.”

I barely registered their conversation, my heart sinking further. The rain wasn’t the problem—it was a missed opportunity. The movie I had planned for after dinner, the carefully thought-out surprise… all of it seemed like a waste now.

I walked over to Shaurya and tugged on his sleeve gently. He glanced down at me, concern filling his eyes. I leaned closer and whispered, “Shaurya, do you have a minute? There’s something I need to tell you.”

He nodded and leaned in. I opened my mouth to tell him about the date, but before I could speak, Sumit interrupted us.

“Shaurya sir, the cab’s here. A few of us can take it, and the rest can come with you in your car.”

I shot Sumit a glare, but Shaurya turned to him, surprisingly calm. “Sumit, do whatever you need. But give us a few minutes.”

Sumit nodded and walked off, and Shaurya turned back to me, his hand slipping into mine. “What’s going on, Avni? You seem anxious.”

I sighed, my nerves getting the better of me. “Did you check your phone? I messaged you about something earlier.”

He frowned. “My phone’s out of battery. I’ll charge it in the car. But is that really what you wanted to talk about?”

I hesitated. Telling him now felt wrong, rushed. The weather wasn’t on our side, and the timing seemed off. “It’s nothing urgent. Let’s go, we’re already late,” I said, forcing a smile.
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The rain hadn’t let up by the time we left the restaurant, and Shaurya offered to drop me off at home.

After a quiet drive, I was surprised when he pulled up in front of his apartment instead. “Why are we here?”

“I think we need to talk, and I couldn’t think of anywhere else where we wouldn’t be interrupted,” he said softly, his eyes searching for mine.

I hesitated but nodded, texting Kshitij to let him know I was at Shaurya’s place, blaming the rain for the delay.

As soon as we entered, a strong gust of wind blew raindrops into the room. The balcony doors were wide open, and the windows in the living room rattled from the storm outside.

“I must have forgotten to close them this morning,” Shaurya said, running a hand through his hair. “Can you close the ones here while I check the bedroom and kitchen?”

I nodded, quickly closing the windows, and was about to lock the balcony doors when I felt Shaurya's presence behind me. His chest pressed against my back, and I froze.

When I turned to face him, his expression was unreadable—his usual calm was replaced with something more intense. He took a step forward, and I instinctively stepped back.

“Are you hiding something, Avni?” His voice was low, teasing, but there was an underlying seriousness to it.

“No… why would I hide anything from you?” I stammered, my pulse racing as I looked everywhere but at him.

He took another step forward, his presence overwhelming, until I found myself pressed against the cold glass of the balcony door. I gasped at the chill, biting my lip in nervousness.

His eyes darkened, and his thumb traced my lower lip gently. “Don’t do that,” he whispered, his voice soft, yet commanding. “You know what that does to me.”

Before I could respond, his lips brushed against my chin, then my jaw, and his hand slid down to caress my waist. I shivered under his touch as his kisses trailed to the side of my neck, his fingers drawing slow circles against my bare skin.

Just as I was about to lose myself in the moment, a soft click echoed through the room. The balcony door had swung open again, and we were suddenly drenched by the heavy rain.

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