His Rooh

11 | Her Rana sa

Aruhi

As the excitement of the past events began to settle, I found myself alone in my room, a quiet sense of hope blooming within me. I sat by the window, the cool evening breeze brushing against my skin as I replayed the moments in the garden over and over in my mind. The way Rudraksh had proposed, his eyes filled with sincerity, had left an indelible mark on my heart. A soft blush spread across my cheeks whenever I thought of his gaze, his touch, and the makeshift flower ring he had crafted for me.

I couldn't help but smile, my heart fluttering with anticipation for what was to come.

Deciding I couldn't keep this news to myself any longer, I reached for my phone. I needed to share my joy and excitement with them, they would understand my feelings. My two best friends, Pari and Nikhil, who had been with me through everything but they couldn't attend my engagement because Nikhil had to manage a big order of some wedding and Pari was at her Nani's house as she was quite sick.

I started a group call, my heart racing with excitement as I waited for them to pick up. After a few rings, Pari's cheerful voice greeted me first. "Hey, Aruhi! How did the engagement party go?"

Before I could respond, Nikhil's voice joined in, calm and reassuring as always. "Hey, Aruhi. You sound excited. What's going on?"

Taking a deep breath, I couldn't contain my excitement. "Pari, Nikhil, you'll never believe what happened!" I exclaimed, my voice bubbling with happiness.

Pari's curiosity was piqued. "What is it? Did something happen?" she asked, her tone filled with anticipation.

Nikhil's voice carried a note of concern. "Yeah, Aru, what's got you so worked up?"

"Well," I began, trying to steady my racing heart, "Vikram ended up marrying someone else, and now... now I'm engaged to Rudraksh!"

There was a moment of stunned silence on the other end before Pari's voice came back, brimming with astonishment and joy. "What?! Engaged to Rudraksh, that handsome hunk? Oh my God, Aruhi! Tell us everything!"

Nikhil sounded equally surprised but he cleared his throat at Pari's words making me smile internally, yes I ship them. "Engaged to Rudraksh? That's unexpected. How did that happen?"

I laughed, feeling a rush of warmth at their reactions. "It's a long story, but basically, Vikram eloped with someone else, her name is Neha and Rudraksh... well, he proposed to me in the garden. It was so unexpected but so cute!"

As I recounted the details, I could almost hear Pari's eyes widening with each word. "Wow, Aru. The proposal was so magical! I'm so happy for you. I can't wait to meet Rudraksh and see you two together." I giggled at her excitement.

Nikhil's voice was thoughtful. "If Rudraksh makes you happy and you feel this is right, then I'm happy for you. Just remember, I'm always here for you, no matter what."

"Thank you, Nikhil. Your support means the world to me," I said, my heart swelling with gratitude.

Pari chimed in, her tone playful. "So, when's the wedding? Do I need to start shopping for my bridesmaid dress?"

I laughed, feeling a sense of normalcy and joy return with their teasing. "We'll figure out the details soon."

~~~~~~~~~~

The night of Vikram and Neha's reception arrived quickly, a grand affair filled with opulence and splendour. The Malhotra Mansion was adorned with twinkling lights, vibrant flowers, and a sense of celebration that permeated every corner. I arrived with my family, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness. As we entered, I couldn't help but feel a bit overwhelmed by the grandeur of it all.