𝓢𝙏𝙔𝙇𝙀, shubman gill

15. haldi and nightmares

As Shubman and Naina gathered for their haldi ceremony, the air was filled with laughter and joy. Shubman looked handsome in his simple yellow kurta, a bright smile adorning his face as he soaked in the festive atmosphere.

Naina, resplendent in her yellow lengha, radiated happiness and excitement as she joined her family and friends for the celebratory occasion. "You look absolutely stunning, Naina," Shubman remarked, his eyes sparkling with admiration as he beheld his bride-to-be.

Naina blushed at his compliment, feeling a surge of warmth in her heart at his words. "Thank you, Shubman," she replied, her voice filled with affection. "I'm so grateful to be sharing this special day with you."

Together, they embraced the joyous festivities, their hearts intertwined in love and anticipation for the journey that lay ahead. With each moment, their bond grew stronger, a testament to the enduring power of their love.

As Ishan and Abhishek playfully spread haldi over Shubman and Naina's faces, Ishan shoots a quick glance at Abhishek, silently signaling the need for caution regarding Shubman's amnesia. Abhishek nods subtly in understanding.

Ishan then leans in closer to Shubman, his voice low, "Hey buddy, enjoying the haldi?"

Shubman nods with a grin, still trying to piece together the familiarity of the moment.

Abhishek chimes in, "You two look great together, by the way. Perfect match!"

Naina smiles warmly, though a flicker of uncertainty crosses her eyes as she exchanges a brief glance with Ishan, silently acknowledging the delicate situation.

Ishan and Abhishek exchange a silent agreement to keep Shubman's memory loss and his past rivalry with Naina under wraps, knowing that revealing the truth could potentially derail the progress they've made in building a newfound connection between the two. They continue to play along, ensuring that the haldi function remains a joyful occasion for everyone involved, while silently guarding the secret of Shubman and Naina's complicated history.

Shahneel and Siddharth exchanged mischievous grins as they noticed Ishan and Abhishek spreading haldi on Shubman and Naina's faces. Without missing a beat, they darted forward, each armed with handfuls of haldi, and unleashed their playful assault on their unsuspecting sibling and cousin.

Shahneel chuckled, his eyes dancing with mischief, "Take that, bro! You've got to be properly drenched in haldi for good luck!"

Siddharth joined in, laughing uproariously, "And you, Naina! No escaping the haldi storm! This is our way of ensuring a lifetime of happiness for you two!"

Shubman and Naina, now thoroughly coated in haldi, couldn't help but join in the laughter, their earlier reservations momentarily forgotten in the joyous chaos of the moment. As the haldi festivities continued, the bonds between siblings and soon-to-be family grew stronger, casting a warm glow over the auspicious occasion.

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As Shubman and Naina settled onto the bed, their bodies relaxed against each other, a sense of peace washing over them after the lively haldi festivities. Shubman gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind Naina's ear, his eyes reflecting a mixture of gratitude and uncertainty.

"Naina," he began softly, his voice tinged with vulnerability, "I know I can't remember much, but being with you feels... right, somehow. It's like my heart recognizes you, even if my mind can't quite catch up."

Naina's heart skipped a beat at his words, her gaze meeting his with a mixture of tenderness and longing. "Shubman," she murmured, her fingers tracing patterns on his chest, "memories or no memories, what matters is this moment. And right now, I feel like we're exactly where we're meant to be."

Their embrace tightened, sealing an unspoken promise of trust and acceptance as they allowed themselves to be enveloped by the warmth of their newfound connection. In that quiet embrace, amidst the echoes of the day's laughter and love, Shubman and Naina found solace in each other's arms, ready to face whatever challenges the future held, together.

As Shubman drifted into sleep, his mind plunged into the depths of dreams, where fragments of memories and emotions intertwined in a hazy dance. In his dream, he found himself in a familiar setting, a schoolyard filled with laughter and sunlight. But amidst the cheerful ambiance, a scene unfolded before him, one that sent a chill down his spine.

He watched, a silent observer, as a younger version of himself approached a girl who bore a striking resemblance to Naina, offering her a bouquet of flowers with a hopeful smile. But instead of gratitude or reciprocation, the girl's face twisted into a sneer as she flung the flowers to the ground, her laughter ringing in his ears like a cruel echo.

Shubman jolted awake, his heart pounding with a mix of confusion and disbelief. He rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of the dream that lingered like a ghostly shadow. "No, that couldn't be real," he muttered to himself, his voice barely a whisper in the darkness.

Naina stirred beside him, sensing his restlessness, and reached out to gently stroke his arm. "Shubman, are you okay?" she asked softly, her concern evident in her voice.

Shubman turned to her, the remnants of the dream still haunting his thoughts. "I... I had a strange dream," he confessed, his brows furrowing in confusion. "It felt so real, but it couldn't have been..."

Naina's expression softened, her eyes filled with understanding as she took his hand in hers. "Dreams can be mysterious, Shubman," she said reassuringly, "but what matters is that you're here with me now, in this moment. We'll figure everything out together, okay?"

Shubman nodded, a flicker of gratitude warming his heart as he gazed into Naina's eyes, finding solace in her unwavering presence. Despite the lingering uncertainty of his dream, he knew that as long as they faced whatever challenges lay ahead together, they could overcome anything. And in that shared embrace, surrounded by the gentle embrace of sleep, Shubman and Naina drifted back into dreams, ready to embrace whatever the future held.

As Shubman settled back into sleep, Naina's heart clenched with a mixture of hope and apprehension. She watched him for a moment, his features softened in slumber, before turning away to hide the turmoil of her thoughts.

But as she lay beside him, the weight of his dream lingered in the air, a silent specter threatening to unravel the carefully constructed facade of their present. Naina knew that if Shubman had indeed glimpsed fragments of their shared past, it could complicate everything, especially considering his fragile state of mind.

Gently, she brushed a stray lock of hair from his forehead, her touch light as a whisper. "Please, let it be just a dream," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible in the quiet of the night.

But even as she willed the past to remain buried, a part of her couldn't shake the nagging doubt that Shubman's subconscious was on the brink of unlocking the secrets she had worked so hard to conceal.

With a heavy heart, Naina resolved to protect Shubman from the painful truths that threatened to resurface, even if it meant bearing the burden of secrecy alone. For now, all she could do was hold him close, hoping against hope that the morning light would bring with it a reprieve from the shadows of the past.