A Symphony Of Silence And Storm

Kansh engagement

The day of Rohan's surgery and Shivay's engagement dawned bright and early. Annika, her heart heavy with worry, rose and hurried to the shower. Reaching the hospital well before Rohan's 10:00 AM surgery, she spent some precious moments calming his nerves and offering words of encouragement. Finally, the time arrived, and Rohan was wheeled into the operating room. Shreya  reassured Annika that everything would be fine.

The surgery was expected to last six hours. Annika and Ishita, determined to stay strong, decided to wait outside the operating room. Annika silently prayed for a successful surgery, her mind also drifting to the Oberoi mansion and the engagement ceremony happening in her absence. She hoped everything would proceed without a hitch.

Meanwhile, at the Oberoi Mansion, Shivay stood in his room, a knot of unease tightening in his stomach. The impending engagement felt wrong, a betrayal of something deep within him. Yet, logic held him captive. He silenced his heart with logic, convincing himself it was for the best for his family and company.

Om and Rudra barged into the room, shattering his contemplative silence. "Looking sharp, Bhaiya!" Rudra exclaimed, his eyes gleaming at Shivay's pastel pink kurta suit. "Though, if you're having second thoughts, it's not too late to run. Kanika hasn't arrived yet."

Om smacked Rudra on the head. "Don't be ridiculous, Rudra. Follow your heart, Shivay. Even if your mind and heart disagree, choose what feels right."

Shivay sighed. "Heart on the back seat, mind in the driver's seat – that's always been my motto .My mind is always right, and my heart, well, it's usually wrong. So, I'll do what my mind dictates.""

Om and Rudra exchanged a dejected look. When would their brother learn to listen to his heart?

Suddenly, Pinky's voice echoed through the house, "Om, Rudra, if Shivay's ready, bring him down! Kanika and her family should be here any minute."

The three brothers descended the stairs, joining the assembled family members. As Rudra sipped some water, his eyes landed on the stage. A gasp escaped his lips. Emblazoned across it were the words "#Kansh Engagement."

Confusion clouded his face. "Do we have another sister with a child?" he blurted out, earning bewildered stares from everyone.

Everyone stared at him as if he'd grown a second head. Om chuckled. "What are you talking about, Rudra?"

Rudra, still bewildered, pointed towards the stage. "Look! It says 'Kansh Engagement'! And Kansh is that evil uncle of Krishna's, right? Bhaiya looks serious all the time, kind of like a villain, and today's his engagement. So, is Bhaiya a Kansh Mama?"

Pinky and Kavya burst into laughter. "Oh, Rudra, you are impossible!" Kavya exclaimed, wiping tears from her eyes. "It's a couple name for Shivay and Kanika – #Kansh! Kanika chose it."

Rudra, feeling foolish, slunk away to a corner, his already strained relationship with Kavya further strained. The younger girl, a year his junior yet already a graduate, and Annika's constant companion, was never his favorite.

Their laughter was interrupted by a servant announcing Kanika and her family's arrival

Kanika and her family arrived for the engagement, the Ahujas a splash of vibrant color amidst the Oberoi's pastel palette. Kanika, adorned in a bold emerald green gown with a daring side slit, stood out even more. Pinky, however, couldn't hide her disappointment. She had specifically sent Kanika a pastel pink lehenga to complement Shivay's outfit, and Kanika's choice felt like a deliberate snub.

"Kanika, why didn't you wear the outfit I sent?" Pinky inquired, her voice laced with hurt.

Kanika, having rejected the lehenga for its "simple and dull" color, quickly fabricated a story. "Pinky Mom," she said, "I was going to wear it, but it was too tight! We wouldn't have had time for alterations, so I opted for this gown instead." Pinky, despite having invested five hours in selecting the lehenga, simply nodded in forced acceptance.

As Kanika scanned the room, Dadi, ever observant, inquired, "Kanika, who are you looking for? Shivay is right here."

"Dadi," Kanika lied, "I was hoping to thank Annika for her fantastic work." Her true motive was for Annika to witness the engagement and feel jealous.

To Kanika and Shivay's surprise, Dadi replied, "Annika isn't here today. She has some personal matters to attend to."

Mrs. Ahuja, ever critical, chimed in, "What kind of event manager disappears on such an important day? What if something goes wrong and we need her?"

Just then, a voice cut through the air. "Don't worry, Aunty. Annika Didi has meticulously planned everything to ensure the ceremony runs smoothly. And if anything unexpected arises, I'm here to handle it."

Kavya, who had overheard Mrs. Ahuja's disparaging remarks, emerged with a resolute expression. Anger flared within her as she defended Annika's dedication.

"Who are you? I don't recall seeing you before," Mrs. Ahuja retorted rudely.

"I'm Annika's assistant," Kavya declared confidently, "and today, it's my responsibility to ensure everything goes according to plan. So, please, enjoy the ceremony and refrain from criticizing someone who isn't present."

With a defiant glint in her eye, Kavya sauntered towards Rudra, who gave her a subtle thumbs-up for silencing Mrs. Ahuja. Kavya responded with a small, satisfied smile.

As the clock ticked closer to 11:00 AM, everyone  buzzed with conversation, all anticipating the ring exchange ceremony. Suddenly, a familiar voice cut through the chatter, "Am I late for the engagement?"

Everyone turned their heads in surprise to see Priyanka standing there.

"Priyanka, my darling! It's been ages!" Pinky exclaimed, rushing forward to engulf her daughter in a hug. Priyanka, her eyes glistening with tears, returned the embrace. She then went on to greet the rest of the family – Dadi, Om, Tej, Jhanvi, and a dramatic Rudra who feigned hurt.

"Priyanka, it feels like you've forgotten us completely," Rudra pouted. "No calls, no messages!"

Priyanka chuckled. "You all know this competition is very important to me. It demanded my full focus. Besides, it's not like you all remembered either. No one even mentioned the engagement!"

Kanika, never one to miss an opportunity to jab at Priyanka, interjected, "But if no one told you about it, how did you find out? As far as I know, contestants aren't allowed to leave the resort until the competition is over. Unless, of course, you're out."

A tense silence fell over the room. Shivay, sensing the rising hostility, stepped in. "Is that true, Priyanka? Are you out of the competition?"

Priyanka, well aware of Kanika's jealousy, smirked. "No, Bhaiya, not at all. Annika actually came to the resort a week ago and told me about your engagement. I requested a leave of absence from the organizers, but they initially refused. Annika, however, with her persuasive charm, managed to convince them to let me come here for a brief two-hour visit."

Rudra, ever the Annika admirer, chimed in, "That's something only Annika Didi could pull off! Otherwise, people might have thought you were getting kicked out!" He shot a playful glance towards Kanika.

The conversation shifted to Priyanka's team, fellow contestants, and the resort life. With the clock nearing 11:00 AM, Kavya, ever the efficient assistant, intervened.

"Everyone, please take your places! We have only five minutes left for the ring ceremony. Please allow Shivay Bhaiya and Kanika to stand on the stage. I'll fetch the rings. According to Dadi's pandit, the auspicious time for the exchange is between 11:00 AM and 11:02 AM. We have a narrow window."

Kavya hurried to retrieve the rings, which were nestled on a velvet cushion atop a decorative plate. As she rushed back, she nearly tripped but managed to regain her balance just in time. Mrs. Ahuja, ever the watchful critic, observed the near-disaster.

"You almost dropped the rings!" she exclaimed, snatching the plate from Kavya's grasp. "Let me take care of this."

Before Kavya could protest, Mrs. Ahuja marched towards the stage, leaving Kavya fuming silently. Meanwhile, Rudra, oblivious to the drama unfolding behind him, was concocting a mischievous plan. His mind raced, searching for a way to stall the ceremony and prevent the engagement from happening on time.