A Symphony Of Silence And Storm

At any cost engagement will happen

Rudra, watched with barely concealed glee as Mrs. Ahuja, ring plate in hand, navigated the crowded hall towards the stage. His mind whirred, a plan solidifying with each step she took.

He couldn't let this engagement happen smoothly. Not while a sliver of doubt lingered about Shivay's true feelings. The clock ticked down, each second pushing the ceremony closer to the auspicious window. But Rudra wouldn't give up without a fight.

He subtly sidled up to Om, who was deeply engaged in conversation with Shakti. Leaning in conspiratorially, Rudra whispered, "Bhaiyya, I have a bad feeling something might go wrong during the ring exchange."

Om, accustomed to Rudra's theatrics, rolled his eyes dismissively. "Come on, Rudra, what are you on about now? Everything's perfectly fine."

But Rudra, a determined glint in his eyes, persisted. "Trust me, Bhaiyya. Just follow my lead if things get crazy."

With a determined glint in his eye, Rudra positioned himself near the stage, a sly smile playing on his lips. As Mrs. Ahuja approached, oblivious to the impending chaos, Rudra subtly stuck out his leg.

Mrs. Ahuja, caught off guard, stumbled and fell with a surprised yelp. The ring plate clattered from her grasp, sending the precious rings tumbling across the pristine white carpet.

A collective gasp rippled through the guests. Pinky shrieked in dismay, while Kanika's carefully constructed composure faltered.

Rudra, feigning innocence, had already scurried away from the scene. Now, Mrs. Ahuja scrambled to her feet, eyes wide with horror. "Oh no! The rings!" she exclaimed, searching frantically for the fallen jewels.

"What do you mean you lost the rings, Mom? How could you do this?" Kanika shrieked, her voice laced with panic.

Mrs. Ahuja, flustered and defensive, stammered, "It's not my fault, beta! I tripped over someone's leg!"

However, Kanika, blinded by her anger, didn't believe her mother's claims.

Just as chaos threatened to engulf the ceremony, Kavya stepped forward, her voice a beacon of calm amidst the storm. "Everyone, please! We only have two minutes left until 11:00 AM. Let's focus on finding the rings!"

They all scrambled to assist, their eyes scanning the floor for the glint of lost treasure. The tiny rings, easily camouflaged by the white carpet, proved difficult to find.

Rudra, a mischievous glint in his eye, sidled up to Om. "Now's our chance," he whispered, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Let's find those rings before anyone else. I can't let Bhaiya have this engagement on time. If we delay finding them, maybe they'll have to call it off!"

Om was taken aback by his brother's childish antics. "If you used that brain of yours for studying, maybe you'd be more successful," he muttered under his breath.

Nevertheless, reluctantly caught up in Rudra's web, Om joined the search, his eyes scanning the floor with renewed purpose.

Just as the clock struck 11:00 AM, a triumphant cry pierced the air. "I found a ring!" Kanika exclaimed, a glimmer of hope returning to her eyes. However, the celebration was short-lived. Only one ring remained missing.

Kavya, with her sharp eyes, spotted the missing ring glinting near the refreshment table. As she reached for it, she saw a hand shoot out before hers – it was Rudra, pocketing the ring with a sly grin.

"What games are you playing, Rudra?" Kavya confronted him in a hushed tone.

Rudra, ever the master of feigned innocence, shrugged. "Bhaiya's engagement, Kavya. Why would I play games?"

"Don't insult my intelligence," Kavya countered, her gaze unwavering. "I saw you trip Mrs. Ahuja and now you have the ring. What's your plan here?"

Rudra glanced around furtively. "Just keep it quiet, alright? Nobody can know I have the ring. I… I just don't want the engagement to happen."

Kavya's eyes widened in surprise. "Don't want the engagement? Do you… like Kanika?"

Rudra scoffed. "Like Kanika? Never! Not in a million years. You wouldn't understand."

Before Kavya could press further, Rudra saw his chance. The auspicious time had passed, unnoticed by the other in their search frenzy. With a triumphant flourish, he pulled the ring out of his pocket.

"I found the ring!" he declared, effectively silencing the room.

Relief washed over them, but their joy was short-lived. The pandit, his face grim, announced, "The auspicious time has passed. We cannot proceed with the ring exchange now."

Kanika, however, wasn't ready to give up. Defiance flickered in her eyes. "The time doesn't matter," she declared. "Whenever we exchange the rings, that time will be auspicious."

With a determined glint, she marched towards Rudra, retrieved the ring from his hand, and placed it back on the plate. Taking a deep breath, she mounted the stage, the ring clutched firmly in her hand.

She presented one to Shivay and instructed him to extend his hand. Shivay complied, hesitantly raising his right hand. Pinky interjected, "Shivay! Rings go on the left hand, dear!"

Flustered, Shivay switched hands, revealing a sight that sent a wave of panic through everyone. All three of his fingers were wrapped in thick bandages.

"Billu, what happened to your fingers?" Dadi cried, her voice laced with worry.

Thinking fast, Shivay fabricated a story. "I was searching for the missing ring when a glass shattered due to my carelessness. I instinctively reached up to prevent any injuries, and unfortunately, my fingers got hurt."

Dadi's worry deepened. "What a day! First, the auspicious time passes, and now Shivay can't even wear the ring on his designated finger."

Kanika, refusing to let the ceremony be derailed, declared, "It's alright! He can wear it on his right hand." With that, she disregarded Shivay's unspoken protest and forcefully slipped the ring onto his right ring finger. Dejected, Shivay reciprocated the action, placing the ring on Kanika's finger.

Polite applause filled the air, but a shroud of unease hung over the celebration. The unexpected turn of events left a sour taste in everyone's mouth. They all then lined up one by one to take pictures with the newly engaged couple, their smiles strained and forced.

Following the photo session, they all moved to the dining area for lunch. Priyanka, after bidding a warm farewell and promising a competition victory upon her return, departed.

As everyone retired to their respective rooms, Kavya returned to her allotted room. She felt exhaustion seeping into her bones. The day's events had been a whirlwind – the ring fiasco orchestrated by Rudra, the missed auspicious time, and Shivay's bandaged fingers. Her mind buzzed with unanswered questions.

Why was Rudra so against the engagement? It didn't make sense. And Shivay's story about a broken glass seemed fishy. She'd clearly seen him by the stage earlier, not searching for a ring. Then, a minute later, he was by the kitchen exit. Something wasn't right.

The urge to call Annika and spill the tea was strong. But Kavya knew better. Annika was already worried sick about Rohan's surgery. Dumping this drama on her would only add to her stress.

With a sigh, Kavya decided to shelve her questions for now. Sleep, she reasoned, was the best course of action. She could tackle the mystery of the day, and the even bigger mystery of Shivay's bandaged fingers, later. First, she needed some rest.