||. The Second Chance .||

✨❤️The wedding❤️✨

The morning of the wedding dawned clear and bright, the excitement palpable. Hardik woke up with a sense of calm he hadn't felt in a long time. The moments he'd shared with Rahul on the terrace last night had left him feeling lighter, and more hopeful about the future. Yet, beneath the surface, there was a current of tension—an unspoken anticipation that had been growing between them, only heightened by their conversation.

After helping Agastya into his wedding-day outfit—a charming little cream-coloured sherwani, Hardik dressed in his own traditional attire. His sherwani was deep maroon, embroidered with gold, a regal combination that suited his broad frame. As he looked at himself in the mirror, he couldn't help but wonder what the day would bring, especially regarding Rahul.

When Hardik and Agastya headed downstairs, Hardik's thoughts kept drifting to Rahul.

And then he saw him.

Rahul was coming downstairs, he was wearing a breathtaking lehenga. The outfit was a beautiful blend of cream and gold, intricately embroidered with delicate patterns. The fabric flowed around Rahul's legs as he moved, the soft shimmer of the lehenga catching the light and making him look ethereal. His hair was styled simply.

Hardik felt his breath catch in his throat. The sight of Rahul in the lehenga was unexpected, but it was more than just the surprise that left him speechless—it was how natural Rahul looked, how confidently he carried himself, and how undeniably beautiful he was. There was something incredibly alluring about Rahul that made Hardik's pulse quicken.

"Good morning, Hardik." Rahul greeted, turning to face Hardik. His smile was warm, but there was a hint of nervousness in his eyes as if he wasn't entirely sure how Hardik would react.

"Good morning," Hardik managed to reply, his voice a little rougher than usual. He couldn't tear his eyes away from Rahul, every detail of his appearance captivating him. "You look... breathtaking."

Rahul's cheeks flushed slightly at the compliment, but he held Hardik's gaze. "Thank you," he said softly, his eyes searching Hardik's for any sign of discomfort or judgment.

But there was none. Hardik's heart was pounding, but not with confusion or unease—it was pounding with something much more powerful, something he was no longer willing to ignore. The way Rahul looked, the way he made Hardik feel, was undeniable. And the tension between them, the unspoken attraction that had been building for days, was now stronger than ever.

"Are you ready for today?" Rahul asked, trying to steer the conversation back to safer ground, though his voice trembled slightly with the same tension that Hardik felt.

Hardik nodded, though his mind was far from the day's events. "Yeah, I think so. It's going to be a very long day."

Rahul smiled, a soft, knowing smile that made Hardik's heart skip a beat. "It is," he agreed, "but it'll be worth it after all, it's my bestie's and your Ishu 'baccha's' wedding😂 "

Their conversation was interrupted by Agastya running into the room, his eyes lighting up when he saw Rahul. "Kannu!" he exclaimed, rushing over to him. "You look so pretty!"

Rahul laughed, his tension easing slightly as he knelt down to hug Agastya. "Thank you, Agastya. You look very handsome today too, more than your papa," he said the last part with a teasing smile, looking at Hardik. 

Hardik chuckled a little at the comment and watched the interaction, his heart swelling with a mix of emotions he hadn't felt in years. The way Rahul treated Agastya with such love and care only made Hardik's feelings for him grow stronger. And as they stood there, the three of them, Hardik couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to have more moments like this—to be a family.