"From Rivals to Forever: A Journey of Love"

Chapter 14

Kabir's Perspective

Sunday morning dawned bright and early, and for once, I was up before my alarm. The entire household buzzed with excitement, and it wasn't just because of the hawan puja we were attending at Aditi's place. For me, the excitement ran deeper—there was something about seeing Aditi that made my heart race, though I'd never admit that out loud.

After quickly getting ready, I headed downstairs where Chachi was helping Arjun into his little kurta pajama. His outfit was an exact miniature of Chacha's, and the sight made me smile. He looked adorable, his tiny frame swimming in the oversized clothes, but his energy was boundless as he bounced around in excitement.

"Arjun, stand still for a second!" Chachi exclaimed as she tried to fix his collar, but Arjun was too excited to listen.

"Bhaiya, we're going to see Didi, right? Aditi Didi?" Arjun asked, looking up at me with wide, eager eyes.

"Yeah, buddy, we're going to see Aditi Didi," I replied, ruffling his hair affectionately. "But only if you let Chachi finish dressing you."

He grinned and stood still just long enough for Chachi to adjust his collar and tie his shoes. Once she was done, Arjun immediately grabbed my hand, tugging me towards the door.

"Hold on, hold on," I laughed, trying to keep up with his enthusiasm. "We need to wait for Raghav."

"Raghav bhaiya's coming too?" Arjun's face lit up even more, and he bounced on his toes, practically vibrating with energy.

"Yep. He's on his way," I assured him, pulling out my phone to call Raghav. He picked up after the second ring, sounding groggy.

"Why are you calling so early, man? It's Sunday!" he groaned.

"It's almost 10 AM, Raghav," I reminded him. "We're heading to Aditi's place for the hawan. Remember?"

There was a pause, and then I could practically hear the smirk in his voice. "Ohhh, right. The hawan. Can't keep you away from Aditi, huh?"

"Raghav," I warned, feeling the heat rise to my face even though I was alone. "Just get over here, okay?"

He chuckled. "On my way. Don't start the hawan without me."

"Wouldn't dream of it," I muttered, hanging up.

Arjun tugged at my hand again. "When's Raghav bhaiya coming?"

"Soon, buddy. Let's wait outside," I suggested, leading him to the front porch. It wasn't long before Raghav showed up, looking far too amused for my liking.

As soon as he saw me, his grin widened. "Morning, lover boy," he teased, clapping me on the back.

"Morning," I replied dryly, rolling my eyes. I could already tell it was going to be a long day.

"You're really excited about this, huh?" Raghav said, raising an eyebrow as we got into the car. "It's just a hawan, man. What's got you so worked up?"

I shot him a glare. "Nothing. I'm just... I don't know, it's a big event for Aditi's family, and I want to be there."

"Uh-huh," Raghav said, clearly unconvinced. "Sure, it's the hawan you're excited about."

"Just drop it, okay?" I sighed, knowing I wasn't going to win this one.

Arjun, oblivious to our exchange, was happily chatting away in the backseat about all the fun he was going to have at Aditi Didi's house. His excitement was contagious, and despite Raghav's teasing, I found myself looking forward to the morning ahead.