Author's POV :
Six years later
Siya had grown into a beautiful young woman, her shyness replaced by a quiet confidence that came with experience and growth. She worked in an event management company, transforming spaces into magical wonderlands for weddings, parties, and corporate events. Her knack for detail and creativity had earned her a reputation for being one of the best in the business.
Currently, she was organizing the wedding of the season. The bride and groom were from important families, and the guest list read like a who's who of the city's elite. The wedding was to be held at a sprawling five-star hotel, with every corner reflecting opulence and grandeur. The pressure was immense, but Siya thrived under it. She had always enjoyed the challenge of bringing a vision to life, especially when the stakes were high.
The groom's side was particularly powerful. Business moguls, politicians, and celebrities mingled with the who's who of society, their conversations peppered with the clinking of champagne flutes and the rustle of expensive fabrics. Siya had to ensure that every detail was perfect, from the exquisite floral arrangements to the precise placement of the VIP seating. She knew that one misstep would be a disaster, a blot on her reputation that she could not afford.
The mansion was indeed a palace. The grandeur of the architecture was matched only by the opulence of the decor. The walls were adorned with intricate frescoes, the floors laid with marble so gleaming it reflected the chandeliers hanging from the gilded ceilings. The sprawling lawns had been transformed into a fairy-tale setting with soft lights draped over the trees, creating a canopy of stars that twinkled down at the guests. The stage for the wedding ceremony was a masterpiece of carved wood and velvet, the backdrop a tapestry of gold and red, the colors of the bride and groom's families.
Siya had been given strict instructions to pick up the groom's younger brother from the airport. He had been studying abroad and was to be a surprise for the wedding. She had been briefed on his flight details but not his name. It was a curious oversight, but one she'd learned to deal with in her line of work. She had a description of him, but that was hardly reliable. Airports were teeming with people who looked similar, especially when you threw in the jet lag and culture shock.
As she waited at the arrivals gate, holding a neatly written sign with 'Mehra' scribbled in her best cursive, she couldn't shake the feeling of déjà vu. And then she saw him, stepping out of the throng of travelers, his dark hair slightly disheveled, and that same mischievous smile playing on his lips that she remembered from school. Her heart skipped a beat, and she felt the blood rush to her cheeks. It was Raghav.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still as they locked eyes. The airport's cacophony of sounds faded into the background, and all she could hear was the frantic beating of her heart. He looked different, more mature, but the spark in his eyes remained unchanged. He was no longer the boy she had admired from afar; he was a man who had grown into his own success, a doctor, she'd heard.
Raghav walked towards her, the same casual swagger that had once made her knees wobble with a schoolgirl crush. "Siya?" he said, his voice filled with surprise and a hint of delight. "Is that really you?"
Her hand clutched the sign tightly as she nodded, still unable to form words. She had hoped, prayed even, that he wouldn't remember her. But here he was, staring at her with recognition.
"Hi, Raghav," she managed to murmur, her voice barely audible over the roar of the airport.
"I can't believe it!" he exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. "How have you been?" He stepped closer, and she caught the faint scent of his cologne, a heady mix of spices and musk that sent a shiver down her spine.
