Prem Kahaniyaan

1.

The gentle hum of Aditi's voice echoed through the sunlit living room as she paced back and forth, her phone pressed tightly against her ear. Her brother, Arjun, lounged lazily on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table, eyes half-closed as he fiddled with his phone.

"I can't believe it's happening," Aditi gushed into the phone. "Udaipur is perfect for the wedding, isn't it? Kabir and I just knew it had to be there!"

Arjun barely listened, used to his sister's dramatic flair. A destination wedding wasn't exactly a shock; Aditi had always dreamed big. Still, he knew how to tune in when it mattered.

"So, when do we fly out?" he asked, flashing a grin in her direction.

Aditi shot him a playful glare. "You'd know if you ever listened! We're flying out in two weeks. Kabir's family has already started packing."

Arjun chuckled, stretching out lazily. "I'll pack the night before. Don't worry, little sis. I'll be there to keep the party alive."

She rolled her eyes but smiled. "I knew I could count on you for the entertainment, but that's not all I need you for."

He raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

Aditi's tone softened, a hint of caution creeping in. "I need you to help with the wedding planning. Like, really help."

Arjun sat up straighter, suddenly alert. "Wait, help? I thought that was all handled?"

"Well, Meera's handling most of the details, but I need someone to coordinate with her-make sure everything runs smoothly. And who better than my incredibly responsible brother?" Her words dripped with sweet manipulation.

Arjun froze. Meera? His ex?

The name hit him like a punch to the gut. He hadn't seen her in years-not since their messy breakup. The thought of working alongside her again was enough to make him reconsider the whole destination wedding idea.

"You mean Meera Meera? As in, Kabir's best friend, your event planner, and my ex-girlfriend?" He tried to keep his voice casual, but the edge of discomfort was unmistakable.

Aditi grimaced, sensing his unease. "Look, I know things ended badly between you two, but this is important to me. I'm asking you to put the past behind you for my wedding. You both care about me, right?"

Arjun sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. "You know it wasn't just a little spat, Aditi. Meera and I have... history."

"I know," she said gently. "But it's been years. People change. Besides, this isn't about you two-it's about Kabir and me. I need everything to go perfectly, and I need my brother by my side."

Arjun couldn't argue with that. He owed Aditi a lot. As much as the idea of working with Meera unsettled him, there was no way he could say no to his sister.

"Fine," he muttered, though his stomach churned. "But I'm not making any promises about how smoothly this go."

Aditi grinned, clapping her hands together. "Thank you! You won't regret it."

---

The sound of her name made Meera's heart skip a beat as Kabir casually mentioned Arjun over lunch. The two of them were sitting in Kabir's airy apartment, the early afternoon sun streaming through the windows as they discussed wedding logistics.

"Arjun's going to be helping out with the planning," Kabir said, taking a sip of his iced tea. "He's your main point of contact for coordinating on-site stuff in Udaipur."

Meera nearly choked on her drink. "Arjun? Aditi's Arjun?"

Kabir blinked, not understanding the storm of emotions swirling inside her. "Yeah, her brother. You know him-"

"Know him?" Meera let out a short, humorless laugh. "Kabir, he's my ex."

Kabir's eyes widened in realization. "Oh... Right. That Arjun."

Meera placed her drink down on the table, her hands trembling slightly. It had been years since she'd seen Arjun, but the memory of their breakup was still painfully fresh in her mind. They had been inseparable once-until everything fell apart. She thought she'd buried that chapter of her life and moved on to bigger and better things. But now, here he was, about to reenter her life in the most inconvenient way possible.

"I can't believe you're springing this on me now," she said, her voice tight.

Kabir winced. "Look, I didn't think it'd be a big deal. You're both adults, and it's been a long time. Plus, I had no idea you two still had unresolved stuff."

Meera rubbed her temples, trying to calm herself. "It's not that simple. I mean, things were... intense between us. When we broke up, it wasn't just a clean break. There were a lot of things left unsaid."

Kabir leaned forward, a sympathetic look on his face. "I get it, Meera. But Aditi's counting on you both. Do you think you can handle it?"

Meera hesitated. Professionally, she could handle anything. But emotionally? Working with Arjun was bound to stir up feelings she wasn't ready to deal with. Still, she couldn't let Aditi down. They had been friends for years, and this wedding meant the world to her.

She nodded slowly, though uncertainty gnawed at her. "I'll manage. For Aditi."

---

Two weeks later, Udaipur greeted the wedding party with open arms. The grand palace where Aditi and Kabir's wedding would take place stood against the backdrop of Lake Pichola, shimmering in the golden glow of the setting sun. Arjun arrived at the venue, sunglasses perched on his nose, trying to look relaxed even though his mind was racing.

He hadn't seen Meera yet. Part of him hoped they could avoid each other until the wedding was over, but he knew better. They'd be thrown together sooner or later. And sure enough, the moment came sooner than he anticipated.

As he rounded the corner into the main hall where the wedding preparations were taking place, there she was-Meera, standing with a clipboard, looking as professional and composed as ever. Her dark hair was pulled back in a sleek ponytail, and her sharp eyes scanned the room, organizing the chaos of last-minute details.

For a moment, Arjun froze, watching her from a distance. The years hadn't dulled the effect she had on him. If anything, seeing her again brought back a rush of memories-good and bad. He couldn't deny she looked incredible, but he wasn't about to let old feelings mess with his head.

Meera sensed someone's eyes on her and turned. Their gazes locked, and time seemed to stand still. Arjun felt a knot tighten in his chest, while Meera's expression remained carefully neutral, though he thought he saw a flicker of something-maybe surprise, maybe unease.

"Arjun," she greeted him, her tone brisk and professional.

"Meera," he replied, trying to match her composure.

There was an awkward pause, neither of them sure what to say. The weight of their history hung between them like an invisible wall, but they both knew they had to push through it.

"Guess we're stuck working together," Arjun said, forcing a grin.

"Looks that way," Meera replied, her voice flat.

As the silence stretched, Aditi's voice broke the tension as she entered the hall, oblivious to the storm brewing between her brother and her best friend. She greeted them with a beaming smile.

"Great, you're both here! I knew you two would make a fantastic team."

Arjun and Meera exchanged a look-neither of them convinced. But for Aditi's sake, they both plastered on smiles, even as the unresolved bitterness from their breakup simmered just beneath the surface.