Prem Kahaniyaan

2.

Udaipur's picturesque charm did little to soothe the tension brewing between Arjun and Meera. The lake glistened under the morning sun, and the palace grounds buzzed with excitement as workers scurried about, preparing for the grand wedding. But amidst the serene beauty and anticipation, an unspoken tension hung between the two exes.

Meera stood near the entrance of the palace hall, her clipboard in hand as she coordinated with the florists. Her brow was furrowed as she double-checked every detail, ensuring the flower arrangements were perfect. She had always been a perfectionist, something Arjun used to admire, but today, it only served to remind him of the part of their relationship that had once driven him crazy.

Arjun approached her with a calm demeanor, his hands shoved casually into his pockets. He had spent the last twenty-four hours trying to avoid Meera, but it was clear that their paths were bound to cross constantly. With a deep breath, he reminded himself to stay cool. They were here for Aditi and Kabir, not to relive old wounds.

“Need any help?” Arjun asked, keeping his voice light as he approached.

Meera barely glanced at him, still focused on the flowers. “Everything’s under control. I have a system.”

He rolled his eyes, remembering how that ‘system’ used to leave little room for anyone else's input. “Yeah, I remember.”

She finally turned to face him, her expression unreadable. “This isn’t about you, Arjun. Let’s keep things professional.”

Arjun raised an eyebrow. “I wasn’t the one making it personal.”

Meera sighed, clearly not in the mood for bickering. “I just want this wedding to be perfect. Can we focus on that?”

“Hey, I’m all about that too. Aditi’s happiness is what matters,” Arjun said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “Just tell me what you need.”

Meera paused, studying him for a moment. She couldn’t tell if his laid-back attitude was genuine or if he was trying to provoke her. Either way, they had to work together, and she didn’t want any unnecessary drama. She handed him a sheet of paper with the day’s schedule.

“Here,” she said, her tone brisk. “You can oversee the setup for the welcome dinner tonight. Make sure the seating arrangements are correct, and coordinate with the caterers. We’ve got guests arriving from noon, and everything needs to be flawless.”

Arjun looked down at the paper and smirked. “I can handle that. Easy.”

“I hope so,” Meera replied. Her sharp tone made it clear she didn’t fully trust him to pull it off.

He shot her a look. “You know, you don’t have to be so… uptight.”

Meera crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. “Uptight? I’m just trying to make sure things go smoothly. This is a wedding, Arjun. Not one of your laid-back beach parties.”

“Oh, so you think I can’t handle something this ‘serious’?” Arjun’s voice edged with irritation. Meera always had a way of making him feel like he wasn’t enough, like his carefree attitude was a flaw rather than a strength.

“I didn’t say that,” Meera replied, though her tone suggested otherwise. “But I’ve seen you in action, remember? You’re great at improvising, not so great at sticking to a plan.”

“That was years ago, Meera. People change,” Arjun said, his jaw tightening. “I’m not the same guy you used to know.”

She let out a small, humorless laugh. “We’ll see.”

---

The day wore on, and as the sun began to set, the palace transformed into a magical scene. Twinkling fairy lights were strung across the courtyard, and the vibrant colors of Udaipur’s traditional décor brought the place to life. The smell of marigolds and roses filled the air as the workers finished the final touches.

Arjun had spent the afternoon overseeing the seating arrangements and coordinating with the caterers as Meera had instructed. To his surprise, everything went off without a hitch. He even found himself enjoying the process, despite Meera’s earlier doubts.

He stood by the bar, sipping a glass of water as he watched the guests begin to arrive for the welcome dinner. Aditi, glowing in her elegant sari, greeted her friends and family with enthusiasm, while Kabir stood by her side, looking equally proud and excited.

Just as Arjun allowed himself a moment of satisfaction, Meera appeared beside him, her gaze sweeping over the scene.

“Everything looks good,” she admitted, her voice softer than it had been earlier.

Arjun raised an eyebrow, surprised by the compliment. “See? I told you I could handle it.”

She glanced at him, a reluctant smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Okay, you proved me wrong. For now.”

He chuckled, leaning against the bar. “It wouldn’t kill you to admit I did a good job.”

Meera shook her head, though there was a glimmer of amusement in her eyes. “Let’s not get carried away.”

They stood in silence for a moment, watching the guests mingle. It was almost peaceful between them, a rare moment where the old bitterness seemed to fade into the background. For a brief second, Arjun allowed himself to remember the good times they’d shared—the late nights laughing together, the spontaneous road trips, the way she used to look at him like he was the only person in the world.

But the memories quickly turned sour. Their breakup had been messy, filled with misunderstandings and harsh words. Arjun had tried to move on, but seeing Meera now brought everything back. And he couldn’t help but wonder if she felt the same.

“So, how’s life been treating you?” Arjun asked, trying to keep the conversation light.

Meera shrugged, her gaze still focused on the crowd. “Busy. Work’s been nonstop. Weddings, corporate events, you name it.”

“Always the overachiever,” he teased, though there was a note of admiration in his voice.

She shot him a glance. “And you? Still traveling the world?”

“Not as much these days,” Arjun replied, his smile fading slightly. “I’ve been sticking closer to home lately. Helping out with Aditi’s new business.”

Meera’s expression softened. “That’s nice. I’m sure she appreciates having you around.”

“Yeah,” he said, though the conversation felt like it was tiptoeing around something bigger, something they weren’t ready to address.

Before they could continue, Aditi and Kabir approached, beaming with excitement.

“Meera, Arjun!” Aditi exclaimed, pulling them both into a hug. “Everything looks amazing. Thank you both so much.”

Meera smiled, her professional mask slipping back into place. “It’s all coming together. Tomorrow’s going to be even more special.”

Kabir clapped Arjun on the back. “You’ve been a lifesaver, man. We owe you one.”

Arjun grinned, though his mind was still lingering on the conversation he’d had with Meera. “Hey, anything for you guys.”

As Aditi and Kabir moved off to greet more guests, Meera turned back to Arjun, her expression unreadable once again. “Tomorrow’s the big day for the sangeet. We’ll need to coordinate on the performances.”

Arjun nodded, though he couldn’t shake the feeling that their unresolved history was far from over. “Yeah. We’ll make it work.”

Meera gave him a curt nod before walking off to handle another task, leaving Arjun standing alone by the bar, his thoughts spinning.

Despite the calm exterior, Arjun knew there was a storm brewing between them—one that would only intensify as the wedding drew closer.