Prem Kahaniyaan

6.

The morning of the wedding dawned bright and clear, the skies over Udaipur a perfect shade of blue. The sprawling grounds of the palace were transformed into a vision of elegance—every corner adorned with fresh flowers, shimmering lights, and intricate decor that captured the essence of tradition and modern glamour. The scent of jasmine filled the air, mingling with the soft hum of preparations as the palace buzzed with excitement.

Aditi was the center of it all, her bridal suite a whirlwind of activity as makeup artists, stylists, and friends flitted around her, adding the final touches to her look. Her face glowed with the excitement of the day, her lehenga a masterpiece of ivory and gold, shimmering under the soft light.

Kabir, on the other hand, had taken refuge with his groomsmen in another part of the palace, his nerves barely held in check by the steady stream of jokes and banter from his friends.

But amidst all the wedding chaos, the tension between Arjun and Meera was at a tipping point. They had danced around their emotions for days, unable to address the elephant in the room. The previous night’s fleeting moment of connection, when Arjun had helped Meera with the sound system, had only deepened the confusion between them.

As the sun climbed higher, signaling that the time for the ceremony was drawing near, both Meera and Arjun were determined to focus on the task at hand. The wedding was the main priority today—not their unresolved feelings.

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The wedding day had its share of hiccups. One of the decorators fell ill, the priest was late, and the heat was sweltering. Meera, ever the professional, moved through the chaos like a general overseeing an army. Her clipboard was her weapon, her keen eye spotting every detail that needed fixing.

But as the day progressed, it became clear that even the most well-planned weddings had their surprises.

Just as the guests were starting to arrive for the main event, Meera spotted a problem that made her stomach drop. The floral archway that was meant to be the focal point of the mandap had collapsed under the weight of the decorations.

Her heart sank. The arch was one of the signature pieces of the entire setup, and without it, the mandap would look incomplete.

Arjun, who had been overseeing the guest seating, noticed the panic on Meera’s face from across the courtyard. Without a second thought, he rushed over to where she stood, staring in horror at the collapsed arch.

“What happened?” he asked, taking in the scene.

Meera ran a hand through her hair, her frustration palpable. “The structure wasn’t strong enough to hold the flowers. We need to get it fixed before the ceremony starts, but I don’t know if we have enough time.”

Arjun scanned the area, quickly assessing the situation. “We can do this. We’ll need some of the extra bamboo from the storage area and a couple of guys to help lift it.”

Meera shook her head. “There’s no time, Arjun. The ceremony starts in less than an hour.”

Arjun placed a hand on her shoulder, forcing her to look at him. “We’ll make time. I’ll grab the bamboo and get a couple of the decorators. You coordinate with the florists and get the replacements ready.”

For a moment, Meera just stared at him, her emotions swirling in her chest. Despite everything between them, Arjun had this ability to calm her, to make her believe that things could be fixed, even when they seemed impossible.

She nodded, her voice steadying. “Okay. Let’s do this.”

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With teamwork and a bit of luck, the arch was rebuilt in record time. The decorators and florists worked together under Meera’s watchful eye, and by the time the ceremony was about to begin, the mandap looked as stunning as ever.