"From Rivals to Forever: A Journey of Love"

Chapter 48

Kabir's Perspective

The night was buzzing, and the house was alive with excitement. As I stood by the bar with Raghav and Sahil, the clinks of glasses, chatter, and the aroma of delicious food filled the air. The evening was a whirl of activity—family, friends, and neighbors all mingling, celebrating the new house, and unknowingly, the next chapter of my life with Aditi. We were finally in the same city. After years of long-distance, tonight felt like the beginning of something new.

I took a sip of my drink, listening as Sahil cracked some lame joke about our college days, the kind only he would still find funny. Raghav snorted in response, but I couldn't help but let my mind drift back to Aditi. I hadn't seen her yet tonight, and I knew she'd be arriving soon. She'd been on my mind all day, not just because of the housewarming, but because it was our first real party together after she had finally moved back.

Just as I was about to check my phone for her message, Sahil leaned in with that cheeky grin he always wore. "Oi, Kabir, dekh," he said, nudging me in the ribs. "Kitni sexy ladki aa rahi hai."

I barely paid attention, shaking my head with a smirk. Sexy? I thought, slightly amused. No one's going to beat Aditi in that department tonight. I glanced down, chuckling to myself as I imagined Aditi's playful expressions and her stunning looks.

But Sahil's eyes were glued to someone across the room, and I could hear Raghav give him a light smack on the head. "Abe gadhe," Raghav scolded, shaking his head with a knowing grin. "Wo Kabir ki girlfriend hai jiske baare mein har time bak bak karta rehta tha."

Hearing this, I turned my head slightly, but I didn't look over. Instead, I chuckled again, still caught in my own thoughts. There's no way she's as stunning as Aditi.

But then, just as I was lost in my daydreams, my eyes fell upon her as she entered the room. Aditi was here, and the world seemed to slow down for a moment as I saw her greeting my parents across the room, and everything else faded into the background.

She was crouched down slightly, giving my little cousin Arjun a playful kiss on his cheek. He was beaming up at her, the mischievous little rascal. I couldn't help but smile at the sight—Arjun always had a way of getting everyone's attention, and of course, Aditi was no exception.

As she stood up, from that slightly crouched position, my breath hitched. She looked breathtaking. Beautiful. Sexy. Absolutely stunning.

The saree she had chosen was beyond perfection. It clung to her figure in all the right places, with the soft waves of the fabric flowing effortlessly around her. The delicate shimmer of the saree's border caught the light, but it wasn't just the saree. It was her. The way she moved, the way her hair cascaded down her shoulders, her poised elegance mixed with a subtle grace that always had me captivated. I couldn't take my eyes off her.

Aditi's eyes met mine from across the room, and there was this spark—a magnetic pull that we always seemed to have, even in a crowded room. Her lips curved into a soft smile, and that was it. Every nerve in my body lit up.

She moved gracefully through the crowd, exchanging pleasantries as she approached, and for a second, I forgot that Sahil and Raghav were standing next to me. My eyes were locked on her, my mind racing through every compliment I could possibly give her the moment she reached me.

As she reached our little trio, Aditi greeted Raghav first with a polite nod, and they shared a warm smile. Raghav, ever the gentleman, smiled back, and then he turned toward Sahil.

"Aditi, meet Sahil," Raghav said, introducing the two. "Sahil, this is Kabir's girlfriend—the one he talks about nonstop."

Sahil, looking sheepish for a moment, extended his hand toward Aditi. "Nice to finally meet you. Kabir doesn't shut up about you," he said, a playful grin tugging at his lips. I could tell he was embarrassed by his earlier comment, but Aditi, ever the polite one, smiled back kindly.

"Nice to meet you too, Sahil," Aditi replied, her voice warm and smooth.

Raghav and Sahil shared a knowing glance before quickly excusing themselves. "We'll leave you two alone," Raghav said with a smirk, dragging Sahil off toward the bar for another drink.

Suddenly, it was just the two of us in our little corner of the room. The crowd bustled around us, but all I could focus on was her.

Aditi looked up at me with a teasing glint in her eyes. "So, how do I look?" she asked, her voice soft but laced with anticipation.

How did she look? She looked like everything I'd ever wanted, and more. My heart raced, but I tried to play it cool, my eyes sweeping over her slowly, drinking in every detail.

"You want the honest answer?" I asked, stepping a little closer to her.

She raised an eyebrow, her lips quirking into a playful smile. "Of course."

I smiled, my gaze locking onto hers. "You look absolutely stunning," I said, my voice dropping to a more serious tone. "I mean... I knew you'd look beautiful, but this..." I gestured to her saree, the shimmer of the fabric catching the soft light around us. "This is next-level. You've completely taken my breath away."

Her smile widened, and she blushed slightly, clearly pleased with my answer. But I wasn't done.

"Honestly," I continued, leaning in just a little, "I don't think anyone else in this room stands a chance of looking half as good as you do tonight."

She bit her lip, her cheeks still flushed, and I could tell that my words had hit the mark.

For a moment, we stood there, just looking at each other, the noise of the party fading into the background. The connection between us felt electric, like we were the only two people in the room.

I couldn't help myself—I reached out, gently taking her hand in mine. The softness of her skin sent a spark through me, and for a brief moment, everything felt perfect.

"You're too much sometimes, you know that?" she said, her voice soft, though her eyes sparkled with amusement.

I chuckled, squeezing her hand lightly. "Maybe. But I mean it. You look... perfect."

She smiled up at me, and for a second, I wanted nothing more than to just take her somewhere quiet, away from the crowd, so we could be alone. But of course, we were at a party—our party—so that wasn't an option. At least not yet.

"So," she said, stepping just a little closer, "have you shown anyone their rooms yet? Or are you saving that part of the tour for me?"

I laughed, shaking my head. "Nope, that's reserved for you. I've been waiting for the right moment."

She raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? And when will that be?"

I grinned, glancing around to make sure no one was paying too much attention to us. "How about now?"