Ties of Affection

Chapter 12

The morning after the sangeet was a blur of memories, laughter, and dancing. Aahat woke up feeling lighter than she had in weeks, her heart still fluttering from the conversation with Kabir the night before. They hadn't made any grand promises, hadn't declared anything to the world, but it was enough. Enough to know that they were both on the same page, both ready to explore whatever was blooming between them.

The wedding day had arrived. The Raizada mansion, if possible, was even more alive than it had been the night before. The air buzzed with excitement as the final preparations were made for Rhea and Arjun's big day. Aahat sat in front of her vanity, dressed in a soft pink silk robe, watching as the bridal makeup artist worked on Rhea's hair and makeup. Rhea, ever the energetic bride, was chatting animatedly with her cousins, occasionally throwing in suggestions for last-minute details.

"Aahat, can you grab my phone? I need to check if the photographer is here yet," Rhea said, barely moving as the artist meticulously applied eyeliner.

Aahat grabbed the phone from the nearby table and handed it to Rhea. "You're not supposed to be stressing about anything today, you know."

Rhea scoffed, her eyes widening dramatically. "Please. Do you know me at all? I can't not stress! This is the wedding! I need to make sure everything is perfect."

Aahat shook her head, smiling. "It's already perfect. You're perfect."

Rhea grinned. "Says the girl with the glow. You're looking pretty radiant yourself. Any chance Kabir has something to do with that?"

Aahat tried to hide the smile that tugged at her lips but failed miserably. "Maybe," she said, feeling her cheeks heat up.

"Maybe?" Rhea raised an eyebrow. "Spill! You didn't give me the details last night after the sangeet. You two disappeared, and I'm dying to know what happened."

Aahat sighed, shaking her head playfully. "Nothing happened. We just... talked."

Rhea's eyes narrowed. "Just talked?"

"Yes! Just talked," Aahat insisted, though she couldn't help the small smile that crept onto her face as she thought about it.

Before Rhea could press for more details, the door to the bridal suite opened, and a few of the wedding planners entered, followed by Kabir. He was holding a bouquet of fresh flowers and looked as dashing as ever, dressed in a simple yet elegant sherwani that made him stand out even among the chaos.

"Hey, I've been sent to make sure everything's going smoothly in here," Kabir said, glancing around the room before his eyes landed on Aahat. His smile softened, and for a moment, it was as if they were the only two people in the room.

Rhea, always quick to catch on, cleared her throat dramatically. "Kabir, don't just stand there! Come see if everything's okay with the decorations on my side of the room."

Kabir snapped out of his trance and nodded, setting the flowers down before making his way over to Rhea's side of the suite. He glanced around at the flower arrangements, the gold and pink drapes, and the delicate decorations. "It's perfect. You have nothing to worry about."

"See, I told you," Aahat teased, nudging Rhea gently. "It's all perfect."

Rhea sighed, finally relenting. "Fine, maybe I'm just overthinking."

Just as Kabir turned to leave the room, he caught Aahat's eye again. There was a warmth in his gaze that sent her heart fluttering, and as if by some unspoken agreement, he gestured subtly toward the hallway, silently asking her to follow. Aahat hesitated for a moment, glancing at Rhea, but Rhea just rolled her eyes.

"Go. I've got plenty of people fussing over me here. You need a break before the madness really begins."

Aahat didn't need to be told twice. She slipped out of the bridal suite, following Kabir down the corridor until they found a quiet alcove away from the chaos of wedding preparations. The sounds of laughter, footsteps, and last-minute instructions faded as they stood together in the secluded spot.

Kabir leaned against the wall, crossing his arms and giving her a soft smile. "How are you feeling? It's a big day for your bhai."

Aahat sighed, leaning against the opposite wall, her heart still racing from the closeness between them. "It's overwhelming. But in a good way."

He nodded, his gaze never leaving hers. "I'm glad we got a moment away from all of it."

Aahat smiled softly, her heart pounding in her chest. "Me too."

They stood there for a moment, the silence between them comfortable and full of unspoken things. Aahat could feel the weight of the conversation they still hadn't finished—the conversation that had started at the sangeet and had been lingering between them ever since. She opened her mouth to say something, but Kabir beat her to it.

"Aahat," he began, his voice soft and steady, "I've been thinking a lot about what we talked about last night. About us."

Her heart skipped a beat as she nodded, urging him to continue.

"I don't know where this is going," Kabir admitted, his eyes searching hers. "But I do know that I want to see where it leads. I want to spend more time with you, get to know you better. Without all the distractions."

Aahat's breath caught in her throat. She had been thinking the same thing—wondering what could happen if they gave this thing between them a real chance. "I want that too," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Kabir's smile widened, his relief palpable. "Good. Because I was starting to think you'd tell me to back off."

Aahat laughed softly, shaking her head. "No, I wouldn't do that."

"Good to know," he teased, stepping a little closer. The space between them seemed to shrink, the air around them crackling with an energy that neither of them could deny.

Before anything more could happen, a loud knock echoed down the hallway, followed by Arjun's voice. "Kabir! Aahat! Stop hiding, we need you out here!"

Kabir groaned playfully, rolling his eyes. "Looks like our break is over."

Aahat smiled, feeling the tension between them melt away into something lighter. "Duty calls."

As they made their way back to the chaos of the wedding preparations, Aahat couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement bubbling in her chest. Whatever this was between her and Kabir, whatever was beginning to bloom—it felt real. It felt like the start of something new, something beautiful.

And as the day's festivities unfolded and the wedding ceremony approached, Aahat found herself looking forward to more than just Rhea and Arjun's love story. She was excited about her own.

The wedding day would belong to her bhai, but as the sun set and the stars began to appear, Aahat knew that her own story with Kabir was just beginning.