"From Rivals to Forever: A Journey of Love"

Chapter 66

Kabir's Perspective

The house was alive with warmth and chatter, but a subtle nervous energy danced beneath the surface. Aditi's family had just arrived, and the air buzzed with anticipation. Today was the day we were finalizing the date for the wedding, and though it was supposed to be a relaxed family gathering, my heart was racing in ways I couldn't quite control.

Aditi looked stunning in the deep green saree I had given her. The rich fabric flowed around her like water, hugging her figure in all the right places. Her presence made the room feel fuller, brighter somehow, like a beam of sunlight piercing through the clouds on a chilly day. Every now and then, our eyes would meet across the room, and we'd share a silent conversation. It was as if the world around us faded, leaving only the two of us. Her gaze was calm, steady, and filled with warmth, and yet, I could sense she was just as excited—and maybe a little nervous—as I was.

But that wasn't the only thing making my heart race.

As soon as Uncle Rajesh, Aditi's father, walked in, flanked by her cousins Arushi, Ridhima, and Atharv, I spotted the bags in their hands. The brightly wrapped gifts they carried were heavy—not just in size, but in what they symbolized.

They were bringing so many gifts, and I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. Why so many? I thought, my mind racing. It was far too much. They didn't need to bring anything at all—after all, they were giving me the most precious gift I could ever ask for: Aditi. What more could I possibly want?

I felt a knot form in my stomach as Uncle Rajesh approached, his arms loaded with the presents. He smiled warmly as he greeted everyone, but I could barely focus on the words.

"Namaste, beta," he said, his voice kind as always.

"Namaste, Uncle," I replied, touching his feet with Anaya still in my arms. She was clinging to me like a monkey, her laughter bubbling up as she waved at everyone. My heart warmed at her playful spirit, but it didn't distract me from the ever-growing pile of gifts.

It felt like too much, and I couldn't help but think: This isn't necessary. They didn't need to do this much. They were already sending Aditi to our house, and that was the biggest gift of all. I didn't want these gifts. God, no. The thought of them leaving without receiving something in return made me uneasy. I'll have to make sure to send them home with something equally meaningful.

As I stood there, lost in my thoughts, Raghav appeared by my side, along with Sahil and Arjun. Without missing a beat, they stepped forward to take the bags from Uncle and Aditi's cousins. Raghav shot me a knowing look as he grabbed one of the larger packages.

"Don't worry, Kabir. We've got this," he said, grinning, though I could tell he was trying not to make it obvious that he'd been sneaking glances at Arushi all this time. His arm brushed hers as he passed by, but neither of them said anything. Their unspoken connection was palpable, but they both seemed intent on keeping things under wraps for now.

"Thanks," I murmured, my mind still spinning as I watched them place the gifts on the table.

I turned to Aditi's cousins, offering them a warm smile. "It's really kind of you all to bring these, but you didn't have to go through the trouble."

Atharv, her younger cousin, grinned as he plopped down on the couch. "Come on, Kabir bhaiya, you know we wouldn't come empty-handed. But now that we've brought all this, we can openly call you 'Jiju' without feeling weird about it, right?" His cheeky grin was contagious, and I found myself laughing despite the weight I felt.