"From Rivals to Forever: A Journey of Love"

Chapter 68

Aditi's Perspective

The day I had both dreamed of and dreaded had finally arrived—my engagement to Kabir. I stood in front of the mirror, trying to still my racing heart. The maroon and gold lehenga I wore shimmered under the soft light, the intricate embroidery heavy on my skin but carrying the weight of this moment beautifully. I was 24, the eldest among my siblings and cousins, and today, I was about to take the first step into a new chapter of my life.

As I adjusted my dupatta, Anaya, my 12-year-old sister, appeared at my side, her eyes wide with admiration. "Didi, you look like a princess!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement. Anaya had been more excited about this day than I had. Her childlike enthusiasm had been a constant reminder of how special this moment was.

I smiled at her, reaching out to fix a stray hair from her neatly braided hairstyle. "Thank you, Anu. Are you ready for your important job today?"

She nodded enthusiastically. "I won't drop the ring, I promise!" Her face was serious now, as though she'd been entrusted with a mission of utmost importance.

Before I could reply, the door to my room swung open, and in walked my cousins—Arushi and Ridhima, both of them younger than me, but only by a couple of years. Arushi, who was 22 and pursuing her BDS, entered first, looking stunning in her royal blue saree. Ridhima, also 22 and currently in her MBBS, followed behind, wearing a gorgeous green lehenga. They were grinning, which only meant one thing: they were about to start teasing.

Arushi circled me, her eyes wide with mock admiration. "Aditi Didi, you look like a Bollywood heroine! I'm telling you, when Kabir Bhaiya sees you, he'll forget how to breathe."

Ridhima, ever the cheeky one, added with a smirk, "Forget breathing—he might just faint. We should have some water ready, just in case."

I could feel my cheeks warm under their teasing. I hadn't even seen Kabir yet, but the thought of him waiting downstairs, dressed in the black sherwani I'd heard so much about, made my heart pound harder. "You both are impossible," I muttered, though I couldn't hide my smile.

Just then, Atharv, our 20-year-old cousin who was also doing his MBBS, entered the room, grinning from ear to ear. "Didi, Kabir Bhaiya's pacing downstairs. You better hurry up before he wears a hole in the floor."

Ridhima nudged him, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I told you, Atharv. He's going to faint. It's just a matter of time."

"Or," Arushi said, smirking, "he might just start crying when he sees her. Either way, it's going to be entertaining."

I shook my head at them, but their banter helped calm my nerves. There was something about their teasing that grounded me, reminding me that while today was big, it was also about family, love, and laughter.

As I stood there, trying to gather my thoughts, Papa entered the room. His eyes softened when he saw me, and for a moment, the room fell silent. He didn't say anything right away, but the look in his eyes said it all—pride, joy, and a little bit of sadness.

"Papa..." I started, but my voice caught in my throat.

He smiled, his voice gentle. "Aditi, you look just like bhabhi maa did on your parent's engagement day."

His words wrapped around my heart, and I could feel tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. Maa and Papa weren't here, but in so many ways, they were.

"I miss them today," I whispered, my voice barely above a breath.

"I know," Papa said, pulling me into a hug. "But they are here with us. They are proud of you."