"From Rivals to Forever: A Journey of Love"

Chapter 72

Aditi's Perspective

The mehndi ceremony was in full swing, with music, laughter, and vibrant colors filling every corner of the beautifully decorated venue. Today, I was dressed in a gorgeous green and gold lehenga, with intricate jewelry and delicate floral accessories adorning my hair. But more than the outfit, it was the love and excitement in the air that made everything so special.

My hands were being adorned with beautiful henna designs as I sat on a beautifully decorated chair, Kabir by my side, looking incredibly dashing in his light blue kurta. He smiled at me every now and then, his eyes brimming with admiration, and I could feel my heart skip a beat every time our gazes met.

"Looking absolutely stunning, Aditi," he whispered, leaning in close enough for only me to hear.

"Thanks, Kabir. You don't look so bad yourself," I replied with a teasing smile, feeling the blush rise to my cheeks.

Kabir chuckled softly before Ridhima, Arushi, and Atharv—my cousins—suddenly appeared, eyes twinkling with mischief. "Jiju, come on, it's time for you to show off your moves!" Arushi called out, pulling him away from me.

"Not this again," Kabir groaned dramatically, but there was no missing the smile playing on his lips.

Ridhima grabbed his other hand. "We won't take no for an answer!"They dragged him up to the center of the gathering, much to his mock protest. "You'll pay for this!" Kabir called over his shoulder, making me laugh.

I watched in delight as they made him dance, the music blaring as the familiar beats of "Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna" filled the air. Kabir wasn't much of a dancer, but he put in a genuine effort, twirling and clapping along with my cousins, looking adorably awkward.

Seeing him like that, carefree and laughing with my family, filled me with warmth. He belonged here, with me, surrounded by love, and I couldn't imagine my life without him anymore. Every glance he threw my way, every time his eyes sought mine, it was as if the rest of the world faded, and it was just the two of us.

The room echoed with laughter and cheering, and I felt a soft rumble in my stomach. I hadn't eaten much today, and the excitement had me feeling a little hungry. Just then, I noticed Arjun, sitting nearby. He was munching on some snacks, completely oblivious to everything else.

"Arjun!" I called out, waving my mehndi-adorned hand.

He looked up, his wide eyes bright as he scrambled over to me. "Yes, bhabhi ji?"

A fond smile crept onto my face as I remembered all the times I used to babysit him whenever he came over to play with Anaya. "Do you remember how I used to feed you whenever you came over to play with Anaya when you were little?"

Arjun nodded eagerly, his grin infectious. "Yes, bhabhi ji! You used to give me lots of snacks!"

I laughed. "Well, I can't really feed myself right now with all this mehndi on my hands, and I'm feeling a bit hungry. Think you could help me out?"

His face lit up with excitement. "Of course! I'll bring you food right away!"

Just as Arjun dashed off to the buffet table, Anaya, my twelve-year-old sister, who also had mehndi applied on her hands, sat down next to me with a pout. "Didi, I'm hungry too, but I can't eat with all this mehndi."

I smiled at her and reached out to touch her cheek lightly. "Don't worry, Anaya. I think Arjun will help us both."

True to his word, Arjun returned a few minutes later, balancing a plate filled with snacks, samosas, and a cold drink. He was clearly proud of himself. "Here you go, bhabhi ji!" he exclaimed, holding the plate out to me.

"You're amazing, Arjun," I said, my heart swelling with affection. "But can you help Anaya too? She's hungry, just like me."

He nodded eagerly and sat down between us, the perfect little gentleman. "Don't worry, Anaya. I'll feed you too," he said, picking up a samosa and carefully feeding her first.Anaya beamed at him. "Thanks, Arjun! You're the best."

"See, bhabhi ji? I can take care of both of you!" Arjun declared proudly, making me laugh.

Kabir, who had just returned from his impromptu dance, looked at the scene with mock jealousy. "Wait a minute. My cousin is feeding my fiancée and my future sister-in-law?"

"I sure am!" Arjun said with a cheeky grin, picking up a bite of food and feeding me next.

Kabir crossed his arms and put on a dramatic frown. "I should be the one feeding my fiancée, not you!"

Arjun wasn't fazed in the slightest. "But bhabhi ji asked me to help her! And besides, I'm really good at it," he replied with a mischievous glint in his eye.

I laughed, savoring the playful banter between the two of them. "He's doing a great job, Kabir. You might have some competition."

Kabir shook his head, feigning frustration. "This is outrageous. First, you take over the dance floor, and now you're taking over my fiancée?"

Raghav and Sahil, who had been watching the whole exchange from the sidelines, couldn't help but join in on the teasing. "Looks like Arjun is winning all the brownie points today, Kabir!" Sahil called out, grinning from ear to ear.

"Yeah, Kabir. You should step up your game, or Arjun might steal the show at the wedding too," Raghav added, barely able to contain his laughter.

Kabir rolled his eyes, but there was a smile tugging at his lips. "I'm just giving him a little head start. I'll show you all how it's done at the wedding."

Arjun, still feeding both Anaya and me, looked up at Kabir with a smirk. "You're on, bhaiya! But for now, I'm in charge."

The whole scene had me laughing so hard I nearly spilled my cold drink. There was something so heartwarming about watching Kabir bond with my family. It was moments like this that made me realize how lucky I was to have him in my life.

After a few more playful jabs and teasing, Kabir finally sat down next to me, still pretending to pout. "Fine, Arjun. You win this round. But just wait till the wedding—I'm going to feed her everything myself."

"We'll see about that," I teased, giving him a playful nudge with my elbow. "For now, let Arjun take care of us."

As the ceremony continued, my family and Kabir's family mingled, danced, and celebrated together. There was so much love and joy in the air that it felt almost surreal. My cousins, Arushi and Ridhima, had joined the dance floor again, pulling Atharv along with them. It was a beautiful sight—my world was coming together in the most perfect way, and Kabir was right at the center of it.

Every now and then, Kabir and I would exchange glances, his eyes filled with warmth, mine with contentment. There was an unspoken connection between us, something deeper than words could express. Even amidst all the laughter and noise, we found moments where we could just look at each other and know exactly what the other was feeling.

By the time Arjun had finished feeding both Anaya and me, I felt full and happy. "Thank you, Arjun," I said, kissing him lightly on the cheek. "You've been amazing."

He grinned at me, wiping his hands on a napkin. "Anytime, bhabhi ji! Just call me, and I'll be there."

Kabir, sitting beside me, finally smiled and placed his hand on mine, careful not to smudge the mehndi. "I guess Arjun's not so bad after all," he admitted, ruffling his cousin's hair.

Arjun stuck out his tongue at Kabir playfully before turning to feed Anaya one last bite.

The evening wore on, and as the sun set, the lights around us twinkled, casting a warm glow over everything. My heart was full, and I knew that this was just the beginning of a lifetime filled with love, laughter, and moments like these.

As Kabir and I sat side by side, I couldn't help but think about how lucky I was. Surrounded by my family, soon to be his family too, everything felt right. Our journey together was just beginning, and I knew in my heart that every step of the way would be as beautiful as this moment.

With Kabir's hand in mine and Arjun's laughter echoing in the background, I felt complete. This was my family, my love, my life—and I couldn't wait to see where it would take us next.