𝐃𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐘𝐀𝐀𝐍𝐍

8. Unexpected Meeting

The sun was just beginning to rise when the Kapoor household was buzzing with the latest news-the wedding date had been set for exactly one week from today. It was almost surreal how fast things were moving, and Naina could hardly believe it. She was sitting with her father, who had just hung up from a call with the Malhotras to finalize the details.

"Do hafte mein shaadi..." Naina whispered to herself, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of her coffee cup.

"Haa beta, sab kuch jaldi hoga. Par tension mat lo, humein bas apne kaam par dhyaan rakhna hai. Tum dono ki shaadi grand hogi," Mr. Kapoor (Dad) said with a proud smile as he looked at his elder daughter. He was visibly relieved that things were going according to plan.

Naina smiled weakly, her mind still racing. Only two week..., she thought. How is that even enough time to mentally prepare for something this big?

Anika, however, had no such concerns. She was practically bouncing around the house in excitement, already planning her wedding wardrobe in her head. "Didi! Do hafte mein hum dono dulhan banne waali hain! Socho, kapde, jewellery... itna sab kuch tayar karna hai! I'm so excited!"

Naina looked at her younger sister, her mood lifting slightly at the sight of Anika's cheerfulness. "Haan, haan, tumhein toh sirf shopping ka excuse chahiye," Naina teased.

Anika laughed and twirled around dramatically. "Woh toh hai! Aur maine decide kiya hai ki hum do din baad, mall jaa rahe hai... full shopping mode mein!"
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Two Days Later : At the Mall...

The mall was bustling with people, and the festive spirit in the air seemed to match Anika's enthusiasm. She was dragging Naina from one store to another, holding up lehengas, sarees, and jewelry sets, and trying to pick out the perfect outfits for her wedding functions.

Naina, on the other hand, was feeling drained. She loved shopping, but this wasn't just any shopping trip-it was wedding shopping, and it came with the weight of reality hanging over her. After hours of helping Anika with choices, Naina finally waved her off.

"Mujhe kuch der ke liye relax karne do, Anika. Tum apna shopping continue kar lo, main cafe jaake thodi der rest karti hoon," Naina said, already heading toward the mall's cafe.

"Theek hai, didi. Main tumhein pick karne aaungi jab main done ho jaungi!" Anika replied, cheerfully darting toward yet another store.

Naina sighed with relief as she walked into the cafe, her heels clicking softly against the floor. She ordered her favorite coffee along with a plate of paneer tikka sandwiches and found a quiet corner to sit in. The aroma of the coffee calmed her nerves a little, and as she sipped, she allowed herself to close her eyes for a brief moment, relishing the rare peaceful moment amid the chaos of wedding preparations.

But peace, as she was about to learn, was short-lived.
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Meanwhile , Aarav and Neel at the Mall...

On the other side of the mall, Aarav and Neel were reluctantly walking through the stores. Their mother had insisted that they come along for the wedding shopping, even though neither of the brothers had any real interest in it.