The Enchanted Love✨ [Barsatein]

Chapter 44

The Sahani household was alive with excitement, an air of festive anticipation wrapping every corner in vibrant energy. The morning sun spilled golden light through the courtyard, touching the colorful drapes that hung from the walls, the marigold garlands that framed the doorways, and the scattered petals that carpeted the path Aradhana would walk to meet Reyansh.

Aradhana wakes early, surrounded by family as they prepare her for her big day. Her friends & cousins tease her about how will she balance her passion for journalism with the reality that her life is about to change forever. Aradhana was sitting in front of her mirror, the final touches being added to her bridal look. Her Navy Blue and gold lehenga clung to her curves gracefully, with intricate embroidery that sparkled under the sunlight streaming through the window. She gazes at her bridal attire and takes a deep breath, imagining Reyansh's reaction already making her blush. Her hair was adorned with jasmine flowers, and her eyes were lined with kohl, adding an intensity to her gaze that hinted at both joy and nervousness. Today, she would marry Reyansh—the man who had transformed her world, made her believe in love again after she had nearly given up on it.

But as the final preparations were underway, Aradhana couldn't shake an uneasy feeling that had nestled into her heart. She brushed it off as pre-wedding nerves, the natural jitters any bride would feel. After all, weddings were unpredictable affairs; they often brought more emotions than one could handle. She took a deep breath, forcing a smile as her friends fussed over her, adjusting her jewelry, teasing her about the life she was about to step into.

"Radhi, you're glowing!" Pooja, her best friend, gushed, stepping back to admire her handiwork. "Reyansh won't know what hit him when he sees you."

Aradhana laughed, though the sound felt slightly forced. She glanced at herself in the mirror, her eyes drifting over her reflection, but in her mind, she was elsewhere. She was thinking of Reyansh, wondering if he felt the same nervousness, if he was equally overwhelmed by the weight of this day.

Meanwhile, in the Lamba household, Reyansh sat alone in his room, staring down at his phone with a look of grim determination wearing his sherwani in off white colour with blue & golden threaded. The message he had received wasn't one he could ignore; it was a call to duty. An urgent operation had come up—something that demanded his attention, his skills, his discretion. He'd known, as an undercover agent, that his life would be filled with unpredictability, that he could be summoned at any moment. But why now, on the day that meant more to him than any other?

He clenched his jaw, his fingers hovering over his phone as he dialed his handler. The line connected almost immediately.

"Reyansh, we need you on this. It's a high-priority mission, but if everything goes according to plan, you'll be back within a few hours," his handler Anubhav Singh said, the voice calm, steady, and unwavering.

Reyansh closed his eyes, frustration mingling with duty. "Today is my wedding day," he said, his voice barely more than a whisper. He had hoped, just for once, that he could escape the call of duty, that he could focus solely on Aradhana and the life they were about to start together. But the weight of his responsibilities pressed heavily on his shoulders.

"I understand, Reyansh. But we wouldn't ask if it wasn't crucial. You're the best man for the job, and we need you."

The words left Reyansh conflicted. He had a responsibility to his country, a commitment he had vowed to honor. But he also had a responsibility to Aradhana, a commitment of a different kind, one that he had promised to cherish and protect.