Upto Chance

Part 32

They entered the dining hall, and an excited Manvi rushed over to pull Ragini into a tight hug.

"Happy birthday, Bhabi!" she chirped, beaming.

After hugging Manvi, Ragini moved to Dadaji for his blessings. He handed her a beautifully crafted jewelry box. 

"Dadaji, you didn't have to—" she began, trying to decline.

"No, no, this is for you beta," he insisted warmly.

As they were talking, Akash, Siya, and Samay entered, filling the room with more cheer as they greeted everyone and wished Ragini a happy birthday. Manvi called her over, pulling Samay by the hand as she did so.

"This is a gift from us!" she announced, handing Ragini a brightly wrapped box.

Ragini's eyes lit up. "Can I open it now?" she asked, excitement in her voice. 

Inside, she found a collection of small picture frames, chocolates, a delicate bracelet, and a few other little trinkets. She adored the bracelet immediately, quickly slipping it onto her wrist with a delighted smile. 

Siya handed her a smaller box next, whispering, "Don't open it now."

Ragini looked at her curiously but nodded, promising to wait. 

"So, Bhabi, what did Bhaiya gift you?" Manvi asked with a playful grin, her eyes darting to Karanveer.

Ragini glanced at Karanveer, then back at Manvi, looking caught off guard as everyone turned to her, clearly curious about his gift.

"Myself, of course. Could there be anything more precious than that?" Karanveer said with a smirk, making everyone burst out laughing.

Dadaji raised an eyebrow, not amused. "Don't tell me you didn't get anything for your wife on her first birthday after your marriage."

"Oh, come on, Dadaji! I'm sure he has something planned for her... when they're in private," Akash teased, raising an eyebrow at Karanveer.

Karanveer shrugged with a mischievous grin. 

As the day progressed, Karanveer gently covered her eyes, guiding her down the hall.

"what are you up to?" she asked, her curiosity piqued. But he stayed silent, a small smile on his face as they walked.

They finally stopped, and he slowly lifted the blindfold. Ragini's eyes widened as she took in the sight before her—a beautiful sitar resting elegantly in the center of the room, surrounded by a few other musical instruments. She was taken aback, a rush of emotions bubbling to the surface.

"This..." she began, turning to him, her voice choked with emotion.

"I saw you looking at that old photo—of you with a sitar back in Kolkata. I could tell how much it meant to you. So I thought, just why not." He smiled softly

Her heart swelled, and she wrapped her arms around him in a warm embrace. Sometimes, words weren't needed between them. In the quiet spaces of their relationship, a deep, unspoken connection filled in the gaps. Karanveer just seemed to know her, not just the person she was now but the parts of her that had been hidden away for years, waiting to be seen.

—--------------------------------

As the week quickly passed, the day of Dhara and Arjun's engagement drew closer. The Rajvansh family traveled to Bangalore, where Professor Srivastav had arranged a small, comfortable house next to theirs for them to stay. 

The engagement was to take place at the Srivastav residence, as the professor had insisted. For the wedding, however, both families agreed on a grand destination celebration planned for eight months later.