When Aarav Kapoor, a shrewd businessman born into wealth, and Aanya Mehra, an ambitious architect returning to India, are thrust into an arranged marriage, neither is prepared for the secrets beneath their union. What begins as a reluctant compromis...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The mehndi ceremony was at its peak, with the courtyard transformed into a lively dance floor. The dhol played with fervour, women clapped to the beats, and laughter echoed through the house. Someone cranked up the speakers, and the familiar, upbeat notes of "Gallan Goodiyan" began to fill the air.
"Didi, come on!" Bittu grabbed my hand, dragging me toward the centre of the makeshift dance floor.
"No, Bittu, I'm fine here!" I protested, but she was relentless.
"You're the bride! You have to dance!" she said with a grin, spinning me into the crowd.
As the music played, I tried to keep up, moving awkwardly to the beat while Bittu twirled around me like a pro. Everyone clapped and cheered, and even Maa seemed to forget her usual reserved demeanour, swaying slightly to the music.
Then the song shifted. The romantic, dreamy notes of "Tera Ban Jaunga" began, and the mood changed entirely. The crowd stilled for a moment, and someone yelled, "Aanya and Aarav should dance!"
My heart sank.
"What? No!" I exclaimed, stepping back.
But before I could escape, I felt someone step up beside me. I turned to see Aarav, his expression calm yet unreadable. "It's fine. Let's just get it over with," he said softly, holding out his hand.
I hesitated, my palms sweating despite the cool air. But with everyone's eyes on us, there was no graceful way to decline. Taking a deep breath, I placed my hand in his.
The moment our hands touched, a strange warmth spread through me, and as he gently guided me to the centre of the courtyard, the world seemed to narrow until it was just the two of us.
The opening lyrics played, soft and heartfelt, and Aarav moved closer, placing one hand lightly on my waist while keeping my hand in his. His touch was firm but not overbearing, his presence steady and grounding.
We began to sway to the music, our movements slow and tentative at first.
"You're nervous," he said quietly, his eyes meeting mine.
"Of course I am," I muttered. "I didn't exactly plan for a public performance."
A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Relax. Just follow my lead."
And then he spun me.
It was sudden but graceful, and before I knew it, I was moving in sync with him. The crowd cheered, their claps fading into the background as I focused on Aarav. He had a natural ease about him, his movements fluid and confident.
As the music swelled, he pulled me closer, his gaze never leaving mine. There was something in his eyes—a mix of intensity and gentleness that made it impossible to look away.
For a brief moment, it didn't feel like we were surrounded by family and friends. It felt like we were in our own little world, the music weaving around us like a spell.
