Layers of Us

Chapter 53

Ram, looking dashing in his vibrant yellow kurta, folded up his sleeves as he stepped out of the room.

His eyes searched for Tripura, and he called out playfully, "Wifey, are you ready?"

From inside, Tripura's voice came, "Mr. Kapoor, I might take some more time. Why don't you go down? I'll join you in a bit."

Ram smirked but agreed, "Alright, I'll see you downstairs," and made his way out of the room.

As he descended the stairs, he was greeted by a sea of yellow. The entire hall buzzed with life, as men and women dressed in various shades of yellow chatted, laughed, and prepared for the haldi ceremony. The atmosphere was light and cheerful, filled with the essence of celebration.

Spotting Dadi among the crowd, Ram made his way to her and bent down to take her blessings. Dadi smiled warmly, placing her hand on his head, "Khush rahe golu.

Just as Ram straightened up, a familiar voice called out from behind him. "Ram Kapoor!"

Ram turned around and his face lit up with excitement as he saw Vikram walking in. "Vikram yaar!" Ram exclaimed, rushing over and pulling him into a bear hug.

Vikram laughed and hugged him back tightly. Ram broke the hug and playfully scolded him, "Abey, tu abhi aaya hai? Pehle nahi aa sakta tha kya?!"

Vikram raised his hands in mock defense. "Arey Ram, kya karta? Neha ko chhutti nahi mil rahi thi, warna hum kal hi aa jate."

Hearing her name, Neha stepped forward, looking stunning in her own shade of yellow. She grinned and teased, "Hey handsome, how are you!?" before pulling Ram into a warm hug.

Ram hugged her back with equal affection, smiling broadly. "Oh my darling, I'm doing great! What about you?"

Neha chuckled, pulling back slightly to look at him. "I'm good, Ram!"

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As Ram, Vikram, and Neha stood chatting, the lively chatter of the room suddenly ceased, replaced by an almost reverent silence. Confused by the sudden shift, the three of them turned toward the direction everyone else was looking.

And then, Ram's breath hitched.
There she was - Tripura, descending the stairs with a grace that seemed almost ethereal.

Draped in an elegant, vibrant yellow saree that perfectly complemented her radiant complexion, she held the pleats of her saree delicately in one hand while using the other to tuck an unruly strand of hair behind her ear.

Her poise and elegance seemed to command the attention of every single person in the room.

The soft morning sunlight streaming through the windows danced on her, enhancing the shimmer of her saree and the glow of her skin.

Little did Tripura know that every single person in the room was mesmerized by her beauty, including Ram, whose eyes refused to leave her for even a second.

As she reached the foot of the stairs, Tripura looked up. Seeing everyone smiling in awe, she felt a wave of overwhelming warmth.

Not one to be easily fazed, she composed herself, smiled warmly at everyone in acknowledgment, and began to make her way toward where Ram, Vikram, and Neha were standing.

Ram, still rooted to the spot, couldn't take his eyes off her. His heart thudded loudly in his chest, and for a moment, he forgot how to breathe.

Vikram nudged him subtly, whispering, "Ram, stop staring."

Neha chuckled softly, "Looks like someone's already smitten."