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Malhotra House — Late Morning
The breakfast table at the Malhotra house looked more like a battlefield briefing area than a place to eat. Plates clinked. Tea cups steamed. Notebooks were open. Shivika sat in between her mom and dad, chewing idly on her toast as her mom shuffled through a big, floral notebook titled: "ENGAGEMENT PLANNING: Shivika Edition."
"So," her mom began, scanning her notes like a general, "we have two available dates from the pandit ji. One is next month, 14th, and the other is 22nd. What say?"
Her dad added, "And we should keep it at the community lawn. It's nearby, easy for guests."
Shivika nodded, lips pressed into a thin line. The noise around her blurred slightly. Words like pandit, dates, guest list, lehenga, catering bounced around.
"Beta, are you even listening?" her mom nudged her shoulder.
Shivika blinked. "Haan? Sorry. I... yeah. 22nd is fine."
Her mom squinted. "You're not excited? It's your engagement."
Shivika forced a smile. "Of course, Mumma. I'm just... thinking."
"Don't overthink," her dad smiled. "You're already halfway married, anyway. Now it just needs decoration."
---
Later That Afternoon — Shivika's Room
Shivika sat on the floor of her room, surrounded by colour swatches, lehenga catalogues, and jewellery sets saved on Pinterest. And yet, her eyes were fixed on the window.
The sunlight poured in. Warm. Familiar. Safe.
Her room smelled like her rose lotion. Her sketchbooks were stacked on the shelf. This space was her chaos and comfort. And soon, she'd have to leave it behind.
Her chest tightened.
Just then, her mom walked in, holding a tray with fruit and juice. "Tu theek hai, beta?"
Shivika didn't respond.
Her mom sat beside her. "Shaadi se pehle aisa lagta hai... jaise sab kuch chhoot raha ho. Ghar, room, comfort, aadatein. I know. Main bhi royi thi jab Kritika ja rahi thi, and ofcourse Siddharth hai so tum ko kaisi tension "
That cracked the dam.
Shivika's eyes filled with tears. "Mumma... main badal toh nahi jaaungi na? I mean, mujhe kaam karna hai, apni jagah banani hai... par saasural, expectations... sab itna naya hoga."
Her mom gently wiped her tears. "Koi bhi nayi jagah mein pehli baar jaane se darr lagta hai. Lekin tu wahi rahegi. Shivika. Thodi aur strong. Thodi aur wise."
---
Enter Kritika
The door creaked.
Kritika entered with her baby in one arm, her jhola slung over her shoulder. "Permission to crash the party?"
Shivika sniffed, smiling slightly. "You're always welcome."
Her mom blinked at the two of them and then sighed. "Mere dono bacche... ek ek karke nikal mere se door jaa rahe hai "
Kritika placed the baby in the crib by the side. "Mumma, aapko toh award milna chahiye drama queen ka."
She then turned to Shivika and sat cross-legged.
"You know what scared me most after marriage?"
Shivika looked at her.
Kritika continued, "Ki main apni identity kho doongi. Ki 'Karan ki wife' ban jaungi and log mujhe sirf usse pehchaanenge."
Shivika nodded silently.
"Lekin pata hai? Main apni terms pe adjust ki. Office bhi sambhala, baby bhi, It's tough. But not impossible. Bas boundaries strong rakho. Apne liye time nikaalo. And most importantly, Siddharth always by ur side just like karan with me "
Shivika smiled, teary-eyed. "You make it sound simple."
"It's not. But you're fiercer than me, and better dressed," Kritika winked.
Her mom sighed again, wiping her tears with her pallu. "Waise, main itna emotional ho rahi hoon, aaj ka shopping trip cancel karna padega."
Kritika stood up. "No chance. Aap aur Bhua ji agar shopping se ruk gaye, toh economy gir jaayega."
---
Evening — Shopping Chaos Begins
The four women stepped into the designer store like an entourage arriving at a red carpet.
Bhua ji immediately took command. "Sabse pehle engagement lehenga. Royal colour chahiye. Velvet bhi chalega."
Sales guy: "Ma'am velvet thoda outdated —"
Bhua ji: "Hum bhi 80s se outdated hai, but still shining."
Shivika giggled. Kritika rolled her eyes. Her mom was busy comparing blouse necklines.
The store was filled with colour explosions. Sequins. Net. Silk. Beads. Gold borders.
Kritika whispered to Shivika, "Remember: If Bhua ji says 'chhoti neckline', it means deep. And if she says 'modest', it means saree from neck to toes."
Shivika laughed. The stress started melting a little.
They tried six outfits. Shivika rejected four. Bhua ji selected two extra for Kritika "just in case."
Her mom found a pale blue lehenga with mirrorwork. "Yeh tu pehen. Simplicity suits you."
Kritika handed her a deep wine-red one. "Yeh pehen. Bold suits you."
Bhua ji added a third: bright orange with peacocks. "Yeh bhi pehen. Peacocks are lucky."
Shivika sighed. "Shaadi se pehle hi saas-bahu training ho gayi."
They all burst into laughter.
---
Final Montage Moments
Shivika twirling in front of a mirror in the red lehenga while Kritika claps.
Mummy ji bargaining over prices and free dupattas.
Bhua ji sipping cutting chai from a flask she secretly carried.
Kritika helping Shivika take selfies in every outfit.
Shivika staring at herself in the mirror with a bittersweet smile: excited, scared, glowing.
---
As the car headed home that night, Shivika rested her head on her mom's shoulder. Kritika held her baby, quietly singing a lullaby. The sky above blinked with stars.
And somewhere between lehengas and laughter, Shivika realised: this chaos, this love, this madness… it was all hers now.
To hold. To grow into. To live.
---
This is all for this chapter show some love evryone
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ISHQ VISHQ|| COMPLETED ✅||
Fantasi💔 "She waited her whole life to confess... but he kissed someone else." SHIVIKA MALHOTRA - 22, hopeless romantic, secretly in love with her childhood best friend SIDDHARTH SINGHANIA. She had loved him for years - through every heartbreak, every lat...
