"Here is your dress, Kyra. I am sure you're going to look amazing in this." Mom said, handing me a dress with a smile etched on her face.

"Thank you, Mom." I murmured, roaming my hand all over while admiring it.

"Okay, now you don't have much time left. The engagement function is about to start in 2 hours, so get ready fast without wasting any time. All the artists are already here." Mom said, and I nodded in affirmation.

After what happened that night, I only remember waking up in Ahaan's room the next morning. Noticing he wasn't there at that moment, I ran away directly to my room. We had to return by the evening so we straightaway started our journey. I didn't even bother looking at him for once. Although we had the same sitting arrangement like before, I didn't utter a single word, nor did Ahaan start a conversation, which I am thankful about. The situation was clearly awkward, but I was ashamed of myself reacting this way, so I thought not opening my mouth was the best option.

Now, three days later, here I am sitting with makeup artists surrounding me while simultaneously dolling me up.

"Miss your makeup is done, so I would suggest you wear your dress so that we can continue with hairstyle and finishing touches." One of the artists announced.

I nodded my head and went inside the closet of my bridal room to wear it.

1 hour later, here I was standing fully dressed, adorned with makeup, a beautiful hairstyle with a blank face surrounded by my aunts, cousins, and relatives.

"Here you are! My god, just look at you, Kyra. You're looking like so amazing. You know I am feeling jealous of you." Sarah laughed.

"Shut up. You have no right to be jealous when you're looking so good yourself." I retorted back.

She was indeed looking very good.

"Today, Ahaan Jiju (Brother in-law) is surely going to faint after looking at Kyra. He won't be able to control himself." One of my cousins commented, and all the others giggled.

Brides like spending time with cousins, enjoying their own wedding to the fullest, laughing at silly things, and here I have a blank look plastered on my face.

"Okay, now all of you out. They are about to arrive and everyone needs to be present there." Mom said.

All of my cousins happily exited my room with the rest of the relatives following them.

Mom came forward with tears glistening in her eyes.

"You are looking very beautiful. I hope everything goes well and you'll forever stay happy." Mom said.

"Don't cry, Mom. It's just my engagement." I replied, wiping the tears from her face and hugging her.

She nodded and left my room, not before telling Sarah to bring me downstairs whenever we were told.

"So what's the matter?" Sarah asked as soon as we were alone in the room.

"Nothing." I replied, shrugging.

"And you think I'll believe that? You really are something Kyra." She said sarcastically.

"Nothing is happening, Sarah. I am just having a battle with myself. I have no idea what's happening with me. It's like somewhere I want all of this to happen because it's Ahaan, and then at some point, I think I don't want to do all this. I am not able to understand myself what's happening to me. I think I have gone mad." I said, shaking my head.

"Stop it. You are not mad if you're thinking like this. These things are happening after so long in your life that it's confusing you. You see my point, earlier when you were thinking a lot about this you were always restless. But soon, when you started accepting whatever was happening with your life, all of it went with a flow. You couldn't even believe that you were genuinely happy about things. So just go with the flow wherever your life takes you. Decisions are surely important, but do you think your parents and Dhruv will want something bad for you?" Sarah exclaimed.

I shook my head at her question.

"No, right! They just want your happiness and they think you'll be happy with this. Just look at their faces today, Kyra. Uncle's smile is not stopping for once, Aunty is nonstop laughing about things, Dhruv is so excited for your marriage and you. You yourself are deep down happy with this. You know the trip made you feel real happiness again, which you didn't want to experience due to your stubbornness. Because of whom? Ahaan, right? Just think carefully why I am saying these things, and you'll get answers to every question." Sarah said.

My eyes glistened with unshed tears, and I hugged her tightly.

"Thank you." I said gratefully.

"Just say this one more time and see what I am going to do with you." Sarah replied threateningly.

I let out a small laugh and wiped my eyes.

"Thank you for being my best friend. I love you so much." I said.

"Love you too. And now it's time for your punishment." Sarah said, looking at me with a stern expression.

"Punishment?" I questioned, scrunching my eyebrows.

"Yes. You thanked me again." Sarah replied.

"Geez, I am sorry. It's not my problem that I am becoming emotional all of a sudden." I replied, raising my hands in surrender.

Sarah chuckled, and I joined her.

Knock...

Knock...

Someone knocked on our door, and soon it opened, revealing Dhruv. He had this giant smile plastered on his face, and now I knew Sarah was correct. My family is so happy for me regarding this marriage. I should just think about their happiness and accept my fate.

"Ready, shortie?" He asked, stepping in.

"Yeah, old man." I replied, showing my teeth.

He chuckled and shook his head.

"You're looking really good. I never knew Kyra could look this awesome, but here she is." Dhruv complimented.

"Should I take this as a compliment or an insult?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.

"Whatever you like." He replied, flicking my forehead.

It hurt like hell.

"Dhruv, stop it. Otherwise, I'll tell Mom to set up a friend's daughter for you. You know there are a lot of girls present here today who might be dying to spend time with you." I said, smirking in an extra sweet voice.

Sarah coughed awkwardly.

"You wouldn't." He glared at me threateningly.

"Try me." I said, flicking my curls back.

"Okay, okay. I won't say anything now." He said, raising his hands in surrender.

I laughed.

"You came here for this?" Sarah asked Dhruv, pointing in our direction.

"No! Dad sent me to bring you guys down the hall." Dhruv said.

"This soon?" I whined.

"It's been an hour since you're ready." Sarah deadpanned.

"Still." I whined again.

"Shut up, Kyra. Who can even say today's your engagement. Just look at you." Dhruv muttered.

"What's the problem with me?" I asked, glaring at him

"Brides act so shy and giddy on their engagement or, let's say, wedding, but look at you behaving like it's another normal day. Here, you are glaring at everyone." Dhruv said.

"That's not my problem if I am not feeling shy. Although I have already practiced how to blush, feel shy, and smile gracefully." I said proudly.

"I have no idea how Ahaan's going to deal with you for the rest of his life." Dhruv muttered.

"Don't worry about that. He knows what to do. You just think about how you are going to get together with Sarah." I said, smirking.

Dhruv glared at me, and Sarah looked astound at my bluntness.

"Please, guys, stop. Let's just get down for what Dhruv came here." Sarah said, recovering from her shock.

After that, we got out of the room, both of us following Dhruv. Aarav came beside him and smiled at me, to which I smiled back and waved at him. It had been so long since I had seen him. Soon, many other cousins of mine joined me, and this situation looked a bit funny to me, although I composed myself with a shy smile. Sarah whispered something in my ear, to which I let out a roar of laughter, and Dhruv looked pointedly at both of us.

"Not a word anymore." He whispered, and I noticed we've already reached the entry door of the engagement hall. I hope no one has seen me like this.

"Positions." Dhruv said and clapped his hands like a director.

I lowered down my gaze with a shy smile on my face. Sarah held one of my hands just like I told her to prevent me from tripping. Dhruv looked impressed and nodded his head. Aarav was trying to muffle his laughter seeing the scene but nonetheless composed himself.

Two guards opened the door like it was some sort of Queen's entry, and as soon as I looked above, I noticed everyone's gaze on me. I squirmed in my place, and Sarah squeezed my forearm for comfort. Soon, I placed a genuine smile on my face and entered the hall wherever Dhruv was taking me.

In between, Mom also came by my side and squeezed my hand lightly with a smile. I smiled back at her.

My gaze was searching for a person, nervousness flowing within me. Soon, my dark brown eyes landed upon his black ones, and my heart fluttered. His gaze was so intense that making shiver run down my spine, not of discomfort, but of happiness.

Following Dhruv all the way without tearing my gaze away from him, I reached the stage.

Ahaan held out his hand in front of me, and without any hesitation, I placed mine on top of his.

"You look really beautiful." He whispered huskily in my ears when I stood beside him.

Looking at him, I noticed that even he was looking too handsome. A black tux with a bowtie was what he was wearing with his hair gelled back into perfection, and the beard trimmed sharply.

"You're looking good too." I complimented back.

"Just good?" He asked, feigning hurt.

"No, I- I mean, really handsome." I blurted and then sighed.

Can't I just shut my mouth?

He chuckled at my reaction.

"Don't worry. We are soon to get married. There's no need to be shy today." Ahaan said.

"I am not shy." I said proudly.

"That I can tell by the way you were glaring at Dhruv and laughing along with Sarah." Ahaan replied, smirking.

"You saw that?" I asked my cheeks, burning with embarrassment.

"Of course I did. When you stood behind that glass door with a lowered gaze and looked so goddamn beautiful, I couldn't remove my eyes from you. Not even when you were laughing along with Sarah. It was the best sight for me back then and even now." He complimented.

I smiled at him cheekily.

Only he can make me feel like this in a moment of embarrassment.

"Stop it, you two. It's been 10 minutes since she arrived at the stage, and both of you haven't removed your gazes from the other. We have an engagement to proceed with, so if you are done with your romance, shall we continue?" Dhruv said/asked.

Who even invited him today?

I turned into a neutral expression, and Ahaan scowled at Dhruv, but Dhruv being himself wasn't even fazed by it.

"Finished this soon with your Romance?" Shweta Aunty, Ahaan's mother teasingly asked.

Not again!

"No, Dhruv didn't let us talk without disturbing." Ahaan said, and I looked at him horrified.

Did he just complain about our romance not happening because of Dhruv to his mom?

"Don't worry. She's going to be your wife soon." Shweta Aunty replied, winking in our direction.

She didn't just do that.

"Come on, familia, it's time for the engagement." Kartik Uncle," Ahaan's father spoke.

My Dad nodded his head and signaled for the function to start.

Ahaan's sister Aradhya came and stood beside him with a plate consisting of a ring and one of my female cousins and stood beside me with the same.

We were told to exchange rings as per the ring ceremony, so first Ahaan took the ring from his sister. He held his hand out for me, and I placed my hand on top of his, and he slid the ring on my ring finger instantly.

Everyone clapped around us, including the guest, and all of the youngsters hooted for us.

I smiled at the scene.

Next, I was asked to make Ahaan wear his engagement ring. I held out my hand for his and slid the ring, which I chose for him on his ring finger.

"Congratulations, both of you!" Both the families shouted.

I chuckled seeing their enthusiasm about our engagement. I never knew my this decision would bring such change in my family.

"Congratulations, my to-be wife." Ahaan whispered, his breath fanning my ears causing shivers to run down my spine.

He looked at me with an emotion flickering in his eyes, like he wanted to say something, but was refraining. The same emotion he had during our stay in godown.

"Ahaan..." I wanted to ask him about the same, but Aradhya interrupted us.

"You guys can talk later. It's time for a couple of dances." She said, dragging me with Ahaan following us.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for the Bride and Groom's first dance after engagement. So give a round of applause for the couple of the day." Aradhya shouted over the microphone.

I smiled at her, seeing her excitement. I've always liked that girl since school days. The sweetness, adoreness, and childishness pull me towards her. We had a good bond that time, but after what happened, we hadn't talked at all.

"May I?" Ahaan asked, waiting for my consent for the dance.

"You may." I said, placing my hand on his.

Placing both of his arms on my bare waist, he minimized the distance between both of us. He himself placed both of my arms around his neck, and I eventually relaxed.

The song started playing, and it was a romantic tune. The memories of our date on the trip splashed in my mind, but I ignored those and placed my head on his chest, continuing to move with the tune.

I could feel my heart beating with nervousness and, at the same time, excitement. He kept dominating the dance with different moves, and I kept doing whatever he was directing.

The song ended, but we both were lost in each other's embrace, not caring about the others present in the hall watching us. I tried removing his grip from me, but he tightened in result.

"Man, you can leave her now. The song's already over." Aarav said, making everyone laugh.

Defeatedly, Ahaan detached himself from me, and I realized that I had lost the warmth.

"Come on, it's time for the performances now." Sarah said and dragged us on the sofa allotted for the engaged couple.

We both sat down on it with our thighs brushing, but I decided to ignore the feeling inside me. Ahaan didn't ignore him as he grabbed my hand and joined with his resting on top of my lap. I looked at him questioningly, and he smirked.

"Official Couple." He mouthed.

I wasn't used to the fact that I am someone's fiance now. It's okay for me to sit with a guy holding our hands in front of everyone.

Suddenly the lights dimmed and only a bright light was illuminated from the stage. A song started playing, which I recognized as bridesmaids dance, and all of my female cousins started their performance. All of us were cheering for them, and soon, it ended.

Next, Dhruv and Aarav came on the stage and started dancing. They were looking so funny because both of them didn't know how to dance. But still, there was a lot of hooting, probably from the girls just for their looks. All of them were swooning over Dhruv and Aarav, and they both were grinning like idiots.

After their performance, Sarah and Aradhya came ahead and danced. Their performance was really good. Next, both sets of parents came on the stage and started dancing on a 90s song. They all were looking so happy, celebrating their kids' engagement.

Everyone joined the stage and was enjoying without any care of the world. This was a sight I could get used to. Something which I have wanted Mom and Dad to feel for a long time. Something which I was dying to experience for a long time. Something which deep down I know I want.

All of this only happened when he returned back to my life. May this happiness stay forever and ever.

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They are finally engaged *sobbing*

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