The preparations for the Luna ceremony were in full swing in the sprawling garden of Sanskar's grand mansion. The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers and the soft hum of excited conversations. Lanterns and fairy lights were being hung from the trees, casting a magical glow as the sun began to set.

Sanskar exuded a commanding presence in his tailored suit. He wore a classic black tuxedo with a crisp white dress shirt and a black silk bow tie. The suit was impeccably cut to highlight his broad shoulders and slim waist. His dark hair was neatly styled, and a hint of cologne added an air of sophistication. He completed the look with polished black leather shoes and silver cufflinks that gleamed subtly. Sanskar’s soft sea-green eyes and pleasant smile added to his striking appearance, making him the epitome of a handsome groom looking after all the arrangements by himself.

"Hey Alpha Sanskar, nice arrangements. The garden is transformed into a magical wonderland. It's stunning!"

"That's right, the attention to detail in the decorations is simply breathtaking, Alpha Sanskar."

As the guests began to arrive, they couldn't stop praising the beautifully decorated garden, filling Sanskar with pride. Immersed in his thoughts, he was jolted back to reality by the vibration of his phone. Glancing at the screen, he saw a message from Swara.

'Are you all set?'

With a gentle smile, Sanskar typed out his reply. 'The aisle and I are ready to welcome you.' He then took several pictures of the beautifully adorned wedding canopy, capturing the intricate details and the soft glow of the evening lights, and attached them to his message.

'Absolutely beautiful and so touching,' Swara replied, her message adorned with a series of heartfelt emojis. Sanskar felt a surge of happiness.

'Would you like a preview of your groom?' he sent, accompanied by a playful winking emoji.

'As much as I'd love that, let's keep the excitement alive. You have to wait to see your bride too.'

Sanskar's lips curled into a mischievous grin as he read her message, amused by the playful challenge she had thrown back at him. The anticipation only made the upcoming moments even more thrilling.

A minute later, unable to contain his excitement, he discreetly slipped away from the hustle and bustle. With a quick glance around to ensure no one noticed, he made his way to the mansion and up to Swara's room, crafting a reply as he went. 'I don't think so.'

When he peeked inside, he saw Swara surrounded by a team of stylists, meticulously working on her hair and makeup. Her expression was a mix of confusion and curiosity as she read his unexpected message.

'What could that possibly mean?' Swara muttered to herself, her brow furrowing as she read his cryptic message. She was about to start typing a reply when Sanskar’s commanding voice cut through the confusion.

"Everyone, please leave," he announced with an assertive yet charismatic tone, flashing a reassuring smile. The stylists, initially startled, recognized the groom-to-be and quickly gathered their tools, scurrying out of the room.

Swara turned to face him, her eyes widening in awe at how strikingly handsome he looked. Her surprise quickly gave way to a warm, radiant smile as she absorbed his charismatic aura. As Sanskar slowly made his way toward her, he was momentarily spellbound by her stunning beauty and poise.

Swara wore a flowing white silk gown with silver embroidery and an off-the-shoulder neckline adorned with pearls. Her hair was styled in loose waves with braids and sparkling crystals, crowned with a silver tiara. Her makeup was subtle, featuring smoky eyes, rosy cheeks, and natural pink lips. She accessorized with a diamond pendant necklace, matching earrings, and a silver bracelet.

"You’re not supposed to be here," she said playfully, giving Sanskar a mock scolding look.

"I couldn’t wait any longer," Sanskar replied, closing the distance between them. He gently clasped her hands in his, his gaze locking onto hers with genuine admiration. "You look truly incredible."

Swara’s cheeks flushed with a rosy hue as her heart skipped a beat. "You’re going to make things difficult for me," she teased, though her voice was tender and full of warmth.

"I’d be more than happy to shoulder all your worries," Sanskar murmured with affection as he moved closer. He gently maneuvered her hand, drawing her into a tender embrace from behind, his chin resting gently on her shoulder.

Swara closed her eyes, immersing herself in the soothing warmth of his embrace. The familiar, reassuring presence and the gentle touch were exactly the comfort she had yearned for, bringing a deep sense of peace and contentment.

"Shona, what do you think of this idea?" Sanskar whispered softly in Swara’s ear.

"Think about what?"

"How about we skip all the other rituals and go straight to the last one? Let’s head directly to our honeymoon. How does that sound?" He proposed in a rich, enticing voice. The suggestion sent a thrilling shiver down Swara’s spine.

"Hmm, I’m perfectly fine with that. Let’s make it happen," Swara said with a chuckle. "Our road trip was cut short, so why not dive straight into our honeymoon? It’ll be the first wedding where the bride and groom ran away from the ceremony together. Isn’t that dramatic and exhilarating?"

Swara was aware that if she had responded in a conventional manner or adhered to his expectations, he would have playfully prodded her further. Instead, she employed a bit of reverse psychology, which successfully turned the situation in her favor.

Sanskar gently broke the embrace, turning Swara to face him with a curious frown. "Aren’t you going to scold me for this?"

"Why would I?" Swara responded with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I actually love the idea and am excited to go along with it. Considering the effort you put into sneaking into the bridal room, why wouldn’t I say yes to your proposal?" Her beautiful pink lips curled into a teasing smirk, adding to the playful atmosphere.

Sanskar sighed, recognizing that she was giving him a sarcastic lesson. He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "I only wanted to steal a few precious moments with you. I’m sorry," he whispered.

Swara smiled, her eyes lingering on his lowered lashes for a moment before darting to the clock. "You really need to leave now. I’m running out of time."

Reluctantly, Sanskar nodded. "Alright, I'll see you out there," he said, giving her hands a final squeeze before slipping out of the room.

Back in the garden, Janki and Ayush watched the preparations with a mix of pride and emotion. Janki dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief, her heart swelling at the sight of the beautiful setting. "Swara has grown up so fast; it hurts that I barely had a chance to spend time with her. I can hardly believe it's already her Luna ceremony."

Ayush, with a lump in his throat, nodded solemnly. "I understand. She’s earned this happiness after all she’s endured—facing so many challenges alone and still finding a way to survive and flourish."

"That's true, but I still wish we could have had a bit more time with her. I had hoped to be involved in raising Shomi's children," Janki said, her eyes filling with tears.

Ayush wrapped an arm around her in a comforting hug. "Grandma, I also wanted more time with my little sister, but she needs this Luna ceremony sooner rather than later. It’s already been two months since she became pregnant."

Janki nodded, her voice trembling as she sniffed. "You’re right. We must put aside our own feelings—Swara and her unborn child are the priorities."

"What's wrong, Grandma Janki, Alpha Ayush?" Sanskar came forward and asked, seeing them both all teary.

"Nothing really; Grandma got quite emotional since she recently reunited with Swara, and now, after just a week, she’s already getting married. I proposed that we allow her to stay at home for a few days after the ceremony. That sounds reasonable, doesn’t it, Alpha Sanskar?" Ayush said, his tone teasing.

Sanskar was momentarily stunned and found himself at a loss for words in response to his future brother-in-law.

"Ayush, what are you rambling on about? Obviously, Alpha Sanskar will support whatever makes Swara happy," Janki joined in fun with a jesty remark, raising an eyebrow.

Sanskar scratched the back of his head, and within moments, the three of them erupted into hearty laughter.

A few moments later, as the final touches were being made, Sanskar was about to head back to the ceremony area when Ayush stopped him. "Wait. I'm going to bring Swara through the aisle and give her to you," he said, his voice firm but filled with emotion.

Sanskar smiled and nodded. "Of course."

Ayush headed to Swara's room, ready to escort her. However, when he opened the door, he froze. The room was eerily silent. The stylists and their team were lying unconscious on the floor, and Swara was nowhere to be seen.