Nidhi's POV:

The day of my engagement arrived with astonishing swiftness, leaving me somewhat in disbelief.

By 7 a.m., I was adorned in my traditional attire, complete with elaborate jewelry. I could not leave the house without witnessing my grandmother's tears of joy as she looked at me. The expressions on my mother, father, and Nithin's faces radiated happiness upon seeing me. I felt confident that I looked my best today, and I was filled with joy.

I am grateful for everything and how it has all unfolded. Just two months prior, I had reservations about my decision to marry, but today, I am elated at the prospect of finding my life partner and becoming engaged to Darsh.

We set off for the hotel venue. I sent a message to Darsh to check on his status. I found myself wondering how he was feeling—was he nervous, as I was, or perhaps too preoccupied to notice my message? It was possible that he was also preparing for the day.

Upon our arrival, I spotted Ravali hurrying towards me. She embraced me gently, careful not to disrupt my attire. Managing this heavy saree and jewelry was quite a challenge.

"I'm so glad you arrived so quickly," I said, holding onto her hand, feeling grateful for her prompt support. She dismissed my sentiment with a shrug and proceeded to greet my family.

"Are you feeling nervous, Nidhi?" Ravali inquired as we approached the venue. My gaze searched for him, but it appeared he had not yet arrived.

"Not really. At least not at this moment," I responded.

"Your discussions can wait; Pantulu Garu (the priest) is expecting you, Nidhi. Come along, both of you," my grandmother urged, pulling my mother and me along without allowing me a moment to greet the relatives who had come. I quickly took my seat for the puja, trying to focus on the ceremony while still anticipating his arrival.

After a while, I finally caught sight of him—Darsh.

Dressed in a blue embroidered kurta and pyjama, he looked exceptionally traditional and composed. My face brightened at the sight of him, and I eagerly awaited his gaze. It took him a full minute to finally meet my eyes.

Why the delay? I gestured towards him, as the distance between us was considerable, and I was still engaged in my pooja. My grandmother, who was consistently by my side, scolded me, prompting a frown, yet my gaze remained fixed on Darsh. In response, he merely smiled and shook his head, indicating that I should concentrate on the task at hand.

The roles then shifted, and Darsh was summoned to the stage for the puja. At that moment, I noticed his mother and brother. They were all attired in shades of blue, mirroring Darsh's outfit. His mother was elegantly draped in a saree, her hair neatly styled in a tight bun, while Vihan, his brother, donned a kurta pyjama that matched Darsh's attire.

His mother appeared to be under considerable stress; she avoided making eye contact with anyone unless directly addressed, her attention solely fixated on Darsh. In contrast, Vihan approached with a broad smile, exuding joy as he greeted everyone before finally coming to me.

"Hello, Vadina. You look stunning," he remarked.

"Thank you. It took you quite some time to arrive," I teased, noting that he was the last to reach me.

"Your father introduced me on behalf of Anna to your relatives, so I got caught up there," he explained, his smile eliciting a chuckle from me.

"Is it just the three of you? No other relatives joining?" I inquired, observing that the hall was filled with our people, yet there were no unfamiliar faces from their side.

His smile faded slightly. "We don't have many relatives, so it's just the three of us."

I realized my question had dampened his spirits; although I was curious about the reason, I simply nodded, understanding that this was not the appropriate moment to explore the past.

At that moment, I was called to the stage for the exchange of rings. Our families gathered beside us, and we collectively affirmed our union with their blessing. We received the blessings of our families as the pantulu garu continued to chant mantras.

"Now, the bride and groom will exchange their commitment rings," the priest announced following the blessings.

Before we could even retrieve the rings, the crowd, consisting of my distant cousins and relatives, erupted in cheers and shouts. Notably, all of them hailed from a medical background.

The volume of their cheers was overwhelming; while I relished being the centre of attraction, my fiancée appeared so uncomfortably stiff that his smile seemed more like a forced expression than a genuine one.

However, when our gazes locked, his smile broadened as he looked at me, sharing in my joy. He raised his hand to take mine, and I gradually placed my hand within his grasp. At that moment, his demeanor softened, and a sincere smile emerged as he slid the ring onto my finger. In return, I smiled more brightly as I gazed at him.

Without breaking eye contact, we exchanged flower garlands, each promising a lifetime of unity.

Following the rituals and festivities, we were granted a brief intermission of 15 minutes to eat and prepare the stage for the upcoming photo session.

"At last, we have a moment to converse," I whispered to Darsh while sipping my watermelon juice.

"I apologise for not responding to your messages," he replied with a gentle smile, finally opening up to me.

Before we could delve deeper into conversation, our families approached us once more, this time accompanied by the panthulu garu. From their expressions, it was clear they were discussing potential wedding dates based on astrological compatibility.

"We have auspicious dates available next month, but if we choose those, we will have to wait an additional six months afterward," he proposed.

"We have no objections to a wedding next month if that suits you as well," my father suggested to Darsh's mother.

"Yes, but we mentioned that our new house is still under design for the couple," she replied softly, only to be interrupted by my grandmother.

"Listen to me, you are like my daughter, so heed my advice: let our girl stay with your family for a while. This will help her feel comfortable, learn from you, and integrate well with your family before they move to the new place."

I was rather surprised by the suggestion; in fact, all of us were. It is not that I am opposed to the idea, but for the past few years, even when my family has been in the same city, I have chosen to live alone in a hostel. Therefore, the prospect of moving in with another family feels somewhat uncomfortable.

However, beyond my own feelings, the expressions on Darsh and his family's faces grew increasingly serious; even Vihas's smile vanished entirely. They seemed to be taking an inordinate amount of time to reach a decision.

"Then let us arrange it for next month," Darsh finally stated after a prolonged silence.

"Very well. We are also looking forward to Nidhi visiting our home soon to brighten it up for us," his mother added, joining the discussion.

"Agreed, then we will set it for the 23rd of next month, as that date is auspicious," announced Panthulu garu.

Without further delay, we commenced our photo session, smiling until our jaws felt as if they might lock in place. We were so thoroughly exhausted that all I desired was to collapse onto my bed and sleep.

Ultimately, the day concluded with farewells that were particularly difficult. I am uncertain if it was the sensation of becoming a fiancé, but a wave of possessiveness washed over me. I ponder how he feels, as he tends to conceal his emotions.

After finalising all the discussions, we began our journey home, and my phone vibrated with a notification.

"I hope the day you come to my house, sitting beside me, arrives soon. I miss you." Darsh replied to my morning message.

This single message alleviated my fatigue and sent my heart racing. God! Feelings are difficult.

Hello Everyone.

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