🕰......

“Vedant, Do not turn around”
He did anyway.
“And that” His cousin muttered beside him “is exactly why I told you not to”.

The courtyard was filled with wedding vibes. Music, flower-decorated furniture and laughter everywhere. But Vedant–

He stopped breathing.
Not from lack of oxygen.

Right there stepping into the Oberoi house like she had every right to be there was Ayushi Shekhawat

Real. Smiling.

Not Seventeen anymore.

His chest tightened.
Years collapsed into a single second.

“So?” His cousin continued casually, “ Do you want to tell me why the groom's sister looks like she just ruined your life?”

Vedant swallowed. “She hasn't”
“Yet”

———

Ayushi had never liked weddings.
Too many people.
Too many expectations.
Too many women asking when her turn was coming.

And then,
She found him.
without trying.

Tall. Still. Watching her.
Just like 4 years ago.

Their eyes locked.
Ayu frowned “ I know him”.
Abhay, Who was standing nearby, “You know half of Jaipur, Ayu”.
“No..”she said slowly, “I really know him”.

Vedant broke eye contact first.
“Congratulations” His cousin said “She noticed you”

“Vedant”

He knew that voice too well.
If it was Alya, It Meant trouble.

“Stop pretending you're not staring”Alya said more like a fact.
“I'm not staring” Vedant refused.
Alya folded her arms.

Alya Oberoi—Middle child, professional investigator and self-appointment emotional detective — raised one perfectly shaped eyebrow “You've been not-staring at the same girl for ten minutes”

“don't start”

“She seems... Nice” Their mom appeared beside them.
“She's Abhay's sister” His cousin added.
Their Mom hummed “And? ”
“And that's all” Ved said too quickly.

“You're twenty-one, not eleven, I trust you” She eyed him carefully. This was the woman who had raised three children.

“She's just..... part of the groom's family”
“That's a very long pause for ‘just’ ”Alya interrupted like she needed to.

Vedant shot her a look “You're insufferable”
“And you're obvious” Alya replied again.

Vedant adjusted his Sherwani.

|Love at first sight.. People said, is sudden.
They were wrong.
This was love that had survived years of silence and unconfessed feelings. |