I was sitting in my office, lost in thought, when I received a call about the new event manager who would be handling my wedding arrangements.

My wedding! I still couldn't believe I had agreed to it. But, I felt trapped, with no other options. My family was thrilled about my engagement to Saniya, and our families had been friends for years.

Despite searching for her for seven long years, I had failed to find any trace of the mysterious girl I met in Bengaluru. It was as if she had vanished into thin air. Exhausted by my family's persistent pressure, I had finally relented, agreeing to marry Saniya. But, my heart still longed for the girl who had left an indelible mark on my life.

____________FLASHBACK____________

***********7 years ago************

As I headed to the hotel to meet my family, who had traveled all the way from Udaipur to Bengaluru to surprise me on my birthday, I had a plan to turn the tables and surprise them instead.

The drive was exhilarating, with the evening rain pouring down and the road glistening with wetness. But, just as I was enjoying the scenic view, my car suddenly sputtered and came to a halt in the middle of the road.

The unexpected stop jolted me out of my pleasant reverie, and I groaned in frustration, wondering what could be wrong with the car.

"Seriously? Of all places, my car had to break down here?" I muttered to myself, frustration etched on my face.

I let out a deep sigh and gazed out at the torrential rain, which seemed to be getting heavier by the minute.

With a sense of resignation, I decided to abandon my car and seek help. I stepped out into the downpour, my shoes splashing in the puddles. The dense foliage and scattered houses seemed to close in around me, making me feel a bit uneasy.

I approached the first house I saw, hoping to find some assistance. I knocked on the door, the sound echoing through the stillness.

"Knock" I knocked

"Knock" I knocked on the door again,

"Knock." the sound echoing through the darkness.

The house seemed eerily quiet, the lights extinguished, and an air of creepiness hung heavy over it. I couldn't help but think it was the perfect setting for a horror movie.

I half expected the door to creak open by itself, inviting me into an empty, haunted space.

My imagination ran wild, conjuring up images of ghostly apparitions, like Manjulika from Bengali folklore, dancing to the iconic song "Ame Je Tomar."

I chuckled to myself, thinking how absurd it would be to ask her why the ghosts hadn't updated their playlist in centuries.

"Jai Hanuman, gyan gun sagar... Jai kapis, tihu lok ujagar... Ram doot, atulit baldhama... Anjani putra, Pawan sut nama..." I began to chant the Hanuman Chalisa, a soothing melody that calmed my nerves.

As I recited the verses, the creaky gate swung open, and a middle-aged man emerged, holding a torch.

Our eyes met, and we both let out a blood-curdling scream

"Ahhhhhhhh!!!!"

The torch slipped from his hands, and he charged towards me, his fists flying. I tried to defend myself, but he pummeled me with blows, his eyes wild with fear and confusion.

Our loud shouts alerted a younger man, likely in his mid-twenties, who emerged from the house.

He was a foreigner, with a concerned expression on his face.

"What's going on, uncle? Who's this person? And why are you yelling like that?"

"This guy scared me!" The middle-aged man pointed at me.

"Who are you?" The younger man turned to me and asked.

"My car broke down, and I need a place to stay. The weather is pretty bad out here." I explained.
The foreigner nodded sympathetically,
"Let him come in."

"But sir, what if he's a thief?" The older man hesitated.

'Seriously, do I look like a thief? From which angle?'I thought to myself.

The younger man's gaze seemed to echo my thoughts, and he reassured the older man, "I'm sure he's fine. Come on, let's get out of the rain."

I decided to brush off the older man's suspicions, attributing his wariness to natural caution when strangers arrive at one's doorstep.

"Don't worry, uncle, we're here now, and everything will be fine. You don't need to panic about anything." The older man started to protest.

"But... Woh..."
(She)

"Don't worry, she's more capable than I am." The younger man interrupted

"Let him come inside first, he's already soaked to the bone," the younger man added, his expression kind and welcoming.

Here's a rewritten version with some minor edits for clarity and flow:

The man gestured for me to follow him, and I did, trailing behind him as he led me into the house.

Just then, the lights flickered to life, illuminating the modern architecture and sleek design of the interior. The sudden brightness dispelled the eerie atmosphere, and I breathed a sigh of relief. 'Phew, this doesn't feel like a horror movie anymore!' I thought to myself.

He guided me up to the second floor and opened the door to a spacious room.

I stepped inside, taking in the stylish decor - a plush bed, a coffee table, a sofa, a cupboard, and a dresser, all tastefully designed in shades of grey, white, and black.

As I admired the room's aesthetic, the man spoke up, his voice breaking the silence...

"You're welcome to stay here," he said.

"I'll have some clothes sent up for you to change into."

He left the room and returned with a pair of clothes, which he handed to me.

"Get refreshed, and I'll have some food sent up. You can rest here for the night, but please leave in the morning." I thanked him, grateful for his kindness.

"Sure, thanks a lot!" I said, smiling.

He nodded a
"Hmm,"

and then left the room, leaving me to settle in.

After freshening up in the bathroom and changing into the comfortable trousers and t-shirt, I heard a knock on the door. I opened it to find a lady standing with a tray of food, which I gratefully accepted. She smiled and left, and I closed the door and dug into the delicious spaghetti, Caesar salad, and garlic bread.

After satisfying my hunger, I snuggled into the blankets, feeling cozy and content.

But, in the middle of the night, I woke up with a parched throat, craving water. I switched on the lights and checked the clock - it was 3:00 AM. I got out of bed and headed to the coffee table, only to find the water jug empty. So, I decided to venture to the kitchen to quench my thirst.

I made my way out of the room and down to the first floor, where I had noticed the kitchen earlier. I entered the kitchen, opened the fridge, and grabbed a refreshing bottle of water. As I twisted open the cap, the sound of the water bottle cracking open echoed through the silent kitchen. I took a long sip, feeling the cool water quench my thirst.

As I headed back to my room, the sound of music caught my attention, playing softly in the background. My heart skipped a beat - could it be? I thought to myself, 'Could Manjulika actually be real?' But instead of fear, curiosity drove me forward.

I wanted to confront this mysterious presence and clear my doubts once and for all. I followed the sound and found myself standing behind a window, peeking through the open pane.

That's when I saw her - a girl dressed in a stunning red anarkali, her body swaying gracefully to the music. She was lost in the rhythm, her eyes closed, and a serene smile on her face. I was mesmerized.

A soft, melancholic melody filled the air, an old folk song that seemed to match the rhythm of my heartbeat.

I was entranced by her dance, my feet rooted to the spot. The girl was an ethereal beauty, like a nymph who had descended directly from heaven.

Every time she twirled, I felt an overwhelming urge to rush forward and take her in my arms. My gaze was drawn to her eyes, hazel brown and deep, reflecting a multitude of emotions yet remaining inscrutable. In that moment, I knew I wanted her - wanted her to be mine, wanted her in my life, now and forever. The realization hit me like a thunderbolt, leaving me breathless and longing.

She was like the rays of moon. A beauty that gives the moon his real meaning without which the moon is incomplete. The Ayla of the Ay.

The sudden ring of a phone broke the spell, and the music stopped. I watched, mesmerized, as my angel quickly answered the call, spoke briefly, and then dialled another number.

She uttered a few words before rushing out of the room, leaving me in her wake. I followed her, but she was too fast.

"Hey, wait!" I called out, but she just apologized,

"Sorry, I'm in a hurry!"

"At least tell me your name, Miss Manjulika!"I tried again, Our eyes met for a fleeting moment, but she quickly looked away, got into a car, and drove off.

I stood there, watching the taillights disappear into the distance, feeling a mix of wonder and longing. Finally, I turned back and returned to the house, my mind replaying the encounter with this ethereal beauty.

This Ayla.

_____Flashback ends_____

I snapped back to the present, a gentle smile still lingering on my lips as I reminisced about the enchanting nymph I had encountered years ago. Her piercing eyes still had the power to brighten my day.

I immersed myself in my work for a few hours, losing track of time, until my phone rang again.

This time, it was Sanya's name flashing on the screen, breaking the spell of my nostalgia. I answered the call.

"Hey, baby! You haven't forgotten our meeting with the wedding planner, have you?" Sanya asked, a hint of playfulness in her voice.

"No, I remember. They called me too," I replied.

"Okay! So, should I come to your office or head straight to... oh, sorry... our house?" Sanya said, I could almost see her blushing over the phone.

"No need, we'll meet at our house," I responded.

"Sure thing," she reacts.

I headed home from the office, a short journey that ended at Randhawa Palace in just 30 minutes.

As I arrived, Sanya flung herself into my arms, grasping my hand tightly.

Together, we entered the palace to meet our new wedding planner.

As we entered the meeting room, my eyes scanned the space until they landed on a familiar pair of eyes - the same eyes that had captivated me years ago.

My gaze was transfixed on her, unable to move away. She wore a black skinny pant and red top, her natural beauty radiating without any makeup. I tried hard to focus on something else, but my eyes refused to leave her face.

When Sanya struggled to remember her name, she introduced herself with a polite smile,

"I'm Anisha Chauhan."

Her voice was like music, leaving me enchanted and helpless.

'Someone save me!'

I thought, overwhelmed by her soothing voice.

I realized Sanya was watching me, noticing how I was gazing at Anisha.
We exchanged pleasantries, and Sanya even threw in some playful jabs, which Anisha handled with grace and poise.

After the meeting, I made an excuse to Sanya, saying I had urgent work to attend to, and headed back to the office. But my mind was already held hostage by those captivating hazel brown eyes.

'Uff kahin hamari jaan hi na lele ye katil nigahein' I thought to myself, unable to wipe the silly grin off my face. I felt elated, like I had finally found something I had been searching for. 'I actually found her,' I thought, my heart racing with excitement.

(Uff, these killer eyes are going to be the death of me!)

As I entered my cabin, my colleagues couldn't help but stare at the enormous smile plastered on my face, courtesy of the girl who had taken over my thoughts.

Vidharth, my friend and confidant, walked in and teased, "Lottery wagera lag gayi kya, itta kyun muskura raha hai?"

(Did you win the lottery or something? What's with the ear-to-ear grin?)

"Na usse bhi bari khushkhabri" I replied, still beaming.

Vidharth was the only one who knew about my encounter with her all those years ago, besides me.

"Aacha ye paheliyan mat bujha or bata kya hua..mujhe nahi lagta ki ye wedding planner se milkar tu itta khush hai."He raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with sarcasm.

(Come on, stop with the riddles and tell me what happened. I don't buy that you're this happy just because you met a wedding planner.)

"Bingo!" I exclaimed, my eyes locked onto Vidharth's.

"What the hell do you mean by that?" His eyes widened in surprise, and he asked

"Yeah, I—". I started to explain,  But he cut me off, his gaze fixed on me with a mix of disbelief and amusement. He stared at me for a few seconds, then burst out laughing, leaving me confused.

"Abe sale pagal ho gaya hai kya?!"

(Oh, you've gone crazy, man!) He laughed even harder, saying

"Na bhai taras aa raha hai tere par.." I realized my mistake and cursed under my breath, "Fuck!"

Vidharth's laughter slowly subsided, and he looked at me with a serious expression,

(No brother, I feel sorry for you.)

"I think I was too obvious when I met her."

"Dude, didn't you think you'd be dumping a ton of problems on her if you didn't rein in your obviousness? Remember what Sanya did to Nisha?" Vidharth asked, his tone laced with concern.

"It was an accident." I defended Sanya,

"Did I look like a fool to you?!" But Vidharth shot back, his eyes rolling,I sighed, knowing he was telling the truth, but there was no concrete proof.

"So, what's your plan now? Even if you've found her, it's futile. You're getting married, and if Ajay Malhotra finds out, it'll be a huge problem. And let's not forget, Sanya's uncle, Abhay Singh Rajvansh, has underworld connections. If they get wind of this, it'll spell trouble not just for you but for the girl too." Vidharth's expression turned sympathetic, his words a harsh reality check.

I let out a deep sigh, feeling the weight of Vidharth's words. I knew he was right, but I was unsure of what to do. Sanya's obsession with me was undeniable, and if this situation came to light, it would spell trouble for both of us.

"Did she recognize you?" Vidharth switched to a lighter tone, asking, I shook my head,

"Nope."

"Are you sure it's the same person?"He pressed on.

"I'm hell sure." I nodded emphatically, My certainty only seemed to amuse Vidharth, who chuckled and said,

"Well, this is going to be interesting."

So, how was your first meeting with our dear male lead...I hope you liked this meeting with him and I am sure you will like him...

That is it for today's chapter.....

I hope you all liked it this far......

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