झाँके बादलों की जाली के पीछे से
करे चाँदनी ये मुझको इत्तला
लेके नूर ज़्यादा चाँद मेरा यहीं पे है छुपा
छुपा हुआ
इश्क़ वाला love
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It was finally the most awaited Saturday — the day Yashveer and his family were to visit Avyuktta’s home and formally talk about the alliance. The sun was mellow, the air filled with quiet anticipation, and the house buzzed with subtle chaos and joy.
Avyuktta was in her room, pacing nervously. She had been informed that they could arrive anytime, and though she looked composed in her loose pants and oversized T-shirt, her bitten nails and the anxious rhythm of her steps told a different story.
Her chachi gently opened the door and stepped in.
“Beta, ready ho gayi? Wo log pahuchne wale hai,” her voice was warm, but filled with urgency.
Avyuktta turned, caught in the act — looking far from prepared. She stood frozen as her eyes met her chachi’s in a moment of intense silence. The unspoken understanding passed between them like a ripple in still water.
Breaking eye contact, Avyuktta forced a laugh and quickly said,
“Ehehe chachi aap yaha? Aap neeche jaiye na, main taiyar hoke aati hoon.”
Before Anuradha could respond, Kanay came rushing in from behind her, phone in hand and an apologetic grin on her face.
“Arey didi, sorry call aa gaya tha. Mera kaam ho gaya, chalo ab main aapko ready kar deti hoon,” she announced excitedly.
Then turning to Anuradha, she added with twinkling eyes and a wide smile,
“Arey maa, aap yaha kaise? Aap neeche jaake tayariyan kijiye, main didi ko leke aati hoon.”
. . .
SILENCE.
. . .
Avyuktta, slightly embarrassed and fully flustered, quickly chimed in,
“Haan haan chalo chalo jaldi aao Kanay. Pehle hi late ho gaye hain, wo log aane hi wale hain. Chachi aap jao.”
And with that, she practically shut the door in her aunt’s face.
As she leaned against the closed door, she whispered with a small smile,
“Aaj toh bacha liya tune, Kanay.”
Kanay chuckled, walking over.
“Tripti kahan hai?” Avyuktta asked curiously.
“Woh maa ki help kar rahi hai,” Kanay replied simply.
Avyuktta nodded with a soft “oh” escaping her lips. Before she could say anything else, Kanay pushed her playfully into the bathroom.
“Chalo chalo, naha lo pehle. Time nahi hai!”
. . .
After the bath, Avyuktta sat at the dressing table, droplets of water still clinging to her shoulders, her breath slightly ragged from the rush. Kanay got to work with her hair — oiling and combing gently while humming a tune under her breath. The room smelled of jasmine and talcum, like it always did on such important days.
Minutes passed, the sky changed shades, and then...
Avyuktta was finally ready.
She wore a delicate pastel blue anarkali that flowed like moonlight. Silver jhumkas danced against her cheeks with every turn of her head. She had applied a faint stroke of eyeliner, a light powder, a soft gloss on her lips, and a small bindi resting like a drop of dusk between her brows. Her hair was neatly braided to one side.
She looked at her reflection.
And for once, she smiled — gently, shyly, like someone who had just remembered how to.
It was one of the very few moments she felt beautiful — not in the mirror’s eyes, but her own.
She whispered, “Thank you, Kanay.”
Kanay, standing behind her, grinned proudly and said,
“App toh bilkul apsara lag rahi ho, didi.”
Avyuktta blushed but said nothing, choosing instead to hold onto that rare moment of peace... before the storm of introductions began.
. . . . .
Avyuktta now sat on her bed, quietly waiting. Her heart was pounding. So many thoughts swirled in her mind. She took a deep breath, convincing herself that her family would never choose wrong for her… but still…
She shook her head, chasing the shadows of doubt away. She had promised Chachi—if all goes well, she will start anew. She would try. She would heal.
She was lost in these thoughts when Tripti and Kanay entered the room.
“Chalo didi, jiju ka bulawa aa gaya,” Tripti chirped mischievously.
Avyuktta couldn’t help but chuckle as she stood. All three sisters walked out and descended the stairs.
Sometime ago – Mumbai Airport—
Yashveer and his family had just landed in Mumbai. As expected, the reporters surrounded them, flashes going off like fireworks.
“Sir! Aap workaholic ke naam se jaane jaate hain. Toh aaj achanak family trip pe kaise?” a reporter asked, chasing him.
Yashveer sighed internally. Ladki dekhne aaya hoon, par maa ne poore khandan ko ghoomne bulwa liya. Of course, log family trip hi samjhenge.
Before he could respond, his mother beat him to it.
“Arey nahi nahi reporter didi, hum vacation pe nahi aaye hain! Hum toh apne Yashu ke liye ladki dekhne aaye hain. Aur hum zyada log bhi nahi hain—sirf main, mere husband, mera beta jiske rishtay ki baat hai, mere devar, unki biwi yani meri devrani, aur unke do bacche. Bas!”
Yashveer facepalmed and muttered, 'Bas?'
Finally, he stepped in, “Now if you’ll excuse us, we’re getting late.”
Two cars were waiting outside. Yashveer sat with his parents and Mridul, while his chacha-chachi and Aaryan took the second car.
After about 40 minutes, they reached the Sharma household. It was not grand or fancy, but something about it felt warm—like home.
As they stepped out, they were welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Sharma. Anuradha came forward with an aarti thali, and Abhinav smiled warmly.
The elders greeted each other with familiarity and laughter. Yashveer bent down to touch the couple’s feet.
“Kanay, Tripti… Avyuktta ko leke aao, sab aa gaye hain,” Anuradha called.
“Ji maa!” both girls replied cheerfully.
“Kitna pyaara naam hai... Avyuktta,” Yashveer thought.
“Kitna pyaara naam hai... Kanay,” Aaryan thought at the same time.
They exchanged a glance and smirked in sync, while Mridul stared around the house, unaware that someone had already noticed him.
Yashveer’s heartbeat picked up. He was about to meet her—whoever she was. His eyes darted to the staircase as he heard…
“Chalo didi, jiju ka bulawa aa gaya.”
A flustered smile crept up his face, and he quickly stuffed a samosa into his mouth to hide it. But his hands stilled the moment he heard anklets… faint, rhythmic. And then he saw them—three girls coming down.
His gaze found her. The one in the middle. His fingers loosened, and the samosa fell unnoticed.
“Muh band kar lo, bhabhi dar jaayegi,” Mridul whispered beside him.
Yashveer quickly composed himself, but his eyes refused to move away from her.
Avyuktta went to each elder, bowed, and took blessings.
“Namaste,” she whispered to Yashveer, her eyes lowered.
“J-Ji… Namaste,” he managed, clearing his throat.
She left to bring tea, returning with a tray full of cups. Placing it gently on the table, she stood beside her mother, eyes still glued to her bangles.
Then came a gentle voice.
“Bete, zara idhar aao. Mere paas baitho.”
Shivani smiled, motioning her to sit beside her. When Avyuktta did, Shivani raised her chin gently.
“Haye… kitni pyaari bachi hai. Swayam Lakshmi jaise baithi ho.”
She did a quick ritual to ward off the evil eye and kissed her forehead. All the while, Avyuktta never looked up.
But the eyes watching her never wavered—hazel green, soft yet intense, searching, absorbing.
“Bhabhi ko nazaron se maar doge kya? Itna mat ghooro,” Aaryan teased softly.
Yashveer rolled his eyes but never looked away.
Then Abhinav spoke, his words wrapped in warmth.
“Ab bachon ko thodi der baat karne dete hain. Wo dono bhi ek dusre ko jaan le toh accha hoga.”
Yashveer almost did a mental pranam to his future father-in-law.
Bhagwan kis kis roop mein aake khushiyan de jaata hai... hey prabhu.
He stood up as Avyuktta walked ahead.
And just like that, step by step, he followed her into a room… towards the beginning of something sacred.
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Koi galti ho gyi ho toh maaf karna🙏🏻
byeeeee!!!!
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