Page 145

Shaurya leaned in, his breath warm against her ear, and whispered, “If I’d known you’d look this stunning as a bride… I swear, Nandini, I would’ve got down on my knees and begged your grandpa to get us married the day your parents gave us their blessings.”

Nandini’s cheeks turned beet red, matching the colour of her lehenga. Her fingers tightened around its edge as she fought back the smile tugging at her lips.

“Shaurya…” she murmured under her breath. “Stop it. People are watching.”

He smirked and replied just as softly,

“Let them watch. They should know I am getting married to the most beautiful woman in the world.”

She looked at him. “Well, for what it’s worth… you’re not looking too bad yourself, Mr. Ahuja,” she whispered. “Actually, you’re looking ridiculously ‘hot and refined’ in that sherwani. Imight be the bride, but I’m pretty sure it’s you who’s going to end up stealing the spotlight today.”

He chuckled, his eyes lighting up with mischief.

“Hot and refined, huh? Notoutdatedlike you called me after our first kiss?” he teased, wagging his eyebrows. “Wow, that’s progress. Looks like I must be doing something right,” he added smugly.

Nandini’s eyes widened as she realised what she’d just walked into with that unintentional slip. The memory of their New Year’s kiss came rushing back, of how she’d blurted out that their kiss was ‘hot and outdated.’ Not because she meant it but because she was extremely nervous and needed to defend herself against the pull of his smouldering gaze.

Even now, that same playful spark flickered in his eyes as his gaze dipped to her lips again. Nandini blushed, her breath hitching as Shaurya slowly ran his tongue along his lower lip, his eyes still fixed on hers with unmistakable intent.

“Behave yourself,” she whispered, her eyes fixed on the sacred fire. “I’m already so nervous, and this lehenga weighs a ton. Also, with everyone’s eyes on us, I don’t need any distraction. Let me focus. If I trip during the pheras because of you, I swear I’ll never allow you near me again.”

Shaurya grinned, his fingers entwining with hers in a reassuring grip.

“That’s not going to happen. Trip all you want, Mrs. Ahuja. I’ll be right here to catch you. And if needed, I’ll even carry you around the holy fire myself, just like your heroes in those romance novels.”

It was then that she looked at him, her eyes conveying everything that words never could, of just how much she loved him.

Just then, the priest began chanting the sacred mantras that echoed through the garden like a blessing.

Nandini’s gaze drifted, not toward the fire, not toward the priest, but to the edge of the crowd, where her grandfather stood amid the guests. His eyes glistened with joy as he chatted with the guests. But every now and then, his gaze returned to her. And each time it did, he smiled at her. Not just with his lips, but with his entire being.

The love in his eyes and the finality of her leaving behind her maiden identity made her teary-eyed. She blinked quickly, trying to hold it back, but a tear threatened to fall.

Before she could even whisper to Priya for a tissue, Shaurya leaned towards her, his hand reaching out to her. Without a word, he carefully dabbed the corner of her eye with his thumb, catching the tear before it could fall, without so much as disturbing her makeup.

She turned to him, her lips parting in surprise, and behind them, a ripple of amused gasps and teasing coos broke out from the Serene Meadows crowd.

“There goes Romeo again,” Mrs. Bhalla whispered to Mrs. Mehra. “Though I must admit, I kind of miss that old grumpy charm of his. It was oddly attractive. Not that this Romeo version is any less swoony.”

“That man just keeps raising the bar,” someone else chimed in from behind.

Even Grandpa smirked, shaking his head in amusement as if saying,this boy... he never stops surprising me.

Nandini leaned closer to Shaurya and whispered back, “Keep doing things like this, and I might just fall for you all over again, this time harder than ever.”

Shaurya grinned, his eyes locked on hers. “That’s the plan.”

Rituals unfolded one after the other—the sacred sindoor proudly melding into the parting of her hair, the mangalsutra fastened carefully around her neck, and then the seven sacred pheras, each vow binding them together for life.

As they completed the final phera, the garden erupted in loud cheers. Friends, family, and the entire Serene Meadows community showered them with rose petals and blessings.

Shaurya turned to Nandini, eyes full of awe, love, and just a glimmer of mischief. He kissed her forehead and whispered, “Hello, wife.”

She looked at him, trying not to tear up and then replied with a smirk, “Hello, grumpy husband.”

He rolled his eyes playfully, the same way he always had.

“And here I thought marriage would earn me some respect,” he muttered.