𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐭�...

MAKE SURE TO CLICK ON ⭐️ BEFORE READING

Mann mast magan,
mann mast magan
Bas tera naam dohraaye...

2 days later,
Udaipur Diary,
#AdikiAdya

The journey from Mumbai to Udaipur had been nothing short of a festive chaos—flights buzzing with laughter, endless luggage packed into two trucks, and an entire family running on adrenaline and excitement.

Aditya and Adya had always wanted a wedding that felt like a celebration of not just their love, but of tradition, culture, and family.

And what better place than a grand haveli in Udaipur?

A place where every corner whispered hi온라인카지노게임, where the walls held stories, and where their new chapter would begin amidst all the love and blessings.

Udaipur, the city of lakes, had outdone itself tonight.

The sprawling haveli, a perfect blend of hi온라인카지노게임 and grandeur, stood illuminated under the starry sky.

Golden fairy lights draped over its majestic arches, while intricate floral arrangements of marigold and jasmine infused the air with a sweet fragrance.

It was the night of Aditya and Adya's mehndi ceremony—a night of colors, music, and hidden emotions.

The haveli had been divided into two halves—one for the groom's family and one for the bride's.

As tradition dictated, Lavika belonged to the groom's side, but her heart held a soft spot for Adya, who had always been too warm, too kind to not be adored.

Yet, despite the cheerful atmosphere, Lavika's mind wasn't completely present.

No matter how much she tried to focus on the festivities, there was one presence she couldn't ignore.

One pair of familiar light brown eyes that seemed to linger on her every move.

Ishaan Agnihotri.

★ ★ ★ ★

Lavika wore a pastel green sharara, its intricate embroidery glimmering under the warm glow of lanterns.

Her long, dark hair cascaded down her back in soft waves, adorned with delicate white flowers.

She looked breathtaking—graceful yet effortlessly beautiful.

Around her, the other women were seated, their hands being adorned with mehndi designs.

The bride, Adya, was the center of attention, her laughter ringing through the courtyard as her friends teased her about hiding the groom's name in her henna.

Lavika, however, had her own little secret.

As the mehndi artist carefully traced delicate patterns on her palms, she whispered, "Can you hide two letters in the design? 'I.A.' But make sure no one can see it."

The artist smiled knowingly but said nothing, nodding in understanding before blending the initials into the intricate floral vines.

A small act.

A silly, insignificant thing.

But to Lavika, it meant everything.

★ ★ ★ ★

Music played softly in the background, and as Lavika looked up, her eyes locked onto Ishaan's.

He stood across the courtyard, dressed in a deep green kurta that matched her pastel shade too well for it to be a coincidence.

His sharp features were illuminated by the golden lights, and his expression was unreadable.

They had barely spoken since arriving in Udaipur.

After their last conversation—where Lavika had told him she needed time—there had been an unspoken distance between them.

Yet, no matter how much space she tried to create, fate kept pulling them into each other's orbit.

Tonight was no different.

For the past hour, they had been playing a silent game of stolen glances.

He would look away the moment she caught him staring, only for her to do the same when he found her gaze again.

The air between them was thick with tension, but neither of them was ready to bridge the distance.

Not yet.

★ ★ ★ ★

A hour later,

As the mehndi ceremony concluded, the music shifted, and the dance floor came alive.

Dhol beats filled the air as guests gathered to celebrate, laughter and cheers echoing through the open courtyard.

Shanaya pulled Lavika up, twirling her onto the dance floor. "No more sitting around, Lavi! It's time to dance!"

Lavika laughed, allowing herself to be dragged into the group.

The beats grew louder, and soon, the dance turned into a playful yet chaotic routine.

It was a couple's dance—one where partners changed with every beat drop.

Hands touched, bodies moved in sync, and laughter filled the space as people twirled into new arms.

And then—just as the music slowed for a moment—Lavika found herself spinning straight into Ishaan.

★ ★ ★ ★

Her breath hitched as her hands landed against his chest.

His grip was firm yet gentle as he steadied her, his fingers resting lightly on her waist.

For a few seconds, neither of them moved.

The world around them faded, and all that remained was the sound of their uneven breaths, the warmth of his touch, and the soft glow of lights reflecting in his eyes.

Then, he leaned in—so close that his breath ghosted over her ear.

"Doc, I saw you."

Her heart stuttered.

"There's something in your mehndi" he continued, his voice smooth but laced with amusement. "Initials, maybe? I.A...?"

Lavika's eyes widened. How did he—

"I love how you tried to hide them" he murmured, his tone dropping into something softer, something almost affectionate. "But remember, Lav—there's no need to hide them. I like you. I always have."

The song changed, the tempo rising once again, forcing them to step apart as the next dance partner took over.

But Lavika wasn't listening anymore.

Her heart was pounding.

Her mind was spinning.

And Ishaan?

He simply smirked before walking away, leaving her standing there—breathless, stunned, and unable to deny what she had known all along.

★ ★ ★ ★

As the night stretched on, the guests slowly dispersed into smaller groups.

Laughter echoed through the haveli, but the real fun was about to begin in the groom's room.

Aditya, always the instigator, clapped his hands together.
"Alright, people! We're not ending the night yet. We need one last game before bed. Truth or Dare? Or should we go for something new?"

Everyone exchanged excited glances.

Ishaan leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching Lavika. She pretended not to notice.

Adya raised a brow. "New game? Like what?"

Aditya smirked. "Ever heard of Secrets & Lies?"

Shanaya gasped dramatically. "Ooooh, I like this already."

Aditya explained, "Simple rules. Each person has to either confess something true about themselves or make up a convincing lie. If we guess wrong, they win. If we catch the lie, they drink."

The group erupted into cheers.

Lavika swallowed, suddenly regretting agreeing to stay.

Something told her this game would be trouble.

But the real trouble?

That was sitting right across from her, staring at her like he could still see the initials in her mehndi.

And maybe—just maybe—she wanted him to.

The game of Secrets & Lies was about to begin, and everyone was seated in a circle on the plush carpet, anticipation crackling like a live wire.

Ishaan sat directly across from Lavika, his expression unreadable, but there was something in his eyes—something teasing, something knowing.

She swallowed, her palms slightly sweaty, the memory of his whispered words still fresh in her mind.

"I like you. I always have."

She hadn't responded.

She couldn't.

And now, sitting in this room, in this moment, she wasn't sure if she could pretend those words hadn't shaken her.

Aditya clapped his hands together, bringing everyone's attention back. "Alright, let's make this interesting. We'll go in a circle, and you either confess a truth or tell a lie. If we guess wrong, you win. If we catch the lie, you drink."

The group erupted into cheers. The night was far from over.

Shanaya went first. She grinned mischievously, twirling a loose strand of her hair. "Okay. I once had a massive crush on a professor in college."

Lavika gasped. "That has to be true! You always blush whenever we talk about Dr. Kapoor."

Shanaya groaned, throwing a cushion at her. "Damn it, lavu! That was supposed to be my lie."

Laughter echoed through the room, and the game continued.

One by one, people confessed truths and spun convincing lies, each round becoming bolder, more daring.

Then, it was Ishaan's turn.

He leaned back against the couch, his fingers lazily tracing patterns on the armrest.

His gaze flickered to Lavika before he smirked. "Alright. My turn." He exhaled dramatically. "I once got rejected by a girl."

A chorus of protests broke out.

"No way!"
"Impossible."
"You? Rejected?"

Lavika rolled her eyes at the dramatic reactions.

Of course, people found it hard to believe.

Ishaan Agnihotri—charming, confident, self-assured—being rejected seemed almost laughable.

Aditya smirked. "Lie. No way you've ever been rejected."

Ishaan's smirk deepened, and then—his gaze locked onto Lavika. "Are you sure about that?"

Her breath caught.

The room went silent for a fraction of a second before Aditya's eyes widened in realization. "Ohhh..." He turned to Lavika, an amused glint in his eyes. "Lavi?"

She shifted uncomfortably. "It's his turn, not mine."

Riva gasped, covering her mouth. "Wait—Lavika rejected you?"

"I never said that" Lavika muttered.

Ishaan simply chuckled, taking a sip of his drink. "Guess I win this round."

★ ★ ★ ★

The game continued, but the air between them remained charged.

Lavika could feel Ishaan's gaze on her, lingering just long enough to make her heart race.

Then—her turn.

She took a deep breath, willing herself to stay composed. If Ishaan wanted to play, she wouldn't back down.

"I once hid something important, thinking no one would notice" she said casually.

Ishaan's lips twitched, as if he already knew where this was going.

Aditya snorted. "Lie. Lavika sucks at keeping secrets."

Shanaya shook her head. "No, it's true. Remember that time she hid Riva's birthday gift for a month and then forgot where she put it?"

Everyone laughed, but Ishaan—he just leaned forward slightly. "Are we talking about birthday gifts, doc? Or something else?"

Her pulse quickened.

He was referring to the initials in her mehndi.

Lavika tilted her head, feigning innocence. "I don't know, Mr. Agnihotri. What do you think?"

The challenge in her voice was unmistakable.

Ishaan held her gaze for a long moment before he smiled—a slow, knowing smile that made her stomach flip. "I think some secrets are worth hiding. And some... are meant to be found."

The game continued, but for Lavika and Ishaan, the night had already turned into something else.

A battle of words, glances, and unspoken confessions.

★ ★ ★ ★

The Secrets & Lies game had started out lighthearted, filled with laughter and fake betrayals, but Lavika's mind had drifted elsewhere. Something felt off.

By 11:30 PM, Ishaan stood up, stretching casually. "I'm out for the night."

The group groaned.

"Oh come on, Ishaan! Just one more round"  Ivaan whined.

Ishaan smirked. "Some truths are meant to be revealed in a better way."

Lavika frowned. What did he mean by that?

Before she could even process her thoughts, Aditya appeared infront of her.

"Lavika" he said, his tone unusually serious. "I need to talk to you. Something serious."

Her stomach twisted. "Serious? What happened?"

Aditya sighed, looking way too dramatic. "It's better if I just show you. Come."

The way he was acting only made her more anxious.

She followed him up the stairs, her heartbeat drumming in her ears.

And then—

She stepped onto the terrace and stopped dead in her tracks.

★ ★ ★ ★

The entire terrace had been transformed into a dream.

A long rose-petal lane stretched before her, leading to an open space lit by twinkling fairy lights.

Candles flickered softly, their glow casting golden hues over the terrace.

Above them, the night sky stretched vast and endless, the stars twinkling like silent witnesses.

Her breath hitched.

And then—

She saw him.

Ishaan stood at the end of the floral path, dressed in all black, looking devastatingly handsome.

His brown eyes locked onto hers, holding so many emotions.

Lavika's heart did a full somersault.

What is happening?

Ishaan took a deep breath, stepping forward until they were inches apart.

He reached out, gently taking her hands in his.

His fingers—warm, steady, familiar—wrapped around hers, and for the first time in the night, she felt grounded.

"Lavika..." he began, his voice lower than usual, laced with a nervous kind of intensity. "I know we've taken our time. I know we've had our moments of confusion, of hesitation... but through it all, it's always been you."

Her lips parted, but no words came out.

"I've spent years chasing things—success, stability, the next big step. But then, you happened." He exhaled, shaking his head slightly. "And suddenly, everything else felt... secondary."

Her chest tightened.

"I want to walk through every chapter of love with you" he continued, his voice softer now. "From the attraction that brought us here, to the trust we're building, to fixing things together, and ultimately, to forever. I want to experience it all—with you."

She swallowed hard, her hands tightening around his.

"So..." He took a deep breath, his gaze soft yet unwavering.

"Will you be the one to complete my 온라인카지노게임? Will you say yes... and become the soon-to-be Mrs. Agnihotri?"

Silence.

A single tear slipped down Lavika's cheek.

And then—

She smiled.

"Ishaan..." Her voice was barely above a whisper. "I never thought I'd find someone who would understand me the way you do." Her eyes shimmered, emotions threatening to spill over. "I want to write all those chapters with you too. I want the attraction, the trust, the fixing, and the togetherness..."

She took a deep breath, her heart hammering in her chest.

"I want it all with you."

Ishaan held his breath.

"Yes, Ishaan... I'll be yours. I'll be the soon-to-be Mrs. Agnihotri."

The moment the words left her lips, cheers erupted from behind them.

"WOOOOOHOOOOO!!"

Lavika jumped, startled, turning around,

And that's when she saw them.

Their entire family and friends had been hiding in the shadows, waiting for the moment.

Shanaya shrieked, grabbing Riva's arm. "SHE SAID YESSSS!!"

Aditya collapsed onto the floor, hand on his chest. "Haye, I need a moment. My sister is going to be an Agnihotri now."

But the best reaction?

Lavika's parents.

Sakshi Mehra clutched her heart. "Beta..." she whispered, teary-eyed. "Haye, mera bachcha!"

Her father cleared his throat. "Lavika, beta, you better not cry now, or your eye makeup will smudge."

Lavika turned to them, overwhelmed.

Her gaze met her father's, then her mother's, a silent question in her eyes—Is this okay? Are you happy?

And then—they both nodded.

Her lips trembled, her eyes burning with unshed tears.

But before she could even process it—

A chant broke out from their friends:

"ONE KISS! ONE KISS!"

Lavika's jaw dropped. "You guys—SHUT UP!"

Ishaan, however, was completely unbothered. Smirking, he leaned in close, his lips brushing against her ear.

"You heard them, doc" he murmured, his voice deep, teasing. "One more kiss?"

Her eyes widened, her cheeks burning.

"Ishaan!" she gasped, pushing him away.

The group exploded into laughter, the night filled with love, chaos, and memories that would last a lifetime.

And as Ishaan pulled her close once again, whispering promises only for her, Lavika knew—

This was just the beginning.

★ ★ ★ ★

The teasing and hooting still echoed around them, but to Lavika, it all felt like background noise.

Because Ishaan was looking at her like she was the only person in the world.

His smirk softened into something more tender as he gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"You're blushing, doc" he teased, his voice low, sending a shiver down her spine.

"I am not" she huffed, looking away.

"Hmm." Ishaan tilted his head, pretending to think. "Your cheeks are pink, your ears are red, and you're refusing to meet my eyes. Very convincing."

Lavika's glare only made him chuckle.

Meanwhile, their friends weren't done with them yet.

"We should've recorded that confession!" Ivaan groaned. "It was straight out of a romance movie."

Riva gasped loudly, clutching her phone. "I recorded it! Our little baby is getting married—my heart is so full right now." She turned to Ivaan and Shanaya with a teasing grin.

Shanaya sighed dramatically. "Ugh, the way he looked at her! I almost fell in love."

"Excuse me?" Aditya raised a brow.

"Shanaya, you're supposed to be supporting me in all this."

"I am supporting you" she said, patting his shoulder. "Just also supporting true love."

But Lavika wasn't focused on them anymore.

Her brows furrowed as she turned to Ishaan.

"Wait a second..." she narrowed her eyes. "How did my parents agree so fast?"

Ishaan's lips curled into a slow, knowing smirk. "It's a long 온라인카지노게임, darling..." He leaned in, his breath warm against her ear. "But just a brief— I went to meet them, asked for their blessing, and well... they said yes."

Lavika's mouth fell open. "What?!"

Her mother beamed. "Haan beta, Ishaan came to us a few days ago. Very respectful, very sweet. How could we say no?"

Her father nodded approvingly. "Finally, a man with sense."

Lavika blinked rapidly, turning back to Ishaan. "So... you knew they'd say yes? And you still looked so nervous just now?"

Ishaan grinned, shrugging. "I had to. Otherwise, where's the fun in proposing?"

She swatted his arm. "You dramatic idiot."

Before he could respond, Adya clapped her hands. "Okay okay, enough blushing! Time for post-proposal rituals."

Lavika groaned. "Oh no. What rituals?"

Aditya smirked. "The teasing ones."

And just as she was about to protest, their friends started hooting again  and chanting—

"ONE MORE KISS! ONE MORE KISS!"

Lavika's face burned, and she was this close to murdering all of them.

Her mother, on the other hand, looked dramatically emotional. "Betaaaa... hayee!" She wiped a fake tear, nudging her husband. "Did you see that? Our daughter's gone!"

Her father sighed theatrically, shaking his head. "We raised her with so much love... only for this Ishaan to steal her away."

Meanwhile, Ishaan just pulled Lavika closer, whispering, "We can give them their 'one more kiss,' you know?" His voice was playful, but his eyes? They were dark with something else.

Lavika gasped, slapping a hand over his mouth. "Ishaan!"

He chuckled against her palm before gently pulling it away. "What? Just saying, I'm a man of the people."

Lavika groaned. "I hate you."

Ishaan smirked. "A lie. You just agreed to marry me, darling."

And as their families and friends laughed, teased, and celebrated, Lavika thought—

This madness, this chaos, this Ishaan—

She wouldn't have it any other way.

Chapter Aesthetic ~

────୨ৎ────
Drop your review!
Word count- 3073