Asma called Prerna.
Meanwhile, Prerna was sitting in front of the mirror, getting ready.
The makeup artist was carefully applying her makeup, while the hairstylist worked on her hair.
Suddenly, Prerna heard her phone ringing.
"Someone's calling…" she said softly.
"Where is my phone?"
Devika immediately replied,
"No, not now. First, you need to get ready."
A few people around them laughed lightly.
Prerna fell silent.
The phone rang again.
"Mom, please… just once. Let me see who it is," Prerna said. "Who could be calling at this time?"
Devika gently but firmly said,
"Whoever it is, it can wait."
Then Devika thought to herself, If the phone keeps ringing, she'll get distracted.
Quietly, she picked up the phone and put it on silent.
Prerna didn't notice.
At the hospital…
Asma tried calling again and again, but there was no response.
She looked at Ahad and said with tears in her eyes,
"Bhai… Prerna isn't answering her phone."
Ahad gave a bitter smile.
"Just as expected. Why would she answer now?"
He continued coldly,
"Do you really think she still cares about us? Today is her wedding. And you think she'll leave everything and come here?"
Asma lowered her head, unable to say anything.
After a moment, Ahad said quietly,
"Now all we can do is wait… and see what the doctor says."
At the wedding, Aanya looked sad and unusually serious.
Her friends walked up to her.
"Hey, Aanya," Tara said cheerfully.
But Aanya didn't respond.
The three friends exchanged glances.
Meera gently shook Aanya's shoulder.
"Aanya?"
Aanya finally looked at them and then turned her face away.
That was enough for them to understand—something was wrong.
Nisha asked softly,
"What happened, Aanya?"
"Nothing," Aanya replied quickly.
Tara frowned.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Seriously," Aanya said.
The three of them fell silent.
After a pause, Aanya spoke again,
"Guys… tell me the truth. How do I look today?"
Meera smiled.
"You look beautiful."
"Yeah," Nisha agreed. "Really beautiful."
Aanya nodded.
"Okay… now tell me—who looks prettier? Me or Ankitha?"
The girls looked in the direction where Ankitha was standing at a distance.
Tara answered immediately,
"Of course you, Aanya."
Meera added,
"Definitely you. You're looking gorgeous today."
Aanya let out a bitter smile.
"I know I look prettier. But Mr. Aryan said Ankitha looks prettier than me."
The three of them were shocked.
"What?" Tara exclaimed.
"Are you serious?" Nisha asked.
Meera frowned.
"Did he really say that?"
"Yes," Aanya replied angrily.
"Even I was shocked. I thought he would say my name. Even Ankitha thought he would say my name, but—"
She stopped herself, clenching her fists.
Tara asked, confused,
"Why would Aryan say something like that?"
"Yeah," Nisha added. "Why would he do that?"
Meera looked at Aanya carefully.
"Did you both fight again?"
"No," Aanya said firmly.
"In fact, last night he apologized for being rude. He even promised he would never avoid me again. But today… he's avoiding me all over again."
Her voice softened.
"I really don't understand what's wrong with him."
Tara hesitated, then said slowly,
"Maybe… he's avoiding you on purpose."
Aanya looked at her with doubt.
"What do you mean… avoiding me on purpose?"
Tara hesitated, then said softly,
"Maybe… he doesn't want anyone to notice you both."
Aanya frowned.
"I didn't understand."
Tara explained,
"Look, Aanya. You yourself said he's normal and nice when he talks to you at night—because no one is around to see you both. But during the day, when everyone is present, he avoids you."
She paused.
"That means… maybe he doesn't want people to notice you together."
Aanya's expression changed.
"But who?" she asked slowly.
"Who is that person he doesn't want to notice us?"
Tara thought for a moment.
Suddenly Meera spoke,
"Maybe… Nandini aunty."
Tara's eyes widened.
"Yes! Exactly. Nandini aunty—for sure."
She continued,
"She doesn't like you at all, Aanya. And she clearly doesn't like it when you talk to Aryan. I'm sure she told him to keep distance from you."
Nisha nodded angrily.
"I just hate her. She never got married, stayed single all her life, and now she can't see others being happy together."
Aanya stayed silent for a moment, thinking.
Then she said slowly,
"I don't think so. I know she hates me, but…"
She paused, then added firmly,
"Even if she did say something, Mr. Aryan can't act like this. He should care about my feelings too."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"He can't just follow what others say and ignore how I feel."
At the hospital, the doctor finally came out.
Ahad, Asma, and their mother rushed toward him.
Asma asked anxiously,
"Doctor… how is my brother? Is he alright?"
The doctor replied calmly,
"He is fine. Nothing serious. But if he had been brought in any later, it could have become serious."
Ahad let out a breath of relief.
"Doctor… can we see him now?"
"Yes," the doctor nodded.
"But he is still unconscious. You can wait until he regains consciousness."
"Thank you, doctor," Ahad said.
The doctor walked away.
At the wedding…
Tara whispered,
"Aanya, just talk to him. Everything will get sorted."
Aanya listened quietly.
Just then, her eyes fell on Rahul.
Suddenly, an idea struck her.
A slow smile curved her lips.
"I won't talk to Mr. Aryan," she said confidently.
"He will come and talk to me."
Nisha blinked.
"What? But how?"
Aanya only smiled.
"Just wait and watch."
Before her friends could understand what she was planning, Aanya walked away.
She went straight toward Rahul.
"Hi, Rahul."
Rahul looked up and smiled.
"Aanya! Hi."
Aanya smiled back.
"You're looking really beautiful today," Rahul said warmly.
From a distance, Aryan—who was talking to a few guests—heard that.
His eyes immediately shifted toward them.
He watched them… seriously.
Aanya glanced at Aryan, checking if he was looking.
When she saw his gaze fixed on them, she smiled.
"Thank you so much, Rahul," she said sweetly.
"By the way… you're looking really good too."
"Thanks, Aanya," Rahul replied.
Again, Aanya looked at Aryan.
He was still watching—his expression dark.
Aanya struggled to hide her smile.
Then she said casually,
"By the way, Rahul… you're right."
Rahul looked confused.
"About what?"
Aanya smiled innocently.
"That we should exchange our numbers."
Aryan heard that.
His jaw tightened.
From a distance, Aanya's friends noticed everything.
Meera whispered,
"What is she trying to do?"
Tara replied softly,
"Wait… let's watch."
Rahul looked doubtful.
"Numbers?"
"Yes," Aanya nodded.
"Last time when you asked for my number, I thought it wasn't necessary. But I was wrong."
She paused deliberately.
"It is necessary."
Rahul was about to say something, but Aanya cut in gently,
"I know what you're thinking. But Rahul… we're friends, right?"
She glanced at Aryan again.
"And if not friends… then with whom should we share our number?"
Aryan clenched his fists.
His eyes burned with anger.
Rahul smiled.
"Yeah… sure."
Aanya brightened.
"Great! I'll tell you my number."
She started slowly,
"Nine… seven…"
Aryan couldn't take it anymore.
He began walking toward them quickly.
But just then, a few guests stopped him to greet him.
Forced to pause, Aryan greeted them—but his eyes never left Aanya and Rahul.
"Excuse me," Aryan said abruptly.
He walked straight toward Aanya.
Aanya and Rahul both turned suddenly—
And froze.
Suddenly, Rahul smiled and said,
"Hello, Aryan sir."
Aryan didn't respond immediately.
His eyes were fixed on Aanya—serious, intense.
Aanya noticed the jealousy in his eyes, but she pretended not to.
She held back her smile.
From a distance, Tara whispered,
"Hey… Aryan went near Aanya."
Nisha giggled softly.
"Yeah. Looks like Aryan got jealous."
They laughed quietly, watching the scene unfold.
Aryan finally turned to Rahul.
"Did everyone arrive?" he asked flatly.
"Yes, sir. Most of them are here. The others will come soon," Rahul replied politely.
Aryan only nodded, his gaze still sharp.
Aanya watched him and bit her lip to hide her smile.
"Well… excuse me," Rahul said.
But Aanya stopped him—on purpose.
"Rahul," she said sweetly,
"Did you save my number?"
Aryan's eyes snapped toward her.
"Yes, I did," Rahul answered.
Aanya smiled brightly.
"Oh… okay. You can call me whenever you want."
Aryan clenched his jaw.
Rahul smiled awkwardly and walked away.
Aanya turned as if she didn't care at all and started to leave.
But—
"What did you just do?"
Aryan's voice stopped her.
Aanya froze.
Slowly… she turned around.
And looked at him.
Aanya raised her eyebrow.
"Are you talking to me, Mr. Aryan?"
"Yes," Aryan said firmly.
"What did you just do?"
Aanya tilted her head innocently.
"Oh… I thought you were talking to someone else.
Because you don't usually talk to me, right?"
Aryan's jaw tightened.
"Don't act smart. What did you just do?"
She crossed her arms, pretending not to understand.
"What did I do?"
"Do you give your number to everyone?" Aryan asked, his voice low but sharp.
Aanya looked straight into his eyes.
"No, Mr. Aryan. I don't give my number to everyone."
She paused—then said softly but clearly,
"I give my number only to the people who are close to me."
---
End Of Chapter 52.