The Singhaniya mansion glowed like a dream that refused to end. Every inch of the front lawn sparkled under strings of warm fairy lights, petals reflecting gold and pink in the soft light. Rows of lilies lined the pathways, and pink rose petals stretched across the carpet, leading straight to the stage as though a trail had been laid for a princess. And tonight, that princess was Misha Singhaniya.
I stood with Ria and Janvi near the floral arch, the sweet scent of flowers mingling with the faint aroma of marigold and incense. Misha floated across the stage in her pastel lehenga, each step careful and graceful. Her cheeks were flushed with nerves and excitement, her smile radiant, but her hands fiddled with the dupatta as if seeking grounding. My eyes lingered on her for a heartbeat, watching her transform into the center of this luminous universe.
Laughter, clinking bangles, and the occasional camera shutter punctuated the soft hum of conversation. Aunties fussed over outfits, whispered compliments to each other, and giggled like schoolgirls, while younger cousins clicked selfies, trying to capture the glamour. The lawn felt alive, every gesture and sound part of a grand choreography.
Then the murmurs began.
"The groom's family aa raha hai..." someone whispered, tension threading their voice.
Heads turned. Guards stiffened. The air seemed to hold its breath.
A convoy of sleek black cars rolled in, one after another, doors opening like the curtain of a grand stage. And out stepped the Raghvarans.
Raghvaran Pratap Singh. Eighty years of royal blood. Straight spine, piercing eyes, a presence that made even the guards pause. Mahendra Raghvaran. Tall, disciplined, every movement measured, face carved in old-world elegance. Sarojini Raghvaran. Radiant in a dark green silk sari, graceful and serene, her eyes taking in every detail, silently judging, analyzing.
And then Vihaan Raghvaran—the groom. Dark, commanding, and unyielding even in his quiet steps. His presence drew whispers from every corner. The entire lawn seemed to tilt slightly, acknowledging the weight of his aura.
But the shock didn't end there.
Stepping out behind them was Kunal Rajawat. The tension around him was almost tangible. Ria gasped, and I felt my own heartbeat pause.
Ravi and Aarav exchanged looks—tight, tense, uncertain.
"Raghvaran family... the Rajawats ke saath?" Aarav whispered, disbelief lacing his tone.
Ravi didn't blink. "Yeh... kabse dost ban gaye?"
Aarav's voice dropped. "Hum logon ko kyun nahi pata?"
Their worry was plain. Two families they'd been suspicious of, united, walking into Singhaniya territory with an ease that was disarming—and dangerous.
Inside, the Singhaniya elders moved forward, flawless as ever. Komal Singhaniya, the eldest, folded her hands and smiled warmly. "Raghvaran Pratapji... swagat hai."
The patriarch inclined his head. "Aap logon ka ghar... hamesha hi apna hi lagta hai."
Mahendra greeted Mr. and Mrs. Singhaniya with old-money politeness. "How have you been?"
"Preparing for this big day," Mrs. Singhaniya laughed lightly, eyes flicking at the younger Raghvarans, always observant.
"And we are honored to witness it," Sarojini added, voice soft, graceful, and commanding attention without a word of force.
Vihaan's gaze swept across the lawn, landing briefly on me. My pulse stuttered, but I kept my composure, pretending to adjust my sari. Kunal, though, didn't hide his interest. His smile was wide, smooth, but his eyes told another story—a hunger, a calculated claim.
"She's... unreal. Like a goddess," he muttered under his breath.
Vihaan frowned. "Kya?"
"Wahan," Kunal tilted his chin subtly. "Woh meri love."
Vihaan, misunderstanding completely, followed the gesture toward Ria. He grinned faintly. "Your choice is good, bro."
I felt a shiver run down my spine. Kunal's eyes remained on me, cold, possessive—not affection, but ownership. A villain recognizing what he wanted.
The elders continued their formal greetings, all perfection in poise and elegance.
"My granddaughter deserves all blessings," Komal Singhaniya said, voice soft but firm.
"She will have them," Sarojini said gently. "Your home is beautiful."
"It's old tradition," Komal smiled. "Hum log purane rishton ko sajakar rakhte hain."
Mahendra inclined his head. "Rishton ka asli rang waqt hi dikhata hai."
The dignity, the calm authority, was seamless. Generations of training in poise, control, and appearance.
But the younger men were restless.
"Bhai... Rajawat yahan kya kar raha hai?" Aarav whispered to Ravi, eyes narrowed.
Ravi's jaw tightened. "Kuch toh galat hai. Rajawat aur Raghvaran... ek saath? Humari knowledge ke bina? Impossible."
Kunal, smiling to perfection, approached the Singhaniya elders.
"Mr. Singhaniya," he said smoothly, "a pleasure to meet you."
Mr. Singhaniya nodded formally. "Kunal Rajawat."
And his gaze, as always, returned to me. I looked away, instinctively adjusting the folds of my sari. Ria leaned closer, whispering, "Why is he staring at you like that?"
"Not worth your worry," I whispered back, letting Janvi's quiet hand in mine ground me.
Around us, whispers fluttered like silk threads.
"Raghvaran parivaar... kya shaan hai.""Woh ladka kitna handsome hai—Vihaan, right?""Arre woh kaun hai jo Ria ko dekh raha? Rajawat?"
But none suspected the truth. To them, I was just Ria's friend. Safer that way... for now.
Raghvaran Pratap's gaze swept the lawn like a hawk. "I've known the Singhaniyas for decades," he said, voice proud. "Humari dosti rajaon jaisi purani hai."
My breath caught. Generational alliances, old secrets, layers of power and respect.
Aarav and Ravi's confusion deepened.
"They've been close for years... we don't have any clues yet?" Ravi muttered.
"Maybe... someone didn't want us to know," Aarav replied, eyes flicking toward me. I pretended not to notice.
The music softened. The guests mingled, laughed, admired. But beneath the glitter, beneath the rose petals, beneath the polite smiles... a storm had quietly entered the Singhaniya mansion. Royal blood, hidden agendas, silent calculations.
Rudra arrived. The moment he stepped in, the energy shifted. The mansion seemed to acknowledge him, subtle but undeniable. My heart skipped. We exchanged a small, imperceptible glance, silent recognition of our shared secret.
Ria and Janvi were oblivious to the gravity of the moment, busy adjusting Misha's dupatta, smiling at guests. But I noticed every glance, every subtle nod, every hidden move—every power play unfolding before me.
The aunts whispered in clusters, their voices soft but loaded with meaning.
"Vihaan... ladka kitna handsome hai.""Rajawat kaun hai? Kuch toh chala raha hai.""Woh Anaya kaun hai? Ria ki friend?"
I smiled faintly, though my mind raced. They didn't know. None of them did. And that was the only shield I had—for now.
From the corner, Kunal's gaze remained sharp, predatory. Vihaan's brows knitted as he continued observing the unfolding scene. The younger generation, oblivious to the older ones' histories, could only guess at the silent power dynamics.
The stage, the petals, the glowing lights—they were all beautiful, but nothing could hide the tension that hummed beneath the surface. Secrets, alliances, ambition, and danger—the game had begun.
And I was no longer a spectator.
Vihaan walked beside Kunal Rajawat, the two of them moving toward the girls with that effortless confidence that made heads turn. "You didn't want to introduce me to your fiancée?" Kunal asked casually, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
Vihaan's eyes flicked toward Misha, who was laughing softly with her sisters and friends near the stage. A subtle twitch of a smile passed over his face. "Let's do it now," he murmured, taking Kunal along.
As Kunal's steps brought him closer to where Anaya, Ria, and Janvi stood, I felt a sudden tension tighten around me. My heart thumped slightly, and I leaned closer to Ria, whispering, "Should we... leave?"
Janvi's hand gripped my arm gently. "Cool down," she whispered back. "He's just a stranger to us. Nothing more."
Kunal stopped a step away from us, eyes scanning. "Janvi... Anaya... you're here." His tone was casual, but his gaze lingered just a moment too long on me.
Janvi smiled politely. "Yes, we're friends."
Vihaan raised an eyebrow, voice calm but curious. "You know each other?"
Kunal tilted his head, smiling faintly. "Yes. Very well."
Vihaan chuckled, a warm sound that made Misha glance at him curiously. "Misha, meet my best friend Kunal. He's been with me since childhood."
Misha's eyes lit up, and she held out her hand. "Hello."
I noticed Ria's sharp glance toward me as Kunal's gaze lingered just a second too long. She leaned close, whispering, "Misha... you talk to Vihaan jiju. Hum teen jaa rahe hain, kuch kaam hai."
Vihaan caught her words with a grin. "Ria, introduce your friends to me."
Ria's smile widened. "Of course." She gestured toward me and Janvi. "This is Anaya Malhotra and Janvi Sharma—my besties."
Kunal's eyes fixed on me again. "Anaya... you know, I texted you, but you didn't answer."
I blinked, startled. "Text? But I didn't get any messages from you."
Vihaan leaned toward Misha, whispering softly, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Oh, so she's the one Kunal was talking about earlier."
Misha's brows rose. "What?"
Vihaan grinned. "Is Anaya... single?"
The question made Misha freeze, a faint pink rising in her cheeks. "She's... taken," she said, quickly, as if to protect me from unnecessary probing.
Vihaan's face twisted into a playful pout. "Poor guy."
Kunal's eyes narrowed slightly. "You are taken?"
I looked to Ria and Janvi, who immediately covered for me. "Yes... she's taken," Janvi murmured. "He just proposed to her."
Kunal's mood visibly darkened, the faint smirk slipping into a thin line. "Oh... okay. No problem," he said, his voice cool. Then he looked at Vihaan. "You know... this word 'taken'... it's like a name tag now."
I took a step forward, meeting his gaze calmly. "Mr. Rajawat... noted."
Misha smiled, shaking her head gently, then turned as a Singhaniya aunt approached. "Time for the ring exchange," she said, the soft authority in her voice redirecting the moment.
Ria leaned in, whispering to me, "Where's your brother... Rudra?"
Her mother had called him, and the three of us—Ria, Janvi, and I—left the spot, walking toward the mansion entrance. My pulse had not settled, the tension of Kunal's gaze lingering like a shadow, but the warmth of Janvi and Ria's presence kept me grounded.
The air inside the mansion was heavier, filled with anticipation, whispered excitement, and the subtle drama of alliances forming and secrets waiting to be unveiled.
Outside, the lights shimmered against the petals, a quiet contrast to the storm of emotions already brewing. And as I followed my friends into the hall, I couldn't help but sense that tonight, nothing would remain ordinary—not the families, not the alliances, not even the hearts walking under the fairy lights.
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The night at Singhaniya Mansion shimmered like some slightly unhinged fairytale. The corridors breathed with heavy curtains swaying in the AC air, the chandeliers glowed warm, and the smell of roses followed the girls everywhere like a gossiping auntie. Anaya kept adjusting her dark saree, trying to walk without tripping, while Janvi tugged her emerald drape in irritation. Ria marched ahead, blue saree glowing like she owned the whole oxygen supply of the mansion.
But fate — and unnecessary male drama — had other plans.
Just as the three walked through the long corridor, their sarees brushing the marble floor, a soft tension hung in the air. They didn't even realize they were being watched. Kunal Rajawat, somewhere downstairs on the ground floor, kept circling the staircase like an annoyed hawk. His eyes kept scanning, searching, waiting for…her.
And upstairs, destiny decided to shuffle the deck.
A hand shot out of nowhere, grabbed Janvi's wrist, and yanked her inside a dim room. She gasped, vanished behind the heavy curtain before Anaya or Ria could even blink. The two turned around in confusion, but the corridor was too long, too decorated. They missed it.
Ria sighed and flipped her hair. "Main papa ke room check karti hoon… maybe bhai waha ho."
Anaya nodded, stress tight around her shoulders, and kept walking alone toward the upper section. The second floor looked too quiet for her liking.
Meanwhile, Ria never reached the room. Another hand pulled her inside a side chamber, covering her mouth gently. She struggled — but only for a second. The familiar warm grip, the scent, the breath near her ear. Ravi. "WH..whaatttt???!!!" Ria ask in shocked as then Ravi reply with low whispery voice "Kunal is following you and come to the mansion."
And Anaya? Poor girl didn't get even ten steps of peace.
Kunal spotted her from the ground floor, eyes lighting up. He started climbing the stairs, determined to get a proper conversation this time. He was almost there. Almost touching distance.
But destiny is rude.
A hand shot from the wall panel, grabbed Anaya's waist, pulled her through a hidden passageway before she could even gasp. A palm covered her mouth as she was pinned against the cool wall. The curtain blew behind her like a traitor revealing nothing.
Kunal froze.
His jaw clenched.
His brows twitched.
His soul said,not again.
He muttered, "Every time. Every damn time she disappears. This girl is playing hide and seek with my sanity."
He punched the air like it offended him and marched away, muttering darkly, "You can run… but I'll get my answer, Anaya."
Inside the hidden passageway…
Anaya's eyes widened as the hand over her mouth eased just enough for breath.
Those eyes.
Those stupidly intense, storm-laden, molten-iron eyes.
Rudra Singhaniya.
He whispered, low enough to make her heartbeat forget its job. "Shh. Why was that idiot following you?"
She made a helpless noise, pointing to his hand still on her mouth.
He removed it slowly, then tilted her chin with that annoying confidence. "Now speak. Why is he roaming around behind you like a lost puppy?"
She whispered, "Woh… he's cousin side. Raghvaran family guest. Rajawat relation."
Rudra's eyebrow arched. "Rajawat. Raghvaran. Interesting…"
She slapped her palm on his chest lightly. "Mat start karo investigation. I only asked because… tum yaha kya kar rahe ho? Mumma tumhe bulane bheji thi."
Rudra's expression softened the way thunderclouds soften before rain. He rested his forehead against hers, murmuring, "Biwi ji, your husband needed something important."
She blinked innocently. "Kya?"
He smirked and whispered against her cheek, "Something sweet. Strawberry jaisa."
She slapped her hand over his mouth immediately. "Meri lipstick matt kharab karo."
Rudra's quiet chuckle vibrated against her palm. "Velvet wali lipstick. Thick competition for your attitude."
She rolled her eyes, grabbed his hand, and pulled him out of the hidden exit. "Chalo, late ho raha hai."
But just as they started moving…
Rudra stopped.
He pointed silently toward the first floor railing.
Two shadows.
Two silhouettes.
Two idiots in denial.
Ria and Ravi.
Behind a curtain, Ria was pinned to the wall, Ravi's hand still covering her mouth because apparently romance had turned him into a criminal. They looked like a scene from an undercover spy film except they were whisper-fighting.
Ravi's voice was a soft grumble, "Tumko ladne ke siva kuch aata hai? Hamesha drama."
Ria struggled, "Mmmfff!"
Anaya burst into a suppressed laugh. "Bhai, pehle bolne toh do. Phir lad lo."
Ravi removed his hand, glaring like she ruined his moment. Ria immediately snitched, "Bhai, he dragged me here. Main toh aapko hi dhoond rahi thi!"
As they stepped out, Anaya frowned. "Janvi kaha gayi? She was with us."
Ravi shrugged. "Hogi yahi kahi. Rudra ke saath."
Rudra raised an eyebrow. "Me? I was with my wife, genius."
Aarav appeared at that exact moment, slightly out of breath. "Actually… I saw Kunal following them. So I came to save them."
Anaya sighed dramatically. "Wow. Hero line is forming behind us."
Rudra muttered, "Let's find Janvi before Kunal plays detective again."
They split up, searching room to room like a very glamorous rescue squad. Then Ria tapped Anaya's hand urgently.
"Look."
There.
On a small velvet sofa in a quiet corner room…
Janvi sat.
Aarav sat beside her.