The hall was all set and decorated with golden lights, the air filled with the rich scent of fresh rose and white daisies. The quick hustle across the room was mixing up with laughter rippling through the hall. The sound systems were being tested and the stage was being set up for the brilliant performance all of Aryan’s close ones prepared.

Between all this chaos of preparation, four people were carefree from everything, laughing and reliving old memories and enjoying their hearts out.

“You know, she used to pull our hair if we didn’t give her extra chocolate on our birthdays,” Aryan told Abhiraj, giggling recalling their school days.

“Yes especially if it was her favourite chocolate,” Karan added.

Aryan and Kabir burst into laughter, while Maanvi’s face flushed with embarrassment. Abhiraj’s eyes were on her, waiting for the correct moment to tease her further. Somehow gathering the courage, She stole a glance at him. Her face burned red with embarrassment, finding him already glancing at her. She turned towards Aryan and Karan placing a playful smash in the the arm.

“Stop it guys, we were kids at that time.” Maanvi tried to cover up her flushed expression and side-eyed them.

“By the way, Abhiraj sir.” Aryan started barely holding his laughter.

“Just Abhiraj, no formality” Abhiraj interrupted, passing his warm smile.

His voice filled with warmth and familiarity, the way he spoke and smiled at them was enough for Aryan and Karan’s hearts to swell with love and respect for him.

Maanvi, who was still recovering from all the embarrassing stories by their best friend, instantly looked up at Abhiraj. She smiled at his warm gesture and felt a pride filling her. Her hand eloped his hand, while his eyes turned towards her, tightening the grip on her hand gently.

“Abhiraj, You remember the first day you and Maanvi met at the canteen. She was way too curious to know you.” Aryan smirked looking at their silent romance, his eyes filled with mischief.

“It was like a crush for her at first sight.” Karan grinned in a desperate attempt to tease her.

Maanvi’s heart fluttered, as her face turned into the darkest shade of red. Her gaze lowered immediately, while her silky hair attempted to hide her face. After all this teasing, her heart wanted just one thing- let the floor swallow her whole.

Abhiraj's head snapped at her, his lips twisting into a teasing yet hideous smirk. Her reaction was enough for him to know that whatever the duo had been telling him was true. His hold on her hand tightened, pressing it playfully.

“Is that so?” his head tilted trying to face her flushed face.

Maanvi's heart raced even more. Flustered like there was no tomorrow, she hurriedly turned her eyes towards Abhiraj, glancing deeply.

“It’s not like that, I was just curious.” She shuttered and lowered her gaze still blushing.

Abhiraj lightly chuckled at her reaction and pecked her hand lightly. Aryan and Karan exchanged glances at each other and then looked at Maanvi, bursting into laughter again and teasing her more. But despite all the teasing, Maanvi and Abhiraj’s unspoken love bloomed more and more. It was warm, something real. At that moment, no teasing, laughter or embarrassing memories were more important to them than their love, their togetherness and peace.

Almost after half an hour of having that teasing conversation, the guests began to fill up the hall. The stage was simmering with light while a soft melodies song hummed in the background setting up the mood for the sangeet function. Gibberish words echoed across the hall as the guests started to talk and congratulate the groom and the family for the new phase.

While here, Maanvi who was now busy meeting her school classmates and local friends, was busy with her thoughts. Her expression was filled with shyness and love. Her eyes flickered occasionally towards Abhiraj standing far from her with a few of the business discussing something. His occasional sips of the juice and glances at her were making her cheeks turn pinkish. She noticed how his eyes glittered with love whenever they scanned her face and sighed. Maanvi’s heart was flattered by his gazes, her mind was filled with his thoughts. Not realising that all her friends were gone to enjoy the ceremony, she still stood at her place looking at him.

Unknown to them there was someone who noticed every exchange between them. A playful smirk tugged his lips as he approached Maanvi and tapped on her shoulder making her turn abruptly and face him.

“Stop checking him out, or else everyone will come to know about you two dating,” Karan said, a teasing smile playing on his lips.

“I am not.” Maanvi felt shy and laughed and looked down blushing.

Karan raised an eyebrow, immediately holding her by her shoulder and moving towards the stage, still in a playful mood. His eyes scanned the room and found Abhiraj looking at them, his eyes shimmering with curiosity and possessiveness. He smirked and looked towards Maanvi fidgeting her fonger in shyness.

“So, when are you going to tell them about you two?” he asked and shifted his hand from her shoulders to cheeks pinching it lightly.

“He said he will be the one to tell them. He is planning to tell them after Aryan’s wedding.” Maanvi sighed and looked towards Abhiraj and smiled at his warm expression.

“So till then want some show?” Karan asked. His mischievous tone spilt into Maanvi’s ears making her turn.

“Means?” she asked, confused with his words.

“Means, let's test your boyfriend's jealousy level,” Karan smirked and looked towards Abhiraj who was now confused by his gaze.

“And how” Maanvi immediately caught onto his plan and gasped fakely.

“Let’s give him a show,” he chuckled and pulled her up on the stage grinning playfully.

In the blink of an eye, the whole hall turned dark, leaving the guests baffled whispering among themselves. Suddenly, everyone’s eyes turned towards the stage, which was now lit up with vibrant lights focusing on two figures standing with their face towards the off side. The energy started to crackle across the room as the loud cheering Bollywood beat played in the background. The crowd burst into cheers, as Karan and Maanvi turned towards them swinging along the beats.

Hey, oh-oh, hey, oh-oh

Hey, oh-oh, hey, oh-oh

Hey, oh-oh, hey, oh-oh

Hey, oh-oh, hey, oh-oh

Maanvi tugged her dupatta into her lehenga and swirled turning towards Karan. Placing her hand on his chest she lightly pushed him and walked forwards. Maanvi twirled in perfect rhythm, her cream-shaded lehenga glowing like a delicate flower, each step she took brimming with confidence.

Unnai totta en ullattai norukka maattiyo

Ennai pola pennai paarttu mayanka maattiyo

Kannil kannai pootti vittaal sirikka maattiyo

Ennil unnai sooti vittaal ottikka maattiyo

She turned towards the crowd and started to perform the hook step of the song. Giving her best in everything, whether it’s her move, expression or confidence. His hips swayed with each beat while her hands were busy holding her lehnega carefully not wanting to trip and fall while dancing.

Despite being focused on her dance, her eyes were busy searching for the man she was performing. She thought he would be jealous or maybe boring holes in Karan’s body. But to her shock he stood in the corner, his phone’s camera turned on recording her dance with her best friend. His lips were curled up with a warm and sweet smile. Her heart swelled with pride seeing the man she loved having no feeling of jealousy inside him and turned towards Kabir continuing her dance.

kaisa sharmaana, tujhe nach ke dikha doon

(Hey) mera ho jaaye, jo main parda gira doon

(Hey) aa, tujhe ankhiyon mein apne basa loon

(Hey) haan, tu na nakhre dikha

Karan matched her moves effortlessly, twirling and spinning her around. Their moves perfectly synchronized mixed with playful expression. She swirled around holding Karen’s hand and winked at Abhiraj’s direction acting as if it was a part of the dance. Abhiraj was now baffled by the sudden wink her, his heart raced to make him feel nervousness within.

wanna be my chhammak-chhallo? Oh, oh

(Hey) wanna be my chhammak-chhallo? Oh, oh

(Hey) wanna be my chhammak-chhallo? Oh, oh

(Hey) wanna be my chhammak-chhallo? Oh, oh

Maanvi swayed her waist along the beat and did the hook step with Karan finally ending their dance. The crowd erupted into whistles and loud cheers, and a thunderous clap echoed across the room as Maanvi and Karan finally descended from the stage and went towards their family who were busy praising how good they were dancing. But amidst all the cheers and praise, one pair of eyes was fixed like glue on Maanvi, who was none other than Abhiraj.

Maanvi's gaze turned towards Nandani who came to her and praised her dance putting a black dot behind her ears to prevent her from evil eyes and then to Vikrant who patted her head blessing her. In no minute she was in a group hug initiated by the younger clan and giggled when they almost jumped in excitement about how good she danced, asking her to train them too.

Amidst the praise from everyone, Maanvi felt a light tug on her lehenga. Turning around, she found a small boy staring at her, a bright smile playing on her lips. His innocent eyes were enough to melt Maanvi’s heart. He gestured for her to bend down to his level which left Maanvi a little amused. She chuckled and crouched to his level, playfully pulling his cheeks.

“Yes baby, how can I help you?” she asked admiring the cute little boy.

“You are beautiful.” his tiny fingers reaching out to touch her cheeks.

“You too baby” she chuckled and kissed his cheeks making him feel shy.

Blushing, he looked down, fidgeting his finger. Maanvi chuckled at his cuteness and felt an urge to kiss his cheeks. He slowly reached out to his pocket, pulling a small rose flower, its petals slightly pressed, and extended it towards Maanvi.

Maanvi smiled, touched by his gesture, held the rose in her hand and looked at him ready to thank him. But even before she could she anything, he turned and ran towards the crowd disappearing from her sight. A chuckle escaped her lips at his cute behaviour, she looked at the rose in her hand and twirled it between her fingers taking a deep breath and smelling its sweet fragrance.

But suddenly something caught her attention, a white paper wrapped around its stem. Frowning slightly at the paper, she tucked open it. Her eyes scanned the handwriting and lit up an instant recognising the letters.

To my beautiful girlfriend,

Meet me knowing the room behind the stairs.

You whipped Abhir.

A small smile spread across her lips reading the note. She bit her lower lip, glancing around before making her way towards the stairs. Her heart racing with anticipation. Her steps slowly halted towards the room where Abhiraj had called him, but even before she could realise anything, a hand grabbed hers and pulled her into a dimly lit room beside the staircase, kissing her furiously.

At first, she was shocked her body was tensed with an unexpected pull. But the moment her mind registered the familiar fragrance, her tension eased. His hands moved towards her wist creasing it slowly fearing she might disappear, while hers were busy creasing his neck trying to match his pace. Her grip tightened across his hair as he sucked her lips lightly before kissing her again.

After almost 5 minutes of intense makeout, the kiss turned slow. His lips lingered into hers still trying to capture more of her. They finally broke apart, resting their head against each other, their breath still heavy with the intensity, while their eyes were busy scanning each other.

She looked deep into their eyes and blushed, creasing his cheeks she tried to break the silence between them, her breath shaky when she muttered,

“It was”

“ Heaven” he completed her sentence and pulled her close dipping his hand on her neck.

“You were looking so hot while dancing. I couldn’t control” he lifted his face from her neck and kissed her cheeks.

“So, were you feeling jealous.” Maanvi chuckled, running her fingers through his hair.

“Hell no, I can never be jealous, not at least for you. Because I know you are just mine” he denied, his grip gentle yet soothing creasing her waist.

“You trust me this much?” she asked baffled by his answer.

“Trust is just a word mean, my feeling for you is something which is beyond trust,” he muttered and kissed her cheeks.

His words were enough to flatter Maanvi’s heart for the nth time. She felt lucky to have a man like him as her boyfriend. Slowly kissing his nose, she smiled at him and hugged him tightly, wanting to feel close enough to his heart which was beating just one name, Maanvi.