Arvi's pov:

The Oberoi Mansion had transformed again.

This time, it wasn’t just glowing it was glimmering. Golden drapes hung from every arch. Marigolds spilled from every corner. The music was soft, festive, and everything smelled like roses and cardamom.

Vivaan’s wedding functions had officially begun.

And I stood at the top of the stairs, already breathless.

Not because of the decor.

Because of him.

Rayaan.

Dressed in an ivory kurta, he looked annoyingly perfect. His hair was slightly messy like he’d run his fingers through it one too many times. And his eyes… they were on me.

The kind of stare that made everything else fade away.

I gripped the railing, heart thudding.

He didn’t smile. Just raised one brow like he knew exactly what he was doing to me.

And of course, he did.

“Arviiiii!!!”

Aleesha’s voice snapped me back. She rushed toward me, dupatta flying, cheeks pink with excitement.

“You’re on decoration duty with me! Vivaan says the mehendi stage needs more fairy lights.”

I blinked. “Now?”

“Yes, now,” she laughed, tugging at my hand. “Before your husband kidnaps you with one of those intense stares again.”

I snorted. “He might.”

She gasped. “See? You admit it.”

As she dragged me down the stairs, I glanced back.

Rayaan hadn’t moved.

Still watching.

Still making me feel like the center of his world.

Vivaan’s wedding was going to be loud, dramatic, full of music and madness.

But somehow, in the middle of all that noise

Rayaan and I would still find each other.

Like always.

Haldi—

I don’t know why I thought the haldi function would be calm.

It was chaos.

Yellow everywhere flowers, cushions, clothes, even juice.

And in the middle of it all stood Rayaan Oberoi, sleeves rolled up, smirking like he was above it all.

I was adjusting my dupatta when a cold dab of haldi touched my cheek.

I froze.

Rayaan stood there, guilty and very pleased.

“You looked too clean,” he said innocently.

My mouth dropped open. “You didn’t—”

“Oh, but I did,” he cut in, dabbing more on my other cheek. “Now you match the theme.”

I lunged at him with a bowl, but he dodged laughing.

The nerve.

“Rayaan, I swear—”

He grinned. “Swear later. Haldi first.”

In the next second, his hand was in the bowl again, reaching for my face.

I ducked, but he caught my wrist, pulled me close.

Too close.

“You started this,” I whispered, our noses almost touching.

“And I’ll finish it,” he replied, voice low.

Before I could respond, he streaked a bold line of haldi across my neck.

My gasp turned into laughter.

“You’re impossible.”

He smiled, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “And you’re beautiful.”

His thumb lingered just beneath my jaw, and for a moment, the noise around us melted away.

It was just him. Me. The smell of turmeric. The warmth of his touch.

Arekha yelled from somewhere, “Stop romancing and come take a photo!”

Rayaan rolled his eyes. “They ruin everything.”

I laughed, grabbing his hand and dragging him toward the stage. “Come on, Mr. Oberoi.”

He leaned down, whispering against my ear, “Only for you, Mrs. Oberoi.”

Mehendi—

I sat with my hands stretched out, the mehendi still wet and darkening beautifully. The designs had crawled all the way up my arms, delicate and detailed but now, I was starving.

And helpless.

That’s when Rayaan walked in, carrying a plate of cut fruits like some smug, ivory-kurta-clad savior.

“Baby,” he said, crouching beside me, “eat something first.”

I looked at him pointedly, raising both mehendi-covered hands. “Do I look like I can?”

He chuckled. “Exactly why I’m here.”

He picked up a slice of apple and held it near my lips. “Open up.”

I gave him a look but leaned forward anyway, taking the bite.

“Good girl,” he murmured, brushing away a tiny drop of juice at the corner of my mouth with his thumb.

“You’re enjoying this too much.”

“I live for this,” he said dramatically, popping a grape into my mouth next.

Between bites, I lifted one of my palms. “Find your name.”

His smirk softened. He took my hand gently, tilting it toward the light. “Hmm… this might take a while.”

“You better find it. The artist said if you can’t, I get a gift.”

“Oh, I’ll find it,” he said, his thumb brushing over the curves and vines.

His brows drew together in mock concentration, eyes scanning every corner like it was the most important mission of his life.

Then he grinned. “Got it.”

“Where?”

He brought my palm closer to his lips. “Right here,” he whispered, kissing the spot lightly.

My breath hitched.

“That’s cheating,” I whispered.

“That’s love,” he whispered back.

And for a second, the noise of the celebration disappeared.

Just him. Just me. Just the taste of mango still on my lips and his name hidden on my hand.

Sangeet—

Rayaan's pov:

The Oberoi Mansion had never been this loud.

Lights flickered like stars, music pulsed through every wall, and someone probably Arekha was already dragging random relatives onto the dance floor.

I should’ve been annoyed.

But my eyes were on her.

Arvi.

Standing near the stage, laughing at something Nia said, wearing that deep emerald lehenga that made it impossible to think straight. Her bangles jingled every time she moved, and her earrings swayed like they were part of her rhythm.

She hadn’t seen me yet.

And honestly? I liked watching her like this free, glowing, completely unaware of how much power she held over me.

“You’re staring,” Riaan said beside me, not even trying to be subtle.

“I’m aware.”

“You look like you’re about to punch someone.”

“I might. Depends who tries to dance with her first.”

He laughed. “Possessive much?”

I didn’t answer.

Because I was.

Arvi finally looked my way. Her eyes met mine, and everything else faded again. I’d gotten used to this. The way the world dimmed when she looked at me like that.

Like I was the only man in the room.

She tilted her head slightly, smirking, mouthing, “Dance?”

I hated dancing.

But I walked straight toward her.

She grinned, stepping back as if to make me chase her onto the floor.

The music changed to something upbeat, and before I knew it, I was surrounded by chaos Aleesha twirling, Vivaan doing something dangerously close to a backflip, and Arvi… laughing.

Spinning.

Beautiful.

Untouchable.

Until she wasn’t.

I caught her hand mid-spin, pulled her closer, just enough to speak against her ear.

“You’re having fun,” I murmured.

Her eyes sparkled. “You’re jealous.”

“Maybe.”

She leaned in, teasing. “Dance with me, Mr. Oberoi.”

I did.

God help me, I did.

One song bled into another. I forgot to care who was watching. I forgot I hated the noise.

Because she smiled every time I twirled her.

Because her hand fit perfectly in mine.

Because every time I pulled her close, the world made sense again.

This wasn’t just Vivaan’s sangeet anymore.

It was a night carved for us too.

In the middle of clashing dhol beats and wild cousins, there was a quieter rhythm.

Ours.

Arvi's pov:

There’s something absolutely dangerous about putting all the Oberoi girls in one room with no supervision.

Especially when one of them is getting married tomorrow.

We were all sprawled across Aleesha’s room mehendi half-faded, pillows everywhere, music playing softly in the background. The AC was humming, and someone had brought chocolate covered strawberries. The vibe was suspiciously too calm.

Arekha was the first to break the silence. She looked at Nia, wicked grin in place. “So… you packed your honeymoon lingerie yet?”

Nia choked on her juice.

Aleesha whooped. “AREKHAAA!”

“What?” Arekha laughed, shameless. “I’m just saying! Someone needs to prep the bride before her first night!”

Vanisha clapped. “Yaaas!!!

Nia buried her face in a cushion. “Why are you all like this?”

I smirked. “Because we love you.”

“And because it’s your last night of peace,” Aleesha added. “From tomorrow wife mode. And then…”

She wiggled her eyebrows.

“Don’t say it,” Nia warned.

“SUHAAGRAATTT,” Vanisha and Arekha yelled in unison.

Nia let out a dramatic groan, turning to me with pleading eyes. “Arvi, say something. You’re married. Defend me!”

I sipped my mocktail, all innocent. “I’m just waiting for the moment when you text me tomorrow saying, ‘why didn’t you warn me?’”

Nia threw a pillow at me.

Aleesha grabbed it mid-air. “Imagine Vivaan though. All smug and ready. Bet he already lit candles in his room.”

Arekha cracked up. “And laid rose petals in a perfect heart on the bed like a Bollywood movie!”

“I hate all of you,” Nia muttered, her face now fully red.

Vanisha nudged her. “You’re glowing already, babe. You sure the wedding hasn’t already happened?”

Aleesha gasped dramatically. “Nia! Did something happen during the sangeet? That missing ten minutes when you and Vivaan vanished... hmm?”

Nia squeaked. “NO! That was he just needed water!”

“Water,” I said, deadpan. “That’s what we’re calling it now.”

Everyone burst into laughter.

Even Nia, who finally gave up on protesting and joined in, clutching her stomach.

By the time we calmed down, the room was full of giggles and that warm, sisterhood glow.

I looked around at all of them Aleesha's eyeliner smudged from laughing, Vanisha braiding Arekha’s hair mid-roast, and Nia trying not to die of secondhand embarrassment.

Tonight was ours.

Pure madness. Zero filter.

And the kind of teasing Nia would never live down.

Just as the laughter started to die down, my phone buzzed on the bed beside me. I glanced down, half-expecting it to be some random message from any member about the wedding details.

But no.

It was from Rayaan.

Him♡ :

Come to the room, baby, lets sleep.

I froze for a second. My heart skipped a beat, and a smile tugged at the corners of my lips.

The way he’d said it. Like he knew exactly what was going on in my mind.

The girls saw me looking at my phone, and immediately, the teasing resumed.

“Ohhhh,” Aleesha sing-songed, raising an eyebrow. “Someone’s getting called to bed already!”

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t help the blush creeping up my neck. “It’s just Rayaan,” I muttered, trying to sound nonchalant.

Arekha gasped. “Just Rayaan? Girl, it’s your husband telling you to come to bed.”

Nia laughed. “I can’t believe you’re acting like this. You just got married, and already, it’s like you’re the one keeping him waiting.”

I quickly typed a reply back to Rayaan: On my way. Hold tight.

But my fingers hovered over the screen for a second longer.

“Are you really going?” Vanisha asked, her eyes twinkling.

“Of course,” I said with a grin. “I’ve got a husband to attend to, don’t I?”

“Go before you make us all blush even more,” Aleesha said with a dramatic wave. “We’re already way too scandalized for one night.”

I rolled my eyes one last time before standing up, sending them all one final glance.

“See you in the morning,” I said, winking.

A/N

I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I loved writing it! These little moments with Arvi and her friends are always so much fun.

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Thankyou<3