The next day, the parents of the two families met, and the meeting went smoothly, with everyone getting along famously. They decided to finalize the wedding plans and set the date for the following week. The atmosphere was filled with excitement and joy as everyone was thrilled with the prospect of the upcoming wedding.
In the evening, Shruti called Aryan, asking him to meet her in the garden. They sat down on a bench, surrounded by the serene beauty of nature. Aryan turned to Shruti with a warm smile.
"Congratulations, bride-to-be," he said, his voice filled with genuine happiness.
Shruti's face lit up with a radiant smile. "It's all thanks to you," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you for supporting me, Aryan. Really."
Aryan chuckled and waved his hand dismissively. "Oh, come on, are you seriously saying thank you to your best buddy?" he teased.
Shruti chuckled and playfully rolled her eyes. "By the way, who is this someone else?" she asked, raising an eyebrow teasingly.
Aryan's expression turned sheepish, and he looked away, trying to hide his blush. "Who?" he muttered.
Shruti's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Come on, you know what I'm talking about," she said, her voice filled with laughter. "That day, you told dad that you love someone else."
Aryan's cheeks turned bright red as he looked down, his eyes avoiding Shruti's gaze. "Um... well," he stuttered.
Shruti chuckled, her eyes shining with mirth. "Okay, okay, I know it's Roohi," she said, her voice filled with amusement.
Aryan's head jerked up, and he looked at Shruti in surprise, his face still flushed with embarrassment. Then, he blushed even deeper, realizing that Shruti had guessed his secret.
"Of course, you know," he muttered, shaking his head in resignation, a sheepish grin spreading across his face.
"So, when are you going to tell her?" Shruti asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. She leaned in, her voice taking on a conspiratorial tone.
Aryan rubbed the back of his neck, a sheepish expression crossing his face. "I haven't thought about that," he admitted, his voice laced with hesitation.
Shruti's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You should tell her early," she advised, her tone serious. "It's better to be upfront and honest, rather than risking her finding out later."
Aryan chuckled, a wry smile spreading across his face. "You're sure your soon-to-be husband won't kill me?" he joked, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
Shruti rolled her eyes, a laugh escaping her lips. "Oh, come on, he's not that possessive," she said, her voice filled with amusement.
"But really, you should tell her as soon as possible," Shruti added, her tone turning serious once more.
Aryan nodded, his expression thoughtful. He knew Shruti was right – he needed to be honest with Roohi about his feelings. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the conversation ahead.
After a week of anticipation and nervousness, Aryan found himself sitting in his office at the Doobay estate, fidgeting with excitement. He was seated in a plush, high-backed chair, but his body language betrayed his calm demeanor. His legs were moving vigorously, as if he was running a marathon in slow motion. His phone was clutched tightly in one hand, while the fingers of his other hand tapped out a staccato rhythm on the polished wood table.
As he sat there, Aryan's mind was racing with thoughts of Roohi and the conversation he was about to have with her.
After a minute of internal debate, Aryan finally worked up the courage to dial Roohi's number. He listened as the phone rang, his heart pounding in his chest. And then, suddenly, Roohi's voice was on the other end of the line.
"Hello?" she said, her tone cheerful and inviting.
Aryan stood up, his legs unfolding from their seated position like a jack-in-the-box. "H...hello? Miss Rai?" he stuttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Mr. Doobay, hello," Roohi replied, her voice smooth and confident.
Aryan took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. "Actually, I...wanted to ask you something," he said, his voice still shaking slightly.
"Of course, go ahead," Roohi encouraged, her tone curious.
Aryan hesitated, his heart pounding in his chest. "Are you...by any chance free tomorrow evening?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, Aryan wondered if he had misread the situation entirely. But then Roohi's voice came back on the line, her tone teasing.
"Why?" she asked, her voice dripping with curiosity.
Aryan's heart skipped a beat. He had been hoping to avoid this question, at least for a little while longer. But now that Roohi had asked, he knew he had to come clean.
"Actually..." he began, his voice trailing off into silence.
For a minute, there was no sound on the line, just an oppressive silence that seemed to stretch on forever. And then, finally, Roohi's voice came back on the line.
"Mr. Doobay?" she asked, her tone concerned.
Aryan swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. "Yeah, I'm here," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.
"What is it?" Roohi asked, her tone gentle and encouraging.
He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the ask. "Actually, I want to ask for a favor," he said, his voice laced with a hint of nervousness.
Roohi's response was immediate and encouraging. "Of course, what is it?" she asked, her tone warm and inviting.
Aryan's heart skipped a beat as he launched into his request. "There's this charity gala tomorrow, and I was wondering if you could...you know? Come with me?" he asked, his voice trailing off into a hopeful silence.
The pause that followed was agonizing, making Aryan's heart beat faster with anticipation. He was sure that Roohi would deny his request, that she would have other plans or simply wouldn't be interested. But then, her response came, and it was unexpected.
"I will," she said, her voice firm and resolute.
Aryan's brain struggled to process her answer. Had he really heard her correctly? He couldn't believe it. "What?" he stuttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Roohi's laughter echoed down the line, a melodious sound that sent shivers down Aryan's spine. "I said I will go with you," she repeated, her tone playful.
Aryan's relief was palpable. "Really? Thank you so much, Miss Rai," he exclaimed, his gratitude pouring out of him like a flood.
Roohi's response was gracious and humble. "You don't have to say thank you," she said. "You did so much for bhaiya and Shruti; this is the least I could do for you."
Aryan's heart swelled with emotion at her words. He felt seen and appreciated, and it was a wonderful feeling. "Okay then, I'll pick you up at 7 pm tomorrow," he said, his voice filled with excitement.
Roohi's response was simple and straightforward. "Okay."
As Aryan hung up the call, he let out a sigh of relief. He had done it; he had asked Roohi out, and she had said yes. He felt like he was walking on air, his heart full of joy and anticipation. Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.
As Aryan cut the call, Roohi sat down on her bed, her mind reeling with excitement. Her heart was beating very fast, pounding against her chest like a drum. She put a hand on her chest, trying to calm herself down, but it was no use. Her body was buzzing with anticipation.
"Did...did he just ask me out?" she murmured to herself, her voice barely above a whisper. She couldn't believe that Aryan had actually asked her out. The thought sent shivers down her spine, and she felt a smile spreading across her face.
Roohi laid down on her bed, trying to sleep, but her mind was racing with thoughts of tomorrow's meeting with Aryan. She couldn't stop thinking about the way he had asked her out, the way his voice had sounded on the phone, and the way she had felt when she said yes.
As she lay there, she couldn't help but wonder what tomorrow would bring. Would they have a good time together? Would they talk about something meaningful, or would they just enjoy each other's company? The questions swirled in her mind, making it impossible for her to sleep.
Despite her best efforts, Roohi found herself tossing and turning, her excitement and anticipation getting the better of her. She finally gave up trying to sleep and sat up in bed, her heart still racing with excitement. She couldn't wait to see Aryan tomorrow and find out what the evening had in store for them.
The next day, Roohi was in a state of nervous frenzy, wondering what to wear to the charity gala. She stood in front of her wardrobe, rummaging through her clothes with a growing sense of frustration.
"There isn't even a single dress that I could wear!" she exclaimed, annoyance etched on her face. She shuffled through her clothes, her mind racing with thoughts of what would be suitable for the evening.
Just as she was about to give up, Roohi heard a knock at the door. She turned to see one of the maids standing in the doorway, holding a box in her hand.
"What is it?" Roohi asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Mr. Doobay has sent this for you," the maid replied, handing over the box to Roohi.
Roohi took the box from the maid, her heart beating with anticipation. She opened the box, and her eyes went wide as she saw a stunning violet dress and a pair of heels nestled inside.
The dress was an off-shoulder gown made of a shiny fabric that seemed to shimmer in the light.
There was a note beside the dress, a simple white card with a message scrawled on it in elegant handwriting. Roohi's heart skipped a beat as she read the words: "A gift for you."
Roohi's face glowed with delight as she lifted the dress out of the box. She felt like a princess, and the dress seemed to be made for her. She slipped into the gown, feeling the fabric hug her curves in all the right places.
As she looked at herself in the mirror, Roohi couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards Aryan. The dress was perfect, and she knew that she would make a stunning impression at the gala.
She slipped on the pair of heels that Aryan had gifted her, feeling the height and confidence they gave her. Roohi took a deep breath, feeling like the belle of the ball. She was ready to take on the evening.
Roohi stood in front of the mirror, carefully applying the final touches to her makeup. She added a swipe of mascara to her lashes, a dusting of powder to her nose, and a coat of lip gloss to her lips. As she finished, she stepped back to admire her reflection.
The knock on the door broke the silence, and Roohi's heart skipped a beat. "Mr. Doobay is here," the maid announced, her voice low and discreet.
Roohi's heart began to beat faster at the mention of Aryan's name. She felt a flutter in her chest, and her palms grew slightly damp. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves.
With a final glance in the mirror, Roohi descended the stairs, her high heels clicking on the marble floor. She reached the main door and hesitated for a moment, her hand on the doorknob.
Taking another deep breath, Roohi turned the handle and opened the door. She was met with the sight of Aryan standing on the porch, looking dashing in his tailored tuxedo.
Roohi called out to Aryan, her voice husky and sweet. He turned towards her, and as his eyes landed on her, his heart started pounding in his chest. He was taken aback by her breathtaking beauty, and for a moment, he forgot to breathe.
Roohi was a vision in the stunning violet dress, her hair styled perfectly and her makeup accentuating her features. Aryan was completely lost in the sight of her, his eyes drinking in every detail. He couldn't help but stare, his gaze lingering on her face, her neck, and her shoulders.
Roohi noticed Aryan's intense gaze and felt a blush rise to her cheeks. She looked down, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, trying to composed herself. "Mr. Doobay?" she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Aryan snapped out of his trance, his eyes refocusing on Roohi's face. "Thank you so much for this dress," she said, her voice sincere.
Aryan smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You don't have to," he said. "I suddenly asked you to come with me, so I thought I should do at least this much."
Roohi smiled, her eyes sparkling with gratitude. Aryan's gaze lingered on her face, and he felt his heart skip a beat. "By the way, you look more beautiful than I imagined," he said, his voice low and sincere.
Roohi's cheeks turned a deep shade of red, and she looked down, trying to hide her blush. She thought Aryan would stutter or look away, but instead, he was looking straight into her eyes, his gaze intense and unwavering.
"Ahem, thank you," Roohi said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Aryan smiled, his eyes still locked on hers. "Shall we?" he said, opening the door of the car for her.
Roohi nodded, her heart still racing from the intensity of their gaze. She got into the car, Aryan following close behind. As they settled into their seats, Roohi couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation. She had a feeling that this was going to be a night to remember.
Inside the car, they sat silently for a while, the only sound being the soft hum of the engine. Roohi's gaze was fixed on Aryan's face, admiring his side profile. She took in the sharp lines of his jaw, the slight curve of his nose, and the shape of his eyes, which seemed to be gazing into the distance.
Her gaze wandered down to his hands, which were on the steering wheel . She noticed the prominent veins that stood out against his skin, and her heart skipped a beat. Her eyes continued their journey, moving up to his neck, where she noticed the subtle curve of his Adam's apple.
And then, her gaze landed on his lips. Soft and inviting, they seemed to be beckoning her to come closer. Roohi's eyes lingered on his lips, and she felt a sudden jolt of electricity run through her body. She swallowed hard, her mind racing with thoughts of how it would feel to kiss those lips.
But as soon as the thought crossed her mind, Roohi snapped out of it, feeling a flush rise to her cheeks. "What was I even thinking?!" she thought, her mind reeling with shock and embarrassment.
She quickly turned her head towards the window, trying to compose herself. She gazed out at the passing scenery, taking deep breaths to calm her racing heart. She couldn't believe she had let her thoughts wander to such a forbidden place.
