"Aree maa! Bas do minute!" Reyansh groaned, half-buttoning his white shirt as he tried to find his watch.

(Just two minutes!)

“Resort ke liye nikalna hai jaldi. Shaam ko sangeet ka function bhi hai yaad hai bhi ?”

(We have to leave early for the resort. Do you even remember there is a sangeet function in the evening?)

---

The resort was nestled on the edges of West Bengal and it was a rich bengali wedding resort, with alpana-painted entrances that glimmered with golden fairy lights, the red colour was all around which was a sign of love . It looked like a scene pulled straight out of a Satyajit Ray film.

Everyone was in awe, especially Ira.

Even through her numbness, she couldn’t deny it—the place was surreal. Lanterns swayed gently above, white flowers hanging like blessings from the heavens.

“Mansiiii!” she called, as soon as she spotted her in a simple sharara suit .

“Aare dii, aap log bhi aa gaye,” Mansi squealed, running to hug her.

(You all have also arrived)

Both families gathered, warm and excited. There was laughter, chaos, too many suitcases, and so many unspoken things floating in the air.

And then—she saw him.

Standing near the main reception, dressed in a white shirt and pants , and his signature intense eyes. But something about Reyansh Khanna looked different today.

His eyes seemed distant. There was a slight puffiness under them—as if sleep had been a stranger to him. His hair was still messy-perfect, but his aura? Off.

“Kya hua inhe? Aaj kuch alag kyun lag rahe hai?”

(What’s wrong with him? Why does he seem... off today?)

And then she stopped herself.

“Forget it, Ira. He’s not your problem. You already have enough of those.”

---

Later that afternoon...

Everyone moved into their respective rooms. Ira, after freshening up and changing into a cotton kurti , decided to rest a little.

But as she stepped into the hallway, her foot slipped slightly on the marble.

“Aaah!” she gasped.

Two arms gripped her just in time, holding her waist tight, pulling her close—safe, secure, and breathless.

She blinked—and found herself inches away from those hazel green eyes.

Reyansh.

His hand still held her firmly, her heartbeat thudding into his palm.

“Is it just his eyes or something else?” she whispered under her breath.

For the first time, she noticed every detail of his face—the soft scar near his jawline, the faint stubble, the golden glow of sunlight dancing in his eyes.

God, his features are so perfect, she thought before she could stop herself.

It seems like for a Ira totally forgot that she hate him.

He looked down at her, as if the moment had paused time itself.

“Aap theek ho?”

(Are you okay?)

“Yeah... uh... thank you,” she mumbled, pulling herself together.

“Oh?” he smirked, “Miss Ira thanked me? Historic moment hai yeh toh.”

(This is a historic moment.)

She rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the blush that crept across her cheeks.

---

Later that evening – Reyansh’s POV

He stood near the balcony of his room, hands in his pocket, staring at the sky that was slowly drowning into orange hues.

“Kaise koi itni khubsurat lag sakti hai bina kuch kiye?”

(How can someone look so beautiful without even trying?)

No makeup, no glam, no filters. Just Ira.

But something was off about her. That smile—wasn’t real.

“Kya woh khush hai is shaadi se? Ya main zyada soch raha hoon?”

(Is she really happy with this marriage? Or am I just overthinking?)

He exhaled.

“Par mujhe kyun farak pad raha hai?”

(But why does it matter to me?)

“She’s independent, strong—no one can force her. Toh main kyun...?”

And he stopped.

Shook his head.

“No, Reyansh. Don’t go there. You’ve already walked that path once… and that was the first and last time.”

---

But still… something had changed in that moment.

Something soft.

Something slow.

Something dangerous.