Page 50 of Since You Stole My Heart

‘I’ve never seen you in a saree before,’ Swayam said, falling into step beside her.

‘So?’ Kashvi asked, a sliver of worry creeping in.

His voice dipped just enough to make her stomach drop. ‘You really shouldn’t have surprised me like this. I was planning on staying alive long enough to marry you, but now I’m not so sure.’

The sincerity beneath the teasing caught her off guard, and a soft laugh slipped out.

Swayam stopped abruptly, clutching his chest as if he was wounded. ‘That’s just cruel, Kash. Now you’re killing me.’

Her laughter deepened as she reached out and pushed lightly at his cheek, turning his face away. ‘Stop looking at me then.’

He caught her wrist before she could pull away, brushing his thumb against her pulse. ‘I don’t think I can,’ he said, his gaze finding hers again as they reached the temple steps.

‘Come on, they must be waiting for us,’ Meera said, with Raghav close behind as they joined them.

The white marble of the temple caught the early morning light, making it gleam. A shiver ran up her legs as they made their way up the wet steps from the morning wash.

The space was open and expansive, and its high ceilings were carved with delicate floral patterns. Inside the small chamber, the idol of Goddess Parvati stood bathed in the glow of oil diyas.

Kashvi noticed that one side of the temple had been decorated with flowers, and at its centre stood a small mandap adorned with vines. Ahavan kundsat in the middle, surrounded by offerings for the wedding.

‘How did you arrange all of this overnight?’ Kashvi asked, surprised.

‘We had help,’ Raghav said.

She didn’t understand his cryptic answer until she saw Dhruv emerge from the inner room, juggling a plate full of items. Hehanded them to the pandit with easy familiarity before heading back inside.

All the reasons she had used to justify his absence fell away, replaced by the simple fact that he was here for her. For all the distance she had maintained, there was still a space in her life he occupied that she couldn’t dismiss, no matter how hard she tried. If he hadn't been here today, it would have bothered her.

They approached the group and greeted the elderly man already seated in the mandap. One by one, they bent to touch his feet. He raised his hand in blessing.

‘Thank God Dhruv offered to set everything up, because if Luv had his way with the decorations, we’d be drowning in flowers right now,’ Meera teased.

Luv rubbed the back of his neck as he said, ‘Actually, I had thought of bringing a fog machine, but you know… AQI.’

Abhay snorted. ‘You would have turned this into a full movie production if they’d let you.’

Luv placed a hand over his chest in offence. ‘Excuse me, I bring excellent vision to the table.’

‘The only thing you bring is unnecessary chaos,’ Raghav retorted.

The pandit interrupted their conversation and said, ‘Everything is prepared. We can begin whenever you’re ready.’

‘We’re ready,’ Swayam replied, tightening his hold on her hand, and Kashvi nodded.

The pandit picked up the brass plate on which two garlands made of soft loops of pink and yellow flowers were kept. He sprinkledgangajalover them and chanted before handing them to Siya.

As Kashvi took one garland, she felt a faint tremor in her breath as the world narrowed until it was just Swayam standing across from her, holding the other garland.

Kashvi sensed movement behind her and turned to find Dhruv standing close. Before she could thank him, the ground disappeared beneath her feet.

A startled shriek broke from her as she instinctively reached out for balance, realising Luv and Abhay, along with Dhruv, had lifted her onto their shoulders.

‘What the hell?’ Kashvi swatted Luv’s head, feeling him shake with laughter beneath her.

‘We’ve been waiting a long time to do this. Siya and Mihu both gave us strict warnings at their weddings not to, but you didn’t, so you can’t blame us,’ Luv said.

Siya was about to scold him when Meera stopped her. ‘Don’t even bother. I spent the whole drive here telling them off. They didn’t even listen to me when I promised them caramel brownies.’