The evening air was thick with the scent of jasmine and freshly brewed tea as Aarya’s mother, Meera, arranged delicate porcelain cups on the wooden table. The warmth of the home felt different tonight—filled with anticipation, quiet conversations carrying weight beyond simple pleasantries.

Seated around the table were Veer’s parents, Raj and Anaya, their presence steeped in quiet dignity. Across from them sat Miss Rhea, leaning back against the chair with her usual sharp-eyed amusement, watching the conversation unfold with knowing patience.

Tonight wasn’t just any gathering.

Tonight, they were planning the marriage of Aarya and Veer.

Aarya wasn’t present. Neither was Veer. It had been decided—unspoken yet understood—that this meeting was for those who had protected their journeys long before the two had realized they were meant to walk together.

Meera sighed, fingers tracing the rim of her teacup. “It has to be something simple. Aarya never liked grand displays.”

Raj chuckled softly, glancing at Anaya. “True, but she deserves to be honoured. Their love has been shaped by trials none of us could have imagined. This isn’t just a wedding. It’s the union of two legacies.”

Miss Rhea smirked. “That’s a fancy way of saying that we need to find a balance between tradition and reality.”

Anaya, who had remained quiet, finally spoke. “Aarya has spent her life chasing truth. This ceremony must reflect that—not just in ritual, but in meaning.”

Meera nodded thoughtfully. “And Veer has spent his life guarding that truth. They are two halves of the same story.”

There was a pause as the significance of the words settled between them.

The tea cooled slightly, the air thick with memories—of the trials, of the sacrifices, of everything that had led them to this moment.

Raj leaned forward. “Do you think Veer has fully told Aarya everything?”

Rhea tilted her head slightly. “He’s given her enough. But some things, I suspect, are meant to unfold after their vows.”

Meera exhaled, closing her eyes briefly. “There’s still so much she doesn’t know. About her father. About the role he played in all of this.”

Anaya’s expression softened. “Would telling her change anything?”

“No,” Meera admitted. “But it would explain why she was always meant to find Veer.”

Rhea’s smirk faded, replaced by something more solemn. “They were always meant to collide.”

Raj lifted his cup, nodding slightly. “Then let’s ensure this union is everything they deserve.”

Discussions turned to details—dates, ceremonies, the blending of their histories into a celebration that would honour both families. The weight of tradition was considered, but so was the undeniable truth that Aarya and Veer were no ordinary couple.

This wasn’t just a wedding.

It was the sealing of a destiny long written.

And as the night deepened, as laughter intertwined with nostalgia, Aarya’s mother found herself smiling—knowing, for the first time in years, that her daughter was finally stepping into a future she belonged to.

This expanded version explores the deep emotional significance of the wedding planning, the intertwining of their legacies, and the quiet truths still waiting to be uncovered.

~TO BE CONTINUED...