Mahi, now fully ready, stood in front of the mirror and gave herself one last look.
The dress Vani had chosen for her… looked unexpectedly perfect on her.
She took a soft breath, then opened the door of her room and walked towards the stairs.
Downstairs, a soft murmur of guests filled the hall. Light laughter. The gentle clink of glasses.
Vedant was already there. He and Aryan were seated together, talking. Both dressed in formal suits… composed, controlled.
Just then, Vedant’s gaze instinctively lifted toward the staircase.
The moment he saw Mahi, he suddenly stood up.
His eyes fixed only on her… and his heart whispered just one thing — our apsara has arrived.
Mahi was walking down the stairs. One hand on the railing, the other holding her dress carefully.
Vedant simply kept looking at her… unable to look away.
Aryan noticed the shift in Vedant’s focus. He turned in the same direction… and instantly got up, walking quickly toward Mahi to help her manage her dress.
Vedant straightened his posture… as if trying to regain control over himself.
After reaching downstairs, Mahi walked with Aryan toward Alka.
Soon, there was a slight movement in the center.
Alka was being invited toward a stage-like area.
“Mrs. Alka Malhotra, please…”
The light focused on her.
Alka held the mic.
“…Honestly, I never expected so many people to come. This book is not just a story… it is my journey through the years when I rediscovered myself.”
The entire hall fell silent.
For a second, she looked at Mahi… then shifted her gaze back to the audience.
“Every woman has a story within her… sometimes, all she needs is the courage to write it.”
A few people clapped. Some were genuinely emotional.
Vedant glanced at Mahi from the side… trying to read her reaction.
At the same moment, there was slight movement near the entrance.
Vani stood to the side, arms crossed, casually scanning the crowd.
And then… her eyes stopped at one place.
Where Aryan was.
He was sitting in the lounge section. And beside him sat Rashmi — at an overly comfortable distance.
There was a drink in her hand, which she kept offering toward Aryan.
“Come on, Aryan, just take a sip,” Rashmi said with a suppressed laugh. “Why are you thinking so much? Even I don’t overthink this much.”
Aryan leaned slightly away.
“No, Rashmi. I don’t drink.”
“Come on, just a little… for me,” she leaned closer. “It’s not a big deal.”
Seeing this, Vani’s jaw tightened.
Her thoughts short-circuited — what is she doing here… and that too with my man?
Without another second, Vani started walking toward them.
The sharp tick-tick of her heels echoed on the marble floor.
As soon as she reached them, Rashmi once again extended the glass toward Aryan.
Aryan was just about to say something—
When suddenly, Vani stepped forward and took the glass from Rashmi’s hand.
Rashmi turned toward her, confused.
And the very next moment—
A slap.
The sound was so loud that even the glasses in nearby hands trembled.
The entire hall fell into complete silence.
Rashmi stood frozen, holding her cheek, staring at Vani. Her face had turned red.
“How dare you!” Rashmi shouted, raising her hand toward Vani.
But her hand stopped mid-air.
Aryan stepped in between and caught her wrist.
“Rashmi, what are you doing? Are you in your senses?”
His voice was strict for the first time. Sharp. Public.
“You didn’t see what she did?” Rashmi almost hysterically said. “She slapped me!”
Aryan looked at her. Then at Vani.
A smile almost escaped him seeing Vani… but he controlled it.
“What did Vani do?” he said in a controlled tone.
“You were forcing me to drink even after I clearly refused. If you behave like that, then you will get a reaction like this.”
Vani was still silent. But there was fire in her eyes.
“Did you hear that?” she finally spoke.
“Do you lack basic sense? When someone says no, it means no. Whether it’s a boy or a girl. Being friends doesn’t mean you can force someone.”
People started gathering around them.
Mahi, who was standing near Alka, immediately came there after noticing the tension.
She held Vani’s hand.
“Vani, relax. Why are you overreacting?”
Aryan looked at Mahi.
“Because her reaction is justified.”
Mahi looked confused.
“Bhai, I don’t understand anything. What is happening here?”
Aryan held Vani’s hand and looked at Mahi.
“Mahi… she is my girlfriend.”
For a moment, the entire party froze.
“What?” slipped out of Mahi’s mouth.
Aryan and Vani said together,
“Yes. We have been in a relationship for the past three years.”
Mahi looked at Vani in shock.
Vani lowered her gaze. Her heartbeat had sped up.
For a few seconds, no one spoke.
Then Mahi walked toward Rashmi.
“On behalf of Vani, I am sorry, Rashmi di,” she said in a controlled tone.
“She is a little crazy… sometimes she reacts wrongly in anger.”
Rashmi looked at Mahi.
Then at Aryan.
Then at Vani.
Her eyes were filled with a mix of embarrassment and hurt.
Without saying anything, she picked up her clutch… and walked away.
The hall was still heavy with silence.
And everyone’s eyes were fixed in one direction—
Aryan and Vani.
Many office people were present there… and no one had ever known that they were dating each other.
After that, Arvind handled the situation and shifted everyone’s attention back to Alka.
Alka completed her speech.
After some time, the party ended.
The noise in the hall had now reduced. Staff members were removing decorations.
A few last guests were meeting Alka and Arvind before leaving.
Vedant stood at a distance, watching Mahi.
The way she handled the entire situation calmly… without putting anyone down… impressed him even more.
Mahi was behaving completely normal, as if nothing had happened.
She walked toward Vedant. She didn’t know what to say… so she simply asked,
“How am I looking?”
Hearing this, Vedant thought — our apsara wants to hear praise from me.
But he got nervous too, and only one word came out,
“Beautiful.”
Just then, Raj came near Vedant.
“Let’s go, beta.”
Vedant looked at Mahi.
“Okay… we will leave now. Bye.”
“Bye. Good night,” Mahi said.
Vedant left with Raj.
.
.
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