As the wedding frenzy intensified, so did the banter and camaraderie among us. Amidst the bustling activity, Rohan’s nostalgic longing for his mother was like a soft melody in the background, tugging at our hearts.

“It’s all happening so fast,” Rohan remarked, a hint of melancholy in his voice as he glanced around at the whirlwind of preparations.

“Yeah, but we’ve got this, buddy,” Abhi replied, flashing him an encouraging smile. “We’ll make sure everything goes smoothly, just like your mom would’ve wanted.”

Rohan nodded, a mixture of gratitude and sadness reflected in his eyes. “Thanks, man. I really appreciate it,” he said, his voice tinged with emotion.

As Azad uncle, Rohan’s father stepped in to fill the void left by Rohan’s late mother, the air was filled with a bittersweet sense of longing. “Your mom would’ve been so proud of you, Rohan,” Azad’s uncle remarked, his voice warm with affection.

Rohan offered a grateful smile, touched by the sentiment. “She’s watching over us,” he whispered, a flicker of hope in his eyes.

Meanwhile, amidst the hustle and bustle, my younger cousins added their touch of excitement to the proceedings. “Check out these mehndi designs!” one of them exclaimed, proudly displaying their adorned hands.

“Whoa, those are incredible!” I exclaimed, marveling at the intricate patterns. “Your cousin from Mumbai is seriously talented.”

With each ritual and ceremony, the anticipation continued to build, culminating in the vibrant festivities of the Mehendi ceremony. “I can’t wait to see you as a bride, sis!” my sister exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Oh, you’re going to be blown away,” I teased, a mischievous grin playing on my lips as I soaked in the laughter and joy surrounding us.

As the Sangeet celebrations kicked off, the air was alive with the infectious rhythm of music and dance. “Watch out for those dance moves, Rohan!” I called out, teasing him as he hesitantly joined the festivities.

Amidst the joy and laughter, our bonds grew stronger, weaving a tapestry of memories that would endure long after the wedding festivities had come to an end.

The lively Sangeet festivities brought out the best in everyone, especially when it came to dancing. “I hope you’ve been practicing your moves, Rohan!” I teased, winking at him as the music swirled around us.

Rohan chuckled, a playful glint in his eyes. “Oh, you have no idea. I’ve been perfecting my signature move,” he replied with mock seriousness, earning a round of laughter from the crowd.

Abhi bhaiya, ever the instigator, couldn’t resist adding fuel to the fire. “Yeah, it’s called the ‘awkward shuffle,’” he quipped, earning himself a good-natured shove from Rohan.

The night unfolded in a whirlwind of laughter, music, and joyful celebrations, with each member of the family showcasing their hidden talents. “I never knew sir could move like that!” Rohan exclaimed, his eyes widening in amazement as Bheem uncle twirled gracefully across the dance floor.

“You think that’s impressive? Just wait till you see Neelam maa,” I teased, a mischievous grin spreading across my face.

As the night wore on and the celebrations continued, the exhaustion began to set in, but it was a happy exhaustion, fueled by the sheer joy of being together. And as we gathered for the Haldi ceremony the next day, the excitement in the air was palpable, signaling the imminent arrival of the long-awaited wedding day.

Amidst the excitement, I knew I had a delicate task ahead: inviting Anisha to the wedding. Taking a deep breath, I sought out Abhi bhaiya, knowing I needed his support for this.

“Abhi bhaiya, can I have a moment with you?” I approached him, trying to hide my nervousness.

Abhi bhaiya turned to me, a curious expression on his face. “What is it, Shivina? Everything alright?”

“I need you to pass this on to Anisha,” I said, handing him the handwritten note along with the invitation.

His brows furrowed in concern. “Anisha? Are you sure about this? You know she’s caused trouble in the past.”

I nodded earnestly. “I understand, bhaiya. But she deserves a chance. She’s been staying away from all of this drama lately.”

He sighed, understanding the weight of my words. “Alright, I’ll pass it on. But if anything goes wrong…”

“I’ll take full responsibility,” I assured him, grateful for his understanding.

After our conversation, Abhi bhaiya, with a sense of purpose, set off to deliver the invitation to Anisha. Meanwhile, at Anisha’s place, she was taken aback to find him standing at her doorstep.

“Abhimanyu! Heyy! What brings you here?” Anisha exclaimed, surprised yet pleased.

“Anisha, I’m here to pass this to you as my sister asked me,” Abhimanyu replied, handing over the invitation.

“Sit down and have some coffee,” Anisha offered, trying to hide her curiosity about the invitation.

As she opened the invitation and read the handwritten note, she couldn’t help but compliment, “Your handwriting is prettier than I remembered.”

“So, Shivina’s getting married to Rohan? And she invited me to her wedding?” Anisha asked, her voice filled with disbelief and surprise.

“Yeah, I know you couldn’t believe it. Even I couldn’t but that’s Shivina for you,” Abhimanyu replied with a chuckle.

“I’ll be at the wedding since she invited me. Thank you for passing by here and for everything,” Anisha said, her voice softening.

Abhimanyu left the place with a smile, finally realizing that she’d changed for good.

After all the madness of the past week, finally, the day has arrived. The day that I waited anxiously; yes, my wedding day. I was getting ready for my marriage with the wedding dress and the ornaments which were given to me. My Bhabhi and my best friend Aisyah were helping me too. I was so happy that Aisyah made it to my wedding with her family.

Suddenly, I heard a knocking sound at the door, and my Bhabhi got to the door. I was stunned to see Anisha. I thought she wouldn’t come to my wedding.

“Hey bride, how are you?” She came smiling and handed me a present box.

“I’m fine. I thought you wouldn’t come to my wedding,” I replied, still in shock.

“Hey, I’m sorry for what I’ve done all this long. I regret. I’ve been so self-centered all this while. Whenever I see you both together, I go mad,” Anisha confessed, her voice filled with regret.

“Hey, it’s okay. The past is passed. I hope you’ll find a man one day who loves back to the moon,” I reassured her.

“After seeing how Rohan cared for you and how he was so attached to you until he broke down when you were in a critical condition at the hospital. That’s when I realized, Rohan will never love me the way he did for you I’ll never be able to love him like you do. You were willing to sacrifice your life in exchange for his. He suffered so much when he was not even wounded. I have known him since my childhood. I could see him happy with you which I’ve never seen in my entire life spent together with him. That made me realize that having chosen the right person who could make us happy is the only way you could be happy. And finally, help me to let go of him,” Anisha confessed, her voice filled with newfound wisdom.

“Don’t worry! You’ll get a person who deserves you well,” I comforted her.

“Thank you for teaching a priceless lesson that love will live either way. And you don’t need a person to show it,” Anisha said, her voice filled with gratitude.

“Okay, stop sentiments yaar. Don’t make me cry on my big day! Now I need your favor,” I said, trying to lighten the mood.

Anisha hesitated for a moment, her fingers hovering over the delicate fabric of the dress. “Shivina, I don’t know if I can do this. It feels like a lot.”

I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, offering a comforting smile. “You’ve already taken a big step by coming here today. You’re stronger than you think, Anisha. And having you as my bridesmaid would mean the world to me.”

Anisha’s eyes softened, her resolve slowly melting away. “Okay, let’s do this,” she said, a determined glint in her eyes.

With gentle encouragement, Anisha slipped into the dress, her movements careful yet determined. As she twirled before the mirror, a smile of genuine happiness graced her lips. “It’s beautiful,” she breathed, a sense of wonder in her voice.

I beamed with pride, feeling a surge of warmth at the sight of Anisha embracing this new role with grace and courage. “You look stunning, Anisha. I couldn’t have asked for a better bridesmaid,” I said, my voice filled with sincerity.

Anisha’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she turned to me, her expression filled with gratitude. “Thank you, Shivina. For everything.”

With a shared smile, we hugged tightly, the weight of the past finally lifting as we embraced the promise of a brighter future. And as we stepped out of the room together, hand in hand, I knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, we would face them with strength, unity, and a bond that had been forged through forgiveness and love.