Simran’s POV

The Sunday after our last call, Papa received a phone call from Sarthak’s father.

Maa was folding clothes, and I was helping her when Papa said, “Alok ji, Sarthak ke Papa bol rahe the… lagta hai ab date fix karni chahiye.”

{“Alok ji, Sarthak's father was saying… it seems we should fix the date now.”}

Maa’s eyes lifted toward me,

“Ab toh mahurat bhi nikalwana padega,” she said softly.

{“Now I will have to arrange for an auspicious time as well,”}

My heart gave a strange little thud - that flutter of realizing something real was about to begin.

---

That evening, both families gathered at our house in Karnal.

The living room buzzed with laughter and the aroma of chai.

I wore a simple yellow kurta and kept myself busy serving snacks, though my mind was racing ahead.

Sarthak came with his parents and younger brothers - Aryan and Mohit. They were full of energy, cracking jokes and complimenting Maa’s cooking.

“Simran beta, chai bahut acchi bani hai,” Sarthak’s mother Abha aunty said warmly, her eyes kind and glowing.

{“Simran beta, the tea is very nice,”}

Her words made everyone smile. I looked down shyly, pretending to fix the tray, though I could feel Sarthak’s quiet gaze on me.

Papa and Alok uncle sat together discussing dates.

“Pandit ji keh rahe the agla mahina shubh hai,” Papa said, flipping through his diary. “Dus tarikh Saturday ko.”

{“Panditji was saying that the next month is auspicious, On the 10th, Saturday.”}

“That’s perfect,” Uncle replied. “Bas fir to samjho fix ho gayi date. Engagement Jodhpur mein kar lete hain. Phir shaadi Karnal mein, sab balance.”

{"Then consider the date fixed. Let's get engagement in Jodhpur. Then we'll do the marriage in Karnal, everything's in order."}

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Maa looked at me from across the room, as if silently asking, Are you okay with this?

And I simply smiled.

Yes. I am.

---

The next few weeks flew by in a blur of phone calls, shopping trips, and teasing from my younger brother, Aarav.

“So, bhabhi banne wali, kitne gifts milne wale hain?” he’d grin.

{“So, how many gifts are you going to get as a sister-in-law?”}

“Don’t talk too much,” I’d reply, throwing a cushion at him. “You just want sweets.”

“That is true,” he’d laugh. “But you will see, I will look the most handsome on the day of engagement.”

Maa would roll her eyes. “Bas tu time pe ready rehna, Aarav.”

{“Just be ready on time, Aarav.”}

Our house became a happy mess boxes of clothes, jewelry trays, relatives calling with excitement. And somewhere amidst all the chaos, I found myself thinking more often about Sarthak.

What would it feel like, standing beside him in front of everyone?

Would it be awkward or natural?

Every time I imagined that scene, I felt strange feeling inside me that I can't explain.

---

The day before we were to leave for Jodhpur, I received a text from him:

Sarthak: “Everything’s almost ready here. Hope the trip isn’t tiring for you.”

Me: “A little packing chaos but all good. You?”

Sarthak: “You’ll see tomorrow.”

Me: “That sounds like a suspense.”

Sarthak: “Maybe it is.”

I smiled at my phone. His texts always carried that subtle teasing, and it felt enough to make me feel seen.

---

Jodhpur

The moment we entered Jodhpur, I felt the warmth in the air, not just by the weather, but by the people.

Their house was big but it was not overly fancy, it's beautifully built and surrounded by flowering plants.

Abha aunty hugged me like I’d been her daughter forever.

“Tumhare aane se ghar mein rounak aa gayi, Simran,” she said, cupping my face gently.

{“Your arrival has brightened up the house, Simran,”}

His father joined with a laugh, “Ab toh ghar poora ho gaya.”

{“Now the hone is complete.”}

And Sarthak - he was standing a few steps behind, watching quietly, with that familiar, steady look in his eyes.

He smiled when our eyes met, a small, warm smile that said more than words could.

---

The engagement day came faster than expected.

I woke up early, the sounds of preparations already filling the house.

Laughter, decorators shouting directions - the whole courtyard looked like a dream in marigold and white.

When I got ready in a velvety dark green lehenga with soft silver embroidery covering the border and a dupatta was designed with little silvey sequences and lace - as I stepped out of the room, Maa almost teared up.

“Meri pyaari baachi,” she whispered, fixing my dupatta. “Ab kisi aur ke ghar ki bhi beti banne wali hai.”

{“My dear daughter, Now you are going to become the daughter of someone else's house too."}

I held her hand and said softly, “Par Maa, aapke dil se toh kabhi nahi jaungi.”

{“But mother, I will never go away from your heart.”}

She smiled through her tears.

---

When I stepped into the hall, I saw Sarthak at the other end of the hall - dressed in a cream kurta with a subtle stole, simple yet elegant.

He was talking to his cousins, smiling a little, but the moment his eyes found me, he just… stilled.

For a second, everything around me faded.

He didn’t say anything, just nodded slightly, his eyes lingering with that same unknown emotion.

Someone whispered behind me, “Dekho, dulha toh bas Simran ko hi dekh raha hai.”

{“Look, the groom is just looking at Simran.”}

And I tried not to blush but I could feel the heat creeping on my face.

---

The ring ceremony going smoothly - laughter, teasing, pictures, all the usual chaos.

When it was time to exchange rings, he extended his hand first, steady and calm.

“Ready?” he asked quietly, just for me.

I smiled. “Just a little nervous.”

He chuckled softly, leaning in slightly. “Me too.”

As I slipped the ring onto his finger, our eyes met again - and this time, there was a spark of something deeper.

Like two people silently saying, Okay, let’s do this, together.

---

After the ceremony, everyone danced even Papa, which was rare. Aarav pulled me onto the dance floor, and then somehow Sarthak joined too, though he looked adorably unsure at first.

“Aap dance.. karte ho?” I asked, half teasing.

“Not usually,” he replied, smiling, “but maybe I just needed the right reason.”

“Which is?”

“You.”

I laughed a little, shaking my head.

“Honestly,” he said softly.

That was Sarthak. Just honest as always in the quietest way possible.

---

That night, as we all sat around having dinner, his mother placed her hand over mine and said,

“Simran, aaj se tu sirf hamari bahu nahi, hamari beti bhi hai.”

{“Simran, from today you are not only our daughter-in-law, you are also our daughter.”}

And I believed her.

Because in that moment, surrounded by both our families, laughter, and the soft glow of lamps, I felt something -

I felt home.

Hi love 💕

Kese ho aap sab..

So, how was the chapter? do share your reviews.

Have a great reading...

Milte hai kal ek naye chapter ke sath, till then bye bye byeee