— Sangeet Night —

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The banquet hall glittered under a canopy of fairy lights and hanging crystal chandeliers. Deep hues of royal blue and gold covered the space, velvet drapes and rose petals making everything feel like a fairytale.

On the stage: a giant "Z❤️A" lit up in neon.

Sangeet night had officially begun.

Zoya sat beside Aarfa, both dressed in stunning lehengas — Aarfa in teal and gold, and Zoya in deep red that matched the glow of her cheeks. Bangles jingled on her wrists, her hair tied into soft curls with a maang tikka resting perfectly.

"Is he here yet?" she asked Aarfa, trying not to sound too desperate.

"Who?" Aarfa teased. “Your future husband who’ll cry if you don’t compliment his outfit?”

Zoya rolled her eyes. “Shut up.”

Suddenly the entrance doors opened.

And there he was.

Akif.

Dressed in a dark navy sherwani with golden detailing. Hair set neatly. Beard trimmed. The man looked like he’d walked straight out of a royal era.

Zoya forgot to breathe.

"Now that," Aarfa whispered, "is how you kill the bride with a look."

Their eyes met across the room.

Akif walked straight toward her — ignoring the noise, the crowd, the cameras.

“You look…” he stopped in front of her, eyes roaming over her shy face.

“You can say it,” Zoya murmured, half teasing.

“Illegal,” he said under his breath.

Zoya turned crimson.

---

MC Ayaan: “Ladies and gentlemen! Let’s begin the sangeet night with a performance by the bride’s team!”

Music started. Aarfa ran up first, grabbing Zoya's hand.

“I can’t dance!” Zoya hissed.

“Yes you can! You’re the bride!”

Before she could protest, the beat dropped — it was “Desi Girl”.

Zoya’s nerves melted away with the first step. She started swaying with Aarfa, laughing as the crowd clapped and cheered.

Then the tempo changed — “Tum Kya Mile” played softly, and Zoya danced solo, eyes locked with Akif the whole time.

It wasn’t choreographed.

Just raw, real emotion. A slow sway. A hand over her heart. A twirl. A smile. That look in her eyes.

Akif felt like the air had been knocked out of him.

“She’s dancing for you, bro,” Ayaan said beside him. “Marry her twice.”

---

Host: “Time for the groom’s side now!”

Akif stood up slowly. He wasn’t much of a dancer. But tonight?

Tonight he’d do anything.

Music hit. “Tera Hone Laga Hoon”.

He walked onto the stage, casual steps, hands in pockets — but that smile? That Akif Malik charm? Zoya was gone.

Girls screamed. Zoya glared.

“Oh really?” she whispered. “He’s not gonna live after this.”

He suddenly pulled a surprise move — mujra hands, a dramatic spin, and mic drop.

Everyone went WILD.

Even Aarfa fell to the floor laughing.

Zoya covered her face, shaking with laughter.

And then… a romantic medley began.

Akif held out his hand.

Zoya hesitated — then took it.

They danced. Together.

Slow. Close.

He twirled her once, hand never leaving her waist. Their foreheads touched for a moment, and in that bubble of noise, it was just them.

"You always this good at stealing my breath?" she asked, whispering.

"Only yours."

Aarfa from the side: “Okay okay, get a room!”

Everyone burst into laughter.

---

Later, Zoya was cornered by cousins, aunties, and Aarfa all teasing her endlessly.

“Are you even real?” Nida whispered. “That man is obsessed.”

Zoya smiled softly, looking at Akif from across the room — now laughing with his dad and Ayaan.

“He’s mine,” she said under her breath.

---

But not everything was laughter.

From the shadows, his aunt — the only one who still didn't approve — watched them closely. Her eyes held storms.

But not tonight.

Tonight, the bride and groom only danced.

They laughed.

And under the glowing lights and clinking bangles and cheering guests, love bloomed wildly.

---

“Tera~ hone laga hun, hone laga hun...jab se mila hun~”

~Anniewrites💋🌷