The Shekhawat residence was unusually quiet that morning. Dhriti stood in the kitchen, rolling up her sleeves as she whisked batter for her favorite pancakes. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting a golden glow on the marble countertops. Bella and Coco sat obediently by her feet, their eager eyes locked on the promise of crumbs falling from her cooking experiments.

"Almost done, my sous chefs," she said with a chuckle, flipping a pancake with the flair of a seasoned chef.

The calmness was short-lived. The doorbell rang—a series of rapid, impatient chimes that could only belong to one person.

"Coming!" Dhriti called out, wiping her hands on a towel as she made her way to the door.

When she opened it, Saumya burst in like a whirlwind, her oversized sunglasses perched precariously on her head and her bright yellow kurta almost blinding.

"Guess who's here to ruin your peaceful morning!" Saumya announced, her voice as loud as her entrance.

Dhriti grinned. "Saumya, do you ever walk into a place like a normal person?"

"Normal is boring," Saumya quipped, pulling Dhriti into a tight hug. "Now, feed me! I could smell pancakes from the driveway."

Laughing, Dhriti led her to the kitchen, where Saumya immediately made herself comfortable, plopping onto a stool and dramatically sighing.

"You look like you've been through a war. What happened?" Dhriti asked, placing a plate of pancakes in front of her.

Saumya groaned, stabbing a pancake with her fork. "You won't believe it. My mom ambushed me this morning with news that sent my caffeine-deprived brain into shock."

Dhriti raised an eyebrow, amused. "Let me guess—another client disaster?"

Saumya shook her head, chewing thoughtfully before swallowing. "Worse. Much worse. She's arranged a rishta meeting for me."

Dhriti froze mid-bite, her eyes widening. "Wait...what?!"

"You heard me," Saumya said, her tone dripping with mock horror. "I woke up to find my mom planning my wedding with some stranger's biodata like it's the 1800s."

Dhriti burst out laughing. "Oh, come on! It's not that bad. At least tell me who the guy is."

Saumya rolled her eyes, pulling out her phone to show a picture. "Here. This is Mr. Perfect, according to Mom."

Dhriti leaned in, studying the photo. The man had sharp features, a clean-cut beard, and wore a crisp suit that screamed 'CEO material.'

"He's...handsome," Dhriti admitted reluctantly.

Saumya groaned. "You sound like my mom! She keeps going on about how he's successful, polite, blah blah blah. But do I care? No!"

Dhriti smirked. "So when's the meeting?"

"Tomorrow," Saumya said, throwing her hands up. "And guess where? Your place!"

"My place?!" Dhriti exclaimed, nearly knocking over her tea.

"Yup," Saumya said with a wicked grin. "Apparently, my mom thinks your house is the epitome of class and culture. So congratulations, bestie—you're now hosting my rishta circus."

Dhriti sighed, shaking her head. "Of course. Anything for you, drama queen."

Saumya leaned forward, her tone softening. "But seriously, Dhriti...I'm not ready for this. Marriage? It feels so final, so...binding."

Dhriti placed a comforting hand on hers. "I get it. But maybe just meet him? You don't have to decide anything right away."

"Easy for you to say, Miss Independent. No one's forcing you to get married," Saumya retorted, though her smile was teasing.

The two fell into an easy conversation, their laughter filling the house as they finished their breakfast.

The next day arrived faster than either of them expected. Dhriti's house had been transformed into a picture-perfect setting, thanks to Saumya's meticulous mother. Soft yellow and white flowers adorned every corner, while the fragrance of freshly brewed chai wafted through the air.

Dhriti flitted around the house, making last-minute checks. She adjusted the placement of a vase filled with freshly picked roses and glanced toward the kitchen, where Saumya's mother, Mrs. Raghuwanshi, was giving final instructions to the catering staff. The aroma of samosas, kachoris, and freshly brewed masala chai wafted through the air.

"Everything looks perfect, Aunty," Dhriti assured, placing a comforting hand on Mrs. Raghuwanshi's shoulder.

Mrs. Raghuwanshi nodded with a tight smile, her nerves evident. "Thank you, beta. I just want everything to go smoothly."

"It will," Dhriti said confidently. "Saumya is radiant, and Dhruv's family will adore her."

Upstairs, Saumya was putting on the final touches to her appearance. She wore a pastel peach saree with delicate embroidery, her hair styled in soft waves. As Dhriti entered the room, she found her best friend staring at her reflection, fidgeting with her bangles.

"You look like a dream," Dhriti said, walking over to fix a stray strand of Saumya's hair.

Saumya rolled her eyes, though her fingers nervously fidgeted with the edge of her pallu. "I feel like I'm walking into an interrogation room. What if they don't like me? Worse, what if they do?"

Dhriti chuckled. "Relax. You're Saumya Raghuwanshi—what's not to like? Besides, it's just a meeting. No one's asking you to pick out wedding invitations yet."

Before Saumya could respond, they heard the sound of a car pulling into the driveway. "They're here," Dhriti said, her voice filled with equal parts excitement and urgency. "Let's go."

Saumya's eyes widened in panic, and she grabbed Dhriti's arm.

"Don't leave me," she whispered fiercely.

"I won't," Dhriti promised, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze before leading her to stand near the entrance.

The living room was abuzz as Dhruv's family stepped inside. Mr. and Mrs. Rana, Dhruv's parents, exuded warmth as they exchanged pleasantries with Saumya's parents. Dhriti's mother, Mrs. Sekhawat, played the gracious host, offering everyone refreshments. Dhruv entered last, his presence immediately commanding attention. He was tall and composed, dressed in a crisp navy-blue kurta that complimented his sharp features.

Saumya entered the room with poise, carrying a tray of tea and snacks. Her eyes briefly met Dhruv's before she focused on setting the tray down. Dhriti observed from the corner, stifling a grin as she caught the subtle glances exchanged between the two.

Mrs. Rana was the first to speak. "Saumya, beta, we've heard so much about you. Dhruv's grandmother has been singing praises ever since she saw your designs."

"Thank you, Aunty," Saumya said, her voice steady despite her racing heart. "I'm honored she liked my work."

"Yes, Saumya is an incredibly talented interior designer," Mr. Raghuwanshi added, pride evident in his tone. "She has worked on several high-profile projects in Jaipur and beyond."

The conversation flowed easily, with both families finding common ground in their shared values and cultural traditions. Meanwhile, Dhruv's grandmother, lovingly referred to as Dadi, took a keen interest in Saumya.

"Beta, do you enjoy cooking?" Dadi asked, her tone gentle but probing.

Saumya smiled. "I do, Dadi. My mother taught me many traditional recipes, and I love experimenting with them."

Dadi's eyes twinkled. "That's wonderful. Our family believes that cooking is a way of bringing people together. 

At one point, Dhruv's mother suggested that the two step outside to talk privately. Saumya glanced at Dhriti, her eyes silently pleading for strength. Dhriti gave her an encouraging nod. "Go," she mouthed.

The two stepped into the garden, where a cool breeze rustled the leaves of the hibiscus plants. From her vantage point in the living room, Dhriti could only catch glimpses of their conversation. Saumya gestured animatedly at one point, her laughter carrying faintly on the wind. Dhruv, meanwhile, appeared composed, his hands tucked into his pockets as he listened intently.

When they returned after twenty minutes, there was a noticeable shift in Saumya's demeanor. Her shoulders were less tense, and her smile seemed more genuine.

"Well?" Dhriti whispered as the families regrouped to conclude the meeting.

"He's...interesting," Saumya admitted reluctantly. "Not at all what I expected, but...not bad either."

Dhriti grinned. "That's practically a love confession coming from you."

Saumya elbowed her playfully, though a faint blush crept up her cheeks.

"It was our pleasure," Mr. Raghuwanshi replied. "We look forward to hearing from you."

As Dhruv's family departed, Saumya let out a sigh of relief. Dhriti pulled her into a hug. "See? That wasn't so bad."

Saumya smiled. "It wasn't. They're wonderful people."

Dhriti laughed, linking her arm with Saumya's. "Come on. Let's celebrate surviving this day with some ice cream."

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

𓍯Author Ash𓍯

I wasn't happy with the previous version of this chapter, so I scrapped it and started fresh. It's a labor of love, written just for you, and I hope you enjoy every bit of it.

Like and comment if you enjoy reading this story.

Happy Reading <3

Byeee~~ ❤️

Published on : 04/03/2025