Chapter 3: The Engagement(part -1 )

Riya's POV

The moment Riya stepped into the engagement hall, her breath caught. The venue was grand, decorated with marigold garlands, soft golden lights, and the sweet fragrance of roses. The warmth of the traditional Indian atmosphere surrounded her, filling her with a strange mix of excitement and nervousness. But none of that mattered as her eyes were drawn to one thing - Arjun Kapoor.

There he was, sitting on the stage, his back straight, his expression distant. But even with that cold, emotionless face, he was breathtakingly handsome. His charcoal-black sherwani fit his muscular frame perfectly, emphasizing his broad shoulders and the firm set of his jaw. His sharp, chiseled features looked as though they had been sculpted by the gods. The way his dark hair was swept back from his forehead highlighted his intense eyes, framed by thick lashes that most women would envy. Even though he wasn't smiling, his perfectly shaped lips were enough to make her heartbeat quicken.

Riya's gaze drifted lower. The way his sherwani hugged his toned torso, giving away just enough of his strength without being too obvious, made her stomach flutter. His posture was impeccable, exuding power and control, making her both nervous and incredibly drawn to him. Her mouth went dry as she tried to pull her thoughts together. She couldn't tear her eyes away from him, her mind betraying her as she found herself admiring his large hands, imagining how those same hands would hold hers in the next few moments when they exchanged rings.

Get a grip, Riya, she mentally scolded herself. She couldn't afford to lose her composure, not today of all days. This wasn't some romantic fantasy; this was her life, her engagement. But still, there was no denying it. Arjun Kapoor was far more than just good-looking. He was mesmerizing. Even his aloofness seemed to make him more attractive. She swallowed, blinking to break her trance.

The golden lehenga she wore shimmered in the soft glow of the lights, its intricately embroidered designs catching every eye as she moved through the room. Her dupatta, draped elegantly over her shoulder, was a delicate veil of netted gold, dotted with sparkling stones that twinkled like stars. She knew she looked beautiful, but all she wanted was for him to notice.

Riya took a deep breath and gathered her courage, walking toward the stage with a confident smile plastered on her face, masking the nervous energy bubbling inside her. As she approached, her heart skipped a beat. She waited, hoping that Arjun would at least acknowledge her presence. A glance, a tiny smile, a subtle compliment-anything.

But as she neared, he didn't look at her properly. Not even a glance. His eyes remained fixated on something else, perhaps the floor or the crowd, but certainly not on her. The excitement she'd felt only moments ago fizzled, replaced by a sinking feeling of disappointment. Didn't he see how much effort she'd put into looking beautiful tonight? She felt beautiful, but Arjun didn't seem to notice.

As they stood for the ring exchange, Riya's heart thudded in her chest. She told herself to stay calm, but her feet betrayed her. As she shifted to step forward, her lehenga caught under her sandal, causing her to stumble. A gasp escaped her lips as she felt herself falling forward, but before she could hit the ground, strong hands grabbed her waist.

Time seemed to freeze.

Arjun's hands tightened around her waist, steadying her, and for the first time that evening, his eyes met hers. His deep brown gaze locked onto hers, and Riya's breath hitched. She could feel the heat radiating off him, her heart fluttering wildly as they stood there, close-too close. For a brief moment, everything around them seemed to vanish, leaving just the two of them in that intimate, electrifying moment. The feel of his hands on her waist sent a warm shiver down her spine, and she felt like her legs might give away again.

But then their brothers' laughter echoed through the hall, snapping them both out of the spell. Arjun quickly let go, straightening himself, while Riya could feel her cheeks heating up in embarrassment. His brothers were grinning from ear to ear, clearly enjoying the moment far too much.

"Control yourselves guys , the guests are here" vivaan said teasing them .

---

After the heart-fluttering moment where Arjun had caught her from stumbling, the atmosphere between them shifted. As they stood before their families, ready to exchange rings, the tension was palpable.Riya's heart was still racing from the earlier incident, and she couldn't help but steal glances at Arjun, wondering if he was as affected as she was.

Arjun, however, kept his gaze fixed firmly ahead, his jaw tight, as if forcing himself to remain composed. The weight of the moment hung heavily between them, intensified by the lingering memory of his hands on her waist and the brief but intense eye contact they had shared. It made the simple act of exchanging rings feel anything but simple.

The priest signaled that it was time, and the golden rings were brought out on small velvet cushions. Riya's palms were slightly clammy, and she cursed inwardly for being so nervous. This was just a formality, she reminded herself. But when she reached for the ring, her fingers fumbled slightly. The earlier embarrassment of nearly falling was still fresh in her mind, and her hands seemed to have lost their usual grace.

She could feel Arjun's eyes on her now, his gaze sharp as he watched her struggle with the ring. Riya glanced up, her heart pounding, but instead of the cold indifference she expected, she saw something else-concern? Amusement? It was hard to tell, but it made her even more flustered.

When Arjun offered his hand for her to slide the ring onto his finger, the air between them thickened with awkwardness. His hand felt warm and steady in hers, in stark contrast to her own nervous, trembling touch. She could swear she felt a spark when their skin brushed, though she quickly dismissed the thought as nerves.

She slid the ring onto his finger with a shaky breath, and for a moment, neither of them said anything. The memory of their earlier closeness seemed to linger, a silent echo in the air.

Then, it was Arjun's turn.

He took the ring from the cushion with a steady hand, but when he looked at Riya, he hesitated for the briefest second. His eyes flickered to her face, and she could see a muscle in his jaw tighten as though he was fighting an internal battle.

He extended his hand toward her, and Riya instinctively held out her own, her breath catching when their fingers touched again. His hand was warm, strong, and despite his cold exterior, there was something strangely reassuring about the way he held her hand, guiding the ring gently onto her finger.

But the closeness, the weight of their hands together, made the moment feel more intimate than it should have been. Riya's cheeks flushed slightly, her heart thumping loudly in her chest. She couldn't help but wonder if he felt it too-this strange, undeniable tension between them.

As Arjun slid the ring onto her finger, their eyes met once more, and for a split second, it felt like the world had narrowed to just the two of them. Everything else-the guests, the rituals, even the teasing from their brothers-faded into the background.

"bhai, you're supposed to let go now," Rohan's teasing voice broke the silence, pulling them both back to reality. Arjun immediately released her hand, his expression unreadable, while Riya bit her lip to hide her embarrassment.

Their brothers exchanged knowing glances, clearly enjoying the awkward tension between the couple. But Riya barely heard them. All she could focus on was the lingering warmth of Arjun's touch and the way her heart still fluttered in her chest.

---

Arjun's POV

Arjun sat on the stage, staring out into the crowd, his mind a whirlpool of conflicting emotions. The engagement hall was bustling with life, filled with familiar faces, laughter, and the scent of fresh flowers. Yet, despite the festive atmosphere, he felt strangely detached. This engagement wasn't something he had ever wanted, and it still felt like a decision made by others, one he was obligated to follow.

But then, Riya walked in.

His breath caught in his throat, and he had to stop himself from visibly reacting. He forced his eyes to remain focused straight ahead, even as every fiber of his being wanted to turn and take in her full appearance. But in that brief moment when he had seen her from the corner of his eye, it was enough to make his pulse race.

Riya looked... divine.

She was wearing a shimmering golden lehenga, embroidered with intricate patterns that sparkled as she moved. Her skin seemed to glow against the rich fabric, and the way her dupatta draped over her shoulder made her look ethereal. Her dark hair cascaded down her back, and her eyes-lined with kohl-sparkled with life and emotion. There was something about the way she moved-graceful, yet confident-that made his throat tighten.

For a split second, he let his gaze shift toward her, but only for a moment. "No, Arjun", he reprimanded himself. He couldn't afford to get distracted. He was here out of obligation, and nothing more. This was a business arrangement, not some romantic escapade. Even if she looked soo... "no control arjun", he wouldn't let himself go there.

Arjun clenched his fists, forcing his emotions back into check. He could feel his brothers' eyes on him, teasing smirks plastered on their faces, waiting for him to falter. But he wouldn't. He had a reputation to maintain. He had told himself countless times that this was just a deal, a formality, and that emotions had no place here.

But then, as Riya took her seat beside him, he couldn't help but notice how close she was, the faint scent of jasmine filling his senses. He swallowed hard, willing himself not to look her way. He could feel her disappointment-she was waiting for something from him, a compliment, a glance, anything. But he couldn't give her that. Not now. Not yet.

As they stood to exchange rings, he noticed her moving slightly awkwardly in her heavy lehenga. Then, before he could react, she stumbled. Instinctively, Arjun reached out, catching her by the waist before she could fall.

In that split second, when their eyes met, everything else faded away. Her body was soft against his hands, and her wide, startled eyes seemed to pull him in. His breath caught in his throat. For the first time since this engagement was announced, he felt something-something he wasn't ready to confront.

But before the moment could linger, their brothers' laughter broke through the silence, teasing them for their accidental closeness. Arjun quickly released her, feeling a heat creep up the back of his neck. He straightened his posture, trying to shake off the warmth that had pooled in his chest. He couldn't afford to be distracted, not by her.

And yet, he couldn't deny it-there was something about Riya that made him feel... something dangerous.

---

Rohan's POV

Rohan Kapoor didn't do formal events well. He had spent the first half of the engagement milling about the hall, chatting with his cousins and downing far too many glasses of juice. Honestly, he would've preferred to be anywhere but here. But then, as he was walking toward the dessert table, lost in thought, something-or rather, someone-bumped into him.

He turned, irritated, only to find a girl holding a plate full of desserts. The entire plate had tipped, and now a glob of gulab jamun and syrup was smeared across the front of his sherwani. His eyes darkened with annoyance as he glared down at the mess.

"I'm so sorry!" the girl said quickly, her voice high-pitched with panic.

Rohan crossed his arms, frowning down at the sticky mess. Who the hell brings a plate full of desserts to a crowded engagement floor?

"Well, look at that," he said, his tone biting, "Look where you are going Miss ." he snapped at her , the rudest way possible.

The girl's eyes widened, and for a moment, Rohan thought she might actually burst into tears. But instead, she squared her shoulders and gave him a sharp glare.

"I already said I was sorry!" she snapped, her tone far more aggressive now, her earlier panic replaced with indignation.

Rohan raised an eyebrow, surprised by her shift in attitude. Most people wouldn't dare to speak to him like that, especially after making a mess of his outfit. "And I'm supposed to be grateful, am I? For this-" he gestured to the stain on his sherwani, "-disaster?"

Meera crossed her arms, her eyes flashing with defiance. "It's just dessert. It's not like I ruined your life or something." She glanced pointedly at the sticky syrup. "You'll survive."

Rohan's irritation spiked. "Just dessert?" He scoffed. "Do you have any idea how much this sherwani costs?"

"Oh, I'm sorry," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I didn't realize your clothes were more important than basic human decency."

He blinked, momentarily thrown off by her words. "Human decency? You're the one who ran into me."

"And I said I was sorry!" she repeated, exasperated. "What more do you want, a written apology?"

Rohan took a deep breath, trying to keep his temper in check. He wasn't used to people standing up to him like this, especially someone who looked as unassuming as her. She was small, petite even, and dressed in a simple light-blue lehenga that contrasted sharply with the opulence around her. But there was a fire in her eyes that told him she wasn't going to back down anytime soon.

"You should be more careful next time," he said coldly, trying to regain control of the situation. "Not everyone is as forgiving as I am."

Meera's mouth dropped open. "Forgiving?" She let out a disbelieving laugh. "You've done nothing but whine about your stupid sherwani since I bumped into you!"

Rohan's jaw tightened. "Stupid sherwani? This happens to be-"

"I don't care!" Meera interrupted, her voice rising. Several people nearby glanced their way, clearly entertained by the escalating argument. "It's fabric, okay? It's not the end of the world!"

Rohan opened his mouth to snap back, but before he could, Meera grabbed a napkin from the table and thrust it at him. "Here. Wipe it off yourself if it bothers you that much."

He stared at the napkin in his hand, momentarily speechless. No one had ever treated him like this. Most people-especially women-were usually so careful around him, either gawking at him or trying to impress him. But this girl... she didn't seem to care at all about who he was or what he thought.

Rohan felt a strange mix of frustration and amusement bubbling up inside him. He hadn't expected to have his ego bruised by someone who, in any other situation, he wouldn't have given a second thought to. But here she was, standing her ground, eyes blazing with anger.

"Fine," he muttered, taking the napkin and dabbing at the syrup on his sherwani. "But next time, keep your desserts to yourself."

"Next time," Meera shot back, "maybe watch where you're walking instead of acting like you own the place."

Rohan narrowed his eyes. "I wasn't the one carrying a plate full of sweets through a crowd."

"And I wasn't the one stomping around like an overgrown toddler!" Meera replied, her tone sharp.

Before Rohan could respond, vivaan , who had been watching the exchange from a distance, started to chuckle. "Looks like Rohan finally met his match," he joked, earning laughs from a few others around them.

Rohan's face heated with embarrassment. "Mind your own business," he snapped at Vivaan, but the damage was done. Meera's lips quirked into a small, victorious smile, clearly enjoying the fact that he was getting teased.

She gave him one last glare before turning on her heel, her long braid swishing behind her as she stormed off. Rohan watched her go, feeling a combination of irritation and frustration . He couldn't quite place it. All he knew was that she had gotten under his skin in a way no one else had in a long time.

Meera's POV

Meera stormed away from the dessert table, her cheeks still flushed from the encounter with at 'whoever it was'. Of all the arrogant, self-absorbed jerks...she fumed internally. Who did he think he was, talking to her like that? Just because he was tall, handsome, and clearly loaded didn't mean he could treat people like they were beneath him.

She clutched the edges of her lehenga, making her way through the crowded hall as fast as her feet would carry her. She could still feel the heat of embarrassment prickling at her skin, though she wasn't sure if it was because of the argument or the way everyone had been watching them.She has always been a shy and silent type and this was something new side of her which shocked even herself. The last thing she wanted was to cause a scene at Arjun and Riya's engagement, but that guy had pushed every one of her buttons.

Reaching the corner of the hall where her best friends were waiting, Meera let out a frustrated sigh. "You won't believe what just happened," she muttered as she joined them.

Meera slumped into a chair.

"What?" Nisha asked, eyebrows raised. "You look like you're ready to murder someone."

Ananya nodded, equally intrigued. "Yeah, that's very unlike you "

Meera let out a deep sigh, still a little stunned herself. "Honestly, I don't even know what came over me. It was ridiculous."

"What happened?" Ananya pressed.

Meera rolled her eyes and leaned forward. "Okay, so I was just minding my own business, right? I had this plate full of desserts because I figured, why not? And then I bumped into this guy-he was in my way. I swear, he came out of nowhere!"

Nisha raised an eyebrow. "Wait, you bumped into him?"

"Yeah, and my plate tipped over," Meera continued, feeling her cheeks heat up in embarrassment as she recalled the sticky mess. "Gulab jamun and syrup got all over his sherwani. I mean, it was bad, but not that bad. But this guy-" she shook her head, the irritation creeping back in. "He looked like I had set him on fire or something."

Ananya gasped. "No way!"

"Yup, he just stood there, glaring at me, as if I'd committed some sort of crime. And then, he started with the whole 'Look where you're going, Miss!' nonsense. Like, really rude. I apologized, but it was like he wanted me to beg for forgiveness."

Nisha looked shocked. "Wait... you? You argued back?"

Meera nodded, a little sheepish. "Yeah... and I don't even know what came over me! Normally, I'd just apologize again and leave, but this guy-ugh, he was so full of himself. He started going on and on about how expensive his sherwani was, like that was the end of the world or something."

Ananya chuckled. "Sounds like a real prince."

"More like a jerk," Meera muttered, crossing her arms. "So, I snapped back at him. Told him it was just dessert, not like I'd ruined his life or anything."

Nisha's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait...you said that?"

"Yeah, and he just kept going!" Meera threw her hands up, exasperated. "Complaining about his precious sherwani, like he had nothing better to worry about."

"I'm actually impressed," Ananya said, looking at her with admiration. "You're usually so quiet, Meera. It's like you turned into a completely different person."

"I know!" Meera replied, shaking her head. "It felt like he just got under my skin, you know? And then I told him to wipe it off himself if it bothered him so much. I mean, come on, it's just syrup."

Nisha burst out laughing. "Oh my God, I wish I had seen this!"

Not knowing someone was looking at her with a smile on their face admiring her laugh and unable to look away from her .

"It gets better," Meera added with a smirk. "I told him that maybe next time he should watch where he's walking instead of acting like he owns the place."

Ananya gasped, clearly in disbelief. "You really said that?"

"I know! I don't even know who I am anymore," Meera admitted, her hands going to her face in embarrassment. "And the worst part? He just stared at me like he couldn't believe I'd talked back to him. Then someone who I think is his cousin or someone ? He made a joke about how I 'finally met my match.' Ugh, everyone around us started laughing."

Nisha and Ananya exchanged a look of sheer astonishment.

"Wow," Nisha said, "I would have never guessed you'd stand up to someone like that. You're usually so... calm."

Meera sighed. "I know. But this guy just rubbed me the wrong way. I couldn't help myself."

"So... who was he?" Ananya asked, clearly intrigued.

"I don't know," Meera shrugged. "Some guy in a fancy sherwani. That's all I know."

As the words left her mouth, her eyes flickered across the room. Her heart skipped a beat. "Wait," she said suddenly, grabbing Ananya's arm. "Look, there he is! That's the guy I was talking about-the jerk."

Nisha turned to where Meera was pointing, her eyes widening in recognition. "Wait... what?" she breathed, her voice filled with shock.

"What?" Meera asked, confused by Nisha's reaction.

"That's Rohan Kapoor," Nisha whispered, her voice low with disbelief. "He's Riya's devar!"

Meera froze. "What?!"

"Riya's devar," Nisha repeated, her eyes still wide. "As in Riya's soon-to-be -husband's younger brother. The guy you've been arguing with this whole time... is part of Riya's in-laws family."

Meera's heart sank as the realization hit her. "Oh no," she muttered, burying her face in her hands. "I just argued with Riya's devar. I'm dead."

Nisha and Ananya burst into laughter, but Meera couldn't bring herself to join them. What had she just gotten herself into?

"I don't get why you're laughing," she said, frowning. "The guy was a total jerk."

One of her friends shrugged. "It's just... it sounds like he really did met his match with you. "

Meera's frown deepened. "I didn't stand up to him because I wanted to. He was being impossible!"

"But you kind of put him in his place, didn't you?" her friend teased, nudging her playfully.

Meera sighed, leaning back against the wall and crossing her arms. "I just didn't want him to think he could talk down to me like that. I don't care who he is."

Her friends exchanged amused glances, clearly enjoying the whole situation far more than Meera was. She couldn't help but feel a bit flustered as she replayed the argument in her head. She hated getting into fights, especially with people like Rohan Kapoor, who seemed to think the world revolved around them.

But despite her annoyance, there was a small part of her that was... pleased. Pleased that she hadn't let him intimidate her. Pleased that she had given him a taste of his own medicine. And maybe, just maybe, a little pleased that she had managed to get under his skin the way he had gotten under hers.

Still, as much as she hated to admit it, Rohan had a point. She had been a little careless with the desserts, and the syrup on his sherwani had been her fault. Not that she'd ever tell him that, of course.

With one last sigh, Meera shook her head, determined to put the entire encounter behind her. This was supposed to be a happy occasion-Riya's engagement-and the last thing she needed was to let some arrogant rich boy ruin her mood.

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To be continued...

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