Sanvi lay sprawled on her bed, a pen twirling absentmindedly between her fingers as she tried to write in her journal. The words refused to flow. Her thoughts kept drifting-to that night, to the weight of those stares, to Vedarth's steady, unexpected support.
Her phone buzzed.
[WhatsApp Group Chat: "#RishanjanaKiShaadi"]
Created by: Raghav Yaduvanshi
Group Description:
"Dulha-Dulhan nervous, baaki sab fearless. Powered by Raghav's overconfidence."
Raghav:
Welcome to the most iconic group chat of the year. Entry by invite only. Congratulations losers, you made the cut.😎
Anjana:
Raghav what is this nonsense???
Rishabh:
This feels illegal.
Raghav:
It is. Now let's focus.🤓
Sanvi:
If I leave this group quietly, will I still be forced to attend dance practices with people who can't count beats?👀
Vedarth:
Are you calling me rhythmically challenged?
Sanvi:
If the joota fits, wear it.🤷🏻♀️
Mahek:
OHHHHHHHHH WE ARE STARTING WITH ROASTS OKAYYYYYY.🤪
Anshuman:
I just joined and suddenly feel spiritually attacked. 🙃
Raghav:
Let's get this straight:
1. Dulha-Dulhan = Too sweet to manage anything.
2. Me = Creative director, emotional manipulator, potential threat.
3. Vedarth = Sponsor and sanity filter.
4. Mahek = Gossip committee head
5. Sanvi = Sass and aesthetics.
6. Anshuman = Introvert. Deal with it.
Sanvi:
Correction: I'm here to approve outfits, reject bad dance moves, and bully people into behaving. The aesthetics are just a bonus.😌
Vedarth:
She's not wrong. She already bullied me last night to eat her handmade halwa. (Not that I'm complaining.)
Raghav:
You're a certified SanviPaglu🎀
Vedarth:
Ajkal kuch jyada na bolne laga tu!?
Raghav:
Sach baat kehne mein kaisi sharam😌
Sanvi:
If anyone forgot then lemme remind you all.... I'm still in the group chat.
Vedarth:
Thank you, ma'am.
Sanvi:
🤨😏
Anshuman:
Can I mute individuals in a group or just myself?
Raghav:
Sorry bruh. But NO!
Anshuman:
🙂
Raghav:
Anyway, there will be a pre-sangeet performance. Couples. Duos. Chaos. Guess who's dancing together?
Sanvi:
No.
Raghav:
YES.
Vedarth:
I'm scared but intrigued.
Sanvi:
I hope your bones are flexible, doctor. I don't do boring.
Vedarth:
Pehle hamara performance toh dekh lijiye madam phir kehna boring hai ya fun.
Mahek:
Guys, I'm screen recording this. History is being made.
Rishabh:
Why am I even here if no one takes me seriously?
Anjana:
You're cute, that's enough.
Rishabh:
Wow. I feel objectified but also comforted.
Raghav:
Okay, assignments coming soon. Everyone check your calendars, prep your sass, and get ready to suffer. It's shaadi szn, babies. 😎🥳💥
Sanvi:
Bring it on. I eat chaos for breakfast.😌
Mahek:
And i eat drama! 😝
The next afternoon, Sanvi walked into the sprawling garden behind Anjana's house, phone buzzing with the group chat notifications still fresh in her mind. She spotted Vedarth leaning casually against the mango tree, arms crossed, already looking like he owned the place.
"Ready to suffer?" she called out, flashing him her trademark smirk.
Vedarth raised an eyebrow. "Only if you promise not to make me do the worm."
"Pfft, you wish. We're doing something way cooler." She pulled out her phone, scrolling through their playlist suggestions from the group chat. "Also, if you danced better, you gotta treat everyone ice-cream."
He chuckled, pushing off the tree. "Deal. But only if you admit you secretly want to win this dance battle."
Sanvi's eyes sparkled. "Oh, I plan to crush all you boys. You better start stretching."
As they went through song options and dance moves, the teasing was nonstop.
"Is that your signature move or are you just swatting flies?" Vedarth teased when Sanvi attempted a spin.
"Better than your robot impressions," she shot back, arms on hips.
Vedarth laughed. "Touché. But don't get too cocky; I'm a fast learner."
"And I'm your teacher. Don't embarrass yourself."
Amid the banter, Sanvi felt the old familiar warmth - not just of the late afternoon sun, but something softer. A trust building with every exchanged smile and playful jab.
When Mahek and Raghav joined them fifteen minutes later, the friendly chaos exploded again, and the garden turned into a mini warzone of dance moves, laughter, and constant teasing.
Sanvi caught Vedarth's eye for a moment, and in that look was the unspoken agreement that whatever this wedding chaos was, it was exactly where they both belonged. The garden was supposed to be the perfect spot for their first dance practice. Birds chirped, a light breeze ruffled the leaves, and the sun was just about right-not too hot, not too cold.
But peace was the last thing on anyone's mind.
Sanvi, Mahek, and Anjana stood in a half circle, arms crossed and glaring as the boys goofed off in front of them.
Raghav was attempting some wild breakdance move, arms flailing, nearly toppling over a tray of chai cups.
Vedarth was trying to keep Raghav steady while simultaneously dodging Anshuman, who had taken it upon himself to "teach" Rishabh how to do the moonwalk - which mostly looked like moon-stumble.
"Guys! Seriously!" Sanvi shouted, hands on hips. "This isn't a comedy show. We have a wedding to plan!"
Raghav grinned, winking at her. "Relax, boss lady. This is performance art. You wouldn't understand."
Mahek groaned. "Performance disaster, more like. My stomach is hurting from trying not to laugh."
Anjana plopped down on the grass, dramatically wiping her forehead with a scarf. "I swear, if one more chai cup spills, I'm out."
Just then, Anshuman tripped over Vedarth's foot, sending him crashing into the chai tray. Hot tea splattered everywhere, soaking Vedarth's hoodie
Vedarth blinked down at his soaked clothes, then raised an eyebrow at Anshuman. "Really?"
Anshuman shrugged sheepishly. "I'm just adding some spice to your look."
Sanvi burst out laughing, unable to hold back. "Spice? You just gave him a tea shower!"
Vedarth grinned despite himself. "Best spa treatment I've had."
Meanwhile, Rishabh tried to replicate a complex spin move but ended up colliding with Raghav. Both went down in a heap, sending a cloud of dust and grass flying.
Mahek groaned louder. "I'm done. If you guys don't get it together, I'm running away and never coming back."
Sanvi gave Raghav a pointed look. "Take notes, Raghav. You're the so-called 'creative director' and this looks like a circus."
Raghav raised his hands defensively. "Hey! Chaos is part of the creative process."
Sanvi rolled her eyes but smiled. "Fine. But next time, keep the circus contained."
As the sun began to dip, the group finally called it quits. Girls were exhausted, boys were bruised but amused, and the garden looked like a battlefield.
Sanvi stretched, flashing a victorious smile. "Day one: disaster. But we survived."
Vedarth nudged her. "Barely. But I have a feeling it's only going to get messier."
Sanvi's eyes sparkled. "Bring it on."
Everyone had left. The sun dipped low, smearing gold across the sky, and Sanvi was still fussing around in the garden, picking up dupattas and scolding the wind under her breath.
Vedarth watched her from a distance, arms crossed, a half-smirk tugging at his lips. He finally walked up behind her and said, "You know, this wasn't part of the choreography."
She turned, tossing a scarf in his face. "Neither was Anshuman's tragic attempt at breakdancing, but here we are."
He chuckled, catching the scarf mid-air. "You're bossy, you know that?"
Sanvi narrowed her eyes at him, smirking. "I prefer assertive. Bossy is what insecure men say when women don't let them take charge."
Vedarth raised a brow, stepping a little closer. "And do you ever let anyone else take charge, Sanvi Gupta?"
She tilted her chin defiantly. "Only when they prove they're worth it."
A pause. A hum of tension that wasn't angry-but definitely electric.
Vedarth's eyes flicked to her lips for just a second before locking onto hers again. "Careful. That almost sounded like a challenge."
"Maybe it was," she said coolly, walking past him-but not before letting her hand graze his arm just slightly. Just enough.
He turned with her, now facing her back. "You're dangerous."
She looked over her shoulder, mischief in her eyes. "You just figured that out?"
"I should stay away," he said, mostly to himself.
"Then why aren't you?"
Sanvi turned fully now, facing him. The space between them was close. Closer than it had any business being.
Vedarth leaned in slightly, voice dropping. "Because every time I do, you pull me back in."
Sanvi smirked, stepping closer too, until they were a breath apart. "Maybe you like being pulled."
He didn't reply. Just stared. The teasing had stopped-but the tension? Oh, it burned.
But just when the moment felt too real, too something, Sanvi blinked and pulled back with a laugh. "Well, Doctor Yaduvanshi, we wouldn't want a scandal before the sangeet, would we?"
Vedarth's smirk returned. "Too bad. I thrive in chaos."
She tossed a look over her shoulder, voice sing-song. "Good. Because I am chaos."
"I like this side of you," he said, voice low. "All bossy, dramatic, tiny hurricane."
Sanvi narrowed her eyes. "And I like this side of you-mildly tolerable when you're not being a menace."
Vedarth grinned. "Mildly? That's generous."
She shook her head, biting her lip to hide the smile creeping in. "You're exhausting."
"And yet," he murmured, "you're still standing here with me."
That shut her up. For a beat.
Sanvi's face shifted-sass softening, something tender flickering through. "You're dangerous," she said, quieter this time.
He tilted his head. "To your sanity?"
"To my peace," she replied, not breaking eye contact.
Vedarth moved closer. "Maybe peace is overrated."
Sanvi exhaled slowly. "You're walking on thin ice."
"I like the thrill," he said. Then after a pause, his tone dipped. "You keep pretending like you don't feel it. Like this doesn't scare you."
Sanvi's throat tightened. "And you keep pretending like this is all just... harmless flirting."
He stepped so close she had to tilt her head slightly to meet his gaze.
"What if it's not?" he asked.
Silence.
Then Sanvi looked up at him with that wicked glint back in her eyes, and without warning, she grabbed his collar, pulled him down just slightly-close enough for his breath to mingle with hers-and whispered, "Then prove it."
Vedarth's jaw clenched. His hand brushed the side of her waist instinctively, but she stepped back just as fast, leaving him stunned.
She smirked. "Too slow, Doctor. Looks like you need more practice."
He laughed under his breath, low and hoarse. "You're going to be the death of me."
"And you'll die with a smile," she tossed over her shoulder as she sauntered off, hips swaying, confidence blazing.
He watched her go, heart pounding, the scent of her perfume still lingering in the air.
Damn.
He was so screwed.
LATE NIGHT @ 1:47 AM
SANVI'S ROOM...
The fan above her spun lazily, doing little to cool down the chaos in her mind. Sanvi lay on her back, one arm over her forehead, the other clutching her phone. No notifications. No calls. Just... silence.
"Ugh," she groaned into the darkness, tossing her phone aside and turning to her side for the fifteenth time.
But no matter what, she couldn't shut off her brain.
His voice. His closeness. That look in his eyes.
What if it's not harmless?
That stupid line was playing in loops in her head.
And worse-she'd pulled him by the collar. What in the filmy heroine possessed her to do that?
"Stupid, stupid," she muttered, punching her pillow.
But then... that tiny part of her whispered, You loved every second of it, didn't you?
Her heart thumped harder.
He didn't kiss her. He didn't even move. He just... stared like she was some puzzle he'd never solve.
And for some reason...
That made it worse.
MEANWHILE - VEDARTH'S ROOM.
Vedarth lay on his back, one hand tucked behind his head, staring blankly at the ceiling. His shirt clung to him from the heat-or maybe from the aftermath of whatever that moment was.
"She actually grabbed me by the collar," he whispered, letting out a dry laugh.
But it wasn't funny.
It was maddening. Thrilling. Infuriating.
She pulled away before he could even breathe.
"She's playing with fire," he muttered.
But the worst part? So was he.
He kept walking into it, willingly.
He reached for his phone, unlocked it, hovered over her name on WhatsApp.
Typing...
Backspaced.
Typing again...
Backspaced again.
"Tch," he muttered, flinging the phone to the side.
His thoughts wandered back to the garden, to the way her fingers brushed his arm, to the smug look in her eyes after walking away like she won something.
"She thinks she has the upper hand."
Pause.
"She might not be wrong."
Next morning - Sanvi's room.
Sanvi stood at her dressing table, brushing her hair with more force than necessary.
"Get a grip," she told her reflection. "You didn't almost kiss him. You were just... being dramatic. Like always."
Her reflection didn't look convinced.
Why the hell did I pull him like that?
She thought back to the warmth of his breath, the look in his eyes-intense, unblinking, like she was the only person in the world.
Her heart thumped annoyingly loud again.
She scowled at herself. "Stop catching feelings. You've done this before. It ends in mess. Not again."
But the way she got butterflies when she thought of that moment?
The way her fingers itched to text him?
Yeah. She was already cooked.
Meanwhile - Vedarth's Room
He stood in front of the mirror, fixing his watch but zoning out every ten seconds.
This is bad, he thought.
He couldn't even look at her now without remembering how she whispered "Prove it."
He'd been to surgeries, dealt with trauma cases, faced furious senior doctors-and yet nothing had shaken him like her smirk after pulling away.
She was everywhere.
In his thoughts.
In his goddamn dreams.
You're falling, doc, his brain whispered.
And for the first time, he didn't argue back.
He stared at himself in the mirror.
"She's going to wreck me," he murmured.
But then he grinned.
"And I'm not even mad about it."
****************************
WELL.
They're cooked. Like over-boiled pasta in a soap opera kitchen.
Sanvi's sass met Vedarth's simmering stares and now we've got a whole five-course romantic disaster brewing, with a generous side of denial.
Honestly, I just gave them a little spark and they turned it into aSanvi lay sprawled on her bed, a pen twirling absentmindedly between her fingers as she tried to write in her journal. The words refused to flow. Her thoughts kept drifting-to that night, to the weight of those stares, to Vedarth's steady, unexpected support.
But let's not lie... we love watching two emotionally constipated people fall hard while pretending they're "just having fun."
Until Next Time-
With Love,
-The Author❤️✨
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