Time ka pta hi ni chla, and ek hafta nikal gya."

"Haina? And Aaj toh shopping par Jana hai."

"I am excited," I spoke.

"Before that tell me how I am looking? Is this okay or should I change? We are going shopping, am i over doing it?" I asked as I kept my phone in front of the window showing him my clothes through the phone.

"Calm down, Mrs.. Bansal. And you look so beautiful. So beautiful. And no. You are not over doing it."

My lips curled up into a smile,"Thank you ji. So aap kab aa rhe hai?"
(When are you coming?)

"Mom said we decided to go at 10."

"Oh, it's 9 now."

"Hnji we will meet in an hour." He said as he smiled at me.

"Hnji." I blushed.

'Ritika, eat your food!' my mom's voice echoed in the room.

"You haven't eaten?"

"Ni ji,  abhi ja rhi hu. Okay, I will meet you after!"

"Bye." He muttered and i declined the call.

"Ritika!"

"Yes, ma. Coming." I moved out of my room and sat on the sofa beside my mother.

"Aaj 10 bje jana hai, shopping k liye."  I nodded.

( We have to go shopping at 10.)

"Now we will stay here and I will handle all your work. So now handle all your job work in one week then take leave of 2 weeks."

"Yes, ma. I will take it."

"How much holiday is he taking?" My mother asked as she passed me the plate.

"Of around 2 weeks." I replied as I took the first bite of bhindi and roti.

"Oh, shi hai."

I nodded quietly, a smile lingering on my lips.

"Riya didn't come?"  Ritika asked as we all sat inside the car. Our mothers behind and both of us in front, me on the driver seat and her beside me.

"Ni, she said she will shop online and today she is busy with her board preparation."

"I see."

I nodded and started the car,"so ma, where do we have to go?"

"let's go to sector 17." I nodded and made our way.

"So, ritika beta, which color lehenga you want? Pastel or red?"

"Ma, red." Her voice echoed in the car and my eyes met hers.
Passing her a smile, I looked in front.

"Good choice. I also preferred red."

And in twenty minutes we reached the market.

The car came to a stop near the crowded lane of Sector 17. The chaos of honking, laughter, and vendors calling out filled the air, but somehow, all I could hear was her soft hum beside me.

Ritika's eyes sparkled as she looked around. "It's so beautiful here," she whispered, almost to herself.

I smiled, switching off the ignition. "it is."

Our mothers got out first, already chatting about fabrics and embroidery. I walked beside Ritika, watching her tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Her dupatta fluttered with the soft breeze, and for a second, I forgot where I was.

"Let's go to that shop."  My mother pulled me out of my thoughts.

We all moved towards the shop entering inside it.

"Woah" she exclaimed as she saw the various lehengas hanging. Each of different shades of red, some pastel.

"Welcome ma'am and sir." A girl's voice entered my ears.

"Thank you." We spoke.

"So, you want?"

"Bridal lehenga in red."

"Oh definitely ma'am. You came at the right place. I will show you the best piece."

"Sure."
I looked at her whose face was lit up, I wish I could hold her and peck her cheeks.
As if sensing my gaze on her, she looked at me frowning, I shook my head while smiling.
She smiled and my heart raced. Her smile was something that always healed something inside me.

"Chale?" She asked.

"Jrur." I spoke. But before i could move, my phone rang.

I sighed, "I am coming, it's from my boss."

"Okay okay!" She replied and made her way towards our mothers.

🌟

I hung up the call and made my way inside the shop.
My eyes scanned around, searching for them among the shimmer of sequins and silk.

And then I saw her.

There she was - my woman - standing before the mirror, wrapped in a red lehenga that fit her perfectly. Yet something was off. Her face wasn't glowing like it always did.

Our eyes met, and she gave me a pleading look. I frowned slightly.

A second later, my phone buzzed.

"I don't like this one. But my mother is kind of forcing me."

I typed quickly.
"You look absolutely stunning. But if you don't like it, then get another one. Buy the one you want."

"Thank you, I liked the one beside me, but my ma said it's too light."

I lifted my gaze from the phone and looked at the lehenga hanging beside her. Soft red with golden embroidery - elegant, yet simple. Just like her.

"Let me handle it, Mrs. Bansal," I texted back and slipped my phone into my pocket.

"Advik, you came," Mrs. Goyal said, smiling.

"Hnji, ma." I greeted politely.

"Good, now tell me - this lehenga looks perfect, right?"

"I also loved this one on her," my mother added.

I glanced at Ritika, who looked at me with wide eyes and that pleading expression again. I couldn't help but smile.

She looked so pyaari.

"It looks good," I said calmly, "but Ritika... can you try that one for me, please?"

Her lips curved into a smile - one that only I could read. I winked softly.

"Sure," she said, her voice light, already knowing I had her back.

And in minutes she came in front of me wearing the lehenga she had chosen for herself .
I darted my eyes from the floor to her. And my breath hitched. The lehenga looked perfect, but what truly stole my heart was the glow in her eyes. She didn't just look beautiful - she looked alive. Enchanting. The kind of beautiful to whom I could stare forever.

She turned toward the mirror, adjusting her dupatta lightly, and then her gaze found mine through the reflection. Her brows furrowed, a silent question in her eyes.

I picked my phone and typed,"so enchanting, so beautiful that I can't take my eyes from you. Mrs. Bansal. My heart is racing for you. And it can't handle this beauty."

I looked at her and a wide smile curled on her face as she read my message.
Soon a notification came, "can't stop smiling. Thank you. So, I should finalise it?"

"I hope you never stop smiling. And definitely yes. You look like a dream."

"Isn't it light?" My mother's voice brought me out of my thoughts.

"Ni, mom. I think it's perfect. It suits her." I spoke as i glanced at her in between.

"What do you think, Ritika?"

"Ma, i think it's better. I loved this one."

"Then let's buy it." My mother spoke as she smiled a little.

And as the shopkeeper folded the lehenga, I kept watching her - the way she tucked her hair behind her ear, still smiling faintly. That smile was all I needed to know that I had done something right.

A/n

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