Prerna's eyes widened in shock. "Ahad bhai…" she breathed, stepping closer.
Ahad turned to her, his expression hardening.
"Ahad bhai, how are you? And how is Aahil?" she asked softly, her voice trembling.
Ahad frowned. "You? What are you doing here? And why are you asking about my brother?"
Prerna swallowed, her voice breaking. "Please don't talk like that, Ahad bhai. I just wanted to know if he's fine or not."
Ahad let out a bitter laugh. "Oh, wow. Now you're showing concern? Where was this concern when you left him, huh? Tell me!"
Prerna's eyes filled with tears. "Please don't say that, Ahad bhai. I didn't want to… but I had to. Because of my family."
Ahad's voice rose, filled with anger. "I know exactly why you left him—because we don't have your status, your class, or your religion, right? Didn't you know all that before falling in love with him? Then why did you leave?"
Prerna shook her head desperately. "No, that's not the reason… I was—"
"Enough!" Ahad cut her off sharply. "I don't want to talk to you, nor do I want to see your face again."
He turned and walked away, leaving her standing there frozen.
"Ahad bhai…" Prerna whispered.
Just then, she heard a familiar voice from behind.
"Prerna…"
Startled, she turned and saw Dev standing there.
Dev looked at her with concern. "What happened? Why do you look so tense?"
Prerna quickly said, "No, I'm not tense, I'm fine." She forced a faint smile, trying to hide the tremor in her voice.
Dev frowned. "By the way, who was that guy who just left?"
Prerna's heart raced. She hesitated and then said, forcing a small smile, "Oh… that guy? He's just… my friend."
Dev nodded slowly. "Oh, okay."
Meanwhile, at the pani puri stall, Aanya said excitedly to the vendor,
"Bhaiyya, we're doing a challenge! You have to keep giving us pani puri non-stop, okay? Whoever eats more will be the winner!"
She turned toward Aryan with a playful grin. "Let's start, Mr. Aryan."
Aryan smirked, his eyes glinting with a competitive spark. "Game on."
The challenge began. Both started eating rapidly, one puri after another.
"Make it extra spicy!" Aanya told the vendor confidently.
A few minutes later, tears began streaming from her eyes, but she still kept going. She glanced at Aryan, who was eating calmly, not stopping for even a second.
Oh no, Mr. Aryan is eating like a machine! I can't lose this challenge, she thought determinedly and stuffed another puri into her mouth.
Suddenly, Aanya started choking. Aryan immediately stopped eating and leaned forward.
"Hey! Are you okay?" he asked, concerned.
Aanya coughed a little but waved her hand. "I'm okay, Mr. Aryan. Let's continue the challenge!"
Aryan frowned slightly. "At least look at yourself—you're already full, and you still want to eat?"
Aanya puffed her cheeks and said stubbornly, "I can't lose this challenge, Mr. Aryan!" Then she grabbed another puri and continued eating, even as Aryan watched her with growing concern.
He thought silently, Looks like this girl won't stop until she falls sick. I better end this before she does.
Then, clearing his throat, he said, "I'm done."
Aanya froze mid-bite. "What? You're done?"
Aryan nodded. "Yeah, I can't eat anymore."
Her face instantly lit up. "That means… I won!"
Aryan chuckled softly and nodded again. "Yes, you won."
Aanya raised her arms in excitement. "I won! I actually won the challenge!"
Aryan smiled and said, "That's enough."
Aanya grinned mischievously. "Well, Mr. Aryan, it's okay. I know how you feel since you lost, but it's fine. Next time, better luck!"
Aryan raised an eyebrow and looked at her silently.
Aanya continued, "So… since I won, as per our deal, you have to work on your anger management."
Aryan's eyebrow lifted even higher. "When do I have anger issues?"
Aanya shook her head with a teasing smile. "Mr. Aryan, please don't tell me you don't have anger issues. Everyone knows about it!"
Aryan sighed, slightly amused, and said, "We're getting late."
Aanya looked at him seriously for a moment, then nodded and started walking beside him.
Prerna stepped inside the house, looking a little tense. Devika and Nandini were sitting on the sofa, talking quietly.
Devika turned and noticed her.
"Prerna, you came!"
Prerna tried to smile. "Yeah, Mom."
Devika glanced behind her. "Where's Aryan?"
Prerna hesitated. "I… I don't know."
Devika frowned. "Then who dropped you?"
Prerna replied softly, "Dev dropped me."
Devika's eyes widened slightly. "Dev dropped you? Then why didn't you invite him inside?"
Prerna looked uneasy. "I forgot…"
Devika gave her a doubtful look, but before she could say more, Prerna said quickly, "Mom, I'll go to my room."
Just then, Aryan and Aanya entered the house.
Devika turned toward them. "Aryan, Aanya! You both came?"
Nandini looked at them seriously, her expression unreadable. Then she turned away.
Devika asked, " Aanya, Aryan said you had some plans?"
Aanya smiled nervously. "Well, aunty… actually, that plan got canceled, so…"
Devika frowned slightly. "Then why did you both come late?"
Aryan glanced at Aanya, leaving her to answer.
Aanya cleared her throat. "Aunty, actually… the car tire got punctured. That's why we got delayed."
Nandini looked at her sharply. "The car tire got punctured?"
Aanya nodded quickly. "Yes, aunty. It… it got punctured." She gave Aryan a nervous smile.
Nandini narrowed her eyes. "Suddenly?"
Aanya blinked and forced a small laugh. "Well, aunty… punctures happen suddenly. They don't inform and come, right?"
Devika tried to hide a smile. Aryan couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Nandini looked even more serious now, clearly unconvinced.
Before the tension could rise, Devika stepped in. "Okay, okay! Enough questions. Go to your rooms. Anyway, tomorrow is the haldi ceremony."
Aanya nodded politely. "Okay, aunty." She glanced at Aryan once before walking toward her room.
In Prerna's room, she sat quietly on the edge of her bed, her eyes falling on a silver chain lying near the mirror. The one Aahil had gifted her. She slowly picked it up, her fingers trembling as she traced the pendant. Tears welled up in her eyes, and before she knew it, they rolled down her cheeks.
Meanwhile, at Aahil's house, Aahil sat restlessly on the sofa, staring blankly ahead. "Bhai," he said softly, "please tell me what else Prerna asked about me… did she say anything else?"
Ahad sighed heavily. "Aahil, why are you showing so much interest in her? Forget about her. She's fine—she was just acting. But look at you! You're not eating properly, not sleeping…"
Aahil looked down, his voice breaking. "I can't forget her, Ahad bhai. I can't stop thinking about Prerna… no matter how much I try."
The next morning, the house glowed in shades of yellow and gold — laughter echoing through the halls as the haldi ceremony began.
Prerna sat quietly in a soft yellow lehenga, her hands resting on her lap. She tried to smile, but her eyes betrayed a nervous sadness she couldn't hide.
A few of the elder women teased,
"Just a little more time, Prerna! The groom's family will bring the haldi, then the real fun begins!"
Everyone laughed, and Prerna forced a gentle smile to match their cheer.
Devika chuckled softly, "Alright, alright, stop teasing my daughter."
Meanwhile, Aanya was busy arranging the flower trays and decorations. Her bangles jingled as she moved quickly, adjusting marigold garlands on the wall.
Just then, Aryan walked in — his eyes instinctively finding her.
For a brief moment, the world seemed to slow.
Aanya brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, unaware that Aryan's gaze lingered on her. When she finally noticed, he quickly looked away, pretending to check his phone. A faint smile curved on Aanya's lips.
A few minutes later, the groom's family arrived — Ankitha leading the way, holding the haldi bowl with a cheerful smile.
Tara nudged Aanya playfully. "Look who's here…"
Meera smirked. "Aanya's competition has arrived."
Nisha, Tara, and Meera burst into giggles.
Aanya frowned, whispering, "Stop it, guys."
Nisha leaned closer. "We're just telling the truth. Look at her — she can't take her eyes off Aryan!"
Aanya's smile faded. Her eyes flickered toward Ankitha, who was chatting and laughing, her gaze occasionally drifting to Aryan.
A strange, tight feeling coiled in Aanya's chest — a mix of irritation and something she didn't want to name.
"Sorry for being late, Prerna," Ankitha said in a teasing tone as she entered. "Here you go — we brought the haldi!"
Everyone laughed good-naturedly.
Devika stepped forward. "Here, beta, give it to me."
But as Ankitha handed over the bowl, it slipped from Devika's hands — splattering the floor with bright yellow haldi.
The laughter died instantly.
A stunned silence filled the room.
Aanya, Devika, Prerna, Ankitha — even Aryan — stood frozen, their eyes fixed on the spilled haldi spreading across the floor like a sudden, silent omen.
Nandini gasped, her hand flying to her chest.
"Oh no… what has happened?" she said in a worried tone. "This isn't a good sign."
Prerna looked at her in surprise, her heart skipping a beat.
---
End Of Chapter 45.