The celebration didn't slow down.
If anything—
It grew louder.
Music shifted.
Laughter continued.
Haldi turned into chatter.
And yet—
For Anaya—
Something had changed.
Not outside.
But inside.
Because now—
She was aware.
Too aware.
Of him.
She stayed with the others.
Smiling.
Responding.
But her eyes—
Had a mind of their own.
They drifted.
Again.
And again.
Towards him.
And every single time—
She caught herself.
Looking away instantly.
"…stop it."
She whispered under her breath.
Because this—
This wasn't normal.
Or maybe—
It was.
And that thought—
Didn't help either.
Across the space—
Reyansh noticed.
Of course he did.
The way her gaze reached him—
And left just as quickly.
The way she avoided—
Without really avoiding.
A faint smile touched his lips.
Not obvious.
Just enough.
Because this—
He hadn't expected.
And yet—
It felt familiar.
"Careful, doctor."
Arya murmured beside him.
"…you're smiling."
"…am I?"
"…you weren't before."
A pause.
"…maybe things changed."
Arya didn't respond.
But he saw it.
Clearly.
A little later—
As people moved around—
As conversations overlapped—
Anaya turned—
Almost colliding into someone.
A hand caught her arm.
Steady.
"Careful."
His voice.
Her breath stilled.
Because of course—
It was him.
"I—sorry."
She stepped back quickly.
But he didn't let go immediately.
Just for a second longer.
Then slowly—
He did.
"You've been distracted."
A simple observation.
"…have I?"
A slight tilt of his head.
"You keep looking at me."
Her eyes widened.
"I do not."
A quiet chuckle escaped him.
"Then I must be imagining it."
"…you are."
But her voice—
Wasn't convincing.
Not even to herself.
He leaned slightly closer.
Not enough for others to notice.
But enough.
"Then don't look away next time."
A whisper.
And then—
He walked past her.
Like nothing happened.
But something had.
Because her heart—
Didn't settle.
Moments later—
She stood near the table.
Trying to focus.
Trying to act normal.
And failing.
"…you're overthinking again."
She told herself.
But then—
He passed by her again.
Close.
Too close.
And this time—
He didn't stop.
Didn't even look at her.
But he spoke.
Low.
Only for her.
"Some things don't need remembering… they just feel right."
Her breath caught.
Because that line—
It hit.
Deep.
Too deep.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
Because she knew that feeling.
Not from here.
But from somewhere else.
From words she had read.
From lines that had stayed with her—
Long after the page ended.
"…no…"
Her heart raced.
Because it wasn't exact.
Not word for word.
But—
Too close.
Too familiar.
Her mind connected it instantly.
That same tone.
That same depth.
The way it wasn't just said—
It was meant.
Her cheeks flushed—
Harder this time.
Because now—
It wasn't just him.
It was the feeling he carried.
"…why does this sound like…"
She stopped herself.
Because no.
That didn't make sense.
Again.
Same thought.
Same conclusion.
"…I'm overthinking."
She exhaled slowly.
Because that was easier.
Safer.
He didn't know.
He couldn't know.
And those lines—
They belonged somewhere else.
Not here.
Not with him.
And yet—
Her heart didn't agree.
Because for a moment—
Just one moment—
It felt like she wasn't reading those words anymore.
She was living them.
And that—
That was what unsettled her the most.
Across the space—
Reyansh glanced at her.
Briefly.
Because he had seen it.
That reaction.
That pause.
And something in his chest—
Tightened.
Because he didn't say that line randomly.
He never did.
And somehow—
It had reached her.
Even without her knowing why.
"…dangerous."
He whispered to himself.
Because this—
This was how things started slipping.
Not loudly.
But quietly.
Through moments like these.
Through words—
That felt too real.
The next morning arrived louder.
More alive.
More complete.
Because someone was finally here.
"ANAYA!"
Before she could even turn—
She was pulled into a tight hug.
"…you're late."
Anaya said immediately.
Trying to sound annoyed.
"…I came as fast as I could!"
"You missed my haldi."
"I know!"
"You always do this."
"I literally flew overnight for you."
A pause.
"…still late."
Ritika pulled back—
Staring at her.
And then—
Both of them laughed.
"…I missed you."
"…I know."
That—
Was enough.
Because some bonds—
Didn't need explanations.
A few moments later—
Anaya pulled her along.
"Come, I'll introduce you."
Ritika nodded.
And then—
She saw him.
Reyansh.
Standing there.
Calm.
Composed.
"Ritika… this is Reyansh."
A small smile.
"…my fiancé."
Ritika looked at him.
Polite.
Neutral.
"…hi."
"…hello."
For a second—
Nothing.
Then—
"…Reyansh?"
The name settled.
Something clicked.
A faint shift in her expression.
Not visible enough for others.
But enough.
Because now—
It felt familiar.
Too familiar.
Her gaze lingered—
Just for a moment longer.
Before she smiled again.
"…nice to meet you."
But inside—
Her thoughts had already started racing.
Later—
Away from the crowd—
Ritika stood with Arya.
And Reyansh.
"…it's you."
This time—
There was no confusion.
Reyansh didn't deny it.
"…yeah."
A pause.
"…she doesn't remember, does she?"
Arya exhaled slowly.
"…partial."
Ritika closed her eyes briefly.
"…of course."
Because now—
Everything made sense.
"…does she know anything?"
"…no."
Reyansh answered.
"…and you didn't tell her?"
Silence.
That was answer enough.
Ritika looked at him—
Not accusing.
But understanding.
"…you're scared she'll leave again."
His jaw tightened slightly.
"…I don't want to risk it."
A pause.
"…she's happy right now."
Ritika sighed softly.
"…and what happens when she remembers?"
No answer.
Because that question—
Had no safe outcome.
"…I won't say anything."
She said finally.
"…not yet."
Reyansh looked at her.
"…thank you."
"…don't thank me."
Her voice softened.
"…just don't let her get hurt again."
That—
Stayed.
Evening arrived with colors.
Mehendi patterns.
Music.
Lights.
The air felt lighter.
And louder.
"Dance!"
"No excuses!"
"Both of you—now!"
Anaya shook her head immediately.
"…no, I—"
Too late.
Hands pushed her forward.
Toward him.
Reyansh.
"…I think we don't have a choice."
"…I noticed."
A small smile.
Music started.
Soft at first.
Then steady.
And slowly—
They moved.
Not perfectly.
Not practiced.
But together.
His hand found hers.
Warm.
Steady.
And for a moment—
Everything else blurred.
No past.
No confusion.
Just this.
"…you're staring again."
"…you're distracting."
"…I wasn't doing anything."
"…exactly."
She looked away.
Smiling.
Because this—
Felt easy.
Too easy.
Later—
When the music slowed—
And the crowd scattered—
She sat quietly.
Hands resting in her lap.
Mehendi dark against her skin.
Intricate.
Beautiful.
"…let me see."
His voice again.
She looked up.
"…it's not even dry properly."
"…still."
He sat beside her.
Careful.
Not touching—
Until he did.
Gently lifting her hand.
His fingers wrapped lightly around hers.
"…it's darker than usual."
"…that means something, right?"
"…that the groom loves the bride more."
A teasing voice from somewhere.
She rolled her eyes slightly.
"…they say anything."
"…not everything is wrong."
His voice—
Lower this time.
Her breath stilled.
Because he hadn't let go.
His thumb brushed lightly near the design.
And then—
He paused.
"…there's something hidden here."
Her heart skipped.
"…what?"
He looked at her.
"…you tell me."
She frowned slightly.
Looking down.
And then—
She saw it.
A letter.
Carefully hidden.
"…R."
Her voice softened.
A small smile touched his lips.
"…coincidence?"
She looked at him.
"…maybe."
But neither of them—
Believed that.
A moment passed.
Quiet.
Their hands still together.
And for the first time—
She didn't pull away.
Because somehow—
That felt right.
Even if—
Nothing else did.
From a distance—
Ritika watched.
Silent.
Because now—
She could see it clearly.
The way they stood.
The way they felt.
Like a story—
That had already been written.
And was now—
Finding its way back.