Ishani reached home around 12p.m.. She was exhausted and decided to rest for two hours. After waking up, she did some office work before starting to get ready for the party at 4:30 PM. The party was scheduled to begin at 7 PM, but she had to be there by 5:30 PM for a last-minute checkup of the arrangements.

On the other side, Reyansh and his family were also resting. Reyansh knew Ishani would arrive early, but he wasn't sure exactly when. So, he changed into a black t-shirt and grey joggers, rested for a while, and then began working on some office tasks in the hall.

At exactly 5:30 PM, Ishani arrived at the venue, already dressed for the party. She rang the doorbell, and Reyansh, who was nearby, got up to open the door.

As soon as he opened it, his eyes widened slightly. Ishani looked stunning in her outfit. Without thinking, he murmured, "Gorgeous."

Ishani blinked, a bit taken aback, and then felt her cheeks warm up. "Uh... thank you," she said softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

As she stepped inside, her eyes landed on Reyansh. Even in a simple black t-shirt and grey joggers, he looked effortlessly handsome. She found herself staring at him for a moment longer than necessary before quickly looking away. But Reyansh noticed.

A small smirk played on his lips. "You were staring at  me."

Ishani cleared her throat, trying to compose herself. "I was just... just making sure you were ready.

Reyansh chuckled. "Sure, let's go with that."

Ishani shook her head and walked ahead, pretending to focus on work while her heart raced. She had also called her workers in case any changes or fixes were needed.

"I just need to go through everything once," she said, scanning the decorations.

Reyansh leaned against the wall, watching her. "You always take your work so seriously."

Ishani glanced at him briefly. "Because it's important. Everything has to be perfect."

Reyansh smirked. "You're already stressing, and the party hasn't even started yet."

She sighed, checking her watch. "I just don't want anything to go wrong."

Reyansh chuckled. "Relax, Ishani. You've got this."

She gave a small smile and nodded. "I hope so."

With that, she went ahead to inspect the arrangements while Reyansh watched her,  with a hint of admiration in his eyes. The evening was just beginning and it was going to be an interesting one.
After checking all the arrangements, Ishani took a deep breath and looked around. Everything seemed perfect. Just then, Reyansh walked in, now dressed in a black suit. He looked sharp and confident, making Ishani glance at him for a moment longer than she intended. Realizing what she was doing, she quickly looked away, feeling her cheeks warm up.

Slowly, Reyansh's entire family arrived at the venue. One by one, they noticed Ishani and complimented her.

"You're looking beautiful, Ishani," Sunidhi said with a warm smile.

"Very elegant," Abhay added.

Avyansh nodded. "Ishani Di, you look amazing!"

Ishani blushed slightly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Thank you so much."

Just then, Shreya noticed something and grinned. "Wait a minute... you and Reyansh bhai are twinning!"

Ishani's eyes widened as she looked at Reyansh's black suit, realizing they were indeed wearing matching colors. Her cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink, and she quickly lowered her gaze, feeling shy. Reyansh smirked but didn't say anything, enjoying her reaction.

Before she could process it further, guests started arriving. The first one to enter was Dadi's best friend, Mrs. Khanna, along with her grandson. Mrs. Khanna was already familiar with most of the family, but her eyes landed on Ishani, whom she hadn't seen before.

"And who is this young lady?" Mrs. Khanna asked curiously.

Dadi smiled and introduced her. "This is Ishani, our event manager. But she's like family to us."

"Oh, how lovely!" Mrs. Khanna said, nodding approvingly.

Meanwhile, her grandson stood beside her, looking at Ishani with admiration in his eyes. His gaze lingered on her, making Ishani feel slightly uncomfortable. She shifted her weight and looked down, unsure of how to react.

Reyansh, who was standing nearby, noticed this immediately. A strange feeling stirred in his chest-jealousy.

Without wasting a second, he called out to Ishani. "Ishani, can you come here for a moment? I need your help with something."

Ishani turned towards him, a little startled. "Oh... sure."

She walked away from Mrs. Khanna and her grandson, still feeling flustered. As she approached Reyansh, she asked softly, "What happened? What do you need help with?"

Reyansh glanced at her, then quickly looked away. "Uh... I just wanted to check if everything is in place. The decorations, the food arrangements... you know, just a final review."

Ishani nodded hesitantly. "Oh... okay." She fidgeted with her fingers, still feeling a little nervous under his gaze.

She looked up at him and raised an eyebrow. "But Reyansh, you never worry about these things. Are you sure that's why you called me?"

He cleared his throat, avoiding her gaze. "Of course. Why else would I call you?"

She hesitated before replying in a softer voice, "You do realize everything is already perfect, right?"

Reyansh exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. Maybe I just needed to get you away from all that attention."

Ishani's eyes widened slightly, and she nervously tucked her hair behind her ear. "A-attention? What are you talking about?"

He gestured subtly toward Mrs. Khanna's grandson, who was still glancing in her direction. "That guy was looking at you like you're the only person in the room. It was annoying."

Ishani's cheeks turned a deep shade of red. She lowered her gaze and whispered, "Oh... I didn't even notice."

Reyansh scoffed. "Of course, you didn't. But I did."

She bit her lip, feeling shy and unsure of what to say. "Wait... are you... jealous?" she asked hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Reyansh crossed his arms and looked away. "Me? Jealous? Not at all. I just don't want any distractions before the event starts."

She nodded slowly, still feeling her heart race. "S-sure, Reyansh. Whatever you say."

Before he could respond, more guests started arriving, and the venue filled with warmth and excitement. Soon, Ishani's family also arrived, adding to the cheerful atmosphere.

The evening was just beginning, and it was already turning into an interesting night.

As all the guests arrived, Reyansh took the microphone and smiled. "Good evening, everyone. Thank you for being here tonight. We truly appreciate your presence. Now, let's begin with the cake-cutting ceremony."

Right on time, a helper brought the cake on a trolley, carefully rolling it towards the center. Before cutting the cake, Dadi looked around and smiled. "Wait, let's call Dada ji first. We should cut it together."

Dada ji was brought to the front, and the elderly couple, smiling warmly, cut the cake together while everyone clapped. After the moment was captured in pictures,Everyone starts giving gifts to dadi.When Reyansh gave gift to her, she said"Kb tk aise gifts deta rhega ab jldi se shadi karle or mujhe ek bahu chahiye ab"Reyansh gaze shifted towards Ishani unknowingly and Ishani also looked into his direction and then Ishani turned to a servant. "Please cut the cake into pieces and serve it to everyone."

She was about to leave when Vihaan, Mrs. Khanna's grandson, stepped towards her. "Excuse me, miss?"

Ishani paused, looking at him. "Yes?"

"I was just wondering," he said with a charming smile, "what's your name?"

Ishani hesitated for a second before answering, "Ishani."

Vihaan nodded, his smile widening. "That's a lovely name. It suits you."

Ishani felt slightly awkward. She wasn't used to talking comfortably with new people, especially when they complimented her. Still, she managed a polite, "Thank you."

Reyansh, who had been casually observing from a distance, noticed Vihaan's interest in Ishani. His jaw clenched slightly as he watched them talk. Without thinking much, he walked towards them and stood next to Ishani, subtly involving himself in the conversation.

"Everything alright here?" Reyansh asked, looking at Ishani first before glancing at Vihaan.

Vihaan raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Yeah, we were just talking."

Reyansh smirked slightly. "Oh, that's nice. But Ishani, I actually need you for something important. Can you come with me?"

Ishani, who already felt uncomfortable under Vihaan's attention, quickly nodded. "Of course."

Reyansh gently placed a hand on her arm and led her away, leaving Vihaan standing there. As they walked off, Ishani glanced up at him. "What was that about?"

Reyansh shrugged. "Nothing. Just thought you looked a little too uncomfortable."

Ishani lowered her gaze, feeling shy. "I... I was just trying to be polite."

Reyansh smirked. "Well, you don't have to entertain everyone. Especially not him."

Ishani's cheeks turned slightly pink, but she didn't argue. Instead, she let Reyansh lead her away as the party continued around them, the atmosphere now carrying an unspoken tension between them.
After some time Shreya smiled and took the mic. "Dadi, Dada ji, we would love to see you both do a little couple dance!"

Everyone clapped as Dadi and Dada ji, though a bit shy at first, took on the dance floor. Their graceful moves brought warmth to the atmosphere and soon, other couples joined them, filling the dance floor with love and laughter.

As the music continued, Mrs. Khanna, Dadi's best friend, turned to Ishani. "Beta, why don't you dance too? Vihaan, why don't you join her?"

Ishani hesitated. She wasn't comfortable, but saying no to Mrs. Khanna  felt rude. She forced a smile and nodded slightly. "Okay."

Vihaan smiled, offering his hand. "Shall we?"

The song Mere Yaara started playing in the background as they stepped onto the dance floor. Vihaan was respectful, keeping a polite distance, but Ishani still didn't feel at ease. Something about the whole situation didn't sit right with her.

From across the room, Reyansh saw everything. He had already controlled himself twice before, but this time, he couldn't hold back. His hands clenched into fists as he watched Vihaan twirling Ishani around.

Without thinking, he walked straight towards them and held out his hand to Ishani. "Dance with me."

Ishani looked up at him, her heart racing. She hesitated for a second before nodding. Vihaan, sensing the shift, took a step back and walked away.

As soon as Reyansh placed his hand on her waist and pulled her close, Ishani felt an unfamiliar flutter in her stomach. His touch was firm yet gentle, his grip protective.

Reyansh leaned slightly closer, his voice low. "You didn't look like you were enjoying that dance."

Ishani swallowed. "I... I wasn't."

His grip tightened a little as he twirled her. "Then why didn't you say no?"

"Mrs. Khanna  asked me... I didn't want to be rude," she replied softly.

Reyansh let out a small chuckle, his breath warm against her skin. "You really need to stop being so nice to everyone. Not everyone deserves it."

Ishani looked away, trying to calm the rapid beating of her heart. "It was just a dance."

Reyansh's eyes darkened slightly as he pulled her a little closer. "Yeah? Then why did you look so uncomfortable?"

She had no answer to that.

He smirked. "I bet you're feeling much better now."

Ishani's cheeks turned warm. "You're too full of yourself."

Reyansh leaned even closer, whispering near her ear. "Am I wrong,?"

A shiver ran down her spine. She don't know why he affects her this easily.

Ishani tried to step back slightly, but Reyansh tightened his grip just a little. "Where are you running off to? The dance is not completed yet."

She looked up at him, flustered. "I-I'm not running anywhere."

Reyansh smirked, his gaze locked into hers. "You sure? Because it looks like you're about to bolt."

Ishani's breath hitched as he twirled her again, his fingers brushing against hers. "I... I just..."

"You just... what?" Reyansh teased, his voice dripping with amusement.

Ishani bit her lip, looking away. "Nothing."

Reyansh chuckled. "You're so easy to fluster, Ishani. It's kind of adorable."

Her cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink. "Stop teasing me."

He raised an eyebrow. "Teasing? I'm just telling the truth. You're blushing so much right now."

Ishani glared at him half-heartedly. "Because you keep saying things like that!"

Reyansh leaned in slightly. "Like what? That you look beautiful tonight? That you fit perfectly in my arms?"

Ishani gasped softly. "Reyansh..."

He smirked. "What? Am I making you nervous?"

She lowered her gaze, unable to meet his eyes. "I... I don't know what you're talking about."

He chuckled again. "Sure you don't."

She tried to create some distance, but Reyansh's grip remained firm. "You know, if you wanted to dance with Vihaan so badly, you could have just told me."

Ishani's eyes widened. "What? No! It's not like that!"

Reyansh hummed, tilting his head. "Oh? Then why were you smiling at him?"

"I wasn't.." Ishani paused realizing he is just teasing her.

He laughed and said "sorry."

She huffed, looking away. "You're impossible."

"And you're too adorable when you're flustered," Reyansh whispered.

Ishani's entire face turned red. "I..You...Stop it!"

Reyansh chuckled, clearly enjoying how shy she had become. "Okay, okay. But only if you admit you like dancing with me more than Vihaan."

She stammered. "T-That's not..."

Reyansh leaned in, their foreheads almost touching, his voice low and soft. "Say it, Ishani."

She looked down, barely managing to whisper, "I do."

His smirk softened into a genuine smile. "That's all I needed to hear."

The song continued, and for the first time that evening, Ishani felt like she didn't want it to end.She felt herself getting lost in the moment. Every time Reyansh's hand touched her waist, an unfamiliar sensation ran through her body. Her fingers instinctively tightened around his shirt, seeking stability.

Reyansh smirked, noticing her reaction. "Holding on to me for support?"

Ishani's face heated up. "N-No, I just..." She tried to loosen her grip, but he only chuckled.

"It's okay," he murmured, leaning closer. "You can hold on to me for as long as you want."

Her heart pounded as she looked away. "You talk too much."

He smirked. "And you get shy too much. It's fun to watch."

She glared at him, trying to hide her flustered state. "Y-you-you're bad ."

Reyansh chuckled softly. "And yet, you didn't let go of my shirt."

Ishani immediately released his shirt, flustered. "I wasn't even- !"Before she completed her sentence Reyansh twirled her once more, catching her as she stumbled slightly. "Careful," he whispered, his voice soft yet teasing. "Wouldn't want you falling for me now, would we?"

Ishani's breath hitched. "Y-Yeah I mean N-No"

Reyansh laughed. "Relax, Ishani. You're safe with me."

She looked up at him, her heart still racing. And for the first time, she didn't doubt his words.

 The song came to an end, Ishani quickly stepped back, trying to calm her racing heart. She avoided Reyansh's gaze, afraid that he might see the effect he had on her.

Reyansh smirked, noticing her flustered state. "Running away so soon again?"

Ishani tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "The song is over, so..."

"So?" Reyansh stepped a little closer, lowering his voice. "Didn't want to dance for a little longer?"

"N-No," she stammered, looking anywhere but at him.

Before he could tease her further, Shreya appeared with a wide grin. "Wow, you two looked amazing together!" Her cheeks warmed again as Shreya's words made her even more self-conscious.

Reyansh glanced at Ishani with a knowing smirk. 

As the conversation continued,Vihaan joined them and  was looking at Ishani again - with admiration. Reyansh jaw tightened slightly, an  irritation bubbling within him.

Just then, Vihaan spoke . "You did an amazing job with the decorations. Everything looks perfect."

Ishani felt a little awkward but smiled politely. "Thank you. I'm glad you liked it."

Reyansh, who had been standing silently, suddenly stepped closer, placing a hand lightly on Ishani's back. "She's very talented," he said, his voice smooth yet firm. "That's why we trust her with everything."

Ishani's breath caught at the sudden contact. She felt a strange warmth spread through her as Reyansh's presence grew more protective.

Vihaan nodded. "I can see that. You must be proud of her work."

Reyansh's lips curved slightly. "Very."

Ishani, now completely flustered, cleared her throat. "I should go check on the catering. Excuse me."

Before she could take a step, Reyansh leaned in slightly. "I'll come with you."

Ishani blinked. "That's not necessary"

"I insist." His voice left no room for argument.

As they walked away, Ishani could feel the weight of his presence beside her. She dared to glance at him. "You didn't have to do that, you know."

Reyansh raised an eyebrow. "Do what?"

"Step in like that," she said softly. "Vihaan was just being nice."

Reyansh smirked. "Maybe. But I didn't like the way he was looking at you."

Ishani's heart skipped a beat. "W-Why does that matter?"

He turned to her, his gaze intense. "Because I don't like sharing what's mine."

Ishani's eyes widened. "I... I'm not.."

Reyansh chuckled, enjoying her flustered state. "Relax, Ishani. I was just messing with you."

She exhaled sharply, looking away. "You are too much"

"And you're adorable when you're flustered," he teased.

Ishani huffed but couldn't deny the butterflies swirling inside her. One thing was clear , Reyansh had a way of making her heart race like no one else.
 The party began winding down, guests started saying their goodbyes, exchanging warm smiles and handshakes. The evening had been a success, and Ishani finally felt a sense of relief wash over her.

Reyansh, noticing her exhaustion, leaned in slightly. "Tired?"

Ishani nodded, rubbing her arms. "A little. But I'm glad everything went smoothly."

Dadi and Dada Ji came forward, thanking everyone for coming. "We're so grateful to all of you for making this evening so special," Dadi said warmly.

Mrs. Khanna smiled. "It was a beautiful celebration. And I must say, Ishani did a fantastic job."

Ishani blushed at the compliment. "Thank you aunty."

Vihaan, who had been standing nearby, took a step forward. "Before we all leave, can I get a picture with the host and our talented event manager?"

Ishani felt a little hesitant, but before she could respond, Reyansh smoothly stepped in. "Why not? Let's get a group picture instead."

As the photographer clicked the pictures, Reyansh stood next to Ishani, his hand resting lightly on her back. Every time his fingers brushed against her, she felt her heartbeat quicken.

After the photos, the guests slowly started leaving, and the Kapoor family gathered in the living area. Shreya stretched with a happy sigh. "That was an amazing party! And Ishani di, you were incredible!"

Dadi nodded in agreement. "We are lucky to have you, beta."

Ishani smiled, feeling a warmth she hadn't expected. "It was my pleasure. I should get going now."

Reyansh, who had been quiet for a moment, spoke up. "I'll drop you.Your family has already left and Ashirit has taken your car as he have to go somewhere else "

Ishani blinked. "That's not necessary"

"I insist, it's late" Reyansh said, his tone firm but gentle.

Dadi smiled knowingly. "That's a good idea, Reyansh. Make sure she reaches home safely."

With no way out, Ishani nodded, her heart racing again. As they walked out to his car, the cool night breeze made her shiver slightly.

Reyansh noticed and, without a word, draped his blazer over her shoulders. "Here."

Ishani's breath hitched. "T-Thank you."

As he drove, silence filled the car, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was... something else. Something unspoken.

When they finally reached her house, she turned to him. "Thanks for the ride. And for... everything."

Reyansh looked at her, his eyes unreadable. "Get some rest, Ishani."

She nodded and stepped out, but as she reached the door, she couldn't help but glance back. Reyansh was still there, watching her, his expression softer than she had ever seen before.

As she stepped inside, she placed a hand over her racing heart, realizing one thing , tonight had changed something between them.
After that She entered her room and  quickly changed into her nightwear and lay down on the bed. The day had been long, but before she could relax, a thought crossed her mind - had Reyansh reached home safely?

She grabbed her phone and typed a message.

Ishani: "Did you reach home?"

She waited, staring at the screen. After a few minutes, her phone buzzed.

Reyansh:" Yeah, just five minutes ago. I was changing."

Ishani: "Oh... you must be tired?"

Reyansh:" A little, but not as much as you."

Ishani: "How do you know?"

Reyansh:" You were running around the whole day. I was just enjoying."

Ishani:  "making fun of me?"

Reyansh: "No, I'm serious. You handled everything so well. Even Dadi was praising you."

Ishani felt her cheeks warm up as she read his message. She bit her lip and quickly typed a reply.

Ishani: "ohh".she doesn't know what else to say.

Reyansh: "Blushing?"

Ishani's eyes widened. How did he know?

Ishani: "No! Why would I?"

Reyansh: "Hmm... you definitely are shying Miss.Kapoor That's why you're saying this ".

Ishani smiled softly and typed" Stop it."

Reyansh:" Haha okay, okay. By the way, you looked beautiful tonight."

Ishani's heart skipped a beat. She stared at the screen, not knowing what to reply.

Ishani:" Umm you already complimented me ... but  thanks again ."

Reyansh:" Just thanks?"

Ishani: "What else should I say?"

Reyansh:" Maybe tell me how I looked?"

Ishani hesitated before typing.

Ishani:" You... looked nice too."

Reyansh: "Just nice?"

Ishani don't know what else to type she texted him" Goodnight!"

Reyansh: "Haha, okay. Good night, Miss Event Manager".

Ishani locked her phone, pressing it to her chest for a moment. She could still feel the warmth on her cheeks. With a small, shy smile, she turned off the lights and drifted off to sleep, feeling lighter than ever.And same with Reyansh he also drifted off to sleep.

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