The celebration blazed brighter than the fireworks outside. Music thumped, colors swirled, and laughter spilled through the grand hall like liquid gold. The Kothari family had become the heartbeat of the night.
Unnoticed, Veer slipped back into the mansion through the side corridor — the faint scent of grave dust still clinging to his clothes. His smirk flickered as his eyes found the family dancing.
Perfect camouflage, he thought, straightening his jacket and blending into the crowd with practiced ease.
The grand hall glittered like a dream — walls bathed in gold, the chandeliers raining light over hundreds of flickering diyas. The scent of jasmine and ghee lamps hung in the air, and laughter rippled through the crowd like soft music.
Yug, the undisputed mischief-maker, suddenly grabbed the mic from the DJ.
"Attention, everyone!" he declared dramatically. "The Kotharis are about to set this dance floor on fire!"
The lights dimmed. The beat kicked in.
🎶 "Main daalu taal pe bhangdaa, tu bhi gidda paa le!" 🎶
Yug leapt onto the dance floor with exaggerated bhangra steps, twirling in sync with the flashing lights. Beside him, Charvi joined with graceful gidda moves, her laughter like bells. The crowd clapped and cheered.
🎶 "Chal aisa rang jamaa de hum ke, bane sabhi matwaale!" 🎶
Gauri and Vihaan stepped in, joining hands as they spun to the rhythm. Vihaan, usually so composed, surprised everyone by matching Yug's energy, while Gauri's dupatta flowed like firelight as she twirled.
From the stairs, Raani and Veer entered with applause from the guests. "Move aside, amateurs!" Raani teased. She took the center, her crimson lehenga swirling like a flame.
🎶 "Mann kahe ke main le aaun, chaand aur taare saare!" 🎶
"Bring me the moon then!" Gauri teased Vihaan.
He smiled softly, replying right on cue —
🎶 "Inn haathon par main chaand rakhun, iss maang mein bhar doon taare!" 🎶
The crowd "aww"-ed as Vihaan brushed Gauri's forehead gently. The elders laughed — even Dadi hiding a smile behind her hand.
Then came the famous beat drop —
🎶 "Hello! Hello! Tu floor pe jab hai aayi!" 🎶
Urvashi, elegant in her emerald saree, stepped onto the floor with Sharda and Veena. The crowd gasped and cheered as the matriarchs of the Kotharis joined in. They swayed their dupattas gracefully, moving with surprising rhythm.
🎶 "Ye lo, ye lo, badi solid masti chaayi!" 🎶
"Hello! Hello! Too much hai tumne lagayi!" Yug sang, circling them dramatically.
"Ye lo, control karo mere bhai!" Vihaan shot back with mock warning, making everyone laugh.
The energy soared.
🎶 "Dhak-dhak, dhak-dhak, dhadke ye dil…" 🎶
All generations — young and old — clapped to the heartbeat rhythm.
🎶 "Chhan chhan bole Amritsari choodiyan!" 🎶
Dadi raised her hands, her bangles chiming as Gauri joined her, both laughing as the music carried them. The guests stood cheering, watching as even Shyom took a few good-natured bhangra steps beside his wife Urvashi.
🎶 "Raat badi hai mastaani, toh dilbar jaani, kar le gallan goodiyan!" 🎶
Yug spun Charvi; Vihaan lifted Gauri; Raani twirled around Veer. Confetti rained from above.
The beat shifted into teasing verses —
🎶 "Ye nain matakka tera, oye mujhe bada tadpaave!" 🎶
Yug dramatically clutched his chest, pointing at Charvi.
She laughed. "You deserve it!"
🎶 "Tu dekh toh ajj vi dil par kudiye, teer sa ik chal jaave!" 🎶
Raani aimed an imaginary arrow at him, shouting, "Bullseye!"
The lights danced across shimmering jewelry as the hall filled with warmth.
🎶 "Aahaa… kar de bin piye sharaabi, chehra tera gulaabi!" 🎶
Sharda joined Veena and Urvashi in a trio twirl, their laughter lighting up the room. Dadi clapped to the beat while Shyom playfully copied Yug's steps, making the crowd erupt with cheers.
🎶 "Koi kyun na yamla ban jaave, jo itni ho betaabi!" 🎶
Vihaan chuckled, pulling Gauri close for a quick spin. "This madness suits you," he murmured.
"It's Diwali," she replied, glowing. "Madness is the tradition."
🎶 "Hello! Hello! Dil dil se connect karna!" 🎶
Everyone — elders, siblings, in-laws — joined in a giant circle, arms linked, swaying together.
🎶 "Ye lo, ye lo, ye baatein direct karna!" 🎶
The DJ dropped the beat harder. Fireworks outside cast flashes through the windows.
🎶 "Dhak-dhak, dhak-dhak, dhadke ye dil, chhan chhan bole Amritsari choodiyan!" 🎶
Now even Dadi danced — her slow but proud steps earning a roaring applause from the guests. Veer offered his hand to help her spin, his polite smile hiding his dark secret.
🎶 "Raat badi hai mastaani, toh dilbar jaani, kar le gallan goodiyan!" 🎶
The energy was electric — generations united in rhythm, laughter echoing off the marble walls.
🎶 "Chana chanak tera pan dunga nak main toh!" 🎶
Yug and Vihaan acted out silly bird gestures. Dadi laughed so hard she had to hold Urvashi's shoulder for balance.
🎶 "Main kabootar phaseya te hor koi phase vi na!" 🎶
Charvi teased, "Seems like the kabootar's finally trapped!"
"Gladly!" Yug quipped, sending laughter rolling again.
🎶 "Ye baat na maine jaani, kyun itni khush hai diwaani!" 🎶
The family joined hands, circling the center diya stand. The flickering flames painted every face in gold — unity, love, joy.
🎶 "Tu mujhko aisi kahaani samjha de, samjha de…" 🎶
Gauri's eyes softened as she looked at her family — her heart swelling with gratitude.
🎶 "Hello! Hello! Don't mind mera yeh kehna…" 🎶
Yug jumped in the middle again, pulling everyone into one giant group hug.
🎶 "Ye lo, ye lo, zara mere touch me rehna!" 🎶
The crowd clapped wildly as the chorus returned —
🎶 "Dhak-dhak, dhak-dhak, dhadke ye dil, chhan chhan bole Amritsari choodiyan…" 🎶
The music thundered, the fireworks roared — and the Kotharis, all generations together, danced as one heartbeat.
🎶 "Raat badi hai mastaani, toh dilbar jaani, kar le gallan goodiyan!" 🎶
As the last beat struck, Vihaan lifted Gauri, Yug dipped Charvi, Raani twirled under Veer's arm, and Dadi raised her hand with a proud smile.
The crowd erupted in applause. The family stood laughing, breathless, radiant under the golden lights.
No one noticed the faint tremor in the chandeliers.
No one saw the small curl of black smoke drift from Veer's shadow as he smiled along with them — his eyes momentarily gleaming like a predator's in the dark.