Chapter 4 – The Engagement Chaos
रंगों के मेले में छुपी खामोशी,
भीड़ के शोर में तेरी पासबानी।
दीयों की रोशनी संग आया एहसास,
भीड़ में भी मिल गया एक खास।
The Khanna residence buzzed with activity. Decorators moved up and down ladders, stringing marigold garlands across the grand living room. Silver trays of sweets cluttered the coffee tables, and a faint hum of laughter drifted in from the kitchen.
For Trisha, it was overwhelming. She stood near the entrance, clutching the edge of her dupatta like a lifeline. She wasn't used to so many people talking, smiling, joking—especially not about her.
"Trisha beta," Mrs. Priya Khanna said warmly, pulling her inside, "don't just stand there. Come, let me show you your room."
Trisha followed quietly, her gaze flicking nervously at the servants and relatives who turned to look at her. She felt their curious eyes measuring her, already judging if she was good enough for the Khanna heir.
The room Priya led her into was beautiful—soft pastel walls, a window with sheer curtains letting in sunlight, and a bed that looked more inviting than any she had ever slept on.
"You'll be staying here until the engagement," Priya said, brushing a hand over the quilt. "Consider this your home now."
Home. The word stuck in Trisha's chest. She only nodded, afraid her voice would crack.
---
Downstairs, Abhineet was cornered by his cousin Nikhil, who had an irritating grin plastered on his face.
"So, big man," Nikhil teased, nudging him, "arranged marriage, huh? Didn't think you'd settle down like this."
Abhineet shot him a warning look. "It's not your concern."
"Oh, come on," Nikhil pressed, "at least tell me if she's pretty."
Before Abhineet could shut him up, Nikhil caught sight of Trisha being guided back down the staircase by his aunt Priya. His grin widened.
"Ah, so that's her. Slim, delicate... like a porcelain doll."
Abhineet's jaw tightened, though he didn't know why. He didn't like the way Nikhil's eyes lingered on her.
"Careful how you talk," Abhineet said sharply.
Nikhil raised his hands in mock surrender. "Relax, bhai. I was only appreciating."
Abhineet's gaze followed Trisha as she descended. She looked uncomfortable in her pale blue salwar, her hollow cheeks giving her an almost ethereal fragility. But there was strength in the way she held her shoulders straight, despite all the eyes on her.
He respected that.
---
The priest began the small pre-engagement rituals. Relatives bustled around, offering trays of sweets and plates of gifts.
At one point, Trisha was asked to sit beside Abhineet for a ceremony. She hesitated, then lowered herself onto the cushion next to him.
Their shoulders brushed.
A current ran through her, so sudden she nearly flinched. She kept her gaze lowered, but she could feel the heat of him beside her, steady and grounding.
When the priest asked them to exchange sweets, her hands trembled slightly. She tried to hide it, but Abhineet noticed. Without a word, he steadied her wrist with his large hand, guiding the sweet gently to his mouth.
Their eyes met for a fleeting second.
Something unspoken passed between them.
---
Later that evening, the women gathered in the kitchen to prepare snacks. Trisha stood by the counter, automatically slipping into familiar motions—kneading dough, shaping small kachoris. It felt natural, like slipping back into the bakery.
Priya Khanna noticed and smiled. "You're talented with your hands, aren't you?"
Trisha blushed. "I... I have a bakery."
"A bakery?" Priya's eyes lit up. "How wonderful! No wonder these look so perfect."
From the doorway, Abhineet watched silently. There was a faint upward curve at his lips. For the first time in years, his mother was genuinely smiling, and it was because of this slim girl with hollow cheeks.
Meanwhile, Nikhil sneaked into the kitchen, stealing a kachori from the tray. Trisha gasped softly.
"You can't—"
"Relax," Nikhil winked. "If they taste good, I'll say you made them. If they don't, I'll say auntie did."
Priya swatted him playfully, and laughter erupted.
Trisha found herself smiling too, though small and hesitant. She wasn't used to such light teasing—it felt almost alien.
Her eyes flicked to Abhineet, who leaned against the doorframe. Their gazes caught. His expression didn't change, but there was something there—a quiet approval that warmed her more than the laughter.
---
By the time the rituals ended, Trisha was exhausted. She slipped out into the garden for air. The fairy lights strung on the trees gave the night a soft glow.
She leaned against a pillar, closing her eyes.
"You don't like crowds," a voice said behind her.
Her heart skipped. She turned to find Abhineet, his tall frame almost blending with the shadows.
"No," she admitted quietly. "Too many people... it feels like I can't breathe."
He nodded. "I know."
She tilted her head. "You don't like them either?"
"Not when they talk too much." His lips twitched as though that was almost a joke.
A laugh slipped out of her before she could stop it—soft, surprised at herself. The sound hung between them, fragile and real.
Abhineet's eyes softened at the sound. For a moment, he almost looked younger, like the weight he always carried had lifted slightly.
"Better?" he asked.
She nodded. "Better."
The silence stretched, but it wasn't uncomfortable. For once, it felt like she didn't need to fill it. He already understood.
---
Inside, Vinod and Anjali Mehra were already scheming, counting the Khanna wealth in their heads.
But outside, under the fairy lights, Trisha felt something new stirring in her chest. Something she hadn't felt in years.
Hope.
हँसी की खनक, नज़रों की बात,
छोटे पल बने दिल का साथ।
भीड़ में भी मिली एक खास हवा,
तेरे संग जगा उम्मीद की नई चाहा।
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✨ End of Chapter 4 ✨
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