Aisha's mother slowly pushed open the door to her room.
Aisha was already ready — sitting silently in front of the mirror. Her reflection looked back at her with eyes that carried a storm. She looked absolutely stunning — a soft pastel lehenga glowing under the warm light, her hair perfectly cascading down her shoulders, and her face calm yet burning with hidden anger.
"Aisha, come downstairs," her mother said with a nervous smile. "Everyone is waiting for you."
Aisha turned slowly, her lips tight, her voice low.
"As you wish, Mom," she said coldly, standing up.
As she walked down the staircase, each step echoed through the hall. Her anklets made a soft, rhythmic sound — like a heartbeat in the silence. The guests turned their heads one by one, their eyes following her descent.
But one man… couldn't look away.
Ansh.
The moment he saw her, time simply stopped. The laughter, the voices, even the ticking of the clock disappeared. The only thing that existed for him was her.
Aisha looked ethereal — elegant, untouched, and full of quiet fire.
Her eyes refused to meet anyone's, her expression calm but distant.
Ansh's mother smiled warmly. "Come, dear, have a seat," she said, gesturing toward the sofa beside her.
Aisha sat down gracefully, careful to keep her posture straight, her face expressionless.
But she could feel Ansh's gaze — steady, deep, and unblinking — as if he was trying to read her soul.
"Aisha, have something to eat," Ansh's mother said kindly.
Aisha shook her head gently. "No, thank you. I'm not hungry," she replied softly.
The room fell quiet again.
After a pause, Ansh's mother spoke with a smile, "Then tell us something about yourself, dear. What do you like? What are your dislikes?"
The question hung in the air, simple yet heavy.
Ansh's eyes instantly lifted. He leaned forward slightly, his curiosity alive, his heartbeat echoing in his ears. He wanted to know everything about her — her likes, her thoughts, her world.
Aisha hesitated, her hands clutched together tightly. Slowly, she lifted her gaze… and their eyes met.
And in that single glance, something shifted.
The world faded.
The air grew still.
Ansh forgot how to breathe, and Aisha — though angry, though determined not to care — felt something strange and unfamiliar stir within her chest.
For a moment, it wasn't a meeting of families.
It was a collision of two souls — one calm and composed, the other fierce and wounded.
And neither could look away.
Ansh's mother leaned forward slightly, breaking the silence with her gentle tone.
"Yes, Aisha, dear… tell us," she said encouragingly.
Aisha lifted her chin, her eyes steady and bold. A fake, almost sarcastic smile touched her lips.
"Well, aunty," she began with calm confidence, "I like sleeping, eating good food, and ordering people around."
The words hung in the air like a spark.
Her mother's eyes widened in shock. From across the room, she gave Aisha a sharp glare, silently signaling her to stop talking.
But Aisha didn't care — she returned that glare with a fiery look of her own, refusing to be tamed.
For a second, the room froze.
Then, out of nowhere — a faint, amused smile curved on Ansh's lips. He couldn't help it. There was something about her — that fearless attitude, that untamed honesty — that made him want to laugh and admire her at the same time.
His parents noticed his reaction and exchanged soft smiles themselves, quietly impressed by the girl's boldness.
Raghav, Ansh's younger brother, leaned slightly toward his sister Sanaya and whispered, "Bhabhi turned out to be pretty straightforward… she says exactly what she thinks."
Sanaya covered her mouth, giggling. "Oh yes, this is going to be fun," she whispered back.
But not everyone shared their amusement.
Ansh's uncle and aunt exchanged confused looks, clearly taken aback.
Finally, Ansh's aunt cleared her throat and said, trying to sound polite, "That's… interesting, dear. And what about the things you don't like?"
Aisha turned her head slowly toward her, her expression sharp, her eyes blazing with restrained irritation. The look alone made Ansh's aunt stiffen.
She leaned slightly toward her husband and muttered under her breath, "Why is she looking at me like that? What did I even ask? First, we had to think before speaking in front of Ansh… now I'll have to think before talking to her too?"
Her husband — Ansh's uncle — chuckled softly. "Well, she is going to be Ansh's future wife… maybe you should start practicing early," he teased.
Aisha forced another fake smile, her voice dripping with bold sarcasm.
"Well," she said coolly, "except for the three things I just mentioned, I dislike almost everything. But what I hate the most is when people ask me unnecessary questions… that's something I really don't like."
The words were sharp, clear, and confident — like a challenge wrapped in sweetness.
For a second, silence ruled the room again.
Then Ansh's aunt blinked, speechless.
Raghav and Sanaya exchanged another grin, struggling not to laugh.
Ansh's parents looked at each other — and smiled again, quietly amused.
And Ansh… he just sat there, completely lost in her.
Her attitude didn't offend him — it intrigued him.
He found himself smiling again, this time softly, unknowingly.
Because while everyone else saw a rude, stubborn girl —
Ansh saw fire.
He saw truth.
He saw her.
And in that moment… he knew, she wasn't like anyone he'd ever met before.
Ansh's father smiled warmly, breaking the lingering silence in the room.
"Aisha beta, and Ansh," he said in a polite, gentle tone, "you both should talk to each other for a while. After all, it's important that you get to know one another."
He looked at Aisha kindly.
"Aisha beta, if you're not comfortable speaking here, you can take Ansh to another room and talk privately. Whatever you prefer."
Aisha straightened in her seat, her expression calm but firm.
"No, uncle. I'm comfortable here," she said confidently. "I can talk right here."
Everyone turned toward Ansh.
He met her eyes, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Are you sure, Aisha ji?" he asked, his tone polite yet teasing.
Aisha raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, why?" she shot back instantly. "Do you want to talk in private? But what exactly do you want to say that you can't say in front of everyone?"
A low chuckle escaped from Raghav, who leaned forward mischievously.
"Yes, bhaiya, tell us," he said dramatically. "What's that top-secret thing you can only discuss in private? At least control yourself on the first day, bhaiya!"
Sanaya burst into laughter, covering her mouth, while even a few elders couldn't hide their smiles.
Ansh turned his head slowly toward Raghav, giving him a sharp, warning look — the kind of glare that said "Don't push it."
Raghav raised his hands in mock surrender, grinning.
"Alright, alright," he said. "Don't be so serious. I was just joking."
Ignoring his brother, Ansh looked back at Aisha — calm, composed, and quietly intrigued.
"Well," he said softly, "if you're comfortable talking here, then I have no problem either."
Aisha tilted her head slightly, her tone half-challenging, half-playful.
"Then go ahead, Mr. Ansh," she said. "Whatever you want to ask, ask it now."
Ansh hesitated for a moment, then asked with a faint smirk,
"Why, Aisha ji… don't you have any questions for me?"
Aisha's lips curved into a bold, teasing smile.
"Oh no, it's not that," she said. "It's just… once I start asking questions, you might not be able to answer any of them."
For a brief moment, silence fell again — followed by a few muffled laughs from Raghav and Sanaya.
Ansh, though, didn't laugh.
He just looked at her — that quiet, piercing gaze again — and smiled, this time deeper, more real.
Because in that single moment, he knew…
Aisha wasn't going to be an easy story to read.
She was going to be his favorite challenge.