the shared bride

Author's pov

The boutique was unlike anything Ira had ever seen.

Crystal chandeliers bathed the showroom in golden light. Rows upon rows of designer lehengas shimmered in delicate pastels and bold reds. Diamond jewelry sparkled behind glass counters. Every inch of the place screamed wealth-old money, effortless luxury.

Ira stood stiffly beside Pari, who was practically glowing with excitement.

"This is insane," Pari whispered, eyes wide as she admired a blush pink lehenga. "I've never seen anything so beautiful."

"Careful," Ira murmured. "Don't sound too impressed."

Pari nudged her with a grin. "Why not? This is our new life, isn't it?"

Ira didn't reply. She just glanced at the Rathores.

Ragini Rathore was busy directing the staff, commanding attention with the sharp ease of someone who expected to be obeyed. Dev stood beside her, already on a call, distracted. Ranveer and Rohan remained quiet, but each of them was watching-for different reasons.

Ranveer's gaze drifted to Ira more than once, but he said nothing.

Yugveer, on the other hand, hovered close to Pari but rarely looked at her. His eyes-unintentionally, helplessly-kept finding Ira.

And Ira? She felt it. All of it.

The pressure. The weight. The quiet staring that neither man acknowledged but couldn't seem to stop.

"Which one did you like Ira" - nandini

"Uh..... I don't know"- Ira

"I know because you have not seen this much beautiful dresses in your life before , but it's ok you can take your time afterall afterwards you will not be able to even breathe properly"- nandini said her eyes filled with mischef

Ira didn't understand what nandini was trying to say

Rathore's mansion

The Rathores had insisted on a family dinner at their mansion before the engagement-a final, casual evening to "bond" before things were made official.

For Ira and Pari, walking into that grand house again felt like stepping into another world.

Crystal chandeliers. Marble floors. Staff everywhere. Even the air smelled rich-like jasmine and old money.

Pari was all smiles, linking her arm with yugveer, trying to make conversation.

But yugveer... barely noticed.

His eyes flickered, subtly, repeatedly-to Ira, who followed quietly behind her sister, eyes down, her presence muted-but magnetic.

She wasn't trying to be seen.
That's why she was.

Ira stepped away from the group, looking for water. The grandeur of it all was suffocating. She turned the corner toward the kitchen when she nearly collided with someone.

Yugveer

"Oh-sorry," she said quickly, stepping back.

He didn't move.

"you are always escaping ," he said, voice casual but eyes unreadable.

"I'm not used to being stared at like a... guest," she replied.

"You're not a guest," he murmured. "You're going to be part of the family."

Ira offered a tight smile. "That's what they say."