**Chapter 5: The Moment Between Dreams**

The festive season in Mumbai was in full swing. The streets were alive with twinkling lights, the laughter of children, and the scent of warm gulab jamun wafting from every corner sweet shop. For Hardik and Avyanshi, the holiday buzz was more than a backdrop—it mirrored the joy and anticipation in their hearts. Their foundation, once a small dream scribbled on café napkins, was now a living, breathing reality, touching lives and creating opportunities for children across the city. Amidst the chaos of their mission, something deeper had blossomed between them—something neither could ignore.

---

The Community Event: A Night to Remember

The community event had been months in the making, a labor of love that demanded long nights and endless planning. On the day of the event, the venue came alive with vibrant colors and bustling energy. Rows of bright banners bearing the foundation's name, Dreamscapes, lined the entryway. The grounds were dotted with art stations, reading corners, and game stalls, each designed to inspire creativity and joy. Fairy lights hung in soft arcs across the trees, casting a magical glow over the evening.

Families began trickling in just before sunset, the children's faces lighting up with wonder as they took in the festivities. Volunteers welcomed them with warm smiles, guiding them to different activity zones. Hardik, stationed at the entrance, greeted each family personally, feeling a surge of pride with every child who walked in.

Avyanshi, on the other hand, moved through the crowd like a gentle whirlwind. She stopped to kneel by a boy clutching a crumpled piece of paper. "What's this?" she asked with a kind smile.

"It's my drawing," the boy mumbled, hesitant. "But it's not good."

Avyanshi unfolded the paper carefully, revealing a crude but earnest sketch of a rocket. "Are you kidding? This is amazing!" she exclaimed. "Is this going to the moon?"

The boy's face broke into a shy grin. "Yes, someday."

"I believe you," she said, ruffling his hair. "Keep dreaming big."

Nearby, Hardik watched her with a mix of admiration and affection. Her ability to connect with people, especially children, was unparalleled. She didn't just listen—she made everyone she spoke to feel seen and valued.

"You're staring," Priya teased, balancing a tray of refreshments as she passed him.

Hardik grinned, rubbing the back of his neck. "Just admiring the event."

"Right," Priya said, her voice laced with mischief. "The event."

---

The evening unfolded beautifully. Children painted sprawling murals depicting their dreams, while storytellers brought classic tales to life in the reading corner. At the game stalls, cheers erupted as children won prizes ranging from simple toys to books donated by local businesses.

At one art station, a little girl hesitated to show her painting, clutching it to her chest. Avyanshi crouched beside her, gently coaxing her to reveal it. The painting was a simple depiction of a house surrounded by flowers.

"This is beautiful," Avyanshi said sincerely. "Is this your home?"

The girl nodded shyly. "It's what I want to build for my family someday."

"You will," Avyanshi said, her voice warm and firm. "And when you do, I hope you paint flowers like these in the garden."

Hardik approached her as the girl ran off to show her painting to her parents. "You have a way of making everyone feel unstoppable," he said.

She smiled up at him, her silver eyes reflecting the fairy lights above. "Sometimes, all it takes is someone believing in you."

The moment lingered between them, charged with unspoken emotions. For Hardik, the event was more than a milestone for their foundation—it was a testament to what they could achieve together. It solidified his resolve. He had to tell her how he felt.

---

The Invitation

As the event wound down and families began to leave, Hardik found a moment to pull Avyanshi aside. The glow of the fairy lights illuminated her face, and his heart swelled as he watched her tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

"You've been incredible tonight," he said, his voice low and sincere. "None of this would've been possible without you."

She laughed softly. "You give me too much credit, Hardik. This was a team effort."

He hesitated, the weight of his unspoken feelings pressing down on him. Finally, he said, "Can you meet me tomorrow evening at the Hanging Gardens? There's something important I want to talk to you about."

Her curiosity was piqued, but she nodded. "Of course. What's this about?"

"You'll see," he replied with a small, enigmatic smile.

---

Preparations for the Proposal

The next day, Hardik was a bundle of nerves. He spent the morning pacing his living room, rehearsing what he wanted to say. He had carefully planned every detail of the evening, from the flowers to the chocolates, and even the small velvet box tucked into his pocket. But the most important part of his proposal was the poem he had spent weeks writing—words that he hoped would capture the depth of his feelings for Avyanshi.

By the time the sun began to set, Hardik arrived at the Hanging Gardens early to set up. He chose a secluded spot overlooking the city, where fairy lights draped the trees and the scent of jasmine hung heavy in the air. On a bench, he placed a bouquet of her favorite lilies and roses, a box of chocolates, and a folded piece of paper. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the flutter of anticipation in his chest.

---

The Proposal Under the Stars

As twilight deepened, Avyanshi arrived at the gardens. Her heart raced as she followed the path he had described, the twinkling lights guiding her way. When she reached the spot, she froze, her breath catching at the sight before her.

Hardik stood beside the bench, his expression a mix of nervousness and hope.The flowers, the chocolates, and the carefully arranged lights created an atmosphere that felt straight out of a dream.

"Hardik," she said softly, her voice tinged with curiosity and emotion. "What's all this?"

He stepped toward her, his gaze steady. "Avyanshi, there's something I've been meaning to tell you."

Taking her hands in his, he began, "Since the moment we reconnected, you've been my inspiration, my partner, and my closest friend. Every day with you feels like a gift, and I can't imagine my life without you."

He handed her the bouquet and the chocolates, his hands trembling slightly. "These are for you, but there's more."

Setting the flowers aside, he knelt on one knee and opened a small velvet box to reveal a stunning ring. Its diamond sparkled like a star against the soft light.

"Avyanshi," he said, his voice full of emotion, "I don't want to just dream of a future with you—I want to build it. You're not just my partner in this foundation; you're the partner I want in every aspect of my life. Will you marry me?"

Tears welled in her eyes as she took in the moment. But before she could respond, Hardik unfolded the piece of paper and began to recite:

"In the calm of the night, beneath the sky's embrace,

Your light is my guide, in every time and place.

With laughter like music, and kindness like art,

You've filled every corner of my once-empty heart.

"With every word, you brighten my days,

In your love, I've found life's perfect ways.

Through trials and triumphs, through joy and despair,

With you, I know, no burden's too rare.

"Let's chase the stars, and dance through the rain,

Let's write our own story, free of worry and pain.

Together we'll dream, and together we'll grow,

For in your arms, my dearest, I've found my home to know."

As his voice trailed off, tears spilled down Avyanshi's cheeks. She knelt in front of him, throwing her arms around him.

"Yes," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "Yes, Hardik. I'll marry you."

Relief and joy flooded through him as he slipped the ring onto her finger. They stayed there, wrapped in each other's embrace, the world around them fading into the background.

"You've made me the happiest man alive," Hardik said, his voice breaking slightly.

"And you've made me the happiest woman," Avyanshi replied, pulling back to meet his gaze. "I've always believed in you, Hardik. Now I believe in us."

As they knelt together, wrapped in each other's arms under the starry sky, Avyanshi pulled back slightly, her silver eyes searching Hardik's. "That poem," she said, her voice still trembling with emotion. "It's beautiful, Hardik. But I have to ask—have you always been this poetic? Or is this a special occasion thing?"

Hardik chuckled softly, a hint of shyness creeping into his expression. "Well, if I'm being honest, poetry has always been a bit of a secret passion of mine. I used to write a lot back in school… and, well, more than half of them were about you."

Avyanshi's breath caught, her eyes widening in surprise. "What? About me?"

Hardik nodded, his cheeks flushing slightly. "Yeah. You probably didn't notice, but I spent most of our school years writing about your laugh, your kindness, your…" He hesitated, his voice dropping to a murmur. "…your silver eyes."

For a moment, she was speechless. The revelation hit her like a wave, flooding her with warmth and an overwhelming sense of connection. "Hardik," she whispered, her voice soft but filled with wonder. "All those years… and you never said anything?"

He shrugged, giving her a sheepish smile. "I was a shy kid. You were this incredible, unstoppable force, and I didn't think I stood a chance. So, I poured it all into my notebooks instead."

Avyanshi let out a small laugh, shaking her head in disbelief. "And all this time, I thought you were just quiet because you were serious about your studies."

"I was serious about my studies," Hardik said, grinning. "But I was more serious about you."

Her hand came up to cup his cheek, her thumb brushing gently against his skin. "You're full of surprises, Hardik. I can't believe I didn't see it back then."

He leaned into her touch, his voice growing tender. "Maybe you weren't meant to see it then. Maybe it's better this way—better that we found each other now, when we're ready for it."

Avyanshi's heart melted at his words. She leaned forward and rested her forehead against his, closing her eyes. "I love you," she whispered. "I didn't realize it back then, but I think a part of me always has."

Hardik's arms tightened around her, pulling her closer. "I love you too. Always have, always will."

---

A Night of Reflection

As they walked hand in hand out of the Hanging Gardens, the night air cool against their skin, Avyanshi couldn't stop replaying Hardik's words in her mind. The thought of him quietly crafting poems about her all those years ago filled her with a bittersweet ache.

"You know," she said, breaking the comfortable silence between them, "I'm going to need to read those poems someday. The ones you wrote back in school."

Hardik laughed, his deep voice reverberating through the night. "Oh no. Most of them are embarrassingly dramatic. Teenage me wasn't exactly subtle."

"That's exactly why I want to read them," she teased, nudging him playfully. "Come on, Hardik. If I'm marrying a secret poet, I deserve to know the full story."

He shook his head with a mock sigh. "Fine. But only after the wedding. By then, you'll be stuck with me, so you won't be able to run away."

Avyanshi laughed, the sound light and carefree. "Deal. But I have to warn you—I might keep a few of them framed in our house."

Hardik stopped walking, turning to face her. "Our house," he repeated, his voice soft with wonder. "I like the sound of that."

"So do I," she replied, her fingers tightening around his.

Omake: The Teasing Squad

The morning after the proposal, Hardik couldn't contain his excitement. As the first rays of sunlight filled his room, he picked up his phone and stared at the list of contacts. His closest friends—those who had been with him through thick and thin—deserved to be the first to hear the news. He quickly set up a group video call, adding Yash, Indrajit, Roy, Sharma, Sahu, Shiva, and Gautam to the mix.

The call connected, and within seconds, Yash's grinning face appeared. "Hardik Banerjee! What's this? A call at the crack of dawn? Is this about work, or have you finally done something exciting with your life?"

Before Hardik could reply, Indrajit chimed in, smirking. "If it's about work, I'm hanging up. But if it's about a certain someone whose name starts with 'A'…"

Hardik rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress his grin. "Alright, alright. Hold your horses. It's big news."

Gautam, always the practical one, raised an eyebrow. "Big news? Let me guess—you've launched another initiative for the foundation."

"No, no," Hardik replied, his grin widening. "Bigger than that. I proposed to Avyanshi last night."

The call erupted into chaos. Yash whooped loudly, clapping his hands together. Indrajit leaned back in mock disbelief, saying, "Finally! The man grew a spine!" Meanwhile, Sharma and Sahu yelled over each other, demanding details.

"Wait, wait!" Shiva said, waving his hands. "We need the whole story. Where? How? What did she say?"

Roy leaned closer to the camera, pretending to be serious. "And most importantly, how did you not mess it up?"

"Okay, okay!" Hardik laughed, holding up his hands in surrender. "Let me tell you everything."

---

The Storytelling Begins

As Hardik recounted the evening—the flowers, the chocolates, the lights, and the poem—his friends hung on to every word.

"You wrote her a poem?" Yash asked, his voice filled with mock astonishment. "Wow, some things never change. You were always the poet in school, scribbling lines on the back of your notebooks."

"Yeah," Indrajit added, his grin widening. "Remember when you wrote that one about her in tenth grade? What was it called? 'Silver Eyes' or something?"

Hardik groaned, covering his face with his hand. "I was 15! Can we please let that go?"

"Never," Sharma interjected. "That poem was legendary. Half the school knew about it."

"And the other half thought it was about someone else because you were too scared to admit it was for Avyanshi," Sahu said, laughing.

"Alright, alright," Hardik said, waving them off. "Yes, I wrote poems in school. Yes, I was too shy to tell her back then. But this one was different. It came from a place of maturity, not teenage awkwardness."

"Sure, buddy," Yash teased. "But let's be honest—did she love the poem, or did she say yes just to stop you from reciting another one?"

Hardik shook his head, though he couldn't help but laugh. "She loved it, thank you very much. And yes, she said yes. It was a beautiful moment."

---

The Teasing Escalates

"So, when's the wedding?" Sahu asked, leaning back with a sly smile. "Or are you still processing the fact that she said yes?"

"Don't rush him!" Shiva interjected. "Let him bask in the glory of finally pulling it off."

"But we need details," Yash added, wiggling his eyebrows. "Did she cry? Was she speechless? Or did she just agree because you brought her chocolates?"

Hardik groaned, though he couldn't suppress his grin. "She cried. She was emotional, okay? Can't we just leave it at that?"

"No way," Indrajit said with a wicked grin. "We're going to milk this moment for all it's worth."

Roy leaned forward, pretending to be serious. "And let's not forget the chocolates. Were they the fancy kind, or the ones you grabbed at the last minute because you panicked?"

Hardik sighed dramatically. "Why do I even tell you guys anything?"

---

The Unexpected Twist

As the teasing continued, Gautam leaned forward with a thoughtful expression. "You know, all jokes aside, this is a big deal. I think we should do something to celebrate."

"Great idea!" Yash exclaimed. "We'll throw a party. Food, music, embarrassing speeches—the whole package."

"Embarrassing speeches?" Hardik asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Of course!" Indrajit said with a wicked grin. "How else will we remind everyone of your awkward high school crush on Avyanshi?"

"Or the time you froze during the school debate because she walked in late," Yash added, laughing so hard he almost fell off his chair.

Hardik groaned. "I knew this was a mistake."

---

A Heartfelt Moment

Amidst the laughter and teasing, Sharma spoke up, his voice sincere. "In all seriousness, Hardik, we're really happy for you. You and Avyanshi have something special, and it's inspiring to see how far you've both come—not just with the foundation, but as partners."

The group fell silent for a moment, the weight of Sharma's words sinking in.

"Thanks, guys," Hardik said, his voice softer now. "It means a lot to have your support. You've been with me through everything, and I'm grateful."

Yash wiped away an imaginary tear. "Oh, look at us getting all emotional. Someone pour a drink!"

"I second that," Sahu said, raising an invisible glass. "To Hardik and Avyanshi!"

The group cheered, raising their hands in a mock toast. Hardik smiled, feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude—not just for his friends, but for the life he was building with Avyanshi.

---

Planning the Celebration

As the call wound down, Yash clapped his hands together. "Alright, enough talking. Let's plan the party. We need to make this official."

"Agreed," Indrajit said. "And don't think you're getting out of a best-man speech, Hardik. We're all going to take turns embarrassing you."

"I wouldn't expect anything less," Hardik replied with a laugh. "But for now, let's focus on enjoying the moment."

As the call ended, Hardik leaned back in his chair, his heart full. His friends had always been his biggest supporters—and now, they were just as excited for his future with Avyanshi as he was. It was the perfect way to begin this new chapter of his life.