LOVE

Tanmay stood on the stage, dressed in a cream and gold sherwani, his heart thudding in his chest. Today, he was marrying the woman of his dreams—the woman who had unknowingly captivated him from the very first moment he laid eyes on her. He wasn't just happy; he was the luckiest man on earth.

He looked around at the grand wedding venue, beautifully adorned with fairy lights and marigold garlands. Friends and family were laughing, chatting, and celebrating, but his mind was elsewhere. He was waiting—waiting for Aditi.

His thoughts drifted back to the first time he saw her.

It was the day of the GD, PI, and interview rounds for college admissions. The waiting hall was filled with nervous candidates, all dressed in crisp business formals—black blazers, white shirts, and neatly pressed trousers. But amidst them, she stood out.

Aditi had walked in, wearing a suit instead of a blazer, exuding an aura of quiet confidence. She wasn't fidgeting with her resume like others, nor was she anxiously rehearsing answers in her head. She looked... prepared. Unshaken.

She had come with two people—one of them was definitely her sister. He didn't know why, but he couldn't stop staring at her. And then, as if fate had heard his silent thoughts, she walked toward him and his friends.

"Excuse me, do you guys know how the rounds are being conducted?" she had asked, her voice steady and polite.

Tanmay had tried to answer, but he was too lost in her presence. Her self-assured posture, the way she listened carefully, and the way she smiled at her sister before leaving—everything about her was etched into his mind.

"She won't be joining this college," he had thought. "She's too good. She'll get better options."

Yet, he had hoped—prayed—to see her again.

Fate had worked in his favor.

On the first day of college, when he was introducing his club to the incoming students, he saw her again. Aditi was standing in the crowd, casually listening, completely unaware of how stunned he was to see her. He had fumbled a few times while explaining things, something that never happened to him.

And then, she had joined the club.

Every interaction, every meeting, every event where they worked together made his admiration for her grow. She was different—sharp yet kind, ambitious yet humble, strong yet vulnerable in the softest ways.

Tanmay had always been a calm and composed person. At least, that's how people saw him—organized, strategic, and always in control. But if there was one person who shattered that composure, it was Aditi.

And it all started with that one day in her class.

He had walked into her classroom with his team, ready to introduce their club to the juniors. His voice was steady, his posture confident—he had done this countless times before. But then, as he started explaining their media initiatives, his eyes found her.

Aditi was sitting near the center of the class, listening attentively, her gaze sharp as if analyzing every word.

And suddenly, he forgot everything.

His heart was pounding way too fast for a simple introduction.

She was close—too close. They were in the same space, breathing the same air, existing in the same moment.

He had never expected to be this affected by someone's mere presence.

And when they had a brief discussion about how the video should be shot for the club's social media, she had shared her opinion so casually, so confidently, as if she had been a part of the club forever.

He remembered nodding, pretending to be normal, but inside, he was spiraling.

And then, she looked directly at him.

For a split second, the world blurred.

Tanmay still vividly remembered the shock that coursed through him when he was going through the applications for his club and saw her name.

Aditi had applied. She had applied to his club.

For a moment, he just sat there, staring at the screen, his brain refusing to process it.

It wasn't like he owned the club. It wasn't like she had applied for him.

But still—she was going to be part of his world now.

During her interview, he had forced himself to stay neutral, to act as if this was just another recruitment process. But his hands had felt clammy, and his chest had been tight with nerves.

He wanted her in the club. He needed her in the club.

But he also didn't want anyone—anyone—to know about his crush on her.

And when she was finally selected, he felt this strange mix of victory and danger.

If anyone had ever followed Tanmay's usual routes on campus, they would have noticed something odd.

He always, always took the paths where he knew he would be able to see her.

Even if it meant taking a longer route, even if it meant walking past her class unnecessarily.

Just a glimpse of her was enough to brighten his entire day.

It wasn't even about talking to her. Just seeing her—her expressions, her little habits, the way she pushed her hair back absentmindedly—was enough.

And then came the Confession Day.

It was a simple event—anonymous confessions being read aloud.

Tanmay had written his.

"Chura lo dil mera sanam, bana lo na apna sanam,

Tere bin na jee sakenge, ke tere bin na mar sakenge,

Kuch bhi na kar sakenge, chura lo na dil mera."

As his words were read, his eyes were locked onto her.

He wanted to see her reaction. He wanted to know if she felt anything.

But her expression was unreadable.

And just as he was still analyzing, another confession came right after his.

"Someone was wishing for her as his 11:11 wish."

Tanmay's grip on his phone tightened.

Who the hell was this?

She was his.

His chest burned with possessiveness, and he needed to know what she was thinking.

So he followed Aditi and her friend to the cafeteria, listening in as they talked about the confessions.

And though he couldn't hear everything, one thing became clear—she was unaware of how much she was wanted.

But he was going to change that.

Tanmay hadn't planned this.

Well, maybe he had—just a little.

When Abhi fell sick, the professor asked for a replacement for the outbound program, and before he could think, his hand was already up.

And just like that, he was in Aditi's group.

It was a two-day program meant to develop leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. But for Tanmay, it was something much more.

It was two days with her.

The bus ride was long, and everyone was chatting, excited about the activities. But Tanmay's focus was on one person.

Aditi was sitting two rows ahead, talking to her friends. Her laughter was the only thing he wanted to hear.

And he did hear it. Every single time.

It was ridiculous how much he had memorized about her. The way she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, the way her eyes lit up when she spoke about something she was passionate about.

And the worst part? She had no idea how much she was affecting him.

The program had a series of tasks—rope climbing, trust falls, problem-solving challenges.

Tanmay had always been competitive, but this time, his only goal was to impress her.

When she was blindfolded for a trust-building exercise and had to rely on a teammate's guidance, he stepped forward immediately.

Holding her wrist lightly, he led her through the maze, his voice steady but his heart anything but.

"A little left... slower... yeah, just one step more..."

He could feel her warmth through his touch, and God, he never wanted to let go.

And when she removed the blindfold at the end of the task, she looked at him, really looked at him, with a small smile.

His heart clenched.

Maybe, just maybe, he wasn't invisible to her.

That night, after all the activities, they had a bonfire. Everyone sat in a circle, laughing, sharing stories, and someone suggested singing.

Tanmay saw his chance.

The guitar was passed around, and when it came to him, he knew exactly what song he wanted to sing.

His fingers strummed the chords, his voice steady but full of emotions as he sang.

"Tujh mein rab dikhta hai..."

His eyes found hers across the fire.

She was listening, her expression unreadable.

But he hoped she understood.

Because every single word of that song was for her.

And that night, as they all returned to their tents, Tanmay lay awake, staring at the stars, realizing something.

He had never wanted anything more in his life than he wanted her.

A loud cheer from the crowd brought him back to reality.

He looked up—and there she was.

Aditi was walking toward him, dressed in a deep maroon lehenga, embroidered with intricate gold patterns. The soft glow of the wedding lights reflected on her face, making her look nothing less than celestial.

His heart clenched.

She was the most beautiful bride in the whole world. He didn't care what anyone else thought—she was his.

As she reached the stage, Tanmay extended his hand. She placed her delicate fingers in his palm, and he guided her up the steps. The warmth of her touch grounded him, reminding him that this was real.

The song Ram Siya Ram from 14 Phere started playing softly in the background.

A priest handed them the garlands. Tanmay took his and gently placed it around Aditi's neck. She smiled softly, eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

Then, it was her turn.

As she lifted the garland, Tanmay suddenly dropped to his knee, looking up at her.

"No matter what situation arises in our life, I will always be the one who bows down in front of you."

The moment hung in the air, charged with emotion.

Aditi's hands trembled as she put the garland around his neck. Their eyes met, holding an unspoken promise—of love, of partnership, of forever.

They sat beside each other as the pheras began, circling the holy fire, vowing to stand by one another through every joy and sorrow.

With every mantra that was chanted, with every promise that was made, Tanmay felt the weight of this moment sinking in.

When he finally tied the mangalsutra around her neck and filled her forehead with sindoor, he knew—she was now his wife.

Aditi looked at him, eyes glistening with emotion, a soft smile playing on her lips.

Tanmay had never believed in fairytales.

But today, standing here with her, he realized—he was living one.