Devika's expression immediately darkened.
"What are you saying, Aryan?" she asked angrily. "You knew from the beginning that we had to go tonight."
Mom, I know, Aryan replied. But you don't need to worry. I've already told the driver to pick all of you up.
Then what about you? Devika asked. "Won't you come?"
"Mom, I know, but what can I do? Some work suddenly came up, so—"
Aryan, I don't care about that, Devika cut him off. "I told you that we would all go together, and that means all of us."
Aryan fell silent.
Standing nearby, Nandini secretly felt happy.
Devika continued,
And I know you're using work as an excuse so you don't have to come.
"No, Mom. It's not like that. I really do have work."
"Then do it afterward," Devika said immediately.
Aryan didn't know what to say.
"You have so many people working under you," Devika continued. Tell them to handle it.
"Mom, it's..." Aryan stopped midway.
He couldn't think of an excuse.
Aryan, you'd better come with us.
Just then, Nandini spoke.
"Devika, why are you forcing him? If he doesn't want to come, then let him be."
Devika's face hardened.
"Sister-in-law, please don't interfere."
Nandini became silent.
"I'm talking to my son right now," Devika continued.
After a pause, Devika spoke again.
"Okay, Aryan. You don't want to come, right? Fine."
Aryan stayed silent.
Then Devika added casually,
"You know what? I'm going to ask Aanya directly what happened between the two of you that day."
Aryan was shocked.
"Mom, please don't do that! I already told you nothing happened."
"Then what's wrong with asking her?" Devika replied. "If nothing happened, then there shouldn't be any problem."
Aryan didn't know what to say.
Devika continued,
"It's fine. You don't need to come. Just send the driver. We'll go ourselves."
Aryan's expression changed.
Oh no...
If I'm not there, Mom will definitely pressure Aanya into telling her everything.
He clenched his jaw.
And knowing Mom, she won't let the matter go easily.
Just as Devika was about to end the call,
Aryan quickly spoke.
"Mom, wait!"
Devika stopped.
"We'll talk about this later. I'll come, okay?"
Hearing that, a satisfied smile appeared on Devika's face.
Aryan ended the call and immediately left his office.
Prerna immediately looked at Devika.
Mom, what did Bhai say? Is he really not coming?
Devika smiled proudly.
"Of course he's coming."
How can I let him escape that easily?
Meanwhile, Nandini frowned.
"What were you talking about with Aryan, Devika?" she asked. "What day were you referring to?"
Devika looked at her.
Well, when we were at the hospital, Aanya came to our house.
Nandini's eyes widened.
What?
"But why?"
"That's what I don't know," Devika replied.
Aryan said she only came to take her belongings, but I have my doubts.
Prerna nodded.
"Mom, even Aanya is saying the same thing when we ask her."
"Exactly. Both of them are lying," Devika replied.
Nearby, Nandini's expression became serious.
If Aanya didn't come to collect her belongings... then why did she come?
The question lingered in her mind.
Meanwhile, at the Sangeet...
Kunal's mother, Kavya, walked toward Radha and smiled.
"Radha ji, shall we start the Sangeet?"
"Yes, Kavya ji. Even I was about to ask you," Radha replied. But it looks like some of your relatives haven't arrived yet.
"All of them have come, Aunty."
Hearing the voice, both women turned around.
It was Kunal.
Radha looked confused.
I don't understand, beta.
Kunal smiled casually.
Actually, Aunty, I don't like crowds. And most of our relatives didn't want to attend.
Radha frowned.
"But why?"
"Well, Aunty, they were upset because we informed them at the last moment."
But beta, even the marriage was fixed suddenly, right?
"Yes, Aunty. Our families understand that, but they don't."
Kunal shrugged.
"They just refused to believe us, so we didn't force them."
Radha thought for a moment.
Kunal quickly added,
"Anyway, if they were truly our well-wishers, they would have understood and come. Since they didn't, there's no point thinking about them."
Radha nodded.
You are right, beta. If people are truly our well-wishers, they will definitely stand by us.
Then she smiled.
Anyway, let's start the Sangeet. I'll bring Aanya.
Radha went and knocked the door.
When she entered, Aanya was already ready.
For a moment, Radha simply stared at her daughter.
"Aanya... yellow really suits you. You look absolutely gorgeous."
Aanya gave a small fake smile.
Meera immediately jumped in.
"Aunty, she looks gorgeous in every dress."
Radha laughed.
You're right.
Then she added,
"Come on. The ceremony is about to begin."
A few minutes later, Radha brought Aanya.
Everyone turned to look at her.
Kunal smiled when he saw her.
Aanya simply walked forward and sat beside him.
She looked nervous.
Soon, the anchor stepped onto the stage.
"Welcome, everyone!"
"Tonight, we are here to celebrate the Sangeet of Kunal and Aanya!"
Everyone applauded.
"Now, let's welcome our handsome groom, Kunal, onto the stage!"
Kunal walked onto the stage with a smile.
"And now, let's welcome our beautiful bride, Aanya!"
As Aanya made her way toward the stage, her eyes instinctively searched the crowd.
Has Aryan come?
Her gaze moved from one face to another, but she couldn't find him anywhere.
The anchor smiled warmly.
"And now, the moment we've all been waiting for—the ring ceremony!"
Amid loud cheers, Kunal gently slipped the ring onto Aanya's finger.
Aanya forced a smile and did the same.
The hall erupted with applause.
"Congratulations!"
"God bless the couple!"
The anchor stepped forward with an excited smile.
"Ladies and gentlemen, now that the ring ceremony is complete, let's begin tonight's Sangeet celebration with a special performance by our newly engaged couple!"
"Let's enjoy their special dance performance!"
The music started.
Kunal and Aanya began dancing.
Guests clapped and cheered.
At that exact moment...
Aryan arrived with his family.
Tara noticed them first.
Her eyes widened.
She quickly signaled Meera and Nisha.
Both turned around.
They were shocked.
"Aanya said Aryan wasn't coming," Meera whispered.
"Then what is he doing here?" Nisha asked.
Tara shook her head.
"I have no idea."
Meanwhile, Aryan's eyes immediately found Aanya.
He watched her dancing with Kunal.
For a brief moment, memories flashed through his mind.
The day he and Aanya had danced together.
The way she had smiled.
The way she had looked at him.
His expression darkened.
A strange feeling of jealousy rose inside him.
He immediately looked away.
On the stage...
Aanya suddenly looked toward the guests.
The moment she saw Aryan...
She froze.
Her feet stopped moving.
For a few seconds, she forgot everything around her.
The music.
The guests.
The dance.
Everything.
Their eyes met.
Neither of them looked away.
"Why did Aanya stop dancing?" Nisha whispered.
Tara followed Aanya's gaze.
Looks like she has seen Aryan too
Meanwhile, Kunal noticed Aanya had stopped dancing.
He subtly signaled her to continue.
Aanya snapped back to reality.
Quickly, she resumed dancing.
But now her mind was completely distracted.
She forgot several steps.
Again and again, her eyes drifted toward Aryan.
As if she wanted to make sure he was really there and not just her imagination.
Nearby, Devika and Prerna noticed everything.
Mom, are you seeing this? Prerna whispered.
Devika nodded slowly.
"Yes. I'm seeing it too."
A knowing smile appeared on both their faces.
Even Nandini noticed that Aanya and Aryan were looking at each other
A few minutes later, the performance ended.
Everyone clapped loudly.
Kunal smiled proudly.
Aanya forced another smile.
The first thing she did was look toward Aryan again.
And he was still there.
Kunal noticed her distracted expression.
"Why did you stop dancing in the middle?"
Aanya didn't know what to say.
After a pause, she replied,
"I forgot the steps."
Kunal laughed.
"Well, that's why you shouldn't be overconfident, Aanya."
He chuckled.
You thought you'd remember everything, but in the end, you forgot.
Normally, Aanya would have responded.
But this time...
She barely heard him.
Her mind was already filled with thoughts of Aryan.
And one question kept repeating in her head:
Why did he come?
After that, Kunal and Aanya went around greeting the guests one by one and taking their blessings.
Radha noticed Devika and her family and walked toward them.
"Devika ji, namaste. Thank you so much for coming."
Devika smiled warmly.
No, no. Don't say that, Radha ji. It's our pleasure to be here.
Radha smiled.
I'm happy that Aryan babu also came.
Everyone looked at Aryan.
"Aunty, please don't say it like that," Aryan replied politely.
Devika then asked,
"By the way, where is Naveen ji?"
He's somewhere here receiving guests, Radha replied.
Then she smiled.
Come, please bless the bride and groom.
Everyone followed her.
Look who came, Aanya," Radha said.
Aanya turned toward them.
The moment she saw Aryan, their eyes met once again.
Neither of them looked away for a few seconds.
"Okay, you all carry on," Radha said before leaving.
Kunal stepped forward and smiled.
"Hello, Mr. Mehra. Nice to meet you once again."
The two shook hands.
Aryan simply gave a polite smile.
Aanya looked away.
Devika immediately hugged her.
Aanya, how are you, beta?
"I'm fine, Aunty."
Prerna quickly hugged her too.
"Hi, Aanya. I really missed you."
Aanya smiled softly.
"I missed you too."
Then Devika looked at Nandini.
Understanding the signal, Nandini reluctantly stepped forward.
Best wishes to both of you.
Thank you so much, Kunal said.
Thank you, Aunty, Aanya added.
Meanwhile, Aryan quietly watched her.
Then, he saw the ring on her finger and turned his face away.
Just then, someone called Kunal.
"Excuse me," he said before walking away.
Now only Aanya and Aryan stood facing each other.
Devika and Prerna immediately noticed the awkward silence.
Bhai, Prerna suddenly said, "don't you want to say something to Aanya?"
Aanya immediately turned her face away.
"Me?" Aryan asked.
"Yes, you."
Aryan looked at Aanya for a moment.
Then he said,
"Congratulations for your engagement."
Without looking at him, Aanya replied,
Thank you.
Devika and Prerna exchanged disappointed looks.
Just then, Kunal called out,
"Aanya!"
"Excuse me," Aanya said and walked away.
At the same time, Aryan's phone rang.
He also left.
Prerna sighed.
Mom, what is happening? I thought they would talk, but instead they're just making eye contact.
Devika smiled slightly.
"Wait, Prerna. We'll talk to Aanya when no one is around."
Nearby, Nandini watched everything.
It's useless, Devika, she thought.
No matter how hard you try, Aryan and Aanya can never be together.
A little later, Kunal brought Aanya to meet a few people.
"Aanya, meet my friends."
"Hello," Aanya greeted politely.
One of them smiled.
"Congratulations to both of you."
Aanya simply smiled.
Later Aanya asked,
Kunal, I thought you had a lot of friends, but it looks like only a few of them came.
Kunal didn't know what to say.
After a brief pause, he replied,
"Well, Aanya, everyone is really busy. They all messaged me saying sorry for not attending and also sent their best wishes."
Aanya nodded and didn't think much about it, as her mind was already occupied with thoughts of Aryan.
A little later, the photographer came over and started taking pictures of Aanya and Kunal.
Meanwhile, Aryan watched Aanya from a distance.
The photographer suddenly said,
"One more pose, please!"
As they posed, Kunal wrapped an arm around Aanya's waist.
Aryan's jaw tightened.
A wave of jealousy rushed through him.
He immediately looked away.
At the same time, Aanya felt uncomfortable.
"Kunal, can you please remove your hand?"
Come on, Aanya. It's just for the pose.
But I'm really uncomfortable.
Kunal lowered his voice.
"Aanya, we're getting married. I don't think it should be a problem."
From a distance, Aryan noticed the discomfort on Aanya's face.
He clenched his fists.
"Still, I'm not comfortable, Kunal," Aanya said firmly.
Kunal frowned.
"What are you saying, Aanya?"
Aryan could no longer control his anger.
He walked straight toward them.
"Aanya, I need to talk to you."
Both Aanya and Kunal looked at him in surprise.
Aanya was completely stunned.
"Aanya," Aryan said firmly, his eyes fixed on her.
"Come with me."
"But I—"
Before she could finish, Aryan grabbed her wrist and started walking.
Aanya looked at him in shock.
Kunal stood frozen, unable to understand what had just happened.
From a distance, Tara, Meera, and Nisha witnessed everything with wide eyes.
Meera blinked several times.
"Guys... are you seeing the same thing I'm seeing?"
Tara and Nisha stared at Aryan and Aanya.
"Yeah," they replied at the same time.
Even Prerna noticed.
"Mom, look!"
Devika followed her gaze and was equally shocked.
"Bhai is taking her somewhere," Prerna whispered.
Meanwhile, Aanya looked at Aryan in disbelief as he continued walking.
"Seriously, Mr. Aryan, where are you taking me?"
Aryan suddenly stopped.
He turned and looked at her.
Aanya looked back at him.
Only then did she realize that he was still holding her hand.
Aryan immediately let go.
Aanya stared at him.
What were you doing?
Aryan turned his face away.
Aanya frowned.
"Mr. Aryan, I'm talking to you."
Aryan finally looked at her.
"What is this?" Aanya demanded.
"Why did you pull me away from there?"
---
End Of Chapter 80.