Chapter 86 — Sangeet Night
By the time the sun set over Udaipur, the palace had transformed again.
If the Mehendi ceremony was colorful and warm—
Sangeet night was pure spectacle.
The main palace courtyard overlooking the lake had been turned into a massive celebration arena.
A grand stage stood at the center.
Golden chandeliers hung from temporary arches.
Silver fairy lights draped across balconies.
Black silk curtains framed the dance floor.
Thousands of small candles floated across the lake below the palace, reflecting the palace lights like scattered stars.
The theme was clear everywhere:
Black. Gold. Silver. Sparkle everywhere.
Even people who had seen the most extravagant events in the world were quietly impressed.
Tonight wasn't just a wedding event.
It was a celebration of survival.
---
The Outfits
Everyone had changed for the night.
And the result was breathtaking.
The Brides
Lyra
Lyra wore a midnight black lehenga embroidered with intricate gold thread and tiny crystals. Her blouse was sleeveless with delicate golden chains connecting to her shoulders. Her hair was styled in loose waves, decorated with tiny gold pins.
She looked regal.
And Alex had been staring at her for ten minutes already.
---
Care
Care wore a deep black velvet lehenga with silver embroidery that shimmered like stars. The skirt was heavy and dramatic, the blouse elegantly structured with long sleeves.
Her jewelry was simple but powerful—silver earrings and a delicate necklace.
Her hair was pulled back slightly, leaving soft strands around her face.
When she walked into the courtyard—
Even the loud group went silent for a moment.
Cole certainly did.
---
Nova
Nova wore a black and gold silk lehenga with minimal but elegant detailing. Her dupatta was sheer with golden borders that caught the candlelight.
She looked calm, composed, graceful.
Ben immediately walked closer to her without saying a word.
---
Daisy
Daisy wore a silver lehenga with black embroidery, sparkling under every light in the courtyard. The skirt glittered every time she moved.
Joong looked like his brain had stopped functioning.
---
The Married Couples
JJ
JJ wore a stunning black saree with gold embroidery, the fabric flowing elegantly behind her. Her presence alone carried authority.
Keifer wore a perfectly tailored black sherwani with gold buttons.
They looked like royalty.
---
Honey
Honey wore a silver sequined lehenga, the camera still in her hand because she refused to stop filming.
Percy wore a black sherwani with chaotic silver embroidery.
Which honestly matched his personality.
---
Freya
Freya wore a black lehenga with bold golden designs, confident and dramatic.
Endrix matched her with a sleek black sherwani.
---
Rakhi
Rakhi wore a soft black saree with delicate silver work, graceful and elegant.
Cin wore a classic black sherwani with subtle gold embroidery.
---
Ash
Ash wore a simple black lehenga with silver embroidery, elegant but understated.
Her hair was loose.
Her smile was genuine.
And for the first time—
She wasn't carrying pain.
She was simply part of the family.
---
The Hosts
The stage lights turned on.
Music began.
And Percy ran onto the stage dramatically.
"WELCOME LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!"
Honey followed behind him holding a microphone.
"Welcome to the most chaotic Sangeet night in history!"
The crowd cheered.
Percy pointed dramatically at the couples.
"Four weddings."
"Seven days."
"Nineteen insane people."
Honey finished dramatically—
"Let the disaster begin."
Music blasted through the speakers.
The performances began.
---
Freya & Endrix
Freya and Endrix opened the night.
The music started slow.
Then exploded into a fast Bollywood remix.
Freya danced with powerful energy.
Endrix surprisingly kept up.
They spun across the stage with perfect synchronization.
Freya dramatically pulled Endrix forward during a spin.
The crowd erupted.
Honey screamed.
"That hacker can dance!"
---
Rakhi & Cin
Then came the unexpected act.
Rakhi and Cin.
But their performance—
Was chaos.
The music started serious.
Then suddenly switched into ridiculous comedic beats.
Cin exaggerated every move.
Rakhi pretended to scold him mid-dance.
The crowd laughed so hard Percy nearly fell off the stage.
Even Care was laughing.
---
JJ & Keifer
Then the lights dimmed.
A new beat began.
JJ and Keifer stepped onto the stage.
And suddenly—
Everything changed.
Their choreography was flawless.
Sharp.
Precise.
Elegant.
JJ moved like she had trained for years.
Keifer matched every step perfectly.
The performance ended with Keifer dipping JJ dramatically.
The courtyard exploded with applause.
Percy shouted—
"WHY ARE YOU BOTH SECRETLY PROFESSIONAL?"
JJ simply smirked.
---
The Couples Dance
Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for.
The four couples.
---
Alex & Lyra
Their dance was first.
Soft classical music began.
They moved slowly.
Elegantly.
Lyra's black and gold lehenga flowed beautifully as Alex guided her through the steps.
Their movements felt calm.
Refined.
Like two people who had quietly loved each other for years.
When the music ended—
They simply stood forehead to forehead.
The applause was warm.
---
Ben & Nova
Their dance was simple.
Slow.
Intimate.
Ben wasn't a dramatic dancer.
Nova didn't need spectacle.
They simply moved together calmly.
Their eyes never left each other.
It felt real.
Quietly romantic.
---
Daisy & Joong
Then chaos returned.
Joong had clearly not mastered Bollywood.
He missed several steps.
Daisy laughed mid-dance.
At one point she dragged him across the stage while he tried to catch up.
The audience loved it.
It was messy.
Adorable.
Real.
---
Care & Cole
Then the music changed.
The courtyard became silent.
Care and Cole stepped onto the stage.
Their music began slow.
Deep.
Emotional.
Cole placed his hand gently on Care's waist.
For a moment—
Neither of them moved.
Then the dance began.
Their movements were intense.
Controlled.
Every step felt personal.
Their eyes never left each other.
When Cole spun her—
Care's silver embroidery shimmered under the lights.
But what made the dance powerful wasn't the choreography.
It was the history behind it.
The jungle.
The hospital.
The moments they almost lost each other.
The dance ended with Care leaning against Cole's chest.
His hand resting protectively on her back.
The silence lasted a full second.
Then the entire courtyard erupted.
---
A Quiet Moment
Later that night—
Away from the crowd—
Care stepped onto the palace balcony overlooking the lake.
Fire torches flickered around the courtyard below.
Cole joined her quietly.
They stood side by side watching the water.
Care spoke softly.
"That dance felt different."
Cole nodded.
"Because we know how close we came to losing it."
Care looked at him.
"You didn't sleep for thirty hours in that jungle."
Cole shrugged.
"I wasn't letting you die."
Care smiled faintly.
"You almost died yourself."
Cole answered quietly—
"Worth it."
The silence between them wasn't awkward.
It was heavy with everything unsaid.
Care finally whispered—
"We survived a lot."
Cole looked at her.
"We'll survive the future too."
---
The Fireworks
Suddenly—
A loud boom echoed across the lake.
The first firework exploded into the sky.
Golden sparks filled the night.
Then silver.
Then red.
The entire palace courtyard gathered near the lake.
Everyone stood together watching the fireworks reflect across the water.
Ash stood quietly between Nova and Lyra.
She watched the sky.
Her chest felt lighter than it had in months.
No fear.
No betrayal.
Just family.
Just life.
Just hope.
The fireworks exploded again.
Lighting the entire palace sky.
And the celebration continued.