He Stayed Anyway

~7~

The Chavan Mansion had transformed overnight.

Fairy lights draped like constellations, soft pastel drapes, marigold bunches at every arch — elegant, royal, the kind of beauty that looked effortless but had clearly cost a hundred arguments.

Inside, the chaos had already begun.

Make-up artists ran around like startled pigeons. Boxes of jewellery lay open. The scent of mogra floated in the air.

Rishika sat in front of the giant vanity mirror, glittering in a lehenga she'd spent three hours selecting. But she was still restless, tugging at her dupatta, lips pursed in irritation.

"Maa!" (Mom!) she groaned dramatically,
"ye curls thode aur bounce wale honay chahiye the!" (these curls should have had more bounce!)
"Engagement pictures lifetime rehti hain!" (Engagement pictures last a lifetime!)

Sonal tried to calm her.
"Rishika, bas. Sab perfect lag raha hai." (Rishika, stop. Everything looks perfect.)

But Rishika was on her pre-event meltdown. Again. She pressed her lips together like she was posing for a Vogue cover.

And then — the door clicked.

Reeva stepped in quietly, saree pastel and elegant, hair in a neat bun, presence calm... almost too calm for Rishika's liking.

Rishika's eyes immediately brightened, but then she straightened, pretending to look busier, prettier, more delicate.

"Oh... Di, you're here? Tum bolo na — curls flat lag rahe na?" (Di, you tell me — the curls look flat, right?)

Reeva's expression didn't shift.
She placed the gift gently on the bed.

"They look fine, Rishika. Tumhari pictures gorgeous hi aayengi."
(They look fine, Rishika. Your pictures will be gorgeous anyway.)

Rishika preened instantly, almost forgetting to breathe.

She stood up dramatically, letting her lehenga shimmer, twirling slightly.
"Dekho na Di, yeh flare!" (Look at this flare, Di!)
She waited until everyone's eyes were on her before sighing like a film heroine.
"Bas... perfect hi lag rahi hoon na?" (I just... look perfect, right?)

Reeva simply nodded.
Her face soft.
Her eyes unreadable.

Inside, she kept her walls high.
Outside, she let Rishika have her moment.

Vikram peeked in, adjusting his sherwani, muttering under his breath:
"Shuru ho gayi drama queen..." (Drama queen has begun...)
Sonal elbowed him instantly.

Meera adjusted Veer's sherwani collar while he groaned.

"Uff, Maa... it's fine!" (Mom, it's fine!)

"Nahi, seedha khada reh! Button galat lagaya hai." (Stand straight! The button is wrong.)

Pratap chuckled behind his tea.
"Iski shaadi wale din toh Meera, tum isko drill machine se press kar dogi."
(On his wedding day, Meera, you'll need a drill machine to fix him.)

Tara walked in, as dramatic as ever.
"Chalo, jaldi! Main hi highlight hoon aaj ki shaam ka."
(Let's go! I'm the highlight of tonight.)