After the event, about a week later, Shubman found himself leaning against the kitchen counter in their new house for which the interiors were going. He saw his now fiancé Reethu going through a few color swatches.
"Babe, blue or purple?" she asked looking up at him. "Blue," Shubman answered with no hesitation as she nodded smiling. He saw her hand the blue swatch to the designer before making her way to him. Shubman handed her a cup of coffee as she sat on the counter. "Thank you," she muttered before taking a sip of the coffee.
"Of course, love," he smiles kissing her forehead. Just then her phone rang and Taylor's name flashed on it making them smile. "First of all," Taylor began as Reethu swiped to answer, "I wanted to express my heartfelt congratulations on your engagement. It was such a beautiful moment, and I couldn't be happier for you both."
Reethu blushed, her cheeks tinged with pink. "Thank you so much, Taylor. Your support means the world to us," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "Now, onto the exciting news," she continued. "I've been thinking a lot about our collaboration, and I have a proposal for you, Reethu."
Reethu's eyes widened in surprise, as she looked at Shubman who was drinking coffee while scrolling through his schedule, her heart racing with anticipation. "What is it?" she asked eagerly, her excitement palpable.
Taylor's voice was serious yet filled with excitement. "I want you to co-write a song with me for my upcoming album," she said, her voice filled with conviction. Reethu's jaw dropped in astonishment, her mind buzzing with disbelief. "Are you serious?" she exclaimed, her heart pounding with excitement making Shubman look at her.
"Absolutely. I've been so inspired by your talent and creativity, and I truly believe that together, we can create something truly magical," she spoke, her voice brimming with enthusiasm as tears welled up in Reethu's eyes as Shubman reached out to squeeze her hand not knowing what was going on.
"Thank you so much, Taylor. This means more to me than words can express," she said, her voice filled with emotion.
After the call ended Shubman stood in front of her wiping away the tears, his eyes asking what happened. Reethu then answers about how Taylor had asked her to co-write a song with her making Shubman smile before he wrapped his arms around her pulling her into a tight hug.
As Shubman held Reethu close, still processing the exciting news about the song collaboration, they heard the designer's voice calling from the other room.
"Excuse me, Reethu, Shubman," the designer called out, "I just wanted to run a few suggestions by you for the living room furniture layout. Do you have a moment?"
Reethu wiped her tears, her cheeks flushed with excitement, and nodded. "Sure, we'll be right there," she replied, her voice tinged with anticipation. Shubman gave her a reassuring smile before releasing her from the hug. "Go ahead, I'll join you in a minute," he said, gesturing towards the designer.
Reethu walked towards the living room, her mind still reeling from Taylor's proposal. She couldn't believe that such an incredible opportunity had come her way, and she was eager to dive into the creative process.
In the living room, the designer laid out a few options for the furniture arrangement, explaining the pros and cons of each layout. Reethu listened attentively, offering her input and preferences while her mind kept drifting back to the conversation with Taylor.
Meanwhile, Shubman finished his coffee and joined them in the living room, his mind buzzing with excitement for Reethu's new venture. He watched her engage with the designer, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm, and couldn't help but feel proud of her.
After discussing the furniture layout and finalizing their decisions, they thanked the designer for her suggestions and promised to review the options in more detail later. As the designer left, Shubman turned to Reethu with a grin.
"Looks like we've got a lot to celebrate," he said, wrapping his arm around her waist making her smile as she leaned into his embrace.
As the days passed, Shubman and Reethu's new home started to come together beautifully. With each passing week, they found themselves more settled and comfortable in their space, adding personal touches and making memories together.
Back at their parents' places, the excitement for the upcoming wedding was palpable. Both families gathered frequently, discussing plans, sharing ideas, and relishing in the joy of their children's union.
Mr and Mrs Charan, Reethu's parents, sat with Mr and Mrs Gill, discussing the guest list and wedding arrangements over cups of steaming chai. "We should definitely invite Uncle Ravi and Aunt Meera from Mumbai," Mrs Charan suggested, flipping through a notebook filled with potential invitees.
Mr Gill nodded in agreement. "And what about Shubman's relatives from Ludhiana? We can't forget them either," he added, jotting down notes on a nearby pad of paper.
Meanwhile, Reethu found herself surrounded by her giggling cousins, all eager to talk about the wedding and, more importantly, her outfits. "Oh, Reethu, you have to wear that stunning red lehenga we saw last month!" Maya, her cousin exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement.
"But what about a traditional green one? It'll look amazing on you!" Deepa chimed in, holding up a fabric swatch for Reethu's inspection.
Reethu laughed along with them, enjoying the playful banter and the opportunity to bond with her cousins over wedding planning. On the other side of the room, Shubman found himself in a similar situation, surrounded by his mischievous male cousins who wasted no time in teasing him about the upcoming nuptials.
"Hey, Shubman, are you ready to become a married man? No more late-night video game sessions for you!" Rohan joked, nudging him playfully.
Shubman chuckled, rolling his. "I'll have you know, I'm looking forward to it," he replied, a hint of excitement in his voice. "And also I bet Reethu would join me for the video game sessions," he answered making the boys laugh.
As the teasing continued, Shubman's gaze inevitably wandered over to where Reethu was chatting animatedly with her cousins. His heart swelled with love and admiration as he watched her, his mind filled with thoughts of their future together.
Suddenly, one of his cousins caught his stare and nudged him with a knowing smirk. "Looks like someone's got wedding fever," he teased, earning a playful shove from Shubman in response.
Blushing slightly, Shubman couldn't help but smile as he returned his attention to the wedding planning discussions, grateful for the love and support of his family during this exciting time in his life.
As Reethu pondered her outfit options, she listened intently to her cousins' suggestions, each one offering their own unique perspective. "You know, I was thinking a soft rose gold would look absolutely stunning on you," suggested Deepa, holding up a delicate fabric swatch adorned with intricate embroidery.
Reethu examined the fabric closely, running her fingers over the delicate threads. "Hmm, that's a lovely idea. Rose gold has such a romantic feel to it," she answered, envisioning herself walking down the aisle in the ethereal hue.
Maya then chimed in, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "What about lavender? It's such a beautiful and unexpected choice," she suggested, holding up a lavender-coloured fabric that shimmered in the light.
Reethu's eyes lit up at the sight of the lavender fabric, imagining how the soft pastel hue would complement the lush greenery of the wedding venue. "You might be onto something there. Lavender is so dreamy and elegant," she agreed, feeling drawn to the whimsical charm of the color.
As they continued to explore different colour options and fabric textures, Reethu couldn't help but feel grateful for her cousins' input and support. Their enthusiasm and creativity helped alleviate some of the pre-wedding jitters that had been lingering in her mind.
With each new suggestion, Reethu felt more confident and excited about the prospect of finding the perfect lehenga for her special day. And as she glanced over at Shubman, who was engrossed in conversation with his cousins, she couldn't help but smile, knowing that they were in this together, every step of the way.
As the evening wore on and the wedding planning discussions continued, Shubman found himself stealing glances at Reethu whenever he thought no one was looking. He couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with love and admiration for her, his heart yearning to express the depth of his feelings.
Sensing a moment of privacy amidst the bustling activity, Shubman discreetly motioned for Reethu to follow him into the kitchen. With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he led her away from the crowd, eager for a moment alone with her.
Once they were alone in the kitchen, Shubman turned to face Reethu, a tender smile playing on his lips. "Hey, you," he murmured softly, reaching out to gently cup her cheek.
Reethu's heart skipped a beat at the sight of Shubman's affectionate gaze, her cheeks flushing with a mixture of excitement and anticipation. "Hey yourself," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
Without another word, Shubman closed the distance between them, leaning in to capture Reethu's lips in a sweet and tender kiss. Time seemed to stand still as they lost themselves in the warmth of each other's embrace, their love speaking volumes in the silence of the moment.
Reethu melted into Shubman's arms, her hands finding their way to the back of his neck as she deepened the kiss, savouring the taste of his lips against hers.
At that moment, the world faded away, leaving only the two of them wrapped up in their love for each other. Wrapped in each other's embrace, they shared a moment of pure bliss, their hearts beating in sync as they revelled in the joy of being together.
And as they finally pulled away, breathless and smiling, Shubman couldn't help but whisper softly, "I love you, Reethu." "I love you too, Shubman," she replied, her voice filled with warmth and affection.