Malhotra Mansion – Early Evening
Golden light streamed through the jharokha-style windows of the Malhotra mansion, painting the living room in a warm festive hue. The air was rich with the scent of marigolds and masala chai, and silver thalis filled with sweets sat on the glass table — kaju katli, motichoor laddoo's, and neatly folded napkins beside them.
The Rajvansh's were seated comfortably — Manish in a soft cream kurta, Manjri in an elegant pink silk saree, and Yuvraj in a muted charcoal grey shirt, sharp as always but quieter than usual. Yugant, meanwhile, was half-sinking into the cushioned sofa, legs crossed like he owned the place.
Lakshmi Malhotra walked in with a fresh pot of tea. “Thodi aur chai, Manjri ji?”
“Zaroor,” Manjri smiled. “Bahut swadisht hai.”
Raghav cleared his throat and looked at the pandit’s calendar in front of him. “Panditji ne ek date suggest ki hai… agle hafte. Saat din baad.”
Everyone went still.
Manjri blinked. “Itni jaldi?”
“Woh hi ek shubh muhurat hai,” Raghav explained. “Uske baad teen mahine tak koi bhi yogya samay nahi hai.”
There was a pause.
Then Manish Rajvansh smiled, eyes twinkling. “Toh fir aur intezaar kyu? Rishta toh dono taraf se pakka ho chuka hai. Shaadi bhi jaldi sahi.”
Lakshmi’s gaze moved toward the staircase, as if mentally calculating the shopping, planning, and lehenga trials. But her smile didn’t falter. “Agar dono bacche raazi ho toh… hum toh taiyaar hain.”
Yugant, ever the chaos magnet, stretched dramatically. “Bhai toh waise bhi full-time engaged doctor ban chuke hain — ab legally bhi engaged ho jaayein. Mujhe toh honeymoon ke liye Switzerland ki vibe aa rahi hai.”
Yuvraj glared at him mildly, but his lips twitched.
Downstairs, laughter echoed as wedding bells unofficially began to ring.
Meanwhile – Yukti’s Room, First Floor********
Unaware of the momentous decisions being made just below her, Yukti was in her own little world.
Her room smelled faintly of mogra and rose attar. The floor was dotted with open lehenga boxes and fabric swatches. But in front of her mirror stood Yukti Malhotra, wearing a jet-black embroidered ghaghra, paired with silver jhumkis and a cropped blouse.
She twisted the speaker dial higher.
🎶 “Oye hoye... Ghaghra…” 🎶
And then she spun. Graceful. Effortless. Like no one was watching.
Her laughter echoed as she danced freely, earrings swaying, eyes sparkling — not as a surgeon, not as a daughter under pressure, but as a girl on the edge of a new chapter.
Unbeknownst to her, two quiet spectators had just arrived at her door.
Outside Yukti’s Room
“Main bhabhi se mil ke aata hoon,” Yugant had declared downstairs. “Bhai, aap bhi chalo. Let’s give her the big news.”
But the moment he reached the door — which was slightly open — he stopped dead.
“Bro…” Yugant whispered, pulling Yuvraj beside him. “Kya visual hai. Bhabhi toh full-on heroine ban chuki hain.”
Yuvraj looked inside — and froze.
Yukti was dancing, lost in the rhythm, radiant in black. Her dupatta twirled as she moved. Her laugh was pure magic. There was no trace of the defensive, sharp-tongued resident he had once clashed with in the ER.
This… this was the real her.
“Bhai,” Yugant whispered again with a smirk, “tere pe nahi — aap dono pe news at the pragna!”
Yuvraj chuckled, voice low. “Shut up.”
“Mujhe toh kal tak headline dikh rahi hai: ‘Emergency Room enemies to OT lovers: Pragna ka hottest couple!’”
“Bas kar,” Yuvraj muttered, but his gaze didn’t move from Yukti.
Just then, Yukti caught movement in the mirror. She spun around — startled. “Yugant?! Were you spying on me?”
“Main? Never,” Yugant grinned. “Yeh sab bhai ka idea tha.”
Yuvraj cleared his throat and stepped forward, professional expression creeping back onto his face. “Shaadi... agle hafte fix ho gayi hai.”
Yukti’s eyes widened. “Wait, what?”
“Auspicious date. Seven days from now,” he said softly. “No pressure.”
She stared at him — pulse racing, heart a confused mess of panic and anticipation. “That soon?”
He nodded. “Unless you’re not ready.”
Yukti hesitated. Then slowly, she smiled. “I’ll be ready. But seriously... no more peeking through my door.”
Yugant dramatically raised both hands. “I swear. Main toh sirf messenger tha. Bhai ne bola — chal bhabhi ko bata ke aate hain.”
Yukti narrowed her eyes. “Haan, haan. Ab blame apne bhai pe daalo.”
But laughter won over irritation. She looked at Yuvraj once again — and their eyes locked.
There was silence.
Not awkward.
Not forced.
Just something that lingered — warm and real.
And in that moment, it was no longer about duty or family pressure. It was about two people stepping into something unexpected... yet somehow right.
Next in Chapter 7: engagement madness, sangeet hilarity, and one mysterious guest who might just know a little too much about Yuvraj’s past. Will it rattle Yukti — or bring them closer?
Let me know if you want to write the mehendi + haldi together or stretch it over two chapters with a jealousy twist or a romantic rooftop moment!
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Did you like our yukti's lil word in her room??
Was yuvii mesmerized ???
You'll know more about them in few days 😹😹
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