The morning sunlight poured through the gauzy curtains of Raj and Maya’s home, warming the cream-tiled floors with a gentle golden glow.

The house was unusually quiet for a Sunday, except for the soft clinks of utensils from the kitchen and the faint gurgles of Aryan somewhere upstairs.

Maya moved slowly into the dining room, dressed in a maroon cotton saree, damp hair curling at the tips, eyes heavy with sleep and motherhood.

Her body still hummed from the shower they’d shared—and what followed it—just a little while ago.

Raj was flipping parathas at the stove, sleeves rolled up, kurta clinging to his back from the heat. He grinned when he saw her.

“Sit, jaan. Almost done.”

She did, stretching languidly, trying not to look too smug.

Then—footsteps.

Megha entered.

And Maya straightened.

The girl wore a sleek black kurta with a scandalously low back that tied delicately behind her neck. Kohl rimmed her eyes. Her lips were glossy, cheeks blushed. A silver chain glittered at her throat, matching her tiny earrings.

Too much effort for a Sunday breakfast.

Unless...

Aditya followed behind her.

Freshly showered. Hair damp. Shirt rolled up to his elbows, top two buttons undone. Morning stubble sharp enough to cut.

He stopped when he saw her.

Her back. That tie. That skin.

Megha glanced over her shoulder, eyes meeting his. A blush.

“Morning,” she murmured.

“Morning,” he said, voice slightly lower than intended.

He chose the seat diagonally across from her—close enough to look. Not close enough to touch.

But Maya saw it all.

So did Raj, now setting terracotta cups on the table.

Megha avoided everyone’s gaze, but her fingers toyed nervously with her spoon.

Aditya glanced at her again—when she leaned forward, when her hair shifted, when her kurta slid just enough to expose more.

Maya sipped her chai. Then, casually: “So, Megha. Twenty in two days. Officially not a teenager anymore.”

Megha looked up, startled. Eyes flicked to Aditya. Then down. “I… hadn’t thought about it much.”

Raj grinned. “Come on. You start planning your birthday 6months earlier.”

Maya chimed in, “Or should we take your silence to mean there’s someone special making plans for you?”

“No!” Megha said too fast. “Nothing like that.”

Aditya stirred his tea like it was the only thing anchoring him to Earth.

Raj chuckled. “We should do something. Go away for the weekend?”

Maya added, “Or a cozy dinner at your favorite place?”

Then Aditya spoke. Quietly. Calmly.

“Actually... I was thinking... maybe we could celebrate here. Just us. Intimate. A little more... personal.”

All eyes turned to him.

Megha’s cheeks flushed again. She met his gaze.

“Maybe,” she said softly.

Maya tilted her head. Raj raised a brow.

Then—Aryan cried upstairs.

Maya and Raj excused themselves, leaving just the two of them alone at the table.

Silence.

Then—Aditya leaned in. Just a little.

“You dressed up today.”

Megha’s eyes sparkled. “And?”

“You don’t usually wear makeup. Or something so... open .”

“Maybe I felt like looking good.”

He looked at her. Hard. Long. Then whispered:

“You look dangerous.”

Megha’s breath hitched. “Maybe it’s just your imagination, adii.”

He gave her a crooked smile. “I wish it was.”and held her knee.

But then,

Maya and Raj returned, Aryan in Maya’s arms and chewing on her braid like a snack. Laughter filled the room again as plates were cleared and chai refilled.

Then Aditya stood up.

“Actually,” he said, voice just a little too formal, “before everyone scatters... there’s something I need to say.”

Everyone paused.

He turned to Megha. And then—reached into his pocket.

Her eyes widened.

“No,” she breathed.

“Yes,” he said, smiling. “Let me.”

He dropped to one knee.

Maya gasped. Raj just froze, still holding a half-bitten paratha.

Megha covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes shimmering.

Aditya looked up at her, serious and soft all at once.

“You’re turning twenty. And I’ve broken every rule to love you. Quietly. Deeply. From a distance, when I had to.

And far too closely, when I couldn’t help it. But I don’t want to stay silent anymore.”

He held up a small velvet box. Inside wasn’t a ring. But a thin silver chain with a tiny pendant—a heart symbol of ruby.

“Not a ring,” he said. “Not yet. But... a promise. That this is real. That I’m yours. And you’re mine.”

Maya’s eyes filled. “Oh my god,” she whispered.

Megha blinked fast. “Yes,” she said, nodding. “Yes. Please. Now, before I faint.”

He stood. She threw her arms around him.

Maya clapped softly, trying not to cry into Aryan’s head.

Raj... cleared his throat. Loudly.

Everyone looked at him.

He gave a half-smile. “Well... damn.”

Megha pulled back from Aditya, looking at her brother nervously.

Raj exhaled, rubbed his jaw. “So what now? Just proposed before her birthday and that’s it?”

Aditya glanced at Megha, then back at Raj.

“Actually,” he said, slowly, “I was hoping we could do something more.

Celebrate the engagement on her birthday... and then—maybe a small wedding. Quiet. Simple. Just family. A week after.”

Raj blinked. “A week? You want to get married in one week?”

Megha stepped forward, calm but firm. “We’ve talked about it. We’ve planned it quietly for a while. I’ll be graduating in five days.

And adi ji is now promoted as assistant professor, college will start in 2 months,New term. New responsibilities. If we don’t do this now... it’ll get harder.”

Maya looked between the two of them. Her lips parted. Then she nodded, slowly. “You’ve thought this through.”

Megha smiled, nervous but sure. “We’re ready, bhabi. We just needed your blessings.”

Raj ran a hand through his hair. “One week…”

Aditya added, gently, “It won’t be fancy. No fuss. Just family. Just love, i will take care of everything.”

Aryan burbled and drooled on Maya’s shoulder.

Raj sighed, then looked at his sister.

And finally smiled. “Alright. But I’m approving the guest list. Its time my sister has got all matured to make her life decisions.”

Everyone laughed.

Aditya turned to Megha, threading the pendant around her neck.

She looked up at him, glowing.

And Raj, though still slightly stiff, finally clinked his cup to theirs and said, “lets do this.”

...

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