After the engagement and wedding dates were fixed, preparations in both households escalated.
At Mehra House
Sana and Ayush were sitting in the middle of the hall, making a shopping list. Grandmother kept checking on them, making sure nothing was missed. Grandfather sat quietly on the sofa, observing everything.
Meanwhile, Avyansh was pacing in his room, thinking,
"The date is fixed now. When should I tell her?"
Just then, his uncle entered the room and noticed Avyansh's troubled expression.
"What's wrong, son? Everything alright?"
Avyansh replied sternly,
"I want to tell her about my past."
His uncle was surprised and asked,
"Why?"
Avyansh said,
"Because I can't marry her while hiding such a big truth. I feel like she should know, no matter how small or big the secret is."
His uncle thought for a moment and replied,
"Well, the Mehra family doesn't lack enemies. We never know when someone might use something against us."
Then, placing a hand on Avyansh's shoulder, he said,
"Okay, tell her before the engagement. I think Anuti is understanding. She will handle it."
With a slight smile, his uncle left the room.
Avyansh was left thinking,
"That's what I need to see—what will she say when she hears it?"
Meanwhile, his uncle prayed silently,
"May Anuti understand Avyansh and trust him."
---
At Sharma House
Kritika was preparing the wedding shopping list for Anuti. Anuti was sitting and playing with Shriyansh, laughing as he giggled in her lap.
Shravan, seeing them, chuckled,
"Yesterday's drenched cat is back to being carefree today!"
Anuti pretended to be angry and replied,
"Do you enjoy seeing me scared?"
Pooja ji, irritated by their playful banter, shouted,
"Don't start fighting again, you two!"
She turned to Kritika and said,
"Has the list been made?"
Kritika nodded,
"Yes, Mom."
Pooja ji then said,
"Alright, Kritika and Anuti, get ready early. Swati ji called and said we'll go shopping together. They're bringing the lehenga, and we'll pick the wedding items there."
Kritika nodded,
"Okay, Mom."
---
The next morning, the kitchen and hall at Sharma House were buzzing with activity.
Kritika kept urging Anuti to get ready quickly.
Meanwhile, Anuti and Shriyansh were playing and laughing loudly.
Sometimes Shriyansh tickled Anuti, and sometimes she tickled him back.
Anuti smiled and said,
"Bhabhi, so early?"
She took out her phone from her pajama pocket and looked at the time,
"It's not even 9 AM yet!"
Kritika replied,
"Yes, hurry up. The bride shouldn't be lazing around like this."
At that moment, Pooja ji entered the room, slightly annoyed,
"Anuti, this is the last thing I needed—when the wedding procession arrives, and you're still not ready, hurry up!"
Anuti, pretending to be confused, said,
"The procession still has time, right? Plenty of it."
Pooja ji, picking up a broom from the floor, chased Anuti around,
"You're going to joke with me?"
Anuti ran away to escape.
Shriyansh found it amusing and started laughing.
Just then, Pooja ji's phone rang.
Anuti, sitting on the bed with her hand on her chest, picked up Shriyansh again and said,
"Close call!"
Kritika, laughing, handed Anuti a dress and took Shriyansh in her arms.
After a while, Anuti emerged, dressed in a light red kurta and white palazzos.
Kritika and Pooja ji looked at her from head to toe.
Pooja ji smiled softly,
"You look beautiful, my daughter. Just get ready properly now."
She then turned to Kritika,
"You take care of her."
Kritika nodded,
"Sure, Mom."
---
An hour later, both families met outside the shop. Avyansh parked the car and walked into the shop.
There, he saw Anuti for the first time in the shopping spree. She was wearing a red kurta, white palazzos, her hair open, with a watch on one wrist and two thin silver bangles on the other.
Her forehead adorned with a small bindi, she was laughing as she played with a baby in her lap, completely carefree, as if not interested in shopping at all.
He watched her for a moment, then blinked and looked away, seeing that Swati ji, Savitri ji, Grandmother, Pooja ji, and Kritika were busy looking at sarees, sometimes holding them up to Anuti for a fitting.
Sana and Ayush were busy taking selfies.
Avyansh sat on a sofa and began fiddling with his phone.
About fifteen minutes later, he said,
"Hurry up."
Grandmother scolded him,
"You took a holiday today, and now you're rushing. What's the hurry?"
Avyansh remained quiet, hearing the scolding.
Sana and Ayush sat down next to him, watching Anuti playing with Shriyansh.
Sana said,
"Bhabhi, come here, we'll play with the little boy too."
Anuti looked at her mother and sister-in-law.
Pooja ji nodded in agreement, so Anuti went and sat next to Sana.
Sana took Shriyansh from Anuti's lap and began taking pictures with him. Ayush also joined them, asking to take pictures with Shriyansh.
Now, only Anuti and Avyansh remained on the sofa.
However, both kept a distance from each other.
Anuti wasn't sure whether to stay or leave.
Avyansh, sitting so close to her, found himself lost in the moment.
Anuti said,
"I should go to my mom."
She quickly got up and moved to sit between Swati ji and Kritika.
Kritika, looking at Anuti, said,
"Anuti, we've selected these sarees for you. They're simple, just as you like. Have a look."
Anuti, looking from a distance, replied,
"They look good, bhabhi, I like them."
Hearing this, Grandmother said,
"Well, the saree shopping is done then."
She turned to the shopkeeper and said,
"Please send these sarees to this address and these to that one."
The shopkeeper nodded,
"Sure, Ma'am."
Grandmother then turned to Swati ji and Pooja ji,
"Swati, you and Pooja ji go check the sherwanis, and we'll take care of the lehenga."
She pointed towards another shop,
"This is where we need to get the lehenga from. Every bride from the Mehra family has gotten theirs from here."
Anuti bowed her head and smiled faintly.
Sana winked at her,
"Bhabhi, everything will be just as you want."
Since Avyansh's shopping was done quickly, he went to the car and sat inside.
Swati ji and Pooja ji joined Anuti and watched as only one lehenga had been decided, while Kritika, Sana, and Grandmother had selected theirs. Anuti had chosen a simple lehenga, but Grandmother insisted on a heavier one, which Kritika rejected as it would be uncomfortable for Anuti.
Swati ji, without asking anyone, picked up a heavy lehenga and added it to the pile.
During the shopping, Swati ji was holding Anuti's hand as if they had known each other for years.
---
After a few hours, everyone finally gathered in the café.
Avyansh had been studying his files in the car and had prepared several reports in the past three hours.
Just then, Ayush called him to the café.
When Avyansh entered, he saw Anuti laughing and talking with Ayush and Sana.
They were all playing with Shriyansh, who was sitting in Anuti's lap.
Ayush had his arm around Anuti's shoulders, and they seemed to have become good friends.
Avyansh noticed this and felt a twinge of discomfort.
What will happen next?
Will Avyansh get angry seeing Ayush and Anuti together?
Will he reveal the truth to Anuti?
And will Anuti accept the relationship despite knowing the truth?
Stay tuned for Arrange Marriage – Stranger to Lover to find out.
Written by Limanshi Kashyap