"Seven Days Before Forever 🖤"

The days after the family meeting felt unreal.

For years Khushi and Reyansh had hidden, fought, separated, reunited, and dreamed.

Now suddenly both families were discussing wedding dates.

Wedding venues.

Guest lists.

Jewelry.

Functions.

Future.

Everything.

And somehow neither of them had fully processed it yet.

Three days after the meeting, both families gathered once again at Reyansh's house. This time the atmosphere was much lighter. There was no tension, no awkward introductions, no nervousness. Everyone already knew each other.

Even better...

Ananya had returned for her pagphera.

The moment Khushi entered the house, Ananya practically ran toward her.

"Bhabhiiiiii!"

Khushi immediately laughed.

"Ananya!"

The two hugged tightly.

Ananya pulled back dramatically.

"You are glowing."

"No I'm not."

"You are."

"No."

"You are getting married."

Khushi immediately covered her face.

Meanwhile from behind came Reyansh's voice.

"Haan, finally."

Khushi turned.

He stood near the staircase wearing a simple black t-shirt and grey trousers, looking entirely too handsome for a normal family gathering.

And unfortunately...

still staring.

Always staring.

Ananya looked between them.

Then dramatically covered her eyes.

"Disgusting."

Reyansh threw a cushion at her.

The house erupted into laughter.

Soon everyone gathered in the living room.

Tea arrived.

Snacks arrived.

Then more snacks arrived.

Then enough snacks to feed fifty people arrived.

Typical family gathering.

After almost half an hour of discussion, Reyansh's father finally looked toward the family priest sitting nearby.

"Pandit ji, date?"

Everyone became serious.

Pandit ji adjusted his glasses.

Opened his diary.

Looked through pages.

Calculated something.

Then finally spoke.

"The coming week is suitable."

Silence.

Everyone listened carefully.

He continued.

"Preparations immediately start karni hongi."

His mother nodded.

"Haan."

Then Pandit ji announced dates.

"11 June engagement."

Everyone smiled.

"13 June bachelor and family celebration."

"14 June haldi."

"15 June mehendi."

"17 June wedding."

The room became completely silent.

Because suddenly...

it felt real.

Very real.

Khushi blinked.

Reyansh blinked.

Ananya gasped dramatically.

"SEVENTEENTH?"

Pandit ji nodded.

"Very auspicious date."

Then unfortunately—

Bua called.

Video call.

The entire room sighed.

His mother answered.

Immediately Bua's face appeared on screen.

Even from her sasural she looked ready command an army.

"Date decide hui?"

"Haan."

His father explained.

Bua immediately started giving instructions.

"No mistakes."

Everyone exchanged looks.

She continued.

"Functions proper hone chahiye."

"Hm."

"Guest list check kar lena."

"Hm."

"Decoration simple nahi honi chahiye."

"Hm."

"And wedding mein koi drama nahi."

The last sentence was clearly aimed toward Khushi.

The room became slightly awkward.

But Khushi remained quiet.

His mother noticed.

So did Reyansh.

His jaw tightened briefly.

But for family peace nobody argued.

After all...

everyone wanted a smooth wedding.

Eventually the call ended.

And immediately Ananya threw herself dramatically onto the sofa.

"I need oxygen."

The room exploded with laughter.

Even Khushi laughed.

Soon planning officially began.

And chaos followed.

Because one week.

Just one week.

To prepare an entire wedding.

The next morning began with shopping.

Massive shopping.

Dangerous shopping.

Expensive shopping.

The three biggest troublemakers—Ananya, Khushi and Reyansh—left together.

The first stop was outfits.

The designer store practically became their second home.

Ananya selected outfits like a queen.

Khushi selected outfits carefully.

Reyansh got bored after twenty minutes.

"How many dresses do people need?"

Both girls glared.

He immediately apologized.

Then spent the next two hours carrying shopping bags.

For engagement, Khushi selected a soft lavender designer lehenga with delicate silver embroidery.

For haldi, a yellow indo-western outfit.

For mehendi, a beautiful green outfit.

For wedding...

she chose a deep red bridal lehenga.

The moment she stepped out of the trial room wearing it, the entire room became quiet.

Even Ananya stopped talking.

Even the staff smiled.

And Reyansh?

He forgot breathing.

Completely.

Khushi looked nervous.

"Too much?"

Nobody answered.

Because everyone was staring.

Finally Ananya whispered dramatically.

"My brother is gone."

The entire store laughed.

Meanwhile Reyansh looked genuinely stunned.

For one dangerous second, he imagined her walking toward him as a bride.

And suddenly the wedding felt very close.

Very very close.

The next few days passed in a blur.

Guest lists.

Invitation confirmations.

Tailor visits.

Jewelry fittings.

Venue meetings.

Photography discussions.

Decor themes.

Food tasting.

Endless planning.

Every day felt shorter than the previous one.

One afternoon both families gathered for ring selection.

This became another battle entirely.

The jewelry showroom looked like a luxury palace.

Khushi entered confidently.

That confidence lasted exactly ten minutes.

Then she saw the prices.

And nearly fainted.

Meanwhile Reyansh looked completely relaxed.

Dangerous sign.

The salesman presented engagement rings.

Then another tray.

Then another.

Then another.

Khushi pointed toward a beautiful elegant ring.

"This one."

The salesman smiled.

"Excellent choice."

Reyansh glanced at it.

Then shook his head.

"No."

Khushi frowned.

"What?"

He pointed toward another ring.

A massive diamond.

Absolutely beautiful.

Absolutely ridiculous.

Absolutely expensive.

Khushi stared.

Then stared again.

Then looked at price.

And almost died.

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"Reyansh."

"Khushi."

"Too expensive."

"It's fine."

"It's not fine."

"It is."

She looked toward his mother.

"Aunty please explain."

His mother laughed.

"Good luck."

His father looked amused.

"He never listens."

Khushi groaned dramatically.

Then looked toward Reyansh.

"Do you know how much this costs?"

"Haan."

"Are you insane?"

"A little."

"Very."

The salesman tried not to laugh.

Khushi folded her arms.

"No."

Reyansh folded his arms.

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

Ananya recorded everything on her phone.

Eventually Khushi lowered her voice.

"Future mein ghar bhi chalana hai."

His smile immediately softened.

Because that was exactly her.

Always practical.

Always responsible.

Always thinking ahead.

"Wifey mode activated."

Khushi immediately kicked his foot.

Everyone laughed.

But eventually...

she lost.

Of course she lost.

Because nobody in that showroom could defeat Reyansh when he became stubborn.

Especially regarding her.

Later while returning home, she kept staring at the ring box.

Still shocked.

Still overwhelmed.

Still unable believe all this was happening.

Only one week ago they were discussing marriage.

Now they had engagement rings.

Wedding dates.

Family approval.

Functions.

Everything.

That evening she sat in her room surrounded by outfit covers, jewelry boxes, invitation samples and wedding schedules.

Her phone buzzed.

Reyansh.

"Tired?"

"Very."

"Happy?"

She stared at the screen.

Then smiled.

"Very."

The reply came instantly.

"Me too."

Outside, the calendar quietly moved toward June 11.

Toward engagement.

Toward celebrations.

Toward forever.

And for the first time in years...

neither of them was afraid of the future anymore.

They were running toward it together. 🖤

"The Invitation Before Forever 🖤"

Only three days remained before the engagement.

The entire week had disappeared in shopping bags, jewelry boxes, tailor fittings, endless phone calls, guest confirmations and wedding discussions. Every morning Khushi woke up feeling excited, and every night she slept wondering how her life had changed so quickly.

Today was special.

Not because of shopping.

Not because of wedding preparations.

But because the invitation cards had finally been printed.

The first card had already been placed at the temple.

The second tradition was equally important.

Both families would exchange wedding invitations.

Officially.

Respectfully.

As future relatives.

As family.

Khushi was sitting in her room when her mother called from downstairs.

"Khushi beta!"

"Haan mummy?"

"Dekho kaun aaya hai."

For some reason her heart immediately knew.

Reyansh.

She practically stood up before stopping herself.

Control.

Dignity.

Self-respect.

Then she walked downstairs normally.

Or at least tried to.

The moment she entered the living room, she saw him standing there beside his parents.

White shirt.

Black trousers.

Simple watch.

Simple smile.

And somehow still looking unfairly handsome.

The second his eyes found her, his smile grew slightly.

That tiny smile alone was enough to make her heart flutter.

His mother noticed.

Her mother noticed.

Even his father noticed.

Unfortunately.

Tea arrived.

Conversations started.

The invitation card was placed respectfully in front of her parents.

Her father opened it carefully.

A soft smile appeared on his face.

For a few moments nobody spoke.

Because suddenly everything felt real again.

Their names.

Printed together.

Not imagined.

Not hidden.

Not whispered.

Printed.

Official.

Permanent.

Khushi looked at the card.

Then at Reyansh.

Then back at the card.

For years she had dreamed about loving him openly.

Now she was holding a wedding invitation with both their names on it.

It felt impossible.

Meanwhile the parents became busy discussing guest arrangements and function timings.

That gave Reyansh an opportunity.

A dangerous opportunity.

His eyes moved toward the staircase.

Then toward her.

Then back toward the staircase.

Khushi immediately understood.

No.

Absolutely not.

His expression clearly said:

Yes.

Five minutes later both somehow disappeared upstairs.

Neither parent even stopped them.

Which was honestly suspicious.

The moment they entered her room, both laughed softly.

Because they knew exactly what had happened.

"You planned that."

Khushi narrowed her eyes.

"I did not."

"You absolutely did."

"I am innocent."

She laughed.

"No one believes that."

Reyansh sat on the chair near her desk while she settled on the edge of her bed.

For a few moments neither spoke.

The room felt peaceful.

Comfortable.

Warm.

No wedding planners.

No relatives.

No shopping lists.

Just them.

Then his eyes moved toward her.

And stayed there.

Khushi immediately looked away.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You're staring again."

"Haan."

"Why?"

His smile appeared.

"Because after three days you're officially mine."

Her face immediately became red.

She looked down.

A smile appeared despite herself.

And that smile completely distracted him.

God.

She did that so easily.

No dramatic dialogue.

No flirting.

Just one shy smile.

And suddenly he forgot everything.

"You know..."

His voice softened.

"What?"

"I like this version of you."

Khushi looked confused.

"What version?"

"This."

He pointed toward her.

"The smiling one."

She looked away again.

And unfortunately that made him smile even more.

The next few minutes passed peacefully.

Talking.

Planning.

Discussing functions.

Guest lists.

Photography.

Outfits.

The future.

Everything.

"What time is your engagement makeup?"

He asked.

"Three."

"Hm."

"And yours?"

"I'll get ready in twenty minutes."

She laughed.

"Of course."

"It's a gift."

"No."

"Yes."

Then suddenly silence settled again.

A comfortable one.

Both looking toward the invitation card resting on her desk.

The card somehow changed everything.

Made everything feel closer.

More real.

More emotional.

Khushi slowly picked it up.

Running her fingers across the golden lettering.

For a few moments she simply stared.

Then whispered softly.

"It's weird."

"Hm?"

She smiled faintly.

"Seeing our names together."

His expression softened immediately.

Because he understood.

Understood exactly what she meant.

Slowly he took the card from her hands.

Looking at it carefully.

For a moment neither spoke.

Both lost somewhere in their own thoughts.

The same thought perhaps.

Years.

So many years.

Pain.

Distance.

Misunderstandings.

And now...

this.

A wedding invitation.

A future.

A family.

A forever.

Khushi's eyes became slightly emotional.

She quickly looked away.

But he noticed.

Of course he noticed.

He always did.

Without saying anything, he gently reached for her hand.

His fingers intertwined with hers.

Simple.

Warm.

Comforting.

No teasing.

No flirting.

Just understanding.

"I know."

His voice was quiet.

Khushi looked at him.

"I never thought we'd reach here either."

For a second her eyes watered.

Not from sadness.

From gratitude.

From relief.

From happiness.

The kind that arrives after years of waiting.

Then she suddenly remembered something.

"Wait."

She stood up quickly.

Opening a drawer.

A few seconds later she returned carrying another invitation card.

Ladki wale invitation.

Their side.

Her family.

Her traditions.

Her emotions.

She held it carefully before extending it toward him.

"This one is for your family."

For some reason even that simple moment felt emotional.

Reyansh accepted it carefully.

Looking at the card.

Then at her.

Then back at the card.

His smile faded slightly.

Not because he was unhappy.

Because he was overwhelmed.

For years he had imagined convincing her family.

Winning their trust.

Building a future.

Now he was holding the invitation from the bride's family itself.

Officially welcoming him.

Officially accepting him.

His throat tightened unexpectedly.

Khushi noticed.

"Reyansh?"

He smiled softly.

"Hm."

"You okay?"

He looked toward the card once again.

Then toward her.

A smile appeared.

The warm kind.

The honest kind.

"The happiest I've been in years."

Khushi's heart melted instantly.

For a moment they simply sat there.

Holding invitation cards.

Talking quietly.

Dreaming openly.

Planning freely.

And loving each other without fear.

Outside, the families continued discussing wedding preparations.

Inside her room, neither realized how quickly time passed.

Because for the first time in their lives...

they weren't waiting for someday anymore.

Someday had already arrived.

And only three days remained before the celebrations would begin. 🖤