Aanya's eyes widened as she choked and instantly spat out the water in shock.
Everyone turned toward her in surprise. Nandini's gaze was sharp, almost serious, while Aanya quickly looked at Meera with equal intensity.
Meera gave a nervous, weird smile and said, "I'm joking, I'm joking."
Aanya let out a relieved sigh, though her eyes stayed serious for a moment before she looked away.
Devika noticed the exchange and smiled warmly. "Girls, enough teasing. Eat now."
Aanya fixed her gaze on Meera, her eyes sharp and questioning. Meera, however, instantly looked away, unable to meet Aanya's eyes—afraid, almost as if she was hiding something.
---
The rest of the afternoon passed in focused practice. Ankitha finally spoke up, "Aunty, I think we should leave. Tomorrow is the Sangeet, and we've practiced enough for today."
"Okay, Ankitha," Devika agreed.
Aanya's friends also began saying their goodbyes. "Aunty, we should go too," they chorused.
"Alright, dear," Devika replied warmly.
Ankitha waved. "Bye, Aunty. Bye, Aryan, Prerna, and Aanya."
Everyone exchanged goodbyes.
"Bye," Aanya said softly, also smiling at her friends. Then, looking at Suraj, she added, "Bye, Suraj."
The moment those words slipped out, Aryan's eyes flickered toward her. He paused for a second, then looked away, his jaw tightening as he turned.
Meanwhile, Dev said casually, "Bye, Prerna."
Prerna, without a hint of interest, said a plain "Bye" to him, her tone flat and detached.
---
After everyone left, Aanya noticed Aryan stepping outside. On impulse, she called out, "Mr. Aryan!"
He stopped and turned toward her.
Aanya smiled gently. "Well… thank you so much for staying today and practicing with us. I mean, even though you had so much work, you still stayed—because of me."
Before she could say more, Aryan cut in, his voice firm. "Prerna."
Aanya froze. "What?"
Aryan's expression was calm but distant. "I stayed because of my sister. For her, I'll always make time. Didn't you say earlier during practice that you'd do anything for your sister? That's why I stayed."
Her smile faltered. The warmth in her chest faded, replaced by a dull ache.
She looked away, struggling to find words, but Aryan didn't give her the chance.
"I need to go," he said simply, before walking off.
Aanya's face stiffened. Anger flickered in her eyes, but beneath it was sadness, raw and unspoken, as she watched him disappear from sight.
Later that night, Aanya joined her friends on a group call.
"Are you guys really my friends or enemies?" she asked dramatically.
Tara frowned. "Why did you ask that, Aanya?"
Aanya huffed. "I mean… yesterday, we planned one thing, and you guys did something completely different!"
Aanya scoffed. "Oh, really? Why did I ask? I mean, yesterday what did we plan—and what did you guys actually do?"
Nisha laughed nervously. "Aanya, our plan worked, right?"
Aanya's eyes widened in disbelief. "Oh really? Our plan worked? Wow." Then, in a furious voice,
she continued, "This wasn't even our plan! We decided only you guys would come, but instead, you brought Suraj and Mayank.
And you all promised you'd make me dance with Mr. Aryan, but what happened? Ankitha became his dance partner, and you made me dance with Suraj. It looked like you wanted me and Suraj to be together, not me and Mr. Aryan!"
Meera hesitated. "But Aanya—"
Aanya cut her off angrily. "You just stop it! Especially you, okay?"
Meera instantly went quiet
Aanya continued, her voice sharp with frustration. "Do you even remember what you did during lunch? Who says things like that? Did I ever tell you I wanted to get married? No! But you went ahead and said it—in front of Nandini aunty, of all people! She already hates me so much, and now you've only made it worse."
Tara quickly interrupted. "Aanya, wait! Listen to me. I know you're upset that you didn't get to dance with Aryan, but you didn't realize the most important thing."
Aanya frowned, confused. "What important thing?"
Nisha's playful voice came through the call. "The fact that Aryan got jealous."
Aanya's eyes widened in shock. "Wait… what? Jealous?"
Meera quickly added over the call, "Yes, Aanya. Aryan got jealous when you danced with Suraj. He couldn't stand it, and that's why he cut into the middle of your dance."
Tara's laughter rang out. "Exactly! That's the reason we called Suraj and Mayank—to see if Aryan would get jealous or not. And guess what? He did."
Aanya exclaimed, "Wait, wait! So you guys called them just to see if Mr. Aryan would get jealous when he saw me with them?"
The three of them said in unison over the call, "Yes!"
Aanya's eyes widened. "Oh… you mean he shouted in the middle because he was jealous?"
Again, all three replied together, "Yes!"
Tara laughed. "Exactly! That's the reason!"
Aanya threw her hands up in frustration. "Guys, have you lost your minds? Didn't you hear him? He said he doesn't like dancing. He said the moves were hard! How does any of this have to do with jealousy?"
"Oh, Aanya," Tara said, giggling. "You really believed him? Come on! The dance moves weren't even hard—they were so easy!"
Nisha added, "Yes! And even if he didn't like it, he wouldn't have shouted angrily in the middle."
Meera said, "Exactly! He got jealous, and it's clearly visible."
Aanya continued hesitantly on the call. "Well… I didn't really feel that he got jealous."
Tara replied, "Sometimes, when people are in love, they don't notice it themselves—but people around them can. That's love."
Nisha and Meera chimed in together, "Exactly!"
Aanya frowned. "Then if he really loves me, why would he say he stayed because of his sister, not me?"
Nisha said, "Because he was angry."
Tara added, "Exactly! You danced with Suraj instead of him, right? That's why he got upset."
Aanya sighed. "Well… he could have asked me to dance with him, but he didn't. And he danced with Ankitha."
Meera said gently, "Don't feel bad, Aanya. Tomorrow is the main day—you should make him even more jealous."
Aanya perked up, listening closely.
Tara's voice came through the speaker with a smile, "Yes, and you should also look beautiful. I mean, at the Sangeet, you have to be absolutely stunning."
Aanya nodded. "Yeah… okay."
Nisha added with a teasing laugh, "Tomorrow, Aryan's eyes should be only on you."
Aanya's cheeks flushed bright red as she listened to them on the call.
---
The next evening, the Sangeet ceremony began.
Devika turned to Aryan. "Aryan, make sure you greet every guest properly."
Aryan nodded. "Yes, Mom."
Devika smiled. "Alright, I'll go check if Prerna is ready."
Meanwhile, in the room, Prerna sat quietly as Aanya carefully helped her put on her bangles. Her smile was faint, but Aanya encouraged her. "Smile a little, Prerna. You'll look even more beautiful."
Aanya said gently, "Prerna, smile a little. You'll look even more beautiful if you smile."
Prerna managed a small smile.
Some relatives teased, "She'll only really smile when she sees Dev!" Everyone laughed.
Devika entered and saw Prerna. She felt both emotional and happy at the same time. Prerna, noticing her mother, felt the same and got emotional.
Devika said, "Hurry up and get ready, okay?"
Aanya reassured her, "Don't worry, Aunty. She will."
Devika smiled, about to leave, then suddenly paused. "Wait, Aanya!"
Aanya looked up.
Devika's voice was slightly stern now. "You still haven't gotten ready?"
Aanya quickly replied, "Well, Aunty, I'm helping Prerna."
Devika shook her head. "There are others too. Who will take care of her? You should go first and get ready."
Aanya nodded and left to get ready herself.
Aanya glanced at the clock in her room. Oh no… Aunty was right. I've been so lost, I didn't even realize the time. I need to get ready fast!
She quickly changed into her dance outfit and began getting ready. Meanwhile, Aryan was busy receiving each guest, talking to them politely.
In her room, Aanya wore her purple ghagra choli and thought, Now I'll finally match Mr. Aryan. She blushed lightly as she adorned herself with earrings, purple bangles, and ankle chains. She applied her makeup carefully, then examined herself in the mirror, wondering if everything looked perfect.
Satisfied, she stepped out of her room. Devika saw her and froze, stunned.
As she walked, Aanya's ankle chain got caught in her dress. She struggled to adjust it, muttering, "Oh no, why now?"
At that moment, Aryan, who was receiving guests nearby, glanced up and saw her. His eyes widened as if time slowed around him. The sight of her in the purple ghagra captivated him—he forgot everything else. Every detail, every movement, drew him in.
Without realizing it, he began moving closer, his gaze fixed entirely on her.
Aanya, still focused on adjusting her chain, suddenly looked up—and froze. Aryan was right in front of her. Shock widened her eyes as she stared at him.
Aryan's gaze met hers, steady and intense. The world around them seemed to disappear.
---
End Of Chapter 39.