Chapter 1: A Twist of Fate

The wedding venue was buzzing with laughter, clinking glasses, and the subtle hum of a love song playing in the background. The air smelled of marigolds and roses, blending with the mouthwatering aroma of Indian delicacies. Avni adjusted the pleats of her lehenga(an Indian dress usually worn at special occasion)nervously, already feeling out of place amidst the sea of relatives. Her elder sister, Meera, was the center of attention today, radiant in her bridal ensemble.

Avni wasn’t fond of crowded places, but weddings had a certain charm she couldn’t resist. At least, until she spotted him.

Her heart stopped. Literally, stopped.

Leaning casually against the buffet table, dressed in a crisp kurta(an Indian dress usually worn at special occasion) and a careless smirk, stood Ayaan. The Ayaan. Her long-time, never-speak-about-it crush from college. The guy who probably didn’t even know she existed.

Avni froze mid-step, clutching her dupatta tightly. “What the heck…?” she whispered under her breath, her pulse racing.

Ayaan was laughing with a group of cousins, completely at ease, radiating a carefree energy that contrasted sharply with the formal setting. His disheveled hair and easy demeanor made him look annoyingly attractive.

Avni's mind swirled with confusion and panic. Why is he here? She glanced around, searching for Meera. Spotting her sister adjusting her jewelry near the mirror, Avni stomped toward her, determination flaring in her chest.

Grabbing Meera by the arm, Avni dragged her into the nearest corner, away from prying eyes and ears.

“Avni, what’s wrong with you?” Meera asked, startled.

“What’s wrong with me?” Avni hissed. “What is he doing here?”

“Who?” Meera blinked, clearly confused.

Avni tilted her head in frustration, jerking a thumb toward the direction where Ayaan stood. “That guy! The one at the buffet table. Laughing like he owns the world. What is he doing at your wedding?”

Meera squinted toward the buffet, then turned back to Avni, suppressing a smile. “Oh, you mean Ayaan?”

Avni flinched at how casually Meera said his name. Of course, she knows his name. Everyone probably does.

“Yes, Ayaan.” Avni crossed her arms, trying to appear calm. “What’s he doing here?”

Meera arched a brow. “Why are you so worked up? Do you know him?”

Avni’s cheeks turned crimson. She quickly shook her head. “No! Why would I know him? Just answer the question!”

Meera studied her sister for a moment, then smirked knowingly. “Well, if you must know… Ayaan is Raj’s younger brother.”

Avni blinked, her brain struggling to process the revelation. “Wait. What? Raj as in your fiancé?”

Meera nodded. “Correction. My husband. The one I’m marrying today, in case you forgot.”

Avni’s jaw dropped. Her crush… was her sister’s brother-in-law? The universe clearly had a twisted sense of humor.

Before Avni could recover from the shock, Meera leaned in closer, her voice teasing. “Now, tell me honestly. You do know him, don’t you?”

“I told you, I don’t!” Avni lied, trying to keep her voice steady.

“Uh-huh.” Meera grinned. “Well, if you don’t know him, why does his presence bother you so much?”

“It doesn’t!” Avni snapped, though her flushed face gave her away. “I just… didn’t expect random strangers to show up uninvited.”

“Strangers?” Meera laughed. “Avni, he’s family now. And he’s not that bad. Just… a little, um, unconventional.”

Avni frowned. “Unconventional how?”

Meera shrugged. “He’s different. Doesn’t believe in relationships, always lost in his video games or hanging out with his friends. He’s more of a child than a grown-up, honestly. But he’s harmless.”

Avni’s gaze drifted back toward Ayaan. He was now juggling a plate of samosas(an Indian snack in the shape of triangle, filled with a stuffing made up of potato) while explaining something animatedly to a group of kids. The way he interacted with them was almost endearing, but his carefree attitude only made Avni’s feelings more complicated.

Her sister’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts. “Avni, relax. He’s just here to celebrate with the family. Whatever’s going on in your head, don’t overthink it.”

Easier said than done, Avni thought. She gave Meera a curt nod and walked away, trying to ignore the butterflies wreaking havoc in her stomach.

As the music grew louder and the celebrations continued, one thing became clear—this wedding wasn’t going to be as simple as Avni had hoped.

Because Ayaan wasn’t just a guest anymore. He was family. And her heart wasn’t ready for it.

Chapter 2: The Unexpected Introduction

The wedding was in full swing, with vibrant music, joyous laughter, and a kaleidoscope of colors filling the venue. Avni, however, was far from enjoying it. She spent most of her time darting behind flower arrangements, hiding behind relatives, or pretending to fix her lehenga, all in a desperate attempt to avoid him.

Ayaan.

Every time she spotted him across the room—leaning casually against a wall, chatting animatedly with his cousins, or sneaking an extra laddoo from the dessert table—her heart raced like it was running a marathon.

“He’s so oblivious,” Avni muttered under her breath, peeking from behind a pillar as Ayaan helped a little boy tie his shoelace. “Why does he have to be so… him?”

Her friend-turned-cousin Kavya, who had been roped into Avni’s little espionage mission, rolled her eyes. “You’re acting like he’s some celebrity. Just talk to him.”

“Are you insane?” Avni whisper-yelled, pulling Kavya behind the pillar. “I can’t let him see me. He’s my sister’s brother-in-law. It’s bad enough I had a crush on him in college. Now I have to pretend like I don’t even know him!”

“Relax,” Kavya said, stifling a laugh. “From what I’ve seen, he’s not exactly scanning the crowd for you.”

Avni shot her a glare but didn’t argue. Kavya was right. Ayaan didn’t seem to have noticed her at all, which should’ve been a relief, but it also stung her pride a little. Not even a flicker of recognition?

As the evening wore on, Avni felt like she was winning her little game of hide-and-seek. She managed to keep a safe distance, often ducking behind Meera’s lehenga or pretending to be deeply engrossed in a conversation with an aunt she barely knew.

But her victory was short-lived.

“Avni, come here!” her mother’s voice rang out from across the hall.

Avni froze, a sinking feeling spreading in her stomach. She turned slowly, only to find her mother standing near Ayaan, waving her over with a bright smile.

“No, no, no,” Avni whispered, her feet refusing to move.

Kavya nudged her. “Looks like your hiding days are over, Cinderella.”

Reluctantly, Avni trudged over, her heart hammering in her chest. Ayaan stood next to her mother, his hands casually tucked into the pockets of his kurta. He looked even more effortless up close, his disheveled hair falling slightly over his forehead, his expression one of polite curiosity.

“Avni, meet Ayaan,” her mother said cheerfully. “Raj’s younger brother.”

Ayaan smiled faintly and extended a hand. “Hi, I’m Ayaan.”

Avni stared at his hand for a moment before shaking it awkwardly. “Hi… I’m Avni.”

There was a pause. Avni expected him to say something like, Oh, you’re in my class, or Hey, don’t we know each other? But Ayaan’s expression remained neutral, as if he had no idea who she was.

“You’re Meera’s sister, right?” Ayaan asked, his tone friendly but detached.

Avni nodded quickly. “Yeah, that’s me.”

“Well, nice to meet you,” Ayaan said with a casual shrug, before turning back to her mother to continue their conversation about something trivial.

Avni blinked, her mind reeling. He doesn’t know me. He doesn’t recognize me.

Kavya sidled up to her as soon as Ayaan and her mother walked away. “So? How’d it go?”

Avni shook her head, still processing. “He… doesn’t even know who I am. He doesn’t know I was in his class. Nothing.”

Kavya raised an eyebrow. “And how do you feel about that?”

Avni hesitated, a mixture of emotions swirling inside her. She was shocked, of course, but there was also a strange sense of relief. The secret she’d been carrying—the crush she’d nurtured for months—felt a little lighter now.

“I don’t know,” she admitted, a small smile tugging at her lips. “It’s… kind of nice. Like a fresh start.”

“Well, there you go,” Kavya said with a grin. “Now you can enjoy the wedding without worrying about him recognizing you. You’re just Meera’s little sister to him.”

“Yeah,” Avni said, glancing across the hall at Ayaan, who was now animatedly explaining something to a group of kids. He seemed so… unbothered, so carefree. It was almost unfair.

As the night went on, Avni found herself watching him again, but this time with a little less panic and a little more curiosity. Maybe being invisible wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

For now, she decided, she’d let things be. There was a whole wedding to enjoy, and who knew what twists fate had in store?