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As the clock struck seven in the evening, a tangible sense of anticipation filled the air, marking the commencement of the much-awaited anniversary celebration. The backyard, meticulously adorned for this special occasion, transformed into a vibrant and bustling hub of activity. The radiant decorations, in harmony with the theme of the celebration, added a festive touch to the atmosphere.

Members of both the Rathore and Rajvansh families were fully engrossed in their roles as hosts, extending warm welcomes to the arriving guests. The air was filled with the hum of excited conversations and the joyous laughter of family and friends coming together to celebrate the enduring love of the elderly couple.

Aridhaan, taking charge of overseeing the arrangements alongside Yug and Yagya, ensured that every detail was in place for the evening's festivities. The meticulous planning and attention to detail reflected the significance attached to this milestone celebration.

Dressed uniformly in black, as per the color theme of the party, the family members exuded elegance and unity. Aridhaan, in a striking dark tuxedo, stood out, emanating a sense of refined charm. The attention shifted as Aradhaya descended the stairs, enveloped in an enchanting air that captivated the gaze of her family. The celebration had truly begun, and the ambiance was charged with excitement and festivity.

Devi, with a protective gesture, gently folded her knuckles to ward off any evil eye, a traditional practice rooted in deep belief. The collective gaze of the family, momentarily diverted from the celebrations, fixated on Aradhaya, standing in their midst like a beacon of grace.

Aridhaan, enamored by Aradhaya's beauty, extended his hand, a silent invitation for her to join him. His warm smile bespoke both pride and gratitude as he enveloped her in a brotherly embrace. "You look truly enchanting. Thank you for wearing the dress I chose for you; you've added a special charm to this clip," he playfully huffed, his affectionate acknowledgment resonating in the air. Aradhaya responded with a cheeky smile, "Thank you, bhai, and thank you for choosing this beautiful dress. You look quite handsome yourself."

With a heart full of gratitude and eyes sparkling with joy, Aradhaya moved forward to greet her family. The atmosphere around them buzzed with the cadence of laughter and the warmth of familial bonds. Each step she took was met with a familial embrace, a testament to the love and affection that enveloped her.

As the evening unfolded, Shravan made his entrance, accompanied by a lady in a cream Anarkali, radiating an ethereal charm. Pausing near the family, the lady humbly touched the feet of both Rathore and Rajvansh elders. Meenakshi, with a reassuring hand on the girl's back, introduced her to Aradhaya, "Aru, meet Ridhima, your to-be bhabhi."

Aradhaya, her eyes gleaming with anticipation, warmly embraced Ridhima. "I've been looking forward to meeting you for so long. I'm sorry to have missed your and Shravan bhai's engagement," she confessed with a chuckle, glancing mischievously at Shravan. "Your choice is gorgeous, Bhai. How did Bhabhi settle on you?" The lighthearted banter drew laughter from everyone, and Shravan responded with a playful smirk.

Ridhima, accompanied by her parents Seerat and Ajit Rana, extended their greetings to the family. Aradhaya, in a gesture of politeness, joined her hands in greeting. Seerat, holding Aradhaya's chin admiringly, expressed, "You are really very beautiful, beta. May God bless you. It's so good to meet you." Aradhaya responded with a gracious smile, acknowledging the warmth of the welcome.

Taking centre stage, Aridhaan, with a microphone in hand, addressed the gathering. "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. Thank you so much for joining us today on this auspicious occasion of the 65th anniversary of our dear dadu and dadi. We are so blessed to have them in our lives. The celebration is doubled as our dear Aradhaya is here with us," he announced, eliciting applause from the crowd.

Yug's whispered words prompted a nod from Aridhaan, who reclaimed the mic to announce, "Dadu, Dadi, please come over to the stage; it's time for the cake-cutting ceremony. I would also request the family members to follow."

The family converged on the stage, creating a tableau of togetherness. The elderly couple, with love evident in their eyes, cut the cake, feeding each other. Aradhaya gracefully followed suit, surrounded by the collective warmth of her family. Yagya then took charge, declaring a couples' dance.

The stage became a canvas for expressions of love and joy. The elder couples swayed to the melodies of yesteryears, their dance a testament to enduring love. Subsequently, the younger couples, including Shravan and Ridhima, took the spotlight with their choreographed moves. Aridhaan, sporting a charming smile, extended his hand to Aradhaya, inviting her for a dance she joyfully accepted. Throughout the evening, she danced with her brothers, a radiant smile never leaving her face, embodying the celebration of love and family.

Amid the lively celebrations, Seerat, curious about Aradhaya's relationship status, pulled Ridhima aside for a private conversation. "Ridhi, is Aradhaya single?" she inquired, her eyes reflecting intrigue. Ridhima, caught off guard, replied, "I don't know, Maa. Shravan doesn't talk about his sister's love life with me."

Seerat, contemplating potential matches, proposed an idea, "If she is single and the Rajvanshs are looking for a suitable groom, why not our Rudra? They will look very cute together. I really like her, even after being born and brought up in so much love and pampering. She is so sweet and humble."

Ridhima, cautious about Rudra's past rejections, responded, "I don't know about Aradhaya, but I can say Rudra bhai will not agree. He has rejected every proposal, and I don't want the same to happen with her too. She is very sensitive, and Shravan, along with everyone in the family, is very particular about her. Aridhaan bhai doesn't even leave her out of his sight, as if she is a glass doll that will break with the slightest contact."

Seerat asserted confidently, "I will talk to Maa about it. Let's see if, in your wedding, she meets Rudra, and maybe they develop a liking for each other. Our Rudransh is responsible and considerate; he will surely keep the girl happy."

As the night unfolded, guests bid their farewells, and Aradhaya brought a plate of food for her busy brothers.

"Aru, did you have yours?" Yug huffed as she fed him a spoonful of rice. "I'll have it later. First, you two have it. You both have been running here and there since the morning, and I knew this train of yours has been on track for a few days now." She fed Yagya another spoon.

"Obviously, Aridhaan bhai had a lot to handle, and the Rajvanshs were celebrating something after so long. There was so much to do. If not for Shravan Bhai's wedding, I would have taken a life off to rejuvenate from all the stress." Chugging the water down, Yug stretched his arms.

"You are behaving as if we appointed you at a stone mill or something. He barely did anything, Aru, except getting regular stares from Bhai and sweet nothings from Dad. Then he would go and hide behind Badi maa for rescue." Yagya huffed as Aradhaya fed them both one by one. "Oh please!" Yug tried to be offended when Aradhaya filled his mouth with another bite of food. "Please, bhai. Eat the food first. I have to see if Aridhaan Bhai had any or not yet."

"And what about you?" Three of them turned back to see Aridhaan standing there with a plate of food in his hand. "I knew you would take care of mine." Aradhaya grinned at her brother, who settled on a chair across from her.

"We are done, Aru. You have your dinner with Bhai; we should check on the return gifts for the guests." Yagya took the last bite, pulling Yug along from the chair. "At least let me take the ice cream." Yug complained being dragged with his twin. "I'll feed you the ice cream specially." They left with ongoing banter while Aridhaan shifted to sit beside Aradhaya and prepared her a morsel.

"Sometimes I feel they never grew up, just the same like we all used to be. I missed their banter all these years." She ate the morsel Aridhaan offered while preparing one for him. "We did too." Aradhaya arched her brows at her brother's words. "When you left, Yug lost his witty side, although he tried to joke around with everyone in the family. But seeing his efforts failing made him eventually stop. Yagya was busy with me in the office, so he would often ask me about the reason for your leaving, and I had nothing to answer. Even Yug once came running to my office asking if he could take the jet and bring you back." Aridhaan's words stung her heart. "When he came to visit me five years back." Aridhaan nodded and wiped the tears running down her cheeks.

"I missed you all, Bhai, I swear! But at the same time, I couldn't bear to see you all looking at me with eyes filled with constant worry and concern. I couldn't bear that sight of Papa." Aridhaan cupped her face when she sobbed, forcing each word out. "I know, princess, but it was difficult for us to just realize your absence. But you are back now; everything will go back to normal." He assured her gently, and she nodded in response.

"You know the food tastes better when you serve it." She giggled lightly while he fed her another bite. "And mine tastes better knowing you are well fed."

The celebration came to an end, and everyone from the family relaxed in the living room when Kritika informed everyone, "For tomorrow morning, four of you are gonna accompany your grandparents, so make sure to be up early and be ready on time." The four Rajvansh siblings bobbed their heads and retired to their rooms. With that, everyone dispersed to their rooms, looking forward to a restful night's sleep in preparation for the upcoming early morning puja.

The following day commenced with the entire family participating in prayers at the Rajvansh mansion. Post-puja, charitable activities were organized for the family's well-being. As the Rathores bid their goodbyes, Aridhaan suggested that their mothers arrive in Udaipur early to lend a helping hand with the impending wedding preparations.

⋆✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ~⋆🌿✦🌺✦🌿⋆~ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧⋆

Have a beautiful day!

Happy reading!