Aira ki Shaadi:

Miraal steps into the hustle of her best friend Aira’s wedding, the atmosphere alive with excitement. Aira and Miraal have been friends since childhood, their bond as strong as sisters. After visiting Aira in the bridal room and fussing over her like a true best friend, Miraal heads to oversee the mehndi arrangements, proudly taking charge as part of the bride's side.

As she sets the trays for the mehndi ceremony and laughs with her friends, Miraal senses something—someone—watching her. She pauses, her smile faltering as her eyes scan the room, and then, she spots him. A man, with a straight face, staring directly at her.

Their eyes lock.
"Teri nazron ne dil ka kiya jo hashr, asar yeh hua hua..." The DJ’s sudden song change floods the moment with tension, adding an unexpected weight to the air. Miraal breaks the eye contact, her heart racing slightly, but she brushes it off, focusing back on the ceremony. The mehndi function continues, filled with rituals and dances. But that brief, charged exchange lingers in her mind.
Baraat ka Din:
On the day of the baraat, Miraal dresses in an elegant black outfit, embodying a mix of grace and power. As she moves through the crowd, she notices that same man from the mehndi—he’s wearing black too. A small smirk tugs at her lips. “So we both had the same idea... interesting,” she thinks.

Later, during the joota chupai ceremony, Aira’s younger sister, Haniya, hides the groom’s shoes, demanding 2 lakh rupees as the ransom. The crowd erupts in playful negotiation. The man—Saad—steps in.

"Pachaas hazar kaafi hain," he says, his tone casual but firm.
("Fifty thousand will do," he says, his tone casual but firm.)

Miraal narrows her eyes and steps forward, not willing to back down.
"Tum beech mein mat paro. Ye behnoi aur saaliyon ka maamla hai."
("Don’t interfere. This is between the groom and the bridesmaids.")

Saad doesn’t even glance at her, addressing his elder brother Aryaan instead.
"Inko pachaas hazar de kar farigh karein."
("Just give them fifty thousand and settle it.")

Miraal’s jaw clenches, and she shoots back,
"Agar do lakh se kum diye, toh joota nahi milega!"
("If you give anything less than two lakhs, you’re not getting the shoes back!")

The crowd chuckles, enjoying the banter, but her eyes remain locked on Saad’s. After some heated back-and-forth, they settle on 1.5 lakh rupees, but the tension between Miraal and Saad is palpable.

As the baraat progresses, Miraal walks across the hall, feeling triumphant after winning the joota chupai argument. Her smile lingers as she moves, but suddenly, a tug on her dupatta halts her in her tracks. She looks down—her dupatta is trapped under someone’s shoe. She follows the trail up, only to see Saad standing there, unbothered.

Her eyes flash as she yanks her dupatta free, glaring at him.
"Ye kya badtameezi hai?! Tumhe pata bhi hai kitna mehnga tha ye?"
("What kind of disrespect is this?! Do you even know how expensive this was?")

Saad barely reacts, his voice calm, almost too smooth.
"I can pay for it." He pauses, his lips curling into a faint, arrogant smile. "Aur agar zyada mehnga hai, toh tum bhi apna dhyaan rakho."
("I can pay for it." He pauses, smirking. "And if it's so expensive, maybe you should take better care of it.")

Miraal's eyes narrow, her anger rising.
"Tum jaise log samajhte ho ke paisa har cheez ka hal hai? Newsflash: sab kuch bikta nahi hai!"
("People like you think money can solve everything? Newsflash: not everything has a price!")

Saad leans in slightly, his voice dipping low, teasing.
"Tumhara gussa bohot khoobsurat lagta hai."
("Your anger looks quite beautiful on you.")

Before Miraal can snap back, Aira’s voice calls out from across the room, breaking the charged moment. Fuming, she turns and storms off, but Saad watches her retreat, a glint of amusement in his eyes—he clearly enjoyed their little clash.

Later that evening, while the wedding festivities continue in full swing, Miraal and Aira steal a quiet moment together. Miraal’s mind has been circling back to one person all day. Casually, but with a hint of curiosity, she asks,
"Waise yeh larka kaun tha? Jo joota chupai mein itna drama kar raha tha?"
("By the way, who was that guy causing all that drama during the joota chupai?")

Aira grins knowingly, catching the subtle interest in Miraal's voice.
"Oh, tumhe uska naam nahi pata? That’s Saad... Saad Sikandar Khan. Aryaan ka chota bhai."
("Oh, you don’t know his name? That’s Saad... Saad Sikandar Khan. Aryaan’s younger brother.")

Miraal raises an eyebrow, trying to appear indifferent, though her thoughts are replaying their heated exchanges from earlier.
"Hmm, Saad, huh? Arrogant lagta hai."
("Hmm, Saad, huh? Seems arrogant.")

Aira laughs, nudging Miraal playfully.
"Oh please, Miraal. Tum toh kabhi kisi se jaldi impressed nahi hoti. Saad bhi tumhare jaisa hi hai—stubborn aur impossible. Tum donon ka match interesting hone wala hai!"
("Oh please, Miraal. You never get impressed easily. Saad is just like you—stubborn and impossible. Your match is going to be interesting!")

As the baraat winds down, Miraal heads home in her sleek Audi R8, the day’s events replaying in her mind. She’s trying to shake off the tension when a roaring Mustang GT speeds past her, breaking her thoughts. Her grip tightens on the steering wheel as she looks to the side—Saad, smirking at her from behind the wheel.

"Game on, Saad Sikandar Khan" she mutters under her breath, her competitive streak sparking to life.

In a split second, she presses down on the accelerator, her car surging forward. What starts as a fleeting glance turns into a full-blown race, their cars darting through the streets, weaving between traffic, neither willing to back down. The roar of the engines fills the air, adrenaline and frustration pulsing through Miraal’s veins as she pushes the limits.

But just as suddenly as it begins, the race ends. Their paths fork, and they each drive off in different directions, the intensity of the moment lingering long after they part.

‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.
And with that the first chapter comes to an end.
What are your thoughts on Miraal?
What are your thoughts on Saad?
What will happen next?
Vote and comment.
💋