The wedding hall was alive.

Laughter bounced off the walls, elders teasing the newlyweds, guests showering blessings, and the couple smiling as if their happiness depended on it. Amidst the chaos, Meenakshi stood quietly, trying not to get trampled in the crowd. She couldn’t help but smile at the spectacle.

When will I find my person?

The thought arrived uninvited, and she almost laughed aloud.

Ayyoo… if Amma heard this, she’d start hunting for a groom tomorrow itself.

Shaking herself, she moved toward the dining area, where the aroma of payasam and piping-hot biryani promised instant happiness. Her mother waved from a reserved seat, flashing an apologetic smile.

“Sorry, ra,” her mother said, patting the empty chair beside her. “Your sister was hungry, so we came first. I even saved a spot for you.”

Meenakshi shot her sister a glare. But the younger girl just shrugged and dived into her plate like nothing mattered in the world except her payasam. Of course, the little drama queen.

Huffing, Meenakshi sat down beside her mother, finishing her food quickly so she could head back to the mandapam. There were rituals to witness—she couldn’t afford to miss her mama’s [Uncle] wedding, even if the little chaos around her made her feel like she was part of a reality show.

Clad in a Purple silk saree that draped elegantly over her figure, hair neatly set, bangles softly chiming on her wrists, she moved toward the mandapam. She looked every bit the traditional girl. In her head, however, she was silently cursing the high heels.

That was when she heard it.

A child’s laughter—bright, mischievous, and unmistakably familiar.

Chiru…

Her eyes immediately found him near a stranger.

The man was tall, casually dressed in a Green shirt and veshti and rolled-up sleeves that revealed strong, defined arms. He bent slightly, laughing at something Chiru had done. Meenakshi blinked. And just like that—her entire body froze.

Her heart skipped. Her stomach fluttered. Butterflies. A whole swarm of them.

No. No. Absolutely not.

Get it together, Meenakshi.

Determined, she stepped forward, reaching for Chiru. But before she could scoop him up, he wiggled free, giggling as if he’d just won some imaginary Olympics, and darted back to the stranger for cover.

Meenakshi sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. Of course. Children had no sense of timing or danger.

“Chiru! Eat your food first, okay? Your mom called,” she called, exasperated but amused.

“No! I want to play with this uncle!” Chiru protested, squirming behind the stranger.

The man finally looked up. Their eyes met. And just like that, Meenakshi forgot how to breathe.

He chuckled softly, low and amused, a sound that made her stomach flip in ways she couldn’t explain.

This isn’t funny.

Meenakshi marched toward them, arms slightly akimbo, trying to look stern—but let’s be honest, who could look stern at a 5-year-old with cheeks like that?

“Chiru! Enough hiding. Come on, we need to eat,” she called, bending down slightly.

“And you!” she said, glancing at him—the stranger. Hello looked around and pointed at himself. She said “Yes, you. This is not a playground. You’re supposed to be an adult.”

The man raised an eyebrow, his smile teasing, almost… knowing. “Am I now? And here I thought I was just supervising a very energetic kid.”

Meenakshi blinked. Who even talks like that? He was dangerously calm, with just the right amount of sarcasm to annoy her, yet somehow… charm her.

“Supervising?” she repeated, crossing her arms. “You mean encouraging him to run around like a mini tornado?”

He shrugged, still smiling. “Tornadoes are unpredictable. I’m just… observing the chaos.”

Meenakshi let out an exasperated sigh. Oh no… this is going to be one of those days where I both want to hit someone and annoyingly… stare at them.

“Alright, Mr. Chaos Supervisor, step aside,” she said, bending down and scooping Chiru into her arms. The boy immediately started squirming and giggling.

“Akka! Let me go!” he shouted. “I want to play with this uncle!”

The stranger chuckled again, dark eyes sparkling with amusement. “Looks like I’m losing the game, then.”

Meenakshi glared at him—but internally, her heart betrayed her with a wild flutter. Why does he have to be so handsome? And why is he smiling at me like he knows my thoughts?

“Game or no game,” she muttered, “he eats first. Or else you’ll have me to answer to when his mom finds out.”

He laughed softly, a sound that lingered longer than it should have, and Meenakshi realized that, somehow, this random encounter had already made the wedding feel… a little less ordinary.

Thankyou for reading it till here i hope you enjoyed this chapter...