The day of the wedding had finally arrived, and the morning sun bathed the garden venue in a soft, golden light. 

The entire space had been transformed into a floral paradise, in line with the vintage garden theme. 

Ivory roses, pale pink peonies, and lush greenery adorned every surface, and fairy lights twinkled from above, making the setting look like something out of a dream.

Thalia sat in her bridal suite, the air buzzing with the excitement of her friends and family around her. Her ivory lehenga, custom-made by Sabyasachi, was breathtaking. 

It was a masterpiece with delicate floral embroidery in gold and silver threads, accompanied by a sheer dupatta that had intricate detailing on the edges. 

Her jewellery was regal—a layered necklace with uncut diamonds and pearls, a matching maang tikka, and earrings that added a touch of traditional charm.

Her hair was styled in soft waves, with a few flowers pinned delicately into the bun. Her makeup was soft and dewy, with a hint of gold on her eyelids and a deep red lipstick that added drama to the look. She looked like a queen—ethereal and commanding.

Thalia's best friend, Ridhanya, adjusted the dupatta on her head. "Girl, you look like a damn goddess. He's going to faint when he sees you."

Thalia laughed nervously. "I hope he doesn't faint. Who's going to say the vows then?"

Her mother leaned in, brushing a tear away from her cheek. "Beta, you're so beautiful. It feels like yesterday you were a little girl, and now you're getting married. I'm so proud of you."

Thalia hugged her mother tightly, trying not to cry and ruin her makeup. "Thank you, Mom. I love you."

Shubman was pacing in his suite, his hands running through his perfectly styled hair. His ivory sherwani, also by Sabyasachi, was a vision of understated elegance. 

The embroidery mirrored Thalia's lehenga, creating a seamless connection between their outfits. A pearl necklace and a beige turban completed the look.

His teammates and brothers were all around him, hyping him up. Virat adjusted his turban one last time. "Relax, Gill. You're acting like you're going to face Jasprit Bumrah in the death overs."

"Bhai, I've faced Bumrah," Shubman snapped, his voice shaky. "This? This is scarier. She's going to walk in, and I'm going to lose it."

Rohit clapped him on the back. "That's what happens when you marry a goddess. But seriously, bro, stop sweating. You'll ruin the sherwani."

KL Rahul laughed. "This is what love does to you. I felt the same way when I saw Athiya. Just wait until she steps out. It's game over."

Shubman took a deep breath, muttering under his breath in Punjabi. 

"Oye Rabba, main kis mitti da bana hoya haan? Eh ladki ne meri akal hi khoti kardi." (Oh God, what am I made of? This girl has driven me completely mad.)

As the baraat approached the venue, it was chaos and laughter. Shubman rode in on a white horse, his friends dancing and shouting around him, making the scene as lively as possible. Hardik led the group, shouting, "Oye, make way for the dulha! Future Mrs. Gill is waiting!"

The dhol players beat their drums furiously, and Shubman, despite his nervousness, couldn't help but smile. The thought of seeing Thalia made his heart race.

Inside, Thalia waited with her bridesmaids. The moment she heard the music and cheering outside, her heart fluttered. "He's here," she whispered, clutching her bouquet tightly.

When it was time for Thalia to walk down the aisle, everyone stood, their eyes fixed on her. As she stepped out, the entire garden fell silent. The sight of her was enough to take anyone's breath away.

Shubman turned, and the moment he saw her, his heart stopped. His eyes widened, and his breath hitched. "Holy shit," he muttered, his voice breaking. Tears pricked his eyes as he took in the vision in front of him. 

"Oh Rabba, mainu sambhal le," (Oh God, hold me together) he whispered under his breath.

Virat leaned over and teased, "Bro, don't cry before the pheras even start."

"I can't fucking help it," Shubman replied, wiping a tear quickly. "Look at her. She's... perfect."

Thalia walked toward him, her eyes locked on his. She saw his reaction—his watery eyes, the way his lips trembled—and she smiled softly. 

When she reached him, he leaned in close, whispering, "Baby, you're going to kill me. You look... goddamn unreal."

Thalia blushed, whispering back, "And you're not so bad yourself, dulhe raja."

The pheras began, and the priest started chanting the sacred mantras. Shubman and Thalia walked around the holy fire, their hands clasped tightly. His teammates couldn't help but throw in some light-hearted banter.

"Thalia, don't trip, or Shubman will cry again," Hardik yelled.

"We should start a betting pool on who cries the most today," Rishabh exclaimed.

Shubman rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. "Shut up, Pant, or I'll make you field at short leg for a year."

As they completed the pheras, Shubman leaned closer to Thalia and whispered, "I'm yours now, forever. No take-backs."

Thalia giggled softly, whispering back, "And I'm yours. Forever, no take-backs."

When it was time for the sindoor, Shubman's hands shook slightly as he filled her parting with the red powder. "You're mine now, baby," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

"Always," Thalia replied, her eyes shining with love.

As soon as the ceremony ended, the guests erupted in applause and cheers. Virat and Rohit lifted Shubman in the air, shouting, "Gill's a married man now!" Hardik chased Thalia with a bowl of leftover haldi, threatening to smear it on her designer lehenga.

"Hardik, you're dead if you touch me!" Thalia shouted, laughing and running toward Shubman, who immediately pulled her into his arms.

"No one's messing with my wife," Shubman said, glaring playfully at his teammates.

As the night wound down, and the guests started to leave, Shubman and Thalia finally had a quiet moment together. They stood under the canopy of fairy lights, holding each other close.

"I can't believe we're married," Thalia whispered, resting her head on his chest.

"Believe it, Mrs. Gill," he replied, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "You're stuck with me now."

"And you're stuck with me," she teased, tilting her head up to kiss him softly.

Their love was as bright and beautiful as the stars above them, a bond that no chaos, no teasing, and no amount of mischief could ever break. They were ready to face the world—together.

As the night's celebrations began to wind down, Shubman couldn't keep his eyes off Thalia. Every time she smiled at a guest or laughed at one of his teammates' jokes, it was like a magnet pulling him closer. He leaned toward her as they stood under the twinkling lights of the garden.

"Baby," he whispered, his voice low and gravelly, "I need you... now."

Thalia raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Shubman, we're literally surrounded by everyone. Your teammates, their wives, our families..."

He shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I don't care. Come with me."

Before she could protest, Shubman took her hand and led her through the maze of flower-draped archways to a quieter, more secluded corner of the garden. 

The hum of laughter and music faded into the background as they found themselves in an intimate nook, illuminated by the soft glow of hanging lanterns.

Shubman stopped, turning to her with a heated expression. His hands found her waist, and he pulled her close. 

"You're mine now, officially," he murmured, his forehead resting against hers. "And I don't think I've kissed my wife enough tonight."

Thalia chuckled softly, threading her fingers into his hair. "Your wife isn't going anywhere, Shubs."

That was all the encouragement he needed. He tilted her chin up and kissed her deeply, pouring every ounce of love, passion, and possessiveness into the kiss. 

His lips were soft yet demanding, and his hands tightened on her waist, pulling her flush against him. Thalia responded eagerly, her hands slipping down to grip his sherwani as if anchoring herself.

"Goddamn, baby," he groaned against her lips, pulling back just enough to look at her. "You have no idea what you do to me. Every time I see you, I lose my mind."

Thalia smiled, brushing her thumb along his jawline. "You make me feel the same way, dulhe raja."

They were so lost in their moment that neither of them noticed the quiet footsteps approaching until a loud voice shattered their bubble.

"Well, well, well," came Virat's amused drawl. "What do we have here? The newlyweds getting a little... busy, are we?"

Shubman froze mid-kiss, his hands still on Thalia's waist. They both turned, wide-eyed, to see Virat, Rohit, Hardik, and Rishabh standing there with grins that ranged from amused to downright wicked. 

Behind them were Anushka, Ritika, Natasa, and the rest of their friends, barely holding back laughter.

"Damn, Gill, you really couldn't wait, huh?" Hardik teased, slapping his thigh. "At least warn us before you sneak off to make out!"

Thalia buried her face in Shubman's chest, laughing despite her embarrassment. "Oh my God, you guys are the worst!" she groaned, her voice muffled.

Rishabh winked. "Hey, don't blame us. You two were the ones hiding in plain sight. The lanterns? Very romantic, by the way."

Shubman narrowed his eyes at his friends, but a smile tugged at his lips. "You all have zero boundaries. This is my wife, okay? I can kiss her whenever the hell I want."

Virat laughed, crossing his arms. "Yeah, sure. Just don't forget there's a whole reception going on."

Hardik clapped Shubman on the shoulder. "Come on, Romeo. You can finish your little moment later. Right now, everyone's waiting for you two to cut the cake."

As their friends walked back toward the main area, still laughing and teasing, Shubman sighed dramatically, resting his head on Thalia's shoulder. "I swear to God, I'm going to kill them one day."

Thalia giggled, running her fingers through his hair. "They're your family, Shubs. You can't kill them."

"Fine," he muttered, pulling her in for one last quick kiss. "But I'll get back at them somehow. You just wait."

Hand in hand, the couple returned to the party, the glow of their stolen moment lingering between them. 

And as the night carried on, their friends' teasing only cemented what everyone already knew: Shubman and Thalia were madly, unapologetically in love.

soup rants!

- hello everyone!

- I hope you guys are having a great day so far, and I also hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!

- THEY'RE MARRIED OMG

- also comments on the chapter?

- I hope you guys liked this one!

- with lots of love, supraja 🫶