The night before the Fresher's Ball, the Sinha household was brimming with excitement. In her room, Milli sat cross-legged on her bed, scrolling through her phone, when Mrinalini and Vinayak walked in, carrying a beautifully wrapped box.

“Milli, we have something for you,” Mrinalini said, her eyes sparkling with delight.

Vinayak added, “Your mother picked this out herself. I must admit, she has impeccable taste.”

Curious, Milli set her phone aside and opened the box. Inside lay a stunning rose gold gown, its fabric shimmering like sunlight on water. Milli’s eyes widened in surprise. “Maa, Papa, this is gorgeous! But why…?”

“For your Fresher's Ball, of course,” Mrinalini said with a proud smile. “We wanted you to feel special on your big night.”

Milli hugged her parents, her voice soft with gratitude. “Thank you, Maa, Papa. It’s perfect.”

Mrinalini, ever the romantic, hummed softly as she caressed Milli’s hair:
“Yeh reshmi zulfein, yeh sharbati aankhein… Inhe dekh ke jee rahe hai sabhi…”

Milli laughed, rolling her eyes. “Maa, it’s just a ball, not my wedding!”

Vinayak chuckled. “Well, consider this practice for when that day comes.”

Milli blushed, hiding her face in the gown as her parents left the room, leaving her to dream about the evening ahead.

---

Meanwhile, at the Sehgal residence, Abhimanyu was busy rummaging through Kush’s wardrobe. “This? No. This? Definitely not,” he muttered, tossing clothes onto the bed as Kush stood nearby, looking annoyed.

“Abhi, it’s just a ball. Why are you acting like it’s the Oscars?” Kush protested.

Abhimanyu turned to him, holding up a black tuxedo. “Because you’re my brother, and you’re not walking into that ball looking like you just got off a bike ride. Now, wear this.”

Kush sighed, taking the tuxedo. “This is ridiculous.”

As Kush changed, Abhimanyu leaned against the door, smirking. “By the way, who’s the lucky girl you’re going with?”

Kush emerged, adjusting his white shirt beneath the tux. “It’s Milli. And don’t start singing again.”

Abhimanyu raised his hands in mock innocence but couldn’t resist humming:
“Tux mein rehne do, baat banne do… Tux ke neeche kya hai?”

“Abhi!” Kush shot him a glare, though the corner of his mouth twitched.

Abhimanyu walked over, adjusting Kush’s bow tie. “There, you’re good to go. And trust me, that Milli girl will be impressed. Just try not to scowl the entire evening.”

Kush rolled his eyes. “Noted. Anything else?”

“Yeah,” Abhimanyu said, stepping back and admiring his work. “You owe me for this. Big time.”

Kush shook his head, a faint smile playing on his lips as he looked in the mirror. He didn’t recognize himself—sharp, polished, and just a little nervous.

As the night crept closer, two worlds prepared for a magical evening. On one side, Milli admired her gown in front of the mirror, twirling as the soft melody of a classic song echoed in her mind:
“Lag jaa gale ke phir yeh haseen raat ho na ho…”

And on the other, Kush stood in front of his reflection, adjusting his cuffs as his heart raced with a mix of curiosity and uncertainty, thinking to himself:
“Dil dhoondta hai fir wahi, fursat ke raat din… Jo beet gaye woh baat gaye…”

The stage was set for a night neither of them would forget.