The office was abuzz with excitement as everyone prepared for the annual party. The theme was "Starry Night," and the venue was decorated with twinkling fairy lights, shimmering drapes, and a dance floor that glowed under soft blue lighting. Shehnaaz arrived in a stunning lavender gown with silver embellishments, her hair cascading down her shoulders, making her look like she had just stepped out of a dream.

Sidharth, dressed in a sharp lavender suit unknowingly twinning her, couldn't take his eyes off her as she walked into the room. "Lagta hai chand zameen par utar aaya," he muttered to himself, smiling.

Shehnaaz caught him staring and raised an eyebrow. "Kya dekh rahe ho? Dekha uda diye na hosh"

He smirked, stepping closer. "Jitna socha tha usse zyda khubsurat lg rahi ho tum"

Shehnaaz blushed, looking away. "Bas bas, zyada buttering mat kar. Aaj main teri fake girlfriend hoon, yaad hai?" She said to him in teasing tone as last time he called her fake girlfriend.

"Fake girlfriend?" he repeated with a fake smile and nodded. He pulled her holding her waist and whispered in her ear. "Aaj to tu mere liye sab kuch hai".

She hit his chest and push him away. "Sid pagal hai sab dekh rahe hai"

"So we are couple" He said with puppy eyes.

She rolled his eyes and went towards her friends. All the time Sidharth eyes were on her.

As the evening progressed, the DJ announced the start of the dance segment. Couples made their way to the floor, swaying to the romantic melody that filled the air.

"Shall we?" Sidharth extended his hand toward Shehnaaz, his smile warm and inviting.

Shehnaaz hesitated for a second but then placed her hand in his. "Why not?"

He chuckled. "Don't worry main hu na just follow my steps, and trust me".

They moved to the center of the dance floor. Sidharth placed his hand on her waist while her hand rested on his shoulder, their fingers intertwined. As the music played, they swayed gently, their movements synchronized, their eyes locked.

"Kya soch rahi ho?" Sidharth asked softly, his voice barely audible over the music.

Shehnaaz smiled faintly. "Soch rahi hoon ki main kitni badi stupid hu jo Varun ke piche pagal thi, meri pasand to mere saamne thi, Hamesha se." She whispered looking into his eyes.

Sidharth's grip on her waist tightened slightly, his heart skipping a beat. "Aur agar main kahoon ki mujhe kabhi yeh fake laga hi nahi?"

Shehnaaz looked up at him, surprised. "Sid…"

"Shhh," he whispered, his forehead almost touching hers. "Kuch mat bolo abhi. Bas feel karo." They both closed their eyes and feel eachother warm. Their love for eachother.

After the dance, Sidharth led her outside to the terrace, away from the crowd. The cool night air wrapped around them as they stood under a canopy of stars.

"Sana" Sidharth began, his tone serious for the first time that evening. "Kya tujhe kabhi laga ki jo hum kar rahe hain, woh ek din real lagne lagega?"

Shehnaaz turned to face him, her heart pounding. "Sid, mujhe ek baat tujhse share karni hai"

"Bol" he said, his eyes searching hers.

"Kya?" Sidharth asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Shehnaaz stepped closer, her eyes glistening. "Tu"

Sidharth stared at her, stunned. "Sa...sana… tu sach keh rahi hai?"

She nodded, a single tear escaping. "Haan, Sid. Mujhe nahi pata yeh kab aur kaise hua, par main tere saath hoon toh sab perfect lagta hai. Teri care, tera support… mujhe lagta hai main tere bina incomplete hoon, i...i like you Sid"

Sidharth's face broke into a radiant smile as he pulled her into a tight embrace. "I lo...i...i like you too Sana, I like you too"

Sidharth's face broke into a radiant smile as he pulled her into a tight embrace. "Sana tujhe pata hai? Main kab se yeh sunne ka wait kar raha tha"

She pulled back slightly, her brow furrowed. "Kya matlab?"

"Matlab yeh ki mujhe lagta hai, main...i...i like you from school time. Bas, teri feelings ka wait kar raha tha"

Shehnaaz blinked, tears now streaming freely. "Sid… tune mujhe bataya kiy nahi?"

"Kiuki pehle to main apni dosti kharab nahi karta chahata tha aur dusra main tujhe khush dekhna chahta tha, chahe uska matlab tujhe kisi aur ke saath dekhna kiu na ho," he admitted, cupping her face. "Par ab jab tu mere saamne hai, mujhe pata hai ki yeh moment kabhi fake nahi tha."

Without thinking, Shehnaaz leaned in, her lips brushing his softly, tenderly. Sidharth melted into the kiss, her hands clutching his jacket as the world around them seemed to fade away. It was not dramatic or hurried it was the kind of kiss that spoke of unspoken emotions and years of longing.

When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads rested against each other.

"Sana ab tu tum officially meri hai, theek?" Sidharth whispered, his voice filled with happiness.

She laughed softly, her heart full. "Haan, Par ek condition hai."

"Kya?"

"Tujhe mere liye har din yeh cheesy lines bolni hongi," she teased.

He chuckled, wrapping his arms around her. "Deal. Tere liye to main duniya ka sabse filmy aadmi banne ko ready hoon."

As they stood under the stars, holding each other, they both realized that their story was not about fake love or making someone else jealous, it was about finding something real, something that had been there all along.

And for the first time, both of them felt complete.
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It had been two weeks since Shehnaaz confessed her feelings for Sidharth. Their relationship was now official, but Shehnaaz had one more thing to do to make it even more special. Sidharth's birthday was approaching, and she wanted to surprise him with something unforgettable a reunion with their closest school friends and a proposal that would seal their future together.

Shehnaaz had everything planned. But first, she needed access to his contacts. Shehnaaz waited for the right moment. One evening, while they were working late at her place on a project, Sidharth dozed off on the couch. His phone was lying nearby, and she saw her opportunity.

"Sorry, Sid. It's for a good cause," she whispered, tiptoeing toward his phone.

Unlocking it with ease (she knew his password, of course), she quickly found the contacts of their old friends Kushal, Shreya, Avni, and Neil. She send their numbers to her phone and than delete the message from his phone and place it on the same place.

"Bas, sab kuch perfect hona chahiye," she muttered, looking at the list of arrangements on her phone.

The first call she made was to Shreya.

"Hello?" Shreya's voice was cautious but familiar.

"Shreya, it's me, Shehnaaz!" she said brightly.

There was a pause. "Shehnaaz Gill? Tumhe ab hum yaad aa gaye?" Shreya’s tone was sharp.

Shehnaaz winced. "Shreya, please, meri baat toh suno. Main tum logon se contact karna chahti thi, par meri purani phone kho gaya tha. Main honestly tumhara number trace karne ki koshish kar rahi thi, aur ab Sid ke phone se mila hai."

"Phone kho gaya tha? Seriously?" Shreya said, clearly unimpressed.

Shehnaaz sighed. "Shreya, I'm really sorry. Mujhe pata hai tum logon ko laga hoga ki maine sab bhula diya, but that's not true. Tum log mere sabse close friends ho, aur ab tumse milna chahti hoon. Please, don't say no."

Shreya softened slightly. "Kya baat hai, Shehnaaz? Kyun ab yaad kiya?"

Shehnaaz explained the plan for Sidharth's surprise party and how much it would mean to him and her to have them all there.

"Fine," Shreya said, relenting. "Par Kushal aur mujhe manane ke liye ek extra coffee treat deni padegi."

Shehnaaz laughed, relieved. "Done! Thank you, Shreya. Main tum dono ke bina yeh reunion imagine nahi kar sakti thi."

The next call was to Avni, who was equally surprised but delighted to hear from Shehnaaz. "London ki shaadiyon ka makeup karke thak gayi hoon, yaar," Avni joked. "Neil ko bhi drag karke le aungi. Tumhe maaf toh karna padega, warna Sid hume maar dalega agar party miss ki."

By the end of the day, all the arrangements were finalized. The friends were coming, albeit with a mix of excitement and lingering irritation.

The venue was a cozy, private rooftop café decorated with fairy lights and flowers, simple yet elegant, just like Shehnaaz knew Sidharth would love. She ensured there was a cake, music, and a collage of old photos from their school days.

As the guests started arriving, Shehnaaz welcomed them nervously.

"Shreya! Kushal!" She ran to hug them, but Shreya pulled back, feigning annoyance.

"Humein bhool ke ab bula rahi ho? Tumhe maaf karne mein time lagega, Gill" Shreya teased, though her eyes twinkled with affection.

"Please, Shreya. Mujhe aur guilty mat karo. Tum dono na, meri zindagi ka best part ho. Tumhare bina school life kaise hoti, mujhe yaad bhi nahi," Shehnaaz said earnestly.

Kushal grinned. "Acha, acha. Tere yeh cute dialogues sunne ke liye aaye hain. Chhodo aur batao, plan kya hai?"

She laughed, relieved.

Avni arrived next, dragging Neil behind her.

"Neil ko London se kheench ke laayi hoon. Mera shukriya kaise ada karogi, madam?" Avni teased.

Shehnaaz hugged her tightly. "Avni, finally ab party complete hai."

Neil smirked. "Acha, mujhe bula ke sirf Avni ka mention? Hum London walon ki izzat nahi hoti kya?"

Shehnaaz laughed. "Neil, tujhe extra cookies milenge, theek hai?"

Soon, the friends settled into their old dynamic, the years melting away as they shared stories, teased each other, and reminisced about school days.

Sidharth walked into the café, surprised to see it dark. "Shehnaaz? Tu hai yahan?"

As he stepped in further, the lights flickered on, and everyone yelled, "Surprise"

Sidharth froze, taking in the familiar faces around him. "Kushal? Shreya? Avni? Neil? Are you serious right now?"

Shehnaaz stepped forward, grinning. "Happy birthday, Sidhart. Tere liye reunion plan kiya. Kaisa laga surprise?"

Sidharth blinked, his eyes moistening slightly. "Shehnaaz tune yeh sab… mere liye kiya?"

"Of course" she said, smiling. "Tera hi to birthday hai buddhu."

After cutting the cake and sharing heartfelt toasts, Shehnaaz signaled for the music to stop.

"Ek minute, attention please." she called out, her voice shaking slightly.

Everyone turned to look at her.

"Sidharth," she began, walking toward him. "Tu meri zindagi ka woh part hai jo hamesha complete lagta hai. Tune mujhe hamesha support kiya, khush rakha, aur samjha. Mujhe pata hai ki hum dono kaafi din fake boyfriend girlfriend bane rahe, but mere liye woh kabhi fake nahi tha."

Sidharth stared at her, his heart pounding.

"Main tumse officially puchna chahti hoon," she continued, pulling out a small ring box from her pocket. "Kya tu mere saath apni poori zindagi spend karoga? Will you marry me Sidharth?."

"Sana," he said, taking her hand and pulling her up. "Tujhe pata hai? Main har din is moment ka wait kar raha tha. Aur tune mujhe duniya ka sabse khush aadmi bana diya."

He knelt down, took the ring, and slipped it onto her finger before pulling her into a kiss amidst the applause and laughter of their friends.

As the party wound down, the group sat in a circle, sharing their favorite school memories.

"Bas, ab jaldi shaadi kar lo," Avni added.

"Haan bhai you guys are meant to be forever fir deri kesi." Shreya said.

Sidharth looked at Shehnaaz, smiling. "Bilkul Bilkul."

"Finally meri janeman ki shadi hogi." Kushal said teasingly to Sidharth and slip towards her.

Sidharth push him aside, "aye dur reh, Shreya sambhal isko."

The group burst into laughter, the night ending on a note of love, laughter, and rekindled friendships.

The End ❤️

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That is it for today.

Hope you all like it. Epilogue is coming soon.

Thanks for reading.