It was Diwali morning, and while Shubman was still fast asleep, Sara was already up and glowing with excitement. She had slipped into a gorgeous traditional outfit, a deep maroon saree adorned with delicate gold embroidery, complete with matching jewelry. Her bangles jingled softly as she moved around the room, making final touches.

Just then, Shubman stirred, blinking awake to see Sara all dressed up. He sat up quickly, eyes wide with surprise. "Sara? What's going on? You look... wow." He ran a hand through his hair, still groggy. "Did I miss something?"

She grinned, her eyes sparkling with joy. "It's Diwali, sleepyhead! We're going to Dad's house, remember?"

Shubman looked genuinely shocked, then a little sheepish as he rubbed his neck. "Right... Diwali. I totally forgot we were going to his place." He chuckled nervously.

Sara shook her head, amused. "Well, we better hurry if we want to make it on time. You can't keep Dad waiting."

In a flash, Shubman was out of bed, his drowsiness vanishing. "Give me 15 minutes!" he said, dashing to the bathroom.

Twenty minutes later, Shubman emerged in a crisp kurta, looking every bit the part for the festive day. Together, they left for Sachin's house, where family and friends had already started gathering. As they arrived, Sachin greeted them with a wide smile, and Sara, with a look of warmth and admiration, hugged her father tightly.

The day was filled with laughter, traditions, and family blessings. As night fell, the sky lit up with fireworks, and Shubman took a moment to look at Sara, standing beside him with awe on her face, her excitement mirroring the bright sparkles above.

He gently reached for her hand. "Happy Diwali, Mrs. Gill," he murmured, a soft smile on his face.

She squeezed his hand in return, her eyes reflecting the warmth of the lights around them. "Happy Diwali, Mr. Gill."

At Sachin's house, the festive atmosphere grew even livelier when Shubman's family joined in, filling the place with warm laughter and chatter. As soon as Shahneel spotted Shubman and Sara standing together, her mischievous smile gave away her intentions.

"Ohh, look at our newlyweds, stealing glances at each other like it's their first Diwali together!" Shahneel teased, nudging Shubman as Sara turned a little pink.

Keart chimed in, adding with a laugh, "It's so cute how Shubman's forgotten all about cricket today—who knew Sara would be the only thing he'd notice!"

Sachin overheard and chuckled, putting an arm around his daughter. "Well, he better take good care of her. And Shubman," he added with a lighthearted tone, "you've got a lot to live up to if you're going to keep my princess happy."

Lakhwinder, not wanting to miss out, joined in the teasing. "Ah, Shubman, remember how you were terrified of the idea of marriage not too long ago? And now, look at you," he said with a laugh, "the most devoted husband here!"

Shubman rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling but slightly embarrassed. "Alright, alright, you guys can stop. It's Diwali! Let's focus on that."

But the teasing continued, and Sara, amused but flustered, leaned into Shubman, whispering, "Guess we're the main event today, huh?"

He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze and whispered back, "Well, if it means getting teased just to be with you, I'd do it every time."

The evening went on with lighthearted jokes, warm wishes, and endless laughter, filling the house with love and joy. And as the night deepened, both families came together for a small pooja, each feeling grateful for the bonds shared and the happiness that radiated in every corner.

As the evening set in, everyone gathered outside Sachin's house, the air thick with excitement and the soft hum of Diwali festivities echoing in the neighborhood. The courtyard was adorned with rangoli patterns and oil lamps that added a warm glow to the atmosphere, creating the perfect setting for the night's celebrations.

Shahneel and Arjun were the first to grab sparklers, lighting them and twirling around, filling the air with laughter. Soon enough, Shubman joined in, lighting a few crackers, much to Sara's amusement. She stood to the side, watching everyone with a broad smile, occasionally glancing at Shubman, who seemed to be enjoying himself like a child.

"Come on, Sara!" Shubman called, waving a sparkler in her direction. "You're not just going to watch, are you?"

Sara hesitated, holding up her hands. "I'll watch, thank you very much! I don't want to end up with a firecracker mishap!" she laughed, but her smile turned warm as she saw Shubman approach her with a sparkler.

"Just trust me," he whispered, taking her hand and guiding her fingers around the sparkler. He lit it gently, and the sparkler came to life, casting a beautiful golden glow on their faces. Sara giggled, feeling her worries disappear as the sparkles danced around them.

"You know, it's not so bad," she admitted, leaning closer to him. Shubman chuckled, keeping her hand steady.

Then, Sachin and Lakhwinder began lighting a series of colorful rockets, each bursting into vibrant patterns in the night sky. Everyone paused, captivated by the display. Keart and Anjali watched fondly, holding their own sparklers, while Shahneel and Arjun cheered excitedly as each rocket exploded in a kaleidoscope of colors.

Just as the grand finale of fireworks began, Shubman gently pulled Sara aside, their sparklers still glimmering. "Happy Diwali, Mrs. Gill," he murmured, his eyes filled with warmth.

"Happy Diwali, Mr. Gill," she replied softly, squeezing his hand.

And as the last of the fireworks illuminated the sky, they stood together, surrounded by family and love, feeling grateful for this new chapter in their lives and the beautiful memories they were creating.

As the Diwali festivities wound down and the families exchanged warm goodbyes, Shubman and Sara made their way back to their house under the starlit sky. The car ride was quiet, filled with the gentle hum of the engine and a comfortable silence between them, both still basking in the warmth of the evening. Sara leaned her head on Shubman's shoulder, closing her eyes as she smiled to herself.

When they arrived home, Shubman unlocked the door, and Sara stepped inside, her eyes lighting up as she took in their home, still softly glowing with Diwali diyas she'd set up earlier. The house felt peaceful and warm, a little haven after the evening's celebrations.

"Let me just clean up these diyas and—" Sara began, but Shubman caught her wrist gently.

"Not tonight. Let's leave them," he said with a soft smile. "They look beautiful... just like you."

Sara blushed, her cheeks a soft pink under the warm light. Shubman wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close as they swayed gently to the distant sounds of lingering fireworks outside. For a moment, they were lost in each other, the world around them fading.

"Thank you for making today perfect," Shubman whispered, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

Sara looked up at him, her eyes soft. "I'm just glad you were with me to share it all." She stood on her toes and gave him a gentle kiss, their laughter filling the quiet night.

They finally made their way to their bedroom, tired but happy, feeling the warmth of family, love, and new memories. Shubman pulled her into a gentle embrace as they drifted off to sleep, their hearts full and their home glowing with the love they had for each other.