As they arrived at the temple, the air was filled with the scent of incense and the soft murmur of prayers. Preethi and Shubman walked hand in hand, their hearts filled with reverence as they approached the sanctum sanctorum.

As they joined the rest of the family in prayer, Preethi closed her eyes, her mind drifting into a state of peaceful meditation. Beside her, Shubman stood tall and solemn, his presence a comforting anchor amidst the chaos of the crowded temple.

Unbeknownst to them, the priest observed their closeness with a knowing smile, assuming them to be husband and wife. With a gentle nod, he motioned for Shubman to perform the customary ritual of placing kumkum on Preethi's forehead, a symbol of marital bliss and 

prosperity.

Shubman, unaware of the priest's intentions, took the sacred vermilion powder in his hand, thinking it to be a customary practice performed by everyone. With practiced ease, he leaned forward, placing the kumkum near Preethi's hairline on her forehead, his touch light and reverent.

Meanwhile, Preethi remained lost in her prayers, her eyes closed in silent devotion. It wasn't until she felt the soft touch of kumkum on her forehead that she opened her eyes, her heart skipping a beat at the unexpected sensation.

Confusion flickered in Preethi's eyes as she looked up to see Shubman standing beside her, a serene smile playing on his lips. Before she could question his actions, her attention was drawn to the voices of Shreyas, Ishan, and Sai engaged in conversation nearby.

Divya, Sai's girlfriend, noticed the kumkum on Preethi's forehead, her eyes widening in surprise. "Preethi, look," she whispered, gently nudging her arm.

Preethi's gaze shifted to the mirror nearby, her reflection revealing the vermillion mark on her forehead. Shock washed over her as she realized what had happened, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment at the misunderstanding.

Shubman, oblivious to the commotion, continued chatting with the others, his laughter mingling with the ambient sounds of the temple. Preethi stole a glance at him, feeling a rush of gratitude for his presence, even amidst the unexpected turn of events.

As they continued their prayers, Preethi couldn't shake the feeling of warmth spreading through her, a sense of belonging that transcended the boundaries of mere acquaintance. And as she stood beside Shubman, her heart whispered a silent prayer of gratitude for the unexpected blessings that had brought them together.

As the priest's assumption of their marital status lingered in the air, Preethi couldn't help but feel a mixture of amusement and discomfort. She exchanged a brief, bewildered glance with Shubman, who seemed oblivious to the confusion swirling around them.

Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Preethi gently brushed her fingertips against the kumkum on her forehead, silently contemplating the implications of the priest's mistake. She knew it was a harmless misunderstanding, but the sudden attention it brought was unexpected and slightly unnerving.

Meanwhile, Divya leaned in closer, her voice barely above a whisper as she addressed Preethi. "Did Shubman...?" she trailed off, her eyes darting between Preethi and Shubman with curiosity.

Preethi nodded, her cheeks still tinged with a faint blush as she replied softly, "Yes, he did. But it's just a misunderstanding."

Divya's eyes widened in surprise, but a warm smile tugged at her lips as she looked at Preethi. "Well, I must say, you make quite the lovely couple," she remarked, her tone filled with genuine warmth.

Preethi felt her cheeks flush even deeper at the comment, but she couldn't deny the flutter of excitement that stirred within her at the thought. She stole another glance at Shubman, who was now engaged in conversation with Sai and the others, his laughter filling the air with joy.

Despite the unexpected turn of events, Preethi couldn't help but feel grateful for the connection she shared with Shubman, a connection that seemed to deepen with each passing moment. As they continued their prayers, she found solace in the knowledge that they were united not just by circumstance, but by a bond that transcended mere words.

As Preethi discreetly rubbed off the kumkum from her forehead, a subtle movement caught Sai's attention. His gaze flickered between Preethi and Shubman, a curious expression dawning on his face as he pieced together the situation.

Sensing Sai's scrutiny, Shubman turned towards him with a questioning look, his brow furrowing in confusion. "What's wrong, Sai?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.

Sai's eyes widened slightly as realization dawned on him, and a mischievous grin spread across his face. "Oh, nothing much, Shubman," he replied, his tone deceptively casual. "Just wondering if you know the significance of the kumkum on Preethi's forehead."

Shubman's confusion deepened as he shook his head, his cheeks starting to tinge pink with embarrassment. "Um, not really," he admitted, feeling a sense of unease creeping over him.

Sai leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper as he explained, "Well, you see, it's a tradition for married women to wear kumkum on their forehead. It symbolizes their marital status and is applied by their husbands as a sign of love and respect."

Shubman's eyes widened in disbelief as Sai's words sank in, the realization hitting him like a ton of bricks. He felt a flush of heat rise to his cheeks as he glanced at Preethi, his mind reeling with the implications of his actions.

"Oh, I see," Shubman muttered, his voice barely above a whisper as he averted his gaze, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over him. "I-I didn't realize..."

Sai chuckled softly, patting Shubman on the back in a gesture of camaraderie. "Don't worry about it, mate," he reassured him, his tone laced with amusement. "It's an easy mistake to make, especially if you're not familiar with our customs."

Shubman nodded sheepishly, feeling grateful for Sai's understanding as he tried to compose himself. He stole a glance at Preethi, who met his gaze with a soft smile, her eyes twinkling with affection.

As they made their way out of the temple, Shubman couldn't shake the feeling of embarrassment lingering in the air. But amidst the teasing and laughter of their friends and family, he found solace in the knowledge that his unintentional blunder had only served to strengthen the bond between him and Preethi.

As they settled into the car for the drive home, Shubman couldn't shake off the lingering embarrassment from the temple incident. Preethi noticed his unease and reached out to gently squeeze his hand, her touch sending a comforting warmth coursing through him.

"Hey, sweetheart, don't let it get to you," she said softly, her voice filled with affection. "We all have our moments, and trust me, you're not the first one to make a blunder like that."

Shubman's lips curved into a grateful smile as he glanced at her, his heart swelling with love for this woman who always knew how to soothe his worries. "Thanks, babe," he murmured, his voice filled with genuine appreciation. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Preethi chuckled softly, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Well, lucky for you, you don't have to find out," she teased, her tone light and playful.

As they drove along the winding roads, the sun dipping lower on the horizon, Shubman couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over him. The familiar sights and sounds of their journey home filled him with a sense of belonging, a feeling that he only experienced in Preethi's presence.

Glancing at her out of the corner of his eye, Shubman couldn't resist the urge to reach out and tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his touch gentle and tender. "You know, Preethi," he began, his voice soft and sincere, "I'm so grateful to have you in my life. You make every moment brighter, even when I'm being a total idiot."

Preethi's cheeks flushed pink at his endearing words, her heart swelling with love for this man who always knew how to make her feel cherished. "Oh, Shubman," she murmured, her voice filled with warmth, "you're not an idiot. You're just...uniquely you. And I wouldn't have it any other way."

As they parked the car in the driveway, Shubman glanced at Preethi with a playful grin, his heart racing with excitement. "Can you believe it's only been one day since we officially became a couple?" he exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief and joy.

Preethi's eyes sparkled with affection as she turned to him, a smile playing on her lips. "I know, right?" she replied, her voice tinged with amusement. "It feels like we've known each other for much longer."

Shubman reached out to intertwine his fingers with hers, a surge of warmth spreading through him at the simple touch. "That's because we're meant to be, Preethi," he said earnestly, his gaze locked with hers. "I knew it from the moment I met you."

Preethi's heart fluttered at his words, her cheeks flushing with a mixture of happiness and excitement. "I felt it too, Shubman," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "There's something special about us, something that just clicks."

Shubman leaned in closer, his breath mingling with hers as he brushed his lips against her cheek in a gentle kiss. "I love you, Preethi," he whispered, his voice filled with sincerity.

Preethi's heart swelled with emotion at his declaration, her eyes shining with unshed tears of happiness. "I love you too, Shubman," she replied, her voice trembling with emotion.

As they sat in the car, basking in the warmth of their newfound love, Shubman couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder at the journey they had embarked upon together. He knew that there would be challenges along the way, but with Preethi by his side, he felt invincible.

And as they stepped out of the car and walked hand in hand towards their front door, Shubman knew that their love was just beginning to blossom—a love that would only grow stronger with each passing day, binding them together in a bond that was unbreakable.

As they stood on the threshold of their home, bathed in the soft glow of the porch light, Shubman couldn't resist the overwhelming urge to express his love for Preethi in the most heartfelt way possible. With a gentle tug, he pulled her closer, his eyes alight with adoration.

Without a word, Shubman leaned in, his lips meeting Preethi's in a tender, passionate kiss. Time seemed to stand still as they lost themselves in the sweet embrace, their hearts beating as one.

For a moment, the world around them faded away, leaving only the warmth of their love enveloping them like a cocoon. It was a moment of pure bliss, a testament to the depth of their connection and the intensity of their feelings.

As they finally pulled away, their foreheads touching as they gazed into each other's eyes, Shubman felt a sense of completeness wash over him. "I love you, Preethi," he whispered, his voice husky with emotion.

Preethi's eyes shimmered with unshed tears of happiness as she returned his gaze, her heart overflowing with love. "And I love you, Shubman," she replied, her voice filled with unwavering devotion.

soups rants!!

the tenth chapter is hereee

GOD THE CHENNAI EXPRESS SCENE HERE

IM SO HAPPY

SHUBMAN GOT SO FLUSTEREDVJNFJVN

so do comment on how this chapter was

but anyway

hope y'all enjoyed it!

- yours truly, supraja