Shadi Ke Mandap Me Mohobbat
Chapter 5: Silent Strings
[Sharma House – Morning | Diya lighting, soft chants, and family preparing for Navratri puja]
Navya Sharma (FL)
(tying her dupatta, looking into the mirror):
"One date and he’s texting like we’re married."
Ritu Mehra
(fixing bangles beside her):
"You said yes, remember? This is the consequence of entertaining men with dimples."
Navya Sharma (FL)
"Ugh. It’s not the dimples, it’s the way he remembered my favorite dessert."
Ritu Mehra
"Sweet. But so is sugar before diabetes."
[Sharma House – Puja Begins | Traditional setup, families gather. Surprise: Rathores are invited too.]
(Navya freezes when she spots Rudra enter, dressed in a deep maroon kurta. His eyes scan the room once before landing on her. Her breath catches.)
Navya Sharma (FL)
(to herself):
"Why does he look… like he knows something I don’t?"
Rukmini Rathore (ML Mother)
(greeting):
"Beta, Navya’s family invited us. It’s only polite."
Karan Rathore (Younger Brother)
(appears beside Navya):
"Ready for round two of impressing my mom?"
Navya Sharma (FL)
(awkwardly):
"As long as she doesn’t throw haldi at me."
(Everyone gathers around the havan. Navya sits beside Karan. Rudra ends up directly across her. Their eyes meet across the flames.)
---
[Puja in progress | Fire crackling, mantras echoing softly]
(Navya adjusts her dupatta. It slips. Karan doesn’t notice. Rudra does. Without saying a word, he leans forward discreetly and tugs the edge over her shoulder.)
Navya Sharma (FL)
(blinking in surprise, whispering):
"Thank you."
Rudra Rathore (ML)
(softly):
"Be careful. Fire doesn’t always burn from outside."
[Kitchen – After the aarti | Navya helping serve prasad]
(She walks past Rudra, holding a tray. Their fingers graze when he takes a bowl.)
Navya Sharma (FL)
(startled again):
"You always… watch this much?"
Rudra Rathore (ML)
(without looking at her):
"I notice what others ignore."
[Later | Navya sitting alone in the garden]
Navya Sharma (FL)
(texting Ritu):
“Why does Rudra’s silence speak louder than Karan’s compliments?”
Ritu Mehra
“Because one is trying to impress you. The other… already sees you.”
[Rathore Car – On the drive back]
Rukmini Rathore (ML Mother)
"Karan is smiling again. He likes her, Rudra. A lot."
Rudra Rathore (ML)
(staring out the window):
"...Haan. He likes her."
Rukmini Rathore (ML Mother)
"And you?"
Rudra Rathore (ML)
"...Doesn’t matter."
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