(Noon arrived, and it was the engagement day of Kaziya and Anwar. The entire house buzzed with excitement and happiness. Family members, relatives, and guests filled every room. Everyone was dressed in beautiful traditional Bangladeshi outfits. The decorations shimmered beneath the sunlight, while flowers and elegant fabrics adorned every corner.)
"This is so beautiful!" Hilda said.
"Yeah!" Ximena and Paloma said together.
(Meanwhile upstairs.)
"MashaAllah, Baby, you look so gorgeous!" Nishi said lovingly, making the tiny girl smile and giggle.
Anika carefully adjusted the nose rings Nikolai had gifted her. She leaned down and kissed her forehead gently.
(Lilith looked absolutely stunning.)
She wore a luxurious dark cherry party salwar suit with rich dark emerald embroidery, antique gold zari detailing, a flowing chiffon dupatta, and elegant kundan jewelry for a graceful royal Bangladeshi engagement look. Her red nose ring sparkled beautifully beneath the soft light. A delicate veil covered her hair, and a silver bindi rested on her forehead.
(Outside.)
Nikolai stood typing on his phone.
He wore a deep dark emerald velvet sherwani with antique gold zari embroidery paired with a dark cherry silk shawl, tailored trousers, and embroidered royal mojaris that completed his old-money regal appearance.
"Nick, she ready," Anika said.
She and Nishi giggled.
The family watched through the window, smiling as they secretly took pictures of the sweet moments shared between the couple.
(The second Nikolai saw her.)
His heart completely melted.
His beauty.
His queen.
"Oh… my Queen…" he whispered softly.
His voice nearly broke as he stepped forward.
He took her tiny hands into his monstrous veiny hands and kissed them gently.
She smiled.
He wrapped one arm around her waist.
Her hands rested against his broad chest.
The wind suddenly blew.
Her veil floated upward and covered both of them.
For a moment, they stood hidden behind the flowing fabric.
Nikolai smiled.
He placed his forehead against hers.
His large hands gently cupped her face.
"Y…You o…o…okie?" she asked while staring into his dark blue eyes.
Instead of answering immediately, he pulled her into a hug.
She rested her head against his chest.
Nikolai closed his eyes.
"Passionately dance with me, Bambi."
She looked up at him lovingly.
He wrapped one hand around her soft waist and held her hand.
She placed one hand on his shoulder.
Together they began dancing slowly.
The family watched in silence.
"This is so, so beautiful," Addison whispered.
"Yeah," David said while wiping tears from his eyes.
"Are you crying?" Marco asked.
"Yes. And so?" David replied.
Everyone laughed.
(Downstairs.)
"T…T…T…Thank y…y…you Uncle!" Lily (Neva) said while hugging Anwar.
"Welcome, Neva," Anwar replied warmly.
Rima then took her toward the snack table.
Nikolai smiled.
"How is she?" Anwar asked.
"She is fine now and running around as always, but still healing," Nikolai answered.
"She will heal. I am glad you are with her. For some people, it isn't easy to be with her in this condition. They can use torture and destroy her. But you are her love and her protector."
Nikolai listened carefully.
The two men spoke about marriage.
Anwar shared many pieces of wisdom and advice.
Nikolai paid close attention to every word.
(The family continued chatting while guests mingled around the hall.)
Meanwhile…
Lilith (Baneva) and her brothers were secretly sneaking snacks into another quiet hall.
They carried foods.
Drinks.
Sweets.
Pastries.
Snacks.
Everything they could grab.
Nikolai suddenly spotted his tiny wife crawling across the floor while hiding something beneath her veil.
Behind her followed Rafsan, Reyan, Farhan, and Aarav.
"Where are you guys going?" Amala asked suspiciously.
The children immediately hid the snacks behind their backs.
"Nothing!" they answered together.
"Hmmmm. Then what are you hiding, Bambi?" Nikolai asked while walking closer.
The tiny girl looked at her brothers.
All of them shook their heads.
(Meaning she should stay quiet.)
"No Nikki b…b…business!" she declared.
The children immediately ran away.
Giggling.
Laughing.
Disappearing into another hall.
(Later.)
Lily (Neva) rested comfortably against her monstrous husband's shoulder.
Across the room, a man watched them while slowly sipping a drink.
His eyes never left her.
He deeply admired her beauty.
"Stop it, brother," his sister warned.
"No. She is meant to be mine. She belongs to me."
His gaze remained fixed on Lilith.
Meanwhile Nikolai kissed her forehead.
She held his hand.
(Time for the engagement rings.)
"Time to exchange the rings," Aklima announced.
Everyone gathered around.
Anwar stepped forward.
He wore a deep burgundy royal Jamdani-inspired sherwani with intricate gold embroidery, a layered pearl mala, matching turban, and velvet mojaris for a powerful nawabi appearance.
In his hand was a beautiful blue diamond ring.
He gently took Kaziya's hand.
Then slid the ring onto her finger.
Everyone clapped.
Kaziya looked breathtaking.
She wore a dark cherry heavily embellished lehenga with dark emerald stonework and gold detailing, styled with layered kundan jewelry, a flowing dupatta, and elegant royal heels for a majestic aristocratic look.
Smiling shyly, she picked up an emerald ring.
Then she slipped it onto Anwar's finger.
"Yayyyyy!" the tiny girl shouted.
Everyone laughed and clapped louder.
Anwar kissed Kaziya's hand.
She immediately blushed.
" Lily, come, come! Let's go! Everything is ready!" Ariz called.
Nikolai narrowed his eyes.
"What ready?"
"Sibling stuffs. Bye bye!"
Before anyone could stop them, Lilith climbed onto Ariz's back.
He ran away with her.
(Thirty minutes later.)
"Hey, have you seen Karim?" Anika asked.
"No. I haven't. I'm also looking for Lily. She left with Ariz," Nikolai replied.
"Annie, have you seen Aarav?" Nishi asked.
"Have anyone seen the boys?" Riyana added.
"No Mumma. We are looking for them," Anika answered.
"That's strange."
Suddenly Marco appeared laughing uncontrollably.
"Boss. Come see what your tiny wife and her brothers are doing."
Everyone followed him.
They walked toward a larger hall.
Before entering, they heard loud laughter.
Giggles.
Clapping.
Music.
When they stepped inside…
They froze.
"No way…" Anika said while laughing.
Nishi gasped.
Everyone immediately pulled out their phones and started recording.
"Oh my goodness," Sohan said while rubbing his face.
(Inside the hall the children were performing their funny song and dance while surrounded by stolen snacks.)
(Aarav)
Arre bhai bhai ke amar mishti kheye dilo
(Hey brother who ate my sweets)
(Dance Step: Put hands on hips and look around dramatically)
(Ariz)
Ami noi ami noi Rafsan kheye dilo
(Not me not me Rafsan ate them)
(Dance Step: Point at Rafsan and hop twice)
(Rafsan)
Ki bolish ami toh ghumachchilam
(What are you saying I was sleeping)
(Dance Step: Pretend to sleep while standing and wobble)
(Reyan)
Ghumachchili naki fridge loot korchchili
(Were you sleeping or raiding the fridge)
(Dance Step: Open an imaginary fridge and stuff cheeks)
(Karim)
Hahaha dekho dekho tar pet gol hoye geche
(Look look his belly became round)
(Dance Step: Rub tummy and spin once)
(Farhan)
Mishti gelo samosa gelo keu kichu bachao
(The sweets are gone the samosas are gone somebody save us)
(Dance Step: Run in place waving arms)
(Nihal)
Amar jhal muri ke nilo
(Who took my spicy puffed rice)
(Dance Step: Hold imaginary bowl and look shocked)
(Zafraan)
Hoyto biral kheyeche
(Maybe the cat ate it)
(Dance Step: Make cat paws and meow)
(Lilith)
Biral naki tumi nijeyi kheyecho
(The cat or maybe you ate it yourself)
(Dance Step: Cross arms and laugh)
(All)
Oi oi oi nacho nacho ghuro ghuro lafo lafo
(Hey hey hey dance dance spin spin jump jump)
(Dance Step: Spin twice jump three times and clap)
(The performance continued with endless laughter, dancing, teasing, spinning, pretending to eat air biryani, crowning a banana king, chasing flying shoes, and turning the entire hall into complete chaos.)
The adults laughed so hard that tears streamed down their faces.
The children continued singing until the final giant pose.
Then they collapsed into laughter.
Afterward they sat together and devoured all the stolen snacks.
"Aree! Rim! This is Lily's snack!" Aarav shouted.
The tiny girl immediately bit into a beef tikka.
"Hey! That's not fair!" Karim complained.
Everyone burst out laughing.
Nikolai folded his arms.
"So this is where all the stolen snacks went, huh?"
Aklima laughed.
The children continued watching television.
Eating.
Laughing.
Dancing.
Talking.
Until eventually they all fell asleep together on the mats.
(Later that night.)
"Rim baby, come on. Let's get you to bed, love," Anika whispered.
She helped Karim up.
Sohan carried Rafsan and Ariz.
Nihal took another child toward their room.
Nimra carried Farhan.
Nishi picked up Aarav.
"I love you Nishu…" Aarav mumbled sleepily.
Nishi giggled.
She kissed his cheeks.
Then changed his clothes.
(In Nikolai's room.)
Nikolai carried Lilith (Baneva) in his arms.
Carefully.
Gently.
As if she were made of glass.
He changed her into her pajamas.
Covered her with blankets.
Then climbed beside her.
Patting her back softly.
His phone suddenly rang.
"Hello?"
"Kaal," an older woman spoke.
"Yeah?"
"How long will it take you to come back?"
"Actually some months. But how about this? I will come to India in March. I have a lot of businesses in my hands to deal with. I promise you this."
"Hmm. I heard your wife saved your life multiple times. You almost lost her. She died and came back. Hmm?"
"Yes. She did. Lily is my world. My life."
"I heard her father is the most dangerous man in India."
"Yes, Maa."
"Okay fine. The family here and I have someone for you, but it is your choice. You are married, so we will wait. They are planning your wedding with her."
"Tell them to stop. Or else I will not come."
A small laugh came from the older woman.
"Bless you. I will wait."
The call ended.
Nikolai immediately dialed another number.
"Yes Boss?" Damian answered.
"Set a reminder for the month of March."
"Done."
The call ended.
Nikolai placed the phone aside.
He carefully pulled Lilith closer.
Then covered both their bodies beneath the blanket.
The room became silent.
His hand rested protectively around her waist.
Lilith slept peacefully against his chest.
Nikolai kissed the top of her head.
Outside, the engagement celebrations slowly came to an end.
Inside, surrounded by warmth, love, and quiet peace…
The shattered heiress slept safely in the arms of the man who would choose her over everything else.