"Hand in hand, we'll face the world, our love growing stronger with each step, each challenge, and each triumph."

Vivaan's pov:

The days leading up to the international exhibition felt like a blur to me. I had always kept to the shadows, letting my art speak for me rather than my face. But now, standing in front of the crowd, I could feel the weight of the moment pressing on my shoulders. Roohi stood by me, her reassuring presence grounding me in the storm of emotions.

I hadn’t expected to feel this way - nervous, exposed, vulnerable. But as we prepared for the event, it dawned on me that today wasn’t just about showcasing my work. It was about revealing myself to the world.

Roohi smiled at me, her eyes soft and warm. “You’re going to be amazing,” she said, her voice like a balm to my frayed nerves.

I turned to her, offering a hesitant smile. "I hope so. I’m not used to this... being in the spotlight."

She chuckled softly, taking my hand in hers. "You deserve this, Vivaan. You’ve worked so hard, and it’s time the world see the man behind the art."

I nodded, grateful for her unwavering belief in me. But my heart still raced. I wasn't ready to face the crowd, not yet. The thought of everyone looking at me made my palms sweaty.

Roohi squeezed my hand, as if sensing my anxiety. "Hey," she whispered, "you’ve been hiding in the shadows for so long. This is your moment to shine. I’m right here with you."

Her words settled over me like a soft hug, easing the tension in my chest. I took a deep breath.

"Thank you, Roohi," I murmured. "I don’t think I could do this without you."

She grinned. "You’re stronger than you think, Vivaan. I’m just here to hold your hand while you take the world by storm."

The doors to the exhibition hall opened, and the bright lights blinded me for a moment. I felt a rush of heat surge through me, but I held my ground. Roohi led the way, and I followed, step by step. As we entered, the sea of people and flashing cameras made me freeze for a moment.

The first person who caught my eye was the curator of the event, a friendly-looking man who greeted us warmly. "Mr. Chaturvedi, it’s an honor to have your work here. We’ve been looking forward to this moment for months."

I nodded, feeling my throat tighten. "Thank you," I said softly. I could feel the nervousness creeping back in. Roohi must have sensed it too, because she squeezed my arm.

"Let’s get through this together," she whispered, her voice steadying me.

The spotlight moved to my paintings, with people crowding around them, commenting on the brilliance of the colors, the emotion captured in every stroke. But as the crowd grew, so did my unease. I was not used to being the center of attention, not like this.

But then, I heard the curator's voice cut through the noise. "Everyone, this is the man behind the masterpieces, Vivaan Chaturvedi."

I froze. The world suddenly felt too big, too loud. The crowd parted, and all eyes were on me.

Roohi stood beside me, her smile bright and proud. "Vivaan, meet the world."

I swallowed hard, trying to push past the fear that gripped me. But when I looked at Roohi, I saw the pride in her eyes - the same pride that had been there from the very first day I met her. Slowly, I stepped forward, feeling the eyes of the world on me.

"Hi," I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper. The camera flashes were blinding, but somehow, with Roohi beside me, I felt a little braver.

One of the reporters stepped forward, a smile on his face. "Mr. Chaturvedi, your work has left the art world speechless. Can you tell us about your journey, about what inspired these paintings?"

I took a breath, forcing myself to meet their gaze. "Art has always been a way for me to communicate," I said, my voice a little stronger now. "It’s how I express my emotions, my thoughts. I don’t speak much, but my paintings - they do the talking for me."

There was a brief moment of silence before the crowd nodded in understanding, their admiration palpable. The questions flowed, but I felt more at ease now, thanks to Roohi’s support.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur, with people admiring my work, discussing my art, and praising the emotion in each piece. But no matter how many compliments I received, it was Roohi’s presence that kept me grounded. She was the anchor in this sea of people, and I could feel my confidence building as the night wore on.

Eventually, the event wound down, and we found a quiet corner away from the crowd. Roohi looked at me, her eyes shining with pride. "You were amazing, Vivaan," she said, her voice full of warmth.

I smiled softly, the tension from earlier slowly melting away. "I couldn’t have done it without you, Roohi. You believed in me when I didn’t even believe in myself."

She reached out, brushing her fingers against mine. "I’ve always believed in you. I’m so proud of you, Vivaan."

The words hung in the air between us, but it wasn’t just the words that mattered. It was the way she said them - the softness in her voice, the warmth in her eyes.

We stood there in the quiet corner of the exhibition hall, surrounded by the aftermath of the event. The world had seen me, and the world had embraced me. But it was Roohi and her belief in me that made it all possible.

I pulled her into a hug, my arms wrapping around her. "Thank you," I whispered. "Thank you for being the light in my darkness."

Roohi laughed softly, her arms around me. "You don’t need to thank me, Vivaan. This is just the beginning for you. You’re going to do incredible things."

I pulled back slightly, looking into her eyes. "And I’ll do them with you by my side."

She smiled, a small, knowing smile. "Always."

Roohi’s pov:

The exhibition had been a whirlwind of emotions. As I watched Vivaan stand before the world, his face finally revealed, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride. This was the man I loved - the man who had been hiding in the shadows for so long, afraid to let anyone see him. But today, he was finally allowing the world to witness the depth of his talent, and it was breathtaking.

As the night went on, I watched him handle the attention with grace, his quiet confidence growing as he interacted with the crowd. The way he spoke about his art - so humble, so genuine , was exactly why I fell in love with him. He didn’t need the spotlight; he didn’t need the praise. But the world was giving it to him anyway, and he deserved every bit of it.

I couldn’t help but feel my heart swell as I saw the admiration in everyone’s eyes. They were in awe of him, just as I was.

After the event, we found a quiet spot away from the crowd, and I looked at him with a smile that reached my heart. "You were awesome," I told him, my voice full of affection.

He smiled back, though it was a little shy. "It was all because of you, Roohi. I don’t think I could’ve done this without you."

I shook my head. "No, Vivaan. You were always capable of this. I just helped you find your courage."

He took my hand in his, his fingers entwining with mine. "I’m glad you were there with me. You’ve always believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself."

I looked up at him, my heart full of emotion. "I always will, Vivaan. You’ve changed my life, just by being you."

He pulled me close, and I rested my head against his chest. In that moment, I knew that no matter what the future held, we would face it together.

Vivaan Chaturvedi had finally revealed himself to the world, but in that quiet moment with me, he had already given me everything I needed.

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