ch 25 COLOUR CHEOS
Aarav finally stepped forward, the sound of his polished shoes against the floor pulling all attention toward him. His brothers fell quiet instantly even Kabir, with his half-smirk.
Ashiana froze, heart hammering, her fingers twisting nervously in the fabric of her dupatta.
He stopped in front of her, towering, his gaze steady and unblinking. For a moment, he said nothing, simply studying her in a way that made her feel stripped bare. Then his voice came, low, controlled, carrying the kind of authority that silenced the entire room.
"You don't need to apologize."
Her lips parted in surprise, but before she could speak, he added, eyes flicking briefly to Raj now holding Meera's hand, "If he's laughing... then you did right."
The heaviness in his tone made her chest tighten. Was that... approval?
Behind him, Kabir arched a brow, amused. Raghav's smirk was subtle but there. Meera's eyes softened knowingly, and Aditya only watched silently, though the twitch at the corner of his mouth betrayed his thoughts.
Aarav's gaze returned to her, sharper now. "But..." he continued, his words like an anchor, "...don't forget—you're still recovering. Don't waste your energy chasing after children when you can barely stand yourself."
The sternness in his tone stung, but beneath it, there was something else concern, disguised so carefully it almost slipped past her.
Her teasing words slipped out with a playful smirk as she wiggled her brows and nudged him lightly, her voice dripping with mockery.
"Huh... aap, aur concern dikha rahe ho? Ohhh hooo, kya baat hai... main itni pasand aa gayi kya aapko?"
The room went still.
For the first time in a long while, the Malhotra mansion heard something rarer than gold Kabir choking on his own laughter. He leaned against the wall, clutching his stomach.
"Arre suno toh, bhai! Someone finally dared to say that to you, by the way she is not wrong though...''
Raghav pushed his glasses up, lips twitching into a smirk.
"Bold. Very bold."
Meera bit back her smile, covering Raj's ears before he could catch on. Aditya simply folded his arms, his sharp eyes darting between her and Aarav, clearly amused but waiting to see his brother's reaction.
And Aarav...
He didn't move for a long, suffocating second. His jaw flexed, his eyes locking onto hers with a look that could make lesser men crumble. But there was something there something dangerously close to amusement, though masked under his icy facade.
Slowly, he leaned down just enough that his voice brushed past her ear, low and deliberate.
''you know, you talks too much, and didn't even realising what you says boldly can be dangerous for your own good''
He straightened, gaze still locked on hers, the weight of his words lingering in the air like a warning.
Kabir whistled under his breath.
"Bhai gave her a line... not bad."
Raghav smirked deeper. Aditya only shook his head slightly, though the ghost of a smile tugged at his lips.
And Ashiana... her playful smirk faltered, replaced by the chill his words left behind.
When he straightened again, his face was calm, but his eyes were sharper, darker as if silently warning that teasing him, of all people, came with a price.
Raj tugged at ashiana's finger, his little face scrunched in stubbornness.
"Di! Chalo na... pleaseee... play more with me!"
she looked at the family, caught in their gaze.
Meera bent slightly, her voice soft and motherly.
"Raj beta... Ashiana is not well. She needs to rest."
But Raj stomped his foot, shaking his head fiercely.
"No! No rest! I want to play with her!" His voice wavered with the stubbornness only a child could carry, tears brimming in his big eyes.
ashiana's face softened, unable to resist him. she cupped his cheek.
"Okay... okay, baby. Don't cry. Di will play with you."
Raj's whole face lit up, and he squealed,
"Yayyy!"
From the side, Aarav's voice cut through, calm yet commanding, his eyes never leaving her.
"Ashiana... you fainted just yesterday. If you push yourself again, you'll collapse. Don't be careless."
Kabir smirked, elbowing Aditya with a low chuckle.
"Bhai, suna tumne? Aarav bhai already sounds like a pati-full concern, full authority. Bas khud kabool karne se katrate hain."
Aditya gave a faint smile, his tone steady and reasonable.
"Let her go, Aarav. Raj's happiness is important too... and maybe it will help Ashiana feel lighter."
ashiana straightened, giving a cheeky smile.
"Exactly. See? Even Aditya sir agrees. I'm fine. And honestly... I feel alive when I'm around Raj."
Bending down, she looked at Raj with mock drama,
"Alright, partner! LETSSS GOOO!"
"Wuhhhooo!" Raj squealed and ran ahead, she chasing him playfully down the corridor, laughter echoing.
Raghav adjusted his glasses, sipping his coffee without breaking his calm composure.
"She's... different, bhai."
Meera's eyes softened with quiet ache.
"It breaks my heart... how can anyone be cruel to someone with a heart like hers?"
Aarav's gaze remained locked on the corridor where she'd vanished, his expression unreadable, voice clipped with reality.
"Because the world doesn't spare the good, Meera. The kind always bleed first."
Garden Area – Malhotra Mansion
The garden was echoing with laughter—light, carefree, like a melody that hadn't touched Ashiana's lips in years.
"Raj... stop! I'll catch you this time!" she giggled breathlessly, chasing him around the fountain.
For once, she wasn't the girl burdened with bruises, scars, and hidden tears. She was simply a child again, running after another child, laughter spilling from her chest.
Raj skidded to a stop near the storeroom corner where the leftover Holi festival things were stacked—bright pichkaris, packets of color, and balloons half-filled from the day before.
His tiny hands reached up, tip-toeing to grab a small blue pichkari from the table.
Ashiana caught him, looping her arms around his little frame.
"Caught you, Raj! Gotcha!" she said, breathless but giggling.
Her gaze dropped to his hand clutching the toy pichkari... and then drifted to the table piled with colors and sweets. Her smile faltered.
Holi.
The cruel day... when she had been locked away, broken, while the world outside celebrated.
Her throat tightened, but then another memory flickered—her father's smiling face, the way he'd always brought her pichkaris, balloons, and her favorite gujiyas. Her eyes shimmered, tears threatening to fall.
Raj tilted his head, watching her, and with a sunshine smile said,
"Di, see! All the things are still here. Let's play!"
Ashiana blinked away her tears quickly and forced a smile, cupping his cheek.
"Beta... but here, like this? It's not Holi today and-"
Before she could finish, Raj giggled mischievously, grabbed a pinch of blue color, and tossed it straight at her cheek.
"Holi is whenever we want!"
She froze, touching her cheek where the soft blue smeared. Looking at her colored hand, her lips parted in surprise then curled into a laugh, tears forgotten for a moment.
"Raj ke baccheee! Ab tu toh gaya!"
She snatched a packet of gulal from the table and sprinted after him. But as always, her clumsy feet betrayed her she tripped, the open packet of color flew from her hand
splattering across someone standing just a few steps away.
Ashiana's laughter died in her throat. Her wide eyes lifted, her breath hitched, and she swallowed hard.
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