ch 26 ohh no!!
https://youtu.be/0WtRNGubWGA
Ashiana's laughter died in her throat. Her wide eyes lifted, her breath hitched, and she swallowed hard.
Because the man before her... was Aarav Malhotra.
The color settledpink, bright and unapologeticfrom Aarav Malhotra's perfectly styled hair, to his black suit, down to his polished leather shoes.
Ashiana froze for half a heartbeat, her mouth falling open.
Then, the shock cracked she burst into laughter.
"Oh. My. God!" she wheezed between giggles, clutching her stomach,
"Look at you! PINKYYYYY... ponkieee!,a pink cotton candy!"
Her laughter echoed in the garden, so loud and uncontrollable that even Raj started laughing without knowing why.
Aarav stood there, motionless, his jaw tight, his broad shoulders stiff, the pink gulal dripping like sin on his sharp suit. His piercing gaze locked onto her, a storm beneath the silence.
Kabir, who had just entered the garden behind him, froze and then burst out laughing so hard he doubled over.
"Bhai! Mafia King... turned Barbie King! its history!" he choked, holding his stomach.
He leaned on the railing, laughing harder.
"Bhai! The mighty Aarav Malhotra... looking like a walking strawberry milkshake!"
Raghav adjusted his glasses, trying failing to hide the twitch of his lips.
"Statistically speaking... bhai is looking like acotton candy vendors."" he muttered, deadpan.
Aditya smirked, crossing his arms.
Ashiana. You've just painted the most dangerous man in the world."
Ashiana, still laughing, wiped her tears, stumbling a step back dramatically.
"Dangerous? Like this? Oh please! He looks like cotton candy on legs." she teased, wagging her finger at Aarav.
For a moment, no one breathed Aarav's face was carved in stone, unreadable.
Then, very slowly, he stepped closer. His voice, deep and low, cut through the laughter like a blade.
"Ashiana... you've just declared war."
Raj clapped his hands in excitement, hopping.
"Wal! Wal! Holi war! bade papa vs Di!"
Aarav's shoes crunched against the gravel as he closed the distance between them. his step was deliberate, slow, sending chills down Ashiana's spine. Her laughter faltered, but the mischievous glint in her eyes remained.
He stopped just a breath away, lowering his head slightly to her level. His voice came out deep, calm yet it carried the weight of a storm.
"Do you think this is funny, Ashiana?"
Ashiana blinked rapidly, her lips twitching as if she might laugh again.
"Y-yes... actually, very funny. I mean ...look at you. You're glowing pink, Sir. If I had a mirror, you'd laugh too.... pinkkkiee ponkieee"
For the first time, a flicker of something unreadable crossed his face. Not quite anger... not quite amusement.
He leaned in closer, his words brushing against her ear.
"You really don't value peace in your life, do you?"
Ashiana swallowed, trying to hold her ground, though her heart was racing.
"Maybe I just... like testing limits."
That's when Aarav reached to the side, his hand dipping into the basket of colors. Before she could move, he smeared a thick streak of red across her cheek, his touch slow and deliberate.
Ashiana gasped, stepping back, her eyes wide.
"Y-you—!"
Aarav's lips curved, the faintest, most dangerous smirk.
"Now you look better. Red suits you... unlike blue."
Raj squealed in excitement, jumping.
"Yessshhh! bade papa playethd too! "
Kabir burst out laughing again, clapping his hands.
"Finally! Our stone-hearted bhai just joined Holi without even realizing it."
Raghav shook his head but couldn't hide the smile tugging at his lips.
Aditya's quiet chuckle filled the silence, his gaze flicking between Aarav and Ashiana knowingly.
Ashiana touched her cheek, still shocked, and muttered under her breath,
"Unbelievable... this man doesn't laugh, but he sure knows how to... retaliate."
Aarav straightened, sliding his hands back into his pockets, his smirk fading into his usual unreadable mask.
"Careful, Ashiana. Next time... I won't stop at just colors."
Ashiana narrowed her eyes, planting her hands firmly on her waist, her chin tilting up with defiance.
"Ohh... not just colors? Then what more, haan? What else are you planning, Sir?" she said, her voice sharp, irritation dripping off each word.
For a moment, silence stretched between them his dark gaze locked onto hers, unblinking, unwavering. Then, Aarav took one step closer, the air thickening with his presence.
His voice was low, controlled, yet laced with something dangerous.
"Do you really want to find out, Ashiana?"
Ashiana's throat bobbed as she swallowed, but she refused to back down. She lifted her brows mockingly, forcing a smirk.
"yess, I do... I'm not scared of your threats. sirrrrr"
Raj, oblivious to the tension, clapped his tiny hands and squealed,
"yayyy.. dii.. bade papaa.. moree.. moree".
Kabir doubled over with laughter.
"Bhai... this is gold. First she calls you pinky, now she's challenging you. Careful, or she'll conquer you without even realizing it."
Aditya hid his smile, watching silently, while Raghav muttered, shaking his head,
"She really doesn't know what kind of fire she's playing with."
Aarav leaned down slightly, his shadow falling over Ashiana, his voice a dangerous whisper only for her.
"One day, Ashiana... you'll push me too far. And when that happens colors will be the least of your concerns."
Ashiana's smirk faltered for a second at the weight of his words, but then she quickly masked it with stubbornness, crossing her arms and huffs.
"Then I guess we'll wait for that day, won't we, Sir?"
And with that, before he could reply, she grabbed a fistful of pink powder and flung it straight at his face, gasping and laughing as she dashed away.
Raj screamed in laughter, running after her.
"yayyyy.. bade papa.. pakloo di to.. catch.. hel..catch.. hel!!".
Kabir howled with laughter again.
Meera too come there seeing all this she laughing too
Ashiana laughed breathlessly as she ran across the garden, snatching a water balloon from the bucket. She turned back with a mischievous grin.
"Catch this, Mr. Pinkyyy!" she shouted, flinging the balloon with all her might.
But instead of Aarav, the balloon smacked Kabir s's chest, bursting cold water all over his white shirt.
Kabir froze, blinking at her in slow motion, his hair dripping wet.
"...Did. You. Just. Do. That?" he growled, his jaw tightening.
Ashiana's eyes widened.
"Oops..." she squeaked, before bursting into giggles.
"Sorryyy... wrong aim!"
Kabir cracked his knuckles dramatically.
"You're dead, girl. Nobody throws water on The kabir Malhotra and lives peacefully."
Before he could charge, Ashiana quickly grabbed another balloon and launched it this time aiming carefully at Aarav. But it missed again and smashed right against Raghav's face, soaking his hair and shirt.
Raghav stood still, water dripping from his jawline, his glasses fogged and wet. Slowly, he pulled them off and wiped them with his handkerchief, his expression unreadable.
Ashiana froze, gulping.
"Oh no... not you too."
Kabir burst out laughing this time, slapping his thigh.
"Pehle mujhe, ab Raghav! Ashiana, you've declared a the wrong war today!"
Raghav's calm, quiet voice
"Do you have any idea... how costly these glasses are?"
Ashiana pressed her lips together, holding back laughter as she raised both hands in surrender.
"It was an accident! Promise!"
From behind, Aarav finally spoke, his voice deep and slow.
"Seems like you're very fond of throwing things, Ashiana. Maybe it's time you learn what it feels like when someone throws back."
Ashiana's eyes widened, and before she could run, Kabir grabbed a bucket of colored water.
"Permission granted, Bhai?" he asked, grinning like a devil.
Aarav's lips twitched, dangerously close to a smirk.
"Do it."
Ashiana gasped, stepping back.
"Wait-WAIT, NO! Don't you dare-"
But before she could escape, Kabir and Raghav both advanced with buckets in hand, Raj cheering from the side,
"yaayyy.. yayyyy... holii.. holii"
Ashiana darted across the garden, laughing as Kabir and Raghav charged after her with buckets full of colored water. At the last second, she spun and darted behind Aarav, clutching his arm like a shield.
"Yesss, safe zone!" she giggled breathlessly.
Before Kabir and Raghav could stop, both buckets flew splashing straight onto Aarav.
The cold, colorful water drenched him from head to toe, dripping down his face, his perfectly styled hair ruined, his black shirt sticking to his chest.
Ashiana froze for a heartbeat... then burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Clutching her stomach, she stuck her tongue out.
"Lllllll...
Hawww! Bad manners! You two threw water on your big brother onlyyyy!"
Kabir's jaw dropped.
"Arre yaar!" he groaned, running a hand through his hair.
"Bhai, I swear it was for her! She she dodged like a ninja!"
Raghav adjusted his wet sleeves with calm irritation, but his voice carried a sharp edge.
"For once, Kabir, aim before you throw. Now look what you've done."
Raghav narrows his eyes at arav.
"ohh what I have done you too did the same Raghav".
Aarav stood still, water dripping down his jaw, his expression unreadable. His dark eyes slowly lifted to Ashiana, who was still laughing behind him like a child who just won a battle.
"Enjoying yourself?" Aarav's voice was dangerously low, almost a whisper.
Ashiana swallowed hard, but her grin stayed.
"V-very much, sir! You look like... like a rainbow king now!" she teased, giggling again.
Kabir burst out laughing at that, slapping his knee.
"Rainbow king! Hahahaha! Bhai, she's fearless!"
Raghav only muttered, shaking his head,
"She's signing her own death warrant."
Aarav took one slow step toward her, droplets of water sliding down his temple.
"If you're done laughing, Ashiana..." he said, voice like steel,
"...run. Because if I catch you, you won't escape so easily this time."
Ashiana gasped, eyes wide—then immediately spun and ran, squealing,
"Rajjj! Save meeee!"
Raj clapped and jumped up and down, shouting,
"Get di, Bade Papa! Get hel!"
Ashiana's laughter echoed across the garden as she sprinted, looking back at Aarav who despite being drenched and furious was following her with long, purposeful strides.
"You cheater, Rajjj!" she shouted breathlessly, laughing as Raj clapped his little hands, enjoying the chase.
But Aarav didn't slow. His gaze was locked only on her.
Ashiana ran faster, her giggles breaking into gasps, her heartbeat racing as her feet pounded against the grass. But then her eyes widened.
She'd reached the corner of the garden.
A tall wall loomed behind her.
No way forward. No way sideways.
Her laughter faltered. She stopped, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Turning slowly, she found him there Aarav Malhotra advancing on her like a predator with his prey. Water dripped from his hair, his suit clung to his broad shoulders, his steps were unhurried yet lethal.
Ashiana's back pressed to the cold wall. Her throat went dry. She swallowed hard, her playful smile fading into nervousness.
Her voice came out in a trembling whisper,
"S-sir..."
Aarav stopped just a breath away from her. His towering frame caged her without touching, his hand coming up to the wall beside her head, droplets of water sliding from his wrist.
and then--
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