ch 31 Sassy
Ashiana flicked her hair back with a playful smirk, chin tilted up.
"Aap kuch zyada hi nahi sochte, sir?
Aur vese bhi m to hu hi itni sundar ki kisi ko bhi heart attack, ache ya fir pain.
.. sab kuch de sakti hu. Fir chahe vo aap jaise rich akdu boss hi kyun na ho," she said, eyes glinting with mischief.
Aarav's brows lifted slightly at her bold tone. His hand was still on her waist as she steadied herself.
The crowd around them chuckled softly at her sass, and even Kabir let out a laugh. "Oof! Bhai, she got you there," he teased.
Aarav's gaze didn't waver.
He leaned in ever so slightly, his voice calm but edged with something deeper something that made her heart skip. "You have a dangerous habit, Miss Ashiana Sharma... of talking like you're not afraid of me."
She smiled sweetly, eyes sparkling. "because.. I'm not."
For a brief moment, the air between them felt charged his cold composure against her teasing fire.
Then she stepped back with a playful twirl of her lehenga, muttering, "Now if you'll excuse me, Mr. King of the World, I have some sangeet fun to enjoy."
Aditya grinned as Aarav watched her walk away, his jaw tightening just slightly. "Seems like the boss finally met someone who doesn't take his orders."
Kabir smirked. "Correction someone who gives him back better."
A hush of polite chatter filled the hall as the bride, Prerna Singhania, entered with her family dressed in a stunning pastel lehenga, glittering under the golden chandeliers.
Kabir's expression softened instantly as he walked forward, taking her hand and leading her gracefully toward the stage.
Cameras flashed, music played softly, and the crowd broke into cheers.
From behind, near the edge of the decorated archway, Ashiana stood quietly her lehenga shimmering faintly under the lights, a soft smile playing on her lips as she watched the couple.
Then, Mr. Mahesh Singhania, a tall man in his fifties with a commanding presence, turned while greeting guests.
His gaze caught her someone unfamiliar, standing among the Malhotras. With a polite but curious tone, he asked Meera,
"Meera beta... who is that girl?"
Ashiana froze for a moment, her smile faltering slightly as all eyes near them shifted toward her.
Oh no... she thought, her fingers nervously brushing the edge of her dupatta. What will they think if they find out I'm just an intern? That I don't even belong here?
Before she could look down or step away, Meera smiled warmly, walking a step closer to Mr. Singhania.
"She's Ashiana," Meera said proudly. "A close friend... and part of our family now."
Ashiana's eyes widened in surprise her chest tightening at those words. For the first time in a long while, she felt something she hadn't dared to belonging.
From across the hall, Aarav's gaze lingered on her his expression unreadable, but his eyes softened, as if silently agreeing with Meera's words.
Aditya, standing beside him, murmured with a faint smile, "Guess the Malhotra family just got one more reason to smile tonight."
then as sangeet going on everyone giving performances.
then at a photobooth area ashiana was clicking her photos herself saying, ''ohh no... meri to ek bhi achi photos hi nhi aa rhii'' ashiana said with pout
then arav came there hands in pocket and said, ''should i click your photos''.
ashiana turned at the voice, and her breath hitched a little. Aarav stood there His hands were casually in his pockets, but there was that faint smirk playing on his lips.
ashiana blinked and said quickly, "S-sir... you? Click my pictures?" I chuckled nervously, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear and said teasingly. "do you even know how to click''.
He arched an eyebrow, stepping closer. "I run an empire, Miss Sharma. I think I can manage a camera."
ashiana rolled her eyes playfully but handed him the phone anyway. "Fine, but if I look weird in any of them, you're paying for therapy."
He actually chuckled at thatAarav Malhotra chuckled and took the phone.
Then, in that deep, calm voice of his, he said, "Smile properly this time, not that nervous one you give everyone at the office."
she blinked, a little taken aback, then gave a soft smile, tilting her head as he clicked one picture after another.
He didn't say much, just kept giving small directions "Look here." "Hold your dupatta." "Turn a little to the left." his tone calm, almost gentle, but his eyes... they lingered too long.
After the last click, he lowered the phone slowly, his gaze still on her.
"You look... different tonight," he said finally, voice low enough that it barely rose above the music.
she smiled, a little flustered, and tried to lighten it. "Good different or bad different?"
His lips curved slightly. "Dangerously different."
And before she could say anything, he handed her the phone and walked away leaving her standing there, heartbeat drumming in her ears, staring at her pictures that suddenly all looked too good.
then she whispered, ''lagta h kisi janam m photographer the sir''. she chuckled on her own words.
then she said from behind, ''vese aaap bhi thik hi lag rhe h .. traditional m.. itni bhi kuch khas nhi lag rhe...'' she said teasingly with a mock okk okk.. face expression.
He paused mid-step, that classic Aarav Malhotra stillness the kind that makes the air itself hesitate.
Then slowly, he turned his head toward me, one eyebrow arching in that quiet, dangerous amusement of his.
"Itni bhi kuch khaas nahi...?" he repeated, his tone low, silky with a hint of mock disbelief.
ashiana crossed her arms, giving a playful shrug. "Haan, matlab... theek-thak. Aap jitna hype create karte hain na apne looks ka, utne bhi khaas nahi lag rahe aaj."
His lips tugged upward that slow, knowing smirk. He took a step closer, close enough that she could smell his cologne, something dark and expensive.
"Good," he said quietly. "At least someone still dares to say that to my face."
she blinked, a little caught off guard, but before she could answer, he leaned slightly forward and added, voice softer now, "But... you might be the only one lying tonight."
Then, as if nothing happened, he straightened, hands back in pockets, and walked away leaving me standing there, heart fluttering, trying to convince myself that it was just a tease.
"Akdu kahike," she muttered under her breath, glaring at his retreating figure and yet smiling, without meaning to.
----
ashiana stood a little away from the crowd, near the edge of the hall, the music and laughter echoing softly around her.
Everyone looked so happy Meera laughing as Raghav whispered something to her, Kabir and his bride glowing on stage, Aditya joking with the guests, and Aarav standing tall beside his brothers, that rare faint smile on his face.
The photographer called out, "Malhotra and Singhania families, together please!"
They all gathered picture-perfect, shimmering under the golden lights.
she stood still, hands clasped in front of her, watching them pose. her lips curved into a small smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Kash..." she whispered to herself, voice barely audible. "Kash main bhi itni lucky hoti... ki mere paas bhi aisi family hoti..."
she blinked quickly, forcing back the sting in her eyes, not wanting to ruin her makeup.
Taking a deep breath, she looked up again, trying to smile trying to hide the ache behind it.
And in that moment, as the camera flash went off for the family picture, Aarav's gaze flickered just for a second in her direction.
then arav gives a aditya a knowing nod.
then aditya comes towards ashiana and says, ''come ashiana.. join us to family photoshoots'' he said with soft smile.
ashiana with wide eyes, nervously says, ''aditya sir.. but.. but.. how can i.. i.. i m not family''.
Aditya just smiled softly, that calm, reassuring look he always carried. "Ashiana," he said, cutting her off gently, "enough of that sir and enough of this 'I'm not family' nonsense."
ashiana blinked, caught off guard as he held out his hand. "But... I—"
He shook his head with a light chuckle. "You've been there for all of us these past days. You helped Meera with Raj, handled Aarav's impossible schedules, managed half this function behind the scenes... You've earned your place here more than you realize."
Before she could protest again, he added quietly, "Family isn't always blood, Ashiana. Sometimes, it's the people who stand beside you when you don't even have to ask."
And with that, he gently took her hand and led her toward the group.
she hesitated for a heartbeat, nervous eyes darting toward Aarav his gaze already on her, unreadable as always before she finally stepped beside Meera.
Meera smiled wide and wrapped an arm around her. "See? Perfect! Now, smile!"
The photographer raised the camera, and for the first time in a long time, as the flash went off I felt like maybe... just maybe, she belonged.