[21]
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After changing into fresh attire, the group gathered at the kitchen to embark on their punishment of preparing food. As they settled into their designated places Arav said,
"Sabji to thodi si hi bachi hui hai." he observed.
[There is only a little vegetable left.]
"One of us should go and buy them." Shashwat suggested.
"Reyansh, Arushi, tum dono jaa ke vegetables lekar aao, tab tak ham baki sab karte hain." Akash said and they both exchanged glances and then nodded their heads.
[Reyansh, Arushi, both of you go and bring vegetables, meanwhile, the rest of us will do other things.]
"Chalo," Reyansh agreed, and Arushi nodded, following him.
[Let's go.]
"Tab tak ye bachi hui sabji kaat lete hain," Ritika suggested, and the rest of the group busied themselves with their assigned tasks.
Siya and Divya took on the vegetable chopping duty, while Akash and Darsh prepared the flour for rotis.
Shashwat joined Richa in making kheer, and Arav and Ritika teamed up to prepare pulao.
[Till then we should chop these vegetables which are left.]
As the preparations unfolded, Akash couldn't help but comment on Siya's chopping skills.
"Siya Didi, aap sabji kaat rahi ho ya uska murder kar rahi ho?" She said, looking at the somewhat unconventional state of the chopped vegetables.
[Siya Didi, are you cutting vegetables or committing their murder?]
"Hehe, that doesn't matter, jana to pet me hi hai." She replied with a sheepish smile while everyone shook their heads smiling.
"Akash, what are you doing? Ye pura aata geela kar ke rakh diya hai tune. Tujhse jada to Darsh ko aata hai , see he is doing better." Shashwat said looking at the condition of flour.
[You've made the whole flour wet. Darsh is better at handling flour than you.]
"Siya, Akash, tum dono rehne do. Aise kaam karoge to ban chuka khana. Go and grind the spices, you both. And Divya, tum aata laga do, and I will chop the vegetables," Ritika directed, and they nodded with a slight pout.
[Siya, Akash, both of you leave it. If you work like this, the food will be ruined.]
Moving towards the mixer grinder, Siya and Akash began their task. Everyone else got busy with their respective chores when suddenly, a loud commotion erupted. Whole spices were scattered on the floor, in their hair, and on their clothes.
"What the hell! Ek kaam to dhang se karo yaar. Ye kya kar diya tum dono ne?" Richa yelled, and everyone rushed over to see the aftermath.
[Do one thing properly, guys. What have you both done?]
"Meri aankh mein chala gaya masala, aur tumhe kaam ki padi hai," Akash hissed in pain, closing one eye.
[I got spice in my eye, and you're concerned about the work.]
"Come with me," Richa said, holding his wrist and dragging him to the washbasin. She began sprinkling water on his eyes, her hand gently cupping his cheek, making him flinch slightly.
Meanwhile, Shashwat took out a handkerchief and wiped the spices from Siya's hair and head, all the while she gazed at him.
"Aankhen band rakho varna sab aankhon mein chala jayega," he advised, and she closed her eyes as he cleaned her hair.
[Keep your eyes closed, or else everything will get into your eyes.]
"Ho gaya. Take this and apna dress saaf kar lo," he said, handing her the handkerchief. She smiled, taking it.
[Done. Clean your dress.]
"Abhi thik hai?" Richa asked, still cupping Akash's cheek.
[Is it ok now?]
Although his pain had already subsided, Akash didn't want to end this moment, so he nodded negatively, "Bahut jal raha hai yaar," he hissed, and she once again sprinkled water.
[It is burning too much.]
Shashwat rolled his eyes at Akash's dramatics and smirked, "Richa, why is your hand injured?" he casually remarked. Akash's eyes snapped open, and he held her hand, examining it with concern.
"What happened? Kahan chot aayi hai?" he asked. Richa frowned, looking at him.
[Where are you injured?]
"Ab teri aankh nahi jal rahi?" Shashwat asked, and understanding the situation, Akash quickly closed his eyes.
[Now, your eye isn't burning?]
"Bahot jal rahi hai yaar... Richa kahan ho tum?" he asked, searching for her hand. She threw a glass of water on his face, exasperated.
[It is burning too much. Where are you Richa?]
"Ab thik hai? Nautanki kahin ka," she muttered, resuming her work. Akash glared at Shashwat, who giggled.
[Is it fine now? Drama king!]
"Tu khud to chance maar leta hai apni vali pe... aur mera thoda sa moment ho gaya to usme bhi problem hai," he teased. Shashwat smacked him on the head, blushing slightly.
[You take a chance on your girl... and if I have a small moment, there's a problem with that too.]
Reyansh and Arushi found themselves on the market road, tasked with buying vegetables. As they approached a vegetable vendor, Arushi inquired about the price of tomatoes
"60 rupees for one kilogram of tomatoes," the vendor said, and Arushi nodded.
"Okay."
Reyansh, shopping for another vegetable, overhears the conversation and rolls his eyes, moving towards them.
"Bhaiya, ye galat hai. Tomatoes ka rate 40 rupees kilo ka hota hai, aap chhoti bachi samajh kar zyada le rahe ho," Reyansh asserted.
[Brother, this is not right. The rate for tomatoes is 40 rupees per kilo, you are charging more by considering her as a little girl.]
"Nahi bhaiya, ye rate sahi hai," the vendor said defensively.
[No this is right.]
"Main yahan roz aata hoon, pata hai mujhe. 40 rupees per kilo, final hai," Reyansh declared. Arushi frowned,
[I come here every day, you know that. 40 rupees per kilo is final.]
"Roz? When did you come here before?" she asked, confused, while he squeezed her palm, glaring at her, and gestured for her to keep quiet.
[Daily?]
"You are new here, not me. So I come here daily to buy vegetables.
Aap sahi rate me dijiye bhaiya; otherwise, we will go to another one.
Let's go, Arushi," he said, starting to walk.
The vendor stopped them and reluctantly agreed to the correct price, while Arushi grinned and Reyansh shrugged his shoulders, looking at her with a smile.
"Kaise kar leti tum, itna mehenga kyun de rahi thi?" he said after buying the tomatoes.
"Wo, I never bought vegetables before, so... hehe," she said, smiling sheepishly, and he shook his head.
Reyansh proceeded to buy the vegetables while Arushi followed.
"And then we have to buy palak too," Arushi declared, picking up fenugreek vegetable.
Reyansh, once again, rolled his eyes and corrected her,
"This is not palak," before picking up bundles of actual palak.
She smiled sheepishly, and he shook his head with a smile as they started walking.
"You and Siya both are the same. One day, Mom asked her to buy dhaniya, and instead, she brought soa." Reyansh chuckled, and Arushi joined in.
"That's why we are best friends, and you and Shashwat bhaiya are the same; that's why you both are best friends. But don't know how Aakash bhaiya becomes best friends with you both; he is so different," Arushi remarked.
"Well I am less boring than your brother," He replied and she glared at him, saying,
"My brother is not boring."
He chuckled, looking at her angry face. She also smiled and looked down while walking beside him.
Just then, he noticed that she was walking on the road, and a car was coming towards her. He held her shoulders and pulled her towards him, and she looked at him with wide eyes , shocked by sudden action.
"Arushi, are you out of your mind? Walking on the road like that! Do you realize how dangerous that was? Pay attention to your surroundings!" Reyansh scolded her, his tone filled with concern and a hint of sternness.
He kept scolding her not realizing that they were standing too close, and her breathing stopped as she was aware of the closeness. His eyes softened as he realized the proximity and looked into her eyes.
Just then, a car's horn made them realize their position, and he quickly let go of her. She gulped, looking down. He gently held her shoulders, making her stand on the safe side, and he himself moved towards the other side as they started walking.
Meanwhile in the palace, Ritika had given Siya and Akash the task of washing rice for the kheer, but the rice was now scattered on the floor.
"Tumse na ho payega... Clean it, you both, aur kadhai pe tel garam kar do. Itna to ho jayega na?" Ritika instructed. Siya held the cloth for cleaning the floor, but someone snatched it from her hand, and she found Shashwat.
[You both won't be able to do it... Clean it, and heat the oil in the wok. Can you manage that much?]
"What happened?" She asked.
"I will do this," he insisted.
"Arre nahi, I can do this," she tried to take the cloth back, but he raised his hand.
"I know you can do this, but you don't have to. Go and help Richa tab tak," he smiled, bending down to clean the floor. Akash smirked at him, and others hooted.
"You don't have to," they all said in unison, except Arav, who just chuckled at his brother's flustered face. Siya turned to the other side, blushing.
After cleaning the floor, Shashwat returned to his place and gestured for Siya to move aside, and she did the same.
Both Siya and Akash stood near the gas stove beside Shashwat, and Siya passed a container to Akash. He took it and was about to pour the oil into the container.
Just then, Shashwat smelled some kerosene oil and looked at the container. Before Akash could do anything he quickly snatched the container and kept it back, glaring at them.
"Mitti ka tel tha wo!!" He yelled, and everyone looked at them horrified.
[That was kerosin oil.]
Soon, both Akash and Siya were thrown out from the kitchen.
"But hamne kiya kya?" Siya asked, her expression puzzled.
[But what we have done?]
"Exactly!" Akash replied, equally baffled. They both peeped inside the kitchen from a window.
"At least let us come inside," Akash requested.
"Haan ham bas saman pakdane me help kar denge," Siya added, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Shashwat with a puppy-eyed expression, unknowingly melting his heart.
[Yes, we'll just help in passing the items.]
"Ahem! We should call them inside. They will help us with some other work," Shashwat suggested, trying to keep a straight face, though everyone noticed the subtle blush on his cheeks.
"Them ya phir.... ?" Richa teased, raising an eyebrow, and Shashwat shot her a glare.
"Arre Richa Didi, samjha karo na. He is talking about Siya Didi. Ab bhaiya ko accha thodi lag raha hoga jo Siya didi aise bahar khadi hain," Darsh explained, and everyone chuckled.
[Oh, Richa Didi, please understand. He is talking about Siya Didi. I'm sure brother won't be happy with Siya Didi standing outside like that.]
"And here I thought you are worried about me. Yahi teri dosti, yahi tera pyar," Akash said dramatically, wiping fake tears from his eyes.
Shashwat, now all red, looked down, trying to hide his embarrassment. Siya controlled her smile at his flustered face while feeling a similar shyness herself. He glared at everyone, masking his tomato face.
"Okay, shut up now! You both can come inside, but don't try to do any work. Just pass the things to us," Arav declared, and Siya and Akash entered inside with grins on their faces.
As Reyansh and Arushi reached near the palace, he asked her to go inside as he had to buy some more things. Shashwat had just messaged him. She nodded and moved inside.
Just then, she collided with Vihan near the garden, and the vegetables fell down. He smirked, bending down to pick up the vegetables, and grabbed her wrist in between his fingers.
She gritted her teeth and scratched his hand with her beautifully shaped nails, making him hiss in pain. Arushi took her belongings and stood up, but Vihan stopped her, holding her wrist.
Suddenly, someone held Vihan's wrist tightly and pushed him hard. Reyansh stood there, his eyes burning with rage, and he grabbed Vihan's collar.
"Didn't I ask you to stay away from my girl?" Reyansh warned, and Vihan gulped.
"We should go inside now," Arushi suggested, her voice steady as she held Reyansh's hand. The touch of her hand had a calming effect on him. Sensing her wish, Reyansh released Vihan, casting him a final warning glance and turned towards her.
"Are you okay?" He asked and gently caressed her hair. As Arushi looked at him, she saw genuine care reflected in his eyes, causing a flutter in her heart.
Holding her palm in his, Reyansh guided Arushi inside the palace.
As they entered, she found herself caught in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions - a mixture of confusion and curiosity.
Reyansh's protective gesture, the warmth of his hand, left her contemplating whether it was merely a part of the drama or if there was a genuine concern hidden behind those actions.
As they walked inside together, Reyansh released her hand, creating a noticeable distance. Arushi couldn't ignore the absence of warmth from his touch. The once reassuring connection that bridged the gap between them had vanished, leaving behind a void filled with unanswered questions.
"Don't worry, he won't trouble you more. Bas kuch din ki baat aur hai." Reyansh assured with a smile, his words laced with a protective undertone. As he moved inside the palace, Arushi sighed, a mixture of relief and uncertainty clouding her emotions.
[It is the matter of only few days.]
"Bas kuch din ki baat aur hai," She muttered with a melancholic smile as Reyansh's casual reassurance echoed in her mind. However , her heart carried a different interpretation of his words.
[It is the matter of only few days.]
Amidst the bustling kitchen, Arushi and Reyansh stepped in, witnessing the organized chaos as everyone was engrossed in their respective tasks.
"Pass me the sugar, please," he requested from Siya, who was engrossed in a conversation with Richa. She nodded and handed him a box.
"Ye namak hai," Shashwat pointed out, amused.
[This is salt.]
"Huh? Haan Haan I know. Ham to bas check kar rahe the ki aap pehchan pate hain ya nahi," Siya replied nervously, offering another box and he shook his head with a smile and took the box, while Richa playfully smacked her head.
[I was just testing that will you recognise it or not.]
"Waah! Kya scene hai!" Ashi exclaimed, entering the kitchen with her fiance Prashant and their siblings.
[What a scene!]
"I should take a picture of you all," Shivam, one of Prashant's siblings, suggested. He captured the lively moment, freezing the laughter and camaraderie shared by the group.
As the elders settled down for lunch, the younger ones took charge of serving.
"Didi what should I serve?" Siya asked Ritika.
"Behen tu na rehne de serve karna." She said Siya pouted sadly as she left from there.
[Don't serve anything.]
"I am not that bad at serving food, Uss din to hamara dhyan nahi tha." She muttered to herself with a sad face.
[My focus was somewhere else that day.]
Just then, a casserole of rotis was passed towards her. She turned to find Shashwat who then gestured her to take it and she held the casserole.
"Please sabko roti serve kar dena," He said with a smile before walking away. Siya beamed with joy, and as he glanced back, a smile crept onto his face, witnessing her happiness.
[Please serve rotis to everyone.]
After serving everyone, only the ones who were preparing food were left to eat. As they started taking their places at the table, Reyansh stepped outside to attend a call. The group settled onto chairs, and Siya began searching for her seat.
"Siya, see there is a chair left beside Shashwat bhaiya. Go and sit there," Arushi grinned, prompting a glare from Siya who then took a seat in front of Shashwat.
"I was just suggesting for your well-being," Arushi muttered, and Siya silenced her with a stern look.
"Arre, tu samjhi nahi Aru! Koi kisi ke bagal baith ke kaise kisi ko dekh payega," Akash teased, leading to laughter from everyone. Siya wished she could disappear as Akash's words hit too close to home. She stole a glance at Shashwat, who was occupied with his empty plate, playing with his spoon.
[Oh, you don't get it, Aru! How can someone sitting beside someone else could see someone?]
As they started their lunch, Siya and Shashwat found themselves holding the same bowl of kheer. Their fingers brushed against each other and the accidental touch of their fingers sent a subtle electric current through them and they quickly withdrew their hands.
Shashwat passed the bowl towards Siya with a sweet smile, and she reciprocated by passing it back to him. This subtle exchange didn't go unnoticed by the others. Their exchanged glances didn't go unnoticed by the mischievous eyes around them..
"Take this Didi. Bhaiya itne pyar se kheer de rahe hain aapko," Darsh teased with a smirk,
[Brother is giving you kheer with so much love.]
"Sach! Kash koi mujhe bhi itne pyar se serve karta," Akash added, glancing at Richa, who rolled her eyes at his antics.
[True! I wish someone served me with so much love too.]
Siya and Shashwat, feeling a bit flustered, tried to focus on their food. Shashwat glanced at Siya, who was eating quietly, attempting to hide her shy smile. He turned his attention back to his plate.
"Haan, itne pyar bhare request ko mana nahi karte," Arav remarked, and Ritika seized the opportunity.
[Yes, such love-filled requests shouldn't be denied.]
"To tum kyun mana karte ho mere pyar bhare request ko?" she responded, flashing a teasing smile. The group burst into laughter, impressed by Ritika's quick wit while Akash and Darsh hooted.
[So why do you deny my love-filled requests then?]
Arav just continued eating and everyone erupted into laughter. Siya pinched on Ritika's hand glaring at her who shrugged her shoulders.
"What happened?" Reyansh asked as he joined them at the dining table.
"Nothing!" They said with a smile on their faces.
Deep down, Akash and Shashwat both were feeling a twinge of guilt for keeping this hidden from Reyansh, their best friend, knowing that he would be hurt when he eventually discovered the truth.
Divya and Darsh both held the same bowl of kheer, but they exchanged glares.
"I held this first," Darsh claimed, attempting to take the bowl, while Divya held it tightly.
"Maine pehle dekha tha. To ye Mera hua," she asserted.
[I saw it first. So, it's mine now.]
"So what? Dekhne se kya hota hai! Aise to maine tumko subah uth ke sabse pehle dekha tha. To kya tum meri ho jaogi?" He said, leaving everyone choking on their food. In retaliation, Divya stomped on Darsh's foot, making him hiss in pain. Shashwat and Arav promptly smacked his head.
[What's the big deal about seeing! I saw you first early in the morning. So, will you be mine now?]
"Give the bowl to her," Shashwat intervened, snatching it from Darsh's hand and handing it to Divya, who grinned in triumph while Darsh shot betrayed looks at his brothers.
"Take this one," Siya said, serving the kheer in another bowl and passing it towards him.
As Siya and Shashwat extended their hands towards the last roti left in the casserole, their eyes locked in an unspoken understanding.
Siya, with a quick glance, pretended to reach for her water glass, her eyes hinting at a desire for water.
Shashwat, fully aware of her actions, maintained a composed exterior while his heart resonated with a symphony of emotions.
After drinking water she excused herself to wash her hands, leaving Shashwat alone with the last roti. He observed her actions, a mixture of surprise and gratitude flickering in his eyes.
Unable to voice his thoughts in the presence of others, Shashwat hesitated, torn between politeness and hunger. Choosing not to take the last roti, he opted for the glass of water, his silent acknowledgment of her selfless gesture.
In the dimly lit room, Shashwat and Akash exchanged nervous glances as they stood in front of an empty room, contemplating a secretive mission. Akash, scanning the surroundings, whispered,
"Shashwat yaar, tu na!! Marvayega tu hame!"
[Shashwat, you are something else! You'll be the death of us.]
"Shut up!! I am already nervous. Tu dekh, koi aa to nahi raha hai," Shashwat replied anxiously as they stealthily entered the room.
[Check if someone is coming.]
"Kya kya karna padta hai dost ke pyaar ke liye. And I can't believe tu kya kar raha hai? Shashwat Rajvansh aaj chori karne jaa raha hai," Akash added dramatically, prompting Shashwat to throw a pillow at his face.
[The things one has to do for a friend's love. And I can't believe what you're doing! Shashwat Rajvansh is going to steal today.]
"Chup rahega tu? Kahan rakha hoga usne bangles?" Shashwat inquired, searching through bags.
[Will you keep quiet? Where do you think she has kept the bangles?]
"Which one was hers?" he asked again. Akash entered the room, scanning the bags.
"I guess this one!" he pointed, and Shashwat began searching.
"Should I open this? It is inappropriate," Shashwat nervously bit his nails, prompting a forehead slap from Akash.
"Arre, tu apni hi cheez lene aaya hai na! Chori thodi kar raha hai," Akash chided, but before he could finish, Kanak's voice interrupted them.
[Oh, you've come to take your own stuff! You are not stealing something.]
"What are you guys doing here?" she asked, catching them off guard.
"Wo actually!! I.. I mean..." Shashwat stammered, and Akash jumped in,
"Wo, I was searching for my earrings."
They both looked at him incredulously.
"What?" Kanak asked confused.
"He...he means we are searching for Arushi's earring. Kho gaya hai na," Shashwat covered up, and she nodded.
"Mai help kar deti, but I have to do some other work. I just came to charge my phone," she said and left after putting her phone in the charger. Shashwat and Akash sighed in relief.
"Search it fast, yaar," Akash urged, and Shashwat hesitated, eyeing Kanak's bag.
"How can I touch a girl's bag without asking?" he pondered. Akash slapped his forehead.
"I can. Tu mat kar," Akash said, moving toward the bag, but Shashwat grabbed his hand and dragged him outside.
"Tu pagal hai kya? Mujhe lekar hi kyun gaya jab nahi chahiye tha?" Akash frustratedly questioned.
[Are you crazy? Why did you go to get me if you didn't want?]
"I want them back, but I can't steal them like this," Shashwat explained. Akash rolled his eyes.
"You know what? I am so done with you. I am going jo karna hai kar," Akash declared, frustrated, and left from there.
Shashwat, with determination, approached Kanak, who was engrossed in ironing clothes.
"Kanak, I want to talk to you," he said, and she nodded, looking up.
"Haan, kya hua? Bolo," she replied.
[What happened?]
"Actually... I... Wo bangles maine Si...
I mean, so bangles maine Arushi ke liye liye the.
I wanted to surprise her. So can... can you give me back?
" Shashwat finally confessed, a mix of nervousness and sincerity in his tone.
Kanak clenched her jaw, feeling a pang of insult, but she covered her emotions with a forced smile.
[Actually... I... Those bangles I took for Si... I mean, those bangles I bought for Arushi. I wanted to surprise her. So can... can you give me back?]
"It's all right. Wait, I will bring them right now," she said, switching off the iron and heading towards the room. Shashwat sighed with a sense of accomplishment.
"I did it," he muttered, praising himself with a proud smile.
"Ye lo," Kanak said, handing him the bangles as she returned. Shashwat smiled, taking them gratefully.
"Thank you so much, Kanak, and I am really sorry," he apologized genuinely, and she smiled understandingly.
"It's okay, Shashwat. I can understand," Kanak reassured, holding his palm. However, he quickly jerked his hand away, maintaining a polite smile before making his exit.
He held the bangles securely, contemplating the best way to return them to their rightful owner-Siya.
In the midst of animated conversations with his friends, Akash's pocket vibrated, signaling an incoming call from his father. Rolling his eyes he excused himself and ambled outside to answer the call that disrupted his lively surroundings.
"Aaj meri yaad kaise aa gayi aapko?" Akash's voice dripped with sarcasm as he greeted his father over the phone.
[How did you suddenly remember me today?]
"Yaad nahi aayi hai. I was calling my son but by mistake tumhe chala gaya." His father said in a harsh tone while he let out a dry chuckle.
[You didn't come to mind. I was calling my son, but I dialed you by mistake.]
"I am also your son," Akash stated casually, though a subtle crack in his voice betrayed the hurt that lingered on his face.
"No... You are just a mistake... a bad luck for us. You don't deserve to be," his father's words, callous and cold, seemed to roll off Akash like water off a duck's back, but the pain etched across his face was undeniable.
"I don't want to be," Akash replied shrugging his shoulders.
"Now hang up the call, don't eat my head," came the dismissive command from his father.
"Mera itna bhi bura taste nahi hai... I just ate much better dishes," Akash quipped, attempting to deflect the hurt with a touch of humor, though the pain lingered in his eyes.
[I don't have such bad taste.]
"Why are you wasting time on him, my dear?" A woman's voice, presumably his father's wife, echoed disdain.
"Bas har jagah ghumne ko bol do awara ke tarah. He doesn't have any manners left. Abhi bhi pata nahi kis jagah pe hoga." He rolled his eyes as she concluded.
[Just tell him to roam around everywhere like a wanderer. He doesn't have any manners left. Still don't know where he might be.]
"Ask your wife that no need to worry about me. It will be better agar wo apne bete pe dhyan den. Mai jahan bhi hun apne logon ke sath hun. The ones who love me," Akash retorted, a hint of defiance cutting through his words.
[It will be better if she pays attention to her son. Wherever I am, I am with my people, the ones who love me.]
"You don't deserve to be loved..." His father's sentence hung in the air, a bitter reminder of years of rejection. Akash, unwilling to endure the familiar sting, disconnected the call abruptly, a gesture to protect his wounded heart.
Seated on the ground, his back against the wall, Akash closed his eyes, a deep sigh escaping him. As he reopened his eyes, the scene before him blurred, tears threatening to spill over.
"You don't have to cry for the ones who don't care. You should laugh for the ones who love you," his grandmother's voice, a comforting echo from the past, resonated in his ears.
Swiftly wiping away the unshed tears, Akash summoned a smile, determined not to let the pain show.
In the hallway, he collided with Richa, sending clothes scattering.
"Andhe ho gaye ho kya?" she chided, glaring at him.
[Have you become blind?]
He picked up the fallen clothes and handed them to her with a small smile.
"Sorry." He said and turned to go, but Richa's intuition sensed something amiss.
"Kya hua hai?" she inquired standing in front of him , her gaze lingered into his eyes.
[What happened?]
"Kya? Kuch bhi to nahi," he shrugged, trying to avoid looking at her, but she gently held his chin, making him meet her gaze.
[What? Nothing.]
"Why are you avoiding my gaze then? Kuch hua hai na? Otherwise instead of saying sorry you would have flirted with me," she observed, folding her arms across her chest. He met her eyes with a teasing smile.
"Ohhh, to main flirt nahi karta to tumhe accha nahi lagta? Raha nahi jata hai na? Tadap hi aisi hai," he teased, a playful grin on his face while Richa rolled her eyes.
[Ohhh, so if I don't flirt, you don't like it? Can't resist it, right? The longing is like that.]
"Tumhe kya lagta hai? Ab ye sab keh ke you will cover up? There is something... batao ab," she pressed, her tone becoming more serious. Akash, slapping his forehead dramatically, sighed.
"Arre, kuch nahi hua hai meri Maa!! Believe me! Par tumhari itni fikar dekh ke meri to ankhen bhar aayin," he declared theatrically, wiping away imaginary tears. Richa shook her head, still unsure but choosing to leave the matter for the time being.
[There is nothing.]
Rejoining his friends, Akash said in his usual chirpy voice,
"So where was I?" He asked to take his place.
"Bhaiya you were telling us that santa banta joke." Siya said.
"Haan to listen everyone.. Ek baar Santa ne saloon khola aur Banta wahan jaa pahocha."
As the setup unfolded, a chuckle escaped the lips of his friends, eager for the punchline.
"Santa ne Banta se pucha ki tumhe muchen rakhni hai?
Aur Banta ne jawab diya ki ji haan rakhni hai.
To phir Banta ne uski mooche kaat ke uske hath me de diya aur kaha ki ye lo ji ab rakh lo.
" The unexpected twist struck a chord, and the group erupted into laughter, while he just smiled looking at them.
As he again navigated the complex emotions stirred by his father's harsh words, a gentle whisper echoed in his mind-his grandmother's wise words. She had once told him that his name, Akash, held a profound meaning: it meant sky.
In the quiet recesses of his thoughts, he contemplated the symbolism of his name.
The sky, vast and boundless, often mirrored his nature.
Like the ever-changing sky, he too faced storms and moments of clarity.
The expanse of the sky seemed to parallel the breadth of his emotions, reaching far beyond the confines of the challenges that weighed on him.
His grandmother's insight took root in his mind, offering a perspective that transcended the immediate struggles. Just as the sky held both the darkness of night and the brilliance of day, Akash, too, embodied a spectrum of experiences and emotions.
In embracing the essence of his name, Akash found solace-a reminder that, like the sky, he possessed an inherent resilience and the capacity to rise above the storms that sought to define him.
After some time, Shashwat, under Meenakshi's request to ask for her mother's suitcase's key from Arushi, moved towards the corridor toward the room where Arushi resided, accompanied by Siya and Richa.
Approaching Arushi's door, he prepared to knock, but a sudden hush and the mention of his name froze him in place. Arushi's voice pierced through the door, beckoning Shashwat into an unintentional eavesdropping scenario.
"Arre bata na yaar. Ab kya sharma rahi hai?
How did you fall in love with bhaiya? Matlb how did you feel that time?
And how did you realize?" Arushi's curiosity echoed in the hallway, and Shashwat, torn between propriety and the allure of her words, hesitated, debating whether to knock or linger as he also wanted the answer and then her voice came,
"When our eyes first met, it was more than just a chance meeting, it felt like something extraordinary, as though destiny itself had intervened. His gaze conveyed a deep, unspoken understanding, a silent conversation that seemed to reach the core of my being. In that moment, it felt as if a divine presence was communicating directly with my heart, weaving a complex tapestry of emotions that went beyond the ordinary. It wasn’t simply an encounter; it was a celestial connection that bound our lives in a way that felt both magical and significant.
" She smiled and remembered their first encounter and then continued,
"It's not just about the stolen glances or the shared dreams; it's about the quiet moments when his absence leaves an echo in my world.
When we are with others, his thoughts linger in the background, a silent companion to every conversation.
Hume itna pyaar hogya h unse ki now there is no turning back.
He's not just a part of my life; he's the very essence that makes my heart beat.
He is the stars to my sky, the spices to my pani puri.
He has become more than just a person; he's the profound source of my devotion.
In the garden of my heart, I've planted the seeds of unconditional love.
The blossoms of affection have flourished, and now, even if he chooses not to reciprocate my feelings then also my happiness remains the same.
It's a love that transcends the boundaries of expectations, finding joy in the simple act of loving him.
" She took a deep sigh and again continued,
" I'm not merely a lover; I'm his deewani, dancing to the enchanting music of his laughter, which orchestrates my joy like a divine melody.
As Siya completed her heartfelt confession, an unexpected cascade of tears slipped from her eyes, tracing a silent path down her cheeks.
The room, momentarily still, held the weight of her emotions, leaving both Arushi and Shashwat in awe.
Siya, lost in the depth of her own words, remained oblivious to the tears that betrayed the profound emotions she had just laid bare.
"Waah yaar!! Tujhe to poet hona chahiye. Kya bola hai. I was feeling like I will also cry. Hey bhagwan, what my brother did to deserve someone like you," exclaimed Arushi, her admiration and genuine surprise evident in her words.
Shashwat, still processing the magnitude of Siya's emotions, found himself speechless.
"What I did to deserve this much love," he repeated Arushi's word aloud, his voice a soft murmur that hung in the air. He, too, was swept away by the purity of Siya's love, a love that seemed to transcend the boundaries he had unknowingly erected around his heart.
Her love, so pure and unreserved, was a revelation.
Shashwat, momentarily forgetting the reason for his presence in that room, felt the weight of her emotions settling in his heart.
The realization hit him with a profound force - he had never imagined that someone could love him in such a selfless and unconditional manner.
Like a fortress, he had built walls around the concept of love, considering it a distant and useless emotion. Siya's confession, however, has broke those walls, leaving him vulnerable and exposed.
As he navigated through the corridors of his own feelings, Shashwat acknowledged that he liked Siya, but love had always been a formidable word, a word he had reserved for the extraordinary.
Now, with Siya's love breaking down those walls, he found himself contemplating the possibility - maybe, just maybe, he would cross the path to love very soon.
Shashwat couldn't shake the idea that very soon, he might find himself falling in love with Siya. The walls he had built around his heart were crumbling, allowing the authenticity of Siya's emotions to seep in.
Maybe very soon he will also fall in love with Siya,
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