Chapter 14
Kabir's Perspective
Sunday morning dawned bright and early, and for once, I was up before my alarm. The entire household buzzed with excitement, and it wasn't just because of the hawan puja we were attending at Aditi's place. For me, the excitement ran deeper—there was something about seeing Aditi that made my heart race, though I'd never admit that out loud.
After quickly getting ready, I headed downstairs where Chachi was helping Arjun into his little kurta pajama. His outfit was an exact miniature of Chacha's, and the sight made me smile. He looked adorable, his tiny frame swimming in the oversized clothes, but his energy was boundless as he bounced around in excitement.
"Arjun, stand still for a second!" Chachi exclaimed as she tried to fix his collar, but Arjun was too excited to listen.
"Bhaiya, we're going to see Didi, right? Aditi Didi?" Arjun asked, looking up at me with wide, eager eyes.
"Yeah, buddy, we're going to see Aditi Didi," I replied, ruffling his hair affectionately. "But only if you let Chachi finish dressing you."
He grinned and stood still just long enough for Chachi to adjust his collar and tie his shoes. Once she was done, Arjun immediately grabbed my hand, tugging me towards the door.
"Hold on, hold on," I laughed, trying to keep up with his enthusiasm. "We need to wait for Raghav."
"Raghav bhaiya's coming too?" Arjun's face lit up even more, and he bounced on his toes, practically vibrating with energy.
"Yep. He's on his way," I assured him, pulling out my phone to call Raghav. He picked up after the second ring, sounding groggy.
"Why are you calling so early, man? It's Sunday!" he groaned.
"It's almost 10 AM, Raghav," I reminded him. "We're heading to Aditi's place for the hawan. Remember?"
There was a pause, and then I could practically hear the smirk in his voice. "Ohhh, right. The hawan. Can't keep you away from Aditi, huh?"
"Raghav," I warned, feeling the heat rise to my face even though I was alone. "Just get over here, okay?"
He chuckled. "On my way. Don't start the hawan without me."
"Wouldn't dream of it," I muttered, hanging up.
Arjun tugged at my hand again. "When's Raghav bhaiya coming?"
"Soon, buddy. Let's wait outside," I suggested, leading him to the front porch. It wasn't long before Raghav showed up, looking far too amused for my liking.
As soon as he saw me, his grin widened. "Morning, lover boy," he teased, clapping me on the back.
"Morning," I replied dryly, rolling my eyes. I could already tell it was going to be a long day.
"You're really excited about this, huh?" Raghav said, raising an eyebrow as we got into the car. "It's just a hawan, man. What's got you so worked up?"
I shot him a glare. "Nothing. I'm just... I don't know, it's a big event for Aditi's family, and I want to be there."
"Uh-huh," Raghav said, clearly unconvinced. "Sure, it's the hawan you're excited about."
"Just drop it, okay?" I sighed, knowing I wasn't going to win this one.
Arjun, oblivious to our exchange, was happily chatting away in the backseat about all the fun he was going to have at Aditi Didi's house. His excitement was contagious, and despite Raghav's teasing, I found myself looking forward to the morning ahead.
When we arrived at Aditi's house, the air was filled with the rich scent of incense and the soft, melodic chants of the pandit ji. The hawan kund was already set up in the center of the courtyard, surrounded by neatly arranged seats for the family. Aditi's parents and her younger brother, Ved, were already seated, helping with the preparations. The fire crackled gently, its warm glow reflecting off the brass utensils placed around it.
I scanned the scene, and my eyes quickly found Aditi. She was kneeling near the hawan kund, arranging the samagri on a small silver plate. Her pink suit complemented her complexion perfectly, and the dupatta draped over her head gave her an almost ethereal look. There was a serenity about her that made my heart skip a beat, and for a moment, I was content just to watch her.
"Staring isn't polite, you know," Raghav whispered in my ear, snapping me out of my reverie. I turned to glare at him, but he was grinning like a Cheshire cat. "What, can't take your eyes off her?"
"Raghav, seriously, just drop it," I muttered, trying to focus on anything but the knowing look in his eyes.
"Sure, sure. Whatever you say," he replied, not bothering to hide his amusement. "But just so you know, you've got that look again."
"What look?"
"The look of someone who's got it bad." He winked at me before turning his attention to Arjun, who was now pulling on my hand, eager to join the festivities.
Before I could retort, Arjun broke free from my grip and sprinted toward Aditi. My heart lurched as I saw him slip, his foot catching on a slick spot of ghee near the hawan kund. But Aditi's reflexes were faster than mine—she reached out and caught him by the waist, pulling him onto her lap just as he was about to fall.
The collective gasp from everyone present was audible, and my heart pounded in my chest, but Aditi only smiled down at Arjun, her face calm and reassuring.
"It's okay, it's okay," she murmured, adjusting Arjun on her lap. Anaya, who was already perched on Aditi's other knee, looked at Arjun curiously, but then returned her attention to the flames.
Chachi, who had been watching with wide eyes, let out a sigh of relief. "Arjun, come back here, beta. Don't trouble Aditi Didi."
But Aditi shook her head, her smile widening. "Arree, ise idhar hi rehene do," she said, her voice filled with warmth and affection. "He's fine here."
Arjun, delighted by the attention, giggled and promptly planted two enthusiastic kisses on Aditi's cheek. She laughed softly, returning the gesture by kissing him back on both cheeks.
Watching them, I felt a sharp pang of jealousy. It was ridiculous—I knew that—but seeing Arjun so close to her, receiving all that affection, stirred something irrational inside me. I wanted to be the one she looked at like that, the one she held close and smiled at with such tenderness.
Raghav, who had been silently observing, leaned over and whispered in my ear, "Oh-ho, someone's jealous."
"Raghav, I swear—"
"Relax, man," he cut me off with a laugh. "You know, if you want some of that attention, maybe you should've pretended to slip on the ghee too."
I shot him a murderous glare, but he just chuckled, clearly enjoying himself far too much. Before I could say anything else, Aditi looked up and caught my eye. There was a softness in her gaze that made my irritation with Raghav fade away. It was as if she knew I had been worried about Arjun and was silently reassuring me that everything was okay.
I gave her a small nod, which she returned with a gentle smile before turning back to the hawan. Arjun, now comfortably settled on her lap, joined in with the others, carefully placing small handfuls of samagri into the hawan kund as the pandit ji chanted.
We took our seats at the back with the rest of the guests, but my eyes kept drifting back to the scene in front of us. Arjun was beaming, clearly pleased with his newfound role as Aditi's little helper. Her family seemed to enjoy his presence as well, their smiles warm and welcoming.
Raghav leaned in closer, his voice low so only I could hear. "You know, Arjun's got the right idea. He's already winning over the in-laws. You might want to take some notes."
I sighed, trying to focus on the chanting, but Raghav's teasing wasn't making it easy. "Raghav, for once, can you just..."
"Relax, bro. I'm just trying to help," he said with a grin. "But seriously, if you keep looking at her like that, everyone here will know."
I tried to ignore him, but it was difficult when Aditi was right there, so close yet so far. The way she smiled at Arjun, the way she closed her eyes during the mantras, the way she gently guided Arjun's hand as he put the samagri into the flames—it was all so mesmerizing. I couldn't help but wonder if Raghav was right, if maybe I was being too obvious. But at the same time, I didn't want to look away.
Raghav, noticing my distraction, leaned in one last time. "You know, you could always ask her for a one-on-one hawan session later," he whispered, barely holding back his laughter.
As the hawan concluded, the family gathered inside to serve the prasad. The aroma of freshly made kheer filled the air, and everyone was in high spirits. Aditi and her younger sister, Anaya, were busy serving the kheer together, a sight that drew everyone's attention. Aditi held the container, while Anaya, standing on tiptoes, carefully poured the kheer into small bowls, her tiny hands clutching the ladle. Aditi guided her hand gently, ensuring the kheer didn't spill, and the two worked in perfect harmony.
The family members were seated in a line, eagerly waiting for their share of the prasad. My parents were the first to be served. As Anaya finished pouring the kheer into their bowls, my mother took a bite and her eyes lit up with delight. "Kitni tasty kheer hai," she remarked, smiling at Aditi.
Suddenly, Anaya's voice rang out proudly, "Haina? Didi ne subah 4 baje uthkar Mummy ke saath banwai! Aur maine bhi kaate hue badam daale. Badam se ye tasty ban gayi na?"
The room erupted in laughter at her innocent boast. My mother, clearly charmed, pinched Anaya's cheeks gently. "Kitni pyari bachi hai," she said, her eyes twinkling with affection. My father, who was also enjoying the kheer, patted both Anaya and Aditi on their heads, smiling warmly.
Chachi, savoring the kheer, added with a playful grin, "Aise Anaya ke jiju dhundne mein koi dikkat nahi hogi. Aditi ne itni tasty kheer jo babai hai"
Without missing a beat, Anaya responded innocently, "Nahi, Aunty! Papa ne bhi kheer banai hai, toh jo jiju aayenge, woh sirf khaenge thodi banaenge bhi toh sahi!"
Aditi's face turned a deep shade of red as everyone burst into laughter, amused by Anaya's unfiltered honesty. The sisters then moved down the line to serve Chachu, who also patted their heads in appreciation.
Next, they approached Arjun, who shook his head vigorously. "Nahi, nahi! Mujhe didi ke haath se khaani hai!"
Anaya, ever the quick-witted one, replied, "Isliye toh main abhi nahi kha rahi. Tu bhi mat kha, hum ek saath didi se khaenge!"
Aditi laughed softly, but I couldn't help but feel a slight pang of jealousy at how easily Arjun claimed Aditi's attention. He always knew how to be at the center of it all.
As the girls reached me, Anaya greeted me with a cheerful, "Hello!" while Aditi smiled shyly.
"Hi, frosty," I said, directing my greeting at Aditi.
Anaya immediately perked up, "FROSTY KYA HOTA HAI, BHAIYA?"
Raghav, who was watching from the sidelines, chuckled, clearly enjoying the scene. I shot him a quick glare before turning back to Anaya. "Maine kaha, hi Aditi," I explained, hoping to deflect the attention.
Anaya's eyes widened with realization, "Ohhhh!"
This little girl was too sharp for her age, and her lively nature had everyone laughing. They continued serving prasad to Raghav, who casually said, "Zyada mat daalna."
But Anaya, with her boundless energy, shouted back, "Kyun nahi?"
Aditi smirked mischievously and added, "Arre, bhaiya ko Arushi didi ke haath se halwa bhi lena hoga."
Raghav's cheeks turned a deep shade of pink as I glanced at him curiously. "Kaun Arushi?" I asked, trying to catch up on the conversation.
Raghav quickly diverted, "Tu kheer kha raha hai apni, ya main khaun?"
"Haan haan, dost dost na raha," I teased back, still curious.
Raghav sighed, realizing there was no way out. "Tujhse pehle BSF thi wo meri, fir kahin aur shift ho gayi. Kal raat ko phone pe pata chala. Aditi ke Mammu ki beti hai."
Just as he finished explaining, a voice chimed in from behind me. A girl in an orange sharara, whom I assumed was Arushi, stepped forward with a Kadhai of halwa. "Hanji, halwa?"
"Ji, bilkul," I replied, as she took she halwa from kadhai with her hands putting it in my plate .
With a playful grin, she looked at me and said, "Acha progress kar rahe ho, bhaiya. Oh, sorry, sorry, jiju!" She giggled and turned back to Raghav, who was now red in the face.
Raghav and Arushi exchanged a quick high-five before she moved on to serve the others. As she walked away, I couldn't resist teasing Raghav. "Pasand hai?"
Raghav, still blushing, muttered, "Tu kha na apni kheer."
"Oh yes," I said, savoring the moment, before adding with a grin, "Ab teri baari hai!"
Raghav rolled his eyes but couldn't help laughing. "Bhai, tu na...," he said, shaking his head, clearly caught off guard by the playful teasing.
The light-hearted banter continued as we all enjoyed the prasad, the warmth and love in the room making the day feel even more special.
After our playful banter with Arushi, I couldn't resist poking a bit more fun at Raghav. "So, Raghav," I started with a smirk, "Arushi, huh? When's the wedding?"
He shot me a look of pure exasperation. "Kabir, tu na... always trying to make something out of nothing."
"Oh, come on, don't be shy. We all saw that blush earlier," I teased, nudging him.
Raghav rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a grin. "You're just jealous that you're not the one getting teased for once."
"Maybe," I conceded with a laugh. "But it's too much fun watching you squirm."
Just as I was about to push further, Aditi's mom approached me, her warm smile making me straighten up a bit. "Beta, aapne khana kha liya?"
"Ji, haan, aunty," I replied politely, nodding.
She smiled again but then asked, "Agar ek kaam keh dungi, toh disturbance toh nahi hogi na koi?"
Before I could answer, my mom suddenly appeared, clearly having overheard. "Arre, apne bete samajh kar bindaas kaam karwao inhe! Konsi disturbance hogi? Kabse mohalle ki auntiyon ki tarah baatein kar rahe hain yahan."
I shot her a look, embarrassed by her playful dig, but Aditi's mom just laughed and handed me a plate of chole kulche and a glass of Rooh Afza. "Beta, yeh Aditi ke kamre mein le jao. Woh pagal ladki kaam ke chakkar mein khana hi bhool gayi hogi. Apne bhai-behno ke saath hogi. Tum bhi wahin baith jao, yahan bado ke beech mein bore ho jaoge."
"Ji, aunty," I said, taking the plate and glass from her. I glanced at Raghav, who was watching with a bemused expression. "Come on, let's go," I told him, and we both headed toward Aditi's room.
As Raghav and I headed to Aditi's room, I couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and nervousness. When we reached the door, I gave it a gentle push, and it creaked open to reveal a cozy scene. Aditi was seated on the floor, surrounded by the kids—Arjun and Anaya—who were happily munching away as she fed them. Beside her were Arushi, Atharv, and a girl I hadn't met before.
The moment we entered, everyone turned to look at us. The guy, Atharv, immediately recognized Raghav. "Hello, bhaiya!" he said, standing up to greet him with a hug.
Raghav grinned widely and hugged him back. "Atharv! Long time, yaar!" He turned to me and explained, "Yeh Atharv aur Arushi mere ghar ke saath rehte the pehle. Fir inke papa ka transfer ho gaya."
As they caught up, Aditi looked up from her task of feeding the kids and noticed me holding a plate of chole kulche and a glass of Rooh Afza. "Yeh Ridhima hai, meri bua ki beti," she introduced the girl sitting beside her, who waved at us with a bright smile. "Hello, dono bhaiya!" Ridhima chirped.
"Hello," I replied, smiling back. Then, turning to Aditi, I said, "Your mom asked me to bring you this lunch. She said you might have forgotten to eat while taking care of these two," I added, nodding towards Arjun and Anaya.
Before Aditi could respond, Ridhima jumped in, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Arre, bhaiya! Didi abhi bachon ko khila rahi hai. Aap khila do didi ko."
Arushi, always quick with a tease, chimed in, "Haan, jij—uh, bhaiya, aap hi khila do!"
Aditi blushed slightly, shaking her head. "Koi baat nahi, udhar rakh do. Main baad mein kha lungi."
But Raghav, who never missed a chance to stir the pot, said, "Arre, kha le na, Aditi. Thanda ho jayega baad mein."
I set the plate and glass down beside her and took a seat on the floor next to Aditi, while Raghav plopped down beside Arushi, who was already making fun of him for his Ludo skills.
As the Ludo game continued, Arjun and Anaya were engrossed in the game—Arjun was eagerly throwing the dice for Anaya, while she moved her pieces with a determined focus. The usual Ludo banter filled the room, and I couldn't help but chuckle at how intense everyone was getting over a simple board game.
Meanwhile, I picked up a piece of kulcha and, almost hesitantly, held it up to Aditi. She hesitated for just a second, then opened her mouth to take a bite. The moment her lips brushed against my fingers, a jolt of electricity shot through me. It was such a simple, innocent action, but it made my heart race. There was something incredibly sweet about feeding her like this, something that felt intimate and close.
After a few bites, Aditi looked at me with a soft smile and said, "Rooh Afza pilana."
I reached for the glass, holding it to her lips as she took a few sips. After she drank, she handed it back and murmured, "Khilado ab." Her voice was so soft, almost shy, and it made me feel something I hadn't expected—a deep, quiet happiness. As I fed her another bite, I couldn't help but notice how her lips gently touched my fingers with each bite. It was almost too much to handle, but I didn't want it to stop.
Raghav, who had been observing us with a smirk, leaned over and whispered, "Bhai, thoda focus Ludo pe bhi kar lo. Warna ye bachche jeet jayenge!"
I chuckled and tried to focus on the game, but it was impossible to ignore the warmth spreading through me every time I fed Aditi. Ridhima and Arushi kept throwing sly looks our way, clearly enjoying the situation far too much.
"Thoda fast khelo, Kabir," Aditi teased gently after swallowing another bite. "Aisa lag raha hai tum zyada enjoy kar rahe ho."
"Kya karein," I replied with a grin, "Feeding you is more interesting than the game."