chapter 46 - Holi and temptation
The Malhotra mansion was alive with vibrant colors, music, and laughter. Elders were dancing, throwing colors at each other, while the youngsters ran around, smearing gulal on faces and drenching one another in water.
But amid all this chaos, Ira sat quietly on the side, watching the madness unfold.
Dressed in a simple white saree, she clutched a plate of sweets, smiling at the family’s antics but making no move to join them.
Anika noticed first. "Bhabhi, why are you sitting here? Come on, it’s Holi!"
Ira shook her head, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I don't like getting messy."
Vihaan smirked. "Aarav Bhai, did you hear that? Bhabhi doesn’t want to play Holi!"
Aarav, who had been watching Ira silently, finally spoke. "Oh? Is that so?"
Before Ira could react, he picked up a handful of pink gulal and strode toward her.
Ira’s eyes widened. "Aarav, don’t you dare!"
"Too late, Mrs. Malhotra."
He smeared color across her cheek, slow and deliberate, his thumb grazing her skin longer than necessary. The touch was light, teasing, intimate.
Ira gasped, looking up at him. "You—!"
Aarav smirked. "You look better with color on you."
The youngsters erupted into whistles and cheers.
"Bhaiya is so romantic!" Anika teased.
"Ira Bhabhi is blushing!" Vihaan laughed.
Ira’s cheeks burned, but before she could respond—
Vihaan and Kabir suddenly dumped an entire bucket of colored water on Aarav.
Aarav froze. His pristine white kurta was now dripping wet, streaked in blue and pink.
The entire family burst into laughter.
Ira, unable to stop herself, covered her mouth and giggled.
Aarav turned to her slowly, his eyes darkening. "You think this is funny?"
Ira nodded, still laughing.
"Fine."
Before she could escape, he pulled her close and hugged her tightly—drenching her in the same colored water.
Ira gasped, now completely soaked. "Aarav!"
He smirked. "Now we’re even."
The family cheered louder, enjoying the newlyweds’ playful banter.
With Holi in full swing, the elders sat together, sharing stories, sweets, and thandai, while the younger ones enjoyed a water fight.
Ira sat next to Sunita (Aarav’s mother), helping her serve sweets.
Sunita Aunty smiled. "Ira, beta, I remember the first Holi after my wedding. Your father-in-law was just like Aarav—always serious, never playing. But that day, I made sure he joined in. And see? Now my son is just as stubborn as his father!"
Ira laughed. "You think Aarav was serious? He just threw a bucket of water on me!"
Sunita chuckled. "That’s his way of showing love, beta."
Ira glanced at Aarav, who was laughing with Vihaan and Kabir. The sight made her heart warm.
Just then, Vihaan called out, "Aarav Bhai, Bhabhi! We have a challenge for you!"
Aarav sighed. "Now what?"
Vihaan smirked. "You both have to put color on each other—properly. No running away!"
The entire family chanted in agreement.
Ira shook her head. "No, no—"
Aarav grabbed her wrist. "Rules are rules, Mrs. Malhotra."
Before she could escape, he gently rubbed a handful of bright red gulal along her cheeks, then her forehead, then—
—his thumb brushed against her lips.
The world seemed to pause.
Ira’s breath hitched. Aarav’s fingers lingered for just a second longer, his eyes locked onto hers, intense and unreadable.
The family went wild.
"Bhai, control!" Vihaan teased.
"Newlyweds are so cute!" Anika giggled.
Ira, flustered beyond words, quickly grabbed a fistful of color and smashed it onto Aarav’s face.
Aarav blinked, stunned.
The family exploded in laughter.
Ira grinned. "Now we’re even, Mr. Malhotra."
Aarav smirked, leaning in. "We’ll see about that tonight, Mrs. Malhotra."
Ira’s smile vanished.
After all the teasing and color fights, the music turned louder, and the entire Malhotra family gathered in the center to dance.
Anika and Vihaan dragged Ira forward. "Bhabhi, no excuses! You’re dancing!"
Ira tried to protest, but before she could, Kabir spun her around and pulled her into the dance floor.
The beats of “Balam Pichkari” blasted through the speakers.
Sunita Aunty and the elders clapped along, laughing as their children danced like maniacs.
Aarav, as expected, stood to the side, arms crossed, watching the madness unfold.
Ira danced with Anika and Vihaan, twirling and giggling, completely immersed in the fun.
"Look at Bhabhi go!" Kabir whistled.
"Aarav Bhai, control your wife, or she’ll steal the show!" Vihaan teased.
Aarav rolled his eyes, but there was a small, hidden smile on his lips as he watched Ira laugh freely.
She looked… happy.
And for some reason, that made his chest feel warm.
After an hour of dancing, Ira felt breathless. She sat down, taking a sip of the cool thandai Kabir handed her.
"Drink, Bhabhi. It’ll refresh you," Vihaan smirked.
What Ira didn’t know was that the thandai was laced with bhang.
One sip.
Two sips.
Three…
And the madness began.
At first, she just giggled.
Then, she started humming random songs.
Then—she grabbed Vihaan’s cheeks. "Vihaan, why are your cheeks so squishy?!"
Vihaan burst into laughter. "Bhabhi is drunk!"
Kabir high-fived him. "Mission successful!"
Ira turned to Aarav, her face bright red, a drunken pout on her lips.
"Baaaabbbbyyyyy!"
Aarav froze.
The entire family froze.
Ira never called him by any nickname.
It was always "Mr. Malhotra" or aarav nothing at all.
Sunita gasped dramatically. "Oh my God! Aarav, your wife called you by your name!"
The youngsters cheered and whistled.
Aarav’s jaw tightened. "What did you two do?" He shot a glare at Vihaan and Kabir.
They immediately ran for their lives.
But Ira didn’t care. She jumped on Aarav’s back, clinging to him like a child.
"Aaraaaav! Let’s play! Let’s dance! Let’s—"
Aarav sighed and picked her up effortlessly. "That’s enough madness for today."
The family erupted into cheers and teasing.
"Aarav Bhai is taking Bhabhi to the room—something big is about to happen!"
"Control, Bhai! It’s still daytime!"
Aarav shot them a deadly glare, but it only made them laugh harder.
With Ira giggling against his shoulder, he walked inside, completely unbothered by their teasing.
Aarav had barely shut the door when Ira burst into laughter again, kicking her feet in the air like an excited child.
He turned around, running a frustrated hand through his color-stained hair, only to find her rolling on the bed, giggling uncontrollably.
"Ira, sit properly," he ordered, but she was too far gone.
She suddenly sat up, her eyes wide and sparkling. "Aarav!"
His brow twitched. "What?"
Mujhe tumhare maang Bharni hai ira said,
After hearing her he get shocked and said what?? What did you said baby?
Yes baby I want to fill your hairline ira said in childish tone
Baby you can't fill it because I'm a husband baby he said smiling
Shut up!!! I'll fill your wife
What??
I mean I'll fill your hairline now!!!
Aarav started to run for his life in room here and there
But ira, is ira aarav malhotra so she called him in a strict tone aarav malhotra come here right now and he did, she took her sindoor box and fill his hairline and shout
Yehhh!! Now you are my wife!!! She kissed his chin because there only she can reached even standing on toes he hugged her and smile at her antis
After a while she said
"You have such a serious face all the time," she poked his cheek, "why don’t you ever smile? You should smile more!"
Aarav sighed. "Ira, let go."
"Nooo," she pouted, grabbing his face with both hands and squishing his cheeks.
Aarav froze.
What the—
Ira giggled harder. "Oh my God! You look so funny like this! Like a little angry teddy bear!"
Teddy. Bear.
Aarav Malhotra—ruthless businessman, feared CEO, and dominant force in every room—was just called an angry teddy bear.
His jaw clenched. "Ira."
She didn’t stop.
She booped his nose. "Boop!"
Aarav grabbed her wrists and pinned them to her sides. "Ira, if you don’t stop right now—"
But she burst into laughter again, kicking her feet. "Aaah, Aarav! You’re so cute when you’re angry!"
His patience snapped.
He pushed her down on the bed, trapping her beneath him, his hands gripping her wrists above her head.
"Do I look cute now, Mrs. Malhotra?" His voice was low, dangerous, filled with warning.
Ira blinked up at him, her laughter suddenly dying.
His face was inches away.
Her breath hitched.
His dark eyes scanned her face, taking in her flushed cheeks, her parted lips, the way her chest rose and fell rapidly.
"Say it again, Ira," he whispered against her skin, his voice like silk. "Say I’m cute one more time."
She gulped. "Aarav, I—"
His smirk deepened.
His lips brushed against her ear, his voice teasing, full of unspoken promises.
"Let’s see if you’re still this talkative in the morning, hmm?"
Ira’s entire face turned red.
Aarav smirked, completely satisfied. Game over.
Ira’s breath hitched as Aarav’s lips lingered near her ear, his voice deep, teasing, and full of unspoken promises.
She stared at him wide-eyed, her heart hammering against her ribs.
But then—
She burst into laughter again.
"Aarav! Your hair is pink!" she giggled, reaching up to ruffle his hair. "You look so funny! Like a... like a cotton candy boss!"
Aarav stiffened.
Cotton. Candy. Boss.
He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He was going to kill Vihaan and Kabir for this bhaang stunt.
Ira, completely oblivious to his murderous thoughts, kept playing with his hair. "So soft… like a bunny rabbit!"
That was it.
Aarav grabbed both her wrists again and pinned them to her sides, leaning dangerously close. "Say one more stupid thing, and I swear, Ira—"
"You’ll kiss me?" she blinked innocently.
Aarav froze.
His grip tightened. Her lips were inches away from his, her eyes hazy, drunk, and utterly tempting.
She wiggled beneath him, her fingers brushing against his chest, completely unaware of what she was doing to him.
He was losing control.
"Ira," his voice dropped to a husky whisper. "You don’t know what you’re playing with."
She tilted her head. "Playing? I just want a kiss."
Aarav let out a shaky exhale.
She was drunk. She didn’t even know what she was saying.
But her lips… her body beneath him… the way she was looking at him…
He was burning.
One more second and he would—
Suddenly, Ira giggled and pressed a sloppy kiss to his cheek. Then his jaw. Then his nose.
Aarav went completely still.
"Mmm, you smell so good," she murmured sleepily, "like my Aarav."
My Aarav.
His entire body tensed.
And then—
She yawned. Fell against his chest. And passed out.
Aarav stared at her in disbelief.
She was asleep.
After torturing him like this.
He closed his eyes, his jaw clenched, his body on fire.
With a frustrated groan, he scooped her up in his arms and placed her gently on the bed, tucking her in.
Then—he stormed into the bathroom.
And took the coldest shower of his life.
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Happy holi my dear readers I hope you like this chapter.
I see so many of you enjoying the story, and it truly means the world to me. Your reads and support keep me going! If you’re loving the chapters, don’t forget to tap that ? (vote) button—it motivates me to write even more! Drop a comment too, I’d love to hear your thoughts! "