Ch37Drenched in His Hue๏ผHoli Special๏ผ #3
Upstairs in his office, Rudraksh was dressed in a crisp, white linen kurta-pyjama, entirely focused on his work.
He possessed absolutely zero interest in these festivities; he was tolerating the chaos only because it brought a radiant smile to Rivanya's face.
Down in the grand courtyard, Dev had plugged in a speaker, blasting a lively festive playlist that Rivanya had curated, infusing the entire mansion with infectious energy. Everyone was glowing with joy.
Rivanya had elegant chosen a pristine white embroidered saree, pairing it with a vibrant stack of colorful glass bangles.
With a simple red bindi, a fresh line of vermilion, and her *mangalsutra*, she looked absolutely breathtaking.
But beneath her serene, traditional look, a brilliant, mischievous plan was brewing in her mind to ruffle the feathers of her unyielding husband.
A little later, Vyom practically dragged a highly reluctant Rudraksh down into the courtyard. Rudraksh stood off to the side, his arms crossed, silently questioning what kind of twisted amusement his family found in this chaotic, colorful carnival.
The intimidating aura radiating from the billionaire was so intense that not a single guest or staff member possessed the audacity to approach him with color.
Sneaking up from behind him, Rivanya advanced like a stealthy shadow, her hands heavily coated in vibrant red gulaal (powder color).
Spotting her target, Dev, Raaj, and the others frantically gestured to her from a distance, silently pleading with her not to provoke the sleeping lion.
But Rivanya was completely unstoppable today.
She had even taken off her silver anklets (*payal*) beforehand, knowing his razor-sharp senses would instantly recognize their musical chime.
Seizing the exact moment his attention drifted, Rivanya sprang forward and flung two fistfuls of the bright red powder straight across his face and white kurta, bursting into a victorious, melodious laugh.
A collective gasp echoed through the courtyard. A suffocating silence dropped over the crowd as everyone braced themselves, terrified that Rudraksh's legendary volcanic temper was about to erupt right over Rivanya.
But what happened next left the entire gathering in absolute, speechbound shock.
Instead of blowing up in rage, a dangerous, thrilling smirk broke across Rudraksh's paint-flecked features.
As a laughing Rivanya turned on her heel to bolt away, Rudraksh's hand shot out with lightning reflexes.
He reached into the air and firmly caught the sheer, flowing pallu of her white saree, snapping her momentum entirely and pulling her back toward him.
Leaning slightly toward her, his dark eyes burning with playful retaliation, he murmured, "Did you seriously think it would be that easy to run away from me, Sugarplum?"
Right at that perfect, hyper-charged second, Vyom shot a wicked smirk toward the DJ booth. Catching the cue, Dev instantly hit a button on the speaker, and a classic Bollywood track blasted through the courtyard:
"Chhod do aanchal, zamana kya kahega..."(Let go of my saree's veil, what will the world say...)
The flawless timing of the song completely broke the tension, and the entire family burst into a roaring fit of laughter. Both Rudraksh and Rivanya froze, their faces flushing a deep crimson as they suddenly found themselves thoroughly embarrassed in front of everyone.
Seizing the golden opportunity created by her own blushing confusion, Rivanya swiftly yanked her *pallu* from his loosened grip and sprinted away into the safety of the house, her heart drumming wildly against her ribs.
Rudraksh was in no mood to let Rivanya escape today.
With a playful smirk playing on his lips, he dashed after her, his footsteps echoing right behind hers.
Rivanya's melodious laughter resounded through the entire corridor, perfectly blending with the festive music blasting from the speakers outside, making the atmosphere even more magical.
Breathing heavily but smiling wide, Rivanya ran into a secluded room upstairs a quiet space that was rarely used.
Seconds later, Rudraksh stepped into the room, trapping her inside.
Rivanya looked around and realized she had nowhere left to run.
Her smile turned into a nervous grin as she began stepping backward, but Rudraksh kept matching her pace, closing the distance between them step by step.
A dangerous glint flashed in his eyes as he murmured,"Bohot bhaag li aap Mrs. Vardhan, aab toh aapko mere rang main rangna hi hoga.
(You have run around quite a lot, Mrs. Vardhan. Now, you will have to be drenched in my colours.)"
Rivanya blushed deeply, her heart hammering against her ribs, but she refused to back down. Shying away from his intense gaze, she challenged him playfully, "Ese kese hone wale Ranasa, mein bhi Rivanya Rudraksh Vardhan hoon, etni aasani se toh aapke rang main nhi rangne wali.
(Not so easily, my future Ranasa. I am Rivanya Rudraksh Vardhan after all; I won't let myself be drenched in your colours that easily.)"
Rudraksh didn't break eye contact for even a fraction of a second. His smirk widened, "Challenge? Hone wali Ranisa? Aaj toh main aapko aapne rang main rang hi dunga.
(A challenge, my future Ranisa? Today, I will definitely drench you in my colours.)"
With every step back, the space between them vanished until Rivanya's back hit the cold wall. Seizing the perfect opportunity, Rudraksh pinned her in place. He slammed both his hands against the wall on either side of her head, completely trapping her within his muscular frame.
Her breath hitched as she felt his overwhelming proximity. Blushing furiously, her voice trembled slightly as she looked everywhere but at his eyes, whispering, "Yeh... yeh galat hai. Aap mujhe ese nahi chu sakte, Ranasa..." (This... this is wrong. You cannot touch me like this, Ranasa...)
Rudraksh leaned toward her, a teasing smile playing on his lips as he murmured, "Yeh sahi hai aapka, aap hume rang laga sakti hai lekin humara etna bhi adhikar nhi, Ranisa?" (you can apply colors to me, but do I not have even this much of a right, my Ranisa?)
Rivanya's heart raced at the proximity. Looking into his eyes, she challenged him with a shy yet playful smile, Mujhe bhi dekhna hai ki aap mujhe bina chuye kese rang lagaoge, Ranasa..."
(I also want to see how you will color me without even touching me, Ranasa...)
Before Rudraksh could respond, Rivanya swiftly moved away, slipping out of reach with grace. Instead of leaving the room, she stopped a few feet away, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
At that moment, the festive music from outside shifted. The soulful rhythm of "Mohe Rang Do Laal" began to filter into the room, its poetic lyrics echoing around them.
Seizing the opportunity, Rivanya reached for a platter in the corner. She took a handful of vibrant red gulal and threw it toward Rudraksh. The crimson powder filled the air, marking the celebration of the festival. Immediately, Rivanya began to dance around him, her movements fluid and expressive.
Through every beat of the song, Rivanya used the art of dance to communicate her feelings. Using traditional gestures and expressions, she shared the unspoken emotions of her heart.
"Mohe rang do laal, mohe rang do laalNand ke laal laal, chhedo nahi bas rang do laal..."(Color me in red... O beloved, do not tease me, just drench me in your love.)
As these lines played, Rivanya twirled around Rudraksh. Her eyes conveyed a desire for a deeper connection, asking for her life to be filled with the vibrant colors of his devotion and companionship.
"Dekhu dekhu tujhko main hoke nihaal...Chhu lo kora mora kaanch sa tann, nain bhar kya rahe nihaar..."(I gaze upon you and find absolute bliss... why do your eyes merely admire from afar?)
Rivanya stepped closer, her hand gestures mimicking the act of gazing with admiration.
Through her expressions, she showed how his presence brought her peace and joy.
She was playfully asking why he remained a distant observer when they shared such a strong bond, inviting him to bridge the emotional gap between them.
Rudraksh stood still, spellbound by this expressive side of Rivanya. He was impressed by her grace and the way she used the dance as a poetic confession. Every step and movement reached the deepest corners of his heart, breaking through his usual stoic nature.
"Hari ye chunariya, jo jhatke se chheeni...Main toh rangi hari hari ke rang, laaj se gulaabi gaal."(This green veil was moved aside... and now I am entirely colored in my beloved's hue, my cheeks turning a shy, rosy pink.)
Reaching the climax of her dance, Rivanya gracefully held the edge of her attire, evoking the legendary romance associated with the song.
Her cheeks flushed with genuine shyness as her eyes spoke of her emotional surrender.
She was showing him that she was already influenced by his presence, her heart already aligned with his.
As the final notes of "Mohe Rang Do Laal" faded, Rivanya stopped in front of him, breathless and glowing with anticipation.
She had shared her heart through her art.
Now, she waited to see how Rudraksh would fulfill her challenge how he would find a way to color her life and her spirit without a single touch.
Rudraksh stepped closer, closing the distance between them.
In one fluid, effortless motion, he wrapped his arm securely around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest.
A breathless gasp escaped her lips as his deep voice brushed against her ear, filled with a sudden warmth, "I had absolutely no idea you danced so beautifully, Sugarplum..."
Rivanya was still trying to catch her breath, her chest heaving as she lowered her eyes in a flush of modesty. "Only a select few people in my life know that dancing is my hobby," she whispered softly.
A tender smile touched his lips. "And today, I have become one of those few people, haven't I?"