【76】 Proposal.
....
After having breakfast, it was time to take blessings from God.
As we entered inside the small temple room beside the lavish kitchen, the world outside seemed to dissolve.
Thick with the scent of burning dhoop, fresh jasmine and rose petals, the earthy aroma of sandalwood paste filled the air.
The temple room was serene, and all the preparations for the prayer were already done.
It was a sanctuary of gold and white. In the center, the idols of the deities stood atop a tiered marble altar, their brass forms polished to a mirror-like shine.
The statue of Laxmi Maa was draped in a vibrant red saree, her hands raised in a blessing that felt like it was meant specifically for the woman standing beside me.
My own Laxmi. My Ardhangini.
Beside her, the idol of Vishnu Narayan stood in serene composure, draped in a yellow pitambar, watching over us with obsidian eyes.
To the side, a small wooden shelf held the sacred texts. The Bhagvad Gita was covered in saffron cloth, worn at the edges from years of devotion and prayers.
A brown diya flickered steadily, its golden flame reflected in the polished silver plates filled with offerings of mishri and crushed rose petals.
“Come here, Ruvit.” Aarti aunty whispered, her voice thick with a soulful emotion.
I stepped forward, bowing my head a little. She dipped her ring finger into a small silver bowl filled with red paste.
As she was about to press the tilak onto my forehead, I stopped her. “Mummy ji, Aridhi first.”
My eyes slid to Aridhi beside me, passing her a cheeky grin. Her smile widened.
“Arey beta, riti riwaj ke anusar pehle ladke ko tilak lagaya jata hain.” Grandma spoke from somewhere behind us. Well, I had expected it.
[ Son, according to tradition, the tilak is applied to the man first. ]
I didn’t bother to look back. I kept my gaze on Aridhi when I replied. “I chose to not believe in such traditions who value me over my wife.”
“But—” Grandma wanted to cut me off but I didn’t let her. My tone was now more steady and firm, like in that temple, I was taking a vow.
“I will always prioritise her over anyone, everyone. In everything, she comes first. Traditions be damned.”
No one spoke and that was it. Then, Aridhi blushed and God, that was my favourite sight.
Aarti aunty just shook her head helplessly but she obliged. She first applied the tilak to Aridhi’s forehead, instead of me.
I watched the way the red pigment stood out against her skin. In that divine light, surrounded by the statues of the Gods, she didn’t just look like my fiancée.
She looked like the Ardhangini, the goddess, the woman, the scriptures spoke of. My own.
She then pressed a few grains of raw rice, Akshat, onto Aridhi’s tilak before dropping some pieces on her forehead.
Then, it was my turn.
After my Ardhangini.
Always.
Aunty’s thumb lingered on my forehead for a second too long, a silent motherly gesture.
The bells chimed and a sharp, melodic sound rang around us as her father began the prayer.
I folded my hands, closing my eyes, but I wasn’t asking for myself. Not wealth, not safety, nothing.
I was asking everything for her as I looked at the idols, then caught a glimpse of Aridhi through the haze of incense smoke.
Thank you for letting her stay in my life, I thought.
My mother then handed us the flower petals to offer in front of the divine couple, Laxmi Narayan, followed by the prashad mishri.
Then we began performing the aarti as Aridhi and I held the thaal in the circular movement.
The flame casted shadows against the walls, illuminating the intricate carvings of the deities.
Aridhi began, her melodic voice carrying out throughout the room as everyone joined their hands, swaying their heads lightly.
“Tumko nishidin sevat, hari vishnu vidhata, om jaya laxmi mata. Uma, rama, bramani, tum hi jaga-mata, maiya tum hi jaga-mata. Surya-chandrama dhyavat, narad rishi gaata, om jaya laxmi mata. Durga rup niranjani, sukh sampatti data, maiya sukh sampatti data. Jo koi tumko dhyata, riddhi-siddhi dhan pata, om jaya laxmi mata. Tum patal-nivasini, tum hi shubhdata, maiya tum hi shubhdata.”
Her voice suddenly faltered, as if her brain couldn’t remember the next line. Just on cue, I joined immediately.
“Karm-prabhav-prakashini, bhavnidhi ki trata, om jaya laxmi mata. Jis ghar mein tum rehti, sab sadguna aata, maiya sab sadguna aata. Sab sambhav ho jata, man nahi ghabrata, om jaya laxmi mata.”
She glanced at me, a small smile touching her lips for the grateful save. Then we both continued the remaining aarti together.
“Tum bin yagya na hote, vastra na koi pata, maiya vastra na koi pata. Khan-pan ka vaibhav, sab tumse aata, om jaya laxmi mata. Shubha-guna mandir sundar, kshirodadhi-jata, maiya kshirodadhi-jata. Ratn chaturdash tum bin, koi nahi pata, om jaya laxmi mata. Mahalaxmi ji ki aarti, jo koi jan gaata, maiya jo koi jan gaata. Ura anand samata, pap utar jata, om jaya laxmi mata. Om jaya lakshmi mata, maiya jaya laxmi mata.”
Then, one by one, everyone bowed down their heads at the altar.
?
The scent of sandalwood smoke and clarified butter (ghee) filled the air.
It was a heavy, sacred atmosphere as I sat there, the heat of the hawan fire warming my face. The priest chanted the Vedic mantras.
Beside me, Aridhi sat with her head bowed, the flickers of light dancing off her features, making her look like a vision from a temple carving.
There was a desperation in the way her lips moved, maybe a silent plea for my protection or something else. Others sat behind us, their eyes closed in fervent prayer.
To the world, this may be a part of a birthday celebration. To my family, this hawan was kept for my safety, for eliminating all the evils off me.
But to me? This was for her, for the future. Aridhi’s future with mine. For our upcoming happiness as an official couple.
“Swaha.” The Pandit ji dropped a mixture of herbs and grains into the flames and the smoke rose in a white plume, carrying the prayers toward the ceiling.
The rhythmic chanting was a low vibration around us.
I leaned closer to Aridhi, our shoulders brushing. Her eyes fluttered, sensing my presence.
Smiling, I intertwined my hand with hers, letting our joined hands lay in my lap.
“Idiot.” She mumbled under her breath. “Only for you.” I whispered, and her cheeks tinted pink.
My fingers traced slow circles on the back of her hand, as if submitting myself entirely to her.
In the middle of this ritual, surrounded by the scent of marigolds and incense, my thoughts weren’t on the hawan.
My entire focus, my attention, my thoughts, all were on my personal divine form. They were on her.
My Aridhi.
If my parents were praying for my life, I was praying for the chance to spend every second of that life worshipping the woman beside me.
The devotee in me didn’t need a hawan or a temple. I just needed her to be the only subject of my devotion. Every single time.
?
“Let’s play a game.” Rishika’s suggestive tone filled the quiet atmosphere. Abhir groaned as he was about to complain but he couldn’t.
Because Rishika was throwing daggers in his direction which basically said, dare defy me. Abhir just blinked amused at her boldness. Despite that, he chose to stay quiet.
Good for him.
“Which game?” Ridhima bhabhi asked before Rishika and Abhir could be engaged in another round of their bickering.
“How about antakshari?” Rishika beamed with excitement, followed by Aridhi who was as enthusiastic as her.
But Nandini raised her hands in mock disappointment. “C’mon, that’s so boring.” Abhir nodded at her in agreement.
“It would be fun.” I tried to persuade because if my Aridhi wants to play, we will definitely play it.
But the atmosphere suddenly turned chaotic as everyone fought for their own choices.
Their voices rose above each other, turning the silent hallway into a battlefield.
“Let’s watch a horror movie instead.”
“No, let’s play pillow passing.”
“Boring. How about carrom?”
“Only four people can play that, duh.”
“Bro, let’s watch something.”
It was already evening and the elders were taking a nap in their own rooms.
But if their argument continued like this, it wouldn’t be surprising if we got kicked out.
“Enough.” I shouted out of pure frustration, causing silence to settle over the room immediately.
Everyone looked at me. But my eyes found Aridhi’s. She stared at me with a pout on her face.
“You shouted at me?” She crossed her arms against her chest in mock indignation. I froze, already sensing what’s coming next.
My pulse dropped as I shook my head frantically at her. “No, baby. Absolutely not.”
Walking towards her, I held her hands. “Elders might wake up, so I just wanted to maintain silence.” I explained but she wasn’t giving away.
“You don’t love me anymore, huh.” Aridhi turned her head away, her mouth looking like a pufferfish.
I heard muffled laughs from Abhir and Rishika, standing behind Aridhi a few feet away. I glared at them.
“Hehe.” Abhir laughed nervously, before he voiced out casually. “Aap sab dekho kya karna hain. Me ice cream lekar aata hu sabke liye.”
[ You all figure out what needs to be done. I will go get some ice cream for everyone. ]
Then, he looked at Rishika, silently inviting her to join him. And she did as they walked out the house together.
“Aridhi, please listen to me.” I held her arm, making her turn and look at me. Her eyes narrowed.
Just then, Nandini’s sharp, furious voice interrupted the moment. “I don’t want to talk to you, Dhruv. Get lost.” Everyone looked at them now.
Dhruv stood, confusion written all over his face. “What happened to you suddenly? And what did I do?” Nandini just glared at him.
Manish bhaiya laughed at the drama going around him.
But then suddenly, he let out a yelp when Bhabhi smacked the back of his head.
“What are you laughing at, huh?” Her hands were on her waist and her gaze was fierce. “You are no different than them.” She pointed between me and Dhruv.
Woah, that was.. rude.
“Arey ab aapko kya hua, madam?” Manish bhaiya groaned, his voice pleading and guilty. “Acha sorry na.” He apologized even when it wasn’t his fault.
[ Now what happened to you? Okay sorry. ]
Bhabhi crossed her arms, looking away. “I don’t want your sorry, huh.” Bhaiya just started at her hopelessly, then glanced at Dhruv, then at me.
Vinayak Bhaiya was literally biting his lip to keep from howling with laughter.
I looked at the three women.
Aridhi, Nandini, and Ridhima bhabhi stood like a united front of fierce, beautiful trouble.
“Ruvit.” Aridhi stomped her foot on the floor. “If you think you can shout on me just because it’s your birthday, then you don’t have any idea about me.” Her voice was smooth but dangerous.
Then she stepped closer towards me, her rose perfume hitting me like a physical wave. “You shouted. You should have known my ears are very sensitive.”
I felt my heart skip.
To the world, I was a man who survived a bullet. To Aridhi Agarwal, I was a man who couldn’t even survive a pout.
Well, yes, I couldn’t. If the pout was coming from her.
“I didn’t shout at you, Jaan.” I murmured, my voice dropping an octave as I reached for her hand.
“I shouted at the situation. There’s a difference.” I made sure to catch her gaze, the same eyes I’d watched again and again and never get tired of.
“I don’t care.” She whispered, though she didn’t pull her hand away.
On the other side, the drama was still unfolding.
Dhruv was practically pleading with Nandini. “At least tell me what did I do, sweetheart?”
“You hurt me when you suggested carrom.” Nandini huffed, pouting. “Even when you are aware of the fact that I don’t know how to play it perfectly.”
“So, that’s why you are so frustrated at me, huh?” Dhruv facepalmed dramatically.
“So my frustration is a joke to you?” Nandini snapped, though I could see her resolve crumbling as Dhruv stepped into her space.
“I am sorry.” He shook his head, pulling Nandini in a hug. She resisted but when Dhruv pressed a kiss on her forehead, her anger melted away.
“Ridhi, I said sorry na?” Manish rubbed the back of his neck where Bhabhi had slapped him.
But she wasn’t having it. Then, he picked her up in his arms.
Bhabhi blushed, pushing lightly on his chest, flustered. “Manish, what are you doing? Put me down!”
“Not until you forgive me.” Bhaiya replied smoothly, winking at her. “Fine. You are forgiven.”
“Okay, now listen.” I raised my hands. “We are playing Antakshari and no buts. Bhaiya-bhabhi, take the couch with Vinayak bhaiya. Nandini, Dhruv, sit on the mattress and take Abhir in your team. Rishika will join Aridhi and me on the sofa.”
Aridhi finally looked at me, a victorious little smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.
She had won. I couldn’t see her losing.
“Come.” She commanded, pointing to the spot beside her on the floor cushions. Like the obedient man I was, I sat.
“So, you figured it out?” Rishika asked, appearing in the doorway with Abhir, both of them carrying bags of ice cream.
“Antakshari, it is then.”
Abhir and Rishika handed ice cream to everyone before they settled down on their respective seats.
Everyone looked ready now.
Aridhi claimed my arm, resting her head on my shoulder. The pufferfish face was gone, replaced by the competitive glint I knew all too well.
[ A/N
Team A: Aridhi, Ruvit, Rishika.
Team B: Nandini, Dhruv, Abhir.
Team C: Manish, Ridhima, Vinayak. ]
The living room had turned into a tiny concert hall when bhabhi cleared her throat and clapped her hands with a dramatic flair, then sang out the traditional opening.
“Baithe baithe kya karein, ab karna hai kuch kaam, shuru karo antakshari, leke prabhu ka naam..”
A chorus of hooting followed, her finger spinning in the air as it landed on Team B.
Abhir didn’t hesitate, not even a heartbeat. He leaned back like a movie hero, one hand dramatically over his chest.
“Mujhe tum chupke chupke jab aise dekhti ho, achchi lagti ho.” His eyes locked straight onto Rishika, his voice carrying just enough mischief to make the intent obvious. “Kabhi zulfon se, kabhi aanchal se jab khelti ho, achchi lagti ho.”
[ I like it when you look at me secretly like this. Sometimes when you play with your hair, sometimes with your pallu, I like it. ]
Rishika visibly stiffened, her cheeks blooming pink as if someone had turned up the saturation on her emotions.
“Mujhe dekhke jab tum uh thandi aahe bharte ho, achche lagte ho.” Nandini continued, nudging Dhruv with her shoulder. “Mujhko jab lagta hain tum mujh par hi marte ho, achche lagte ho.”
[ When you look at me and let out those deep, wistful sighs, you look so good. And when I sense that you are absolutely smitten with me, you look so good. ]
Meanwhile me? I was already glaring. At Abhir. Because some instincts didn’t knock before entering. They just barge in.
Before I could say anything, a soft, familiar hand wrapped around my hand.
“Relax.” Aridhi whispered, her fingers squeezing mine like she was grounding a storm. “Rishika didn’t mind it, then wae are you acting like this?”
I exhaled sharply. “I don’t have any problems with them, but it’s just…” Her eyebrow arched, sharp enough to cut through. “Whatever.”
“Aridhi—” She turned away before I could explain, her eyes already back in the game. “Focus.” I stared at her for a second longer than necessary.
Mood swings? No. This girl wasn’t like weather. She was like an entire climate system.
The game rolled forward. It was the turn of Team C. They didn’t rush, like they were choosing not just a song, but a statement.
Then, softly, bhabhi began singing. “Hum aap mein kuch ho gya, kuch mil gya, kuch kho gya.”
[ Something happened between us, something was found, and something was lost. ]
Manish bhaiya swayed his head. “Jo chahe tum ise maan lo lekin suno ye jaan lo, hum tumpe marte hain, hum tumpe marte hain.”
[ Call it whatever you wish but listen, and know this for certain: I am madly in love with you, I am madly in love with you. ]
It was now our turn.
Aridhi’s gaze found mine and something in my chest shifted. Like what she was about to sing was the reason I felt like breathing.
“Hum tere bin ab reh nahi sakte, tere bina kya wajood mera?” My favourite voice was singing one of my favourite songs. “Tujhse juda gar ho jayenge, to khudse hi ho jayenge juda.”
[ I can no longer live without you, what is my purpose without you? If I get separated from you, I will get separated from myself. ]
It didn’t feel like just lyrics, but a real, vulnerable confession. I tightened my grip on her hand, smiling at her, assuring.
As the game passed on, Dhruv looked at Nandini before launching into a louder song. “Dilbar dilbar, haan dilbar dilbar…” He did hand movements too.
“Hosh na khabar hain, yeh kaisa asar hain, tumse milne ke baad dilbar.” His eyes twinkled with mischief.
Nandini wasn’t holding it either. “Dard hain, chubhan hain, kya deewanapan hain, tumse milne ke baad dilbar, haan tumse milne ke baad dilbar.”
Laughter followed, Abhir clapped off-beat, Rishika protested the letter and it was chaos again.
Time dissolved after that. Songs overlapped. Letters were argued over like court cases.
Nandini and Dhruv kept disappearing into corners between turns.
Manish Bhaiya was now openly flirting with Bhabhi just to earn her laughter back.
Rishika and Abhir started bickering. And somewhere between all that chaos, Aridhi leaned closer to me.
“So, how is your birthday going?” She asked gently. “Boring or interesting?”
I turned just enough for my nose to graze hers. “Interesting.” I whispered. “As long as you are with me, it can never be boring.”
Her eyes flickered, curious. “Then what are you thinking about?” I shifted, letting my lips brush the shell of her ear.
“About stealing you away from here.” A pause. “You are looking so pretty, it’s hard to control myself.” I added, teasing now, biting down on her earlobe.
Her breath hitched. She shoved her palm against my chest. Regardless of that, she smiled.
That smile.
That dangerous, beautiful, addictive smile spoiled my brain chemistry everyday, bit by bit.
“Then you have to wait so much more. Because we have a date.” She said, leaning back just enough to look innocent again.
Something inside me straightened.
What was she planning?
The next round started, louder than before. Letters flew. Voices clashed. Energy spiked.
Then it stopped on us. “Team A!” Vinayak bhaiya shouted. “Letter T.” Suddenly, the game stopped mattering.
All of it blurred into distant noise the moment I looked at Aridhi, who was already looking at me.
Her ocean blue eyes were metamorphically inviting my stormy waves to the shore.
I leaned back slightly against the couch, my gaze tracing the delicate curves of her face.
The faint shimmer of light flickered on her earrings. The tiny crease formed near her brows.
The softness in her eyes, that only existed when she looked at me, captivated me. I admired her. As if I was memorising something sacred.
Then softly, she began singing. “Tum prem ho, tum preet ho, meri dhadkano ka geet ho. Tum prem ho, tum preet ho, manmeet ho Kanha, mere manmeet ho.”
The words left her lips gently, but they carried something deeper than music. Something that had lived inside me for years without a name.
“Tum prem ho, tum preet ho, manmeet ho Kanha, mere manmeet ho. Tum prem ho, tum preet ho, meri dhadkano ka geet ho.”
I didn’t interrupt even though I knew the lyrics.
My eyes stayed fixed on her with such unbearable tenderness that I didn’t know I was capable of.
I just listened. So attentively that I felt like I was trying to preserve every syllable somewhere inside myself forever.
“Tum ho jaha, me hu vaha, Kanha…” She continued, unable to look away from me.
“Tum ho jaha, me hu vaha, tum bin nahi hain kuch yaha. Tum ho jahan, me hu vahan, tum bin nahi hain kuch yaha.” Her voice melted every anxiety, every negativity off my body.
It didn’t feel like singing anymore. It felt like one confession split between two souls.
The only difference was she didn’t know that she was singing the soundtrack to my life’s turning point.
If I had not listened to the same song that day, she would not have been here today, with me.
“Mujhme dhadakte ho tumhi, mujhme dhadakte ho tumhi, tum dur mujhse ho kaha…” Her voice wrapped smoothly around the lyrics, and something inside me cracked open.
Because suddenly I wasn’t sitting in this crowded living room anymore.
I was sixteen again. Reluctantly walking into a school auditorium behind Papa while mentally complaining about being dragged there.
I was annoyed. Bored. Completely uninterested.
Until that voice, soft, divine, utterly hers, had floated through somewhere, warm enough to stop a restless boy in his tracks.
I still remembered how my feet had paused near the entrance that day.
How I had looked around instinctively, trying to find the owner of that voice.
How impossible it felt that someone could sound like poetry before even appearing in front of me.
“Tum prem ho, tum preet ho, manmeet ho kanha, mere manmeet ho.” She sang quietly now, almost to me.
Aridhi’s eyes glistened. I lifted my hand slowly and brushed the back of my fingers against her cheek.
She leaned into the touch without realising it. “Tum prem ho, tum preet ho, meri dhadkano ka geet ho.” The final line dissolved softly between us.
Then I bent forward and pressed a lingering kiss against her forehead. Like I was thankful to her.
Because the way she sang the whole song while looking at me, it felt like she was merely returning the lyrics to their rightful owner, like she was actually making me the muse of her life.
Her eyes fluttered shut instantly.
A pink flush spread across her cheeks so beautifully that for a second I forgot there were other people in the room.
But she just confessed through a song, the same song who made me fall in love with her and she didn’t even know.
The whistles started immediately.
“BHAI!” Abhir nearly yelled. “Yeh antakshari chal rahi hain yaha ya fir live confession?” Laughter erupted.
[ Is a game of Antakshari going on here, or is this a live confession? ]
Aridhi chuckled softly without taking my eyes off me. Well, Abhir wasn’t wrong. Entirely.
“Proposal bhi ho sakta hain.” He added dramatically.
[ It could also be a proposal. ]
That finally pulled a laugh out of me. “Shut up, Abhir.” Because proposal? No.
What I felt for her was far more terrifying than a proposal. It was certainty. Besides, I had other plans for the proposal.
“I actually meant every line. Every word was for him, every syllable was his. So, it wasn’t actually less than any confession.” Aridhi clarified, staring at me.
Uno reverse.
Now, I was the one who was blushing, hiding my face in the crook of her neck.
Laughter intensified around us.
I looked up at Aridhi, whose expression still hadn’t recovered from a giggle I had just caused.
“You remember I told you that I fell for your voice first?” I whispered against her skin. I pulled back just enough to see her eyes, brightening. “Yes.”
I rested my forehead against hers. “It was this song, Aridhi. This exact one.”
Confusion flickered across her face, her brow pinching in that way I found unfairly cute. “What do you mean?”
I smiled faintly when she added. “I mean yes, you did tell me that you fell for my voice first. But you didn’t tell how.”
I let out a soft, self-deprecating laugh. “Before I took admission in your school, Papa came there as chief guest for some function. I tagged along because he forced me to.”
“Oh?” She snorted softly, dramatically. “But you know the best part?” My eyes twinkled with mischief, an upcoming secret about to be revealed.
“What? Just say it na.” She looked at me with expectations. “Shush. Be patient, M’lady.” I cooed, getting a slap on my shoulder in return.
“As I stepped inside the school, this same song welcomed me.” The memories came flooding back, the sight of my younger version who had surrendered himself to her voice years ago.
“I stood there, rooted to the spot, listening to a girl I couldn’t see, singing about a love I didn’t yet understand. But I didn’t need to see your face to be sure about one certain thing.”
I paused, watching the realization dawn on her. “What was that certain thing?”
My eyes softened. “I wanted to hear that voice for the rest of my life and lives. I just knew I wanted to hear that voice until my last breath.”
Her breath hitched. Any kind of hesitation vanished from her face completely.
Silence settled between us.
“Then came my first day at school.” I continued quietly, my voice dropping to a seductive, secret-sharing crawl. “And the first thing that happened was me colliding into a girl who looked like she’d stepped out of some divine painting.”
She hid her face instantly. “Stop exaggerating.” I scratched the back of my neck, her heated gaze making me nervous, just like that first day we met.
“It is actually an understatement to say that I was a goner. Your beauty hit me like a physical blow.” I replied with a smile. That made her blush.
“But then my mind started spiraling. In my head, there were suddenly two girls.” I admitted.
“Hein?” was her only response, while her brows furrowed.
I nodded seriously. “I thought I was a monster, Aridhi. I thought how could I be so fickle? How could I love the voice of one girl and the face of another at the same time?”
Understanding dawned in her eyes.
“I felt like I was cheating on a phantom with a goddess. There was one girl whose voice haunted me before I even knew her name. And then came another girl who nearly stopped my heart just by glaring at me on the first day.”
My gaze dropped briefly to her lips before returning to her eyes. A tiny smile tugged at her mouth.
“I genuinely thought I was losing my mind.” I admitted with a laugh. “I kept wondering what kind of idiot falls in love twice in two days.”
“And then?” She asked, teasing now, as if she knew what would I say.
“Then Dhruv introduced me to you.” I traced the line of her jaw, my thumb lingering near her lips. “And you said my name.”
The memory hit me so hard even now that my chest tightened.
“That was the moment I realised that the two halves of the pieces actually belonged to one soul.” I whispered. “I hadn’t fallen for two different girls.”
I reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I had simply fallen twice for the same girl. The voice matched the face.”
Aridhi stared at me, her chest heaving slightly. Her eyes filled instantly.
She looked overwhelmed, but then suddenly, a playful yet serious frown formed on her face. “Wait.” She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
I blinked. “What?”
“Ruvit, that was romantic, but also risky. Because think about it, what if—” She said, trying very hard to sound logical despite her trembling voice. “The voice behind that song belonged to a girl way younger than you?”
I stared at her. She stared back.
But after a minute, I chuckled, the tension breaking slightly. “I checked the program brochure which consisted of students above class 8th, Jaan.”
“Okay, fine.” She narrowed her eyes, leaning back just an inch, before continuing seriously.
“But what if you finally met the owner of the voice and you didn’t like her face? What if the ‘voice’ was an angel but the ‘face’ wasn’t your type? Would you have stayed for the voice alone?”
I shook my head helplessly, still smiling. I didn’t answer immediately though.
I took her hand, bringing it to my heart so she could feel the frantic, rhythmic proof of her effect on me.
“Aridhi.” I called out, my gaze turning intense, stripping away the playfulness.
“Love isn’t a puzzle where the pieces have to fit a certain image.
When I heard you sing, I fell for your soul.
The ‘voice’ was just the vibration of your spirit.
Whether you were the most beautiful girl in school or the most ordinary, I would have chased that sound.
I would have sought the person who was worth it, who became the origin of my religion, the heart of my story. ”
Aridhi’s lip trembled, absorbing each and every word of mine, deep in her heart.
“The universe was being generous to me. It gave me a soul I could worship and a face I couldn’t look away from.
My ‘type’ didn’t even exist until I saw you.
You became the standard, sweetheart. So no, there was never, there is never, there will never be a version of our story where I didn’t end up at your feet. ”
I leaned in, my lips ghosting over hers. Her expression faltered, her eyes softening.
“Have you ever realised you ask these questions because somewhere inside you, you still can’t believe someone could love every version of you?” I asked.
Her lips parted slightly, her eyes widening a fraction. I continued before she could interrupt.
“If your face had been different, your voice would still have made me search for you. If your voice had been different, your heart would still have made me stay. And if both had been different, I think I still would have found my way to you somehow.”
A tear finally slipped down her cheek. I pressed down my lips on the tear before it could fall.
She let out a shaky breath, her eyes searching mine one last time before she finally crumbled.
“How am I supposed to maintain my composure when you say things like that?” She whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
“You don’t need to maintain your composure with me, Aridhi. I have seen it all.” I smiled, pulling her into a tight embrace, burying my face in the crook of her neck.
In the background, the Antakshari had long since stopped.
Our siblings and friends were watching in a silence with respect, understanding and warmth.
But I didn’t care about them.
I only cared about the girl in my arms who was finally, truly, seeing the depth of the temple I had built for her.
“Your questions could be the last line of your defense. But they won’t win against the sheer weight of my devotion, Ardhangini.” I bite her cheek gently, making her yelp.
“I think,” She murmured, her arms winding around my neck. “that I might have fallen a third time today.” Her cheeks tinted pink.
I pulled back, a smirk playing on my lips. “Only a third? I have a long night planned, Princess. By 11 PM, I expect you to be on your tenth.”
She laughed, the sound more beautiful than any song she’d ever sung.
?
The road to our school was a ghost of our past, smelling of dust and memories.
We reached the school’s main road through the car, but sneaking inside it required the backside pathway.
At 10:00 PM, the only thing cutting through the silence was the rhythmic click-clack of Aridhi’s heels, walking beside me.
I told her to wear sneakers as we were going to do something risky but she didn’t listen.
But I was sure she would slay it in her heels too.
I watched her, the way she carried herself like a queen even in a dark, empty, narrow way.
Occasionally, I cleared her path, throwing the thorny bushes away with my shoes.
“If I trip in this dark forest-like area and break an ankle, Ruvit, I’m suing you for the rest of your life.” She muttered, her voice echoing off the silent air.
I let out a low chuckle, matching my stride to hers. “You were the one who wanted to trespass inside our former school, princess. Like an adventure game.”
I already had the keys in my pocket. It was a birthday gift from the school’s night guard who knew me since childhood.
But Aridhi didn’t know that. She liked the thrill of the ‘sneak-in.’ She liked that feeling. It made us feel like we were back in class 10th, breaking rules for fun.
We reached the spot, the back side of the school. A not-so-tall brick layered wall stood in front of us, expecting us to climb up, as we used to do years ago.
“Ready?” I glanced at her. She scanned the wall like it betrayed her. “It wasn’t this tall before.” She muttered, frowning.
A grin touched my lips. “Scared already?” Her eyes shifted onto mine, filled with a newfound confidence and determination. “Never.”
“Never say never, baby.” I supplied smoothly, teasing her.
Aridhi shoved her hand against my chest, pointing at the wall. “Keep quiet and climb it.”
“As my Ardhangini commands.” Rolling my sleeves to my elbow, I looked up.
“Be careful.” Aridhi whispered beside me, and I just winked at her.
My body was now pressed against the cool, dusty, worn out wall as I began climbing it. The bricks were mismatched, providing a little spot to hold onto.
Maintaining the balance between my legs and hands onto the tiny spaces, it took me barely 3 minutes. I sat on top of the wall, taking long breaths.
Then, I looked down at Aridhi and gestured for her to come over.
Instead of climbing the wall like I did, she looked around.
Within a few minutes, she started picking up tiles and flat rocks around her, and stacked it near the wall.
I sat there, staring at her. “Impressive.” The stacked pile acted like a headstart for her, around 30 cm.
She stepped on it carefully and held the gap provided by uneven bricks.
But wouldn’t it be too difficult for her to balance heels on them? Just on cue, she removed her heels one by one.
And with all her strength, she threw them to the other side of the wall. Phew, I ducked my head on time.
Then she mirrored my actions to climb up and when she was in the reach, my hand sunk to help her. Her grip came immediately, strong, tight enough to trust me.
And I didn’t let her trust break, as I pulled her up. She was now beside me, huffing, fanning herself with the back of her hand.
“You okay?” I rubbed my hand to shake off the dust, before tucking the strands of her hair behind her ear, tenderly. She nodded.
We looked at the other side, the school’s playground coming in our view. Just like it used to be in our childhood.
Lit only by the single, pale street lamp, the rusted chain-link fence was the first marker of age.
The dark silhouette of the swings were visible in the distance. Then, we encountered the jungle gym, standing near the back of the lot.
Under the harsh overhead moonlight, the structure’s rusty geometry is emphasized.
There were two seesaws on one side, a small merry-go-round beside it, and suspension bridges joining the various slides to each other.
Taking a sudden, strong breath, I jumped down off the wall.
As I looked back at Aridhi with a smirk, she was baffled. “Playing hero as always?” She was stunned before she chuckled softly.
Standing near the wall, I opened my arms. “C’mon Aridhi, jump. I will catch.”
She smiled at me, the moon hiding behind her head. Of course, how could it look more beautiful than my Aridhi?
And my lips moved on their own accord…
She sat on the wall like it was her throne. And I was standing down, looking up at her like she was the queen, my only number one.
At that moment, she didn’t think twice and jumped down. My arms instinctively caught her tightly, wrapping around her waist.
Her feet didn’t touch the ground yet as she cupped my cheeks and her forehead met mine, followed by her lips—dry, bare, natural but utterly hers.
I stood there, blinking. My hand brushed against her bare back where her top was ridden up.
With a slow, torture moment, her lips moved against mine. Her tongue licked the seam of my lips, savouring the taste.
But then she nipped on my lower lip, sucking it sensually. I groaned against her mouth.
She broke the kiss before crushing it against mine once again. Before I could kiss her back properly, the warmth of her lips faded.
She kept me hanging. She knew that I craved more, so much more.
Her thumb moved across my cheeks, caressing the hair strands sticking to my forehead, trailing her fingers down to tease my lips.
It was now her turn to reply…
I lowered her gently until she stood on my feet.
The earth beneath us was rough and uneven, and the thought of anything sharp piercing her bare skin made my chest tighten.
So, I kept her anchored close. Before she could fully process the shift, I leaned in.
My ears burned with a sudden heat, and I knew the warmth of my breath against her cheek was already painting her skin a deeper, bruised-petal red.
My left arm remained locked around her waist, grounding her atop my feet.
The moment my fingers brushed her jawline, sliding up to her chin, a visible shiver rippled straight down her spine.
For a long, suspended heartbeat, the world narrowed down to just the two of us.
We stared into each other’s eyes, the silence thick with an unsaid question.
I waited, watching the flicker of consent in her gaze, before I finally closed the distance. I crashed my lips against hers in a release of all that built-up tension.
Aridhi’s hands flew to my shoulders, her fingers digging desperately into my muscles as if she were trying to ground herself in the storm.
She clung to me, her breath hitching, catching little gasps of air between the rhythm of our lips.
Wanting more, my hand slid up to the nape of her neck, my fingers tangling in her hair as I tilted her head back to deepen the angle.
She melted into it, pressing the entire length of her flushed body against mine, her arms winding completely around my neck to pull me closer.
She tried to match my pace, her lips moving against mine with an intoxicating, clumsy fervor that only drove me wilder.
I tightened my grip on her waist, lifting her into me as my tongue parted her lips, plunging inside to taste her fully.
The kiss shifted from a quiet longing into something desperate and fiercely possessive.
A boundless hunger took over, every stroke of my tongue an exploration of a space I never wanted to leave.
Slowly, agonizingly, I dragged my mouth down the line of her jaw, trailing fires across her skin until I reached the hollow of her throat.
I pressed a wet, open-mouthed kiss right where her skin was warmest. My teeth grazed down the sensitive column of her neck, nipping gently against the soft skin.
Aridhi gasped, an intense tremor rocking her entire body. Her head fell back, completely defenseless, offering me total access.
I brushed my tongue over her racing pulse point, following it with a hot, deliberate suck that drew a broken moan from her throat. “R-Ruvit...”
When I finally pulled back just enough to look at her, my chest was heaving.
Her eyes were dark, heavy with a daze that mirrored my own.
Her lips were swollen, a soft, breathless smile playing at the corners, her face completely ruined by a beautiful, helpless blush.
She let her eyes linger on my lips for a second. Then slid back to my eyes. Was she seducing me?
“Don’t look at me like that, Ardhangini.” I warned, my voice deep and husky.
She bit her lip, her tone carried mischief and tease. “What if I want to, my Ardhang?”
My eyes darkened at the endearment. But I couldn’t lose my control right now. So, I picked her up in bridal style.
Her lips parted. Confusion, amusement, anticipation, and maybe disappointment, all at once swirled in her expression.
But I didn’t say anything. I just walked over and made her sit on a swing. “Wait for me.”
Turning around, I strided towards where her heels lay, now covered in dust. I picked them up and returned back to where Aridhi was sitting, her gaze fixed at me, adoring.
Then, without hesitation, I bent down in front of her and pulled out my handkerchief.
“You don’t have to clean them. It’s not needed anyway.” Aridhi said.
“It’s very much needed.” I started cleaning her Louboutin heels, wiping the dust off them. “How can I let you wear them just like that, hm?”
She shook her head, smiling gently.
The remnants of dust still stayed but at least they were now more wearable.
I reached for her feet, placing them on my knee. One by one, I made her wear the heels, as gently and gracefully as ever.
“Thank you.” She mumbled, smiling at the gesture.
Standing up, I stepped behind her swing. I didn’t let her turn when I leaned down, my lips brushing the shell of her ear from behind. “Hold tight.”
I could sense her cheeks flushing pink as she followed my instructions.
With a slow, deliberate push, the swing lunged back and forth. Her hands instinctively gripped the chains on the either sides of the swing.
And in that moment, as I looked at her bright glowing face, she was that same girl who used to giggle over this same swing years ago.
While I? I was still the very same boy, the same man, who pushed the swing for her again and again, just to see her smile.
It all felt like a dream. Because how could I still believe that I was about to marry this woman?
?
After roaming through the whole school, after passing through the corridors of nostalgia, we finally reached the intersection where it all started.
“This place..” She whispered, but stopped, turning to face me. The moonlight hit her face, illuminating the beauty I’d fallen for at the first sight of her.
My heart hammered against my ribs. “Yes.” I said, stepping into her space until she was backed against the very wall where we first bumped into each other.
I lowered my voice, making it as thick and seductive as the night air. “This is the place where we met for the first time.”
Her breath hitched. I saw her eyes darting around, indicating clearly how nervous she was.
“Before we go any further... I have a confession from the flashback, Aridhi.” I murmured, leaning down so my lips were inches from her ear. “W-What?”
“Meri kitabon mein mehak te huye gulaab si yaad ho tum, meri tanhaai ke andhere aasman ka chand ho tum.”
She stiffened, a soft gasp escaping her. “You.. you still remember that?” I nodded yes. “I remember everything about you, about us, Jaan.”
I saw the fire return to her eyes. “Good.” She teased, but her voice trembled just enough for me to notice. “Because I’m giving you another reason to remember this place, Ruvit.”
My eyebrows arched up.
She didn’t say anything, just reached for my hands. “Mr. Ruvit Rathore...” She began, her fingers caressing my knuckles.
“Almost 10 years ago, at this same place, I called you a weirdo. Because I thought you dedicated those lines to me. And it didn’t look any less of a proposal. Yes, I took time to process it all a little late, but when I did, you suddenly apologised and ran away like I was a ghost.”
That caused a low chuckle from me. “I was not scared because you looked like a ghost. I was scared because if I had stayed any longer, you would have found me on my knees, actually proposing to you.”
A shy smile tucked on her lips. “Uh-huh.” Her tone then dropped, turning serious, like she was about to bare her soul to me.
“What I didn’t know is.. you were a weirdo who changed his school, a part of his life for a voice. My voice. I didn’t even know how you heard it until today.” She paused, taking a steady breath.
“I know what I am to you, what is love for you. Love is your worship, love is your devotion, love is your religion. And you’ve made me the goddess of it all, surrendering your every being to me.
You’ve made me your Ardhangini before any relationship.
So, today, let me say it.. don’t be just the devotee of me.
Be my equal. Be the god of my love, my prayers. Be the Ardhang that completes me.”
I felt a surge of emotions so sharp it almost brought me to my knees, but I staggered back to maintain my balance.
With the created space between us, she let her knees hit the floor. Not on one knee. But both.
“Will you marry me, my Mr. Ruvit Rathore? Will you give me this special entitlement, as your wife? Will you consider me worthy enough for the rest of your life? Will you become my Ardhang in every life? Will you let me stand by your side while I proudly tell the world that I am yours? Will you become my devotion, my religion, my every prayer? Will you be please mine, make me your Mrs. Aridhi Ruvit Rathore?”
The moment those words rolled out of Aridhi’s lips made me pause, my hand in her hand was the only thing that was shaking.
My remaining body froze on its own accord, as I couldn’t fathom the way my lips twitched and a single tear escaped my eye, trailing down my cheek.
Yes, I wanted her to confess first but circumstances made me do it rather. But proposal?
I didn’t expect my Ardhangini to propose to me first, and that too on my birthday. I didn’t think she would be proposing to me like this was worth it.
And if that was not enough... I had been planning to propose to her on my birthday too, since the day I took permission for the proposal from her parents.
Not fair. This should not have been a coincidence like that.
I dropped to her level, the cold floor biting into my trousers, but I didn’t care.
To the world, I was a powerful man. To her, I was always just a powerless lover.
“Yes, my Ms. Aridhi Agarwal.” I wiped her tears, through which she smiled. “I would like to honour myself to be at your mercy, till eternity.”
Her arms circled around my neck, her happiness palpable. My hands found her waist, tears escaping freely.
“Ardhangini, will you give me the honour, this absolute privilege to marry you? To be able to stand by you as your equal or below, to be worthy of your name attached with mine, to spend my remaining life and the forever with you as your devoted husband—Mr. Ruvit Aridhi Rathore, will you, please, become my eternal devotion? Will you please make me yours, officially and spiritually?”
She stared at me, her eyes glinting with the love she just proposed. Then her lips twitched into a small smile.
“Obviously.” Hugging me once again, she mumbled, her tears now flowing endlessly, staining my shirt. And the way she looked at me, half amused, half overwhelmed, was better than any birthday gift I could ever receive.
~·~
I have lost all the motivation by seeing the number. of views and comments on the previous chapter.
But I cannot be unfair to my babies because of that. ??
I have written this chapter with every ounce of love and pain of being single within me. ??
See, I will upload the next chapter on the basis of your comments. So, please drop your beauty. ?