A/N - A long chapter for you guys after a long time!! Enjoyy and don't forget to vote!! 🌸✨
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Talab hai tu, tu hai nasha,
Ghulam hai dil ye tera,
Khulke zara jee loon tujhe,
Aaja meri saanson mein aa,
Mareez-e-Ishq hoon, main kar de dawa,
Haath rakh de tu dil pe zara,
O o...haath rakh de tu dil pe zara 💌✨
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It was sunday, and the Malhotra mansion was bathed in the warm glow of a lazy afternoon. The silence was almost palpable, with everyone indulging in some much-needed rest.
But vivaan was an exception. His laptop was kept on his bed, casting a faint glow on his face as he stared blankly at the screen. He was supposed to be completing some pending work of his office, but his mind was a thousand miles away- or rather, stuck on Aashvika.
He couldn't shake off the memory of their meeting, the way she looked at him, her voice ringing in his ears. The way her cheeks flushed pink whenever she caught him staring at her had sent his heart racing.
With a swift motion, vivaan stood up from his bed, his movements abrupt as he started pacing around the room. "Seriously, vivaan? What's happening to you?" he muttered to himself, trying to grasp the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside him.
"Why does my heart do this thing every time i think of her?" He frowned, as he tried to get to know the reason of his heart beating at double the speed. He looked towards his mirror, catching his reflection, and his eyes widened as he noticed his cheeks getting warmer and redder.
"What the fuck?" That was the first thought that crossed his mind. "Why am i turning red?" He muttered, fanning himself, his eyes scanning his reflection in the mirror. His face felt like it was on fire, and he couldn't shake off the feeling.
After a moment, he walked back to his laptop and opened Google, his fingers typing out the question that was driving him crazy:
"Why am I thinking about someone and my face is becoming red?"
He held his breath as he waited for the result, his heart racing with anticipation.
The moment the results came, his jaw dropped, and his eyes widened. The top result read: "Thinking about someone constantly while experiencing facial redness (blushing) is a common, involuntary physical reaction to strong emotional arousal, romantic attraction, or social anxiety. When you think about this person, your brain perceives a high-stakes emotional situation, triggering a surge of adrenaline that causes the blood vessels in your face to widen (dilate), resulting in a warm, red flush."
Vivaan's eyes scanned the paragraph, his mind racing to process the information. He read it again and again, his eyes drawn to the words "blushing", "emotional arousal", and "romantic attraction". "WHAT?" He exclaimed loudly, his voice echoing in the room.
He looked up, staring at his reflection in the mirror, and as the reality sank in, he could feel his cheeks getting even warmer. As the panic set in him, he started pacing around the room, his mind in turmoil. "No! No! I can't be attracted to someone! That's literally bullshit!" He muttered under his breath, trying to shake off the feeling.
"Bhai main pagal ho raha hoon! Main pagal ho raha hoon!" He muttered once again. Feeling like he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown, his gaze fell on the jug of water near his bed. He picked it up, a plan forming in his mind. "It's simple! If i don't feel cold even after pouring this cold water on myself, then i'm definitely going crazy!" He muttered, and without hesitation, he poured the cold water over his head.
The reaction was instant.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" He screamed, jumping up as the cold water hit him, sending droplets flying everywhere. But before he could process anything, he heard clapping from behind. He froze, his eyes widening as he slowly turned around. There were Vedansh, clapping with a wide grin, Atharv with his jaw dropped, and Sahil frowning, trying to make sense of the situation.
Vivaan's face turned even redder with embarrassment as he looked away, muttering, "Ho gaya satyanash!" Atharv approached him, touching his forehead to check his temperature, while Vedansh continued clapping.
"Tu pagal hogya hai kya?" Atharv asked, his eyes wide with concern.
"Ha..ha...nahi toh..hahahaha!" Vivaan replied, faking a laugh as he tried to conceal his embarrassment.
Vedansh and sahil burst out laughing at vivaan's fake laughter, with sahil falling onto the bed, holding his stomach. Vedansh walked over to vivaan and spoke with a teasing tone, "Tu sach mein pagal lag raha hai! Chal tujhe Agra le chalein!"
Vivaan yanked his arm back, trying to hide his embarrassment. "Hatt!" he yelled, his face still burning with embarrassment.
"Pehle tu yeh bata! December ki thand mein tujhe kya shauk chadha hai thande pani se nahane ka?" Vedansh asked while laughing, making sahil laugh even harder. Atharv struggled to stifle a laugh, his eyes shining with amusement.
Vivaan stood there, dripping wet, as he awkwardly tried to compose himself. "Kuch nahi!" he muttered, ruffling his hair, sending water droplets scattering everywhere.
Sahil, who was still chuckling, asked, "Arrey! Humein kyun nehla rahe ho bhai?"
Vivaan's face turned bright red as he stammered, "So..sorry...but why did you guys come here?"
Vedansh grinned mischievously at vivaan's question and spoke, "Tujhe ek announcement dene!" His grin deepened, making vivaan frown.
"Kya?" Vivaan asked, his curiosity piqued.
Vedansh's eyes sparkled as he spoke, "We were downstairs and divya aunty told us something.." He paused, leaving vivaan hanging.
Atharv, who was enjoying the show, placed a hand on vivaan's shoulder and spoke with a grin, "Tujhe Aashvika ke saath shopping par jaana hai!"
Vivaan's reaction was priceless.
His mouth fell open, and his eyes widened in horror.
He looked as if his soul had just left his body.
Atharv, Vedansh, and Sahil couldn't help but scrunch up their noses at vivaan's reaction. They shook their heads and walked away, leaving the lifeless vivaan all alone in his room.
For a whole two minutes, vivaan stood there, frozen. Then, finally, he came to his senses.
He calmly went to the shower. As the warm water hit his body, he finally relaxed. He exhaled a deep breath as thousands of thoughts crossed his mind. Finally, slipping out of the shower, he wore a crisp white shirt and beige pants. The shirt fit him tightly, accentuating his biceps and chest. He combed his hair, taking in his reflection.
Taking a deep breath, he walked out of his room, ready to start his day.
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Abhimanyu walked into aashvika's room, a spring in his step, ready to wake his sister up from her deep slumber. He opened the door, and his eyes landed on aashvika, who was sleeping like a baby.
Aashvika's mouth was slightly open, and soft snores escaped her lips, making her look even more adorable.
Abhimanyu had initially planned to gently wake her up and inform her that vivaan was coming to pick her up for their shopping trip. But a mischievous thought suddenly crossed his mind, and his lips curved into a grin.
Instead of waking her up, abhimanyu slowly and quietly closed the door behind him, his eyes fixed on aashvika's peaceful face. He stood there, enjoying the moment, knowing that he was about to stir up a bit of trouble. Aashvika, oblivious to the impending chaos, continued to sleep peacefully, her chest rising and falling with each gentle breath.
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After a whole 40 minutes of drive, vivaan finally reached aashvika's home. He exhaled as he slowly stepped out of his car, his heart racing with excitement. The warm sun was shining bright, casting a golden glow over the entire scene. He turned back to the car, peeking at the two men who were forcefully seated in his car, their faces still grumpy from the sudden kidnapping.
"Biwi teri hone wali hai toh humein kyun le ke aaya hai??" Vedansh asked while being annoyed, his arms crossed over his chest, looking like a petulant child.
"Acha khasa ghar par so raha hota main lekin sunday wale din bhi shaanti nahi hai!!" Sahil spoke while rubbing a hand across his face, looking tired, his eyes squinting from the bright sunlight.
Vivaan just stared at the both of them with a wide grin, enjoying their misery. He had forcefully kidnapped the two men who were refusing him, but vivaan wasn't the one to back down. He was determined to have his way.
"Aur banao mera mazak! Ab chalo shaanti se!" Vivaan spoke, his eyes sparkling with amusement, his voice dripping with confidence.
Both the boys sighed and stepped out of the car, their faces still grumpy, but they knew better than to argue with vivaan when he was in this mood. They walked towards the main door as vivaan pressed the door bell.
The bell rang as aashvika stirred in her sleep, groggily waking up without sparing a glance at her surroundings.
She walked outside and went towards the living room to see her mother not being at home, her eyes were half-closed. "Abhimanyu? Open the door!" She lazily yelled, expecting her brother to answer, her voice echoing through the hallway.
"Di main washroom mein hoon!" Abhimanyu's voice echoed from inside, making aashvika sigh and walk towards the door, her footsteps light on the floor.
She opened the door and to her shock, Vivaan, Sahil, and Vedansh were standing right in front of her.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!" A loud scream cut through the silence, making aashvika flinch, her eyes widening in shock. The three men who were patiently waiting at the door, were suddenly running away at full speed, as if their lives depended on it.
Aashvika stood frozen, her body stiff, as the cold air hit her, but it didn't seem to loosen up the shock that she had just gotten as soon as the three men were running away from her, leaving her confused and stunned.
Meanwhile, Vivaan, Sahil, and Vedansh ran with all their power, not daring to look back, their faces etched with fear and panic. "Bhai..bhai...yeh subah subah kya dekh liye..." Vedansh spoke, his voice breathless, as he tried to keep up with the others.
Sahil shook his head, his eyes wide with fear, as he spoke, "Mujhe toh daravne sapne aane wale hain." Vivaan, on the other hand, just kept silent, his face set in a grim expression, as he tried to process the whole situation, his mind racing with thoughts.
And then, it hit him, his eyes widening in horror, "Shit! Vo kya soch rahi hogi!" He muttered, his voice barely audible, making the two other men stop as they stared at him, their faces pale.
Vedansh's eyes widened in understanding, as he spoke, "Bhaag isse pehle bhabhi rishta hi tod de!!" He yelled, and started running, the other two men following close behind.
They did a full circle, trying to calm themselves down, and finally stopped when they reached aashvika's colony. They fixed their clothes, trying to compose themselves, as they slowly walked back to her house, their faces sheepish.
As they approached the door, they saw aashvika still standing there, frozen, her eyes wide with shock, her face pale. They slowly walked back, trying to control themselves, their eyes avoiding hers, as they tried to think of an explanation for their sudden and hilarious exit.
Aashvika stared at them, finally coming out of her trance as her eyes blinking in confusion. They all stood at the entrance without making a move . They all still looked like they had seen a ghost. Vivaan's eyes were fixed on aashvika.
"Yeh..yeh kya tha aur hua kya hai..?" Aashvika asked while being confused, her voice trembling slightly, her hands fidgeting with the door handle.
Vedansh slowly took out his phone and clicked a photo of her, making her confusion deepen. Sahil tried to stifle a laugh while Vivaan? The poor boy looked like he had been traumatized.
Vedansh with a grin slowly showed the photo to aashvika as her eyes widened. Her jaw dropped while she tried to process what she had just seen.
Her hair were dishieveled. Her eyes were painted with a bright green eyeshadow. Her eyeliner was long enough to reach her hairs. Her lips were covered in bright red lipstick while her cheeks were covered in pink blush.
As soon as vedansh saw her reaction, he burst out laughing. Sahil and Vivaan not being able to control themselves also started laughing, their laughter echoing through the hallway.
Aashvika stood there frozen, her face turning bright red with anger. But as soon as she came in her senses, she immediately started fuming with anger, "ABHIMANYU KUTTE KAHIN KE BAHAR NIKAL!!" She yelled and ran inside without caring about the three men who were stunned hearing her scream.
"Bh..bhai...yeh wahi aashvika hai na..?" Vedansh asked while gulping, his eyes wide with shock, his laughter dying down.
Vivaan also gulped, not knowing what to say, his eyes still fixed on the door where aashvika had disappeared.
Aashvika immediately ran to the bathroom as she loudly banged at the door. "KUTTE HUM TUJHE KACCHA CHABA JAAYENGE BAHAR NIKAL!!! TERI HIMMAT KAISE HUI SHUTURMURG KAHIN KE!!!" She yelled while abhimanyu just tried to stifle his laughter while holding the door's handle, his eyes shining with amusement.
But due to him not being able to control his laughter, he burst out laughing and left the door handle.
Mistake. BIG MISTAKE.
Aashvika immediately barged inside the washroom as abhimanyu backed away, his eyes wide with fear, his laughter dying down.
Here, the three men who were left standing at the door, stared at each other, stunned. "What should we do now?" Sahil asked while staring at vivaan and vedansh, his voice low.
"Arrey andar chal! WWE ho raha hai andar, maje lenge!" Vedansh spoke with a grin, his eyes sparkling with excitement, his laughter returning.
Without caring about anyone's response, he held vivaan and sahil's wrist and dragged them inside with himself.
As soon as they went inside, they saw aashvika holding the back of abhimanyu's head and ducking him in the water tub.
ONCE. TWICE. THRICE.
"Tere fufa ne tujhe vo make-up dilaya tha jo mere chehre par paint kar raha tha!!" Aashvika yelled furiously, her voice echoing in the room, her anger boiling over.
"Arrey didi baal chhodo!! Ganja kar dogi kya mujhe??" Abhimanyu yelled while trying to save himself, his voice muffled by the water.
Vivaan gulped while vedansh recorded the whole scene, his grin growing wider, his eyes shining with amusement.
Vivaan immediately scowled at vedansh as he kept the phone down. "Good luck for your future bhai!" Sahil spoke making vedansh stifle his laughter, his eyes sparkling with mirth.
"Teri shaadi ladki se nahi, bahubali se ho rahi hai, bach ke rehna." Vedansh spoke with amuse themselves.
Hearing the faint murmurs, aashvika looked up and saw the three boys staring at her. Her eyes widened as she immediately left abhimanyu, her face still red with anger.
Abhimanyu slowly composed himself as he came out of the bathroom, his hair dripping wet, his steps wobbly. He saw vivaan staring at him with a stunned expression.
Abhimanyu slowly pushed out his hand for a handshake, the water droplets from his hair dropped on vivaan's hand as a shiver ran down his spine, it was like a reminder to him about the chaos that had unfolded, "He..hello jiju.." He spoke while vivaan just shook his hand with a nod, his eyes never being once on abhimanyu. His eyes were just on aashvika.
Aashvika immediately straightened up and ran upstairs, towards her room while screaming, "Mummmyyyyyyy!!!!" Locking the door, aashvika climbed the bed and pressed her face against the pillow.
"Humein maar daalo kanha ji! Isse bura aur kya hi ho sakta hai humari zindagi mein!" She spoke while crying out loud, her voice muffled by the pillow, her body shaking with sobs.
Here outside, abhimanyu led Vivaan, Vedansh, and Sahil to the living room, the warm sunlight streaming through the windows casting a cozy glow over the space. Abhimanyu served them snacks and drinks, his movements efficient as he gestured for them to make themselves at home. "This wasn't needed. Aao tum bhi baitho," Vivaan spoke, his voice friendly, making abhimanyu nod as he sat in the opposite direction, the cushions of the sofa creaking softly beneath him. They all started chatting, their conversation flowing easily as they settled into the comfortable atmosphere.
Aashvika slowly twisted the door knob, her eyes scanning the hallway as she peeked outside. Seeing no one being present, she slowly tip-toed towards the washroom, her face still indulged in Abhimanyu's masterpiece, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
As she reached the living room, vivaan's gaze fell on her, his eyes locking onto her as she "secretly" tip-toed towards the washroom.
Or so she thought.
Vedansh catching aashvika's glimpse, snickered and opened his mouth to say something but before he could even utter a word, vivaan grabbed a handful of chips and stuffed it in his mouth. Vedansh immediately looked at him bewildered as he choked on his chips. "Kya hai? Maar daalega kya??" He yelled, his tone muffled, his face turning red.
"Shhh, faltu mein usse embarrass mat kar!" Vivaan whispered in his ears making vedansh grin, his eyes glancing towards aashvika, who was now oblivious to the exchange.
Meanwhile, abhimanyu was seated in front of them, just staring at them awkwardly, his mind racing with thoughts. "Is didi sure, unka hone wala pati gay nahi hai?" Abhimanyu thought and looked away, a mixture of confusion and curiosity on his face.
Aashvika somehow reached the washroom and immediately bolted inside, making sure to lock the door behind her, her heart still racing from the close call. She stared at herself in the mirror, as she silently cried, her face still bearing the remnants of Abhimanyu's makeup.
She opened the tap to wash her face but to her luck, only a single drop of water came out. Her eyes widened as she hit the tap 3-4 times but nothing came out of it, her frustration growing with each passing moment. She looked at herself, feeling defeated, and realized she only had one choice.
Go outside and ask for help from her bestfriend rushika, who's house was in a distance of 20 minutes from her home.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, her hands shaking slightly as she reached for the door handle. She was almost at the verge of crying from frustration. She slowly stepped out, staring at the floor, not being able to meet anyone's gaze, her hair falling like a curtain around her face.
Abhimanyu noticed her and spoke, "Where are you going?" He asked, catching everyone's attention as they all looked at Aashvika, their faces etched with curiosity. Aashvika slowly spoke, her voice low, "Paani nahi aa raha hai...jaa rahe hain rushika se help lene." her words barely above a whisper as she dragged herself towards the door, her eyes fixed on the exit.
Vivaan, noticing her discomfort, immediately stood up from his place, his eyes locked onto aashvika's as he took a step forward. Vedansh noticed him and spoke, "Kahaan chali sawari?" He asked, a hint of mischief in his tone, his eyebrows raised in amusement. Vivaan just ignored him and followed aashvika, his long strides quickly closing the distance between them, yet maintaing a safe distance from her.
As soon as aashvika stepped out of the house, vivaan called her from behind, "Aashvika wait!" He spoke, his voice gentle, making aashvika halt. But she didn't have the courage to look at him, not with this face, her eyes fixed on the ground.
"K..kya hua?" She asked, her voice barely over a whisper.
Vivaan stopped as he tried to think of something, but as soon as he heard her voice, he got tongue-tied, his mind going blank. "Vo..vo...main..main tumhe drop kar deta hoon..rushika ke ghar..." He spoke, his voice almost pleading, his words tumbling out in a rush.
Aashvika immediately shook her head and spoke, "It's fine, hum chale jaayenge," her eyes still fixed on the ground, her voice firm but laced with embarrassment. She tried to reassure him, but vivaan wasn't the one to back off so easily.
"I insist." He spoke, his words short yet they carried a weight with themselves.
Aashvika thought for a moment and then sighed, her shoulders sagging in defeat. "Hmm..o-okay." She spoke, her voice barely above a whisper, as vivaan smiled.
She walked towards the car, her movements stiff. She was about to sit in the backseat, but vivaan immediately stopped her, his hand on the door handle. "Wait," He spoke, his voice gentle, as he opened the passenger seat's door for her. "This is your place," He spoke, his eyes meeting hers, making aashvika's heart skip a beat.
Aashvika gulped as she immediately looked at him, her eyes locking onto his, and for a moment, everything stopped. She forgot everything, she forgot her surroundings, she forgot her own condition. But vivaan, he was in his senses. He knew aashvika wouldn't love to be seen by anyone in this condition, as he slowly gestured towards the seat, making aashvika come out of her trance.
She passed him a faint smile and looked down as she settled herself, her hands fidgeting with her clothes. Vivaan slowly closed the door of the car and walked from the front, his gaze never leaving aashvika's face as he settled himself in the driver's seat, his movements smooth and confident.
"So.. where is rushika's home?" Vivaan asked, breaking the silence, his voice gentle, as aashvika told him the address, her voice barely above a whisper. Vivaan nodded and drove off, the car gliding smoothly onto the road, the only sound the soft hum of the engine.
The drive was silent, but a comfortable silence had enveloped both of them, the only sound was the soft hum of the engine and the occasional chirp of a bird outside. Their hearts were beating rapidly inside their chests while they were trying their best to not look at each other, the tension between them palpable.
Aashvika, not wanting vivaan to see her in this condition anymore, was just staring outside of the window, her eyes fixed on the passing scenery.
As they reached rushika's home, aashvika frowned, her eyes narrowing as she took in the crowd of people standing in front of rushika's home. "Inhe bhi abhi yahaan marna tha?" She mumbled under her breath, her voice barely audible, but vivaan being the observant he was, he heard it. He looked over at aashvika and saw her staring at the crowd of people with hesitation, her eyes filled with anxiety.
Realising her discomfort, he roared the engine and started his car before aashvika could get off, the sudden movement making her look at him in surprise. Aashvika frowned as she looked at vivaan, but then immediately looked down, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
"Where are we going..?" Aashvika asked, hesitation evident in her tone as she tightly clutched her pyjamas, her voice trembling slightly.
Vivaan noticed her nervousness and spoke, "Aapka chehra dhulvane." He spoke, his tone teasing as he tried to hold back a chuckle, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Aashvika embarrassed at his words, looked outside the window, her cheeks turning red, her face burning with embarrassment.
A few moments later, aashvika felt the car slow down and finally come to a halt. She glanced up from her lap, only to see vivaan parking right in front of a restaurant.
But not just any restaurant.
This one loomed over the street like it owned it- towering glass walls, warm golden light spilling out onto the pavement, valets in crisp uniforms, and the kind of cars lined up outside that she'd only seen in magazines. The kind of place where a single plate probably cost more than her entire month's salary.
Aashvika's throat went dry. She turned to vivaan, confusion knitting her brows. Before she could ask, he was already stepping out, his movements calm, unhurried. He rounded the car with that same quiet composure and opened her door.
She stepped out hesitantly. "Why..are we here?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes were still fixed on the restaurant, trying to absorb everything at once - the sheer size of the walls, the floor-to-ceiling windows that gave glimpses of chandeliers inside, the soft hum of lively chatter and clinking cutlery drifting out every time the doors opened.
Vivaan didn't answer her question directly. He just looked at her for a second, then said, "Andar chaliye, pata chal jaayega."
His tone left no room for argument. Not harsh, just certain.
They started walking toward the entrance, Vivaan deliberately a step behind her. Aashvika was so lost in the sheer scale of the place, in her thoughts, she didn't even notice how naturally she obeyed. She just walked ahead, her slippers clicking against the marble, while his presence stayed steady at her back.
It was only when they reached the tall, polished doors that it hit her.
Silence.
The lively chatter dulled for a second. Heads turned. Eyes- dozens of them- landed on her, staring at her intensely.
But were they really staring at her only?
The moment aashvika realized every eye in the restaurant was on her, heat rushed to her cheeks. Instinctively, she ducked her head and let her hair fall forward, trying to disappear behind the thin curtain of it. In her mind, she was already cussing her luck.
Before the panic could settle, before she could even open her mouth to question what vivaan was doing, he moved.
One long stride and he was in front of her. Just like that, her 5'6 frame vanished behind the solid wall of his 6'1. His shoulders blocked the chandeliers, the stares, the entire room. Aashvika blinked up at him, but the man she saw wasn't the one who'd washed her face with his own hands minutes ago.
This vivaan was different.
Jaw set, eyes cold, expression carved out of stone. Stern. Poised. Unreadable. Not a flicker of the softness she'd seen earlier. For one terrifying second, aashvika felt like she was staring at a complete stranger.
"Eyes shut."
Two words. One sentence. His tone- low, clipped, absolute. Not loud, but it cut through the restaurant's hum like a blade.
And then it happened.
Like a wave, his command rippled through the room. The guests at their tables, waiters mid-step with trays, bartenders behind the counter, even the manager standing dead center with a tablet in hand- all of them shut their eyes. No questions. No whispers. Nothing.
The restaurant froze. Utterly.
No clinking cutlery. No rustle of clothes. No shift of chairs. It was as if someone had pressed a universal pause button and the world obeyed. Only the faint instrumental music continued, suddenly feeling too loud in the unnatural stillness.
Aashvika's breath hitched. Her heart hammered against her ribs.
"Chaliye."
His voice now- soft. Gentle. A complete contrast to the steel from seconds ago. So different that for a moment she wondered if she'd imagined the first command.
He started walking. Each step of his polished shoes echoed against the marble floor, deliberate and unhurried. The sound bounced off the tall walls, making the silence feel heavier.
Aashvika followed, her steps nothing like his. Hesitant. Slow. Her sandals made the faintest sound as she trailed behind him, confusion twisting tighter in her chest with every step.
She looked around as they passed the frozen scene- a woman with her wine glass lifted halfway, a waiter balancing a tray. All of them statue-still, eyes squeezed shut.
"What is happening?" The thought screamed in her head, but her lips wouldn't move.
All she could do was keep walking, her eyes darting from one frozen face to another, while vivaan led her through the silent, sightless crowd like he owned every inch of it.
The entire hall had gone still. Completely, unnaturally still.
No one moved. No one whispered. No one even shifted their weight.
It was as if the world had forgotten how to exhale. As if everyone in this grand, chandelier-lit hall had turned to statues and vivaan held the only remote.
Aashvika was so lost in the storm inside her head that she didn't realize the steady echo of his footsteps had stopped.
She walked right into him.
The collision was solid, her forehead bumping against the hard plane of his back, her nose catching the faint scent of his cologne mixed with something sharper, like rain and iron. She gasped and stumbled back, arms flailing for a split second before instinct took over. Her eyes slammed shut and she braced herself, waiting for the cold, humiliating smack of marble against her palms and knees.
One second. Two second.
Nothing.
No pain. No impact. No sound except the distant, tiny music still playing like it didn't know the world had paused.
Slowly, cautiously, she peeled her eyes open.
And there he was. VIVAAN.
His hand was wrapped around her wrist. His fingers were long, calloused at the tips but his grip was measured. Firm enough that she knew she wouldn't fall, gentle enough so that it didn't hurt. Just...holding. Steadying. Anchoring her to the ground when everything else felt like it was spinning.
The warmth of his skin against hers sent a jolt straight up her arm. Her heartbeat, already frantic, kicked into a gallop. She could feel it in her throat, in her ears. Heat crawled up her neck and spilled across her cheeks before she could command it not to.
Her eyes went wide. Her lips parted as if she needed to say something. Her mouth formed the shapes, but her throat had closed up. No sound came out. Nothing but a shaky inhale.
And then the memory slammed into her, so vivid she almost swayed again.
This. This exact thing.
A stumble. His hand at her wrist. Her heart in her throat. Her eyes flying up to meet his.
Their first meeting, her falling from the building, him saving her, holding her hands just like this.
But at that time, they were strangers.
Now?
Now they were soon to be a married couple.
The thought was too big, too terrifying, and she couldn't hold it. Her gaze lifted before she could stop it and crashed straight into his.
His honey-brown orbs, like sunlight caught in whiskey. Right now they weren't cold like they'd been at the door. They weren't those eyes that had shut an entire room.
They were deep. Unblinking. Focused on her with an intensity that made her lungs forget how to work. She felt herself drowning. Actually drowning, like the floor had tilted and she was sliding into those eyes with no way to stop.
She exhaled- a sharp, broken sound and ripped her gaze away. It was self-preservation. She had to look away or she'd say something stupid, or worse, she'd start crying for no reason she could name.
She looked around instead. The hall was exactly the same. A woman with diamonds at her throat, eyes shut, wine frozen in her glass. No one moved. No one dared.
Before she could process that, before she could even form the question how, his fingers flexed around her wrist.
And he pulled.
It wasn't rough, but it was sudden. Unexpected. Aashvika gasped, the sound embarrassingly loud in the tomb-like silence and her feet betrayed her. They stumbled forward, carrying her right into him.
She hit his chest with a soft thud.
Solid. Broad. Warm. The kind of solid that didn't give away. Her palms flew up on instinct and landed against his chest, right over his heart. His cologne was stronger here.
Vivaan's back hit the edge of the washbasin behind him. The marble made a dull sound against him. It had to be cold, had to hurt, but he didn't even twitch. Didn't make a sound.
Her eyes blew wide. This was... this was nothing. No space. No air. No room for thoughts. Inches, maybe less. She could count his eyelashes if she wanted. Could see the faint shadow of stubble along his jaw. Could feel his breath when it left him- warm, uneven, brushing across her forehead and making her shiver.
Vivaan stared down at her. And for the first time since she'd met him, he looked... stunned. Genuinely, completely stunned. Like he hadn't expected this either. Like his own body had moved without his permission. His lips were parted slightly. When he exhaled, it wasn't steady or controlled. It was shaky. Broken at the edges.
He didn't look like THE VIVAAN MALHOTRA right now.
He didn't look like the man who could silence a room with two words.
He just looked like a man. A man looking at a woman like she'd just rewired his brain.
Aashvika couldn't breathe. Her breath had hitched somewhere between her ribs and her throat and gotten stuck there. The only thing that existed was the feel of his chest under her palms, the rapid beat of his heart, and the way his eyes were searching hers for something she didn't know how to give.
She gulped. The sound was audible even to her own ears. Then, like her body finally remembered how to function, she took a slow, deliberate step back. Her hands slid off his chest and she let them fall to her sides. Her eyes dropped to the floor- to his shoes, to the marble, anywhere but his face. Because if she looked again, she doesn't know what she would do.
Vivaan cleared his throat. The sound was rough. Scraping. Almost like he'd swallowed glass. He pushed himself off the washbasin and took a step to the side, putting a careful, deliberate distance between them. Like he was scared of what would happen if he didn't.
"Wa..wash your face."
His voice cracked on the first word. It was thicker than before. Hoarser. This was something new. Something unsteady.
Aashvika didn't trust her own voice, so she just nodded. She turned toward the washbasin on legs that felt like they belonged to someone else. Her fingers trembled as she reached for the tap. The metal was cold. She twisted it and water came rushing out, clear and loud in the silence.
She dipped her hands in and winced.
The water was ice-cold and it hit a raw spot on her skin she hadn't realized was there until that second.
The sharp hiss of her breath was barely audible.
Vivaan's head snapped towards her immediately. His eyes, which had been carefully fixed somewhere past her shoulder, locked onto her face.
"What happened?"
His voice was low, but the concern bled through despite how hard he tried to keep it even.
Aashvika flinched at being caught. She shook her head quickly, trying to play it off, and curled her fingers tighter under the stream. The cold bit into her skin again, making her wince harder, but she stubbornly pushed her hands forward.
"Nothing..," she replied, her voice barely a mumble. She didn't look at him, she couldn't. Not after that.
She tried to dip her fingers in the running water once again, bracing herself for the sting this time. But before the water could touch her skin, his shadow fell over her.
Vivaan had already figured it out. His eyes flicked from her scrunched expression to the tap, to the way her fingers hovered and retreated. Cold. The water was too cold.
He glanced around the empty, silent hall. Every staff member still stood statue, eyes shut.
Then he looked back at her.
"Wait here." It wasn't a request. It was a quiet order, but the kind that came wrapped in concern. Before she could ask why or where, he turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing against the marble in measured, unhurried beats.
Aashvika was left confused, her hands still dripping over the basin. She blinked, then glanced back over her shoulder.
Vivaan was at the doorway, speaking in a low voice with the manager. The man's eyes were still squeezed shut, his head bowed, nodding rapidly at whatever vivaan was saying. The scene was absurd. A frozen restaurant, a man giving orders to a man who wouldn't even look at him.
She turned back to the mirror in front of her.
And there she was.
With the make-up on her face, she looked out of place. Like a smear of reality in this place made of gold and crystal. She scrunched up her nose in disgust at her reflection, at how wrong she looked here.
After a few moments, vivaan was walking back toward her. But he wasn't empty-handed.
In one hand, he carried a small steel bowl of lukewarm water. In the other, a bottle of facewash.
Aashvika stared at the bowl of lukewarm water. She didn't have the courage to look him in the eyes. Not yet. Her gaze stayed fixed on the water, on his hands holding it so carefully, like it was something precious.
"What is this?" she asked, her voice softer than she intended.
Vivaan's lips curved. Not his stern, professional line. Not the ghost of a smirk. A real smile. Small, warm, and just for her.
"Lukewarm water," he replied.
Two words. Simple. But they hit her harder than she could imagine.
Aashvika's eyes softened before she could stop them. The knot in her chest loosened, just a fraction. The makeup on her face, her looking out of place- none of it mattered for a second. Because he'd noticed. Because he'd walked away and come back with water in a bowl just so the water wouldn't hurt her.
A soft smile played on her lips, unbidden and unstoppable. She ducked her head and looked away to the washbasin, pretending to be interested in the marble edge.
"Thank..thank you.." she spoke, the words tripping over themselves. Her voice was thick, too thick for just water.
She didn't see it, but she felt it- the way his smile deepened when she said it. The way the air between them shifted, became warmer than the steam in his hands.
Vivaan smiled, genuinely smiled.
"Take the facewash and wash your face, i will pour the water for you," He said, his voice gentle, as aashvika looked at the washbasin, her heart racing with emotions.
Her heart beat immediately started racing as she gulped. "Lekin iski kya zaroorat thi-"
"You were hesitant." That's it, only three words and aashvika felt like she was going to burst with gratitude. She hadn't even spit out a single word yet he had uncovered the truth about her. It was as if he knew how to peel the layers that aashvika had built around herself without even her saying anything, his eyes seeing right through her facade.
Aashvika's heart swelled with emotion as she slowly grabbed the face wash, her fingers brushing against vivaan's, sending a spark of electricity through both of them. The spark was palpable, and aashvika felt like she was standing on the edge of a cliff, her heart racing with anticipation.
A shiver ran down both their spines, and their faces immediately turned, their cheeks flushing with embarrassment. They stood there for a moment, frozen in time.
Taking a deep breath, aashvika slowly poured the face wash in her hand, the cool gel a soothing balm to her skin. She started washing her face, her movements initially harsh and jerky, as if she was trying to scrub away the embarrassment.
Vivaan stared at her, his eyes locked onto her face, as she harshly scrubbed her face, wanting to get that horrible make-up off of her face quickly. His eyes softened, and he spoke gently, "Calm down, no one is looking except me, do it gently," his voice a gentle whisper in the silence.
Aashvika stopped, her eyes locking onto his, and for a moment, they just stared at each other, the world around them melting away. She felt a sense of calm wash over her, and she slowly started washing her face again, this time with gentle, soothing strokes. Vivaan stared at her as he slowly poured the hot water in her hands, his eyes never leaving her face.
Rinsing her face, aashvika slowly wiped the water droplets with her hands, but vivaan immediately passed her his handkerchief, a soft smile on his face. Aashvika slowly took it while mumbling a thank you to him as vivaan smiled, his eyes curling at the corners.
When they both turned around, the sight hit aashvika all over again.
The entire hall was frozen. Completely. Every single person had their eyes shut tight.
The silence was unnatural. Heavy. The only sound was the soft instrumental track still playing, suddenly too loud in the absence of voices.
Vivaan exhaled through his nose, almost impatient, and spoke. No shout, no theatrics. Just that same low, commanding tone that seemed to bend the air.
"Open your eyes."
It was like someone hit play.
Eyelids flew open across the room. Forks resumed their path to mouths. The waiter's tray steadied. The pianist's fingers found the keys and music swelled back to normal volume. Conversations picked up mid-word like the pause had never happened. Laughter, clinking cutlery, the hum of money and luxury- all of it flooded back in.
Aashvika could only stare. Her throat felt dry. "What... how... what just happened?" Her brain was lagging three steps behind reality.
The click of polished shoes against marble pulled her out of it. The manager was striding toward them, his expression smooth and practiced. He stopped a respectful few feet away and inclined his head.
"Good afternoon sir, it is good to see you here."
The deference in his voice, the way his shoulders were slightly bowed - it made Aashvika's frown deepen.
Vivaan didn't even blink. He caught Aashvika's confusion in one glanc - the furrow in her brow, the way her lips parted like she was about to demand answers- and cut it off before it could start.
"Just had some work here, we will leave now."
His tone was flat. Final. Not rude, just done.
The manager nodded immediately, all efficiency. "Of course, sir. Please let us know if you need anything."
Vivaan turned on his heel and started for the exit, not waiting for a response. Aashvika scrambled to follow, but her steps were small, hesitant. Her slippers made the faintest taps against the marble while her mind ran a marathon. The obedience. The "sir". The way hundreds of people had just stopped and started because he said so.
She was so lost in it that she almost bumped into a pillar.
Vivaan noticed. Obviously he noticed. He always noticed.
He slowed his stride until she was beside him, then bent down slightly. Close enough that the scent of him- clean, sharp, familiar now- wrapped around her. His voice, when it came, was nothing like the one he'd used on the room. It was soft. Private. Almost amused.
"I'm the owner of this restaurant."
He straightened before she could even process the words, hands sliding into his pockets as he kept walking. Casual. Like he'd just told her the weather and not detonated a grenade in her chest.
Aashvika's feet rooted to the spot.
Her eyes went wide. Actually, truly wide, like she'd been physically struck. She looked at the building behind her- the towering glass walls, the golden logo embossed above the entrance, the fleet of luxury cars being handled by valets. Then her head snapped to vivaan's back as he walked toward the door. Then back at the restaurant. Then at vivaan again.
Her brain buffered. Crashed. Rebooted.
And failed.
"What the fuck?"
______________________________________
Thank you for reading 😊💗
Bhaiiiiii imagine getting embarrassed like that infront of your soon-to-be husband, main toh dharti mein sama jaati😭🙏🏻
AHHHHHHH I LOVE THE TENSION BETWEEN BOTH OF THEM????? 👁️👄👁️
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