Happy reading guys💗________________________________________________________________________
"Uski nazar, Palko ki chilman se mujhe dekhti.
Uski nazar, Uski haya,
Apni hi chahat ka raaz kholti, Uski haya.
Chhup ke kare jo wafa, Aisa mera yaar hai.
Pehla pehla pyar hai, Pehli pehlee bar hai" 💌✨
________________________________________________________________________
The drive back to the home of aashvika and vivaan was silent yet comfortable, the tension between them dissipating with each passing moment.
As aashvika and vivaan stepped back into the house, they saw vedansh and sahil in their living room, their mouth stuffed with food, their eyes wide with amusement.
"Yeh bhukkad kahin ke, kahi bhi meri izzat nahi rakh sakte hain." Vivaan mumbled under his breath, his voice laced with amusement and exasperation, but aashvika heard it, her ears picking up the whispered words as she walked towards the room. She chuckled at his words, a soft smile playing on her lips, and walked inside her room.
Vedansh stared at the face wash and water bottles which were in vivaan's hand, his eyes narrowing in confusion as he asked, "Yeh kis liye?" His voice was curious, and he looked at vivaan like he was expecting a logical explanation.
Vivaan stared at him with a mocking expression, a mischievous glance in his eyes, and spoke, "Tere liye, apna dimag dhul le isse!" He spoke, his tone dripping with sarcasm, making sahil and abhimanyu chuckle, their laughter infectious.
Here, aashvika stepped inside her room, the soft click of the door closing behind her, as she bolted towards her cupboard, her movements swift and urgent. Taking out her outfit, she immediately slipped into it, the fabric smooth against her skin, as she stared at her reflection in the mirror, her eyes taking in the transformation.
She wore a sleek black leather jacket that hugged her form, layered over a cozy beige turtleneck sweater, paired with a short black skirt that swirled around her knees, black tights and tall black boots, completing a look that was both edgy and elegantly poised.
Her hairstyle was a masterpiece of effortless charm, with long, wavy brown locks cascading down her back like a rich, half of it playfully twisted into a knot that added a whimsical touch to her overall look.
Her makeup was a subtle yet captivating blend, accentuating her natural beauty with soft pink lips that seemed to bloom like roses, gentle blush that gave her cheeks a warm glow, and eyes that shone bright like dark, mysterious pools, framed by kohl kajal and lashes that added depth to her gaze.
She wore delicate gold bracelets that sparkled like tiny stars on her wrist, each one uniquely crafted- a stunning band, a slender chain adorned with small gems, and a minimalist gold bar that added a touch of understated elegance.
Taking a last glance at herself in the mirror, she picked up her mobile, her purse, and walked out the room, her heels clicking softly on the floor. But as soon as she stepped out, she saw vivaan standing at the hallway. He was scrolling through his phone, his fingers moving swiftly over the screen, but the moment he heard the door unlocking, he looked up, his eyes locking onto aashvika's.
His gaze swept over her, taking in her fresh outfit and the subtle glow on her face, his expression unreadable.
There she was, looking gorgeous, standing in the hallway, bathed in the soft glow of the warm lighting. She looked like she was a dream, a vision of beauty that took his breath away. A dream that he didn't deserve. A dream that he himself wouldn't dare having in his sleep, for fear that if he did, he wouldn't be able to wake up anytime soon.
But seeing her standing afar from him, he realised something profound, something that shook him to his core. She wasn't just a dream, a fleeting illusion; she was his reality, the missing piece that unknowingly completed him. A reality that he wouldn't dare escape, for if he did, he was afraid he might slip back into the darkness that had covered him until aashvika had shown her light upon him, illuminating the path he had lost.
It was funny, wasn't it? It hadn't even been 24 hours since he had properly met her, but here he was, feeling himself getting lost in her magic and yet, he couldn't shake off the feeling that he was exactly where he was meant to be, with the part of him screaming to get out of it, warning him of the danger that lurked in her mesmerising eyes.
And why would he? This feeling, unknown yet familiar, bitter yet sweet, was a double-edged sword, cutting through his defenses, laying bare his soul. It was devastating, a maelstrom of emotions that threatened to consume him whole. It was tearing vivaan apart, slowly eating his insides, making him question everything he thought he knew about him self.
And yet, he loved it. He loved having himself proven wrong by her.
He loved the way Aashvika made him feel, like a puzzle piece clicking into place. It was as if she was silently challenging him that she was going to break down all the walls he had built around himself, brick by brick, and he was letting her do so.
After all, a little bit of risk never hurts, now does it?
The thrill of the unknown was intoxicating, and vivaan was willing to take the leap, to see where this journey would lead.
As he reached aashvika, he stopped in front of her, his eyes locking onto her face, drinking in the beauty that lay before him. He didn't even glance at her attire, his gaze mesmerized by the gentle curves of her cheeks, the way her lashes rested on her skin, casting a subtle shadow. Her cheeks were flushed pink, not just because of the blush, but because of him as a sense of pride washing over him.
"Chalein?" He asked, slowly coming out of his trance, his eyes still locked onto aashvika's, as if he was waiting for her permission to move forward. Aashvika, slowly nodded, her gaze dropping to the floor, as she walked ahead, her movements graceful but tense.
It was hard for her to breathe around vivaan, the way he could manage to invade her private space without even standing close to her, his presence suffocating and exhilarating at the same time. Her cheeks flushed pink as she reached the living room with vivaan following her from behind, his eyes burning into her skin, making her feel like she was walking on eggshells.
Aashvika could still feel her cheeks burning through vivaan's piercing gaze, the weight of his attention making her squirm. As they stepped outside the house, the cool evening air did little to calm her racing heart. She couldn't help but feel flustered, her mind reeling with thoughts she couldn't quite grasp.
Vivaan was walking by her side, his strides long and confident, while vedansh and sahil were walking from behind, their chatter and laughter a welcome distraction. Aashvika slowly looked at her side, her gaze falling on vivaan's hands, strong and capable, the way they had poured water for her earlier, the memory sending a shiver down her spine. She could feel her hands twitching for a moment as she controlled her unfamiliar emotions, her heart racing with anticipation.
As they reached the car, vedansh and sahil hurriedly sat in the backseat, their movements playful and carefree. Vivaan slowly opened the passenger seat's door for aashvika, his eyes meeting hers for a fleeting moment, as she settled inside. Vivaan settled himself in the driver's seat, his presence filling the car, making the air thick with tension.
"So, where are we going?" Vivaan asked, his voice deep and husky, making aashvika come out of her trance, her eyes snapping back to reality. "I have some work at a cafe, can we go there first?" Aashvika spoke, her voice a little softer than usual, as vivaan nodded, his eyes on the road.
Aashvika told him the address as the engine roared and they drove off, the city streets blurring past them. The silence in the car was comfortable for vivaan and aashvika. But for vedansh and sahil, they were getting really bored.
Vedansh groaned as he leaned forward to turn on the radio, a mischievous glance in his eyes. The voice of RJ came through the car's speaker, "Aur humara agla gaana hai unn dilo ko chune ke liye, jinke dilo ko kisi khaas ne chuu liya hai." He spoke, as the faint music of "pehla pehla pyar hai" echoed throughout the car.
Vedansh and sahil grinned to themselves, their eyes exchanging a knowing look, while vivaan's breath hitched, his eyes flicking to aashvika, his face expressionless, but his eyes burning with a quiet intensity. Aashvika's heart started racing fastly as she stared out the car window, her face flushed, her mind reeling with emotions, her heart beating to the rhythm of the music.
Pehla pehla pyar hai,
Pehli pehlee bar hai.
Pehla pehla pyar hai,
Pehli pehlee bar hai.
As the lyrics started, vivaan and aashvika held their breaths, the words weaving a spell around them, playing with the feelings that were emerging in their hearts. It was as if the songs were conveying what they were actually feeling, the feeling that they both were unfamiliar with, the feeling that they were trying to deny, but couldn't.
Their hearts raced rapidly, their breathing uneven, and their faces painted with the deepest shade of red, a flush that seemed to spread from their cheeks to their necks, a telltale sign of their emotions. The air around them seemed to thicken, heavy with unspoken words and unsatisfied desires.
Jan ke bhi anjana,
Kaisa meraa yar hai?
Pehla pehla pyar hai,
Pehli pehlee bar hai.
The lyrics were portraying aashvika and vivaan's feelings who were well aware of what they were feeling, yet they were running away from it. The words seemed to seep into their skin, making them squirm in their seats, as if the universe was conspiring against them, pushing them to acknowledge the undeniable attraction between them.
Vivaan's grip tightened on the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white, as he forced himself to not succumb to these foolish feelings of his. His eyes remained fixed on the road, but his peripheral vision was acutely aware of aashvika's presence beside him, her subtle scent wafting towards him, making his heart skip a beat.
Aashvika tightly clutched her purse and mobile, her hands trembling slightly, as she bit the inside of her mouth. Her heart was beating rapidly inside her chest, a wild drumbeat that seemed to echo through every cell of her body, making her feel alive, yet terrified at the same time.
The silence between them was thick and heavy, punctuated only by the soft hum of the engine and the lyrics of the song, which seemed to be taunting them. The air was charged with tension, making it hard to breathe, as they both struggled to come to terms with their emotions, their faces a mask of calm, while their hearts were racing with excitement.
Uski nazar,
Palko ki chilman se mujhe dekhti.
Uski nazar, Uski haya,
Apni hi chahat ka raaz kholti,
Uski haya.
Aashvika slowly lifted her gaze, her eyes drifting upwards, her head tilting slightly, just enough to take in vivaan's profile. Her gaze landed on his hand, the way his knuckles turned white due to holding the steering wheel so tightly, the way his whole body was stiff, radiating tension, and the way his breathing was uneven, a subtle rise and fall of his chest that betrayed his calm exterior.
The way aashvika had slowly turned her head towards vivaan, the way her gaze was piercing holes through vivaan's hands, made him acutely aware of her presence, her eyes burning into his skin.
Vivaan exhaled deeply, a slow, controlled breath, as he tried to calm himself down, to shake off the feelings that were threatening to overwhelm him. He could swear that if the music wasn't loud enough, everyone could hear his loud heartbeat.
The cold wind hit aashvika's face, a gentle caress that sent a shiver down her spine. She shivered a little, her eyes darting towards the open window.
She extended her hand to close the window, but it was jammed, stuck in place. She tried to close the window once again, but it was to no vain. The handle wouldn't budge. She huffed, a soft, frustrated sound, as she looked down at her lap, her face flushing with embarassment.
Chhup ke kare jo wafa,
Aisa meraa yar hai.
Vivaan noticed her discomfort, his eyes flicking towards her, his expression softening, as he took in her frustrated expression. His hands hovered above the master panel, as he pressed the button.
In a swift motion, the window of aashvika's side closed, the glass sliding up, shutting out the cool breeze. Her gaze slightly lifting, as she saw her window being closed, a spark of surprise, followed by a warmth that spread through her chest.
The silent gesture touching her heart. The small act of kindness, the quiet understanding, it all added to the growing sense of connection between them, a connection that was hard to ignore.
Pehla pehla pyar hai,
Pehli pehlee bar hai.
She looked up, her eyes meeting vivaan's, and for a moment, time stood still. The world around her melted away, leaving only the two of them, locked in a gaze that seemed to sear their souls. Heat crept up her cheek, a flush spreading across her face, as she realized she had been caught staring. She immediately looked away, her eyes darting towards the window, her heart racing with embarrassment.
Vivaan, feeling his chest tightening, his breath catching in his throat, knew he had to look away, to break the spell that had been cast between them. He forced himself to focus on the road, his eyes snapping forward. He reached out and turned off the radio, the sudden silence deafening, as if the music had been the only thing keeping them apart.
The air was thick with tension, the silence between them almost palpable. Vivaan's jaw was clenched, his eyes fixed on the road, as he tried to calm his racing heart.
As they reached the cafe, aashvika stepped out of the car, "can you..wait for some minutes for me?" She asked staring at vivaan. Vivaan gave her a subtle nod as she passed him a faint smile and walked inside the cafe.
"Pehla pehle pyaar haii! Pehli pehli baar hai!!" Vedansh's teasing voice cut through the silence as vivaan snapped back, staring at his face.
"Jaan ke bhi anjana! Aise mera pyar hai!" Sahil teasingly sang loudly and then they both burst out laughing making vivaan groan in annoyance.
"Maar dalo mujhe."
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The light rays caressed aashvika's face gently as she stepped inside the cafe, her gaze wandering around, trying to find someone specific. The humming sound of coffee machine reached her ears. Her gaze fell on rushika who was sitting at a distance with her back facing aashvika.
Aashvika secretly tip-toed and then hugged rushika from behind catching her off-guard. She yelled and turned around but as she saw that the person who had hugged her was aashvika, she slowly calmed down.
Aashvika sat down infront of her and kept a polythene on the table. Catching her breath, rushika asked, "What's that?", her fingers pointing towards the polybag kept on the table opposite of her.
"Sweets, take it." Aashvika insisted, taking out the sweets box and pushing it towards rushika. Rushika's eyes narrowed at her words though she ate them anyway. "Did abhimanyu get the scholarship? Or did you get a new job?" Rushika asked. Hearing her question aashvika's heart stopped as realisation hit her.
She didn't have any job anymore.
Correction.
She didn't have the job she "loved" anymore.
"Hellooo? You thereee?" Rushika waved her hand infront of aashvika's face, making her come out of her thoughts, shaking them away,"Yeah..i am..fine." Aashvika reassured her, flashing a smile. "Alright..?" Rushika mumbled, weirded out by aashvika's behaviour but didn't say anything else otherwise.
"Though, you still didn't tell me! Why the sweets all of a sudden?" Rushika asked once again while chugging the sweets down her throat. Aashvika looked at her and spoke, "Well..i'm getting married." She spoke making rushika choke on the sweets. Aashvika hissed at her reaction and passed her a napkin.
"WHAT!? WHY?? WHEN!? AND WHO IS THAT MAN!? ARE YOU FORCED!? DO YOU WANT ME TO KILL THAT MAN!? TELL ME!!" Rushika bombarded aashvika with questions making her widen her eyes.
"MUJHE BOLNE TOH DE GANJI CHUDAIL!" Aashvika yelled back and slammed the table, making rushika gulp, "Ha..haan..toh bolna, maine thodi mana kiya." She spoke and sat down.
Aashvika sighed and sat down. "I met him yesterday...it's an arranged marriage..and well..i feel like there's nothing wrong with it." She spoke as rushika calmed down and spoke, "Oh..well..erm..okay?" She awkwardly spoke and grabbed a water bottle. She opened the bottle's cap and asked, "By the way, who is the man?" She asked while drinking the water.
"Vivaan malhotra." Aashvika spoke as rushika nodded, "Vivaan malhotra." She repeated and took a sip but as soon as the realisation dawned upon her, her eyes widened and she spit out the water from her mouth..and her nose.
"VI-VIVAAN MALHOTRA!? THE VIVAAN FUCKING MALHOTRA!?"
"Yes."
"THE SECOND HEIR OF THE MALHOTRA FAMILY!?"
"Yes."
"THE MAN WHO IS A BILLIONAIRE!?"
"Indeed."
"WHAT IN THE WATTPAD IS THIS!?"
Oh the poor girl was surely going to have a heart failure today.
Rushika hissed as she felt her nose burning. She grabbed the napkin and wiped her face while aashvika just stared at her in disbelief. "You really had to confirm it thrice?" She asked making rushika nod, "Well no shit sherlock." She spoke making aashvika chuckle.
"Wait" rushika spoke making aashvika frown, "Now what?"
"Where is Ishani?" Rushika asked, her voice laced with a hint of impatience, making aashvika sigh as she spoke, "She has some work today, she still doesn't know about this news yet, i guess i will have to tell her on call."
Rushika nodded at her words and took another sweet, shoving it down her throat. Aashvika looked at her and chuckled, "Btw! Let's go now!" She spoke and stood up making rushika frown.
"Where?" She asked while picking up the sweets box. "To shopping for my engagement!" Aashvika excitedly spoke and started walking. Rushika followed her from behind.
Meanwhile, outside the cafe, Vedansh, Sahil, and Vivaan sat in the car, their eyes fixed on the cafe's door. "What do you guys think? What work does aashvika bhabhi have here?" Vedansh asked, curiosity etched on his face, making the other two men look at him with a shrug. "Who knows." Vivaan replied, his gaze drifting back to the cafe as he waited for aashvika to emerge.
Just then, aashvika and rushika walked out of the cafe, their giggles filling the silence, and instantly grabbing the attention of the trio in the car. Vivaan's eyes softened as he stared at aashvika through the glass window. She was laughing freely, her eyes sparkling with amusement. This was the first time he had seen her laughing so freely, and he couldn't help but be captivated by the sight.
As aashvika reached the car, rushika stared at her in confusion, her eyes scanning the vehicle. "Who's car is this?" she asked, her curiosity piqued, but before aashvika could reply, the car's window rolled down, revealing vivaan sitting in the driver's seat.
Rushika's eyes widened in shock as she stared at him, her voice barely above a whisper. "VI..VIVAAN MALHOTRA!?" she practically yelled, making aashvika's face flush with embarrassment. She quickly stomped her foot on rushika's, making her yelp in pain. "Kutti kahin ki!" Rushika muttered under her breath, earning a chuckle from vivaan.
Aashvika, trying to salvage the situation, forced a smile onto her face. "We..we are getting late na, let's go, shall we?" she asked, gritting her teeth as she glared at rushika, who was still rubbing her foot in pain.
Rushika chuckled nervously, trying to cover up her shock, "Ha..haan chalte hain..main.. main peeche baith jaati hoon." She spoke quickly, her eyes darting towards the backseat as she walked towards the back door. She opened it, but her eyes widened as she took in the sight of sahil and an unknown man sitting comfortably in the backseat. Her gaze locked onto sahil, and she felt a mix of emotions swirling inside her. Before anyone could respond or react, she slammed the door shut and walked towards the front door, her movements robotic.
She opened the door and grabbed aashvika's wrist, pulling her out of the car. "Arrey, kya kar rahi hai?" Aashvika spoke, trying to free herself from rushika's grip, but rushika ignored her and dragged her to a corner, her eyes blazing with a mix of shock and betrayal.
She turned towards aashvika and spoke, her voice a whisper-yell, "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THAT SAHIL IS ALSO HERE!?" Her words were laced with accusation, and aashvika felt a pang of guilt.
Aashvika coughed, trying to explain, "Mu..mujhe thodi pata tha vo aayega." Rushika frowned at her words, her expression incredulous, "ANDHI HAI KYA TU!? Peeche baitha nahi dikha kya tujhe!?" She whisper-yelled again, her voice rising in frustration, making aashvika groan.
Aashvika tried to calm her down, "Okay fine sorry! Ab chal shaanti se! Late ho raha hai! Baad mein suna lena!" She yelled, her patience wearing thin, and dragged rushika with herself, while rushika cried silently, still fuming at aashvika's supposed oversight.
Aashvika opened the back door and spoke, her voice gentle, "Vedansh please shift." Vedansh nodded and shifted, making space for rushika, who sat down awkwardly, still cursing aashvika under her breath.
As aashvika sat back in the passenger seat, she couldn't help but glance at the back seat to check up on rushika but what she saw made her burst out laughing. Vivaan frowned at her reaction, curiosity getting the better of him, and looked back to see what was so funny. And when he saw the scene unfolding before him, even he couldn't help but smile.
In the back, rushika was seated comfortably, but vedansh was practically sitting on sahil's lap, causing sahil to curse at him. "Bhai kya dikkat hai? Baith na seat pe!" Sahil yelled, trying to push vedansh away, while vedansh just groaned and clenched his fists.
"Main kisi aur ladki ke saath nahi baithta, I'm loyal to my girl!" Vedansh proudly spoke, making vivaan and aashvika chuckle, while rushika tried to stifle her laughter, her eyes sparkling with amusement. Sahil just groaned and stared out the window, still cursing vedansh under his breath.
Vivaan just shook his head at their childishness and started the car. "Where are we going?" he asked, catching aashvika's attention. Aashvika looked at rushika, "Where are we going?" she asked, making rushika look at her with a stunned expression.
"Engagement teri hai ki meri?" Rushika asked, her voice laced with sarcasm, making aashvika nervously chuckle as she looked back. "Well, let's go to the market to buy rings and clothes.." Aashvika spoke, trying to salvage the situation, as vivaan nodded and drove off.
The ride was peaceful, with everyone lost in their own thoughts, until a sudden loud laughter cut through the silence. Aashvika looked back, and vivaan looked from the rear view mirror, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
They saw the three of them laughing while vedansh was still seated in sahil's lap, looking like he was enjoying the chaos. Aashvika frowned as she asked, "Why are you guys laughing?" Vedansh grinned mischievously as he snatched his mobile from sahil's grip and turned it towards her. The mobile displayed aashvika's photo from earlier, and her eyes widened in shock. Her cheeks turned bright red as she swiftly tried to snatch the mobile from vedansh's grip, but he was too quick. He moved back, laughing, "Arrey bhabhi! Itni bhi kya jaldi hai?"
The word 'bhabhi' caught her off-guard, and the photo wasn't helping her embarrassment. Heat crept up her face, and she immediately sat back, covering her face with her hands. Vivaan glanced at her from the corner of his eyes. "Give me the phone," he said, his voice firm but calm.
Vedansh frowned, "Why?" Vivaan demanded, "Give it." Vedansh hesitated for a moment before passing the phone to vivaan. After doing something on it for 2 minutes, he handed it back to vedansh. Vedansh took the mobile and glanced at it, his eyes widening in shock. "Abe photo kyun delete ki??" he yelled, making aashvika look up.
She stared at vivaan, while his attention was fixed on the road, her heart fluttering inside her chest. "He deleted the photo? For me?" she thought, a mix of relief and warmth spreading through her. A small smile crept onto her face as she looked outside the window, trying to hide her emotions. The others were still laughing and teasing vedansh about his lost photo, but aashvika was lost in her own thoughts, a soft smile still playing on her lips.
After a while, they reached the market and stepped out of the car. They walked into the Tanishq showroom and sat inside, surrounded by sparkling jewels and elegant displays. Vivaan and aashvika stood beside each other, while sahil and rushika sat beside them. Vedansh, on the other hand, was walking around, looking at the different pieces of jewellery on display.
The staff member of the showroom approached aashvika and vivaan, flashing a bright smile as he observed them both carefully. With a polite tone, he spoke, "Good afternoon sir and ma'am, what can I help you with?" Vivaan passed him a faint smile, "We are here to buy engagement rings." He spoke as the man's smile widened.
He glanced at aashvika and then back at him. "Sure sir, I'll show you right away." He spoke as his gaze then fell on sahil and rushika who were sitting together. "Will you guys also buy engagement ring?" He asked making sahil and rushika's eyes widen. Sahil looked at rushika as her face reddened. "No!" They both yelled in unison making the staff member awkwardly nod. "Sorry..I thought you guys were a couple!" He spoke and walked away, leaving rushika's blush deepening as she looked away.
Sahil noticed her awkwardness and spoke, reassuring her, "He just misunderstood, don't worry." Rushika looked at him, her lips forming a tight lip smile as she just nodded in response.
Meanwhile, vedansh who was roaming here and there, his gaze fell on a bracelet. He stepped closer towards it, examining it carefully. "Can I see this bracelet?" Vedansh asked one of the staff's. The staff member nodded and carefully took out the bracelet out of the glass showcase.
Vedansh carefully took the bracelet in his hands, his grip gentle yet firm, making sure to not break it. The elegant gold bracelet featured a delicate gold chain adorned with five sparkling pink zirconia stones set in bow‑shaped gold links, giving it a feminine, luxurious feel. The adjustable chain ended with a small gold bead clasp and twin pearl accents for easy sizing. The shimmering stones caught the light, making it look perfect for every glam or special occasion.
Vedansh smiled as he lightly caressed the bracelet. "It's perfect for her." He muttered under his breath. He looked at the staff member and asked, "How much is this?" The staff member politely responded, "Sir, this is pure 18k gold bracelet and therefore it's price is 39000." Vedansh smiled as he asked, "Can you pack this for me?" The staff member nodded and swiftly took the bracelet from his grip and walked away to pack it.
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As vivaan and aashvika patiently sat beside each other, the staff member came back with two huge trays, one containing men's rings and the other women's rings, patiently waiting for someone to pick one of them. Aashvika gazed at the tray as she exhaled a shaky breath. Her gaze wandered around the tray, carefully observing every single ring, her eyes wide with a mix of excitement and nervousness.
Vivaan, also gazed at his own tray, slowly and carefully observing all the rings, his expression thoughtful.
As aashvika stared at the diamond rings, she gulped. They were expensive, more than she could ever afford, and the realisation that she didn't even have a job right now, hit her harder than she expected. Her eyes caught a special ring as she carefully picked it up.
It was a golden-toned ring featuring a large, square-cut clear diamond, set in a thick, polished bezel. The central stone was surrounded by a halo of smaller sparkling diamonds. The band was wide, flat on the top and bottom, and encrusted with additional tiny diamonds along its shoulders, giving it a luxurious, bling look.
Aashvika slowly extended her hand, her eyes fixed on vivaan's face as he looked down at the ring in her palm. He slowly took it, being careful not to touch her skin.
As he gently took the ring from her grip, their eyes met for a brief second before vivaan looked away, concentrating on sliding the ring onto his finger. The silence between them was almost palpable, filled only with the soft sound of the ring gliding onto his finger. It fit perfectly, yet there was something missing in it— a certain spark, a certain emotion.
"How's it?" Aashvika asked, her voice breaking the silence and cutting through vivaan's thoughts. Vivaan looked up at her, his expression thoughtful, before speaking, "It's..good." His tone was neutral, giving nothing away, but his eyes lingered on hers for a moment, making aashvika's heart skip a beat.
Aashvika nodded, trying to read something in his gaze, but vivaan's face was a mask. He handed the ring back to her, their fingers brushing slightly as she took it, sending a spark of electricity through her. She took the ring, careful to avoid meeting his eyes again.
"How much is it?" Aashvika asked the staff member, her breath caught in her stomach as her gaze lingered at the ring. "Ma'am the price is 4 lakhs." The staff member replied, his voice polite and professional.
As soon as those words left his mouth, aashvika's heart skipped a beat. She bit her lower lip as she slowly placed the ring back to its place, trying to hide her disappointment. Standing up, she spoke, "I..I will come in a minute." She informed vivaan, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Is everything fine?" Vivaan asked, his eyes narrowing slightly as he sensed something was off. "Yeah.. everything is fine." Aashvika replied, forcing a small smile onto her face and walked out of the showroom, Rushika following behind her.
Vivaan felt that something was off but chose to not force aashvika. His gaze turning back to the tray as a ring caught his attention. He gently picked it up, caressing the ring, lost in thought.
The ring had a big pear‑shaped diamond in the center set in a white platinum band. On each side of the pear diamond there were two small baguette‑cut diamonds placed on the shoulders of the setting. The band was also lined with tiny round diamonds all around, making the whole piece sparkle with pure diamonds. It looked like a classic engagement‑style ring that looked both, elegant and luxurious, with the pear stone giving it a distinctive teardrop shape and the surrounding diamonds adding extra shine.
The staff member noticed vivaan's gaze over the ring as he smiled and spoke, "It will look gorgeous on ma'am, sir." Vivaan, caught off by the sudden compliment, looked up. He just slowly looked down and nodded. "How much is it?" He asked the staff member. The man smiled and spoke, "It's 15 lakhs sir." Vivaan stared at the ring as he slowly nodded, "Pack it please." He spoke, handing back the ring to the man. The man smiled and walked away.
Vivaan gazed around and that's when his gaze fell to the empty seat behind him, he spotted aashvika's purse left behind. He frowned as he slowly grabbed it. He stood up and looked at sahil, "Take care of the ring." He spoke as sahil nodded and smiled. Vivaan slowly walked towards the exit door, ready to give aashvika her bag but stopped when he heard his name being mentioned.
"Are you kidding me aashvika? Just because he is vivaan malhotra doesn't mean that you have to do this!" The loud yell reached vivaan's ears as he hid behind the door. Slowly peeking through the door, he spotted aashvika and rushika standing there. "But he comes from a rich background..what will he feel if I'm not even able to buy him a diamond ring for his engagement?" Aashvika asked, her voice laced with concern, making vivaan's breath hitch.
"It's literally 4 lakhs aashvika! All your savings will be gone in that much money!" Rushika yelled back making aashvika sigh. Hearing rushika's words, vivaan's jaw clenched. His chest tightened as he walked back inside the store without looking back once.
"I will be fine rushika, don't worry." Aashvika reassured rushika as they both walked back inside the showroom. As soon as they walked in, they spotted Vedansh, Sahil, and Vivaan standing there. Aashvika noticed vivaan holding two pouches in his hands. She slowly walked closer as she asked, "What is this?" Her gaze on the two pouches.
"Our rings." Vivaan spoke, his voice low and smooth, making aashvika frown in confusion. "But I didn't pay for them yet." Aashvika spoke, her eyes locked onto vivaan's, her heart skipping a beat as she gazed into his eyes. His eyes held something deeper, almost unreadable for her, making her feel like she was drowning in their depths.
The silence between them was palpable, the air thick with unspoken words. Vivaan's gaze never wavered, his eyes burning with an intensity that made aashvika's cheeks flush. She felt like he was looking right through her, seeing all her secrets and insecurities.
After a moment, he suddenly chuckled, the sound breaking the spell that held them captive. "The owner is my dad's friend..and when he heard that i'm getting married, he decided to give these to us." Vivaan spoke, his voice laced with amusement, making aashvika's eyes widen in surprise.
"Wh..what?" She asked, her voice barely over a whisper, her mind reeling with the implications. Vivaan just nodded at her question.
"Chalein?" He asked her, his voice gentle, as aashvika looked down, trying to process his words. She felt a mix of emotions- surprise, gratitude, and a hint of embarrassment.
"Aashvika, don't overthink it. He's my father's bestfriend and he has always been like this." Vivaan spoke, his voice gentle, as he smiled at her, trying to ease the tension. His words slowly provided her comfort as she nodded.
Vedansh noticing the tension between them, spoke, "Let's go buy our outfits now!" He yelled as sahil and rushika nodded.
"You guys go, i will catch up with you all in a minute." Vivaan spoke, his voice firm but casual, as he handed vedansh the pouches containing the rings. The group glanced at each other, exchanged a silent understanding, and nodded, leaving the showroom one-by-one, their footsteps echoing in the elegant space.
As they left, vivaan turned towards the staff member, his expression transforming into a mask of calm professionalism. He took out his wallet, the leather creaking softly as he opened it, and pulled out a black card. He handed it to the staff member with a brief, "Do the payment fast." The staff member nodded hastily, taking the card, and hurried away to process the payment.
A few moments later, the staff member returned, discreetly handing the black card back to vivaan. Vivaan's eyes narrowed as he took the card, his voice low and serious, "This, should remain a secret." The staff member nodded nervously, aware of the unspoken implications, and vivaan gave him a subtle nod before turning to leave.
He walked out of the showroom, his eyes scanning the surroundings until he spotted his group walking ahead. A small smile played on his lips as he jogged to catch up, falling into step beside Vedansh. "So, what was the work?" Vedansh asked, glancing at him, while vivaan just shrugged.
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Thank you for reading✨
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