Yeh Jo Mushkil Se Dil Ko Salaamat Rakha,
Ismein Aane Doon Kya Tujhko?
Toot Jaayega Dil Phir Na Jud Paayega,
Issi Baat Ka Darr Hai Mujhko..
Ke Ho Naa Jaaye Pyaar Tumse Mujhe,
Kar Dega Barbaad Ishq Mujhe 💌✨
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Together, the group strolled through the vibrant market, taking in the sights and sounds of the city. The sun's rays gently caressed their faces, casting a warm glow over the scene, and for a moment, everything felt right with the world. They walked, lost in their own conversations, as the market's energy enveloped them, a kaleidoscope of colors, sounds, and emotions.
Vivaan was strolling alongside vedansh, lost in the casual conversation they were having, when he suddenly glanced back and spotted aashvika walking a few steps behind, her eyes fixed on something in her mind. He deliberately slowed his pace, waiting for her to catch up. As she drew level with him, he matched his stride to hers, trying to initiate a conversation.
"What do you want to wear for the engagement?" he asked, attempting to break the silence.
Aashvika, still preoccupied, replied absent-mindedly, "Kapde, what else?"
Vedansh, Sahil, and Rushika, who were walking ahead, couldn't help but burst out laughing at her response. Vivaan's ears turned bright red with embarrassment as he shot them a glare.
Aashvika, taken aback by the sudden laughter, looked up, confusion etched on her face. "Wha..what happened?" she asked, her voice laced with puzzlement.
Vedansh and the others just shook their heads, trying to compose themselves, leaving aashvika to frown and exhale a deep breath in frustration.
The group continued walking, eventually arriving at a boutique. As they stepped inside, the staff member greeted them with a warm smile.
"Hello, ma'am, sir, what can I help you with?" he asked, his tone polite and courteous.
Aashvika spoke up, a soft smile on her face, "We want to see outfits for our...engagement."
The staff member's face lit up with a smile as he replied, "Sure ma'am! The female's section is this way! She will show you the way." He gestured to a female staff member, who came forward and gave aashvika a polite nod.
"And sir, the male section is the other way, I will show you the way," he added, looking at vivaan, who nodded in response.
As aashvika followed the female staff to the female section, and vivaan followed the male staff to the male section, Vedansh, Sahil, and Rushika stood there, watching them go.
Vedansh's expression suddenly turned panicked, and he exclaimed, "Arrey, this won't work!"
Rushika and Sahil turned to him in confusion. "What won't work?" Rushika asked.
Vedansh looked at them, his voice laced with urgency. "They're supposed to be spending time together! Aise alag alag shopping karenge toh ho chuka time spend!"
Sahil frowned, not quite understanding, while rushika's face lit up with comprehension. "You're right!" she exclaimed, making vedansh nod in agreement.
"So what should we do now?" Sahil asked, looking at the two of them.
Vedansh grinned mischievously. "Dono kaan idhar lao main batata hoon!"
The three of them huddled together, and vedansh whispered his plan, making their eyes widen in excitement. "Done!" they chimed in unison, and then sprang into action.
Aashvika, oblivious to the commotion, continued walking behind the female staff, ready to pick out her outfit for the engagement. Just as she was about to start browsing, she heard someone call out her name. She frowned and turned around to see sahil running towards her.
"What happened, Sahil?" she asked, concern etched on her face.
Sahil reached her, panting hard. "Bhabhi...actually..bhaiya is calling you!" he said, trying to catch his breath.
Aashvika's frown deepened. "Vivaan? But why?"
Sahil looked around, making sure no one was listening, and leaned in closer to aashvika. "Actually...he has never been to shopping..and.." He glanced at the female staff, who was watching them curiously, and whispered, "and..he doesn't trust the staff here."
Aashvika's expression softened, and she nodded. "Oh..okay.."
She followed sahil to the male section, where vivaan was browsing through clothes, talking to the male staff. Rushika and Vedansh stood at a distance, pretending to be engrossed in a rack of kurtas but as soon as they spotted aashvika, their faces lit up, and they rushed towards her like excited kids.
Aashvika's eyes narrowed slightly as she watched vivaan carefully picking out clothes, seemingly oblivious to her presence. "Sahil...you said he needs my help? But aisa to lag hi nahi raha hai..." she said, her voice laced with skepticism.
Before anyone could react, vedansh jumped in, "Arrey bhai.. he's just acting like that because he doesn't want to seem rude!!" He spoke with conviction, making aashvika look at him. She slowly nodded, her expression thoughtful, and then asked, "Then what should i do?"
Rushika immediately piped up, "Go and help him!" She spoke with a grin, giving aashvika a gentle push forward.
Aashvika, still looking a bit unsure but determined, nodded and took slow, hesitant steps towards vivaan. Vivaan, engrossed in examining a shirt, didn't notice her approach until he heard a gentle voice, "Suniye,"
He felt a sudden jolt, and his heart skipped a beat as he turned around. He spotted aashvika standing a short distance away, her eyes cast downward. "Sunaiye." he replied, his voice gentle, warm and steady.
Aashvika felt her heart flutter at his response, and she tried to compose herself. "I...i will help...you.." she stammered, fidgeting with the rings on her hand.
Vivaan looked taken aback, confusion etched on his face. "You want to help me?" he asked, his voice hesitant.
Aashvika nodded and stepped back, gesturing with her hand for him to come closer. Vivaan, intrigued, took steady steps towards her, waiting for her to speak.
"I..i know...that..you don't trust the staff here and it's your first time shopping..." she said, her words making vivaan stare at her in confusion.
But before he could respond, vedansh burst in, standing between both of them, "Yes, you're right aashvika! And we also need your help!" He exclaimed, beaming with excitement and gratitude.
He turned to vivaan, who was still looking confused, "Ab mera chehra kya dekh raha hai? Kapde khareed!" He spoke with a chuckle, giving vivaan a light push.
Vivaan, still unsure what was going on, but not wanting to argue, walked back to the counter with aashvika following closely behind him.
Vivaan stood at the counter, his eyes on aashvika as he gestured towards her. The staff member nodded and turned to her, "Hello ma'am, what should I show you?"
Aashvika looked at the staff member, her expression thoughtful, and then turned slightly towards vivaan, her eyes seeking his input. "What is your favourite colour?" she asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and politeness.
Vivaan's gaze locked onto hers, and a hint of a smile played on his lips as he asked, "Take a guess." His eyes remained on her face, making aashvika's heart skip a beat. She felt a flutter in her chest as she tried to read his expression.
She hesitated for a moment, her eyes drifting away from his face before suggesting, "Umm..black?" Her voice was unsure, but vivaan's lips curved into a smile, his eyes curling at the corners.
"Black it is then." he said. His response sending aashvika's heart fluttering as she looked up, staring at him in confusion, her cheeks flushing red as she caught his eyes. She wanted to ask what he meant, but when she opened her mouth to speak, no words came out as if her throat was pulling her back from spilling out those words.
Vivaan, overwhelmed by her gaze, coughed awkwardly and looked away, with his heart racing rapidly inside his chest.
Aashvika, unsure of what his response meant, turned back to the staff member, her voice a bit shaky, "Show us something in black.."
The staff member nodded and presented them with an array of indian formal suits made from velvet, silk, brocade, jacquard, linen, cotton, tussar, and raw silk. Aashvika examined each suit carefully, her brow furrowed in concentration, while vivaan stood beside her, his gaze flickering towards the suits occasionally, but mostly drifting back to her.
Aashvika, who wasn't impressed with the suits the staff member had shown them spoke, "Bhaiya..show us something else na...something...unique and raw.. something which is so different that nothing can compare to it,"
Vivaan was impressed by the details she gave the staff member and smiled to himself, looking around to hide his blush but then his gaze landed on vedansh, who was trying on a kurta but was watching him with a teasing glare. Vedansh raised an eyebrow, and vivaan, caught red-handed, immediately looked away, coughing awkwardly.
Aashvika, waiting for the staff member to come out with new clothes, looked around, searching for something suitable for vivaan. Her eyes wandered, and then she spotted a mannequin wearing a delicate piece of suit.
The mannequin was dressed in a sleek, three‑piece ensemble that was perfect for a festive showcase. It wore a black tailored jacket with intricate gold embroidered floral patterns on the sleeves and front panels, giving it a luxurious, ethnic‑fusion vibe suitable for high‑end displays. Under the jacket, the mannequin wore a black ribbed V‑neck shirt, adding a modern, textured contrast to the ornate outer layer. The lower was a crisp black pant, providing a clean, elegant base that highlighted the embellished jacket.
As soon as aashvika saw the suit, her lips curved into a wide smile, radiating excitement. She immediately ran towards it, her eyes sparkling with admiration, and touched it, lightly caressing the intricate design. The delicate fabric seemed to shimmer under her touch, and her fingers danced over the patterns, exploring every detail.
Vivaan, who had been watching her, looked into aashvika's direction and saw her staring at the suit with her eyes sparkling due to admiration. He walked towards her, his movements quiet, not wanting to break the spell. "Do you like it?" he asked, his voice low and gentle.
Aashvika immediately nodded like a child, her body beaming with happiness, her eyes still fixed on the suit. The staff member seeing them standing near the mannequin, immediately walked towards them, a polite smile on his face. "Sir, do you want to try it?" he asked, addressing vivaan.
Vivaan gave him a subtle nod and then walked towards the changing room with the outfit to try it, leaving aashvika alone. She stood there for a moment, still basking in the glow of the beautiful suit, before walking up to the female's section, her curiosity getting the better of her.
She spotted rushika trying on a lehenga for herself, surrounded by a sea of colourful fabrics. Aashvika looked around and saw almost ten lehengas already laying lifelessly on the couch, as if they had been abandoned by their parents. "What is this?" Aashvika asked, her expressions stunned, taking in the chaotic scene.
Rushika sighed dramatically and spoke, "I have already tried those but didn't like any of them." Aashvika frowned at her answer and spoke, "It feels like you're the bride!" She spoke while rolling her eyes, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Rushika sighed at her reaction and spoke, "Bride ki bestfriend toh hoon na! Ab jaa vivaan ki help kar!" Aashvika pouted at her response, a playful giggle leaving her mouth.
She left the female's section and walked back to the male's section, her eyes scanning the area for vivaan. She looked around, trying to find him, but she didn't find him anywhere. A hint of worry crept into her mind, but she pushed it aside and walked back to the counter where they had been standing before, deciding to wait for vivaan.
After a few moments, aashvika heard a faint sound and turned around, her heart already racing with anticipation. The trial room's curtains opened, and there stood vivaan, looking dashing like never before.
The jacket and the v-neck t-shirt hugged him perfectly, accentuating his broad chest and biceps, the shoulders fitting perfectly. The black colour suited his skin flawlessly, and the way he stood, he didn't look any other than a hero.
He was looking perfect, yes, in the eyes of others, but for aashvika, he looked more than that— he looked raw, elegant, divine. So divine, it was almost surreal.
Her heart skipped a beat as she took in the sight, her eyes drinking in the perfection that stood before her. Her heart beat raised slightly before stopping as she forgot how to breathe.
Vivaan slowly looked up, and their eyes met, sending a jolt through aashvika's entire being. The walls she had built around her, she could feel them cracking, slowly breaking, one-by-one, and yet she couldn't stop herself from feeling this way.
He looked as if he had just come out of her fantasy, a fantasy where she couldn't imagine herself being at. The soft glow of the boutique's lights highlighted vivaan's features, making him look like a dream come true. Aashvika's eyes were glued to his face, her senses overwhelmed by the sheer perfection that stood before her. She couldn't imagine herself being swoon by just a single look of a man, yet here she was, getting herself entangled in the trap that vivaan had set out for her. Proving herself wrong by accepting vivaan's silent challenge of changing her reality.
Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions, her thoughts a jumbled mess. She couldn't think straight, couldn't breathe straight. All she could do was feel, and what she felt was terrifying. It was exhilarating. It was VIVAAN.
She felt like she was drowning in a sea of emotions, unable to escape the pull of his gaze. Her heart was racing, her palms were sweating, and her face was burning with a mix of emotions. She was lost, and she knew it, and she couldn't help but feel that way.
It took a moment for aashvika to hold herself together and look away, her face burning with a mix of emotions. Her face turned redder than ever, and she felt herself being pulled closer towards vivaan. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart, and then, after steadying herself, she slowly looked over at vivaan, once again.
But as if he was suddenly testing the amount of patience she had, he emerged down the stairs, walking towards her in slow motion. She felt her eyes widen, her lips parting apart, her heart stop beating. The world around her melted away, leaving only the two of them, suspended in a sea of emotions. She felt it all, and that was the most terrifying part of it. She could feel it all, yet she couldn't stop herself from drowning in those feelings.
Vivaan's eyes locked onto hers, and aashvika felt like she was the only person in the world. The air seemed to thicken, and time slowed down, leaving her suspended in a sea of emotions. The silence between them was palpable, the tension almost tangible. Aashvika felt like she was walking on thin ice, unsure of what lay ahead, but unable to stop herself from taking the next step.
As vivaan approached her, he coughed lightly and spoke, "How am I looking?" His voice carried a hint of awkwardness, betraying the calm exterior he tried to project. His one hand tugged at the sleeves of the other.
"Like my most beautiful dream," In an instant, her mind screamed those words at her, clawing to shove those words out of her mouth. But it was as if her throat had turned traitor, locking them inside an iron cage. They burned against her tongue, desperate to spill, yet something heavier held them back.
She wasn't ready to let go.
She wasn't ready to tear down the walls she'd built around her heart, brick by careful brick.
Not yet.
"Aashvika?" The sudden whisper of her name sliced through the chaos in her head like a blade. She flinched, blinking hard. Vivaan stood close, his brow drawn together, studying her face. The concern in his eyes made her throat tighten even more, because kindness from him was the last thing her defenses knew how to handle.
"Wh..what?" she asked. The words came out of her mouth too quick.
"Tum theek ho?" Vivaan asked, his tone softer than usual.
Aashvika gave a sharp nod, avoiding his eyes and dropping her gaze to the floor as if the marble floor was too fascinating all of a sudden. Her pulse hammered in her ears, loud enough that she was sure he could hear it. Heat climbed up her neck, blooming hot across her cheeks as she bit down on her bottom lip hard enough to ground herself.
"Idiot," she scolded herself silently for thinking nonsensical things about vivaan. A man she'd properly met just a day ago. Yet somehow, impossibly, he'd been living rent-free in her head since that first real conversation. His voice, his half-smile, the way he said her name like he was tasting it— all of it looped in her mind without permission.
"How am I looking?" Vivaan asked again, tugging slightly at the sleeve of the blazer he'd tried on. The blazer fit him unfairly well, the dark fabric pulling across his shoulders in a way that made her forget how to breathe normally.
Aashvika sucked in a deep breath and held it until her ribs hurt, then let it out slowly. "You..you look..good." The words came out thin, barely above a whisper, but they were honest.
Vivaan nodded, a small, satisfied smile touching his lips like he'd been handed something valuable. "Alright, I'll change then." He turned and walked towards the trial room, leaving behind the faint scent of his cologne and a heavier silence. The store suddenly felt too big, too empty without him directly in front of her.
A few moments later, his footsteps returned. Aashvika hadn't moved an inch. She stood rooted to the same spot near the mirror, arms loosely crossed.
Vivaan stopped in front of her, back in his own clothes. The casual confidence was back, but his eyes were still searching. "Did you like it?" he asked.
Aashvika managed a faint nod. She tried to force a smile, but it felt paper-thin, unconvincing even to herself. Her mind was still swirling. Without another word, they fell into step beside each other. They walked back towards the counter, picking up his neatly folded clothes from the attendant who handed them over with a practiced smile.
Just then, Vedansh and Sahil appeared in front of them, each of them carrying their own stack of clothes. The shift in energy was instant.
"You guys bought clothes for yourself?" Vivaan asked, glancing between them.
Sahil nodded excitedly, grinning wide, but vedansh's frown only deepened, oblivious to Sahil's chatter.
"What happened?" Vivaan asked, tilting his head at his friend's expression.
Vedansh sighed, the sound long-suffering and dramatic, and lifted both hands. "I'm confused in between these two kurtas." He spoke while showing them the kurtas.
The first kurta was a serene light blue ensemble, adorned with delicate white mirror work that catches the eye like scattered stars on a calm night sky.
The second kurta was a bold red masterpiece, its rich fabric alive with intricate gold sequins that danced across the garment like fiery sparks.
"Red!" Vivaan, Aashvika and Sahil yelled out in unison. Vedansh's face split into a grin so wide it crinkled his eyes, pure childlike happiness lighting up his features. Without another thought, he turned and shoved the blue kurta back onto its rack.
He swung back around to Sahil, curiosity replacing the indecision from seconds ago. "What did you pick?" he asked sahil. Sahil's smile went smug and proud as he carefully unfolded the kurta he'd chosen.
Vedansh clapped his hands together. "So, shall we go to the female section now?" he asked.
Aashvika and Vivaan both froze, their eyes widening in shock. For a second they looked like deer caught in headlights, glancing at each other before looking back at vedansh.
"Female section? What will we guys do there?" Vivaan blurted out, his confusion genuine and loud. His brow furrowed.
Vedansh and sahil mentally slapped their foreheads. Without a word to Aashvika, they moved in sync. Their arms snaked around vivaan's neck from either side, and before he could protest, they were dragging him towards a corner of the store. He stumbled, caught off guard, leaving aashvika standing by the billing counter, thoroughly confused and watching the three of them disappear behind a rack of jeans.
Once they'd hauled him far enough. "Vivaan, are you dumb?" Vedansh hissed, keeping his voice low but his irritation very clear.
Vivaan didn't even flinch. He just rolled his eyes, completely unbothered by the accusation. A slow, familiar smirk tugged at his mouth as he fired back, "Says the one who got 8 marks out of 80 in the SST exam in sixth grade."
Sahil snorted at his reply but stayed silent, shoulders shaking as he tried to hold back his laugh. Vedansh, however, wasn't amused. His eyes narrowed and he hissed at vivaan's words. "Arrey! We are not in school right now! This is life! Life exam!" He said it with so much conviction, like he'd just dropped the deepest philosophy while vivaan just stared at him with confusion evident on his face.
Vedansh inhaled a deep breath, visibly gathering patience like he was explaining quantum physics to a toddler. "See..she helped you in picking your outfit..and now imagine, how would she feel seeing you not helping her," He spoke slowly, punctuating each word with a hand gesture as if that would make it sink in faster. Beside him, sahil nodded at his words enthusiastically, his expression deadly serious, like vedansh was some wise sage delivering life lessons from the mountaintop.
Vivaan exhaled a deep breath and went quiet for some moments. His mind swirled with thoughts— guilt, confusion, the faint echo of aashvika's hesitant smile from earlier. He was trying to piece it together, to actually process what vedansh was saying, but before he could land on anything concrete, vedansh's loud, dramatic sigh cut him off.
"Itna mat soch...kyunki kya hi sochegi aashvika, zyada se zyada yahi ki tu ungrateful hai, selfish hai aur ehsaan faramosh hai, aur kya?" He delivered the line with his one hand on his chest, the other waving in the air like he was on stage.
Vivaan rolled his eyes, unimpressed. "Nautanki band kar saste dilip kumar!" he shot back, his voice flat. In one motion, he shrugged off both their hands from his neck and straightened his shirt. Without waiting for another lecture, he turned and walked back towards aashvika, who was still standing awkwardly by the counter, fiddling with the strap of her bag. He stopped in front of her. "We will help you."
Behind him, Vedansh and Sahil grinned like they'd just won a war. They exchanged a quick, sneaky high-five. Aashvika looked at vivaan, surprised for a second, then gave him a subtle nod. She turned and started walking, vivaan walking beside her, Vedansh and Sahil trailing behind like overexcited bodyguards.
They soon reached the women's section. The energy there was completely different— brighter lights, softer music, racks of colorful fabric everywhere and in the middle of it all stood rushika, twirling in front of a full-length mirror in yet another outfit. The changing room curtain was still swaying behind her.
Aashvika stopped dead in her tracks and face palmed herself, the slap of palm against forehead audible. She stared at rushika with disbelief. "Yaar just decide one! This is like the tenth outfit that you're trying on!" Aashvika yelled, her voice laced with annoyance, as rushika kept twirling in front of the mirror.
Vivaan, Sahil and Vedansh, who had already chosen their outfits, were standing next to aashvika, staring at rushika with amusement. The three of them formed a loose half-circle, shopping bags hanging from their wrists. Sahil had his arms crossed, Vedansh leaned against a nearby rack, and Vivaan stood straight.
"Ruk na! I don't like this one!" Rushika yelled back from the mirror. She tugged at the sleeve of the lehenga blouse she was wearing, frowning at her reflection like the fabric had personally offended her.
"Then what do you even like?" Aashvika yelled, throwing up her hands in annoyance.
Finally, after what seemed like eternity, rushika finally liked a lehenga. Her face lit up, eyes widening as she checked herself in the mirror one last time. A triumphant smile spread across her face as she spun around. She came back after changing her outfit.
She walked towards aashvika while holding the bag which held her lehenga secured in one hand and held aashvika's hand with excitement as she spoke, "Mera ho gaya! Let's go and pick out your outfit now!" Her voice bright.
Aashvika looked at her, her expressions deadpan. "Badi meherbani aapki." Sarcasm dripped from her voice. Rushika just giggled nervously, completely unfazed, and grabbed aashvika's wrist, dragging her towards the counter.
The female staff behind the counter looked up with a practiced, welcoming smile as they approached. "Ma'am, show us something for engagement," Aashvika spoke. The staff nodded and immediately went into work mode, her hands moving swiftly as she started pulling pieces from the racks around her. Within minutes the counter was covered with- Saree, Suits, Sharara, Dresses, Anarkali, Gowns. Rich silks, delicate nets, heavy embroidery, and pastel sequins spilled across the glass in a riot of color.
The staff glanced at aashvika, waiting. "What do you want, ma'am?" the female staff asked, her tone patient and attentive.
Aashvika's eyes scanned the spread, but she didn't reach for any of them. "Can you show us lehenga's?" Aashvika asked. There was a quiet certainty in her voice, like she'd already made up her mind about the silhouette if not the details.
The female staff passed her a faint smile and nodded. "The lehenga's are in the other section." the female staff spoke. She stepped out from behind the counter and gestured for them to follow, her heels clicking softly on the floor as she started walking.
The staff led them through a doorway and into a different part of the store. The group along with the staff entered a huge hall where the ceiling seemed higher, the lights warmer. It was lined with numerous mannequins, each one posed elegantly, displaying various types of lehenga's— A-Line, Mermaid, Straight, Anarkali, Ghagra, Sharara, Fusion.
They all strolled around the hall, taking in the endless rows of lehengas. Mannequins stood tall in every direction, each draped in heavy silks, velvets, and shimmering nets.
Rushika's gaze suddenly locked on one particular lehenga tucked between two others. Her eyes lit up and she pointed at it excitedly. "Aashvika see this!" Her voice echoed throughout the hall, bouncing off the high ceiling and making a few other shoppers turn their heads.
Aashvika turned around, following rushika's finger. She stared at the lehenga rushika had picked out. It was a bright red bridal lehenga, the kind worn by actual brides— deep maroon silk, heavy gold zari work, thick border, and a matching dupatta. Aashvika just stared at her in silence for a beat, her expression blank. Then she erupted like a volcano.
"TUM HI PEHEN KARKE JAANA YEH APNE CHACHERI BUA KI SHAADI MEIN!" she yelled, her voice sharp enough to make the mannequin's flinch. The outburst made rushika giggle nervously. "Sha..shaant..bhai.. shaant..." Rushika spoke, trying to defuse the bomb she'd just lit. While aashvika just glared at her harder, arms crossed, unimpressed by the reference.
From behind them, vedansh's head popped up. "Kya kisi ne chichori bua kaha?" he asked with a grin, clearly having heard only half the conversation.
Aashvika and Rushika, in perfect sync, slapped their foreheads. They shared a look and then walked away without a word, moving towards the other lehengas and leaving vedansh standing there.
Vedansh frowned for a second, looking a little lost, but shrugged it off and walked away. He started observing every lehenga with a wide grin, his eyes lingering on the heavier, bridal ones. He muttered under his breath, lost in his own world, "Meri aur uski shaadi mein bhi vo aise lehenge pehnegi..kitni pyaari lagegi." He spoke with stars sparkling in his eyes, a dopey, hopeful smile on his face as he imagined it. The female staff standing behind him overheard it and smiled to herself, her cheeks turning pink.
Vedansh looked around the hall, his eyes scanning past the golds, pinks, and reds until they locked onto a gorgeous blue lehenga. The fabric was a light blue, scattered with silver work that shimmered like stars. Before anyone could react, he rushed towards it with the focus of a man on a mission. The staff, caught off guard, scrambled and ran behind him. He stopped in front of the mannequin, grinning widely while staring at it.
He glanced back over his shoulder and saw aashvika standing on the opposite side, her attention fixed on a different lehenga. "Bhabhi, see this one!" he called out, his voice bright with excitement. And before anyone could say or react, he bent down, grabbed the mannequin by its waist, and dashed towards aashvika with it.
The staff's eyes widened in horror. "Sir! Sir, please!" they hissed, immediately rushing towards him with their hands outstretched.
Aashvika turned around at his voice and froze. She saw vedansh rushing towards her with the entire mannequin in his hands, its plastic face bobbing with each step. Her eyes went wide.
When suddenly, his foot slipped on the polished floor and his balance stumbled. The mannequin tilted dangerously.
Aashvika let out a gasp and closed her eyes in horror, bracing herself, ready to fall or get crushed. But before she could do anything, a hand reached out to her— Vivaan's —pulling her out of the way in one swift motion. She stumbled back into him.
Vedansh, to his horror, couldn't stop himself in time. His momentum carried him forward and he crashed into the line of mannequin's standing in front of him. He fell on the floor along with 4-5 mannequin's with a loud thud that echoed through the hall. The sound of plastic hitting marble and fabric rustling filled the air.
Sahil and Rushika stared at him, completely stunned, their mouths slightly open. On the floor, tangled in blue silk and plastic limbs, vedansh groaned in pain, one hand going to his head while the other rested on his lower back.
Aashvika slowly opened her eyes, her lashes fluttering against her cheeks. The first thing her gaze fell onto was Vivaan's chest— the dark fabric of his shirt right in front of her face. Her breath hitched in her throat. Instinctively, she placed both her hands on vivaan's chest to steady herself, and felt the faint beats of his heart under her palms, strong and fast. Her own heartbeat spiked in response, drumming against her ribs as her cheeks flushed pink.
The closeness between them was overwhelming— the warmth of him, the faint scent of his cologne, the way there was barely an inch of space left. With an emotion suddenly rising in her, she exhaled a deep, shaky breath and looked up.
Her gaze fell on vivaan's face. He was staring at her with an unreadable expression— something deep, raw, and intense that made her forget how to swallow. His arms were wrapped around her, caging her in his arms, his grip firm yet gentle like he was afraid she'd shatter. His hands held her arms carefully, thumbs pressed lightly against her skin, keeping her steady to not let her fall. They both were looking at each other with intensity, their eyes locked. The noise of the store, the groaning from the floor, the chaos— the world around them slowly faded away as they let themselves be wrapped in the magic floating around them.
Vedansh, still on the ground, still groaning in pain, looked up through the mess of mannequin's and fabric. His gaze fell on Vivaan and Aashvika, who were standing at the corner, looking at each other like they were the only two people in the world. A small, pained smile tugged at his lips. He was happy for them both, genuinely but the sharp throb in his back wasn't letting him smile freely. He winced, shifting slightly, and spoke, "Tum dono ka romance ho gaya ho toh mujhe utha lo."
Hearing vedansh's words, vivaan and aashvika immediately came to their senses. They immediately moved away from each other, both clearing their throats, looking anywhere but at each other as heat rushed to their faces. They walked towards him and bent down, each grabbing an arm to help him stand up. Rushika and Sahil also walked towards him, their shoulders shaking while they tried to stifle their laughter.
"Kisne bola tha tujhe bahubali ban ne ko?" Vivaan asked, his voice dry as he hauled vedansh to his feet. Vedansh glared at him, wincing with every movement. Aashvika, Sahil, and Rushika tried to stifle their chuckles, turning their faces away and biting their lips.
"Main toh bas aashvika ko ache se lehenga dikhana chaahta tha!" Vedansh spoke, gritting his teeth, his pride clearly bruised more than his back. Rushika snorted at that, unable to hold it in any longer. "Vo andhi thodi hai..door se bhi dikh jaata lehenga!" she spoke, hands on her hips.
Vedansh turned around to look at her, ready to fire back a retort, but before he could say anything, he froze. His eyes went wide. His face became pale, all the color draining out in a second, and he stood there frozen.
Rushika, Sahil, Aashvika, and Vivaan stared at him in confusion, the laughter dying in their throats. They followed his gaze, looking in the direction he was looking at.
There they were.
The staff members. Four of them. Looking at them, their expressions deadpan, their arms crossed in front of their chest. The store manager stood in the center, her jaw tight. Annoyance was visible on each one's face - no, not annoyance. Pure, cold fury.
The door of the boutique slammed shut behind them with a final, echoing thud as they all stared at it from the street.
And this was the tale of how they were all kicked out of the boutique on a cold sunday afternoon of december. With vedansh still limping, hiding behind aashvika who's cheeks were still flushed crimson, sahil biting back his laughter and vivaan and rushika glaring at him with a faint trail of blue lehenga sequins marking their defeat.
But was it the end of their chaos?
Maybe yes.
Maybe not.
Maybe never.
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Thank you for reading 🌸
Y'ALL THAT “8 OUT OF 80 MARKS” IS ON A REAL LIFE BASED STORY, MY BROTHER GOT THOSE MARKS IN SIXTH GRADE💀💀🙏🏻
Not vedansh out here being the cupid and almost breaking his backbone for a goddamn lehenga😭 Ngl THAT IS THE MOST VEDANSH THING TO DO😭🥀
AND THE PEAK INTIMACY OF VIVAAN AND AASHVIKA😔💅🏻
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Biee! Take care<3 🌸
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