Aayansh POV
Next Morning
It was 8:00, and all the elders had gathered downstairs for the pooja. They had also somehow brought the youngsters, but still a few of them were missing. Everyone was wearing traditional clothes and looking gorgeous. The only ones left to arrive were Aditya and Ruhi.
After some time, Avni dragged Aditya down, who was still a little sleepy. Rekha, his grandmother, scolded him, “It’s the pooja for your wedding, and you are the only one who is late.”
“Sorry, Daddi,” he said, and then complained after noticing Ruhi wasn’t there either. “You only see me being late, but your granddaughter is also not here.”
Then Inderjeet (grandfather) slightly hit him on the head and said, “My princess woke up at 5 and was helping with everything. She just went to get ready. She is not irresponsible like you.”
Before anyone could say anything, everyone’s eyes, not just mine, turned to the staircase where Ruhi was coming down. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her. She really looked like an angel.
I don’t know how long I was staring at her when Reya nudged me with her elbow. “Bro, stop staring. If any of her brothers see you gawking at her, then you won’t be able to attend my wedding.”
I looked at her. “If it wasn’t your wedding, I would have strangled you.”
“Oh, you want to kill me? That’s sad, I was thinking of helping you,” Riya said.
I instantly asked, “How?”
She replied, “I thought I would pair you with her for the sangeet dance, but now I have to rethink and maybe pair her with Shrey.”
“You won’t do that, right?” I asked her.
“I can,” she smirked. “As someone was thinking of strangling me.”
I was scolding myself for saying that, but I knew how to convince her.
“What do you want? Just tell me, I’ll give it to you.”
“Umm… let me think,” she replied. “Chanel’s latest handbag.”
“OK, I’ll buy it. Send me the photo or link, I’ll order it.”
“Thank you, you’re the best.” She hugged me.
“Yeah, now you’ll pair me with Ruhi, not that Shrey.”
“Yes, I’ll do that. And if you keep giving me rewards, I might help you court her.”
“Okay, deal.” We made the deal.
During the pooja, Riya asked me to sit behind her. I didn’t know why, but I did as she said. Then Riya called Ruhi and made her sit beside me, behind Aditya. I don’t know what she told Ruhi, but she sat. Riya looked at me and winked. I mouthed “thank you.”
As we were sitting, I was staring at her. Damn, she looked so beautiful. I couldn’t stop myself from staring. Then Aayan came and sat on her lap. This chippku is always glued to her, and if he isn’t there, then her idiot friend will be.
I was pulled out of my dreamland when I felt someone nudging me. I saw it was Aayan. He looked at me and said, “Bhaiya, stop looking at my Bui.”
My eyes widened at what he said, and Ruhi coughed a little after hearing it, but luckily no one else heard.
I was still glancing at her between intervals, but then the chippku suddenly started coughing nonstop. I guess it was due to the smoke, and Ruhi got up and took him away. I saw her sitting far away where the smoke couldn’t reach. I also got up, pretended to take a call, and went to sit where Ruhi was.
I saw that Chippku was now sleeping on her lap.
Ruhi looked at me and asked, “Why are you sitting here?”
I replied, “I can sit wherever I want.”
I leaned a little toward her and said, “You’re looking beautiful today, Ruhi.”
I saw a small smile appear on her face, but she instantly composed herself. If I wasn’t focused on her, I would have missed it.
Then she turned to me, looked into my eyes, and asked, “What do you mean? I don’t look beautiful every day?”
“I didn’t mean that. You always look beautiful. Genuinely, you look so pretty that every time you come in front of me, I can’t look away from you. I just want to keep looking at you.”
I was blabbering. When I stopped, I saw her looking at me. I couldn’t guess her emotions. Her lips were slightly parted.
“No, I didn’t mean to say this… I mean not like this” I continued blabbering, and then suddenly stopped when she held my hand and said, “ Aayansh…” Damn. The way she said my name.
She was saying something when someone called her name. And I knew who it was. I recognized that kabab me haddi voice. Shrey. { The ultimate third wheel}
“Ruhi, what are you both doing here?” he asked. Before she could reply, I said, “Ghar ghar khel rahe hai. Ye” I pointed at Ruhi, “meri biwi hai, aur main iska pati. Aur ye” I pointed at Aayan, “hamara beta. Aur tum hamare padosi. Jab dekho tang adane aa jaate ho.” { “We’re playing house. This,” I pointed at Ruhi, “is my wife, and I’m her husband. And this,” I pointed at Aayan, “is our son. And you are our neighbor. You keep showing up to interfere every chance you get.”}
Ruhi started laughing, and Shrey looked at me like, are you serious?
Ruhi tried controlling her laughter because Aayan was sleeping.
“What are you talking about, Aayansh?” Shrey asked.
Before I could reply, Ruhi said, “Don’t mind him, he is joking. He’s just like that. Don’t pay attention to what he says.”
He leaned a little toward Ruhi and whispered loud enough to hear everyone around us, “I think you should stay away from him. He is kind of weird.”
Ruhi again started laughing. I glared at her, and she tried to suppress her laughter.
Then I said, “I can hear what you’re saying, Shrey.”
He covered his mouth. “You can hear what I said?” dramatically
“Yes. If you want to say something secretly, you have to speak in a low voice, not loudly that even people sitting far away can hear.”
He looked around and saw a few people were giving him weird looks. He hurriedly got up, said he had some work, and left.
As he went away, Ruhi again started laughing.
“Shut up, Ruhi, or I’ll kiss you.”
She stopped instantly. “Shameless! How can you say something like that? We’re in a temple!”
I smirked. “So it’s okay if I talk like this when we go back?”
She looked away.
“Ruhi… listen, Ruhi” I kept calling, but she wasn’t looking at me. Then I said, “Ruhh”
She instantly turned.
“You only listen when I call you Ruhh.”
“What do you want to say?” she asked irritably.
“You should laugh more. And even smile.”
The irritation on her face vanished, but she didn’t say anything.
We sat quietly without speaking.
I was playing with her dupatta.
As the pooja got over, Avni bhabhi came to us. She looked at both of us and smiled teasingly, which Ruhi didn’t see. She took Aayan with her and left.
I got up and was waiting for Ruhi. But when she tried to stand, she stumbled. Luckily, I caught her. Then everyone came to us.
“What, Ruhi? Are you okay?” everyone asked.
Ruhi tried again but her legs were numb since she was sitting for a long time with Aayan on her lap.
“Yes, I’m fine. My legs just got numb. It will be fine.”
Everyone relaxed. Her Badi Maa advised her to move a little. But again, as she stood, she stumbled. I caught her again, and this time I picked her up in my arms and started walking towards our car while everyone watched.
Ruhi tried wiggling and told me to put her down, that she could walk, but I ignored her.
When I reached my car, I told her to open the door. She did. I placed her in the front seat and leaned toward her.
“What are you doing, Aayansh? Everyone will be here.” She put her hands on my chest.
I whispered, “Then let them see.”
She stared at me while I put her seatbelt on and backed away. She looked shocked. I smirked.
“You” she pointed at me, then clenched her fist and looked away.
My jungli billi {my wild cat } was angry again.
Everyone came, and I saw my mom giving me that “we need to talk” look. Then Rishabh came to Ruhi and asked if she was okay. She said she was fine, just that her legs hurt a little.
Then Rishabh looked at me. And that one look was enough to understand
I am watching you, bro. Stay away from my sister.
But if he is Rishabh Raichand, then I am also Aayansh Singhania.
And nothing in this world can make me stay away from my Ruuh.
We drove back home and everyone went to rest. I went to my room. Then I got a call from my sister saying mom was calling me to her room.
I knew what she wanted to talk about.
I prepared myself and went.
But I didn’t know the whole family and my friends too, would be there except Aditya and his family.
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