Ruhi’s POV
After Shrey and Ayan dragged me to practice for the sangeet dance, we practiced for almost an hour. I was extremely tired and my legs were hurting badly, so I went back to my room to rest.
I woke up when I heard someone knocking on my door. I groaned but still went to open it. Rishabh bhai was standing there, holding a plate of food. I stepped aside to let him in, and right behind him, all my brothers walked in each one carrying a plate.
“What are you guys doing here?” I asked.
“Well, we were hungry and couldn’t wait anymore for you to come down, so we decided to come here. So let’s eat,” Parth said and sat on my bed.
“Yes, Ruhi, now don’t talk much. Let’s eat, we’re hungry,” Rahul added.
We all sat down and started eating basically, me feeding everyone and them feeding me. It felt nice. It had been so long since we siblings sat together like this.
“Isn’t it?” Rahul said.
“Yes,” everyone agreed.
Then Rishabh bhai asked, “How are your legs now? Are they still hurting?”
I could see they were all concerned. “Chill guys, I’m fine. I’m not that weak that I’ll get hurt easily.”
We finished our food while talking and joking. Everyone was sleepy since it was already 11, and we’d all woken up early. So Rishabh bhai said everyone should go to sleep now because from tomorrow the guests would start coming.
“Ughh, I don’t want to socialise. Especially with someone who saw me when I was two years old and will ask, ‘Do you remember me?’” Rahul complained.
Parth nodded. “Yeah, and then they’ll start telling us that after Aadi bhai’s wedding, it’ll be our turn to get married.”
The three of us, Rahul, and Parth and I looked at each other and groaned together.
“Now I need to start thinking of some excuse so they won’t start introducing me to some guy,” I said.
Rishabh bhai patted my head. “Don’t worry, princess. No one will pressure you to marry. And if someone does, I will handle them.”
I gave him a genuine smile. “I know, bhai,” I said and hugged him. Then I said goodnight to all of them, and they left.
An hour passed since my brothers left, and I was trying to sleep but couldn’t. I don’t know why, but I wasn’t feeling good like something was going to happen. I got up and went to the balcony for some fresh air.
I stood there thinking about everything that had happened, especially about one person I just couldn’t stop thinking about. I don’t know why, but whenever I see him, I feel something different, something I’ve never felt for anyone. I don’t know what these feelings are, but I know I need to figure them out.
I took a deep breath and was about to go inside when I looked up at the terrace.
Aayansh was sitting on the railing, resting his back against the wall, one leg on the railing and the other hanging down. A cigarette in one hand. He was looking directly at me with a blank expression, like he was studying me.
I froze and stared at him. He stared back.
Then he pulled out his phone, typed something, and looked at me again.
My phone vibrated.
It was from him.
My breath hitched when I read the message:
“Don’t look at me like this or…”
I replied: “Or else what?”
I don’t know why, but I wanted to know… I waited for the message.
It didn’t come.
Then I looked up and he wasn’t there anymore.
Suddenly, my phone rang.
It was Aayansh.
I picked it up. “Hello?”
“Ruuh…” he said.
I froze. The way he said my name gave me butterflies. I don’t even know why I never stopped him from calling me that. I never allow anyone to call me “Ruuh.” Not even my family except for my dad.
He used to call me “Ruuh.”
When I asked him why, he said:
“Aap hamari jaan ho Ruuh, isliye hum aapko Ruuh bulate hain.”{ “You are ourlife, Ruuh, that’s why we call you Ruuh.”}
At that time, I was too young to understand. But now I know. And after Dad left us, no one called me that again… until Aayansh came into my life.
I was lost in my thoughts when I heard him say,
“Are you okay, Ruuh?”
I hummed. I didn’t know if I was okay or not. Too many things were on my mind.
Then he said, “Ruuh, you should sleep. It’s getting late.”
I don’t know why, but I told him, “I can’t sleep.”
He said, “Just go and lie on the bed.”
I did as he said and closed my eyes, not hanging up the call. I could hear him breathing… and then he started singing. I don’t even know when I fell asleep
Aayansh’s POV
After those two chippkus took Ruhi away for dance practice, I also went back to my room because I didn’t want to see Shrey and Ruhi dancing together. I tried to distract myself with work. Later, I went downstairs for dinner, hoping I’d see her, but everyone was at the dining table except Ruhi.
I got worried if she was okay.
Then Rishabh asked, “Where is Ruhi?”
Shrey replied, “She was so tired after practice that she went to sleep. And for dinner she didn’t even eat lunch properly, she was too busy with the preparations.”
Aditya got up. “I’ll go bring her. She always does this skips meals.”
Dadi stopped him. “Don’t go. Let her sleep. She’s done a lot of work today. And even if you wake her up now, she won’t eat properly. Let her rest, then ask her to eat.”
Aditya sat down and everyone continued eating. Her brothers didn’t.
My mom asked them, “Why are you all not eating?”
Rahul replied, “Aunty, we’ll eat with Ruhi. Because we know she won’t eat alone. She’ll make some excuse, so we’ll all eat together.”
Her Dadu groaned. “That’s not fair! If I didn’t have to take my medicine, I would have also waited for my princess.”
Dadi glared at him. “Don’t even think about it. If she finds out you didn’t take your medicine on time and missed your dose because of her, she’ll get angry and stop talking to you.”
He grumbled, “That’s why I am eating… otherwise I would’ve had dinner with my princess.”
Honestly, I also wanted to have dinner with her. But I knew I couldn’t today.
We finished eating and sat in the living area. Everyone was talking to each other. I sat quietly, listening, and glancing at the stairs every few minutes, hoping she would come.
Then Parth groaned, “It’s 11. Now I’m hungry.”
Rishabh got up. “Let’s go to her room. We’ll have food there only.”
They went to the kitchen, filled their plates, and walked toward her room.
I also wanted to go… but I didn’t.
So I quietly said, “I’m going to my room. Goodnight,” and left.
Back in my room, I tried to complete some office work, because from tomorrow once the guests arrive I won’t be able to do much. But while working, I couldn’t stop thinking about Ruhi. I really wanted to go to her.
I groaned and told myself to focus, to stop thinking about her.
Which I obviously couldn’t.
I gave up, wrapped my work, and went to the terrace to get some fresh air.
I sat on the railing, resting my back on the wall, one leg on the railing and the other hanging down. From there, I could see Ruhi’s balcony. I hoped to see her… but she was probably sleeping.
I sighed and pulled out a cigarette.
Then suddenly, her balcony door opened.
She walked out.
My breath hitched. This girl will be the reason for my death. Even half-asleep, she looks pretty the way she was rubbing her eyes…
But behind that calm face, I know she hides something. Something from her past. Someday, I hope she’ll tell me everything.
As she turned to go back inside, she looked up.
Our eyes met.
Neither of us looked away.
I took out my phone and messaged her:
“Don’t look at me like this or…”
I didn’t complete the message. I just sent it.
She replied: “Or else what?”
Instead of texting back, I called her.
She picked up.
“Ruuh,” I said.
She didn’t say anything, so I said again, softly,
“Ruuh, you should sleep. It’s getting late.”
But she replied, “I can’t sleep.”
I told her, “Just go and lie on the bed.”
She did exactly that. I also went to my room. I didn’t hang up. I started singing, and a few minutes later when I heard her soft, deep breathing, I knew she had fallen asleep.
I slept without cutting the call.
Next Morning
I woke up at 7 and checked my phone. It was off. I put it on charge, freshened up, and went downstairs.
Ruhi was already awake, running around helping with the decorations and telling everyone what to do for tonight’s mehendi function.
This girl was literally everywhere fixing things, arranging, correcting.
She climbed a ladder to fix some flowers she thought weren’t placed properly.
As she finished and was climbing down, she slipped.
I don’t even know how I reached there so fast, but I caught her in time.
Her eyes were closed, but she slowly opened them and our eyes met.
I placed her down and snapped, “Are you crazy? What if I wasn’t here? You would’ve fallen! Why did you even climb up the ladder? You could have asked someone else!”
I shouted.
She just looked into my eyes… blinking continuously so she wouldn’t cry.
I softened. “Ruhhh… I didn’t mean”
But she didn’t say anything.
She just ran away.
I scolded myself. Why did I have to yell? I could’ve spoken normally.
Evening
It was 5 PM and most guests had arrived.
As expected, Ruhi was angry with me. She had been avoiding me all day. Every time I tried to go near her, she ran away. This girl is exactly like a cat.
Everyone was getting ready, so this was the only chance I had to talk to her.
I went to her room and knocked.
Ruhi opened the door just a little, enough for her face to show, but not enough for me to enter.
The moment our eyes met, she looked away instantly, pretending to fix her dupatta even though it was perfectly fine.
I cleared my throat.
“Ruhi, I need to talk to you.”
She didn’t say anything, just pressed her lips together and shook her head softly.
Then she tried to close the door.
I stopped it with my hand.
“Ruhi… please.”
My voice came out lower, softer.
She still didn’t look at me.
“Everyone is waiting downstairs,” she said quickly, trying to sound normal. “I have work to do”
“You’ve been avoiding me all day,” I said.
Her hand froze on the door handle.
“And you shouted at me in the morning,” she replied sharply, still not meeting my eyes.
I sighed and pushed the door open gently, not forcing it, just enough for me to step in. She stepped back automatically, her eyes widening because she clearly wasn’t expecting me to walk inside.
She looked angry, but beautiful.
“Ruhi…” I said again.
She crossed her arms and finally looked at me.
“What?”
Her voice was small, tired.
I took a slow breath.
“I didn’t mean to shout at you in the morning. I just… I got scared.”
She blinked, confused.
“Scared? Of what?”
“Of losing you,” I said before I could stop myself.
She froze.
Even I froze.
Her eyes softened for a fraction of a second just a second but then she tore her gaze away quickly, like she didn’t want me to see how that made her feel.
“You overreacted,” she whispered.
“Yes. I know I did.”
I stepped closer. “And I’m sorry.”
She didn’t respond. I could see she was fighting her emotions the way her breathing changed, the way her fingers fidgeted with her dupatta.
“Ruhi?” I whispered.
She lifted her eyes slowly, and the moment she did, she regretted it because she knew she couldn’t look into my eyes without melting.
So she looked away again.
“Aayansh… I don’t want to fight,” she said quietly.
“I don’t either,” I replied.
There was a long pause.
Her eyes fell on the floor. “Everyone is waiting downstairs… I should go.”
She tried to leave, but I accidentally blocked her path.
Not intentionally… but maybe a little intentionally.
She looked up at me with those big eyes.
“Aayansh move.”
“Not until you stop being upset with me.”
“I’m not upset,” she lied instantly.
“You are.”
“No, I’m not.”
“You haven’t looked at me properly the entire day.”
Her cheeks turned pink.
“Because you shouted!” she finally burst.
I had to smile.
I couldn’t help it.
“Okay,” I said softly. “Shout at me back. Khud ki frustration nikaal lo.” { “Go ahead, take out your frustration.”}
She narrowed her eyes.
“I don’t want to shout.”
“Then what do you want to do?”
Her eyes widened like she hadn’t expected that question.
“I..I want to go downstairs,” she muttered.
I stepped aside slowly but kept looking at her.
She walked past me, but before she could leave, her heel got stuck in the carpet. She stumbled, and I grabbed her wrist instantly.
Again.
For the second time today.
And just like earlier, she closed her eyes for a second… then opened them slowly.
“Aayansh…” she whispered.
Her voice sounded almost like a confession.
I gently let go of her hand, but I didn’t move away.
“Ruhi,” I said, “I’m sorry.”
She swallowed.
“It’s okay.”
“It’s not ‘okay’ unless you say it properly.”
She finally looked at me with a mix of irritation and soft emotions.
“Aayansh… I’m not angry anymore.”
I smiled.
She looked away immediately.
Before she could escape again, I whispered,
“You look beautiful, Ruhi.”
She froze.
Her breath hitched.
Then her ears turned completely red. And she rushed out of the room before I could say anything else.
I stood there smiling like an idiot.
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