3

"You don't just fill the empty spaces in my life, you make them beautiful."

After few hours, avanthika stirred in her sleep as a strange sound reached her ears. She groggily opened her eyes, not sure if it was her imagination. Just then, her phone buzzed.

She answered the call, her voice soft and sleepy. "Hello?"

On the other end, Abhimanyu's voice was calm yet urgent. "Kidki toh kolo sahiba, andhar ana hey."

(Open the window, madam. I need to come inside)

Avanthika's heart skipped a beat when she noticed him standing below her window. Throwing off her blanket, she ran to the window and flung it open.

"You're here?" she whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief and joy.

He looked up, a smirk dancing on his lips as he signaled that he was going to climb up. Without a second thought, she nodded. In moments, he scaled the wall and swung himself into her room.

The moment his feet touched the floor, Avanthika closed the distance between them and threw her arms around him.

He stiffened for a moment, caught off guard by her sudden hug, but quickly melted into it, wrapping his arms around her protectively.

"You actually came?" she asked, her voice barely audible as she looked into his eyes.

"Sirf tere liye" he replied, his tone soft but resolute.

(Only for you)

They moved back into the room, sitting on the edge of her bed, their hands still intertwined.

"Sach mein mere liye aaye aap?"

(Did you really come here just for me?)

"Ji, sahiba."

(Yes, my lady.)

"Aur aapka meeting?"

(And your meeting?)

"Meeting hogaya, aur jaise hi khatam hua, yahan aa gaya."

(It's done, and the moment it was over, I came here.)

She shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Aap pagal hain."

(You're crazy.)

"Pagal toh hoon, par sirf tere liye."

(Crazy, yes, but only for you.)

They sat on the couch, the dim light casting soft shadows across the room. He broke the silence, looking at her with a gentle smile. "Mein tumhe yaad aa raha hoon?"

(Am I on your mind?)

She hesitated for a moment before responding, her cheeks tinged with a soft blush. "Sach kahun? Do din se aap bahut yaad aa rahe ho."

(To be honest, I've been thinking about you a lot these past two days.")

"Achhi baat hai," he replied, his smile widening as her shyness deepened.

(That's good to hear.)

Gathering courage, she continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "Hum dobara mil rahe hain, par... I feel so good with you. Maine kabhi aisa feel nahi kiya kisi ke saath."

(We're meeting again, but... I feel so good with you. I've never felt this way with anyone else.)

Her words seemed to warm his heart as his gaze softened. "Mere toh duniya iss palace ki diwaaron mein hai. Bahar nahi ja sakta mein," she continued.

(My entire world is within the walls of this palace. I can't go outside.)

"Par us din match dekhne aaye the na?" he asked.

(But you came to watch the match that day, right?)

A small, almost mischievous grin appeared on her face. "Haan, sneak kiya tha us din. Uske baad, Pappa ne bohot daanta."

(Yes, I sneaked out that day. Afterward, Dad scolded me a lot.)

Just then he got up from the couch, extending his hand toward her with quiet determination. "Chalo, utho," he said, his voice steady and inviting.

(Come on, get up.)

She looked at him curiously, unsure of what he meant. "Kahan?" she asked softly, her brow furrowing.

(Where?)

"Bahar jayenge," he replied simply, a glint of excitement in his eyes.

(We'll go outside.)

A shadow of doubt crossed her face as she lowered her gaze. "I can't come,".

"Kyun?" he asked, his tone filled with genuine curiosity.

(Why?)

"They won't send me," she said, looking away from his hand.

A small smirk played on his lips as he tilted his head, studying her.

"You're a princess, right?"

"Hmmm," she nodded lightly, unsure of where this conversation was going.

"Toh unhe bol do ki kal raat tak tumhare kamre mein na aayein," he said, his suggestion both bold and mischievous.

(Then tell them not to enter your room until tomorrow night.)

"Kal raat tak?" she asked in surprise.

(Until tomorrow night?)

"Haan, wapas aane tak utna time lagega," he replied with ease, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

(Yes, it will take that long to return.)

"Main nahi aaungi," she said firmly, shaking her head.

(I won't come.)

He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a softer yet more earnest tone.

"Zindagi jeeni hai na tujhe?"

(You want to live your life, don't you?)

She hesitated, the weight of his question pressing on her. Slowly, almost, she nodded.

"Then come with me," he urged again, his hand still outstretched.

She quickly called her maid and stepped out of the room. "Don't disturb me until tomorrow night," she said firmly. The maid hesitated for a brief moment, puzzled by the unusual request, but eventually nodded in agreement.

Avanthika returned to her room, closing the door behind her with a soft thud. She leaned back against the door for a moment, steadying her breath. Turning to him, she smiled faintly, her nervousness slowly giving way to excitement.

"I told the maid to inform everyone not to disturb me till tomorrow night," she said.

He grinned, his expression filled with a mix of amusement and anticipation. "Ab chalein?" he asked, stepping forward and extending his hand toward her once again.

(Shall we go now?)

Her gaze fell on his outstretched hand, she hesitated, as though fully realizing what she was about to do. But then, without further thought, she slipped her hand into his. His warmth steadied her, and with that touch, her fears seemed to fade away.

He led her to the window and peered outside, inspecting the drop. "Can you get down through the window?" he asked.

"Aap hain na sambhalne ke liye?" she replied, her tone playful yet firm, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips.

(You're here to catch me, aren't you?)

He chuckled softly, shaking his head at her confidence. "Always," he muttered under his breath, moving closer to help her.

With him she climbed onto the windows, the cool night breeze brushing against her face. Her heart raced as she glanced down. With his steady hands supporting her, she carefully climbed down. He followed close behind, landing silently on the grass beside her.

With his help, they began to climb. The stone surface was rough beneath her hands, and her breath came in short gasps, but she didn't stop. Step by step, they got down the wall.

They got into his car, and he started driving with a calm expression on his face. Avanthika glanced at him and asked, "Where are we going?" Her voice was curious yet tinged with anticipation.

"To live life," he replied simply, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

■

As the hours passed, she rested her head against the window, the cool night air brushing her face. Abhimanyu glanced at her, noticing how her eyes were half-closed, her head gently leaning against the window.

"Nind aa rahi hai kya?" he asked, adjusting her seat belt.

(Are you getting sleepy?)

"Nahi, nahi," she replied quickly, straightening up, a hint of embarrassment in her tone.

(No, no.)

Abhimanyu didn't press further, sensing she wanted to stay awake, so he kept driving. After a while, they arrived at a small roadside tea stall. He pulled over and stopped the car.

Avanthika looked at him, a bit confused. "Aapko yaha kuch kaam hai?" she asked, glancing at the small, humble stall.

(Do you have some work here?)

He smiled lightly. "Haan, hum dono ko".

(Yes, both of us do.)

She followed him out of the car, there was a small bench next to the tea stall, and they both sat down. Abhimanyu turned toward the tea stall vendor, who was busy arranging cups.

"Bhaiya, do chai."

(Brother, two teas)

Avanthika looked around, her eyes taking in the scene. This was nothing like the royal life she was used to. The small tea stall, the cool breeze, the quiet simplicity of it all she had never experienced anything like this before. She felt free in a way that was new.

"Pehli baar?" Abhimanyu asked, noticing the wonder in her eyes.

(First time?)

She nodded, a soft blush creeping up her cheeks. It was true. She had never stepped out in such an informal, carefree manner.

The coolness of the night started and she instinctively rubbed her arms to warm herself. Abhimanyu noticed her shivering and, without a word, took off his coat. He draped it over her shoulders.

"Aapko tand nai lagta?" she asked, looking at him in surprise.

(Don't you feel cold?)

He simply smiled at her, a reassuring look in his eyes. "Tum pehno."

(You wear it.)

She hesitated for a moment, but then, with a smil

The chai arrived, and they both took their cups. Abhimanyu took a sip, but Avanthika held her cup in her hands, bringing it close to her lips but not drinking. The tea was too hot, and she frowned slightly, unsure how to drink it without burning herself. She set the cup aside, a small pout forming on her lips.

"Kya hua, kyun nahi piye?" he asked, noticing her hesitation and the way she was carefully placing the cup down.

(What happened? Why aren't you drinking it?)

"Garam hai," she replied, her voice soft and a little apologetic.

(It's too hot.)

He chuckled lightly at her response, his eyes warm with amusement. "Pehli baar aise tea stall pe aayi ho tum?" he asked, teasing her gently.

(Is this the first time you've come to a tea stall like this?)

"Ji," she nodded, her smile shy but genuine.

(Yes.)

As they sat there, sipping their tea, a rustling sound came from the nearby tree bushes. Avanthika's eyes widened, and a shiver of fear ran through her. She turned toward the sound, her voice trembling. "Vo awaaz kya hai?"

(What's that sound?)

Abhimanyu smirked and teased her, his voice playful. "Bhoot yeh yaha".

(A ghost, here)

At his words, Avanthika immediately grabbed his hand, her heart racing in panic. She quickly sat beside him, seeking comfort, her eyes wide with unease. Abhimanyu laughed softly, realizing how easily he had startled her. "Main mazak kar raha tha."

(I was just joking.)

She relaxed, letting out a soft sigh, though her heart was still beating a little faster. They continued to drink their tea, the tension slowly fading away.

Abhimanyu broke the silence after a few moments, his eyes never leaving her. "Tea kaisi hai?"

(How is the tea?)

"Achi hai," she replied, giving him a small smile.

(It's good.)

Suddenly, a song began to play from the tea stall speaker. "Ek ladki ko dekha toh aisa laga." His gaze shifted to her, and she couldn't help but blush under the intensity of his stare. As the lyrics of the song filled the air, he couldn't resist. With a mischievous smile, he softly started singing along, his eyes locked on hers, making the moment feel as if the world had faded into just the two of them.

O mere sohneya ve

Chhadd saari galiyaan mai

Naal tere turr chala mai

Le chal tu mujhko duniya se door

He slided towards her shaking his shoulder and drank the tea in one go and continued singing.

Rang jaani re marjaani ra

Kahni jo thi keh do woh baat

Rang jaani re marjaani ra

Kahni jo thi keh do woh baat

Abhimanyu got up from his place and started to dance and sing at the same time. Avanthika couldn't help but blush at the way he is dancing and singing.

He took her hand in his and twirled her and dancing with her.

■

Abhimanyu turned to her with a mischievous smile. "Chalo, ab jayenge," he said. She nodded, and hey both got into the car. "It seems like it will rain soon".

(Come, let's go)

After a while, the car slowed down, and Abhimanyu brought it to a stop in front of a house. Avanthika glanced at him, her brow furrowing. "Yeh kis ka ghar hai?" she asked.

(Whose house is this?)

He smirked, his gaze playful as he responded, "Tumhare hone wale sasural ka."

(This is your future in-laws' house)

Avanthika rolled her eyes, at his answer. "Really?" she said.

They got out of the car together, and Abhimanyu led the way. As they approached the door, he turned to her with a grin. "Mera ghar yeh hai, aao," he said, gesturing for her to follow him inside.

(This is my house, come on in.)

They stood in front of the door for a moment before Abhimanyu pressed the doorbell. After a moment, the door opened to reveal his mother, a kind woman with a warm smile. Her gaze softened when she saw her son, but her expression quickly shifted to one of concern. "Itni der kyun hui?" she asked.

(Why did you take so long?)

Abhimanyu simply gestured toward Avanthika, his hand indicating her presence beside him. His mother's eyes widened in surprise as she took in the sight of Avanthika standing there, looking a little unsure. She leaned in slightly with curiosity on her face. "Abhi ye kaun hai, itni pyaari si ladki?"

(Who is this, such a lovely girl?)

Abhimanyu, with a playful gleam in his eyes, answered, "Friend hai, par friend se zyada hai."

(She's a friend, but more than just a friend.)

His mother smiled warmly, understanding the implication behind his words. "Andar aao," she said, stepping aside to allow them both in.

(Come inside.)

With that, they walked into the house, the door closing softly behind them, as Abhimanyu's mother welcomed them both with open arms.

His mom told avanthika to sit while Abhimanyu went to his room to get changed. After changing he came out of his room and heard his parents talking with avanthika.

Abhimanyu's parents were in the middle of a conversation with Avanthika when he stepped outside. He watched as his father asked with curiosity, "Tumhari ghar kaha hai, beta?"

(Where is your house, dear?)

Before Avanthika could respond, Abhimanyu walked in with a grin on his face and teased, "Ghar nahi, tumhara palace kaha hai puchna."

(Not a house, you should be asking where your palace is.)

His parents were left speechless, their eyes wide with shock. They exchanged glances, trying to process his words.

"Maa, Pappa, Avanthika Jaipur ki princess hai."

(Mom, Dad, Avanthika is the princess of Jaipur.)

Abhimanyu's mom and dad frozen for a moment, their expressions filled with disbelief. Their jaws dropped slightly, unable to understand what they had just heard.

"Enough of being shocked, just act normal now," Abhimanyu told his parents, breaking the awkward silence.

"Okay, okay! Let's not drag this. Come, let's have dinner. It's getting late," his mom said with a smile, gesturing everyone toward the dining table.

As they settled in, his mom began filling Avanthika's plate with variety of dishes. Avanthika, feeling overwhelmed by the attention, tried to stop her. "Aunty, this is too much! I can't eat all this."

"Don't feel shy. You're too thin, you need to eat properly. Besides, you're family now," his mom said warmly.

Avanthika's cheeks turned a deep shade of pink as she glanced nervously at Abhimanyu. He sat across from her, clearly enjoying her flustered state. His lips curled into a playful smirk, and she felt her heart race at the sight of him looking so carefree.

In an attempt to distract herself, she glanced at his plate. Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What are you eating?" she asked.

"Boiled vegetables, boiled eggs, and plain soup," he replied casually, picking up a fork and stabbing into piece of vegetable.

"Why are eating them when there's so much amazing food here?" she asked.

"Diet, sahiba," Abhimanyu said with a mock-serious expression. "My coach has me on this strict meal plan. If I eat anything that's not part of it, I'll end up doing double workouts tomorrow."

■

After dinner

"It's already so late, beta. You can sleep in Abhimanyu's room tonight," his mom said warmly before she and his dad left, leaving Avanthika standing in the hallway with Abhimanyu.

"Come on, let's sleep together," Abhimanyu said casually, then froze as he realized how his words sounded.

Avanthika's eyes widened in shock, her cheeks turning crimson.

He cleared his throat awkwardly, running a hand through his hair. "I mean... let's go to the room and sleep. Separately. Obviously," he clarified, looking everywhere but at her.

She bit her lip, trying to suppress a laugh. "Okay," she said softly, following him to his room.

As they stepped inside, her gaze wandered across the room. The walls were lined with shelves displaying trophies and medals. Pictures of him with his teammates were pinned to a corkboard on the side. A large poster of his favorite player adorned one corner of the room.

"This is... nice," she said with a smile, glancing at him.

Abhimanyu shrugged, a hint of pride in his voice. "Years of hard work and dedication. These trophies? They're my babies."

She chuckled, taking a step closer to examine one of the photographs. "You look happy in this one."

"That was after our first big win. One of the best days of my life," he said.

Breaking the moment, he grabbed a pillow from his bed and walked over to the couch. "You can sleep on the bed. I'll sleep here."

She turned to him, frowning slightly. "You don't have to do that. You can sleep on the bed too."

He raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly. "Nice try, Avanthika. But I'm not sharing a bed with you."

"Why not?" she asked, genuinely curious.

He grinned, settling down on the couch and placing the pillow under his head. "Because that's a privilege reserved for after the wedding," he teased, giving her a wink.

Her cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink, and she quickly turned away.

As she climbed into bed, she glanced over at him. He was already sprawled on the couch, looking way too comfortable for someone who just made such a bold statement.

"Goodnight," she said softly, pulling the blanket over herself.

"Goodnight, sahiba," he replied, closing his eyes with a small smile on his lips.

■

The sharp crack of thunder jolted Avanthika awake. Her heart raced as the storm outside grew louder. She looked over at Abhimanyu, who was fast asleep on the couch, his chest rising and falling steadily.

Trying to calm herself, she got up, walked to the window, and shut it. But the storm didn't stop, and the rumble of thunder only seemed to grow louder. Wrapping herself tightly in the blanket, she lay back down on the bed, but the fear wouldn't let her rest.

Hesitantly, she got up again, clutching her blanket, and made her way toward Abhimanyu. She stood by the couch, watching him sleep peacefully. His relaxed face and slightly messy hair made him look boyish, almost innocent. For a moment, she thought whether she should wake him up, not wanting to disturb his sleep. But another loud crack of thunder made her jump, and fear got the better of her.

"Abhimanyu," she whispered, gently shaking his shoulder.

He stirred, opening his eyes groggily. "What happened, Avanthika?" he asked in a low, sleepy voice.

"I... I can't sleep," she admitted, clutching her blanket tighter. "The thunder... it's scaring me."

He blinked a few times, trying to fully wake up. "What do you want me to do?"

"Come and sleep on the bed with me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

He raised an eyebrow, a teasing smirk tugging at his lips despite his sleepiness. "Why?"

"Because I'm scared," she admitted, her cheeks burning. "I don't want to sleep alone."

He sighed, sitting up and stretching. "Okay, fine. Let's go."

They both climbed onto the bed, lying down with a comfortable distance between them. As the minutes passed, the storm continued outside, but Avanthika began to feel safer with him nearby. She turned her head slightly to look at him and noticed that his eyes were still open.

"Abhimanyu," she whispered, "why aren't you sleeping?"

He exhaled deeply, then sat up, running a hand through his hair. She sat up too, curiosity and concern filling her eyes.

He reached out, taking her hands gently in his. "I want to ask you something," he said, his voice unusually serious. "But you have to answer me honestly."

Her heart skipped a beat. "Okay," she replied, her voice steady despite the nervous flutter in her chest.

"Avanthika... will you be my girlfriend?" he asked, his eyes locking with hers.

For a moment, she just stared at him, too stunned to speak. The storm outside seemed to fade into the background, replaced by the sound of her racing heartbeat. After a few seconds, her lips curved into a smile, and she threw her arms around him in a tight hug.

"Yes," she whispered in his ear, her voice soft but filled with emotion.

He pulled back slightly, looking at her with a mix of relief and happiness. "Really?" he asked, as though he couldn't believe it.

She nodded, her eyes glistening. "Really."

And for the first time that night, the thunder didn't seem so scary anymore.

He rested his head on the edge of the bed. After a moment's hesitation, she leaned closer, resting her head on his chest, their breaths syncing as they drifted into a peaceful sleep together.

To be continued

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Bina like karke gaye toh bhoot athi he apki ghar mein

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