17. Love Blooming

Vivaan’s POV

The morning before Advay bhai’s wedding was nothing short of madness. Thanks to Avya and Shivika’s brilliant idea, all four of us—Advay bhai, Reeyansh bhai, Shivansh, and I—were forced to share a room to "bond." If bonding meant Shivansh banging on the bathroom door like a lunatic while I was trying to dry my hair, then yes, we were bonding beautifully.

Shivansh pounded on the door for what felt like the hundredth time. "Reeyansh! How long does it take to take a shower? Are you performing a science experiment in there?!"

No response.

I continued drying my hair, not even looking at him.

Shivansh scowled and knocked harder. "Reeyansh, get out already! I need to go. Badi Maa is calling me!"

Still no response.

Advay bhai, who was busy with something on his phone, finally lost patience. "Shivansh, will you stop? He's not going to come out just because you keep knocking like a maniac."

Shivansh turned dramatically to him. "This is all your fault, bhai! I told you to call me when you were done with your bath, but no! You let this Princess go first!" He pointed at me.

I raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me? Why are you blaming me? If you were so desperate for a bath, maybe you should have stayed in the room instead of roaming around like a lost tourist."

"Ohh, the Princess is offended!" Shivansh smirked. "Like you take any less time in the bathroom."

I rolled my eyes. "As if you take ten minutes."

Before Shivansh could fire back, the bathroom door finally swung open, and Reeyansh bhai stepped out, stretching as if he had just woken from a luxurious nap. "Ah, what a refreshing shower—"

Shivansh shoved past him. "Move."

Reeyansh bhai smirked. "Such aggression, my love."

"Don’t call me that," Shivansh shot back before slamming the door behind him.

Advay bhai sighed. "You all are wasting time."

I quickly got dressed, grabbed my car keys, and turned to leave.

"Where are you going?" Reeyansh bhai asked.

"To pick up Panditji."

"But we already have a pandit," he frowned.

"Not the usual one. Kul devi Mandir's Panditji. He performed our parents' wedding, and Dadi wants him to perform Advay bhai and Bhabhi's wedding too."

Reeyansh bhai nodded. "Should I come with you?"

I shook my head. "You might be needed here. I'll be back soon."

As we spoke, we both glanced at Advay bhai, who was on a call, looking unusually serious.

"Is something wrong?" Reeyansh bhai asked.

"Nothing major, just a small issue," I muttered. "And you know how he is."

Before we could continue, Reeyansh bhai's gaze fell on the watch on the table. He picked it up and smirked. "Is this yours?"

I nodded.

"You don't wear dial watches. You only wear smartwatches or digital ones."

"So what? Can't I wear one?" I replied casually.

Before he could question me further, Advay bhai, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke up. "Of course, he will… especially when it's a gift from someone special."

I froze for a second before narrowing my eyes at him. Of course, Avya or Shivika must have ratted everything out. He acts as if he’s not interested in gossip, but he knows it all.

Reeyansh bhai exchanged a look with Advay bhai, and suddenly, both of them were staring at me like they had just caught me hiding the biggest secret of my life.

I wasn’t hiding anything!

Was I?

"Um… I need to go. Bye!"

And with that, I made a quick escape before my brothers could grill me any further.

I don't know why, but I felt like calling Ishaani. Maybe it was the chaotic morning, or maybe it was just the fact that she felt like peace to my chaos.

Of course, that’s what she is—my Sunshine.

I dialed her number, and within a few rings, she picked up.

"Hello?"

"Are you busy?" I asked, hoping she wasn’t.

"No, I mean… everything’s done," she replied. "Roohi's outfit is set for the wedding, and I've asked her stylist to keep a few things in mind. And also—"

"Shaant, meri Rajdhani Express," I cut her off with a teasing smirk.

She went silent, probably glaring at the phone, and I chuckled.

"Want to join me? I’m going to our village."

"Why today? It’s Advay and Roohi’s wedding! Are you seriously going to miss it?" she asked, surprised.

"No, we’ll be back in an hour or two," I assured her. Then, hoping to persuade her, I added, "It’s beautiful there. If we’re lucky, we might even see a peacock."

Silence. Maybe I was pushing too much.

I quickly added, "It’s fine if you’re busy. Forget I asked—"

Before I could finish, I saw her standing on the porch, looking right at me.

Pink floral saree. Soft morning light. Ethereal.

She lifted her phone back to her ear and, still looking at me, said, "Wouldn’t want to miss a chance to see a peacock."

I smiled.

She walked towards my car, got into the passenger seat, and greeted me softly. "Hi."

I nodded. "Hi." And then I started the car.

The ride was smooth, filled with conversations about everything and nothing.

"You love classical music?" I asked, surprised.

She nodded, tucking a loose strand behind her ear. "Yes, it’s peaceful. What about you?"

"I don’t mind it," I admitted. "But I usually listen to instrumentals when I work."

"Typical," she muttered.

I chuckled. "What’s your favorite food?"

"Khichdi."

I blinked. "Seriously? Of all things?"

She nodded enthusiastically. "With lots of vegetables. Comfort food."

I made a face. "That’s just healthy punishment."

She gasped dramatically. "You have zero taste!"

I smirked. "Says the girl who loves khichdi."

She crossed her arms. "And what’s your favorite?"

"Anything spicy. The kind that makes your eyes water."

She shuddered. "Nope. Hate spicy and oily food."

I raised an eyebrow. "Noted. No extra masala for you."

She nodded in satisfaction.

We kept talking, and I discovered more about her. She’s extremely sensitive to the cold—something I had already noticed. She loves to talk, but only when she’s comfortable. Otherwise, she’s reserved.

And maybe, just maybe, I liked that she was comfortable around me.

The temple was on a small hill, nearly forty steps up.

Ishaani stared in awe. "It’s beautiful."

"Told you."

We walked up together and prayed. As I folded my hands and closed my eyes, I sneaked a glance at her.

She stood with her hands pressed together, eyes closed, lips moving softly, whispering something to Devi Maa. There was something so serene about her.

Not just pretty—she looked like beauty itself had bloomed from a lotus.

I didn’t even realize I was staring until she opened her eyes.

I quickly turned away and asked Panditji about Direndrashastri Ji, the head priest.

"He is performing his morning puja. It will take ten more minutes. You can wait in the temple area."

I nodded and walked with Ishaani to the side, where we could see the greenery below.

She looked at me expectantly. "So, where’s the peacock?"

I chuckled. "I said if we’re lucky."

She huffed. "You tricked me!"

Before I could reply, her eyes widened. "There!"

She pointed at a peacock gracefully walking among the bushes.

Without thinking, she stepped forward—but her foot slipped on a hidden stone.

"Ishaani!"

She barely had time to react before she lost balance.

I lunged forward, grabbing her hand just in time. But in the process, I lost my own footing and hit my elbow hard against a rough stone wall. A sharp pain shot up my arm.

She was practically lying on top of me, her eyes wide, breaths coming fast. My hand was still cradling the back of her head, my other arm curled protectively around her waist.

Her gaze flickered to my face, then down to where my hand was bleeding.

Her face paled.

We scrambled to our feet, and before I could brush it off, she grabbed my wrist, inspecting the wound.

Her grip was tight, her breathing uneven. "Vivaan, you’re hurt!"

"It’s fine—"

"No, it’s not fine!" she snapped, eyes glistening. "Every possible bad thing happens around me! First, I almost fell, and now you’re hurt because of me!"

I blinked at her sudden outburst.

She was about to cry.

Her hands trembled slightly as she wiped away the blood with the end of her saree.

I sighed and gently held her hands, stopping her frantic movements. "Ishaani, look at me."

She hesitated but finally met my eyes.

I smiled softly. "It’s just a scratch. Better than you breaking your head, right?"

She scowled. "Not funny."

"A little funny."

"Are you hurt somewhere else?" she asked, her voice slightly shaky.

I nodded, flexing my fingers to check for any serious injury. "I’m fine."

But she wasn’t convinced. Her gaze flickered over me, checking for any other injuries.

I grinned and pointed ahead. "See? Even the peacock ran away after watching your clumsiness."

Her eyes softened, but there was still worry in them. "Do you have a first-aid box in the car?"

I nodded.

"Let's go, then," she said, grabbing my wrist and pulling me toward the car.

She walked quickly, almost dragging me, as if the injury was worse than it was.

When we reached the car, she stopped at the driver's side and looked at me.

"Get in," she ordered.

I frowned. "You're driving?"

She folded her arms. "You're injured. Now, sit."

I sighed but obeyed, taking the passenger seat as she settled in the driver's seat.

She opened the first-aid box, took out the antiseptic, and looked at me. "This might sting."

I smirked. "I can handle a little—Ow!"

She immediately looked up, eyes wide with guilt. "I’m sorry."

I laughed, shaking my head.

She narrowed her eyes. "You're making fun of me, aren't you?"

I grinned. "Maybe."

This time, she pressed the cotton a little more firmly against my wound. "Damn, Ishaani! A little gentleness, please."

She rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. That was barely anything."

I chuckled. "You're more violent than you let on."

She pursed her lips, but I caught the small twitch of amusement. "Shut up."

Just then, Panditji arrived with another priest.

I quickly got out to greet them, assisting them in settling down.

When I turned back towards the car, I hesitated before asking, "Are you sure you're comfortable driving? I can do it."

Ishaani looked at me from the driver’s seat. "I'll drive. Just show the way."

I raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue. Instead, I got into the passenger seat and let her take control.

As she started the car, I glanced at her.

She was still frowning slightly, her lips pressed in concern.

I realized then—she had been scared. Not just because I got hurt, but because she didn’t want anything happening to me.

And that thought made my heart race.

I smiled softly, leaning back in my seat.

Ishaani focused on the road, her brows slightly furrowed in concentration, while I sat back, stealing glances at her every now and then.

She still looked worried.

I smirked. "Sunshine, if you keep frowning like that, you’ll get wrinkles."

She huffed. "Not funny, Vivaan. You got hurt because of me."

"And I told you, it's nothing." I stretched my arm a little for emphasis, even though it did sting. "See? Fully functional."

She didn’t seem convinced.

With a sigh, I reached forward and flicked her forehead lightly. "Relax. You don’t need to overthink everything."

She turned to glare at me but then sighed, shaking her head, staying quiet—probably because we had two spectators in the backseat.

When we reached the haveli, she stopped at the entrance.

At the door stood my Dadi, Badi Maa, Papa, and Bua, ready to welcome Panditji.

Once they went inside, Ishaani walked up to me with my car keys and handed them over.

"Thank you, and sorry" she said.

I frowned. "Will you stop it, Ishaani? I took you there. If you had fallen, you might’ve cracked your head open, and this—" I gestured toward my injury—"is just a small scratch. I can handle this much; no big deal."

She looked down for a second before saying softly, "I’m sorry."

I glared at her.

"Not for that," she clarified quickly, then sighed. "Forget it."

She turned to leave. "I’ll go."

I nodded.

She paused again, looking back at me. "Thank you for taking me there. It was beautiful."

Then she walked inside.

I followed her, but just as she was about to disappear, she turned back one last time. "Show this to a doctor and get a proper bandage done."

I nodded, and she finally left for Roohi Bhabhi’s side of the hotel.

Maybe this was more than just attraction.

Maybe... I wanted it to be more.

Maybe... I wouldn’t mind getting hurt more often if it meant she would take care of me.

Maybe... I should just marry her, and she’ll come around eventually.

...That sounds psychotic.

I need to stop hanging around my three brothers. Their deranged selves are rubbing off on me.

I walked into the room, already bracing myself for whatever chaos awaited me.

And, as expected, it was nothing short of a madhouse.

Shivansh and Reeyansh—who could barely stand to be in the same room without bickering—were at it again.

"I’m telling you, The Godfather is the greatest movie of all time!" Shivansh declared, gesturing wildly as if his sheer enthusiasm would make his point undeniable.

Reeyansh scoffed, crossing his arms. "Please. You only like it because you think you’d make a good mafia don."

"I would be a good don," Shivansh shot back, puffing his chest. "Look at me—charming, intelligent, fearless—"

"Delusional," I muttered, shutting the door behind me.

Advay bhai, who had been sitting on the couch, sighed heavily, glancing at Avya. "This is why your ‘bonding’ idea was a disaster. Who in their right mind thought cramming four grown men into a room was smart?"

He sounded exasperated—though, to be fair, he always did when dealing with us .

Just as he finished speaking, his gaze landed on me. More specifically, on my blue shirt—now stained with blood. His expression shifted instantly, his sharp eyes narrowing.

"Vivaan, what happened?"

The argument between the other two halted immediately. Both turned toward me, their curiosity piqued.

Avya, who had been busy arranging something on the other side of the room, also spun around, her brows creased in concern.

I sighed, lifting my hand to show the half-wrapped bandage. "Just a small scratch. No big deal."

Reeyansh bhai raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't seem that small, Vivaan."

Before I could answer, Shivansh stepped forward, his usual mischief replaced with suspicion. "Wait a second—you don’t just walk around bleeding. Did you fall?" His lips curved into a smirk. "Come on, tell me. Did your graceful self finally trip?"

I rolled my eyes. "I didn’t fall."

"Then what happened?" Avya asked softly, stepping closer and scanning me from head to toe like I was about to collapse.

"I’m fine, Avya. Seriously."

Apparently, my words meant nothing because, the next thing I knew, Reeyansh bhai was already on his phone.

"Who are you calling?" I asked warily.

"The doctor," he said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Your bandage looks like it was wrapped by a five-year-old."

To be fair, it did look like a five-year-old had done it. Good thing Ishaani wasn’t in medical school.

I groaned. "Reeyansh, it’s just a scratch."

"Better safe than sorry," he quipped, ignoring me completely.

Meanwhile, Shivansh had fully switched into interrogator mode. Arms crossed, leaning against the wall, he eyed me like I was hiding state secrets.

"Okay, spill. If you didn’t fall, what happened?"

I opened my mouth, ready to brush it off—but then his next words hit me like a freight train.

"It can’t be an accident. You’re too careful for that. Unless…" He trailed off, eyes narrowing even further.

I scoffed. "What, can’t I even fall now?"

"You literally just said you didn’t fall," he pointed out, not missing a beat.

Damn it.

"I didn’t," I muttered. "I saved Ishaani from falling."

And just like that, I knew I had messed up.

A heavy silence filled the room.

Four pairs of eyes locked onto me like I had just confessed to murder.

Advay bhai was the first to break the quiet, his voice calm but edged with curiosity. "Why was she there?"

I groaned, tilting my head back. There was no escape now.

"Okay, fine!" I snapped, throwing my hands up. "I’ll tell you everything—just stop looking at me like that!"

I took a deep breath before launching into the story—how I had taken Ishaani to the village temple, how she slipped trying to see a peacock, and how I caught her but got hurt in the process.

When I finally finished, I expected laughter, teasing—maybe a sarcastic remark or two.

What I didn’t expect was the three of them staring at me with completely unreadable expressions.

What I didn’t expect was the three of them staring at me with completely unreadable expressions.

Avya, however, broke the silence with a dreamy sigh. "Aww, that’s actually so romantic."

I shot her a look. "Thank you, Avya. At least someone gets it."

But the other three? Their faces did not scream romantic. If anything, they looked like I had just told them I was planning to jump off a cliff.

"You could have gotten hurt," Advay bhai said quietly, his jaw tense.

Reeyansh bhai nodded in agreement. "Badly hurt. What if you had fractured something?"

"And what if you both had fallen from there?" Shivansh added, his tone more animated. "Honestly, Vivaan, you’re the sensible one—what were you even thinking?!"

I scoffed, throwing my hands in the air. "Seriously, guys? She would have fallen from there if I hadn’t caught her. I’m fine—it’s just a scratch!"

"You shouldn’t have taken the risk," Advay bhai said, his voice firm in that authoritative eldest-brother tone he always used when things got serious.

"You’re overreacting," I argued back.

"Overreacting?" Shivansh echoed, raising an eyebrow. "Your shirt has so much blood."

"And what the hell were you thinking going alone without security or a driver?" Reeyansh added, his voice sharp with disapproval.

Advay bhai’s frown deepened. "You took Ishaani alone to a village temple? With no security? No driver?"

I sighed. "It wasn’t a big deal."

"Not a big deal?" Reeyansh repeated incredulously. "Vivaan, we have security for a reason. You of all people should know that."

"Anything could have happened," Advay added, his voice edged with frustration. "And now you come back injured? What if it had been worse?"

I groaned, rubbing my face. "I just wanted some peace, okay? I didn’t think I needed a full squad for a temple visit!"

"Yeah, well, clearly that was a mistake," Reeyansh muttered, shaking his head.

Despite their words, I could tell they were all genuinely worried. And as much as their overprotectiveness annoyed me…

It also warmed something in my chest.

I sighed, my voice softening. "I know you guys care. That’s why I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it."

Advay bhai exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples before finally holding out a hand. "Let me see."

I reluctantly extended my arm, and the moment his fingers pressed against the swollen area, I winced.

That did not go unnoticed.

Advay’s jaw tightened. "It’s swollen."

Reeyansh crossed his arms, his concern deepening. "Vivaan, you need an X-ray."

"I don’t need an X-ray," I grumbled.

Shivansh snorted. "Right. And next, you’ll say you don’t need a hand either."

Before I could snap back, Avya sighed dreamily again. "But honestly,  Bhai, the way you caught her—so romantic."

I groaned. "Avya—"

She ignored me completely. "You literally put yourself in harm’s way to save her. If that’s not the beginning of a love story, I don’t know what is."

Shivansh rolled his eyes. "How is someone nearly breaking their head and someone else getting hurt romantic?"

Avya crossed her arms. "You wouldn’t understand."

Shivansh scoffed. "Yeah, because I actually have common sense."

"Exactly my point," she quipped, smirking.

I sighed, rubbing my forehead. "Great. Now I’ll never hear the end of it."

And just like that, the chaos resumed, i went to change clothes, and Advay bhai started getting ready as Groom for his day, i feel bad for making him worried on the day of his marriage, just then I heard loud voices from the room.

In this family, silence never lasted long.

Chapter Aesthetics

Ishaani Looking like lotus

Vivaan

Kul Devi Temple

Peacock