Happy reading â¨
As Revti observed the hesitation still lingering in Avantika's eyes, she turned to Ansh, her husband, hoping for his gentle intervention. He, in his usual composed manner, simply said, "Ha beta ji, ruk jaiye" (Yes, dear, please wait). His words, though brief, seemed to resonate with the quiet authority they carried. Avantika, caught between her uncertainty and the weight of everyone's gaze, glanced at Aadish, then at the others, offering a small, almost reluctant smile before finally nodding. She told herself it was just a matter of one dayâan illusion of simplicity in the face of what truly lay ahead.
Following Revti's careful instructions, Avantika settled into the most opulent room on the floor, surrounded by the luxuries that seemed to contrast with her inner turmoil. It was as if the richness of the room was meant to distract from the complexity of her feelings. The household, with quiet efficiency, dispersed to their respective rooms, preparing for the dayâbreakfast, freshening up, the mundane routines that seemed to mask the deeper undercurrents of the day.
Revti, however, was not one to let things slip so easily. She approached Avantika once again, coaxing her to join them for breakfast, her voice carrying a warmth that was difficult to refuse. With a persistence born of affection, she even managed to convince Avantika to wear the dress she had lovingly picked out two years agoâwhen Aadish first entered their lives for reasons Avantika still could not fully understand. That dress, once a symbol of hope and anticipation, now hung awkwardly on Avantikaâs frame, like a memory that hadn't quite found its place in the present.
As Revti handed Avantika the white Anarkali with subtle red floral designs along the sides and adorned her with those large, stunning *Chandbaliyas* (crescent-shaped earrings) and a small black *bindi* (dot) on her forehead, Avantika looked nothing short of breathtaking. She appeared almost like a goddess in human form, radiating grace and elegance.
After an hour, everyone gathered in the dining area, waiting for her. Since her room was on the same floor, the others had already arrived and begun their breakfast, though they had only taken a few bites, as a silent gesture that they were still waiting for her to join them properly.
When Avantika finally emerged with Revti by her side, a soft smile on both their faces, Revti made a subtle yet protective gesture, placing a black *tika* (a mark to ward off evil) behind Avantika's ear. As they both entered, Revti led Avantika to a seat beside Aadish.
At that moment, Aadishâs attention shifted entirely to Avantika. The breakfast, which had consumed everyone elseâs thoughts, was now entirely forgotten by him as his focus was wholly drawn to her presence.
As Aadish was lost in Avantika, and she was equally entranced by him, both of them absently stirred their spoons, barely eating anything. Across the table, Revti and Ansh exchanged silent glances, engaging in a wordless conversation. Ansh, with a subtle shake of his head, seemed hesitant, but Revti, determined, cleared her throat to break the silence.
"Hum jante haiâ¦" (We knowâ¦) she began, her voice soft yet firm, "Aapke sapne haiâ¦" (You have dreamsâ¦) She paused briefly, her eyes filled with warmth and concern. "Magar hum aapki suraksha mein koi kami nahi rehne dena chahteâ¦" (But we donât want to leave any stone unturned when it comes to your safetyâ¦) Her words hung in the air as she continued, her tone gentler now, âTo... kya⦠aap⦠Aadish se shaadi kar lengi?â (So⦠will you marry Aadish?)
It was only then that Aadish fully realized what his mother had just asked. He coughed, almost choking in surprise, and managed to blurt out a hoarse "Yes." In that instant, Avantika too became aware of what was happening, and, flustered, she found herself nodding in agreement.
The three "monkeys" of their homeâArman , om and Rudra âstood in shock, their expressions revealing their inner turmoil. It was as if they all silently thought, âMom, that's not how we were supposed to do this.â But the moment had already passed, and the reality of Revti's sudden proposal hung in the air, impossible to take back.
The room fell into a deep silence, the only sound being the soft coughs from both Avantika and Aadish. Aadish's expression clearly conveyed his thoughts: *"Maa sa, yeh mujhe nahi kehna tha..."* (Mom, I wasnât supposed to say that...)
Noticing the panic starting to build in Avantikaâs eyes, Aadish gently reached for her hand under the table, offering her silent reassurance through his gaze. At the same time, Revti held Avantikaâs other hand on the table, her voice soft yet filled with emotion as she said, "Aapko kisi se darne ki zarurat nahi hai⦠aapke man mein jo ho aap keh sakti hainâ¦" (You donât need to fear anyone⦠whatever is in your heart, you can say itâ¦) Tears began to well up in Revtiâs eyes, reflecting just how deeply she wanted Avantika to be with them, and especially with her.
Revti continued, noticing Ansh slightly glaring at her for rushing things, "Aur rahi baat inki, toh inse darne ki koi zarurat nahi hai⦠ye dikhte hain bas, baaki toh moam hai, moam" (And as for him, thereâs no need to be scared⦠he may look intimidating, but deep down, heâs as soft as wax).
Her words, filled with a mix of love and humor, managed to ease the tension. As she finished, Avantika couldn't help but smile slightly, the warmth from both Aadish and Revti helping to calm her nerves.
When Revti gently asked again, "Karo gi?" (Will you?), there was no visible change in Avantika's expression. This time, she didnât panic or falter. Instead, she looked towards Aadish, seeking his silent support. He responded with a subtle nod and a reassuring squeeze of her hand under the table. Taking comfort in his gesture, Avantika finally nodded in agreement, a soft movement of her head signaling her quiet acceptance.
Meanwhile, Om, Rudra, and Armaanâwho seemed to be in their own worldâwere acting like wild children barely containing their excitement. They had been practically dancing in their seats but quickly composed themselves when they caught a glimpse of Aadish's serious expression. The moment was too significant for them to disrupt, and they sheepishly settled down.
As breakfast concluded, everyone dispersed to their rooms for a bit of rest. Revti, always attentive, made sure to take special care of Avantika, ensuring she took her medicine and urging her to get some rest as well. Even as Aadish was caught up in an important call, Revtiâs focus remained on Avantika, her concern for the girl growing deeper with each passing moment.
After an hour of resting, Avantika drifted into a light sleep. Her mind was still trying to adjust to the unfamiliar surroundings, and though she longed to stay curled up in bed, a soft knock on the door startled her. Had she been at home, she might have ignored it, but here, in a place so new to her, she felt compelled to respond.
She slowly rose from the bed, her thoughts wandering to Rudraâperhaps he was at the door. With cautious steps, she made her way across the room and gently opened the door, unsure of what, or who, awaited her on the other side.
Aadish pov
As I ended the call, a quiet stillness filled the air.
Mere dil ki dhadkan tham si gayi thi us pal jab humare saath vo hamla hua. (My heart seemed to stop in that moment when the attack happened.)
Jaan nikal gayi thi meri. (I felt like my life was slipping away.)
Jise jaan deke bachane ka socha tha, usne meri jaan bachai. (The person I had thought of saving with my life, saved mine.)
Us pal ek ajeeb si khushi thi, magar dar bhi apne charam par tha. (In that moment, there was a strange happiness, but the fear was at its peak.)
Aur phir vo confusion...bhot saara confusion. (And then, there was the confusion...so much confusion.)
Jab unhone pehle hi shot meh kaam tamaam kar diya, samajh gaya tha ki ye Armaan ka hi tarika hoga. (When they finished the task in the first shot, I realized it was Armaan's way.)
Vo humesha tezi aur jaldbaazi mein bharosa karta hai. (He always trusts in speed and haste.)
Hume bilkul bhi nahi laga tha ki vo inhe itni jaldi sab kuch sikha dega. (We never thought he would teach them everything so quickly.)
Main unhe waqt dene ki koshish kar raha tha, magar mera parivar unhe ek ke baad ek shock diye ja raha tha. (I was trying to give them time, but my family was giving them one shock after another.)
Matlab, inhe kisi cheez se fark nahi padta, jo baat mann mein hoti hai, vo seedha bol dete hai. (It means they donât care about anything, they just speak whatâs on their mind.)
Sapne wala kya sochega, ye kabhi sochte hi nahi. (They never think about what a dreamer might think.)
Aur shayad yahi sahi bhi haiâdil ki baat andar nahi rakhni chahiye. (And perhaps this is rightâone shouldnât keep matters of the heart inside.)
Magar jab vo behosh hui... meri saansein ruk gayi thi us pal. (But when she lost consciousness... my breath stopped at that moment.)
Main uss waqt dil se roya, jab unke chehre ki chamak gayab ho gayi thi. (I cried from the heart when the glow on her face vanished.)
Vo chamakta sitara hai meri zindagi ka... jise har lamha mein sirf uchaiyon par dekhna chahta hoon. (She is the shining star of my life... whom I want to see only in heights every moment.)
Unke kareeb hoon toh itni kareeb ke unki chamak ke aage mujhe aur kuchh nazar hi nahi aata. (When Iâm close to her, so close that I can see nothing else in the light of her glow.)
Jab unka chehra dekha, main sab kuch bhool gaya. (When I saw her face, I forgot everything.)
Shayad mujhe bhi chot lagi thi, magar us pal sab kuch maayne kho chuka tha. (Maybe I was hurt too, but at that moment, everything seemed meaningless.)
Khoon to mera bhi baha hoga, par unke sapne un sab se badhkar the. (My blood might have flowed too, but her dreams were above all that.)
Ab bas ek darr satata haiâkahin maa sa ki baat inhe buri toh nahi lagi? (Now, there is just one fearâdid my motherâs words hurt her?)
Jab maa sa ne poocha toh kuch nahi kaha, lekin jab maine haan ki, toh inhone bhi bas haan ki. (When my mother asked, she said nothing, but when I said yes, she just said yes too.)
Bas yehi darr hai ab, kahin Nazar toh nahi lagi... Kaise samjhaunga main unhe? (This is the only fear now, that maybe sheâs been affected... How will I make her understand?)
Ye sab sochta raha main, unhe apne paas mehsoos karta hua, kyunki vo ek hi insaan hai jise main kabhi khona nahi chahta. (I kept thinking about all this, feeling her close to me, because she is the only person I never want to lose.)
Avantika pov
After Revti Aunty left my room, a wave of emotions washed over me.
Dard hua jab unhe chot aayi, mai unse ladna chahati thi, gussa hona chahti thi magar unhe dard mein dekh kar sab bhool gayi. (It hurt when she got injured; I wanted to argue with her, wanted to be angry, but seeing her in pain made me forget everything.)
Jab unhe laga ki mai sari to sach thi mai dari thi magar un logon se nahi, Aadish ki chot se agar unhe kuchh ho jata to... (When they realized that I was indeed scared, but not of those people, rather of Aadishâs injuryâif something happened to her...) Mere bhaiyo ne kuchh dino mein hi saara dar khatam kar diya tha mera, kaise darti kisi se. (My brothers had removed all my fear in just a few days; I no longer feared anyone.)
Bass dar to apni jaan ka tha na. (The only fear was for my own life.)
Gussa aa raha tha unke behte ghoon ko dekh. (I was getting angry seeing her bleeding.)
Maine kabhi gussa karna nahi dikha, fir bhi jab unhe chot aayi to laga duniya ko aag laga du. (Iâve never shown anger, but when she got injured, I felt like setting the world on fire.)
Aur rahi baat firing ki to Hume Armaan Bhai sahab ne ek hafte mein aise train kiya ki ab to jab agle janam tak na bhule aur jo roj practice liya vo hum kabhi nahi bhulte. (As for the firing practice, Armaan Bhai trained us in such a way that we wonât forget it even in our next life, and the daily practice is something we can never forget.)
Unka tarika aur technique behad hi khubsurat aur tareefe ke laayak thi. (His method and technique were extremely beautiful and worthy of praise.)
Aur jab behoshi ke baad neend khuli to colors combination aur design dekh ke yeh saaf tha ki main Rajawat Palace mein hoon. (And when I woke up from the unconscious, seeing the color combinations and design, it was clear that I was in Rajawat Palace.)
Jab niche utar rahi thi to sabki khilkhilahat aur hasne ki awaaz dil ko sukoon de rahi thi. (As I was going down, the sound of everyone laughing and their smiles were soothing to my heart.)
Ki sab behtar hai, sab theek hai. (That everything is better, everything is alright.)
Jab main utar rahi thi, pairiyon se dekha ki Aadish ki nazar mujh pe thi. (When I was coming down, I saw that Aadishâs eyes were on me.)
Magar unke bhai...ufff. (But his brother...uff.)
Achha lagta hai jab vo meri care karte hain, magar kyun pataa nahi, bas achha lagta hai jab sab saath hote hain. (It feels good when he cares for me, though I donât know why; it just feels comforting when everyone is together.)
Aunty ki kahin baat ka jawab tha mere paas, bass dar to Aadish ka tha, kahin unhe ye jaldi kya ho to. (I had answers to Auntyâs words, but the only fear was for Amiah, whether she might think this happened too quickly.)
Kya pataa unse poocha hi na ho. (Who knows, maybe she didnât even ask.)
Bass yahi sab tha mere mann mein jo main jawab na de payi. (This was all that was on my mind that I couldnât respond to.)
Magar jab unka ishara ha tha to main khud ko rok na aayi. (But when she gave a sign, I couldnât hold myself back.)
Khushi to behad thi, dar bhi tha magar sab achha tha, bura kuchh laga hi nahi. (There was immense happiness, there was fear too, but everything was good; nothing felt bad.)
Room mein aunty ke jaane ke baad main bas hasi ja rahi thi, kan mere puri tarah laal hai aur gaal to dard ho rahe ab. (After Aunty left the room, I kept smiling; my ears were completely red and my cheeks were still hurting.)
Pata nahi kyun, magar smile rukh hi nahi rahi hai. (I donât know why, but the smile just wouldnât leave my face.)
Ye sab sochte sochte main so gayi thi aur jab halki neend mein thi to the door knock huaâkya Rudra hoga ya Om ya Armaan. (I had fallen asleep thinking about all this, and when I was in a light sleep, there was a knock on the doorâwas it Rudra, Om, or Armaan?)
To maine gate khola. (So, I opened the gate.)
SUkriya ji
Love you all ð
Kya fark padta h mere bolne se karna to aapne vote h nhi ....
Byyyy