17

Do vote and comment bacha partyyy.

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Author's POV

The next morning arrived gently, sunlight slipping through the curtains.

Vidya woke up with a bright, unguarded smile, the kind that appears before you even open your eyes.

The reason behind that smile was Adi.

Or maybe...

the way he had been treating her.

There was something different now. Something softer.

Today was the shopping day.

The plan was simple Adi, Vidya, Avi, Harsh and Savitri.

Vidya glanced at the clock and immediately sat up.

10:50 AM.

"Oh no no no-" she muttered, jumping out of bed.

They had to leave at 11 sharp.

She rushed to the bathroom, brushing, washing, changing at what could only be described as metro speed.

And that's when she started talking.

To herself.

"Okay Vidya, calm down. It's just shopping. Not a big deal," she said, adjusting her hair.

Then she smiled at her reflection.

"Why are you smiling like that, huh? Because of Adi? Obviously."

She tilted her head, mimicking an imaginary scolding.

"Control, Control."

She was mid-conversation with her mirror when-

SMASH-

A loud noise came from behind the door.

The door flew open.

Adi fell flat on the floor.

Avi fell on top of him.

Harsh stumbled in after them, completely unprepared.

They had been trying to... listen.

Her mirror conversation.

Before any of them could recover, another voice entered.

Savitri stood at the doorway.

Savitri:

" Aa gya maza? Aur suno dusro ki baatein! "

("Enjoyed it? Go on, listen to other people's conversations too!")

Adi groaned from the floor. Avi pretended to be inspecting the tiles. Harsh looked like he wanted to disappear.

And then-

Everyone looked up.

Vidya stood there.

She was wearing a soft pink suit, simple yet elegant. Her hair was open, falling freely over her shoulders. No heavy makeup.



Adi stood up slowly, brushing himself off, but his eyes never left her.

She looked...like an angel.

Like a goddess who had accidentally walked into a very chaotic room.

Vidya blinked. "What... what are you all doing on the floor?"

No one answered.

Adi stepped forward.

Before Vidya could react, he bent down and lifted her up effortlessly.

"Adi-!" she gasped.

He carried her straight to the bed and gently sat her down.

Vidya immediately protested.

Vidya:

"Adi niche utaro kya kr rhe ho?"

("Adi, put me down! What are you doing?")

He ignored the complaint with a calm smile.

Adi knelt in front of her and carefully lifted one of her feet, resting it on his thigh. Vidya froze, eyes widening.

"Adi-" she whispered, embarrassed.

He reached for something in his pocket.

An anklet.

Silver. Delicate. Soft little bells resting quietly against the metal.

Adi held it like it was something precious.

He wrapped it gently around her ankle, fingers careful, respectful. When he secured it, the bells chimed softly.

( Han mera sapna yaha pura krri )

Adi looked up at her then.

Adi:

" Yeh payal jbse maine dekha hai mai bata nhi skta..mujhe yeh apke upr kitna psnd h moon.. "

("Ever since I saw this anklet, I can't even explain how much I like it on you, Moon.")

She looked away, smiling, heart doing something reckless inside her chest.

Avi cleared his throat loudly.

"Okay, wow."

Harsh nodded. "Romance quota for the day is full. Ab chalo"

Savitri smiled quietly, eyes soft.

Adi stood up and held Vidya's hand.

"Ready?" he asked gently.

Vidya nodded, still blushing.

"Yes."

The moment they stepped inside the mall, Vidya stopped walking.

Completely.

Adi took two more steps before realizing she wasn't beside him anymore. He turned back.

Vidya stood there, hands on her hips, eyes fixed straight ahead.

"Food court," she said. Avi followed her line of sight and groaned. "Absolutely not."

She blinked. "Excuse me?"

"We just entered," Avi argued.

"You don't eat before shopping. Game zone first."

Vidya's eyes widened in disbelief. "Game zone? Avi, I'm hungry. I haven't eaten since morning."

"Game zone I said," he replied dramatically.

"Hunger can wait. Games can't."

She scoffed. "You're so mean."

"Thank you," Avi said proudly."

Vidya crossed her arms. "Adi."

That was it.

Adi, who had been quietly observing, immediately shifted sides-without hesitation.

"Food court," he said calmly.

Avi snapped his head toward him. "Bhaii!"

Adi shrugged. "She's hungry."

"So?" Avi protested.

Adi looked at Vidya, then back at Avi. "So we eat first."

Vidya smirked, victory shining in her eyes.

Avi pointed accusingly at Adi. "You're biased."

"Yes," Adi agreed effortlessly.

Harsh burst out laughing. Even Savitri hid a smile behind her hand.

Vidya tilted her head at Avi. "He supports logic."

Avi sighed dramatically. "Fine. Food court. But after that, we're going to the game zone."

Vidya nodded. "Deal."

She turned to walk, her anklet chiming softly with each step.

Adi followed her like an obedient baby.

Avi muttered, "I swear, I've never lost this many arguments in my life."

Savitri patted his shoulder. "Welcome to growing up."

The deal was honored.

After the food court victory, they headed toward the game zone. Vidya walked ahead, a warm cup of coffee in one hand, carefully sipping as if it were a reward she had earned through battle. Her other hand swung freely, relaxed.

Her bag, meanwhile, was with Adi.

He hadn't even asked.

At some point between fries and argument it had just... ended up on his hand.

She slowed her steps slightly, glancing back.

"Adi," she said casually, "you don't have to carry it."

He didn't look down at the bag. He looked at her.

"I know." She didn't argue. Avi noticed too, of course.

"Oh wow, I'm jealous." he said loudly, walking backward in front of them. "Look at this. Coffee in one hand, royalty walk."

Vidya raised an eyebrow. "Jealous?"

"Deeply," Avi replied. "Emotionally wounded, actually."

Harsh laughed. "You wanted the game zone. Let her enjoy the perks."

As they reached the entrance of the game zone, the lights grew brighter, louder, music, machines, flashing screens. Vidya wrinkled her nose. "It's so noisy." Avi's eyes lit up like a child's. "Music to my ears." Adi leaned slightly toward Vidya. "You okay?"

She nodded, taking another sip of coffee. "Yeah. Just too much noise."

He adjusted her hair unconsciously, standing just a little closer to her than before. Savitri watched them quietly from behind, a soft smile playing on her lips.

The moment they stepped inside the game zone, Avi was gone.

Literally gone.

"One match! Just ONE match!" he shouted, already sprinting toward the basketball arcade game. Vidya stared after him, coffee still in her hand. "Did he even breathe before running?" Harsh chuckled. "Nope. This is his natural habitat."

The basketball machine buzzed loudly as Avi grabbed the ball and started shooting with dramatic intensity.

"Watch and learn," he said. "Pure talent."

He missed the first shot.

Vidya raised an eyebrow. "Talent?"

Adi leaned closer, lowering his voice. "He performs better when nobody's watching."

Avi heard that. "HEY."

Vidya laughed, the sound light and easy, almost blending with the arcade music.

They moved ahead. A claw machine caught Vidya's attention, soft plush toys glowing under the glass.

"Oh," she said softly. "These are cute." Adi noticed immediately. He stepped forward. "Want one?"

She shook her head quickly. "No no, these machines never work." Adi inserted a coin anyway.

Avi turned around just in time.

Adi focused, carefully guiding the claw. It descended... grabbed... and slipped. Vidya giggled. "Told you." He tried again. This time, the claw lifted a small moon-shaped plush. Vidya's eyes widened. "Adi-"

The machine dropped it successfully. She stared at the toy, stunned. Adi picked it up and handed it to her. "For Moon." Her fingers curled around it instinctively. "You cheated."

"I focused," he said with a smile.

Next was air hockey.

Vidya hesitated. "I've never played."

Adi placed her coffee aside and gently positioned her hands on the striker. "Just hit it. I've got you." Avi dramatically announced, "This is unfair. Emotional support should be banned." The puck slid across the table. Vidya missed. Then tried again. And this time-scored.

She gasped. "I did it!"

Adi smiled. "Told you."

Vidya's POV

Avi grabbed my wrist before I could even understand what was happening.

"Bowling," he announced proudly. "Now."

I nearly spilled my coffee. "Avi-wait-"

We were already standing in front of the bowling lanes. The long, polished floor stretched ahead, pins waiting at the end like they were challenging us. Adi stood a little behind us, my bag still on his hand, watching quietly. Savitri and Harsh settled into the seats, already prepared for drama. Avi handed me a bowling ball like it was a sacred ritual. "You remember, right?"

I smiled.

"How could I forget?"

Bowling wasn't new to me. It was familiar. Comfortable. Something I was... good at. I adjusted my suit, tied my hair properly, and stepped onto the lane. The moment my fingers fit into the holes, something inside me settled. Focus.

I took a breath, swung my arm, and released.

The ball glided smoothly.

Strike.

All ten pins fell.

Avi whistled loudly. "Still got it."

I turned back, grinning. "Always."

It was his turn now. He spun the ball once dramatically-show-off-and rolled it with practiced ease.

Strike.

Adi clapped softly, pride unmistakable in his eyes. He didn't look surprised-just pleased. Savitri smiled warmly. Harsh shook his head. "You two are scary."

When the game ended, we were tied. Avi bumped his shoulder against mine. "Some things never change." I looked down at the lane, then back at Adi. He was watching me like he was seeing something new. And for the first time in a long while-

I felt like myself again. I was laughing.

Avi who was smiling suddenly stopped smiling. It was subtle. The kind of change you only notice when you know someone too well. He stepped a little closer to me. At first, I thought nothing of it. People looked around all the time in a game zone. I felt everything normal until I realised-

A gaze.

Lingering.

I didn't even turn properly when Avi shifted in front of me half a step, not blocking me completely, just positioning himself.

Protective.

I followed his line of sight.

A guy stood near the next lane. Pretending to check his phone. Failing badly. His eyes kept lifting. Toward me. My smile faded. Avi's voice was calm but sharp enough to cut the air.

"Enjoyed enough?"

I nodded slowly. "Avi-"

Before I could finish, he rolled the bowling ball back onto the rack with deliberate force and straightened his posture. In that moment, Avi wasn't my loud, annoying, playful friend. He was the Prince of the Thakur dynasty.

His presence shifted-controlled, commanding.

The guy noticed. So did Adi. I didn't even hear him walk closer, but suddenly Adi was beside me. Close enough that my shoulder brushed his arm.

Adi didn't look at me first. He looked at the guy. He was dangerously calm. The King of Alwar didn't need to speak loudly. He tilted his head slightly, eyes steady, unreadable. The guy swallowed and left.

Just like that. Avi exhaled slowly, the tension leaving his shoulders. He glanced at me. "You okay?" I nodded, heart still racing. "Yeah." Adi finally looked at me then. "Coffee finished?" he asked gently.

I nodded again.

"Good," he said, adjusting my dupatta. "Let's go." They didn't ask questions. They didn't make it a scene.

But as we walked away-Avi on one side, Adi on the other-

I realized something.

I wasn't just being watched. I was being protected.

And for the first time... it didn't scare me. I felt safe.

Avi had gone to return the bowling shoes. Just two minutes, he said. I stayed back near the seating area, sipping the last bit of my coffee, scrolling on my phone. Adi, Harsh and Maa went to a nearby store.

That's when I sensed someone step closer.

Too close.

"Hi," a voice said.

I looked up. It was the same guy from before.

Up close, his smile felt rehearsed. Confident in the wrong way. "Yes?" I replied politely, already uncomfortable.

"I've been watching you play," he said. "You're really good."

"Thanks," I said shortly, eyes flicking past him, searching for Avi.

He didn't move. Instead, he leaned slightly on the railing.

"You come here often?"

That was when irritation replaced discomfort.

"I'm waiting for someone," I said clearly.

He chuckled, as if I'd said something amusing.

"Relax. I'm just talking."

Before I could respond, a familiar voice cut through the noise-calm yet deep.

"Is there a problem?"

Avi stood beside me.

Just standing tall, eyes cold.

The guy straightened. "Nah, man. Ju

st a conversation."

Avi glanced at me once. "You okay?"

I nodded. "I told him I was waiting for you."

That was enough.

Avi stepped forward-just one step-but the air shifted. He stepped between us, making a gap.

"I'm Aviraj Thakur," he said evenly.

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Thankyou so much for reading this chapter. Let's see when I can publish the second one.