Except for their heavy breathing no sound could be heard in spite of a party being held few meters away from them. Just as his lips towered over hers, some part of his brain forced him to pull himself away from her. Her eyes flared open and he couldn't decipher what he saw in them. He quickly moved few more steps away from her and took a couple of deep breaths trying to calm his raging heart and the sudden rush of emotions he felt. She was a seductress without a doubt. She took a step towards him and when they were a few inches closer, she placed his index finger over his lips and begged him to stay with her eyes. He couldn't disobey those eyes any further. He felt hypnotised that moment.

"It's a yes Avinash" she said which he could barely hear. She sounded so fragile.

"Yes to what" he asked unsure. She had wanted space and then suddenly she pulls him away from all and throws them in an almost kiss situation and now a yes. He was confused.

"Yes to us" she said but a lot more bolder this time.

"You said you wanted space 7 hours back precisely " he mocked at her looking at his watch.

"Avinash" she called out his name exasperated. "You don't understand. All this is new to me. I was overwhelmed with my feelings. Having you sit before me was a lot to handle. I was already dealing with these new feelings and then you were not helping. You look handsome all the time and my eyes keep wanting to ogle at you like you're some freaking model. I fail to think rationally."

He looked at her surprised.

"Yes I am feeding your ego this time" she said almost blushing and he took a step near her.

"That's exactly why you doodled my name on your prescription notepad" he asked her amused.

"That's personal" she bit the words out and embarrassed he had seen something she had done without her knowledge but that was a story for another day.

"It's my name Aadhya" and her name came out of his mouth sensually. All his anger and irritation were almost out of his head when they were so close and now he was back to being his goofy self around her.

"Tch, whatever. The point is let's say yes to this arranged marriage or whatever. I want us to explore one another differently. If you know what I mean" she said dreamily.

"Like what" he asked winking at her.

"Pervert" she said and blushed. She rubbed her cheeks feeling the heat on her cheeks.

"I did not say anything on that note. But an occasional kiss and a hug too often wouldn't harm. You know it's good for the soul" and he pulled her towards him. And then he noticed the Bvlgari bracelet on her wrist he had gifted.

"Did I tell how delectable you look today" he asked eyeing at the wrist closely and placed a chaste kiss on the bracelet making her gasp.

"Well someone was falling on you literally" she said miffed and tried pulling her wrist from his hold.

"But she did not have the guts to pull me to a place like this after pissing me off and say yes to me" he said. "Oh were you jealous" he asked realising.

"Na, I was trying to get you to talk to me but it seems your anger needs much more than dressing up beautifully" she replied straightening her dress.

That's exactly why she was different. Not once she behaved like those wannabes. She had her reservations but she knew her way around him already. He would have literally lost his nuts, had she strutted around like it never mattered but she felt the need to talk to him without delaying. She did not wait for him to say yes. She took the initiative because she wanted it. She never expected him to do things but she stood firm on the ground she believed in.

"Shall we go ?" She asked feeling shy all of a sudden when his eyes were traveling all over her.

"Why the rush ?" He asked still holding on to her hand.

"They will search for us. What do we even answer them ?" She said feeling conscious.

"We have already found you" they both heard a chorus of voices.

She was too stunned to react and he was feeling nothing different to see the families literally stalking them. She made the next unexpected move and hid herself in his chest, he wrapped his hands around her like it was something he had been doing all these years.

"Awe" their siblings said and the parents couldn't be more happier.

Dadi was the first to walk towards them and pulled Aadhya towards her.

"And you did not want to take that ring from me ?" She asked Avinash.

The parents hugged one another. Rohit waited to hug his sister. Akhil took Avinash in a brotherly hug and the couple couldn't take their eyes off one another.

Shraddha caught hold of Aadhya and hugged her. This time around Aadhya happily hugged her once best friend.

"Aadhya, I know you are still upset with me but I will wait for the day things get normal between us. But for this wedding I am going to be yours" Shraddha said hoping the festival brought a change in her stubborn best friend's heart.

It was time to bid farewell for the night. She had simply disappeared from his sight after that. She simply gave him no time. After their time with one another, he simply couldn't stand the woman who was tagging him wherever he went. He hoped Aadhya was jealous but much to his annoyance, he saw her laughing whenever he had a scowl on her face but she looked every bit mesmerising. However, he had to leave without seeing her for rest of the evening with the hope he will get hold of her at their house for holi.

"Now you know why I wanted you to have the ring ?" Dadi asked resting in her seat with her eyes closed.

He still acted ignorant and told her a no.

"She is precious Avi. I like this one unlike those who used to tag along with you like they own you. Even today one did" she said happily.

His grandmother was right. She was indeed different from the girls he was acquainted too. He couldn't wait for tomorrow. He stepped out today having no mood to celebrate but tomorrow he wanted to. He couldn't wait for the sun to rise.

The sun had risen earlier than usual. Entire lawn was decorated with strings of white and orange marigolds and colourful drapes were used to decorate the seating area. Colors were neatly arranged on plates. The caterers were taking care of the drinks and the other snacks that were to be served during the holi event. The lawn, was busy with people arranging everything and inside the mansion, people's heart buzzed with excitement.

Avinash, opened his room door and saw his father and brother standing. They quickly closed the door and he knew something was wrong.

"It looks like a ploy at our construction site. There is someone behind this" Gautam Nanda said furiously.

"Any suspects, Akhil" Avinash asked.

"I think it's them but papa isn't believing me" Akhil said frustrated.

"Papa you can't be acting dumb this time for god sake" Avinash said running his hands through his hair.

"They are my own" Anand said sadly.

"Of course" both of them scoffed in return.

"Akhil, let's keep this low today but tomorrow is going to be different. I don't want mama to know" Avinash said firmly.

"Without a doubt. Those low lives will pay this time around" Akhil said angrily staring at his father.

Anand's head hung low knowing he couldn't save them anymore. It was done this time.

They heard their names being called and they went down one after another and found the Chopras in their living room. Avinash's eyes searched for Aadhya, and she definitely did not disappoint him. She looked ethereal in the white dress. As if sensing his gaze, she saw him looking at her and he looked more handsome.

One of the helpers brought a plate with red color powder and placed it near Dadi. Festival greetings were shared and elders offered their blessings to the younger members. They sat down to discuss about the wedding which was more important to them than holi.

"Let's have the engagement in a month and then probably another 2 or 3 months later we can have the wedding" Dadi announced delighting both the mothers.

He looked up at her and found her sitting calmly. He pulled out his phone and messaged her

"Are you fine with the dates ?"

"I am" she replied and he saw the blush creeping up her cheeks making them go red. He mentally made a note to color those cheeks by the end of the day and smirked at her.

She wanted to know why he was smirking at her. She probably couldn't ask him either. Plus she was conscious in a new place and the discussions happening weren't helping her either.

"Why not a destination wedding" Rohit quipped and that definitely had Aadhya's attention. Shocked would be an understatement. Her brother was clearly provoking her for a reaction. Though she secretly did not mind that kind of a wedding, she wasn't going to openly accept it. But how did her brother knew. Probably Shraddha knew, when they discussed those kind of stuffs in school but interest change or it isn't something you remember. She looked at Shraddha and saw her beaming. Culprit was sitting just opposite to her.

"Done then. It's a destination wedding. First in their family and the last in ours" Purnima said and clapped in excitement.

Dadi called out to the helper to bring a tray of sweets and summoned both Avinash and Aadhya. She forwarded the plate to Avinash and asked him to feed her. He was more than happy to feed her. He took a slice of badam barfi (almond sweet) and placed it near her mouth. She opened her mouth ever so elegantly and took a small piece. She did the same with another piece and they took the blessings of both their parents and his grandmother.

To be continued ~

Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Holi romance coming up and then of course their shaadi. You are all in for a lot of cliche romance and flirting. Please make it interesting for me as well with your likes and comments. They mean a lot to me. Thanks again.