╰┈➤ ᗷOOKIE ‎ . ݁⋆ ꫂ᭪ ݁˖ . (Your author)݁

The morning of Holi arrived with noise, colour, and excitement. The sun rose over Chittorgarh as the festival spilled into the streets. The streets of Udaipur were already crowded. Buckets of coloured water lined the doorsteps, loud music echoed from every corner, and dry gulal mingled in the air.

People stepped outside carrying buckets of coloured water and powders, ready to splash each other and fill the streets with joyful chaos. Children ran around laughing, their clothes already stained with bright colours.

Amid this chaos, the Palace of Chittorgarh stood untouched, its white and ivory walls glowing beneath the spring sun. Carved balconies looked down upon the inner courtyard, where history had watched centuries pass in silence. On this day, however, tradition allowed celebration.

The courtyard was draped in soft hues. Yellow marigold and white mogra garlands hung from marble pillars. Silver bowls filled with rose water rested on long tables, beside plates of natural gulal in shades of blush pink, red, yellow, light blue, and soft green.

Guards in ceremonial white attire stood at every entrance, alert and still. Beyond them, guests gathered—members of influential families, politicians, industrialists, and old allies of the royal household—all dressed in their white outfits, untouched.

Classical music played in the background—veena strings, gentle dholak beats, and the soft call of the flute.

𑣲𝐀𝐚𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢ᝰ.ᐟ
POV

"Tu ziddi hai, to mai tujhse bhi badi ziddi hu!" Riya snapped, frustration laced in her voice as she grabbed my wrist and dragged me forward. I seriously needed more gym training because this girl, two years younger than me was dragging me around like I was a sack of potatoes.

["If you are stubborn, then I am even more stubborn than you!"]

"Mujhe rang lagana pasand nahi, haat choro mera!" I protested, trying to twist my wrist free from her surprisingly strong hold. What the hell did she eat as a child? Dinosaurs?

["I don't like to apply color, leave my hand!"]

She stopped abruptly and turned toward me, looking me up and down with narrowed eyes that sparkled with mischief. "Tujhe rang lag jaayega isliye pareshan hai?"

["Are you worried that you will get stained with colour?"]

I nodded. "Itne acche kapde kharab ho jayenge."

["Such nice clothes will get ruined."]

The look on her face said it all, and none of it was good. At least not for me. Riya was definitely up to something, something that would make me want to strangle her in the next few minutes. I could already feel it.

I didn't have a sister, so technically I had never experienced sister drama before. But thanks to this girl, I wasn't being spared from it either.

She was basically a walking disaster wrapped in sweetness and an annoyingly cute face.

I had chosen my outfit very carefully that morning. A pastel white chikankari kurti flowed softly around my knees, the delicate embroidery catching the sunlight every time I moved. It was paired with straight trousers trimmed with a thin line of gold near the hem. My dupatta light and sheer rested neatly over my shoulder.

And completely inappropriate for a Holi celebration, according to Riya.

Which was exactly why she was grinning like a villain who had just discovered my weakness. Before I could even step back, she pulled a small packet out of her pocket.

My eyes widened.

"Riya—"

Too late.

She threw the pink abeer straight at me. The powder burst against my kurti like a tiny explosion. I gasped as the soft white fabric was instantly stained bright pink. Some of the colour dusted my cheeks, clung to my eyelashes, and even managed to sneak into my hair.

For a moment, I simply stared at her.

My once pristine outfit was ruined. Ruined. Riya, meanwhile, looked extremely proud of herself. The audacity of this girl.

"Le," Riya laughed. "Ab to rang lag hi gya."

["Now the color has been applied."]

And before I could even respond, she ran.

"RIYA!" I shouted, wiping my face with the back of my hand. "Tera to aaj main chhappan bhog se satkar karungi! Tu ruk bas!"

["Today I will kill you! Just wait!"

If she thought she could throw colour at me and escape peacefully, she was clearly living in a fantasy world. Unfortunately, in my burning desire to catch her, I completely forgot one small but important detail.

Watching where I was running.

My foot caught on the marble edge of the fountain. Time seemed to tilt as I stumbled forward. was absolutely certain I was about to fall flat on my face in front of half the palace. Embarrassed.

But the fall never happened.

Two strong hands caught me by the waist. The grip was firm but careful, steadying me before I could crash into the ground.

I froze.

For a second, I didn't even move.

Then I looked up.

Our eyes met.

He looked handsome. A perfectly carved face, deep brown eyes, neatly trimmed beard. There was even a small mole on his right cheek. A few strands of hair had fallen over his forehead, giving him that effortlessly fictional men look. What the fuck? No. Nobody could replace them.

At that exact moment, a servant carrying a silver thali of yellow abeer tripped. The plate tipped, sending colour cascading over both of us. Yellow stained my kurti and hair and splashed across his pristine white shoulder. I straightened immediately, brushing colour from my hair with irritation.

"Sorry," I muttered quickly, not even properly looking at him as embarrassment prickled under my skin. I shouldn't be attracted to him. Then, before the moment could stretch into something awkward, I hurried away.

Because somewhere in this chaotic palace courtyard, Riya was still alive.

And I fully intended to change that.

♫𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗵𝗮𝘄𝗮ᯓᡣ𐭩
POV

I remained still, my eyes fixed on her retreating figure as she disappeared into the crowd. A strange warmth settled in my chest.

Unfamiliar.

Unwelcome.

I shouldn't have touched her. Shouldn't have noticed the way the yellow colour had caught in her hair. Shouldn't have let the memory stay in my mind longer than necessary.

And yet... it refused to leave.

"Colour sirf right side pe, posture seedhi, aur—"

["Color only on the right side, posture straight, and—"]

Shivaay appeared beside me, flicking his fingers dramatically in front of my face.

"Cheeks red?" he added, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. "Kisne hamare pattagobhi ko pareshaan kar diya?"

["Who disturbed our cabbage?"]

I rolled my eyes.

"I warned you not to call me that."

The reason they called me this nickname is because I hate cabbage. Shivaay only shrugged, completely unapologetic.

"Aur main gusse mein nahi hoon." I said lazily. He studied my face like a detective who had just discovered a new clue. Then his eyebrows lifted slowly.

["And I'm not angry."]

"To phir kya... pyaar mein hai?" The word lingered in the air like a bad joke. My jaw tightened.

["So what then... are you in love?"]

Flashback — a few minutes earlier

I had been standing near the fountain, posture relaxed but alert, watching the crowd from a distance. Sunlight caught in the strands of my dark hair, and the soft spring breeze carried the scent of gulal and flowers through the courtyard.

My outfit had been simple. A straight-cut pastel white kurta with crisp sleeves, paired with a white dhoti. A soft yellow scarf rested loosely around my neck.

Shivaay had a strange relationship with time never early, never late, always exactly on time. But I preferred arriving early. Sometimes an early arrival saved a moment or allowed you to catch one.

Then the moment happened.

A girl came running across the courtyard, clearly chasing someone. Her foot caught the edge of the fountain. Everything after that happened in seconds. My hands moved before my mind could. I caught her mid-fall. My grip steadied her by the waist.

For a moment she froze.

Then she looked up.

Our eyes met.

And just as quickly, chaos joined the scene. A servant nearby stumbled, the silver thali in his hands tipping forward. Yellow abeer spilled into the air like a burst of sunlight. The colour rained down on both of us. Yellow dust settled in her hair, across her shoulders, staining the white of her kurti. Some of it landed on my shoulder too.

She straightened almost immediately, brushing the colour from her hair with visible irritation.

"Sorry," she muttered quickly. And then she walked away. Just like that.

Back to the present.

"Chor de mat soch, tu pyaar mei kabhi nhi ho sakta"

["Chor de mat soch, tu pyaar mei kabhi nhi ho sakta"

I exhaled slowly. The words felt firm. Logical. A simple truth. And yet, annoyingly enough, my eyes still drifted to the crowd searching for a girl with yellow abeer in her hair.

But why?

♕𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗞𝘂𝘀𝗵𝘄𝗮𝗵𝗮 . ۫ ꣑ৎ 
POV

The palace courtyard erupted into deeper chaos. From the palace steps, I appeared. My dress elegant, flowing, and perfectly tailored shimmered beneath the Holi sun, catching splashes of yellow, pink, and green as I walked. A light dupatta trailed behind me.

Guests paused mid-laughter, musicians halted mid-beat, bowing their heads to the royal presence. I adjusted my dupatta with a small, graceful motion, my face calm, my eyes shining with confidence and warmth.

My predatory gaze landed on a silhouette at the back of the palace. "Lagta hai mahal mei koi ghuspaitiya aa gya hai." I pulled a sword carved stand built into the palace walls. Fingers tightened around the hilt, my posture perfect, my gaze fierce. I lunged forward.

["It seems there's an intruder in the palace."]

The intruder barely dodged. I followed with swift, precise strikes low, fast, unforgiving. He stumbled back, shocked, scrambling to grab another sword to block my blows. Steel clashed. One strike grazed his arm, drawing blood.

"Aap hamari jaan lene par kyun tuli hain?" he gasped, clutching his arm. Suddenly, sounds of footsteps caught his attention. He panicked and rushed to the nearby bushes.

["Why are you so determined on taking our lives?"]

I was confused by his strange behaviour. "Ab chhup kyu rahe ho?" This man had the audacity to break into a palace and now he was hiding in bushes like a frightened rabbit.

["Why are you hiding now?"]

Unbelievable.

I tried pulling him out of his hiding, grabbed his arm and pulled but before I could pull further, his gloved hands grabbed my waist and pulled me with him.

He pressed a hand over my mouth, pressing me to his chest. I wriggled to get free, but he held me tightly, a silent warning not to make noise. My chest rose and fell in irritation, hands clenched on the dupatta.

How dare he touch me? The Princess of Chittorgarh. No one had ever disrespected me like this.

Just as the guards left, he let go of me and stood up, brushing off dirt from his white shirt, while I stood up angrily, pointing the sword at him. "Badtameez! Is badtameezi ke karan ham tumhe giraftar kar denge!"

["You rascal! I'll get you arrested for this insolence!"]

He raised his eyebrows and slowly pulled off the mask he had been wearing all this time. "Well, pehli baar kisi ne Udaipur ke hone wale samrat ko giraftari ki dhamki di hai."

["Well, for the first time someone has threatened to arrest the future emperor of Udaipur."]

╰┈➤ ᗷOOKIE ‎ . ݁⋆ ꫂ᭪ ݁˖ . ݁

On the other side, Aarushi caught Riya's sight at the Thandai corner. "Accha, to yaha thandai pee jaa rhi hai." Just as she tried to grab her, Riya gulped down the whole glass in one go and threw it somewhere, eyes closed, steps wobbling.

["Okay, so you are drinking Thandai here."]

"Ye kya, kisi tehravi mei aaye hai jaise gane baja rhe hai? Gaane mai bajaungi." Her head snapped forward, finger pointing vaguely.

["What is this, songs are being played as if you have come to some thirteenth day function? I will play the song."]

She left the corner and staggered. "Arre? Bhaag kaha rahi hai? Riya!" Aarushi called from behind, but she paid no attention—she actually couldn't. The bhang had already started showing its effects. She grabbed the mic, pulled out her phone, and played 'Balam Pichkari.'

["Hey? Where are you running? Riya!"]

|| Itna maza, Kyu aa raha hai? ||

Riya lifted both her hands near her shoulders, elbows bent outward, and started bouncing her shoulders side to side. Her feet tried to hop lightly on the beat but barely left the ground, landing unevenly. She leaned back slightly, smiling wide, feeling the music more than following it.

"Ye kar kya rhi hai??" Aarushi screamed internally at her friend. She rushed toward her to save herself from second-hand embarrassment, attempting to pull her down—but got slapped right on her cheeks in the next step.

["What is she doing??"]

|| Tune Hawa Mein, Bhaang Milaya ||

She waved side to side, letting her hair swing with her movements, while her hands swayed in front of her, palms outward, moving left to right. Her upper body swayed along with her hands, balance loose, head tilting as if the rhythm itself made her dizzy.

"Abbe pagal! Ye bandh kar, raja ji tujhe suli pe latka denge warna!!" Aarushi yelled, attempting a second try, but fell as her elbow connected with her jaw. Riya got off the stage, rushing to the middle and attracting everyone's attention.

["Hey crazy! Stop this, or else the king will hang you!!"

|| Dugna Nasha, Kyun Ho Raha Hai
Aankhon Se Meetha, Tune Khilaya ||

One of her hands pointed upwards, the other rested on her waist. She brought her hand back up to motion 'Kyu' and swayed her hips with the beat. Her fingers traced an invisible line outward, then flicked her wrist like she was throwing something sweet into the air.

|| Ho Teri Malmal Ki Kurti Gulabi Ho Gayi
Manchali Chaal Kaise Nawabi Ho Gayi ||

Krish stepped in from the side as the beat softened. He moved closer to Riya, matching her rhythm easily. He lifted one hand, making a smooth, sweeping motion from her shoulder downward, pointing out the colour on her kurti without touching it.

Aarushi's eyes widened as she saw Krish had joined her.

"Ab yeh mat kehna ki isne bhi bhaang pee li hai!"

["Now don't say that he has also drank the thandai!"]

Tara and Tarun rushed to the scene, mouths gaping at the duo dancing so carelessly.

"Ye kya ho raha hai? Papa aa gaye to jaan kha jayengi inki!!"Tara exclaimed, while Aarushi and Tarun gulped in fear. A shiver ran down their spines.

["What is happening? If Papa comes, they will be killed!!"

"I-Inko roko, wrna aaj to Raja ji inke saath-saath hamari bhi jaan le lenge!!" Tarun's voice laced with fear and urgency. Tara quickly signaled the guards to stop them.

["S-Stop them, otherwise today Raja ji will kill us along with them!!"]

|| Balam Pichkari jo tune mujhe maari
Toh Seedhi Saadi Chhori, Sharaabi Ho Gayi ||

Riya's hand connected with one of the guard's faces, while Krish's elbow connected with the other. The guards fell due to the blows. Colour splashed everywhere, abeer flew over the guests, and coloured water painted the grass.

Just then, the air shifted, fear rippled through the courtyard. RAJIV SINGH KUSHWAHA entered the function along with his wife, KRITI KUSHWAHA. All heads bowed—except the two dancing. Aarushi, Tara, and Tarun trembled, while Riya and Krish continued their chaotic performance.

|| Haa, Jeans pehen ke jo tune maara thumka
Toh lattoo padosan ki bhabhi ho gayi ||

They both did a clumsy hip sway. Riya kicked one leg out in the air, Krish tapped his foot to the beat, wobbling just enough to almost trip. Then Riya tried the 'thumka' turn and finally tripped over him. Krish's hand hit the silver bowl of red abeer, staining Raja ji's white kurta and Rani ji's white embroidered lehenga.

Aarushi rushed to the mic and pressed the pause button on Riya's phone.

"Ye dimaag tujhe pehle nahi aa saka?" Tara whispered to Aarushi, who just gave a shy smile. 

["Didn't you get this idea before?"]

At the main gate, a bike pulled over. Khushi got off, pulling out her helmet, her long hair cascading over her shoulder to her waist.

"You didn't follow the dress code," Shivaay commented on her black top and jeans, arms crossed at his chest, leaning back against the wall, while Randhawa brushed yellow abeer from his hair.

"White gives oldie vibes," Khushi replied, putting back her helmet, stepping towards them.

"Any progress?" Shivaay asked, a smirk tugging at his lips, enjoying Khushi's irritation. She bit her inner cheek and looked at him with a stern glare. "Not yet, but soon Mr. Shivaay Raizada, you will be behind bars counting your days." He licked his lips, chuckling at her warning.

"I am supporting Khushi. This man surely needs a trip to the lock-up," Shivaay raised his eyebrows at Randhawa. "Tu mera dost hai ya uska?"

["Are you my friend or her?"]

"Depends on the situation," Randhawa replied while Shivaay rolled his eyes. "Keep fighting like dogs on the road. Aur tab tak mai kuch kha ke aati hu."

["Keep fighting dogs on the road. And in the meantime I will come back after eating something."]

Saying this, Khushi entered the golden gates, greeted by a situation she least expected.

"Ye sab ho kya raha hai?"

["What is all this going on?"]

Inside, Riya and Krish tangled on the ground, Aarushi and Tara shivered near the stage, while Tarun prayed quietly to God. Shivaay and Randhawa entered, hearing her scream, mouths agape at the mess.

"Mai inhe nahi janti." Khushi said as she quickly fled.

["I don't know them."]

Randhawa and Shivaay looked at each other, then gulped.

"Ham bhi patli gali se nikal jate hai, wrna Krish ke saath-saath hame bhi raja ji parlok sidhar denge."

[Let us go to, or else we will be also punished with them.]

4 hours later

𐀪𝗥𝗶𝘆𝗮 𝗔𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗿𝗶✮⋆˙
POV

My eyes fluttered open from my deep, uneasy sleep. My head felt heavy, like someone had hit it. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. The moment my vision cleared. In front of me, Aarushi di sat cross-legged on the bed, laptop balanced on her lap, hair tied messily, dressed in a simple shirt and shorts. Tara di lounged opposite to her in a soft pink chikankari kurti, scrolling through her phone. On the couch Khushi di, in her black top and jeans, was polishing her gun.

I blinked.

Then blinked again.

Why was there a gun in my room? And why are they silent? Too silent. I do remember throwing abeer at Aarushi di then running away to thandai corner just to quench my thirst. But then everything is a blur.

"Yaar!! Mujhe kuch yaad nhi aa rha," I said hesitantly, "Kuch....hua tha kya?"

["Yaar!! I can't remember anything,"]
["Did something...happen?"]

Three heads snapped at once.

Aarushi di rolled her eyes. Tara di pressed her lips into a thin line. Khushi di placed the gun carefully on the table and fixed me with a glare so cold it dried my throat instantly.

My throat dried under her glare. I straightened my back and looked at Aarushi di for assurance but her eyes were fixed on her laptop, fingers tapping on the keyboard. My eyes then went to Tara di but she just ignored me and kept her eyes glued to her mobile.

Wow. Amazing. What the fu- I did? That I and getting this treatment.

"Tum na hi poocho to behtar hai." Khushi di said flatly. That tone means exactly what I am thinking. I scratched the back of my neck, my eyes landed on Aarushi di once again and saw her typing something on the keyboard.

["You'd better not ask."]

"Didi aap kya kar rhe ho?" I asked to lighten the tense atmosphere but my attempt backfired, "Tumne kuch krne layak chhora nhi hai hame, isiliye chup chaap rho to hi behtar hai." Aarushi di replied, eyes still on her computer screen.

["Sister, what are you doing?"]
["You have left us with nothing to do, so it is better to remain silent."]

Rude. But now I was scared. I wouldn't have done much. Right?

At last, my eyes landed on Tara di but before I could say something she shoved her mobile into my hands.

The video played.

My eyes widened as I saw my drunken self dancing wildly, colors flying everywhere, hands clashing to every person as we moved with the rhythm. At last, when I saw abeer and coloured water fly over the King and the Queen, I shoved away the phone instantly.

My cheeks burned with crimson red color, "To ab sharm aa rhi hai?" Tara di mocked, "Udhar to maharani taal se taal mila ke naach rhi thi." I pulled the blanket over my head, sinking into it. My mind replayed that video of my embarrassment.

["So you're feeling ashamed now?"]
["Over there the queen was dancing in perfect rhythm."]

Was I possessed? This could't be ME!!

"Tum log rok nhi skte the?"

["You guys couldn't have stopped?"]

Aarushi di threw a pillow at me, hard, Tara di scoffed and Khushi di rolled her eyes. "Roka tha," Aarushi di said, "Hamne kya sipahiyon ne bhi koshish ki thi par tum dono apne naach se itna hanagama macha rhe the. Ki koi rok hi nahi paya."

["We did stop you both,]
["Not only we, even the soldiers tried, but you both were creating so much chaos with your dance that no one could stop you."

Great.

Just Great. My reputation ruined!

Just then through my periphery I saw Aarushi di's screen popped with a notification, her fingers moved to open it. Her eyes carefully scanned each and every word.

She froze. Her eyes scanned the message once.

Twice.

Then a joyful scream left her mouth, "Yess!!"

Tara looked up from her phone. I shot out from the blanket and Khushi di's eyebrows turned into a questioning look. "Kya hua?" Tara di asked, as she put her phone down.

["What happened?"]

Why is she jumping like chimpanzee? Did my blunder cause her mental damage?

"I got the scholarship!" Aarushi di exclaimed jumping off the bed and rushed to Khushi di pulling her into a hug.

"Meri saans atak jayegi." Khushi di muttered patting her back. She left her immediately with a sheepish smile. Tara di and I got off the bed. "Chalo shopping chalte hai." Tara di suggested.

["I'm going to be out of breath."]
["Let's go shopping."]

"Haa waise bhi mai bore ho rhi thi." I exclaimed pouting. Three pairs of eyes glared at me and I gulped. "Aaj subah tamasha kar jo entertainment diya hai sabko uske baad bhi bore ho rhi ho?" Khushi di's voice laced with pure mockery.

["Yeah, I was getting bored anyway."]
["Are you still bored after all the entertainment you gave everyone this morning?"]

"Ab kya jeevan bhar ke liye tane maaroge mujhe?" I said, sniffing my nose, my lips turned downward as I acted to cry wiping my fake tears. The other three just rolled their eyes at my antics.

["Now are you going to taunt me for the rest of my life?"]

The door opened and Rajshree, my mother entered the room, "Bilkul jarurat nhi hai tumhe jane ki." Her stern voice left no words for argument. "Aaj subah bohot hungama kar liya tumne."

["There's absolutely no need for you to go."]
["You already created a lot of commotion this morning."]

I made my puppy eyes but mumma just gave her glare and went away.

"Didi," I whined to Khushi di, "Bolo na mummy ko mujhe bhi jana hai."

["Tell mom I also want to go."]

But they just ignored me and left the room. Leaving me alone.

╰┈➤ ᗷOOKIE ‎ . ݁⋆ ꫂ᭪ ݁˖ . ݁

On the other side at the Malhotra's house, Shivaay, Randhawa, Tarun and Krish were in the lawn, holding their ears, doing sit ups from half an hour.

"Ye sab iski wajah se." Tarun said as he did his 50th sit up. His face glistened with sweat, on the other hand Randhawa and Shivaay were having a tough competition on who will do the most sit ups.

["All this because of this boy."]

"Ho gya mai aur nhi kar skta." Krish collapsed onto the ground, his chest rising with each breath, sweat dripping from his forehead, shirt soaked and eyes closed. Tarun smacked the back of his head, he groaned and again started from where he left.

["I'm done, I can't do it anymore."]

"Ek to moorkhata ki aur upar se hame bhi apni saja mei phasa diya aur ab yeh thak ye hai." Tarun mocked while Randhawa and Shivaay laughed.

["First you did something stupid and on top of that you got us involved in your punishment and now you are tired."]

"Malhotra ji ab inhe jane bhi de bacche hai." Rajiv said as he took a sip of his tea. "Bacche hai to kya hua galti ki hai to saja milegi hi." Akshat Malhotra, Krish's and Khushi's father, replied as he took his sip of tea watching them from the window in the living area.

["Malhotra ji, let them go now, they are children.]
["So what if they are children, if they have committed a mistake they will definitely be punished."]

"Randhawa and Shivaay beta you both can go." Akshat said as they both completed their 200th sit up, while Tarun and Krish couldn't even complete 90 yet. Randhawa stood up and stretched his arms, Shivaay stood next sliding his hands in pockets.

"Tum dono ka bhi ho jaye to aa jana." Shivaay said as they both headed out, "Radhe Radhe uncle, Radhe Radhe Raja ji" they both bowed their heads before Rajiv and Akshat and touched their feet.

["If you both are done, then come."

"Radhe Radhe baccho" Akshat and Rajiv said in unison and blessed the kids patting their hands on their heads.

♕𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗞𝘂𝘀𝗵𝘄𝗮𝗵𝗮 . ۫ ꣑ৎ .
POV

At the mall, Khushi walked a few steps behind us. "Tu ye kala chashma pehen ke kyu aayi hai?" Aarushi asked as Khushi fixed her black goggles resting on her nose.

["Why have you come wearing these dark glasses?"]

"Because I love black." She replied back pushing the frame higher.

"Yup, we all love black until it comes to skin. Like me." Aarushi said, Khushi flicked her forehead with one finger, "Who said you are black, you are caramel skin."

Aarushi chuckled, then turned to me as I was lost in my phone. "Chashma lag jayega agar jyada phone chalayegi to." She warned. My lips curved into a smirk, "Isiliye to ek hi chalati hu."

["You will need glasses if you use the phone too much."]
["That's why I use one."]

And we both broke into laughter.

Aarushi leaned closer, trying to see my screen. Unfortunately for me, my phone had Tarun's Instagram profile open. Me, the supposedly composed princess was currently scrolling through his posts like a suspicious investigator. I AIN'T STALKING.

"Ye to wahi na hai jo aaj subah tere saath tha."

["This is the same person who was with you this morning."]

I startled and dropped my phone down. Khushi picked it up and handed it back, then raised her eyes in a questioning look. "Kya chal rha hai?" She asked.

["What's going on?"]

"I guess pyaar chal rha hai. Because someone is blushing too hard." Aarushi teased while my face reddened more. "W-wo ham" I hid my face with my palms, Khushi gave a small smile. "It's okay you can tell us."

["I guess love is going on. Because someone is blushing so hard."]
[U-uh I]

"Saamne hi Mac Donald's hai udhar chalke baat krte hai. It's tea time!" Aarushi exclaimed and pulled me and Khushi with her. We took our seats inside and ordered three burgers and one cold coffee for Khushi and two Oreo shakes for Aarushi and me.

["There's McDonald's right in front, let's go there and talk. It's tea time!"]

"So, ye sab kabse?" Khushi asked as she leaned on the table facing mine, her arms crossed. "Kuch nhi wo," I hesitated a bit then revealed the whole incident, how I mistook him for some intruder, the sword fight, hiding and the bush, then how I threatened him and finally the face reveal.

["So, when did all this start?"]

Khushi took a sip from her coffee and hummed. "So, you are saying you raised your sword to the goddamn FUTURE KING OF UDAIPUR??"

I clamped a hand over Aarushi's mouth before the news spread like a fire, and the new headlines would become, the princess of Chittorgarh attempted to kill the prince of Udaipur. Rumours are really hard to say when we are the most prominent persons.

"Then why were you checking him out?" Aarushi asked, this time her voice low as a whisper. I tried to keep a straight face and then replied, "I wasn't checking him out," I emphasized on the phrase 'checking him out', "I was just clarifying whether he was telling the truth of being the future king of Udaipur or just thinking me a fool."

"So, you don't like him?" Aarushi asked again, "Nope." I replied, I lied smoothly when the truth was something else. The time when Tarun removed his mask my eyes got stuck on his face, I felt a weird warmth. A kind which I never felt before.

So yup I got a crush on him at first sight. And I was absolutely not planning to admit that to anyone.

╰┈➤ ᗷOOKIE ‎ . ݁⋆ ꫂ᭪ ݁˖ . ݁

"Negativity all around." Shivaay's voice cut in as he took a seat beside Khushi and rested his hand behind her, not exactly touching her but letting her feel his warmth. "Can't bring some color to your fashion sense?"

Khushi rolled her eyes and got up, "Aarushi can we exchange seats?" Aarushi nodded and got up from her seat beside Tara to sit beside Shivaay while he pulled his hands off the seat behind to come and rest on the table.

Just then Randhawa and Tarun came. Randhawa took the seat on the other side of Khushi while Tarun sat beside Shivaay. Randhawa's eyes went to Aarushi who was fixing her kurti, the strange feeling again filled his heart with strange warmth.

Tara's eyes moved to Tarun, he was wearing a red mask again, paired with his crimson red shirt and off-white pants. Their eyes met and Tara quickly shifted her gaze flustered.

Randhawa and Tara leaned towards Khushi's ear, one towards the right and the other towards left, "Tune kabhi bataya nhi teri itni achhi dost bhi hai." Randhawa whispered from the left while at the same time Tara whispered, "Tumne kabhi bataya nhi ki tera itna accha dost bhi hai."

["You never told me that you have such a good friend."]

Khushi gave a confusing look to both of them, while they just gave her a sheepish smile. "Okay, Aarushi, Tara, this is Randhawa son of Mr. Dhruv Singh Randhawa, CEO DSR company and this is Shivaay, son of Mr. Vikram Raizada, a navy officer. And this is Tarun, you already know him."

Shivaay smiled at Aarushi and Tara as they forwarded their hands to greet him. Next Aarushi greeted Randhawa, "Hello, myself-" before she could complete Randhawa replied , "I know."

Aarushi's face turned confused as Randhawa poked his inner cheek with his tongue at the slip of words then quickly replied, "Khushi always talks about her friends so we know." Khushi raised her eyebrows at him but he just gave her the sweetest smile telling her silently to shut her mouth.

Tara forwarded her hand to Tarun, her hands trembling as they get closer, "Are you cold?" he asked as he took her hands in his to greet. Tara's face flustered red. Tarun panicked and got up, "Hey! You are burning." He waved a hand to a servant and ordered for one bottle of water.

Aarushi and Khushi looked at each other confused at her strange behaviour. The waiter brought the bottle and handed it over to her. "Here take this." As she took the water her fingers brushed with his, her heart fluttered. She took a sip from the bottle and then glance at him again who was now seated back at his seat.

"By the way what's your name?" Aarushi asked Randhawa, his eyes moved to her again but this time they weren't welcoming, they were dark, as something dangerous inside him snapped.

Shivaay stiffened and looked at Randhawa, he was not scared but cautious. Tarun clutched his hands tight, sweating, tense. Khushi was calm, she took the sip from her coffee but was prepared if anything happens. Tara looked at them feeling the tensed atmosphere, she clutched the bottle tight. Aarushi was confused, the silence was confusing.

His face darkened.

"Mera koi naam nhi hai." Every word was forced, Randhawa quickly stood up and left. Shivaay and Tarun relaxed and followed him outside. Aarushi and Tara looked at Khushi for some explanations.

["I don't have a name."]

Khushi stood up finishing the last sip of her coffee. "Never ask him about his name again. I warn you Aarushi. Never." She took her purse and paid for the order then went outside with no second glance or word.

"Ye kya hua?" Tara asked but Aarushi was still focused on that sentence 'I don't have a name'. No one needs to tell but she knew it was a lie. "He was lying." Tara squinted her eyes, "Yeah, I know, it is practically very weird if someone doesn't have a name, even my sword has a name."

["What was that?"]

But why was he hiding it?

₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚

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