The house was buzzing with color and life, yet the upper hall remained quieter — the colors seemed to hum here, instead of shout.
As Anaya, Ria, and Janvi crossed the wide hallway, their dupattas trailing like banners of spring, Ria suddenly turned around, eyes twinkling.
"Aaj main tum dono ko ek special jagah le jaa rahi hoon, jahan main chill karti hoon jab sab mujhe irritate karte hain."
(I'm taking you two to a special place, where I chill when everyone drives me crazy.)
She led them up the staircase, barefoot, Holi powder still clinging to their hair like memories.
As they reached the second floor, Janvi looked around, the sunlight dancing across her face from the glass windows.
With a quiet voice full of wonder, she said,
"You lucky girl, Ria. You have such a great family."
Anaya turned to her, a softness in her eyes.
"Ria is lucky…" she repeated thoughtfully, then smiled, tilting her head. "But so am I. Mujhe bhi toh family mili. Tum bhi lucky ho sakti ho, Janvi… agar tu chahe toh."
(I got a family too. You could be lucky too, Janvi… if you choose.)
Ria chuckled as she tossed her arm casually around Anaya's shoulder, winking.
"Yeh family ab tumhari bhi hai, Anaya. Aur Janvi, tumhari bhi ho sakti hai… agar tu haan kare toh."
(This family is yours now too, Anaya. And Janvi, it could be yours… if you say yes.)
Her voice had a teasing edge, but her eyes—held something deeper.
Janvi slowed her steps.
They turned to look at her reaction.
She stopped mid-way, arms crossed, eyes narrowing as if she was scanning their faces.
"Kya? Aise kya dekh rahe ho dono mujhe ab?"
(What? Why are you both looking at me like that now?)
Her voice was a mix of confusion and mock offense. Her nose crinkled slightly, the way it always did when she was pretending to be mad but wasn't really.
Ria couldn't hold back.
With a light laugh, she stepped forward and threw her arm around Janvi's shoulder.
"Tu jaanti hai main kya keh rahi hoon, girl."
(You know exactly what I mean, girl.)
Anaya rolled her eyes and raised her empty lassi glass.
"Agar tum dono ka ho gaya ho na toh chalein? Main yahan yeh lassi finish kar doongi, mujhe intezaar nahi karna."
(If you two are done, can we go? I'll finish this lassi here otherwise, and I'm not waiting.)
The three of them laughed as they walked out into the open terrace.
The space opened up like a secret garden.
Green everywhere.
Pots overflowing with money plants, hibiscus, and marigolds lined the walls. Fabric curtains fluttered gently in the breeze, hanging from a bamboo frame. A huge couch with pastel cushions sat in the middle, like a queen's throne.
Janvi gasped, spinning slowly in place.
"This… this is beautiful."
Ria grinned proudly. "Mujhe pata tha tujhe plants pasand hai… yeh tera favourite spot banega, I swear. Future mein yahin chill karengi sab."
(I knew you love plants… this'll be your favorite spot, I swear. In the future, we'll all chill here together.)
Anaya gave Ria a playful slap on the arm.
"Shut up, yeh anonymously bol rahi hai. Don't mind."
(Shut up, she's just speaking anonymously. Don't mind her.)
Janvi shook her head and laughed, picking up her glass again.
"Okay okay. Chill."
The three sat down on the couch, the warm sun hitting their backs, a breeze fluttering their dupattas as the lassi settled in their stomachs and the world slowed down just enough for honest conversation to seep in.
Then, Anaya leaned closer to Janvi, smiling curiously.
"Janvi, when will you get married?"
Janvi blinked at her.
"I… don't know, Anaya."
Ria grinned. "Matlab abhi nahi karni ya kabhi nahi karni?"
(So you mean not now or never ever?)
Janvi raised her glass dramatically.
"Ladiesy…"
The word echoed a little louder than expected.
She blinked. Her lips curved in a lazy grin. The lassi was hitting now. And she didn't know what she was saying, only that it was the truth wrapped in Holi madness.
She stood up on the couch.
"Ladies…"
"Aaj main kuch kehna chahti hoon!"
(Today, I want to say something!)
Ria and Anaya exchanged a look.
"You okay?" Anaya mouthed silently.
Janvi raised her finger in the air like a guru giving gyaan.
"Purush… Narak ke dwaar hote hain!"
(Men… are the gateways to hell!)
Anaya blinked.
"What is happening?" she whispered to herself.
Ria snorted, but lifted her hand.
"Shhh… bolne do use."
(Shhh… let her speak.)
Anaya rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath.
"Agar purush 6-feet tall ho… toh?"
(If a man is six-feet tall… then?)
Ria leaned in with a wicked grin.
"Agar handsome ho…?"
(If he's handsome…?)
Anaya added, "Agar muscular ho toh?"
(If he's muscular then?)
Ria smirked. "Aur 6-pack ho toh?"
(And if he has six-packs?)
Anaya narrowed her eyes.
"Aur agar older ho toh…?"
Their voices turned slow and sultry, like they were narrating a forbidden fantasy.
They didn't realize—
A pair of eyes were already watching from the open doorway behind them.
________📖________📖________📖________📖
The Holi hues had started settling into the fabric of the garden as the sky shifted to mellow gold. The heat of the afternoon gave way to the softer, warm breeze of 4:30 PM, brushing gently across colorful cheeks and rustling saree drapes like a flirtatious whisper.
Under the shade of a neem tree, the trio of ladies—Anaya, Ria, and Janvi—sat around a circular wooden bench, their voices laced with laughter and mischief. The soft tint of bhang-laced lassi was evident in their giggles, but they were not out of control… just a little too honest, a little too soft, a little too real.
They didn't know… their men were watching.
Not from far. Just at the edge of the lawn. Three tall figures, arms folded, expressions amused… and confused.
Rudra. Ravi. Aarav.
Rudra was the first to speak, his lips curling into a crooked smirk.
"Six feet… check."
(Confident. Leader. Lover. The main male lead… obviously he'd go first.)
Ravi chuckled and added, "Handsome… check."
But then their eyes landed on the third man.
Aarav.
His rolled-up sleeves clung to his muscular arms, his kurta soaked from water splashes, revealing a chiseled torso underneath. And damn it—he had the nerve to look good.
Both Rudra and Ravi said in unison, "Six pack… check."
Aarav's brows twitched. He turned toward them with slight panic.
"Yaar… main piche nahi hoon… right?"
(I'm not lagging behind… right?)
His voice cracked just a bit.
"Did I… lose this one?"
Rudra smirked darkly and said, "Maybe… thoda toh haara hai tu."
(Maybe… you did lose a little.)
Ravi couldn't help but tease, nudging Rudra.
"But bro… seriously. Why are they talking like that?"
Rudra's eyes were already narrowed, locked on Anaya.
Her dupatta had slipped off one shoulder. Her head slightly tilted as she sipped the lassi with a soft hum, her cheeks a little too flushed—not just from color.
Her eyes…
Too bright.
Too soft.
Too intoxicated.
"Did they drink something… they weren't supposed to?" Rudra muttered.
And before either could stop him, he was already walking across the garden.
Aarav threw his hands in the air and followed. "Arre ruk! Bhai, agar vo ladkiyaan humari ho… toh—"
He cleared his throat dramatically and called out—
"Ladies! Agar vo purush hum ho… toh kya hum aa jayein?"
(Ladies! If those men are us… then may we come over?)
The three girls turned around in perfect synchronization—Anaya, Ria, and Janvi, their expressions a mix of surprise and guilt.
They'd been caught.
Janvi blinked twice, her voice shaky but playful.
"B-Boss… um… hum baat kar rahe the bas…"
(Boss… um… we were just talking…)
Ria let out a babyish giggle. Her lips stained with rose pink color and cream from the lassi.
"Bhai… vo lassi thi bas… yeh lassi hi toh hai… isme aur kya hoga?"
(Bhai… it was just lassi… that's all… what else could be in it?)
She pointed dramatically at the glass.
Rudra had reached Anaya by then.
He crouched just enough to meet her dazed eyes. His fingers gently cupped her face, tilting it up.
His thumb brushed her cheek.
"Anaya… tumne kya piya? Hmm?"
(Anaya… what did you drink?)
Anaya blinked slowly, her lips parting to answer.
"…Pyaar…"
(…Love…)
Ria snorted behind her.
"Ohh hoooo… dekha? Dekha bhai! Ab tum samjho!"
Ravi laughed under his breath, watching Ria sway and nearly trip on her own dupatta.
Janvi tried to stand but quickly grabbed Aarav's arm for balance.
"Main toh bas keh rahi thi ki tumhare bhaiya ka rang sabse pyaara hai…"
Aarav raised a brow.
"Kaunsa bhaiya?"
"Jo samjho!" she winked, leaning slightly against him.
The boys glanced at one another.
"Yeh toh gaya kaam se." Ravi muttered.
But Rudra wasn't laughing anymore. His eyes were still on Anaya.
Because in her inebriated honesty, her gaze held nothing but truth—no fear, no hesitation, no shyness.
Just him.
And maybe, just maybe… she'd say all the things she never dared to when sober.