Chapter 2

Rang Ishq Ka

Part 2: The official ceremony

Hey, amazing people <3

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The day soon rolled into evening and that part of the world witnessed the day's sunset. The sky was painted a mixture of colours as the mehndi ceremony started. Ishqi was made to sit on the decorated swing, while the others ran up and about doing last minute preps. Soon enough the evening had officially started with a welcome dance performance, and the hired henna artists showed off their henna painting skills on the bride's and the female clan's hands and arms.

"Bhaiya, where were you? You missed out on our dance performance." Sonu complained as soon as she saw Ahaan enter the well-decorated area, his pistachio and lime kurta-pyjama complimenting Ishqi's lehenga.

Instead of giving her a reply, his eyes landed on a certain someone, whose eyes were, not-so-coincidentally, resting on him. He gave her a lopsided smile, winking at her flirtatiously while Ishqi almost choked on her spit at the second wink he passed her that day. He chuckled seeing her reaction to it, and that's when she realised what he was trying to do.

Two can play this game.

She looked back at him, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, while he tried figuring out what it was that changed within a few seconds. Whatever it may be, he didn't expect what she did next and felt his breath getting knocked out. She licked her lips a little before she blew him a kiss.

"Ohho, Ahaan Puttar! Ae ki kar raha hai?" He jolted hearing Dadi's voice, and only then did he realise he bumped into someone, and that someone turned out to be no one other than her.

"Voh, I'm sorry." He managed not to stutter, his mind reiterating the image of Ishqi blowing a kiss his way. Damn it! We haven't been able to kiss at all, and here she blows me a kiss! Darn myself. Darn my denial. Darn, my chappal! Darn Dadi's phone call! Darn Karthik & Co! Oh, darn the whole word!

Sonu's laughter broke his chain of thoughts and he gave his sister a questioning look, "Bhaiya, in all honesty, it'll take us a hundred years to get used to this new version of AVM. First the bedroom incident, and now this? Forget eye contact and all, ab toh lipsdchgydgehb."

"Kuch bhi bolti rehti hai tu." He shoved a jalebi in her mouth and walked off to where the rest of the male gang was standing.

"What's the groom's name?" The henna artist asked Ishqi.

"Ahaan."

"I must say, Ishqi-Ahaan sounds perfect." She looked up at Ishqi who slightly blushed at the remark.

Not long after, was the lady done with her work and bid goodbye wishing her good luck. Ishqi sighed, realising she'd have to sit with her hands put out, not being able to do anything till she gets it peeled off. Some were singing and dancing, some were talking amongst themselves while some were eating.

Eating!

She heard her stomach rumble, and all of a sudden felt parched. Her sugar levels must've gone high considering the wedding stress plus overdose of sweetmeats; or even just the boredom that's causing hunger. She couldn't spot Ahaan anywhere too and felt low for no reason at all. Wallowing in hunger, thirst and grief, she didn't notice the rim of a glass touch her lips and she tilted her head, glancing at her husband-to-be.

He knew. Like always.

She smiled as she drank the water in a few quick sips and before she could thank him, he rubbed his thumb on the corner of her mouth with the excuse of wiping the little water droplet.

"You don't have to thank me." He said huskily, as her heart skipped several beats at the intensity of his voice.

Gosh, I can listen to his hoarse voice all my life.

"Through words." He completed his sentence while Ishqi looked at him confused. Understanding she was lost in her own world, he repeated, "You don't have to thank me through words. I can think of better ways of you showing appreciation." He gave a coy smile towards the end, his eyes lingering at her lips for a moment too long, while Ishqi mentally rolled her eyes at that point.

Had he really wanted to kiss me, he'd have done it already. This guy is such a sloth. At this pace, we'll reach second base after a year.

'Woah, where did that come from?'

"Planning of second base already, I see." She heard him say and trust her when she said her eyes were close to falling off their sockets, "And before you think I'm into voodoo and all, let me inform you, your thoughts aren't exactly silent. You've been saying them out loud." He completed making her turn all shades of red.

Great going Ishqi!

"By the way, here are a few pieces of fruits. Come on, open your mouth." He said, lightly stabbing the cubed apple, and brought it to her mouth. He continued feeding her and stopped only when she turned her face to the other side.

"AVM, no."

"Ishqi, yes. You haven't eaten the entire day."

"I have! Sab bhar bhar ke laddoo aur mithayian thoos rahe hai mere muh mein!"

Yeah, it was definitely boredom-induced hunger.

"That is why have fruits, to balance it out." He replied while Ishqi gave him a quizzical look.

"Khana hai, accounts sheet thodi joh balance karna padta hai." She said as Ahaan gave her a pointed look.

"Awwh romance shomance going on." Karthik, as usual, played gooseberry and laughed seeing his brother's irritated expressions.

"Karthik, as much as I love you, you have to stop playing gooseberry." Ahaan rolled his eyes.

What's with the world ganging up against us?

"Oh my God! Kya din dekhna pad raha hai mujhe. Bhai, I'm your only brother, and you want to shoo me off?" He dramatically asked placing his hand over his heart and wiping fake tears, "It's okay. I'll get used to it. No, don't worry Bhabi. I really will get used to it."

"Drama queen," Ahaan muttered playfully hitting his younger brother's head, while Ishqi chuckled witnessing their bond.

"Ishqi, I'm warning you beforehand. You're signing up for a lifetime of craziness and lots of disruptions by getting married into this mental family. There's still time, bhaag jao." Karthik winked while Ahaan whacked his head harder this time.

"If leading a life with Ahaan means signing up for this, then so be it. I wouldn't trade my husband-to-be for anything." She answered as she looked at Ahaan with adoration gleaming in her eyes making Ahaan smile to himself at her open indirect declaration of her love for him.

Ahaan tilted his head sideways to face Ishqi, his eyes declaring the three magical words he never had the courage to utter, his smile conveying his tangible happiness.

I love you Ishqi.

I'm falling for you Ahaan. Or, I may already have.

What they weren't able to verbally confessed, their hearts did. And, probably, the other knew already.

"Awwwww." Four voices broke their blissful reverie and they averted their gaze to Karthik, and to Sonu, Raj and Chachi who came just on time to witness their little moment.

"Aaye haye someone's blushing and all." Karthik teased Ishqi while Sonu and Raj giggled.

"Karthik, this has become a usual occurrence, now. The interesting thing is someone who didn't believe in love and romance has started blushing too, these days." Sonu said sitting next to her brother, "But I don't seem to recall his name. Do you know his name? Karthik? Raj?"

"We're as clueless as you, but Ishqi might know something." Raj grinned.

"Arey Nahiii, Bhaiya knows that guy. Right Bhaiya?" Sonu nudged him by the shoulder.

"Ishqi, show us your mehndi. What's so secretive that you're keeping your hands to yourself?" Sarla interrupted as she, along with the others, took their seats nearby.

"Kahin is baar bhi tune kisi aur ka naam nahi likhwaya?" Ginni snickered at her own joke, while some rolled their eyes at them.

"Vaise, Sarla aunty, your prediction came true. Remember, you said that one gets married to the person whose name's written during the mehndi ceremony." Karthik raised his eyebrow, occupying the empty seat next to Sarla.

"Haan, hota hai bahi. It's a proven fact."

"If that's the case, I'll write Taapsee Pannu's name on my hand. Mujhe meri dream girl miljaane se phir koi rok nahi sakta, haina aunty?" He asked in mock seriousness making the younger generation giggle to themselves. He contained the laughter that threatened to escape seeing her tongue-tied for once and winked at his brother and sis-inlaw.

"Anyhoo, Ishqi's mehndi design is beautiful, isn't it Sarla aunty?" He asked wanting to rub salt to her wounds. The poor lady couldn't get her henna done thanks to Karthik, who asked the mehndi artist to refuse with the excuse that the henna mixture was over.

"Yes, it is." She unwillingly said, scrunching her face.

"By the way Ahaan, did you get Ishqi's name written on your hand?" Chachi asked, eager to know.

"No way Chachi," He laughed and Ritu's face momentarily fell, "I'd look so weird with mehndi on my hands."

Ishqi looked at him, a disapproving frown plastered on her face, while his siblings mentally facepalmed at their brother. Just when they thought their Bhabi was somehow successful in upgrading their brother's thinking, did he go back to square 1. However, there was one who was smiling to herself, Dadi. She smiled thinking no matter what, her grandson won't do anything that'll put a question mark on all that she's taught him over the years.

"What do you mean you'll look weird with my name on your hand? Would you like me saying I look like a weirdo running around with your name on my hands?" She questioned him, not liking how he worded his thoughts.

He didn't want to apply mehndi, fine; he didn't have to add that he'd look weird too!

"Ghusse mein ho?" He whispered while the others got busy amongst themselves.

"No, who am I to get angry?" She asked, then gasped in mock realisation, "Oh yeah! I'm the one whose name, if written on your hand, will make you look like a weirdo, haina?"

"Ishqi, that's not what I meant." He said, but she turned to face the other side making him sigh.

"Ishqi." He whispered in a voice, he knew was her weakness, but frowned in disappointment on seeing her royally ignore him. Realising this wouldn't help, he kept his hand on the small of her exposed back, and started tracing patterns on the skin, enjoying the feel of goosebumps appearing on her skin. On the other side, Ishqi bit her lip in order to stop the moan that begged to escape and clutched the skirt of her lehenga in a fist.

"A-Ahaa." She could barely say his name for the fear of someone hearing her got the better of her, and she closed her eyes, facing her lap.

"Sorry." He whispered again and she looked at him. Seeing her shoot laser beams through her eyes, he pulled back his hand and discretely held his ear as a sorry gesture instantly melting her heart.

Urrgghh, will he stop being so cute and desirable all the time?

Why do I feel that you'll will run behind me with Ishqi's double sole wali jooti, for not including the most awaited IshqAan kiss?

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Sprinkles fairy dust!

LostInWanderlust