"Mr Lamba…I won't repeat this again. Aartiji here is not available for any other wedding till ours is over. She will be busy from this moment till she is through with my honeymoon. Is that understood? In fact I am taking her out now to help me buy my fiancee's engagement ring."
Indu, this is honestly my favorite installment to date. Yash is magnificent! ☺️ What he tells Pavan Lamba above is laden with so much delicious subtext. He's getting Mishti/Aarti to plan her own wedding without her realizing it, and, in the process, he's helping to draw the truth of her feelings to the surface. *happy sigh* Gah! I wish I could literally hug the following part as well:
"I mean I kept them for her in a box she gave me for safekeeping. She was so careless that she trusted only me to take care of her personal belongings. Anyway, coming back to the matter at hand…what do you want me to do with the flowers? Do you want me to make a hand bouquet or a stand-up one or with any other special background?….Please hurry up…I have other matters to attend into…"
Mishti stopped to take a breath and glanced sideways at him from under her lashes…Darn it, no one has the right to look so handsome!! Especially when the some one is so out to get her. Alright, Mr Scindia…you want war…you'll get war. Your Mishti won't back of. She'll make sure you see Aarti…feel Aarti….and believe Aarti…till you are certain that I am Aarti….so there...
Leaning against the wall, legs crossed, hands in pockets, Yash had thoroughly enjoyed her discomfiture along with her vain attempt at covering up the faux pax.
"Oh…make it as you wish. I am sure you'll know what appeals a girl. I am a bit rusty on that account. But now that I am in, I am going to make her the happiest girl in the world…I am going to show her how much she means to me…I am going to shower her with flower petals and then I am going to remove those petals one by one with my…..(at the sound of a dropping scissor this time)….What happened, Aartiji? Am I bothering you with my love talk?"
"Yes…you are….(she hissed through clenched teeth, keeping her back to him as she furiously pulled the flowers out of the paper binding)…Would you please wait in the office, I'll join….sss…ouch….."
"Mishti?????"
He leapt up from his relaxed position as he heard her soft cry of pain. She was holding on to her right middle finger from where blood oozed out from the thorn prick. He gently extricated her other hand from the injured one and pressed his handkerchief on it and then walked her to the corner water basin. He washed the finger tenderly, concern writ large on his face. Mishti just stared at him….numb. His one touch had erased all the pain. She didn't even remember what she told him about other men touching her. But he did…and he touched her now with full authority and he acknowledged her silent acceptance. He was not going to belittle her feelings by making her conscious about this very blatant blunder on her part….He cherished the first touch of her hand as he gently held it….savored its familiarity….the connection of it with his heart.
Have mercy! ❤️ So much love for all of it, especially the bolded sentences. The banter, the angst, the longing. This is my kind of couple. Skillfully written. Update whenever you can, my friend (and hopefully soon 😉).
I can't leave the thread without saying that I hope the start to your New Year is brilliant! 😃