19

Me and the devil walking

Side by side

It was Mahashivratri, a day of great significance and devotion.

In front of a small statue of Mahadev, Karan and Aradhya were performing the pooja with utmost reverence. The rhythmic chanting of mantras filled the air, creating a serene and sacred atmosphere.

As they offered flowers and poured milk over the statue, Dhruv and Reyansh entered the room. They quietly joined the pooja, their hands folded in prayer. Reyansh’s eyes lingered on Aradhya, who looked ethereal in her traditional attire, her face illuminated by the flickering flames.

After the pooja, Karan, ever the dramatic one, placed his hand on Aradhya’s head in a mock blessing. “May God fulfill all of your wishes, my dear child,” he said with a theatrical flourish.

Aradhya smiled faintly, but her eyes betrayed a hint of sadness. She mumbled under her breath, “He won’t. He stopped listening long ago.”

The words were barely audible, but Reyansh heard them clearly. His heart ached at the pain in her voice. He knew she was referring to the wounds of the past, the hurt that still lingered between them. He wanted to reach out, to comfort her, but he knew this wasn’t the right moment.

Instead, he closed his eyes and prayed silently, asking for strength and guidance. He prayed for a chance to make things right, to heal the rift between them. As the pooja came to an end, he opened his eyes and looked at Aradhya, his resolve stronger than ever. He would be her light, no matter how long it took.

"Aradhya you look so beautiful in this dress"complimented dhruv.

Aradhya smiled and mumbled a small thankyou but Karan jumped in the conversation and said"of course,as I chose this dress for her"

Aradhya rolled her eyes at him but a small smile tugged at her lips.

Reyansh felt happiness rushing through him seeing her happy but a part of him ached as he couldn't be the reason of her happiness but her nightmares.

Her outfit

(You are free to imagine yourself if you don't like it :) )

Reyansh couldn't take his eyes off aradhya,wearing a stunning white anarkali dress.

The dress flowed gracefully around her, accentuating her elegance and poise. The simplicity of the white fabric, adorned with delicate embroidery, highlighted her natural beauty in a way that took his breath away.

To Reyansh, she looked like an angel, ethereal and serene. The soft glow of the morning light seemed to dance around her, casting a halo-like effect. Her hair, loosely tied, framed her face perfectly, and the subtle makeup enhanced her features without overshadowing her innate charm.

He noticed the way the dress swayed with her movements, each step she took exuding grace and confidence. The sight of her in traditional attire, so deeply rooted in their culture, filled him with a sense of nostalgia and admiration.

Reyansh’s heart swelled with a mixture of love and longing. He wished he could tell her how beautiful she looked, how much she meant to him. But he knew that words alone wouldn’t be enough to bridge the gap between them.

As dhruv and Karan went out of sight,dhruv to attend a call and Karan to kitchen,Reyansh approached her with a hopeful smile.

"You look beautiful Jaan"he whispered loud enough for her to hear.

Oh how only these words came out of his lips.how much he wanted to tell her she doesn't look beautiful,she looks breathtaking,so angelic that it feels like a sin to see her.

The bindi adorned on her forehead just makes her look no less than goddess.yes,she was his goddess he would worship forever.he is just waiting for the chance, hoping she would forgive him for his committed sins.

"Thank you but don't call me that"her cold voice cut through the air.

"Why?"he smiled asking her,he feels happy to be blessed to see the goddess herself worshipping lord shiva,his goddess.

"Because I am not your jaan"she emphasised on the word'jaan'.

"What if I say you are?"he asked smiling more widely which irritated her more.

"Get lost"frustration evident in her voice.

"In your eyes? gladly"he winked and maintained the eye contact with her but as his words sink in she averted her eyes.

She passed him a glare and went from there.

Smiling like a fool he followed her.

There she was arranging the plates on table.he quickly rushed to her and started helping her arranging them.

"What are you doing?"she asked looking at him arranging plates.

"Helping you"he said flashing his smile at her.

'what's wrong with this man?'she questioned to herself.

"I don't need your help"she replied.

"You don't need but I want to"he again smiled and she groaned.

Gosh!why is he smiling so much?it irritates me now

Dhruv entered the scene but he seemed a little distracted.

"What happened dhruv?"asked Reyansh as he noticed something off.

"My parents are searching matches for me"he hissed.

"I hope they find soon"Karan said taking a seat and serving himself food.

"Shut up Karan, it's not a joke"dhruv grumbled.

"Oh come on Bhai you are already 33,you should just get married"Karan laughed.

"You are 33??my god!!you are so old"exclaimed aradhya.

Dhruv faked a hurt expression and Reyansh and karan let out a small laugh.

"Don't laugh,you are also 33"Karan glared at Reyansh.

The new piece of information somehow surprised aradhya but it didn't matter now or did it?

They had 8 years of age gap!!!!

"You guys keep on,aru come let's eat"karan exclaimed and aradhya nodded.

She sat down and karan served her.

Aradhya smiled at his gesture.

"You wouldn't mind if we join right?"dhruv asked.

"It's last time you are joining us,next time go and cook for yourself.it was me who had to go to buy groceries"Karan complained like a child and aradhya could not help but chuckle at his antics.

"Oh stop sulking kid,I will get you a candy tomorrow"teased dhruv.

Karan glared at him and stuffed food into his mouth acting angry.

Suddenly he heart a click sound of photo.he looked at front to see aradhya holding her phone controlling her giggles.

"Noo aru delete it"he whined.

"I won't"she said smirking showing him the photo.

"Oh see how cute this baby looks"dhruv exclaimed smiling wickly at Karan.

"I am going to show this to lara"exclaimed aradhya.

"Noooo you aren't aradhya,please aren't you my bestu"Karan said pouting.

"Who is Lara?"asked Reyansh.

"Same question"said dhruv.

"She is his assistant ,he has a crush on her"Aradhya exposed.

"Ohooooo"dhruv looked at him raising a brow.

"Hey it's not a crush,I just wanted to befriend her okay??"

"Yes yes,just friends"dhruv and Reyansh teased.

Karan bit his inner cheeks to control himself from smiling.

"Alright alright let's eat now shall we?"he asked and they nodded.

As night took over, the world outside grew quiet and still. Reyansh stood in his balcony, the cool breeze ruffling his hair. His eyes wandered to the balcony across from his, where he saw Aradhya seated with a book in her hands. She was completely engrossed in her reading, the soft glow of the moon casting a gentle light on her face. To Reyansh, she looked like a moon in human form, her beauty ethereal and serene.

An idea sparked in his mind. He pulled out his mobile phone and connected it to his Bluetooth speaker. With a smile, he selected the song “Mere Samne Wali Khidki Mein Ek Chand Ka Tukda Rehta Hai” and let it play. The familiar melody filled the air, drifting across to Aradhya’s balcony.

Aradhya’s attention was drawn to the music, and she glanced up briefly, her eyes meeting Reyansh’s. For a moment, she seemed to consider acknowledging him, but then she chose to ignore it, returning to her book. Reyansh didn’t mind. He continued to sing along with the song, his voice soft and filled with emotion.

“Mere samne wali khidki mein, ek chand ka tukda rehta hai…”

He sang the lyrics with a smile, his eyes never leaving her. The song was a playful yet heartfelt expression of his feelings, and he hoped it would reach her heart, even if she pretended not to notice.

"Afsos ye hai ki wo hamse kuch ukhda ukhda rehta hai.."

As the song played on, Reyansh felt a sense of peace. He knew that winning her back would take time, but moments like these gave him hope. He was willing to be patient, to show her through small gestures that his love was genuine and unwavering.

Aradhya, though she kept her eyes on her book, couldn’t help but feel a warmth spread through her heart. But she didn't want her heart to melt not now not ever.

She didn’t show it, but a small part of her was touched by his effort.

Reyansh finished the song, his heart light and hopeful. He knew there was still a long way to go, but he was ready to take each step, one at a time, with love and patience.

Reyansh looked up at the moon and whispered"you aren't more beautiful than her,i pity you"

His eyes collided with her as he caught her looking at her but she averted her gaze to her book.

A smile played on his lips.maybe there is a chance.

He was happy to know his efforts are paying off but one part of him knew he did not deserve a second chance not after what he did but he couldn't help but want her chance.

Reyansh continued to look at her taking in her beauty as if storing the memory in his heart.

Her hair, cascading in loose waves, framed her face perfectly. The moonlight caught the subtle highlights, making it shimmer like silk. Her eyes, though focused on the pages of her book, held a depth that he found endlessly captivating. They were windows to her soul, reflecting both the strength and vulnerability that made her who she was.

The white anarkali dress she wore added to her allure, its simplicity enhancing her natural elegance. The delicate embroidery on the fabric seemed to dance in the moonlight, each stitch a testament to her timeless beauty. The way the dress flowed around her as she shifted slightly in her seat was mesmerizing, a graceful movement that spoke of her innate poise.

Reyansh’s heart swelled with admiration and love. To him, Aradhya was not just beautiful in appearance, but in spirit. Her resilience, her kindness, and her unwavering sense of self made her shine even brighter in his eyes. She was a moon in human form, a beacon of light in his life.

As he watched her, he couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of longing. He wanted to be close to her, to share in her world, to be the reason for her smiles. But for now, he was content to simply gaze at her, to drink in her beauty and let it fill his heart with hope and determination.

He knew she was worth every effort,every sacrifice and he is ready to do it all.

She looked so serene, so beautiful, that he felt a pang of guilt for staring at her so intently. Not wanting his own bad eyes to cast any shadow on her, he decided it was best to leave her in peace.

With a soft smile playing at his lips, he took one last look at her, committing the image to memory. He turned away from the balcony, his heart lighter and filled with a renewed sense of hope. As he walked back into his room, the smile lingered, a silent promise to himself that he would do everything in his power to win her back.

How's the chapter?

Hope you enjoyed it....

Well I love this song?do you?

I am a fan of old Bollywood songs 💌