Kandil Ke Neeche Confession (A Confession Under the Lantern)

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The bustling market was alive with vibrant colors and festive chaos, but amid the crowd, one man stood out—Dhruvin Deshmukh, pacing from one shop to another with an intensity that made his friends question their life choices.

“Bhai, decide fast! It’s been an hour!” Manan groaned, dragging his feet behind Dhruvin, who was intently inspecting a set of cufflinks.

Raj sighed, crossing his arms. “Are you buying for the Prime Minister or your girlfriend’s dad?”

“Not my girlfriend,” Dhruvin corrected absentmindedly, then picked up a sleek pair of silver cufflinks. “But I want to make a good impression.”

Saumya leaned in. “Tu toh pehle se hi impress kar chuka hai. Abhi bas rishta pakka karna baaki hai.” (You’ve already impressed her. Now you just need to seal the deal.)

Ignoring their teasing, Dhruvin moved to the next counter, eyeing sarees. He ran his fingers over the delicate fabric of a deep maroon silk saree. “This one for her mom.”

“Nice choice,” Raj mused. “Simple yet elegant. Unlike you.”

Rolling his eyes, Dhruvin moved ahead, muttering, “Something for her brother… he needs headphones. She told me his broke last month.”

Manan blinked in disbelief. “Dost se zyada Wikipedia ban gaya hai tu. Kitna research kiya hai be?” (You’re less of a friend and more of a Wikipedia entry. How much research have you done?)

“Shut up,” Dhruvin muttered, picking a high-quality headphone set. As he went to get them packed, Saumya nudged Manan. “He got something for the whole family. But what about Aashna?”

Raj smirked. “Tu dekhna. Kuch special liya hoga.” (Wait and watch. He must’ve gotten something special.)

Later that evening, as they arrived at Aashna’s home, Dhruvin stood outside the door for a good three to four minutes, shifting on his feet. His friends, standing behind him, exchanged amused glances.

Manan nudged him. “Tu darwaza bajayega ya hum log wapas chale?” (Are you going to ring the bell, or should we go back?)

“Shhh,” Dhruvin hissed, finally ringing the doorbell.

The door opened, and to his surprise, instead of Aashna, a middle-aged man—her father—stood there. “Come in, come in,” he said, his voice warm but laced with curiosity.

Dhruvin gulped and stepped inside, feeling like he was walking into an interview panel unprepared.

Aashna’s mother and brother, Aryan, soon joined them. When Dhruvin handed them the gifts, her mother’s eyes widened in surprise. “Arey beta, yeh sab ki zaroorat  nai thi?” (Oh dear, this wasn’t necessary.)

Dhruvin smiled sheepishly. “Bas chhoti si shagun ki gift hai.” (Just a small token of blessing.)

Aryan, skeptical at first, eyed the box in his hands. The moment he saw the headphones inside, his expression changed completely. “Damn, bro! These are dope.”

“Well, I heard yours broke,” Dhruvin said casually, watching as Aryan’s suspicion melted into approval.

Meanwhile, Dhruvin’s eyes kept scanning the room for Aashna. Not able to wait any longer, he turned to Aryan. “Where’s your sister?”

Aryan smirked. “Kaaaaaa—”

Before he could complete the dramatic call, Dhruvin smoothly slipped a 500-rupee note into his palm. Aryan’s smirk grew wider, and he pointed towards the balcony.

Giddiness bubbled inside Dhruvin as he made his way there. Pushing open the glass door, he found Aashna standing on a chair, trying to fix a kandil and fairy lights.

“Aashna,” he called.

She startled, her foot slipping. Her eyes widened as she braced for impact, already picturing spending Diwali with a fractured leg. But before she could hit the ground, strong arms caught her mid-air.

Her heart pounded as she opened her eyes, finding herself cradled securely in Dhruvin’s hold. Their faces were inches apart, breath mingling in the cool night air. As if on cue, all the fairy lights and kandils lit up around them, casting a warm glow on their faces.

Dhruvin was mesmerized. The golden light made her look even more beautiful—if that was even possible. His grip on her tightened for just a second before he leaned down, pressing a soft kiss on her cheek.

“Diwali chya hardik shubhecha, my Aashu.” (Wishing you a very happy Diwali, my Aashu.)

Aashna’s breath hitched. She had no idea what was more shocking—the kiss, the words, or the way her heart betrayed her by skipping a beat. Before she could respond, Dhruvin gently steadied her on her feet, his hands still lingering on her waist.

For a moment, they just stood there, staring at each other, lost in their own little world. Then, clearing his throat, Dhruvin stepped back. “You should be more careful. What if I wasn’t here?”

Aashna scoffed, recovering from the moment. “Then I’d be in the hospital, and you’d be feeling guilty all Diwali.”

Dhruvin chuckled. “True. But then who would’ve kissed you and made your day?”

She rolled her eyes but couldn’t fight the smile creeping up on her lips. “Shut up.”

With a small smirk, Dhruvin reached into his pocket, pulling out a tiny wrapped box. He handed it to her. “For you.”

She looked at him, confused. “You already gave gifts to my family.”

“I know,” he said, his voice softer now. “But this one was always meant for you.”

Aashna’s fingers brushed against his as she took the box, feeling something shift in the air between them. Butterflies erupted in her stomach as she unwrapped it, her eyes widening at the delicate silver anklet inside.

“I thought you’d like it,” he added. “Something simple. Something that suits you.”

Aashna swallowed, blinking back emotions she wasn’t ready to name.

Before she could say anything else, he suddenly pulled her into a hug, taking her completely off guard. It took her a second to react, but then, almost instinctively, she hugged him back.

“You made my day, Aashu. Thank you for giving me a privilege to see you in a saree, you look so ethereal baba.”

She pulled back immediately, scowling. “I am NOT your baba.”

Dhruvin smirked. “Oh? Then will you be my baby?”

Aashna gasped, smacking his arm. “maybe, Dhruvin!”

Laughing, he watched her storm back inside, leaving him standing there with a dopey smile, running his fingers over his hair until the realisation hit him, "is she ready for a relationship?"

❤️❤️❤️

Author’s Note

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