Chapter 40: ✿Chapter 34✿

प्यार की शुरुआत हो गई, राज़ की बात खुल गई,

दिल की धड़कन तेज़ हुई, धड़कनों से बात जुड़ गई।

खामोश लफ़्ज़ों में छुपा था जो, वो अब इज़हार बन गया,

इश्क़ का ये अफसाना, एक खूबसूरत किरदार बन गया।

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Author Pov

"Bada pyaar Jtaya ja raha hai humse achanak se, nahi?" Avantika teased, her tone playful as she looked at Dev, who was leaning on the table with an exaggerated puppy-eyed expression.

"Bhabhi, please na!" Dev whined, his hands clasped as if in prayer. "Aap apne pyaare devar ke saath aisa mat kijiye. Help me out, or my professor will fail me!"

Avantika raised an eyebrow, her stern demeanor softening slightly at his antics.

Dev had come over earlier that morning, around 11, when she was still at university, and Avyansh was tied up at the office.

Now, as she stood before him, she realized he hadn't even touched the project he was supposed to work on.

"Dev, Aapse toh kuch kaam hota nahi," Avantika said, crossing her arms. "You've been here all day, and ab tak shuru bhi nahi kiya?"

"Bhabhi, please," Dev begged again, his dramatic tone making her sigh in frustration.

Before she could respond, the silence was broken by a loud, enthusiastic voice from the doorway.

"Paparaparapara!! I'm back!"

Everyone turned to see a young girl, no older than 16 or 17, bursting into the room with a vibrant energy that filled the space.

Behind her were two boys, identical twins, their expressions exasperated yet indulgent as they followed her.

The girl's eyes lit up as she spotted Avantika.

"Bhabhiii!!" she shouted, running toward her like a missile.

Before Avantika could process what was happening, the girl wrapped her arms around her in a tight hug.

Avantika froze, her body stiffening as the girl's extroverted, enthusiastic gesture collided with her more reserved, introverted nature.

Her teasing exchange with Dev faded as she struggled to process this sudden burst of affection.

Pakhi and Anjali, who had been sitting nearby, shook their heads in amusement at the scene.

"Typical Tara," Pakhi muttered, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Anjali sighed, leaning back slightly. "She never changes."

Tara finally pulled back, her hands still on Avantika's shoulders as she beamed at her. "Bhabhi, you're so pretty! I missed you so much, and you didn't even miss me, did you?"

"Uh..." Avantika blinked, unsure how to respond.

Tara didn't seem to notice her hesitation as she turned to touch Pakhi and Anjali's feet in a quick, respectful gesture.

"Pakhi maasi! Anjali maasi!" she chirped. "Guess what? I told them! I told them Bhabhi has hazel eyes, and I saw it during the wedding. But these two-" she pointed dramatically at the twins behind her

"-denied it! 'No, no, Tara, you're wrong,' they said. So we bet, and look! I was right!"

Maanyata narrowed her eyes at the twins, her tone sharp but curious. "Aur tum dono, why are you so quiet? What mischief are you two hiding now?"

The twins , Argya and Aarya exchanged nervous glances but said nothing, their usual boisterous energy conspicuously absent.

Devika, still hugging Tara and squishing her cheeks playfully, turned her gaze toward them as well. "Exactly! You two are never this quiet. What's going on?"

Dev, always quick to capitalize on a moment, casually draped an arm around one of the twin's shoulders, pulling him closer with a grin. "Don't worry, Dadi," he said, his tone playful.

"These two are probably just cooking up their next prank-or regretting their last one."

Before Maanyata could probe further, Tara chimed in, her voice as confident as ever.

"Aree, Pretty Woman!" she exclaimed dramatically, pointing at Maanyata with a mischievous glint in her eye.

Maanyata blinked, startled by the sudden nickname, her cheeks turning a faint shade of pink. "Pretty Woman?" she repeated, flustered.

"Yes, that's you!" Tara said with a wide grin, her dramatic tone earning chuckles from Pakhi and Anjali.

Tara flipping her hair over her shoulder as she turned her attention back to the twins. "As for them," she said, gesturing toward her brothers with exaggerated flair, "they're silent because they lost the bet!"

The twins groaned audibly, their heads dropping in unison, while Tara continued with a smug smile.

"They thought they could outsmart me," she said, tilting her head smugly. "But nope! Now, as per the bet, they have to act like obedient little robots for the rest of the day. And if they don't..." She paused dramatically, her eyes narrowing playfully as she leaned closer to the twins.

"I'll expose one of their secrets," she finished, winking at them mischievously.

The twins straightened instantly, their expressions a mix of resignation and fear. "We're fine, Maan nani," Argya said quickly, his voice monotone.

"Yes, perfectly fine," Aarya added, matching his brother's robotic tone.

The room erupted in laughter, with Tara looking utterly victorious. Avantika, standing quietly in the corner, couldn't help but smile faintly at the antics, though she still felt slightly out of place amid the chaos.

Maanyata shook her head with a fond sigh. "You all will drive me crazy one day," she said, her voice tinged with affection.

Tara beamed. "That's what family is for, Pretty Woman!" she declared, earning another round of chuckles .

"Wait, what about me, you guys?" a voice called out from the entrance.

Everyone turned to see Ruhaan strolling in with a confident smile, his presence instantly drawing attention. Without wasting a moment, he began greeting everyone respectfully, touching the feet of Maanyata, Anjali, Pakhi.

Finally, he turned toward Avantika.

"Pranam, Bhabhi," he said dramatically, his tone dripping with playful exaggeration. He bent slightly, as though he were about to touch her feet too.

Avantika's eyes widened in surprise, and she instinctively stepped back, holding up a hand. "Aree, Ruhaan! Kya kar rahe hai aap?" she said, her voice flustered.

Ruhaan straightened up, a mischievous grin spreading across his face as he held his hands in mock surrender. "Bas, Bhabhi, thoda sanskaar dikhane ki koshish kar raha tha," he said, winking, making Dev snicker in the background.

---

Everyone burst into laughter at Ruhaan's antics, the tension in the room dissolving into lighthearted banter. Even Maanyata couldn't suppress a small smile as she shook her head at him.

Vijay and Ajay had already arrived earlier, quietly joining the lively atmosphere. Yet, despite the warmth of the gathering, Avantika's thoughts drifted elsewhere.

She couldn't help but notice the absence of Avyansh. He had said he would be late, but her eyes still flickered toward the clock now and then.

Ruhaan, ever the center of attention, leaned back in his chair with a smug expression. "You know, after publishing that last book, I finally got a long holiday. Much deserved, if you ask me," he said with a casual shrug.

The others laughed, engaging in his conversation, but Avantika sat silently on the edge of the sofa. Her hazel eyes were unfocused, lost in the weight of her thoughts.

She couldn't shake the memory of the day. The hazy fragments, the fear, the vulnerability. The way Avyansh had shielded her, and yet, the questions that still loomed unanswered in her mind.

The voices around her blurred as her mind spiraled deeper into the echoes of that night.

"Bhabhi?" Ruhaan's voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

She blinked, realizing he was looking at her expectantly. Everyone else had paused their chatter, their eyes now on her.

"Hmm?" she murmured, straightening slightly.

"I said, you must have some book recommendations for me, right? I'm always looking for inspiration," Ruhaan said, flashing her an easy smile.

"Oh," she said softly, forcing a faint smile. "I'll think about it."

Ruhaan raised an eyebrow but didn't press further, sensing her hesitance. The conversation picked up again, but Avantika's mind wandered once more, back to the empty seat at the head of the table-the one that belonged to Avyansh.

---

The dining table was lively, filled with laughter and chatter as plates clinked and conversations overlapped. Tara was narrating yet another one of her dramatic stories, her hands moving animatedly, while the twins teased her between bites of food.

Dev, ever the instigator, added fuel to the fire, earning a playful glare from Tara.

Avantika, however, sat quietly, her plate half-filled with food she barely tasted.

The noise around her felt distant, her mind wandering again to the events of the past days. She mechanically tore off a piece of chapati, her eyes flickering momentarily to Ruhaan, who was enthusiastically recounting tales about his book.

"Aur phir kya?" Ruhaan said, his fork suspended mid-air. "The publisher said, 'Ruhaan, this book will be a bestseller!' and I was like, 'Of course it will. It's mine!'"

Everyone chuckled, and Devika rolled her eyes. "You're so full of yourself, Ruhaan bhaiya," she said, though her amused smile betrayed her fondness.

Avantika smiled faintly at their banter but didn't join in. She quietly reached for her glass of water when her gaze shifted to the empty chair at the far end of the table-Avyansh's seat.

Her chest tightened momentarily. He'd said he would be late, but it wasn't just his absence tonight that weighed on her. It was everything. The questions, the silences, the heaviness that lingered between them since that day.

"Bhabhi, pass the dal, please," Dev said, pulling her out of her thoughts.

"Huh? Oh, yes," Avantika said, hurriedly handing him the bowl.

He gave her a curious look but didn't say anything, turning back to tease Tara instead. Avantika glanced down at her plate, trying to refocus, but the weight of her thoughts was impossible to shake.

---

The terrace was bathed in the soft, silvery glow of the moon, its light casting a gentle radiance on everyone's faces. The cool night breeze carried the faint scent of jasmine, making the atmosphere serene yet lively.

Avantika sat on the swing, her hazel eyes distant but calm. Beside her, Tara had made herself comfortable, resting her head on Avantika's lap and stretching her legs out, swinging them slightly as she hummed a tune.

The rest of the group had settled on a mat spread out on the ground. Laughter and chatter filled the space, the kind of easy camaraderie that only family could create. The elders had already retired for the night, leaving the younger ones to their antics.

"And then... wo mere pyaar mein gir hi gayi," Ruhaan declared dramatically, his voice filled with exaggerated emotion.

Dev burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. "Gire hue insaan ke pyaar mein ladki gir gayi? Wah, kya line hai, Ruhaan bhaiya!"

Ruhaan's face twisted in mock anger as he turned to glare at Dev. "Tera toh main-!" He lunged forward, ready to hit him, but Dev ducked, laughing even harder.

Before things could escalate, Avantika's voice rang out, calm yet firm. "Dev, respect."

The simple word silenced him for a moment, though the mischievous glint in his eyes remained.

But before the quiet could settle, Devika smirked, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Power," she added, mimicking the iconic reel dialogue with exaggerated drama.

Argya, one of the twins, jumped in without missing a beat. "Banana!"

The entire group erupted into laughter, their voices carrying into the night. Even Avantika's lips twitched slightly at the absurdity of it all. Tara, still lying on her lap, giggled uncontrollably, shaking the swing slightly.

Ruhaan threw his hands up in mock shrug. "Yeh kya ho raha hai? Main toh bas apni baat kar raha tha! where these reel dialouges are coming from?"

"Baat kam, drama zyada," Aarya teased, leaning back on his elbows.

Ruhaan shot him a look but didn't retaliate, instead collapsing back onto the mat with a dramatic sigh. "Kya family hai meri. Mera dard koi nahi samajhta."

"Dard toh humein ho raha hai, sun sun ke," Tara quipped, earning another round of chuckles.

Avantika glanced at everyone, her usual reserved demeanor softening slightly.

Despite her silence, she couldn't help but feel a warmth spread through her chest as she watched the group. This was something she wasn't used to-this easy, carefree sense of belonging.

For the first time in a long time, she let herself just be.

The playful atmosphere on the terrace only seemed to escalate as Aarya, turned toward Avantika with a mischievous grin.

"So, Bhabhi, what about love-shove? Avyansh bro se pehle koi boyfriend tha?" he asked, his tone teasing.

Avantika's eyes widened, caught off guard by the question. "Hn?" she stammered, her expression a mix of shock and embarrassment and awkwardness too.

"Love at first sight or something?" Argya chimed in, leaning forward with a cheeky grin.

"Haan, haan, Bhabhi! Bataye na!" Tara added, her voice filled with curiosity.

"And don't try to dodge the question this time!" Devika said with mock sternness, recalling their last conversation.

Dev and Ruhaan exchanged amused looks before scrunching their faces in mock seriousness.

But before Avantika could muster a response, a calm yet firm voice interrupted. "Love at first sight doesn't exist."

All heads turned toward the source of the voice. Standing at the terrace entrance, clad in a cream-colored tee and white trousers, was Avyansh. His usual composed demeanor added weight to his statement.

Avantika, still caught in the crossfire, suddenly found herself blurting out, "Then how else do I describe how I felt when I saw you?"

For a second, there was silence-until a loud "Ohoooo!" erupted from Ruhaan and the rest of the group, their voices echoing with excitement.

Avyansh, who had been leaning casually against the doorframe, froze. His usual poise faltered as his cheeks turned a faint shade of pink, though the moonlight mercifully concealed it. He straightened slightly, his voice uncharacteristically uncertain.

"You... y-you love me?" he asked, his gaze fixed on her, the faintest hint of vulnerability breaking through his usual cold exterior.

For the first time, everyone saw a different side of Avyansh-a man who was rarely fazed, now visibly flustered.

Avantika, recovering quickly, tilted her head, her sarcasm sharp. "Aapke anusar.. Jaahir taur par toh nahi."

The terrace exploded with laughter.

"Ghor bezzati!" Dev shouted, standing up dramatically. "Taza taza khabar! Bhai hue Bhabhi se bhari sabha mein indirectly reject! Taliyaaa!" He started clapping, quickly joined by the rest.

Avantika chuckled, her usual reserved self melting for a moment. Her laughter was soft, her single dimple making an appearance as she met Avyansh's gaze.

Avyansh tilted his head, one eyebrow raised as he regarded her with amusement. The corner of his lips twitched, almost forming a smile.

She laughed again, and for a moment, the banter and warmth of the group seemed to dissolve all the walls she had built around herself.

"Aree Tara, utho, utho! Let Avy sit beside his wife," Ruhaan said with a teasing grin, gesturing toward the swing where Avantika sat.

Tara, who had been comfortably sprawled on the swing with her head on Avantika's lap, quickly sprang to her feet.

Before moving, she bent down dramatically to touch Avyansh's feet. "Pranam, Avy bhai," she said with mock reverence, earning chuckles from everyone.

Avyansh sighed, shaking his head at her antics, but before he could say anything, Tara launched herself at him, wrapping him in a tight hug. "Introvert bhabhi haan?," she said, squeezing him before skipping over to settle beside Argya.

Ruhaan smirked as Avyansh moved to take the now-empty spot beside Avantika.

"Jodi kuch dekhne mai khaas nhi lg rhe Avyansh move aside let me sit there." Ruhaan said with a wink, earning a glare from Avyansh that only made him laugh harder.

Avantika, caught between amusement and mild embarrassment, avoided looking at Avyansh directly as he sat beside her. But she couldn't stop the small smile that tugged at her lips, her dimple faintly showing as the night's lively chatter continued.

Timeskip

"It's late. You guys must be tired. You should sleep now," Avyansh said, his sharp eyes catching Tara stifling a yawn.

Tara nodded sleepily, rubbing her eyes. "Baaki baatein kal," she mumbled, standing up and stretching. She gave Avantika a quick wave before heading downstairs.

"Ha, let's give some quality time to the couple," Ruhaan said with a teasing grin, standing up dramatically. The others followed, exchanging sly smiles as they began dispersing, leaving Avantika and Avyansh alone on the terrace.

Avantika, feeling slightly awkward, started to rise as well. But before she could, she felt a gentle tug on her shirt. She turned her head and found Avyansh looking at her, his gesture clear-stay.

Her brows furrowed slightly, a question forming in her hazel eyes. "Hm?" she asked softly, her voice almost lost in the quiet of the night.

Avyansh didn't reply immediately. Instead, he leaned back against the swing's frame, his gaze steady on hers, the moonlight reflecting in his dark eyes. "Baithiye." he said simply, his voice calm .

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