Our house has been decorated with numerous things such as flowers, lights and many other things for Diwali which is today. Yes, finally all the preparations are done and now I am waiting for my clients to reach here so that they can enjoy the festival with us. Usually, Mom is the only one who looks after all the things but this year she has Ishita with her to help.

Speaking of Ishita, she has been extremely busy with everything that I don't think she has eaten anything. So, here I am searching for her so that I can at least convince her to drink a glass of juice.

"Who are you looking for?" Soniya asks who is here to celebrate the festival too as well as Aarav.

"Ishita but don't know where she is." I reply with a sigh.

"Come with me." Soniya says while walking towards the front door. I follow her and find myself outside the house. Soniya leaves from there saying that she is going to get ready.

Suddenly, I notice my beautiful wife who is making Rangoli. She is so beautiful that I want to keep looking at her. But then I remember about the juice so I hurry towards her and kneel beside her.

"Ishita, here drink this." I let out holding the glass in front of her.

"Not now, Rudra. I am busy." She replies stubbornly.

"I don't want to hear anything. First drink this and then you can continue to work." I order and then hold the glass near her lips which is now jutted out in a pout. But I am not going to fall for her innocent look so I glare at her.

"Fine." Shs grumbles but starts to drink the juice while I hold the glass.

When she finishes the whole drink that's when I let her resume the work. I look at the Rangoli and have to say that she has done a great job. Because the Rangoli is looking very pretty.

"By the way, when are you going to get ready?" I ask putting a stray hair behind her ear which was falling over her eyes.

"The Rangoli will be done in ten minutes and then I will get ready." She replies still concentrating on her work making me shake my head.

"Okay, you finish your work till then I get ready because our guests will be here in a few hours." I tell her and kiss the side of her head making her smile.

I leave from there and go upstairs to get ready. Candy is sleeping in the middle of the bed and we are intending to keep her here because this room is soundproof so won't be hearing the loud sound of cracker bursting. Although we don't burst much but we can't say the same about our neighbors.

Ishita has selected a Sherwani for me which is in black with small gold details around the borders. However, I don't know what she is going to wear. Without wasting time I quickly get ready before Dad can start yelling at me for being late.

Gautam and Roshni bhabhi are also here to celebrate Diwali with us. Actually, Gautam was about to come to Mumbai a long time ago because of some cases, but then he could not come as he needed to solve another important case in Delhi. Ishita is so happy to have her brother and sister-in-law here that she has taken one week break from her office so that she can spend time with them. But, she still works from home as Soniya has stopped going to the company due to the complications in her pregnancy.

I pet Candy on her head and put a small blanket over her little body so that she doesn't get cold because of the Air Conditioner. Then I come downstairs to find the men already ready in their traditional clothes. But my eyes stuck to Lakshya who is smiling but it is not reaching his eyes which is very unusual.

"Lakshya, come here." I call out making him nod his head.

Both of us walk towards the backyard which is also decorated beautifully. I ask the servants to go inside as I don't think Lakshya will like it if I say anything in front of them.

"Kuhu is not coming here, right?" I ask directly because Ishita has already told me about it.

"No." That's all he replies.

"Have you told Kuhu about your feelings towards her?" I ask.

"Yes." Again one word replies.

"Stop with this one word reply and tell me what happened exactly." I let out sternly.

"What's there to say, Bhai? I told her that I love her but she rejected me saying that I am not the one for her." He replies sounding so defeated.

"Have you ever tried to think why she rejected you? Maybe she has other reasons, most probably something else that is bothering her." I remark.

"Bhai, I have asked her numerous times but she is not telling me anything. We haven't even spoken for two days." He replies making me sigh.

"Then I would suggest you to not pester her anymore. If she really feels something for you then she will admit it but if she doesn't then you can't force her." I tell him.

"I will never force her to accept my love. But I want her to say whatever she has to say in front of me, not on the phone. She didn't even come here to celebrate Diwali. It's not like she is going to Delhi, so what would have happened if she had come here? She doesn't want to talk to me, but she should have thought about Bhabhi. She could have come here for her, couldn't she?" He lets out making me realize at that moment how much he loves the girl.

"Give her some time. Also, I believe that if she is written in your destiny, then you will definitely get her." I let out while he nods his head.

•••••••••

The ladies are putting Diyas around the house and outside while us guys are busy talking about many things. Thankfully Gautam is able to lift up Lakshya's mood with his joking remarks. I look around and instantly my eyes fall on none other than my lovely wife who is looking so mesmerizing in her Off-White color lehenga.

The more I look at her the more I can't keep my eyes from her as if she has put a spell on me. I think she doesn't even have any idea what she is capable of doing to my and I am not ashamed to accept that I have started to develop some deep feelings for her.

Yet, I don't know the exact phase of my feelings towards her. Yes, it's not the friendship we have decided to maintain because she is definitely more than a friend to me. Can it be love? But how can that be possible because I don't believe in love anymore after what Kripa did to me. Then what is it?

"Hello!" Someone yells at my ears making me wince and when I look to my side I find Aarav smiling innocently at me.

"You are dead." I let out while chasing him around the yard while he tries to get away from me.

"What's going on?" Mom asks when he hides behind her.

"He shouted near my ears so loudly that now they are ringing." I reply trying to catch him but Mom is not letting me even touch him.

"You guys are not kids anymore so stop messing around." Mom scolds while holding both of our ears making us glare at each other.

"It's not my fault, Mom. I didn't even do anything." I tell her yet she doesn't leave my ear.

"You were so busy in ogling Ishita that I had to yell to get your attention." Aarav remarks making me glare at him.

"Shut up, idiot." I snap but get a slap on the back of my head from Mom.

"Ouch! Why are you hitting me, Mom?" I ask rubbing the place where Mom just hit me.

"Because you are scolding for saying the truth. We all have our eyes and we can also see how you were staring at my awesome daughter. Starts accepting the truth, son." By saying this Mom is out of there leaving me looking at her retreating back with mouth wide open.

••••••••

"So, how is everything going here?" Roshni bhabhi asks while helping me putting diya in the front yard.

"Everything is very good here, bhabhi. Also, both my studies and my work are going well." I reply.

"And what about Rudra? Is everything alright between you two?" She asks making me look at her with a smile.

"He is the best husband for me because of the way he understands me I don't think anyone would have been able to understand me or my priorities. He is what you call a perfect gentleman and not only that, he also cares for me a lot." I answer truthfully.

"So papa was right in saying that we don't have to worry about you anymore." She remarks happily.

"I agree with that. Actually, you guys shouldn't have to worry because from day one everyone in here behaves with me like I am not a newcomer." I let out thinking about the time when I used to miss everyone from Delhi and how Maa, Dad, Lakshya bhaiya cheered me up.

"Do you know what Gautam told me after your bidai?" She asks while I shake my head in response.

"He said that at first he was not happy at all when your marriage got fixed, but when he met Rudra, he was convinced that Rudra was the right one for you. That's why we didn't come here like he told you before the wedding." She replies making me nearly tear up but it's not time to cry.

"You all knew from the start that he was right for me, but I was the one who didn't realize the same thing. However, now I have realized how much he means to me." I remark before looking at her to see that she is looking behind me. So, I turn around and find Rudra standing there with his hands behind his back.

"I think I should go inside and help Archana auntie." Roshni bhabhi says and rushes out of there leaving me alone with Rudra who starts walking towards me with an intense look which is making my throat dry for some reason.

Ever since we came back from that date, something has changed in our relationship which I cannot describe in words. Earlier I was afraid of any man touching me, but gradually Papa, Gautam Bhaiya drove away that fear of mine. However, whenever Rudra touches me there is a fire that burns inside me that tells me to keep close to him. As if he is my safety blanket and if he is with me, nothing can harm me.

"You are looking very beautiful." Rudra comments while staring at me with an emotion that I can't decipher.

"Umm.." I stammer getting lost in his eyes.

"Am I making you uncomfortable?" He asks getting close to me.

"No." I reply quickly but then blush when I see him smiling mischievously at me.

"So, you won't get angry if I do this?" He asks.

"What?" I ask back confusingly.

"This." He replies and suddenly wraps his left hand around my waist pulling me towards him making me put my hands on his chest in surprise.

"What are you doing?" I let out looking around if anyone is looking at us or not.

"Can't a husband hug his wife?" He remarks making me roll my eyes at him.

"Yes, he can do but not when we have guests around." I reply.

"But I am not seeing anyone here. I think you're forgetting that everyone is inside chatting or in the front yard bursting crackers. So, here is only the two of us." He replies while swinging us side to side.

"So, what do you have to talk about?" I ask wrapping my arms around his neck.

"Who said that I have something to talk? I just want to have some alone time with you. Actually, after Diwali I will be very busy for a few days. So, maybe I will not even get the time to spend with you." He explains making me pout.

"Here I thought you are going to take me somewhere after Diwali." I complain although I am just playing with him. Because I will never come between his success.

"I am sorry that we can't go after Diwali but I am promising the minute my work is done we will start planning for the trip." He replies making me chuckle.

"Don't be a fool, Rudra. I am just joking with you. We will go to the vacation next year when both of us will have free time. Because my final exams are also coming in a few months so I have no time to spare." I inform him.

"Then how about another date next week before I start working on the Malaysian project?" He asks putting his head over my chin making me wrap my arms around his waist.

"Definitely yes to a date with you." I reply snuggling close to his chest liking the sound of his chest.

"I think we should go inside." I mumble after some time.

"Can't we stay here some more time?" He asks making me smile.

"Don't you think you are getting too attached to me nowadays?" I tease.

"Is there anything bad in that? You are my wife and I have the right to get attached to you." He answers sassily while I giggle loudly.

We stand like this for a long time without hesitation in each other's arms. There is no doubt that I don't see Rudra as a friend because my feelings towards him are changing rapidly. There will be some idiot who will not like a person like him, but I am lucky because he is my husband who takes care of me so much.

Life has given me a chance to be happy and I will not let anyone or anything take away this happiness from me at any cost. Rudra is my happiness and I want to stay with him forever. But I know to do that I have to be honest with him by telling him everything about my past. I don't think I should wait any longer because the more time I take the more distance I am keeping between us.

No, I will not wait anymore and tell him everything tomorrow first thing in the morning. If needed I will ask Gautam bhaiya to stay with me when I tell everything. Because I have a feeling that I will have a panic attack while remembering the horrific incident which has changed me completely.

•••••••••••••••••••••••|||•••••••••••••••••••••

2510 words in total😇

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