Happy Readingđź“– đź’•
Author's POV
The early morning sun filtered through the sheer white curtains, casting a golden glow across the royal chamber. A soft rustling came from the bed as Isha stirred, stretching beneath the silky sheets. Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the morning light—only to feel a pair of strong arms tighten around her waist.
"Where do you think you're going, jaana?"
Shivansh's husky morning voice sent a shiver down her spine. She turned in his arms, her gaze meeting his. A lazy smirk played on his lips as he pulled her closer, his warmth surrounding her.
"It's Holi, Shivansh. We need to get ready," she murmured.
"Holi can wait." He buried his face in her neck. "This is more important."
Isha rolled her eyes but smiled, nudging him playfully. "Come on. We need to change."
Isha huffed, turning to face him. "It's Holi. We need to get up."
Shivansh cracked open one eye, watching her with amusement. "Five more minutes."
"No."
"Yes."
"Shivansh."
"jaana."
Isha groaned. "Fine. Sleep. But don't blame me if you wake up drenched in color."
His lips twitched. "You wouldn't dare."
A mischievous glint flashed in her eyes. "You underestimate me, Your Highness."
With that, she managed to wriggle free and hopped out of bed. As she headed toward the bathroom, Shivansh watched her go, shaking his head with a smirk.
She was definitely up to something.
After a few more minutes of his teasing, Shivansh finally let her go.
Dressed in White
The couple stepped out of their dressing room, both clad in pure white.
Isha's simple yet elegant white anarkali flowed effortlessly as she adjusted her dupatta, while Shivansh's kurta, crisp and regal, added to his effortlessly handsome look.
Before stepping out, Isha reached for a small plate of dry colors kept on the table.
"Wait," she called out.
As Shivansh turned, she smeared red across his cheek.
"There. Now you look ready for Holi."
He raised an eyebrow before grabbing a handful of color himself. "Oh? Then you should match me."
Before she could react, he pulled her close and rubbed the color across her cheeks, nose, and forehead.
She gasped, staring at him in mock anger.
"You're impossible."
He smirked. "I know."
Then, without warning, he grabbed her hand and twirled her—pulling her into a spontaneous dance.
Laughter filled the chamber as they moved to an imaginary rhythm, their white clothes now stained with vibrant hues of pink and red.
The world outside could wait. For now, it was just the two of them, lost in their own little Holi celebration.
By the time they stepped downstairs, hand in hand, the courtyard had already transformed into a lively festival.
Colors filled the air, dhol beats echoed, and laughter surrounded them.
By the time the two stepped out, the courtyard had transformed into a riot of colors.
Everywhere, people laughed, danced, and ran around with gulal smeared across their faces. The air smelled of rose water, sweets, and festive excitement.
From the far side, prisha and Arav stood together, their clothes already stained with red and yellow. It was their first Holi as a couple, and despite ishikaa's initial hesitation, arav had already marked her forehead with color.
Near them, Aviyansh and ishikaa shared a playful moment—ishika trying to chase Aviyansh down with a water balloon, while he dodged with a laugh.
At the far end, the elders, dada sa and dadi sa sat on a large swing, watching the younger and elder ones play.
Dada sa sat at the center, his ever-wise eyes observing the celebration, while Dadi sa and the other elder women exchanged nostalgic smiles, remembering their youthful Holis.
Shivansh and Isha walked toward them, bowing respectfully.
Shivansh took a pinch of pink and gently applied it to his dada sa's forehead, while Isha did the same to his grandmother and aunts.
Dada sa smiled. "Hamesha khush raho, bachho."
(Always stay happy, my child.)
As they turned, Isha spotted shivansh parents, his chote papa and choti maa, his bua sa and fufa sa wirh her parents
She ran towards them, her face lighting up as she touched their feet. They responded by gently applying color to her cheeks, showering her with blessings.
But just as she was about to turn towards Shivansh,
SPLASH!
A sudden blast of cold water and a cloud of color exploded around her.
Isha gasped, her white dress now soaked and stained in hues of blue and pink.
Before she could react, she heard the mischievous laughter of Arav and Dhruv.
"WHAT WAS THAT?!" she shrieked, whipping around.
The two boys grinned, holding buckets of colored water.
"Happy Holi, Isha!" Dhruv called out.
Shivansh, watching the scene unfold, chuckled. "You two just signed your death certificates."
"Oh, it's war now," Isha muttered, grabbing a bucket herself.
And with that, the real Holi battle began.
The air was thick with color, laughter, and the rhythmic beats of the dhol. The entire courtyard had turned into a battleground of hues, where no one was spared.
Isha, still recovering from Arav and Dhruv's attack, gritted her teeth.
"Oh, you two are done for!" she declared, grabbing a handful of dry color and charging at them.
Before Arav could dodge, a cloud of bright yellow exploded on his face.
"AHH! Isha!" he coughed, trying to shake the color off.
"Revenge is sweet," she smirked.
Dhruv, however, wasn't one to back down. Grabbing a handful of red, he lunged at Isha.
Just as he was about to smear it on her, Shivansh stepped in between.
"That's enough," Shivansh said coolly, his deep voice commanding.
Dhruv blinked. "Oh? Protective mode already?"
Shivansh raised an eyebrow. "You should've known better than to mess with my wife."
Isha gasped. "Shivansh!"
But before she could protest, he pulled her behind him protectively, taking the full hit of Dhruv's attack.
A burst of red covered Shivansh's entire face and kurta.
Silence.
Then Dhruv burst out laughing.
Everyone stared at Shivansh. His usual calm, composed demeanor was now smeared with bright, chaotic color.
Even Isha had to bite her lip to stop herself from laughing.
Shivansh exhaled, his jaw tightening.
"Oh, it's war now," he muttered.
Before Dhruv could react, Shivansh grabbed him by the collar and dragged him towards the color barrels.
"Shiv, wait! WAIT!" Dhruv screamed, kicking in protest.
But Shivansh didn't stop.
With one swift movement, he lifted Dhruv and threw him straight into the big tub of blue color.
SPLASH!
Loud laughter erupted as Dhruv emerged, dripping wet and completely unrecognizable, his entire body covered in blue.
Isha clapped her hands. "Wow, you look like a Smurf!"
Dhruv coughed. "Shivansh, you are so dead."
The war had officially begun.
Colors exploded everywhere. No one was spared.
Arav and Aviyansh ganged up on Ishika, drenching her in green.
She shrieked. "I swear, I will murder you both after this!"
Meanwhile, Juhi stood at the side, watching Isha and Shivansh with clenched fists. She was supposed to be beside Shivansh, but instead, he only had eyes for Isha.
Taking a deep breath, she grabbed a handful of color and marched toward Shivansh.
But just as she was about to apply the color to him, Isha suddenly appeared and smeared blue on Juhi's face.
"Oops! Were you going for my would be husband?" Isha said sweetly.
Juhi faked a smile, wiping the color off her cheek. "I didn't see you there and he is not your husband yet."
"Oh, just yet warna toh we are totally look like husband and wife and don't worry about that. I always see you," Isha replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Before Juhi could respond, Aviyansh suddenly shouted, "BUCKET ATTACK!"
Everyone turned just in time to see Aviyansh and Arav running in with massive buckets of colored water.
"No! NO! AVI, DON'T YOU DARE—"
Too late.
Aviyansh and Arav flung the buckets at full force, drenching Isha, Shivansh, Ishika, and Prisha.
Isha screamed, her white anarkali now clinging to her like second skin, dripping with pink and yellow.
Shivansh ran a hand through his now-wet hair and turned to Aviyansh.
"You do realize you just dug your own grave, right?"
Aviyansh paled. "Uh… Happy Holi bhai sa?"
Before he could escape, Shivansh tackled him to the ground, rubbing color all over his face.
Isha, meanwhile, was looking for a way to escape.
She had been the target way too many times.
But just as she turned to run, a strong hand grabbed her wrist and yanked her back.
She crashed into Shivansh's chest.
"Where do you think you're going, sweetheart?" he murmured, his grip firm.
Isha looked up at him, her breath hitching.
Shivansh smirked. "You're my Holi target now."
Before she could react, he dipped his fingers in bright red color and traced it slowly down her cheek, her jaw, and her throat.
She shivered.
"Shivansh…" she whispered.
"You look perfect in red," he murmured, his lips brushing against her ear.
Her heart pounded loudly.
She was about to respond when—
SPLASH!
Arav dumped an entire bucket of water over both of them.
Isha gasped, spinning around.
"ARAV!"
Arav grinned. "Now we're even."
The war continued.
"Isha," a familiar voice called from behind.
Before she could react—a burst of pink exploded over her, coating her from head to toe.
Isha gasped, turning around to find ishika and prisha laughing.
"You—" she growled.
Before she could retaliate, a pair of arms wrapped around her from behind.
Shivansh, his face still untouched by color, smirked. "Having fun, sweetheart?"
"Not yet."
With that, she turned in his arms and smeared color across his face.
His smirk vanished. A slow, dangerous glint entered his eyes.
"Oh, you're going to regret that."
Before she could escape, he pulled her flush against him and ran his color-stained hands over her cheeks, her nose, her neck.
Isha shrieked. "Shivansh!"
He leaned in, his lips brushing her ear. "Happy Holi, love."
Her breath caught. But before she could respond, he scooped her up and carried her straight toward the water tub.
"No—Shivansh, put me down!"
"Too late."
And with that, he tossed her in.
The splash echoed across the courtyard, followed by Isha's dramatic gasp.
As she emerged, dripping wet, she narrowed her eyes at him. "You are so dead."
Shivansh only laughed—until she grabbed his arm and pulled him in too.
The courtyard erupted with laughter and cheers.
After what felt like hours of absolute chaos, everyone finally gathered near the large courtyard, catching their breath for some moments.
The festival of colors had left its mark—not just on their clothes, but on their faces, their hair, and even their souls.
The elders, who had long since retreated to the shaded swings, watched with amused smiles as the younger ones collapsed into exhaustion.
Shivansh, his once-white kurta now a masterpiece of bright reds, blues, and yellows, leaned against a pillar, his sharp eyes scanning the chaos.
Isha, equally covered in colors, was giggling breathlessly, leaning against Prisha and Ishika for support.
"I swear," Dhruv groaned dramatically, flopping onto the ground. "I have never run this much in my life."
"That's because you usually run away from work, not towards fun," Arav smirked, wiping his forehead.
Aviyansh, still holding a handful of colored powder, grinned mischievously. "Anyone still clean?"
Ishika, who had just finished dusting off some of the colors from her dupatta, froze.
"Avi, don't you dare—"
Too late. A burst of bright pink exploded onto her face, making her gasp.
Aviyansh laughed. "Couldn't resist."
"YOU—" Ishika lunged at him, making everyone burst into laughter as they tumbled onto the grass.
Juhi, who had been standing on the side, watching the couples with sharp, narrowed eyes, let out an irritated sigh.
She was drenched in color like everyone else, but unlike them, she wasn't lost in the moment.
Her gaze lingered on Shivansh and Isha, who were unknowingly standing too close, their fingers brushing lightly as they laughed.
Juhi's jaw tightened. Why did it have to be her?
The dhol beats grew louder, and soon, the entire courtyard turned into a dance floor. Everyone was drenched in colors, twirling and swaying to the infectious rhythm.
Isha felt the music in her bones, her feet moving instinctively as she spun in circles with Ishika and Prisha.
As the laughter continued, a group of musicians nearby started playing a lively Holi song.
"Oh, we HAVE to dance!" Ishika clapped excitedly, pulling Isha forward.
"I'm too tired," Isha protested weakly.
Shivansh, who had been watching her with an amused smirk, leaned in. "Too tired, huh? You seemed pretty energetic when you were throwing colors at me."
Isha turned to glare at him. "You deserved it!"
Before he could respond, the music picked up in tempo, and suddenly, everyone was pulled into the center.
Couples danced together, their laughter mixing with the beats of the dhol.
Shivansh, despite his usual cold demeanor, allowed himself to be dragged into the chaos.
Isha, completely lost in the moment, twirled under the sky, the colors in her hair flying around her like streaks of light.
Arav spun Prisha around, her giggles echoing.
Avi grabbed Ishika by the waist, pulling her into a playful sway.
Even the elders, from their seats, clapped along with the music.
Juhi, however, stood frozen, her fists clenched, watching Shivansh's gaze follow Isha as she danced.
Her stomach churned. This wasn't fair.
Shivansh, watching from a distance, smirked.
"She gets drunk on music alone," Dhruv muttered beside him.
Shivansh chuckled. "You haven't seen her on actual bhang yet."
As if on cue, Arav, Dhruv, and Aviyansh appeared with tall glasses of Thandai.
"Alright, everyone! Holi is incomplete without this," Arav announced, handing out the glasses.
As the dancing slowly came to a stop, trays of chilled thandai were brought in.
Arav, grinning wickedly, took a glass and whispered something to Dhruv and Aviyansh.
Isha, Prisha, and Ishika each grabbed a glass without question, too thirsty to notice the smirks on the boys' faces.
Shivansh, who had just taken a sip of his own drink, raised an eyebrow.
"What did you do?" he asked, looking at Arav.
"Nothing much," Arav shrugged. "Just a little extra ingredient to make the celebration more… interesting."
Shivansh sighed. "You put bhang in it, didn't you?"
Avi chuckled. "You'll see soon enough."
Ishika raised an eyebrow. "What did you put in this?"
"Love," Aviyansh grinned.
"And a little something extra," Dhruv added mischievously.
Isha, Ishika, and Prisha exchanged looks.
"Oh, stop overthinking! Just drink!" Arav rolled his eyes.
Without another thought, the three girls took big gulps of the Thandai.
Shivansh narrowed his eyes at Dhruv.
"What did you put in it?"
Dhruv smirked. "Just a little Bhang. Nothing serious."
Shivansh sighed, already sensing the chaos ahead.
It started slowly.
And sure enough—within minutes, the girls started acting different.
Isha's eyes looked hazy as she blinked at Shivansh. "Why are there two of you?"
Prisha hugged Arav out of nowhere, giggling uncontrollably.
Ishika poked Avi's cheek. "Your face feels weird."
Shivansh exhaled deeply. This was going to be a long evening.
And the Holi madness was far from over.
Isha giggled at nothing. Ishika kept swaying to the music even when there was none. Prisha hugged Arav out of nowhere and refused to let go.
And then—
All hell broke loose.
Isha climbed onto the nearest table, raising her hands dramatically.
"LISTEN UP, PEOPLE! I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT!"
Shivansh pinched the bridge of his nose. "Oh no."
Ishika joined her, swinging her arms around. "YES! ANNOUNCEMENT TIME!"
Prisha twirled. "Everything is spinning! Wheee!"
Arav caught her before she could fall. "Okay, okay, easy there."
Isha pointed at Shivansh.
"This man right here is MY husband! MINE!"
Shivansh raised an eyebrow. "I wasn't aware that was up for debate."
Isha pouted. "But girls look at you! You're too handsome! I should just—"
She suddenly jumped off the table and wrapped herself around him.
Everyone gasped.
Shivansh's arms automatically went around her waist, steadying her.
She clung to him like a koala. "There! Now no one can take you!"
Juhi, standing nearby, clenched her fists.
Arav was having the time of his life laughing.
Aviyansh was recording the entire thing.
Dhruv? He was on the floor laughing.
Meanwhile, Ishika and Prisha weren't any better.
Ishika grabbed Avi's face. "You have the cutest cheeks. I want to squish them forever."
Aviyansh blinked. "Uh… thanks?"
Arav tried to escape Prisha's clutches, but she wouldn't let go.
"Don't move!" she whined. "You're warm and soft like a teddy bear."
Arav groaned. "Someone save me."
Shivansh, still carrying a very possessive Isha, sighed.
He turned to Dhruv. "You're going to regret this."
Dhruv wiped his tears from laughing. "Worth it."
The music picked up again, and soon, everyone was dancing like maniacs.
Isha, Ishika, and Prisha twirled, their laughter echoing through the air.
Shivansh, Aviyansh, and Arav had given up trying to control them and just danced along.
Juhi, however, stood in a corner, fuming.
She watched as Shivansh effortlessly spun Isha around, his hands lingering on her waist.
The way he looked at her—his eyes full of amusement, affection, and something deeper— made Juhi's stomach twist.
They belonged to each other, and there was no room for anyone else.
Meanwhile, Isha was lost in her little Bhang-induced world.
She grabbed color from a nearby plate and smeared it all over Shivansh's face.
He sighed. "Isha…"
She giggled. "Now you're my color, too."
Shivansh shook his head. "You're impossible."
She pulled his face closer and whispered, "And you love it."
Shivansh chuckled. "I do."
And before she could say another word, he kissed her forehead.
The festival of colors, love, and chaos had never been more perfect.
As the Holi celebrations began winding down, the festival's joyful chaos slowly turned into exhaustion.
Most of the guests had left, and the younger ones, still under the influence of Bhang, were either giggling endlessly or struggling to walk straight.
Isha, Ishika, and Prisha were still holding onto each other, swaying slightly.
Shivansh, Aviyansh, and Arav stood nearby, watching them like babysitters dealing with overgrown children.
Dhruv stretched his arms. "Alright, fun's over. Time to get cleaned up."
Arav grinned. "We should just throw them in a tub of water. That'll sober them up."
"NO!" Isha clung to Shivansh's arm dramatically. "I don't wanna!"
Ishika pouted. "But we're so colorful! Why wash it away?"
Prisha nodded solemnly. "We should just stay like this forever."
Shivansh sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Okay, enough. Go take a bath."
Isha squinted at him. "Only if you come with me."
Silence.
Everyone turned to look at Shivansh, who raised an eyebrow.
Arav choked on his own breath. Aviyansh's eyes widened. Dhruv burst out laughing.
"Oh, wow," Dhruv smirked. "That escalated quickly."
Shivansh leaned closer to Isha. "If I come, are you sure you'll survive it?"
Isha blinked. Then her cheeks turned red.
"I—I mean—" she stammered, suddenly flustered.
Ishika giggled. "Ooooh, Isha, your husband is dangerous!"
Prisha grinned. "Careful, or you'll end up married before you even realize it!"
Isha groaned and buried her face in her hands. "Okay, fine! I'll go with Ishika and Prisha!"
Shivansh chuckled, shaking his head. "Good choice."
A Bath, Some Closeness, and Lingering Bhang
Inside the bathroom, the warm water washed away the layers of color, but it didn't wash away the effects of the Bhang.
Isha leaned against the wall, her mind still a little foggy.
She could still feel Shivansh's hands on her waist from when they danced. Could still hear his deep voice teasing her.
Her heart fluttered.
Why did everything feel so intense today?
Meanwhile, Shivansh was also dealing with his own thoughts.
He leaned against his bathroom sink, watching his reflection.
He could still smell Isha's scent mixed with the Holi colors. Could still feel her small hands grabbing onto him.
He exhaled. This woman was going to drive him insane.
After bathing and changing into fresh clothes, everyone gathered once again in the living area.
The excitement had faded, replaced by an exhausted but satisfied silence.
As the festival died down, everyone gathered around for sweets and drinks. Plates of gujiya, malpua, and thandai were passed around as people shared stories, teasing the new couples.
Aviyansh held ishika's hand openly now, his fingers intertwined with hers.
Arav and prisha sat close, their shoulders touching.
And Isha?
She sat beside Shivansh, wrapped in a warm shawl.
As the evening sky turned orange, he leaned in, whispering, "Next year, jaana, I'm throwing you in first."
She smiled, resting her head against his shoulder.
"Next year, I'll be ready."
Isha, now sober but still feeling warm inside, curled up beside Shivansh on the couch.
Without thinking, she rested her head on his shoulder.
He glanced down at her but didn't move. Instead, he simply let her be.
Across the room, Aviyansh pulled ishika closer to him.
Arav and Prisha held hands discreetly, exchanging small smiles.
Juhi, sitting alone, watched everything with burning jealousy.
And Ranveer and Ritwik are sitting together talking about business.
Dhruv stretched. "Okay, I think we should all just take a nap. That was exhausting."
Shivansh smirked. "And whose fault is that?"
Dhruv shrugged. "Worth it."
As the day came to an end, the younger ones retreated to the smaller courtyard in the garden.
Unlike the elder courtyard, where the older family members had long since gone to rest, this one was still lively, though exhaustion was beginning to creep in.
The group, now fresh after their baths, sat in a lazy circle, nibbling on light snacks and sipping water.
The girls, no longer under the influence of bhang, now felt the aftermath—mild headaches and a deep sense of fatigue.
"Ugh," Isha groaned, rubbing her temples. "Why did I drink that? My head feels like it's been stomped on."
Ishika, leaning back against the cushion, sighed. "Same. Never trusting you guys again."
"Hey, hey, in our defense, you drank it willingly," Av5i smirked, reaching for another handful of nuts.
"No one told us it had bhang," Prisha accused, throwing a small pillow at him.
Aviyansh dodged it easily and grinned.
Shivansh, who had been silent, watched Isha with amusement as she struggled to keep her eyes open.
She was clearly drained, her body slumping slightly as she hugged a cushion to her chest.
Arav stretched his legs out and sighed. "Today was fun, though. It's been a while since we all celebrated like this."
Dhruv nodded in agreement. "Yeah. But now I feel like I can sleep for three days straight."
As the group continued talking, the exhaustion finally took over.
One by one, the girls began leaning onto the boys, their eyelids fluttering shut.
Isha, without realizing, rested her head against Shivansh's shoulder, her breathing soft and even.
Shivansh, startled for a moment, glanced down at her.
Her hair, still faintly tinted with the remnants of Holi colors, brushed against his arm.
He exhaled softly, his body relaxing.
Across from them, Prisha had curled up against Arav's side, while Ishika's head rested lightly on Avi's shoulder.
"Wow," Aviyansh whispered, looking around. "I guess that's it. They're out."
Arav chuckled. "Not surprising. We did go a little overboard today."
Dhruv yawned. "Might as well let them rest. They deserve it."
With the warmth of the evening settling around them, the boys sat still, letting their partners rest against them.
The festival had been wild, exhausting, and unforgettable.
And now, in the quiet of the courtyard, peace had finally settled in.
The courtyard was peaceful, the only sound being the occasional rustling of leaves and the crackling of the fire pit.
Most of the elders had retired for the night, leaving the younger ones gathered here.
Shivansh, Arav, and Aviyansh sat comfortably on the cushioned benches, their Holi-stained clothes now replaced with fresh attire.
Nestled against them were Isha, Prisha, and Ishika—fast asleep, their faces serene.
The sight was almost too peaceful—until Ritwik's voice sliced through the silence.
"What the hell is happening here?"
The deep, authoritative voice belonged to Ritwik, who, along with Ranveer, had been discussing business matters nearby.
The brother had turned to find their 'sisters' sprawled over their partners, looking far too cozy for comfort.
Ritwik's sharp eyes scanned the three men, his face twisting into mock outrage.
"I leave for a few hours, and THIS is what's going on?!"
Ranveer, more amused than angry, crossed his arms and smirked.
"So, tell me," he drawled, "Did you not provide them with rooms? Or is there some reason my sisters are using you as pillows?"
Shivansh, who had been lightly stroking Isha's hair, froze.
Aviyansh coughed, shifting uncomfortably as Ishika snuggled deeper into him.
Shivansh barely reacted, his fingers absently running through Isha's hair.
Arav and Aviyansh exchanged a look, already sensing trouble.
Ritwik stood with his arms crossed, his face twisting into mock outrage.
"Did you three not provide them with rooms? Or do you just prefer keeping them as human blankets?"
Arav smirked, leaning back. "Would you rather we let them sleep on the ground?"
Ritwik, clearly unimpressed, pointed at them. "Don't try to act smart. I don't recall approving this arrangement."
Ranveer leaned forward, his gaze flickering between the three couples. "You know, I didn't realize we had adopted such generous… comfort providers."
"Comfort providers?" Aviyansh choked, glaring at Ranveer. "Seriously bhai sa?"
"Yes, comfort providers," Ranveer said coolly. "Because it seems ritwik sisters are very comfortable with you three."
Ritwik grumbled, shaking his head. "Ishika, Prisha, and Isha are all mine. You three should remember that."
Shivansh gave him a lazy glance. "Oh? Yours? Interesting. I don't remember them agreeing to that."
Ritwik grumbled. "Isha is my sister. Prisha is my sister. Ishika is my sister. And none of them belong to you three."
Aviyansh rolled his eyes. "For the last time, Ritwik, you don't own them."
"I don't have to own them to know they shouldn't be drooling on you idiots." Ritwik pointed at Arav. "Move aside. I'll take Prisha."
Arav laughed, shaking his head. "She's comfortable where she is."
Arav let out a slow, mocking laugh. "I'd love to see you try. But you see… she's already chosen her spot."
Ritwik's jaw clenched as Prisha, still half-asleep, curled deeper into Arav's embrace.
"Unbelievable," he muttered. "She's clinging to him!"
Ranveer, who had been watching the chaos unfold, smirked. "Looks like you lost that battle, brother."
Ritwik shot him a glare. "Shut up, Ranveer."
Ritwik turned to Aviyansh. "And you! Why is my Ishika draped all over you?"
Aviyansh glanced down at Ishika, who had nuzzled into his chest, and grinned. "Because she likes me?"
Ritwik bristled. "I will kill you in your sleep."
Aviyansh chuckled. "You'll have to pry her off me first."
That's when his gaze landed on Shivansh.
Unlike the other two, Shivansh hadn't even acknowledged Ritwik's complaints.
His attention was solely on Isha, his hand still in her hair, his expression unreadable.
Ritwik huffed. "And you, Shivansh? Are you going to say something?"
Shivansh finally looked up, his voice calm yet firm.
"Isha is mine. Simple as that."
Ritwik stared at him, stunned. "She is my sister."
"And my woman."
Aviyansh and Arav exchanged glances, trying not to laugh.
Ritwik opened his mouth—then closed it, his brain short-circuiting at Shivansh's blunt response.
Ranveer, ever the instigator, chuckled. "Possessive much?"
Shivansh's gaze darkened. "Very."
Ritwik grumbled. "This is unfair. Three of my sisters. All taken."
The words cut through the air like a blade.
Juhi, who had been silently sitting nearby, stiffened.
Her fingers, which had been fidgeting with the ends of her dupatta, froze mid-motion.
Her gaze was locked onto Shivansh—more specifically, onto Isha in his arms.
Her face twisted, her nails digging into her palms.
Shivansh had never spoken about any woman like that before.
Not just possession, but certainty.
Her jaw clenched.
Before she could say anything, a groggy voice interrupted them.
"Ugh… what is all this noise?"
Dhruv, who had been napping nearby, finally stirred.
He sat up, rubbing his eyes, his hair still tousled from sleep.
His gaze landed on Ritwik, then on the three couples.
He blinked.
Then smirked.
"Oh… I see. Ritwik is having his usual possessive-brother meltdown again."
Ritwik glared. "You woke up just to make fun of me?"
Dhruv stretched lazily. "I mean, it's entertaining. You rant, they ignore, and Juhi stares at Isha like she wants to set her on fire."
Juhi's head snapped toward him, her eyes narrowing. "Excuse me?"
Dhruv grinned. "Just saying. The moment Shivansh said my woman, you looked like you were about to throw something."
Juhi flushed, her jaw tightening. "Don't be ridiculous."
Dhruv leaned back, looking at Shivansh. "You really said that?"
Shivansh shrugged, as if it wasn't even a question. "Because it's true."
Dhruv let out a low whistle. "Damn. Straightforward as ever, huh?"
Ranveer chuckled. "Possessive much?"
Shivansh's gaze darkened slightly. "Very."
Ritwik groaned, throwing his hands up. "I give up. Three of my sisters. All stolen."
Dhruv patted his shoulder. "Better luck next time."
Juhi, still fuming, stood up abruptly.
"I'm going to bed," she muttered, turning on her heel.
The boys watched her leave, exchanging amused glances.
As the laughter died down, they looked back at their partners—still curled up, still fast asleep.
Despite all the teasing, one thing was clear.
No matter how much Ritwik complained, these women had already chosen the men they wanted.
And nothing—not jealous cousins, possessive brothers, or teasing younger siblings—was going to change that.
But then again ritwik start again that they all snatched his sisters from him.
Shivansh, who had been tracing idle patterns on Isha's shoulder, looked up lazily. His lips twitched, but he said nothing.
Arav sighed dramatically. "Here we go again."
Ritvik scoffed. "Don't 'here we go again' me! Just look at them. These three are my little sisters, and you all—" he pointed an accusatory finger at them, "are practically kidnapping them in their sleep!"
Ranveer, who had been silent, finally chuckled. "I hate to admit it, but Ritvik does have a point. They look a little too comfortable on you guys."
Shivansh smirked. "And? What do you suggest we do? Drop them on the cold floor?" His voice was calm, but his hand tightened ever so slightly around Isha's waist.
Isha stirred slightly, but she didn't wake up. Instead, she shifted closer into Shivansh's embrace, making him glance down at her with something unreadable in his gaze.
Ritvik narrowed his eyes. "I don't trust any of you. Especially you, Shivansh."
Shivansh raised a brow. "Oh? And why's that?"
"Because I know you!" Ritvik accused. "You act all calm and composed, but I see how you look at my sister when no one's watching."
Aviyansh and Arav let out low whistles, amused by Ritvik's possessiveness.
"Ritvik bhai, calm down," Arav chuckled. "Prisha's my girlfriend. I'm not some stranger."
"And Isha's my fiancée," Shivansh added, voice deep and slow, as if daring Ritvik to challenge him.
Isha mumbled something in her sleep, making everyone pause.
Shivansh, intrigued, leaned slightly closer, tilting his head. "What was that, little one?"
Isha, still half-asleep, murmured drowsily, "Hmm… You're warm."
Silence.
Then—
"PFFT—" Arav choked on a laugh, while Aviyansh smirked.
Shivansh, for the first time that night, let out a low, amused chuckle. "Oh? So now I'm warm?" His fingers brushed against her cheek, smudging a faint trace of leftover Holi color.
Isha stirred again, realizing too late that something felt off. She blinked, trying to adjust to the dim lantern light, only to realize—she was practically draped over Shivansh.
A slow, horrifying realization crept onto her face as she turned to find everyone staring at her.
Prisha and Ishika were waking up as well, both of them realizing their own situations—ishika leaning on Aviyansh's shoulder, and prisha practically curled up against Arav's side.
"Oh my God," Isha whispered, heart hammering.
Shivansh, enjoying this far too much, smirked. "Good morning, little one. Did you sleep well… on me?"
Isha pushed against his chest instantly, but he didn't let go. "Shivansh, let go!" She hissed, cheeks burning.
Ritvik, of course, was having a meltdown. "SEE?! This is what I was talking about! These three jerks are corrupting my sisters!"
Prisha, still groggy, frowned. "What are you screaming about at this hour, bhai?"
"Sisters, let me tell you what's happening here! These so-called boyfriends and fiancés of yours are using your exhaustion to keep you trapped in their arms! This is betrayal! This is manipulation!"
Ishika, blinking sleepily, rubbed her eyes. "…bhaiya, are you drunk?"
Arav sighed, shaking his head. "We should've let him drink bhang. Maybe he'd have slept through this instead of interrogating us."
Isha, meanwhile, had successfully untangled herself from Shivansh, only to realize something. "Wait a second… What did I say in my sleep?"
The boys exchanged glances.
Shivansh smirked. "Nothing important. Just that I'm warm and comfortable."
Isha wanted to die on the spot.
"I DID NOT!" She shrieked.
"You did," Arav confirmed.
"I hate all of you," she groaned, covering her face.
Shivansh leaned in, whispering just for her to hear, "No need to be embarrassed, little one. You can always sleep on me whenever you want."
Isha turned even redder.
Meanwhile, Ritvik dramatically declared, "I AM WATCHING ALL OF YOU. My sisters are off-limits!"
Shivansh, Aviyansh, and Arav simply shared knowing smirks.
Because at the end of the day… their girls always found their way back into their arms.
After the teasing, chaos, and unexpected sleeping positions in the courtyard, hunger finally caught up with them. The younger group had spent all their energy during the Holi festivities, and now they desperately needed food before calling it a night.
The grand dining hall of the palace had been set up for a late dinner. Warm candlelights flickered over the long table, reflecting off the polished silverware. The older family members had already eaten and retired, leaving only the younger ones to sit together for this meal.
Shivansh entered with Isha beside him, and as usual, Juhi's gaze immediately locked onto them.
Her fingers tightened around the fabric of her dupatta as she watched Isha walk in, laughing softly at something Shivansh had said. It was infuriating.
Juhi took a deep breath, plastering a sweet smile on her face as she sat near the middle of the table, across from Isha and Shivansh. Ishika, Prisha, Ritwik and Arav sat on one side, while Dhruv, juhi Aviyansh and Ranveer settled in their spots.
As the butler's brought in food, the atmosphere was still lighthearted—Ritvik was still sulking from earlier, while Arav and Aviyansh wouldn't stop teasing him.
"So, Ritvik bhaiya," Aviyansh smirked, scooping some paneer onto his plate. "Still recovering from your tragic discovery that your sisters have actual love lives?"
Ritvik huffed, stabbing his fork into his rice. "Love lives? More like these three idiots tricking them into relationships. I still have my doubts!"
Isha rolled her eyes. "Oh my God, Ritvik bhaiya, eat your food and let it go."
Shivansh, amused, simply leaned back in his chair, letting the conversation unfold. His hand, hidden under the table, casually rested on Isha's knee, making her jolt slightly. She shot him a sharp glare, but he simply smirked, continuing to eat as if nothing had happened.
Juhi, watching this, clenched her jaw.
"So, Isha," she suddenly spoke, her voice sugar-coated with false politeness. "How are you feeling now? You must be exhausted after… everything today."
Isha glanced up at her, feeling something off about her tone. "I'm fine. Just a little sore from running around all day."
Juhi tilted her head. "Oh, I'm sure. After all, you had a very… comfortable resting spot earlier, didn't you?"
Silence.
Shivansh's expression didn't change, but his fingers drummed against the table lightly. Isha blinked, trying to gauge what Juhi was trying to imply.
Prisha frowned. "Juhi, what are you talking about?"
Juhi let out a small laugh. "Oh, nothing! I just meant it must be nice to have someone like Shivansh to lean on… in every way."
The meaning behind her words wasn't lost on anyone.
Isha felt the unspoken challenge in Juhi's voice. Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Yeah, it is," Isha replied coolly, taking a sip of her water. "Having someone to support you after a long day is really comforting. You should try it sometime."
Aviyansh let out a quiet "Oof."
Juhi's smile twitched. She had expected Isha to stammer or get flustered, but instead, she had thrown it right back at her.
Shivansh, who had been silent, finally spoke, his voice smooth. "Isha's right. But then again… not everyone is lucky enough to have that, are they?"
Juhi's grip on her spoon tightened.
"Of course," she forced a laugh. "Not everyone finds the right person."
"Or maybe," Arav said, stretching his arms, "some people just don't want to accept when someone else has already found the right one."
Juhi turned sharply toward him, but before she could respond, Ritvik cut in, completely unaware of the underlying tension.
"I don't care who has found what," Ritvik muttered. "I just want my sisters to eat properly and not get distracted by these idiots."
Ishika groaned. "Bhai, shut up."
Everyone chuckled, breaking some of the thick tension, but Isha could still feel Juhi's gaze on her. It was clear that Juhi wasn't done yet.
Dinner continued, with everyone chatting between bites, but every now and then, Juhi would slip in little comments—
"Isha, you should eat more. After all, you need energy to keep up with people like Shivansh."
"It's amazing how fast things happen, isn't it? One day, someone's just a friend, and the next, they're everything."
"I wonder if some people truly belong where they end up, or if it's just luck."
Each time, Isha held her ground, responding with a calm smile. But deep down, she knew this wasn't the end of it.
Juhi wasn't just being passive-aggressive—she was testing her.
And Isha?
She was ready to play this game.
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