5. Ethan Pov

🎧 Song: Ishq Bulaava
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We reached the airport and met Chote Dadu's family. Together, everyone flew to Udaipur.

A few hours later, we arrived at the destination. And honestly the palace was beautiful.

I collected my room key and left. I'd greet Arav bhaiya's in-laws later.
Right now, I needed peace for a moment.

And by God's grace, Mr. Raichand aka my father hadn't come with us.

Ugh. Why am I even thinking about him?

I need sleep, i threw myself onto the bed. Exhaustion pulled me under quickly.

Some time later, a knock dragged me out of sleep, i groaned in irritation. Can people not leave me alone for five minutes? If that's Ayaan, he's dead today.

I yanked the door open, ready to snap and froze.

Am I still dreaming?
Because standing in front of me was... unreal.
A girl in a saree. Hair open. And eyes

Damn.

Her eyes....deep black,  like a night forest. Endless. Pulling.

She was staring at me like I was an alien.

I mean... fair enough. I am an alien.

She didn't speak. So I did.

"Yes?"

Nothing. Still staring. Weird.

"Helloww?" I waved slightly.

She blinked, nervous. "W-who are you?"

What? Did she just ask who I am?

This girl knocked on my door and now she's asking me questions?

"Miss," I said flatly, "you knocked on the door.

Yeah, maybe that sounded rude. Not my fault.

She flushed. "Yes... sorry. I'm here for Arav jiju."

Oh.

"Arav bhaiya. Next door."

Relief softened her face. She smiled and that's when something in my chest... shifted.

It wasn't a loud smile. Not practiced. Not social.
It was small. Almost shy.
And dimples appeared in both her cheeks.

I stared, because I hadn't seen a smile like that in years, no calculation, no expectation,no performance, just... softness.

Unarmed softness.

The kind you don't know how to handle, for a split second, a thought crossed my mind irrational, intrusive: Don't let the world touch this.

I shut it down instantly.

She said, "Thank you."

Her voice matched her smile. Gentle. Clear. Real.

I nodded once and shut the door.

Silence.

What... just happened? Who was she?
And why the hell was my heart beating like that?

No.

No, Ethan.

Ethan Raichand and love? Impossible.

Attraction, maybe.

You don't get attracted easily , my mind mocked.

"Shut up," I muttered.

You're overthinking. This was nothing.

Love and relationships were never meant for me.

I leaned back against the wall, exhaling slowly, trying to calm the strange restlessness buzzing in my chest. My mind kept replaying that one moment those eyes, the way she had looked just as confused as I felt.

And somehow that made it worse, I was still lost in my thoughts when suddenly

Knock. Knock.

My head snapped toward the door, for one ridiculous second, a stupid thought flashed through my mind, what if it's the yellow saree again? I immediately shook my head.

Yeah, right. Like the universe worked that way.

I walked over and pulled the door open.

And immediately regretted having expectations.

Standing outside was Advik and he looked visibly irritated.

Before I could even say anything, he shoved the door open wider and walked inside like a storm.

"Bro!" he announced loudly. "You will not believe what just happened!"

I closed the door slowly, already sensing chaos.

"What now?" I asked.

Advik started pacing the room dramatically.

"I just met her."

I frowned. "Who?"

He turned to me like I had personally offended him.

"The walking disaster. The hurricane. The human headache."

"...that narrows it down to no one," I said dryly.

Advik pointed an accusing finger in the air.

"Maansi."

He said the name like it tasted bitter.

"Oh," I said simply.

"Yes OH!" Advik exploded. "Arav's bhaiya wife's best friend. The same Miss Overdramatic Senior from my college."

I leaned against the table, folding my arms.

"What happened?"

"What happened?!" he repeated dramatically. "SHE happened."

He started mimicking the scene.

"I was peacefully walking, minding my own business like a civilized human being, and suddenly THUD!"

He clapped loudly for effect.

"That tornado crashed straight into me!"

I snorted. "Tornado?"

"Yes!" he insisted. "And then she looked at me and shouted"

He pointed dramatically, I pressed my lips together, trying not to laugh.

Advik continued his rant.

"And then she started yelling like I personally ruined her life."

"What did you do?" I asked.

"Nothing!" he said defensively. "Okay maybe I called her a tornado. And dramatic. And annoying."

"And?"

"And then she called me arrogant, idiot, junior, headache, bro she had a whole dictionary ready!"

I shook my head slowly.

"You two sound exhausting."

"Oh we are," Advik said proudly before collapsing onto the couch. "And the worst part?"

"What?"

He groaned loudly.

"I have to see her the whole wedding."

I smirked.

"Good luck."

Advik glared at me.

"You're enjoying this."

"A little."

He threw a cushion at me.

"Shut up, Raichand."

I caught it easily, still smiling slightly.

But even as Advik continued complaining about Miss Hurricane Maansi, my mind drifted somewhere else entirely.

Back to a certain girl, In a yellow saree.

POV ENDS

Everyone had gathered for Ishana and Arav's haldi ceremony.

The courtyard glowed in shades of yellow and gold. Marigold strings swayed gently, laughter echoed, and the air carried the warmth of celebration.

At the center, Ishana and Arav sat beside each other on the decorated seat, both dressed in haldi hues.

Ishana glanced at his sherwani and smiled. "The brooch looks good on you, Mr. Raichand."

Arav followed her gaze to the brooch pinned neatly near his collar. A faint pride touched his expression.

"Shukriya, Miss Roy," he said smoothly. "My fiancée designed it."

"Oh? Is that so?" Ishana's eyes sparkled, clearly pleased.

Arav leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice near her ear. "You're looking mesmerizing, Jaan," he murmured. "Marne ka iraada hai kya?"

A soft flush spread across Ishana's cheeks instantly.

"J-ji..." she stuttered, suddenly aware of how close he was.

Arav pulled back just enough to see her face and smirked, satisfaction flickering in his eyes.

He loved knowing he had this effect on her.

"Sab baatein hi karenge ya haldi shuru bhi hogi?" Mohini Raichand's voice cut through the chatter with mild impatience.

Vinita immediately straightened. "Ji, Dadi," she said softly.

And just like that, the ceremony began.

Haldi bowls were brought forward, laughter returned, and elders stepped ahead to apply the first turmeric to the couple.

Amid the movement, Vedika's eyes searched the gathering instinctively.

Ethan wasn't there.

A crease formed between her brows.

She leaned toward Ayaan. "Where is Ethan? He knows na... if Maa ji doesn't see him, she'll create a scene."

Ayaan followed her gaze across the courtyard. "Don't worry, Mom. I'll go check on bhaiya."

Vedika nodded faintly.

But as Ayaan walked away, her shoulders sagged with a quiet sigh.

She didn't want Ethan to go through any more than he already did.

Ivara dipped her fingers into the haldi bowl and approached the couple.

With a soft smile, she applied turmeric gently to both Ishana and Arav, her eyes full of admiration. Silently, she prayed for her didu's happiness.

Just as she stepped back

"SURPRISE!"

A tiny haldi-covered hand smacked across her cheek.

"Trishaaa!" Ivara gasped.

Her face was now completely smeared in turmeric. She wiped her eyes and spotted the culprit her little sunshine already running away.

"Bachaooo!" Trisha squealed dramatically.

"Oh ho, koi nahi bachayega tumhe Tulip se!" Ivara declared, scooping more haldi into her palm and chasing her.

Laughter followed them as they ran through the courtyard ...child and child-at-heart.

"Ruko tum"

Thud, she collided into someone solid.
Her foot slipped and her haldi-filled hand landed straight onto a face.

Everything froze, her breath stopped, slowly... she looked up and her heart dropped.

Dreamy.....The same man, the one from the door, the one with honey-brown eyes.

He was staring down at her with equal shock, turmeric streaked across his cheek... and her hand still pressed against his skin.

Neither moved. Neither spoke. Time stretched.

"Bhaiya! Where were you? I was searching for you everywhere."

The voice shattered the moment, they both snapped back.

Ivara jerked her hand away as if burned.

Ayaan stepped closer and stopped, taking in the scene... his brother, haldi on his face, and the same girl standing inches away.

A slow, knowing smirk spread across his lips.

"Toh yeh ho raha hai yahan pe," he drawled.

Ethan shot him a lethal glare. "Stop talking nonsense. Tum chalo. I'm coming... after cleaning this."

Ivara found her voice at last. "S-sorry," she rushed out.

And fled.

Fast.

Ethan watched her retreating figure ...saree, loose hair, haldi smudges, panic.

A low chuckle slipped out before he could stop it.

(❁'◡'❁)(❁'◡'❁)(❁'◡'❁)(❁'◡'❁)(❁'◡'❁)(❁'◡'❁)(❁'◡'❁)

"He came for the silence, but he left with her ghost echoing in his mind."