The beats of the dhaak had just started to echo through the crisp autumn air as Mahasasthi marked the sacred arrival of Goddess Durga. The entire Roy Villa was decorated in fairy lights, flowers. 

Draped in a red saree Aadhira was crouched down near the mandap, her fingers gracefully painting alpana in swirls of white rice paste. 

"Woww di, it's beautiful!" Ayansh chimed behind her.

"Thank you, baccha," she said giggling.

"Not that beautiful," Suddenly her aunt and Tara, Aunt's daughter appeared. "My Tara can do better." 

Before Aadhira could say anything Aruna her elder sister walked in like a queen.

"Really? Let's see her do it then. We all know what she can do. Don't lie in front of Ma Durga."

"You have such a big mouth Aruna. I'm older that you."

"Then behave like that," Aruna shot back. "Only then you'll earn respect." 

"Let it go, Di," Aadhira murmured.

"Such mannerless kids." Their Aunt muttered curses and left from there with her daughter.

"Dii you rocked." Ayansh said showing thumbs up.

"I know right!" Aruna said flipping her hair. 

"Delusional!"  Aadhira quipped. 

And then the corridor echoed with laughter as Aruna chased Aadhira like children at recess.

Just then fate had rehearsed it Aadhira ran smack into someone. And again strong arms caught her. 

"ঠাকুর…" she groaned. Aruna was long vanished from the scene.

 (God...)

"Is this your hobby?" The man's deep voice cut the air like a knife dipped in sarcasm. "Crashing into me every few hours?" 

She didn't even need to look at the person. It was the only person who was holding grudges against her Mr. Veeransh Raghuvanshi.

"You're the one standing in corners like a haunted portrait!" she snapped.

"You walk like a hurricane. Maybe avoid corners?" 

"Oh, I'm sorry," she shot back. "I forgot this house in now the Temple of Veeransh. Everyone should walk only where His Highness isn't brooding."

He glanced at her for a second longer that necessary. Her kohl adorned eyes glaring at him furiously.

"Dramatic," he muttered.

She blinked. "Excuse me?" 

"Your whole personality," he said flatly. "Loud. Theatrical. Exhausting."

Aadhira's jaw dropped. "Exhausting? You barely even speak to people. You walk around like you're in a noir film."

He didn't answer. Just leaned back against the pillar.

She narrowed her eyes. "You know what your problem is?" 

"No," he replied blandly. "But I'm sure you'll tell me anyway." 

"You act like you're above everything and everyone. But really you're just scared." That caught him. 

He turned his head. "Scared?"

"Yeah," she said boldly. "Of connection. Of people getting close. So you push everyone away and call it peace."

For a moment his eyes flashed with something like annoyance or recognition.

"You psychoanalyzing me now? I thought you're the troublemaker not the therapist."

"I'm both." She replied with a mock bow.

He scoffed.

"What?" She challenged.

"Nothing," he said. "Just amazed by the level of confidence it takes to be so wrong."

She threw her hands up. "And there it is! The mighty Raghuvanshi defence: pretend not to care."

"Because I don't," he replied simply.

"You should be more careful."

She asked. "With what?"

"From falling." Before she could respond her slipper betrayed her. Her foot twisted slightly on the edge of the corridor tile and she yelped. But Veeransh caught her by the elbow in one quick motion. 

"You really do fall a lot," he said. She froze. She was close enough to see his hazel eyes clearly. His strong cologne hit her nostrils like a wave. 

She stepped back instantly. 

"I don't fall. I trip. That's a difference," she said flustered.

"Mmhm," he said clearly enjoying her reaction more than he should. 

"Stop looking at me like that," she muttered.

"Like what?" 

"Like you're waiting for me to trip again."

"Well, it's more entertaining than the political news."

She glared. He gave her a infuriating smirk. 

Later that night when the clock struck a little past midnight Aadhira stood near a corner with bunch of marker pen staring at the ladder which was connected to balcony in the garden. She was about to take her first step when a firm hand clasped her shoulder.

She froze. 

"Ah! I didn't do anything! It was kept here, I swear! I was just....relocating it!" she stammered. Her eyes glued to the ground not daring to turn. 

"Diii, I'm Ayansh." came a low laugh.

She whirled around to find Aynash flanked by Arav and Kairav. Three of them wearing expressions of utter curiosity and amusement.

"Ugh! You scared me!" she exclaimed placing a hand on her chest. "What are you three doing at this hour?"

"We couldn't sleep. Came out for fresh air. But what exactly are you doing here?" Arav said wiggling his eyebrows.

The trio raised their eyebrows in perfect synchrony.

"Fine," she said, hands up in surrender. "But promise me you won't tell anyone."

"Promise," Kairav said instantly. He looked way too excited. 

"I need revenge," Aadhira looked around theatrically before leaning in.

Their ears perked.

"From whom?"

"Aunt and her daughter."

"What you'll do?" 

"You'll see in the morning," She said with an evil grin. "This is the gateway to justice." she pointed at the ladder.

"You climb ladder often?" Arav asked amused.

"Well yeah. My Thamma (Grandmother) made the 7 PM curfew. If we miss it we're locked out. So I just sneak in via my balcony. Family tradition," she grinned unapologetically.

They all stared at her half-concerned, fully-impressed.

"Alright wait here," She said like a command and vanished up the ladder. 

Fifteen minute later she showed up in the balcony showing thumbs up. "Mission successful," she muttered.

She was about to descend when her eyes drifted to the left. The joint balcony.

He was there. Veeransh. Sleeping. 

A wicked grin curled up her lips. She signed the three of them to go away she will go later. They eventually went away she went fully cracked mood. 

"Oh Ma Durga forgive me but this opportunity is too sacred to waste," She said joining her hands and touching it to her forehead couple of times.

Then Aadhira tiptoed toward the joint balcony slipping in like a thief in salwaar. The room was dimly lit enough for her to see the tall lean figure sleeping peacefully on the bed. His shirt was half open. forearm resting over his face and that usual cold frown relaxed into a boyish calm. She thought of turning and going back seeing his appearance but she had to accomplish her mission. And this was the chance. 

She crept forward her heart hammering with mischief. One hand poised with the marker ready to give him a mustache and maybe write a 'Grumpy Baba' on his forehead.

She leaned closer biting her lower lip to stop herself from laughing. But just as the tip of the marker reached his cheek his hand shot up. 

In a blink he caught her wrist and twisted it just enough to pull her off balance. With one swift motion he rolled over and pinned her beneath him on the bed. 

Marker clattered to the bed. Her breath caught when his narrowed eyes were locked on hers.

"What. The. Hell. Are you doing in my room? Miss Lilliput?" He growled his voice like  gravel wrapped in silk.

Aadhira blinked at him with wide eyes. She hadn't expected him to be this fast. Or this awake. Or this....close.

She was hyper aware of everything the way his thigh pressed against her side his palm gripping her wrist above her head. Her voice was stuck somewhere between a scream and a sigh.

"Uh move away..." She pushed him with all her force and sat up in the bed. 

"S..Sorry!" He stammered. He was sorry for being so close.

"But what the fuck were you trying to do?" He said sitting up.

"Peaceful..art...therapy?" 

His eyes narrowed further.

"I was just going to decorate."

"You were going to draw on my face while I was sleeping?" He deadpanned.

She gave an awkward innocent smile. "Maybe?" 

Veeransh exhaled sharply. "Are you always this insane?" he muttered.

"Ony after midnight," she whispered.

He leaned in just slightly. "You think this is funny?"

"Well," she said slowly. "It was funny until you woke up." 

They stared at each other a little too long. Then his gaze flickered down to her lips. For a moment her breath hitched. And that was when his eyes returned to her with a hard gaze.

"You should go," He said.

"Yeah, I should." She replied.

"And I'm not Lilliput, don't you ever dare to call me that." She said pointing her finger at him. He raised his eyebrow in surprise.

"Where are you going?" 

"From where I came obviously." She replied looking back over her shoulder.

"Unbelievable!" 

"Go by the door Miss. Tornado."

"What about the ladder?" 

"Someone will keep it away."

"No one will." 

"I will. Okay Miss now you can leave."

"Yeah yeah going mean man." She said rolling her eyes while he rubbed his temple feeling already exhausted.

At precisely 8:00 AM, the aroma of bengali dishes filled the house. The family had just settled for breakfast when a thunderous shriek echoed from upstairs.

"Who did this!?" Aadhira's aunt roared as she entered the dining room with Tara in tow.

Their faces were decorated in neon-coloured marker ink. Mustaches, whiskers, random squiggles, and the word 'shaitaan express' scribbled boldly across Tara's forehead. 

"This won't come off! What did they use?!" 

The Raghuvanshi brothers casually turned to look at Aadhira who kept her head down but couldn't help the sly curve on her lips.

"Beta go wash carefully. I'll send your breakfast upstairs," Said Shweta ji suspiciously calm benevolence.

Once the victims left in dramatic flair all eyes turned toward Aadhira.

"I didn't do anything." she said with mock innocence.

Nabarun ji raised an eyebrow. "We all know who's capable of that."

"Okay okay fine!! She spoke trash about Didi. So I expressed my feelings in non-verbal artistry," she said arms crossed.

Aruna pulled her into a hug. "My sweet little soldier!" 

However Meera ji, her mother wasn't impressed. "You're grounded. No phone. Two days."

"সব কথা ফোনে এসেই দাঁড়ায় " Aadhira said pouting .

( Everything ends with my phone! )

Neil chukled from the other side .

" Don't laugh , I will take your phone too. " Aadhira shot a mock glare.

Neil  gave her a playful stare .

" Calm down ,young lady " Aadhira's grandfather said .

Veeransh who was silently observing everything spoke finally. "Gladly I woke up at the right moment, wild cat."

She just tucked her hair behind her ear to hide the embarrassment.

That evening the mandap lit up with dozens of flickering diyas. Aadhira stood near the andap adjusting her bangles when she saw him coming and standing behind her. She stared at him. 

"What now?" he said without looking at her. 

"I was just thinking," she said innocently. "Do you ever smile? Or were you born with a grudge against joy?" 

He looked at her. "I smile when people stop talking."

"Touché," she muttered.

A moment passed. The sound of shankh filled the space.

"You know," she said trying to keep her voice casual. "It wouldn't kill you to act human once in a while."

"I tried once," he said. "Didn't like it."

She snorted. "You're hopeless."

"And you're too hopeful," he said. "One day that will break you."

She tilted her head. "Maybe. But I'd rather break than rust."

"You're loud." He said.

"Maybe I bring life." She replied.

"You bring disaster."

"You're boring."

"You're dramatic."

"You're impossible."

"So are you."

~ Glossary :

Sasthi Puja :  Bodhan (process of infusing life to Durga idol) and Astradaan (idol adorned with 10 weapons) were part of the Shashti puja. It is believed that on this day goddess Durga comes to the mortal world with her children goddess Lakshmi and Saraswati, Lord Ganesha and Kartikeya.

Alpana : A handful of rice and a small piece of cloth are the basic requirements for painting an Alpana. The rice is put in the water and made into a thick paste. Enough water is added to obtain a paste which would help drawings.

Thank you , take care 🥀..