Aadhira stood near the edge of the open courtyard, her arms wrapped around herself. The early morning breeze carried a soft chill. 

Everyone was busy with puja's work. Again.

She pouted scanning the space for someone who could join her for a simple walk. A calm walk down the narrow streets outside was that too much to ask?

But then her eyes caught Mr. Stoic Suit. Dressed in a black hoodie and joggers he looked like he belonged on a runway rather than standing barefoot on the dewy grass and staring at him phone like it owed him money. She debated for a second teeth nibbling at her lower lip.

"Just ask," she muttered. "Worst he'll do is grunt and walk away."

Squaring her shoulders she strode toward him her silver bangles chiming with each step. 

"Good morning," she said in the most cheerful tone she could muster.

He didn't look up. "Morning."

She rolled her eyes almost but then cleared her throat. "So, I was thinking of going on a walk...want to join?"

Veeransh finally glanced up with furrowed brows. "No."

Aadhira blinked. "Just like that? No explanation?" 

"I don't walk for recreation," he replied flatly. "I walk to reach place."

She gasped in mock horror. "Wow! Did someone take out your fun bone at birth?"

He smirked. "Possibly!"

Before she could throw a witty comeback another figure entered the courtyard yawning and stretching, Anil.

"Anil!" Aadhira called out like she'd just spotted a lifeline. "Would you join me for a walk?" Someone here is too fancy for such a basic human activity."

Anil chuckled glancing between them. "Sure, why not. The air is nice."

"Great!" She shot a triumphant look at Veeransh. "See? Someone appreciates the little joys in life."

Just as she turned to walk with Anil Veeransh suddenly said, "Wait I'll come."

Both Aadhira and Anil turned toward him. 

She raised a brow. "Did your ego just got challenged?"

"Nope. I don't trust you alone with Anil. You're trouble." He said locking his eyes with hers.

She  gasped again dramatically placing her hand on her chest. "Excuse me! I'm adorable."

"Exactly. Dangerous combination." 

Just as the three of them walked out through the front gate Anil slowed his steps.

Veeransh noticed his hesitation. "What?"

Anil glanced between the two of them. Aadhira was practically bouncing beside him with excitement and Veeransh already looking like he regretted every life decision leading up to this moment. 

"Actually..." Anil said rubbing the back of his neck. "I just remembered I promised Neil I'd help him with something."

Aadhira blinked. "Really? What could be more important than this majestic morning walk?"

"Uh....his-uh-charger," Anil lied unconvincingly. "His phone's dying. It's critical.."

Veeransh narrowed his eyes. "His phone is always dying."

"Exactly. So tragic. I must go."

Anil was already backing away.

"Y'all have fun!" he added giving Veeransh a meaningful smirk and a not-so-subtle wink.

Veeransh sighed. "Coward."

Aadhira waved at Anil cheerfully then turned toward Veeransh with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Looks like it's just you and me, Mr. Broody."

He shoved his hands into his pockets. "Don't talk too much."

"Oh-ho!" she gasped. "You invited yourself, remember? Now you want to put a mute button on me?"

"Tempting thought," he muttered.

She laughed then suddenly jumped a little mimicking his voice by dropping her tone dramatically. "I don't walk for recreation. I walk to reach place."

He gave her a dry look. "Mockery won't earn you points."

"Points?" She grinned. "Is this a game now? Can I win something if I keep annoying you long enough?"

"You'll win silence. Mine."

"That's not a reward, that's punishment. You have such an expressive face I need daily entertainment."

"You're.....exhausting," he muttered under his breath.

"And you, Mr. Raghuvanshi, are a emotional coconut," she replied sweetly.

"A coconut?"

"Hard shell. No expressions. But probably sweet inside."

"Shut up."

"Ok so tell me about yourself," she said completely ignoring what he said.

Veeransh glanced at her sighing, "I'm a businessman. Studied abroad. Started my company back in Rajasthan."

She tilted her head. "That's about your work. I asked about you."

He blinked. No one ever asked that. Everyone around him only cared about his profits, deals and connections. But here was this chaotic, bold, talkative woman asking about him. 

"I don't know." He admitted genuinely. "I've never thought about it."

She chuckled, "Know yourself Mr. Raghuvanshi. Otherwise you'll let others define you. Even the strongest minds can get lost in others' opinion if they don't know who they truly are."

Before he could reply she suddenly gasped. 

"OH!" Aadhira squealed like a five-year-old who just spotted an ice cream truck. 

Veeransh turned toward her being startled. "What?"

"Flowers!" she beamed already breaking into a run.

He blinked. "What-wait, what?"

There in the corner stood a tall tree blooming with white shiuli flowers. The morning dew still glistened on their delicate petals.

Aadhira ran toward it as if it was a treasure chest. Her bangles, anklets jingled with her every excited steps. "Look at these beauties! Aren't they gorgeous?"

Veeransh caught up watching her with amusement. "You ran for flowers?"

"Of course!" She said as if it was the most obvious thing. "Do you know how rare it is to find fresh shiuli flowers still on the branch? Maa says they bring peace."

She tiptoed trying to reach a cluster. No luck.

"I swear they were reachable a second ago." She said jumping slightly.

She turned to him with a sheepish grin. 

"You're tall," she stated.

"Observant," he said flatly.

"Help me get them?" Her hands clasped together in a pleading gesture. Her eyes big and sparkly in the way only mischief could cause.

He sighed like a man burdened with the world. "You do realize you're dragging me into flower-picking now?"

"Oh, please consider this as your daily act of kindness."

Veeransh rolled his eyes but eventually stepped forward and plucked a few of the flowers. "Happy now?"

"Almost," she grinned taking the flowers from him.

She tucked one behind her ear. "Ta-da! How do I look?" 

He gave her a look. "Like a flower pot."

She gasped feigning offense. "Rude! You've got no artistic taste." 

Before he could reply she turned to him narrowed her eyes then without warning reached up and tucked one behind his ear too.

"What the hell are you doing?" He asked being stunned.

"There, you look too serious. A flower softens you." she said clapping.

"I'm not a decoration." He grumbled.

"Shut up, give me your phone I didn't bring mine."

"What if I kill you now."

"You won't now shut your mouth and let me take a picture." 

"No way!"

"YES!" She said taking his phone. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The cold brooding Veeransh Raghuvanshi with a delicate shiuli flower tucked behind his ear, oh the poetic irony."

"You're enjoying too much."

"Shut up and smile!"

"I don't smile for photos."

"I noticed," she muttered, pulling him by the sleeve. "Okay stand here the natural light is good."

He huffed but didn't move away. She stood beside him beaming like the sun itself. He glanced sideway at her the way her nose crinkled when she smiled how her eyes curved up with joy and click.

"There," She said triumphantly. "Memory sealed."

He looked at the photo and groaned. "You took a selfie with me looking like I just got dragged into a flower shop fight."

"That's your own fault for always frowning," she replied unfazed. "Honestly it's kind of cute. The flower suits you."

"Take that back."

"Nope."

"You're impossible."

"And you're secretly enjoying this."

He didn't reply. But his ears were a little red.

A few moments passed as she collected more flowers that had fallen onto the grass.

"You're not putting that on me," he said preemptively.

"Relax macho man. This one's for Durga ma. You think I'm reckless?"

"Yes." She stuck her tongue out at him.

As they strolled back toward the house Aadhira broke the silence by saying, "Send me the photo."

"Why?"

"Shut up and send me."

"Blackmail material?"

"Yesss. I'll use it next time you scowl at me for talking too much." 

He shook his head with an exasperated sigh but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes. Just as they entered the courtyard one of the younger sibling announced loudly, "We're going to pandal hopping and to the fair!"

"OH! We're doing pandal hopping today!" She turned to Veeransh with excitement. "You're coming right?"

He gave her a deadpan look. "No."

She blinked. "Excuse me."

"I don't do fairs or crowded streets. And certainly not hopping from one pandal to another in traffic, noise and neon lights."

She folded her arms. "You mean to tell me you're in Kolkata during Durga Puja and you're going to skip the best part? And today is ashtami...The main day."

"I came here for some peaceful days. But certainly it isn't peaceful anymore."

"Yeah go back with full chaos." She said flipping her hair.

He was about to retort ignoring her. "You know what you're boring."

He arched his brow. "Excuse me."

"You walk like a robot, talk like you're giving a board meeting and have the emotional range of a teacup. And you say no to everything remotely joyful. Boring."

"His lips twitched. "Provoking won't work."

"It will. Now go I'll wait for you in the evening and wear a punjabi we'll go to fair not any meeting."

"I won't go."

"We will see."

                                     ｡.*☆*. ｡

And she was right as the evening light faded Veeransh was waiting in the hallway with everyone for Miss Aadhira who as shouting only five minutes from the last 20 minutes. She wasn't at fault also. 

He ran a hand through his hair which was slightly messy and looked down at himself. Navy blue punjabi which he had reluctantly agreed to wear because someone said to not wear formals. 

He looked unfamiliar but he didn't hate it. 

"Aadhi!" Moksh called from the hallway. "Hurry up! We're getting late."

And then she came. 

Almost skidding to stop in front of them. Her navy blue saree paired with white blouse and her bangles clinked with every step. Her long hair swayed like a poetry.

"I'm here, I'm here...." she began only to freeze when her eyes landed on him. 

"Ma'am may we go?" Aruna asked. But she was lost.

"AADHIII," This time Sanvi called. 

"Yes yess we can." They all shook their head moving outside the house.

She blinked once. 

Then twice.

"I knew it," she said beaming. "I knew you'd come."

He rolled his eyes though the corner of his lips twitched despite himself. "Don't make it sound like you're psychic."

She didn't care. She was still staring at him. "And you wore a punjabi! Look at you! You actually clean up like a human."

"I was an animal?"

"Robot, to be exact."

"Oops we're matching." She said noticing.

"Completely accidental." He said quickly.

Just then she fumbled with her foot muttering a small, "Ugh," and crounched a little.

"What now?" He asked.

"My heel strap. It's loose."

Before he could offer anything she shoved her small embroidered sling bag into his hands. "Hold this for a sec."

He looked down at it like she had handed him a bomb. "What am I supposed to do with this?"

"Not run away with it, obviously," she said focusing on fixing her heel. "Just hold it. Be a gentleman for once."

He opened his mouth to say something but the bag was already hanging off his arm as she wobbled slightly trying to fix the strap. He took her hand and placed it on his shoulder seeing her not balancing herself.

"Aww thank youu, Mr. Coconut." He rolled his eyes.

A tall sharp strict businessman dressed in traditional holding a sparkly bag with tassels while a lady was holding his shoulder to fix her heels. Anil and Neil almost gawked seeing the scene. 

"Bro.....?" Anil whispered chuckling.

"Don't," Veeransh warned without looking up.

They nodded running away from there not forgetting to click a picture to blackmail later.

"Thank you," she said after finishing smiling brightly.

"Aadhiiii," Just then Moksh shouted again.

"Oh no! Mr. Coconut come fast." She ran almost while he was still holding her bag. Just like that accepting his fate he went behind her.

The streets were alive with people, lights, shops, rhythmic beat of dhaak.

Veeransh took a long breath. Chaos. Pure festive chaos. And he hate chaos. 

But here he was. Aadhira was walking ahead pointing at decorations, clicking pictures, humming songs and laughing with kids. 

"Come on slowpoke!" She turned around and called. "You're missing half the fun." 

"I'm surviving half the crowd," he muttered but followed nonetheless holding her purse.

Their next stop was a pandal shaped like a giant lotus. Inside the idol of Goddess Durga stood divine surrounded by intricate artwork.

Aadhira whispered. "You feel that?" 

He glanced sideways. "Feel what?" 

"The silence inside chaos. It's like no matter how noisy it is outside in front of her it all goes still." She said staring at her.

He didn't reply but for once he didn't want to interrupt her either.

They moved from pandal to pandal one shaped like a palace, another like a library each with its own story. Aadhira explained each one with enthusiasm throwing in mythology, trivia, and anecdotes about past years. 

"You remember all this?" he asked as she described a pandal that had been themed after Shakti last year.

"I live for this week every year. Durga Puja isn't just a festival. It's and emotion." She smiled.

A group of dancers passed by performing Dhunuchi naach. The smell of smoke was intoxicating but nothing was more dizzying than her smile when she twirled slightly matching their beat and knowingly his camera captured her every steps. 

Later they reached for the local fair. He froze at the entrance.

Aadhira was already running ahead pointing at glowing Ferris Wheels, cotton candy stalls, game booths, and rides that spun far too fast. 

"No," he said standing at the gate.

"Yes," she replied dragging him by the wrist.

"I'm not getting on any rides."

"Who said anything about rides?" she smirked. "You're playing the balloon dart game. You've got the 'serious snipper' vibe."

Five minutes later Veeransh was holding a plastic-wrapped unicorn plushie.

She was beaming. "You won it!"

"I'm not keeping this," he said, holding the plushie like it might bite him.

"You're giving it to me," she declared almost snatching it and hugging it close. 

"I'm regretting every life decisions right now," he said.

"Congratulations!" she replied holding his wrist and dragging him further.

"Last stop?" Aadhira asked panting slightly but grinning like a child on a sugar rush.

"Didn't we say that four stalls ago?" Veeransh replied adjusting his sleeves.

"Come on! Just one last thing," she said grabbing his wrist and pulling him toward the far end of the fair.

He didn't protest. Not because he wanted to shop but because something in her eyes made refusal feel criminal.

They stopped in front of a stall. Glass bangles sparkled under yellow bulbs. Rows of jhumka, oxidized necklaces, anklets and nose pins hung like stars strung together. 

"I want to see everything." She began flipping through the earrings brushing her fingers over delicate designs and murmuring 'pretty' every three seconds.

Veeransh stood beside her watching her with the faintest hint of amusement. 

But something shifted. He noticed it before she even said anything. Her smile faltered. Her hands hesitated as she reached for a pair of earrings. Her eyes which had been dancing a moment ago were now flitting uneasily to her right. That's when he noticed.

A guy in his late twenties leaning casually against the opposite stall was staring. Not just looking. Staring. His shameless eyes fixed on her.

Veeransh's jaw tightened. 

Aadhira shifted slightly. Her fingers trembled as she reached for a silver jhumka.

Veeransh didn't speak either. He simply stepped forward and stood directly behind her. Not touching her. Not even speaking. 

She instantly relaxed. Sh didn't turned around, but she knew. With him behind her she didn't feel the stare anymore.

She picked up one earring after the other. "These?"

Veeransh shook his head. "Too heavy."

"This one?"

"Too loud."

"You've got opinions huh?" She teased trying to ease the weight in the air.

he tilted his head backward a black metal pair with intricate detailing simple yet elegant.

"These."

She raised her brows. "You chose?"

"They suit you." He nodded.

A slow smile crept across her face. "Well....I guess I'll take them."

"Hey where is my purse?" She asked after realizing her purse wasn't with her the whole moment.

"Here," he said showing her purse while handling the cash to the vendor. 

Her eyes widened. "Hey wait!"

"This is the damage fee." He said holding the box and her purse.

"Give me those." She said embarrassingly.

"Shhh, let's go!"

"Thank you," She said quietly.

He met her gaze, "Anytime."

"I'm going to Didi," She said pointing to her sister and sister-in-law. 

He nodded. While she was gone Anil and Neil approached him. "Mr. Raghuvanshi or Mr. Coconut?" Anil asked wiggling his brows.

Veeransh just looked at the deadpan.

"Is there something going on Bhai sa?" Arav asked who also came with Ayansh and Kairav.

"Definitely many thing is going on look at his hands. A perfect husband behaviour." Neil said chuckling.

"Ohhh myyy gooddd! Bhai sa please make Didi my Bhabhi. She is the best."

"Yes yes!" Ayansh and Kairav also agredd.

"Bro say or I can marry her." Anil said earning a glare from Veeransh.

"Mr. Raghuvanshi come here for a moment." Aadhira called him from distance.

"Go Mr. Raghuvanshi your Mrs. Raghuvanshi is calling you." Anil said chuckling.

He just went shaking his head.

"Prepare your palace you three Jaipur's queen will come soon." Anil said making them cheered.

They returned almost in the midnight.

"You know what?" she said stretching her arms. "You aren't a bad company."

he turned to her amused. "Is that your subtle way of asking me to pandal-hop again tomorrow?"

She smiled looking at him. "Maybe."

And this time he didn't roll his eyes. 

He just nodded. 

"Maybe." 

        " उसकी अदा पे हम मरते है

       वो ना जाने उसकी अपनी

    अदा उसे लाखो में से एक बनाता है

      दुनिया उसकी सराहना करती है "

    ( I die at her style

    he doesn't know his own style

    She doesn't know her style

    which makes her one in a million

   for which the world appreciates her )

~ Glossary :

Ashtomi Puja : Durga Ashtami or Maha Ashtami is the eighth day of the Navaratri festival celebrated by Hindus in veneration of the goddess Durga. In Eastern India, Durga Ashatmi is also one of the most auspicious days of the five days-long Durga Puja festival.

Kanyā Pūjā or Kumārī Pūjā, is a Hindu holy ritual, carried out especially on the Ashtami (eighth day) and Navami (ninth day) of the Navaratri festival. The ceremony primarily involves the worship of nine girls, representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga (Navadurga)

Young girls are considered pure and divine, and their presence is believed to purify the environment. It is also a way of seeking the blessings of the goddess Durga . ]

Thank you , take care🥀.