A T H A R V's P O V —

We were now seated in the living room of the goyal mansion as everyone's topic was the wedding that was going to take place in the house. The groom and bride both were blushing, avoiding each other's gazes to which the elders would tease them in between. Nitya was the one who teased them the most as both were red as tomatoes by now.

That girl, who paced my heart, shivika, was enjoying teasing her best friend too. Who wouldn't? Best friends are made for that. After some talks we got to know that shivika wasn't the daughter of goyal's but was no less one as her parents died when she was a mere baby.

I felt a little bad.

I was staring at her, who was laughing and giggling with everyone. Her laugh is magical. It's like music which I can listen to on loop. I don't know why I am feeling this way but it's new for me. A feeling which I haven't felt before for anyone. My eyes focused on work more than any one but this girl, she is doing something to me which I am unaware of.

Atharv, stop staring at her.

My mind said but my heart was not ready to listen.

She is so beautiful, how do I look away from her face?

It was my heart this time.

You should focus on your work, not her.

My mind reminded me that I have work to look at.

I can work later.

My heart said as my eyes were still focused on her.

Are you falling for her?

My mind asked my heart. I knitted my brows.

But idk how that feels.

My heart replied, doubtfully.

I shook my head as the debate got over between my mind and heart as I thought about what my mind said.

Love? How does it feel? Am I really in love? But how can one fall at first sight? No no, it's just an attraction because she is just so beautiful.

I was busy with my thoughts and didn't notice my over observing brother looking at me with a raised brow. I shifted my eyes from her to him, feeling his gaze on me as I smiled awkwardly. He smirks while wiggling his brows.

"what?"

I said trying to hide my embarrassment but he already knew me so well.

"I see your eyes are focusing on someone way too much, aren't they, dear brother?"

He said while leaning back on the sofa and shifting his gaze to his fiancé.

"And instead of focusing on your fiancé, you are focusing on me, dear elder brother?"

I tried to change the topic. I don't know how I will tell him why my eyes can't detach themself from her figure.

"Changing the topic, aren't we?"

He said, Giving me a side eye.

Everyone else was busy talking to each other, having a good family time but this dude has to question me to which I can't even answer properly. Broo just enjoy, you are going to get married.

"I am not. Focus on your fiancé, not me. I have work to look at."

I said and unlocked my phone, avoiding his side eye. He shook his head and got himself engrossed in talking again. I know he isn't going to leave me this soon. Ugh Atharv, can't you control your eyes?

I mentally scolded myself while giving a quick glance at her figure who had a kiara on her lap now, playing with her while laughing.

Oh god, this girl is making it hard for me.

S H I V I K A's P O V —

"Did you notice how Atharv is continuously staring at you?"

I heard sonali's voice which held a teasing tone. I turned my head towards him, who was sitting in front of me beside arav jiju and ishaan bhai. His gaze was fixed on my figure but I can tell by his knitted expression, he was thinking something.

But still his gaze was making me nervous as I shifted my eyes back to sonali whose lips were curved up in smirk. I raised my brows at her.

"What do you mean?"

I asked even though I knew her intentions.

"she means that bhai has been staring at you since we came, kuch toh gadbad hai."

(Something is fishy)

I jumped a little when suddenly Nitya spoke from my right side. My eyes were now on her as I tried calming my heart beat. These brothers and sisters both want my heart to explode. I pouted internally.

" It's nothing, you guys are just overthinking. Aur sona, jiju bhi toh kab se tujhpe hi nazrein bichaye baithe hai!"

(And sona, jiju is too staring at you for so long)

It was now my time to smirk and tease her. Sonali looked towards arav jiju and caught him staring at her which made her cheeks turn crimson. I looked at nitya who was smirking as well.

Now it's me and her.

"Yess!! Look how intensely he is staring at you like he stared at you on your first date, bhabhi!!"

Nitya said as sonali turned whole red and cleared her throat, straightening her posture. Oh how I love to tease her. Me and pressed our lips, controlling ourselves from laughing but failed miserably when sonali hid her face with her palms.

"mumma aj sabji mein tamatar ki jagah, sona ko hi dal dena!"

(Mom put sona instead of tomato in the dish today)

I said which made everyone look at it as she was still trying to hide her shy self. Everyone burst into laughter along with us as sonali hid herself in sneha bhabhi's embrace while glared at me. I raised my hands, surrendering myself while chuckling.

"Okay okay enough of teasing, sona show the kids their rooms and i will show mr. And mrs. Deshmukh's room to them. You guys should rest for sometime."

Rekha mumma said as we all nodded. Sonali detached herself from bhabhi but her cheeks were still so red. I pinched her cheeks as she pouted.

"itna pout mat kar, jiju se control nahi ho payega."

(Don't pout this much jiju won't be able to control himself)

I whispered to her as she hit my arm slightly.

"Ouch, that hurts!"

I said while creasing my arm.

"Good, it should."

She said as we got up and made our way towards the first floor of the mansion. It was Me, Sonali, , sneha bhabhi, arav jiju and him. Nitya walked with jiju while having a talk with him, she played with kiara and i was left with him.

Oh god, why him?

His presence does something to me and my heart and it's confusing. I was playing with my fingers when he cleared his throat. I looked towards him as he scratched the back of his neck. Probably deciding what to say.

"umm.. Hey, myself Atharv!"

He finally introduced himself. Gosh his deep voice.

"h-hey, Atharv. Myself shivika"

God this is so bad.

"so, how do you like Nitya's company?"

He said while looking at us as we climbed the stairs.

"She is cute. She is fun as well. I loved her company."

I said while looking at her back as she was moving ahead of us with a kiara in her arms and Sneha Bhabhi by her side now. My lips curved up as I remembered how funny she is. Her dad jokes are wholesome.

I felt his eyes on me as I turned to his figure. He smiled, eyes still looking straight into mine. Why does he stare at me like that, it's illegal. His brown orbs were beautiful though. I smiled back as we stopped once reaching on the first floor.

"Here is your room , hope you like it!"

Sonali says while opening the door of the room as she nodded.

"bhabhi, stay with me please, i want to play more with kiara."

She pleaded looking at sneha bhabhi with doe eyes as she chuckled. "Take her with you, I have work, call me if she troubles you, okay?" sneha bhabhi said as nitya's eyes sparkled as she quickly ran inside the room with kiara who giggled at her antics.

"works huh, bhabhi? Jao jao bhai wait kr rahe honge na room mein."

(Go go bhai must be waiting for you in the room)

Sonali teased her as cheeks turned red which made all of us laugh except atharv. He just smiled. Why doesn't he laugh? I haven't seen him laughing till now. He just smiles every joke away. I shrugged off the thought as bhabhi hit sonali's arm while moving towards her room.

We moved ahead and stopped in front of Sonali's room. She looked at me as i raised a brow. While arav jiji was looking at Atharv he did the same. What are they both trying to say?

I thought when jiju grabbed Atharv's collar and whispered something to him as Atharv gave him a mischievous look while nodding.

What are they doing?

I was about to say something when Atharv interrupted and held my hand in his.

"shivika can you please show me my room? I am very tired."

He said and grabbed me from there as my eyes got fixed on our hands. He's on top of mine. My heart beat rose as we walked further. He was still holding my hand when we passed through Sonali's room.

" where is it? "

He asked while stopping as I came out of my trance.

"huh?"

I looked at him confused.

"the room, where is it?"

He said while looking at the two rooms that were left in the hallway.

"Oh yeah, this one only."

I pointed at the one in front of us as he nodded. His eyes fell on our which were still together. His ears turned red as he quickly detached his hand from mine.

I hate to admit but his hand felt good on mine. His touch felt good.

" Oh, I am sorry. Vo bhai wanted to spend some time alone with bhabhi soo.."

He said scratching his nape. He was embarrassed. I internally chuckled at his cute red face but maintained a normal face.

"so, this is your room. If you need anything, then the one beside it is mine and sonali's room, you can come and ask."

I said while pointing at the room as he nodded and stepped forward. He was hesitant in going inside. He turned towards me as I raised my brow.

" Do you want to say anything? "

I asked, unsure of why he was behaving that way?

" Ahh no, it's nothing. Thanks for showing me the room."

He said while again scratching his nape.

This habit is cute.

"oh, don't worry about that."

I smiled at him. It's getting awkward.

"Okay then, goodbye."

He made a little wave at me which I reciprocated. And he finally opened the door and went inside.

I placed my hand on my chest, above my heart as I felt it beating at an unknown pace. I took a deep breath and shook my head and went away from there.

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TO BE CONTINUED...

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