a u t h o r ' s   p o v —

The new day rose as everyone arrived at the living because today they had decided to go to the shiv Parvati temple for some basic rituals for the soon to be wedded couples. Everyone was there already ready just waiting for the girls of their house to step out of their rooms and come down because they were already so late.

As always the duo, the bestfrienda were late. Don't know how much time they need to take to get ready. Habit of girls, it was. Obviously they had to get late because this had became their ritual to be late every single time they go out for either any function or to any place.

Ishaan shook his head while checking his wrist watch. He was already so done with his both sisters and now his wife too was getting late. Soon enough his eyes landed on his girl who was stepping down the stairs with kiara in her hands. His eyes widened as he felt his heart skipping a beat.

The green saree which she wore added fuel to her immense beauty. He gulped as he felt himself burning. Burning from her beauty. Looks like he fell for her all over again just like how he fell for her in their college days.

Placing his hand on his chest, above his heart, he acted to fall back as atharv who was standing behind him widened his eyes and caught him. His brows hit together at ishaan dramatic act but soon shook his head.

"Hayeee my wifey looks so beautiful. I think i fell for her again." He mumbled making the deshmukh brother let out a chuckle. He received a glare from his wife as she felt embarrassed infront of everyone.

"Wifey! You didn't have to look this pretty!" He said out loud making her eyes go wide as everyone present in the living room chuckled. She hit his chest and he dramatically hissed.

"Behave ishaan!" She wishper shouted at him while giving a glare with her doe eyes but it didn't effect him as he just pecked her cheek. By now she was red as tomato and seeing her reaction everyone laughed filling the huge hall with the echos of their laughs.

"P-papa m-mew t-too!" They heard kiara say as ishaan smiled wide and pecked her whole face earning a lot of giggles from her. Oh how cute small family they were. Everyone looked at them in awe, admiring them.

"You guys are having fun without us? Not good!" Turning their heads towards the soon to be bride, they saw sonali coming down with shivika and nitya. The trio too wore sarees.

Deshmukh brothers felt their heart going wild as the trio came towards all the members. Atharv's eyes scanned shivika's figure as if she was a QR code while arav was the same, he moved his eyes from his fiancee's toe to head as his heart went uneven.

The blue saree that shivika wore made her look breathless. She was already too pretty to adore and now this saree did something inside atharv's heart. He felt like his heart will explode any time sooner. His eyes not ready to leave her figure as he gulped.

"Miss avasthi, ap kisi din humare iss chote se dil ka katal krke hi manengi"

He wishpered to himself while his eyes went soft. His dark deep orbs sparkled as they got fixed on her enchanting feature which always had his heart going crazy for her. Oh he fell again for her.

The burning sensation in his body rose as his ears turned red. She looked unreal. And saree being men's weak point in a women, didn't helped him. This mind was blank as his eyes only followed her and everything else vanished.

"Now that the princess has arrived, let's go or we'll be late for the pooja!" Rekha said as everyone nodded but atharv was still lost in her. Rekha's voice was inaudible to his ears because his mind was only focused on his girl. His queen which never fails to make his heart go wild.

"Calm down bro, she is yours to stare whole life." His trance broke as he heard his brother's teasing voice as his ears tuned the darkest shade of red. He smiled a little and scratched the back of his neck while lowering his face.

"You get shy too? I didn't knew atharv-" arav looked at his Little brother getting all red because of one girl which shocked him. He looked at him with wide eyes as atharv gave him a glare and fixed his coat. Again, he wore formals. Uff his obsessions with formals.

"Shut up bhai, let's go!" He diverted the conversation and started moving towards the exit as everyone was already out. Him, arav, sonali and shivika were going in one car which got his little heart dancing. He smiled internally while getting himself seated on the driving seat.

Arav sat on the back seat and actioned sonali to sit with him which ofcourse she sat. Shivika looked at her dumbfounded. What? She have to sit with him now? Betrayer sona.

"What happened shivi? Sit na! We are getting late!" Sonali's voice rather sounded as if she was teasing her. Atharv looked back through the small mirror and found arav and sonali sitting together which means shivika is going to sit with him. He smiled wide as arav winked at him.

Shivika was left with no choice as she sighed and sat on the passenger's seat before gulping and their journey started. Atharv stealing glances at her figure who was staring out of the window with a small smile dancing on her lips. While arav and sonali were having their time talking to each other about random stuff.

Oh how badly atharv wished to talk with her like those two at the back but his heart was also at peace looking at her. He didn't want anything else but her to be present in front of his eyes and his heart would beat peacefully. He wanted her to be near him not even close because he knows that one day, one day his queen will be in his arms for forever.

He wished for that day to arrive soon but didn't want to rush either. His heart was feeling a lot which was getting him confused. One moment his heart would want to cage her in his arms and the other moment it would say that loving her from afar is also peaceful.

One moment his heart would want to confess itself out but the other moment it would fear of her rejection. One moment his heart would want to have lovey talks with her and the other moment it would fear of her comfort.

It was just so complicated but he was happy stealing glances at her. He was happy knowing his feelings for her. He was happy to see her smile. He was happy that she was atleast near him, infront of his eyes. He didn't wanted more of it right now.

He wanted to love her from afar until she realises her feelings towards him. He knew something inside her was stopping her from expressing but didn't knew what actually it was and that became a mission for him to know everything about her past.

He had also asked his secretary to do a background check on her but still didn't get any information from him either.

Feeling his continuous gaze at her, she looked towards him and caught him staring at her. He looked away as soon as she caught him staring at her as his ears turned red. A chuckle left her mouth as she looked back outside the window. A smile made it's way on his lips as he looked at the enchanting smile in her lips.

He was happy that he was the reason she smiled. His little heart danced at the hope. Hope that she will somewhere fall for him too.

And just like that, stealing glances from each other, they all reached the destination. Stepping out of the driver's seat he quickly went toward her direction as she was about to open the door. But before she could, he opened the door for her as she looked at him with wide eyes. Why is he behaving like a gentleman? And that too infront of everyone?

Everyone had their eyes on them while a smirk danced on each's lips. Her cheeks turned red hue due to the embarrassment. She stepped down the car and he closed the door behind her while scratching his nape, cursing himself for not being able to control his heart.

"Damn shivu, i am telling you he is in love with you!" Sneha whispered in her ears making her ears turn red as sonali chuckled while nodding. "Of course he does, his eyes say it all!" Sonali stated making her look at him.

Does he really? A thought rang in her head. She found him staring at her while his eyes shined bright but his face was normal. His eyes said something which she didn't get. Shaking away the feeling, she looked away.

No, even if he is, you don't deserve him shivika!

She scolded herself and shook her head. They all made their way inside the temple as the elders greeted the priest and the younger ones touched his feet. Just when shivika was about to touch his feets, she felt a hand above hers.

Heat rushed through her neck towards her cheeks as she realised it was him. She looked at him with wide eyes. He had the same reaction. Their hands touched each other as they touched the priest's feet. The priest smiled and placed his hands on each's head while they both were staring at each other, with wide eyes.

"Sada sukhi raho bacho! Tumhari jodi sada ik rahe"

(Stay blessed! May your pair stay one forever)

The priest blessed them assuming them as a couple but they actually weren't. Both's eyes widened as a wide smile appeared on rekha and avantika's lips. Something was already cooking inside their heads for both of them.

"Nahi-"

(No-)

"Pandit ji, pooja shuru karte hai"

(Preist, let's start the act of worship.)

Just when shivika was about to correct the priest, rekha cutted her off and the priest nodded. Her heart was beating at an unknown pace while his heart was dancing like crazy. They received the blessings together? WHAT A LUCKY DAY FOR YOU ATHARV.

His heart danced, wholeheartedly.

A smile crept on his lips while she was all red by now. Sonali and arav on the other hand smirked and teased them making them go all the darkest shade red until both of the soon to be wedded couples were asked for the pooja. Shivika sighed in relief but feeling his gaze on her, made her go all nervous.

She took the hem of her saree's pallu and placed it above her head as a respect before the idols of the world, shiv and Parvati. The ones whose love was cherished and worshipped by whole world. The ones who gave a pure definition of true love. The idols she admired the most.

The ones who inspired millions to never give up on their love. But she feared. Her fear didn't let her focus on her idols' teachings about love. True love? It was all fictional and was only in books, not in real life. Atleast not in this ridiculous generation where people like to play with each other's hearts.

She closed her eyes, focusing on her prayer while his eyes were not ready to leave her figure. His hands were joined together before the god but he was worshiping her. His goddess. His queen. The goddess of his heart.

His heart asked for only one thing. Her love.

'mahadev, please don't let me fall in love again. Atharv dosen't deserve me but the best and i am not even close to it. I don't want him to stay all his life with a broken soul which fear healing itself. He is a man every woman dreams to have but i do not deserve him. My darkness will capture him as well in it. Please ap na-hi usse aur na-hi mujhe uske pyaar mein girne dena, i beg you!"

(Please, neither let him fall for me nor let me fall for him)

Shivika's heart begged before its idol. Her heart cried while her eyes were closed controlling the overwhelming feelings in her heart that were begging to pour itself out. She begged before the idol for his betterment, not hers, why? She didn't knew but her heart did. Her heart did know all the reasons behind it but her mind prohibited it to shout itself aloud.

'vaise toh i do not talk to you much, mahadev. But now it's shivika who keeps me wanting to talk to you. My heart keeps begging you for her love. For my love to be reciprocated by her. I don't know what is the reason behind her unknown fear but please make me the one who heals her every scar. Whether on her soul or on her body. I will win her love but her scars? I fear that i might loose my strength seeing her suffering so much. Please ap mujhe takat dijiyega ki mein usko vo har khushi du jo vo deseve krti hai aur kuch nahi chahiye mujhe.'

(Please, give me the strength that i can give her all the happiness she deserves, I dont wish anything else from you.)

Their heart begged for different things. Where her heart cried for his betterment, his cried for hers. Both were asking for each other but not for themselves. After all the game of love, the game between two hearts was being played well.

Now the question was, whose prayer will mahadev listen to? Her's or his's? That was still to be known but what was written in their destiny, will happen. Neither the god, nor they can change it now.

And their hearts knew that they both were meant to be together. And they say it right, if it's meant to be, it will be. No matter how long it may take but love will always find its way.

Opening his eyes, he scanned her calm face while a small smile crept on her lips. Calmness embrassed his heart as he leaned back on the pillar and stared at her face with heart eyes. This was his love language, staring at her.

And he could do it all his life and in all lifetimes without even getting bored.

"I see my son is whipped for my soon to be daughter-in-law, huh?" He came out of his trance as he looked towards his father who was smirking at him. "Ofcourse bhai, i want shivika di as my bhabhi only!" Nitya jumped in between and the poor boy went all red. Heck, it was so obvious that everyone knew how much in love he was, with her.

"Nityaaa!! Dadd!" He whined as both of the other laughed. Shivika frowned her brows and opened her eyes hearing their laughs and gave a raised brow towards them. Atharv's eyes widened as he shook his head and punched his dad's stomach with his elbow making him hiss.

"Okay okay! Come nitya, let them have their moment." Ritesh whispered but the voice was inaudible to shivika who looked at him in confusion and then to nitya. They both shook their head and went away from there. Shivika shrugged her shoulders and moved a step ahead and forwarded her hand to ring the bell of the temple but his hand came in the way.

Their body almost touched together as their eyes locked with each other's. Both of their hearts started their speed as if racing with each other but while holding each other's hands. Her eyes got drowned in his deep brown orbs while his's, in her hazel deep ones.

Both were lost in each other's ocean of eyes where the idol's sculpture infront of them seemed to be smiling. The god itself was witnessing the undying love that was taking place in their hearts. No one noticed but the god did. He was the one who could prove that yes, their love is going to be one of the best true loves in world, for them.

They didn't realised but the knot which was tying their hearts together was becoming unbreakable day by day. Stronger and even more stronger each passing day. The love blooming in their hearts was still unknown to both of them. There was a lot more to experience, to go through, to fight that was coming their paths.

The boat in which they were sailing wasn't easier but with them by each other's side, the god knew they will fight all the hurdles their destiny is planning to send their way.

Her past, her heartbreak, her struggles, her fears, her self doubts, her insecurities will end one day and he will be the reason behind it. He will surely give the light her life needed. The cure to her miseries. The medication her scars. The warmth to her heart.

He was soon going to become her everything. Soon. Very very soon.

—  s h i v i k a 's   p o v  —

I felt like i was drowning deep in the ocean of his deep orbs. I wanted the time to stop. My heart wanted it. My heart wanted him. But my mind prayed something else. The way his eyes adores my eyes makes me wanna do the same.

The way his stare makes me feel the peace and warmth i craved for, makes me wanna slip into his arms. I wanted him to love me like no one else did in my life, ever. But what if my pasts repeats itself again? I don't want him to ruin his life because of me. I cannot let him do that. His eyes truely says it all, sonali was right.

She was right. Now that i am looking deep in his orbs, i could feel it. I felt the love his heart had for me. No I don't want to accept it. No i cannot fall for him. No shivika you can't!!!! My mind said something else while my heart shouted something else.

M: Don't ruin his life please !

H: You can't let the past haunt you shivika, you have to move on.

M: you can't let the past repeat itself shivika, you cannot forget anything about it.

H: You can! Give him a chance please shivika. Please.

M: No no! This stupid heart of yours dis this before too and at the end it was me and your soul who suffered. You cannot forget that event. NO!

My head started throbbing. The nerves in my brain started to heat up. I could feel myself loosing my balance but not here. I have to get myself together. No shivika you can't loose your consciousness. My chest heaved up and down as i found it hard to breath. I looked away from him and placed my hand on my chest while my breath went uneven.

He noticed it as i felt him holding onto me. My mind was throbbing and whatever he was saying went unheard to my mind and ears. No no no shivika. Breathe. Inhale. Exhale. Please you cannot pass out here. No, don't let the attack take over you. No shivi no. calm down please. Everything went in vain as my heart started aching until his voice became blurr-ly clear to my ears.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Take deep breathes shivika.

Come on. Deep breathes.

Don't worry i am here.

Inhale. Exhale. Deeply shivika.

I heard his voice as i did what he said. No one noticed us because they were all performing the pooja in the open place before the temple. While him and i was inside the place where the god's sculpture were placed.

I followed his voice as i looked up towards his direction and found the worried expression which was hugging his face.

"Are you okay? Shivika?"

He called me by my name which is very rare of him. He was worried about me? Really? Please atharv, don't make my heart fall for you! Please, i beg. I don't want to hurt you, i don't want to hurt myself. I don't want to hurt us.

"I am not feeling well, can you please take me home?"

My voice rather came out as a whisper. He nodded virgously and made his way towards everyone. He whispered something in his mother's ears which made her eyes go wide. Ahh! This man! Why did he tell her the actual reason!

I hit my forehead as i saw avantika aunty coming towards me. She checked my forehead and hugged me. "What happened beta? Are you ill?" I shook my head not having courage to speak as my heart was burning.

They all care for me so much. I don't deserve this. They all are giving so much to me. This broken soul dosent deserve this much, please don't give her this much love and affection. I amy not be able to keep it safe.

"Maa, she wants to go home, i am taking her home." Atharv said while she nodded and i gave her a smile before starting my steps. I told aunty not to tell sonali or rekha maa about it because they will loose their focus from the pooja and i don't want them.

I felt atharv holding my arms for support as if fearing that i will pass out soon. I wanted to chuckle at his knitted brows and his stiffen body but controlled myself.

I just want to rest for sometime. my heart and mind are not in their right state. Or you can say the real reason was that i wanted to lock myself in the room and avoid him. I don't want him or either myself to get attached. I don't want our hearts to connect.

I am sorry atharv but please don't make it hard for me. I don't want to hurt you too. You don't deserve me neither do i deserve such a man like you. Please don't fall for me, i won't be able to treasure your love.

I looked at his side profile while pleading to him from inside. I hope he listens to my heart if his's is connected to mine. I hope he understands my point of view. I hope he falls out of love with me. I won't be able to give him the love he deserve, i can never.

And soon, we both were at home. Locking myself inside the room while making excuses for taking rest, i avoided him. Atleast in person but my heart was craving for him. My eyes were begging to go to him and have a look of him. My body was craving his presence. But my mind's one statement made me stay which was -

M: Control yourself shivika, you cannot fall in love with him. You cannot! You cannot!

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To be continued.....

Thanks for reading 🫶🏻