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Holi, a festival of colors and immense joy, brought an air of excitement and laughter all around. The streets were alive with vibrant hues, children ran with fists full of powdered colors, and the rhythmic beats of dhol echoed in the air. Laughter mixed with the fragrance of sweets and the earthy scent of wet gulal, making the entire atmosphere intoxicatingly festive.
At the Pratap mansion, preparations were in full swing. Kumud stood on the balcony, watching the household staff arrange large trays of colors and buckets of water balloons in the garden below. A soft smile played on her lips as nostalgia washed over her. Back home, she would always be the first to wake up, sneaking into her family members' rooms to smear color on their faces before they could even open their eyes. Then, she'd hide in her room, giggling as they searched for her in vain.
She sighed. This was her first Holi after marriage. A different home, different people, and yet, she felt a strange excitement bubbling within her.
She turned around and found her husband waking up. She bit her lower lip to suppress her laughter seeing his face smeared with red colour. She was thankful because his eyes were only half opened. She watched him keenly as he made his way to the bathroom.
She took a breath of relief and tip-toed her way out of the bedroom. Was Akshat the only target of her? Of Course not. She did not wake up at 4:00 AM just for one reaction.
She reached the living room and servants greeted her. A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes and she realised that it was finally the time of blast!
At the countdown of 10, mixed voices came from all the family members.
" KUMUD!"
She startled and covered her ears, hearing the first voice of her husband which was filled with frustration. He came running out of their bedroom and stared at her from upstairs. All the servants parted their mouths in shock seeing their master's face all red with colour.
" What did you-"
Akshat was not able to complete his sentence when Abheer's loud voice interrupted him.
" BHABHI!"
Abheer too came out of his bedroom, with yellow colour all over his face. How does he know that Kumud coloured him? Because, she left proof of her mischief by placing a note of her name on his nightstand. Not only him, she has done the same with the rest of the family members as well.
" How can you colour me first?"
Abheer huffed angrily and Kumud chuckled. Abheer turned his anguish gaze to Akshat standing beside him and blinked before bursting into laughter. Akshat rolled his eyes.
Kumud pressed her lips together, struggling to contain her laughter as she watched her masterpiece unfold. One by one, every family member emerged from their rooms, their faces smeared with different shades of color- bright pink on Amrita, yellow on Abheer, green on Akhil, and a mix of blue and red on the rest.
The entire living room echoed with shock, amusement, and frustration. The servants stood in stunned silence, unsure whether to laugh or hide from the impending chaos.
" This is not far, bhabhi!"
Megha complained and Kumud struggled to hold her laughter. Suddenly,
" This shouldn't be done."
Akhil's deep, authoritative voice cut through the laughter like a blade. The lively chatter died instantly, and silence blanketed the room. Kumud's breath hitched, her smile faltering as she caught the irritation in her father-in-law's sharp gaze.
Did she break a rule? Was her playful prank out of line?
" Akhil-"
Amrita started, sensing the tension, but he simply raised a hand, stopping her mid-sentence. Without another word, he stepped toward Kumud.
Her fingers clutched her saree pallu, her heart pounding in uncertainty. This wasn't her maternal home where she could get away with such mischief. These were her in-laws. There were expectations, unspoken boundaries she might have unknowingly crossed.
Her throat went dry. He was right in front of her now, his towering presence unnerving. She dared not look up. Her gaze fell to the floor as she fidgeted with the edge of her saree, her nerves making her fingers tremble.
Maybe she had overstepped. Maybe she had forgotten her place in her excitement. If he scolded her now, in front of everyone, she wouldn't be able to stop the tears threatening to sting her eyes.
A lump formed in her throat.
From his spot by the stairs, Akshat leaned against the railing, watching the scene unfold with keen interest. His expression was unreadable, but a flicker of amusement danced in his eyes as he observed his wife's nervous fidgeting. His gaze landed on the folded arms of his father behind his back.
The entire family held their breath, waiting for Akhil's next words.
Meanwhile, Akhil's eyes sparkled and he brought his folded hands in front. But Kumud was too lost in her own thoughts, too preoccupied with the lingering memories of her mother to notice.
Then, out of nowhere, a warm, gentle touch landed on her cheek. She stiffened. The weight of his palm wasn't scolding, it was soft, fatherly. Before she could fully grasp what was happening, a burst of laughter erupted around her.
Her brows furrowed in confusion.
And then she saw it, the streak of bright color smeared across her cheek.
Her eyes widened as realization dawned. Akhil had just colored her!
"Happy Holi, daughter," he said with a smile.
Kumud blinked, her teary eyes reflecting disbelief as she turned to look at everyone. They were laughing, her husband, her mother-in-law, her brother-in-law, everyone, including Akhil himself.
Her jaw dropped slightly.
Did he just... fool her?
" How can he scold you, Kumud? Akhil never scolds his daughters," Amrita said from behind.
And finally a smile formed on Kumud's lips. She crouched down and touched his feet.
" God bless you."
Akshat shook his head, a soft chuckle escaping his lips as he turned on his heels and made his way back to the bedroom to change. The day had only just begun, and his playful wife had already set the tone with her mischief.
But if she thought she would have the last laugh, she was mistaken.
A smirk tugged at his lips. She started the game and he would make sure to end it in his own way.
Soon, the entire family gathered to celebrate Holi, their laughter and excitement filling the air. Relatives had also started arriving, including Kumud's family, adding to the festive atmosphere.
" Maa!"
Kumud squealed in delight upon spotting her mother, rushing forward to embrace her. The Sisodia family chuckled at the heartwarming sight, unaware of the mischief hidden in her fisted hand.
Just then, Amrita walked up behind them with a knowing smile.
" Badi shararti hai aapki beti. Aaj sabko sabse pehle rang diya isne."
( Your daughter is very naughty. She was the first one to color everyone today.)
Kumud pulled back from the hug, looking at her family with wide, innocent eyes, as if she hadn't just been caught red-handed.
" Apni harkatein tu band nahi kar sakti na?"
( Can't you stop your activities?)
Ivaan said to his sister. Kumud, without a second thought, smirked and smeared color all over his face.
" Oh ho!"
Mahesh let out an exaggerated sigh of disbelief, making everyone burst into laughter. Taking advantage of the distraction, Kumud quickly grabbed her sister-in-law Chhaya's hand and slipped away before Ivaan could retaliate.
Meanwhile, Akshat arrived and greeted his in-laws with respect. He bent down to touch their feet, and Rita, his mother-in-law, lovingly placed a tilak on his forehead.
" God bless you, son."
Akshat smiled, his eyes subtly drifting toward Kumud, who was still running around in mischief. The day had just begun, and he knew she wouldn't stop anytime soon.
The Holi celebration was in full swing, with laughter, music, and splashes of color filling the air. The fragrance of gujiyas and thandai mixed with the scent of fresh gulal, making the atmosphere even more festive.
Kumud, still on her mischief spree, darted around the garden, dodging hands that tried to grab her. Ivaan, determined to catch her, slipped and lost his balance, causing the entire bucket of colored water to spill over Akshat.
"Shit!" Akshat cursed, wiping his face as water dripped down his hair.
Kumud couldn't stop laughing, her mischievous giggles echoing in the air. She quickly sprinted away from the scene, leaving Akshat shaking his head.
" Is chidiya ko pakadna padega ab," he murmured.
( I'll have to catch this bird now.)
" Bahut mushkil hai. Ye itne asani se hath nahi aane wali. Pata nahi kya khaa ke mammi ne paida kara hai ise," Ivaan chy chuckled.
( It is very difficult. You cannot catch her easily. I don't know what my mother ate to give birth to her.)
Akshat looked at Kumud and smirked internally. Of course, he can grab her, colour her from up and down easily but for now he has to attend to some relatives.
Just then, the dhol beats picked up, signaling the start of the dance. The younger lot rushed to the center, pulling in whoever they could. Kumud was about to sneak away when Abheer caught her wrist.
" Let's dance, bhabhi."
" But I can't-"
Abheer already pulled her to the centre and twirled her around by holding her wrist. Both of them faced each other and a song played on the speaker.
" Competition?"
Kumud smirked, " you will lose."
" Let's see," Abheer said in the same arrogance.
The dhol beats intensified, and without another word, Kumud started first. She swayed her hips gracefully, her ghagra swirling around her as she twirled. Her hands moved in rhythm, her expressions changing with every beat. She clapped her hands and did a quick spin before flicking color toward Abheer's face.
The crowd erupted into laughter as Abheer stumbled back, blinking in shock. He cracked his neck dramatically and jumped into action. His steps were energetic, his expressions exaggerated as he matched her moves with his own flair. He clapped near her face, making her flinch slightly, then did a quick spin before splashing some water on her.
The music switched beats, turning into a fast-paced Holi song, and the entire family joined in. Amrita and Akhil clapped from the sidelines, while Ivaan grabbed Chhaya and twirled her around. The elders swayed to the rhythm, while the younger lot jumped, danced, and threw colors at each other.
Vibrant chaos unfolds before him. Colors flew in every direction, laughter echoed in the air, and the scent of gulaal mixed with the sweet aroma of festive treats. His eyes, however, remained fixed on one person. Kumud.
She was twirling with Abheer, her laughter ringing like a melody. Her cheeks were smeared with pink and yellow, her hair loose and wild from all the dancing. She had completely forgotten about the so-called battle and was now simply living in the moment, her joy infectious.
Akshat's smile deepened. He had seen her in many moods- angry, teasing, stubborn, shy, but this carefree happiness was something else. Something that made his heart clench in the best way possible.
Just then, Abheer spun Kumud one last time before dramatically bowing. She laughed and patted his cheek, leaving an extra smear of color on his face.
" You won!"
He accepted his defeat.
Kumud flipped her hair proudly before turning away to leave only to crash straight into familiar solid chest. Strong arms wrapped around her waist, steadying her.
She looked into the eyes of Akshat.
" Done playing around?"
He asked in a deep, playful voice.
She gulped and glanced around, but everyone was too busy dancing and throwing colors to notice them in the crowd.
"Uhm..." she mumbled, attempting to step back, but his grip around her waist only tightened.
" Mujhe bhi mauka do thoda tumhe rang-ne ka," he murmured, his voice low, meant only for her ears.
( Give me an opportunity to colour you as well.)
Kumud swallowed hard, realizing she was in trouble, the kind that made her heart race, not in fear, but in something far more thrilling.
Before she could protest, he loosened his hold around her waist, only to clasp her wrist firmly.
"Aksh-"
Her words died on her lips as he pulled her away, cutting through the crowd with ease.
He led her to the quieter place and finally left her wrist. She touched it and blinked her eyes, staring at him.
" Too bad. You abandoned your husband to color everyone else?"
He accused her.
She scoffed, crossing her arms. "Oh, really? And what about you? You could have colored me first. But no,you were too busy attending to people, ignoring his own wife."
Ah, so that was the real issue. He hadn't paid her enough attention, so she had deliberately avoided him.
"Is that so?" He arched a brow, amusement flickering in his dark eyes.
She lifted her chin defiantly. "Yes. Did you come to me? No, right? Then why should I have come running to color you?"
He remained silent for a moment, studying her with an unreadable expression.
"Go and talk to people you find interesting. Let me enjoy my time," she said, stubbornly looking away.
His lips twitched, but he played along. "So, that means you won't color me, and you won't let me color you either?"
"Yes," she replied firmly, pretending to sound indifferent.
He nodded slowly, as if absorbing her words. "Okay."
She frowned. That's it? Did he just accept it so easily? No argument, no attempt to pacify her? What a sweet husband, couldn't even handle a little stubbornness from his wife.
Before she could turn to leave, his voice rang out, laced with amusement.
"Ab to tum khud aaogi rang lagane mujhe."
( Now you will come on your own to colour me.)
She turned, her brows raising in challenge.
A sarcastic chuckle escaped her lips. "Dekhte hain," she shot back.
( Let's see.)
Akshat clicked his tongue. He had never lost a challenge, big or small. People bowed before him, not the other way around. And this time was no different. His wife had to accept her defeat, no matter what.
A slow smirk played on his lips as a mischievous glint appeared in his eyes. He already knew the perfect weapon to use against her.
Kumud might be stubborn, but he knew her weaknesses better than she did. And he was more than ready to use them to his advantage.
Akshat's smirk deepened as he stepped back, his gaze still locked onto Kumud's face. Without another word, he turned and strode back toward the crowd. Kumud narrowed her eyes, sensing trouble.
And trouble arrived sooner than expected.
She frowned, while sitting with Megha, Shivani and Chaaya. Her eyes stayed fixated on her husband.
" Take one, bhabhi."
Kumud hummed absentmindedly as she grabbed a gujiya from the plate. She took a bite, but the sweetness of the filling did nothing to ease the growing bitterness in her chest. Her eyes remained fixated on her husband, who stood a few feet away, his usual composed expression now replaced with an easygoing charm.
Her frown deepened as she saw three young women approaching him. Dressed in vibrant, festive attire, their faces were already smeared with colors, but their bright eyes and coy smiles made it clear that they were far too interested in the man before them.
Akshat, ever the gentleman, welcomed them warmly, his posture relaxed, his lips curving into a smirk that Kumud had seen far too many times. It was the same smirk he gave when he knew he was winning. She felt no interest in the conversation of three ladies beside her.
They were talking and talked for 4 minutes and 20 seconds straight. Yes, she was actually counting.
Suddenly one of the girls gestured to a servant to bring colours to them. Her eyes widened and she felt like throwing the half-eaten gujiya at them.
He didn't move away. Instead, he tilted his head, pretending to be fully engaged in whatever nonsense they were talking about.
Kumud's grip on the gujiya tightened slightly, but she forced herself to remain calm. She refused to let him see how much it was affecting her. If he thought he could tease her into reacting, he had another thing coming.
She excused herself and stepped a little far from them. She looked around and spotted Abheer. She waved her hand at him and he came to her once he noticed her.
" Yes, bhabhi?"
Kumud leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a whisper as she murmured something into his ear. Abheer raised an eyebrow, then shrugged his shoulders with a lazy smirk.
"Sure," he said, his tone full of curiosity and amusement.
Without another word, he turned and walked away, weaving through the crowd with purpose.
Kumud's eyes flickered back to her husband. The three girls were still around him, their laughter ringing out. Akshat remained completely unbothered, indulging them as if he were the most charming man in the world.
She watched him for a moment longer before casually finishing the remaining piece of gujiya. Wiping her hands on the edge of her pallu, she straightened her shoulders, a knowing smirk gracing her lips.
Sure, she had every right to walk up to him and push those girls away. But where was the fun in that?
No, she wasn't going to behave rudely.
Her husband needed to learn that he hadn't married a raw player.
If he thought he could rattle her, he had severely underestimated her.
And soon, he was going to find out exactly why.
Her heart pounded against her ribs as she watched the servant approach them, holding her breath in anticipation.
" Where the hell is Abheer?"
She muttered under her breath, scanning the crowd desperately.
But there was no sign of him.
Meanwhile, one of the girls giggled, grabbing a fistful of dry color. With a mischievous smile, she lifted her hand toward Akshat's face, ready to smear it across his cheek.
Kumud's jaw clenched, her fingers curling into a tight fist. Her patience was dangerously thin.
Had she made a mistake in trusting Abheer?
Just as doubt crept into her mind-
SPLASH!
A loud gasp echoed around them as a sudden burst of cold water crashed down on the girls and even Akshat, drenching them from head to toe.
A stunned silence followed.
The girls shrieked in surprise, their carefully applied makeup running down their faces. Akshat immediately stepped back, water dripping from his hair and soaking through his kurta. His body tensed, his brows furrowing as he scanned the area, his sharp gaze searching for the culprit.
He parted his lips, ready to demand an explanation, until his eyes landed on Abheer.
Abheer, who was now just as drenched, stood there with his hands raised in surrender, an innocent smile stretching across his face.
Before Akshat could even open his mouth to scold him, Abheer, quick as ever, pointed straight at Kumud.
Akshat's gaze shifted instantly.
And there she stood.
His wife.
Smug and victorious.
A smirk tugged at her lips as she met his heated stare, her chin tilting up in silent challenge. Without breaking eye contact, she turned on her heel and began walking away, her pallu swaying behind her like a queen retreating to her palace.
But just before stepping inside the house, she paused.
Slowly, deliberately, she turned her head to glance over her shoulder, her eyes locking with his.
That look.
That goddamn look.
A playful smirk. A silent promise. A challenge he knew too well.
Akshat's breath hitched.
His heart skipped a beat.
He clenched his jaw, his fingers twitching at his sides.
Oh, she had just declared war.
And he had never been the type to lose.
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