INICIAR SESIÓNJust then a familiar hand gently caught her wrist. Before she could turn she was lightly pulled around. She looked up. Ryker stood before her. His ivory embroidered kurta with understated royal elegance, that carried the effortless charm of a man whose presence speaks louder than word now carried streaks of yellow. Both cheeks were lightly covered in haldi. He looked at her silently. While she glows beside him in a radiant mustard-yellow ensemble adorned with delicate silver embroidery, her flowing dupatta and soft curls add warmth to every step. She couldn't help it. A bright giggle escaped her. Then another. Pointing toward his face, she smiled mischievously. "Dekhiye, hum toh ekdum saaf hain." Her eyes sparkled with innocent triumph. (Translation: See, I'm so clean.) "Accha?" He asked amusingly. (Translation: Really?) He looked at her spotless cheeks. Then at her satisfied smile. A faint glimmer appeared in his eyes. Without a word he stepped closer. Close enough that
Then she returned to writing. This time... Without realizing it a tiny streak of graphite appeared on the side of her cheek where she'd absentmindedly brushed her face with the hand holding the pencil. Ryker noticed immediately. She remained completely unaware. He watched her for another moment. She looked beautiful with that grey streak of graphite on her face too. She was still solving the question with complete seriousness. Finally... He reached out. His thumb brushed lightly across her cheek. She froze. Looking up at him. "Ji?" She asked him. (Translation: What?) "Aap ke gaal par pencil ka nishan tha." He said looking into her eyes. (Translation: There was a pencil mark on your cheek.) "Accha." She instinctively tried to wipe the same place with her hand. The mark only spread slightly. (Translation: Oh.) "Nahi rukiye." He caught her wrist gently. (Translation: No stop.) She stopped moving. He took a clean handkerchief from beside him. Then, with slow, careful
The next morning arrived far more peacefully than the previous one. The haveli had finally begun settling into a rhythm. The Haldi ceremony was scheduled for the evening. Which meant the entire household had the morning to prepare. Servants hurried across the courtyard carrying brass utensils. Fresh marigolds were being strung together for the decorations. Large bowls of sandalwood paste and turmeric were already being prepared in the kitchen. Someone was testing the speakers. Someone else argued over flower arrangements. The wedding chaos had resumed. Just... At a slower pace. Inside Ryker and Inaayat's room the bathroom door opened. Ryker stepped out after his shower, drying his damp hair with a towel. His black T-shirt clung lightly to his broad shoulders, while simple grey track pants completed his casual appearance which was a sight to see because it's once in a blue moon he wears casuals. The room was quiet. Too quiet. He instinctively looked toward the bed and it was emp
"Nahi hum kar denge." She said still not convinced. (Translation: No, I will.) "Hamein ye sab phool-patte banane nahi aate hain ji." She said. (Translation: I don't know how to make these floral and leaf patterns.) "Aap ko jo sahi lage jaisa sahi lage waisa bana dijiye." He said. (Translation: You make it however you deem right and appropriate.) "Lekin---" She still looked unconvinced. (Translation: But---) "Kuchh bhi. Aap kuchh bhi bana sakti hain mujhe woh pasand aayega." He extended his palm toward her. (Translation: Anything. You can make anything; I'll like it.) She looked from his hand... To his face... Still hesitant. Without another word he reached into the pocket of his black kurta. Then slowly pulled out the mehendi cone. Her eyes grew round. "Ye? Aap ke paas ye kahan se aayi?" She asked excitedly as if they were doing something illegal but entertaining. (Translation: This? Where did you get this from?) "Haan, maine un logon se le li thi ek." He confessed. (Tra
Choosing silence. Which somehow answered his question even more clearly. Several feet away Ryker had been speaking with Arjun's father related to some ritual which is done by elder brother and Arjun wants him to do it. At least... his body had been there. His attention hadn't. Not for quite some time. His gaze had unconsciously drifted across the hall. Toward Inaayat. Toward Vishesh. Toward the conversation that seemed to be making her laugh. Again. And again. Every soft smile. Every tiny laugh. Every sparkle in her eyes... He noticed all of it. Something inside him tightened. He didn't particularly enjoy the feeling. Nor did he care to analyze it. He simply knew one thing he'd had enough. Without another word he excused himself. Walked straight across the hall. And stopped beside them. "There you are." Vishesh looked at him. "She's been sitting through the ceremony for hours." Ryker's expression remained unreadable. "She needs rest." His eyes settled on Inaayat. "Ji hum---" In
"...Pari?" Arjun looked up. (Translation: ...Angel?) "Who is Pari?" Vishesh turned toward him slowly. "Secret." Raghu leaned back casually. "Secret?" Vishesh frowned. "So there is someone." Arjun smirked. "No comments." Raghu said now looking nervous. "Tell us." Vishesh teased. "Later." Raghu replied with a grim expression. "When?" Arjun asked impatiently. "When I feel like it." Raghu replied slowly. "This man has been hiding things." Vishesh clicked his tongue. "You'll know. Eventually." Raghu simply smiled. Meanwhile another artist looked toward Ryker. "Sir?" He called out. "Your turn." Ryker didn't even glance at him. "No." His answer was flat and it came instantly. Simple. Final. The artist looked disappointed. Arjun didn't insist. Instead, he chuckled and looked at Vishesh and Raghu. "Leave him." Both of them looked over. "He doesn't like people touching him." Arjun said while Ryker remained silent. "And strong fragrances don't suit him either.
She instantly realised her mistake and looked back at Nancy, like a kid caught stealing. Nancy looked away, shame and fear clouding her eyes due to being helpless. Inaayat started cleaning her collarbone area gently. "Ahhhh..." Nancy yelled in pain. Inaayat stopped mid-motion. The cloth froze in
They were different from each other and their worlds are apart. They can't belong to each other's worlds. Neither Inaayat can go to that place where she has to survive between gangsters and smugglers who are always greedy and out for blood; nor Ryker could stay here and live like a simple man becau
The next morning, the haveli was completely silent still shaken by Ryker's wrath and Nancy's painful whimpers. The haveli people felt them as outsiders after having no role in yesterday's whole confrontation drama but they know best to put their nose in someone else's business when that someone els
Ryker could feel her shaking her head in denial and his lips twitched to turn into a sad smile because he knew that she wasn't saying the truth. The way she was crying, he wanted to take her in his arms and take every single tear away from her eyes but he couldn't. She was scared of him, the monste







