5. Congratulations Paaru

Chapter-5

Author's POV

The bustling street was lined with small, intricately designed shops.

The storefronts boasted an array of sparkling jumkas, traditional earrings characterized by their bell-shaped drops and intricate details.

The jumkas were crafted from a wide variety of materials, including gold, silver, precious stones, colourful beads etc.

Upon approaching one such shop, her eyes were immediately drawn to the dazzling display of jumkas arranged meticulously on velvet-lined trays and glass cases.

The earrings are of different sizes, shapes, and styles, ranging from delicate and dainty to bold. There were many intricate designs such as peacocks, lotus flowers, paisley patterns etc.

" Umm..." she looked at Aditi and then at Aryan.

Aditi made an annoyed face while Aryan looked at her with an almost awe expression.

" I'm confused...I like them all" She sounded cute, batting her eyes at both of them.

" You can take them all" Aryan said, crossing his hands against his chest.

She looked at Aryan, her lips curved into a small smile.

" Haa..." she rolled her eyes and then, "I will end up with an empty purse if I buy them all" she mumbled looking at Aditi who was grinning her teeth.

Aryan heard her.

" Bhai ( Brother) pack them all" Aryan said looking at the guy who nodded and took the whole sheet to pack up.

" Hey...no! Aryaa! You can't do that" Parul grabbed his hands urging him to stop the guy.

" Arya...I'm talking to you." She looked at him with knitted brows. When he didn't respond, "Bhaiyya (brother) don't pack them all please" She looked at the guy making a sorry face. Aryan blinked his eyes and then the guy continued packing the stuff.

" Adi...tell your brother..!" she looked at Aditi who was enjoying their cute argument.

" Okay... Let's go..." Aryan said, taking the brown bag and then, looked at Parul and Aditi.

" Whatever guys!" Parul sighed, walking ahead of them.

Her head collided with something hard, hissing sharply,

" What the....--" She was about to use the F word, but looking at his chocolatey brown eyes staring deep into her honey brown eyes, she stopped immediately.

His intent eyes sent shivers up and down her spine.

" I...uh..i..." She started stuttering looking into his deep eyes.

He looked down at her. She looked beautiful. He recognised her. He recognised her a long time ago and that's why he stopped his bike and stood there, admiring her.

He was going somewhere. He had to deal with some office work. On the way, he saw Parul and immediately stopped the bike and watched her for minutes.

He also noticed Aryan and Aditi with her which didn't settle well within him. But he knew she was friends with Aryan and Aditi as he heard about it from a special someone.

He had enough of watching her from a distance. He thought of talking to her and when he was approaching her, Parul was sprinting towards the same direction, her head hung down, her eyes fixed on the tar road and that's how she ended up colliding with him, his chest, yet again.

Well, he enjoyed the view but it wasn't the same for Parul. She was scared. She didn't wish to see him again. Never again.

That day, he couldn't see her face as she had covered it with a dupatta (shawl) but now, he had all the time to admire her.

As expected, her skin was flawless and she was beautiful. His eyes leniently lingered on her face. Those honey-brown eyes demanded him to look into them. Her pink glossy lips made him want to taste them. He so badly wanted to capture her luscious lips into a steamy kiss.

" Oh... bhai!" The chirpy voice of Aditi broke their trance.

Parul's face had turned red. She was afraid yet the intent gaze made her blush.

She looked down, biting her lips nervously.

Aditi stood in front of Shiva and then,

" What a surprise bhaiyya? The great SRA is on the shopping street!" she said playfully.

Shiva looked straight and Aryan was already looking at him. His jaw muscles twitched seeing him. Parul saw him clenching his jaws. He looked like a tiger when he did that.

" Amaravati is MINE" Shiva said, his voice deep. It sounded like a declaration, particularly for someone or two.

Parul looked at him with widened eyes. He looked so evil while saying this.

" I know brother...you don't have to remind me. I'm your cousin!" Aditi whined looking at him, while his eyes were fixed on Parul who was looking at him with bewildered expression.

" What is this Aditi? This street is infamous for bad guys and you are roaming here alone!" he scolded looking at Parul.

Aditi sighed. Parul slowly turned her neck towards Aryan who was standing in the same spot, a few steps behind them and then looked at Aditi and then at raging Shiva.

" We are leaving bhai...," she said in a complaining tone. Parul watched her in confusion.

"Moreover Arya is with us" she mumbled slowly, under her breath. Shiva didn't pay heed to her mumblings as his attention was solely on Parul. While Parul who heard Aditi gave her another look of confusion.

" Okay...leave now..." Shiva said, his voice came out sharp. The command was clear in his voice. Aditi nodded her head and then looked at Parul and signalled her to move.

When Parul didn't move, Aditi held hands and dragged her from there.

She could feel his Burning stare boring into her back. When Aditi let go of her hand, Parul turned back.

Aryan was now standing in front of Shiva. Their eyes locked in a destructive synch. Both the men were throwing daggers at each other's.

Parul found this disturbing and she knew something wasn't right between them.

" Arya!!" she called, trying to break their eye competition.

Both Shiva and Aryan looked at Parul.

" Shit!" Aditi hissed, looking at Parul.

By the way, Shiva was looking at her, she could make out that she did something wrong but she didn't understand what possibly could go wrong when all she did was call Aryan's name.

Shiva clenched his fists as Aryan took reluctant steps towards Parul and Aditi.

" Arya, I'll prepare something nice. We'll eat at home" Aditi said even before anyone could speak anything.

Aryan nodded, he looked sad and Parul noticed it too.

Without saying anything, they all left for Rao's residence.

Shiva watched her back until she disappeared from his sight. He opened his phone and then called to a very familiar number.

" Yes, Ratha bhai," the caller on the other end said.

" I want you to stalk someone" he said and hung the call.

Looking in the same direction for a brief minute, where she disappeared, he left from there.

.⋆｡⋆☂˚｡⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆.

" Yay!!" the kids chirped as they jumped in happiness.

Parul took them to the mini playground and they were happy to be outside.

After several trials and errors, she finally managed to make them a circle. Standing in the middle, she explained to the kids about the passing the ball game.

Since it's the easiest and most harmless game, she thought it'd be best if they played it.

The kids were excited and actively took part in the game. When one of them lost or failed to catch the ball, she made them tell any of the rhymes.

This continued for some time. After a while, she also joined them and the kids loved this.

Whenever she failed to catch the ball, she also told the rhymes and the kids repeated after her.

She was playing with the kids like a kid itself. She was lost in the innocence of the kids and someone else was lost admiring her innocence.

She was wearing a milk white Anarkali dress, beads embroidery adorned the white dress. The bronze gold jhumka with white beads matched well with the dress. The light shade of red lipstick was an add-on to her beautiful face.

He continued to look at her. His heart thumped harder against his chest. He could hear it in his ears. It wasn't a bad type of high but a good one.

And then she turned around.

And his world stopped when she smiled, looking at Manav.

He considered that the smile was intended for him since Manav was standing in the same direction as him.

That smile was the most beautiful smile he had ever seen. It was pure, innocent and angelic.

Her smile was like a gentle illumination in the darkest of the night. So bright. Her smile was like a touch of sweetness.

He'd love to admire her smile forever if that was possible.

He lost track of time. Nothing mattered as of now.

She was the muse. Her smile was a masterpiece and was worth watching forever.

His heart fluttered, and his eyes danced. His soul captivated, for she was a tender enchantress.

Time seemed to stand still. Every worry, every care, was now a distant star.

And in that moment, he realised something.

He longed to be the reason behind that smile. He wanted to protect and cherish her mile after mile.

Admiring her smile, a flame ignited in his heart, burning him with desire, to always be in her presence and never tire.

He was smiling all the while watching her. It was so unlike him. It's been years since he smiled. It was genuine and she didn't even try. Yet, she won. He lost.

His heart fluttered again.

He was in love. He realised it quickly.

" Congratulations Paaru" he mumbled, looking straight at her who was unaware of his intense gaze. " I love you" He confessed, his lips forming into small curves.

That word sounded foreign to him.

Clicking a few pictures of hers sneakily, he left from there.

After a while, she took the kids back into the classroom. With the help of a school nanny, the kids washed their hands and then ate their lunch.

Parul waited until everyone left. As of Manav, Aryan came to pick him up and since she had no work, she left with him.

Aryan dropped her home and left for his place since he had some important work. Manav almost cried when Aryan informed him that he would not be staying in Aditi's home. But Parul consoled the guy and then they left.

Aditi was waiting for Parul. She saw Aryan's Red Thar and then Parul getting out of the car.

Parul seemed happy.

But Aditi looked quite worried. Parul threw the bag on the couch, and plopped on it, making a huffing sound as she rested her head on the headrest of the couch.

Usually, Aditi brought her water or gave her some juice whenever she came back from work. But today, nothing like that happened.

She was sitting on the single couch, her chin resting on her knuckles, her feet tapping the ground furiously.

Parul noticed her unusually silent behaviour and then looked at her.

Worry was quite evident on her face.

She observed her features more closely. Along with worry, she also looked nervous. Her eyes accidentally fell on the black velvety-wrapped gift box beside her.

Who would wrap a gift in black colour!?!

" Adi...is everything fine?" She asked, looking at her with concern-filled eyes.

Aditi looked at her, nodding slowly.

" God! You are scaring me! Tell me what's wrong!?" Parul urged sitting on the armrest, holding her hands.

Aditi freed her hands and then,

" There is a gift..." Aditi said, holding the gift box in her hands.

" For you" With those words, her breath hitched slightly.

Parul looked at the scarily dark black gift box and then at Aditi.

" Why are you nervous? I thought something bad happened!" she held the box on her lap and then slapped Aditi's shoulders with her other hand.

Aditi looked at her with widened eyes.

" it must be from Bengaluru. Go!! Aditi Rao..." Parul rolled her eyes at Aditi and stood on her feet.

" I'll let you know who it is..." she said, winking. Aditi sighed in relief looking at her face. Parul didn't look scared or worried.

" I'll prepare Tea then!" Aditi walked towards the kitchen as Parul made her way upstairs.