Everything Has Changed

14 | Holi

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As the first light of dawn peeked through the windows, Devanshi prepared to leave for Jaipur. Shubman and Shahneel accompanied her to the airport.

As they stooped at the quiet airport of Ahmedabad, Shahneel broke the silence. "I'll miss you, Dev. I wish you didn't have to leave so soon."

Devanshi smiled, reaching out for a hug. "I'll miss you too, Di."

Shubman, standing in the back with the luggage next to him, chimed in, his voice filled with warmth. "Make sure to message as soon as you land."

Devanshi nodded, . "Of course, I'll let you know as soon as I'm home."

Shahneel nudged Shubman to hug her next and occupied herself with her phone. Their hugs was short but the warmth lingered for a while. "Happy Holi, Shubh ," Dev said.

"Happy Holi, Devanshi," Shubman replied, "and thanks for coming, it ment a lot."

Devanshi looked at him in disbelief and muttered softly so Shahneel couldn't hear, "Stop giving me false hope, Shubman."

With one final wave, Devanshi disappeared into the muted terminal, her thoughts filled with memories of her time in Ahmedabad. And as she boarded her flight to Jaipur, she couldn't help but think about about herself with Shubman in future. All she hoped for was him to open his eyes and see how wrong he was. And she prayed that the realization doesn't consume him with guilt.

Padmanabh arrived to pick her up from the airport. Known for his early rising habits, Padmanabh greeted Devanshi with a warm hug as she stepped out of the terminal.

"Good morning, dev! I hope you had a pleasant flight," Padmanabh said, his voice filled with genuine affection.

"Good morning, Pacho! Yes, the flight was fine. Thank you for coming to pick me up," Devanshi replied, returning his smile.

As they made their way through the bustling streets of Jaipur, Padmanabh couldn't help but inquire about Devanshi's night in Ahmedabad. "So, how was your night in Ahmedabad, Dev? Did you have a good time at the match?"

Devanshi's eyes sparkled with excitement as she recounted her experiences from the previous evening. "Oh, it was incredible! The match was so intense, and the atmosphere in the stadium was electrifying. And guess what? I got to meet some amazing people too!"

Padmanabh's curiosity piqued as he listened attentively to Devanshi's tales. "Oh really? Who did you meet?"

Devanshi's smile widened as she began to recount her encounters. "Well, I met Nita aunty and Sachin sir. They were both so gracious and welcoming. And then, after the match, I met Ishan's girlfriend Mehak for the first time. We had a lovely chat about her movie premiere."

Padmanabh nodded in interest, his admiration for Devanshi evident in his eyes. "Wow, Devanshi, it sounds like you had quite the eventful night. And what about after the match? Did you do anything else? You know a private victory celebration, just you and Shubman"

Devanshi chuckled, and shook her head. "Stop it, pacho! We went clubbing after the match. It was so much fun dancing and celebrating with everyone."

Padmanabh laughed, imagining Devanshi letting loose on the dance floor. "I can only imagine, Dev. You always know how to have a good time."

As they continued their journey through the colorful streets of Jaipur, Devanshi and Padmanabh shared laughter and stories, their bond growing stronger with each passing moment.

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As Devanshi entered the City Palace, she was greeted by the warm embrace of her Nani and Masi. "Welcome home, Anshu! It's so wonderful to see you," her nani exclaimed, her eyes shining with affection.