His Rooh

17 | His Kiss

Author

As the evening descended, the palace was adorned with lights and music, signaling the beginning of the sangeet night. Rudraksh donned a classic black sherwani embellished with intricate gold embroidery, exuding an aura of regal charm. Aruhi, on the other hand, looked resplendent in a midnight blue lehenga adorned with delicate silver zari work. Her hair was styled in a low messy yet elegant bun, accentuating the delicate features of her face.

Amidst the lively performances and vibrant celebrations, Rudraksh found himself captivated by Aruhi's every move. His gaze lingered on her, oblivious to the dance routines and musical melodies unfolding before him.

Kiara, noticing her brother's distraction, leaned in with a smirk. "Bhai sa, jitna dekhna hai dekh lo ab. Shaadi ke baad seedha dekh sakte ho," she teased, her voice light and playful.

Rudraksh's frustration flickered across his face as he made exaggerated expressions in response, earning chuckles from the gathered crowd. Before he could retort, his mother joined in, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Kiara's right, Rudraksh. You can't see Aruhi until tomorrow at the wedding," she said, her tone both affectionate and teasing.

Aruhi blushed at the attention, her cheeks flushing a delicate shade of pink. Rudraksh, despite his protests, couldn't help but smile, his gaze still firmly fixed on her.

"Fine, fine," he grumbled, making a show of looking away, which only made everyone laugh harder. But even as he pretended to focus on the performances, his thoughts and heart remained with Aruhi, counting down the moments until they could be together again.

Aruhi

The sangeet night was a whirlwind of colors, music, and laughter. The palace was alive with the rhythm of dhols and the shimmer of lights. Everywhere I looked, there were smiles, dancing feet, and the joyous chaos that accompanies a celebration of this magnitude. I tried to focus on the performances, but my eyes kept drifting to Rudraksh. His presence was magnetic, drawing my gaze no matter how hard I tried to concentrate on the dancers.

His intense gaze made me blush, and I found myself stealing glances at him just as he did me. Kiara and Maa sa's teasing only made it worse, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of shyness and warmth at the attention.

After the festivities wound down, I retreated to my room, exhausted but exhilarated. I was about to unwind when I heard a noise from the balcony. My heart skipped a beat, fear creeping in. What could it be? Just as I was about to shout, a hand covered my mouth.

"Shh, it's me," came a familiar voice.

I turned to see Rudraksh, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Rana sa! Aap yahan kya kar rahe ho?" I whispered, my initial fear turning into a mixture of relief and surprise.

He smiled, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "Mujhe aapko kal tak nahi dekhne diya jaayega." he said, a playful pout on his lips.

I laughed softly, the tension easing out of my body. "It's only till tomorrow evening. Tumhe itni bhi kya jaldi hai?"

He whined, "Par kal shaam tak kaise intezar karoon? Bohot lamba time hai yaar."

I giggled at his dramatics, unable to resist teasing him.

"Tumhe bohot hassi aa rahi hai na?" he said, a playful glint in his eyes. "Abhi batata hoon."Before I could react, he lunged towards me. I squealed and started to run, the adrenaline and laughter mixing into a heady rush. I glanced back to see him chasing me, a wide grin on his face.

In my distraction, I didn't notice the bed, and the next thing I knew, I had tripped and fallen onto it.In an instant, Rudraksh was there, turning me around and hovering over me. His face was inches from mine, his breath warm against my skin. "Aap theek ho?" he asked, his voice gentle but filled with concern.