TPQ (Aru Shah) One Shots

Aiden...Acharya?

"Look at me, please."

Aru flinched at the sudden sound of a voice and tore her gaze away from her hands, stained with mehendi and adorned with gold jewels. Her ring finger, though, glittered with a sparkling engagement ring, which brought Aru great sorrow.

She looked to the photographer taking her pictures and her breath hitched in her throat.

He was handsome, with beautiful eyes, like the colour of moonlight reflecting on a clear lake, his sandy skin glowed in the evening sun that shined through the window, and his glossy, curly hair sat nicely on his head.

"Yeah, just like that," he said, his camera clicking.

He looked at her again, "Now smile."

"Yes, smile for once in your life, Arudhati," said a gruff voice from the corner of the room.

Aru internally groaned and looked towards the door where her grandma stood.

Aditi Shah was the head of her prestigious family, who was also the person who arranged her unfortunate engagement to Navdeep Singh. She had dark skin, perfectly arched eyebrows and silky hair that greyed from the roots. Today, she was wearing a maroon Kanchipuram silk saree with a gold border and mandalas with matching gold jewellery.

Aru suppressed the urge to roll her eyes and flashed the photographer a smile.

"Great," he said. "Now, look here," he gestured to his left. "And put your chin like this," he put his chin in his hands .

Aru squirmed in her chair, trying to imitate the pose, but she knew she failed miserably.

The guy at the camera looked like he didn't know whether to laugh or frown.

He instead chose to sigh and approached Aru.

He placed his hands on her shoulders and pulled them back gently, "Don't slouch."

Aru felt his warm breath fan at the back of her neck, and she sensed blood rushing up her cheeks. The guy was dangerously close to her, to the point she could smell his scent of fresh laundry and spices.

It was so comforting.

Something Aru hadn't felt in a long time.

The photographer moved in front of the camera once again and took a look at her. "Lift your chin a bit. It makes you look stronger."

She raised an eyebrow. Was that supposed to be a compliment? If so, it was very poorly worded.

He took the picture and the camera flashed brightly.

Her grandma looked over his shoulder and at the camera, smiling. "How did you make her look so good?"

Aru frowned and the photographer laughed awkwardly, "Practice makes perfect?

"Yes," Aditi let out a laugh. "Yes it does. You may go now, Arundhati. You have a big day tomorrow."

With that, she thanked the guy and left the room.

He immediately flashed her grandma a bedazzling smile and started packing up, leaving Aru in a trance.

How does one manage to look so perfect at all times? She thought. Maybe I should get a crash course.

There's no way you're actually going to talk to him, responded her brain.

Aru scowled and looked back at the guy.

Somehow, he'd packed everything up and pulled his camera bag over his shoulder, getting ready to leave.

Aru watched as he reached for the door handle before looking back at her. "Can I have your email? I need to send you the photos."

Happiness bloomed inside her.

"Sure."

Aru got off the chair she was posing at and walked towards the table on the other side of the room, grabbing her phone, before she got to the guy and read out her email.

"Thanks," he said, looking at his phone. "I'll send them after they're done."

She nodded and he nearly closed the door on her until the words spewed out of Aru, "What's your name?"

He turned around and smirked, "Aiden. Aiden Acharya."