Amina's adventurous spirit brought her from the vibrant landscapes of Africa to the bustling streets of India, where she found an unexpected love in Ayush. It was love at first sight for Ayush, and their connection was instant and undeniable. But th...
The morning after the long night of celebrations between Rajiv’s family and Amira’s family, Amina was still glowing from all the excitement. She and Amira had stayed up late, talking and laughing about the agreement. It was one of those nights where you just lose track of time, and before we knew it, it was Holi—the festival of colors.
I was downstairs with the rest of the family, already dressed and waiting. Holi had always been one of my favorite festivals, the colors, the energy—it was impossible not to get swept up in it. But Amina, of course, was taking her time getting ready. I smiled to myself, knowing that she’d look incredible once she finally decided to make her entrance.
Preeta was the first to break the silence. She sighed, half-amused, half-annoyed. "Amina always takes forever to dress up. I swear, our daughter-in-law can never be on time for anything!"
I chuckled, shaking my head. "You know she’ll look stunning, though. Worth the wait."
Raj smirked, nudging me with his elbow. "Yeah, but she does make you wait, doesn’t she?"
Preeta rolled her eyes dramatically. "Typical. But when she finally shows up, she’s going to steal the show."
And right on cue, I heard the soft jingle of her anklets. I turned toward the stairs, and there she was, descending like something out of a dream. She was wearing a white dress with silver embroidery, but what really caught my attention were the subtle, colorful designs woven into the fabric. It was like the dress was made for this exact moment—waiting to be drenched in color.
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I couldn’t take my eyes off her. The way the white fabric contrasted with her caramel skin, the way the silver shimmered as she moved… she was breathtaking.
She caught my gaze and smiled, and I couldn’t help but smile back. "You look incredible," I said, my voice a little lower than I intended.
"Thank you," she replied, her smile widening as she joined me.
The festival kicked off, and soon enough, colors were flying everywhere. I grabbed a handful of powder and chased Amina across the lawn, her laughter ringing out as she tried to escape me. "Catch me if you can!" she called over her shoulder.
I finally caught up to her, grabbing her around the waist and spinning her around. She squealed, trying to fight me off playfully, but I managed to smear the color across her cheeks. Her eyes sparkled as she retaliated, smudging a handful of color onto my face.
Raj, Rohan, and I broke into an impromptu dance number after that, with Amina joining in too. The song "Balam Pichkari" blasted through the speakers, and the four of us danced like no one was watching. We were lost in the rhythm, the beat of the dhol vibrating through the air as we twirled and jumped in sync. It was the kind of moment where everything feels perfect—like nothing else exists but this.
As we finished the dance, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Dev walking toward me. He had a drink in his hand and that smug look on his face that I knew all too well. Dev had never liked me, and the feeling was mutual. He came to a stop in front of me, holding the glass out with an exaggerated smile.
"Here," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You’ll need this to get through the day."
I raised an eyebrow, eyeing the drink. "I’m good," I said flatly. "I can handle today just fine."
Dev laughed, but it wasn’t a friendly sound. "What, too scared to drink with me?"
Before I could respond, Amina swooped in and grabbed the drink out of his hand. "I’ll take that, thank you very much," she said with a mischievous grin, then downed the drink in one go. I blinked in surprise.
"Amina—" I started, but it was too late. The infamous Holi bhang was already taking effect.
She giggled, swaying a little as she tried to stand upright. "I’m fine," she insisted, but it was clear she was anything but. Her balance faltered, and before I could catch her, she stumbled—right into Dev’s arms.
Of all the people she could have fallen into.
Dev’s grin widened as he held her up. "Looks like she’s more comfortable with me than with you, Ayush."
I stepped forward, my jaw clenched. "Let her go, Dev."
But Amina, completely unaware of the tension, was too busy playing with Dev’s ear. "Why do you have such funny ears?" she giggled.
Dev chuckled. "See? She likes me."
My patience snapped. I reached forward, pulling Amina out of his grasp, my hand firm on her waist. "That’s enough, Amina. You need to sit down."
She pouted up at me, still in her high-spirited mood. "But I’m having fun!"
"You’ll have more fun sitting down," I said, guiding her away from Dev and toward the rest of the family.
As we walked away, Dev called out one last parting shot. "Better keep an eye on her, Ayush. You wouldn’t want her to end up in the wrong hands."
I ignored him, but my grip on Amina tightened slightly. I didn’t trust Dev as far as I could throw him, and I wasn’t about to let him ruin our day. Not today.
As the festivities wound down and the sun began to set, Amina leaned heavily against me, her head resting on my shoulder. "You always take care of me," she murmured, her voice soft and drowsy from the bhang.
I smiled, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. "Of course. I always will."
