•𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐔𝐧𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐝𝐨𝐰!•

45. Surprise

N A K S H A T R A

The echoes of laughter and splashes of colors still clung to the air as my family finally left, leaving behind a warmth that refused to fade.

But the night wasn't over.

Not yet.

"Terrace. Movie night. Now," Aishwarya declared, dragging a blanket behind her like a queen preparing for battle.

Shreesh rolled his eyes. "Why do you act like you own the place?"

"Because I do." She smirked.

And that's how we ended up sprawled on the terrace, wrapped in cozy blankets, with fairy lights twinkling around us as a classic Bollywood movie played on a projector.

But then-

A single raindrop hit my cheek.

I frowned, touching my skin-

And then the sky opened up.

A downpour.

The movie was forgotten as a shriek echoed through the night.

"IT'S RAINING!!"

Aishwarya bolted up, twirling like a child, her arms spread wide.

Isha laughed, spinning beside her.

And then-before I could even react-strong arms grabbed me by the waist.

I gasped.

"Adhwit-?"

His smirk was pure mischief as he pulled me onto the open floor. "Dance with me, mi pequeña traviesa," he murmured.

The rain poured harder, soaking us both.

Shreesh pulled Isha into a slow spin, their gazes locking-

And then I saw it.

The way he looked at her.

The way she blushed.

And in that moment, it clicked.

They were in love.

I stopped moving, my eyes widening.

"Wait-" I turned to them, my lips parting. "YOU TWO-"

Isha gasped, slapping a hand over my mouth.

Shreesh groaned. "Damn it, Bhabhi maa."

I yanked her hand away. "YOU'RE TOGETHER?!"

Aishwarya's scream joined mine.

"NOT JUST THAT-" Aishwarya's jaw dropped. "OH MY GOD. THEY'RE ENGAGED!"

The terrace exploded.

"WHAT?!"

"WHEN?!"

"HOW?!"

Shreesh sighed, rubbing his temples. "It was supposed to be a secret."

But Isha just giggled, hiding her face in his shoulder.

And as I watched them-watched him press a kiss to her wet hair, his grip tightening on her waist-I couldn't help but grin.

"Well, damn," I smirked. "Now that's a Holi surprise.

My gaze was locked on Isha and Shreesh.

They sat at the far end of the terrace, half-hidden in the dim lighting. Isha was curled into him, her fingers playing with the wet fabric of his kurta, her lips twitching with an unspoken smile.

"I hate you," she whispered.

Shreesh smirked. "Then don't stop staring at me like that, jaan."

She huffed, looking away, but he caught her chin, forcing her eyes back on him. "You've always been mine, Isha." His voice dropped, something deep in it sending shivers down my spine. "And now, the whole world knows."

My heart swelled at the sight. The way he held her, the way she melted despite pretending otherwise-it was beautiful.

And then-

A deep voice pulled me from my thoughts.

"You're staring."

I turned to find Adhwit watching me, his lips curled into an amused smirk.

I frowned. "So?"

He hummed, tilting his head. "You look too fascinated for someone who always claims love is overrated."

I rolled my eyes. "It's different for them."

"Is it?" He shifted closer, his breath warm against my rain-kissed skin. "What about us?"

I scoffed. "Us? We met and became enemies at first sight, mi amor precioso."

His smirk deepened.

And then-

He pulled something from his pocket.

A ring.

My breath hitched.

The world stilled.

The movie, the voices, the laughter-it all faded as he looked at me.

"You know," he began, his voice gentle yet laced with amusement. "I never believed in love at first sight."

I blinked, my heartbeat pounding in my ears.

"But after seeing you?" He exhaled a soft chuckle. "I definitely believed in hate at first sight."

I gasped. "Adhwit!"

He laughed, taking my hand in his. "And yet, here I am, completely destroyed by the very girl I couldn't stand." His thumb traced over my knuckles. "Here I am, asking her to be mine, officially, forever."

Tears burned at the back of my eyes.

"Say yes," he whispered, his voice dipping into something dangerously soft.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, my lips parting-

And then, before I could even speak, before I could even think-

He smirked.

"And before you say something ridiculous, just know-" His fingers tightened around mine.

"You never really had a choice."