An Inconvenient Flame

Chapter 52

Hey so I was seeing the response of the previous chapters and before that one also...they are actually not really great.

Like comeon people, 1k plus reads and hardly 250+ votes and comments even less.

Please vote...I request because I hate compelling and forcing out votes and comments through targets.

It feels really good when people appreciate your things...I suck for 💗💗appreciation. I do even better.

So A request please drop as many comments as you can...I love reading them.🍄🍄

🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁

Ishika's POV 

Do not ignore the above comment.

I tie my hair into a loose braid and tug at Ivaan's kurta to straighten it. He's already bouncing with excitement. 

"Mumma! Colour time?" he asks, eyes shining.

"Soon, baby," I say, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. 

I'm glad he's excited. Someone has to be.

I take his tiny hand in mine and step into the garden. The early morning air is still cool, the sun just beginning to warm up the day. 

 Gulaal is neatly stacked on plates. Water buckets are in place. The garden is decked up beautifully for the holi celebration. 

I pause for a second.

I don't know most of these people. Not deeply. They know me as "Abhiraj's wife," and some just smile politely. 

Others... don't even bother with that. I look around and suddenly wonder—How exactly am I going to enjoy this?

I'm not in my space. Not with my people.

And Abhiraj? He doesn't really do Holi. At least that's what he told me once..."Not a fan of throwing colour or being thrown on." That's what he had said with that little shrug of his. He'd even looked slightly annoyed while saying it.

I sigh.

"Bhabhi?" a familiar voice calls out. 

I turn and see Arjun walking across the garden.

"Happy Holi. You're up early."

I give him a small smile. "Happy Holi. No... just came out to see how things are set up. Ivaan was restless."

He comes closer and looks down at Ivaan with a fond grin. 

"And why wouldn't he be? It's Holi!"

He scoops Ivaan up in his arms easily, and Ivaan squeals in delight.

"You're going to be covered in colour today, champ," Arjun tells him, and Ivaan nods excitedly.

"You guys celebrate Holi big here?" I ask, looking around.

"Yeah, kind of. It starts out all decent... pooja, dry colours, some food... and then someone cheats and throws a water balloon, and all hell breaks loose."

I chuckle softly. "Sounds fun."

"It is... mostly. But yeah, some of them can be a little..." he trails off, making a vague hand gesture.

"Judgy?" I supply.

Arjun shrugs, not denying it. "You'll be fine though. Bhai is here and I think most of them have started liking you."

I look at him sideways. "You sure?"

He glances at me, then looks ahead. "Well, most of them. Some are just... stuck in their old thinking. Don't take it personally. You're new. You don't fit the mold, and that's not a bad thing."