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Hello My Gummy Bears🧸

Hope you all are amazing.

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Adwitya POV

Shikha's excited whisper made my heart jump. "Diiii, jijuuuuuuu is so handsome! god You both will look so good together!" 

The aroma of cardamom and simmering ghee drifted up from downstairs, a tantalizing promise that did little to soothe the nervous flutter in my stomach. Handsome. The word echoed in my mind, Shikha's enthusiastic pronouncement from moment ago. Handsome. It was a simple enough word, yet it had the power to turn my insides to jelly.

Bhabhi entered my room, her smile warm and reassuring. 'We need to head down now,' she said, her eyes twinkling. As they both fussed over me, their excitement only amplified the nervous anticipation churning within me. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the frantic flutter of butterflies that had taken up residence there.

I smoothed the creases in my kurta one last time, my palms damp despite the cool silk. Downstairs, the murmur of voices rose and fell, punctuated by bursts of laughter.

Descending the stairs, each step felt like a drumbeat. My heart hammered against my ribs. I swallowed hard, trying to dislodge the lump of anxiety in my throat. The air, thick with the scent of saffron and roasting spices, tickled my nose. Laughter spilled out from the living room, mingling with the clinking of bangles and the murmur of conversation. Looking down I stood at the end of the stairs. Maa's gentle hand on my back guided me forward.

As I greeted Stuti Dadi, her wrinkled hand closed over mine, her touch surprisingly strong. "Bache, kinni soni hai tu, hayee dil vich ghar kar gayi," (You are such asweet girl, you gone home to my heart) she said, her voice filled with love. I bent to touch Abhiraj Dadu's feet but he stopped me, "Humara Aashirwad toh humesha tumhare sath hai." (Our blessings is always with you) A familiar comfort, eased some of the tension in my shoulders. But still, a small knot of anxiety remained. I lowered my head and scanned the room, my eyes lingered on an empty space. Where was he?

Priyamvada Aunty's gentle hand on mine broke through my reverie. She drew me into a conversation, asking about my studies and my aspirations. Her warmth was disarming, and I found myself relaxing, even as a small part of me wondered why she hadn't asked about my culinary skills. Maybe those soap opera clichés are all wrong, I thought with a wry smile.

Just as I was starting to feel more comfortable, a deep voice cut through the chatter. "Sorry, it took some time."

My head snapped up, and my heart lurched. It was him. "YOU?" I blurted out, the surprise evident in my voice.

A ripple of curiosity went through the room,  Maa's voice, gentle but firm, broke the tension. "Aap dono jante ho ek dusre ko?" the question both simple and loaded. My heart did a little flip. Of course we knew each other. He'd saved me. But the way everyone was looking at us, the unspoken implications, made me feel strangely flustered. The memory of the near-accident, the way his arms had instinctively shielded me, sent a shiver down my spine

I nodded, my throat suddenly dry. "He...he helped me at the mall," I managed, my gaze fixed on the floor.

"She's the one I helped," Aarav confirmed, his voice calm and steady.

A collective sigh of relief seemed to sweep through the room. Dadi reached out and squeezed my hand. "Bhagwan ka shukar hai," she murmured. (Thank God)

Maa's face softened with relief. "Oh, Thank you Aarav beta," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "Because of you, she didn't get hurt."

"It's fine Aunty," he replied, his gaze meeting mine for a fleeting moment. "Please, app Thank you matt bolyieh." His polite demurral, the way he looked at me...it made my heart beat a little faster.

He was talking with Adhikshit Bhai, his laughter a rich, warm sound. He looked...different somehow, more relaxed and at ease than I remembered. The crisp white shirt and navy suit accentuated his broad shoulders, and his dark hair fell across his forehead in a way that made my breath catch. Stop it, Adwitya, I scolded myself. You're being ridiculous. Aarav, as peaceful as his name.

My mind went back to last night conversation and i immediately looked the other side. Bhabhi's mischievous grin gave her away. She'd clearly orchestrated this. I shot her a playful glare, but my attention was quickly drawn back to Aarav. He was charming, effortlessly polite, getting along with everyone as if he'd known them for years.

Then, Jeet Dadu's words echoed through the room. "Adwitya Bachaa, take him to the garden and talk to each other."

My stomach did a little flip. Talk to each other? What were we supposed to talk about? My mind raced, trying to come up with conversation starters, but all I could think about was the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled.

As we walked towards the garden, the scent of jasmine and roses filled the air. He gestured towards a swing, and I settled onto it, my fingers nervously twisting the edge of my dupatta. He sat beside me, the silence stretching out for a moment before he spoke.

Aarav POV

I glaned at her. She was wearing a baby pink suit, and it added up to my list of new favourite colour. Adwitya, she is just like her name, unique and matchless.

"Adwitya", I called her name, and she finally lifted her gaze to meet mine. Her eyes were warm and inviting, and a small, shy smile playing on her lips.

"J...ji?" she said, her voice a little shaky.

"I hear you're a MBA graduate," I began, my tone casual. "What are your plans now?"

"I've applied for jobs," she replied, her voice gaining confidence. "I want to build something on my own."

"That's admirable," I said, and saw the blush creep up her neck.

A comfortable silence settled between us, a silence that felt more like a connection than emptiness.

"What do you do to unwind?" I asked, breaking the quiet.

"I lose myself in books," she said, her eyes lighting up. "And I'm a huge foodie. Exploring new restaurants is my favorite pastime. And I love to dance—it sets me free."

She laughed, a genuine, warm sound that made my heart skip a beat. "What kind of books do you read?" a faint blush coloring her cheeks, as i asked the question, wanting to know m

"Romance?" I guessed, and she nodded, laughing. "Guilty as charged."

"Me too," I admitted.  "There's something about a good love story..."

I saw her cheeks flush again, and she quickly changed the subject. "What about you? What do you do in your free time?"

"I enjoy long bike rides," I told her. "The feeling of the wind, the open road...it's liberating. 

"That sounds amazing," she breathed, her eyes lighting up. "I've always wanted to learn how to ride."

"Maybe I could give you lessons sometime," I offered, the words slipping out before I could think.

Her smile widened. "I'd like that," she said softly.

 "And sometimes,"I smiled and said, "I sing. Badly, but enthusiastically."

She giggled, and the sound was like music to my ears. "Maybe you could give me a concert sometime," she teased.

"Only if you promise to share your favourite restaurant recommendations," I countered.

Our conversation flowed effortlessly, jumping from books to food to dreams and aspirations. With every shared laugh and every exchanged glance, I felt a growing sense of connection with Adwitya.

Adwitya POV.

"Di....Did you have a girlfriend before?", I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.

"No," he answered.

"Why?" I blurted out, then immediately regretted it. "I mean, you are handsome, and girls might be around you all the time. Why didn't you have one?"

He laughed, a warm, genuine sound that sent shivers down my spine. "You think I'm handsome?" he teased.

My face burned crimson. "I...I mean..." I stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence.

He chuckled, and I wanted to disappear into the earth. Smooth, Adwitya, real smooth, I thought to myself.

"Adwitya." he called my name, getting me out of my embarrassment.

"What are your thoughts on marriage?" he asked getting serious. "I mean, no one's forcing you into anything, right?"

I smiled. "No, nothing like that," I assured him. "My family is very understanding. They want me to be happy. Marriage...it's something I haven't given a lot of thought to, to be honest. I've always been so focused on other things. But...I'm open to it. I mean, if the right person came along..." and I trailed off, a hint of a blush creeping up my cheeks. "When Maa mentioned it, it made me think...maybe it's time to start considering the possibility."

"We can get to know each other first, then we can decide, right?" he suggested, and I nodded, my eyes sparkling.

With every shared laugh and every stolen glance, I felt a connection growing between us, a feeling that both excited and terrified me.

Just then, a shadow fell across us. Sharanya Bhabhi stood there, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "We should head back inside," she said, her gaze flickering between Aarav and me. "Everyone's waiting." She leaned closer and whispered something in my ear, something that made my cheeks burn. "He seems...interested."  I glanced back at him. He was watching me, a thoughtful expression on his face. I quickly looked away, my cheeks burning.

Aarav POV.

As she walked back, I couldn't help but smile. She was flustered, adorable. He seems interested... I heard Sharanya Bhabhi whisper in her ear, and My girl here, blushed crimson. So cute. I wondered if she had any idea how interested I really am.

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