[FLASHBACK CONTINUES – FEBRUARY 5]
[HARI'S POV]
The sky was still dark, with only a faint light creeping through the windows. I glanced at the clock on the wall—5 a.m. Dad and Kartik were still fast asleep, oblivious to the early chaos. I stood in the hall, in front of my grandpa, who was patiently helping me with my dhoti. Beside him, my grandma sat with a calm smile, and my mom hovered next to me, holding the crisp white kurta in her hands.
I sighed heavily, feeling a little frustrated. "Why do I have to wear this kurta and dhoti, Aji?" I asked, tugging at the edge of the fabric as grandpa tightened it around me.
My grandma smiled warmly, her voice soothing but firm. "You look good in it, Mauli. And you're going to the puja, so you should wear traditional clothes. It's the right thing to do."
I frowned slightly, not quite convinced. "But why?" I started to protest, but before I could finish, my mom cut in with a sharp but gentle tone.
"No more questions, Hari. Just stand still."
I let out another sigh, my shoulders slumping. "What if the dhoti slips? It's hard to maintain. I don't wanna trip in front of everyone," I mumbled under my breath, imagining the embarrassment of it unraveling in the middle of the puja.
Grandpa chuckled softly as he finished tying the dhoti, making sure it was secure. "Don't worry, Mauli. I've tied it tight. It won't slip."
I sighed again, though this time more out of resignation than frustration. "Alright, if you say so, Ajoba."
Once grandpa was done, my mom handed me the white cotton kurta, and I slipped into it quickly. Just as I was adjusting the kurta, smoothing out the fabric, she stepped closer, eyes twinkling with that familiar "motherly" look. "Let me fix your hair," she said, reaching out before I could escape.
I jumped back, shaking my head and smiling nervously. "No, no, no, it's fine the way it is, Mom! You don't need to do anything."
Before she could protest, I grabbed my anga vastra, slinging it over my shoulder. "See, I'm ready!" I said quickly, flashing a grin.
I could see the amusement in her eyes, but I didn't give her a chance to fuss over me any longer. "Alright, bye!" I said, bolting towards the door before anyone could stop me.
As I stepped outside and made my way down the stairs, I could hear my grandma's soft chuckle from behind me. "He's just like his father, always in a hurry." Despite the early hour, a small smile tugged at my lips.
As I walked toward the parking lot, the morning air felt crisp and cool against my face. I had already told Sidharth to pick me up so we could head to the Dagadu Sheth Ganpati temple together. He'd mentioned he would pick Nandini first, and then come by for me. Lavanya and Vishal had decided to come separately—Vishal had his bike, and Lavanya would be on her scooter.
I approached the gate, glancing up to see if anyone had arrived. My steps faltered as my gaze landed on something unexpected.
Sidharth's car was parked outside, but it wasn't just him and Nandini standing there. My eyes were drawn to a figure beside the car. Swara stood there, draped in a stunning Paithani saree.
The saree's intricate designs shimmered in the soft moonlight, casting a gentle glow on her face. Her beauty caught me off guard, the way the light illuminated her features, making her seem almost ethereal.
A strange feeling began to stir within me, a warmth rising in my chest that I couldn't ignore. My heart started to race, and although I knew what this feeling was, I wasn't ready to admit it. It had always been like this with Swara—this strange, unexplainable sensation. It had started two years ago, the first time I saw her at the Swaminarayan temple. Since then, I had tried to suppress it, to keep it in check. But now, seeing her here, standing in the moonlight, it felt like it was getting out of control.
Our eyes met, and in that instant, everything else faded away. Suddenly, my peacock feather locket began to glow—not just a soft light, but a bright, radiant glow. And then, a beautiful flute melody filled the air, soft and soothing. It felt like the world had paused, like time itself had decided to step aside for this moment.
Without even realizing it, I began walking toward her, a smile forming on my lips. Everything around us seemed to fade into the background, and it was just the two of us, caught in a moment that felt like something out of a dream. Swara's smile was radiant, her eyes shining with warmth and kindness.
As I came to a stop in front of her, I couldn't help but marvel at how beautiful she was. But it wasn't just her appearance—it was something deeper. I could feel it, something beyond the surface. It was as if I could see her soul, pure and bright.
My hand moved on its own, gently reaching up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Her skin felt soft beneath my fingers, and for a moment, I hesitated, my hand lingering near her face. Swara, without a word, placed her hands over mine, her touch warm and reassuring.
The world around us felt distant, like we were in our own bubble, untouched by everything else. My heart was pounding in my chest, but for the first time, I didn't try to stop it. I didn't want to.
"Madh... Madh... Madhav..." I heard the faint sound of my name, like someone calling from far away, but I barely registered it. It wasn't until the voices grew louder—Sidharth and Nandini calling my name more clearly—that I began to snap out of the strange daze I was in.
Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder and heard Sidharth shout, "Madhav!"
The world around me came rushing back, like I had been pulled out of a dream. I blinked, disoriented, and turned to look at Sidharth. "Aa... what happened?" I asked, confused.
"What do you mean 'what happened'?" Sidharth replied, his eyebrows raised. "We've been calling you for a minute, but you didn't respond. You were just... staring at Swara."
It took a second for his words to sink in, and then, in a flash, I realized what was happening. I quickly looked in front of me and saw Swara. My hands were still on her cheeks, and hers were gently holding mine. Her face had turned a deep shade of pink, flushed with a mix of emotions, and for a moment, I couldn't breathe.
Panic flooded through me. I pulled my hands back as fast as I could, stumbling backward. My heart raced, and I could feel the heat rising to my face. "Aaaah! Wh-what are you doing here, Swara? Wh-what... what just happened?" I stammered, my voice filled with confusion and shock.
Swara, still standing there, looked just as surprised as I was, but there was something in her eyes—something soft, like she had been lost in that moment too.
Hearing this, Swara's face flushed an even deeper shade of red, but she couldn't help smiling like an idiot. "What do you mean, 'why am I here?'" she asked, still grinning.
"That's exactly what I mean!" I replied, a bit exasperated. "Why are you standing in front of my apartment building this early in the morning?"
Swara's eyes sparkled with amusement. "I came with my brother," she said casually, as if that explained everything.
"Br-brother?" I stammered, confusion clouding my thoughts. "Who... who's your brother?"
Just as Swara opened her mouth to respond, Sidharth stepped in, a wide grin on his face. "I am, of course."
My brain short-circuited. "Wh-what? H-how? What? Wait, I... what is going on?" I could barely form words as the pieces started to fall into place, but my mind was still in a haze.
Sidharth laughed, clearly enjoying my confusion. "What do you mean, 'how'? Didn't you know? Swara is my little sister!"
It hit me like a ton of bricks. My brain kicked into overdrive, scrambling to connect the dots. Swara Deshmukh... Sidharth Deshmukh... Why had I never made the connection before? It seemed so obvious now, and I mentally kicked myself for not figuring it out sooner. It all made sense now. Why she seemed... well, rich. Everything just clicked, and I couldn't believe I had been so blind.
Seeing the confused look on my face, Nandini chuckled softly. "Madhav, you didn't know this?"
I shook my head, still trying to process everything. "Of course, I didn't! I just found out now. Swara never told me."
Sidharth raised an eyebrow, looking genuinely surprised. "I thought you knew everything. Isn't Swara your classmate?"
I frowned at his assumption. "What do you mean, 'know everything'? Why would I look into your sister's background if I had no reason to?" I retorted.
Swara's expression changed immediately. A hint of annoyance flashed across her face as she crossed her arms. "What do you mean, 'no interest'?" she asked, sounding a little hurt.
I waved my hands in panic, trying to backtrack. "No, no! That's not what I meant!" I said quickly, forcing a smile, hoping it would ease the tension.
Sidharth smirked, sensing an opportunity to tease me. "Then what did you mean, Madhav?"
I could feel my head spinning from their back-and-forth. "You two are confusing me! Just—hold on a second." I turned to Swara, locking eyes with her. "Why didn't you tell me you're Sidharth's sister? The daughter of Kothrud MLA, Aditya Deshmukh?"
Swara acted adorably, gently punching her head in mock annoyance. "I forgot!" she said, her smile infectious. I couldn't help but stare at her, feeling like an idiot for not putting the pieces together sooner. I let out a sigh, trying to calm my racing heart.
"Okay, enough of that," I said, turning to Sidharth and Nandini. "Let's go. We're getting late." I pushed open the car door, determined to regain my composure.
"Don't ignore me!" Swara called out, and before I could react, she slid into the seat beside her. "Thank you for opening the door for me," she said with a smile that made my heart skip a beat.
I felt a helpless smile creep onto my face as I closed the door, still trying to process everything. I walked around to the passenger seat near the driver's side, but before I could reach it, Swara swung open the door beside her and beamed at me. "Sit here!"
Caught off guard, I glanced over at Sidharth and Nandini. Nandini was biting her lip, trying not to laugh, while Sidharth was looking back and forth between Swara and me with a bewildered expression, as if trying to make sense of this unexpected dynamic between us.
With a resigned sigh, I slid into the seat beside Swara and closed the car door. Sidharth settled into the driver's seat, with Nandini beside him, and soon we were on our way to the temple. As the car began to move, I felt Swara's gaze on me.
"Don't you want to say something to me?" she asked, a playful smile dancing on her lips.
I turned to her, momentarily caught off guard by her question. She adjusted her saree, and I caught a glimpse of the delicate fabric as it draped elegantly around her. She stole a side glance at me, her smile inviting yet expectant. I raised an eyebrow, pondering if she was hoping for a compliment.
I couldn't help but smile in response. Moving a little closer, I looked into her eyes. "Sometimes, you just have to understand from the eyes, because remember, the mouth can lie, but the eyes cannot. But if you really want me to say it... you look gorgeous."
Her smile widened, and for a moment, it felt like the world outside faded away. "Thanks," she said softly, her cheeks flushing a shade deeper. I nodded, feeling a warmth in my chest.
I noticed Sidharth glancing at us through the rearview mirror, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Madhav," he began, his tone cautious, "can I ask you something? As long as you're not going to get angry?"
I smiled, trying to ease his nerves. "Of course you can. Why should I get angry?"
He hesitated, a nervous laugh escaping his lips before he continued, "I mean, it's about you and Swara. You know what I'm getting at."
At this, Swara's brow furrowed in confusion, but I immediately understood what Sidharth was hinting at—he was curious if Swara and I were in a relationship. I decided to have a little fun with it. "Of course not," I replied playfully, unable to suppress my grin.
Sidharth and Nandini exchanged wide-eyed looks, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief. I leaned back into my seat, relishing the moment. "Don't you believe me?" I asked, feigning innocence.
They shook their heads vehemently. "No," they chorused.
"Good," I said, my smile widening. "Don't believe everything I say."
"What do you mean by that?" Sidharth pressed, his brows knitted in confusion.
I simply shrugged, choosing to ignore his question. Swara, however, wasn't letting me off that easily. "What are you two talking about?" she demanded, a hint of playfulness in her tone.
I turned to her, keeping my expression light. "Nothing," I said, glancing away with a teasing smile.
"Come on! You're hiding something from me! Tell me, tell me!" she insisted, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
I couldn't help but chuckle, enjoying the banter. "You really want to know? What if it's something you wouldn't want to hear?" I replied, deliberately keeping her in suspense.
Swara pouted, playfully narrowing her eyes at me. "You're so infuriating!"
"But I'm also charming," I shot back, a grin plastered on my face.
(Word's Count:-2340)