The lady packed my lehenga and blouse, and handed them to Advik. I looked at him, and a smile played on my face. I stared at his big eyelashes, those brown eyes, and then my eyes darted to his lips- how would they feel? Will they taste like my redemption?  No, maybe they will taste like home, where everything is nice, comforting, and peaceful.

He looked at me then- just a small glance- but enough to send warmth down my spine. 

"Oh, I forgot my bag in the car." Mrs. Bansal's voice broke our eye contact. 

"It's okay, ma, I will bring it and will also keep the lehenga in the car, and then we could shop for other things."

"Hn beta. Go fast and bring it until then, we will check other shops." 

"Hnji, ma." He said as he glanced at me. 

Soon he disappeared, but in one minute I received a text from him, "Come to the car."

My lips curled up, and heat traveled across them. This guy. 

"Ma, I forgot my things in the car. I am going to fetch them ."

"Okay, beta. Then we are checking suits for relatives."

"Okay, ma," I said and made my way toward him.

As I reached the car, I saw him leaning against it-one hand in his pocket, the other holding his phone.
His eyes lifted the second he sensed me, and something slow and warm flickered across his face.

The kind of look that makes your stomach twist.

"You called me?" I said, pretending to sound normal and calm, while my heart was ready to embarrass me.

He straightened a little, and for a moment, his eyes didn't leave my face.
Not even once.

"Bhukh lagi hai?" 

(Are you hungry?)

"Apko lagta hai main kabhi khane k liye mna krungi? I spoke as I went near him.

(Do you think I will ever deny food?)

"I know that's why I asked," his lips curled up into a little smirk.

I rolled my eyes," whatever. Now let's go, I am hungry."

"Sure, Mrs. Bansal." He said as he extended his hands towards me. Smiling, I interlocked our hands and we both made our way towards the food stall. 

"So, what you wanna eat?"

"Tikki khani hai."

(I want to eat Tikki.)

"Let's go." He said as he tightened his hands around mine and made our way toward the stall.

"Vaise, khane k liye bulaya yha mere sath time spend krna tha iseliye?" I asked, my tone teasing.

(By the way, did you call me for food or to spend time with me?)

"You know it very well, Mrs. Bansal." He spoke as we slid from the crowd.

"No, I don't know, Mr. Bansal."

"Agh." He groaned, "Okay, so listen, Mrs. Bansal. I called for you because I missed you. Not for one second i can stay away from you. I just want you beside me." He spoke as he glanced at me, and my heart raced with each word.

"I fear I feel the same, Mr. Bansal." I voiced out my thoughts.

"Then I am honoured, Mrs. Bansal." 

We reached the tikki stall, the hot sizzle filling the air, the smell of spices instantly hitting me.

"Two aloo tikkis," Advik said, his voice calm but his thumb still brushing the back of my hand.
He didn't even realise he was doing it. I did. My heart definitely did.

"ji."

Soon, the bhaiya handed us our tikkis, and Advik gave him cash and thanked him. My heart warmed when he thanked him. It may be a small gesture, but knowing that he respects others, my heart melted. For him.

"Let's go to our car. It's crowded here." I nodded.

He guided me- like literally placed his hand on my back lightly- towards our car. 

He handed me my tikki, and I took a big bite.

"OH MY GOD," I said with my mouth full.

"It's so good."

He smiled, watching me more than his own food, "You love tikki way too much."

"Yep, that I do. In our wedding, Tikki should be compulsory and rasmalai too." I spoke before I took another bite.

"Jrur, Ritika ji," he smiled.

"Yes, yes."

And in minutes i finished my tikki and glanced at him, who was still eating.

"Advik, do you think it looks good that you are eating alone while your  future wife is just staring at you?" I spoke, giving him eyes.

"Yes, Ritika ji, it does. I love it when my future wife looks at me." He said, smiling as he held a spoon of tikki in front of my mouth. 

I ate tikki from the same spoon as his, and somehow it tasted better.

"You are best," I said as I pecked his cheeks.

Advik laughed softly at my peck, his eyes crinkling at the corners, "That I am. For you."

I rolled my eyes and took another bite from his. 

𐙚˙⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 

"Itne der kha lag gyi?" My mom's voice entered my ears as we both stepped into the shop.

"Actually, ma. There was so a crowd, we could hardly breathe." Advik coered up before I could.

She frowned but nodded anyways.

"Decide your outfits for mehndi and other functions."

"ji, ma." I glanced at Advik, who gave me a small smile.

My mom was already pulling out bright lehengas, dupattas, and sequined outfits. The colors were dazzling-greens, pinks, oranges, yellows-so vibrant it almost made my head spin.

"Ritika, dekho yeh mehndi ka lehenga kaisa hai?" Mom held up a lime-green lehenga, the embroidery sparkling under the lights.

I raised an eyebrow, looking at Advik for a second. His eyes twinkled. "Mrs. Bansal, you will look... magical in it," he whispered.

I smiled, hiding the blush that crept onto my cheeks. "Magical, huh?"

"Yes, magical," He whispered.

Before I could say anything, Ma continued, "Try this one too, beta. And this, and this!" She tossed the lehengas toward me like confetti.

I went to the changing room, picking up the lehenga, wearing the lehenga, I looked into the mirror.

I looked beautiful.

The soon-to-be bride.

And it felt surreal.

I averted my gaze from the mirror and picked the blouse, wearing it. 

Shit, how would I tie strings?

I glanced at myself last time before opening the door a little bit. My eyes wandered around to find my mother, but instead they landed on him. His eyes wandered around, but soon they stopped at me. He frowned. 

"I need help," I whispered. 

"What happened? Are you okay?" He asked as he covered the distance between us in three steps.

"Shh- and come inside." I pulled him inside. His tall figure was towering over me, taking away my breath. I averted my gaze from the floor to him, and his eyes were already looking at me. His brown eyes sparkled as he looked at me.

"I didn't know you were this fast, Mrs. Bansal." He whispered as his hands moved to face, cupping them.

And suddenly it turned hot, the room felt too small, All i could feel was him- his presence. 

"Well, I am romantic, Mr. Bansal." I whispered as my hand touched his chest, feeling him under my palms.

He smirked, his eyes bored into mine.

He moved his eyes away from mine, slowly checking me from head to toe.

And realisation dawned in me.

"Oh shit. I called you for tieing strings." I said and his eyes found mine.

"Turn around." and slowly I turned around facing myself in the mirror. Him beside me, so close. His breaths fell on my shoulder. And my heart raced at our proximity.

His hands found the string of blouse, his eyes moved from down to mine relfection. 

And something inside me stilled. His eyes. They were doing something to me.

His hands brushed again my body, senting shivers down my spine. He tied the strings while looking at me, his eyes for not once leaving mine. 

"Done, mrs. Bansal." He said and looked at my reflection, his eyes now taking in me from head to toe.

"This dress was made for you. You look so magical, mrs.bansal." he spoke and I blushed.

Before I could speak, his phone rang, pulling both of us from our moment.

"Oh, it's ma." He spoke as he glanced at phone

"Ha, ma."

"Where are you?"

"I am in the other section, ma. I am coming."

"okay come fast." He declined the call and looked at me with a sweet smile.

"You look so beautiful, love." He pecked my cheeks and ran away leaving me there all flustered.

A/N

hey, beauties!

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