Author's pov

Malabar Hill, Mumbai

The hustle bustle was going on since the morning. The workers are doing the last minute work in order to make the Mansion look like a bride.

"Do it fast...It's already 8 am. Guests will start coming soon ." Anish Malhotra said to the workers in irritation.

"Relax, everything is done already ... .it's just the finishing touch." Dheeraj Malhotra told his younger brother.

Today is the auspicious Holi festival - the festival of colours. Like every year Malhotra family has organised a Holi party where their relatives and close friends are going to come to celebrate it.

But before the party starts, there will be a Puja for Bhagwan Shree Krishna (Lord Krishna). The ladies of the house, Kavita Dheeraj Malhotra and Kritika Anish Malhotra are busy arranging the essential things for Puja under the guidance of their mother in law Vaidehi Dhananjay Malhotra. Whereas their husbands are looking after the decorations and other things.

"Good morning, Papa and Chote Papa." Prisha Malhotra, the daughter of Dheeraj and Kavita greeted them.

"Here comes my Princess, A very good morning." Anish greeted his niece whom he loves like his own child.
Dheeraj patted her head with a smile and hugged her.

"Now tell me,where are your brothers?" Dheeraj asked his daughter.

"Akshat Bhai and Avyaan Bhai are outside, looking after the arrangement including food." Prisha said and chuckled before adding, "Sathvik bhai is still sleeping."

Anish sighed in relief as he heard that his elder son Avyaan is sorting out everything along with Akshat, the son of his elder brother Dheeraj. But the relief didn't last long as soon as he heard about his younger son, Sathvik.

" Hey Bhagwan, yeh ladka!! Agar Kritika ko Pata Chala nah...toh halat kharab Kar degi. Main jaldi jaake dekhta hoon. ( Oh God, this boy!! If Kritika gets to know, she will make his situation worse. Let me go and deal with it.)" Saying this Anish almost ran towards the stairs to reach Sathvik's room .

Anish knocked on the door before entering and immediately sighed in relief. There stood Sathvik in front of the mirror and his full concentration was on fixing his unruly hair.

" Thank God, you are awake. Come let's go. We need to bring the Mithai (sweets)." Anish said to him in a hurry.

"Good morning ,Papa. Thank you for greeting me." Sathvik said with a smile.

Anish rolled his eyes hearing his sarcasm. "Stop with your sarcastic replies for now. Let's go to the shop, otherwise your Mumma will eat out my head..After the work is done, I will greet you the whole day."

He dragged his son out who chuckled in return while following him.

Akshat Malhotra (31)

Avyaan Malhotra (32)

Sathvik Malhotra (28)

Prisha Malhotra (25)

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"We are late, aren't we?" Niyati whispered to Saanvika as she entered Malhotra Mansion along with her father Parthiv Sehgal and her mother Saadhika Sehgal.

"Relax, nothing will happen." Saanvika whispered back to her friend while putting her arm around her shoulder.

" Parthiv ji ,Bhabhi welcome, welcome. Niyati beta, Saanvika beta, please come." Anish greeted them with a smile.

" Where are the others?" Sadhika asked after greeting him.

" They are inside the house, please come." Anish said and excused himself from the other guests who were enjoying the party.
Then He led the Sehgal family and Saanvika inside.

"Finally, you guys are here. We are thinking that you people ditched us." Kavita joked as soon as she spotted them. The whole Malhotra family was inside except Akshat who was busy attending the guests outside.

" No no.. actually me and Sadhika came home really late last night so we woke up late." Parthiv said after greeting everyone.

Niyati touched the feet of the elders. Soon her eyes met with the person whom she wanted to meet almost desperately. Avyaan looked at his fiancé and smiled. Niyati really looked good in a simple white chikankari suit.

"Oh ho ,naj re hi nahi hat rahi. Waise Jo bhi ho your saiyaan looks good today. (Oh ho, can't move your eyes, I see. By the way, your life partner looks good today.)" Saanvika teased her friend, making her blush and Niyati looked down. Avyaan who was observing everything grinned seeing her blushing face.

Niyati and Avyaan are arranged to be married. Anish and Parthiv met each other in a medical conference and as they shared a good rapport , they became friends. It was 2 years ago when Anish sent a proposal to Parthiv to get Avyaan and Niyati married to each other. Nobody had any problem with this as everyone liked Niyati. Since then they have been dating each other.

"Sathvik, Where were you ?" Kritika asked her son with a frown.

" I was outside ,Mumma , looking after the food arrangement. Most of the guests are here already and Akshat Bhai said that Pandit ji is coming. " Sathvik said and greeted the Sehgal family and Saanvika.

Soon the Pandit ji (priest) came and the Puja started.

After the Puja was done, Sathvik ushered everyone outside to enjoy the Holi .

" Before, You all start attacking everyone like hooligans , keep me out of it." Prisha said. She was so busy in giving "warning" that she failed to notice the mischievous eye contact between Akshat and Sathvik. And before anyone could understand what was happening , Akshat and Sathvik coloured Prisha in various Colours , making her stand like a dumbfounded One.
Everyone gasped in shock and They started laughing along with Akshat and Sathvik.

Sathvik imitated Prisha's warning while making faces which angered Prisha.

"You are so dead, you Monkey. See what I do to you." Saying this, Prisha started to chase a laughing Sathvik.

"These two are the light of our house." Kavita said with a smile.

"Prisha is definitely the light but my son is a headache." Kritika said fondly , making others chuckle.

" Come on Mom , we all know how much he loves to see us smiling . That's why he pranks a bit." Avyaan said in defence of his younger brother.

" Yeah yeah, that's why he didn't make us proud till now." Vaidehi's comment brought an uncomfortable silence. Niyati and Saanvika exchanged glances with each other.

" At Least someone knows how to live his life rather than being a puppet." Akshat commented with a fake smile.

Anish coughed to break the uncomfortable silence and said, "Let's Go. We need to eat delicious food. Sathvik , Prisha, Come fast otherwise you two won't get any gujiya."

"Papa," "Chote Papa."

They heard them protesting together which made everyone laugh.

Looks for the Holi :

Saanvika

Niyati

Prisha

Here is the second chapter.

Let Me know how it is.