Diwali 2024

Today was Diwali and the Indian team's management staff were decorating the party area of the hotel that the team was staying at

From fairy lights to rangolis on the ground ,from various sweets to firecrackers, Australia almost felt like India ....almost except the feeling of home

The whole Indian cricket team and their family members were invited to the Diwali celebration in the evening

Both riyan and Shri were taking a stroll around the area when Shri accidentally bumped into someone

Shri: I am so sorry I didn't mean to-

Shri looked at the person whom she bumped into,the face looked strangly familiar

Shri: wait ...are you-

Stranger: Shri?

Shri: Aryan? Wait what ? What are you doing here?

Aryan: I work here Shri , long time no see , what are you doing here?

Shri: I came here to support my friend Riyan

Shri said looking back at riyan who had a perticularly unreadable expression on his face

Aryan: hey riyan nice to meet you

Aryan said while giving him a hand to shake which riyan hesitantly took

Riyan: hi , how do you guys know eachother?

Shri: we were school friends riyan , I met him in 11th grade and we became quite good friends up until the end of school and then we just lost contact

Riyan: oh

Aryan: so Shri , I'll see you around, we have alot to catch up on

Shri: yea see you around

Aryan was about to leave but turned back around and came up to Shri

Aryan: and Shri here's my number so we don't lose contact again

Aryan exchanged numbers with Shri and left

Shri: so what were we talking about

Riyan: forget it ...I just remembered I have something to do,I'll see you later

Shri: riyan-

But he didn't turn around

Shri knew there were no practice today , nor were there any meetings , he already called his mom and family too , riyan was acting a bit strange and Shri was eager to know the reason for the same

Riyan's POV

When I saw Shri talking with the Aryan guy , I felt very uneasy as if someone put a huge bolder on my heart , it was a strange and new feeling, something I never felt before but I wanted to punch the guy in the face , but why ? He didn't do anything wrong . God what is happening to me

And when that guy gave Shri his number I felt like taking her hand and dragging her away from him but I couldn't I don't own her ,she can do whatever she wants, talk to whoever she wants right , I am just her friend then why am I feeling this way ?

Then the guy left and Shri started talking to me again

Shri: so what were we talking about

She got so busy with that guy that she forgot our conversation?
I felt a bit hurt , not sure why but I decided to just leave her at the moment to fix myself, I felt bad leaving her there , I heard her calling my name but I ignored her , god i felt so guilty for doing that but it felt like the right thing to do at the moment....it wasn't though , why am I leaving my friend's side for some stupid feeling that I was feeling

I tried to find her again but she already left to go shopping with disha and dhanashree bhabhi for today's Diwali celebration.

Fuck I shouldn't have left her , she probably thinks I am so rude , she knew I had nothing to do and I still left her , I hope she doesn't hate me

Evening

It was now evening and everyone was getting ready, I did asked Shri to come with me to the celebration a day before but I don't know if she will still want to go with me

I got ready wearing my black kurta , I folded my sleeves and was spraying my cologne when I heard a knock on my door , I didn't think much of it , it's probably dhruv , he did say he might come to use one of my Colognes

I opened the door not expecting much but my mouth almost dropped to the floor while seeing the sight in front of me , it was Shri , wearing a gorgeous red sharara , she knew I liked red . Shri looked beautiful everyday but today she looked drop dead gorgeous in ethnic clothes , I couldn't help but stare at the beauty that stood before me , I was lost in her eyes but she snaped her fingers in front of my face to bring me back to reality

Shri: kaha kho gye ri?

Riyan: kuch ni bus vo , vo mai keh Raha tha ki tum bohot Sundar lag rhi ho Shri

Shri: tum b riyan, chalo ab der ho rhi h let's go

Shri grabbed riyan's hand and tried to pull him out but riyan pulled her back to him , she was facing him now a bit too closely

Riyan: Shri I am sorry for today, mujhe esse ni jana chahiye tha, I don't know what got over me

Shri: it's okay ri sometimes it happens

Riyan stared into her eyes

Shri: shall we ?

Shri said giving riyan her hand which he gladly took

Riyan: we shall

Riyan and Shri both went to the party hands in hands , if someone didn't knew any better they'd assume that they were together, even the whole Indian cricket team had their suspicions that these two were secretly dating

As they headed to the party they were greeted by the whole team that were present there and soon the celebrations began

All the girls were taking photos while the boys were busy dancing

Anushka: dance floor me ate hi virat k andr ka punjabi bahar aa jata hai

Ritika: Rohit ko mere sath nachne me to alas aata h or yaha dekho zara

Everyone was talking amongst themselves until the mood suddenly shifted when the dj played aankho me Teri by kk

Suddenly every marriage and dating person was dancing with their significant other

Shri was watching in awe looking at all the lovely couples until she felt a tap on her shoulder, when she turned around she saw riyan sitting on his knee with his hand out

Riyan: may I steal you for a dance ma lady

Riyan said in British accent

Shri took his hand

Shri: oh why not good sir

Riyan and Shri started dancing to the rhythm of the song , both were exceptionally good dancers

Riyan twirled Shri and took her in his arms , he tipped her down and pulled her back again , suddenly the music stopped but they stayed in that position for a bit too long than they realised

Dhruv coughed loudly but they didn't hear so dhruv came all the way to riyan's ear and coughed loudly again which finally broke their stance

Dhruv: han bhayi just friends, music band ho gya

Riyan : han bhai vo chod tu chal patake fodte hai chal chal

And with that riyan , dhruv and other guys left

Shri and the girls were lighting fooljhadis around the pool area and boys were lighting other crackers

Suddenly Shri felt a tap on her shoulder and she turned around

Aryan: hey Shri , enjoying your time here?

Shri: han alot

Aryan: if you don't mind can we go for a walk in the park here

Shri : yea sure

Both Shri and Aryan went to take a walk in the park together

Aryan : acha Shri so how's life ? Are you still with that douch bag sid?

Shri: nope

Aryan: so riyan huh?

Shri: no not really

Aryan: ya to no hota h ya to yes what is not really

Shri: nothing it's just that I don't know I kinda like him....like a lot but for him I am just a friend and it'll probably stay that way

Aryan: I don't think so Shri , usko dekha nhi aaj ?

Shri: mtlb

Aryan: uski aanko me dikh rha tha Shri that the wants to kill me , ab bhala koi dost itna jealous kese ho sakta h ?

Shri: jealous?

Aryan: haan! Are baba he likes you

Shri: no he doesn't yr , tumko kese pta bhala tum usse phli baar to mile ho

Aryan: I know that I can't garantee you a 100% that he likes you but Shri mai ek ladka hu I know kitna confusing hota h hamare kabhi kabhi apni hi feelings ko samjhna

Shri: but I know yr ki uske lia mai bs ek friend hu that's all

Aryan: acha thik h tumko yakin ni hora na koi ni , I'll prove it to you

Shri : kese

Aryan: just follow me and watch

Aryan went to the pool area followed by Shri and asked the dj to play a romantic song

Aryan took Shri's hand and started dancing with her which didn't go unnoticed by riyan

Shri glanced at riyan and she could visibly see anger written all over his face , she saw him heading their side

Riyan gently grabbed Shri's hand and pulled her away from Aryan

Aryan: what are you doing man we were having a good time

Riyan: don't touch her dude

Aryan: kyu meri dost h vo !

Riyan: meri girlfriend hai vo!

Aryan: kya

Shri: kya

Riyan: now go away

Aryan started heading out while giving Shri a ' I told you so ' look

Shri turned to look a riyan expecting him to explain but he just grabbed her hand and took her with him to the park

Shri: riyan what was that ?

Riyan stayed silent

Shri: riyannn can you not hear me ? What was thattt

He still stayed quite

Riyan's POV

I was enjoying with the team until I heard the song khairiyat playing in the background, that's when I noticed her dancing...with Aryan

That feeling was back , and it was starting to get uncontrollable at this point , so much so that my feet were not in my control anymore, heck my mind wasn't in my control, I went upto them and took her away from him

I could feel my anger growing with every word he spoke until I couldn't control it anymore

Riyan: she is my girlfriend!

What did I just say?

But for once after so long it felt right , it felt good to call her my girlfriend

That's when it hit him like a brick

Fuck , I am in love with Shri ....

I took her to the park with me not to create a scene in front of everyone

She was yelling at me for answers but I had none , or atleast no words that could describe the way I felt for her

So I did what my heart lead me to do

Shri: riyan are you -

I grabbed her face and kissed her lips , her lips felt soft like clouds yet so warm that I could just melt into them , it felt electric like a bolt of thunder hit my soul
It felt like Diwali in my heart with firecrackers busting throughout my body

As i pulled away from her I could see a clear shock on her face and thats when another realisation hit me

What if she doesn't like me like that , did I just fuck up everything?......

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A/n:- guys please do like and comment and keep supporting 🩷

This was a long but awaited one guys , finally riyan realised his feelings for Shri
But things are just getting started.....🩵