Posted: January 30th, 2021

✤ Sanya: 1.44 - his splash ✤

Shreya hooks her hand with mine as we walk away from school premises and towards where our parents must be waiting for us by the cars. "Listen, I'm sorry."

I look at her with my brows pulled together, "What for?"

"Tonight was supposed to be yours and Rihaan's night. A celebration, of sorts, with your on-stage confession. And I put a damper on that."

I bob my head to hers with a smile, "Are you for real right now? Shreya, if you say this isn't Rihaan's fault, then it isn't yours either. Besides, it's not an official celebration or anything. We have been together for months now."

It is a milestone and a big thing for me to go up in front of all those people and telling him I love him when I couldn't even say it just to him in private, but I don't need nor expect anyone to celebrate and make a big deal of the gesture. It might make our relationship stronger, but it doesn't change anything between Rihaan and I, right? We are still just as together and in love as we were before.

If anything, tonight was just another one of those moments where I bared my soul to him... and like I believe, he has held my soul from the get-go. So, really, it's nothing new that I confessed to him that he didn't already know.

She smiles back at me, remarking. "Gosh, I can't believe 12-year-old me used to be jealous of you."

I laugh, recalling what she had mentioned just few minutes ago in the changing room. "And I can't believe I didn't know you had a crush on him."

"What, seriously? I couldn't have been more obvious about it."

I shrug my shoulder, "You know me, I used to be lost in my own world hiding away in some corner. I didn't notice a lot of things."

She hugs my arm tighter, expressing. "Well, that's all in the past. I'm glad we are friends now. I wouldn't trade it for anything."

I return the sentiment, meaning it. "Me neither."

Kriana pushes between us out of nowhere, hooking both her arms with either of ours, "How about we make that a threesome, ladies?"

We laugh and roll our eyes at her perky attitude. Shreya teases, "I'm pretty sure your boyfriend will mind."

She groans, "Hello payback."

That's right. I get a feeling that both her and Rihaan are going to be teasing her over a heck of a lot of things.

"Well, if you all aren't going to let me off easy, let's atleast get some food in our bellies before I dish all the deets."

And, with that, we join our parents so we can get to our dinner reservation, and also find out the most awaited details of how Girish finally sorted things and asked her out.

*✧✤--------------------------✤✧*

"Rihaan!"

I scold him with my eyes squeezed shut even as my hands wipe my arms of the water splash from his dive into the pool. With everyone gathered at the Raizada mansion for Diwali celebrations, last few days had been nothing short of mayhem. Not that I will ever complain about being surrounded by so much love and the feeling of having so many wonderful beings surrounding us in life.

Though, yes, it can become difficult to find a quiet corner. After spending every waking second of the last four days with someone or the other, I just wanted one moment with my colors and a blank canvas.

Alas, that moment by the pool is disturbed as well. One after other, within seconds, everyone is jumping into the pool after him as if it's some game of tag. Breaking the surface and shaking his head, running a hand over his damp hair, he cheekily comments back at me, "Sorry, babe."

Let me tell you. He isn't sorry one bit.

That smirk following by a wink is all the proof I need. I scowl back at him, wishing I had something substantial in my hand that I could throw back at him.

But that quick irritation starts to fade when he turns towards Kriana and Arshiya. The three of them seem to have a silent agreement through their eyes before they pounce on Aarav from all sides, submerging his head under water. Just watching that laugh escape his lips causes me to break into a soft smile as well.

He won't say it. He even tries to hide it. But, I know he is worried. He hasn't been able to entirely push Nidhi's actions out of his head. He is constantly worrying that it wasn't that simple. He is convinced that Nidhi has some other trick up her sleeve. And, to be honest, I haven't done a good job at assuring him otherwise either, because... well, I can't. It would be a lie. Even I have considered the alternative. That moment when Faisal warned me that whatever would happen next would be on me. I couldn't help but connect that warning to Nidhi. Faisal knew something and it bothered me to think he could be in on it.

Shadow circles my feet, pulling me out of my head. "Hi, baby," I bend to pick him up and kiss his head while carrying him back to a pool chair before sitting. Putting him on my lap, I lounge back and watch my family goof around.

As always, I prefer to sit back and silently enjoy.

I may have broken out of my shell little by little in expressing myself and not letting my social anxiety rule my life. That did not mean that I was a completely opposite person now. While confident in myself, I am still true to my inner, introvert nature.

Aarav finally manages to overpower the three of them and holds Rihaan in a head lock with one arm while the other hand pulls Kriana's ear and holds Arshiya's gaze with a scolding one of his own. She holds her ear ever-so-innocently and Aarav melts instantly. I swear, he just doesn't have it in him to ever stay angry at any of us for even a passing second. Rolling his eyes, he releases Kriana and Rihaan before the four decide on an impromptu race, diving under the surface and running laps.

Annie even encourages them by choosing to time them and they slip into a competitive spirit. The speed with which they change tracks, going from carefree fun to competitive energy, makes me shake my head.

A few minutes later, Khushi steps out through the back door - a maid following her with a large pitcher of lemonade and a slightly smaller one just for Rihaan and Armaan. Can you guess what's in it? Yup, apple juice. Another maid is carrying a tray of glasses. They set it on the table while she walks over to sit beside me under the shade. Not long after, the rest of the adults pile out of the house as well. They join them in the pool, my parents included.

Khushi points towards my blank canvas, "What were you going to paint if they hadn't interrupted?"

I shrug my shoulders thoughtlessly, "Not sure. I hadn't thought much. I just wanted to paint something, you know?"

She smiles in understanding even though I hadn't given a satisfying answer. "Have I told you how brilliantly you painted the backdrops for the show?"

I flush at the compliment even though they were words I had heard from them that night after the show already, "Thanks, but I had a lot of help from Sahil. I had no idea what I was doing initially."

She advises, "Hey, don't sell yourself short. You might have had no clue, but you didn't let it stop you. You figured it out and excelled. Really, we are all so proud of you and how far you've come this past year."

As if on cue, Arnav chachu tunes into our conversation resting his elbows on the edges of the pool closest to us. "What she said."

She gives me a look before turning towards her husband with a scolding, "Can you not butt into my conversation with my niece?"

He rolls his eyes, "Mine, too, and to answer your question, no. Now get your butt in here."

"You wish," she pipes defiantly, refusing to join him in the pool just because.

She turns her back to him, but past her shoulder, I quietly watch as he pulls himself out of the pool and walks up behind her. Without so much as a warning, he picks her up effortlessly in his arm, causing her to squeal and swat his shoulder to get him to put her down. He simply shows no mercy as he drops her into the pool with a loud splash.

I gape just as the rest of our family ceases their individual side conversations to spare a glance towards the couple. Arnav returns to the pool even as Khushi finds her footing and glares at him propping her fists to her hips, ready to give him an earful.

Cue their banter.

I blink away from them and happen to catch Rihaan's eyes. Somehow understanding that look in his eyes, I squint back at him to convey 'don't even think it'. He is not allowed to get any ideas to get me inside the pool and join everyone.

But, ofcourse, he chooses that moment to put his hand flat on the edge and makes a show getting out of the pool.

I try not to stare, but who am I kidding? My eyes have chosen to stop at his naked torso. The muscles, a work in progress. A layer of water droplets trickling down his almond skin. That thing called hormones? Yeah, they love to work against me. Suddenly, I feel my throat parched.

He takes a step forward causing my eyes to shift upwards towards his own. Just when I think he'll walk towards me, he makes a sudden turn towards the pitcher of apple juice. I find myself rolling my eyes and turning my attention back to Shadow who is loyally cuddling to my chest.

Good to know where Rihaan's priorities are.

Kidding.

Especially because he doesn't pour a drink just for himself but also returns with a glass of lemonade for me. I take it, sitting up and folding my legs under me. He leans down before choosing to sit and surprises me by placing a chaste peck on my lips. We've kissed a lot of times by now, but my heart still skips a beat. Maybe it's because he's never kissed me before in front of all our family members and relatives, and as if it's habitual.

My eyes dart past him, self-conscious and looking at our parents. I could wish that no one saw it, but that's hopeful thinking. Ofcourse they saw. Khushi chachi even stopped scolding Arnav chachu and joined others in awing at us.

While Rihaan sits down in front of me, he sends them a message over his shoulder. "I swear, if anyone says anything to tease, y'all will see a whole different level of my pranks."

Knowing full well that he will deliver on that promise - because never challenge him on pranks - they all leave us be and carry on. Grabbing a dry towel from the pile, he shakes it open and drapes it around his neck, hindering my perfect view.

As I blink away hiding my frown, I catch a purple shade on the side of his ribs. I sit up straighter leaning forward in concern and Shadow jumps down to go about his merry way. "What happened?"

"Hmm?" Rihaan lifts him arm to check what I am talking about before informing, "Oh, nothing. Kriana and I got into it a little. Didn't think it would bruise."

I lightly scold trying not to sound worried about his injury, "You really need to stop pushing her buttons."

He smiles back, "It was all light-hearted, San. You know that."

"I know," I comment under my breath. One of these days, the playful messing around could hurt either of them seriously.

He changes the topic, "Anyway, forget about that. Do you know where the sunscreen is? I have no intention of getting another tan."

I nod towards the left, "Yeah, check there. Mom must have brought it out."

Rather than walking around, he decides to be lazy and stretches back to reach for it, pulling the bag towards him. Ruffling through it, he pulls out a bottle and tosses it at me. My catching skills are pathetic as it hits my chest before falling on my lap.

I throw it back at him, "Nope. I don't want my hands smelling like sunscreen afterwards. Do it yourself."

He shrugs his shoulder, "I was just giving you a chance."

"For?" I naively ask before taking a second to let his hint seep in. I groan, "Great, now you've put that image in my head."

He laughs to himself, "No, love. You put that image in my head looking at me the way you were."

"You know what, go away." I shift to the edge of the pool chair and stand up to leave even as I ask him to. "First, you don't let me paint and now..."

When I start to list out his wrongdoings, his fingers circle my wrist to stop me from taking a single step away. With a quick tug, he makes me sit next to him and then shifts his arm to drape around my shoulder, keeping my body to his side. I am acutely aware of my arm pressing against his bare skin.

"Rihaan, don't..." I start to resist, not wanting him to be cute right now or for my clothes to get wet.

He doesn't let me have my way though. "Shh," he counters pulling me closer and my tiny body fits so perfectly to his that his arm dangles off my shoulder. "I feel like I haven't had a minute with you even though we've been under the same roof for days and I miss you so can we not fight?"

I raise my brow to challenge, "This is a fight?"

"No," he denies at once given we agreed fights and arguments are different things. So is being upset with him for a small reason. He is right though. We haven't had a minute alone. Even if we would be sitting next to each other on the couch watching something on the TV or sitting at the dining table, everyone else would be around too.

We haven't had a single private moment or conversation.

"Tell you what. I have an idea." Rather than telling me, he decides to announce it to everyone. With a whistle, he gets everyone's attention. "Yo. Listen up. I'm taking Sanya out on a date and keep your objections to yourself."

"Rihaan!" I whisper-scold him for the way he is speaking to our elders.

He instead directs to me, "Go get ready."

"But..."

Dad interjects crossing his arms over his chest, "Hold it. You are telling me that I am not allowed to object to you taking my daughter out on a date?"

Rihaan faces him nervously, "Well, um, when you put it that way..."

Aarav comes to his aide, "Dad, let them go na. They'll feel refreshed too."

Dad grumbles, starting to back off, "I wasn't planning on saying no," and goes on to tease, "but, Armaan, man, you really gotta teach your kid some manners."

Armaan quips back, "Dude, he's got enough manners to inform you instead of just whisking her away - which is honestly what I would have done. Huh, who am I kidding. It's what I have done in my time."

Dad shakes his head, "It's a wonder Rihaan's turned out the way he did."

On that note, Riddhima Aunty decides to take offense. "Hey! That's my kid too. And let me remind you if you've forgotten. I've played a major role in setting you up with your wife."

Dad rolls his eyes dismissing the facts, "I did that myself, thank you very much."

While the adults' bicker on aimlessly over their youth days, Rihaan turns towards me and instructs once again, "Get ready. I'll meet you out front in twenty."

I exhale a sigh at his insistence on taking me out. "Do you even have a plan?" He can't throw together a date in twenty minutes. No way. Not when it's Diwali and more than half the places will be closed for the Holiday.

"No," he admits, but then adds proudly, "even better. I've got Aarav bhai. Now, go already." Rather than waiting for me to leave, he walks off to fetch his so-called guardian Angel, whom - might I point out - is my brother first. But, ofcourse, said brother has no qualms about offering up his resources. I have no doubt that wherever Rihaan will decide to take me - even if it is closed, Aarav bhai can get the owner to open shop for a couple of hours.

Though, I hope they don't resort to that extravagance and pull a man away from his family on a Holiday.

Speaking of taking the extra step, I think back to last Diwali that had coincided with my birthday. That night on the school terrace where Rihaan and I had watched the fireworks at midnight. I had questioned momentarily that he had timed it and perhaps paid people to set them off just as it would be my birthday. Ofcourse, he had admitted that he hadn't, but given the time, he had even said that he would have done it.

I am not expecting a grand gesture year at my birthday because I know we'll be at home. But, suddenly, I do find myself looking forward to finding out what he'll come up with in the next twenty minutes.

*✧✤--------------------------✤✧*

The next morning, Aarav removes my headphones to get my attention. "Go wake up Rihaan."

I turn my wrist to check the time, "He won't wake up. Too early." It is 9 in the morning and generally that wouldn't be too early considering when school starts, but during vacations, it's early.

He takes my hand to pull me off the couch, "Just try. I'm hungry and you know mom won't feed us till everyone is at the table."

I give him a teasing look because he's in his mid-twenties and he still won't just go into the kitchen and get his own breakfast rather than following the rules.

"Just go." He knows it's silly too and if he is that hungry, he can go wake Rihaan himself. Besides, with his diabetes, he quite literally has a free pass to eat whenever he needs to. Who in the house was going to stop him?

Shadow jumps off the couch to follow my trail as I head to Rihaan's room. Call it déjà vu when I walk into the room and find him upside down on the bed. A couple years ago, the thought of approaching him intimidated me. Set off my anxiety in a way it wasn't even funny. But that's also what led me to realize I needed to work on myself. To stop seeking external validation and as long as I was happy with myself, the world around me was better for it.

Making room for myself to sit facing him on the bed, I lean forward to kiss his forehead. I knew he wasn't going to wake up with that lightest disturbance. True to his habit, he remains deep in sleep. Giving him a few minutes, I move to lie down on the other side of him and stare at the ceiling. Eventually, he senses my presence and turns on his side to face me. With his eyes still closed, he searches for my hand and then pulls it towards him, kissing the back of my hand.

"Bhai wants you to wake up." Rather than say anything, he hitches his leg over mine and wraps his arms around my body, resting his head at the crook of my shoulder. I chuckle at his actions, "You're crushing me."

His lips brush against my nape as he mumbles, "Say it again."

My brows pull together in confusion, "You're crushing me?"

His smile, I can feel it on my skin. Then he kisses my neck, "Say I love you again."

A soft chuckle escapes my lips even as my tone is full of humor. "That is what you were dreaming about?"

"It's the only thing I can think of ever since you said it."

I roll my eyes, a constant smile playing on my lips. "You are such an apple-pie. Sweetie-pie, but you know, apples because you're crazy about them."

He lifts his face to look down at me, "It's not a clever joke if you explain it."

"Okay, sure, but really, you're crushing me." I yelp when he turns to his back and pulls me to him. "Rihaan!" I scold him even as he nudges me to straddle him.

"What," his hand travels from my hips to kneading my thigh, "I'm heavy for you but you're not heavy for me."

I groan, "Don't even. I've put on Diwali weight, like always."

"You don't feel heavy to me."

"Nice save."

"Right? I think so too."

"Well, my job is done so..."

"Job?"

"I told you bhai sent me to wake you up."

"Which is why we should take advantage that he sent you and not Ana."

That smirk of his. 

"I'm pretty sure that was his selfish motive and not him doing you a favor." Because we all know, if Ana had played a prank to wake him up, Rihaan would have sought revenge. Then, they would've fought and Aarav would be the one to play the peacemaker. "He's hungry so you should get dressed and come down."

"Okay, but just hold on a minute. Are you okay?"

"Yes, why wouldn't I be?"

"Okay, I don't want to worry you then if you're not, but do you think Aru di has been strange past couple days? Do you think it's because her quarterly tests are coming up?"

"I've thought she's looked worried, but I don't think it has anything to do with her health check-ups. I think she might be worried about Roshan."

"Roshan?"

"Because... after he told us he'd take care of Shreya's pictures and clip, she told us she was going to find Ishaan and catch up with us. But if you remember, when we got to the parking lot..."

"Ishaan was already there waiting for us."

"Exactly. It's just something she said to talk to Roshan privately."

"But what could she have to worry about Roshan? I mean... I mean, he's Roshan, after all. He can take care of himself."

"In a fight, undoubtedly." He's a state champion in wrestling and has won our school multiple trophies, so ofcourse he can hold his own. "But tell me honestly, what do we know about his personal life? Or, him? It's not like he's an open book."

"So whatever she does know about him, you don't think she'll do anything to get herself in trouble?"

I shake my head, assuring him. "I don't think so, and even if, Mohit is always there." Her bodyguard is constantly around her. He wouldn't let anything happen to her. Leaning in, I peck his chin. "Now let's not worry too much premeditatedly and just wait for Roshan."

"Mm," he murmurs shifting his hand to my nape and drawing my face closer. "maybe distract me a bit more."

I indulge him. Resting a loose palm on his chest. Just before our lips meet, the door to his room is abruptly pushed open and I startle away.

"How do you like the payback?"

Our heads turn sideways at Aarav and Annie, who are initially chuckling but Aarav's expression soon turns into a mixture of embarrassment and regret. As if he would have rather not walked in on us, even though all we were doing is kissing... or, well, about to.

While I scurry off my boyfriend, who then sits up, Annie taps the back of her hand to Aarav's chest. "Oh, don't get all weird now. They were just kissing." As if to prove her point, she reaches up on her toes to give him a kiss and remind him that it is quite normal in a relationship. Our age nor the fact that we were in bed or that I was straddling Rihaan made a difference.

Aarav clears his throat, taking a second to react. And the reaction is not one any of us expected. "Well, atleast this time he didn't pin her down and it was the other way around."

My eyes widen at the teasing statement. Annie is surprised at first but then grins as if proud of him for being cool. Rihaan pats my knee, "It's fine, love. I'll get back at them for both of us."

Annie points her thumb at her partner next to her, "It was his plan."

Aarav rolls his eyes, probably both at Annie throwing him under the bus and at Rihaan's vow to play a prank back on them. "For now, just get in the shower and come down for breakfast." Taking Annie's hand, he turns to leave and says over his shoulder, "San, coming?"

"Y-yeah." I fumble given it's the first word I say since they interrupted us. I make it to the edge of the bed on my knees and then step out, careful not to let my feet tumble over the blanket.

Rather than let me follow them out, Rihaan tugs me to his chest holding my wrist, "You have to atleast give me one kiss."

I tap a finger to his nose, "You have to atleast brush."

He chuckles. "Touche," he still leans in. I say his name in a scolding, leaning away. He easily turns his face and presses a kiss to my nape, causing my heart to jolt, stomach to turn, and toes to curl.

This guy.

One simple gesture and these many reactions.

"Plenty different ways to kiss." He whispers by my ear before loosening his grasp around my wrist. "Save me a seat?"

Just as quickly as he turned up the heat, my heart fills with warmth. "Always."

*✧✤--------------------------✤✧*

It isn't long before Diwali breaks end and school is back in session. Since Shreya had went with her family to Australia to visit their relatives and spend the Holidays with them, we see her for the first time since the night of the show. Seated at our usual picnic table in the courtyard, she is frowning at her cell phone's screen.

Kriana and I walk up to her, greeting. "Hey, how are you?"

Kriana adds, "How were the breaks? Weather in Australia must be good, huh?"

"Hey. Fine. Fine. And fine." She distantly replies to all three questions.

Kriana and I share a worried look. Saying 'fine' thrice is most definitely not fine. Especially from Shreya. She usually has better adjectives to incorporate.

"What's wrong?"

She puts her phone down, locking the screen, and sighs. "Nothing. Sorry. I'm still readjusting to time zone. Anyway, where's Rihaan?"

Given she directs the latter at me for obvious reason, I inform, "He went back to his place last night since his school stuff is there. He messaged five minutes ago though so he should be here anytime."

"Cool, we should get to class then."

She stands up first and tries to walk around the table and towards the archway of the building where our class is. We quickly block her path, crossing our arms in front of our chest to make a point. We weren't dumb. We knew something was on her mind and she was not sharing.

We share a silent communication compelling her to give up. Her shoulders eventually sag as she fesses up her cause for concern. "It's Roshan. He messaged me the day after the show saying he'd taken care of it but he hasn't responded to my text since. So, I don't know. Should I be worried?"

We loosen our stance and Kriana assures her, "I'm sure he's fine. Busy with family, you know?"

She nods, half-accepting the excuse, and we start walking while continuing the discussion. "Yeah, I guess. Maybe I'll try to catch him during lunch break."

Kriana asks, "But, why? He said it's taken care of, right? Isn't that enough?"

"I should atleast thank him," Shreya says, but being the silent observer most times, I can pick up on unsaid things as well. There is something more that she is worried about and isn't telling us. She knows Roshan better, and so knows something. Almost as if him not replying to her message is a cause of concern. As if he replies to her all the times, but this is the one time he hasn't.

Normally, I do just sit back and let life happen passively. This time, however, I don't know why I get the feeling that I should do something about it. Especially when I know I can. Shreya breaks from us for her class and I take the chance to speak to Kriana. "I need your help with something."

"Sure, shoot." She readily falls in step.

"Faisal. He knows something."

Her brows pull together in confusion as we enter our classroom. "Faisal? About what?"

I give her the run down of how he had approached me backstage after my grand gesture, and what he had said, and how Nidhi's actions following could not just be a coincidence. "So, I don't know. Maybe he's not in on it, you know, just to give him the benefit of the doubt given he did try to warn me. But..."

Kriana repeats my earlier words catching on to what I am trying to imply, "he knows something."

"Yeah."

She nods, thinking quick on her feet as usual. "Alright. Then we get it out of him."

"But, how? He won't talk to me and Rihaan won't agree to speak to him. It's like he is still holding whatever it is against Faisal from last year."

We take our seats in the classroom. "As he should. But you are right. The two of them do need to talk to each other, and if they won't go to each other, well then... there is only one option they leave us with."

"Which is?"

She grins mischievously. "Ripping a page from Khushi mami's life." When she sees my continued confusion, she elaborates. "See, Rihaan is just as stubborn as his parents. And, what would mami do with them when they would get unreasonable with each other?"

I am afraid to jog my memory right now, but I already know where her train of thoughts is headed. I begin to warn her, "Kriana, don't..."

But she has already gone there. And, it's too late to reel her back in. I should have known it'd be a crazy scheme before I turned to her for help. Alas, who else would I have turned to? If anyone, she could get Faisal and Rihaan speaking to each other and if we are to get one step ahead of everything, then it is a necessarily evil.

*✧✤--------------------------✤✧*