'Her love happened to me
a hundred times at once
in a thousand different ways
as million different colours'
-The dark between stars

______________________

Offering The Sun

Sadhvi's POV

By nine thirty that day, I was inside the treatment room on my floor attending a patient.

The patient was busy reading the newspaper on his mobile phone and I was releasing his calf muscle.

My mind was reeling, picturing him and I.

What it is going to be like with him.

Strangely at that, I kind of liked the idea.
It was as if his face was always what I was putting on everyone.

I was in trouble and so soon at that.

When I arrived, the desk downstairs informed me about my 9’O clock appointment is here, not thinking much I rushed to my cabin and quickly changed into my flip-flops I went to work.

I was yet to inform my folks.

I wanted to digest the information by myself a little longer. I didn’t want to admit yet that one look at him and I caved.
Just like that

“I’ll get the theraband and I want you to lie on your back now"
I informed the patient and went outside to the common room to get the equipment.

While walking outside I bumped into Rajveen, who just finished her yoga session came down to meet me.

“You were late this morning.”

“Yes. Had to see someone”

The one. My mind reminded me.

“How did it go last night?” she asked

And just then I realized in the midst of all I forgot to fill her up.
“Wait inside my cabin I will join you within 10 minutes.”

She nodded and moved to go in
I was taking theraband out of the cupboard when I remembered,
“You don’t have any patient waiting, do you?”

“Not until 10:15”

“Cool. I’ll be there soon”
.

After doing manual work on my patient and asking the intern for giving him ultrasonic therapy I walked out of the treatment room to talk to my best friends.

“I still feel your cabin is bigger than mine” she said the moment I entered

I rolled my eyes and took my apron off hanging it on the rack.
“I thought we are way past that topic”

“Still I feel like I made some mistake with the measurements”

I laughed, “Orange juice?”

she nodded and I called the pantry to get us some.

“so yesterday …..

After filling her up with everything I wasn’t in the condition to pin point what her reaction was going to be.

She was yet to react, was busy sipping the juice. Too shocked even to react, I took it.

“This morning I went to see him and he was the same guy, the guy I commented on outside the club that day”

Now I have it.

Her reaction.

She snorted almost spilling the juice out of her half empty glass. Yes, I am half empty glass person.

I like to know where I stand.

“This is magnificent. Fate is calling you”

I laughed, “It is”

“So what are you going to answer? Because now it is one way or another going to affect Meheka too. For a brief period of time of course”

“I know that and before meeting him, the image they had made in my head was acceptable anyways but now that I’ve seen him I can’t find the reason to deny either”

She smiled leaning over my desk,
“That whipped?”

I ignored to answer that,
“He is a good man and my arrival this morning was expected.”

She nodded, “He was prepared”

“I know. But there’s no way he knew how I would react”

“That and he made you say 'yes' to the marriage.”

“He did, but I am still reeling upon it myself. Haven’t told my parents yet”

“You need to, it’s Meheka’s roka the next day after and the situation will be awkward if you do not tell them now. For everyone I mean.”

I nodded “I was going to, I just needed some time.”

She looked at her watch and said,
“It’s almost time for my next and do tell them. You are taking the day off tomorrow?”

“yes”

She whined walking out,”More work for me”

I laughed dialing my parents.
.

.

The next morning found me sitting in the back seat beside my elated mother.

She was happy because both of her daughters have found the one for them.

It was our roka too now.

Yesterday when I told them in the morning about me accepting the offer, my mother was as if already knowing it was bound to happen, made the preparations almost instantly.

Since today was auspicious already, why not add me and Avrudh too, to the function they said.

So now me and Avrudh—Meheka and Avesh, we were happening.

“Why are you sulking?”
Mummy asked from my side cupping my chin

I smiled small in worry,
“I am not sulking I am just a little worried. it was supposed to be Meheka’s and Avesh’s day not mine and my would be’s”

“Non-sense. I couldn’t be happier di” Meheka said beside mummy

I blinked making a face and keeping my head on my mother’s shoulder,
“Now that this is all happening I feel like, I am going to jinx it somehow. My happiness never lasts long, mummy”

From the driver’s seat my brother said, “Nothing like that is going to happen, we are here for you”

I nodded making a baby cry sound.

Papa ji was coming in his office car with remaining gifts.

The car was government’s so we were not allowed to travel through unless very urgent. And Papa ji is always talking rule and regulations.

Sanidhya was driving my car since it was big, adequate to carry everything in the trunk.

The moment the car halted in front of the gates of Dhillon’s family house I took in a deep breath.

It was happening. I was finally having the last share of my dream.

I was wearing a golden sari with my hair left lose. It wasn’t like they bother me.

I had them cut short, shoulder blades length. It made me look mature.

I was one of those people whose face resemble younger than their age.

Sometimes in between me and my sister people call her older.

Her face is more mature and is a little good in size than mine.

I have small eyes, small nose, small set of lips and a cute face size. Meaning small.

The sari I was wearing is proper golden but with no shine, silk dress material and ivory style borders. The blouse was velvet material in brown colour.

The make-up was tip-top and jewelry was proper.

I smiled when my mother looked at me blinking back her tears. It was her dream too to see her first born getting married.

And I was glowing today—she said.

I hugged her.

Since I was born seven years later my parents marriage, I was the most adored child.

Once papa ji joined us too we walked inside the building. Soon we were greeted by my soon to be in-laws with a beaming smile.

The moment Kanika aunty laid her eyes on me and Meheka she almost cried,
“Oh my god, look my beautiful daughter in laws are here.”

We both touched their feet in blessings.
Kanika aunty hugged us both tight.

Harpreet bua ji was just a second behind when she laid her eyes on me,
“Sadhvi you look gorgeous bete, I have seen you in sports outfit and in kurtis but never in sari”

I beamed when she cupped both my cheeks kissing my forehead,
“God bless you” she hugged me sideways and looked at Meheka,
“So beautiful” and kissed her forehead too.

We all walked inside with our little greetings.
The house was beautifully decorated not a thing so over.

We met the brothers in the living room.

Both Avrudh and Avesh touched my parents feet in respect.

Then I met Avrudh’s eyes, his eyes ate me all in as if mesmerized and when met my face they turned appreciating.

He raised his eyebrows and smirked.

I knew it was a compliment. I begged my face to not to react.

His face asking me just one question. Question i didn't wanted to answer, because I had nothing.

I agreed to the words he said,
'please don't reject me Miss Nanda' he asked and I accepted him.

I had nothing to reply to that, I had so much to react but no words to speak as an sensible answer. Answer that will only praise him and elate his ego.

He had waited long and so have I, that's what my mind spoke. My mind even tried explaining it was him only it wanted.

My father patted Avrudh’s back saying,
“I never knew one day you will become my son-in-law”

Avrudh laughed lovingly and looked at my father saying,
“I am lucky you accepted me in the family, Papa ji” and I nearly cried.

God, he couldn’t be more perfect for me.

He know how to win me.

Avesh was talking to mummy, Kanika aunty, bua ji and Sanidhya in a separate group.

Avrudh was standing in between our discussing fathers.

I observed both the brothers that moment properly.
Distinguishing their personality which wasn’t too much apparent.

Both of them were excellent in looks just to my eyes Avrudh ranked a bit higher.

Avrudh’s hair were black and neatly brushed whereas Avesh’s black hair were messily styled.

Avrudh’s eyes were deep and hideous on the contrary Avesh’s were transparent and jolly.

Avrudh stays silent observing the situation whereas Avesh talk and analyse together. 

My eyes moved to the shut lips of Avrudh and his bobbing head. The beard did it's job well of hiding his face, made him look hideous, if only I wasn't a good reader.

His face was calm and was listening the words spoken, hands intertwined in front of him.
“Haven’t you examined enough?”

Beside me Meheka whispered.

Both us sisters were seated in the living room center sofa, the family members were planning the function commencement and we were too shy to react looking at them.

"You do that all the time. You did that with Rajveen's husband also, then Avesh and now you are observing jiju also"

"Stop scaring poor men already, di" she said in their not required defense.

“I was differentiating between the brothers” I said feeling shy

“I did that too”
she giggled cupping her face

I laughed silently not wanting their attention and said, “The difference is not much but it still is noticeable”

she nodded, “Di, can I say something?”

I raised my eyebrows, she was going to say  anyway.

“The first time I saw, Avrudh Bhaia, you came to my mind. He was the exact copy of the guy you described to be your type. I saw him and I thought I will tell you”

“And you did. I remember you talking about the hot new judge you met. He was training back then, yeah?”

She nodded.
“You like him?”

“I will learn to. There is nothing to dislike you know, till now atleast” I said sighing shrugging my shoulders.

I felt hiding the little crush I had developed over him from Meheka. I was once again 20 year old Sadhvi. Shy and silent.

She smiled holding my hands,
“I am so excited”

I patted her hands.

So am I.

__________________

'She sipped the sun
after the rain
and it tickled her nose
like sweet
champagne'
____________________

It was as if just yesterday
my very sorry single ass
was asking god for a distraction and now they have blessed me with BTS.

Why are you guys so amazing?!

Please somebody help me.
One is my bias and then the other walks in wrecking my unrequited love.
I am in love with one but then the rest look at me with puppy eyes.

You feel me?
😭

Anyways I am going crazy over them.
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With love,
Ankita 🐿️