Bhai, please na chaliye na... I want to go to Durga maa ka pandaal,"

Aadhira requested for the nth time, pleading with her brother to take her to the biggest fair in Kolkata during Durga Puja. But as always, Adrit refused, showing his disinterest in mythological things.

"You can go with Mamma and Papa. Meri jaan kyun kha rhi hai?" Adrit said, irritated.

"Fine! But Mumma-Papa are going with their family friend whose handsome child keeps flirting with me. Chalo mera kya, atleast I'll get entertained with him unlike you, a walking freezer of Antarctica." Aadhira's mention of the family friend triggered Adhrit's brotherly possessiveness.

"I dare you to go with him." Adhrit growled, but Aadhira's smirk told him how serious she was, he sighed tiredly.

"Yaar you can go alone as well. You're 19 for God's sake."

"Bhai, what if I get lost?" Aadhira said with her puppy eyes.

"Are you a five-year-old kid who can get lost anywhere and everywhere? And what do you expect me to do, call you after every step saying, 'Come Child Come,' like those parents in that class 9th story?" Adrit retorted. Aadhira rolled her eyes.

"Fine. Don't come with me. But if something happens to me, I'll be the fastest to register an FIR against you for carrying the tag of 'most careless brother'. Aur I'll even tell Papa about you 50kg fatty lie of going for group studies while you actually go to night clubs." Adhrit payed no heed to her words. Aadhira got up and walked a little towards the door.

No reaction.

"I'm serious, Bhai." She took one more step forward.

Still no reaction.

Aadhira turned around and took quick strides towards the door. As soon as she touched the door knob, she was pulled back.

"Achcha baba, okay. I will take you to the pandaal."

Aadhira's excitement was palpable as Adrit finally relented. "YAYYYY!!!" she cheered, her face lighting up with a radiant smile. She spun on her heel and dashed out of her brother's room, heading straight to her own.

Once inside, she went directly to her closet. She flung open the doors, her eyes scanning the colorful array of outfits. Today was special; she needed to look her best. After a few moments of deliberation, she chose a beautiful, embroidered anarkali suit in a deep shade of blue, adorned with golden accents.

She laid the suit on her bed and hurried to her vanity. Sitting down, she began her routine. First, she cleansed her face with a gentle cleanser, rinsing away any impurities. Then, she applied a light layer of moisturizer, massaging it into her skin with careful, circular motions.

Next, Aadhira reached for a tinted moisturizer, blending it evenly across her face to create a natural, dewy look. She added a touch of blush to her cheeks, giving her skin a soft, rosy glow. For her eyes, she chose neutral tones of eyeshadow, blending them lightly for a subtle enhancement. She lined her eyes with a thin line of brown eyeliner and finished with a single coat of mascara, just enough to accentuate her long lashes.

Her lips were the final touch. She opted for a light pink lip balm that added a hint of color while keeping her lips hydrated. Satisfied with her makeup, she moved on to her hair. Aadhira decided on loose waves, which she effortlessly styled using her curling iron. The waves framed her face beautifully, adding a touch of elegance to her look.

Finally, she put on her anarkali suit, adjusting the dupatta over her shoulder. To complete her ensemble, she adorned herself with gold jewelry—dangling earrings, a delicate necklace, and a set of bangles that jingled with every movement.

Aadhira stepped back to admire her reflection in the mirror. She felt beautiful and confident, ready to enjoy the festivities. She grabbed a small clutch, slipped on her matching heels, and took a deep breath, her excitement bubbling over.

With one last glance at the mirror, she twirled around and headed downstairs, eager to experience the magic of Durga Puja at the pandaal.

(˵¯͒〰¯͒˵)

As Aadhira stepped out of the car, she was immediately greeted by the bustling energy of the Durga Puja pandaal. The air was filled with a festive buzz, and the scent of incense and street food mingled with the cool evening breeze. She felt a thrill of excitement as she looked around at the lively scene.

Walking towards the entrance, she marveled at the intricate decorations. The pandaal was a stunning sight, with vibrant, shimmering lights and elaborate floral arrangements creating a magical ambiance. The entrance was adorned with elaborate arches and beautiful torans, setting the tone for the grandeur inside.

Once inside, Aadhira was awestruck by the elaborate artistry. The central idol of Goddess Durga stood resplendent on a richly decorated platform, surrounded by intricate murals and delicate, hand-painted motifs. The entire space was bathed in a warm, golden glow from the countless lamps and fairy lights, enhancing the festive atmosphere.

She took a moment to absorb the beauty around her, her eyes taking in the rich colors and detailed craftsmanship. The atmosphere was both serene and exhilarating, with the sounds of traditional music and the murmur of prayers adding to the overall experience. Aadhira felt a deep sense of joy and reverence as she admired the decor, knowing that this was a celebration she would remember for years to come.

Aadhira walked slowly towards the central platform, where the magnificent idol of Goddess Durga stood. The divine presence of the goddess, surrounded by a sea of flowers and intricate decorations, created an atmosphere of peace and reverence. She found a spot in the front row and sat down, her heart brimming with a mixture of devotion and hope.

As she settled into a meditative posture, she closed her eyes and began her prayer. She offered her gratitude for the many blessings in her life, silently thanking the goddess for the love and support of her family, her health, and all the comforts she enjoyed. Her thoughts wandered to her loved ones, and she prayed for their well-being and happiness.

Then, her thoughts turned to her own deepest wish. Since her 10th class, she had harbored a secret hope, one that seemed almost too impossible to come true. She had fallen for Viaansh Seghal, her brother's best friend. The feelings she had for him had grown over time, becoming a cherished, yet unspoken part of her heart.

Aadhira's prayer took on a personal and earnest tone. She whispered to the goddess, her voice barely audible, "Hey Maa Durga," she began, as if speaking to a dear friend. "I just wanted to say thanks for everything. Seriously, you've given me so much—my family, my friends, and all the little joys in life. I'm really grateful."

Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she leaned in, her tone turning more animated. "So, there's something I have to tell you! I've been crushing on Viaansh Seghal, you know, my brother's best friend. Oh my God, it's been such a whirlwind! The way he talks about his art, how passionate he is—it's like he just gets me, you know? I feel this amazing connection whenever I'm around him."

Aadhira's smile faded a bit as she continued, her voice tinged with sadness. "But here's the thing—I keep feeling like he just sees me as his best friend's little sister. It's like this huge wall is always between us. Whenever I think about it, I get so down because it feels like my feelings might never be returned."

She looked up at the idol with a hopeful smile. "So, if you could work a bit of magic for me, I'd be over the moon. I don't know if it's even possible, but I'm just putting it out there. Thanks a bunch!"

She took a deep breath, feeling a sense of calm and surrender. Her eyes remained closed for a few moments longer, as she embraced the serenity of the moment. Finally, Aadhira opened her eyes and looked up at the radiant figure of Goddess Durga, feeling a renewed sense of hope and tranquility. The grandeur of the idol seemed to offer her a silent promise that her prayers had been heard.

As Aadhira sat in reverent silence before the idol, she felt a familiar presence settling down beside her. Turning her gaze, she was struck with awe at the sight of the man next to her. It was none other than Viaansh Seghal, the one person who could make her heart flutter effortlessly.

Viaansh, sensing someone staring at him, turned his gaze toward Aadhira. Their eyes met in a moment of mutual recognition, the world around them seeming to fall away as their connection deepened.

At that precise moment, as if blessed by the divine, a gentle breeze swept through the pandaal. The Chunri on Goddess Durga's head, caught by the wind, lifted gracefully into the air. It floated delicately before descending and landing gently over both Aadhira and Viaansh, creating a tender and symbolic canopy around them. It felt as though the goddess herself was bestowing her blessing upon this serendipitous encounter.

As Aadhira looked at Viaansh, her heart raced with a mix of excitement and trepidation. The closeness of the moment made her feelings surge with intensity. She had long harbored a deep affection for him, and seeing him right there beside her, with their lives intertwined by the fluttering Chunri, felt almost like a dream. Every glance from him made her heart skip a beat, her emotions teetering between hope and vulnerability.

Viaansh, on the other hand, felt a gentle surprise at the sight of Aadhira beside him. His gaze softened as he recognized her familiar face, but his feelings were more akin to affectionate camaraderie. To him, Aadhira was like a younger sister he cared about deeply but didn't see in a romantic light. He noted the look of admiration in her eyes with a mixture of warmth and concern, feeling a touch of unease at the intensity of her gaze.

The shared moment under the Chunri added a layer of poignancy to the encounter. For Aadhira, it was a fleeting glimpse of a wish fulfilled, a moment of closeness she had always dreamed of. For Viaansh, it was a moment of genuine connection, though it remained firmly rooted in the platonic bond he had always known. The fluttering Chunri seemed to encapsulate their intertwined fates—one marked by unspoken dreams and the other by a cherished, if unreciprocated, friendship.

Just then, Aadhira and Viaansh heard Adrit's voice pierce through the ambient sounds of the pandaal. "Ye ladki kahaan chali jaati hai. Main gaadi park karne kya gaya, gaayab hi ho gayi aur ab she is not even picking up the call." His voice grew louder as he approached, clearly frustrated.

The commotion stopped abruptly when Adrit's eyes fell upon the sight of Aadhira and Viaansh beneath the fluttering Chunri. He froze momentarily, taking in the scene. "Ye kaun Chunri ke andar gulugulu kar raha hai. Oh my God. People these days," he muttered, his tone a mix of shock and irritation.

Hearing the tension in Adrit's voice, Viaansh quickly slid the Chunri off them, revealing their position. Adrit's eyes widened in disbelief as he recognized Viaansh and Aadhira beneath the draped fabric. His face flushed with a mix of surprise and rising anger.

Before Adrit could react, his fist clenching as if to punch Viaansh, Aadhira stepped forward, her voice firm yet soothing. "BHAI, NOOO. We were just praying, and that Chunri landed over us. Nothing less, nothing more."

Her words seemed to cut through Adrit's rising fury. He stopped mid-motion, his expression shifting from rage to confusion. Aadhira's earnest explanation, coupled with her calm demeanor, began to diffuse the situation. Adrit took a deep breath, his anger giving way to a mix of frustration and concern as he processed her words.

Realizing his misjudgment, Adrit hesitated, and in that moment of awkward silence, Viaansh, ever the joker, broke into a playful grin. "Seriously, Adrit? You thought I'd swoop in like that?" he teased, his laughter breaking the tension, turning the moment into one of light-hearted banter rather than conflict.

Viaansh chuckled and shook his head, "Aadhira is like my sister. WHAT were you thinking, Adrit?" His tone was lighthearted, but his words stung a little more than he realized. Aadhira's smile faltered as she looked at Viaansh, her eyes betraying a sadness she couldn't hide. To her, Viaansh was much more than just a brother figure—he was someone she cared for deeply, in a way she had never fully expressed. Sensing the tension he had unintentionally caused, Adrit's expression softened with regret. "Sorry, bro," he muttered, his voice filled with sincere apology, understanding he might have stepped into a situation more delicate than he had imagined.

As they were about to leave, the group's lighthearted chatter briefly faded into the background when Viaansh's eyes met Aadhira's. For a moment, time seemed to slow, and the playful atmosphere around them dissolved into something far more complex. Viaansh searched her gaze, trying to find the same emotion he had glimpsed earlier—hidden beneath that Chunri—when he had caught an unexpected depth in her eyes. That fleeting moment had left him puzzled, a faint stirring of something he couldn't quite name, yet it lingered in the back of his mind, compelling him to seek answers.

Aadhira, on the other hand, was acutely aware of Viaansh's scrutiny. She could feel his eyes probing hers, as if trying to unearth a truth she had buried deep within. Her heart raced, but she knew she had to guard her feelings carefully. To her, Viaansh was more than just a friend or a brother figure—he was someone who had unwittingly captured her heart. Yet, Aadhira couldn't afford to reveal her vulnerability, not now. With all the strength she could muster, she forced her lips into the brightest, most carefree smile she could manage, hoping it would mask the turmoil beneath.

Viaansh, seeing her smile, hesitated. He returned it, but his mind was far from at ease. That smile—was it genuine, or was she hiding something behind it? The question gnawed at him, but for the moment, he chose to let it go, convinced that Aadhira's smile meant everything was as it should be. Meanwhile, Aadhira felt a small surge of relief, thinking she had successfully shielded her feelings. Little did she know that behind Viaansh's warm grin, questions were beginning to take root, quietly growing into doubts that neither of them could ignore for long.

(˵¯͒〰¯͒˵)

As they arrived at the mall, the familiar buzz of activity surrounded them, but what caught their attention first was the sight of their friends waiting at the entrance. A wave of warmth and camaraderie washed over the group as they approached, with smiles and cheerful greetings exchanged all around.

Varun and Shyam, two of Viaansh and Adrit's closest friends, were leaning casually against the glass doors, their faces lighting up as the trio arrived. Varun, with his easygoing nature, immediately pulled Adrit into a friendly hug, while Shyam, the quieter of the two but no less warm, offered a grin and a firm handshake.

On the other side, Aadhira's friend Mishri stood with her usual effervescent energy. She rushed forward to give Aadhira a quick hug, her eyes sparkling with excitement at the prospect of their outing. The group's bonds were evident in the way they interacted—an effortless blend of familiarity and affection that made it clear they had shared many such moments before.

As they all came together, the earlier tension that had lingered between Viaansh and Aadhira seemed to dissipate in the lively atmosphere. For now, the focus was on enjoying the day ahead, surrounded by friends who knew each other inside out.

Mishri's whisper in Aadhira's ear conveyed a mix of excitement and envy. "You are so lucky!!!" she said, her voice tinged with admiration.

Aadhira looked at her puzzled 'why?' She mouthed.

"Your crush is always with you, and he cares for you more than you realize..." Mishri whispered, her voice tinged with a knowing smile as she leaned in closer, the weight of her words hanging in the air between them.

"Of course, I'm lucky—my crush sees me as nothing more than a sister," Aadhira said sarcastically, rolling her eyes as she tried to mask the sting in her words with a forced smile.

"But I think you should confess your feelings," Mishri urged gently. "You've been hiding them ever since that stupid incident in 9th grade—or as you like to call it, the incident decided by fate."

Aadhira sighed, her expression softening as memories flooded back. "It wasn't just any incident, Mishri. That day changed everything for me. But confessing? What if it ruins everything? I'm not ready to lose him, even if it means hiding how I really feel."

"You are so stubborn, Aadhira," Mishri said with a huff. "If you can't confess, then maybe it's time to move on. You can't keep torturing yourself like this."

Aadhira frowned, a mix of frustration and helplessness in her eyes. "It's not that easy, Mishri. How do you move on from someone who's been a part of your life for so long? Every time I try, something pulls me back. It's like I'm stuck in this endless loop."

"But—" Mishri started, only to be cut off when Shyam called out to them from ahead. "Come on, you two! Hurry up, you can chat once we're in the restaurant," he urged, waving them over with an impatient smile.

"Coming!" Aadhira chirped happily as she ran towards them. Mishri stood there for a moment, watching her friend with a mix of pity and exasperation, realizing that love had turned her once-clear-headed friend into a complete idiot.

(˵¯͒〰¯͒˵)

After a day of shopping and playing games, they finally settled into a table at Pizza Hut. Aadhira and Mishri sat together, engrossed in lively conversation, while the boys busied themselves with less engaging topics. The clatter of plates and the aroma of pizza filled the air, providing a comforting backdrop to their animated chat.

"Adrit, when is our college reopening?" Varun asked, glancing over at him with curiosity.

"Next Monday. Why?" Adrit replied, looking up from his phone.

"I was thinking," Varun said, his eyes lighting up with excitement, "why don't we all go camping? The weather is perfect these days—neither too cold nor too hot. What do you think?"

"Yesss!!!" Aadhira exclaimed, her face brightening at the idea. "That sounds amazing! Count me in!"

"Oh God! I love camping. I'm in," Viaansh exclaimed, his excitement evident as he leaned forward with enthusiasm.

"Since Aadhira is coming, I'll have to come too. After all, I don't trust her to take care of herself," Adrit said with a smirk.

"Bhaiii!" Aadhira whined, drawing laughter from everyone at the table.

"I'm in!!" Mishri exclaimed, her excitement matching the group's growing enthusiasm.

Everyone turned to Shyam, who hesitated, "Uh-umm... I planned to study this hol—"

"Shut up!" everyone at the table shouted in unison, drawing curious glances from nearby diners.

"Come on, Shyam. You have to come. I don't care about your plans," Viaansh said firmly.

"But—"

"No ifs and buts," Varun interrupted.

"Otherwise, I'll kick your butt," Adrit added with a grin.

"Okay, okay, count me in," Shyam relented, giving in to the group's insistence.

"YAYYYY!!!" everyone cheered, their excitement echoing through the restaurant as they celebrated their upcoming camping trip.

"Now I'll make sure you confess to Mr. Seghal," Mishri said mischievously, a teasing glint in her eye as she nudged Aadhira.

Aadhira blushed, her eyes widening in surprise. "Oh, come on, Mishri! Not now. Let's just enjoy the trip, okay?" she said, trying to deflect the attention while her heart raced at the thought.

Mishri grinned, leaning in closer. "Oh, don't think you can escape that easily. I'm keeping an eye on you, Aadhira. This camping trip is the perfect opportunity."

Aadhira laughed nervously, "Seriously, Mishri, can we just focus on the fun for now?"

Mishri winked, "Oh, I will, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to nudge you in the right direction."

Aadhira rolled her eyes but a smile lingered on her face.

As Aadhira tried to steer the conversation away from her unresolved feelings, her eyes once again met Viaansh's. This time, the connection was more intense, and she found herself unable to hide her emotions. Her gaze softened, and the depth of her feelings shone through—eyes brimming with love and longing that spoke volumes.

Viaansh's expression, however, was a mix of confusion and endless questions. His brows furrowed, and a hint of uncertainty clouded his eyes, as if he were trying to decipher a puzzle he wasn't sure he was equipped to solve. The unspoken questions seemed to stretch between them, hanging in the air like a heavy mist.

Aadhira felt a pang of vulnerability as she realized the gap between them. She wanted to bridge that distance, to make him understand, but the words felt trapped inside her, unable to find their way out. The silence grew thicker, and the weight of their shared gaze made her heart ache.

As the noise of the restaurant and the chatter of friends faded into the background, it was just the two of them in that moment, caught in an unspoken exchange that neither fully understood. With a final, reluctant glance, Aadhira looked away, her heart heavy with the unsaid and the unknown. The chapter of their story, filled with unspoken emotions and unresolved tension, came to a close, leaving their futures uncertain and their feelings hanging in the balance.

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