The sound of soothing laughter reverberated through the long and confined halls of the mansion, the reason being her walking through the corridor with the brightest of smile, heart filled with immense happiness and excitement about the thought of her bestfriend's wedding festivities.

One would clearly recognize the soft giggles and voice as she rambled continuously to the bride, her bestfriend who kept on listening to her intently. They were the closest since their childhood.

More like sisters by heart than bestfriends as they had been inseparable since the day they met that was almost 21 years ago. It was the first day of their kindergarten and the two crying little girls stopped their sobs as soon as they glanced at each other.

Their mothers had never been this thankful of anything. Because of their such kind of bond, either of the mother would be glad as they knew their daughter would be at the same place as the other's.

"I will be the one writing Jiju's name on your hand, okay? No one else." She reprimanded with a known look as they walked down the stairs of the massive mansion.

"God Ayla, you have already said that hundreds of times in the past hour. Who else would be writing Varun's name except you, now tell me?" Tanvi groaned, voice lacing with annoyance.

Ayla scrunched up her face at her friend's irritated remark. What has gotten her pants on fire? She thought.

"What happened?" Ayla aksed in a soft voice, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"I don't know Ayla. I feel scared about the thought of getting married. I don't know what could happen with me in future and I fear that what if it's something bad." Tanvi replied, as if with difficulty.

"So you're having pre-wedding jitters." Ayla nodded in understanding.

She never takes it by heart if Tanvi bashes on her or that her tone is not pleasing enough. She understands that there are times when a person has had enough with things and takes out the anger on the wrong person because it's the same with Tanvi who bears all of Ayla's mood swings.

"Yes." Tanvi nodded.

"This happens with a lot of brides Tanvi. I totally understand your concern, but look at the positive sides, huh? From the day, Varun's family came with a proposal, life has been amazing for you right? And if he agrees with it, then you know it as well that there's no problem with your wedding." Ayla said with a soft smile, settling the duppatta on the shoulders of Tanvi of the dress she was wearing for her Mehendi Function.

It was a beautiful sharara in the combination of green and yellow. Her flower jewellery only made her look even more vibrant and Ayla felt proud as she saw the messy braid she made on Tanvi's hair. No one could stop her from looking absolutely ethereal today.

And Ayla's words only made a big smile reach up Tanvi's face as whatever she said made absolute sense. She was getting worried unnecessarily when in reality she didn't have to bother about a single fact. Even if something would go wrong with her in near future, her brother would make sure he/she won't see their faces the next day.

"Come, my child. It's mahurat time now. Go and sit there." Tanvi's mother, Vinita Grover came forward to gently push Tanvi towards the wooden jhula adorned with orchids, roses and lilies for the Mehendi vibes.

Giving her a encouraging nod, Ayla turned her gaze over Tanvi's mother, Vinita who was caressing Ayla's hair with the utmost care and affection and a big smile on her face.

"You look really beautiful today, my child." She complimented, cupping Ayla's cheeks making her smile cheekily in return.

Vinita Grover had always been no less than a second mother figure towards her.

Wearing a peach colored ethnic suit, she surely was looking decent and pretty with the almost no makeup look and her dark brown locks left open that matchef quite well with her dark brown orbs, one could get lost in its innocence.

"Thank you!" She grinned, embracing the old woman in a hug.

"Why don't-"

"My my my! Look at the crybaby looking all pretty." A male voice was heard as he gushed over the 5'5 Ayla Sharma, who scrunched up her face at the thought of him approaching her.

"Today, I might just fall in love with my jaan." He smirked, placing a hand above his heart securingly, being all too dramatic.

"Tarunnn.." She whined at him.

"Yes, jaaneman?" He smirked innocently.

"You idiot! How many times have I told you not to flirt with Ayla? You know she's your-" Vinita was scolding her son when a fourth voice called out.

"Vinita, come here. It's important." One of Tanvi's Aunt called her out, who in return gave her an apologetic look, now going to whatever important was there.

"Okay, so tell me. Will you be writing Tarun Grover on your hand or just Tarun today? I am fine with both so it's just your choice jaaneman." He said with a oh so innocent look.

The brown hair that were messily toppled on his head as if he had just woken up was a plus point for every woman with the playboy personality he carries around. Well everyone except Ayla. She knows the real him.

He looked a proper Indian guy in the blue kurta, and white pajama. The always present smile on his face was just a bonus. In every sense, the 21 year old Tarun Grover who is her bestfriend's twin was a perfect boyfriend material.

But for Ayla, she didn't need a boyfriend. Even if she would think about that, he would be present the very next moment to scold her for even thinking about one.

"You didn't make your famous pig tails today jaaneman? I was dying to see you in those." He asked with a innocent look, biting his lips.

"I will complain, I am telling you." She huffed crossing her arms.

"No! Sorry! I am sorry Ayla, but please don't complain." He said, now his tone carrying all regret and apology.

One threat and this guy is a goner.

"Fine. But only if you'll save me the Gulab Jamuns." She said placing her hands on her waist, trying to look intimidating.

Well, she could only try.

"Done! Don't worry about that." He said, releasing a breath of relief, now devising a plan on how to steal the Gulab Jamuns under every pair of gossiping ladies eyes that were present here for the participation in the function.

"Fine then. You can leave." She nodded, her head raised high trying to tower his 6 ft height.

And again in no sense she could achieve her goal.

Placing the dupatta back in the correct form on her lean shoulders as it was giving her trouble since the beginning, she turned her gaze over the delicacies kept on the corner that was for today's dinner. She could smell the lingering smell of her favourite, Gulab Jamuns. Gulping down her saliva hardly, she turned back towards  the stage with a pout where the Mehendi rituals were happening.

//////////

"Aaa." Ayla called out to Tanvi who opened her mouth wide, taking the bite of Biryani.

"Here." Ayla lifted the glass of orange juice for her to drink as her hands were busy with the artists who were applying Mehendi.

While her hand hold the glass of juice was held out towards Tanvi, her gaze was again over the Gulab Jamuns, that were rapidly decreasing because of the Aunties who kept on taking them.

First, second, third and some even the fourth!

What if Tarun is not able to save them for her?

And splash!

The glass was held out a level ahead because of which the juice fell down the lap of Ayla as Tanvi turned her face towards Ayla who didn't know about her holding the glass in front of her mouth.

Her dress was completely ruined because of the juice. This surely looked bad.

The material of the ethnic suit was clinging to her body because of the wetness and it only made her almost gag as Ayla had always been someone who loved keep herself prim and proper, without any trace of anything on her clothes.

"Tanvi!" She huffed, giving a look of disbelief to her friend.

"I am sorry Ayla. I didn't know you had the glass in front of me. Now, just go and change fast." Tanvi said with an apologetic smile.

"But I don't have any other dress here except the one I was wearing the whole day before the function." She pouted, slumping down her shoulders in sadness.

"Just see your bag if you have any other dress or you can dig through my closet." Tanvi said with a small smile. The apology was still present in her eyes.

"Okay. Where is my bag anyway? You told me you asked someone to keep it in a room when I was doing your braid." Ayla asked raising her eyebrows.

"Uhh- I guess it's in the room five doors left to the hall on the second floor." Tanvi replied, looking all too busy as if she was thinking.

"You guess? You guess? I had bought my favourite perfume today and I swear if it gets lost then I will make you pay!" She gritted out, pointing a warning finger towards Tanvi who gulped in response.

"You should go before it messes everything more." Tanvi suggested looking at her ruined suit.

"Fine."

With a big sigh, she got up from the mattress she was sitting on beside Tanvi and went to the direction of staircase.

Her mind then wandered on the ultimate location of her bag that Tanvi had told.

Second floor meant the most silent floor of this mansion. Most of the time, it was empty. There was only his room there except the guest room which were plenty down as well because of which no one had to use the second floor. He had his whole privacy. Whether it was early in the morning or the afternoon or even late in the night, no one seemed to go there and it benefitted him a lot because of the usual late night coming back from the office.

She frowned thinking more about the left, right, 3 doors, one door or whatever the heck Tanvi had told her. Damn it, she had forgotten everything Tanvi had told.

Being already at the second floor, her laziness took over the thought of getting back downstairs of asking Tanvi again about the room.

The decision of looking into every room felt better than any other option right now.

And with this she began to open the door of the first ever door that came in her sight. The room inside was almost plain. With the little furniture and everything, it was evident that this was a guest room but there was no sight of any bag, that basically was hers.

The next door to it felt weird to her. She had this nagging feeling in her head as if she shouldn't open this.

Scurrying all those thoughts away, she tried to open the door but it was comparatively heavier than the previous one.

Finally, she stepped in the room and her eyes went wide at the most beautiful room she had ever seen. Every single time she would enter this room, she would feel all giddy and excited as if it was the first time.

The dark vibes and theme was too much, but she unfortunately felt intrigued by it. For God's sake she wanted to explore it like a kid!

The room had a strong male scent lingering around as she walked inside some more, now standing exactly in the middle.

This cologne is definitely his'. She thought deeply in her mind and unknowingly a blush had crept up onto her face.

"Ayla?" A deep, husky voice reached up her ears making her jerk back to the source of it.

A voice that always passes shivers down her spine.

There he was standing in a black kurta and the same colored pajama, hands folded across his chest that displayed the strong veins. The kurta enabled her to see his bulging muscles on the hard chest. He was barefooted and she being the idiot she was loved the sight of it.

As her eyes went on his hair, she noticed them slicked back like always with a shine evident in its blackness. They matched quite well with his stormy grey eyes that she could get lost into, seeing how much secrets and emotions he carries that he tries his best to not show.

"Ayla." He repeated in the same deep, husky tone making her snap out of the dirty thoughts.

"Huh?" She voiced out dumbfounded.

"What are you looking at?" He asked taking steps towards her direction that involuntarily made her take a few steps back.

"I- I-"

She stammered in his proximity.

Damn his gaze!

"You?" He repeated, caging her petite frame between the wall and his hard figure.

"I was looking for my bag." She said in an almost inaudible voice, clutching his biceps as it was the only thing she could support onto.

"Which bag?" He husked out, nuzzling his face in her neck where he could clearly feel her vanilla scent that he absolutely loves about her.

Why does he has to do these things, huh?

"T-The one I brought my clothes in. Brown one." She replied to his question, almost swooning over the sight of him so amazingly dressed and specially squirting the sandalwood and spice scent cologne.

"And what are you doing in my room?" He questioned, placing butterfly kisses right on the nape of her neck making her squirm with pleasure.

She bit her bottom lip so as to not let out any sound while he trailed his lips alongside her jaw, back to her slender neck.

"I- I didn't know in what room the bag was. I was just-" She was rambling her response but as soon as her brown eyes met his stormy grey ones, she noticed them turning a shade darker making her knees go weak.

"Shh. Why are you panicking? I just simply asked a question." He cut her off, snaking an arm to her petite waist.

"I am sorry." She said blinking her big, doe like eyes innocently making him let out a laugh. His laugh had always been something to die for.

And it was a benefit to her as she could see him laughing so freely, all because of her.

"What happened to your clothes?" He questioned, running his calloused hand over the big spot of juice on her suit.

"Juice got spilled on it." She pouted, glancing at her clothes.

"Why are you so clumsy?" He shook his head as if fed up with it.

"I am not! Go away, I need to change." She said, her mood turning sour as he'd again brought up the topic of the things he doesn't like about her.

His eyes softened as he noticed her scrunched up face meaning she was angry. This girl has the worst mood swings.

"Ayla-" He called out to her who didn't pay any heed to him and kept on walking away, now standing at a good distance from him.

"Come-"

"I am going. Tanvi must be waiting for me." She mumbled, looking at him with a blank look.

"But-"

"Be ready with your apology Mr. Grover." She shouted as she exited his room, jumping every now and then to which he could only shake his head tiredly.

//////////

"What the hell." She muttered frustratingly, trying to push the strands of hair back that were falling in front of her face.

Her right hand was adorned with beautiful mehendi that was left to dry while her left hand was with the artist who was busy applying to it as well.

The biggest of mistake she did in this was not to tie her hair before sitting for getting Mehendi done on her hands. And the fact her stomach was begging continuously to feed him some food wasn't that appealing.

Her eyes were continuously searching for the troublemaker, Tarun so she could make him get some lovely Gulab Jamuns.

A whiff of strong male cologne reached up her nose making her swoon in contentment but as soon as she remembered their previous encounter, she shook her head like a small child, back to a blank look.

She felt his hand reach up her slender neck making her eyes go wide at his PDA. But she soon came to realization that he had collected her soft black hair to braid them.

She could feel his strong forearm touching her back and her heartbeat increased as she noticed that they weren't sitting in much of a gap.

"People are staring." She voiced out, barely audible.

"They're admiring. Not staring." He replied in a husky tone, almost done with braiding her hair.

"Wooho, PDA huh?" Tarun's teasing voice reached up her ears making her go crimson while the man behind her gave him a look of 'Don't you dare mess with me right now.'

"I-It's not like that." Ayla stammered.

"Then how is it like, jaaneman? Anyways, I sorry but I couldn't save you any Gulab Jamuns. Those aunties ate like everything." He said scratching the back of his neck making her heart sink down.

"You promised Tarun." She reasoned, with a big pout.

"Jaaneman? Dare you call her the same again and see what all I am going to do with you." He growled, making sweat beads appear on Tarun's forehead.

"I- I am s-sorry B-Bro." With his, Tarun ran away from the both of then and Ayla could only pout at his retreating figure now that she came to know she won't be able to have any Gulab Jamuns.

A spoon was forwarded towards her direction making her jerk back a little as soon as the delicious smell reached up her nose, there was this big smile on her lips.

Damn him always taking care of her needs!

How come was he able to find the Gulab Jamuns?

"W-Where did you get this from?" She asked, taking the bite from the spoon in his hands.

"I saved them for you." He simply replied making her smile in between which she soon covered up.

"Why?" She asked, this time even taking a bigger bite, barely controlling herself from moaning at the amazing taste of Gulab Jamun.

"Is there a reason I shouldn't?" He teasingly asked back.

"There is." She nodded with a known look.

"And what is it?" He again asked, taking her hand in his' to see them adorned with the beautiful Mehendi.

"Because there are already multiple of girls waiting for The Atharva Grover to give them his signature smirk, full off arrogance. And here you're passing the time with me because of which they're boring holes in my head. My Mehendi might not even result in a good and dark color because of it, you know." She voiced out, looking at him sideways with her brown eyes.

"You better shut that mouth of yours Ayla if you don't want me to do it. In front of everyone." He whispered the last part, biting down on her earlobe making her gasp.

And as always yer heart went doing flips, a wavered breath coming out of her mouth in breaks at the amount of pleasure she got due to their proximity.

Her eyes turning wide as saucers moved towards the surroundings to have a look where she noticed the aunties were either busy in gossiping or eating. The family members were busy admiring the bride and happiness in the atmosphere. Some females were giving the looks of envy or jealousy while some men of creepiness. Tanvi, Tarun and Atharva, the pair of three siblings' cousins were giving teasing looks who saw what just happened and as soon as she turned her gaze towards the hard headed human sitting just beside her, there was only fire in his eyes. Fire in his eyes to claim on what he has set his eyes on. Ayla Sharma.

******

○How was the chapter readers?

○So...what do you think about the new story concept? Why do you think Atharva is possessive over Ayla?

Love,
Myra❤