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Hello Lovelies! 

I hope you are doing great and that you enjoyed the last chapter! <3 This one is short! 

Hope you enjoy it! Happy Reading! <3

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The aarti ended with Anuraag's slow chants of "Jai dev, Jai dev!" As the aarti finished, it was quiet. Everyone is in their loka (world) of devotion, the beats and flute still playing in the back of their heads.

Akshita and Amarpal had their eyes closed, panting as they thanked god for everything he had done for them. Both of them opened their eyes and shared a knowing look.

The Malhotras opened their eyes. The youngsters drank some much-needed water. A few servants came to them with towels as they wiped their faces.

The guests sit back in silence, everyone flowing in the ocean of devotion.

Akshita closed her eyes, taking in the devotion. She thanked her ishta devata, Shri Krishna, for everything he had done for her and her brother.

Soon the guests were requested to sit for the Prasad. After the bhajan, the youngsters, with the help of the maids, carried the musical instruments and pooja supplies inside, making space for the cake cutting.

Soon, Rasika and Jashith were seen distributing the Prasad while Akshita, Anuraag, and Amarpal had disappeared in the house.

The three of them were sleeping on the bed with their heads joined, right below the ceiling fan. All of them were tired and their hands were aching. Especially Akshita had to agree; she played a lot harder than she did during practice, but she didn't regret it one bit.

Akshita sighed heavily. 

Oh, the things she would do to just sleep there, letting the soft mattress engulf her into a deep sleep.

Just as the thought occurred, she heard her mom call for her, "Akshita! Yell idare yalla?" (Akshita? Where are y'all?) "ill idave!" (We're here!) they all shout back in synchrony, as they hear Anumita's anklets jingling closer.

"Are are! Yen idu?" (Are are! What is this?) "Sust agide amma, hogaaa kiri kiri mad beda!" (We are tired mother, go awayyy, don't irritate us.) Akshita says, while the boys just lay like lifeless bodies on the mattress.

Anumita chuckles at them, but she doesn't say anything and leaves, closing the door. She knew the kids had worked hard for this. They practiced day and night after Anuraag would come from his Art School. She was very proud of them; they sounded just like professionals, so she let them be.

Anuraag sighed heavily as he somehow got the strength to get up and sit on the bed. "Our bhajan was great!" he said, his eyes glistening. "Umhm," both the siblings replied with their eyebrows raised. He chuckles at them, "I can't even think about how much your hand must be aching right now, Akshu. You were beating that poor drum like a crazy woman," he said, shaking his head.

"Adre yeno agali, yesth energy bant nanna kai nalli, helik illa, I honestly thought I would mess up because I was so tired already," (But whatever, the amount of energy that came into my hands at that moment was unbelievable,) she said in a low voice and it seemed and Amarpal had let sleep take over as didn't reply.

"Oi! Amar!" Akshita woke him up, pinching his bicep. He got up with a jolt, "Yenoo?" (What mannn?) he asked in a tired voice, his eyes still closed as Akshita and Anuraag chuckled at him.

"You know what, we'll stay here till after the cake-cutting thing. If we step out of this room, then Amma will give us work after work. Better we stay here so then we can eat peacefully after everyone's gone." Akshita says as she lays her back on the headrest.

"Good Idea..."

They snickered, hearing Amarpal's soft snores, but Akshita had to agree he too had been working since the morning. Anuraag takes his hearing aids out and lies in Akshita's lap as she massages his head. Even though he didn't ask, she knew his brain must have been crushing because of the loud beats.

'How do you do this?' Anuraag signed at her. (Reminder: he's hard of hearing and will be deaf in a few years so he's learning sign language (ASL) Akshita too has learnt some sign as she wants to communicate better with him.)

'Do what?' she asked back with her hands. 'You always go out of your way, to help others and take care of others... What about you? Who will take care of you?' he asked, 'Well, what are you all here for?' she asked sillily.

She knew he was talking about her marriage, but she didn't want to talk about it right now. The court of her soul had still not decided against it yet.

'You know what I am talking about Akshita, don't avoid the questions, you said no to 7 guys last month. I mean, yeah, 5 of them were shady, but what about that n-i-r-m-i-t guy?' he asked.

'He seems nice, but there was something in his eyes. I don't know. I didn't feel safe around him.' she signed the truth, opening up to her cousin, who was more like Amarpal, a sibling to her.

"Okay, well, I trust your intuition, but Akshita, you are a very kind and selfless human being. Even when the worst of things have happened to you, you never let them affect your view of the world. Not everyone is like you, not everyone is so kind. I want you to find your guy. Someone you trust and know will never wrong you," he says, looking into her eyes.

She nods. "I will,"

~ 913 Words

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I know it's a short chapter but I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless, <3

I have some very crazy things coming up! 

I mean, I haven't planned this story out tbh, Like I have planned the Plot, but not the execution. I am writing as they come and I think this story may exceed 60 chapters, just a head's up. 

You may be wondering why a party is taking up 8 chapters but trust me this is the foundation of the story! 

Anyway, I just have a few questions to ask y'all! <3

How do you think the story will progress?

Do you think Akshita will agree with Ekansh's Rishta?

What about Mridhula and Anuraag? Do you think they could be something? 

Let me know your thoughts and as always! Don't forget to add this story to your lists and Vote! <3

Kannada Dialogues coming up! <3

Until next time, lovelies <3

~ 1,071 Words