Heya peeps! What's up! It's been ages since I uploaded so here it comes. 1850 words it's is. Enjoy.

P.s: If you need translation for Hindi words do let me know in the comments❤️

Anah's POV

The sunlight hitting my face through the sheer curtains brought a smile to my face. It felt good to be up early today. Rolling onto my side, hugging the soft throw pillow to my chest, moments from yesterday started flooding my mind.

I felt corrupted by a special somebody in a 'very good' way that it felt almost surreal. How some people make you feel huh? Its been going really well between Shourya and me. Since our last small ice cream meet-up we have already gone for lunch and long drive.

At work, things are better, Shresth haven't talked to me or even came anywhere near which was definitely a good point. Though I did informed the authorities about his behaviour an action is yet to be taken.

All in all, things have been fine. Its already been a month since bhai's burial and life now seem to sort out a little for me. I have become more close to Sandhya Di. Yeah I call her di now and offcourse the little bundle of joy Ananya. She can lit any place with her cute giggles.

And how can we forget her handsome chachu? I felt my cheeks heating up as thoughts of him filled my mind. Yes, he is handsome but I will never say that to him. We have started our bitter sweet journey which might lead to marriage but it's too early to say.

Till now we have faced good situations, like family support, zero arguments and have spend good time together. I know one would consider Shresth's situation as a bad thing and definitely it was but I still don't want my heart to outwit my brain.

I want my sanity. Be it love or hate there should always be a balance of either between your heart and brain or else things tend to fall apart. I know I am getting late but I don't want to get up from the bed. My eyes fell on the clock. It was almost 8 in the morning.

Huffing I finally decided to get up. Quickly taking a shower and changing into a soft pink ethnic suit, I pulled the towel from my wet hair as my eyes fell on the picture of me and my brother from our last trip together.

Holding the picture closer to my heart I softly  murmured a prayer for the safety of the gone as a lone tear flew past my eye.

"Even in my happiness, the thought of you never leave my mind bhai. I just want you to know that you will never be forgotten. Always in my heart and never far apart. I promise."

A knock on my door brought me out of my reverie as I got up, putting a scarf casually around my neck. Aunt Nafisa stood there with a cute smile as she ushered me in. Her hands held a few boxes.

"What's in their aunty? Don't tell me that you are offering all that just because they invited me for lunch?" Hushing me she said and I quote ' you leave that decision for me, just prepare yourself '.

Rolling my eyes on that statement of hers, I got up from the bed towards the dressing table and started getting my earrings on.

" You do know this ain't medivel era that a girl is supposed to 'behave' or 'prepare' herself just to go for a lunch. Its high time that you normalise it and instead of arranging a whole assemblage of gifts just hand in a flower bouquet or something"

She shook her head at me and after muttering some non-violent curses in my direction along towards the whole of our generation, she went away taking all of them to be kept in the car.

Indian mothers are infallible.

Giving myself one last look in the mirror, I grabbed my handbag quickly checking through for all of the essentials, I headed downstairs. Saying goodbye to everybody while Aunt Nafisa reminded me atleast ten times which gift belonged to whom and how I should behave, I went towards Shourya's home.

On the way, my mind drifted towards the last conversation with Shourya when he invited me over. " Anah, tomorrow is a small pooja Maa keeps in every six months and then there is lunch afterwards. We would really appreciate if you come?"

"But Shourya, it's an intimate event for family members, I don't want to intrude and-" cutting me off he said "You are special, a very special friend of mine. We are friends right?"

I blushed at his adjectives but nodded nonetheless " Okay I'd come." He was about to say something when his phone rang, he excused and got up. We were done eating so he gestured ' are we done here' I quickly nodded while calling for the bill.

As it came, without delaying, I quickly grabbed it and put the cash inside. Shourya frowned but thankfully didn't said anything due to the call. Giving him a Cheshire grin we proceeded outside.

His arm softly snaked around the small of my back protectively I guess, giving me goosebumps. I looked at him and his jaw seemed so prominent that I might have drooled.

Shourya Singh Rajput is damm attractive.

Blood rushed to my cheeks at the thought and the sudden horn of the vehicles brought me out of my thoughts when I noticed the light already turned green. Quickly rushing past the signal, I started admiring my surroundings.

I was in a greener and calmer neighborhood. My eyes went though the texted address once as I slowed the car down in front of a decently big bunglow. Parking my car I took a deep breath and stepped out while taking my handbag.

I was about to enter when a familiar voice called for me. Came rushing towards me in a cute lil jumpsuit, Anu, with a cheshire grin plastered on her face.

I grinned as she hugged my legs tightly.  "Yay! You came Anah aunty. I was waiting for you since morning. I missed you" I chuckled at her excited voice " I missed you too my dear Anu, I was equally excited to see you again, afterall you are my little pumpkin na ".

She frowned at the nickname. "What happened you don't like pumpkin?". "Chachu calls me tomato and now you calling me pumpkin, not fair".

Before I could say any further Sandhya bhabhi came and hugged me. " You have no idea how eager she was since morning to meet you, it's great you came". I smiled and nodded.

Anu held my hand as we all proceeded inside the house. My eyes raked the surroundings, curiosity kicking in from all the pictures hung in the corner. "I'll give you a tour later but first let's meet maa".

I nodded again. It felt weird. In my house I can't keep my mouth shut but here even a smallest of squeaks make my heart skip a beat. Maybe it's the pressure to impress my in-laws.

Rolling my eyes at the thought soon we stood infront of the small temple located in the courtyard of the house surrounded by plants of all sorts, just divine in a few words. In midst of it sat Gayatri aunty with some flowers in hand.

I took off my footwear as I proceeded Inside the temple courtyard while covering my head with my scarf out of respect. " Pranam aunty". As I bent down to touch her feet while she stopped me in between and embraced me. I smiled as she looked at my face and told me I have grown weaker since the last time she saw me.

Mothers I tell you!

"And beta I think it's time when you should start calling me maa, aunty won't suffice, hmm!" I felt a sudden pang in my heart as faded memories of my mumma started filling in my brain. Swallowing the lump in my throat I barely nodded.

"Umm do you need help with anything? I am very good at making garlands. I can help you if it's okay." The meekness in my voice felt deafening to me demeanour. Like Anah is anything but meek.

Trashing my thoughts in the bin I looked between Bhabhi and aunty, sorry, maa. "Its totally fine if you guys don't want too. Like I understand, please don't feel obligated to say yes, you can say no as well, like it was a pure question and to be honest I am not-" they cut off my ranting by chuckling loudly.

"Oh god Anah you should have seen your face. Nervousness is literally reeking from you. Chill nobody's going to put you in prison for asking that. This is your home too, feel free to help, trust me it's always needed".

Second hand embarassment situation [✓]

We were just kinda not expecting you to know about all this. Like about making garlands and all the pooja rituals. I smiled  "Though I am Muslim but my late great grandmother was hindu. We do have a temple, you might haven't seen it. It's in my maa's office. So yeah, since childhood we celebrated most of the major festivals. I might know a thing or two nothing much."

I looked away as the anxiety kicked in with the mention of maa again. Gayatri aunty sorry maa, it will take time to get the hang of it, held my hands as if giving me assurance that it's okay, things are okay.

" Now now enough of talking lets get back to work, Anirudh and Shourya would be back anytime soon. Anah temple decoration is your duty. Maa and I will see the kitchen , okay maa? " Bhabhi instructed as we gave her a mock salute and proceeded towards our respective stations.

It feels good to be surrounded by such warm people, they remind me of my family. " Can I help you, Anah chachi?" My eyes widen and a blush crept to my cheek at Anu's use of a certain word. "Anu I am not your chachi baby", " But dadi told you to call her maa means you are a daughter just like my mumma hence you are my chachi because of Shourya chachu".

Before I could correct her footsteps approached and entered a certain someone. "Aey! Shoes off mister. Look where you going". Finally he noticed me as a grin appeared on his handsome face. My poor heart.

He rose his hands in surrender and took his shoes off. With his every step my heart thumps. " Anah thank God you are here. I called you three times why didn't you picked? I was worried that you might have got lost afterall you have bad experience with driving on roads." Oh all I wanted was to slap that smirk off his face.

"Chachu, see chachi is going to decorate the mandir".

My eyes widen as the smirk on his face stretches.

"Chachi haan?"

It's going to be a long day Anah!