WHAM!!!

Chandni hit the plate containing the bowl of Haldi that Advay Singh Raizada held in his hand, as his hand stretched towards her to apply Haldi on her cheeks, splattering it all over his face and clothes.

How could she do Haldi with him? Haldi rasam is the most symbolic ritual of a would be bride and groom, marking the beginning of the wedding rituals. She only agreed to get ready for the ritual on the command of her Maa, because they were buying some time, till PPji came back with the Police Commissioner. But as she watched him with her tear stung eyes, walking slowly towards her, something snapped inside her.

She always felt a mixture of emotions whenever he was anywhere near her. Fear, intrigue but at the same time, a strong pull and attraction towards him that was beyond her control. She cursed herself for her feelings towards him many times, but still was unable to answer herself, as to why she felt such familiarity and bonding towards him. Just like every other time, a shiver ran up her spine at the way he looked at her, as if he owned her, as he stretched his hand towards her cheek.

Was it because she was inexperienced of any male admiration? She had no close friends or knew no one but her childhood friend Dev. Dev was the one was she was supposed to be married to, he should have been the one applying Haldi to her.

And the moment Dev's memory filled her heart, she found the courage. She couldn't put up with the facade, whether PPji was here or not. And she hit the plate, more in desperation than defiance.

"I can't let you touch me, or apply Haldi to me. I can only do this ritual with that person who is destined to be my partner." She declared, still trembling inwardly at his dark gaze.

She could see the anger and shock in his eyes, but he didn't try to stop her, as she scrambled back to her room, to hold on to the only thing that would give her solace and strength in such difficult times, Dev's stone.

Advay couldn't believe that Chandni had the courage to throw the Haldi back at him. He was momentarily distracted, forgot his surroundings as he appreciated how beautiful she looked while trying to apply the Haldi to her, and wasn't prepared for her sudden reaction.

Anger rose in him, thick and hot, but he couldn't bring himself to stop her or admonish her.

So... she was only going to let Haldi applied to her by someone who was destined for her, he smirked to himself. He could see the relieved and even jeery reactions from all her family members as the whole bowl of Haldi splattered all over his face and clothes, but he just ignored them. He took a good measure of Haldi in his palms and applied liberally all over his face.

Well, it was time to show Chandni who decided her destiny, he thought, as he walked towards her room.

Chandni quickly opened her wardrobe to grab the stone gifted to her by Dev, which she kept safely all these years, which still gave her courage and strength, just like Dev professed all those years ago.

"Dev, I wish you were here with me today, then that Advay Singh Raizada would have never dared to come anywhere near me." She whispered to the stone, as she held it close to her heart, and let all the tears she held back till then, roll on her cheeks.

She heard a loud bang and as she turned around to look, Advay just entered her room looking like a predator on his prowl. She gasped and Dev's stone slipped away from her grasp. As he walked towards her, she scrambled back towards the back of the room, hit a table to the back of her knees in her usual clumsy way, and was about to fall.

Advay shouted "Watch out!!" striding quickly to her and grabbed her hand, just like every other time. As he pulled her towards him, he could see the tear stricken cheeks and helplessness in her face, and his heart melted momentarily.

Why does he feel so vulnerable when it comes to her, even though he knew how her cunning lies destroyed his whole family? Why can't he just hate her, pure and simple and get all the things done, as he originally intended? Why this pull and protectiveness towards her which still binds him and doesn't let him get away from her?

He was so frustrated with his conflicting emotions all the time, that sometime ago, he almost thought of quitting everything and going back to England. But how could he, he still hadn't immersed the ashes of his parents all these years; he doesn't even have their ashes. He still had to avenge their death. Thoughts of his parents steeled his mind, even as he looked at his beautiful fiancée in his arms, shivering to his touch, as always.

He gently wound his right arm around her waist, and felt her body shudder at his merest touch. As he locked his gaze with her, he noticed that she wasn't crying anymore but looking at him as if bracing herself. And he couldn't help himself appreciating how pretty she looked, even in this state.

His Chandu, Chandni...

Chandni wondered what was going through Advay's mind, as she looked at the conflict in his eyes. Was there a slight chance that, he was not that forceful and hateful person who had pushed this relationship on to her, binding her to him forever?

"You have fulfilled the Haldi Rasam from your end Chandni, by applying Haldi to me, but I haven't done my part yet." He rasped, as he slowly let his hand slip into her hair at the back of her head, while his thumb grazed along her ear and jaw.

As he slowly bent his head towards her face, Chandni understood what he was about to do and closed her eyes, gulping for more air, and praying inwardly that Advay wouldn't hear how loud her heart was thudding.

Even with all the Haldi spread around his face, the moment he got so close her, and this was the first time he ever got this close, Advay could smell the wonderful flowery aroma from her body.

He could feel her body tense as he bent his head down, but more than her response, he was surprised at his own response to her. It was like, every small movement and gesture from her was drawing a more potent response from his own body. He realised to his own shock, how much he wanted to touch her, desperately!!

As he finally touched his Haldi filled cheek against her cheek, an inevitable gasp emanated from Chandni, fanning his neck, as if she was holding her breath back till then. A violent shiver ran through her body, and his hand automatically grabbed her waist even more tightly.

But Advay wasn't sure if his movement was to control her shudder or was an involuntary response of his body to her touch and smell.

Chandni couldn't help a sigh escape as he touched her so intimately; she could feel his rough hand gripping her waist tightly and was thankful for it, because her senses have already gone haywire. Her knees went weak, and she thought she might fall, if it wasn't for him holding her so tightly with his strong hand.

As he slowly rubbed his stubbled cheek against hers, spreading the Haldi all along her right cheek, a hot current spread through her, and she desperately wanted to hold on to ...him but ended up fisting her lehenga tightly.

Advay could feel how soft her skin was, even behind all the Haldi and he involuntarily pulled her even closer, as he moved his face back from right cheek. His face and lips were just inches away and he paused, as he drank in every feature of her face up so close.

Her wide forehead, fine cheek bones and sharp nose, and quivering lips which looked so kissable. He desperately wished that she would open her eyes though, so he could see all the emotions going through her, even though he could feel the half of them, being so close.

Resisting the temptation to kiss her, he proceeded to rub the Haldi from his cheek onto her left cheek, and this time, her reaction was even sharper.  He couldn't help himself but pull her closer against him, as she grabbed on to his waist with both her hands. As he slowly drew back his face from hers, Advay wasn't sure whose heart was thudding more rapidly now, his or hers.

Chandni slowly opened her eyes and lifted her gaze onto Advay's face, and was surprised to find that he looked as vulnerable as she was, even though momentarily.

Advay observed how flushed Chandni looked, as if she had never been touched by a man so intimately before. Was that true though? Just the very thought made him so filled with jealousy and anger that the trance he was in was finally broken.

"Haldi Mubarak Ho Chandni" He hissed against her face and drew away from her, freeing her from his embrace. As she stumbled to find her balance back, he swiftly turned around, unable to contain his pain and anguish anymore from all the pent up jealousy and frustration, and walked quickly back towards the door.

"Stop! Please Stop! Dev!!" Chandni almost shouted from behind, and Advay instantly stilled, his heart filled with fear. How did Chandni know he was Dev? He gave her no clue, never revealed his identity. What was he going to do now? How to handle this new situation?

At the same time, a part of him, was extremely happy to hear her call his name after all these years; he just wanted to hear his name again in her voice. All these thoughts buzzed in his head as he slowly swirled around to find her running towards him.

^----------^

First of all I would like to thank three best friends of mine without whose support and encouragement, I wouldn't have started writing this FF.

@Rimi_BS @TheFirstRays and MB_247

When I originally came up with this plot idea for a different take on AdNi story, I wasn't sure at all, but they encouraged me a lot and helped me fine tune my ideas for the story. Thank you so much girls.

So the first chapter is finally up. How did you find it? To all my new readers, your feedback and comments are like oxygen to me. I strive on them and feel encouraged to write more because of them.

So, please, let me know how you found the story, and don't forget to vote if you like it.

I would only describe particular moments more vividly,and may skip some parts from the show altogether, because they are not essential for this story.

Love you always

Sesi