मुझ को... इतना बतायें कोई
कैसे तुझसे दिल न लगाये कोई
रब्बा ने तुझको बनाने में
कर दी है हुसैन की खाली तिजोरिया
काजल की सियाही से लिखी
है तूने जाने कितने की लव स्टोरी
****
"Ruhaan, are you sure?" I asked him, standing next to him. "Yeah," he said, giving a small smile. Holding hands, we headed towards Rajveer bhaiya's room, his warm hands reassuring.
Stopping at the door, I stepped aside, letting him take the lead. His hands disappeared into the pockets of his grey sweatpants, reemerging with a metallic key. As he slid it into the small lock, he met my gaze with a subtle, tight-lipped smile.
I responded with a blink, silently conveying my support. With a nudge, Ruhaan pushed the door ajar.
The door creaked open, revealing a room covered in dust.
We walked in hand in hand, and I could feel Ruhaan's tight grip. His eyes wandered around, studying every detail. The room brought back memories, especially for him.
"Ready to start?" I asked Ruhaan, offering an encouraging smile. He nodded in agreement.
We both grabbed dusting rags, and I requested Sumi Kaki to fetch a mop for us. With the tools in hand, we began the process of reviving this forgotten room.
A few days earlier, Mrs. Trisha, during one of Ruhaan's counseling sessions, suggested he confront his past. That's when we decided to unlock this room, clean it ourselves, and infuse it with positive memories.
"I'll take care of the bookshelves," Ruhaan murmured, his voice carrying a visible weight of pain, yet determination.
"Sure, I'll start by taking down these dusty curtains; they desperately need a wash," I replied, making my way toward the window.
Each corner of the room held a story, and with every wiped surface, we were not just cleaning but also preserving fragments of happiness. We were in this together.
"Look, it's his yearbook," Ruhaan said, passing me a thick book with a blue cover. As we opened the book and flipped through the pages, we finally arrived at a specific one. There, his picture adorned the page-a small, cool smile on his face as he held a trophy in his hands.
"He looks so much like you," I mentioned, comparing the features. The resemblance was uncanny, with perhaps only differences in hair color and jawline.
"I'll clean the dust off the books later, let's just set them aside for now," I suggested, and he nodded, piling the books in a corner and starting the cleaning process.
Throughout the cleaning, Ruhaan's face remained a mix of emotions. Every object, every picture seemed to open a floodgate of memories, each more painful than the last.
As he carefully wiped the dust off the trophy in the photograph, his hands trembled slightly. It wasn't just a piece of metal, it was a symbol of achievements, of moments frozen in time.
We worked tirelessly until evening, and as we finished, a sense of accomplishment washed over me. I felt proud of what we had achieved.
The atmosphere had shifted- the once heavy room now radiated brightness and happiness. Now clean and airy, bathed in the soft glow of the lights from the entire Wing D that illuminated the palace. The windows were wide open, allowing a gentle breeze to dance through.
"Ruhaan," I called out.
"Boliye, humari jaan," he replied, turning to face me with a small smile, his eyes meeting mine.
"One more thing left," I reminded him, and he nodded in agreement.
Walking toward the now-fresh bed, he picked up the photo frame and strolled back to the blank wall. Slowly and with gentle precision, he placed it on the wall.
Moving backward, his arms slid down my waist as I nestled my head on his chest. We stood there in a quiet moment, both of us gazing at the framed photograph now adorning the wall.
The framed photo showcased all the Rajvansh siblings, capturing a moment from their childhood.
Rajveer bhaiya, just thirteen, stood tall among them. The others, in descending order, included Ruhaan at nine, Saana and Rudra at six or seven, Vaahi at four, and the newest addition, little Kushal, a newborn.
Feeling a sense of completion, I suggested, "Let's go back?" Ruhaan agreed, hugging me tightly.
Exiting the room, Vaidehi maa was there with a teary smile. She gave a small thumbs up, and I returned the gesture. She went into bhaiya's room, perhaps to live the memories we uncovered.
Ruhaan and I made our way back to our room, the weight of emotions still lingering in the air as we closed the door behind us.
"Thank you," Ruhaan said, his gaze fixed on a distant point, lost in his own thoughts.
"Not so fast. I need you to do something for me in return," I said, crossing my arms as he looked at me with confusion.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"One minute, mendak!" I exclaimed, dashing to my closet to retrieve the little box I had prepared.
Skincare time! I'm about to unleash these fantastic masks on him!
I exclaimed, hunting for the large yellow box in the closet. With the treasure in hand, I hurried back to the bedroom where Ruhaan patiently waited, gazing out from the balcony.
"TA-DA!" I announced, presenting the box to him. His expression shifted from confusion to sheer horror as he opened it.
"Yeh sab kya hai?" he asked, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Milkshake hai," I deadpanned, reveling in the confusion that crossed his face, complete with a frown.
"Kya matlab kya hai hai? Skin care ke products hai!" I clarified, accompanied by an eye roll, but he still stared at me in utter disbelief.
In an attempt to lighten the mood, I sprinted to the TV, turned on YouTube for some lively background music, and then dashed back. "Okay, so which mask do you want? Strawberry or chocolate?" I asked, holding up two vibrant face masks with a mischievous grin.
Ruhaan squinted at the face masks in my hands, his expression caught between annoyance and amusement.
"Yeh sab... mujhe lagta hai yeh kuch horror movie ke props hain," he remarked, eyeing the masks suspiciously.
I rolled my eyes, "Arrey baba, yeh koi horror movie nahi hai. This is the secret to flawless skin. Now, choose your weapon - strawberry ya chocolate?"
"Meera, chhodo ye mask, I'll make you choose the flavor for something much better," Ruhaan declared, rising from the couch with a smirk, leaving me staring at him with wide eyes.
"HEY, NO, STAY AWAY!" I exclaimed, standing my ground.
"But why?" he asked, adopting a whiny tone that only fueled my skepticism. The audacity of this chidku! Why? Why?
"What do you mean, why? I'm still sore from last night! Aapko koi matlab hai ki nahi?" I retorted, giving him a stern look.
"But-" "No 'buts,' sit your 'butt' down on the couch right now," I insisted, grabbing the strawberry mask with determination.
"Now, I'm going to put on the strawberry mask, and your skin will glow," I said with a smile. Ruhaan looked at me, clearly exhausted.
"Will my face turn red because of the mask?" he asked, and I huffed in annoyance.
"Are you sure you went to Australia to study?" I said sarcastically. He nodded genuinely, making me playfully hit my head.
"You know what? Just shush!" I said, peeling off the mask from the packaging to apply it on his face.
I took a dollop of the strawberry mask and began spreading it on Ruhaan's face, making sure to cover every inch evenly. He winced and hissed, "It's so cold."
Cry baby much, I thought with a playful grin.
As I continued with the application, Ruhaan's exaggerated reactions provided a backdrop of amusing commentary. "Meera, are you sure this isn't a punishment for something?" he quipped, his eyes squinting against the perceived chilliness of the mask.
"Doesn't matter." I teased making him huff.
Have a taste of your own medicine, Mr chidchida.
Once satisfied with the even application, I spoke, "Now, let's add some extra spa vibes." I handed him cucumber slices for his eyes, and he looked at me with a mix of skepticism and amusement.
"Really?" he chuckled nervously, placing the cucumber slices over his closed eyes. I couldn't help but laugh at the sight.
"Wait, there's more!" I declared mischievously, producing a small container of skin glitter. I gently applied it to his hands, watching as the glitter caught the light. He wouldn't know.
"What are you putting on now?" Ruhaan mumbled, his voice muffled by the cucumber slices over his eyes. I kept quiet for a moment, enjoying the suspense. "Just some moisturizer," I replied casually, and he hmmed in response.
"My chotu sa baby!" I cooed, unable to resist teasing him a bit more.
Just then, a soft knock echoed on the door. Ruhaan, lost in the background music, didn't seem to notice.
"It's open!" I called out, and at that moment, a sudden, loud shriek pierced the air.
"AHHHH MUMMA BHOOT!" Rudra's voice rang out at full volume, making me jump and shout in surprise, which, in turn, startled Ruhaan.
The cucumbers covering his eyes went flying as he jumped from the sofa. "What the fuck!" he gritted out, shooting a bewildered and slightly annoyed look at Rudra, who stood there with a horrified expression.
"What the fuck kya, what the fuck! Aise koi heart attack deta hai? hum mar jate toh?" Rudra retorted, holding his heart dramatically and breathing heavily.
"Shanti hota." Ruhaan muttered, receiving a glare from me.
"What are you doing here?" Ruhaan asked, settling back on the couch, and Rudra took a seat next to him. "Aapke liye files laya tha, sign chahiye," Rudra replied with a shaky voice, his gaze still fixed on Ruhaan's mask in mild apprehension.
"Leave that! Now that you're here too, let me put on a mask for you too. Wait, I'll get the chocolate one," I said, rushing to the box. However, Rudra swiftly stood up.
"Bhabhi, no! Actually, humari bohot achi reputation hai. Yeh sab karte hue pakda gaya toh mera kya hoga," Rudra explained, giving Ruhaan a skeptical side-eye.
"Meera, get the mask. He isn't leaving the room without one," Ruhaan insisted, his tone a mix of amusement and determination.
"Hey, no! Bye!" Rudra declared, attempting to make a swift exit, but Ruhaan held onto his elbow, preventing his escape and gently pushing him back onto the couch.
"Sit down," Ruhaan gritted, his expression somewhere between amusement and stubbornness.
"I'm sat," Rudra mumbled, giving a resigned look at the chocolate paste in my hand, clearly horrified at the prospect of becoming a part of our impromptu spa night.
"See, it's just a bit of fun. And who knows, your skin might thank you for it," I reassured him, trying to ease his obvious discomfort.
Ruhaan, still holding Rudra hostage on the couch, couldn't hide the smirk on his face.
I laughed and approached Rudra with the chocolate mask. "Relax, Rudra. This is the secret to a glowing skin." I applied the mask with exaggerated care, enjoying the hilarity of the situation.
"I can't believe I'm doing this," he grumbled, glancing at Ruhaan for solidarity.
"Bhabhi-ma, which one should I submit?" Kushaal questioned, entering the room with his laptop in hand. As he read the contents on the screen, he looked up, and his eyes met Ruhaan's and Rudra's. The sudden surprise nearly caused him to drop his laptop.
"Shit," he muttered in a hushed tone, desperately gripping onto his laptop.
"I'll come by later," he quickly declared, turning around to leave, but Rudra's swift intervention stopped him.
"Welcome to the party, Kushal," Rudra spoke through gritted teeth, pulling the poor lad to somehow fit next to him.
"Go on, Meera," Rudra urged, and I couldn't help but grin mischievously.
"If I'm going down, I'm taking everyone down with me." Mendak muttered making me look at him in disbelief.
"Kushal, which flavor?" I asked, presenting him with the various mask options.
"Mere Ko mere room mein jaane do, Bhabhi-ma. Maine aapka kya bigada hai?" Kushal pleaded, making me frown.
"It's going to be so much fun! Give this a shot," I said, showing him the honey mask.
Cursing his fate internally, a sentiment that was evident on his face, Kushaal reluctantly allowed me to apply the honey mask on him.
As I was delicately applying the honey mask on a somewhat resigned Kushaal, the room suddenly witnessed the entrance of Saana and Vaahi. They stood at the doorway, eyes widening at the unexpected spectacle before them.
Three brothers, each with a different face mask, were seated with expressions ranging from amused to mildly horrified.
"What on earth is happening here?" Saana exclaimed, a burst of laughter barely contained in her voice.
Vaahi, not one to be left out, grinned mischievously. "Oh, look at these handsome faces! Kiska swayamvar hai?"
Rudra, still holding Kushaal hostage, shot them a glare. "Mind your own business, Saana."
But Saana, fueled by the sheer hilarity of the scene, couldn't resist teasing. "Oh, Bhaiya, you never looked better! Is this the new trend?"
Vaahi chimed in, "I must say, the honey mask suits you, Kushaal. Adds a certain sweetness to your serious demeanor."
Kushaal, with the honey mask on his face, sighed in defeat. "Can someone please explain what's going on?"
Ruhaan, attempting to salvage a semblance of dignity, motioned towards the array of face masks. "It's a skincare night, apparently. Don't ask."
"Oh, I love this, Bhabhi-sa!" Saana and Vaahi exclaimed, both rushing over to give me hugs. I couldn't help but grin at their infectious enthusiasm.
In no time, the two of them had pulled out their phones, gleefully recording the brothers who seemed the least interested, their attention more on the masks than the impromptu documentary in the making.
After the chaotic spa night, Rudra, Kushaal, Saana, and Vaahi left to clean off their masks, leaving me alone with Ruhaan in the room.
"Did you like the mask?" I inquired, a playful smile on my face as I straddled him. His face glowed, and the skin felt remarkably soft.
"Yeah, sure, why not," he replied with a hint of sarcasm, prompting me to playfully push him back. "Why are you like this, grumpy monkey?" I asked, forming a pout that he slowly kissed away.
"I love you!" I declared, my smile returning, and he reciprocated by kissing my forehead with a tender expression. "I love you, Meera," he whispered.
There was a knock on the door again, and Ruhaan sighed in annoyance. "Who is it?"
"Rawal-sa, Rani-sa ka bodyguard hai, apne unhe bulaya tha na," Kaka's voice echoed from outside the room, and Ruhaan shook his head, cursing his fate.
I stood up from his lap, opening the door, and Ashrut entered the room, greeting me respectfully, to which I smiled in return.
"Rana-sa," he said, standing there with his hands behind his back, adopting a military pose.
"As for your duty goes, as punishment, you will now be assigned to Princess Saana for nine months," Ruhaan informed Ashrut, causing him to choke on air.
"What? I already apologized, even though it wasn't my fault that Rani-sa never charges her damn phone," Ashrut retorted, giving me a scrunched-up look. It was clear Ashrut believed he deserved better than this.
"What makes you think I care?" Ruhaan replied, standing up and making Ashrut grit his teeth. "I'll quit," Ashrut threatened, his muscles bulging with anger.
"You are under a contract for one year; good luck with that. You are dismissed," Ruhaan stated, leaving Ashrut looking at him with a mix of anger and hatred.
"A king? More like a chamkila sitara," Ashrut muttered, glancing at Ruhaan's glittery arms, as he left the room with a sullen expression.
"That was mean!" I exclaimed, but Ruhaan looked at the door with a frown.
"Chamkila sitara?" he questioned and looked down, lost in thought.
"Wait a damn minute, why is there glitter on my skin?" Ruhaan exclaimed, his eyes widening as he noticed his sparkling arms. "Look, it's sparkling!" I said with a mischievous smile, but he looked at me like I had lost my mind.
"This is your fault, now help me wash it off," he spoke with narrowed eyes.
"What do you mean, go take a shower!" I replied, feigning innocence.
"Oh, you don't just get to get away with this like that," he muttered, and before I could comprehend, I found myself shrieking in the air as he effortlessly carried us both to the washroom.
"Ruhaan! You mendak! Put me down!" I protested, but he shook his head, dropping me onto the counter.
"Shower with me," Ruhaan declared, catching me off guard as I looked at him in disbelief.
"No, no," I protested, shaking my head. I had already showered today; there was no need for another one.
"I wasn't asking," he retorted, peeling off his T-shirt and looking at me expectantly to do the same.
I sighed, realizing that arguing might be useless. With a playful yet hesitant demeanor, I began removing my clothes, each piece falling away as our eyes stayed locked on each other. Ruhaan mirrored my actions, undressing until we both stood naked, a silent agreement passing between us.
Together, we entered the shower, and Ruhaan turned the knob, letting hot water cascade over us. Throughout, our eyes never strayed from one another.
Slowly, his lips met mine, and suddenly the atmosphere became charged with an electrifying energy. Our lips engaged in a passionate dance, each vying for dominance, but, as always, he emerged victorious.
Just wait until the day I join the gym, then we'll see. It's unfair right now.
His hands moved down to my clit and I knew it, I won't be walking for a few days for sure.
****
A/N
I present to you Bonus 1.
Bonus 2 would include the much anticipated holi scene.