🖤smashed ciggerate 🖤

The door opened revealing Rudraksh, a tall man in a navy blue kurta.

Rudraksh, Shiv's friend. He stepped, ruffling his dark hair, slightly wet.

"Hey Hero, Ready for your mangni?"

Charming smile placed on his lips as he looked at Shiv, adjusting his kurta, looking at himself in the mirror.

"Ready," he sprayed his perfume on himself, that filled the atmosphere with his smell before settling in.

"What about the man?" he glanced at Rudraksh, turning back.

"No clues" Rudraksh sighed, sitting on the bed."Do you think he will do anything else?"

"Not sure," Shiv murmured, hands on his waist.

"Don't worry, we will do something about it... For now focus on Bhabhi." Rudraksh grinned, lightening his mood.

Shiv nodded with an almost invisible smile.

Both of them made their way towards the hall.

The hall looked like something out of a dream. Silver drapes cascaded from the ceiling like waterfalls in silk.

Crystal chandeliers glowed above. The stage was in the center –  A couch waiting for him, for her.

He stepped in the light in his simple white kurta... but nothing about it felt simple. White was supposed to make him look soft, innocent. Instead it made him look untouchable - like a storm wrapped in calm.

Shiv's outfit

Older women of family surrounded him wishing good luck for his new beginning of life. He bowed down to touch their feet respectfully.

Everyone touched his head, his mother, his bua, his maasi - except one.

Damini Singh Rathore - His grand mother.

She had arrived back after her long travel to Kailash, not so long.

"Us ladki se shaadi ki itni jaldi thi, ki mere bina hi saari taiyari kar li?" Anger laced in her voice.

Shiv smiled, his hands rested on her arm.

"Aap yaha hoti bhi to main aapse taiyari karwata?" He said softly, to lighten her anger

"Ye to bas bahane hai, aur tu kyu kar rha hai us jahil gawar-"

"Dadi ! " His face turned serious, voice firm.

Shiv's mother put her hand on his shoulder, patting softly.

"Let's go."

He silently sat on the couch, waiting for her.

After almost an eternity. -

Devi's POV

"My neck hurts now" I touched back of my neck.

"Sorry Bhabhi, it's almost done now" Aanya finally applied the perfect shade of lipstick after trying almost ten.

I stretched my neck as she loosened her grip on my chin.

"Yaar Aanya itna rough treatment to bhai bhi nhi denge hmari cutie bhabhi ko. You made her lips dry, applying then rubbing off, then applying." Shruti made gestures along with saying I blinked nervously looking at her.

Does she ever pay attention that I am here?

Devi's outfit

My eyes darted to the mirror, I was sitting infront of. Minimalist silver jwellery having pink shimmering stones placed around my neck, bangles in my hand.

I touched the necklace slowly and brushed fingers gently through my long hair which were now curled perfectly, that sort of shortened their length upto my hip.

"You are looking like an angel bhabhi" Shruti placed her hands on my shoulders, looking at me through the mirror, Smiling genuinely.

"Yes just like a 'Devi' " Aanya giggled before saying.

The door  knocked.

Three of us turned our heads back, Aanya opened the door,

"Finally Noor has come." Aanya exclaimed with joy hugging Noor tightly at the door.

I stood up as joy rushed through my veins. A wide smile on my lips.

But suddenly hid it, sitting back.

I am angry with her, she promised me she would come with me.

"Oh my God, You are looking very beautiful." she came behind me, her jaws dropped dramatically, palms cupping her face.

I looked at her before scrunching my nose angrily.

"Aree, Gussa kyu ho meri param Sundari" she hugged my neck, placing her chin on my shoulder.

I turned my face to other side.

Not this easily.

"I didn't come early, isiliye gussa ho"

I nodded, not uttering a single word.

"Are yaar. What could I do, Mumma papa ko bhi to aana tha na. Aur dekh Mihira bhi aayi h" she left my neck and straightened.

I turned back "Mihira?"

Mihira chuckled before hugging me, I hugged her back.

" what a bestfriend, Apni bestfriend se to gussa h aur uski hi friend ko gle lga rahi h" Noor said, clapping her hands dramatically.

We chuckled in chorus.

" nhi hu gussa chipkali" I hugged her tightly.

" Bhai yaha to ladies drama chal raha h, chal vapis chalte h" we heard Aarav, standing at door with that same guy.

Despite saying that they came in.

"Oyee Suar gang, tum logon ko aur kai jgah nhi milli kya, aajate ho aurto me beijjati krane"

"Tu aurat kaha h phir..." Before Aarav could say anything Aanya pointed her finger at him angrily.

" Are tu to priy mitr h apna" Aarav said with a smile while holding her finger.

Aanya backed off her finger quickly making a weird face.

"Whatever"

"Bhabhi, who is she?" Aanya pointed at Mihira.

"She is Mihira, my and Noor's friend." I replied.

"Mhm, nice and now ours too" Shruti said while extending her hand, smile on her face.

Mihira shaked hand with her "of course"

That boy was eating ice cream standing beside Aarav.

I don't think so, he pays attention to anyone right now. Such a foodie.

"who is he?" I asked Aarav.

Aarav looked at that guy before putting arm on his shoulder.

"Ye?... Meet my eklauta paltu jaanvar bhabhi, bde naazo se pala h maine ise."

Aarav pulled his cheek, getting a glare from him in return. That guy rolled his eyes and then looked at me.

"I am Neel Bhabhi" He smiled politely.

"Oh, his friend? I mean Aarav's?" I returned the smile before asking.

"Yes!"

Aanya snatched his icecream. "Abe tu ye icecream kaha se laya??"

"Kaha se mili mtlab? Meri nigahen se ye icecream bch nhi payi. Dekha meri bheem ki shakti dhoom mchaye" He replied snatching the ice cream back.

"Hm.. bheem nhi kaliya h tu." Aanya snatched it back, saying sarcastically.

"Huh?" His eyes widen in shock. He snatched it back.

"Huh huh kya huh?" Aanya snatched it back.

Everyone's eyes were travelling one side to another.

" To tu apni le aa na, dholu bholu ke punrjanam" He snatched again.

"Haww aur tu..tu Dr. Dhumketu khi ka, budha" She snatched again.

Mihira tried to stop them. "Are Are ruk jao dono."

Oh shit!

I put my palm on my mouth to control my laugh because the ice cream was straight up on her cheek.

Neel holding the scoop, his jaw dropped in shock. Aanya face palmed herself.

Noor's laugh broke the silence, making me lose.

"Eehhh!" Mihira screamed, balling her hands in a punch.

The scoop fell from Neel's hand, he held his ears as Mihira looked at him in anger.

"Sorry woman" He said casually.

"Woman?" Mihira glared, hands on her waist.

"Baby?" Neel said casually.

"Babyyy?" Mihira eyes widened even more, her voice louder.

Maa's voice cuts this cute banter as she entered the room.

"Devi beta. Are you ready?"

"Ji maa, I am."

She smiled. Her eyes darted to Mihira, seeing icecream on her face, her face turned shocked.

"Who did this to you beta?" She stepped towards her.

"Auntie dekhiye na is Neele kabutar ne sara look kharab kar diya mera" Mihira whined, pointing at Neel.

"Neel.. why?" Maa looked at Neel.

"I didn't do it on purpose auntie." He pointed at Aanya. "She was my partner in this crime."

Aanya shaked her head pretending to be innocent.

Maa shaked her head in disbelief before she sighed.

"Go and clean this. Devi, You come beta" Maa ordered.

We all followed her except Neel, Mihira and Aanya as they will help her clean-up.

I stepped in the hall and found him surrounded by all the family members along with Noor's family, that includes only her parents. He was on a huge couch placed in the center.

Just as I was admiring him, his eyes met mine.

I knew the same thing is going to happen now.

Fast heartbeats, flustered cheeks, deliberate breath.

I slowly took steps towards the couch watching him stand up.

Everybody stopped their chitchats, their focus was on me now, on the bride-to-be.

I stood beside him.

"Masti shor to baad me hota rahega, pehle engagement ho jaye?" Papa announced and everybody agreed.

I slipped a beautiful diamond ring in his finger slowly.

His eyes hadn't left me for a single second. I could feel it.

I looked up at him and I was correct.

He stared straight into my soul.

Don't know why? but, whenever I look in those eyes I forget the world. And She? inside me, She gets disappeared. I feel relief. My eyes fluttered back, but the intensity? too strong. It's just impossible to look in his eyes and even more difficult to look away.

Suddenly, the lights turned off.

Noise of everyone muttering, blabbering filled the room.

I heard his loud voice echoing through the hall. He yelled "What the hell is this?"

"What kind of venue is this, Manager! Staff! Anybody's will check it out for God sake? Do we pay for this kind of Service?" Another voice emerged, Papa.

I felt a hand on my hand, holding it.

"Shiv?," I whispered.

"Yes baby?" he replied, calming his voice.

The hand held it tight and then I felt my hand burning at the spot above my ring finger, like somebody put a burning coal on it.

"AAAHHHH..."

I screamed in pain, taking my hand back in instinct. I blowed out on my hand. The pain was immense.

Someone collected me in his arms while I sobbed.

"What happened jaan?" Shiv's voice tense, laced with concern. He hand roamed on my back asking me what has happened to me continuously.

I heard several familiar voices asking about me. But the pain was stopping me to utter words.

Lights on!

I looked at his face, my vision blurred with tears.

"Maa first aid box!" He snapped in anger taking my hand in his gently as he looked at the wound.

There was a burned circle mark above my ring finger. slightly more upwards.

It seemed like it's burned with ... a cigarette.

Maa rushed, putting the first aid box beside him.

She sat on the floor near us. I felt cool relief as he blowed a breath on the wound. His eyebrows were furrowed in concern and anger.

He quickly took the ointment from Maa and applied it carefully on the wound. His touch was gentle almost featherlight enough not to hurt me.

He looked at me, his eyes asking "Does it hurt much?"

I shook my head, washing the tears away.

Burning sensation relieved as the cold ointment worked.

He stood abruptly. His face hardened again.

"Who did this?" He looked at one of the staff members.

"...Sir, we are actually..."

"What actually?" Shiv cut him, holding his collar.

He pushed him hard on the ground.

His nose scrunched as he smelled cigarette, his eyes found Veer taking a drag cigarette leaning against the wall.

His eyes burned, anybody could tell that his blood boiling as he marched towards Veer, balling his fists.

A hard punch. Straight on his face.

Everybody froze. Another punch.

Shiv's face and eyes were visibly red in anger.

Veer lifted his face back towards Shiv. Anger.

He pushed Shiv, really hard.

Shiv folded his sleeves.

One more punch on Veer's face, this time drawing blood out of his nose.

Veer punched back - blood came out from the side of Shiv's lip.

"Veer, Shiv - Stop it!" Maa tried to stop them but right now they were looking like they would kill each other.

"How dare you that?" Slap on Veer's face.

"I didn't!" Returned a punch.

"This is not a way to -" Shiv gripped Veer's collar, tearing it.

"I said, I didn't!" Jerking Shiv's hand harshly.

My body numbed, as the violence took place in front of my eyes.

'See, He is dangerous.' She came again.

'I told you, he is just as an animal, slave of his anger.'

The voice inside me whispered dominating me.

A shaky breath escaped through me.

' He is doing it for me'

You think of yourself as a princess or something?, he is not a prince charming saving you from the world..."

I tilted my face quickly as Shiv  kicked on veer's stomach...

"Animal " she repeated.

My eyebrows furrowed as I took a cigarette, fallen there on the floor - smashed.

Veer didn't do this.

I quickly rose from the floor.

"Shiv. He didn't do this." I tried to stop him, holding him from back as my voice cracked.

He stopped suddenly breathing heavily. Both of them staring at each other furiously.

He wiped the blood coming from his lip with the back of his hand.

He turned to me. His eyes softening but voice still harsh in anger.

"What?" He held my arms gently.

I collected myself by inhaling deeply before nodding. I pointed at the cigarette thrown on the floor, the smashed one.

His gaze followed my finger, then he looked at the other one thrown by me near him and then again to the same that was closer to me.