Today is Holi. In the heart of the Rathore mansion, a regal celebration unfolded, marking the first colorful festivity for the newly-wed royal couple. Marigold strings draped the mansion's facade, their dew-kissed petals imbued with the soft hues of sunlight, casting an ethereal glow upon the grandeur.

Under the expansive canvas of the open sky, the massive lawn transformed into a riot of colors. Multicolored canvases adorned the ceiling, creating a kaleidoscope that mirrored the vibrant spirit of the gathering. Clay plates, brimming with an array of gulaal, took center stage, inviting revelers to indulge in the joyful tradition of color play.

Above, clusters of paper lanterns swayed gracefully, a symphony of vibrant hues dancing in tandem with the infectious joy permeating the air. The atmosphere was alive with laughter and celebration, the joyous energy bouncing off every corner of the mansion.

Amidst this kaleidoscopic splendor, tables were adorned with an exquisite array of traditional snacks and sweets. Gujia, lassi, kachori, dahi vada, mathri, samosa, and the ever-present chai.

INSIDE ABHIMANYU AND SAMYUKTA'S ROOM

"Babe, where are you?" Abhimanyu called out while fussing with the cufflinks of his pristine white kurta.

When no response came from the room, he decided to check the balcony, but Samyukta was nowhere to be found. Just then, a playful buzz signaled a text message from Samyukta.

Samyukta: Happy Holi Maan! Quit searching in the room; you won't spot me there.

Abhimanyu: Then where are you?

Samyukta: That's for you to uncover! 😉

Abhimanyu: Agar mil gyi to chodunga nhi tumhe.

(If I get you I won't leave you.)

Samyukta: Intezaar hai aapka, dear husband. 😉

(I'm waiting, dear husband.)

Samyukta's POV

I've hid myself in the corridor leading to the gym. It's not a place I frequently visit, so I assumed he'd never consider looking here. I am so excited right now. I can't wait for him to admit defeat so I can reveal my hiding spot.

I'm planning to celebrate my victory by suggesting a spa session with him. Hey! Wait! I have genuine reasons. He's been putting in so much effort for the jewelry launch and is now engrossed in another project. I don't understand why he doesn't take a break. But I've my ways of taking care of him. I'm pretty certain he won't agree to the spa session willingly, so I opted for this playful game of hide-and-seek.

Abhimanyu's POV 

My girl dared me to find her, and I'm up for the challenge. When I do find her, I won't let her off the hook easily. You wait babe!

I took red gulaal in both my palms and headed towards the gym. I know she's hiding there; the mansion is bustling with people, and she can't pull off her tricks here. The gym is the only quiet spot right now.

Walking through the corridor, I spotted her shadow behind a pillar. I wanted to make a sneakier approach. So I didn't run after her. Instead, I waited for a moment before heading back to the hall of the mansion, ready to surprise her.

Author's POV

Abhimanyu stealthily entered the gym from the lawn, quietly making his way towards the corridor. There, he spotted her, still concealed behind the pillar, her back turned to him. She looked enchanting in a beautiful white anarkali paired with a multicolored chunni, and her open hair cascaded down her back.

Choosing to play along, he approached her on tiptoes while she was engrossed in peeping through the pillar to catch a glimpse of him searching for her. Standing silently behind her, he decided to bask in the moment, relishing the sight of her peeping and giggling, her playful antics melting his heart. 

After a moment, he playfully smeared red gulaal on both of her cheeks from behind, catching her by surprise. She gasped, feeling the sudden touch on her cheeks, and turned back to face him. There he stood, a triumphant smirk playing on his face, proud of his victory.

"How was my surprise, wifey?" he asked, still smirking. Samyukta flared her nose in disappointment. Abhimanyu chuckled at her childishness.

"You're so bad." Samyukta said pouting as she began to walk away. 

Suddenly, Abhimanyu swiftly pulled her towards him, grasping her right arm and folding it behind her back as it lightly hit his chest. She gasped at the sudden move in surprise.

Her right ear found itself near his mouth, and his warm breath gently fanned near her temples, causing her heart to race at the speed of a jet.

"Kahan tha na humne, milne se chhodenge nahi," he huskily whispered in her ear, his lips lightly touching them, sending electric currents through her entire bloodstream.

(Didn't I tell you, I won't leave you if I catch you?)

"Maan, chhod dijiye na..." she timidly whispered.

(Maan, leave me na...)

"Nhi. Bahut sataya aapne humein subah se," he whispered again, his voice maintaining that enticing tone. His words had such an effect on her that she felt if she heard him again, she might go insane.

(No, you have troubled me a lot since morning.)

Suddenly, an idea struck her. She shifted herself, turning to face him, and he willingly let her take charge. Locking eyes with him, she reached for the collar of his white kurta with her right hand, gently pulling him down to her height. Standing on her toes, she aimed for his left cheek and softly rubbed her right cheek against his, leaving a tender, red mark behind. 

Abhimanyu found himself caught in the moment, astonished by her sudden bold move. His heart fluttered at her unexpected action. Seizing the opportunity of his momentarily lost state, Samyukta swiftly escaped his hold. Giggling, she ran away towards the hall, leaving him watching her figure disappear. 

A smile played on his face, and a deep blush adorned his cheeks, amidst the red gulaal smeared by his wife so dramatically.

"Aapne humara dil chura liya hai, Samyukta." Abhimanyu whispered to himself, the smirk still playing on his face. 

(You have stolen my heart.)

Samyukta reached the lawn after sometimes to join every body else present there to play Holi. She greeted every elders of the family early in the morning and now her and Abhimanyu's friends where present along with the kids to bash each other with colours. 

Khushi and Suyash rushed towards her, enveloping her in a shared hug.

"Happy Holi, chachi!" they exclaimed enthusiastically, moving to touch her feet with gulaal. However, she halted them midway and pulled them into a warm embrace.

"You both reside in my heart. Give me a hug," she said, lightly smearing their cheeks with blue gulaal as they reciprocated the gesture.

Pallavi and Suraj Singh Rathore also approached.

"Happy Holi, Samyukta!" Suraj cheered.

"Happy Holi, bhaisa-bhabhisa!" she replied, touching their feet with gulaal in reverence.

"Ah! Samyukta! Pair mat chua kar. Give us a hug!" Pallavi clarified.

(Ah! Samyukta! Don't touch your feet. Give us a hug!)

"Yes, Samyukta, give us a hug. After all, tum humare dil me basti ho," Suraj added, spreading his arms wide to embrace her.

(After all, you reside in our hearts.)

"Ji, ji." Samyukta chuckled and hugged them each in turn.

(Yes, yes.)

They chatted for a while as Suraj brought them snacks and lassi to enjoy together.

While the group was having fun smashing colours onto each other and getting into playful fights, suddenly, Abhimanyu came near Samyukta and whispered in her ear.

"Meet me after lunch. I'll show you all the stars." 

His sensual, hoarse voice that shivers ran through her entire body. Her eyes enlarged and she gasped glaring at him.

And with this he walked away all the while smirking at her while her mouth hung open. 

Suddenly, Abhishree hit Samyukta lightly on her shoulder to bring her back from her lalaland.

"Kya hogya tujhe?" She asked whining a little.

(What happened to you?)

Samyukta shook her head and went away from there leaving Abhishree confused.

Lunch was talking place in the huge lawn of the Rathore mansion itself. A huge vertical table was placed along with multiple chairs to seat the guest. 

When Samyukta reached there, she noticed Abhimanyu was already seated there and staring at her. His pupils were darkening with the intensity of his stare making her heart rate go insane. Her mind was not able to work properly. She tried to serve the elders but her hands were shaking. 

Noticing her clumsiness, Nandini made her sit on her seat in front of Abhimanyu which just made her shake more. Her cheeks were hued red which were noticible inspite of the red gulaal smeared on her cheeks. 

She couldn't even look into his eyes. He was shamelessly staring at here. Even though a part of her was loving his attention extremely but she was feeling extremely shy too. 

I don't want everyone else here to notice him ogling me otherwise they'll tease the hell out of me. 

Why can't you stop staring at me? Please Maan!

Shree or bhai ko pata chalega na wo dono mujhe chain ki saans nhi lene denge...

"Kyu hua Samyukta, tu kuch khaa kyu nahi rahi hai?" Uday Singh Rathore asked. 

(Why, Samyukta, aren't you eating anything?)

She broke out of her trance and noticed everyone has started eating except her.

"Ji, ji dadasa. Khaa rahi hoon." She replied while trying to scoop up some pulao with her spoon, but it slipped through the gaps like sand through fingers when she noticed him delicately place a piece of paneer in his mouth, his eyes never leaving mine, a hint of seduction danced in his gaze. He continued his act by licking the tip of his fingers very sensually. 

(Yes, yes, grandpa. I'm eating.)

"Kya hogya is ladki ko?" Anjali Rathore asked. 

(What happened to htis girl?)

"Hehehe...kuch nhi chachi ji. Pata nahi kyu ho rha hai aisa." She tried to explain.

(Hehehe...nothing happened uncle. I don't know why is this happening.)

"Beta tabiyaat thik hain na teri?" She enquired further.

(Dear, you don't feel sick right?)

"Tabiyat thik kaise rahegi batao didi. Khaati to kuch hai nahi ye ladki. Sara din bas kaam kaam kaam." Nandini further added.

(How'll she be fine, sister? She doesn;t eat at all. She is busy with her word the entire day.)

"Beta, khana khaya karo. Aise kaise chalega beta." Ranjit added.

(Child, please eat little more. How'll you be healthy this way?)

"Ji ji, papaji, khate hain hum." Samyukta replied lowering her gaze.

(yes, yes, father, I'm eating.)

She stole a glance at her seductive husband, only to be surprised that his gaze remained fixated on her, unwavering in its intensity. Her heart raced as if it was going to come out of her chest. 

She tried to calm herself down by drinking some water for the glass placed beside her plate. 

"Beta, tum to humse behtar janogi...aakhir kar gynecologist ho tum. Tum pet se ho kya?" Vasundhara devi suddenly said. 

(Dear, you'll know better than us...after all  you are a gynecologist. Are you pregnant?))

Samyukta choked on her water, coughing loudly as she heard the unexpected.

"Tsk...kyu pareshaan kar rahe ho bhaiyaa?" Abhishree exclaimed while rubbing her back. 

(Tsk...Why are you troubling her, brother?)

Samyukta felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her as she realized her best friend had oversaw the exchange between her and her very cooperative husband, leaving her feeling exposed and vulnerable.

"Nahi, dadisa, hum pet se nahi hain," Abhimanyu responded.

(No grandmother, I'm not pregnant.)

"Tumne jaanch kii hai kya, beta?" Dadisa inquired.

(Did you examine yourself, dear?)

"Nahi dadisa, kyuki humne to abhi..." Abhimanyu attempted to answer, but Samyukta interjected.

(No grandmom, since we haven't yet...)

"Abhi humne check kiya hai dadisa," Samyukta managed to prevent him from divulging details about their intimate life to everyone.

(We checked right now, grandmother!)

As she stole a glance at him, she realized he was trying to mess with her, his wide smirk revealing his mischief. 

Looking around, she noticed everyone was having a slight smile on their face.

Shit!

A deep tinge of red flooded her cheeks, making her to feel the urge to hide under the table, away from the gaze of everybody, as embarrassment engulfed her.

As everyone indulged in their meals, she found it difficult to eat more than a few bites, her appetite overshadowed by the events that had transpired and the persistent, mischievous gaze from her husband. Her heart felt like it might burst from the intensity of her emotions. Her ears burned with embarrassment, and her cheeks ached from the continuous, vigorous blush. Despite the desire to hide herself from the crowd  she was feeling butterflies in her stomach and there was a strange longing to seek refuge in his embrace—the very person who had caused all of this commotion.

With the main course finished, it was time for dessert.

"Kon kon vanilla ice- cream khayega?" Samrat asked while opening the ice- cream freezer.

(Who'll have vanilla ice- cream?)

"I don't do vanilla, Samrat." Abhimanyu casually said while cleaning his mouth with a wet tissue. 

This is it! 

"Kyu chidha raha hai mere behen ko? Dekh nahi raha hai kuch bhi nahi khaya hai usne." Samrat tried to talk in support of his sister all the while trying to prevent himself from bursting out into laughter.

Samyukta noticed from the corner of her eye that the friends group was engaged in silent laughter. Automatically, her palms reached up to cover her face, instinctively trying to shield herself from the situation.

Amidst trying to control his laughter, Samrat asked.

"Then what do you do Abhi?" 

"I do DARK chocolate." Abhi replied.

I can't take this anymore.

The boys had already begun choking on their food from laughter, while Abhishree's mouth hung open with a mix of teasing and surprise evident on her face.

Samrat couldn't contain himself any longer and burst into a fit of laughter.

Samyukta noticed that the elders had already dispersed from the table.

Thank God! At least they're not here.

As the group continued their endless chortle, she seized the opportunity to make a quick escape towards her room without being noticed by them.

As soon as she reached her chamber, she locked the door and rested her back against it. A shy blush spread across her cheeks, and a smile played on her lips.

Her entire body felt like it was undergoing an earthquake, with butterflies fluttering wildly inside her. Unexpectedly, she began to imagine him taking her, the thought sending a surge of fear yet excitement through her veins.

Oh my god! What's happening to me? 

She closed her eyes, attempting to calm her maddening heartbeats. Suddenly, the office door opened, and he emerged from within.

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