16-06-2025, 02:32 AM
But it wasn’t until three girls, perhaps a little younger than Madhavi, approached from the corner of the room that the real color arrived.
Tanvika, dressed in an emerald green half-saree, leaned in with a grin. “You don’t look like someone who enjoys this kind of thing. First time?”
Abhi smiled awkwardly. “First time surviving a half-saree invasion.”
She laughed. “I’m Tanvika. This is Niharika, and that’s Isha.”
Niharika wore a deep purple silk, hair tied in a bun with jasmine spilling over it.
She gave him a look that lingered just a second too long. “You’re Madhavi akka’s neighbor? Lucky akka,” she said lightly, and both the other girls giggled.
Isha, tall and elegant, had sharp eyes and a more reserved air.
She gave him a gentle nod and said, “You’re quite brave to walk into a hall full of aunties and cousins with zero backup.”
Abhi chuckled. “I’m still looking for an escape route.”
“You won’t find one,” Tanvika said with a grin, slipping a small plate of sweets into his hand. “But we’ll protect you.”
Madhavi watched the scene from a few steps away, arms folded, lips curved faintly in a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
Her eyes lingered on the girls for a few seconds longer than needed, before she turned and called out, “Abhi, come sit near the stage. I’ll be back in a bit.”
Abhi excused himself politely and followed her. As he passed, he heard Tanvika whisper, “He’s way too cute,” followed by a laugh.
He caught up to Madhavi. “Your family is... friendly.”
She arched a brow. “You’re clearly popular.”
Abhi shrugged. “You said I’ll be safe with you.”
She smiled. “I didn’t say I’ll be the only one keeping you safe.”
They reached a bench near the stage. Madhavi sat beside him for a moment, brushing a strand of hair away from her cheek. Her arms gleamed in the sunlight that slipped through the side curtains. Her saree had shifted slightly as she bent forward, revealing just a delicate sliver of her midriff beneath the folds.
“Enjoy the show,” she said softly. “And don’t flirt too much.”
He looked at her with a slight smirk. “I thought I wasn’t the one doing the flirting.”
Their eyes locked for a brief moment. Warm. Electric. Brief—but long enough to feel like a secret exchanged in silence.
Madhavi stood. “I’ll be back in a bit.”
Abhi nodded and watched her walk away, her silhouette melting into the colors of silk and laughter and gold.
Tanvika, dressed in an emerald green half-saree, leaned in with a grin. “You don’t look like someone who enjoys this kind of thing. First time?”
Abhi smiled awkwardly. “First time surviving a half-saree invasion.”
She laughed. “I’m Tanvika. This is Niharika, and that’s Isha.”
Niharika wore a deep purple silk, hair tied in a bun with jasmine spilling over it.
She gave him a look that lingered just a second too long. “You’re Madhavi akka’s neighbor? Lucky akka,” she said lightly, and both the other girls giggled.
Isha, tall and elegant, had sharp eyes and a more reserved air.
She gave him a gentle nod and said, “You’re quite brave to walk into a hall full of aunties and cousins with zero backup.”
Abhi chuckled. “I’m still looking for an escape route.”
“You won’t find one,” Tanvika said with a grin, slipping a small plate of sweets into his hand. “But we’ll protect you.”
Madhavi watched the scene from a few steps away, arms folded, lips curved faintly in a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
Her eyes lingered on the girls for a few seconds longer than needed, before she turned and called out, “Abhi, come sit near the stage. I’ll be back in a bit.”
Abhi excused himself politely and followed her. As he passed, he heard Tanvika whisper, “He’s way too cute,” followed by a laugh.
He caught up to Madhavi. “Your family is... friendly.”
She arched a brow. “You’re clearly popular.”
Abhi shrugged. “You said I’ll be safe with you.”
She smiled. “I didn’t say I’ll be the only one keeping you safe.”
They reached a bench near the stage. Madhavi sat beside him for a moment, brushing a strand of hair away from her cheek. Her arms gleamed in the sunlight that slipped through the side curtains. Her saree had shifted slightly as she bent forward, revealing just a delicate sliver of her midriff beneath the folds.
“Enjoy the show,” she said softly. “And don’t flirt too much.”
He looked at her with a slight smirk. “I thought I wasn’t the one doing the flirting.”
Their eyes locked for a brief moment. Warm. Electric. Brief—but long enough to feel like a secret exchanged in silence.
Madhavi stood. “I’ll be back in a bit.”
Abhi nodded and watched her walk away, her silhouette melting into the colors of silk and laughter and gold.
![[+]](https://xossipy.com/themes/sharepoint/collapse_collapsed.png)