Writer's POV:-

He touched her belly button and pinched it lightly making her gasp and shudder in his arms. She kept her hand over his, clutching it tightly. Aakarsh brought his lips near her red ears, stroking her soft flesh with his rough lips before whispering sensuously.

"I love seeing this on you… but I'm a possessive man, Jaan, so you better keep it away from everyone's eyes. Okay?" 

Feeling fluttery knots in the pit of her stomach, her body tingled with electrifying sensations; rising goosebumps on her soft skin. She nodded her head with utmost difficulty, agreeing with his demand. 

"Words, baby." He whispered over her lips. His warm breaths fell on her lips, making them shiver. She pushed her inner self to keep her eyes open when they were adamant on getting close.

Lost in the moment she hummed more like moaning a small 'hmm' before repeating his word.

"Hmm… okay…" 

Aakarsh chuckled at her meek voice. His naughty self was thoroughly enjoying her state of effect. He, for sure, knows how much their proximity makes her weak in her knees and it would be an apt lie if he admitted to not loving this truth. 

"Alright then I'm taking it off." With that said a little louder than hustling, he moved away from her, creating some distance between them. 

"Wha…" her words stuck back with him chuckling at her confused face.

Diksha frowned at first then she felt him raising her saree a little upwards. That's when she realized what he was talking about. She felt a little pain in her navel and removed his hands, hitting his broad shoulders.

"Doofus… you could have asked me to take the ring out…" she hissed, taking out the belly button ring from her navel; the same ornament Aakarsh was talking about.

"Then how would I have enjoyed…" Before he could complete his sentence she glared at him, handing him the medium sized belly button ring.

"Here, take it. And what would you tell Vidyut and others about it?" She asked when Aakarsh kept the ring in his pocket.

"He won't ask anything, don't worry." Wrapping one hand around her waist again he replied.

With the free hand he took some haldi from the  bowl which he had brought with him and kept on the table. He applied it on her cheeks,  before kissing her forehead. 

"You're looking beautiful in a saree." Glancing lovingly at her glowing face, he complimented her. She smiled warmly at him.

"Acha leave now. The girls will be here anytime." She said coming out of his arms, pushing him lightly towards the door. He looked shocked at her. Obviously, he didn't expect her to send him like that. 

"Go..." She tried again.

"Don't you think you're forgetting something?" Coming out of his shock he asked in disbelief.

"What?" She frowned. He gaped again in disbelief. 

"Nothing... Bye." Now pissed off at her response, Aakarsh turned towards the door only to get spun back to his place. 

Diksha pulled him down holding his collar seductively, getting on her toes she smirked looking mischievously in his eyes. 

"You really think I forgot, patidev?" She teased him before rubbing her left cheek on his stubbled one, slowly and intensely. 

Aakarsh smiled at her actions and gripped her waist. Only if he forgot what naughty being his wife could be at times. 

"Even I'm possessive over my person, husband!" She muttered sensuously rubbing her right cheek on his.  

Coming flat on her feet, she noticed his closed eyes and smiling face. The visible emotions on his made her smile brightly. She placed a chaste kiss just above his lips, making him tighten his grip on her petite waist. A certain blow of emotions hit her when he opened his eyes and stared straight in hers. The pull of attraction between them or the magnetic behavior of their body around each other had started to make them crave for each other's presence.

Oh, how didn't they realize earlier what these feelings were!? Or did they? Always?

A loud knock on the door pulled them out of their reverie. They startled, breaking their intense eyelock. Pushing him she instantly jumped out of his grip. 

Here comes the romance breakers! *Huh*

"Di, open the door." Came a feminine voice from the other side of the door which she guessed to be her cousin's.

"Shit... The girls are at the door and you're still here." She panicked.

"Hey, relax! They saw me coming over here. They know I'm inside." He said in a very cool attitude only to make her jaw drop at the news.

"What? And what the hell did you tell them?" She gritted her teeth.

"That I've to ask you something in private. Why? What happened?" He twitched his eyebrows without realizing what he did. 

"And, didn't they stop you?" Diksha questioned unbelievably, 

"Oh that... Yeah they did... But then I asked Vidyut, Neev and two of my close cousins to handle them. You see, we can't let the elders know about it!" He replied grinning like a child as if have done a deed of bravery.

And just like that Mr. Aakarsh Tubelight Verma again earned a hard glare from his wife as he broke the news of his blatant action. 

Did he just involve the whole younger generation in his blunt act with no conscience of being teased afterwards?

How could he never find these things awkward in an Indian family especially? Diksha thought and shook her head.

Ohh, the great Aakarsh shameless Verma! *funny sigh*

"Arrrghhh... What will I do with you...?" She cried.

"What's the big..." He couldn't couldn't complete his sentence as the loud knock interrupted them.

"Bhai... Bhabhi... They're calling you for the rituals." It was Vidyut this time. Aakarsh looked at Diksha who was already glaring at him. Confused at what happened to her, he walked to the door and opened it only to get the same teasing smirks from everyone.  

"Okay… I didn't not expect you all to be here!" He said strangely looking at the eight people — all the cousins and friends from both sides — standing on the door. There were four girls including Sejal and four boys — including Vidyut and Neev from Aakarsh's side as well.

"Even we didn't know you would take sooo long to just talk, Jiju." Prachi teased, looking at other girls who all laughed at once. Aakarsh gaped in embarrassment, now realizing why Diksha was pissed off.

"Okay, guys we would tease them after the functions otherwise the elders have our heads on a platter if we didn't get them there… Krish, chal Bhai… (Krish, let's go brother)!" Neev jumped in his rescue and pulled him out of there. 

He took all the boys with him and the girls stepped inside the room where Diksha was wearing the bangles. Whilst the youngsters pulled Aakarsh's leg she chose to get ready fast as she knew next would her number to be on their target. She had already wiped the haldi from her face but didn't remove it from her stomach and waist for some reason. Just to hide it properly from everyone's view she tucked her saree in such a way that no one could even doubt it.

"You're ready! So fast!" Sejal exclaimed in surprise when she was wearing her earrings. 

"Of course Sejal Di, after all someone is eager to see her to-be-husband again, right Diksha Di?" Prachi teased, giving a hi-fi to the girls. 

"Shut up… No one is eager. I usually get ready at this speed." Diksha's face was red which she tried to hide with a cool reply without looking at the giggling girls who were on the mission 'tease the bride and groom'. Ignoring their teasing smirks, she put on a bindi after applying a little make up.

"Umm hmm, we know, Di… we know… we even allowed jiju to have a short talk with you." It was her other cousin Tanvi who teased her. They all laughed when Diksha showed them eyes though trying to hide her smile which ultimately appeared on her face. She blushed hard.

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Writer's POV:-

"No, I'm not taking off my kurta, you can apply like this only." Aakarsh denied when some ladies from his side asked him to take off his kurta. Diksha chuckled looking at his determined face.

"Krishna, how will we apply haldi like this?" Aakarsh's Mami (mother's sister-in-law) asked in confusion.

"Bhabhi, let it be, I know this stubborn son of mine... he won't do it. Krish, roll up the sleeves." Krishna ordered. He did without a word. 

Diksha and Aakarsh were asked to sit in their respective places which were a little away from each other. They would have done it separately but Krishna and Annapurna convinced their respective mothers for this liberty. They started the haldi with grandparents applying it on them at first. Not to get anyone suspicious looks, Aakarsh too had wiped the haldi from his face. All this while they kept stealing glances of each other. 

"Meri bachi… how fast you grew up!" An emotional Annapurna kissed Diksha's forehead as she applied the haldi on her face, bare hands and feet. Diksha smiled trying not to cry  but her traitor eyes pooled up looking at her mother. She hugged her, hiding her emotional self in her mother's arms. Mayank too joined them and the parents shed tears of joy and pain — of giving away their darling daughter. 

The ultimate painful truth of a girl's life!

Everyone present there gave them a moment to themselves before diksha's bua (father's sister) interrupted.

"Arey, don't make our doll cry. Her make-up will get spoiled." She joked to lighten the atmosphere.

That cracked everyone up and indeed the moment lightened. 

"Nani, ye kya sukhi sukhi haldi hui inki… aise to maza hi nahi aaya,(nani, what's this plain and boring haldi… we didn't enjoy this)." Prachi whined and got a chorus 'yes' of agreement from every cousin from both the sides. 

"So, what do you all want to do, Bache?" Ramya asked, smiling.

"First promise us You won't scold us." Sejal asked, enthusiastically. Her facial expressions screamed mischief. Thus the elders chuckled knowing what's coming next.

"Seems like you all have planned something worth scolding!" Gayatri pulled her leg. 

"No yar Nani… we just want to add some fun to the traditional ceremony." Tanvi advocated.

"And how will you do that…" Ramya trailed as before her sentence completion the girls had already rushed to Diksha and Aakarsh and got them up. They pushed their seating setup, joining it as one and made the couple sit on it. Aakarsh and Diksha looked at each other in confusion and then at the chirpy girls. 

"Nani, We will do it like this…" Sejal shouted and suddenly a huge bucket of yellow water splashed on the couple by Neev, Vidyut and two other boys from behind the couple.

"Happy haldi…" all the youngsters screamed enthusiastically and threw the dry haldi and Chandan powders on the couple. The elders laughed at the scene, already sensing their mischief.

"What the hell..." Aakarsh shouted and covered diksha's face with his chest, as they continued to pour water on them. 

"Hell Nahi jiju haldi…(it's Haldi not hell, Jiju)." Khushi, one of Diksha's cousins, chirped as the girls threw the dry haldi on them.

"Are, bhaiya, ab to Bhabhi ko chhod do… Aapne haldi mana li na apni… (hey, bhaiya, leave Bhabhi at least now… you celebrated your haldi already) now let us enjoy." Mohit, one of Aakarsh's cousins teased him when Aakarsh covered Diksha. He glared at Mohit for uttering that.

"Shut up… we weren't supposed to disclose the matter. The couple need their moment after all." Neev smacked his head, nonetheless giving a teasing remark to the couple. They laughed heartily on his comment and Aakarsh glared at him with a look that said I'll-deal-with-you-soon. Meanwhile Diksha blushed all the way more now. She removed his arms around her and wiped her face.

"Why are you hitting the poor child, Neev. We already know what Mohit insinuated. Ye baal dhoop me safes nhi kiye, beta (our hair has not turned white in sun)." Ramya pulled the legs of the couple, initiating another round of laughter.

Aakarsh and Diksha looked here and there in embarrassment. They were all red by the time the youngsters applied haldi on their wet face and covered it completely.

"Krishna, Anu… go take both of them inside and get them changed. And you two, you need not to be embarrassed at all. We were just pulling your leg. But yes, no private meetings as we have already merged the separate arrangements of all your functions for your happiness." Gayatri ordered, fake glaring at Aakarsh.

"Don't worry, Ma ji… till the wedding we ladies will be around Diksha." Diksha's Mami interrupted. The ladies had fun at the couple's expense. 

"Now, what absurdity is this?" Aakarsh sighed in a pissed off tone. 

"For the stunt you pulled, what more do you expect, patidev?" Diksha mocked him, and giggled looking at his irritated face.

The ladies came there to take them inside, disrupting their conversation.

❃❃❃❃❃❃

Next afternoon:-

"Because of you, I didn't even get to talk to her since morning." Aakarsh smacked Mohit's head who was happily getting ready. 

"Na beta ji, uski nahi apni wajah se (no, son, not him but because of your own)." Mrinal chuckled, taunting him playfully as he got inside the room.

Both his cousins — Mohit and Vaibhav, Neev and Vidyut were in Aakarsh's room, getting ready when Mrinal came in. There were some more cousins of Aakarsh present at the wedding but they were not so close to him as Mohit and Vaibhav being the sons of his Mama (maternal uncle). 

"That's what we were trying to make him understand since morning." Vaibhav remarked playfully.

"Okay, now you all throw yourself out of the room for some minutes and let me have a father son talk with this grumpy son of mine. I need to give him some tips before he gets married tomorrow." Mrinal chuckled and ordered the boys to vacate the room.

"Uncle, we too need to listen to the tips… for future reference, you see!" Vidyut smirked only to get his ear slightly pulled by Mrinal 

"Ooww…" he freed his ears, whining like a child.

"Right advice at the right time, my boy. You'll get yours when I fix your marriage. Don't get eager and naughty already." 

"What can I do other than waiting patiently? Chaliye bhai log, humara waqt abhi aaya nahi (let's go brothers, our time hasn't come yet)." He exclaimed, dramatically shaking his head before going out with the boys. 

"Did you send your marriage certificate to Niranjan? We don't have time." Mrinal asked in a serious tone as soon as the boys stepped out of the room and the door was closed.

"Yeah, I had sent him. Why are you so stressed, papa?" Aakarsh sensed his tension.

"I've got this picture today. One of my men working in the factory saw Neel visiting the farm near the river, with someone. Do you know him?" Mrinal showed a picture to him.

It had Neel standing with someone in the open farm, pointing towards the river. The picture seemed like they were discussing something deeply.

"This might be the representative of Amber stone. I'll ask Deepak to get me the details. Don't worry about anything, Papa, I won't let him snatch our happiness." Aakarsh assured him and transferred the photo to his phone. 

"We don't know what he will plan next, Krish. You were aware of some mishap that's why you had alerted Diksha too. But, this risk on her life was not good. Do whatever you have planned fast. Bhaiya, Bhabhi, and Neel will be here by tonight." 

"I know… that's why I had ordered Leo and Roger to keep an eye on Diksha's security. The only mistake I made yesterday was to leave her unguarded. But, thankfully, I had given her the tracker… I don't want to think what would have happened otherwise. But, I promise you, Papa, before taking vows, I'll destroy half of his major powers." Aakarsh said with a hard determined face.

❃❃❃❃❃

It was Mehndi and Sangeet in the evening. All the ladies were busy getting some beautiful patterns and the girls were entertaining themselves with dance and fun. Aakarsh was sitting with Diksha when his cousins dragged them to another corner, calling it boys time.

Diksha was sitting in one small bed-like arrangement which was especially made for the bride and groom. She was wearing a beautiful peacock coloured lehenga with minimal jewelry like earrings, necklace and a lightweight mang-tika. Like the way she used to keep the heavy products off her face, she had done very light but glowing make-up.

Half of her Mehndi was done in both hands when Krishna and Annapurna brought Aakarsh there. 

"Sit… or I'll beat you right here with a broomstick." Krishna warned him, making him look at her in pure horror.

Diksha giggled looking at his plight only to get a hard glare in return.

"Arey, but men don't apply Mehndi, Maa." He tried to argue as Krishna and Annapurna had asked him to get at least a small pattern. They even said it is a good omen, but the manly ego in him repelled him against it. 

"Krish, humne bataya na ye shagun hota hai…(Krish, we told you na it is considered a good omen)." Annapurna interjected.

"But, Maa…"

"No, buts and ifs. You're getting it and it's final." Krishna declared in no nonsense tone.

"But it will look girly…" he made a yuck face looking at the Mehndi cones.

"Don't you insult my Mehndi." Diksha glared at him.

"Kuch chize bas shubh man ke kar leni chahiye, Krish (we must do some things considering it as a good omen, Krish)," Krishna said softly. 

Their otherwise light moment got intensely heavier by an unwanted voice.

"Kyunki zindagi me kab, kya ashubh ho jayega humein pata nahi hota, hai na, Choti Maa? (Because we don't know when in life, what will become a bad omen or jinx, right, Choti Maa?)" 

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