4. Lohri Celebration

Author POV:

The Singhaniya Mansion was adorned in vibrant colors for the Lohri celebration. Strings of marigold flowers draped over doorways and windows, their bright orange and yellow hues contrasting beautifully with the rich, deep green of the leaves. Fairy lights twinkled everywhere, casting a magical glow over the sprawling lawn and grand entrance. Traditional Punjabi lanterns hung from the trees, their warm light adding to the festive ambiance. A large bonfire had been set up in the center of the garden, ready to be lit as the night fell.

Inside, the mansion was just as lively. People bustled about, some snapping pictures of the beautiful decorations, others dancing to the upbeat Punjabi music that filled the air, and many greeting and entertaining guests with warmth and cheer.

In the midst of all this, someone was feeling particularly restless. Veer paced back and forth, his eyes scanning the crowd for a glimpse of his love. He had been waiting to see her for so long. The whole night he couldn't sleep, his thoughts consumed by the anticipation of their reunion. He longed to meet his sweetheart and hug her, cherishing the memory of their first embrace and yearning to experience it again.

Suddenly, Veer's thoughts were interrupted by a commotion nearby. His brother, Hrdiay, and sister, Pakhi, were engaged in a playful argument.

"I'm telling you, Bandar, I will dance the best tonight!" Pakhi declared, hands on her hips, her eyes sparkling with determination.

Hriday rolled his eyes dramatically. "Oh please, Chipkali. Have you seen my Bhangra moves? I'm going to steal the show!"

Pakhi scoffed, crossing her arms. "Your Bhangra moves? Don't make me laugh. Last year, you almost knocked over the bonfire with your wild thrashing!"

Hriday smirked. "At least I didn't trip over my own feet during the Gidda!"

Veer chuckled at their bickering, momentarily distracted from his own worries. "Alright, you two," he interjected, trying to play peacemaker. "How about we let the guests decide who dances best tonight?"

Pakhi grinned. "Deal! But don't cry when I win, hriday."

Hriday laughed. "In your dreams, sis. Prepare to be amazed!"

Their playful banter brought a lightheartedness to the atmosphere, and Veer felt a bit of his anxiety lift. He couldn't help but smile at his siblings' antics, grateful for their ability to lighten the mood. As the evening approached and the preparations neared completion, Veer felt a flutter of excitement. Tonight was going to be special, not just for the celebration, but for the moment he would finally see his beloved again.

On the other side:

Akshara sat at her study table, her mind racing with confusion. Veer's threat echoed in her mind, and she shuddered at the thought of facing his wrath. But then, a spark of relief crossed her face. She didn't even know his address. "Why would he leave his party for a girl like me?" she thought, chuckling to herself.

(Author be like: Babygurl You don't know what veer can do for you *evil laugh*).

The tension in her chest eased as she decided to escape the situation by simply saying she didn't know his address. With a sigh, she relaxed and turned her attention to finding a suitable job online.

It was 7 PM when she suddenly heard a knock on the door. The fear of Veer had long dissipated. "Maybe it's just someone else," she thought, shrugging off her unease. She got up and opened the door, her heart nearly stopping when she saw Veer standing there. His eyes were red, and his face was a storm of anger.

He was dressed in a white shimmery kurta, and he looked incredibly handsome. Akshara couldn't help but think, "He looks damn hot. He should wear more kurtas." But before her thoughts could wander too far, her subconscious scolded her, "Hey, shoo. Shoo, dirty mind!" She shook herself, trying to bring her focus back.

AKSHU POV:

I suddenly closed the door, but he stopped it midway with his leg. Oh God, he is so strong. "Kis chakki ka atta khate hain yeh?" I thought, exasperated. "Mai toh thak gayi bhaishab," I heard Hansa's voice in my head. No, no, Akshu, try again! I pushed harder, but he opened the door in one forceful push and pinned me against the wall, his hands on either side of my head, caging me in.

I was scared. My heart pounded wildly in my chest. "I think I should take karate classes from Shayra," I thought desperately.

Veer's eyes bore into mine, a mix of anger and something else I couldn't quite decipher

"Akshara," his voice echoed in the room. I flinched and looked up, seeing his eyes blazing red with anger. "Mr. Singhaniya, wo..." I tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come out.

"VEER," he corrected sharply. I remembered his warning and quickly apologized, "Sorry, Veer."

"Akshara, why didn't you come to the party? I already knew you would try to act smart, so I postponed it from 6 PM to 8 PM." His words made my eyes widen in shock.

"Veer, I was coming to your place, but I didn't know your address, and I didn't want to disturb you for a mere girl like me," I said, my voice trembling. Tears welled up in my eyes, fearing he might hit me.

"First of all, you are not a mere girl for me. Understand that. Nothing is more important than you in this world for me. Okay? I don't care about anything else. Fuck the party. I only want to see you and spend some time with you," he said, his voice intense but sincere. I was shocked. "Sweetheart, if you don't feel comfortable, we can go somewhere else," he offered.

"NO... I mean, why go outside when there is a celebration at your home? People must be waiting for you," I said, trying to convince him. But he was so stubborn.

Ufff... Akshu, in her mind, punching Veer and saying, "Khudko don samajhte ho kya? Mujhe kahi nahi jana!" She punched him again in her imagination. "Akshara ye karo, Akshara wo karo warna punishment milegi. Dijiye! Huh... kyu dar gaye mujhse? Mai dikhti hu sweet and innocent Parvati type ki... lekin mai aage nahi bol sakti..." I was lost in my daring thoughts.

[What do you think of yourself? I don't want to go anywhere!] [Akshara do this, akshara do that, otherwise you will get punishment. Give! Huh...Now you're scared from me? I look sweet and innocent but I'm.....No I can't say further.]

[I love her subconscious mind😭🤣🤌🏻]

"Sweetheart, kaha kho gayi thi tum? Kya humare baare mein soch rahi thi?" he asked, smirking.

[Sweetheart, where were you lost? Thinking about us?]

"I think you should go to the party," I tried to avoid his weird question.

"NO, you are coming with me either like this or after getting ready," he shouted. I started crying, "Please, don't... I don't want to go. Chacha and Chachi will get angry if I am not here. Please, you go, Veer."

"Sweetheart, I am not a patient man. You won't listen to me, huh? You will go like this only." He grabbed my hand tightly. I tried to fight back, but he increased his grip. It was painful.

"Veer, I will change. I can't go like this and embarrass myself in these worn-out clothes of Preeti Di."

"You have 15 minutes. Go get ready. I'll be waiting outside." I started to leave but turned back to hear him. "And sweetheart, don't pull any stunts. Otherwise, I won't hesitate to teach you a lesson. Now go, your time starts now."

I quickly washed my face and wore the dress, surprised that it fit me perfectly. I shrugged off the thought and did my hair in a choti with a paranda. (a hair accessory used to tie braids.) I applied mascara, kajal, lipstick, and a small bindi. I put on my nose ring, bangles, and jhumkas. Finally, I slipped on my jutti and went outside.

(Haye, mera veer toh pakka ghayal)

He was engrossed in something on his phone. I timidly called him, "Veer." He turned towards me, and his eyes widened in admiration. "Damn, you look so fucking gorgeous. Haye, tumhe dekh ke mera saara gussa pighal gaya, Jaan," he said, placing his hand over his heart. Such a shameless man. (Why am I blushing like a fool?)

[Looking at you, my anger vanished in air.]

"Sweetheart, we should go now. We have only 15 minutes." He held my wrist and led me towards his car, opening the passenger seat for me. He sat in his seat and then suddenly leaned in close to me, making my breath hitch. We made eye contact, and just as I was about to look away, I realized he was only buckling my seatbelt. Uff... buddhu, kitna galat soch rahi thi. He sat back and drove away.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We reached his mansion. Oh, my mata! It was enormous and looked so royal. We went inside, and the bulky men bowed as he walked with me. I followed him like a puppy.

The decorations were amazing. Laughter and dancing filled the air. Sweets and starters were being distributed. We entered the house, and it was bustling with people. I started to feel anxious seeing so many faces.

Abruptly, we stopped in the middle of the room. He turned to me and said, "Sweetheart, wait here. I'll be back in 2 minutes. I want you to meet someone. Don't go." I nodded slightly. I watched until he disappeared into the crowd, then seized my chance and started running. But to my bad luck, I bumped into someone. Thankfully, someone caught me by the arms, saving me from a fall that could have easily broken a bone or two.

I looked up and saw a good-looking guy. We locked eyes briefly before he let me go. "I apologize, sir, for bumping into you."

"No, it's okay. By the way, I've never seen you here before. Who are you?" he asked.

"Myself Ak..." I began, but I was cut off by none other than the great Mr. Veeranshu Singhaniya. He wrapped his arm around my waist and said, "Hone wali biwi hai meri. To be Mrs. Veeranshu Singhaniya." I stood there, rooted to the spot.

[She is my soon to be wife.]

"Sweetheart, see, they are here; your future in-laws," he said, pointing to an aged couple. They were so lovely; how could they be the parents of this khadus insaan?

I touched their feet, "Pairi pauna uncleji-auntyji." [Namaste in punjabi] When I got up, Veer again held my waist, and I looked up at him. He was giving me a look that said 'dare to defy.' I quietly stood there, smiling a little.

His mother was looking so beautiful in a saree. She seemed so loving. She came towards me and caressed my head and face. I had never felt motherly vibes in my life; Chachi would always beat me. I was holding back my tears. But aunty's one sentence broke me into tears. "Mera baccha, you look like an angel. And don't call me aunty, call me mumma like Veer and Ansh." She took me in a motherly hug and gave me a forehead kiss. She was so good.

As I stood there, tears streaming down my face, Veer gently wiped them away with his thumb.

(Le author: I'm not crying😭😭😭)

After a while, Uncleji came over to me and touched my head lovingly. He gave me an assuring smile, which made me feel even more at ease. Then, I found out that the guy I bumped into was Veer's younger brother. Now I understood why he looked so good-looking, but not more than Mr. Singhaniya.

[le author: So you think he is handsome😏😏] No, why would I, maybe it was by mistake or a slip of tongue. [Suree what makes you sleep at night😏🌚].

📖

"Sweetheart", Hearing Veer author ran away💃🏻💃🏻.

Veer came towards her and offered a plate full of desserts. Akshu's mouth watered at the sight of the sweets and pastries. "Veer... but," she hesitated, feeling a bit self-conscious about eating in front of so many people. Sensing her discomfort, Veer intertwined his hand with hers and led her towards a secluded area with a swing.

He guided her to the swing and gave her a plate adorned with different types of desserts. "Thank you," she expressed, offering a sincere smile, appreciative of his empathy.

"Sweetheart, eat up. I know you have a sweet tooth. Maybe someday we can visit a chocolate factory in Switzerland. What was the name... umm," Veer trailed off, trying to remember.

Akshu's eyes lit up with excitement for the first time. "Lindt factory."

"Yeah, that one. We'll go, okay?"

She nodded shyly. She offered him a piece of the pastry, but he declined, saying, "It's too sweet for my taste."

"How can someone deny pastry?" she muttered under her breath, but he heard her.

Some chocolate from the pastry had stuck near her lips. Veer told her to clean it, but she struggled to understand his instructions. He moved closer, making eye contact, and gently wiped the chocolate away with his finger. Then, still holding her gaze, he licked the chocolate off his finger.

"Hmm... The cake is actually very sweet. If I get it like this, I will surely eat it a thousand times," he teased, his eyes twinkling.

Blushing, Akshu quickly cleaned her face.

(Veer🌚🌚🌚)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The evening continued with laughter, dancing, and more introductions. The Singhaniya mansion was alive with the Lohri celebration. Hriday and his sister Pakhi were having a playful argument about who would dance the best on the stage.

"I am telling you, Chipkali, I can outdance you any day!" Ansh boasted.

Pakhi laughed. "Oh please, Hriday, your bhangra moves are so outdated. Watch and learn from the master."

"Master? You mean disaster!" Hriday shot back, making everyone around them laugh.

"Alright, let's settle this on the dance floor," Pakhi challenged, dragging Hriday to the center.

The music started, and soon the two siblings were in a fierce yet fun dance-off, their energetic bhangra moves drawing cheers and applause from everyone. Akshu watched them with wide eyes, a smile spreading across her face. The lively beats and joyful atmosphere were infectious.

"Come on, Bhabhimaa ! Join us!"Pakhi called out.

"I... I don't know if I can," Akshu hesitated.

"Nonsense! Everyone can dance bhangra. Just follow our lead!" Ansh encouraged while joining them in the dance.

With a bit of nervousness, Akshu joined them on the dance floor. Initially hesitant, she soon got into the rhythm, laughing and trying to keep up with Pakhi, Hriday and Ansh's energetic moves. The crowd cheered louder, and Akshu felt a rush of happiness. For a moment, she forgot all her worries and just enjoyed the celebration.

[This family is a green flag😭🤌🏻❤️]

"You're doing great, Bhabhimaa!" Pakhi exclaimed.

"See, I told you! You got this!" Ansh added, giving her a thumbs-up.

Veer watched from the sidelines, a proud smile on his face. Seeing Akshu so happy and carefree filled him with warmth.

Later that night, after a long and emotional evening, Veer drove Akshu home. As the car stopped, he looked at her sleeping peacefully, her angelic face bathed in the soft light. He couldn't resist taking a few pictures of her.

When they arrived, he gently woke her. "Akshara, we're here."

She thanked him and was about to open the door when he reminded her, "I didn't forget your stunt today. Be ready for your punishment tomorrow." He smirked, leaving her both anxious and curious as she got out of the car.

As she walked to her house, she couldn't help but smile at the thought of the day's events and the people she had met.

Sadda Punjabi Munda✨✨🤌🏻

Veer's gifted dress❤️🤌🏻

Fuu😮‍💨😮‍💨, Long chapter finally finished upgrading and editing.

I have added few new scenes. Tell me how the upgradation is.🤧

Okay see you tomorrow. Byee.

Comment down your favourite part. ❤️

Veer today being naughty and jealous😂🤌🏻

Love you all and keep supporting.

Love Authorshyra.❤️