Dev was driving while Rishika scrolled through her his Spotify Premium to play songs. She hummed along and they even had a jamming session on their favourite songs.

The journey was fun but Dev was tired after hours of driving. They reached the village and both of them were immediately swarmed away by the people.

Dev was being treated so royally. People were giving him water and food, some were carrying his luggage and some even pressed his feet.

He was feeling like he was a king from somewhere. Being the younger sibling, he hadn’t been treated so royally all his life. He grinned and let the treatment come his way.

Rishika giggled seeing him behave like that. He looked at her with that wide grin still on his face and winked. She chuckled and shook her head.

She heard the girls beside her giggle and hid their mouths, clearly having seen that wink and taken that into a completely different sense.

Rishika knew Dev was tired and asked for their rooms. The two were immediately taken upstairs to the room.

“Ye aap dono ka kamra hai. Shaadi ke function shaam ko 6 baje se shuru hai. Tab tak aap aaram krlo. Aur kuch chahiye toh kisi se keh dena, jijaji!”

(This is your room. The functions will start from 6. You can rest until then. And if need anything tell anyone, jijaji!)

The girl who escorted them, giggled and left. Both Rishika and Devansh looked at the closed door with wide eyes, processing what the girl just said.

“Ji-jijaji?”

Rishika whispered and Dev finally realised what was happening.

“I get it now! Inn logo ke hisaab se toh hum married hai na.”

(We are married according to them.)

That made her blush and she looked down.

“Oh.”

That was the only thing she could manage to speak without blushing like an idiot. Dev looked at her looking down and thought that she was getting uncomfortable.

“Mai jaake ye misunderstanding clear krta hu. I’ll get different rooms for us.”

(I will clear this misunderstanding.)

He started leaving but Rishika held his wrist and stopped him.

“Chhod na! Ek raat ki baat hai. Aur adhi raat toh waise bhi phero mai nikal jaayegi. 3 baje tak kamre mai aayenge hum. Aur subha naashta krke nikal jaayenge. Kuch ghanto ke liye kyu sabko pareshaan krna hai?”

(Leave it! It’s just one night. Half the night will pass in the wedding. We will come back by 3. And we will leave after having breakfast. Why trouble everything for a few hours?)

He looked at her with scepticism.

“Sure?”

She nodded and said.

“Aur waise bhi unhone kamre decide kre huye honge, kisko kaunsa dena hai. Pareshaan ho jaayenge sab. Rehne de. It’s not like we’ve not shared a room before.”

(They must have decided which room to give to whom. Everyone will be troubled. Leave it.)

He looked at her amused and folded his arms in front of his chest, making his biceps flex.

“We’ve shared a duplex room with bhaiya and bhabhi where you shared a bed with bhabhi.”

He reminded her and she looked away, pretending to remove her earrings.

“Haan toh kya ho gaya? Tujhe doubt hai kya khud pr?”

(So what happened? You doubt yourself?)

She teased. But he was Devansh. The shameless best friend of hers.

“Khud pr nhi. Tujh pr doubt hai. Of late mujhe aisa lag raha hai ki teri gandi nazar hai mujh pr.”

(Not myself. I doubt you. Of late I think you have a dirty eye on me.)

Her eyes widened and she turned to look at him shocked.

“Kya?”

(What?)

He burst out laughing and fell back on the bed.

“Kuch nhi! Soja thodi der. Mai toh bhut thak gaya drive krke. Kal bhi drive krke jaana hai.”

(Nothing! Have some rest. I am very tired from driving. I have to drive tomorrow also.)

Rishika kept looking at him as he pulled the covers over himself and dozed off in a few minutes. She knew he was genuinely tired. But she recalled his teasing words from a few minutes ago.

A blush coated her cheeks. Dirty eyes? On him? Maybe.

Chuckling at her own thoughts, she got inside the covers and dozed off after setting an alarm for 3 hours. 

Rishika woke up to her ringing alarm. She groaned and switched it off before sighing and opening her eyes.

She felt hot breaths against her neck and turned her face to see Devansh’s face against the crook of her neck. His arm sprawled around her, caging her in while he laid on his stomach.

Her heartbeat accelerated and she carefully got up, getting out of his arms. She sat on the edge of the bed with her legs dangling down and took a deep breath.

She looked behind and saw his peacefully sleeping face and smiled. She decided to let him sleep because he had driven here and would have to drive back after a tiring night of functions.

In the meanwhile she decided to get ready. It would take her some time because she had to wear a saree.

Rishika was almost ready and was making her hairstyle when Devansh stirred awake. He groaned and stretched himself. He looked around groggily until his eyes landed on her. And stayed.

She didn’t wear sarees or traditionals very often. And the saree looked gorgeous on her. Rishika raised her hand to fix her hairpins, holding her hairstyle in place.

That made the saree pallu rise up and expose the side of her waist. Devansh gulped and looked away. He sat up straight and rubbed his hair. His eyes betrayed him and looked back at her.

“You’re up? Ready ho jaa tu bhi. Functions start hone wale hai.”

(Get ready. Functions are about to start.)

She said, still distracted by her hairstyle. Devansh nodded and went to freshen up. 

The wedding was not very grand but a peaceful and not very chaotic event. Rishika was happy that it was done because all she wanted to do was crash into bed again. 

She leaned against Devansh because her feet were killing her. He snaked an arm around her waist completely forgetting that she was wearing a saree.

The moment his hand touched her bare skin, both of them froze. Their eyes met and Devansh gulped.

His palm was very warm and sent goosebumps and shivers down her spine. Devansh knew he had to act quickly and do something to lessen the awkwardness.

He placed a soft kiss to her forehead and looked at her.

“Tired?”

Rishika pouted and nodded, resting her head on his chest. He smiled and held her securely.

The next morning, Rishika woke up feeling warm. Too warm. She peeked her eye open and looked at the source, only for her breath to get stuck. 

She was curled into Devansh and he was holding her close as if not wanting to let her go. They were close. Too close. And she could see every contour of his face.