Nidhi stomped into her room, her face flushed a deep shade of crimson. She threw herself onto the bed, punching her pillow in frustration.

"How dare he! Pelli aaperyocchu ga... huhh!" she whispered fiercely to the empty walls.

("How dare he! He could just stop the wedding, right... huhh!")

She gritted her teeth, her competitive spirit flaring up. "Ela ayina ee pelli apesthanu!" she declared with a confident nod, though her heart was still thudding from the way he had looked at her.

("Somehow, I will stop this wedding!")

Eventually, exhaustion took over, and she drifted into a restless sleep. Sometime later, Divya walked in. Although they had separate bedrooms, the sisters shared an unspoken rule whenever Nidhi was home, they slept together. Divya pulled the blanket over her little sister and drifted off, oblivious to the war Nidhi was waging.

The next morning, Nidhi headed downstairs at her usual leisurely pace. She walked into the dining area, expecting the usual morning bustle, but the house was strangely quiet. Only Divya was there, humming a song while happily eating breakfast.

Nidhi’s eyes lit up when she saw the table. "Amma! Nanna ekkada akka?" she asked, her mouth already watering at the sight of the golden, fluffy puris.

("Mom and Dad... where are they, Akka?")

"Vallu Atthaya intiki vellaru," Divya replied casually, dipping a piece of puri into the curry. "Panthulu garu vaccharu marriage muhurthalu choodataniki."

("They went to Auntie’s house. The priest has arrived to look for wedding dates.")

Nidhi, who had just taken a large bite of puri, suddenly froze. She began to cough violently as the food got stuck in her throat. Divya quickly handed her a glass of water.

"Appude pelli muhurthalu enti? Engagement ledha? Ayina oka six months varaku aagocchu kadha!" Nidhi yelled, her voice thick with panic once she could breathe again.

("Why wedding dates already? Is there no engagement? Anyway, we could wait for at least six months, right!")

Divya wiped her hands and looked at her sister with a glowing smile. "Atthaya and Mavaya said there is no need for engagement. Direct marriage. And the marriage will be held in one week."

"WHAT?! ONE WEEK?!" Nidhi whispered-yelled, the puri on her plate suddenly looking like lead.

Divya laughed, misinterpreting her sister's shock for excitement.

"What happened, Nidhi? Are you worrying about shopping? Don't worry, we will go shopping tomorrow!"

Nidhi’s eyes felt like they were going to pop out of her head. She shoved the last piece of puri into her mouth, barely chewing, and dashed toward the neighboring house. She crept along the wall and pressed her ear against the door, eavesdropping with every ounce of her concentration.

Inside, the Pandit was consulting the almanac. "There are two auspicious dates," the priest’s voice droned. "One is in nine days... but the best muhurtham is in just three days."

Nidhi’s jaw dropped. Three days? "Ee panthulu juttu pikeyalli!" she whispered fiercely, her fingers itching to actually go in and pull the priest’s hair out.

("I should pluck this priest's hair out!")

As she was fuming, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She brushed it off without looking. "Ehey..." Another tap. This time harder.

"Ehey, evadra?" she turned around, her face twisted in irritation.

("Hey, who is it?")

Her breath hitched. Devarsh was standing right behind her, towering over her with a devastating smirk. "Your husband," he replied simply.

"No! Don't call that!" Nidhi hissed.

"Then come, let’s go and say that to them,"

Devarsh said. Before she could protest, he grabbed her hand in a firm grip and pulled her right into the middle of the living room.

Everyone stopped talking. The elders—Syamala, Ramakrishna, Lakshmi, and Lokesh—all looked up in surprise.

"What are you both doing here?" Syamala asked, a smile spreading across her face at the sight of them holding hands.

"Ma... Nidhi wants to ask something," Devarsh said, his voice sounding perfectly innocent.

"What happened, Nidhi? What do you want to ask?" Lakshmi asked kindly.

Nidhi’s face went pale. "Nothing, Ma..."

"Don't feel shy, just say what you want to say," Devarsh encouraged, his smirk deepening as he looked down at her.

"You tell us, Devarsh, what is it?" they asked curiously.

Devarsh looked at the elders and then back at a trembling Nidhi. "Ma... Nidhi wants the marriage to happen in three days."

Nidhi’s head snapped toward him at jet speed.

Her mouth fell open. "Ohhh! So my Nidhi was that desperate to come to our house!" Syamala exclaimed, pulling Nidhi into a hug and kissing her forehead.

"Panthulu garu! Fix the muhurtham which is in three days!" Ramakrishna declared happily.

Nidhi stood there like a statue. A total idiot. She felt like the world was spinning in slow motion.

In her mind, she was already lunging at Devarsh, clutching his head and pulling every single strand of hair out until he was completely bald.

Devarsh, sensing her murderous thoughts, simply winked at her and strolled away toward the stairs.

Arjun walked up to her next, beaming with joy. "Thank you, Nidhi! Thank you for making the wedding happen sooner!"

“Na bratthukki veedokadu,” Nidhi thought bitterly, staring at her future brother-in-law.

("As if my life wasn't hard enough, here's this guy.")

"And I didn't know that you were this desperate to marry my brother!" Arjun teased, laughing.

Nidhi gritted her teeth so hard they ached.

Without a single word, she turned around and marched back to her house, her feet stomping so loudly they echoed through the courtyard. The trap had closed, and Hitler had won this round.

.

.

.

The wedding house was a whirlwind of activity. With only two days left, the air was filled with the scent of marigold garlands and the constant chatter of relatives. Since the families were so close, they decided to hold the grand ceremony at Nidhi’s house, keeping the guest list intimate but the celebrations lavish.

"Ika shopping ki veldham randi!" Syamala called out, ushering everyone toward the cars.

("Come on, let's go shopping!")

At the massive saree showroom, the atmosphere was divided. On one side, Arjun and Divya were in their own world. Arjun was holding up different shades of red and gold against Divya, whispering compliments that made her blush.

They were the picture of a perfect couple, their happiness radiating through the store.

Nidhi, meanwhile, was wandering through the aisles like a secret agent. Her plan was simple pick the ugliest, most mismatched saree possible to annoy Devarsh. But as she moved through the silk section, her eyes caught a particular saree. It was a stunning, deep emerald green with intricate silver zari work—the exact color Devarsh once mentioned looked good on her years ago.

Against her own will, she picked it up.

"Idhi bagundhi kadha?" her mother whispered.

("This is beautiful, right?")

"Nacchindhi... kani idhi kadhu, nenu edhina ghoramaina color vethukovali," Nidhi muttered, though she didn't put the green saree down.

("I like it... but not this one, I need to find some horrible color.")

Suddenly, she felt that familiar chill down her spine. She turned around to see Devarsh standing behind her, leaning against a pillar with his hands in his pockets. He wasn't looking at the sarees he was looking straight at her.

"Green color baguntundhi neeku," he said, his voice low and steady.

("Green color looks good on you.")

Nidhi jumped, clutching the saree to her chest. "Nenu idhi choose cheskunnanu ani evaru chepparu? Nenu verevi chusthunnanu!"

("Who said I chose this? I'm looking at others!")

Devarsh stepped closer, his shadow falling over her. "Entha try chesina, ee pelli aagadu Nidhi. Better start choosing your jewelry too."

Nidhi glared at him. "Chusthu undu, last minute lo nenu apakapothe chudu," she challenged under her breath.

("Just watch, see if I don't jump ship at the last minute.")

Devarsh leaned down to her ear, a confident smirk playing on his lips. "Try cheyyi. Kaani gurthu petruko... nuvvu ekkadiki vellina, nenu ninnu vethiki maree pelli chesukunta."

("Try it. But remember... wherever you go, I will carry you back and marry you anyway.")

Nidhi’s breath hitched. She watched him walk away toward Arjun, feeling a mix of fury and a strange, annoying flutter in her heart.

Nidhi stood in front of the mirror, the heavy emerald green silk draped over her shoulder. Despite her best efforts to find something "horrible," her hand had stubbornly refused to let go of the one color she knew he liked.At last she selected the green colour saree.

.

.

.

The house was buzzing with the scent of fresh turmeric and the sound of relatives arriving, but the groom-to-be was already reaching for his car keys. Syamala followed her elder son to the door, her face etched with frustration as she blocked his path.

"Repu pelli pettukuni ekkadiki velthav raa? Eeroju Haldi... nuvvu ikkada undalsindhe!" Syamala declared, placing a hand on his arm to stop him.

("Where are you going with the wedding tomorrow? Today is Haldi... you must stay here!")

But Devarsh, as stubborn as ever, didn't even loosen his grip on his briefcase. He adjusted his watch, his expression as cold and professional as a board meeting.

"No Ma, it's impossible. I have a meeting that cannot be rescheduled. If you want, Arjun will stay here, but I will not be attending these rituals," he said firmly.

Arjun, who was sitting on the sofa getting a head massage from a cousin, let out a sigh of pure relief.

For once, his brother wasn’t dragging him to the office to do grunt work. He was more than happy to stay back and enjoy the attention.

Syamala watched as Devarsh’s car roared out of the driveway. She turned back into the house, muttering under her breath, "This boy will not listen to anybody!"

Arjun hopped off the sofa, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Maybe he will listen to Nidhi’s words," he suggested with a wink.

Syamala paused, a slow smile spreading across her face.

The sun began to set, casting a warm, golden glow over the courtyard of Nidhi’s house. The air was thick with the earthy scent of turmeric and the rhythmic beat of traditional songs. Relatives were busy laughing and smearing yellow paste on each other, but Nidhi sat tucked away in a quiet corner.

She looked breathtaking in her yellow and white lehenga, her hair adorned with simple flowers. But her heart was a messy battlefield.

One part of her—the part that remembered him protecting her in school—secretly wanted to say "yes" and see where this life took them. The other part of her was still that terrified student, certain that being married to him meant a lifetime of discipline and, yes, probably midnight maths lessons.

"How am I looking?" Divya asked, swirling around in her heavy gold-bordered outfit.

Nidhi forced a smile, looking at her sister.

"Absolutely stunning, Akka."

Divya sat beside her, adjusting her jewelry. "Devarsh was not attending Haldi. He has some office work," she said casually, checking her reflection in a small hand mirror.

The change in Nidhi was instantaneous. The gloom lifted from her face, and a genuine, triumphant smile broke out. If he wasn't here, it meant the rituals were incomplete. Maybe this was the sign she was looking for! Maybe the "Hitler" was finally prioritizing his spreadsheets over her!

"Avuna? Office ki vellada?" Nidhi asked, her eyes twinkling with a sudden, mischievous relief.

("Really? He went to the office?")

Just then, Divya’s phone buzzed with a message from Arjun. She read it, a secret smile playing on her lips. She glanced at Nidhi, who was currently looking like a gorgeous, glowing angel.

Without Nidhi noticing, Divya raised her phone and captured a candid photo. In the picture, Nidhi looked stunning—the yellow of her dress making her skin glow, her eyes bright with that newfound hope.

Divya quickly hit 'send' to Arjun.

At the Office

The silence of the high-rise office was broken only by the rhythmic, aggressive clicking of Devarsh’s mechanical keyboard. His focus was a steel trap every line of data and every financial projection was being scrutinized with the same intensity he brought to everything in life.

For him, work was the only way to drown out the chaotic thoughts of the life-changing event waiting for him in less than twenty-four hours.

Then, his phone vibrated on the desk.He usually ignored notifications during deep work, but a glance at the screen showed a message from Arjun. His brother never sent him random photos, especially not during work hours. Curiosity got the better of him.

He unlocked the screen and the image loaded.

Devarsh’s breath hitched. For a moment, the world outside that screen ceased to exist.

It was Nidhi.

She was dressed in a vibrant yellow langavoni, the color of sunshine, looking like a dream he hadn't realized he was having. Her hair was swept back, revealing the soft curve of her neck, and she was smiling—not that defiant, smirk she usually gave him, but a genuine, heart-melting smile that made her eyes sparkle.

He stared at the photo, observing every detail.

The way the turmeric-yellow fabric complemented her dusky skin, the way her small hands rested on her lap, and that infectious, pure joy on her face.

He leaned back in his leather chair, the phone still gripped in his hand. The spreadsheets, the deadlines, and the meetings suddenly felt incredibly trivial.

He had been trying to run away from the rituals, trying to stay until the very last second, but that one photo had shattered his resolve.

He didn't hesitate. He slammed the laptop shut with a definitive thud. He stood up, grabbed his car keys, and didn't even bother to put on his blazer.

As he walked toward the elevator, his mind was no longer on profit margins or project timelines. It was on that smile—and how he was going to be the one to see it in person.

"Nidhi..." he murmured to himself, a rare, soft smile touching his lips as he stepped into the elevator.

The SUV roared to life in the parking lot. He wasn't just going home he was going to his future.

The backyard was transformed into a sea of yellow and white, with marigold garlands draped across every tree and the sweet scent of sandalwood filling the air.

Divya and Nidhi stood together, looking like two halves of a sunbeam. Divya was glowing with anticipation, but Nidhi was still holding onto that tiny shred of hope that Devarsh’s workaholism would save her from the ritual.

Syamala gestured toward the entrance. "Arjun! Raa nanna," she called out.

Arjun walked in, looking dapper in a crisp white kurta that made his tan skin glow. He looked every bit the happy groom.

"Where is Devarsh, Arjun?" Lakshmi asked, looking around with a hint of worry.

"He is busy in the office..." Syamala began to explain with a sigh, but her words were cut short.

The gate creaked open, and the chatter of the relatives died down into a collective murmur of admiration.

Devarsh entered. He had swapped his formal office attire for a fitted white kurta that clung to his broad shoulders, making him look devastatingly handsome.

Nidhi’s breath hitched. She had been praying he wouldn't show up, but now that he was here, she couldn't look away. “Intha handsome ga unnadu enti?” she thought, her heart doing a traitorous little flutter.

("Why is he looking so handsome?")

Divya leaned in, nudging Nidhi with her shoulder. "Devarsh is handsome. Don’t drool that much," she teased in a whisper.

Nidhi quickly snapped out of it and rolled her eyes. "Office lo urgent work undhi annav," Syamala said, surprised but pleased.

("You said there was urgent work at the office.")

"Maybe nidhi kosam vacchadu emo amma, annaya," Arjun joked, winking at the couple.

("Maybe Brother came back just for Nidhi, Mom.")

The crowd laughed, and Devarsh shot a warning glare at Arjun that could have melted steel, though his eyes betrayed a hint of amusement.

"Go, go and sit!" the elders ushered them toward the decorated wooden planks.

Arjun and Divya sat together on one side, the picture of romance. Nidhi slowly moved toward the other side, sitting beside Devarsh. She leaned in slightly, her voice a sharp whisper. "Raanu ani chepparu?"

("You said you weren't coming?")

>

Devarsh didn't even look at her, but the corner of his mouth quirked up. "Neekosame vacchanu, bangaram," he husked back, his smirk turning Nidhi’s insides to jelly.

("I came only for you, darling.")

Nidhi narrowed her eyes at him, trying to look annoyed, but her face was burning. As the ritual began, Lakshmi came over and, seeing the gap between the two, gave Nidhi a firm push.

"Daggaraga kurchondi," Lakshmi insisted.

("Sit close.")

Nidhi stumbled and landed right against him, her thighs pressing firmly against his. The heat of his body was unmistakable.

Devarsh didn't move away instead, he shifted slightly to make her more stable, his smirk never leaving his face.

One by one, the relatives came forward, dipping their fingers into the golden turmeric paste and smearing it onto their faces, marking them as a couple in the eyes of everyone there.

Nidhi wasn’t going to let him have the last word. Seeing his smug face covered in just a few polite dots of yellow, she grabbed a literal handful of the thick turmeric paste. With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she lunged forward, leaning into him and rubbing it all over his cheeks and forehead.

"Hey!" Devarsh exclaimed, startled by her boldness.

Nidhi let out a peal of melodic laughter and bolted. The relatives gasped in shock—nobody dared to mess with Devarsh like that.

But he wasn't angry he was energized. He stood up, wiped a bit of yellow from his eye, and snatched up a bowl of haldi.

"Nidhi! Aagu!" he shouted, chasing her through the backyard.

Nidhi was fast, darting behind pillars and chairs. She grabbed a mug of water to splash him, but Devarsh ducked with athletic grace. The water sailed past him and drenched Arjun and Divya instead!

"Orey!" Arjun yelled, but then he started laughing too. Soon, the backyard turned into a chaotic battlefield of yellow stains and splashing water. Even Arjun, trying to get back at Nidhi,

accidentally smeared haldi on Divya’s nose, leading to a playful chase between them.

Eventually, the elders went inside to prepare for the evening rituals. Arjun and Divya were busy splashing each other near the garden pipe.

Nidhi, panting and laughing, saw Devarsh walking toward the side of the house. A small pang hit her heart—was he leaving? She shook the thought away, washed her hands and feet, and turned to head inside.

Suddenly, a strong hand clamped around her wrist.

Before she could even draw breath to scream, she was pulled into the dark shadows beneath the mango tree. A warm palm pressed firmly over her mouth.

"Shhhh," a husky voice vibrated against her ear.

Nidhi’s eyes widened, her heart hammering against her ribs like a drum. She saw Devarsh’s intense gaze inches from hers and stopped struggling. He slowly lowered his hand.

"Em chesthunnaru ikkada? First vadhalandi!" she whispered frantically, her voice trembling.

("What are you doing here? First, let me go!")

Devarsh smirked, his eyes dark and roving over her face. "Why did you apply this on my face?"

Nidhi tried to regain her bravado. She looked at his yellow-stained face and giggled. "Meeru accham Minion la unnaru! Yellow color lo comedy ga!" she laughed.

("You look exactly like a Minion! All yellow and comedy!")

Devarsh’s eyebrows rose. Without a word, his hand slid from her wrist to her waist. Her skin was bare there due to the half-saree, and because she was damp from the water fight, his warm touch sent a violent shiver through her entire body. Her laugh died instantly.

He stepped into her personal space, forcing her back against the rough bark of the tree. He leaned down, his breath tickling the sensitive skin of her ear.

"Em ayyindhi? Navvuthunnav gaa... navvu," he whispered, his lips almost brushing her earlobe.

("What happened? You were laughing... keep laughing.")

He didn't use his hands to apply the haldi.

Instead, he leaned his face against hers, rubbing his cheek against hers in a slow, sensual graze, transferring the yellow paste from his skin to hers.

"Ughh..." Nidhi gasped, her fingers clutching the silk of her skirt.

He didn't stop. He turned his head and did the same to her other cheek, his beard stubble tickling her skin, his grip on her waist tightening until she was flushed against his chest.

The scent of sandalwood, turmeric, and his masculine cologne clouded her senses. Nidhi’s eyes fluttered shut, her head falling back as she lost herself in the heat of the moment.

"NIDHI!" Divya’s voice shattered the silence from the porch.

Nidhi’s eyes snapped open. Reality hit her like a bucket of ice water. She gasped, pushed Devarsh’s chest with all her might, and scrambled out of his arms. She didn't look back she just ran toward the house as fast as her legs could carry her.

Devarsh stood in the shadows, his chest heaving slightly. He touched his cheek where her skin had just been, a slow, triumphant smile curling his lips as he watched her disappear into the house.

Nidhi leaned against the closed door of her room, her chest heaving as if she had just run a marathon. Her heart wasn't just hammering it was performing a full-blown drum solo against her ribs.

"Ekkadiki vellave?" Divya asked, standing in the hallway with a towel.

("Where did you go?")

Nidhi jumped, startled by her sister's voice. She couldn't even look Divya in the eye. "Em... em ledhu akka. Ikkade unnanu," she stammered, her voice an octave higher than usual.

("No... nothing, Akka. I was just here.")

Before Divya could ask another question or notice the way Nidhi’s dupatta was messed up, Nidhi bolted past her and locked herself in her room. Divya stood there, blinking in confusion. "Endhuku ala parigeduthundhi?" she muttered, shaking her head.

Inside her room, Nidhi didn't stop until she reached the washroom. She splashed her face with cold water, but the heat in her cheeks refused to fade. She looked in the mirror, and her breath hitched.

The yellow haldi was smeared perfectly across her chubby cheeks—exactly where Devarsh’s face had pressed against hers.

It wasn't a messy splash like the water fight it was a deliberate, intimate mark. Her ears turned a deep shade of crimson as she remembered the feel of his stubble and the grip of his hand on her waist.

She slowly raised her hand, her fingertips tracing the spot where his cheek had touched hers.

"What is happening to me?" she whispered to her reflection.

She felt like she was losing the war. she was supposed to hate had somehow managed to breach her defenses with nothing but a few drops of turmeric and a husky whisper. Panic and a strange, terrifying excitement swirled in her stomach.

She quickly stripped off her yellow lehenga and stood under the shower, letting the warm water wash away the haldi. But as the yellow tint swirled down the drain, the memory of his touch stayed stubbornly behind.

She crawled into bed, pulling the blanket over her head to hide from her own thoughts.