Author's P.O.V...

The vibrant atmosphere around Prisha was buzzing with laughter, music , and the scent of fresh street food. She stood behind the stall , one of the busiest at the fest, filled with beautiful canvases that had already attracted a lot of attention. some canvases tagged with red sold stricker already. Visitor's moved around with cotton candy,art lovers admired the pieces, and kids ran past with balloons tied to their wrists. The sun was beginning to dip , casting a golden glow over the crowd of festival - goers. Prisha, dressed in a lavender crop top and high - waisted jeans, was busy keeping an eyes on things, adjusting a painting here and there, making sure everything was perfect.

Just then , Ritika came rushing over, a wide smile on her face. " Didi! Aap bhi jao na thoda fest ghoom lo... main sab dekh lungi yahan!"

" Arey, Ananya bhi toh nahi hai yahan. Tum logon ko kaise akele chod sakti ho main?" Prisha hesitating eyeing the stall.

Ritika insisting. " Didi, don't worry ! Hum dekh lenge. Aap jao na,thoda relax karo! Kuch bhi urgent hoga toh call karenge. "

Prisha thought for a moment, then signed. She looked around at the bustling fest, the mix of excitement and energy almost too tempting to resist. " Okey fine, lakin kahi mat jaana. Stall ka dhyan rakhna or ha sirf mujhe call Krna ager urgent ho toh, Ananya ko disturb mat karna."

" Bilkul didi, aap jao ,hum dekh lenge." Ritika said.

Prisha grabbed her bag and left the stall, walking through the lively fest. She passed stalls showcasing handcrafted jewelry, beautiful paintings, and even a caricature artist drawing people's portraits. There was so much to see, but she was drawn to a chana jor garam stall, the tempting smell of spicy chickpeas on the air.

Prisha to vendor. " Bhaiya , kitna ka diya?" Just then , another voice - matching hers in timing - echoed beside her.

She turned... And there was he Manik. They both stared for a second, equally startled. " TUM?!" said together.

Manik grinning " Aree mujhe nahi pata tha tum mujhe stalk kar rahi ho. Impressive dedication, Miss disaster."

" Stalk voh bhi tumhe?Itne bure din bhi nahi aaye h mere, Mr. Flirtzilla" Prisha crossing her arms, unimpressed.

" Arey maan bhi lo..... Pheli baar dekhte hi mere charm se impression ho gayi thi na? tbhi toh dekho kase mujhe dudhte dudhte yaha tak aa gayi.". Manik crossing his arm , still smirking.

She rolled her eyes, clenched her jaw...her fingers itching to throw some sort of comeback, when - wham!

A football, kicked by some random kids, flew through the air and hit the chaat table . Dha-DHAM! The chana jor garam flew in the air like a spicy confetti bomb and landed - splaat - right on Prisha.

Masala. Everywhere. On her top. In her hair " Kya tha yeh?!" Prisha mouth open.

" Oh. My God , HAHA - tum literally chana chaat ban gayi... Uff sach main, kya get up hain? Bombay street platter look." Manik first shocked, then bursting out laughing.

" Shut up , chammak challo Birla version...bahut hasi aa rahi hai tumhe?abhi batati hoon." Prisha glare deadly , wiping masala off her cheek.

She grabbed the metal plate with the leftover masaledar chaat and - plop - tipping it over manik's head.

Manik stunned, chaat in his hair." Are you serious?, Miss disaster."

" Aww, tumhe bhi chaat try karni chaiye na. Sharing is caring." Prisha said with a sweet smile.

" You know what? Tumse toh logo ko helmet phen ke milna chaiye - life insurance ke sath." Manik said with frustration.

Prisha. " Aur tum par toh warning lebal laga hona chaiye... Handle with caution....tumse milna public safety hazard jo hai."

They stood facing each other, neither wanting to back back down. Their voices rose, a back and forth that could've been mistaken for a children's playground argument. The nearby crowd - mostly amused. Festival - goers - pushed to watch. The crowd couldn't help but notice how prisha and manik had turned the simple food stall into a full on rivalry.

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Abhimanyu and Ananya walked together, the crowd parting slightly as they strolled. Abhimanyu, hands in his pockets, was observing everything with his usual composed demeanor while Ananya ,eyes wide with curiosity,was soaking it all in.

Ananya." Yeh fest toh expectation se bhi zyada behtar hai..aap logon ne bahut ache se prepare Kiya hai."

Abhimanyu softly, " thank you."

They took a few more steps when suddenly a commotion broke out near one of the chaat stalls .

Ananya with curiosity." Vha kya ho raha hai?" She pointed toward the crowd gathering in a semi- circle." Chaliye dekhte hain?"

Abhimanyu nodded and they moved together the cluster, weaving through bodies until the scene unfolded in a front of them -

Manik and Prisha stood in the middle of a chaat- disaster zone, both dripping in spicy masala, arguing like sworn enemies. Masala on their clothes, hair in disarray, the chaat vendor looking like he regretted waking up that morning.

" Prisha?! Ye kya ho gaya? Ananya rushed forward, biting her lip to stop from laughing.

Abhimanyu,stone - faces as usual , took a moment before walking to his brother. " Ye tera...chaat masale se Abhishek kisne kar diya?"

Prisha jabbing a finger at manik." Ana! Sab iski galti hai."

Manik already frustrated, throwing his hands up." Wah ji wah! Ulta chor kitwaal ko kaate!"

Prisha." Ulta chor kotwal ko Kaate hota hai, Ghanchakkar!.. phele thik se bolna toh seekh lo!"

Manik." Ha ha! Something like that...ye choro ye batao meri kya galti? Infact mujhe blame krne ki jagah khud ko dekho... Tumhi ne uthak masala daala mere upar Jaan bhuj kar."

Prisha eye roll, arms crossed." Sab tumhari galti hai, na tum milte na mera bad luck start hota.. aur rahi baat masala dalne ki toh has kaun raha tha...you deserved that."

Manik." Jab circus ki joker jaisi dekhogi toh hasi toh aayegi hi na."

They glared each other like proper jaani dushman. Passerby had started stopping, some giggling others watching like it was a live soap opera.

One aunty muttered. " Arey ye dono toh purane janam ke dushman lag rahe."

Ananya stepped between them." Arey bas! Bahut ho gya. Kya bacchon ki tarah lad rahe ho sabke samne . Forgive Karo and khatam kro ye circus."

Prisha." Phele isko bolo sorry bole!"

" Oh hello?? Maine kuch nahi kiya! Infact you should say sorry!" Manik said with frustration.

Prisha even more furious."TUM!"

Abhimanyu firmly, stepped in."Manik. Stop it." He turned to Prisha, softly slightly. " Prisha, I'm saying sorry-from my brother's side."

Manik." Arey bhai aap kyu sorry bol rahe hai isse..saari galti iski hai."

Abhimanyu." Manik, I said stop it.

Prisha raised an eyebrow." He's your brother?"

" Yes, He is my younger brother. Manik Kalra." Abhimanyu nodded.

Prisha stared at Manik, then back at Abhimanyu. " Lagta toh nahi.. ye cartoon aapka bhai hai."

Manik offended." Kya matlab lagta nahi hai?"

Prisha about to answer, but Ananya cut her off ." Stop it, Prisha!" turned to Manik with a polite smile. " Manik , I'm sorry - from my friends side."

Manik." It's okey aap bol rahi hai isliye jaane deta hua."

Manik and Prisha exchanged one final death- glare , lips curled in frustration,and then turned away with matching huff.

Ananya turned to Abhimanyu with a soft smile. " Thank you...aaj fest mein hume company dene ke liye. It was nice..bye and take care." She looked at him with a warmth that lingered longer than the words.

Abhimanyu gazed at her gently, voice low and sincere." My pleasure..truly. bye and take care."

Their eyes met for a second more - quiet, meaningful, unspoken things suspended in the calm after the chaos.

Ananya gave a small nod, smiled once more, then turned and walked off to join Prisha, who was still muttering something.

Abhimanyu watched her for a moment,the ghost of a smile at the edge of his lips, before turning to walk off with Manik,who was busy sulking and shaking the chaat crumbs off his head.

Ananya and Prisha walk back toward their art stall, still brushing off the last traces of the chaotic chaat episode. Ritika spots them first - standing beside the stall, grinning ear to ear.

" Didi, ghumne gayi thi ya chaat masale se nahane?" Ritika teasing, trying to keep a straight face.

A burst of laughter erupts from the other students around - two of them even pretending to sniff the air dramatically.

Student 1 . " Yeh toh literal masaledar evening ho gayi!"

Student 2." Didi ne toh fest mein Naya trend la diya - chaat fashion"

Ananya tried to hold back her giggle, failing." Bas karo, guy's." But she's laughing too, one hand covering her mouth as she looks as Prisha's still - stained top...

Prisha." Chup. Sab log.. Bilkul.Ek DUM . Chup." Staring at all of them, her jaw slightly clenched.

Her voice is flat - dangerously calm,which only makes Ritika and the others laugh harder. Even Ananya bites her lips, shoulder shaking...

Prisha." I'm done. Mujhe ghar jana hai..tum log sambhalon aapna stall, aapna masala , aur aapna sense of humor."

She turns on her heel dramatically and storms off, leaving a trail of laughter behind her.

The luxurious space is warm and alive- Mahesh and Shanta , Rajeev and Nisha , Saket and Ritu, Trisha, Avni and Aarav are gathered around the center table , sipping chai and munching on dry snacks. Laughter and conversation fill the air.

Aarav visiting for the evening leans back with a relaxed grin, mid - story about a recent client mishap.

Suddenly - Main door creaks open.

Manik storms in, face flushed with frustration, hair still artfully sprinkled with chaat masala and a rogue coriander leaf hanging for dear life. Behind him walks Abhimanyu, calm as ever - barely holding his reaction.

All eyes turn to Manik... A moment of stunned silence...Then - explosive laughter erupts.

Trisha." Arey Manik bhai! Ye kya halat hai? Fest se aaye ho ya chaat corner se tapak ke?"

Avni." De-tan pack ki jagah Naya skincare trend?"

Saket. ( Chacha ) " Aree Manik, yeh chaat- makeup kaha se karake aa raha hai tu? Next level makeover!"

Even the house staff standing by the hallway can't cantrol themselves now - two of them quietly giggle behind their hands, while one mutters." Arey bhaiya ne toh full plate phen li chaat ki!"

Aarav puts his cup down dramatically. " Wah wah... Deviyo or sajano m... Presenting - The Manik Kalra! Who turns street food into street fashion!"

Ritu ( chachi ). " Arey beta ye halat Hui kase teri? Abhi kya hua?." asked while looking at Abhimanyu.

Abhimanyu." Bas kuch nahi...thoda chaat, thoda masala, thoda public tamasha...normal Manik-day."

Everyone erupts again.

Manik glaring, his ears literally red." Haha very funny. family ho ya dushman." And then disappear upstairs..

Everyone else continues laughing some still sipping their chai, others replaying what Abhimanyu said , he allows himself a rare smirk before taking a quiet seat beside Aarav.

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Ananya's P.O.V....

The city outside hums gently. Inside, my room is dimly lit by my favorite bedside lamp, casting a cozy amber glow.....I now changes into a simple cotton night suit, standing in front of my full- length mirror. My face is freshly washed, and I'm applying my night cream, patting my cheeks gently.

As I lean in to smooth the cream near my jawline, a moment flashes in her mind - Abhimanyu, standing in front of me, saying softly.. "KHUBSURAT..."

I pauses. My fingers freeze mid- motion. A hint of blush rises on my cheeks. I quickly glanced away from the mirror like someone might've caught me." Tu pagal ho gayi hai kya? Bas ek word bola tha..woh bhi jhumke ke liye! Tere liye nahi " I whisper to myself.

I tried to resume applying the cream but her lips curved into a small smile - one I doesn't even realise.

" Overthinking ki dukhan.. ab so ja." I sighed with a shake of my head.

_______

Abhimanyu's P.O.V....

A contrast of space and silence. My room is large , but cold. A sleek desk lamp illuminates the last stack of files and blueprints I've been reviewing. I neatly close the folder , place my glasses aside , and stand up.

I walk over to the window, looking out for a moment, then move to my bed and sit down...and then her laughter echoes faintly in my memory- bright, uninhibited, echoing across the festive stalls.

" She laughs with her whole face..." I said to myself , voice low.

Another memory echo in my head....she was abusing the rude man at the fest...and i let out a short laugh,

shaking my head in disbelief. " Gaali bhi vegetarian deti hai." I said to myself in amusement.

I switches off the bedside lamp, still smiling slightly, why? I don't know and lies back.

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