The Oberoi mansion was on Diwali celebration. Diwali, the festival of lights; the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. The mansion was decorated with lights, colorful arts in front of the mansion with colored powder and bursting of firecrackers. Now it's seemed like a golden mansion.

All Oberoi family members and friends, including Rakshit and Aradhika were celebrating. However, the time they returned to India was the best as they had to celebrate Diwali in their place with their family and friends.

“Why didn't you wear the dress?” Rinisha whispered in Rakshit's ear.

Rakshit raised his eyebrow, “Which dress?”

“That I gave you yesterday for wearing today.” She intertwined their fingers as she snorted a fake smile by hiding her anger. “Why? Didn't you like it?”

“Oh! That's...” he carefully removed his hand from her. “You know, I haven't tried anything like, so I just...” he tried to be as sweet as he could.

Yesterday Rinisha gave him a sherwani to wear on diwali. But here, he was on his usual outfit, blue shirt and pants. She was expected he would have to wear the dress. Everyone was on traditional dress for the celebration while her fiancé was the only one standing there oddly like he was not a participant.

“You could have told me, if you don't...” She was lengthening the conversation as much as she could.

“Sorry! I will take care of it next time.” Rakshit said while looking at others. He didn't like the closeness between them. His mother was there and her as well. So he should keep a distance between them.

Her head leaning on his shoulder as she wanted his support now. She looked up to him, “Rakshit!” Her eyes were bright like she was so happy.

“Rinisha! I need to use the washroom.” He blurted out.

She didn't hear what he said, “What?”

“I need to use the washroom.” He lied again as he knew that it was the only place she wouldn't dare to follow him.

“Okay!” She removed her pestering self from his warmth.

He sighed a relief as he escaped from her sinful touches. He walked inside the mansion, leaving a love sick girl behind.

~~~

Rakshit was talking to Shaurya while he was detouring upstairs. He already missed his best friend who was always clinging to him. Shaurya promised he would as soon as he came to India for his marriage. Not only that, they decided to meet their three friends. Rakshit wanted to see them and recreate their friendship bond. But he acknowledged that without Shaurya's presence, it might be an awkward friendship gathering, so he was waiting for his arrival.

After he ended the call, Rakshit looked around to see where his legs were brought him. It's the top floor of the mansion where there isn't anyone's presence. The silence enveloped all areas like a ghost house. The illuminated lights and lamps were only to help kill the darkness clouded floor.

However, he was not interested in going downstairs and joined them. He just wanted to be his heart in peace, that's why he hopped off from the commotion.

He let his legs take wherever he wanted. Though he had once come to the floor alone with Rinisha, he hadn't paid any attention. Now he grabbed this chance to explore the mansion himself.

His long legs strode over the marble floor carefully as they were decorated with rangolis and clay lamps.

He was passing through them like it's nothing, something very precious would be waiting at the end of it. He didn't stay a single second for capturing the visual into his naked eyes as he began to get bored with it. He didn't know why, nowadays he couldn't content his heart like he began to get tired of everything or maybe he was waiting for something new and worth to his life as he got a little friend yesterday.

The little boy was really a gem, whoever might be his parents they're definitely happy to have him as their child. His smile and his little big attitude as well as his smartness, everything seemed to attract him like he had been with him for ages. And little did he know that the little champ was not merely a kid of his age, he was nothing but a little monster. But yet, he found it cute, and he unknowingly wished that he wanted to be blessed with a son like him.

But he was unaware that his wish was already granted.

What a poor man!

He made his way over to the balcony exactly opposite to the front. When he stopped there, his eyes welcomed the beauty of a ground full of diyas with different patterns. He never expected such an amazing view waiting for him. His eyes roamed everywhere as all lights were glistening in his eyes. It's quieter and more beautiful than the explosive celebration.

Just as his eyes trailing the lamps, it sucks on something; actually it's someone. He narrowed his eyes at the lonely figure who was not far from the mansion, lighting clay lamps on the ground gracefully.

He wondered about the girl as what she was doing here when everybody's celebrating diwali.

Who's she?

The curiosity got the best of him as he wanted to see the face of her.

What was he thinking?

Why would he want to see her?

And most importantly, why did he behave like a horny teenager?

He shook away his unwanted thoughts, he accidentally dropped a clay lamp to the ground which directly fell a few feet away from her.

Instantly Anuradha looked upwards to find the reason behind the fall. She kept watching to the balcony as if someone was staring back at her. But she couldn't make out anything as it's darkness inside, in the meantime he was looking at her like she was a goddess from heaven surrounded by lamps as stars twinkling in the sky.

She continued lighting the remaining lamps. But he was not ready to give up on her as he wanted to know more about her. It seemed she was somehow attracted to him. She was just beautiful like his dream girl.

His heart skipped a beat as the wild thought crossed his mind.

He fished out his phone and keenly looked at her face. Albeit her face was already imprinted in his mind, he wanted to make sure of it. He had given some graphic effects on the picture, now it would be much easier to identify the person.

He dropped another lamp intentionally to make her look upwards in order to see her face again. Oblivious to the tricky man's intention, she did as he wished to.

His eyes were wavering from her to the picture with a racing heart. He could hear the drumming sound of his heart. His mind was sending thousands of prayers to God for making, she must be the woman he was searching for. But he couldn't confirm without seeing her clearly. As if, God heard his prayer, a rocket burst out in the sky. Much to his surprise, the brightness from the fireworks showed the alluring beauty of her before his shocking eyes.

His breath hitched, all air knocked out from his heart. It seemed he was dying out of shock.

Was this a dream or reality?

Definitely this was reality. A damn reality happening around him like a dream. But how could it be possible?

'No! I am not hallucinating. She is not my girl. She is someone else. She is not mine...not mine. Shaurya was correct, I am overthinking. But she is real...she is looking at me. What, if she...' he stopped his inner arguments.

He was going to filter it, the reality and the dream separately. He began to run downstairs, to her like a madman. He didn't know where he was actually running as he almost forgot the way. After running here and there, finally he came to his destination. But who would have thought that his destination turned into his destiny after meeting her.

Somehow he managed to get his grip on the marble floor as he was running carelessly. His breath getting faster and faster, his eyes glued on her who was unaware of that hungry lion behind her.

He slowly walked towards her without making a voice, wiping his anxious sweats on his face. His nervous legs brought him to her, too close to her. He carefully sat beside her as he was in trance. He didn't know what he was doing near a strange girl who happened to be his dream girl.

Her yellow color saree was glittering like gold in the light. Her porcelain white skin was too tempting and invited him to caress it. Her thin lips wore a satisfied smile in her work.

It seemed like all stars were coming directly into the earth where a goddess was sitting without caring about this world.

His hand unconsciously extended to hers still looking at her face.

Anuradha could feel a hot breath was fanning behind her. Suddenly she turned around and looked at the man who was already fixing his eyes on her.

Her eyes were staring into her dark past while his eyes were into his dream future.