Chapter 1 The colours of love

A girl in her early twenties is getting ready because she is excited to go shopping for Holi.

She is wearing a pink coloured Bandhani print Kurti that has a middle slit with a white printed leggings

Holi is a popular ancient Hindu festival, originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is celebrated predominantly in India but has also spread to other areas of Asia and parts of the Western world through the diaspora from the Indian subcontinent. Holi is popularly known as the Indian "festival of spring", the "festival of colours", or the "festival of love". The festival signifies the arrival of spring, the end of winter, the blossoming of love, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships. The festival also celebrates the beginning of a good spring harvest season. It lasts for a night and a day, starting on the evening of the Purnima (Full Moon day) falling in the Vikram Samvat calendar, in the Hindu calendar month of Phalguna, which falls around the middle of March in the Gregorian calendar. The first evening is known as Holika Dahan (burning of demon holika) or Chhoti Holi and the following day as holi.

"Muskan tu taiyar hai ki nahi? (muskan are you ready or not?)" her friend Ahana screamed from outside

"haha ho gayi, (yes yes I'm ready)" Muskan replied

She went outside of her room and found her friend downstairs.

She goes downstairs and her friend shows her the watch.

"What time is it? I told you to be ready on time isn't it?" her friend asked glaring at her

"Yeah I'm ready on time only just 15 minutes late don't make a fuss over Ahana ," Muskan said with a shrug

"whatever now come," Ahana said and drag her out

"Did you inform me?" Muskan asked

"Yes I informed Auntie, don't worry about it," Ahana said and both go to market for Holi shopping

The market is filled with holi colours...

"I'm so excited you know. Holi is my favourite festival." Muskan chirped

"yeah I know," Ahana said and they both started to buy colours as they have arranged a party in Ahana's house

They bought all the needed things, even items for making Thandai and sweets.

After finishing their shopping they both were returning when Muskan noticed a really unique colour. It was aqua blue

Only one packet of that colour was left.

Muskan goes towards the shop and about to take the packet another person also puts his hand on it.

"Bhaiya I want this packet." The man said

"oh hello I saw this packet first so I'm taking it only." muskan said

"Sir," the shopkeeper tried to say something but could not Because of their bickering

"why is it a rule that if you see something then you have right over it?" The man mocked her

"whatever it is I'm taking it, bhaiya you give me this," Muskan said adamantly

"Oh hell no I'm taking it only," The man said stubbornly

"mam sir don't fight," The shopkeeper said

"what is going on?" Two people asked at the same time

"see this man is fighting over this colour," Muskan complained

"and I can say the same about you Ms." The man said

"Whatever happened? Why are you fighting with her?" His brother asked him

"You shut your mouth Ladki dekhi nahi ki bas shuru ho jata hai ( whenever see the girl you start your drama)" Abeer hissed

"Kyu meri izzat ki dhajjiya uda Raha hai? (why are you spoiling my reputation?)" His brother asked

"shut up Akshay," Abeer said

"So where were we? Yeah the colour, ms. Your friend over thinks that If she saw anything first then she got a right over it. Tell her how much wrong she is." Abeer said

"excuse me Mr Now you're insulting me, and now I will take this colour only," Muskan said stubbornly pointing towards the colour

"Muskan leave it na yar. It is just a colour only," Ahana said and tried to make her friend understand and turned towards her friend "I would have if this man has not insulted me"

"oh, you understand now that I'm insulting you? Such a slow thinker you're. And I'm taking this colour only." Abeer said in his own stubbornness now.

"sir mam let me say please," the shopkeeper said again

"Yes bhaiya you say," Ahana said to The shopkeeper

" Sir mam I have another packet of this colour in my store. You both can buy it. I'm trying to tell you both from so long but you're not listening to me. See because of your fight my other customers ran away from here. "The shopkeeper said angrily to both of them.

Abeer and Muskan both look at him shocked and embarrassed.

They were fighting like kids over a simple thing.

" Sorry, "they both said

"it is all because of you, "They both said to each other

Her friend and his brother rolled their eyes at them and they are childless.

" Oh shut up you both. Look at you both fighting like 5 years old kids. Hell 5 years olds are better than you both." Ahana said glaring at them

Both huffed and took the colour packets. They paid the price and went to their respective homes.

"What happened to Musu? Why are you angry?" Her mother asked when she saw her daughter angry

"ma some idiot was fighting with me over colour and in the end we both got embarrassed," muskan said reminding the time

"means you were also fighting then how is it only his fault? To clap you need to use both hands with one hand you can't clap. So if you participated in the process then it means you are also responsible for whatever happened." her mother said Muskan knows her mother is right

Muskan goes to her room and changes her clothes.

Ahana has reached her home safely with all the things and has messaged her as well.

The days passed away and it was Holika Dahan.

Muskan was wearing a floral printed salwar

She and her parents go to Ahana's house.

The holika was set in the backyard of their house.

"hey Ahana," Muskan said with a big smile as she spotted her

Her parents were talking with Ahana's parents.

She went towards her and her smile vanished.

"What the hell is he doing here?" Muskan asked with greeted Teeth

"Muskan he is Ankur's cousin Abeer His brother Akshay and he had come here because Ankur could not attend," Ahana replied In a whisper

Ankur is Ahana's fiance...

"what? This jerk can't be Ankur's cousin. Ankur is such a sweetheart and him? Huh, not even 1 per cent like Ankur," Muskan said loudly and Ahana kicked her for talking loudly.

Muskan hissed in pain and glared at her friend.

"shut up," Ahana says and Muskan obliged because she doesn't want her to be upset

"I didn't know you have this nutcase Friends bhabhi (sister in law)" Abeer said to blaze the fire again that Ahana extinguishes.

Muskan didn't reply to him and stayed silent.

"Abeer bhai please don't drag this matter more" Ahana pleaded with him with her eyes.

Abeer nodded his head and was staring at Muskan who is now standing with her other friends.

He was scrutinising her facial features. And he concluded that she isn't that bad.

They lit the holika and all started to roam around it.

It is said that with liting holika we burn the evil inside us. We should leave some bad habit and burn it.

It is the significance of this ritual.

"Ms Muskan it's not good to lit Holika with having anger and grudges in your heart," Abeer said to her

"and who said that?" Muskan question back him

"I can read your face very well. Holi is a festival of love and colours so let's celebrate it with love and Friendship only. Whatever happened today was unfortunate and we both were equally involved in this. So let's forget it and start as friends. And sorry for whatever happened," Abeer said and forward his hand

Muskan thought about it and shook his hand.

" at least smile yar your name is muskan but that's the thing is missing from your face," Abeer said

Muskan means Smile and Abeer means dry colours.

" Sorry for my behaviour as well and you're forgiven," Muskan said with a smile

"your smile is really beautiful just like you," Abeer said and Muskan blushed hearing compliment

But she pretends like she isn't affected by it.

Next day was Holi and they all enjoyed it to the fullest. Abeer was the first one who applied colours on Muskan.

They enjoyed it together as well.

After that, They all go back to their normal life. Abeer left for his hometown...

They both were a sweet memory in the heart of each other.

As they already exchanged their numbers, they started talking and finally they became good friends.

But there was a strong attraction between them.They both felt that.They both knew the truth that there was not just friendship between them and they were  much more than that to each other.

After 6 months They again met when Ahana And Ankur got married. And this time their meeting was more effective and crucial.

On the day of reception, after lots of courage Muskaan went to Abeer and asked him to be her boyfriend. First Abeer became shocked and tongue-tied but when he saw Muskaan's face which was teary and sad,he came out from a shocked state.

And he accepted.

Soon their relationship became more serious and after 2 years

During Muskaan's birthday Abeer proposed to her in front of her whole family to marry her. Muskaan accepted him.

Their family also supported them.

They both got married and stayed happily with each other.

They both meet each other at the festival of holi. And that aqua blue holi colour brought the colour of love in their life.