"Bahut tadpaya hai na Bhai ne mujhe aur Abhi ko. Ab uski baari"

Did she just say that!?

I just don't believe this.

'Gaur se dekhiye is chehre ko. Yahi hai wo zalim behen jo apne hi bhai ke dard par khush horahi hai. Jis bhai ne apni behen ki khushi keliye apna sab kuch daav pe laga diya, aaj wahi behen us bhai ke zakhm par has rahi hai. Ek berehem, nirdayi aur swarthi behen ko karenge benaqab aaj rath 9:30 baje sirf Ishita Iyer...oops...Bhalla News channel par...EK THI BEHEN'

I could do a good job revealing the true colours of this mean sister!

How mean of you Simmi!

I never expected this from you!

"Oye Ishita! Tu kya baar baar mute hojati hai? Duniya ka 8van ajooba dekh liya kya?"

"8van ajooba dekhti to shayad itna hairan nahi hothi jitna tumhein dekh kar hoon. Mujhe yaqeen nahi ho raha ke tum wahi behen ho jispe Raman jaan chidakte hain. Main maanti hun ke Raman ne tumhe Abhi se door rakha. Lekin unhone jo bhi kiya tumhara bhala soch kar kiya. Aur tum yahan unhi ki takleef pe khush ho rahi ho? Unbelievable!" I spitted out furiously

"Ooo...Pathi ki waqalat and all haan? Abhi se?" she winked

"Tum ko abhi bhi mazaq soojh raha hai? I am serious" I showed my disgust

"Agar tu serious hai to sun le" she said pointing a finger towards me in a warning tone "I am not at all serious about torturing my brother" she smiled at that and held my hands saying "Mai itni buri nahi hoon jitna tu soch rahi hai. Mai apne bhai se bahut pyar karti hun warna mai Abhi se itne waqt tak door kyun rehti? Mai chahti to bhai ko zabardasti manwa sakti thi lekin agarwo khush nahi hothe to mai kaise khush reh pathi" I could see tears brimming in her eyes

I felt sorry for doubting her

"I am very sorry. Maine kuch aur hi samjha. Please mujhe maaf kar do"

"It's alright" she said with a genuine smile

"Thanks Simmi...Simmi Di...tu...sorry...tum...sorry...aap..." I fumbled as I was not sure how to address her.

"Ummm" she said slapping her forehead
"Tujhe waqayi me help ki zarurat hai" with one hand on hip and other pointing towards me she cleared her stand
"Ek bath abhi clear kar dethi hun. Tu umar me mujhse choti hai par rishte me badi hai. But mere se ye formality-wormality nahi nibhte. To mai tujhe naam se hi bulaungi aur tu bhi mujhe naam se hi bulayegi. Deal?" she said extending her hand for a shake

My heart felt at peace for having such an understanding sister-in-law.

I shook her hand saying "Deal!"

Before I came to this house, I was apprehensive about living a life without my sisters who were always around me but right at this moment when I shook her hand I was glad I had found their substitute.

Henceforth she is not my sister-in-law but sister-in-deed!

(Author's Note: This part is dedicated to my only sister-in-law who has always stood by me and acted as my sister in every manner. Although I know she is never going to read this I want to admit that I am glad to have her in my life)

"Ab ek deal meri bhi hojaye?" I asked

"Kaisi deal?" she asked curiously

"I want to make up for last night. Meri madad karogi?" I asked expectantly

"Sorry...Isme mai tumhari madad nahi kar sakti" I almost cried before she added "Kyunki I am STRAIGHT" she said giggling

"Simmi please na! Stop joking"

"Ok bata...kya karna chahti hai?"

"Kuch bhi jisse wo mujhe maaf kardein"

"Tujhe lagta hai ke bhai tujhse naraz hain?"

"Shayad nahi. Par mai bahut guilty feel kar rahi hoon. Isiliye kuch aisa karna chahti hun jisse wo khush hojayein"

"Hmmm...Pati ki khushi me meri khushi types haan?"

I blushed gloriously

"Chal theek hai. Tu jaldi se tayyar ho jaa. Tab tak mai kuch sochti hun"

"Theek hai"

"Mai bahar hi rukti hoon. Tu jaldi se taayr ho ja" she closed the door behind her and I started getting ready for my husband

I was out in less than 20 minutes.

Simmi checked me out just like she checked me while I was dressed in a bathrobe with dupatta and leggings, the wierdest combination I know

I nervously twiddled my fingers not sure if she liked my appearance or not

"Kaisi lag rahi hoon?" I asked nervously

"Tareef karun kya uski jisne tumhe banaya...Wah wah wah wah wah wah"she cheered for herself

I rolled my eyes

"Patha hai meri likhi hui line nahi, mai shayar thodi na hun. Par by God Bhai tujhe dekhenge na teri tareef me poori book likh dalenge."

"Sach me achhi lag rahi hoon? Raman ko pasand ayega na mera style?" I asked to confirm

"Sachhi bolun to jab bhai tujhe dekh lenge tabhi se tu I slept off my wedding night ki jaap karna chod degi kyunki rath ko jo nahi kiya bhai tujhe dekh ge abhi wo kar dega."

"Bas kar na Simmi. Aur kitna chedogi"

"Ched nahi rahi hun. Sach bol rahi hun. I doubt ke aaj sara din Bhai tujhe kamre se bahar aane dega bhi ya nahi"

I could do nothing but blush

"Teri sari mehnat bekar honewali hai. Dress choose karne me tune itni der lagayi usko utarne me bhai seconds bhi nahi lagayega." she was full on teasing spree and I was on blushing spree"Dhanya bhaag mere ke mujhe tujhe is dress me dekhna naseeb hua. Baki log to aaj tujhe dekhne keliye taras jayenge. Mumma ko kehke mai moo dikhayi ki rasam postpone karanewali hun"

"Kuch bhi" I said slapping her arm

"Sachhi yaar. Bhai to aaj tujhe nahi chodnewala"

"To phir theek hai. Mai kapde change kar leti hun"

"Na na...aisa na kariyo...bhai ka dil toot jayega...itni mehnat se usne ye dress choose kiya phir uspe note likha...tu uska dil thod degi kya?" she said dramatically

"To phir tum hi batao mai kya karun?"

"Mere paas ek better option hai jisse bhai bhi tujhe is dress me dekhe aur baqi sab bhi"

"Kya?"

"Tu chal mere sath"

"Kahan?"

"Tu chal to sahi. Dekh bhai ke walk se wapas ane ka time hogaya. Jaldi se chal tu mere sath"

"ok"

She made me sit in her room and asked me to stay there.

She came back with Mummyji who blessed me and did a nazar utarofyinggesture putting a kajal ka teeka behind my ear. MOMS!!!!

Simmi narrated her plan to Mummyji. She happily agreed when Simmi said that she was going to play the main lead in this drama. Simmi was literallychadaofying her and she easily slipped into her trap.

After having convinced Mummyji, Simmi dialled Abhi's number and explained his role in the upcoming drama. He gave a green signal too.

I told her what plans I had for the day and she got Mihir to co-ordinate with me for setting up everything as planned.

First day of my wedding and I was up for an adventure!

An adventure to please my husband and his peerless family was helping me set-up everything!

How amazing is that!

We (im)patiently waited for Raman to leave the office.

Mummyji and Abhi had played their part well.

Now the reigns were passed in to my hand.

"All the best Mrs. Ishita Raman Bhalla"

Did I just say that!?