...Preet...
It hadn't even been half an hour that I received a call everyone in the room gave a known smirk while I picked myself up and went towards the kitchen excusing myself.

"We wouldn't mind listening to all your lovey dovey talks." Abhi commented.

"I will keep this in mind next time you go out for a trip and call Kavya." I replied back.
He raised his hand in surrender.
I accepted the call once I was in kitchen.

"I miss you."
There we go again.

"Hmm.." I replied since I hadn't made the best of decision by coming in the kitchen since I was still surrounded by our helpers. I offered a helping hand and they all smiled.

"Are you okay?" He asked again.
"Hmm." I replied back.

"Preet?" He questioned worried.

"Kabir." I replied with a sigh.

"I am coming back." He said.

"Noo, stop." I shouted back.

"Kabir, you promised me." I reminded him.

"I am never promising you anything hence forth." He ordered while I laughed.
We were talking while I started setting the table. Everyone soon enough joined the table, Abhi again commented and was only returned the favor by me with a flick of my middle finger.
I laughed louder when I heard the noise of a plastic bottle being thrown followed by my brother's voice from the other side.
"This way you idiot." Said Aryan.
Everyone looked at me skeptically.
I was still on the phone while playing with my food.

"Stop playing with the food and eat it." He said. I instantly looked up shocked.

"Stop standing around in an airplane and sit down." I replied chuckling.

An air hostress probably asked Kabir to switch his phone off he replied politely to her and got back on the call.

"Okay shortcake I got to keep the call."

"Bye." I suggested.

"I love you.", was his expected answer.
I smiled at that an replied with just a regular " hmmm"

"I said I love you." He repeated.

"I heard that." I answered back making him laugh.

"Okay everyone's around?" He asked getting serious.

"Yes." I replied back.

"Keep the phone on loudspeaker." He ordered.
Confused I did as asked.
Everyone immediately looked up hearing his voice.

"I hope each one of you remember your promise?" He asked confusing me further I looked up at everyone who smiled and replied all together screaming a "Yes."
I gave everyone a you-are going-to-tell-me-what-is-he- saying look.

"And Preet." I looked up once I heard him calling my name.

"Yes!" I answered unsure myself.

"I love you." He answered.
I choked on my water, coughing as my blush flared to a darker shade of red hiding my face in my palm while I heard him laugh before hanging up.

Please explain what is so funny about embarrassing your own wife?

I looked up as everyone was smiling looking at me.

"What?" I asked and every one got back to their food.

Later Getting an opportunity I asked Kavya about which promise was Kabir talking about and Kavya being the sweet innocent soul she is blurted out everything without thinking.

"You know he came up to us and asked everyone to make a promise to him." She replied continuing with the respective promises which went something like this.
ANYA: to make me eat timely.
KAVYA: to not let me stress too much with work.
KASHISH: to never leave me alone.
ABHI: I take my medicines properly.
ZAYN: not let me do something reckless.
TARA: to keep an eye that I listen to everyone.

After hearing this I was in double mind, I had no idea whether I wanted to kick him or kiss him.
It was like I wanted to throw him off a cliff and get down fast to catch him.

I held my head in my hand as Kashish laid down on the couch keeping her head on my lap.
Kavya and Kashish thought it was a great idea to give me company since I was all alone.

Soon Kashish was deep asleep while I and Kavya spent our night talking.
Next morning as expected I received a call from him. According to his voice I could bet he was still on his bed and had just woke up.

"Good Morning baby." I wished him while stirring the omelet mix for Kashish.
Kavya was in the washroom getting ready since we had our meet with her wedding planner.

"I want you right here." He cribbed.

"Not happening. And you do realize that the only thing you have been doing since yesterday is crib." I pointed out.
Well, that was it I was answered with his very famous silence.

"Great, now don't talk." I taunted as I placed Kashish's breakfast before her. Kavya was out too.
Hearing me she picked up a cushion and threw that at me.
Getting irritated as expected Kabir hung the call.

"He is away Preet, the least you could do was talk properly." Replied the over protective sister of an totally stubborn ass of a brother.

"But I can still imagine his facial expressions when he will come to know." She continued laughing.
This was now my best friend.
Kashish and I shared a laugh at that and then getting dressed we left for Malhotra mansion to meet the wedding planner.

Later when I was selecting the various decorations for the functions at both Malhotra Mansion and Singh Mansion Abhi came and sat next to me.

"When do you leave?" He asked.

"Not until another hour." I replied still engrossed in my selection.

"You'll be fine right?" He asked.
At this i kept the file aside looking at him in astonishment.

"What am I five?" I asked.

He let that subject drop as I got back to the work in hand.

.......Kabir.......

I got dressed for the the award function still in a grumpy mood. I knew it wasn't a big deal, Preet was just playing around and I overreacted. But still that doesn't pacify her for not calling back to check on my mood.
Pulling my blazer I walked up to the lobby of the hotel only to find my friend who was supposed to accompany me wandering around in Barmodas.

"Well, why exactly are you in Barmodas?" I asked irritated.

If it was any other time I would have been laughing but right now I was just plain annoyed.

Well, it was official my mood was screwed.
Why? I don't know.

"Why exactly can't I be in Barmodas?" He asked.

"How about this because you to attend a stupid award function with me." I answered.

"Well how about this? I found you a better company?" He asked nodding his head mentioning something behind me.
I heaved a sigh and turned around.

Well you have got to be kidding me.
Suddenly all my irritation and anger flew out of the window.
I turned around completely only to find my Parents standing behind.
I gave Aryan a side hug.
Well this was definitely a pleasant surprise.

______________________________

Tell me how many of you thought it was Preet?