...Preet...

Later that night we drove back to Amritsar and got Kashish settled in Kabir's pent house and then went back to my house.
Once we reached home I found all my friends talking or rather shouting.
We entered the living area and irritated I shouted.

"Guys?" All eyes turned towards me.

"What are you all upto?" Kabir came besides me and asked.

"We have got the wedding dates." Meera maa said in all excitement.

"Here goes nothing." I sighed as I sat next to Aryan keeping my head on his shoulders while he patted my hair.

"Why?" I whispered to Aryan.

"Just watch." He pointed towards all the elders bantering.

After that I have no idea what happened because within a span of 15 minutes I was in deep sleep.

Next morning I woke up stretching my arm, I walked downstairs still in my pajama's rubbing my eyes and securing my hair in a loose messy bun. Once I was downstairs I saw a lot of hustle and bustle which confused me even further.

"What's going on?" I asked one of the servants as I caught hold of him, but before he could answer my mom walked in from behind shouting out orders to everyone.

"Why are you still in your pajama's Preet?" My mom asked folding her hands which indirectly meant trouble.

"Because I just got up." I answered.

"It's Diwali Preet." She said.

"Ohh, Happy Diwali." I wished her as I hugged her tight much to her irritation.

"I want you to get ready in 15, we need to leave for Gurudwar Sahib and then you can do whatever you wish to." She informed as I ran upstairs.
After having a quick bath I got dressed in a designer Patiala suit. Pairing them with a lot of bangles and a set long earing. Applying kohl and a little lip tint I completed my look by leaving my hair open. I slipped on my silver heels and once again descended downstairs.

On reaching the table I poured a glass of juice for myself.

"You are heavier than you seem to be." Someone commented from behind.

No good morning, no hello, this is so my brother.

I turned around giving him a sarcastic smile.

"Well good morning to you too." I said.

"Next time sleep in your room." He pointed out coming down.

"What is your problem?" I asked him annoyed.

"Yesterday night you slept on the couch. I had to pick you up all the way to your room." He continued.

"Who asked you too? You could have left me there." I answered.

"You know I wouldn't." He replied pulling me in a hug and whispered a 'Happy Diwali'. Returning the hug I wished him the same.

Both of us got settled in the living area, when it struck me and I asked him.

"So what happened last night?" I asked him and then he broke in fits of laughter.

"What?" I asked.

No response.

"What?" I asked again but he was still occupied with laughing. I picked up a cushion and chucked it at him which hit him straight on his face but he kept laughing.
Irritated I got up and was about to leave when he pulled me back and made me sit next to him. Once he was sober he said.

"All the wedding dates were decided, and strangely enough you and Kabir are getting married first, even before Kavya and Abhi, you'll have your Roka, Taka and ring ceremony day after tomorrow and then you will be married in a month." Aryan elaborated.

I was playing with the end of my dupatta when Aryan noticed this.
"Doubtful?" He asked holding my hands in his.

"No, Scared." I accepted truthfully.

"Preet, Kabir is a nice guy. He will never hurt you. Even I couldn't get you a better match than Kabir." He informed me.

"Are you trying to convince me to get married to Kabir? Because I can pretty much assure you that I am doing that." I nudged him..

"I can hardly miss that fact, I mean I have practically bought you up, you have always been my Princess, no matter what, even if we weren't together 24/7, I still could call you mine but now I will have to give you over to someone. I always saw this coming but I wasn't ever ready, but it seems like you have grown up pretty fast." He completed as he kissed me on my forehead while I closed my eyes.

"I am still going to be your princess." I accepted like a kid and he chuckled.

"By the way why were you laughing?" I asked him, and that my friends was my biggest mistake since he started laughing again and I kept looking at him.

"You are the first and the last girl, who slept all the while her wedding was being discussed." He replied in middle of his laughter.

"Hahaha." I fake laughed in sarcasm, but that had no effect on him he kept on laughing. A small smile was threatening its way on my lips too.
Irritated I picked up an cushion and tried suffocating him to stop him from laughing any further.
I was practically on top of him, when we heard my parents calling us from behind.

"And these two are supposed to be married within a span of 5 months." My dad sighed.
Both of us looked at each other and started laughing.
Dragging all of us along with her, my mom took us to the Gurudwara Sahib.

Later I drove off to Malhotra Mansion. The doors were as usual open, I walked and was greeted by the servants. I knew where I would find her so I ran towards the kitchen.

I tiptoed to her and covered her eyes.
"A mother does not need eyes to recognize her children." She said bringing a wide smile on my face.
I came and stood next to her.

"Preet." She called me getting serious.

"Yes Maa!"

"You are happy right, I mean with Kabir?" She enquired.

"Why is everyone asking me this even Kabir that night." I didn't complete my sentence biting my tongue.

"What Kabir? Which night?" She teased.

"Urgh, nothing what I was saying is where is everyone." I tried changing the topic.

"Everyone or..." she pulled her sentence just to tease me.

"Everyone." I corrected.

"Kavya and Kabir are on their way and your Papa is in the living area." She informed.

"Then I am in the living area."

Later I was in the living space with Papa talking about practically nothing when the two idiots walked in.

"Have you by any chance seen the time?" I asked Kavya since we were supposed to go out for something.

"I am so sorry, give me five minutes, I'll change and be back." She said and skipped back to her room.

"What are you doing here?" Kabir asked me while taking a seat next me.

"Non of your concern." I replied.
I have a feeling Papa guessed we were about to fight again so he got up and left.
Once he was out of sight Kabir lied down on the couch placing his head on my laps, he took my hand and laced them.in his hair.
One habit he had since the days back in London.

"Kabir." I alarmed him.

"Shhs, shortcake stop spoiling the moment." He said.
Giving up I caressed his hair, while he closed his eyes.
"KABIR!!" Meera maa called.

I panicked and tried moving but Kabir stayed still.
"Yes maa." He answered still on my laps, covering my mouth.

"What time are we going to your pent house?" She asked

"Why?" He counter questioned.

"I need to lit the diyas there too." She answered.

I was shaking him to remind him about Kashish but that butthead had his one hand covering my mouth.

"Whenever you wish to!" He replied, this got me irritated and I pushed him off my laps resulting in him falling.

"Ouch!" He cried.

"What?" He asked.

"Kabir Kashish is in your house." I whispered and then we panicked and at the same time Meera Maa came out of the kitchen.

"Okay then let's go now." She said.

"Now?" Kabir asked in a shock.

"Yes it is already 5, I have to come back too." She explained.

"Happy Diwali!" Abhi shouted as he came inside.
An idea struck me and I quickly texted him

"Do not let Maa go to Kabir's place. Will explain everything later.
-Preet."

H

e checked his phone and looked at me and I mouthed a please.

"Where are you going?" Abhi asked side hugging Meera Maa.

"Kabir's place." She answered.

"Why?" He asked again.

"To light the Diwali diyas." Maa answered.

"Why are you going, send Preet, As it is she is gonna handle that house right?" Abhi pointed out

That son of my aunt. I am not leaving him alive.

"Yes, you are right. Take this Preet and Kabir take her home." Maa ordered.

Kabir and I looked at each other and then Kabir motioned to leave.

We were half way to his house when I smacked Kabir on his head.
"You know we could have been caught." I said.

"Yeah, but look I handled everything right."

"Excuse me I handled everything." I corrected him

"You have always been a sour loser." He said and then he stopped his car as we reached the building.

"Now let's go." He said.
I just showed him my tongue and got down.

We reached home and saw Kashish making the Rangoli at the door like the olden days. I sat down next to her and helped her.
She smiled looking at me.
Kabir too knelt next to me. He picked up a colour and applied it to my cheek and then got up and started running.

"Kabir Malhotra, you are dead." I called out as I started running behind him. We were running around in the house, when his leg slipped and he fell taking me with him. We were on the floor with me on top of him, my hair fell on both the sides forming a curtain.
He pulled me closer, while my cheeks turned to a brighter shade of red and he smirked.

Our moment was disturbed when I heard a fake cough.
"Did I miss something?" Kashish asked. I tried getting up but Kabir pulled me back.

"A lot." Kabir answered while I blushed harder.
Finally he let go of me and I got up.

Later that evening we lit the whole house together and then Kabir dropped mr back home.