***Shravni***

Chanchal jumps in my arms at the same time as Devika pulls me in for a hug.

"God I missed you so much! Mai ye week kitna bore ho gayi without you" Devika says squeezing me tightly.

"Bhabhi.. Devika didi tried to make cookies like you and they were so bad" Chanchal twists her nose in disgust.

I laugh. "Ha kya?"

Devika pinches her ear. "Oye itne bhi bure nahi the. Thode jal gaye the bass".

I laugh and kiss Chanchal. "I missed you so much babu.. And you too pagli" I say looking at Devika. "Baaki sab kaha hai?"

"They're settling in their rooms. We directly came here as soon as all aunties were done pulling our cheeks" Devika says and rubs her cheek.

Hriday loudly clears his throat beside me. "Kya mai dikh nahi raha hu?"

"Bhai.. aap kab aaye" Devika laughs awkwardly.

"Bhai tumhara yahi khada hai jab se. Bhabhi ke aage kuch dikhayi nahi deta na" Hriday says taking Chanchal in his arms and tickling her playfully.

She throws her head back and laughs loudly, squirming in his arms. Awwh damn!

"Chalo sab se milte hai" he says, placing Chanchal down and holding her little hand.

"Aap jaao mai bhabhi ke saath aati hu do minute me" Devika says giving me a grin.

Hriday sighs, shaking his head lightly. He gives me a long look like he wants to say something to me but decides against it and walks out of the room.

"Uff the sexual tension" Devika says fanning herself once he leaves.

I shove her. "Chup baitho".

She laughs. "Toh fir.." she wiggles her eyebrows "Umhmm umhmm hua?"

I twist her ear as she yelps in pain. "Pehle toh mujhe ye bataao ye umhmm umhmm hota kya hai?"

She laughs removing my hand from her ear. "Bahot kuch ho sakta hai. Aap jo bhi hua vo bataao" she says excitedly.

"Kuch nahi hua hai baba" I say adjusting my dupatta. When she doesn't reply, I look up to see her giving me a do-you-think-I'm-stupid look.

"What?" I chuckle looking at her poker face.

"The way bhai was looking at you abhi. Aur aap bhi kuch kam nahi with your heart eyes" she says nudging me with her shoulder.

Are my heart eyes that obvious?

"K-dramas dekhna kam karo. Ye real life hai" I say shaking my head and quickly change the topic. "Tum kya pehenne wali ho aaj?"

She instantly falls for it. Hashh..

With her hand hooked in mine, she starts talking about her lehenga and shows me the images in her gallery of various hairstyles asking me to choose one for myself.

When I enter the room, I'm greeted with warm hugs. I missed all of them so much. It feels like it's been so long hum mile nahi. Jab ke hua ek hafta hi hai.

When we sit for lunch downstairs in the big hall, I try and not think much of the fact that Hriday sits beside me even though many seats are empty. I also pretend that I don't notice how he places one more roti in my plate without a word. And I surely don't notice how whenever he looks at me, his eyes linger for a moment longer than necessary.

These few days I avoided him like the plague. And I know my behavior has irritated him a little too much. But mai aur kya karti. I want to know why he didn't tell me all of this before. Was he embarassed? Or maybe.. just maybe.. he still kinda likes me. And if he does.. I want him to tell me.. because I like him too. Ofcourse I do.

Will all the thoughts running in my head I don't see the the glass in front of me and accidentally knock it over when I reach out to take rice.

The glass spills out water on Hriday's mom's plate who is sitting in front of me and some of the food in her plate drips down on her clothes.

I'd love it if a UFO comes right now and the aliens take me to planet Mars.

I quickly get up and rush to clean her saree. "I'm so sorry. Mera dhyaan hi nahi tha" I say wiping the stain forming on her saree.

Shit shit shit.

The waiters rush to clear the table and the commotion causes everyone to stop and stare.

She angrily swats my hand and leaves the table.

"Bhagwaan.. iss ladki se mujhe chhutkaara de do bass" she says under her breath but I hear it.

Chachi and daadi call her out but she ignores their voices. Hriday gets up and follows her.

I sit back on the chair with my head in my hands.

Daadu rubs my back. "Vo aaj ke safar se thoda thak gayi hai na isliye. Tum mann pe mat lo beta".

I take a deep breath. "Mai unhe ja ke khana de kar aati hu room me. Sorry bhi bol dungi" I say forcing a smile on my lips.

Chachi gives me a new plate with concerning look in her eyes. I give her a reassuring smile. "Chaliye aap sab aaram se khana khatam kijiye. Mera waise bhi ho gaya tha" I say and walk to their room.

Just when I'm about to knock the door, I hear her words and stop completely in my tracks.

"Divorce kar lo Hriday. You don't have to be with her".

Divorce?

Bile rises in my throat at the thought of it. No no no. This can't be happening. I don't want to divorce Hriday.

"Mom I can't. Ekansh ki last wish thi ke I marry her. I can't divorce her" I hear Hriday's voice and let out a breath of relief.

"Can't or won't?"

There's a long pause before Hriday answers. "I won't".

"Why Hriday? Uske wajah se aaj tumhara bhai, mera beta, iss duniya me nahi hai. Vo ladki ke wajah se. Usse roz mere family ke saath dekhna, mere logo ke saath.. mujhse bilkul nahi hota. Uski khushi mujhse bilkul dekhi nahi jaati. She doesn't deserve this family. She doesn't deserve you".

Go away Avni. Mat sunn ye sab. Just walk away. Ya fir at least knock. Come on.

My legs decide to not listen to my brain and stay rooted on the spot.

"Mom, pehli baat toh Ekansh ki death uske wajah se nahi hui. Ekansh died in an accident. She didn't murder him. Ekansh was important for her too. Iss baat se jitni takleef hume hui hai utni hi usse bhi. She's devastated too. And Ekansh wanted me to give her a chance. Everyone in the family has accepted her. Vo bahot achhi ladki hai. Just once talk to her. She's this pure innocent soul jo kisi ka bhi bura nahi chaahti. Sab ko khud se pehle rakhti hai vo. This marriage was forced upon her too. She didn't want to marry me. She had to. Aur mai toh aap sab ke beech hu fir bhi.. lekin vo.. she's a part of this whole new world which she definitely didn't sign up for. Please can you give her a chance. Just one chance? She's perfect".

I smile blinking back my tears. Thank you Hriday.

"You're talking as if you're in love with her. Are you in love with her Hriday?"

My heart almost leaps out of my chest at that question. Agar mai ek dog hoti toh my ears would've perked up ye question sunn ke.

"Mom!"

"Bataa mujhe. Do you love her?"

Oh damn oh damn oh damn oh damn oh damn oh damn.. OH DAMN!!

Don't answer that. Please answer that. Don't answer that. Please do. Don't. Say yes.

What the-

"Mom I-"

I knock.

Shit shit shit shitttt.

Kaisi mand hu mai. Why why whyy? I glare at my hand that just knocked on the door. You idiot! Agar dard na hota toh I'd pakka cut you off. Dumbass. Argh!

Hriday opens the door. He looks at me like I just caught him watching a porn film.

"Vo mai.. actually.." he starts.

"Vo actually.. ye khana" I continue.

"Khana?"

"Ha vo.." I look at his mom standing behind him, looking at us curiously.

"Oh ha mom ke liye khana. Mom, Shravni brought food" he says taking the plate from me.

"Yes I can see that" his mom says dryly.

Hriday looks at his mom then me. Again at his mom and then me.

So bloody awkward.

"I'm really sorry. Mera dhyaan nahi tha. I'll wash the saree for you. Or I'll get you a new one" I say fiddling with my fingers.

She looks at me from head to toe and the look alone gives me chills all over my body. Without saying a word she walks towards me and shuts the door on my face.

I flinch.

Will she ever accept me?

***

The wedding decor is just stunning. It's absolutely gorgeous. The mandap is in the middle with the seating area all around. The traditional decor, the lights, the colour theme, the soft melody playing.. everything is just surreal.

I feel like I'm on some high budget movie set. A wedding this grand.. wow. I never wanted a grand wedding.. just an intimate one. But literally any person would dream of something like this. It's just perfect.

Just one chance? She's perfect.

Those words pop in my head and i sigh. I just can't stop thinking about him. Kya bolne wale the vo?

Aur hai kaha vo? Mai life me pehli baar itni achhi dikh rahi hu aur vo mujhe dekhne ke liye hai hi nahi.

I go and sit toward the end in one corner. I hope Devika ke nazar me na aau mai. She's made me click her photos in each and every corner of this premises. Aaram se hazaar photos toh hue hi honge.

Isme mera naak achha nahi lag raha bhabhi. Bhabhi this lighting is making me look fat. Bhabhi ek potrait mode me. Bhabhi ab mai twirl karungi tab ek. Bhabhi ek candid. Mai zor se hassungi tab ek nikaalo na please. Arre bhabhi isme mai jyada hi zor se hass di mai chudail lag rahi hu. Bhabhi ab aise.. bhabhi ab waise.

Uff..

Aadhe se jyada she is going to delete and then just upload three. Something about instagram theme she was telling me about. Aaj kal ke bachhe... Baap re baap.

"Hey Patni" I gasp and look towards Hriday who looks at me with his mouth slightly open.

"You look.. you look.. fuck I'm speechless" he scratches the back of his nape awkwardly and I chuckle.

"Do kilo make up aur paanch kilo ke saree ka kamaal" I say looking at him from head to toe. He's the most handsome man in this room. He'd be the most handsome man in any room for that matter.

He's wearing a Jodhpuri suit and he looks absolutely amazing. He smells amazing too. Everything about him is amazing.

"Ye tumhara hi kamaal hai" he says looking straight into my eyes, sincerely.

"Dekho dekho dulhan aa gayi" somebody says and all the noise slowly fades away completely. The only sound is that of the song, Sukoon mila by Arijit Singh, that plays as Shikhaa walks towards Shubham. She looks stunning. I look at Shubham who is standing in the mandap as his eyes fill with tears.

My heart warms at the sight.

I feel a slight brush of fingers on my hand and a shiver runs down my spine.

Har pal haseen sa huaa hai
Saanson ko tune chhuaa hai
Badhi tujhse nazdeekiyaan
Sukoon mila, sukoon mila..

I look down at our hands as I slowly entwine my fingers with his and he holds them firmly but gently. My heart beats so loudly, I'm scared that it's louder than the music and the whole crowd can hear it.

I slowly look up at him and he's already staring down at me. The glow of light illuminating his face, makes him look angelic.

Tere ishq ka hi nasha hai
Meri rooh tak mein basaa hai
Tune aankhon se jo chhuaa
Sukoon mila..

"I'll tell you why" he says suddenly.

"What?" I'm too dazed to understand anything right now. It's like I'm intoxicated. Intoxicated by him.

"I'll tell you why I didn't tell you that I met you before. Come" he says and starts leading me out without even waiting for my answer.

I follow him quietly as he leads me up to the terrace. The whole building is empty. The only sound is of our footsteps and my shallow breathing.

My mind can't comprehend anything. I don't know what to expect. I don't know whether I even want to know the answer anymore. All I know is that I want him. I like him.

I look at the mandap below when we reach the terrace and then look back at him.

The way he stares at me, with something in his eyes that I just can't describe, makes me want to just.. run away..? run towards him..?? what is even happening?

"Do din tumne mujhe bahot pareshaan kiya hai Shravni. Why were you avoiding me?" He says taking a step towards me.

"Because I wanted to know the answer" I tell him softly, honestly.

"It worked waise. Hai na? Because you not talking to me.. fuck mai pagal ho gaya do din tumhe pata hai?" he touches the loose tendril of my hair and pushes it behind my ear as his fingers run along my earlobe.

My toes curl.

"I used to hate talking to you remember? But now it's like I can't live without it.. without you".

I close my eyes when he runs a finger gently on the length of my jaw.

"I know you heard my conversation with my mom" he says and my eyes snap open.

"Kya? Konsa conversation? I don't know what you're talking about" I play dumb.

"When I opened the door, you were all flustered and awkward. Agar tum tabhi just aayi hoti toh you'd not be like that" he smirks.

Why does he have to be so good! No doubt he's the best lawyer in India.

"I was flustered because I spilled water on your mom. Aur kuch nahi" I lie. He doesn't buy it ofcourse and scoffs.

"Anyway.. mom was asking me whether I'm in love with you just before you knocked the door" he tells me.

I wait for him to continue but he doesn't. Bloody hell.. this is killing me!

"And?" I probe.

"And what?"

What the-

He wants me to spell it out to him kya? Torturing me like this! Asshole! I hate him.

"And Hriday, are you? Are you in love with me?"

***

This was actually not the twist but the chapter has become of almost 2.5k words so I'll have to push it into the next chapter. Waise ye chapter bhi kaafi surprising tha hai na? God I'm in love with these two.. who do you guys imagine them as?

Happy Ganesh chaturthi to all those who celebrate it. Be safe, take care, ily :)