I have never felt
Such a beautiful solitude
in someone's existence before
The peace in you
calms
the storm in me
~ Anjum Choudhary

Song of the chapter : Tera Hone Laga Hoon by Atif Aslam.

***

"Okay so you know how humare ghar ke log are always loud and chirpy" Hriday says looking at me as he stops the car.

I nod my head as my mouth falls open looking at the Mahal kind of hotel before me. It's structure is something which looks historic and aise lag raha hai jaise yaha raja, maharaja reh chuke hai.

This is where the wedding is happening?

Wow.

"This part of the family is hundred times more of that than our family back home" Hriday says and my attention snaps back at him.

Instead of the main thing my mind catches the words our family back home.

I've never heard a sentence like that in my whole life.

Our family.

Home.

I smile at him as we walk towards the big gate. There are people standing near the gate who put garlands around our neck and sprinkle ittar.

I look at the whole thing in awe. Whoa! Entry hi itni bhaari. Aage jaake aur kya kya hoga?

Hriday tips my chin up to close my mouth and I smile like an idiot.

"I'm feeling like I've entered the sets of YJHD! Aapne dekhi hai na. Usme jaise Aditi ki shaadi hoti hai na waise" I say excitedly.

"Tum vo sab bhul jaaogi ab andar sab dekh ke. These people own the most prestigious hotels chain in India. Rich" he tells me.

"Hriday!" An elderly woman's eyes fall on us and she rushes towards us while calling the others around her.

"Ayee Sushila dekh Hriday aaya hai. Aji sunnte ho!! Hriday aaya hai. Shubham! Oh Shubham!"

I watch in amusement as one by one people start gathering around us. Or should I say Hriday because dheere dheere I get pushed away.

Someone is pulling his cheeks, someone is hugging him and someone is shaking hands with him. All at the same time.

I laugh at the whole scene displayed before me.

"Arre Shravni tum waha kya kar rahi ho" Hriday says looking at me enthusiastically. A little too enthusiastically.

Everyone's eyes fall on me and suddenly the jhund of people are now rushing towards me.

My eyes widen as I'm pulled into hugs one after the other by aunties for like ten minutes straight.

I look at Hriday pleadingly and he shrugs giving me a smirk.

"Guys guys, let them breathe" a man comes towards us and by his clothing and the invisible happy bubble that he is surrounded by, I assume he is Shubham, the groom.

"Hriday kameeney paanch saal baad dikh raha hai tu. Mujhe laga tu aayega hi nahi. Thanks a lot for coming" he says, giving him a bro hug.

"Congratulations brother" Hriday says to him. "This is my wife Shravni" Hriday looks at me and nods for me to come near him.

I congratulate him with a sincere smile. "Hey babe, come here" he calls out.

A really stunning woman walks towards us. Shadi wala glow hai chehre pe. Kitni khoobsurat hai. Kitne achhe lag rahe hai dono saath me.

"This is Shikhaa, my dulhania" he says quickly pecking her on the lips as she giggles a little.

"Wow you're gorgeous" I say absentmindedly and the two of them chuckle in amusement and I see Hriday shake his head, smiling a little.

"Well thank you. And same to you" she says pulling me in for a hug.

"This is Hriday. His wife, Shravni" he introduces us and after a little charcha about our journey and idhar udhar ki baate, they drop us to our room.

It's beautiful and overlooks a beautiful lake. Unlike the two hotels in which I've stayed with him, this one is not modern but has kind of a historical royal feeling to it.

"By the way I hope you're ready for the prom party tonight" Shikhaa says and my attention snaps towards them.

"Prom party?" I frown.

"Yes! Hriday tumne bataya nahi? Maine sab functions bataye toh the tumhe. Me and Shikha studied in London so the prom night was when-"

"-Shubham proposed to me" Shikhaa completes his sentence and looks at him in such adoration, it almost makes me swoon.

"Oh we're ready!" Hriday says.

"Great. Now you guys rest for a while and I'll see you guys later. Again, thanks for coming" Shubham says and leaves us.

"We're ready? We're ready?" I look at Hriday in confusion.

"You didn't even tell me about the prom. I don't have a prom kinda dress. All I have are desi outfits" I tell him.

"I didn't tell you?" He frowns at me.

"No" I answer.

"Oh no. But the dress code is important".

"Hmm. Koi baat nahi. I'll stay back. You have your outfit na, you enjoy tonight" I smile at him.

He is taken aback a little.

"What?"

"Tum gussa nahi ho?" He asks.

"Gussa? Kyu?"

"Shravni" he says with a sigh.

What's up with him?

"Kya?"

"Forget it. Let's have lunch chalo".

***

By back is paining, oh hell! Sab ke per chhu chhu ke aur smiles de de ke meri peeth aur gaal dono dukh rahe hai.

I've literally met hundreds of people today out of which only five percent of the names I remember. I hope I do.

Everyone here, as Hriday said is hundred times more loud and chirpy. The thing he didn't mention was that all of them are so so kind too. I know most of them knew about Ekansh's accident and the role that I played in it but nobody dared to question me or try to make me feel guilty or unwanted.

It was a great day and this steaming bubble bath is just what I needed. I'm not in the mood to get out of this bathtub anytime soon. My muscles slowly relax and I feel a lot better.

Bathtubs are so good! I didn't know!

Hriday was getting ready and by now he's probably downstairs enjoying the prom.

A little part of me wishes that I could go too. Prom ke baare me sirf novels me padhaa hai aur movies me dekha hai.

Koi nahi.

After a while, I get out dry myself and wear my night gown. It's an early night for me today. I didn't even get to see Hriday. Kaise lag rahe honge tux me?

Obviously bahot hi handsome. Fir bhi kaash mai dekh paati.

When I walk out there's a box on the bed which was not there before I went inside. I frown and open it.

My eyes widen and I put my hand on my mouth to not let out a squeal of excitement.

There's a beautiful white prom dress inside with a little note. I read it in excitement and instantly my face is plastered with a big fat grin.

In clear and the most beautiful handwriting I've ever seen, it's written -

Dear Patni,

Not asking you for prom of course. I'm ordering you to come. Hope this adds up in the list of things that you like.

Hriday.

I hug the dress close to my chest as I feel fuzzy and giddy with happiness. Oh this has definitely topped the list of my likes.

I keep the note carefully in my purse and quickly change into the dress. It's long and flowy and the most gorgeous thing I've ever worn.

I do a little make up and leave my hair in their natural wavyness and wear my heels. I can't stop smiling as I look into the mirror.

It fits perfectly and Hriday's choice is lajawaab.

As I leave the room after locking it properly, my heart starts thumping in my chest wildly as if I'm a teenager and asked on a date by my crush.

The ball room is beautifully decorated and everyone looks stunning in their ball gowns and tuxes.

I wave at the few familiar faces that I met throughout the day, all the while searching for that chiselled strong handsome face.

And then my eyes land on him. He's with a man who's talking to him animatedly and Hriday is just nodding, feeling distracted.

I was wrong in thinking ke ye tux me bahot hi handsome langenge. Handsome doesn't do justice for the way he's looking right now. He looks like royalty. He looks like a prince.

He looks at the watch on his wrist and then at the entrance then looks back at the watch and suddenly his face forms registration as his head snaps back up and his eyes meet mine.

I can't help but chuckle a little.

I smile and take in a deep breath as he starts walking towards me. Somehow the crowd automatically clears out for him and the whole while we don't lose eye contact.

When he stops and stands in front of me, I feel really shy.

I do a little curtsy, "My lord" I say supressing my smile.

He raises his eyebrows but continues the game, giving a curt bow.

"My lady".

I'm wearing heels and he still towers over me. But I like it that I can see him eye to eye without craning my neck.

"You look breathtaking" he says and I bite my lip to stop the wide grin that is threatening to spread on my face.

"Ditto" I say.

"Here this is for you" he says.

"A corsage! Oh my god! You were not kidding when you said that you're ready hai na" I say in amazement as he ties it on my wrist.

It's made of white roses and is really beautiful and compliments the dress perfectly.

I've heard that this was a tradition in England bahot pehle se that the guy gave the girl a corsage and the girl gave him a boutonniere. So that the fresh flowers make both of them smell good throughout the night and when they get close during the dance.

"Aap mujhe pehle bataate toh mai aapke liye boutonniere laati" I say a little sadly. He gave me itna achha surprise and I didn't give him anything.

"Here. I have that too. Just pin it" he says giving me the boutonniere and I shake my head while smiling and pin it to his lapel.

It's matching to my corsage and my hand, without my permission, goes towards his bow tie to straighten it a little, lingering there longer than necessary.

Some dance number is playing and I see Shubham and Shikhaa dancing in the middle of the crowd looking happy and amazing.

Hriday asks me if I want anything to drink and I shake my head.

"You can go if you want to ask someone for a dance" I tell him as the couple dances start.

"I don't dance" he says with a straight face.

"Me too" I tell him.

At least not this kinda dance. I'm a terrible dancer and tried to copy Madhuri Dixit a few times and ended up looking like a monkey.

"Hey you two! Come on get on the dance floor!" Shikhaa comes towards us taking our hands and pulling us with her.

We both look at each other in horror.

"Err I don't know. Mujhe naachne nahi aata" I tell her awkwardly.

"Vo waha aunty uncle ko dekho" Shubham points towards an elderly couple who are having a blast on the dance floor doing everything that doesn't count as dance moves.

Whoa there!

"Vo bhi toh dance nahi kar rahe. Just throwing their hands up here and there. But they look so cute and they're enjoying anyway. Bhai come on!" Shubham says pushing him a little towards me.

"Hey you can't say no to us. That's the rule here" Shikhaa says.

"Ok fine fine" Hriday says looking at me and asks me with his eyes if it's okay.

I nod.

He asks for my hand as the music of a new song fills the room. It's Tera Hone Laga Hoon.

I place my hand in his and he places it on his shoulder, he holds my other hand in his and I take in a sharp intake of breath when his hand snakes around my waist and he pulls me towards him.

I look at him in the eyes and the swirling depths of brown there, pull me in and just like that, I'm lost.

In the lyrics, in him, in us.

Hua jo tu bhi mera mera
Tera jo iqraar hua
Toh kyu na main bhi keh du keh du
Hua mujhe bhi pyaar hua..

***