After 3 days

Anusha's POV

It was Wednesday and it had been 4 days since that party. Since we last met or rather talked.

On that night when Siddharth dropped me back home, I was feeling something strange. I didn't wanted him to leave like that- call me weird but normally I hug my friends before bidding my good byes and the guy was chosen to be more, so that was obvious for me to give him more yet I couldn't.

I wanted to invite him in atleast, thinking about that no one was home I ignored the bery thought.

Further, it was already too much for me for a night.

On that night, I got to know few things new about him, he was a complete different guy when it comes to people he is close to.
Whenever he was with his colleagues or in a professional front, the guy switch personality like glasses. He was arrogant, always commanding.

He switch to cold and insensitive, always ordering and when I have seen him with his family or maybe the people he is compassionate about, he was happening and sensitive.

I guessed him being organized, the way a man should be, to know how to deal with people.

I respect such quality.
One more quality added to the list.

The following day was my engagement.

Tomorrow I'll be engaged to Mr. Siddharth Khanna, I'll officially be a half Khanna. I amused to myself. A new surname.

Everyone was busy in my home with the arrangements of engagement, my family and the Khanna's have decided to do the engagement function in their house. Their lawn being enough big that is.

My Mamas'family was home, the only relative I had. There are 5 members in their family.

Mama-Mami and their kids, the school going terrorists. Not literally.

Randeep, is the eldest he was in his senior year. Simdeep, was in tenth standard and the youngest and the naughtiest one Karandeep, was in eighth standard.

It was already 5 in the evening. The day was my Mehendi day - so much to my distaste - I was sitting in the living room with heena is all over my hands till the elbows.
Yet somehow I was not complaining, it was looking really good.

My hands being busy and my house was a mess. People in my house can't do anything without me, was the thought I wanted to announce.

It was my mehendi and the bride to be was doing all the work was a scene to disport on.

They were ruining everything, running left to right on my head - making it tough for me to sit silent.

"What you are doing? Don't keep these boxes here, gadhe. Go keep them in the car, we'll need them tomorrow."
I said to Shekhar, who was keeping gift boxes in the living room. STUPID!

The boy being 21 years old still no idea of brain existence.

"Sim, will you please look what your Bua is doing? Please do help her with whatever she is doing, she must be alone." I said to my cousin sister sitting to my left with now dry arabic line of henna on her palms.

"You don't need to tell me twice." She smiled and left.

Mami Ji was there in the living room talking over the phone to someone, I guessed she's talking to Mama Ji, about decoration and clothes, so Mumma must be working alone, working and stressing her brain out.

On the other hand, Ayusha was out for taking delivery of my lehenga for tomorrow's destined evening.

Everyone's dresses were already arrived yesterday, only mine was left.

Why me all the time?

"Maa sit for a while, take some rest. Yaou must be tired. You are working alone without anyone helping you" I
I said to my mother the moment I saw her entering the hall.

I was worried for her she never work alone, I was often with her or sometimes Ayusha.
Shekhar can never work with her, or even if he does, he always end up crying.

"Relax beta I'm fine. How can I be so tired? There are a lot of people helping me."

"And by the way, all my tiredness is gone because tomorrow is the big day for my daughter," she said while hugging me,

"Oh god look at your Mehendi, it's looking beautiful. Good work" she said appreciating the Mehendi walas.
.

.

.

Next morning, I woke up with a poid breaking sound, coming from outside.
I looked at my alarm clock, at the bedside table to my left and found I overslept.
No, one woke me up.

I quickly got up from the bed ran outside only to see the culprit on the verge of crying.

When I came outside I found Karandeep, standing beside the living room center table with broken pieces of the vase in his hand, which was previously kept on center table intact was now all over the floor.

I hurriedly went upto him and started cleaning, picking the broken pieces of the vase from the floor.

"It is gone now, I'll take care of it. Go before anyone see you." I said to a terrified Karan,

"look what you have done Sarthak can't you be a bit careful." Uh-oh
"Now what you are doing Anusha, stop it you'll hurt yourself," Mumma said scolding Karan then me,

"move I'll do it"

" No, Maa it's fine, I'm doing it"
I picked all the pieces carefully and threw them into the dustbin.

While throwing them in my eyes rested on the art work grazing my palm. The beautiful floral art, the pleasing shade of dark brown covering the whites of my palm- the colour will grow deeper I was sure.

With an awkward smile I went back to my room to brushed my teeth and came out to have breakfast.

"Oye! Kamm khaa. I don't want Jiju to see your tummy popping out"
Ayusha said looking at me, Sim laughed sitting beside her.

" Shut up!"
I said glaring at both of them

I don't have a tummy. I've worked hard to maintain my health.

"Mumma where is Papa?"
I asked, from the moment I woke I couldn't find him anywhere.

"He's at Khanna's. Jasprit Ji called this morning, he wanted your Papa's advice for something. He'll be home soon"
Mumma said

.

.

Later in the afternoon, we all were dressing up for the engagement.
The function was to start around 5 p.m and we all are supposed to be there sharp at 5.

Everyone was done almost. Remaining the last moment red alerts.

Except me everybody was ready to leave, it took an one complete hour to my hairstylist to do my hair and another half n hour for my make up.

Once done I looked at my reflection in the mirror and I exhaled.

This was going to happen.

The thing I was always scared of.
Now there I was going to start with one more relation, one more family to join me in my scary field of expectations.

I was looking different, it couldn't be me. I could never look this beautiful, makeup really does magic. I was looking pretty much like those catalogue models.

There's something about Indian outfit, no matter what you wear, whenever you are wearing an Indian dress you will look perfectly beautiful- out of the world.

I walked out of my room, I was so nervous and cold. I didn't knew how everyone would react looking at me.

" You are looking gorgeous" Mumma said keeping her joined palms to her lips

Ayusha covered her mouth once she saw me, Overactor!

."Who are you?, You can't be my sister! She's not beautiful".

I smiled sarcastically at her.

" You are looking so beautiful puttar", Papa said. He came towards me and hugged me.

Whenever he speaks in Punjabi, this only means he is senti.

The moment Papa hugged me, tears pooled in my eyes. I almost cried but I didn't wanted to spoil the moment so controlled the pressure.

"it's like it was just yesterday when I use to carry you in my arms and- and you keep on crying over every little thing. When did my little girl grow up so big? Hhh"

I controlled my emotions suppressing my tears smiled at him.

You know the feeling of leaving your family is heartbreaking. I knew I was not leaving them that day but I was emotional.
I couldn't imagine my life without my family, I was not leaving them forever, I would always be just a call distance away but the feelings were breaking me into pieces from the inside.

Hard for me it was to imagine myself waking up in someone else's house, eating breakfast with different people, spending the rest of my life with somebody else.

Soon they'll be my family too I knew,  this family will remain mine just like always but still the thought is enough to make me cry.

Be strong Anusha!

You have to collect your emotions and be the brave, you are. Just like you have been taught.

This is no place to break in front of everyone.

Be strong for Mumma and Papa.

.

.

We were in the car, heading towards Khanna mansion.

I was sitting in the back seat with Mumma.

Papa was driving and Ayu was sitting on the passenger seat. Shekhar was in other the car driving, with Mami, Sim, Randeep and Karan. Mama was in the third with the gifts and other items.

Khanna mansion was enormous, calling it big sounds its insult to me.

Once we arrived to their front gates, we were welcomed by Neena aunty and Sunidhi di
I have seen her in pictures only never met her before in person. This was the first time was meeting her.

Sunidhi di was carrying her son in her arms and behind her, there was a man standing. The same man, who was with Siddharth in the café that day.

Remembering that day, now I was shy to face Sumit Jiju. He know what I said about his brother-in-law that day.

Neena aunty introduced us, Sunidhi di hugged me and her son Amanpreet kissed me on my cheeks and called me Mami.

That little devil made me blush!!
.

.

I was sitting in Sunidhi di's room upstairs with her, waiting for others to call me to the lawn.

Sunidhi di was talking about her childhood and of course about Siddharth,

"Bholu was so naughty when we were kids. Mom and dad spoiled him a lot. He get what he want all the time".

Soon Sumit jiju joined us with Aman in his arms.

"We never thought, he'll agree to marry you or anyone else. But to my surprise, when he saw your picture, I don't know what happened to him, he immediately said yes."
Sumit Jiju said trying to tease me I reckoned

" I guess you turned his guards down. The man is so full of himself."

I instantly blushed listening to this line- whole family knows to turn me red.

I've never thought that I can ever leave such an impact on someone and especially a man like him.

Relax Anusha!

Don't believe anyone unless he himself tell these words to you

What if Jiju is just teasing you?

NO! No one can like you so easily,  especially never a man like Siddharth Khanna. Who can always get better, within a blink of an eye.

But he said yes to marry me?

Must have his parents forced him to. Or why would he choose to marry someone like you?

Maybe.

Oh no! no! Don't go to that 'maybe'  part, there is always just infatuation, nothing like love is there... remember?

You are just overwhelmed by all this, that's it!

What if he also starts expecting from you?  Are you ready for one more responsibility?

Umm...

NO! You are not ready at all. Just go with the flow and see where it takes you.

I was pulled out of the debate going between my mind and heart when Ayu came running to the room and said they are calling me downstairs.

Sunidhi di did my touch up and we came to the lawn where the function was going on.

The decorations were beautiful both from the entrance to the stage, everything was perfectly done.

I saw my friends waiting for me at the entrance, they hugged me and appreciated the dress and make up, they really liked my outfit-Ayusha'a choice.

Then we made our way up to the stage. I was standing in the center, to my right there was Sunidhi di and to my left there was Ayusha. And my friends behind.

I was shaking amusing such would be an understatement, I was trembling bad. It threat to wear heels when situation was death worthy I noted.

The stage was a setup of a floral retro style hut house, at the center there was sitting arrangement for the couple who are getting engaged.

My breathing stopped, the moment I saw Siddharth.

A strange ball of warm air arise from my throat, travelling till the very center of my stomach and with a bang blurring my brain.

He was looking breathtakingly handsome. HOT!

How can someone look so handsome? How come I'm so lucky to get engaged to this man.

He was wearing a dark blue full sleeved sherwani, just like my lehenga.

Wait a second!  When realisation hit me.

Same?

Ayusha!!!!

We are wearing matching outfits and I could smell Ayusha there literally.

His hair gelled up making him look manly and mature. His face was glowing and he was smiling looking down at me, his deep brown eyes were checking me out from head to toe.

The moment his eyes met mine my heart skipped a beat, I quickly averted my gaze looking down at my steps blushing.

I lifted my head once again, and find him still staring at me, with a heart melting smile.

I wanted to die then and there.

He started moving to the edge of entrance to ask for my hand, seeking permission from my friends and family to take me up with him, in front of the spectators to see I belong beside him - his eyes said it all.

(Siddharth's engagements outfit)

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