Chapter 13 - Tere Brown Rang Ne (Your Brown Complexion)

"No pressure, but think about it."

"No."

"It's only for maybe a week or two," he insisted.

"And then what?!" I said irritated. We were standing outside on the balcony. "You'll get your girlfriend and leave. How am I supposed to face people after that? What am I supposed to say about my 'fiancé?' People'll ask questions, assume things, and call me names. No one will marry me and my m--"

"Well maybe if you help let my marriage happen, I can find you an NRI groom. Problem solved."

What did I do to deserve this?

"I don't need you to solve my problems," I told him.

"Fine, I don't need you either," he said.

"Fine!" I snapped and stormed--more like limped--away, slamming the sliding glass door behind. I heard a curse and turned my head to see Shravan who had run into the door. That's what he deserved! Before I could advance into the living room, my wrist was pulled and I was jerked back into Shravan.

Surprised, I gaped at him.

"Last chance," he said, keeping a firm grip on my wrist. "If you play replacement for Sanya and help me find her, I'll take responsibility for your mom's treatment."

I froze at those words. Did Shravan really offer what I think he offered?

If he took responsibility for Mumma's medical bills and whatnot, I had a huge opportunity of going back to my family after finding Sanya. Thank the heavens, I listened to the priest about helping Shravan.

All hail the priest.

"Is that a promise?" I asked.

"You have to keep your end of the bargain and I'll keep mine," he said, "and no one can know about it." Shravan released my wrist and put out his hand. "Do we have a deal?" To screw with my reputation, my family was more important. People already called me a disgrace back home because I left for Harayana against my parents' protests. In this society, people loved gossiping about other people. But no one cared after someone died.

Yolo.

"No, pinky promise. Those are unbreakable," I said and held out my pinky.

He rolled his eyes before finalizing our deal with a pinky promise.

We gave Shravan's family, friends, and future brother-in-law the news that I agreed to be the replacement.

"Now, we just need to make her look like a model," said Manan. I suddenly felt self-conscious as all eyes examined me.

"I can take care of that," Preet volunteered and turned to me. "You look about the same height and body size as Sanya. Same hair length. We need to get some contacts for you though--"

"Won't she have to stay here with us too?" Manan asked. "Hum saath saath hain (We're all together)."

"Let's keep it at hum aapke hai koun (Who am I to you)," I mumbled.

"Since her 'brother' is staying here, she also has to," Shubham announced. Shravan and Preet stood behind Shubham and pretended to stab him. I suppressed a smile as Shubham glanced over his shoulder and found nothing strange. "All until we find Sanya."

Shravan gave me a look.

"Fine," I inclined.

"Great!" Preet said cheerfully. "Time to visit the mall and the spa! Rahul, can you drive us?" Rahul didn't seem too thrilled, mirroring my expression. "Wait, actually, Shravan, you can." Her husband looked relieved. Lucky!

"Me?" Shravan shook his head. "I got shot, remember? I can't." He clutched his stomach, feigning pain. Jerk.

Shubham grabbed the back collar of Shravan's shirt and forced him to stand tall.

"My sister got kidnapped, remember? Now, man up and do something useful with your life."

What a brother.

Shravan, Preet, and I left for the mall together, laughing at Shravan for being a wimp in front of his future brother-in-law. He kept saying he wasn't afraid of anyone but actions spoke louder than words.

At the mall, Shravan followed behind us, calling and texting people, showing no interest in shopping or the spa. I wished I could back out, but Preet was persistent on "enhancing my outer beauty." Hair stylists, makeup artists, and eye specialists worked hard on my look. They were going to make me look as close to Sanya as they possibly could.

Preet gave me a floor length, expensive, black Anarkali dress to try on while she got Shravan. I sighed, staring at my face in the mirror. Too much make-up. My eye color was now medium brown and my hair a similar shade. Though it felt nice to look beautiful, I couldn't help but feel that . . . it wasn't me. I was resembling Shravan's girlfriend.

Slowly, I stepped out of the dressing room in the dress.

Shravan and Preet stood waiting.

"How do I look?" I asked.

"Miserable," replied Shravan. I was taken aback by the honest response. Preet ignored him and examined my outfit. "We're getting married in a month, look happy." I smiled widely, pretending to be thrilled. "Perfect," he said and went back to his phone.

"Dude, tell her how she looks," Preet said nudging him.

"She looks fine," he shrugged before walking out.

He didn't even care. Seeing my disappointment, Preet encouragingly said, "Don't worry. He doesn't have a rich vocabulary."

We proceeded through the shopping. Shravan paid for everything I didn't feel the slightest bit bad. He was acting completely dejected from us. When we went back to his house, Preet announced, "I present Sanya Agarwal."

I stepped forward, awkwardly.

Everyone gaped at me.

"Kudiye ni tere brown rang ne, munde patt te ni saare mere town de. (Hey girl, your brown complexion, has transfixed boys, throughout my town)," Manan sang and gave me a wink. I smiled, biting my lip. Someone complimented!

"You're only being a replacement for my sister, Ms. Virdee. Apni aukaad mein rehna (Stay in your limits)," Shubham said solemnly.

No one said anything and I realized how welcomed I was.

"Are there any leads on the kidnapping?" I asked.

"The police is still investigating." said Shravan. "Hopefully, the ballistics report helps." I had forgotten that Shravan took a bullet to his ribs. "There's no other evidence so far."

"But what's the motive behind the kidnapping?" I asked confused.

"We have many business rivals and other enemies. It could be anyone seeking revenge," Mr. Sethi said.

I exchanged a glance with Shravan. Apparently, He hadn't told his family about the criminal yet. Unfortunately, our little silent conversation wasn't missed by Shubham. Sighing, Shravan quickly informed everyone about the people bothering Arun.

"We'll have to do research on the criminal's background. His partners' names are bound to show up somewhere," Rahul stated.

"If he has a past of any other criminal activities, then police should already have him and his partners in their database, right?" Shubham asked. "Just call them and ask them to look it up."

"Wouldn't it be classified information?" I wondered. "And it'd take time for them to find it." We lived in India, after all.

I earned some laughs. "Not if you have Mahatma Gandhi at your side," Manan replied. Seeing some confused faces, he pulled out a hundred rupee note, pointing at Gandhi's picture on it.

He was so right.

"That's settled. Manan go to the police station and get the bio data of that criminal," Mrs. Sethi finalized. "Everyone else get ready. Because Shubham and Sanya were coming today, a lot of our relatives and friends want to meet them."

"Oh my god, you can wear that black sari we bought today!" Preet told me excitedly.

"Yay."

Nay.

* * *

"Can I come in, now?!"

"Oho itni becheni (So impatient)," Preet yelled back, teasing.

"How much time does it take to wear a sari?!" Shravan complained outside the door.

"I don't know how to wear a sari," I told him. "Preet's trying to help and it's hard with her broken arm." We were progressing slowly with the hassle of a sari. It was my first time wearing it.

"Get someone else to help you," Shravan said. "I need my room back!" No wonder he was being such a prick. We had taken over his room because the guest rooms weren't completely ready. Plus, Preet just wanted to annoy Shravan. "If you two don't get out, I'm coming in."

"I'll scream 'rape,'" I shouted.

"I'll get you sent to jail. My papa's in the Delhi police!" Preet added. Both of us laughed. She was trying to find the best way of draping the sari over my shoulder.

"Hold on," I said suddenly. "You dad's in the Delhi police?" She nodded. "Can't he help in finding Sanya and Arun?"

"That's so true!" Shravan said outside the door.

"I don't think he'll be allowed. Kidnapping occurred in Harayana, so Harayana police has to take care of it." She fixed my sari in place with a safety pin and gave me a look over. "Shravan, you can come in, now."

He wasted no time barging in.

Seeing me, he stopped. I stiffened, expecting him to give the "fine" compliment.

"You're missing the brown contacts," he said and went to his closet. I looked at Preet who just shrugged and mouthed, Jerk. "And Preet, trying doesn't hurt. Can you just ask your dad to help me?"

"Sure, after you give your fiancé a decent compliment," she said.

I glared at her. Asking for a compliment ruined the entire thing. "It's not needed--"

"Virdee, you look good." He wasn't even looking at me.

What a rich vocabulary.

"Why're you behaving so rudely?" Preet asked on my behalf. "What's your problem? You asked her to become replacement Sanya and now, you can't even treat her properly?"

I didn't want an argument over me. "It's fine. Let's just go," I told her.

"Look, I'm sorry," Shravan said, meeting our eyes. "I know I agreed to this drama but I'm not completely in favor of it. I miss Sanya. No offense Ahar, but I was hoping to have her by my side not you." It hurt slightly but I didn't interfere in his explanation. "It's not your fault. My head's just not in the game."

Preet trudged to where Shravan stood next to his closet.

"Wear black to color coordinate with Ahar. I don't really care about your feelings at the moment," she said, patting his shoulder. Such a nice friend. Shravan chuckled. "You tell me the same thing in the office all the time. Now, it's my turn," Preet added smugly. So, they worked in the same office. I see.

"Get out," Shravan said, smiling slightly.

Preet and I stepped out of the arm, waiting for Shravan to get ready. It took him an hour to dress in a black coat-pant suit and step out of the room.

"Let's go, slowpokes," he said.

Preet shook her head. "I'm going with my husband. You and your fiancè must go together."

Shravan shrugged. "Let's go, Virdee." He walked ahead, waiting for me to catch up. Preet hit her forehead with the palm of her hand. I sighed. Shravan was still treating me as Ahar Virdee.

"Oye kamine (Oi rascal)," Preet said and hurried to stop Shravan. She pointed at me. "Sanya Agarwal. Your fiancè. The love of your life. You're getting married next month. She just returned from America. You have to do your part as her boyfriend. You two are in love, for god's sake!"

Shravan and I exchanged awkward glances.

This is going to be so weird.

Preet pushed me next to Shravan, our shoulders pressing next to each others. Then, she adjusted Shravan's arm around my waist. My eyes widened as his warm hand rested on the bare part of my stomach side. I shouldn't have agreed to wearing a sari! Shravan didn't meet my eyes, but gave Preet death glares.

"Don't separate from each other. Now, smile and walk down the stairs," she ordered. "You two look fabulous."

We did as told.

I prayed the rest of the time didn't pass being glued to Shravan. While the proximity made no difference to him, it affected me a lot.

Oh god.

_____________

A/N

I hope you liked the chapter.
I like Yo Yo Honey Singh's songs (most of them, anyways) Sorry not sorry.

What was your favorite/least favorite part?

What ships are sailing nowadays? xD

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--K-K-Kiran