Part -5

Kucch Luv Jaisa

"Oh.."

Maanvi dodged a few people who seemed to have ignored the daily bhag-daud around them.Beeji sighed.How could she possibly explain the girl who was always exploring new ways to create mayhem in the household? The old woman stood with the grand old man of Vadhera pariwar, apparantly discussing the 'mehendi' preparations.She was thankful that the old man ignored her grand daughter's fresh stint.All she could wish was that this would go un-noticed by Swamini too.

"Jee..We made all necessary preparations.Maanvi and Virat are busily engaged in their tasks.Ab sab shubh shubh ho jaayega.." Beeji assured him smiling gently.

"Oi..Ruko, vo package mat kholna..." Virat came around, chasing Maanvi as they ran around the place.

Virat slowed down, feeling the intense gaze of his dadaji.Out of the corner of his eye, he could still see the oldman glaring at him.

'Oh, Bandarnii! Did you have to ruin your own little surprise? And see what you've done? Dadaji caught me again!'

He smirked, standing by the stairs, looking unsure.It was then he spotted Maanvi again, stealthily creeping towards the kitchen.

'Got you!' he smiled merrily and cleared his throat.Whistling a light tune, he casually began to make his way to the kitchen.

He entered their kitchen, which was the size of a double bedroom.His eyes quickly surveyed the place before coming to rest upon the girl, who was now seated by the table, her eyes glued to the tiny gift.

She blinked, there infront of her, were a pair of earrings(jhumkas), most beautifully
designed ones, she had ever seen.Each one had a large shiny, green,hexagonal emerald encircled by a string of glimmering red rubies.Another two layers of diamonds formed the adjoining circular patters.A single stone, a ruby again, hung loose forming the bottom part.

"Wow!"

A smile graced his lips at her exclamation.

"Kiske liye hai? " she asked noticing his presense, "girl friend ke liye?"

He choked, " nahi..meri kismat abhi ithni phooti nahi hai!"

"Oh!" she laughed,tilting her head, "toh phir kise pataane keliye hai?"

What was he supposed to say? She was impossible! Just, impossible!

"Tum.." he snorted in disbelief, " tum koi kaam teek se nahi kar sakthi kya?"

She gave a confused look, "ye gift.."

"Tumhare liye hai.." there, he had finally said it.

"Mere liye?!.."her eyes were gleaming with mirth.He was amazed how it lit up her entire face.A brilliant smile was playing at her lips, her eyebrows raised in astonishment and disbelief.

"Bolo na.."

Oh crap! He was staring at her again.Wasn't he?

"Haan!" he cleared his throat, " its ..actually-"

She was looking at him, her beautiful eyes glued on to his face as if she was reading his expressions.

"Something to say thanks! For your support and for what you've done that night!"

She chuckled, "Voh toh kuch nahi tha..." and shook her head.

"Aur dekho..tum ne khud ki gift cheenliya!" he exclaimed, joining her by the table side, switching back to his usual cheery self.

"I know.." she responded, still mesmerized by his gift.

When he said nothing, she added, " sorry and thankyou!"

"Sorry and thankyou? " he mimed, smiling slightly.

"Sorry is liye ki -maine yeh packet cheen liya and thank you-" She made that mistake agin, looking into his soulful eyes that made her stutter.

"Thankyou-?" he urged her to speak, raising an eyebrow.

"Is gift ke liye.." she smiled.

He smiled back nodding," tumhe nahi lagtha..ki tum ajeeb ho? Pehle khud ki gift chori karthi ho aur phir- thank you and sorry, ek saath bolthi ho?"

"Pehle toh lagtha tha..par ab-"

"Ab?" he was looking at her, square into her eyes, his forefiger drawing soome lazy patterns on the
table.

"Ab- aadat ho gayi!"

He burst out into laughter at her confession, "tum sach mein bandarnii ho!"

He concluded, calming down himself.

She pouted a bit and mocked, "haha..thanks!"

Her expression changed as she eyed the gift again.It was just so, she paused, beautiful.She never knew, he could have such a great taste.

"Bahut mehenge honge na.." she asked timidly, her eyes drawn into an innocent frown.

"Nahi..zyaada toh nahi!" he assured her with a smile.

"Now that you got your gift- I have other things to do!" he nodded in her direction, walking towards the exit.

"Virat!"

Her sweet tone, made him stop abruptly.He turned around.He couldn't recall, the other times when she had called him by his first name.This was probably, the maiden situation.Yet,it felt so good, to hear her calling by his name.Wait! It felt good? No, no, he shouldn't feel that way.

"Haan, Maanvi, " he replied with equal sweetness, recovering from his reverie.

"Voh- actually..um.." she bit her lip.Why did she call him by his first name?

He smiled.It was so much fun to see her stuttering while trying to form a sentence.

"Actually, voh kya hai..Bandarnii?"

His question seemed to have irked her cosiderably.She folded her arms and glared.

"Main yeh gift nahi le sakthi!"

He furrowed his eyebrows.He didn't see that coming.He had spent half of the day in the hot sun, to pick a gift for her.He even took his mother with him, not trusting his shopping skills.And now, all she could say was this?

"Kyon?" he asked.

She pursued her lips, "Voh..itni mehengi cheez hai na..,I'm so happy ki tumne yeh laya!"

She stared at her feet for a while and spoke,"Vo bhi koi help thi kya? Tum ne kahi baar meri madad kii aur..maine kuch nahi diya toh..Tumhe, yeh dene ki..zaroorat nahi hai.."

"Are you done?" he asked her, his tone impatient.

"Maine tumhari madad ki..but, it was all for bhai's shaadi, " he continued softly, "I dunno, why I'm giving you this! Honestly, but don't you think- this will be a small memory of ours..? When you go back to Rhishikesh, this will remind you, of your di's shaadi..our petty fights, and stuf like that!"

He wasn't sure why he was babbling.All he knew was he wanted her to accept his gift.

"Beeji ne pucha, toh?" she looked unsure.

"Tell her, its a gift from your di..or something, " he sighed, " well, if you don't want to keep it-"

He reached up for the package, but she stopped him.

"I'd love to keep it!"

He raised a brow at her out burst.A faint blush lined up her cheeks.

"I mean, it will be a memory, " she added swiftly looking away.

"Okay!" he exclaimed before walking out of the kitchen.

Was she really blushing? Or was it just his mind, playing tricks on him? He sighed ruffling his hair.He couldn't think of these things.He had so many other things to do.


~~~That evening~~

Virat collapsed onto the sofa in the living room.It was half past four in the evening, that left a whole long day before the mehendi rasm started.

'Pandit ji- okay! Phool! Invitations to friends and family members okay! Dunno why mom is nervous
about all these! Everything's fine!' he thought while scrolling through the six feet long list freshly delivered to him.

The list was never ending.He had been working from the morning, inviting friends and relatives in person.Bhai- he was busy as usual with court work.

He didn't know how long he sat there before accidentally dozing off at his spot.

~~

A loud bang brought him back to the present.He opened his eyes to see a few punjabi dancers dressed up in their traditional clothes dancing merrily while playing the dhol.He could see his chachi, Pinky aunty, Dabbu and not to miss Maanvi who got dressed up in a beautiful ghagra.She was clapping her hands, watching her brother Dabbu in action, and was all smiling.He stood up, rubbing his eyes, smiled as he spotted a pair of jhumkas that were shimmering in the lights, the same he had gifted her that morning.

"Hey! Dude!"

He looked around, perplexed.That cool voice, he couldn't believe his ears.He shook it off, resumed watching the dancers.

A tap on his shoulder made him turn around.

"Surprise!"

A group of four people jumped up before his eyes.

"Oh my god! Prem!" Virat cooed hugging his friend, "what a pleasant surprise!"

Puja, Atul, Shekar..Shaadi would be so much fun with these guys steppin in.

"Kaise ho..?" the friends cried in unison and laughed.

"I'm doing great!" Virat replied, looking unsure.

"So glad to see you, yar!" Puja, Atul and Shekar hugged him.

"Wow! Dude, this freaking awesome," Prem exclaimed, smiling softly, "shaadi's gonna be fun.And the
house is looking pretty!"

"Yeah," agreed Virat, praising his work,"its gonna be so much fun, now that you're here!"

"We couldn't make it for the sangeet," Puja grimaced, while Shekar added," its all Prem's fault, we're late"

"That was because we had to see the bank manager," Prem reasoned looking around.

Puja gave Virat an I'll-tell-you-later sort of look, tugging on to her luggage.

Shekar tapped her on the shoulder.

"Kya hai?"

"I'm hungry!"

Atul laughed.

"Plane ka saara khaana khatm kar diya..wasn't that enough for you?" he asked laughing slightly,

"Nah, that was two hours ago!" Shekar whined.

"Okay, guys," Virat piped in, nothing had changed in his absence, "lets get inside first."

"Where is bhai?" Prem asked.

"He's on some work, as usual," Virat replied as they walked in.

Prem couldn't believe it! How could a man work when its his wedding?

He looked around, his eyes stopping right on the girl among the dancers who was quite enjoying herself.

"Virat! Is she the bride? She's so beautiful!"

Virat turned to the direction his friend was pointing only to find Maanvi.

"No, she's the bride's sister, " he replied nonchalantly," Maanvi."

"Sister!" Prem exclaimed,"Now that's a great news!"

Before, Virat could process his words, the latter had already began to walk towards the girl.

He took a deep breath.What was wrong with him? Prem could talk to any girl he wanted to.But then, why was he feeling uncomfortable?

He shook his head.

"Shekar! Atul!" he turned to see Puja glancing up at Prem, "lets go get something to eat!"

"Yeah," Puja shook her head as she joined the group.


*****
Next part:

"Aap karthi kya ho?" Prem asked her casually,Maanvi grimaced.

"I'm a fresh graduate in journalism," she replied.

"Oh, you must be really brave! You can face anything in this world huh?" Prem began casually.

"Anything, really! But the thought of leaving di scares me!!"

"I understand!" Prem nodded.

"What do you do in the US? Your parents stay there too?"

Prem's smile disappeared into a thin line," you and I are on similar lines..My parents..well, bhagwan ko
bahut pyaare ho gayye!"

"I'm sorry.." she placed a tender hand over his shoulder and squeezed the other hand.

~~

"Where is Prem?" Virat asked Puja, joining her by her by the sofa.

"There he is, " Puja pointed out," he has found a new friend!"

Virat lifted his head just in time to see Maanvi holding Prem's hand and narrowed his eyes.

~~~~