Long time no see, no? 😅

Will update My Heart Still Longs to go Back tomorrow! 😘

Anyways, Onwards!!!

"Words in double quotes" - Talking

'Words in single quotes' - Thoughts

(Words in braces) - Telephone conversations

Chapter 15 - Party Night (part 1)

He checked his watch again, the same thing which he had been doing since half and hour. "Where are they? Why aren't they here yet?!"

"Calm down Abhi. They will be here soon. You know how girls are. They can never dress up quickly like us boys!" Arjun spoke.

"Shut it Arjun. The Gadodias aren't like that." Rishi remarked. He saw Abhi check his watch again. "Abhi, that's the 30th time you're checking the time. They will be here. Quit freaking out!"

"Any reason you're counting the number of times he has checked his watch?" Sanskar questioned, to which Rishi had no reply. Sanskar snorted. "Don't act like you aren't desperate to see Tanuja."

Rishi tried to change the subject. "Where's Lucky?"

Arjun let out a chuckle. "Poor guy is suffering for being handsome."

"Eh?"

"His childhood friend, Kavya, is back. And she isn't leaving him alone for a second. He's probably in the crowd somewhere, trying to get her off his tail."

"And was finally successful!" exclaimed Laksh, as he came near them. He sat down with a huff. "That girl is a monstrous stalker I tell you!"

The boys were currently at the party where Abhi was to reveal his new album. There were rich and famous celebs, business associates, sponsers having a good time. The many girls there were either busy clicking selfies or busy staring at Abhi and his gang with love-struck looks.

However, instead of enjoying, the five of them were impatiently waiting for the sisters to arrive. Well, all of them except Laksh and Arjun that is. Arjun didn't want to see Maya's face after the harsh words he heard her say about her sisters. And as for Laksh...he didn't know if he loved Ragini or not.

Suddenly, Arjun whistled and pointed to the entrance. At once, the rest of them looked in his direction, only to have their breaths stop at the sight before them. Arjun looked at the four of them in amusement as they gapped open mouthed at the sisters. However, Maya wasn't among them. It seemed she had skipped on the invitation.

'Good for me.' thought Arjun. He leaned back and sipped his coke. However, the can dropped from his hand when he saw Maya come up behind the sisters, looking completely gorgeous. All in all, the five sisters looked completely mesmerizing.

Purab, Abhi's childhood best friend, came near them.

"Oi! If you five don't close your mouths, you might catch flies. What are you staring at anyway?" Purab looked towards where they were watching and chuckled. 'So these beautiful ladies are the cause, eh? I guess Abhi likes one of them. Better tell the good news to Dadi. She will be over joyed to hear that Abhi likes someone who isn't Tanu! But first...' He gave a push to Sanskar, who fell on the rest, breaking each of them out of their trance.

"Stare later. Go ahead and welcome them. If you keep staring, someone else might steal those ladies from you." saying that, Purab left.

At once, Abhi, Sanskar and Rishi rushed ahead. Laksh would have done the same, but Kavya arrived at the exact moment. "Lucky, where did you disappear to? I have been looking all over for you! Come on. I want to introduce you to some of my model friends."

Laksh gave a fake smile and went with her. 'If it wasn't for my promise to Maa to be nice to this filthy thing, I would have left her on the middle of the road! Why me!?'

Arjun's mind was conflicted. He knew he felt a strong attraction towards Maya, with how she carried herself with grace, her smartness, her mature nature. However, he couldn't forget the words she uttered against her sisters. Although he didn't want to believe it, he couldnt't deny what he heard. He decided to stay away from her and disappeared into the crowd of people.

Elsewhere, Ragini and Swara looked at the various lightings and decorations in awe.

Ragini - Its like 🙄

Swara - We're in some 😱

Ragini - Dream where we are Princesses. 😳

Swara - And it will rain diamonds soon. 😍

Ragini - And our Princes will come in Mercedes!😘

Swara - But I like Audi! 😕

Ragini - Then your Prince will be a rich snob. 😒

Swara - Well, yours will be a flirt then! 😣

Pragya chuckled at their words. 'Do they even realize that they are  exactly right about each others' choices? I mean, Sanskar is truly an arrogant rich, spoilt snob, while Laksh is a flirt through and through.'

"This place screams of luxury and money. Now I'm really nervous being here."

Maya rolled her eyes. "Relax Tanuja. The poeple here are just like any other, only with richer clothes and jewellery. No matter what they wear, they will always be the same beings, each with their own insecurities."

"Exactly! Besides, I'm right here for you Tanuja." spoke a new voice. The girls looked forward to find Rishi approaching them, along with Abhi and Sanskar. "You look beautiful Tanuja. Just when I thought I can't fall anymore, you made me fall deeper in your love."

Tanuja blushed on Rishi's praise. "Y-You look good yourself Rishi."

"Maa and Baba are here as well Tanuja. Once I told them I was meeting you here, they couldn't wait and insisted on coming here to meet you. Would you please come with me to meet them?" Rishi put forward his hand for her to take.

Tanuja looked at Maya, who nodded. "Okay Rishi. I'll go with you." she took his hand and they both moved away.

"Don't they just look great together?"

"You're right Ragu. Our Tanuja di is so lucky to get someone like Rishi. Perfect couple." Swara sighed dreamily.

"A beautiful lady like her deserves the best guy." Abhi said. He turned to look at Pragya. "I see another beautiful lady who deserves someone dashing as well."

Pragya blushed, but smirked at him. "Oh? And who might my Prince be? I can't seem to see anyone that handsome here."

Abhi pouted. "That is so not true! I'm way more good looking than Rishi. And a great dancer as well."

"I doubt it." 😏

Abhi looked at her in indignation. "I can't believe you just insulted my dancing skills. Now I have to show you for sure!" Before Pragya could answer back, he pulled her away onto the dance floor. "Some music please!" Abhi wrapped a hand around Pragya's waist, while placing her hand on his shoulder, and held her other hand in his. As the music began playing, he started swaying to it, pulling Pragya along with him.

"Abhi! What are you doing!? I don't know how to dance!" Pragya whispered to him, hiding her beet red face in his chest.

"Proving to you that I'm a great dancer. And don't lie to me. Laksh told me that he saw you perform with another teacher in the College Fest. You know to sing as well, don't you?"

"True but...but that is my college. Here, there are so many media persons and celebs. What if I embarrass myself?!"

Abhi smirked. "Then you better give your best now."

Pragya looked at him determined. "Get ready to lose to Pragya Gadodia." Pragya said, without backing down.

Sanskar got an idea watching them dance. He turned to Swara "I heard you're a dance teacher. Would you like to dance?"

Before Swara could say anything, Ragini grabbed her hand and put it on Sanskar's. "Yes. She would love it! She loves dancing! Why are you both here? Go go! Shoo!"

Sanskar smiled and moved forward, pulling Swara behind him. Swara went along with him, while glaring back at Ragini and making a shooting motion at her.

Ragini gave a nervous laugh. "I hope Swara calms down eventually and doesn't end up killing me. You'll save me right, Maya di?"

"I don't know. What will I get in return?" 😏

"You'll get my eternal loyalty! I will be your slave forever!" 🙏

"Okay, okay. You can stop with your antics, Ragu. Will you ever grow up?" Maya asked with a smile.

"Why do I need to grow up when I have such amazing sisters like you all?" 😊

"Aww... is our obnoxious and notorious Ragu becoming sentimental?"

"Whatever! You never leave a chance to tease me!" She turned away from Maya and looked around. "I wonder where Laksh is." 🤔

"Looking for lover boy I see."

"Yea, I hav-" Suddenly a thought popped into Ragini's head and she smirked. "O Maya di? Rishi got Tanuja, Abhi likes Pragya di, Sanky and Swara will no doubt be a couple and I already have Laksh as my boyfriend." Ragini looked at her with a dramatic look. It was obvious she was plotting something. Ragini and plotting could only mean disaster.

Maya raised an eyebrow at her. "Yes. Apart from stating the obvious, was there anything else that you wanted to express?"

"Well, its just that four of them are paired with four of us. Only Laksh's elder brother, Arjun, and you are left out." She nudged Maya's side and wriggled her eyebrows at her. "Why don't you try to seduce Arjun? You should try to make him fall for you. He is a good guy you know."

Maya looked at her wide eyed. Ragini paid her no mind and continued her rant. "It won't be tough since you're already beautiful, talented and rich." she spoke, nodding to herself, as if Maya was superfluous.

With each word, Maya's eyes widened further.

"Once you both are together, we all can be a complete set! It will be so awesome! Th-ow ow ow! Di, leave my ear-ow ow!"

"Do you even know what you were saying? You're becoming notorious day by day."

"Okay okay I'm sorry. Yo-" from the corner of her eyes, Ragini spotted Laksh. Her face lit up with a smile, only to be replaced with an angry frown once she saw a girl cling to his arm. 'Who's that?! How dare she touch what's mine!? I'll show her!' Ragini broke free of Maya's grip and stomped towards where Laksh was.

Maya at first looked confused, but let out a laugh once she realized the matter. She shook her head with a smile. 'What to do with you Ragini?'

Maya looked around at the guests. The hall had a dark theme to it, with the lights dimmed to let the different glittered decorations shine.  The people had not realized she was Maya Malhotra yet, but she was sure once they saw her clearly, she wouldn't get any peace. She decided to sit at a corner and moved away.

Elsewhere, Kavya was giving Laksh a hard time. She was being too clingy for his liking. She even had her arm wrapped around his. She was having a great time, while Laksh looked downright miserable. 'Where is my Batman? Shouldn't he be saving innocent beings like me from monsters like her?'

Laksh was trying to think of a polite way to say 'shut the hell up and piss off', when he felt Kavya's arm smacked away from his. It was none other than Ragini. 'Yay! My Batm- Batlady!'

"And who might you be?" Ragini asked, glaring at Kavya.

Kavya looked at her in shock and disbelief. "How dare you do that?! Laksh! Laksh tell this girl to leave!"

"No he won't. He is my boyfriend and so you should try to be in your limits!"

Kavya gasped. "No way! Laksh never told me he had a girlfriend. You're lying!"

"No I'm not! Tell her Laksh!" Ragini shouted, turning to Laksh.

Laksh looked at her face intently. Ragini's face was red in anger, her eyebrows pulled together in irritation, her pink soft lips forming into an angry pout. To him, she looked beautiful and breathtaking.

"Yes Laksh! Tell her that you aren't her boyfriend. Its just her fake belief!" shouted Kavya. All Laksh wanted to do was shut Kavya's irritating cawing mouth with a tape and stare at Ragini all day. He kind of liked when Ragini went all possessive on him. A jealous Ragini was a sight to see.

"Laksh, what are you waiting for? Tell her!" shouted an impatient Ragini.

Laksh smirked as an idea formed in his mind. "I never said I'm your boyfriend officially Ragini. It's you who thinks I confirmed it." He lied, hoping to make Ragini more jealous.

Ragini looked at him with an open mouth, while Kavya smiled. "But...but you...how could you say that you're not my boyfriend!?"

"I just did, didn't I?" spoke Laksh, while putting an arm around Kavya's shoulder. 'Ew! I would rather hold a skunk then this Kavya. *sigh* All is well, Laksh beta. It will be worth seeing Ragini's jealous face.'

Ragini looked ready to explode. However, her face turned from anger to shock. Laksh noticed this and looked at her confused. She seemed to be looking at something behind him. He turned around to only see the guests there. 'What could have shocked her? There is nothing unusual about it. Then wh-' then he saw it. Among the crowd, was Karan. Karan Khan. Famous movie star and Ragini's favourite actor.

"OhMyGod! OhMyGod! OhMyGod!!! I should go to Abhi and make him introduce me to Karan!" Ragini exclaimed and went past Laksh. However, as she went by, she purposely stepped on Laksh's foot as hard as she could.

"Yaouch! Damn it! What did I do!?"

"Laksh baby, are you alright?" Kavya asked in concern.

"I'm fine!" He couldn't believe Ragini gave more importance to Karan than him. 'More than her own boyfriend! How could she!? That is-' suddenly, he realized his train of thoughts. 'Wasn't it me who denied being her boyfriend? Am I, Laksh Sharma, getting jealous?!'

He took a breath to calm himself. 'Nope! Absolutely not. I don't get jealous. There is no way I'm jealous. She can do what she likes. What's it to me? She can be wherever she wants throughout the party. I don't care!'

10 minutes later...

'I've waited for so long, almost half an hour I think. I...I should go check on Ragini. Not that I'm jealous of course. I just want to make sure she doesn't cause any troubles. Yep, that's it!' convincing himself with a fake reason, Laksh made an excuse to Kavya and left to find Ragini.

#With Maya#

Maya closed her eyes and leaned back on her seat. She was glad that she hadn't been noticed till then.

"Out of all the places in the large hall, this is the place you find to rest?" spoke a voice from near her. Maya looked back to find Arjun sitting there.

"What are you doing here? Knowing how much of a flirt you are, I thought you would be busy chatting with all the girls here." Maya spoke with a smirk.

"Awww...are you jealous? Did I hurt your feelings? Oh! Wait a minute. I almost forgot you don't have a heart." Arjun snarked back.

Maya looked at him confused. She could hear bitterness in his voice. Although they threw insults at each other before, it was only in fun. But now he sounded serious. "Wow. Someone seems to be in a bad mood. Any girl dumped you for someone more intelligent and dashing? Not a surprise though. I wonder what took her so long to realize your idiocy."

"Being idiotic is better than being a cold-hearted ice-cube like you."

Maya stood up and glared at him. "Look Arjun, if you have a problem, go to a shrink. Don't use me as a way of venting out your anger."

Arjun gave a bitter laugh. "As if you care about my well-being. You're only concerned about money and business."

"Arjun Sharma, what is your problem!?"

Arjun abruptly turned around and came to stand before her, looking at her in the eyes. "You are my problem!"

Maya held her breath and looked on speechless at intense gaze. She felt like he was looking right into her soul. Before she could form any coherent thought, he straightened up and walked away.

Maya placed a hand over her racing heart. She felt an unknown emotion having him that close. Suddenly, Ragini's words came back to her mind.

"Why don't you try to seduce Arjun? You should try to make him fall for you. He is a good guy you know."

Maya shook her head of those thoughts and sat down with a sigh. 'Ugh! Stupid girl, polluting my mind! Get your mind out of the gutter Maya!'

"Maya di? Are you alright?" Maya looked up to find Swara and Sanskar standing there, looking at her worried.

"I'm...I'm fine Swara. Didn't you two leave to dance?"

At that, both Swara and Sanskar blushed. They were dancing elegantly throughout the song. However, once their eyes met, they got so lost in each other that they didn't even realize when the music changed to a slow romantic song. They continued dancing in sync, without leaving each other's eyes. They would have ended up kissing, if it wasn't for the audience applauding, which broke them out of their trance.

"Um...ehehe. Di its...its..." Swara sneaked a glance at Sanskar and both looked down with an awkward laugh.

"Are you two going to answer me or just keep standing there?" 😒

"W-we got t-tired of dancing di. That's all." Swara stuttered out.

Maya didn't look convinced but nodded. Her mind was already occupied with confusing thoughts to deal with other matters. "I think I'll go get a glass of water."

Sanskar watched her go and turned to Swara. "Was it me, or did she really look tensed?"

"I noticed it too. I'm sure she'll be able to handle it. If not, I'll ask Tanuja di to make sure she is alright. Lets sit." soon they got busy, chatting about anything and everything, forgetting their earlier awkwardness.

Unknown to them, Tanuja was watching each of her sisters carefully. They were her responsibility and no matter how old they were, she would always worry for them.

"I suddenly feel less loved." joked Rishi. After meeting their parents, he took Tanuja away to talk to her alone. He had been saying something to Tanuja, when she turned away to look somewhere else.

"Its not like that Rishi. Looking after my sisters comes as a second nature to me. Please don't feel like I'm ignoring you."

Rishi took her hands in his. "I know Tanuja. I was just joking. I know how much they mean to you. They are your life and you are mine. Hence, their safety is my priority as well. From now on, they are my sisters and I'll keep them safe, even if it costs my life."

"And I'll protect you with mine. I promise you." Tanuja said, joining their foreheads together. She looked like she couldn't be more happy. However, her happiness didn't last long as a shout from the dance floor shocked her to the core.

"PRAGYA!"

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To be continued...

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~ 🌹 Mona 🌹