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Hello, Lovelies!

I hope you're doing great! <3

This is my 4th update for the day and as promised, I have completed my Double-Double Update for today!

I hope you enjoy the chapter and comment your heart out!

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Trishna used to be Akshita and Amarpal's favourite. When they were young, she was very kind and understanding of them. But as times changed, so did Trishna.

She had just taken a 360° turn after she married some rich dude. Akshita honestly felt bad for the man.

She was so full of herself and her husband's money. Akshita's mood was completely off when she saw her brother and her family's reaction to her new avatar. (form) Who, could not believe it was the same Trishna 6 years ago.

Oh, what money does to people?

She saw her fufa calling some guests into the garden and noticed that almost all the seats were occupied. Her fufa looked at her, giving her a thumbs up, indicating it was time to bring the mandapa, the music set, and the cake out.

She requested Trishna to take a seat and told Ekansh to gather all his family members who were off chatting with each other and inform them that the program was about to start. Ekansh nodded and went off to gather his family.

Amarpal went off to inform everyone about the program's start and ensured everyone was seated. He moved the decorated table a little over to the left and placed another comparatively smaller table to the right at an angle facing the guests.

This time Amarpal had brought over some speakers placing them at the back of the garden. At the last party, the guests at the back had complained about it, so he was in charge this time. He went over to the Music tech, borrowing a few mics. He placed a rectangular carpet in front of the smaller table, placing the mics with their stand a couple of feet away from Malhotra's seat.

Till Amarapal set everything, Ekansh was on a mission to find all his family. He found his parents near the compound talking to some business managers. Near the pots of flowers, admiring them, he found his uncle and aunt. He found Abhimaan judging the architecture of the house. The only people now left were Dushala and his sister, Mridhula. On asking where Dushala was, Abhimaan said that she went off to walk around in the garden.

He saw a light pink pallu flowing slightly in the wind near the back of the house. He went over and saw Dushala looking at some light pink roses. "Hello, Ekansh bhaiya. Ye phul kese hai? Mai ek Abhi ko de ati hu," (Hello, Ekansh Brother, How do these flowers look? I'll give one for Abhi,) she said, her hand poised to pluck the rose, "Aree re, Dushala, Don't pluck them, they're not yours are they?" He said, stopping her.

"Mridhula kaha hai?" he asked, getting to the point.

"Maybe with Anuraag, I didn't see her around in the garden-" "Ye Anuraag kon hai?" He asks, a little loudly, getting a little protective of his sister. "SHH!" Dushala hushes him, pulling him close near the wall, and talks lowly.

"Anuraag bhiaya is Akshita didi's cousin, Anumita Aunty and Jashith Uncle's only son. He got into a car accident about 5 years ago and is hard of hearing... The doctor says that he will be completely deaf in 4 years. Could you not talk so loudly about him here? He doesn't like social gatherings, nor does he come out of the house when people are around-"

Ekansh's eyebrows furrowed. "-you'll understand after lunch. And as for Mridhula, be careful bhaiya 'cause I think she may like him." She says all in one go, knowing that Ekansh would want to know everything about the guy his beloved sister has a crush on.

Ekansh, processing all the information, asked, "How do you know she has a crush on him?" "Well, Ekansh Bhaiya, then tell me why Mridhula has been learning sign language for the past month and why she is probably in the house talking to him as we speak?" she asks, mischief glistening in her eyes.

Ekansh narrows his eyes. "I'll go find her, sit here, the party's starting." He heads from the back of the house to the main doors.

He steps in intending to find Mridhula, but those thoughts have now flown 20 kilometres away as he sees Akshita near the God's Mantapa, placing the holy murtis in a plate held by a maid and placing a large murti (sculpture) of Lord Ganesha inside the mantapa.

Anumita comes to her side. "Place it outside near the cake table. Amar has kept another table there." She says. Then she spots Ekansh, "Aree Ekansh beta, thoda Akshita ko help kar dena beta." (Ekansh, could you please help Akshita with this?) She requested. "Ji aunty," he says, nodding. (Sure aunty,)

She leaves with a smile. "Okay, keep these here on this shelf after I take the Mandapa out, okay?" Akshita instructs the maid, "Ji."

"Okay, So I'll carry the Mantapa to the doorstep. It's heavy so I won't be able to cross the doorstep carrying it. You can stand out the door and I'll pass it to you. Sounds good?" she asks, "Sounds great." He replies with a smile. "Okay then, chaliye, mai aa rahi hu..." (go ahead, I am walking behind...)

She held the heavy Mantapa in her arms, holding its base on her forearms; her back was slightly bent backward, which scared Ekansh, but she held her balance. Ekansh walked backward to the front door as she carried the Mantapa to the doorstep.

He stepped out of the door, down the doorstep, and into the grass. "Don't let it slip. It's heavier than it looks." She warned, passing him the mantapa. As soon as she left all control, Ekansh looked at her with wide eyes, it was about 15 kgs minimum. It wasn't like it was heavy for him. He benched 3 folds, but he was impressed with her strength.

She pointed towards a table present beside the decorated table. He went over to the table, his hand below the mantapa, carefully placing it. He saw Akshita following behind. She looked over at the carpet and mics placed near the table, on which the mantapa was now present.

Akshita looked very tired, her hair was messily tied in a bun, a few strands falling at the sides, and her dusky face had a few sweat drops, she sighed heavily, taking a napkin out of her pocket and wiping her face before joining her hands in front of Lord Ganesha present in the mandapa.

She looked hot.

The words slip out of his mouth again, "Sit down somewhere, you look tired..." he says, "Me? Tired? Well, you're in for a show." She says smiling and shaking her head, chuckling slightly, looking over at the mic stand and carpet placed near the Mantapa, "Are re, Aap to hamare guest he, aur hum app se kaam karva rehai hain, jayei jayei bathie." (Are re, You are our guests, and we are making you work, please sit down.) she said, pushing him towards his seat.

Amarpal's voice was heard from the back, "Oi Scoth Brite! yella bhajannind saman tokol ba, Anuraag mattu Rasikage nu karkol ba!" (Oi! Scoth Brite! Bring all the stuff required for the Bhajan, and call Anuraag and Rasika out too!)

[Scoth Brite was Akshita's nickname, as said in the previous chapter.]

Ekansh's ear raised as he heard Anuraag's name. He turned to look at all his family seated in the first row, and he spotted Mridhula talking with Dushala.

He decided not to talk about it and see how Anuraag was for himself.

Soon, Akshita's Fufa, Jashith Rai took the mic and announced, "Yellarigu suswagata, Yaha padhare sabhi mehmano ko suswagat, I would like to welcome everyone present here." He said, in Kannada, Hindi, and English.

"Ega, navu namma program vanna arambh madteve, nanu nanna hendati sah, pujeyanu arambh, nanna makkalla bhajanavannu haduv muche nanu nanna maha athithi yavarige karketeni. Now our program begins before me and my wife starts the pooja and my children start the bhajans, I would request my chief guest, Mr. Aadhirath Malhotra, and Mr. Satyajeet Malhotra, to speak a few words."

Adhirath and Satyajeet go on to talk about their friendship with Jashith and how his business had grown because of his sheer hard work and dedication. Jashith, in turn, expresses his gratitude, claiming without them he wouldn't have reached where has.

Chahna was busy staring at Satyajeet as he gave the speech. Sharani was busy looking at her son, who was staring at Akshita. Dushala was talking to Abhimaan about the conversation she had with Ekansh minutes ago, whispering and snickering, earning glares from their father. (Aadhirath from where he was standing.)

Mridhula's eyes never left Anuraag as he came out for the first time today, with the Rai youngsters setting the mics and the musical instruments.

The Malhotras were more focused on the hushed movements of the Rai youngsters setting up the mics, tablas, drums, taals, and the harmonium on the carpet placed right in front of the mantapa.

Last time around Amarpal had organized a band that was absolutely lit, and the guests enjoyed the bhajans. This time around, Akshita requested Amarpal that instead of the band, they themselves could practice and sing the bhajans.

Ekansh was quick to notice Anuraag, a fairly handsome man, in his mid-twenties. Ekansh noticed the hearing aids placed in his ears and also noticed that he was talking with everyone and was signing (Signing in ASL- American Sign Language) to Akshita, who, to his surprise, signed back.

Anumita came out of the house with a pooja thali and maids behind holding pooja essentials. She came near the youngsters and told them to freshen up before the program. Akshita, followed by Amarpal and Anuraag, went into the house. Ekansh's eyes followed them through the windows of the house.

All of them washed their faces by the sink near the window in the kitchen. Akshita left her hair out, combed it, and bound it in a bun again and all of them came out freshened. They talked to Rasika, who was in the kitchen. She said the food was going to be ready in a few minutes and that she would join them with the taal after.

~ 1,690 Words

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Hello Lovelies!

I think that is it for today! My fingers are bruised up and I swear my laptop started smoking a little. [I might have gone through a breakdown and a half, but we are not going to talk about that-]

Anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter! It was a bit longer than usual but I guess it is how it is.

If there are any mistakes please mention them in the comments my eyes are burning, and I do not have the patience to read everything attentively. 😭

Thanks to Asunawrites486 again for being the first reader to vote for my book!
Love you akka! <3

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Until next time!

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~ 1,878 Words