"Right. Then comes the entry of the cake. I should've picked it up myself when Maa told me to. I was being lazy."

Her gaze fell in disappointment.

Hearing the notification ping on her phone, she dejectedly checked it. There came a text from Adisha.

Adisha: Where are you guys? Priti is tense.

Kabir looked at her tensed face and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Adisha texted. Priti is tense — means everyone else is as well." She sighed.
"Tell her we'll take only 20 minutes more."
"Fine." She muttered dejectedly, typing in a quick reply,

Nisha: 10 more minutes.

"That's a lie." He frowned as she shrugged, "If I say 20 minutes, Maa might pass out."
"Does ten minutes make such a difference?"
"Of course, it does."

Chuckling lightly, he asserted, "You're strange, did you know that?"
"Did you think only Bengali men have the right to say '5 more minutes' just to take 2 hours?" He looked at Nisha to see her obvious look and smiled lightly, "I don't do that."
"Sure, you don't."
"Unlike the majority of the Bengali population, I know punctuality."
"Okay, Mr. Expeditious." She wiggled her brows, earning an amused chuckle from him.

"Stop mocking me—"
"The cake's ready, ma'am." The receptionist interrupted his statement.
"Thank you." She was about to hold the box but he abruptly snatched it away before she could.

"Let me hold it for you." He smiled. 

Her lips parted to protest but his smile caused it to die soon. And before she could process the next, he was standing in front of her car with a confused smile, gesturing for her to rush there.

There was something about the moment.

Maybe it was his friendly gaze or how he patiently waited for her instead of getting inside the car. But it all made her smile.

A genuine, happy smile.

One she didn't expect he'd succeed in earning.

—20 minutes later—

"You took ten more minutes!" Adisha complained as Nisha shut her up with an arched brow. Kabir placed the cake in front of the bride and groom who were bombarding him with questions. 
"Oh no, Maa is coming." Nisha sighed.

Already, she had been glaring at Nisha since the start of the ceremony. She could take a guess why. 

She was spending quality time with Kabir, who was a guy. And it was noticeable to many people. Not to mention how they had a sizzling chemistry in the dance performance.

How could her desi mother let this atrocity go? 

"Nisha, Adisha, Adil!" Atif called as they all rushed to the stage quickly. They all sat around the bride and groom. Adil and Adisha applied some haldi to both of them and Adil, instead of feeding the sweet to Shams, ate it himself. 
"What a disrespectful kid!" Nisha's father spoke as they all laughed. 
"Everyone smile!" Ajay spoke as the cameraman got ready. Nisha took some haldi and smudged it on both of their faces earning loud laughter.

"Nisha!" Priti shouted but who listened? Shams was laughing, fed up with the torture. 
"Kire, Shams." Wahi who was standing behind them pushed him — who seemed to be done with the tortures done to him as the groom. Nisha looked at the cake and then at the camera, smiling widely.

Her smile was distracted by the figure standing behind the cameraman. 

He smiled at her, mouthing, 'Look at the camera, not me! I know I'm handsome but...' 
She frowned, huffing lightly.

She looked back at the camera, her brain rushing back to the figure standing behind the camera. He was checking the photos and glancing at her repeatedly.

After clicking a few family pictures, it was time for the friends' squad to interrupt.

Atif, Ajay, Wahi and Kabir tortured the heck out of Shams. While Kabir continuously kept feeding him sweets forcefully, Atif kept on touching Shams's pocket for money. 
Priti was chuckling at the clownery around her.
"50/50! Empty his pocket!" Nisha shouted as Atif gave her a thumbs-up. She stuck her tongue out at Priti who was frowning at her. 

"Already glaring at me for her husband, huh?" She raised a brow, folding her arms on her chest.

The cake was not quite big so after cutting it, the bride and groom were the only ones tortured by it other than a few kids who had to take a piece or threw tantrums.

"Ah, Kona aunty! Why aren't you sitting to eat?" Nisha asked as the elder woman sighed, "Should I? When are you kids eating?" 
"Oh, we'll sit in a while, don't worry. Please sit down. The elders shouldn't be hanging out for food. Come with me." She guided her to a table with other aunties as one called, "Oh, Nisha dear!" 
"Ah, Aunty! Hello, how are you?" She smiled widely. 
The aunty eyed her up and down, smiling. 

That action made her shift uncomfortable, knowing exactly what was coming next.

"You seem a little... darker these days. Are you working under the sun a lot?" She tucked a strand behind her ear, wondering how to respond to a question this one aunty asked every time she saw her.
"Well, that's my skin tone by birth." She spoke.
"You should use some creams. Ah, I know a cream from WhatsApp, it's guaranteed. You will gain fair skin within a month." The aunty spoke, looking at the other aunties. Kona Aunty glanced at her and sighed. 

Nisha restrained herself from saying anything further and continued, "Ah, aunty, must try their mutton. It's really good." 
She nodded, uninterested. 
"Well, have you seen Shukla's daughter? She's so beautiful, her skin's as white as milk!" She said to another woman who asked, "Really?" 
"Yeah, so is my daughter! She's so white by the grace of god, every guy who came to see her always agrees for marriage."
"What's your daughter's name?" Another one asked, "It's Sheily Marzan." 

Nisha faked a gasp, making the heads turn towards her.
"Are you sure she's your daughter?" She asked, acting all surprised. The aunty frowned, "Yes, of course. Why?" 
"Ah, no... I mean, she posts stories every night about how her racist mother forces her to use fair and lovely cream along with some... whitening powder." Her statement caused a little stir in the environment. All heads were turned towards one another as gossip started.

The aunty cleared her throat — face red due to embarrassment, earning a soft smirk from Nisha.

"Ah, must've been your daughter. Anyway, enjoy the mutton, it really is good." She smiled, walking away. With a final glance at the table, she enjoyed the sight of the speechless aunty. 

"Deserved, honestly." She sighed, sitting on a chair nearby. 

Her eyes caught Kabir's roaming frame. He was taking care of the guests, hosting them and occasionally going to the stage. 

Her feet hurt due to the constant movement for hours as she massaged her feet slightly, staring at everyone. 
Her parents were chatting with Shams' relatives, and Adisha was clicking pictures. 

A soft frown appeared on her face seeing Adil follow Soha. 
"Why does that monkey keep bothering her?" She whispered to herself, sighing. He was clearly trying to impress her by showing off his watch, Panjabi and moving his hair back every 5 seconds.
"Such a bum..." She sighed, her eyes diverting to her laughing sister. She was constantly whispering something to Shams who had a grin on his face.

They looked so happy.

"I feel like I'll be the only one without any love story in life." She whispered to herself, leaning against the chair.
"Nisha!" Another call reached her ears as she sighed.

"In normal life, it's workload. In vacation life, it's family load." 

—Time skip—

The 25 minutes sitting at the table to eat were the weirdest for Nisha. Because Kabir stared at her more than he did at the food.
And every time she returned his gaze, he raised his brows at her. 

She continuously bothered Shams, taking the kabab he intended to take and drinking the cola that was served to him.
"Nisha. Stop being disrespectful." Priti scolded her as she thinned her lips.
"Come on, bhabi! Stop scolding Nisha. She's doing the right thing." Atif encouraged as Nisha chuckled, "Do you mind it, Shams?" 
"Of course not." He asserted timorously, shaking his head.

"Exactly! He's the ideal brother-in-law, guys." She spoke as everyone laughed. Her mother frowned at her playful behaviour but sighed, not saying much. 
"Our daughter is a real mischief." Her father whispered to the woman beside him as they both chuckled together.

After they finished eating, Nisha went to wash her hands, unaware of the fact a figure was following her.

She turned around after washing her hands just to flinch, "What the—"
"Shush, no cursing. What's this bad habit of yours?" Kabir frowned at her.
"What's wrong with you?" She asked, eyeing him judgementally. If not for his sudden appearance right behind her, she wouldn't have been that startled.
"I came here to wash my hands. What's wrong with that?" 

He gestured for her to move away and she did, giving him access to the sink.
"The one beside mine is empty."
"I like the right side." 

She rolled her eyes, "Do you enjoy bugging me?" 
"Does it look like that?"
"In every way." She thinned her lips, leaning against the marble pillar beside the sink. He smiled slightly, drying his hands under the air dryer and spoke, "Then you're right." 
He grabbed a tissue, taking steps towards the exit but stopped in front of her, his head turning in her direction. 

He frowned, staring at her forehead, "What's that on your face?"
"What's that—" She turned around, staring at the mirror in an attempt to check when he said, "Stupidity, only noticed by geniuses like me." 

A loud gasp escaped her lips.

She turned around, about to speak but he strode outside as the noise of his laugh faded. 

"Hey—" She let out a huff, folding her arms across her chest. Why was he so mean for no reason?
"Why is he so irrelevant?"

It was always him that poked her for no reason. Come to think of it, her misunderstanding wasn't even enough of a reason now. She was confirmed he bugged her out of nowhere because he had nothing better to do with life.

The ceremony came to an end, with lots of laughter and lively moments. As they all stood at the exit, Shams's mother spoke, "The next time we're taking your daughter away."
"Oh god, don't remind me of it!" Nisha's mother spoke, sighing dramatically as they all shared a few chats.

Priti and Shams greeted the elders as Priti got into their car, gesturing for Nisha to come inside through the window.

She sighed, eyeing the male beside her.

Ever since he had triggered her in the washroom, she kept giving him side eyes, enough to bore holes into his soul. 

Kabir thinned his lips, glancing at her just to look away instantly.

"See you," Nisha said to him. His eyes fell on her, a soft smile appearing on his lips, "I was joking in the washroom."
"I know you were." She gave him a forced smile. He nodded, containing a chuckle.
"Anyway, thanks for helping me get the cake today. And, it was good dancing with you. See you later. Bye." She spoke, abruptly turning around and approaching the car without giving him a chance to speak.

She glanced out of the window to see him once she sat beside Priti in the car.

"What's wrong?" Priti asked as she shook her head, "Nothing... just staring outside." 
"What's taking them so long?" She further asked making the younger one chuckle, "Do you not know? They decide to say goodbye then take 40 minutes in the goodbye process."
"Right. I can't believe it was my Haldi tonight."
"Me neither." Nisha leaned her head on the backseat. Priti held her hand, "I'm so happy." 
"I know right..."

"You sound so tired though." 
"I am. I had been moving around for hours, my feet hurt." She replied.
"I'm also kind of tired... after getting stuffed with so much of sweets. I feel like I'll get diabetes tomorrow." Priti sighed, earning a soft chuckle from the one beside her.

"At least you're marrying someone you love. That's a blessing itself." She whispered, closing her eyes.

—At home—

"Explain your behaviour, Nisha." She heard her mother speak. She fidgeted with the hem of her t-shirt, staring at the floor. 
"Maa, I told you I was only... eating snacks. Moreover, he's Shams's best friend so one of our relatives too." She tried to convince her glaring mother but she didn't seem to buy it. 
She tapped her feet, sighing. 
"Nisha. There's a clear line between men and women. You know, you cannot cross it." 
"What did I even do? To begin with, I'm the bride's most useful person and he's the groom's. We both are ones in charge of certain duties so it's normal. And, why do you say that? I'm close to Atif, Ajay and Wahi too." She asked, trying to sound as polite as she could. 

She tried to scan her mother's face, wondering which aunty added fuel to the fire during the ceremony. It was Priti's wedding, why was she getting so much attention?

"I know. I trust you, that you won't do something that endangers our prestige. But you should know that people say many things." Her lashes lowered, "Maa, you do know the aunties just love to gossip." 
"It wasn't just the aunties. The elders were also noticing and asking who the guy beside you was. Even during the dance performance. Of course, you all are kids, you get to enjoy. But do know people talk. And you have to maintain the publicity." 
"Alright." Nisha nodded, and continued, "Now, may I go? I totally get your point."

She didn't get her mother's point at all.

If anything, she was only hanging out with Kabir. And there was nothing wrong with it.

She exited the room and sighed, watching her father drinking tea, sitting on the sofa nearby. 
"Baba?" She asked as the elder man turned towards her, "Why are you awake, dear?"
"Mom's lectures, everyday things. Why are you drinking chai at midnight? You should sleep now." 

Sitting near her father, she watched him take a final sip of the tea. 

"Well, you're right, I'll go to sleep now. But chai is a must after any event, you know. I already feel weird enough that your sister is going to leave the house..." She pressed her lips, watching how sullen her baba looked. 
With a soft sigh, she asserted, "Even if she leaves the house, a part of her will always be around, Baba. We'll always have our Priti around, don't worry."
"One day, you'll leave too... then Adisha. Having daughters is such a blessing yet a huge pain sometimes." 

She quietly listened to her dad and nodded, taking the empty teacup, "I'll wash it for you, you should sleep. Goodnight then."
"Hmm, goodnight, dear. Sleep well." Her baba smiled, patting her hair as Nisha got up.

—Time skip—

It was past 1 am and she was confirmed about not getting any sleep tonight. She entered her bedroom, plopping on her bed. 
"Ugh, I hate life sometimes." She whispered, staring at the ceiling fan. Why did she have such little freedom despite being a grown adult? Why was it always about other people and their thoughts? 

She'd never know.

Again, her father's words and his melancholic face surfaced at the back of her head, earning a sigh from her.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the ping of her phone. She lazily grabbed it, checking the screen as a frown appeared on her face. 

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