Please vote and comment! Motivates a lot!

Swara's POV-

The next morning was di's mehendi and it was supposed to take place at our home so I was pretty much relaxed, no tension to do things in hurry.

By the time I was up, Di's arms were done and legs were being worked upon. The groom side was here too.

" Shona....good morning." Mumma said, in a taunting tone.

I gave her a sarcastic smile and went back to my room. I was contemplating between going back to bed or getting ready. Finally the second argument won because of mumma.

I immediately got ready and came downstairs again.

Swara's look-

" Come Shona. You also apply henna." Di said.

She looked dull.

" What happened di? Why do you sound so dull?" I asked her.

" It's nothing Shona. Just the pre wedding jitters." She said.

" You know you can talk to me about everything right?" I asked her, unsure.

" Of course. Now hush, tell them what design do you want and they will apply it to you." She said and I was given a book of designs.

" Just make whatever takes the least time." I said, handing the book back to the artist.

They started with their work and it was more than one hour since they were going on.

" How much time more!?" I whined.

" Relax Shona....what's the hurry?" Mumma asked.

" I am hungry!" I exclaimed.

" Your fault na beta....you don't get up at the time of breakfast and then stay grumpy throughout the afternoon because you are hungry. You really need to change your routine." Mumma lectured me.

" Mumma, you do realize that you are lecturing me in front of everyone." I tried to calm her down but to no avail. She did not stop.

" Thank you for my morning doze." I said, getting up as the artists were done.

" Now ask papa to help you with food." Mumma said as I walked away.

It was lunch time. Papa was helping mumma with lunch, jiju was helping didi and grandpa was sleeping. Others were helping their better halves and I was left alone.

" Not anymore." Aryan said entering the hall.

" Oh my saviour." I shouted dramatically, Shakespeare style grabbing all eyes at me.

" Sorry." I muttered looking away.

" Over dramatic." I heard my sister mutter and rolled my eyes.

She had someone to feed her. I didn't.

" Aryan, follow me to the kitchen." I instructed him and walked ahead.

" S are you sure that's all the food you need?  I mean, come on, you eat much more than this." He made a sarcastic comment on me. Such an idiot!

" You sure this is the right time to mock me? I am hungry and irritated" I asked him.

He just rolled his eyes.

" Seriously Shona....you never share your food with me and now you both are eating from the same plate?" Di exclaimed.

" Please di, I don't share my food with anyone. That all food is mine." I said, sternly.

" Are you sure you'll be able to finish all of this?" Jiju asked.

" Obviously." I replied and he started feeding me. Within 15 minutes, my plate was empty.

" Now go and get ice cream for me Aryan." I ordered him.

" I am not your servant. Request, not order." He said.

" You are done with all that food Shona?" Mumma asked.

" You underestimate her aunty. She is a grade A foodie." Aryan said.

" Mr. Aryan Bisht, please get some ice cream for me." I requested sarcastically.

" Don't S. I hate that tone of yours." He said, irritated.

" But that's my full time job Aryan. I exist to irritate you." I confessed honestly.

Seriously, had he not been around I would have died of boredom.

" Which flavour? Chocolate or chocolate?" He asked and I showed him my tongue. Then he went out to get ice cream.

I was a sucker for chocolate.

" Does he do everything you say?" Di asked.

" Yes." I said.

" I think he loves you." She whispered.

" Bullshit. We have taken the sibling oath." I told her.

She rolled her eyes.

" He also has a girlfriend who he loves alot and she is a very good friend of mine." I added.

" And how is Karan?" She further teased.

Listening to his brother's name, Jiju suddenly was interested in this conversation.

" Not your brother." Kritika di clarified but we had his undivided attention now.

" Shut up di. It was just a stupid crush. Nothing else." I said, blushing.

" Your blush tells otherwise." She taunted.

" No di. It's nothing. Now don't irritate me. Let me call Aryan to ask if he has gone to make the ice cream or purchase it." I said and attempted to get up but Aryan was already here with five tubs of chocolate ice cream.

" All the ice cream for me??" I exclaimed.

" Insane girl. No, there are five huge tubs Swara, it's for everyone." He hissed.

" So considerate of you." I said, rolling my eyes.

We all had ice creams and wanted to rest.

" Mumma, I am going to sleep." I said.

" Yes Shona... that's all you do these days. Eat sleep and repeat." Mumma taunted.

She was speaking so much because grandpa was sleeping. She does not dare to taunt or scold me in front of him.

" Yes mumma, this is the only time you can scold me so go on. Once grandpa wakes up, you will go on silent mode to me." I taunted back.

She said nothing.

" Take your di and jiju to your room and let them rest." She said.

" Then where will I go?" I asked her.

" In the very same room." Jiju's dadi said sternly.

I looked away and rolled my eyes but then had a brilliant plan to escape.

" I am so sorry but Aryan is taking me out for a movie in sometime so I won't be able to stay with them." I said, trying not to be the third wheel like the day before yesterday.

" No Shona....you are not going anywhere today. Reschedule." Papa said.

" I hope you don't mind Aryan beta?" Mumma asked politely.

" Of course not Aunty, I was unaware about her plan till now." She said, back stabbing me.

Such s ditcher!

" I hate you." I mouthed him and took didi and jiju to my room.

" Why can't you guys go to you room di?" I asked, a little irritated.

" Why are you getting annoyed? It should be us who should be irritated with this situation!" She exclaimed.

" Because I hate being the third wheel." I confessed.

" You are not being the third wheel. Just relax." She said.

She was stressed out over something. I don't know what, but there is something.

" Didi, I want to talk to you." I said.

" Say." She encouraged.

" Nothing." I sighed and went back to my instagram.

Normally she would get irritated if I leave something in between but she did not even react. Yes, there is something wrong. I can feel it.

Di and jiju were sitting on the bed so I couldn't sleep also! Ugghh! Moveover, this mehendi was irritating so much!

I sneaked inside the washroom and got rid of it and walked out of the washroom.

" Shona! You were not supposed to get that off till the next 2 hours!" Di exclaimed.

" Di relax. Mumma won't get to know because she won't come here for the next two hours." I said smartly.

Then I let both of them rest for sometime and went in the balcony and passed out on the swing.

" Shona...shona....Swara wake up. It's the haldi function." I could faintly hear mumma's voice.

" Yes mumma." I said and got up.

As I got up, I found out that I had sprained my neck.

" Mumma, my neck!" I said.

" Sit on the bed. I'll apply the ointment." She instructed and I followed.

" Now stay still for a while and don't move your neck." She said and went out to probably check the arrangements.

" Swara...are you okay?" Jiju asked as he entered the room.

" Yeahh...just stiff neck. Nothing to worry about. You wanted something?" I asked.

" Yes, my phone." He said and picked it up from the nightstand.

" You sure you'll be alright or do you want me to send someone to you?" He asked.

" No no...I'll be alright. You go. It's your function." I said.

He nodded and looked at me once before leaving.

I was just sitting on the bed waiting for my neck to get alright but to no avail so I decided to fu*k it and just go and enjoy the function.

The function was over in about an hour and tomorrow was the wedding.

Jiju and his family left for their home after having dinner.

It was time to sleep again. Mumma was right, my life has just turned into a version of eat, sleep and repeat but one should enjoy till it lasts.

The next morning, everything was chaotic. I was up by 8 and then till 6 in the evening, all I did were wedding preparations.

" Shona....go and get ready. Kritika has already left for the salon with her friends and will directly reach to the venue. We need to reach early to welcome the guests.

" Mumma, just this last lot of gifts are remaining. You all leave, once I'm done with them, I'll get ready and come there. You guys should not be late." I said.

" But Shona how will you reach there? All the cars are occupied with the drivers." Mumma said, worried.

" Offo mumma....I'll call Aryan. You don't worry. Just go." I said and she nodded and she left along with papa and grandpa.

I was done soon and Aryan was here.

" S, get ready quickly. Till will take time to reach there also." He said.

I nodded, went to my room and was ready as soon as I could.

Swara's look-

" You look very pretty." She complimented as I came back to the living room.

" Thank you!" I said and we left.

" Fu*k! So much traffic! I am going to miss the jaimaal." I sighed.

" The freaking traffic!" Aryan exclaimed.

We reached at the venue by 9:30 but there was altogether a different scene there. Nothing had started. I could not even see mumma and papa. Grandpa was talking there with some guests.

" What happened baba?" I asked him.

" Nothing beta, the muhurat has been delayed." He said.

" Where is papa?" I asked him.

" I think in Kritika's room." He replied and I went in the room asking Aryan to stay back with grandpa.

" What's going on guys?" I asked, entering the room only to see tense faces all around. Mumma and Amrita aunty were crying, papa and Yash uncle were sitting tensed with Karan and Jiju was just standing, fuming with anger. Kritika di was nowhere to be seen.

" Mumma? What happened? Why are you crying?" I asked, afraid. She handed me a piece of paper.

Mumma, papa, Aditya

I am so sorry but I can't do this. I have got a huge modelling contract from Chicago based XYZ Company and I cannot say no to it. It is once in a lifetime opportunity and I just can't leave it. I am so sorry to hurt you all. I hope you will be able to forgive me.

- Kritika

What kind of joke is this!?

" This girl has tarnished the reputation of two families." Papa shouted.

" Papa, please calm down." I said, trying to pacify him.

Jiju walked out of the room in anger, Karan followed him.

" I think there is some mistake!" I said, not believing that di could do something like this.

" There is no mistake." Amrita aunty said.

" Shona...there is only one way to safe both the families of this shame." Mumma said.

" What is it mumma?" I asked desperately.

" Marry Aditya." She said.

" What?" I don't think I heard her correctly.

" Marry Aditya Shona." She repeated herself again.

" Mumma, I am eighteen right now. I've not even started my college and you want me to get married to man who is seven years older! This is not fair." I shouted, exasperated.

" Swara, your sister has betrayed all of us and has run away from her own wedding. All the guests are waiting for the bride to come out. You know your grandfather's medical condition . He will not be able to take any shock right now and you if you don't go out, his hard earned reputation will get tainted and he may not be able to absorb this shock." Mumma tried to reason.

" What about Aditya....? I call him jiju (brother in law) for god's sake maa!" I exclaimed." He will be okay with this marriage." Amrita aunty said, entering the room.

" Mumma...this is going to spoil three lives." I tried, talking sense.

" Swara, beta please do this for both of the families." Aunty said, folding her hands in front of me.

" I need to talk to him first." I demaded to which both of them obliged and within next five minutes, my so called jiju was standing in front of me.

" I tried to reason out with them. Turns out they did not understand. Didi loves you. I think she must have been forced to take this decision." I said, defending Kritika di.

" Forced? Her letter clearly states otherwise." He spoke with so much hatred in his voice.I kept quiet.

" Get dressed and come to the mandap (pavilion)" He said and left the room, banging the door on his way.

" Thank you so much ganpati bappa (god) for throwing me in this mess." I muttered and without an option, started getting ready.

God, what is going to happen with my life now!

Hey guys! This is the next chapter. I hope you all like it. To unlock the next one, at least 50 comments are required on this one.

I love you all. Until next time. Byee!!