"She is fine too...." My voice came out disappointed. It shocked me that her happiness disappointed me. Happiness to marry someone else. Deep down I thought she might remember me, but that was not the case. 

"Mom, now I too deserve a hug." Came Sara's voice making us break the hug. "I had to look after your son for the entire day." Stressing on the one day as if it was one year. I just narrowed my eyes at her. 

"I can understand beta, it's tough to handle a monkey," Mom spoke wiping off her tears and expanding her hand for a hug. I just stared at them with a stern look. Was she even my mother? Then a sudden realization hit me. 

"Did you just compared me with a monkey?" Turning furious. 

"Correction Sid, she didn't compare you with the monkey but said you're worse than it." Raghav laughed out loud. Soon everyone joined him.

It infuriated me, they were laughing at me. I would move but at that moment my eyes landed on Shehnaaz who had been descending. Accompany one side by Navya and another side by an elderly woman who was wearing a red salwar suit and seemed like she had put on the makeup for the very first time. As she was time again touching her face, she had a handkerchief in her hand trying to wipe it off. A sheepish smile on her face.

"Seems like she is the bride's mother," Neetu di whispered to Preeti di. While she just gave her a node. Seeing them descending Sara moved towards them in a haste, we started at her been puzzled. 

"It is  their ritual that the groom's sister should accompany the bride to the venue." Raghav helped us out with the piece of information. 

"So what are we waiting for?" Neetu di looked at Preeti di, for which she nodded in agreement, and soon they too rushed towards the stairs.

I tried my level best to mask a smile. Mom kept a hand on my shoulder, patting it. I looked at her from the corner of my eye, she just blinked her eyes assuring me that everything would be fine. I gave her a blank look and again stared at Shehnaaz. She was blushing, her eyes fixed on Raghav, I glanced at Raghav who was gesturing her she was looking gorgeous. It infuriated me; I fisted my hand. It was turning out more difficult than I thought it to be. 

Main Phir Bhi Tumko Chaahunga,
Main Phir Bhi Tumko Chaahoonga...

I stepped to move out but Raghav who was standing behind me grab my wrist, a questioning look. "Where are you going, Sid? The function will start." 

"I will come, wait for a second," I said, somehow excusing from there. I could feel his stare as I moved out. I also heard mom whispering. 

"Let him go, he needs it." 

I made my way towards the garden area, staring at the greenery around. I removed the cigarette from my pocket and lighting it up, inhaled. I closed my eyes. I was at peace.

"Smoking is injurious to health." I heard a voice, and I opened my eyes, jerking my head to the direction. Navya was standing there with a beautiful smile on her face. She was wearing a gown of navy blue colour. Her hair tied up in a bun, and a slight makeup on her face. 

"What are you doing over here? The function had already started." It bewildered me, finding her there. 

"The same thing what you're doing." She spoke sarcastically, I started at her keenly. This time I found a hint of sadness. She soon masked it out with a smile, "thinking about your moti, right?" She was pushing her tears back. 

I nodded, staring at her suspiciously. This was the first time I saw pain underlying her beautiful smile. "I know you don't feel for me anything and I won't force you too. I had a habituated of rejection and it is nothing new." Plastered a smile, I smiled at her sadly. We both had been sailing on the same boat. 

"Don't worry, you will have someone amazing stored for you. Someone much better than me." I winked at her, for which she chuckled. 

"I doubt that because no one can love me the way you love your moti. She is the lucky one. I would like to meet her someday and tell her how lucky she is." She was beaming. 

"But I think I am the lucky one to get her, she was the one who taught me the meaning of life and in that process became my life." I was opening up as I found her in the same circumstance as mine. "Who was that unlucky soul who rejected you? Other than me." I asked her out, for which she giggled. 

"He is not from here but Canada, my classmate." She grimaced, "he said, I don't deserve him. Moron! Who fucking cares." She snorted, I stared at her with a smile. 

"But you do," that made her glance at me, startled. "His rejected did affect you, the reason you had not tried to move on. You're trying to find him in every guy you meet, you tried, to find him in me too." I sneered at her and she nodded her head. 

"I did," she confessed, shutting her eyes. That confession came out as a slight whimper, as it was difficult to roll it down from her tongue. She opened her eyes, tears brimming. "I tried my level best, but I could not. I fake this flirting and all just to find happiness in my life but could never. It had been two years four months back, I hate to admit it, but still, I feel for him." That tears were rolling down her cheeks, and I couldn't see her in such a state. I pulled her in for a hug and she moaned in my arms. "Why love is so painful?" She raised a question out in between her weeping, the answer which I wanted too. 

"Love is not all about getting but only giving. You turn out lucky if you get the same amount back," I muttered, she calms down her little. I just caressed her hair. After a minute of silence, I asked her out. "Are you still in contact with him?" 

She broke the hug and nodded negatively, "I am not that courageous to face him after that incident. I broke all the contact with him." She said wiping off the tears. Again silence covered us. We both were glancing at the Shivalik hill. "Can I ask you something?" Navya asked, and I nodded my eyes still fixed on Shivalik hill. "How was your moti?" 

Just a mere mention of her name and smile was back on my face. My moti! 

### Past ###

How could I forget? That she was Moti, not Sana, I shook my head. "Moti will you please hand me the clothes," I asked her lovingly, for which I heard her footsteps and soon she handed me those clothes. 

I took one cloth at a time; it was so difficult to close your eyes and manage stuff like that. Guessing it was my t-shirt, "moti raise your hand." I moved to the t-shirt near her head. "Now put your both hands on the small two-hole," I instructed her. 

"Kullu that hole is too high." I was sure she was pouting, I moved the t-shirt down. So she could easily reach it. "I got it," she sounded pleased. I felt her touch on my finger as she pushed her hand inside the t-shirt. 

"Now put your head inside the sizeable hole," I informed, and finally, she had worn the t-shirt. A simple task of wearing a t-shirt could turn out so difficult with eyes closed, she made me realize it. "Give me the shorts," I extended my hands, and she handed me. 

I kneeled in front of her broadened the shorts. "Moti now put your either legs on both sides of the hole." She did the same, I pulled the shorts up. On the way slightly touching her bare skin. And tied the string around her waist. Finally finishing the toughest work of the century, I opened my eyes. The oversize black shirt was drooping from her shoulder, reaching just below her waist. With that big grey shorts which seemed much like a three fourth to her. She was looking extremely cute in my wears. I then started at her face, she was grinning.

"Kullu, I was so afraid of seeing your eyes closed. I thought that you were mad on me and didn't want to even look at my face, the way daddy does." She turned gloomy. It surprised me this was the first time she mentioned someone from her family. 

"Daddy?" I urged so she could speak further about him. 

"Daddy... oh ho... daddy... daddy...." She started humming a song. I glared at her, clutching her shoulder. 

"Stop singing! And tell me about your daddy." I didn't realize that I was gripping her arms until I saw tears brimming from her eyes.  Those tears suddenly turned me soft, "baby why are you crying?" 

"Because you're hurting me." That made me loosen my grip on her, I cursed.

"I am sorry, my Jaan." I apologized for the first time in my life. I was astounded. This girl was changing me. Not even twenty-four hours had passed for our meeting. And I had turned into an unfamiliar person. "I promise I won't ever hurt you," I vowed to her, to me.

She beamed, listening to it. That amazed me. It was so easy to placate her; she was like a kid whose mood would switch in a mere second. 

"Now come let's move out," I extended my hand, which she holds on. As we moved out, I made her sit on the bed. Switched on the tv present in the room, shuffled to cartoon channel. 

"Just sit over here by the time I come. Don't you dare to move." I instructed her and she nodded her head, her concentration fully occupied by the tv. 

I made my way towards the washroom after removing my clothes from the bag. I glanced once more before closing and locking the washroom door. I pulled off my clothes and jumped into the bathtub. The warm water was always refreshing.

The day had turned into incredible havoc; the meeting got canceled; I knocked down a girl, entering the hospital, encountering the police officer, a decision taking Sana to Mumbai. Still more things were waiting for me. I had to find about her family, speak about it to mom. I closed my eyes, taking in a deep breath, pushing the thoughts away. I need peace of mind. 

After spending half an hour in the bathtub, I moved out, getting into my clothes. The moment I opened the door, I found Sana sleeping peacefully on the bed. My lip turned upward, I switched off the tv. Glanced at my cell, thinking whether to call Sara? Finally giving up, I kept the cell back on the side table. 

Lay on the bed, glanced at her. She was still awake; peeping at me with her one eye open. I raised a bow, "what? not falling asleep?" I inquired for which she nodded vigorously. 

"I don't get sleep unless Mumma beside me." She sounded sad. "I don't get sleep if I don't hug her." 

"Hmm... so what can we do?." I acted as if I was thinking. She gazed at me with hope. 

A moment later she smiled, eyes shining with joy. "I will hug you and sleep." With that she hugged me tightly, her head resting on my chest. I got startled for a minute but then moved my hands near her shoulder. She was giggling, reason better known by her. I just closed my eyes, my heart feeling content. The feeling which I was experiencing after very long. 

### Past end ###

"I had asked you to share it with me not to drift into her memories," Navya groaned, which brought me back to present. 

Before I could speak a word, we heard Shehbaaz's voice. "What are you both doing over here? The bride and groom are searching for you both." He was here to invite us in. 

I glimpsed at Navya, who was too staring at me. We were enjoying each other, sharing each other's pain. "But what were you two doing?" He asked, staring around and sounding curious. 

"Talking," Navya said dryly. Shehbaaz shook his head, not getting it, nor showing interest in knowing it. 

"Come," with that, he dragged my hand and moved me inside. Unwillingly I followed him, I had to witnesses the ritual as I had taken this decision. 

As we entered in I saw mom was standing behind Shehnaaz, while Shehnaaz was sitting on the couch which was placed in the center. Mom had a red chunni (scarf) in her hand, which she placed on Shehnaaz's head. Mom kept a hand on Shehnaaz head as if blessing her, soon placed a kiss on her forehead. 

"See chunni ceremony already started," Shehbaaz grumbled, dragging me along with him near them. I tried to remove the grip, but he was not in a mood to listen to me. "Couldn't you all wait for us?" He argued to the rest. 

"Where were you on such a precious occasion? Hanging out here and there rather than be present along with your sister." His dad frowned. While Shehbaaz just narrowed his eyes. 

Soon my sisters moved towards her, their hands filled with gifts which she handed to Shehnaaz one by one. Shehnaaz smiled at them, while they too smile back. 

"Must say, girl, you have the courage to choose him as your life partner." Neetu di pulled Raghav legs for which he made a sullen face. 

Soon done with presenting all the gifts to Shehnaaz. Mom again moved forward. She glanced at the woman standing beside her. Whom Neetu di had guessed as Shehnaaz's mother. "Take a handful of Meva and put her in her choli." The lady instructed mom, and she bends down taking a handful on meva from the plate present on the table in front. 

Shehnaaz handed all the gift to Shehbaaz, who had moved towards her by now. Mom filled Shehnaaz choli with the meva and then made her eat the dry date kept over there. Followed by Neetu and Preeti di and soon Sara too did it. 

With that done, Raghav glanced at Sara, asking for a ring. I was well prepared for a flabbergasting reaction from him. Sara gave him a nervous smile, opened the ring box but to my surprised, he didn't give any reaction. He looked at Shehnaaz and smiled, taking the ring out he rolled it down her finger.

 I should feel hurt seeing them smiling at each other, but it perplexed me seeing the view in front of me. The ring which Raghav wore Shehnaaz was the one he selected. How was it even possible? Shehnaaz had come along with me with the ring I selected, we went to Purab's place to repair it. Then why on earth the ring in the box was of Raghav's, not the one which I selected? What the hell was going on? I could not understand. 

My head had turn blank trying to find logic but could not find any. Shehnaaz soon rolled the ring down Raghav's finger which Shehbaaz handed her. A simple silver band ring, which Raghav loved to wear.  Raghav smiled at her and she returned it back.

He whispered something in her ear, which made her blush. That provoked me, soon the people burst into applaud. I fake a smile when Raghav peeked at me. He was so happy and the circumstances were such, I couldn't be happy in his happiness.

As the engagement was done, Uncle moved in to feed the sweets to both of them, followed by his wife, Shehbaaz, and then mom, Sara, Preeti, and Neetu di. Navya to moved towards them, congratulating them and feeding them the sweets.

Shehbaaz glanced at me, "what are you doing there Siddharth? Come feed your buddy and his would-be wife sweets and congrats them." He gazed at me with an anticipated look.

I nodded, plastering a smile, and moved towards him. Raghav was beaming, I tried level best to return him a genuine smile but was not able to.

Diverting my gaze, I took a sweet in my hand and made him eat. He was staring at me, getting anxious but I didn't dare to look at him. I was trying hard to hide my tears, which were threatening to flow down. With haste I feed Shehnaaz the sweet, masking a smile for just last time. I congratulated both not meeting my eyes with them and moved out.

Raghav called me out but I didn't dare to turn, as tears had already made it's way out. I wore the sunglass and removed the cell from my pocket and moved out. Faking a call, that was the only option left, to disappear from there.

I walked straight to my room, not even finding it necessary to close the door behind me. It was turning out more disturbing than I speculated. I was broken into pieces seeing her getting engaged to someone else. I always had a feeling that happiness seeing Raghav happy would overpower the sadness of seeing Shehnaaz engaging but that was not the case.

I was lost in my grief when suddenly I felt a touch on my shoulder. I glanced at the source to find my mom, who was sitting beside me. I was so lost that I didn't even realize when she entered the room. My face was blank, she stared at me with sorrow. She slowly caressed my face.

I closed my eyes, feeling her touch. Slowly withdrawing myself in her touch, a tear flow down my cheek and soon I was shedding tears. My mom pulled me into a hug, her eyes brimming with tears.

"I can't mom, I can't." I shattered down in my mom's arm.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Don't be dishearted with the part, just trust your writer.

I gave a big part, so I am hoping for good comments and votes. *wink* 

heenarani thanks for helping me out with rituals which I had the least idea about. And I am going to burden you up with more questions in the future.