Forever Yours

Chapter Eighty One

Sidharth knocked on the door of Neetu's room, "Apni beti ko sambhaal ke rakho, shaadi ke time agar iska pair-wair toot gaya na toh mein responsible nahi hoon.'

Neetu frowned. "Kya hua? Tu theek hai na Mukku?"

Samyukta scoffed playfully. "Aaj maama babysitting duty pe hai. Band baji hui hai inki!"

"Tu kyon usko pareshaan kar ke rakhi hai Mukku? Sidharth, ja kamre mein. Rest kar jaake."

Siddharth shook his head and plopped on the bed next to his sister. "Mujhe bore ho raha hai kamre mein akele." He confessed. "Aur thoda sa ajeeb bhi lag raha hai."

"Ajeeb kyon lagg raha hai bhai?" Neetu asked.

Siddharth shrugged. "I don't know-- Jab se haldi hoke.. Shehnaaz kamre mein gayi hai bahar nahi aayi.. I know theek hai woh-- and her girls are there with her but-- just.."

Aarav cooed at his brother-in-law. "Yaad aa rahi hai Shehnaaz ki?"

Siddharth blushed. "You're going to tease me relentlessly about it, I know-- but jittery sa lag raha hai. Isiliye toh aapke paas aaya."

Neetu smiled at her brother and patted his head gently. "Sabke saath hota hai."

Siddharth buried his face in his sister's lap. Neetu bent over to kiss his forehead. "You hardly ever do it anymore."

Siddharth pouted.

"Mujhe na.. tension ho rahi hai Neetu.. ghabraahat si--"

Neetu ran her fingers delicately through his hair. "Naaz aise hi karti hai na teri?"

Siddharth nodded. "Mein jaake dekh ke aauin kya usko?"

"Nahi baba.. allowed nahi hai!"

Aarav added. "Kal shaadi tak, limited interaction hi rakhna ho sake toh. Haldi ki rasam ke baad dulha-dulhan shaadi pe hi milte hain directly, hum log maante-waante nahi hai yeh sab mein--"

"Enter-- Raj aur Preeti ki midnight meeting, shaadi wale din!" Neetu exclaimed.

"I remember." Siddharth grinned. "I helped."

"But rishtedaar hain, high level drama ho jayega. Already choti chachi-ji ke kaan khade ho rahe hain.." Aarav added. "Toh dhyaan se.. okay."

Siddharth whined.

"Baba akeli nahi hai woh-- Fiza, Priyashi, Kratika, Ridhi, Jenny hain uske paas."

"Aashu chachi toh kab se apne kamre mein hai. I saw her straightening her hair while you were dragging me here." Samyukta informed him.

"Baaki sab toh hain na? Tu jaayega toh dono ka teasing session shuru ho jaayega Vaise bhi aaj jaldi uthi thi haldi ke liye-- so gayi hogi ab tak." Neetu said softly.

Aarav rolled his eyes, "Yeah right."

Samyukta chuckled.

"It's been tiring the last few days. Woh machine nahi hai Aarav!" Neetu exclaimed.

Aarav chuckled. "Neetu, I know woh machine nahi hai.. woh Shehnaaz hai. The amount of nerves she's battling right now, woh nervous energy pe do dinn nikaal degi. You know that kid."

Siddharth chuckled. "I agree."

***

"Dulhan hai woh, Preeti. Akele nahi chodte hain dulhan ko shaadi se pehle. Ya toh khud ja, ya Samyukta ko dhoond aur bhej Shehnaaz ke paas." Maa said sternly.

"Bachi nahi hai woh Rita.. aaram kar rahi hogi na." Abha maasi said softly.

Rita Maa sighed, "Shaadi ke ek dinn pehle koi bhi dulhan so nahi paati hai Didi.. aur hamari Shehnaaz toh--"