Destined

*07*

 

            Shravan smiled triumphantly. He didn't know why he found it extremely hilarious when Suman looked at him with disbelief. How he wanted to tell her, she was looking like a fairy in that white saree she was wearing. He had to rein his tongue because he knew, once he would compliment her, there was no going back and Shravan needed to end the previous chapters of his life before he would turn the pages towards the new beginnings.

He was nervous was an understatement, but what made it worse, when he entered the banquet hall with Suman and every male population present there glued their eyes on her. Oblivious to sudden interests Suman looked around like a child in a candy store. Shravan chuckled to himself, this girl never failed to surprise him.

"Shravan!" One of his friends strolled towards them, "What a pleasant surprise." He patted Shravan's shoulder, "And who's this young lady?" 

"She is Suman. My . . .” He paused, not knowing how to introduce her to his friends. He wanted to say something appropriate, "friend."

"His assistant. He needed a plus one, and I am here to accompany him." Suman smiled. Shravan glared at her when she smiled a little too sweetly at his friend.

"Oh lovely, I am his friend, Yusuf. Nice to meet you." They shook their hands. And there it was. Shravan was dumbfounded to find himself to be jealous of this small exchange as if Yosuf had crossed a line here. He shook his head to clear his instant disliking towards his friend. Shravan was never a jealous man. Alisha had always been friendly towards all of their male friends, but he had never felt something so intense. 

"You go with your friend, I'll go and find something to eat." Suman smiled, as she walked away from his side. 

Yusuf shouted merrily, "Look who is here amongst us today. The Shravan Malhotra." Slowly they neared the group of their friends. Much to Shravan's delight, everyone invited him with open arms and wide smiles. But even though his eyes went back to Suman, who was hovering over the food bar, and the server there looked too friendly towards her. He frowned, what was happening to him? From when did he become so shallow, so insecure? 

"Eyes back to us, SM." Shravan's friends booed him. Reba laughed out loud, "Seems SM is smitten."

Someone chuckled, "Well, we can't really blame him, right! Look at her." Shravan's eyes scurried back to Suman, "She looks like an angel. SM are you sure, she is just an assistant? Or is it," they stopped when Alisha came there with Rehan on her toe.

"Oh! Shravan! You are here." Alisha bared her teeth. It was no doubt that she didn't like that Shravan could manage to come to her wedding. 

Shravan smiled ruefully, "Well, for our old times' sake, I had to come." He looked at Rehan, who was looking everywhere but him, "Rehan aren't you supposed to be somewhere else, I mean, aren't the bride and the groom supposed to not meet each other before the wedding on the wedding day? Bad omen you see!" 

"Oh, come on Shravan, don't be jealous. I know," Alisha couldn't finish her sentence when Suman waltzed into the scene.

"I need to talk to you," she paused, "Sir, Can you please come with me?" Shravan frowned. He vividly remembered that he asked her to call him by his name. Nodding to her, Shravan moved aside with her. 

"What are you doing?" Suman asked when Shravan arched his brows, she continued, "You are reacting exactly the way she wants you to, like a bitter ex."

Shravan was already irritated with her, "As long as I remember, Suman," her eyes rounded when he didn't call her Sumo, "you are my assistant, doesn't it mean you should mind your own business?" He snapped. He could see, Suman paled a little; he didn't want to react but she needed to understand, he hadn't asked her to accompany just to show off that he had an assistant. Moreover, being said that she was just an assistant made others believe she wasn't off-limits. He closed his eyes, "You don't have to worry about me. Go back to what you were doing." Saying he veered off his wheelchair towards his friends.