S - "Mujhe Maahi ko dekhna hai... main chalti hu. Karan tu guests sambhal le please?"
He nodded walking away as I head upstairs wiping away the forming tears. I couldn't marry Karan. Even if I ever wanted to. I couldn't. Not if this was how he was going to be after he got drunk or angry. Whatever Sidharth was at least he always treated me right. He gave me every ounce of love that I desired. Although the rumours always bothered me I knew none of them were true, they were all Artis game plan. A plan Sidharth had let work. The only reason I'd always hate him. He left me because he fell into her trap and then decided to make a bullshit excuse. I never even found out why he'd done all that, that exact night. What in the world had gone so wrong?! I brush of my thoughts, curving my frowning lips into a smile. Maahi looked gorgeous to say the least, the happiness reflecting off of her face made me happy too. Jai was the only guy I'd ever wanted for her. With the way he treated her and how much love and respect he gave what they shared. Maybe I wasn't worth that. Perhaps I myself would never be.
M - "Kya hua tujhe? Kis soch mein Kho gyi? Maine suna Karan khud khula raha tha tujhe Hmm?"
I give her a frail smile. "Han woh haath mein chot lg gyi isiliye. Jai ne bandage wagaira bhi krdiya, aur tu abhi tak tyaar kyun nhi hai? Jewelry kaha hai teri?" I question changing the topic entirely. Opening her closet I look through the boxes for the flower jewelry. A tradition our family strictly followed along with many others. I grab the yellow flower earrings and maang tikka pining it in before setting her hair back into place as she wrapped the necklace around her neck. I tell her I'd send mom and maasi to get her before running out down towards the kitchen.
Sb - "Oye motto ruk Yaar, tu subah se idhar udhar bhaag rahi hai lekin mehndi ka toh dekha hi nhi?! Abhi adhe ghante mein chahiye unhe lekin idhar toh kahi hai hi nhi. Sirf ek cone chahiye lekin maasi k ghar par hai aur abhi haldi shuru hone wali hai toh tu jaa na please? Mujhe kuch nhi samajh aayega, idhar main sambhal lunga tu jaa"
S - "Baaz yaar abhi Maahi bhi tyaar hai aur main mom aur maasi ko usse laane bolne chali hu, tu jaa na waha jaa kr FaceTime kr main bta dungi"
Sb - "Main dhake maar k car mein baithaunga, tu jaa na main bolta hu unhe ki 20 minutes tak hi laana usse. Tab tak aa hi jayegi tu, toofan ki trah toh gaadi chalti hai"
I huff running towards the exit after finding my car keys. I meet the trio standing in the doorway yelling behind me as I run off into the yard. "Abhi nhi please mujhe mehndi laane jaana hai, saara siyaapa mere sar pe hi daalna hota hai sbko" I explain watching them follow me to the car.
J - "Tu akeli mat jaa, already haath pe lgi hai, main chalta hu na?"
S - "Haan haan ap aa jao aur haldi koi sarakh se uthake ladke ke lagwa denge. Chup chap andar jao, main theek hu"
Kh - "Sanu main aata hu, aise akeli mat jaa, traffic bhi hoga aur aise easier hai, main drive karunga aur tu bhaag ke sab le aana, park bhi nhi krna parega"
"Haye nhi... main le jaati lekin teri Jas aa rhi hai abhi. Maar degi mujhe. Ab please andar jao aur mujhe jaane do" I exclaim reversing out of the park when suddenly the passenger door flung open making me halt the car. Sidharth jumped into the seat staring straight ahead. "Aap kyun aa rahe ho?"
Si - "Chup chap chal, already 5 minute baaton mein waste krdiya hai"
I look at him exasperated but drive ahead paying no heed to the constant gasps and shrieks as I drive double the speed limit recklessly. I ran inside grabbing the platter passing it over to him before instantly getting back in the road. It'd only been 15 minutes since we'd left the hall. I mentally gave myself a pat on the back for making it back before the 20 minutes. I race past him grabbing the platter from his hands and reaching where the older women sat, breathless from what I'd just done. The whole ceremony flew by, the elders already having put on the haldi while we waited as patiently as possible. Both of them looked ecstatic although he slight distaste of having it rubbed furiously all over the face by some people was still present. I move up along with Baaz, taking a ton from the bowl and plopping it against Maahis face before spreading it out. Baaz chuckled doing the same to irritate her like always.
