Chapter 17

Vidhi's POV



We had a Sangeet ceremony on different days and we attended it from both sides. Everyone performed on one song or the other. I performed a dance number with Sid, he wanted to dance with Shruti too, but Shruti was not talking to him.

I noticed some tension between Shubh and Sid. Shubh was glaring at him and looked like an angry bull.

But why?? Neither Sid nor Shubh was interested in me.

I was firm about my decision that I would not talk to Shubh. Not even look at him. He kept looking at me. I ignored him.

And then we all came back, we all were tired.

I looked at Sid he was dying to talk to Shruti but I saw Shruti was avoiding Siddharth. Maurvi bhabhi and I became friends too in the last two days and she asked me to help Shruti and Siddharth to solve their problems.

I promised that I would help. The tension between them was so thick that it could be cut by a knife. But Maurvi bhabhi and I made sure to bring them together to at least start talking to each other.

******

Everyone was enjoying it. Bhai's friends were teasing them miserably. It was bhai's wedding day and the clock struck 5.

Men from Bhabhi's family came for another ritual which is done in the evening before the departure of Barat.

But I didn't want to meet a certain someone so thought of going to my room and getting ready.

Shruti had been asking me to come fast to get ready. I was going out of the room in a hurry to go to my room to get ready with Shruti and just then mom called me to come. I told Shruti to go and went to talk to mom.

Mom asked me to get something from her almirah. I said that I would be back in 5 minutes. I was going when she told me to get another thing as well. I was looking towards mom while walking ahead and walked into a hard wall of muscles.

Oh, God !! When would I learn to walk, without bumping into something? I turned to look at the person.

He was a very handsome man. I was a bit embarrassed.

" Oh, I am so sorry. " I said.

" Don't be... I am not. Here we meet again... It seems God wants us to end up together. " He said with a flirtatious smile.

" What?? Have we met before?" I asked.

" Yes, at a mall in Delhi, where you luckily bumped into me. "

" Oh yes, now I remember. " I was not in a mood to talk so I just gave a faint smile and took another step when he said.

" Hi, I am Dhruv Raichand... May I have the honour to know your name."

" Vidhi Singh Rathore. "

" Wow !! Such a beautiful name for a beautiful girl like you. "

" Thanks," I said with a smile.

" So are you from the bride's side or the groom's side? " He asked me.

" Groom... He is my elder brother. And what about you? "

" Oh great !!! I am from your side." He said with a wink.

" What do you mean? "

" Oh !! I mean... My father is a good friend of your father. So we came to attend the wedding from your side. "

" Oh ok... Bye, I have to go and get ready. "

" What?? Seriously?? "

" Yes, why?? "

" You are already looking so pretty, I think there would be many casualties tonight, " he said with a smile.

I smiled too and shook my head and started going away.

" Hey !! For god sake, try not to look more beautiful than you already are. Have mercy on men. Please... "

I smiled shyly at that sentence and was going to my room when Shubh came in front of me all of a sudden. I tried to step away and leave.

" Vidhi... "

" I have to go and get ready... " I said and started going away.

" Listen... "

" Sorry I don't have time to talk with strangers. "

" Stranger ?? "

" I don't remember anything about you. Sorry, you are not in my memory." I said and he closed his eyes for a few seconds.

" Who was the man you were talking to just now?? "

" None of your business... " I said and went away from there.

I entered my room and shut the door. I leaned against it and closed my eyes.

Why is he trying to talk to me now??

" Hey Vidhi, What happened?? Are you alright? Shall I call Vikram bhaiya??" She said touching my forehead and checked my pulse. She was studying to be a doctor.

" Don't be silly, I am ok. "

" Are you sure?? " Just then there was a knock on the door. I closed my eyes.

" Vidhi someone is at the door. "

" I don't want to talk to him. "

" Vidhi, open the door. I need to talk to you. " Shubh said from the other side of the door. But I neither say anything nor opened the door.

" Open the door, Vidhi," he said again.

" No... Go away. " I said and rushed into the washroom.

I took a quick shower, slipped into my bathrobe and came to my room.

I was shocked to see Shubh waiting in my room.

" What are you doing here? " I asked him in my shocked state.

But I was not the only one who was shocked I guess.

He was also shocked to see me like that. He kept standing there as if he was spellbound.

His eyes raked over my body. I was feeling very conscious.

" How did you come in?? Where is Shruti?? Why did she open the door? "

" Sorry... I was waiting outside your door and all of a sudden, your friend went away talking on the phone, she didn't let me in. I came inside when she left. I am sorry, I didn't know... "

" Leave right now," I said.

" Listen to me first... " He came closer.

" Go, Or I will call Bhai. "

" Wait, I am going... Just don't talk to that man again," he said but his eyes were all over my body and he gulped visibly.

" You have no right to tell me what to do and what not to do. I will do what I like. Now go... "

" Vidhi, please... Listen to me... Don't even talk to him. " He came very close to me. Only a few inches separated us.

" Why should I listen to a man, whom I don't even know. As instructed by someone I knew, I erased that someone from my memory. Now get lost or I will call Bhai " he closed his eyes once again as if he was trying to control his feelings or was trying to mask the feeling of hurt caused by my words.

" I am going... Just stay away from him. "

He said and went out. I locked the door and took a deep breath. My cheeks were red by now.

*********

Shubh's POV



Sandhya was ready, I just went to see her before the wedding. I wanted to spend a few moments with my sister.

" Oh God, he is looking like an Indian prince. Very Handsome and royal. " Said Ruchika... The baraat had already reached the doors of the venue. They were looking at it from the window.

" Sandy do you want anything, something to eat or drink??" I asked.

" Shubh what is wrong with you? I am fine... You are working like a maniac. I am worried about your health." She said.

Ruchika saw me and excused her self and went away. How sweet and thoughtful of her.

" I am fine sandy... " I was getting emotional again to see her as a bride. I didn't want to make her sad or emotional. I went near her and looked at the baarat.

" Vikram Ji is looking so handsome... Isn't it? " I said to lighten the atmosphere.

" Hmm. Everyone is looking so good. Vidhi is looking very pretty in traditional Indian dresses. Isn't it?

Why does she keep saying that? I know she was looking beautiful...

" Aunty told my mom that a marriage proposal came for her and they would talk about it after our marriage," Sandy said.

What ?? Oh !! I just felt that my heart stopped after hearing it.

" Is it?? So, do they like the man already?? "

" Don't know... "

" Sandy listen you take care, I need to go and welcome them," I said and came out to hide the sudden heartache I experienced.

I was already hurt at how Vidhi avoided me. But she was not wrong in doing it.



Vidhi's POV



Bhai was ready, wearing traditional gold Achkan, a sherwani, Jodhpuri Juttis, traditional orange turban and pearl necklace. He carried a sword and rode on an elephant.

Our dad, male relatives and all his friends wore turbans, sherwanis and Achkans too.

Finally, when the Baraat reached the venue, the Bhabhi's family members received us with a warm welcome. I saw him too. He was smiling but it didn't reach his eyes. In fact, somehow his eyes looked as if he had just cried.

Why??

We all came in and after some time, we went to meet bhabhi. She was looking so beautiful. Everyone was teasing her that my Bhai was already going crazy about her that he might kidnap her before the wedding only.