The next day, Shreyansh wakes up before the alarm. The room is quiet. Sunlight filters through the curtains in thin lines. He lies still for a moment, staring at the ceiling.
No gym today.
"I hope everything will go smoothly, and I don't have to be embarrassed", he said to himself, hugging his pillow.
He turned off the alarm before it could ring.
"Finally the wait is over", he muttered under his breath.
He walks to the bathroom and turns on the shower. The water is cold. He stands under it, eyes closed, letting it run down his face. He finishes, wears a bathrobe, and steps out. The mirror is fogged. He wipes it with his palm.
He opens the wardrobe. His hand stops on the white formal shirt. He pulls it out. Then a sweatshirt, also white. Cream pants. He dresses slowly, buttoning the shirt, adjusting the cuffs. He checks himself in the mirror once. His hair is still damp. He runs his fingers through his hair.
Now he was all ready, and the main thing he did was - he rechecked his suitcase to make sure that he didn't leave anything which is necessary.
He locked the chain on his suitcase and then there was a knock on the door.
"Come in", he gave the permission.
"Sir mam is calling you downstairs", a servant said bowing in front of him.
"I'm coming", he replied and the servant left.
He locked his room and went downstairs.
Downstairs, the dining table is set. The smell of waffles, butter, parathas and tea fills the air. Servants were serving the food. Trisha is scrolling on her phone while eating. His dad was having his breakfast quietly.
"Evening everyone", he said.
And everyone replied one by one.
Shreyansh sits down. His mother keeps a plate in front of him. "Eat properly. We're leaving at eleven", she says.
He nods and picks up the fork. He eats, but his mind isn't on the food. He glances at the clock on the wall. 9:47 AM.
"Looking at the clock", trisha muttered making sure that it was only audible to him.
"You're crazy", he replied and she teasingly smiled.
"Shreyansh... Please can you Bring a bouquet ?", his mom said and he nodded.
He went to the market and searched for a lily bouquet -
"She'll keep it, in her room", he said with a smile, quickly went to his mansion and didn't want to be late.
By 10:40 AM, the house is busy. Bags are being zipped. Servants move around, carrying suitcases out to the driveway. The cars are lined up. Drivers check the tires and open the doors.
At 10:55 AM, everyone gathers near the main door. His dad locks the house. His mom adjusts her dupatta. Trisha puts on her sunglasses.
Shreyansh takes the car keys from the stand. "I'll drive," he says. No one argues.
He walks to the black range rover. A servant has already loaded two bags in the trunk. Shreyansh opens the driver's door and slides in. The leather seat is cool. He adjusts the rearview mirror, then the side mirrors. He starts the engine.
His mom and dad get into the car behind him. Trisha sits in the front passenger seat of his car, buckling her seatbelt. She looks at him.
"You okay? You look tired", she asked.
He gives a small nod. "Slept late."
She doesn't ask more. She knows, he was packing his things.
At exactly 11:00 AM, the gates of the house open. Shreyansh releases the handbrake and presses the accelerator. The car rolls out onto the road. The other cars follow.
They drive to Malhotra Mansion takes about forty minutes. The roads are clear. Shreyansh keeps both hands on the steering wheel.
His eyes are on the road, but his grip is tight. Every few minutes, he checks the time on the dashboard. 11:08. 11:16. 11:23.
Trisha is playing music on low volume. She glances at him again but stays quiet.
He turns at the signal. The city moves past the windows-shops, people, traffic lights. He doesn't notice any of it. There's a restlessness in his chest that wasn't there yesterday. It's been two days. Two days since he saw her.
He was nervous, guess what for the first time. Only nervous and crazy for her.
He remembers the last time. She was standing near the staircase at Malhotra Mansion, laughing at something her cousin said. Her dupatta had slipped a little off her shoulder. She didn't notice him, but he did. He always does.
Two days is not long. He tells himself that. It's just two days. But it feels stretched, like time is moving slower than it should. He exhales and shifts gears.
The Malhotra Mansion gates come into view. The security guard recognizes the car and opens it immediately. The driveway is long, lined with trees. Other cars are already parked. People are standing near the entrance, greeting each other.
Shreyansh parks the car under the porch. He turns off the engine but doesn't get out right away. His hands stay on the steering wheel for a second longer.
Trisha unbuckles her seatbelt. "We're here," she says.
He nods, pulls the key out, and opens the door. The heat hits him first. Then the noise-voices, laughter, the sound of the fountain in the center of the lawn.
Servants come forward to take the bags from the trunk. Everyone gets out of the second car.
Shreyansh shuts his door and locks the car. He straightens his sweatshirt, runs a hand through his hair, and walks toward the entrance with the others.
His eyes scan the crowd once. Just once. She isn't there.
He keeps walking. The restlessness doesn't leave. If anything, it grows.
___________________________________________________
We just arrived at the Malhotra mansion, and the person I've been searching for 2 days, is still not here. I again glanced towards the stair but she wasn't there either.
A sigh let out from my mouth.
I gave that, bouquet to bhai.
"Congratulations Bhai", I said, handing him the bouquet.
"Thank you", he replied with the sweetest smile of his.
Everyone exchanges hugs, and greetings
Now we're sitting in the living area. My gaze was still fixed down as usual, but this crazy heart of mine is not allowing me to look down.
Just then trisha and mom went inside to help in other works, me and raghav bhai were still sitting with each other.
Someone came along with us, and I was shocked too see him too.
It was Aarush.
"You're here too ?", I asked, still in a shock.
"Yes", he replied nodding his head.
"But how, and why don't you tell me ?", I asked him still confused.
"I thought to give you a surprise", he said and I rolled my eyes at his statement.
He gets up from the couch and embraced me into a hug.
"Actually, my elder brother is a friend of raghav bhai", he said and I nodded.
Then we sat and talked about random things.
"I'll come", raghav bhai excuses himself as he gets a phone call and I nodded.
"Yeah sure", I replied.
"Waise ab tou tujhe thik lag raha hoga bhabhi ke ghar aake ?", he asked with teasing smile.
(Well, now you must be feeling fine after coming to bhabhi's house ?).
"First of all she's not your bhabhi", I said and being annoyed, rolled my eyes.
"She is", he muttered.
"What did you say ?", I asked her, shooting a glare at him.
"Nothing", he said still smiling.
"I'll die for a day, because of him", I muttered under my breath.
I was scrolling through my phone, and I didn't want to be bored. Chaos and laughter can be heard from upstairs and I didn't look at them.
Because what could I do to look at them ?
"Ishani....., where were you I was looking for you", Aunty said from the kitchen, and I widened my eyes.
"Bhai ab dekh bhi le", aarush whispered in my ear.
(See her bro).
With this statement of his โ,
I looked at her, our eyes met and the whole world stopped in front of me.
For the second time, the world stopped, time faded away - the only thing I could see was her and her eyes.
She was looking pretty, in her baby pink kurti. Her loose braid was giving it a perfect look.
She was looking at me, nor was she lowering her gaze. Her cheeks started to appear in a red shade - she was blushing. She adjusted her dupatta and looked down.
She tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.
I lowered my gaze too, and shyly smiled.
She wasn't able to control her blush.
"I'm coming", she said and went to the kitchen.
I rested my hand on my chest -
"You're again beating this much fast", I muttered under my breath.
"Don't do this it's not easy for me", I said to my heart.
"Kaisa lag raha hain ab ?", mere dil ne pucha.
("How are you feeling now", my heart asked).
"Sukoon mil raha hain", mera jawab aaya.
("I am getting peace", I answered).
"Areyy dramatic mat ho, uncle aa rahe hain", he said and I straighten up my posture.
(Don't be so dramatic, uncle is coming).
"Nahin hun main", I replied.
(I'm not).
"Woh tou dikh hi raha hain", he said and playfully rolled his eyes.
(Yeahhh, it's visible dear).
Ohhh my..... And I let out a sigh.
"Shreyansh... Beta give your bags to our servant, he'll keep them in the guest room", uncle said and I nodded.
"But sir, only a few rooms are left ", he said.
"How many rooms are left ?", uncle asked.
"I kept all the suitcases of the Oberoi family but shreyansh sir's suitcase was left", he said and uncle let out a sigh.
"It's okay, The room opposite to Ishani's room is empty, you can stay there", bhai said and I nodded.
"What the day it is. I'm going to stay in the room that was just opposite to her room ", I muttered under my breath.
"Bhai and aarush bhai come, have some snacks", trisha said and we went with her.
With slow steps, I went with her.
The snacks yet other light things were served nicely on the table. We sat, and the servants were serving.
She came and sat in front of me. Neither she was looking at me, nor I was. I don't have enough courage to fight with her stare.
Crystal plates held fries still steaming, small bowls of mint chutney, cashews roasted with pepper, and tiny sandwiches cut into perfect triangles. Tall glasses of chilled orange juice stood beside them, sweating in the morning heat.
The servants moved quietly, placing napkins beside each seat and pouring tea into cups. One of them adjusted the flower vase in the center so it wouldn't block anyone's view.
Slowly, everyone came in and sat down. Trisha dropped into a chair, phone in one hand, reaching for a sandwich with the other. Raghav bhai, sat beside Ishani and dad was busy talking to uncle. As usual aarush was sitting beside me.
For a few seconds, it was calm. Just the clink of spoons against cups and the soft sound of juice being poured.
Then the chaos began.
Soon, everyone was done eating and slowly everyone headed towards their room.
"Ishu, Beta, show Shreyansh the room, opposite to your room", she looked at me for a second then nodded.
Maybe no one told her. Then I went with her.
She walked and I was walking behind her.
"Can I ask you something ?", I said to her
"Yeah sure", she replied.
"Why don't you come yesterday, if you're okay then you can tell me", I said.
"I've to go shopping with bhai", she replied and looked at me.
"Okay", I said and nodded.
"Here's your room", she said and I nodded.
"If you want anything then you can call me", she said and smiled.
"Sure", I said and looked down.
Then she left, I looked at her from behind and realised โ
Usse jitna marzi baat kar lun, man nahin bharta
(I can talk to her as much as I want but I am not satisfied).
I closed the door, and lay on the bed to relax. But my mind wasn't leaving her for a second.
Just then a notification popped up into my phone.
Message โ
After you'll be relaxed, came downstairs at 5:30 a.m. โ we all will be discussing about the engagement preparation yet will be having fun.
We will wait for you.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย โ Raghav,
I replied โ okay, bhai I'll come.
And closed my phone.
Abhi hi himmat nahin hain, mujhmein unke saamne jaane ki. Pata nahin aakhir mein kya hoga.
(I don't have the courage to face her right now. I don't know what will happen in the end).
And I closed my eyes.
In the Evening โ,
It was evening. The sky had turned a soft grey, and the wind was cool as it moved through the lawn. Everyone was sitting outside on the cane chairs that had been pulled into a wide circle. The marble table in the middle was crowded with cups of chai, plates of snacks, and a few open diaries.ย
They were all there for Raghav bhaiโs engagement preparation and all other things.
Aarush was leaning forward, elbows on his knees, already arguing about the guest list. Trisha sat beside mom, showing her pictures of decorations on her phone.ย
Ishani was sitting with uncle, helping him in the decorating items.
I sat in front of her.
The parents were in the middle of it all. Mr. Malhotra had his diary open, pen in hand.
"We need to lock the decorations this week for the wedding", uncle said.
Mrs. Malhotra nodded, sipping her chai. "And also for the catering".
"The mandap has to be grand", dad said and everyone nodded.
Aarush cut in, โBhaiโs engagement should have a live band too. Not just a DJ. Something classy.โย
Trisha scrolled through her phone. โI found three decorators. All of them can do the lawn in a day. Iโll send the profiles to Raghav bhai.โย
Ishani stayed quiet on the chair. The wind blew her dupatta off her shoulder, but she fixed it.
"Bhai bas kar, ab", aarush said leaning towards me.
(Stop now).
And I realised, I've been staring her for so long.
"Kambakht yeh, dil nahin maanta", I muttered under my breath.
(Damn, my heart does not listen to me).
"Kuch kaha ?", He asked, I realised that I just said.
(What did you said ?).
"Kuch sun ?", I replied looking at him.
(Did you hear anything ?).
"Admit that you, like her", he said.
And for a second I straighten up my face.
"Shayad", I replied, glancing at her.
(Maybe).
"Iss shayad ko yakeen mein badal le", he said and a smile appeared on my lips.
(Convert this maybe into yes).
The chai was getting cold. The fairy lights above them had just been switched on, buzzing softly. Everyone was talking, planning, debating dates, colors, menus.ย
It was evening. They were all sitting outside. And the only thing being discussed was Raghav bhaiโs engagement preparation.
Just like that, the chaos began.
"Okay now everything is final", uncle said, closing his diary.
And then we all went inside.
__________________________________________________
So the chapter ends here.....
A plot twist โ what do you think now what will happen ?
Where their journey will lead to them.
Tell me how it is and don't forget to share your thoughts about this chapter into the comment section.
And yes, next chapter will be having so muchh fun.
I'll be eagerly waiting.
Have a happy reading,
Yours author_riitu.
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