Shrishti Reborn

Chapter 24. Party Time - Part I

The next day Shrishti headed to the house next door some half an hour early. She rang the door and eagerly waited for it to open.

'Oh. You are here.' Raghav stood in front of her with surprise on his face. And then a sweet smile came to his lips and Shrishti's mind went blank for few seconds.

'Hi.', he murmured softly.

'Hello.', she whispered softly too.

Why were they whispering?

'Who is it, bro?', they both heard Arpit ask.

Raghav waved her in. 'Nice to have you here.'

'Thank you.'

They were still talking softly, she realised and she cleared her throat as she headed in. She looked down at her blue chudidaar and adjusted her duppatta. When she had chosen it to wear for the celebration meal, it was her choice just because she had not worn the outfit for a while. But now, she wondered if she looked good. Was her hair good? Should she have worn some jewelry? Wait. Why was she behaving like this? She shook her head before sitting next to Arpit.

'The girls have yet to come.', Arpit informed her. He was dressed in shirt and trousers, looking like an office goer.

Raghav came in from the kitchen with a pitcher filled with aam panna and served it to her.

'For the brutal summer.', he explained as he left.

'Oye Veere! Get dressed. Your kurta pyjamas are boring and look too homey to suit the celebration!', Arpit shouted and Raghav waved him off. He was still heading to the kitchen.

Arpit shook his head. 'If my leg was fine, I would have stormed over and grabbed him and dragged him to get ready.' He turned to her and his eyes lit up. 'Hey! Why don't you go and talk to him? He will listen to you!'

'And why would he listen to me?', she asked flippantly.

'Trust me! He will listen to you!' Arpit said empathetically.

Shrishti frowned before huffing and walking to the kitchen. Did she really had so much influence over Raghav? She could not believe it!

'What are you doing here?', she asked the moment she entered the kitchen. She put her hands on her hips as Raghav almost jumped in shock and turned to look at her. All the dishes were half ready.

'Cooking?', he murmured.

She huffed. 'That can be done later too. Nobody will run away if you feed us late. Right now, others will come. We will be partying and taking photos! You need to be ready for that!'

Raghav blinked a couple of times before speaking, 'Do I need to be there?'

Shrishti's eyes widened. 'Of course! You cooked and you arranged this party! You are the host who invited us here! How can you skip the party yourself? Which host does that?'

Raghav shrugged slightly. 'I did not think it like that.'

Shrishti huffed. 'Raghav! Go! Get ready!'

Raghav nodded and turned to leave. He walked past her and she followed him till she saw him going up the stairs. Just then Arpit spoke up, 'You better choose the outfit for him too. Or else he would come down in his boring kurta pyjamas!'

Shrishti's eyes widened again and she ran up the stairs shouting Raghav's name.

Shrishti reached the upper floors and looked around. Which was Raghav's room? She had no idea. She knocked on each door till one opened.

Raghav stood there, still dressed in his boring house wear. 'What is it?'

'I want to see what you are planning to wear today.' She glared at him.