Incandescent

Chapter 2

She took in his appearance as he walked regally down the stairs looking devastatingly handsome in his dark charcoal suit and pristine white shirt tailored to perfection and neatly gelled hair. But the deep chocolate of his eyes seemed... angry? She hadn't known what to expect considering how unpredictable he usually is but he could've at least nodded at her. She shrugged as she saw him turn towards people who had come to greet him and she turned back to the conversation beside her.

The fact that it was his brother, cousin though he was, who was getting engaged and that he really loved the two people on stage prevented Arnav from wearing a disgusted look on his face. But for the life of him he couldn't fathom how two people could constantly look into each other's eyes and not get tired? It wasn't as if they're seeing each other for the first time. They had known each other since kindergarten. Aakash and Payal were childhood sweethearts. They had practically known eachother all their lives. He stood near the stage and watched as the couple exchanged their rings and his sister was wiping fresh tears off her face.

Was it necessary to cry all the time and for everything?

Ahaan voiced out the question in his mind. Arnav turned to see that he was looking at his mother. "Aakash mamu just got engaged and mom is crying. Shouldn't she be happy and doesn't being happy mean you laugh?"

Arnav wished he could answer but he didn't know the answer himself so he only shushed him and warned him never to ask his mother that. The blame would no doubt fall on him for the little boy's innocent behavior.

Khushi looked at the couple and thought they were adorably cute. She was happy for them, she really was, but she was also a little bit jealous. The kind of love that they shared was rare and she couldn't help but wanting it for herself.

When it was turn for the guests to wish the couple, Khushi waited until almost the entire crowd had cleared before she went up to the stage.

"Congratulations," she said walking up to them extending her hands for a shake.

"Oh Khushi!" Payal exclaimed when she saw her and came forward to engulf her in a hug. "Don't you know apne gale milte hai?" Payal was a drama queen and Khushi really loved her like the sister she always wanted and around her Payal always behaved like the mother hen. Payal was the reason, she was a model.

"You look stunning," Khushi complimented her embroidered lehenga set in lemon yellow. She then hugged Aakash while Payal introduced her to her parents and Anjali who was standing nearby.

"People, meet Khushi. She's the reason how I'm one of the most leading designers of this country. She makes my designs look prettier," she said with so much pride you'd almost believe it was true. The truth was Payal was an accomplished designer long before Khushi had even entered the scene.

Khushi turned a pretty red at that and turned her attention to them folding her hands in a namaste. "She is exaggerating," she told them. "It's actually the other way round."

Payal's parents smiled while Anjali's eyes glinted as she asked, "Khushi, is it? Are you a model at Elan?"

"Yes."

"Very well," Anjali smiled. "Hello, Khushi, very nice to meet you."

"The pleasure's all mine." Khushi said awkwardly not knowing what else to say. This was Arnav's sister!

And after wishing the couple again and after Aakash had asked her to definitely have dinner before leaving for the hundredth time, Khushi politely excused herself, but not before Khushi pulled him to the side and asked, "Do you have any idea why your brother is so grumpy?"

"When's his brother not grumpy?" Payal asked earning a glare from Aakash. She shrugged. "What? It's the truth."

Aakash ignored her and answered Khushi, "I have no idea, Khushi. He was alright when we were getting ready."