Shraddha POV:
Sunlight beaming through my curtains. The curtains were a cream color that complimented my room in way that made it feel nice and cozy. I sat up stretching my arms not before looking at the clock I have beside my bed.
"Shraddha wake up you have to go to the tailor today!" My mom said as she barged into my room and drew my curtains.
"Mom can't you see I'm already awake?" I put my hand over my face as the sunlight was beaming through my window.
"And Mumma, I already told you I want a designer lehenga. I'm not going to wear a desi outfit. Mujhe designer lehenga chahiye." I said and got up from my bed. I wore my fluffy bunny slippers and began to make my bed. I made my bed and got my towel right before I headed into the bathroom.
I stare at myself in the mirror, my hair is all messy and my face is clear and rid of breakouts. I couldn't help but feel so bad for myself. I'm having an arranged marriage unfortunately. Considering the fact I'm not having the kind of wedding I've always wanted, I might aswell ask for a lehenga that I want to wear for my wedding. After I came out of the shower, I got dressed and headed downstairs. I sat at the table for breakfast who was then followed by my cousin brother who has been staying with us to help my dad out with his business. Then not too long after my cousin brother came my step sister.
"Morning Papa." Tara says. She's my step sister because my birth mom had died during birth. When I was 9, my dad had finally moved on and found someone who had made him really happy. Not only did she accept him, she accepted me aswell which is what my dad really wanted. They got married and we were having the perfect life until she got pregnant and came Tara. I did have a biological sister aswell but she suffered an unfortunate fate. We haven't ever moved on from that which is a major reason I'm getting an arranged marriage.
"Morning Papa!" I said and then started taking my breakfast which consisted of a toast and an omelette and coffee.
"Hurry and eat your breakfast. I'm going to drop you to that tailor and then leave for work." Papa said.
"Papa, I already told you. I will only wear Manish Malhotra designer lehenga, otherwise say bye bye to the groom." I said after taking a bite of my toast.
"Ok fine how much is it?" Papa said.
"A lot of money." I said with a smile.
"Sorry Di, if only we had a money tree!" My cousin brother joked causing me to roll my eyes and kick his legs.
"But Papa, I want something like a Manish Malhotra designer lehenga." I said in a tone to which caused Tara and mother to smile at us but yet not looking at us.
"Money doesn't grow on trees." Cousin brother said and left the table.
"Pa--" i was interrupted.
"Your cousin Ayaan is absolutely correct." Papa said making me groan.
"You and Ayaan always side together!" I slapped my forehead. "I didn't get to choose my groom, let me at least choose what I want to wear at the wedding." I argued.
"I seen what happens when people choose." Papa said to which everyone stopped eating just looking at their plates. There was silence surrounding us all, that is until he breaks the silence again. "Shraddha what's wrong with a desi lehenga? Dadi also wore a desi lehenga for her wedding!" Papa said.
"Hmph, my mother in law chose it!" Dadi said.
"I believe the jewelry set was also fake!" Mom laughs.
"Hmph!" Dadi said.
"So Papa are you going to give me your card so I can buy the lehenga?" I asked nicely.
"My card? Shraddha, you work at a dance studio and I'm sure your job pays very well so you can use your money." Papa said.
"Can't you do this for your daughter Papa?" I began to fake cry.
"Aacha fine. I'll give you my card. Just not now, after all there's quite time for the wedding." He says to which I nod. I got up from the table after finishing my breakfast and grabbed my stuff for work today. I bid everyone a goodbye and then got in my car and drove to the studio. As I'm singing a song that is playing through Bluetooth, my phone rings and I answer.
"Yes Nikhil?" I asked.
"Don't forget you have your shift at 6 tonight!" He reminds me like always.
"Yes I remember kiddo. Now hang up, you disturb my karaoke of Bollywood music."
"That's your usual job. What song were you listening to anyway?" He says and I hear the roar of his motorcycle.
"D se Dance." I say rolling my eyes.
"What?! You serious? You're listening to Varun's song? For the first time in forever!" He exclaims.
"What? Ew no thanks! I'm not singing his part, you wish! I'm singing my Alu's part thank you very much." I say turning left.
"After all, I'm not surprised! After all she's your best friend. I just don't understand what you have against sexy Varun." He says and I roll my eyes.
"It's not that I have anything against him, it's just I find him so annoying. He's always crying in his movies." I say.
"No he doesn't!" Nikhil defends him.
"Oh yeah, name one!" I say.
"Um, fine you're right! He always cries but he brings out the emotions you know!" He says and I cringe.
"Are you aware of how gay you sound for him right now?" I say laughing.
"So? If I'm gay for him what's the issue darling? I could be gay for you too!" He says and I picture the smirk on his face right now.
"Oh just shut up yaar! Now hang up, I'm just reaching work." I say smiling while laughing.
"Alright but don't forget to have a good day darlin' Cheerio Mate!" He says and I laugh while disconnecting the call. Stupid Nikhil, my best friend since school. He was always there for me, even when my sister had passed. He didn't even let me be alone not once. We both work at my eldest sister's café. She had owned a café before she had passed away and after she did, both Nikhil and I took it over and I took this up to feel closer to my sister even though she had passed. I always want to make her dream come true, which was opening a café in New York City.
One day, I will fulfill her dream, along with fulfilling mine. I miss her alot, which is why I decided to take shift after the dance studio. I parked my car, and opened the doors of the studio.
"Morning Neha!" I greeted the receptionist.
"Morning." She smiles at me but not before handing me my Iced Coffee.
"French Vanilla Swirl? No whipped Cream?" I asked opening the straw from it's plastic.
"Yes Shrads! Just the way you like it." She smiles and I nod after taking a sip.
"You got it right." I smile back.
"So we doing lunch later?" She asks.
"Of course, always!" I giggle. "Why?"
"Well, I heard Mia and Tabitha talking about how Aarav was going to ask you out." She says and I roll my eyes.
"Not surprised. After all we go through this once every week, and he does it to see if I have changed my mind." I roll my eyes.
"Well, you haven't told anyone about your arranged marriage, so I suppose he would assume you're single." She says shrugging her shoulders.
"You're right, but I am still single in a way. I just need the guy to be right. Every guy I meet, they're either ugly or they just don't have that spark that I'm looking for." I say stirring the straw in my cup.
"Anyway, speaking of Aarav, here he comes now!" She points to him using her eyes.
"Shrads--"
"Neha would love to go out with you!" I smile at him before mouthing sorry to Neha who glares me. I know she has a little mini crush on him.
I then head into my practice room where I see my students stretching waiting for me.
"Good morning class, I will be with you all in a few minutes." I say and go into the fitting rooms and change off into my dance clothes. I change off into my leggings with a sports bra with a crop top over. I teach my class the routine to Muqabala.
Later on, I go to lunch with Neha. Then I come backa and teach the students the rest of the track. By then, I notice that it's time to go home.
"Alright class is dismissed! Good work everyone." I say and grab my stuff after drinking water. I change off into my clothes and then go to work at the cafe that closes at 10.
"How was work?" Nikhil asks me after I serve people their orders.
"It was alright. Nothing new!" I shrug.
"New routine?" I nod.
"You look tired! Go on, I'll lock up!" Nikhil assures me. I give up and go home.
"Shraddha you're home early!" Dad says.
"Yeah, I'm just really tired." I yawn.
"Well, go wash up and come eat dinner!" Dad says.
"Yeah, I'm going to do that." I say dropping my bag down on the sofa.
"Shrads, this invitation from Alia Di came." Tara hands it to me. I look at it, its quite small but it had alot of designs. I opened the envelope and read the card.
You are invited to a delightful evening to celebrate the success bash of my latest movie on April 1. Party starts at 8 pm and ends at 2 am. Hope to see you there 💋
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End of chapter💘
Will Shraddha be going to Alia's success bash?
What happened to Shraddha's eldest sister?
Any thoughts on this chapter?
Until then.....
Signing off
-Becca❤️