Part 41
Mehandi Ceremony
During The Day
RIYA POV
All ready for today's function, I step out in the garden area after having done my set of designated work and then getting ready quickly.
Everyone are already there as expected. I look around admiring the decorations done for this function.
I can see the boys Samraat, Shree and Chotu by the poolside. Nowadays these 3 guys seem to be lost in their own world. Why do I feel like there is something big.. very big and serious going on between them.
I walk towards them all determined to know what they are planning. They're my friends, a single glance at them and I can suggest that there's something going on with them.
" Completely fabulous..!! "
I hear Shree say in an all excited way as I approach them.
" What's fabulous Shree?? "
I ask as I stand in front of those 3 looking at them hands crossed with doubts in my mind.
However those 3 go white and shocked as soon as they see me as if they have seen a ghost.
" Answer me guyss..!!!! "
I say in a serious way so that they feel like I'm not going to accept any type of ridiculous reply from them.
But those 3 just look at each other as if trying to formulate a reply through their eyes.
Sensing what they are trying to do, I decide to attack the most simple one of those 3.
" Chotu..!!!
Won't you tell me what's going on..??
After all we're best friends Naah..!!!
We still are, right..!!?? "
I say in an emotionally blackmailing way.
Noticing the small change in his facial expressions, I keep my drama on ;
" Nowadays you guys make me feel like I'm no longer part of the group now..!!! You guys never share anything with me..!! "
I say feigning small tears along.
Looking at him from the corner of my eyes, I can see that my actions have had their effect on Chotu as he comes closer to me and holds my hand as he speaks in an all concerned way ;
" No way Riya..!!!
You know how important you are to me..!!! You're the one who have always understood me without even me saying it..!!! How can you even think that I'll forget you..!!! "
" Then why do I feel like you are hiding something from me..!!? "
I say what I actually feel.
" It's just that we are.... "
Chotu starts talking but Shree interrupts him as he continues ;
" Praising how Chandini cooks fabulous food..!! "
" Yaa Riya..!!!
We were just talking about Chandini's food... Praising her cooking talent..!! "
Samraat adds with a carefree normal face trying to convince me.
" Really..!!?? "
I ask all suspiciously.
" Obviously Riiii..!!!
You know how Chotu feels about Chandini.. We were just teasing him...!!!
And you think really we'll ever be able to hide anything from you...!! "
Shree says as if nothing is wrong.
With the way and conviction he said this, left me nothing more to say. Maybe I'm the one imaginating this. Maybe while trying to ensure that this wedding and my mission in Mumbai goes well at the same time is driving me nuts.
" I'm sorry guys..
It's just that there's so many things going on in my mind. "
I say trying to make up for my doubt.
" It's okay Riya...
We can understand you..!! After all your sister is getting married. With the preparations and all it must be really very tiring for you.. And even emotionally, you must be a little low that you will be living without her now..!! "
Samraat says reminding me of this particular detail.
Obviously Aayu is getting married, and after the wedding we won't be together like before.
I look at my sister sitting right across me on the other side glowing as she is having her hands being dorned with mehandi(henna) with most of the ladies there as well getting their hands being painted with mehandi.
It's very rare to see her smiling and being so happy like that. Specially after our real parents' death and the trauma by the Kapoors, she did change.
" I think you should go to her..!! Spend as much as you can time with her..!! "
Shree says understanding what's going on in my head.
" You're right..
I should do that..!! "
I reply.
After saying that I head towards my sister and the other girls.
" Wow Aayu...
Your mehandi looks absolutely beautiful. "
I say as I take a look at the design the mehandi artist did on my sister's hands.
" By the way, where did you have your Sameer's name written..?? "
I ask teasing her playfully as she just rolls her eyes at me and replies ;
" Try and look for it..!!!
I'm not telling you where it is..!! "
Ayesha says the last line as she shows me her tongue and smiles.
" Okay...
Lemme see then..!!!
I'm definitely gonna spot it..!!!
It's just a matter of time..!! "
I say all determined to find the hidden name on her palm.
" How's everything going on here..!!? "
Mom asks as she goes near us.
" Great mom..!!!
See naa...
The mehandi is almost done..!!!
How is it?? "
Ayesha asks as she proudly puts her hands in front of our mother.
" It's really very beautiful Baby..!!!
And I'm sure that you know what we say rightttt...!!?? "
Our mother says reminding us of an old traditional belief and continues playfully as I join her ;
" That the darker the mehandi leaves its stain behind, the deeper your husband loves you...!!! "
I wink at my sister who by now turned red due to blushing while Sakshi adds as she and Liza comes near us ;
" And since we all know how much you and Sameer love each other, I can guarantee that your mehandi will be 100% be dark..!!! "
" Sakshi lemme see your mehandi..!! "
Mom says as she notices Sakshi's hands.
" Even yours look very good dear..!!! "
Mom says as Sakshi smiles brightly at her while saying thanks Aunty.
" Liza...
Why have you not applied mehandi yet?? C'mon come here we'll get yours done..!!!
Princess... Even you come along...
After all it's your Aayu's wedding..!! "
Mom states as she holds us by our hands and guide us to the henna artists and tell them to apply the mehandi on our hands as well while they start doing the next second itself.
Few minutes later and my palm is already half decorated with henna, and suddenly I hear the lady tell Maa Sa ;
" The mehandi cones are over..!!!
Mam we need more..!!! "
" I'll get it..!!! Since most of you have mehandi on both your hands and me on only one, it'll be easier for me..!!! Moreover I know where the rest of the cones are..!!
Just a minute..!! "
I say as I excuse myself to go get more henna cones.
Samraat POV
Meanwhile
" Where is Riya going guyss!!?? "
I ask Shree and Chotu as we watch Riya walk away from the other ladies.
" Seriously Samraat...!!!! "
Shree says sarcastically making me look at him while he continues ;
" Like seriously..!!!! How am I supposed to know that??? I think even I have been standing here with you all this time.... "
" Okay Brooo.... Sorry... I kinda forgot that small detail..!!!
Anyways...
Guuyysss...
It's the mehandi function today..!!!
Ayesha must have had Sameer's name written in her mehandi..!!!
And Riya is also getting her hands painted with mehandi..!!!
Don't you guys think that...!!!! "
I leave the last sentence hanging as Shree and Chotu both completes it all excited getting my point.
" That even Riya should get Arjun Bhai's nameee...!! "
They say almost completing my sentence but stop as we hear Damsingh Uncle talk all of a sudden while walking towards us ;
" Chotu dear...!!!
I need your help..!! "
" Yess uncle, tell me..!!! "
Chotu asks.
" There are few baskets of flowers kept up there..!!! Can you help me bring them down..?? Shree... Samraat.. Can you both also help..?? "
" Sure Uncle..!!
And don't worry...
I can bring all the flower baskets down by myself..!!! "
Chotu smirks as he shows off his biceps as if taunting me and Samraat.
And then walks away from us with Damsingh Uncle.
" What the hell was that??
Did he just taunt us?? "
Is what I say as I look at him going away.
" Naahhh broo..!!!
He wasn't taunting us..!!!
He was just showing off..!! "
Samraat replies with a naughty smile.
" Showing off..!!???
But why??? Why would he do that to us?? "
I ask all confused looking at Samraat looking behind us.
Samraat just turns his head towards me and says ;
" Look there..!! "
He says as he turns my head in that direction.
Chandini...
Oooooooookay
Now I get why Chotu behaved like that..!!
He said all those things because of Chandini and not to show off because of me and Samraat.
Moving near Samraat's ear, I whisper ;
" How did you know that Chandini is approaching us from the back?? "
" Simple...
When Chotu was talking when Uncle came, he was constantly looking behind us. I just followed the direction where his eyes were at..!!
And Boom...
As soon as I saw Chandini there, I understood everything..!!!
Anyways...
I have a plan for the mehandi..!! "
Samraat answers with a mischievous wink.
Minutes Later
SAMRAAT POV
" Wow Samraat that's a great plan..!!!
And also no one will be able to even guess that we did this purposely..!!! "
Shree says as he high fives me.
" Yesss...
But for this plan to work.. We need both Chotu and Riya to be here..!!!
Where are they..!!?? It's been a while since they've both gone..!! "
Is what I reply while scanning the surroundings for those two.
" There's Riya..!!! "
" There's Chotu..!!! "
Shree and I say at the same time as he spots Riya and I spot Chotu.
There they are.
Riya on the way to come out from the mansion holding a plate with one hand while Chotu is just above the entrance on the terrace holding 4 baskets full of flowers at a single time while struggling to walk well as the baskets are clearly blocking his view.
" Look there Bro..!!! "
Shree suddenly says while pointing towards that specific direction making me follow up with him.
Outside the entrance at a little distance, there's Arjun talking on the phone while walking just in the direction where Riya coming.
I swear to God that at this moment I seriously felt like I am watching an upcoming romantic scene straight from a movie. I take a second to look that Shree who's also looking at me, from the look that Shree currently has on his face, I know that even the same thing is going on in his mind as well. Then again turning our heads towards the stage where this particularly unexpected scene of the movie, which is being partly directed by us, is happening.
Riya who by now is walking a little faster as Neelam Aunty asked her to come faster. Chotu struggling to keep all the baskets in his hands. Arjun hurrying inside towards an unaware Riya.
And BAAM...!!!!
As expected Riya and Arjun bumped hard into each other making Arjun's phone fall down as he absent-mindedly holds the plate with one hand preventing it to fall down with the other hand holding Riya by her waist to prevent her from falling as they look right into each other's eyes all flabbergasted with what just happened to them.
And adding the cherry to the cake, unable to handle so many baskets at a time, Chotu finally drops one of them making the flowers of that basket shower right on our Ariya who are busy in their eyelock.
This was it..!!
The peek of the moment.
Shree and I stood still at our respective places watching that happen with our mouth literally open out of excitement.
Third Person POV
It felt like an eternity to both Riya and Arjun as they stayed still trying to register what has actually just taken place there. Riya could feel her heart beating at an absolutely irregular rate while Arjun's breathing just seems to get heavier with each passing second as he looks right in Riya's dark brown eyes.
Everyone present there witnessed what transpired between the groom's best friend and the bride's sister.
Some people who had tiny-miny doubts on these two after last night's rocking performance during the Sangeet function, their doubts seemed to be more accurate and true after this.
But this moment was short lived as Abhay approached the lost in their own world couple taking the mehandi plate in his hands and helping Riya to stand back on her feet without any other support. Neelam and Damini also came to ensure that both the kids were okay and that nothing wrong happened to either of them.
Slightly embarrassed by the happenings, Arjun and Riya avoided looking at each other and they quickly dispersed to their earlier destination.
Riya returned back to the lounge where the other girls were putting mehandi on their hands along with the mothers and Abhay who had the mehandi plate whereas Arjun went inside the mansion after picking up his phone and continuing to talk.
Meanwhile an unpleasant Chotu returned back to Shree and Samraat after having given the flower basket to the servants as instructed by Damsingh.
As Chotu approached his brightly smiling partners in crime a little disappointed at him, he said as soon as he noticed Shree about to talk ;
" Noo...!!! Nooo....!!! Nooooo
Don't say anything..!!!
I know exactly what you're gonna say..!!
You guys are gonna mock me for dropping the basket after having flaunted myself so much anddd..!!! "
But cutting him in between, Shree just says all happy at his clumsiness ;
" O cut it Chotu..!!!
We were not going to mock you..!!! "
" Yaa Bro...
On the very contrary, we were able to praise you for dropping that basket just on point..!!! Isn't it, Shree..?? "
Samraat adds.
Samraat and Shree talk turn by turn as they move on the both sides of Chotu who gets completely confused with this unanticipated reaction from them.
" What do you guys mean?? I can't understand you..!! "
Chotu finally says voicing out his confusion.
At this point of time, Shree and Samraat share a smirk while a perplexed Chotu looks on. As the mehandi session continues, the boys tell Chotu about what happened with Arjun and Riya at the entrance making Chotu feel proud of being clumsy for once. And then they proceed to tell Chotu about their latest plan made to get Arjun's name written on Riya's palm to which he happily agrees to play his part.
Some time later
The Garden Area
RIYA POV
It's been some time since I came back with the extra mehandi plate. Embarrassed with what happened with me and Arjun Sir on my way back here, I haven't said a single word. Though the lady has been saying something non stop even since she continued to fill the incomplete design on my hands but trust me I've heard nothing of what she's said and have been just nodding in a yes.
I'm trying very hard to not think about that incident but God damn it that scene is playing on repeat mode in front of my eyes.
Why the hell did you need to speed up Riya..!!??
Don't you know how clumsy you are..!!??
Why don't you open your freaking eyes and walk..!??
And out of all the people present here, you found that man only to bump in..!!??
Like seriously..
Arjun Sir!!!!???
The one you are trying to be away from.
And who the hell was throwing flowers on us..!??
Is that one insane or what..!!?
Wait when I find out who that was..!!
I've got to knock some sense into his brain...!!
" Soo how's it going ladiess? "
Samraat asks bringing me out of my thoughts as I see at him, Shree and Chotu approach us.
" Till now it's going great..!! "
Liza answers as she shows her hands.
" That's looking beautiful..!!!
But I must admit that it's our bride who's mehandi is absolutely the most beautiful one.!! "
The boys say as they sit near our blushing Ayesha who's already got her both hands done and now the mehandi artist is getting her feet done.
" By the way, do you guys need something to eat or drink..!? "
Chotu asks to all of us but with his eyes locked on Chandini as if he's more concerned about the fact that Chandini may be hungry.
Looking at Shree, I see him winking at me as he knows what's going on in my mind regarding the new lovebirds as we both giggle.
" No.. Not really.. Our dear groom just sent waiters here to ensure that his bride and the rest aren't hungry or thirsty..!! "
Sakshi answers making us all laugh.
Yes.
I managed to get Chandini agree to join us all for the mehandi session with Mom's help. Though she refused first as she thought she's responsible for the catering and inspection of the food making process, but after mom told her to join us as she trust her capacities and staff, Chandini couldn't say no to her.
" By the way Chotu..!!! "
Shree speaks making Chotu and Chandini break their cute shortlasted eyelock.
" You think you're really smart, don't you..!!?? "
Shree says while leaning against Ayesha who looks at him confused while I look at my bestie knowing exactly where he's heading with that mischievous look on his face.
" I don't think that Shree..!!!
I know that..!! "
Chotu states proudly as he unknowingly steps right into Shree's trap to tease him in front of Chandini.
" Really..!!!
Then answer a simple question of mine..!!! "
Shree states.
" Shoot...!!! "
Comes Chotu's overconfident reply.
" Okay..
So tell me..
Who pierced the fish's eye and married Draupadi in Mahabharat..?? "
Shree says his question making both me and poor Chotu look at him dumbfounded.
Obviously dumbfounded.
We both know that Chotu knows what in Mahabharata and Ramayana but always ends up mixing the characters' names of the 2 different books.
Last time when Shree asked him a simple question related to the Ramayana which was who was Bharat, Chotu after a lot of pondering and analysising answered that Bharat is the brother of Balram.
Yaa..
He literally mixed up everything.
And with the look on his face, I can literally bet that no matter how much time he takes to do all the thinking needed, he's not gonna answer Shree right.
Meanwhile after putting his question forward, Shree started celebrating his victory with that smirk on his face.
" Shree.. Samraat..!! "
Arjun Sir says as suddenly he comes near Samraat and Shree who are on the left side of Ayesha and the two get engrossed in listening to whatever Arjun Sir is saying to them.
Seizing that moment as an opportunity, Chotu turns towards me for help with a puppy face not willing to be embarrassed by Shree in front of the girl he loves.
I try signaling him by my eyes towards Arjun Sir while mouthing the name ARJUN so that no one else can hear me as Chotu tries to understand what I'm trying to say.
Just then our groom finally makes his grand entry along with dancers and musicians grabbing everyone's attention.
Third Person POV
Seeing Sameer's grand entry, most of the heads present turn to him to enjoy the rare scene of seeing him happily dance along the others.
Amidst all these waves of bliss and happiness, the family of the bride and groom lose themselves to the celebrations of the wedding unaware that there's something equally unhappy and irritated seeing them all at peace.
Riya and the rest of her girls gang who's busy watching her soon to be brother-in-law take a moment to turn back to get a quick glimpse of Ayesha only to be shocked.
The floral arrangements above Ayesha's head is dangling dangerously and about to fall on her.
Finally done with this part.
Sorry guyss..
Even I didn't expect this part to be so late. It wasn't completely my fault. I fell ill and I was not able to update nor reply on time. But now I'm back on track.
Thank everyone for your time and I'm always looking forward for your response.
Don't forget to tell me what you think of this and do leave any suggestions.
Thank you all for the heartwhelming response.
Thanks once again.
Lots of Love
SheHatesMee
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