Chaitra

We enjoyed ourselves a lot in the sangeet. But what he did left me shocked to the core. But why didn't I get angry? Why did it feel so right? What are you doing to me, Mr. Chauhan? 

I tossed and turned on my bed for hours before finally sleep engulfing me. 

Tomorrow it's the wedding and then I have to go back to college. I have to write those stupid exams which will start in a week! Ughh!

I woke up with my friend's continuous ranting. 

"Chaitu! Get up!" Seema was continuously shouting. I looked at the clock. It's still 5 am.

"What's your problem idiot? It's 5 in the morning!" I groaned covering my face with a pillow.

"Chaithu! Get up and help me or else Mom, mainly that grandma will kill me today!" She pulled the pillow and duvet off me. The cold breeze hit me making me shiver. What's wrong with this idiot?

"What?" I asked getting up and rubbing my eyes. She better have a valid reason for disturbing my sleep or else I am going to kill her.

"I forgot to bring Di's wedding dress from the boutique yesterday!" She exclaimed. 

"What?" I  screamed. How can she forget that? Is she mad or what? Who forgets to bring a wedding dress and remembers it at 5 in the morning? My stupid friend! Who else!

"Yes! Come let's go get it!" She said pulling me up. 

"First call the boutique! I will go get ready by then!" I said and walked into the bathroom while she called the boutique. I don't want to stroll in front of a closed boutique like a thief early in the morning. 

We both walked out without catching anyone's attention. We came out and tried to hail a cab but no one accepted our ride. Just great! First, this idiot friend of mine woke me up at 5 and now we are standing in the dew at 5:30. Can this day get any worse? I woke up half an hour ago and I am already hating the day.

"Chaithu! Please do something! We can't be late! Mom will kill me!" She screamed pacing here and there like a mad woman.

"You deserve it," I replied standing there folding my hands. This cold is becoming unbearable now. I wish I could go back and just cover myself in my warm and comfortable duvet but I can't leave this idiot alone to face everyone's wrath. 

"Chaithu yaar! You can scold me all you want after we return. But please help me now!" She pleaded giving me her best puppy eyes which work almost every time. 

"Let's call Mayank!" I said hoping they would take us to the boutique. I haven't seen them since yesterday. Don't tell me those two idiots ran away to have fun leaving me alone with this crazy friend of mine. 

"They are not here! Mom sent them to get something when you went to get ready!" She replied. Wow, now we are officially doomed. Not having any option left I decided to call Abhi. He answered after 2 rings.

"Hello!" He answered.

"Hey, Abhi! Are you free?" I asked biting my lower lip. what an intelligent question to ask at 6 a.m.! I thought to myself.

"Yeah! Why?" He asked in a sleepy voice. Great! Another sleep was destroyed because of this friend of mine forgetting to do her work.

"Woh... we have to reach somewhere immediately. We can't find cabs and no car is free! Can you please take us there?" I asked closing my eyes. I really didn't want to disturb someone early in the morning but I had no choice.

"Okay! I'll be there!" He replied and cut the call. 

We stood there for a few more minutes as he was staying in a hotel along with his family. He and his family shifted to the hotel after his other family members came.

After some time a black car pulled up in front of us. But it's his car! Maybe Abhi just borrowed his brother's car. I tried to assure myself but he came out of the car. He is wearing a white t-shirt and gray sweatpants with his arms in full display due to the t-shirt. The cloth is hugging him so tight that I can clearly see his abs. He is looking so devilishly handsome early in the morning. 

"Hey, girls! Are you coming?" He asked smiling at us. What is he doing here? Where is Abhi? Before I could process anything my idiot best friend is already in his car backseat. I was so lost in ogling at him to notice everything that happened around me so fast. Seema is sitting comfortably and calling me to take a seat.

I too walked to the car and was about to open the door on the back when he spoke.

"You know I am not a driver so..." He gestured to the passenger seat with his eyes.

Well, he's right! It looks weird if we both are sitting at the back while he is driving!

"Seema go there!" I said looking at my friend.

"No, I am comfortable here! I can sleep here!" She replied. I will kill this girl! Firstly, she disturbed my precious sleep and now she wants to sleep leaving me in an awkward situation with the man who confessed to me yesterday and I ran away from him even without sparing him a glance.

I sat in the passenger seat having no other option. He to got in.

"Seatbelt!" He said looking at me. 

Shit! I forgot to fasten my seatbelt. I just hope it will just plug in without creating any movie scenes. But whom am I kidding? To my worst luck, it got stuck! Uggh!

"What happened?" He asked looking at me who was playing tug of war with the damn seatbelt and it was in no mood to get out. 

"It's stuck!" I said trying to pull it one more time. Maybe I am looking like a whole stupid punk. Just how many times will I get embarrassed in front of him? Why me god?

"Let me help you!" He took off his seatbelt to move closer but thank god my seatbelt moved!

"It came!" I squealed in joy and fastened it. He put on his one smiling at me.

Thank god! I sighed in relief. 

"Where is Abhi?" Seema asked breaking the silence. 

"He said he wanted to sleep for some more time." He replied looking at me before starting the car. I can't blame Abhi! come on, who wants to wake up early? If I had a chance I too would have slept like a log.

We went to the boutique, picked the clothes and he dropped us at home.

"Thank you!" I said taking off my seatbelt. Seema already ran in. 

"You are always welcome!" He said with a smile. But this smile seemed more charming than before. Is it his other side or did I start observing him more after the confession?

"See you at the wedding!" I said and opened the door. And sprinted out but didn't run away. I have the manners to not run away from people or ignore them after getting my work done.

"I will be waiting!" Came his reply. I didn't dare to look at him. But I can feel his intense gaze piercing into my soul and a smirk on his lips. I just nodded slowly and walked in after which I heard him driving off. 

I helped Aunty and others in getting ready and I too got ready. I wanted to wear something simple but Seema being Seema forced me to wear a heavy lehenga. When asked she said she wants the best pics with her best friend.

Soon the wedding came to an end but we had to get ready for the reception. Both wedding and reception are on a single day and I don't know why! Can't we like plan it for the next day so that everyone can rest for some time? But Aunty said it's grandma's order. This grandma!

We all got ready and I wore the dress which Annayya bought when he came to meet me last time. He will bring something or the other every time he visits and I too will buy something for him. That's our thing to spoil each other. My brother has more watches and shoes than a showroom because of me. I didn't wear any jewelry except bangles and a neckpiece. I am not a fan of makeup so settled for basic makeup after Seema forced me to. 

We reached the hotel which belongs to my family as reception is planned there. I was busy talking to my friends when he decided to make his entry making it impossible for me to breathe.

He is wearing a white kurta with a waistcoat and looks like some model straight out of a magazine. He is looking devilishly handsome. I am already dying to take him out of my mind after what he did yesterday and now he is making it impossible. 

He walked towards us with his family. With his every step, my heart started racing like mad. What is happening to me? Why does he affect me so much? Am I ill or what?

"Wow, di! You are looking gorgeous!" Aakansha complimented me.

"You are looking beautiful too! And all of you are looking good!" I replied and complimented all her family members.

"But seriously di, you are looking like a princess! Right, bhai?" Akshaya exclaimed turning towards Daksh! Why him?

"Of course, we are royals!" came his reply. Wait he's royal and he doesn't know about my family. So what does he mean?

I looked away to escape from his burning gaze. 

"You don't even know how beautiful she looked at her bhai's wedding guys! Six boys on her bhabi's side ended up proposing to her!" Seema said earning a glare from me. She can never shut up. What's the need to speak about that embarrassing stuff?

"Really?" Naksh sir exclaimed with a teasing smile but it was not for me. He was looking at Mr. Chauhan wiggling his eyebrows and Mr. Chauhan is fisting his hands. Don't tell me he is jealous now!

"Let me show!" Seema said taking out her phone. I will just kill this girl right now! Why am I even friends with her?

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