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Jaydev grabbed Aryan's collar and spat while glaring at him.
" You bastard! You showed your true colours in the end right? You proved that deceit runs in your blood."
Aryan frowned, " what?"
Jaydev scoffed and moved back then took out his mobile from pocket and showed him some pictures.
" Fucking my girlfriend, were you?"
Aryan frowned and tried taking the mobile from him but he was quick to shut it off.
" Jay, listen to me. I didn't-"
" Oh shut up!"
" Jay-"
" We are done here. You are no longer my friend. Every relationship with our families will be broken soon. Dare to roam around my sister, I will shoot you to death."
Aryan frowned, staring at his disappearing figure as he started going away.
He was angry so Aryan thought to talk to him some other day. He sighed and went to attend his current lecture.
That was the only moment which broke every ounce of love and bond between two best friends.
Aryan could not gather proof to prove his innocence while Jaydev made himself blind and did not care about finding out the truth.
Circumstances turned more serious and two best friends were suddenly popular in the university because of their fatal enmity.
....
One day, Jaydev received the news of his girlfriend suicide. Aryan arrived there as well and found Jaydev sitting on knees before his girlfriend's dead body.
She had hanged herself to death.
" Jay," he touched his shoulder, wanting to pull the broken friend in a comforting hug.
Anger rushed down Jaydev's spine hearing his voice. He stood up and when he faced him, Aryan found his eyes filled with tears. Anger was visible in them.
" You killed her."
Aryan frowned.
" She died because of you."
...
Aryan wiped the blood from the corner of his lips and glared at Jaydev who was equally injured like him.
" I fucking told you not to roam around my sister."
A sinister chuckle left Aryan's mouth and he said, " that's your concern but I ain't going away from her."
His voice was calm which Jaydev knew what danger held. Jaydev gritted his teeth and fisted his hand when Aryan added,
" Pakhi sirf meri hai."
( Pakhi is only mine.)
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Aryan felt a hand on his shoulder.
" Bhai?"
His sister, Shruti's voice brought him back to reality and he put the old photograph back in the drawer.
" Yeah?"
He faced her and she frowned upon seeing his gloomy expression.
" What's wrong?"
" Nothing," he replied and walked past her, knowing she would throw many questions at him until she found out the truth.
" Were you remembering him?"
He stopped on his track and cursed under his breath. Shruti always manages to read him like an open book even if he pretends. She knows him in and out.
His silence was the answer to her question and she sighed before speaking,
" Bhai, forget him. Giving so much importance to someone who doesn't care about you, doesn't trust you, is useless."
He parted his mouth to defend him and decided to stay quiet otherwise the conversation will turn too long.
" Well, what's for breakfast?"
He changed the topic and grabbed his watch from bed then wore it.
" I was here for that only. Mumma said dinner is ready. Come and have it."
He hummed and she walked outside the bedroom. He quickly got ready and went out of his bedroom as well.
Aryan Chauhan, a name on everyone's lips nowadays. He's a criminal lawyer, owner of A.R.C firm and shareholder of many companies. There would hardly be any case which he has not won.
His family runs different types of business which makes it easier for them to be on the top in any field.
He cleared his throat, sitting on his respective seat.
" Good morning, everybody," he greeted everyone and started having his breakfast once the maid served him on a plate.
" How's work going on, Aryan?"
His father, Rajdeep Chauhan asked.
" Good," Aryan replied and put a morsel in his mouth.
He frowned as he felt strange movements happening in his family. They thought he was not looking at them but he was fully attentive.
Reflection of his mother and sister murmuring something to one another was visible. They seemed nervous and hesitating.
He raised his eyebrows and looked at them, making them sit straight and seal their mouths.
" What's happening?"
He asked in a calm tone, not wanting to scare them but failed terribly. Both the women turned their eyeballs to the eldest man of the family. Rajdeep, who was busy devouring the food without any care of the world.
Aryan looked at his father as well, " what is it, papa?"
Rajdeep lifted his eyelashes and frowned, " what?"
Aryan pointed at Shruti and Ekta. Rajdeep passed them a confused look while Ekta just glared at him which was enough to remind him what they three wanted to discuss this morning.
Rajdeep cleared his throat and spoke to Aryan, " so my dear son, as you know you are getting old-"
" I am just 28, papa," Aryan replied and had a bite of food.
" Yeah and..s..see you still are handsome and young-"
" Because I am young, maa," Aryan interrupted his mother, Ekta.
" Bhai, like we want to..uhm, mumma and papa want you to become two now."
Silence spread in the dining room as Shruti uttered the above words. She laughed nervously and scratched the end of her eyebrows.
" Did I say something wrong?"
Ekta rolled her eyes, " you said everything wrong."
" Then you tell him," an offended Shruti snapped.
" What is it that you three want to say? If it's about my marriage-"
" HAAN!"
He was startled when three of them exclaimed loudly. Aryan clicked his tongue and nodded before looking back at his food and continued eating silently.
Ekta, Rajdeep and Shruti passed one another a confused glance.
" Uhm, are you ready, Aryan?"
Ekta dared to ask and earned a positive response from her son. Shruti clapped enthusiastically.
" Perfect! Mumma has few girls in mind. It would be okay if you look at them-"
" I have a bride in mind," Aryan interrupted her.
" Argh! Not again," Ekta muttered and slapped her forehead.
All the enthusiasm of his family was crushed by his answer. Rajdeep sighed and spoke,
" Aryan, son, sticking to your past is not good. Our relations with her family are not like before anymore. It's been five years, son. Forget them and forget her-"
" I can never," Aryan replied and placed the spoon down on the table as he was finished with his breakfast. He looked at his family and continued,
" Let them be in illusion that we have forgotten everything. I will marry her. End of the discussion."
" But Aryan-"
Ekta was cut off in the middle by a maid.
" Malkin."
" Yes?"
All turned their gaze at her as she spoke,
" Invitation is sent from Chaudhary's residence by some guards."
" Invitation? Bring them."
The maid nodded and went out of the house.
Chaudhary's are mentioned in their house after 5 long years with the motive of invitation. Aryan stood up as he saw 4 men entering the mansion carrying big plates in both hands.
They put the plates down on the table then left. The maid uncovered the plates. Different types of sweets, clothes and similar things were present in them. Only one plate had two invitation cards.
Maid grabbed it and handed it to Aryan.
" What is the invitation about, son?"
Rajdeep asked, coming towards him with Ekta and Shruti. Smirk caressed Aryan's lips reading the wedding invitation for them.
Shruti tried looking and widened her eyes slightly, seeing the name of the bride.
" It's Pakhi's marriage invitation," Shruti informed her parents and three of them looked at the young man.
" He has not forgotten me," he uttered and looked at his sister.
" He still cares about me and trusts me," his words held sarcasm beneath it and he turned his attention back to the letter.
His eyes stayed on the name of the bride and expression stiffened gradually. It was a wrong move from their side. Marrying her off to someone else then giving an invitation to him. They shouldn't have done this.
His family stared at him, fisting the invitation letter in his hands. His jaw clenched and eyes darkened. He started going out of the house and Shruti quickly catched up with him.
" Where are you going?"
She grabbed his elbow. He looked behind at her,
" Make arrangements to bring her home," he replied and freed his elbow from her grip then left the house.
Shruti sighed and heard her mother's voice.
" Tomorrow is the mehandi ceremony."
She had another letter in hand as if it was sent purposely. Ofcourse, Jaydev was once his best friend so he surely knew how Aryan would react after seeing the letter.
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Jaydev stopped on his track and tilted his head, seeing his sister earning scolding from their grandmother. Her hands are locked behind her back and eyes are down on the floor.
" Nanii?"
As soon as she heard his voice, her voice glistened. Jaydev came to them.
" What is happening?"
The grandmother rolled her eyes.
" She could not cook the food properly today. Just now, I fell because of her carelessness. A while ago, she broke a vase."
Jaydev looked at his sister and found her shaking her head, showing him her innocent orbs.
" Leave it-"
" No!"
Grandmother glared at him and scoffed.
" It's for her own good. She's going to get married in a few days. With his behaviour how will she cope up with her in-laws? They will send her back to her due to her childish behaviour."
Pakhi, who got some confidence with the support of her brother, glared at her grandmother.
" Are? Why would they? Princess, tell me if they trouble you, okay!"
" Okay, Bhai," Pakhi grinned with happiness.
The grandmother once again rolled her eyes, " you have spoiled her, Jaydev."
" So? Are you jealous?"
Pakhi teased the old woman and quickly hid behind her brother when her grandmother lifted her stick to hit her. Pakhi giggled and Jaydev laughed.
" Okay okay, calm down, Nani. Pakhi? Go and check your outfit for tomorrow."
" Okay," Pakhi replied and ran upstairs to her bedroom.
The grandmother sat back on her swing and sighed heavily,
" She will soon go back to her home. I don't know how my loneliness will pass."
" You love her and keep scolding her all the time. What should I name this love, Nani?" Jaydev teased her.
" Shut up," she wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes.
Pakhi put the outfit aside once she was done checking it. She grabbed the photo frame of her parents and lay on the bed.
" Tomorrow is my mehandi,"
She smiled and turned on her stomach.
" You must be looking at me from the sky, no? Do you think my groom is good? Bhai chose him for me. I think he'll be good. It would have been better if you were here but it's okay. I will manage. Bhai is with me."
She continued talking to her late parents who died in a serious accident in which she was also present. She was saved but they left this world forever.
She was 10 that time and her brother 15. Since that day, their Mama, Mami, who was not blessed with a child, has taken them to their home. The old woman scolding her a while ago was her Nani. Their Mama and Mami did not let them feel the absence of their parents.
" Pakhi?"
Jaydev entered her bedroom and she sat up.
" Ji Bhai?"
She put the frame aside.
" Did you like the outfit?"
Pakhi nodded with a smile and Jaydev sat on the bed in front of her. He cupped her cheeks then planted a gentle kiss on her forehead. Jaydev Chaudhary, a government officer, a fearless IPS officer.
" Didn't realise when you grew up so fast," he said.
" Even I did not realise," Pakhi said.
" What?"
" When did you grow up so fast? See, before you I am marrying. If you wanted to get rid of me, you could have told me before-"
" Shut up," he glared at her.
She chuckled, " I was kidding."
And the smile was back on his lips. He patted her cheek, " silly."
" Acha Bhai, aap kab shaadi karenge? Main dhundu aapke liye ladki?"
( well, bhai. When will you marry? Should I find a bride for you?)
Jaydev shook his head, " no need. You know why I don't want to marry."
She frowned, " so, will you spend your life being unmarried?"
" Leave my marriage topic and think about yours."
She sighed and shifted close to him. She put her head on his chest and wrapped her arms around his torso.
" When I leave after marriage, I don't know who will take care of you. Who will take care of you if your health gets bad? Who will stay awake all night for you? Tell me?"
" Mama, Mami, Nani. Everyone is here with me," he replied.
" But Mama and Mami are getting old. They need someone to look after them. Mama is always worried about you," she said.
" Princess, you know why I don't marry. Just leave this topic now," he said with a bit of irritation and she hummed before closing her eyes.
After a silence of some minutes, Pakhi spoke,
" Bhai, I don't know how I'll live without you in my new home? Who will listen to my nonsense? Who will handle my tantrums? Who will save me if I ruin something and others get angry at me? How will I manage there all alone?"
He put his hand on the back of her head, " your husband will be there for you."
She broke the hug and said with glossy eyes, " but you wouldn't be there."
He planned her cheek, " until when are you going to stick to me? There might come a day where I wouldn't be with you, what will you do?"
" I will cry," she murmured.
" Huh?"
She took a deep breath, " I don't know."
He wiped her tears which streamed down from her eyes down to her cheeks.
" That's not how life works, little one. We need to walk alone sometimes and think of decisions right at that moment. Not everytime I will come to save you."
" What if his family troubles me?"
He frowned, " why will they?"
" I have seen in daily soaps-"
She sealed her mouth as her brother passed a disbelieving look to her. He shook his head,
" They won't and if they did, you can tell me. I will take care of them."
She chuckled, " see you always claim to save me then lecture me to walk alone."
He smiled while she grabbed his hands and spoke,
" When I leave, don't trouble mama and mami much. Always accompany Nani in her morning walk. Make sure you don't break things."
" Baby, you do all this, not me."
She clicked her tongue and he stood up from the bed.
" You take a rest. I'll be going to work."
She nodded and asked, " will you come early today? I have some days left so I want to have dinner with you."
He smiled and nodded, " I will."
Pakhi started at him going out until he was out of her sight. She sighed and glanced at the photo frame of her parents.
" Bhai doesn't show but he surely needs someone. He is unable to forget his first love."
She still remembers the day his girlfriend died. He was all crazy and breaking things. His condition got worse and he confined himself in his room.
He loved her so much. It was hard for him to move one. She was the topic he used to utter day and night. He wanted to marry her. The betrayal he faced from his best friend was more cruel for him to handle.
Pakhi hates the guy who ruined the condition of her brother. She remembers those horrifying days. It was getting difficult for him to continue. However, she managed to pull him out of his distress.
Now, he may show he's all okay but he still has her pictures in his room. He keeps them safe and does not like to discuss her topic with anyone except his sister.
In the night,
Pakhi's sleep disturbed when she felt a hand on her hair.
" Bhai?"
She uttered and smiled slightly.
" You called me early and slept? That's not fair," Jaydev said.
She sat up and rubbed her eyes, " I was tired."
" See, I've brought ice-cream."
She took one bowl from him and he brought his legs up on the bed. They spent almost an hour talking to each other. Pakhi soon drifted into her dreamland as she needed to wake up early.
Jaydev covered her body with a duvet, pecked her forehead then turned to leave the room after switching off the lights.
Next day,
Jaydev came to the living room and saw his sister getting her legs and hands inked with Henna.
Pakhi smiled seeing him and gestured to him to come near her.
" How's it?"
He smiled, staring at her Henna, " it's beautiful."
" What's the husband's name?"
The artist asked and Jaydev chose to reply, " Rohan."
The artist nodded and Jaydev left as he was called by his Mami. Pakhi looked at her cousins dancing and enjoying the ceremony.
However,
" They came. The Chauhans."
Jaydev's Mama said to him and a smirk instantly made its way to his lips.
" Let's welcome them," he uttered and walked to the entrance with his Mama and Mami, Dravid and Rohini.
His eyes landed on Ekta and Rajdeep Chauhan. Behind him was his daughter. They greeted them and handed them the presents they brought.
Jaydev stared at the elderly people catching up on things. His smirk faded and frowned appeared on his forehead when he did not get the view of the person he wanted to see or waiting to see.
" Your son didn't come?"
Dravid asked, grabbing Jaydev's attention.
" Uhm, he got some urgent things so he couldn't come," Shruti replied in the place of her parents as they were hesitant to speak.
Jaydev chuckled sarcastically, " must be embarrassed to come. Well, that's okay."
Shruti glared at his back as he walked away. Ekta held her hand and murmured to her, " behave."
Shruti clenched her jaw, " how dare he talk like that about my Bhai?"
Rajdeep, Ekta, Dravid and Rohini laughed nervously.
" Uhm, come Mr and Mrs. Chauhan."
They entered and Shruti roamed her eyes around the living room until it landed on the bride. Soft smile spread on her lips and she told her mother to look at Pakhi.
" She has turned more beautiful," Ekta uttered and Shruti agreed.
" Want to meet her?" Rohini asked.
" uhm, sure."
Ekta said and Rohini took both the ladies to the bride while Rajdeep was taken away by Dravid.
" Pakhi?"
" Hn?"
Pakhi looked at Rohini then at two unfamiliar people.
" This is Mrs. Ekta Chauhan and her daughter, Shruti. Mrs. Chauhan was your mother's friend."
Pakhi smiled and greeted them. Shruti's mobile vibrated and she found the message of her mother.
Make sure you click her pictures.
She mentally rolled her eyes and listened to Pakhi and Ekta talking.
Pakhi, turned out to be an exact copy of her mother. Sweet. Elegant and so respectful.
She succeeded in convincing her to take a picture. She clicked a selfie then asked her mother to sit beside her.
She bit her lower lip and quickly clicked 10 of her solo photos. Throughout the process of clicking her pictures scared her to the core because Jaydev was from time to time looking at them.
" Hn, done."
She hurriedly put her mobile back in her purse. Ekta went somewhere with Rohini and Shruti sat beside her to chit chat with her.
" You have seen me before?"
Pakhi asked amusingly and Shruti nodded.
" We used to frequently come at the time, uhm, when your parents were alive."
" Oh," Pakhi uttered.
" Show me your Henna," Shruti diverted her mind and Pakhi showed her hands to him.
Artists left after finishing their work.
Shruti frowned seeing a strange- familiar thing on her Henna.
" What's wrong?"
Pakhi asked.
" Nothing. It's beautiful," Shruti replied.
" Di, what do you do?"
Pakhi asked and Shruti smiled before replying, " I am a professor."
" Oh! That's cool." Pakhi said..
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Did you like the first chapter?
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You will soon get the moments of couples.