XXIV. Mehendi

Avni could not believe her eyes, the woman who was staring back at her from the mirror was the epitome of beauty, which she felt as her complete opposite. Avni felt that as an illusion, the woman in the mirror has shoulder-length silky hair cut in many layers to give volume for the hair and way texture. Her face looked flawless with makeup giving her a mature woman look. Her skin looked smooth, it was glowing because of the massages and the treatments she endured for the past hour.

She looked like a woman ready for marriage.

"Looking beautiful, babe", Akky said standing behind Avni, and noticed the awe and wonder in Avni's eyes. Akky smiled at her, knowing her best friend's insecurities.

"Come on now. Let's get the bride ready for the ceremony." And just like that Avni was ushered to change her dress.

Avni was obeying Akky's orders silently without questioning her, lost in the whirlwind of her thoughts.

When Avni saw her reflection reality sunk in that, she was marrying without her parents' presence. Her mother's absence in getting her ready as a bride by her hands and her father teasing his princess about the promise she made to marry the little prince when she was small.

Avni chuckled mirthlessly at the thought of her parents' absence.

It all came back to her in force and she was again that small girl waiting at the threshold for her parents to arrive with treats. She was feeling suffocated, she knelt down and placed her head between her knees. She was trying to get air into her lungs but it was painful for her.

At the noise from the bathroom, Akky rushed in and saw Avni kneeling and pressing her head between her knees. She did not know what to do to help her friend, she sent one person to call for someone.

Avni was not able to listen to her friend's words, she felt her eyes burn and was finding it difficult to focus on what others were telling. Then she felt the earthy smell, she greedily took the scent in and was slowly gaining her consciousness.

Then she heard the words, she clung to his words with her life.

"Breathe with me." He said in a soft voice. Avni followed his advice and breathed along with him, she slowly felt air rush into her lungs.

"In. Out." She followed his voice, slowly her vision started clearing, and the first thing she saw was the bright blue eyes filled with worry.

Akky came and hugged Avni the next instant, she hugged Avni tightly making the later one avert her attention towards her now terrified best friend. Akky was shaking in Avni's hold and it was her turn to soothe the other one.

"Hey, I am fine. No need to worry about me, I am completely fine." Avni gently patted the elder one on her hair. Akky relaxed slowly into her touch and she looked at Avni's face.

"I-I w-was t-t-terrified. S-something mi-might have happened t-to you." Akky said stuttering in between. Avni just smiled at her in reassurance.

"I am fine, I just had a memory and the next moment I got a panic attack. I strong, remember." Avni said hoping to soothe her friend's heart even though her heart had some remains of terror.

"I-I did n-not k-know w-what t-to d-do. I am sorry f-for n-not h-helping y-you." Akky said with tears rolling down from her cheeks. Abby hugged his sister ignoring the shock because of the bond between them.

"Hey, my doll was brave and tried to help. Avni is fine, it is the only thing that matters. Now stop crying, you need to make my marriage happen. If you fall sick, then there will be no marriage." Akky gasped at her brother's words and was back to her normal cheerfulness.

"How can there be no marriage?" She all but shouted. She kissed Avni, ordered her to get ready, and left the room with Nihal hot on her heels.

Abhi gave Nihal a nod indicating to take care of Akky and shifted his attention towards Avni. He carried her in bridal style and placed her on the bed. Avni observed that they were the only ones present in the room.

Avni cringed at the thought of others noticing her panic attack. To distract herself from the incident she shifted her attention towards Abhi.

Avni kept staring at Abhi, she was trying to capture him mentally. She noted his facial features, his perfect jaw, and high cheekbones. His lips and finally his blue eyes. It was becoming her favorite color, dark blue. Then those blue eyes captured her brown ones.

"What happened Avni?" There was emotion like pain in his eyes, which made Avni think about it.

"Please Avni, I can't see you in pain. Tell me," Avni melted at his words and laid herself bare in front of him.

"It happened on Friday, my parents were coming back from work. I forced them to buy me chocolate and called them frequently begging them to arrive fast. I do not know what happened but I waited for them in the doorway. They did not come, my 5-year old heart couldn't understand it. I thought that I was a bad girl and that my parents left me." Avni took a deep breath ready to explain the hardest part for her, which only a few members knew.

"That night I couldn't sleep so I slowly sneaked downstairs and heard a conversation which I shouldn't have. I heard the maid speak about my parents' death and their plan on murdering me. I did not understand the meaning then but I thought that the maid was angry at me and was about to sell me, so I left my house and ran to Nihal's house. His house was in our street corner and I stayed there till your father arrived." Avni felt some relief sharing the incident with him. It gave her a sense of security.

"And I always get these panic attacks when I think of that night. I blame myself for their death, and I even got those weird dreams where the maid killed me. When I was getting ready, I just remembered that I do not have my parents here to see me like this. I just wish they were alive today." Avni noticed a flicker of emotion in his eyes, it was gone before she can question it.

"I know Avni, I can feel your pain. But, I don't know how to console you, I-I have no words to explain it. But I have one thing to say, you are the strongest person I know, you have survived this long, and I can promise you one thing and that is, I will never leave your side and will always share your worries." Abhi spoke those words with a high level of conviction.

"Thanks a lot, Abhi, I am grateful to have you in my life. But I want to know why did you hate my presence?" Abhi sighed at her question.

"I will tell you about it sometime but know you have a ceremony to attend. Get ready before the devil arrives and scolds us." Avni smiled at his words and even though there was a bit of sadness in her heart, she let it linger and tried to enjoy the feel of Abhi being near her.

He kissed her forehead, "What happened to the maid?" Avni was lost at his question, she did not ask anyone about it.

"I told this papa and Raghav uncle the next day, I do not know what happened to her, that memory was always in bits of memory, it was never clear for me." Abhi nodded his head and left leaving Avni to get ready.

Avni felt mixed emotions, there was wariness towards Abhi but his words always left her defenseless. She sighed, feeling emotionally exhausted. She stood and observed her reflection, it was opposite to the one she saw few minutes prior.

She rushed into the washroom, washed her face, and changed to the dress chosen for her. It was a dark green-netted lehenga matched with off shoulder top and a dupatta to match.

After changing into the dress, she came out and found the beauticians waiting for her, she felt sad that they have to work on her again after she spoiled the makeup and hairstyle. She went and sat in the chair which was still in the same position and where she sat for the last few hours.

"I am sorry for spoiling your hard work. You guys worked hard on it." Avni told them trying to express her sadness knowing their hard work went to waste. The one who was in lead patted her shoulder in encouragement.

"It's ok mam, it is our job. You don't need to be sorry, we are here to help you in anything you need." Avni smiled at their kind words knowing that they were afraid of the consequences if they fail to satisfy her.

"I feel better now, knowing that you guys do not hate me for spoiling your hard work. And please call me Avni, I am younger than you all." They all look startled at her for a moment and those three looked at each other for a moment before the elder one spoke again.

"Oh no mam, we will never hate you, you are our employer." Avni gave her a sharp look and the elder one looked lost before realizing her mistake.

"I can't call you by your name ma-" Avni cut her before she can state her worry.

"Oh, you guys will call me by my name, or else I will make sure that you will lose your job and will never find a new one." At her words all, the three became wide-eyed.

"Hey, stop giving me those wide eyes, I am just kidding but if you guys do not follow it, I may do what I just said," Avni said pointing a finger at them and they nodded their heads like those bobble head dolls. Avni feeling satisfied with the result sat in her chair relaxed now as they started working on her.

"May I know your names?" The three members were startled at that question and started trembling in fear. She could not understand their fear and tried to reassure them the best.

"Hey, I am asking your names because I love your work." They still did not look convinced but their trembling ceased.

"I am Meena." The older among them replied. "I lead them both, and this one is Shreya." She said pointing towards the girl who was younger among the others and finally pointed towards the last one and introduced her, "And this one is Laxmi. The naughtier one among us." Meena introduced them all and they started working on Avni.

After an hour, Avni was ready and she looked at her reflection. Her hair was curled at the edges giving a bouncy look her makeup was light. She thanked them for their help.

"No need to thank ma-, Avni. It is all you, we just highlighted a few things and made your beauty shine." Avni blushed at Laxmi's compliment.

"Oh lucky, you are just saying them to impress me," Avni said to Laxmi calling her with the nickname she kept for her stating that her name was a mouthful and the other one happily agreed.

"I will go and inform Ms. Goenka so that you can leave." Lucky left her with the other two when Anu arrived.

"My my, look at my granddaughter, she makes a beautiful bride, right?" Anu came inside the room and questioned the members in the room making Avni beam at her with happiness.

"Yes mam, she is beautiful and she looks just like your daughter." Meena said making Avni's eyebrow raise in question.

"Right Meena, thank you for making my Avni this beautiful," Anu said to Meena and turned towards Avni. "Meena was your mother's best friend, she was your mother's classmate. Meena here used to work in our home and started her beauty salon. I called her today to introduce you to her." At Anu's words, Avni looked at the woman they were speaking about, Meena's face was now adorned with a sad smile.

"You could have told me!" Avni stated knowing that she could have grilled Meena about her mother.

"It does not matter to me, seeing you like this is enough for me." And Avni hugged the elder one who was her mother, Meera's friend.

"Thank you for coming here today it means a lot to me," Avni mumbled the words into her neck. Meena squeezed her back.

They broke their embrace and Meera was observing every inch of Avni's face.

"You look just like your mother, she would be proud of the young woman you grew into. Just remember this, your parents are always with you, and you will have their blessings with you forever." Meena patted her head giving the blessings. Avni smiled at the thought of her parents' soul watching her from heaven.

"Meena aunty, I want you to get me ready for the wedding. You will be the one who will make me the bride," Meena and Shreya gaped at Avni's words but Anu looked cool about it as if expecting the same thing to happen.

"But Avni I can't do that, you need to choose the best person to get you ready, I requested Anu mam to give me a chance for this event only.." Avni cut her before Meena can complete her complaints.

"I don't care about any of it, I want you to get me ready for the marriage other things don't matter to me," Avni stated with conviction.

Meena looked at Anu for help but the mother figure she knew in her life, shook her head in negative and was urging Meena to consider Avni's idea. Before Meena could start arguing, Avni played the card which she knew will work.

"I wanted my mom to get me ready for my wedding but she is not here, but you. You were my mother's best friend. Please treat me as your daughter and get me ready as a bride. I will think that my mom was present for my wedding."

Avni pleaded ready to give the woman she knew for the past hour her mother's position but she wanted a person close to her mother on her wedding day.

Meena agreed but there were tears in her eyes, which Avni considered as happy tears, and they both left leaving Anu and Avni alone.

"Now tell me about the panic attack you had?" At Anu's question, Avni's happy mood dampened. She did not want to worry her grandmother but she knew that Anu would not rest until she gets an answer.

"I remembered mom, and tried to think how much happy she will be seeing me getting married," Avni said with a sad smile on her face. Anu took my hands and rubbed them soothingly.

"I know you are feeling guilty Avni, you were just a child don't let the past dictate your future. You are starting a new journey in your life, you deserve all the happiness in the world bacha (child)." Anu patted her cheek affectionately.

"I knew this was going to happen, it was the main reason I invited Meena to the wedding so that you can feel at ease." Avni was grateful that Anu called the person who was closest to her mom.

"Now come on, we need to leave before Akshaya comes and start scolding us for your tardiness," Anu said making Avni smile.

There were many thoughts and what if's in her mind, which she wanted to forget for one day and enjoy the mehndi ceremony.

Anu guided Avni into a banquet hall, which was transformed for the ceremony. In the center of the hall, a small stage was placed with some stools over it. The total room was decorated in green, some flowers were scattered on the stage in a lotus design.

Everyone from Goenka's family was present there, Diya saw her and came running towards her. Avni knelt in front of her daughter and took her into her waiting arms.

"Wow, look at my princess, you are the prettiest one in this room. Do you know that?" Diya nodded her head in agreement.

Diya was looking like an angel in her solid green ball gown. It has a bowknot near the waist with an off-shoulder and long flare sleeves. It also had some gold-laced flowers scattered along it giving a royal look. There was a headband on her head preventing her hair from escaping.

"But you more pwetty." Her cute words made everyone coo at her. Avni and Diya climbed the stage and Avni placed Diya in her lap and took some photos.

After a 30 minutes photo session, Avni was tired by posing with different props and wanted to sleep but she was forced to sit, and then they started applying mehndi.

Avni's gaze was on Diya, who sat beside her and placed an order to have the same design as her mother. Avni tried to convince Diya but the stubborn one did not sway.

"Diya, are you sore anywhere. Does your hands pain?" Were the questions Avni kept asking her daughter every five minutes. But, Diya kept shaking her head.

Avni sighed at the stubbornness of the child, at this rate she will have a heart attack at a young age because of worry.

"If you scowl like that then you will get wrinkles and look like a grandma at this rate, I did not sign for this, I wanted to marry a beautiful young woman," Abhi stated standing in front of Avni, Avni's scowl deepened at

his statement.

"Oh yes, you are marrying me for my beautiful face, there goes my poor heart for having high expectations from you," Avni said in mock sadness placing a hand over her heart.

"Mam, please stay still. Your design will get spoiled." The woman who was applying mehndi to Avni scolded her.

Abhi gave her a smirk to which Avni scowled.

"Sorry, I will not move," Avni smiled sheepishly.

"See mama's hand and keep it." Diya's demand brought back Avni's main worry.

Avni looked at Abhi for help, but he was shaking his head requesting not to force him in to convince his daughter.

"Please," Avni pouted and gave him her best puppy eyes to which Abhi reluctantly agreed.

Abhi silently cursed himself for his weakness towards the puppy eyes of his daughter and now his fiancé.

Abhi went and sat near his daughter and looked at her now mehndi-filled hand.

"Wow, it is amazing, baby." Abhi complimented Diya.

"Yes dada, it will be more pwetty when done," Diya said with a determination, which made Avni sent dagger-like glares in Abhi's direction, which he ignored.

"Is it the same design as mama's?" At Diya's excited nod Abhi continued.

"But baby I have a doubt. If you have the same design as your mother then are you going to marry? Will you leave me and your mama?" Diya looked conflicted at that question.

"No dada, I no leave you. I wanna look pwetty like mama." Diya tried to explain.

Avni was staring at the duo all the time, she was impressed with Abhi's reasoning and was waiting for his reply.

"Mm, that's an important question. But are you not pretty? What does mama call you?"

"Pwincess," Diya replied without a second thought.

"And is a princess pretty?" Abhi asked softly.

Diya nodded her head instantly, Avni understood the way Abhi was going and relaxed.

"So you are pretty, you are our angel and will always be beautiful to us," Abhi said and kissed her forehead.

Diya looked at her hand and hesitated to reply.

"Diya, come here." At Avni's soft command, Diya came and stood in front of her.

"Princess, you can have the same design as me but it will take so much time to complete. You will have pain in your legs and hands. I don't want you to be in pain, ok." Avni said in a soft voice to make Diya understand.

"But mama, your hands pain," Avni smiled at her cuteness, but her eyes were filled with tears of happiness for the care her daughter provided.

"Oh don't worry about it princess, we both will have a hot bath tonight, okay." Diya nodded her head excitedly at the thought.

Avni was happy to have Diya as her daughter. All her worries faded away by looking at her.

"So princess I have an idea, we will both have each other names on our hands and even your dada's name, okay." Diya nodded her head trying to make her mama happy.

Avni asked the person to write Diya's name on one of her hands and Abhi's on the other one. She asked the same for Diya, her name on one and her father's on the other.

After both names were written on Diya's hand, the girl started squealing and ran to show others the design.

Abhi and Avni chuckled at her antics.

"Go and feed her something," Avni ordered Abhi.

"Ok, I will be back in few minutes." And Abhi left trying to find his now over-enthusiastic daughter.

Avni sighed and sat patiently for the design to be done.

After long two hours, she was finally done and was allowed to roam freely, she sat with all the ladies and was listening to them gossiping about others.

Anu was feeding her, so she was spared to join the conversation, which she thought was rather boring.

After Avni was done eating, she ran from the place as if her pants were on fire. She bumped into a waiter carrying some glasses. She picked a glass and drank everything in one go.

Avni felt it, the taste was odd but she was thirsty so she grabbed another glass and emptied it in one go. She picked another glass but was stopped by a hand.

Akky stopped Avni's before she can have another glass and removed the glass of alcohol from her hold. Akky dragged her in the opposite direction ignoring her friend's protest.

"Ak-Akky hic! Just o-one more, hic! Glass," Avni hiccupped and started swaying.

"Akky the ground is moving, stop it." Avni giggled at her own words.

"Shoot, you are drunk," Akky said worrying about the consequences the drunken Avni would cause.

"Fuck." Avni said and Akky cursed her fate for the coming incidents.

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Hello guys,

How are you all. Here is your update. It is the longest chapter, from now on you will get lengthy chapters, so enjoy them.

Avni is drunk!! What can happen next? Any ideas on what choas Avni can create?

So I thought of starting to have some target votes, views and comments on this book.

So to get the next chapter I will need 100 views and 10 comments on this chapter. As for votes, please give me atleast 50 votes on this chapter, or you can give me 100 votes for this book from today.

So see you guys later, bye.

Stay safe.