[15]
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On the next beautiful morning, everyone sat eagerly, looking outside the train window with excitement as they approached Udaipur. The anticipation of reaching their destination added a touch of enthusiasm to the atmosphere.
"Next station pe utarna hai sabko to sab apne apne bags rakh lo paas me." Tara said, coming towards the children.
[We have to get down at next stop. Keep your bags with you.]
"Wait, where is siya?" She asked, looking around for her daughter.
"There she is." Ritika said pointing towards the upper berth where she was sleeping.
"Hey bhagwan! Kya karun mai iss ladki ka? Yaha to time se uth jati." Tara said, slapping her forehead.
[Ohh God!! What should I do with this girl.]
"Mummy hamne uthaya tha usse ye keh kar ki berth vapas se neeche karna hai to wo upar vale pe jaa ke so gayi." Reyansh said.
[Mummy we tried to wake her up but she went on upper berth.]
"Siya , uthh jaa." Tara said, snatching her blanket, raising her toes a little.
"Hame sone do yaar mummy." She murmured in her sleep.
[Let me sleep .]
"Ruk tere papa ko bulati hun." She said and before she could move from her place Siya quickly jumped down holding her phone.
[Let me call your father.]
"Har baat pe papa kahan se aa jate hain beech me!!" She asked in a frustrated voice.
[Why do you keep involving him in between?]
"Chal ab baith jaa chup chap. Kuch der me pahoch jayenge." Tara said and went back to her place while Siya yawned rubbing her eyes .
[Now sit down . We will reach in some time.]
Arriving at the guest house palace, they entered inside, carrying their bags and stepping into the regal surroundings.
"Richu agat tumhe problem ho rahi hai to mai tumhare bags utha sakta hun." Akash said in a low voice while walking behind Richa with his friends.
[Richu if you have any problem than I will carry your bag.]
"Pehle apna dimag utha lo zameen pe pada hua hai." She replied and entered inside with Siya and Arushi while Shashwat with Reyansh, Darsh and Arav laughed loud.
[First carry your brain.]
"Baar baar ladki se zaleel hote huye sharam nahi aati tujhe?" Arav asked in between his laugh.
[Why do you keep embarrassing yourself infront of a girl. Don't you feel ashamed.]
"Ladki nahi hai wo." Akash said and they all looked at him.
[She is not a girl.]
"What are you saying?" They asked in unison with puzzled expressions.
"Nahi..I mean ladki hi hai wo. Par koi aam ladki nahi hai. She is my Richa and she has that right." Akash replied and everyone shook their heads.
[No I mean she is a girl but not any ordinary girl. ]
After some time, everyone gathered for lunch, finding places throughout the palace.
The dining table proved insufficient, so they settled on the floor, atop a carpet.
Some people served the food, while others prepared it, given that cooks were yet to be arranged.
Amidst the vibrant atmosphere, women engaged in lively gossip about the wedding, while some were discreetly sharing opinions about others.
Siya and her friends, along with her sisters, enjoying kheer while seated comfortably on a sofa.
They looked at Kanak, who had arrived just a few hours earlier and was serving food to everyone. Everyone was looking impressed with her. Meanwhile, Shashwat with other boys and Ritika were also occupied with serving.
"Siya tu yahan kyun baithi hai? Wo kanak sabko impress kar legi aur tu aalsi jaise baith ke muh dekhte rehna sabka." Richa said.
[You are sitting here and that kanak will impress everyone.]
"But what should I do?" Siya asked and Arushi snatched her bowl.
"Isko rakh aur jaa ke serve kar khana sabko." Arushi said.
[Keep this down and serve the lunch.]
"Let me finish this yaar." She said and they finished the kheer .
"Tum dono bhi chalo phir. Ham akele kaam nahi karne vale." She said and they both sighed.
[You both also come with me. I won't do any work alone.]
"Tu kya baithi hai? Chal tu bhi." Arushi said to Divya, dragging her with them.
[Why are you sitting here? ]
"Mummy let me help you . I will serve this kheer." Siya said to her mother who was moving outside from kitchen holding the pot of kheer.
"Beta tu help na kare yahi hamari sabse badi help hai." Tara said.
"Mummy please I will serve this." She said she Tara gave her the pot.
As Siya moved to serve the kheer to everyone,her attention unintentionally fixated on Shashwat as she walked beside him. Shashwat's eyes also moved towards her and she quickly looked down while he also moved his gaze to the other side and then she again looked at him.
And because of the distraction her leg twisted, causing the pot to slip from her hands and all the kheer ended up splattering onto Shashwat's father Naman's head while everyone gasped.
Siya quickly composed herself, but soon realised the situation.
Kanak and other cousins of Siya controlled their laughter at her embarrassment while her friends slapped their forehead.
"SIYAAAAA!!! YE KYA BADTAMEEZI HAI??? TUJHSE EK KAAM BHI NAHI HOTA!?" Her mother shouted coming towards them.
[What is this behaviour?? ]
"I am so sorry bhai sahab!!" Harsh apologised while wiping the kheer from his head with a handkerchief.
"It's ok bhai sahab. Aur bhabhi please don't scold her. Bacchi hai wo." Naman said, wiping the kheer from his face .
"Siya ab muh kya dekh rahi hai? Maafi kon magega? Isiliye tujhse koi kaam nahi karvana chahti mai." Tara scolded her.
[Why are you looking at their faces? Apologise to him. That's why I denied you.]
"I am sorry uncle.. Pata nahi kaise fisal gaye ham. I..I am so sorry." Siya apologised.
"It's all right beta..Tara ji please don't scold her. Naman go and take a bath." Kirti said and he nodded.
"Siya beta come with me kuch baat karni hai." Tara said in a sweet voice.
[Siya beta come with me I want to talk something.]
"Goodbye Siya. We will miss you." Richa whispered from behind.
"Tum hamari yaadon me hamesha zinda rahogi." Arushi said.
[You will be alive in our memories.]
"Tumhare sath bitaye huye pal hamesha hamare sath rahenge." Ritika said while Siya glared at them and walked towards her mother.
[I will always remember the time I spent with you.]
"Aunty actually it was my fault.. Mera pair uske pair ke aage aa gaya tha by mistake and because of that her leg twisted." Shashwat said before she could reach near her mother. Siya looked at him surprised.
[My leg came in between.]
"Shashwat pehle kyun nahi bataya tune? She got scolded without any fault." Piyush scolded him and he looked down.
[You should tell us before.]
But despite receiving a scolding without any fault he didn't feel bad. Instead, a sense of happiness filled him as he saved her.
"It's ok bhai sahab. Isne hi dhyan nahi diya hoga." Tara said.
"Mai ye saaf kar deti hun." Ishika said but Kanak's voice stopped her.
[I will clean this.]
"Aunty, I will clean this . Don't trouble yourself." She said in a sweet voice.
"No need. Hamare wajah se hua hai to ham hi saaf karenge." Siya said glaring at her and moved towards the kitchen.
[I will clean this because I created the mess.]
"Chalo sab khane pe focus Karo. Bhabhi ab aap log baithiye we will serve you." Kirti said to Tara.
"Tu kya pagal hai?? Tujhse na koi kaam kehna hi bewakoofi hai!! Apne hone vale sasur pe kheer gira diya tune." Ritika scolded her as everyone went back to their work.
[Are you mad? You can't do anything properly!! ]
"But I clearly saw that she fell by her own mistake. Then why did bhaiya take the blame on him?" Arushi said.
"Yaaar!! That means he is also feeling something.. Mummy!! I am so happy Siyaa." Ritika said, hugging her from side.
"Aisa kuch nahi hai." Siya said while her face turned red.
[There is nothing like this.]
"Jada bano mat Didi." Divya said and Siya grinned taking them in a hug.
It was evening and literally everyone took their afternoon nap because of the tiredness of their journey.
Like every typical Indian wedding some annoying kids were running around the whole palace like animals that escaped from the zoo.
I hate these kids! Some relatives were back bitching about their other relatives.
My father and some other relatives with Shashwat's father were busy in some political debates.
And we are in the garden sitting on ground chit chatting.
While Shashwat was sitting a little far from us with his friends and cousins.
In the midst of the discussion my eyes are fixed on him and I don't know why he always looks at me when I stare at him.
He again looked at me raising his one eyebrow and I looked down.
Hey Krishna!! Why do I keep embarrassing myself in front of him?
And today he saved me from my mother's scolding.
Why? I don't know. Now I actually think that he is feeling something for me.
When he gave me handwritten notes I imagined my whole wedding with him at that moment.
Maybe my love won't be one sided any more.
My stomach is flipping thinking about these things.
Well I should thank him for saving me . But how? ? Writing a note??
"Siya Didi mobile do na game khelna hai." A child came to me breaking my thoughts. I don't know why these kids are so obsessed with mobile phones.
[Siya Didi please give me your phone. I have to play games.]
"What will you do with mobile? Go and play with other children . Bacche phone nahi use karte." I said and that kid started yelling and some more kids came to me crying for mobile.
"Tum sab ko akele me batayenge ham." I muttered under my breath but I don't want to look like a cruel girl so I controlled my urge to throw them in their mother's arms.
[I will tell you all in alone.]
"Koi Mobile nahi milegi. Go and play, everyone." Ritika Didi scolded them and they left from there. She is the only one who can shut these annoying creatures.
Just than ,a familiar touch covered my eyes from behind, and I turned to find my friend Vihaan. His parents are best friends of mausaji.
"Oh wow, Vihaan! It's been ages! Tune bataya nahi that you are coming." I exclaimed, delighted to meet him again.
"Tujhe surprise kaise deta? Aur mai teri ye khushi kaise dekhta apne samne?" He said and I grinned.
[How would i surprise you then? ]
"How are you Ritika Di and Divya?" He asked to them.
"Good. What about you? How are you boards preparation are going?" Ritika Di asked.
"Accha chal raha Di." He replied.
Arushi's expressions were frozen in shock, as her eyes fell on Vihaan who was looking at her with a small smirk.
She quickly stand from the ground.
"Siya I am feeling sleepy." She said and they frowned.
"Abhi? You were saying that you are not feeling sleepy. Then why are you going now?" Siya asked confused.
"Aru yaar kuch der aur baith te hain." Ritika said making her sit again while she looked in her phone feeling uncomfortable for some reasons.
[Lets sit for some more time.]
Meanwhile Shashwat's gaze remained fixated on the boy who had been engrossed in conversation with Siya since his arrival.
It seemed as if her attention had completely shifted towards him, and she hadn't spared a glance in Shashwat's direction since the interaction began.
A strange sensation tugged at Shashwat's emotions.
"Let us move inside now. Sone ki jagah bhi to puchni hai." Reyansh said standing from the ground.
As they entered inside the hall . Everyone discussed about sleeping arrangements. Eventually, the decision was made for some to sleep in rooms while others would settle in the hall on mattresses. The younger crowd, including Siya, were asked to sleep in the hall.
After a while, numerous mattresses were spread across the hall.
Some had already succumbed to sleep, while others continued to engage in late-night conversations.
Shashwat with his brother and friends was lying on the mattress positioned in front of Siya Siya was engrossed in conversation with Vihaan, and Shashwat couldn't help but observe her from a distance.
Shashwat, for some unknown reason, felt a desire for her attention.
"Akash.. Akash.." He nudged Akash who was chatting with Richa flirting with her.
"What?" He asked annoyed.
"Who is he? And why she is talking to him?" He asked and Akash looked at them.
"Mujhe kya pata..mera pati lagta hai kya wo!! Vaise tujhe kyu jalan ho rahi hai? You are not interested in her right?" He asked with teasing smile.
[How would I know? He is not my husband. And why are you feeling jealous?]
"What rubbish? I am not feeling jealous or anything!! I was just asking out of curiosity." Shashwat said .
"Ok ok then let me ask to Reyansh that why is she talking with him ." He said and was about to call Reyansh who was talking to Arav but Shashwat pinched on his hand.
"Shut up! I don't want to know. Tu jaa Richa se gali kha." He said and Akash smirked.
"Ahmm ahmm" Shashwat discreetly coughed in an attempt to capture Siya's attention, , but she remained engrossed in her conversation.
"Ahmmm!! ahmmmm!!" Not gaining her attention he coughed louder. yet Siya remained unaware.
Frustrated, he coughed even more loudly, hoping to break through the barrier of her focus.
"Do you have a cold? You can have turmeric milk." Harsh asked with concern, who was sleeping near them.
Feeling a mix of disappointment he declined the offer. With a sigh, he lay down with a slightly sad expression, casting occasional glances towards them.
Siya remembered the thank-you note she wanted to give Shashwat.
"Vihaan I want to sleep now. We will talk tomorrow ok?" She said and he nodded moving towards his side.
Retrieving her diary from beneath her pillow, she wrote something and tore the page, contemplating how to deliver it to Shashwat, who was peacefully resting.
As an elder woman prompted everyone to sleep and switched off the light she thought to keep the letter near Shashwat's pillow secretly.
"Pyas lag rahi hai. Pehle paani pee lete hain then I will keep this letter near him." She murmured and went towards the kitchen.
[I am feeling thirsty. Fisrt I should drink water then keep this note near him.]
Just as she took a sip, she heard footsteps and turned to find Shashwat entering the kitchen. Caught off guard, she gulped down the water , avoiding direct eye contact. After drinking water Shashwat moved towards the entrance of kitchen but Siya's voice stopped him.
"Suniye." She said in low voice making him stop at his place and he turned towards him.
[Listen.]
"Sunaiye." He asked raising his eyebrows folding his hand on his chest.
Without saying anything, she kept her note on the counter and left the kitchen with a slight blush, leaving Shashwat to discover the note. He unfolded it to find her words.
Though he lacked a clear answer, the note brought a blush and a smile to Shashwat's face. He returned to his place, tucking the note inside his mobile cover. With a final glance at Siya, Shashwat closed his eyes, a soft smile lingering on his lips.
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