[18]
In the midst of the night's conversations, Shashwat felt a desire to talk to Siya. However, she was engrossed in a conversation with Vihan, unintentionally making him a tad bit jealous. He longed for her undivided attention, a desire for her to be solely focused on him.
Every time Siya spoke with Vihan, she seemed to overlook Shashwat, never meeting his gaze. Despite the apparent distraction, Shashwat found solace in the fact that Siya's attention, whenever directed towards him, was unwavering, just as it always had been.
Yearning for a private moment, Shashwat contemplated inviting Siya to the garden side. Yet, he faced a dilemma-without her WhatsApp number and with her phone in Ritika's possession.
"I'm heading for a walk in the garden. Anyone's welcome to join," he casually declared, his eyes darting towards Siya, who reciprocated with a knowing glance.
"Haan chal na we are also coming." Arav said and others also offered their company, making his smile falter .
"Actually, I need some alone time." He said while Siya controlled her laugh looking at his expression.
"To pehle bulaya kyun?" Reyansh asked and he shrugged his shoulders.
Shashwat gracefully moved towards the entrance. Just before stepping outside, he turned his head, locking eyes with Siya, who had been watching him intently.
' Should I go?? But what if he didn't called me and I just misunderstood? Hamara to popat ho jayega. But in morning he said that he wants to meet me. And looking into his eyes it was clear that he was saying something to me. Siya jo hoga dekha jayega.' She thought and stood from her place.
"I got a call by my friend. Aate hain ham." She said and her friends glared at her.
"Kon friend??" They asked in unison.
"Arre purane school ki friend hai bas, best friend nahi. Maro mat jal jal ke." She said rolling her eyes and left from there.
In the quiet serenity of the night, Shashwat was sitting on the cold grass, his gaze fixed upon the moon. He looked down with a sigh as fifteen minutes slipped away but she wasn't arrived yet.n. With a disappointed sigh, he muttered, "I don't think she will come."
Just then the echo of her footsteps reached his ears, quickening his heartbeat. Alone for the first time, Shashwat, a typically confident topper, found himself inexplicably nervous.
In a serene exchange, Siya quietly settled beside Shashwat on the grass. Together, they directed their gazes towards the moon, the silent companion in the night sky.
'Bula to liya ab baat to kar stupid!' His mind scolded him.
[Talk to her now.]
'Ye to kuch baat hi nahi kar rahe hain. To tu hi kar le na Siya.' She thought and looked at him and she discovered him already looking at her.
[He is not saying anything.]
In a moment of shyness, she swiftly averted her gaze, choosing instead to fixate on the expansive sky above. However, Shashwat, undeterred, maintained his unwavering gaze, a consistent presence like always.
Under the intensity of his stare, Siya felt a sudden rush of shyness and a hitch in her breath. Her heart raced at an abnormal speed.
In the enchanting embrace of the moonlit garden, Shashwat closely observed Siya's face, which seemed to radiate a beauty akin to that of a goddess idol. Her features were bathed in the gentle glow of the moon, creating an ethereal aura that captivated his gaze.
Her eyes held a depth that echoed the mysteries of the night sky, reflecting the tranquil beauty of the moonlit scene.
The contours of her face, delicately highlighted by the moon's caress, appeared as though sculpted by divine hands.
Each feature, from the graceful curve of her nose to the softness of her lips, contributed to an exquisite visage that could rival any deity's idol.
In that moment, he marveled at the celestial beauty of Siya's face, a timeless and divine masterpiece that seemed to transcend the ordinary.
As she cleared her throat a realisation struck him, he mentally scolded himself for being so absorbed in observing her and shifted his gaze.
Breaking the silent spell, a subtle shift occurred as their hands, resting on the grass, brushed against each other unintentionally. This accidental touch sent a gentle current through both of them.
With shy smiles they shifted their hands back.
"Mausam acha hai na?" He asked, trying to break the comfortable silence between them and then suddenly cursed himself.
[Weather is beautiful.]
'What the hell Shashwat! Ya kya puch raha hai tu? Vaise to bada topper banta hai aaj kya hua?'
"Aapse jada accha nhi hai." She muttered , her voice barely audible but it couldn't escape Shashwat's ear as his gaze shifted downward, a shy smile gracing his lips.
[Not more than you.]
"Ahmm! Kuch kaha tumne?" He asked, clearing his throat slightly.
[Did you said anything.]
"Nahi." She quickly denied.
Again there was awkward silence between them. And with a sigh he decided to break the ice.
"So !! What are your future plans? I mean 12th ke baad kya karna chahti ho?" He asked, unable finding any other question.
[What are your future plans after 12th?]
"Aapse shadi." she said in a very low voice.
[To marry you.]
"What?" He asked furrowing his eyebrows as he didn't listen to her clearly.
"No....nothing." She said with a nervous smile.
" Koi plan nahi hai." She said and he frowned.
"You haven't decided anything yet? " He asked and she cursed herself.
"I mean..I will think about it." She replied he nodded.
"Ummm.. Tumhare favourite subjects kon kon se hain?" He asked and cursed himself mentally.
[Which are your favourite subjects?]
"Did he call me to inquire about studies!' She thought and mentally whined.
'Pagal ho gaya hai tu.... tu pagal ho gaya hai? Ek to usse padhai se vaise bhi allergy hai upar se yaha pe padhai ki baat puch raha hai! Iski shakal se pata chal raha hai ki irritate ho rahi hai. Kabhi to padhai likhai se bahar nikal ke baat kar liya kar!!' He scolded himself.
[Have you gone mad? She is already allergic to studies and now you are inquiring her about studies. She is getting irritated.]
"Ummm....tumhari hobbies kya kya Hain ?" He asked hoping she would not get irritated .
[What are your hobbies?]
"Singing, Dance aur (in low voice) Aapko dekhna ." She muttered the last word.
Meanwhile it couldn't escape from his ears. He smiled, controlling his blushing smile.
"Maine wo last vali hobby nhi suni ek baar phir se repeat karna." He said, controlling his smile.
"A...aur gaane sun na," She said, closing her eyes .
[L.. listening music.]
"Haan, I heard your voice, on independence day. You really have a soothing voice." He said smiling and after listening this whole zoo came alive in her stomach and corners of her lips curled into an involuntary smile, and a gentle blush painted her cheeks.
"Thank you." She replied meekly.
"You're welcome," Hee said, smiling.
"Ahmm..Your hobbies?" She asked after gathering a lot of courage.
"Painting and sketching. Kabhi bhi free hota hai to mai ye kar leta hun." He said and she was surprised.
"Aap painter bhi hain?." She said in excitement and he chuckled.
[You are a painter?]
"It's Artist by the way. Aur nahi mai artist nahi hun. I just love to draw sometimes." He replied with a smile.
[I am not a artist.]
"Tumhe dekhna hai ?" He asked and she nodded her head in yes with an excited grin while opening his phone's gallery .
[You want to see?]
They sat close by looking at his sketches and paintings. As he scrolled through his phone, a gallery of his paintings unfolded, each stroke and colour telling a story of passion and creativity.
As her eyes traced the details of the painting, he found himself captivated by the way her face reflected the beauty she saw in the artwork.
A small smile formed on his lips as he saw her from close.
"Ye to sach me bahot sundar haii." She said admiring his paintings.
[They are actually beautiful.]
"Haan sach me bahot sundar hai. " He said, eyes fixed on her .
[Yes indeed beautiful.]
"Aap sach me army me Jana chahte hain?" She asked, looking at his phone .
[Do you really want to join army?]
His thoughts snapped back into focus when her voice reached his ears. He moved away from her a little so that she wouldn't get awkward.
"Haan. Why did you asked this? " He asked, confused.
"You are an artist iss painting ko dekh kar lagta hai aapko artist ban na chahiye." She replied.
"It's just a hobby and being an army officer is my dream." He said with a smile.
"Is there a specific reason ?" she asked, her eyes reflecting a genuine curiosity.
Shashwat, taking a moment to gather his thoughts, looked into the night sky.
"Being a part of the Indian Army is not just a profession; I want to serve my country .
Being a part of the Indian Army means contributing to something greater than myself.
" He said , eyes fixed on the moon. She looked at him, moonlight cast a soft glow on his face, revealing the sincerity in his eyes.
Just then her mobile buzzed, Arushi's name on the screen.
"I have to go now. Otherwise they will come here looking for me." Siya informed and he offered a warm smile.
"Aap thodi der baad aana. Or else everyone will suspect that we were together."She hesitantly suggested.
"To kya hua? We are together na." He asked, looking at her .
Siya, her face turning red, stammered as she tried to explain,
"They'll suspect... I mean, unko lagega na ki hamare..matlab hum dono..ke beech kuch chal raha hai." She said playing with the grass nervously.
[They will think that there is something between us]
"Matlab? Kya chal raha hai?" Shashwat asked, looking at her curiously controlling his laughter.
[I didn't get it.]
"Ham..hamara matlab.." Siya, still blushing, attempted to find the right words, but Shashwat couldn't contain his laughter any longer.
[I.. I mean.]
His laughter echoing through the moonlit garden. Siya, captivated by the genuine joy on his face, found herself drawn to the sight. It was the first time she had seen him laugh so closely, especially in her company.
After the laughter subsided, Shashwat, still wearing a warm smile, shook his head.
"Okay." He said.
Siya, momentarily lost in the enchantment of his laughter, gradually came back to reality. Confused, she tried to understand the reason behind his sudden laugh.
As Siya turned to leave, she heard Shashwat's voice from behind. Startled,
"Suno."
She faced Shashwat, who, with a moment of hesitation, approached her with a shy smile. In his hands, he held a small bunch of common daisy flowers, which he had collected for her before her arrival.
With a surprised expression, Siya looked at him, her cheeks flushing as she observed his gaze fixed on the flowers.
"Thank you for coming." He said in a soft yet sincere tone. His eyes meeting hers briefly before shyly lowering his gaze again.
Siya, her face reflecting a mixture of surprise and blush, accepted the flowers muttering,
"Thank you."
And she rushed inside, leaving Shashwat smiling as he looked down, his hands folded behind his back.
As Siya stepped into the hall, she carefully made her way to her designated spot. The atmosphere within was serene, with Reyansh, Arav, and Divya deeply immersed in the embrace of slumber. On the other side, Akash and Darsh engaged in a conversation whispering among themselves.
Across the room, Richa, Arushi, and Ritika were gossiping about something controlling their loud giggles. Siya, carrying the small bunch of daisy flowers, swiftly tucked them into her diary, safely nestled beneath her pillow. Joining the lively chatter, she settled down among her friends.
Shashwat, wearing a lingering smile, entered after a few minutes. Finding his place, he reclined, closing his eyes.
The next day dawned with the excitement of the Mehndi and Sangeet ceremony.
The festive atmosphere enveloped everyone as they gathered for the celebration.
In the midst of the joyous occasion, family and friends came together, sitting in a circle, applying intricate henna designs on each other's hands.
Amidst the laughter and camaraderie, the bride-to-be sat adorned in the exquisite attire, her hands receiving the delicate touch of a skilled parlour artist applying the Mehndi designs.
Siya delicately applied henna to a lady, adorned in a graceful green suit.
Her hair elegantly tied in a ponytail, she wore exquisite jhumkas, and her hands adorned with the simplicity of bangles.
Amidst the vibrant gathering, Ritika and Richa flaunted flowing hair, while Arushi and Divya opted for bun hairstyles, complemented by subtle makeup and tasteful jewelry, each immersed in the artistry of applying henna to various individuals.
As Shashwat entered the hall, he noticed Siya engrossed in applying Mehndi on his bua's hands. As he had a sudden urge to sit near her he gracefully took a seat beside his bua.
"Nashta mila aapko bua?" He said suddenly gaining Siya's attention as she looked at him who wasn't looking at her as he was engaged in conversation with the lady while sneakily stealing glances at Siya when she again continued her work.
"Shashwat beta idhar aana thoda." Harsh, Siya's father's voice called him and he replied,
"Ji uncle."
"Shashwat ye mehndi dekh kaisi hai?" The lady asked, showing her hand while he smiled.
"Mehndi bahot sundar lag rahi hai bua." He said, looking at her mehndi and rose to leave but stopped at his place and leaned down as if tying his shoelaces.
[Mehndi is so beautiful bua.]
"Aur mehndi lagane vali bhi." He whispered in Siya's ear with a playful smile and walked away.
[And also the one who is applying.]
This left Siya momentarily frozen, her face turning crimson.
'WAIT WHAT??'
'DID HE JUST COMPLIMENTED ME??'
'YES!'
'HE SAID I AM LOOKING BEAUTIFUL!!!??'
'YES!!'
'HE FINDS ME BEAUTIFUL??'
'OF COURSE YES!!!'
'HE LIKES ME??'
'MAYBE!!!!'
'HEY KRISHNA!! I WILL DIE TODAY.'
Recovering from her shock she blushed intensely, her gaze lowering to the Mehndi in her hands.
After they applied Mehndi on elders' hands , Richa was applying Mehndi on Siya's hands while Arushi was sitting in front of the table fan drying her freshly applied Mehndi.
"Wo mor ke pankh vali design bana na." Siya instructed peeping inside her hand.
[Draw that peacock feather design.]
"Chup rahegi tu thodi der? Aur apna haath hilana band kar tu pehle." Richa said glaring at her.
[Will you shut up.]
"Sorry." She said with a sheepish smile.
"Accha sun.. Shashwat bhaiya ka naam likh du hath pe?" Richa asked, whispering.
[Should I write Shashwat bhaiya's name.]
"Haan likh de na" She replied grinning.
"Uncle ne dekh liya na bhaiya ka naam to tera hath Shashwat bhaiya ke hath me de denge." Arushi said.
"Hatt pagal abhi shadi ki umar thodi hai" she said blushing.
"Kaat ke." Arushi said .
"kya ?" Siya asked, confused.
"Tera hath kaat ke Shashwat bhaiya ke hath me de denge" Arushi replied.
"Richa yaar chupa ke likhna Varna sach me papa peet denge aur mere love story ka the end ho jayega." Siya said and she chuckled while writing his name.
Siya's gaze unexpectedly met Shashwat as he entered the venue and took a seat with the groom and his brothers.
As Shashwat settled in with the groom and his brothers, his inquisitive gaze met Siya's. With a subtle lift of his eyebrows, he posed a silent question, prompting a shy response from her. Siya, unable to hold his gaze for long, looked down at her Mehndi, a shy smile playing on her lips.
However, Shashwat, seemingly captivated, continued to look at her. Their eyes met once again, and in that shared moment, he shifted his gaze with a lingering smile.
The play of their eyes continued, meeting in shy glances that conveyed sentiments too delicate to articulate. Then, as if orchestrated by fate, someone changed the song "Aankhon ki gustakhiyan maaf ho" began to play.
As the song enveloped the surroundings, Shashwat and Siya, synchronised with the lyrics, locked eyes once more. The lyrics seemed to narrate their unspoken story, and for that brief moment, Shashwat found himself enchanted by the song that mirrored the sentiments swirling between them.
Shashwat's smile deepened, appreciating the serendipity of the song that seemed tailor-made for this moment. Siya, in turn, felt a blush grace her cheeks, mirroring the sentiments of the lyrics.
The surroundings faded away, leaving only the captivating gaze they shared.
They exchanged shy glances, a language only they could decipher, each look carrying a weight of shared sentiments.
Amid the lively celebration, their eyes spoke a silent language, revealing more than words ever could.
As Shashwat continued to look at Siya with a gentle intensity, the unspoken exchange deepened.
Shashwat raised his eyebrows again at her Meanwhile, Siya, feeling the weight of his gaze, blushed.
The lyrics resonated with the protective feelings stirring within Shashwat. He continued to gaze at Siya with an innate sense of care, as if shielding her from the prying eyes of the moon and sun.
They both exchanged playful glances, their eyes speaking a language of shared thoughts and unspoken desires.
As the music played on, Shashwat's gaze lingered on Siya's hair, delicate strands gracefully framing her face.
In a subtle and secret communication, he tenderly gestured for her to sweep those strands behind her ear.
Siya, catching his unspoken cue, brought her empty hand to gently tuck the stray hair behind her ear, accompanied by a shy smile that played on her lips while he looked down with a contented smile.
Again both of them looked down with shy smiles lingering on their lips.
Just then someone again changed the song and the sudden shift in music served as a jolt, bringing them back to the bustling reality of the Mehndi celebration.
"Yaar mujhe pyas lag rahi hai." Arushi said, blowing her mehndi.
[I am feeling thirsty.]
"To kya aapke liye jal ka prabandh karen ham maharani ji?" Siya asked sarcastically.
[So should we arrange water for you queen?]
" I was just telling." She replied glaring at her and moved towards the kitchen.
However, as she stepped inside, a realisation dawned upon her - her Mehndi wasn't completely dry.
"Abbe yaar! How to drink now." She muttered looking at a glass filled with water. She proceeded to get a glass of water, attempting to balance it with both her elbows . Just as the glass was on the verge of slipping a hand swiftly caught it.
She looked at the person and found Reyansh standing there holding the glass.
A smile played on his lips as he gently placed the glass near her lips, surprising Arushi.
Her eyes widened, touched by the unexpected gesture, and she took a sip of the water.
Reyansh, keenly observing her reaction, sensed the need to clarify his intentions before she could misunderstand him.
"I spotted Vihan nearby so I thought to.. you know." He lied looking down and left the kitchen.
A mix of emotions clouded Arushi's heart - a momentary happiness blended with disappointment She couldn't decipher why that fleeting act had brought joy, yet the revelation left a lingering sense of letdown.
"Natak tha Aru beta!" She sighed and shook her head with a smile.
As the festivities continued, Shashwat and the other boys were once again summoned by someone for additional tasks, diverting their attention from the ongoing celebration.
"Ho gayi teri menhdi bhi." Ritika said after she completed the mehndi in Richa's hands while her eyes shined.
"It's beautiful Didiii." She exclaimed.
Having completed the Mehndi application, the group of girls made their way to the garden, discovering Shashwat, Reyansh, Akash, Arav, and Darsh already seated there. Again for a moment their eyes met and they shifted their gaze not to getting caught by anyone.
"Ye sahi hai yahan ham gadhon ki tarah kaam Karen aur ye ladkiyan aaram se baith ke mehndi lagaye." Akash said, making a face.
[This is good! We are doing work like donkey and you girls are resting applying menhdi.]
"Aaram? Bhaiya aapko kya pata kitna patience chahiye mehndi lagvane ke liye. Aise baith ke ek position me ek side hath kar ke '' Siya said , making them chuckle.
[Bhaiya you know how much patience we need for applying menhdi. We have to sit straight without moving a bit.]
"Now you all take a rest for sometime. I will serve the tea." Tara said and kept the tray.
"I will serve mumma." Ritika said and she nodded, handing her the tray.
"Chai lijiye ji." She said, offering the cup to Arav and he took the cup rolling his eyes.
"Ooops !! Galti se chai de diya. I should have brought milk for you." She said and Arav glared at her while others laughed.
"Ritika ki bacchi!!" He said gritting his teeth in irritation.
"Wo bhi ho jayegi, pehle tum shadi ke liye haan to karo." She said with a wink making him choke his tea while others choked in air while Akash , Arushi and Darsh hooted for her.
"Woaaahh Didi!! That was something else. Aap to mujhe bhi fail kar diye flirting me." Akash said , impressed.
"Tum na!!" He muttered before leaving the garden.
"Sharma gaya pagla." Ritika said looking at his disappearing figure.
[He is shy.]
"Richu meri shirt utar do." Akash said to Richa and everyone choked their tea looking at him with wide eyes.
[Richu take off my shirt.]
Richa came to him and slapped him.
"Sharam nhi aati bilkul bhi tumhari thodi bahot flirting tak to thik tha ab tum ye sab bolne lage...you cheapo how dare you!!" Richa scolded him holding his collar while he looked at her with confused expression.
[Don't you feel ashamed?? A little bit flirting was fine but how dare you to say something like this? ]
"Arre why are you beating me? Shirt utarne ko bola itna to kar hi sakti ho. I know you don't like me but atleast meri shirt to utaar do." Akash said caressing his cheek but again get slapped by her.
[I am just saying to take off the shirt. ]
"Pagal hai kya tu? Jada nhi ho rha Tera ?." Shashwat asked, a little angry.
[Are you mad? ]
"Bhai why are you overreacting?? Siya please ghurna band karo. Tumhari friend Jada ban rahi hai . Thik hai mat utaro mai khud hi nikal leta hun." He said jerking off her hands from his collar and moving towards the hanger took his shirt while everyone slapped on their forehead.
[Siya stop glaring at me. Your friend is overreacting. Fine I will take it off by myself.]
"Bhaiya aap seedhe tareeke se nhi bol paa rahe ki Richa wahan se meri shirt utaar do. Acha hua papa log nhi hain Varna abhi aapka encounter ho jata yahi." Siya said, shaking her head.
[Bhaiya can't you say properly? Thank God my father isn't here . He would have do your encounter.]
Akash looked at her with a frown but got the point looking at them with wide eyes.
"Cheee!! Kitne gande ho tum sab!!" He said , glaring at everyone and then looked at Richa saying,
[You guys are so cheap.]
"Richu you know me na? How could you think like this? Mujhe laga tum to shareef hogi par tum bhi inn sab ki tarah gandi soch vali nikli. Mere jaise masoom bacche pe aise ilzam lagate huye tum sab ki aatma nahin kaanpi?" He said dramatically.
[I thought you were decent. But you also have cheap thinking. ]
"Oye Mr. Masoom, aapki masumiyat yahan sabne dekh rakhi hai." Richa said with a mocking smile.
"Hayyee tera gussa!" He said keeping his hand on his chest and earned a smack from Shashwat and Reyansh from both sides.
As the evening rolled in, everyone was busy getting ready for the Sangeet. Some decorated the stage, while others practised their dance moves. Siya, along with her friends and sisters, joined in the dance rehearsals.
"Richa, Divya What are you both doing?? Right direction me hath ghumana hai..Itni baar bataya hai samajh hi nahi aata. Agar stage pe aise gadbad ki to ham stage se dhakka maar ke gira denge tum dono ko." Siya scolded them who were constantly doing the wrong steps.
[You have to move your hands in right direction. I have told you so many time. I will throw you from stage if you did any blunder.]
"Thodi der rest karne de yaar." Ritika said sitting on bed and Arushi joined her keeping her head on her shoulder.
Just then the song changed and a bhojpuri song began to play, boosting the energy as they started dancing wildly on the song.
But suddenly everyone, except Siya, noticed Shashwat who was standing there leaning against the door. Panicking, they tried to stop Siya, but she continued dancing blissfully, singing the lyrics, while he was watching her with amusement.
Shashwat frowned at the lyrics but chuckled at her crazy dance. Suddenly Ritika stopped the music and Arushi turned Siya towards Shashwat, making her eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected encounter.
Facing Shashwat, Siya felt an inexplicable urge to vanish into the ground.
"Arushi, where is Maa?" He asked shaking his head with a smile.
"She had gone to the tailor along with Tara aunty to ensure her dress fit perfectly." She said and he nodded, leaving the room before giving her a last glance and laughed as he walked out.
"Mummmyy!! Hamare sath hi aisa kyun hota hai?" She cried sitting on the floor holding her head.
"Ho gaya na? We were trying to stop you but tujhe to jungali vali harkatein dikhaye bina chain kahan milta hai. Ho gaya na popat?" Ritika scolded her.
"It's ok yaar Didi..Dance hi to kar rahi thi. He won't think anything.. Don't worry Didi." Divya said, consoling her.
"Hayye meri behen, tu kitni acchi hai." Siya said, hugging Divya while she rolled her eyes.
"Chalo , let's start the practice again." Arushi said and they started their rehearsal.