-25-
The night was getting darker, but the energy of the people was only getting higher.
The rhythmic clapping, the fervent singing of bhajans, and the vibrant beats of the musical instruments filled the air, creating a mesmerizing ambiance.
Jayasvi herself was lost in her own world, swaying to the devotional songs, her mind occasionally drifting back to Raghav's presence.
Suddenly, she felt a familiar warmth envelop her.
"Jayu, happy birthday, mera bachha," her mother whispered, kissing her cheek and side-hugging her as the clock struck 12.
Jayasvi smiled back, her heart swelling with love and gratitude as she embraced her mother tightly.
The sweet scent of her mother's perfume mixed with the incense from the jaagran, creating a comforting aroma.
Her dadi approached, a gentle smile on her wrinkled face. She patted Jayasvi's head, her touch tender and loving. "Happy birthday, beta. Bhagwan tumhe hamesha khush rakhe," she blessed, her voice soft but filled with warmth. (God bless you always.)
Jayasvi's eyes glistened with unshed tears of joy. "Thank you, dadi," she replied, her voice choked with emotion. She looked around, noticing the happy faces of her family members and friends who had gathered to celebrate her special day amidst the devotional fervor.
Gauri Hooda patted her head lovingly. "Happy birthday, meri bachhi!" She handed her a small box wrapped in colorful paper.
"Dadi, I will not take anything right now. You have to attend the party in the evening," Jayasvi spoke politely, smiling at her.
Just then, Ankita called her from across the room. "Jayu, come here for a moment!"
Jayasvi excused herself and moved towards Ankita, who stood with a beaming smile. "Happy birthday, Jayasvi! I can't believe you're a year older already," Ankita teased, giving her a tight hug.
"Thank you, Anku!" Jayasvi laughed, feeling the love and warmth from her cousin. Soon, her other cousins followed, each offering their heartfelt wishes.
Just then, she saw Karan approaching her with a soft smile. "Happy birthday, bhabhi," he spoke softly, joined by Dhara, who was smiling brightly at her. Jayasvi noticed Rishabh wasn't around at the moment and, for that matter, even Raghav wasn't there.
"Thank you, bhaiya. Do you know where Raghav is?" Jayasvi questioned, looking around.
"Oye hoye, koi to rok lo," Nidhi teased, laughing with the others. Jayasvi's face turned crimson at her words while the others hooted.
"Shut up, Nidhi!" Jayasvi said, trying to hide her embarrassment, but her cheeks gave her away.
Karan chuckled. "I think he went to get something special for you. He'll be back soon," he said, winking at her.
"Really?" Jayasvi asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Yes, really," Dhara chimed in. "He mentioned he had a surprise for you."
Jayasvi's heart fluttered at the thought. She was touched that Raghav had planned something special for her birthday. As she waited, she mingled with her family and friends, feeling blessed to be surrounded by so much love and happiness. Somewhere she couldn't believe their words.
After some time, her phone vibrated. She checked it to find a message from Raghav.
She looked around to find a muscular man nodding respectfully at her. Jayasvi sneakily followed him to where he was leading. She soon found herself in a dark area of the parking lot. The street light was there but still, it was scary to stand there alone after the man disappeared suddenly.
Her senses were on alert as she looked around with fear. Soon, she heard the sound of a car approaching. She looked back to find a sleek black car heading in her direction. She moved aside in fear but it stopped just in time.
Her body was shivering at the moment as the lights in the car were switched on.
She found it to be Raghav, which made her sigh in relief, putting her palm on her heart to calm her heartbeats.
Soon, she saw him getting out of his car, a cold sharp expression marring his face.
He looked super angry, which made her shiver.
Wasn't her situation laughable? She loved the same guy she feared. Is it even possible? She observed him taking long steps in her direction before holding her wrists in a tight grip, making her breath hitch.
"Where is Rishabh?" he hissed at her, which made her frown.
"Ji?" she questioned in confusion, worry lines visible on her forehead. The night was already so cold, and his behavior was making it so much more difficult.
"I don't like to repeat myself, Jayasvi. Where is your brother?" Raghav growled at her, making her shiver.
"Raghav, I really don't know. I was there with everyone in the jaagran. How will I know about him?" she tried to make him understand softly, trying to pull her wrists out of his grip, but it seemed impossible for her to do that.
"Tell him very clearly from my side, if I see my sister shedding even one tear because of him, I will tear him apart so badly that even his family wouldn't be able to recognize him," Raghav warned her. Jayasvi looked at him with wide eyes upon hearing his words.
"Have you lost your mind, Raghav? What kind of things are you saying? And above everything, why are you telling me all this? It's not like I have something to do with this," Jayasvi spoke, her voice rising with irritation this time.
"Don't raise your voice at me, Jayasvi. You don't know what I am capable of doing," Raghav told her, his voice so close to her.
"You know, Raghav, it would've been better if you had shown me this side of yours from the start instead of acting like the perfect partner for me.
At least, I wouldn't have fallen for you, and this wouldn't have been a problem for me," she hissed at him.
Was he going to treat her this way every time his sister had a fight with Rishabh?
"Who would you have loved then? Tell me, I am listening. Would it be Aahan or somebody else?" he questioned, clutching her elbows in a tight grip, pulling her so close to himself that it felt impossible to even breathe.
She closed her eyes, sensing the closeness.
"Will it be this way between us every time Dhara and Rishabh fight? That you won't even realize it's my birthday and treat me like this?" Jayasvi questioned, opening her eyes and letting the tears she was holding escape the boundaries she was hoping to set on them.
"What did I do wrong in all this? Why am I being treated this way?" she asked, biting her lower lip to stop the sobs.
"I just loved you. Was this my mistake?" she questioned while Raghav let her speak as much as she wanted, but his expressions remained as cold as ever.
"Jayasvi, I am telling you very clearly. If I see you looking at any other man, nobody will be worse than me," Raghav hissed, pushing her against the car.
"Have you ever seen me looking in another direction when I am with you?" she asked him, tears falling down her face. Why couldn't he see that only he mattered to her?
She felt his grip loosening around her. She raised her hand to cup his face.
"Raghav, it's you I want. If it wasn't love, why would I stay? Do you think I want your money or something?" she spoke, her voice shivering. He pushed her hand away harshly as if her touch burned him.
"What kind of behavior is this, Raghav? When you want, you touch me all you want, but when I do the same, you make me feel disgusted?
I thought you were going to make this birthday memorable after Dhara told me you had a surprise, but no.
You just had to ruin it," she cried, shaking her head.
He frowned before getting his phone from his pocket and showing her a message.
Jayasvi stood there, frozen, as Raghav's words echoed in her mind. The cold night air bit into her skin, but it was nothing compared to the chill she felt in her heart. She watched as Raghav turned away from her, his posture rigid with anger.
"Congratulations, Raghav, you successfully ruined my birthday for me," she spoke, her voice loud and clear, as she moved past him, wiping her tears and walking back to where her family was. This was her life now: to act around her emotions. How disgusting?
She tried to pull her mind away from the conversation as she attended the jaagran along with her family. Dhara tried to ask her why she came back so early, but Jayasvi didn't give her time for that.
Soon, the jaagran ended, and the guests started leaving. She knew Raghav and his family had already left. She didn't give it much thought as she went back home, deciding to sleep. Her mind continued replaying their conversation from before, but at some point, she found herself falling asleep.
She woke up around 11 in the morning. Everybody else was awake by now and having a conversation outside. She quickly took a bath and changed into a white T-shirt and black pajamas.
"Happy birthday, Jayu," her bua wished her again as she sat beside her.
"Thank you," she answered tiredly. Her mother gave her a glass of milk and some almonds as her breakfast.
"Don't sit. So many things need to be done. Jayu, go and check your dress. If it needs any fitting, I'll do that right now," her mother told her, which made her sigh.
"Can I sit for some time?" Jayasvi spoke tiredly.
"You were sleeping until now. Then I have to go get the cake. At around 5, guests will start coming. Go," Anjali instructed her. Jayasvi nodded before getting the heavy gown her mother got for her. She loved it so much.
Jayasvi wore it with difficulty since it had so many layers.
It was a princess gown, Jayasvi confirmed, looking at herself in the mirror.
Even the process of wearing the dress made her breathless.
She sighed, turning around and looking at the chain she had to pull up to fit the dress.
She confirmed the dress was fitting without chaining it up.
In the evening, her mother and bua, along with her kids, went to get her cake while her dadi was resting.
Her father was out somewhere—she didn't know where—and she was cleaning the house.
After she was done, she started picking up all the things her cousins had spread on the sofa.
Right now, she was dressed in a super loose orange kurti and palazzo.
After she was done, she thought to dance to calm her senses.
"I am looking for a man in finance, trust fund, 6'5", blue eyes, finance," she was singing as she moved towards her room. Weirdly, she was loving this song so much these days.
The moment she connected her headphones to her phone, she heard the bell ring. She cursed at the moment. Her mother wouldn't be back for a long time. She wondered, then who could it be.
She was mumbling the same song as she opened the door, only to be shocked at the person standing in front of her. The song was long forgotten as she stared at him with wide eyes.
"I know I look great. Stop staring; it is rude," he spoke, getting inside. She realized her mouth was open at the moment. She closed it, looking at him while closing the door.
"I didn't ask you to get inside," she questioned, looking sharply at him.
"You don't have to ask. Did Dhara come yet?" he asked, opening the button of his coat jacket and sitting on the sofa.
"Why would she? It's still time for the party to start," she told him, cursing herself for looking this horrible. She didn't even comb her hair yet.
"Excuse me?" he frowned at her words before checking the timing. Dhara told him the party would start around 5, and it was already 6.
He glanced at Jayasvi, noting her disheveled appearance and the clear signs of fatigue on her face. His usual stern demeanor made her nervous.
"Well, it seems like you're running behind schedule," he remarked, his tone sharp. "And you, looking like that, aren't helping."
Jayasvi felt a surge of anger rise within her. "If you have a problem with how I look, you can leave," she snapped back, her eyes blazing.
Raghav raised an eyebrow at her outburst but didn't respond. Instead, he stood up, his towering presence making the room feel smaller. "Get ready, Jayasvi. You don't want to miss your own party," he said coldly.
"Some people are busy, unlike you Mr. Hooda and please speak in a low voice my dadi is sleeping", she hissed moving to the kitchen.
She took out the glasses which were meant for the guests before filling it with little warm water.
She knew he directly came from work and the more he words, the more she feels worried for his health.
Warm water in this winter season always helps with throat.
She served it with some snacks trying to tie her hair in a neater bun but it was getting messier with every effort.
She searched for her phone and end up finding it in one of the drawers.
Just great! She is so careless and on top of that she could feel his eyes on her.
She moved to her room and called her mother but found her phone ringing on her bed. She cursed herself to expect better? Should she wake her grandmother up? She sighed calling her Bua who picked her phone at last.
"Can't stop missing me, yeah?", she asked. Jayasvi could actually imagine her looking so proud at the moment.
"Actually Bua ji aapke pyaare damaad time se pehle aa gaye hai to kindly please tell me Kya Karu. I can throw him out if you want", Jayasvi spoke ever so sweetly before hanging up. (Actually Bua, your dear son-in-law is here. Please tell me what to do. I can throw him out if you want)
She knew they'll be back any moment now. She smiled at her intelligent brain before showing herself a thumbs up.
"You are so so smart, Jayu", she told herself patting her shoulder as the phone continued vibrating.
She turned only to bump into him. She gasped moving to maintain a distance only to find his arms around her waist.
"You were saying something", he whispered pulling her closer. Her cheeks burned with heat immediately. She closed her eyes in embarrassment.
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