Dhruv

******

"What are the odds of all this being just a dream?" I asked Hredhaan looking at the sight in front of me.

"It's not a dream," Hredhaan replied but I still wanted to believe that it was.

"So what am I seeing is real?"

"Hmmm."

There was more to it, not just the sight but the emotion in Arjun's eyes. I had seen it in his eyes for the first time for someone.

"Tell me you saw that in his eyes what I saw."

"Yes, I did. Actually, I have been noticing it for quite some time." Hredhaan replied.

"Really? And you are telling me now?" I turned towards him in shock. How could he didn't tell me anything before? Hredhaan never does that.

"Dude, don't shout. I wanted to make sure before coming to any conclusion."

Nodding at him I asked, "Who else knows?"

"Kiaan." He replied and I looked at my brother who was just standing there with his mouth hung open and eyes wide opened.

"He just looked shocked as well, in fact, more than us," I said.

"It's all his setup." Knowing my brother I knew Hredhaan's observations were not wrong.

"Then why is he stunned like a mannequin?" I queried.

"Malhotra's effects." He was right, my best friend's effects could be deadly. I used to talk to a dog a few days back because of his effects.

"Arjun," I yelled while he looked at me in stun because of the blunder he had done. But looking at me he masked his emotions again and grinned showing his achievement in his hand, the plate of chocolates that he was admiring, and ignored the two girls who had fallen. They would have been saved but our best friend decided to save the plate of chocolates that were in Nitya's hand and was about to fall too.

Aditi got up and helped Nitya too. After glaring at Arjun, Aditi went inside pulling Nitya with her while my friend's eyes were stuck at Nitya.

I knew those eyes, the same when Dhriti realized she loved Namit, it's the same. Why didn't I notice it before? I guessed I was too much involved in my own shit and being aware of how great was Arjun in hiding his emotions no one could know.

Arjun left the chocolates there which was very unlikely of him and followed Aditi and Nitya and that's when we realized it was serious.

"Get Kiaan," I ordered Hredhaan and asked him to not let Namit know about all of this, after all, his sister was involved.

Hredhaan and Kiaan entered my room and I closed the door shut.

"What? Are you both planning to kill me?" Kiaan was trying to have fun as always.

"Maybe," Hredhaan said pulling out his gun from his jacket. He always carries a gun, he can't be at peace without it.

"Why are you pulling out that thing? What did I do?" Kiaan pouted making us roll our eyes at him.

"What was that with Arjun?" I asked. Kiaan's face went pale as if I just asked him a forbidden question.

"Nothing," he replied.

"We saw it outside, so you better tell us." He sighed and narrated everything making Hredhaan and me stunned.

"Are you sure?" Hredhaan asked.

"Of course."

I was left speechless and so was Hredhaan. What was Arjun up to? What the hell was going on with him? We needed to find out.

"We will talk about this later. Dhruv you should go now otherwise Maasi will send a search party for you." Nodding I left while Kiaan and Hredhaan followed me.

I went where the Haldi ceremony was to be held. Some of my relatives had arrived that day as well.

"Dhruv Bhaiya." I heard a familiar voice after so long. I turned to find my cousin Ryan.

"Ryan," I said while he hugged me.

"How are you?" I asked ruffling his hair.

"I am good." I greeted his parents, who were my uncle and aunt.

"So where is the lucky girl?" Aunty asked me.

"Here." I heard little one. After meeting with me they met Saavi. Both of them were shocked but more than happy for me.

"Though I knew Dhruv Bhaiya was not capable of impressing Saavi di, still I am happy that you are going to be my sister-in-law," Ryan said making me flustered. That guy never left a chance to embarrass me and my better half was giggling listening to him.

It was time for our Haldi ceremony. Muffin was sitting beside me and some of the elders were not happy with the arrangements but I didn't care. Leaning towards Saavi I whispered, "You are looking beautiful, sweetheart."

She blushed hearing me and lowered her eyes. She was looking elegant in a yellow saree and all I wanted was to kiss her at that time.

My sisters and friends were ready to paint me yellow. All of them were prepared and the turmeric paste was nothing more than a weapon for them.

Elders came first to give their blessing and put the turmeric paste on both of us. A lady in her sixties came and Maasi introduced her as grandpa's distant cousin. Muffin and I touched her feet but she didn't seem happy about something.

"Smita, why are both of them are together before marriage? What about the rituals?"

"Aunty, leave it, bless the couple." She was glaring at us and reluctantly blessed us.

I thought that was it but she didn't stop there.

"Where are her parents?" she asked. Maasi seemed confused on what to answer her but when I nodded to tell her she did, "She doesn't have her parents with her, but I consider her more than a daughter."

"Who will do her Kanyadan[Indian Ritual To give a daughter to her future spouse by bride's parents]?"

"Me and Ashok," Maasi replied smiling at Muffin and my love returned the gesture.

"I don't know what black magic this girl has done to you all. Things like this never happened in my times." I was fuming with anger and was about to get up when Muffin held my hand. Smiling at me she shook her head, which was a cue to me that she didn't want to create any scene.

"How can you let Dhruv marry an orphan?"

"Who knows what kind of blood is in her system?"

The old lady yelled at Maasi making my blood boiled. First, she bad-mouthed my wife and then hurt my Maasi. I lost my cool then and there and getting up I shouted, "Enough."

"Dhruv, please." Muffin pleaded and held my hand but I removed her hand and took a step forward.

"I don't want to disrespect you, because unlike you I know how to respect the feelings of others but trust me I won't let you leave before you apologize to my wife."

"What?" she looked stunned at me and I was certain, never in her life, anyone would have raised their voice on her but I couldn't sit back watching the wrong happenings in front of my eyes.

"You heard it right. Apologize to her right now." I said pointing towards Saavi.

"Dhruv, stop creating a scene," said Maasi, and Muffin tried to pull me back but I was adamant.

"No, Maasi I am not creating a scene. She will have to apologize to Saavi and you as well."

"That's what your dead parents have taught you?" I was losing my patience but before I could reply someone else did.

"Vinita." Everyone heard the deep and intimidating voice of my grandfather. He came and took that old lady while Maasi followed them. As soon as I took my seat Muffin hugged me and started rubbing my back.

"Dhruv, calm down, please," she said which was enough to bring back my tranquility.

Muffin was trying to pretend she was fine, but I knew she wasn't. My friends and the rest were trying to pass jokes to cheer up our mood. Little One was not there when everything happened and I asked all of them present there not to tell her otherwise she wouldn't have been able to handle and the part where the lady shamelessly brought my parents in the conversation was hurting but I managed to not break anything somehow.

Maasi came back after a while and we proceeded with the ceremony. Saavi and I were soon done with the ceremony.

"Dhriti take Saavi with you and Dhruv you go with Namit," Maasi said.

"But the ritual isn't completed yet Maasi." said my sister.

"So, is everyone ready?" she asked and I knew they all were up to something big. All of them had already made me and muffin yellow by smearing the paste on us during the ceremony. I was wondering what else was left when I heard, "Yes." her gang yelled and soon I was drenched with water that they all splashed on me with buckets.

"Little One," I yelled. She poked her tongue out at me and ran away.

I took. my revenge by drenching everyone with water except my little one, she was being smart but I was her brother only.

"Namit, get your wife."

"yes, boss," he said and started chasing her.

"Namit, this is not fair. You can't take Dhruv's side."

"Everything is fair in love and war sweetheart." Soon she was in his hold.

"Dhruv, I won't spare you, I am telling you," she shouted wiggling in Namit's hold and had clenched her eyes shut.

"We will see my little one," I said before covering her face with the turmeric paste that spoiled her dress as well and threw a bucket full of water making her and Namit drenched.

"One person is still left," I mumbled.

"Who?" Dhriti asked and I gestured her towards Saavi smirking while she winked at me.

"Come, let's go," she said and cleaned her face first with Namit's help.

"Hi, Bhabhi," Dhriti said in her teasing tone, and muffin got alarmed sensing something was wrong.

"So, Dhruv was thinking in all this fun we missed something."

"What?" my soon to be wife asked in her innocent voice.

"You."

"Me?" she asked but soon her eyes widened at the realization.

"n..no." she stuttered shaking her head.

"yes," I whispered from the back and covered her face with the left turmeric paste.

"Dhruv." she yelled while I laughed looking at her.

"Smile please." I heard Namit and I made muffin look at the camera while my eyes were at her.

"You look so cute," I said pulling her cheeks and again covered her with turmeric but this time she pulled the bowl from my hand and did the same.

"Idiot," she muttered under her breath.

"Marshmellow," Kiaan called her and handed her a bucket of water that she splashed on me smiling.

"You just wait, muffin," I yelled but my sister helped her in escaping from me.

I stopped looking at her smiling, finally, she was happy. I couldn't catch her because before I could Maasi came back and took her. I went back and took a shower while everyone was still enjoying and playing outside. I could hear their giggling, yelling, and the sound of water. Kiaan and Arjun were pushed to the swimming pool before I went back inside and that was one hell of a scene.

After taking shower my food was sent to the room only and I was instructed to take a rest for the whole day by Maasi as the next day was going to be very tiring because a lot of rituals were to be followed since the next morning.

Just when I was about to sleep my phone beeped with a message. I looked at the message and smiled. I was about to have a very good sleep as the message was quite pleasing.

It was from Andrew that said, "Lucifer is dead."

******

Saavi

******

I was tired when I was done with the Haldi ceremony. Maasi came with a lot of food and fed me, even when I was full she didn't stop till the food got finished. After she was done, she asked me to take a rest and when I laid down all the things that happened a while ago started coming back to me.

'How can you let Dhruv marry an orphan?'

'Who knows what kind of blood is in her system?'

The words were ringing inside my head.

The blood in my system was as pure as holy water but I would rather like to be called an orphan instead of telling people whose daughter I was. My tears had betrayed and to stop thinking about all the shit I slept.

******

"Saavi, here, drink this," Dhriti said giving me a glass of juice.

"Sonia, did you get your dress yet?" Dhriti asked Sonia and Sonia nodded in response.

"Adya, go and have some rest," Dhriti said pacing here and there and handling stuff.

"Calm down Shatabdi [Shatabdi is the fastest train in India]." Adya mocked Dhriti who was busy handling everything like a pro. She was busy since morning, trying to help everyone and keeping a check on me every now and then. Since I wasn't allowed to have food till the marriage, I was made to drink juice and fruits and Dhriti made sure Adya and I didn't skip our dose. There were a lot of rituals that I was a part of since morning and right now I was made to have some rest but I was getting bored. I wanted to help too.

"Adya, do you want me to call Ishaan here?" Aditi threatened her, sensing, that she was not ready to leave the room anytime soon.

"Okay, okay, don't be angry, I am going." Saying this she got up and left not before telling me that she would be back soon.

"Getting bored?" Niharika asked sitting beside me while I nodded pouting at her.

"Don't worry it's just a matter of a couple of hours, after that, Dhruv won't let you get bored," Riddhi replied winking at me and I blushed hearing her comment.

"Of course, I don't think you are going to sleep tonight," Shruti said smirking. At that moment, I wanted nothing more than the earth to open and swallow me.

"Guys, you all have half an hour, I won't repeat, just go and have some rest for a while," Dhriti announced and I thanked her in mind for saving me.

The clock struck four and Dhriti laid down on the bed being tired.

"You know, you should sleep for an hour," I suggested to her. She was exhausted and was working consistently since morning.

"Exactly, she is right." Riddhi agreed with me.

"I can't. A lot of things are left to be done and in a few minutes the make-up artist will come to doll up our pretty bride."

"But you are tiring yourself," I said looking at her tired and pale face.

"Not at all. It's so good, doing all this for my brother. I couldn't enjoy Ishaan Bhai's marriage and I don't want the same."

"But at least take a short nap. When the make-up artist will come I will inform you." I said.

"But...."

Cutting her off in mid Aditi said sternly, "No buts and ifs..."

"Please, please, please." I pleaded and she sighed giving in. She slept while I talked to Aditi and Riddhi for a while.

After half an hour the make-up artist came and I woke up Dhriti. She felt refreshed after the nap and also ate something on my request otherwise she would have starved herself. The artists and I went to the room attached to the one I was in through the small door as advised by Dhriti. I was sent with two while the others assisted the rest of the girls outside.

My make-up was done, so I wore my blouse and was still in the trouser. After my hair was done I changed my outfit but hadn't even taken a glance at myself in the mirror. The two artists were working as if I was their canvas. After the tiring session of making me a bride was done, they pinned the veil over my head and then nodded at each other as if they both were satisfied with their work. I went out where the others were getting ready.

"She is ready." one of the artists announced and when everyone's eyes turned to me none of them responded making me feel that I was not looking good. That was the insecurity I was getting ready with, that if I don't look good enough, what if Dhruv doesn't like me. Though those were baseless insecurities but stopping my brain from thinking such nonsense stuff was an unachievable challenge.

When none of them said anything the artist cleared her throat making all of them exclaim together, "Wow!"

"Oh My God! Dhruv will be flattered," Riddhi said hugging me. After she pulled back Adya came towards me and said,

"Exactly, he will not be able to speak."

"Speak? Bhaiya will not be able to blink." Simran commented winking at me and I smiled shyly.

"Exactly," Shruti said.

"Bhabhi, you look gorgeous." Sonia hugged me too.

"You are looking so beautiful." Shruti, Aditi, and Nitya said in unison.

"You are going to knock the senses out of my brother tonight." Dhriti was the last to compliment me.

"Do I look good?" I wanted a genuine answer, the appropriate one that I wasn't going to disappoint my groom.

"Good? Do you even know how are you looking today?" I shook my head and holding my shoulders Dhriti turned me towards the mirror making my eyes widened. I couldn't believe that I could ever look like that. The girl in the mirror in the red lehenga was looking ethereal. Looking at my reflection the only thought that came to my mind was, is this me? Truth to be told, I loved the bride self on mine.