"That's like my sweetheart."
He spoke and she couldn't help but smile widely.

"Happy?"
She asked pointing to herself and he nodded. She once again smiled widely. He was such a jolly guy. Can't even remain annoyed for five whole minutes.

"Very. Now let's go. I need a charger."
He said and took her wrist to drag her out but she stopped him.

"Wait a minute old man. I literally have the most simple hairstyle. Let me do may hair in something good."

He slumped his shoulders and sighed thinking that she was better before.
"How much time? I want a charger."

She shook her head and took out a charger from her bag. And handed it to him. He took it and kept his phone for charging. He turned towards her to find her opening her braid and letting her hip length hair down. He couldn't help but ask

"What style are you gonna make of your hair?"

"French Braid."

Something clicked in his mind and he asked
"That one which is just as simple as your 3 strand right? It just starts from a little top of the head right?"

"Absolutely." She said looking at him through the mirror and within one second he was in front of her and showing her a photo of a different kind of braid on her phone.

"Do this one. I, by mistake, saw this in your library. If you do this I'll cook whatever you want. Promise."
He said and handed her the phone and left her.

Sameera looked at the photo and smiled. He was a demanding guy and anyways, she always wanted to that kind of braid and show off her hair which she has grown for more that 10 years.

She sat down in front of mirror and started doing it. Her braid was almost completed when the door burst open and Shrithik entered with a bouquet of Rajnigandha ( Tuberose) flowers. She turned around and looked at him with a confused expression while he just kept them in front of her and said

"Put these flowers in your braid."

She gave him a dead expression and said
"Don't be ridiculous. I'm not gonna- ahh"

Instead of listening to anything he himself started putting the Rajnigandha flowers

In her braid like this which came down till her knee.

(Imagine the tuberose flowers in place of the roses.)

After a minute or so he was done. Keeping his chin on her head and looking at her through the mirror he spoke

"Now you are looking like an actual sweetheart. But you need to smile."
He laughed at her angry expression.

"I hate you. I will really not talk to you you bastard."
She snarled and stood up and strode out of the room leaving a laughing Shrithik alone.

Mumbling incoherent words she made her way to the boys' room. She was very angry at him. Wasn't it enough that she wore that dress and even made the kind of braid he asked for? Were the flowers necessary?

With an extremely angry face she opened the door of the room with a great force and strode inside.

But stopped midway into the room. Jay, Shivam, Raj, Shrishti, Pihu and Maaya were there. Staring at her. She literally banged the door to the wall when she arrived. Her expression faltered and she tried to smile. She started feeling shy. Sameera was a very shy girl. Very. Nobody knows it but she is.

The three guys literally had their breath hitched. She was looking gorgeous. No. Gorgeous couldn't even describe her beauty.

"You are looking.......mesmerizing."
Pihu spoke and the girls nodded.

"Thanks.......I guess?"
Maaya laughed at her and walked towards her. And then asked

"What's your footwear?"

Sameera shrugged. She never had anything other than sandals.

"Sandals?"

"To hell with those boys' sandals. Wear my heels."
Saying this Maaya gave Sameera her heels.

"I'm not gonna wear this thing. I have my sandals and they are in a good condition."

"Shut up Sameera. Wear these."
Shrishti snapped and Sameera pouted and then started mumbling

"You people do like this and not listen to me. You don't love me. Have you ever thought of the consequences? I may pour a full bottle of Fevicol on your head and ruin your hair or I can just pour ink on your dresses. Or I can-"

"Shut up, Sameera. Wear these."
Maaya spoke and kept her heels in front of her. Sameera sighed and wore them. It's not like she had any choice.

"Now that everyone's ready. Shall we go?"

"Of course."

_______________________________

The Sangeet function was at one of the hotels of the Singhals. People were giving their performances and Sameera was sitting in a corner, eating.

Then she saw Shrithik coming towards her mumbling something very fast. As soon as he neared her she could hear what he was saying

"These people are the reason why this world is so corrupted. If a girl has said no, then it is no. Why keep bugging her. Then after you have done such hardwork, you couldn't bear her refusal so either you murder her or throw acid on her face. Th-"

"Enough. Enough tiger. What even happened to get you so hyped up?"
Sameera asked as he pulled a chair and sat beside her.

"People are my problem. They don't know what's right or what's wrong. Can't even use common sense."
He huffed and opened his mouth wide so Sameera could feed him.

Their relationship has developed in an utterly different manner for Sameera. She was way more close to Shrithik than she was to Maaya. It was not because she felt a different pull to him or anything. No.

Sameera was a very simple girl who was very conscious of what she does in front of others. The only people who know her well are the people who have lived with her. Because she didn't mind crying at home or laughing without any reason. Because she can't control her crying all the time. And she also took the quote 'Let them see you, but not know you' very seriously.

And Shrithik was just same as her. Male version of her. So it was a little more easy for them to connect and for him to understand her. And the thing was that he never let anything make things between them awkward. He was always normal. Even when they slept together, when he back hugged her or when she is feeding him.

She was sometimes creeped out by how well he could say some things so cliche with a straight face. It was annoying. So now, back to present she kept a spoon full of lemon rice in his mouth and asked

"Why? What happened now?"

He sighed. He was really bad at telling someone what happened. He looked around and his eyes lit up. Then he pointed his finger towards a chair where Mayank was sitting and spoke

"Look there."
She nodded and looked intently at Mayank.

He was sitting with a sad expression. Then a little while later Kaashiv came to him and ran his hand through his hair.

"What happened dear why are you so sad?"
He asked and Mayank sighed

"I asked Rhea out and she turned me down."
Kaashiv laughed loudly and Mayank pouted

"Laugh. Laugh as much you want papa. Tease me."

Laughing Kaashiv shook his head
"No. It's not like that. You know what to do now, right?"

Mayank nodded
"Yeah. Keep trying."

"Yeah. That's like my boy. Come on, cheer up now"
Saying this he fist bumped the little boy and left.

Sameera then spoke, keeping her spoon in her plate
"That's wrong. If someone has turned you down that's it. Why bother them?"

"Exactly!"
Shrithik spoke and handed a glass of water to her.

"But the people tell them to keep trying and instead of trying the person bugs them. What if the other person is in serious trouble or is creeped out by you. I would totally beat the shit out of someone who would bug me."
He once again mumbled and she laughed.

"But what am I supposed to do now? I'm full but there are so many dishes left."
She said looking back at the food table, and speaking totally out of the topic. Shrithik sighed and stood up.

"What you are supposed to do is-"
She turned towards him and he took her wrist.

"Tell that micro man that he should not bug the girl."
Saying this he pulled her up. But unfortunately he used a little more force and her body slammed into his.
They came so close that their noses were touching. She was standing on her toes which were on his feet. His one hand was holding her wrist in air and the other one was holding her waist.

Both of their heart rates took their pace. Slowly he leaned in and touched his forehead with hers. Breathing really heavily he spoke

"Thank god you don't dress up daily. I'm literally having my heart rate sky rocketing."
Shrithik was mesmerized by her. How beautiful, elegant and simple she was looking. He has never seen anybody like her ever.

Sameera looked down at his lips. Just one centimetre away from hers. She was so much controlling herself to not kiss him. It's not the first time. From the day she has met him she get these random urges to kiss him.

Suddenly a song from the background changed and both of them came to their senses.

Pushing each other back they straightened up.

"I..I...I should go. I'll tell Mayank to not bug the girl. Bye."
He watched as she spoke, blushing widely and quickly walked past him.

He couldn't control the upwards tug of his lips. She was really something when flustered.

______________________________

Sangeet Function: The word "Sangeet" means music, but when it is used as a term to describe a celebratory event during an Indian wedding it translates to Music Night or Musical party. This musical night is a celebration of the union of not only the couple but the bonding of both families