◀PLAYLIST FOR THIS EPISODE▶

*****

Chapter 34 (Blockbuster)

Unfurling the beautifully wrapped package, Vihaan found a white envelope placed on top of an another box. As he tore open the envelope, a small packet of cupcake fell out of it.

Taking the eatable in his other hand, he began to read the handwritten letter, placed inside the envelope along with the cupcake.

¶

Dear Special Friend,

I know this is weird of how I'm writing a traditional letter to you in this age of modernization, cellphone and WhatsApp. You must be thinking I've gone crazy but sometimes it's better to realize that arguments with you are of no use. Hence, I decided to send you my letter of sincere apologies and meaningful pleadings in the way it used to be during the olden times.

First of all, I'm sorry for not telling you about the messages from the previous day. It wasn't me but rather Vidya who had fooled around with my cellphone, though I've really wanted to go to shopping for the Bundela family, with you.

Secondly, I know it's wrong to keep pestering you with things that annoy you but I think I'll do it one last time. The box beneath the envelope contains a dress that I've specifically got designed for you so that you could wear it for your brother's real wedding.

You may be frowning or snorting your nose at the moment but please do not turn down this letter before reading it in full. I have a few things to tell you which I can't do face to face, since we always end up arguing.

Now listen, attending or not-attending the wedding is totally your choice. Not-attending will give you, and only you some temporary happiness and self satisfaction. But if you really choose the other way round, you'll be able to bring a smile to your mom and dad's face, but especially it's your adorable elder brother who will be the happiest man. He deserves his little brother beside him on this day.

By drooling over your past memories, you are indirectly giving them more importance than anyone else in your life. You are ignoring and hurting your near and dear ones in the process. You are keeping yourself aloof from everything because you think you are trying to avoid them. You are attempting to live in the lonely world of your own when the reality is completely different and I hope you get my point. 

I won't force you because I will respect your decision as always. It may be possible that after today, you'll stop seeing me, talking to me but I do wish you'll attend both the ceremonies, today's 'Henna' evening and tomorrow's 'Marriage'.

I know that was hell a lot of rantings for you but then do not skip the next paragraphs. It is very special to me.

The little piece of cupcake in your hand is only for you and holds more weightage for me than the dress I gifted you. Don't worry, it's less spicy. Cupcake holds a special place in my heart because it's my best friend during loneliness. I always turn to it whenever I'm fatigued out and it never leaves my side.

I've never shared this piece of cupcake with anyone else other than my grandmother back home. I wanted to share one with Shay but before I developed my love for cupcakes, he had left Gwalior. I wanted to share one with Vidya but she hated sweet dishes. I never told her for it.

Though I have unknowingly fed you the cupcake when you had fainted at the orphanage, today is the day when I am sharing one with you knowingly. I don't know why I felt I must gift it to you and I did. Not because I want to persuade you for anything but something I feel genuinely for you.

More than cupcakes, Shay or Vidya, it's only you before whom I've started opening myself to, gradually. It's you who have earned my trust, my only light in darkness, my only walking stick in loneliness and my only fluent word in the new chapter of my stuttering life!

Yours truly,
Hickory.

¶

Folding the letter and replacing the cupcake back in place, Vihaan opened the next box. The navy blue Achkan captured his attention. A heart rendering smile appeared on his lips as he walked into his room.

Replacing the best gifts of his life in his drawer, he muttered to himself, "That was a big newspaper analysis that she wrote to me. I didn't know she was such a great analyst to analyze my pains and problems so easily. She said that the letter is not to persuade me for anything but it was how tactfully she persuaded me in each and every precious line of hers."

Opening the drawer again, he took out his old drawing book, the one that had recently been used in a month. The topmost white sheet contained the beautiful pencil sketch of a sleeping beauty, the scene of how gorgeous Sanchi looked in her sleep. Scrolling his thumb across his own figure in the sketch, the same pose of how his palm held on to her in sleep.

He smiled again, tighter this time. "I don't know how but this sketch helps me to sleep nowadays, even without those sedatives. She doesn't even know how she has affected me in the past couple of months and she brings out the good in me."

Keeping the sketch back in place, he murmured again, "I'm coming Hickory, to tonight's 'henna' ceremony and to tomorrow's marriage. My brother may need me beside him but I know I need to be beside you!"

***** 

Vidya was seated in their hallway with both her palms stretched out for the henna artists to illustrate their designs on her skin.

Glancing over to Sanchi, who was helping Garima in the kitchen, Vidya told Nikita, the henna artist, "Even she'll be coming over to apply henna on her palms. I want you to scribble her husband Vihaan's name on them but you shouldn't let her know before doing it."

As Vidya informed Nikita, Sanchi walked over to Vidya with a tray of soft drinks and snacks. "Vidya, you have-n't had any-thing since after-noon. I brought you some-thing to eat."

"I will, keep it there and join me in this." Vidya chirped, flaunting her designs to Sanchi.

Placing the tray on the tea table, Sanchi took a seat beside Vidya. "I will cho-ose some other desi-gns."

An hour passed since the designs were being illustrated on the hands of the girls. Sanchi wasn't concentrating on what was taking place around her but her eyes were focused only to the main entrance.

Sanchi was eagerly waiting for the groom's family, especially her high hopes on Vihaan. He didn't give her a call or a message since they had last met a few hours ago. She wondered if her letter was really effective or else she would prepare herself to face his wrath. 

The peach coloured shimmering suit that Sanchi was wearing was gifted to her by Garima for the special occasion. Makeup artists were also hired to tidy the girls for the whole of the marriage ceremony till the reception.

With braided hair, curled side locks and the decent makeover, Sanchi was ready to steal the show after Vidya. Of course, Vidya was the bride and she would as usual be made to look the most gorgeous woman present there.

"Wh-at did you do?" Sanchi yelled as soon as she saw Vihaan's name inscribed on her palms.

"Don't touch it and even if you do, nothing will happen. It has already dried." Vidya winked at her.

"Was it your plan aga-in? Why are you do-ing this with me? You know I don't feel any-thing for Vihaan. I rea-lly don't. We are just good fri-ends." Sanchi nodded her head vigorously.

"You do but you don't want to commit to it. Even Dheeraj and I were good friends but we fell in love. So what's the harm with your relationship with Vihaan?" Vidya said, smiling at Sanchi's henna-filled palms.

"You won't under-stand, Vidya. I just can't carry for-ward my relation-ship with any-body. We are better be-ing friends." Sanchi refused sternly.

Bending towards Sanchi, Vidya spoke in a serious voice, "They say 'if your henna colour grows darker on your palms, your husband loves you more than you can imagine'. And what I see is your henna color getting deeper than mine."

"These are all supers-titions, Vidya. I don't beli-eve," Sanchi remarked annoyingly before disappearing into the kitchen.

***** 

Time passed since Sanchi was in the kitchen, directing the maids to serve food and drinks to the guests. It was very disappointing to her that Vihaan hadn't attended the ceremony that evening. She wondered if he hadn't seen her gift or else he was definitely mad at her. She had already met Durga, Virendra and Dheeraj in the hallway but Vihaan hadn't accompanied them.

Checking her mobile every ten minutes, she couldn't stop her gloomy tears from coming. Vihaan hadn't even sent her a text stating that he wouldn't be attending it and it was evident that she had completely pissed him. She was even wondering whether she should attend the bureau again after the holidays since she wouldn't be able to face him.

With so many contemplating thoughts clouding her mind, she felt an iron hand caging her wrist and pulling her behind, to walk down the passageway. It only released her hand when they had reached the backyard of the Trivedi house.

The night was warm and soothing with the mild breeze blowing around them. Most of the darkness was consumed by the exterior lighting coming from the house. Sanchi's face lit up against the shimmering lights when her pretty brown eyes found what she had been waiting for so long. "Vih-aan!"

As Sanchi lifted her palm to feel him if he was in real, Vihaan's eyes fell on the spot where his name was inscribed on her palm.

"You wrote my name out there but why?" Vihaan asked simply, without any accusation or anger in his voice.

Sanchi felt her breath racing away faster as if she had met a wild animal amidst the jungle. "I... I am sorry. I did-n't do it. I mean... That girl art-ist did." Gulping a little, she added, "Vidya did this prank inten-tionally. I rea-lly didn't mean to."

Vihaan's bright face and expectant eyes fell out of line as if he was expecting some other answer from her. He took a few moments to move back to reality before replying, "Vidya plays pranks on you every now and then."

Sanchi quickly remembered the shopping mall prank that she had already confessed to him in the letter. "I'm so-rry. I told her ma-ny a times not to do it but she would-n't listen."

Vihaan nodded. "I know but where were you? I was waiting to meet you during the dancing and singing ceremony inside but you didn't appear. I asked the servant and he informed me that you were in the kitchen."

"Did you... I mean you were the-re to attend the cere-mony?" Sanchi was dumbstruck.

Vihaan slipped his hand inside his coat pocket and took out the cupcake that Sanchi had given him. "I came later. Brother started from home half an hour earlier before me and my parents accompanied him. I was finishing some work and arrived later."

"Oh!" Sanchi's eyes shifted to the cupcake in his hand. "Wh-at's with this?"

"You sent me something which is so special to you. I can't have it all to myself without sharing it with you," Vihaan said with a sweet smile, thrusting a little of the cupcake into her mouth.

Sanchi's mouth couldn't even move as some of the old words of her own grandmother flashed across her mind. "So what if you couldn't share your favorite cupcake with the favorite people in your life. Shay or Vidya may have left to their own ways but, one day you'll definitely find someone who will reciprocate to your pure emotions. Someone will definitely embrace your cupcake as his own and share it with you as if it was really his own."

"Sanchi!" Vihaan shook her shoulder lightly. "Did I do something wrong?"

Sanchi didn't answer, except thinking to herself. "You rea-lly did very wrong Vih-aan. You are dig-ging the most restrict-ed corner of my heart."

Vihaan interrupted again, "I can't understand what you are thinking but you don't seem to be really happy with what I did."

"No Vih-aan, it's just..." Sanchi stopped again.

"I apologize if that's the case. I wouldn't have fed you if you didn't have that henna on your hands," He said, thrusting the rest of the cupcake into his own mouth.

There was a prominent silence between them until Sanchi broke it. "Are you com-ing tomo-rrow to the wed-ding?"

Vihaan gave a small smile before answering, "I think my presence here gives you the answer. If I have come here today for the ceremony, I'll be coming tomorrow as well. Isn't it why you wrote that big analysis to me?"

Sanchi agreed. "I didn't rea-lly want to go again-st your princi-ples and write that letter to con-vince you. But you know it was impor-tant."

"So you did nothing on your own for me!" Vihaan uttered and pursed his lips in the next moment. Quickly recomposing himself, he added, "I mean all the pranks from the shopping mall to the henna were done by your best friend!"

Sanchi nodded in affirmation. "She did and I've al-ready apolo-gized."

Moving apart from her, he was ready to leave the backyard when he turned to her again. "You didn't really need to write about the last day's pranks in that letter.... I already knew you couldn't have written such things to me because if you really did, you would have had a different expression on your face today!"

When Vihaan left, Sanchi gasped for breath. "I didn't rea-lly under-stand most of the things that he utter-ed tonight. His eyes really want-ed me to feed him the cup-cake and he was wait-ing for me. He didn't look the same joy-ous Vihaan when he found out that I didn't do these pranks my-self. Maybe I'm wrong and just over-thinking every-thing. He consi-ders me to be only his friend and we're bet-ter with it."

***** 

The turmeric ceremony commenced in the early afternoon next day, at the backyard of the Trivedi house. The married women of the neighborhood along with Sanchi and Garima were performing the rituals with Vidya, applying the bright yellow turmeric paste all across her semi-bare skin.

Sanchi was wearing a piquant golden yellow chiffon saree, beautifully draped around her soft fluffy-like skin. The ends of the translucent material were folded in thin pleats and neatly pinned in place on top of her left shoulder. Her hair was tied up in a neat bun with the front curls loosely hanging from her side temples. The sacred thread and the vermilion mark on her added more to the beauty of a newly married woman.

After the rituals got over, Vidya left for her own room to take the shower. The parlour girls would be arriving any time soon to tidy her up to be the drop-dead gorgeous bride of the evening.

Sanchi stood as a silent witness to the turmeric game being played among the married women. They were accompanied by their husbands who were applying turmeric on them and Sanchi felt ill-at-ease.

Garima placed her hand on Sanchi's shoulder. "This is one of the rituals where newlyweds play such games of applying turmeric on each other and enjoy the moment they couldn't share during their own marriage. It's just fun but people do believe that sharing this ritual together helps in increasing the love that the married couples already possess."

Seeing Sanchi's gloomy face, Garima spoke again, "I know you are upset because Vihaan isn't here to share the ritual with you. You didn't allow me to invite him for this ritual and now look at your face."

Sanchi chose to remain silent and Garima left soon after. Sanchi was contemplating with her own thoughts. "How can I deny this marr-iage with him? What-ever might be the condi-tions, I'm marr-ied in real to him. The scared thr-ead, the vermi-lion are all for real. How can I ref-use?"

Sanchi's puckered face arched into a gleaming one when her eyes saw Vihaan approaching her in quick strides. Breaths hitched and limbs frozen, Sanchi stood gaping at him for she couldn't believe her eyes. As he neared her, he was passing her a happy smile and halted very near her.

"Vih-aan!" Sanchi cupped her own chin in confusion.

Replacing her palms off her face gently, Vihaan brushed his own cheek against hers to let the turmeric blend into his own skin. Unable to react to such a hasty situation, Sanchi closed her eyes in nervousness. Vihaan saw the tensed look on her face and smiled to himself.

Collecting a little turmeric on to his slender fingers from the bowl next to them, he smeared both her cheeks with the auspicious paste. Sanchi was panting heavily when Vihaan's arm encircled the small of her bare back. Pulling her closer to him, he trailed his fingers from her bare nape down to her arms, marking her with the turmeric.

"Vih-aan..." Sanchi moaned as his warm fingers crawled along her bare navel.

Sliding the chiffon material off her tummy, he exposed the bare skin beneath it. As Sanchi felt his fingers grazing her at her sensitive belly button, she embraced him in an instant. "Vih-aan, ple-ase!"

"Vihaan is in the living room, Vanya. He's come to deliver the sweets and parcels representing the groom's family. Go and arrange some lunch for him." Garima shook a frozen Sanchi.

"Vih-aan?"

"Yes he's there in the living room, waiting to be attended upon," Garima repeated, "Why are you sweating that much, my girl?"

Sanchi couldn't believe her eyes when she stared at her arms. There wasn't any turmeric mark on them. "I need to chan-ge, aunt. You please han-dle every-thing out there."

Without waiting for Garima's reply, Sanchi hurriedly paved her way to her room through the backdoor. Never in her life had she faced such an embarrassing situation!

***** 

The intense romantic daydream was very embarrassing to Sanchi. Rubbing her face with a wet towel, she looked at her mutilated figure in the room mirror. She hadn't expected to dream anything as such and she closed her eyes in embarrassment again.

It was only Vihaan's smiling face replaying in her mind again and she opened her eyes hastily. Remembering all of Vidya's words and the good memories she had created with Vihaan, it wasn't anymore difficult for her to realize that she had already fallen for the arrogant jerk. The arrogant jerk who had changed all his rude ways only for her.

"If it was not true, I would-n't have dreamt of such a thi-ng with him. All my long-ing and care for him, shar-ing my favorite cup-cake with him and wait-ing to see him even for once proves that I have fall-en for this hand-somely rude man. I have fallen in love with Vih-aan and I can never deny it ever. I love only this arro-gant jerk and there can never be an ano-ther denial!"

Sanchi covered her face with her palms, crying to her heart's content. "Fall-ing in love was never my agen-da in life since I left home. Then why did it hap-pen, God? I conti-nued fight-ing my emotions not to fall for some-one but Vih-aan had dug the restrict-ed corner of my heart so quick-ly even before I realized."

Composing herself for some more time, she moved out of the room. She knew she was supposed to meet him at the hallway. "From here, my jour-ney does-n't begin to win him with my love but it will