Aditi's point of view

Saharanpur,

The place I had born 23 years ago, the place where I have been grown up from the day I opened my eyes. This is the place when I saw him first time, this is the place where I fell in love with my handsome neighbour.

This place had given me so much, my so called family, my so called parents, my best friend Divya, a brother like Raghav and him. There is so many memories about this place I am attached with. I have spent my childhood here, no matter how worst it was but this place have a different place in my heart.

This city witnessed my tears, my smile, my love for him everything. This city knows me batter than anyone. But I don't know where I got wrong that this city snatched everything from me, my dignity, my self respect everything and just throw me like I was nothing for it.

A lone tear drop from my eyes, looking at these same streets and lanes, I am entering after almost 9 years.

"You okay?"

I wipped my tear and smiled looking at Dhruv who was driving the car. I hold his hand which was on my thighs and assured him. He put back his hand on the steering wheel again.

"How much time it will take to reach Preeti's house?" I asked.

Today Dhruv and I came to Saharanpur to attend Preeti and Siddharth's wedding. We got late as we woke up late in the morning and has to buy a wedding gift for Preeti and Siddharth. I don't know how Preeti will change but I have a image of her same innocent and beautiful girl. I hope her would be husband Siddharth adore her innocence and love her the way she is.

"We are almost here." He turn the steering wheel to the right side and I can see tents, garlands and whole set-up of wedding. I was so excited to meet the girl I am fond of.

****

When we reached Preeti's home, we were welcomed by her parents and siblings. Everyone knows who is Dhruv and why not he was the topper of UPSC civil services of his batch and when someone top the most difficult exam of India, no matter if the person still lives in the city, everyone knows. He was all over the newspapers when he top the exam.

I was unaware of his fame till I started following UPSC pages. He is pretty famous.

Preeti's mom send me to Preeti's room and her cousin Puja show me her room while Dhruv stay with Preeti's siblings and jiju. Without knocking the door we entered inside the room ans there were already many ladies giving final touch up to their makeup but my eyes only stop to the girl who was sitting on the bed in a bridal avatar, bending her eyes lower. Her natural blush failed the make-up artist's fake blush. Indeed she was looking adorable. Years ago I had seen her when she was just a teenager and now she is grown to a beautiful woman but time could not snatch her innocence away.

I don't know what is she feeling right now because I was scared and fright at my wedding day till Dhruv come and make me his bride. But she must be nervous right now. I can see her chest heaving up and down. She was trying to calm herself.

"Preeti di.." She lifted her eyes and looked at the girl who was standing beside me. I forgot, she was her cousin Puja.

"You friend from your school come to meet you." Her cousin introduce me to her but she was looking at me with confusion from her beautiful orbs. I smiled and walked to her.

"Hi, I am Aditi. We met in our school. I also came to Shivani di and Aniti jiju wedding." I introduced myself and tried to remind her about me.

"Aditi Tripathi...?" She asked in confusion. I chuckled softly and shake  my head, ignoring the pang of pain, I feel putting my old surname behind my name.

"Aditi Dhruv Malhotra now..." I again introduce myself and she smiled slowly.

"I am sorry.." She whispered a sorry, giving me her small smile.

"It's okay, it happens." I assured her.

"After you leave the school, we did not get in touch."

"I wish I never leave the school. I could be with you at least. " We both chuckled at the same time.

"How you come to know about my wedding?" She asked.

"You contacted to my husband and asked him to come with his family to your wedding?" I tried to remind her and her eyes become wide in shock.

"So you mean, you are the wife of Dhruv Malhotra the same person you crushed on from our school days?" She asked and I nodded my head as yes.

"But how you guys find each other on social media because you both are introvert?" I asked to her.

"He texted me first and after changing few words I told him about my marriage and asked him to come with his family but he didn't tell me that he is married." She said.

"Does he love you?" She asked.

I smiled sadly and shake my head as no, "I don't know. We don't marry like normal people. We are married but I am still unaware of his feelings. He never said anything."

"Leave about me. Tell me something about your husband" I asked. A small smile came her lips and her eyelids lower down when she blushed.

"Siddharth and I both met through our parents." She whispered.

"Do you guys have arranged marriage?" I asked while having a teasing smile on my lips but she shake her head still bending her head down.

"It is arranged marriage with love." She said while looking to her right to the nightstand. My eyes follow her gaze and there was picture of Siddharth putting on it.

I still feel that I have seen Siddharth somewhere but I could not recall where I have seen him. Maybe not him but the younger version of him.

"What happened?" Preeti asked when I keep gazing Siddharth's picture without blinking.

"Preeti I don't know why but I feel like I met Siddharth somewhere. Did he come to India when he was young? I think I have seen him Shivani di's wedding." I asked and now Preeti also looked lost.

"Puja..." She called her cousin who was sitting beside her making a hair of one lady.

"Yes di...?" She asked while coming closer to her.

"Bring Shivani di and Anit jiju's wedding album from my almirah." She spoke in such a low voice that only Puja and I could hear. Puja nodded her head and bring The album from Preeti's Almirah. After giving that to us, puja again resume making the hair of that lady.

We both are flipping the pages of album, ignoring all the pictures of Shivani di and Anit jiju and only focus on Siddharth to know of he came into her marriage because I am sure, I have seen him before.

"Stop.." Suddenly my eyes fell on something and I asked Preeti to turn the page again. It was a picture of some of her relative but I can see someone in the background of the picture. I look closely and I was confirm it was them.

"See, I told you I have seen him before."  Preeti looked the picture closely and she could not believe to her eyes.

It was a picture when Preeti bumped to Siddharth and they both lost in each other while I was smiling looking at both of them.

"You meet your husband, even before you know each other." I smiled looking at the picture and then her.

"I forget about this." There was a smile on her face she traces her fingers to the picture.

"Aditi, your husband can't even spend a minute without you." Mine and Preeti's eyes went to the door and saw Dhruv is walling inside the room with Anit jiju.

I stood up from the bed and stood beside him.

"Don't bother, please sit." Dhruv stopped Preeti when he was struggling with her beautiful lehenga and tried to stand up.

"So Aditi tell me why is your husband so impatient that he wants to see you?" Anit jiju teased us and I looked at Dhruv who was smiling looking down.

I also didn't say anything and smiled looking down.

"So this IAS officer is smitten by his beautiful wife that he couldn't even say anything." Aniti jiju bumped his shoulder to Dhruv.

"It.. it's noth... nothing like that. Wo Actually I.....I..." Dhruv tried to came up with something but he failed.

"Yeah...yeah...we..kn...."

"Preeti di Siddharth jiju came with Barat." Before Anit jiju said anything Puja announced to everyone and hearing that Preeti's cheek turned into red and a tears brims into her eyes.

Ladies and girls went to balcony to see the barat. Puja hold my hand and she bring me to the balcony to see the barat. Siddharth was sitting on horse while his friends and sister were dancing with sun glasses. Everyone laughing seeing at them while Siddharth's eyes went to the balcony again and again but to his sadness his bride sitting on the bed feeling nervous, waiting for his groom.

I wished for this wedding. I wish Dhruv also bring barat to my house and we both took phere in the presence of our family and friends.

"Come, let's welcome them." Puja took other girls to downstairs to welcome the Barat. I smiled and again went inside the room. Dhruv was waiting for me patiently.

"Shell we...?" Dhruv asked and I nodded my head. I informed Preeti that we are waited for her downstairs in the mandhap and she nodded her head. She was feeling nervous but her friends came to comfort her.

Dhruv and I came downstairs and have our lunch after that we sit on the chairs in the mandhap where Siddharth was already present waiting for his bride.

After sometime Preeti came and when they both looked at each other, they had tears in their eyes but they were full of love and adoration for each other. I saw girls to cry but I am seeing a man crying for his bride when he looked at her first time in a bridal avatar.

They really love each other.

When Siddharth and Preeti taking the vows of their wedding Dhruv and I both looking at them without blinking, lost in our wedding. Every girl dream about her wedding day. It's not about the spending money on unnecessary things but it's all about the excitement you feel about the wedding rituals, getting teased by your friends and cousins but nervous at the same time that you are going to start your new life with your forever.

Dhruv and I did the seven pheras around the sacred fire but I am not sure about our vows. We both were not ready for that. It was all sudden and unplanned. I wasn't ready to accept the marriage till I realised that I always want that. I have some ideas about his feelings but I am still not sure if he love me the way I do.

I wish we both could enjoy the feelings of wedding.

"You also have the dream of becoming a bride and wearing your dream lehenga at your wedding day." Dhruv said while looking at Siddharth and Preeti who were taking pheras holding each other's hands.

"Every girl has." I said looking at Siddharth and Preeti.

"I wish we could both have the wedding like this where I come with barat to make you mine." He said while looking at me but I was still looking at Siddharth and Preeti. I can feel his gaze on the side of my face.

"I am happy, at least we are together." I turn my gaze and looked at him.

He was already looking me intensely and our gaze locked. Our lips our sealed but our eyes they were talking to eachother. They were glistening with unknown emotions and I want to read his eyes, want to know what he is feeling right now.

Why is it always hard to read him?

Why could he not see my love for him?

Why it is so difficult?

******

After the wedding when Siddharth and Preeti stood, holding each other's hand Dhruv and I approach them.

"Congratulations to both of you...." I gave the gift to Preeti and congratulated both of them while Siddharth was looking at us in confusion as he is meeting us for the first time.

"Siddharth, meet Aditi and her husband Dhruv Malhotra. They are my friends from school." Preeti introduce us and smile crept on Siddharth's face both Dhruv and Siddharth shake their hands.

"But you never mentioned about them." Siddharth asked while looking at Preeti and Preeti was looking at both of us.

"We both leave the city years ago. Preeti and I contacted two months ago." Dhruv answers and Siddharth gave a smile.

"It was really nice meeting you guys."

"Same here.."

Dhruv and Siddharth again shake their hands and after changing few words Dhruv and I took our leave.

By the time we got free it was already evening. I was fumbling in my very heavy saree which Dhruv bought for me for the wedding and my heels are killing my feet as I am not used of them. Dhruv gave me his hand and helped me to the car. After making me sit on the passenger and sit we drove off don't know where.

This is not the time to go back to Delhi and took a flight for Lucknow also we don't have any booking in hotel. There was thick silence in the car. I was looking outside the window while Dhruv was driving the car.

We both are lost in our own thoughts. After attending Siddharth and Preeti's wedding something change between us. Maybe it was their unconditional love that are missing between us. Siddharth and Preeti both are aware of each other's love but between Dhruv and I we both don't know if we love each other or not. We know that we feel special for each other but it is love or just an attraction from his side.

I don't know what it is but I want it to be it like this. After long time I am smiling and I don't want to lost it.

I looked at Dhruv and again I feel that similar pain in my chest, the pain of not confessing my feelings to him, the pain of not knowing what he feels for me. My eyes went right his hand which was on the hand gear and I don't know how badly I wanted to hold it.

My hand move from my side to hold his but I retreated my hand don't know if it will be enough for me because I know it wasn't. It wasn't the feeling of desire, it was the feeling I suffering when I see him first time. I call it love. I don't know how many times I wanted to shout on his face that I love him insanely, immensely and it hurts and painful of not knowing what he feels for me.

Before I could move back my hand, Dhruv hold my hand and put on the gear under his hand. I looked at him with my wet eyes which were only fill with love.

He was noticing.

He was noticing every move of mine.

"Did I mention, how beautiful you are looking today in this saree." He asked while looking at in front and then me.

"No..." My voice came out in whisper, fill with emotions.

"You look beautiful today." He intertwined our fingers and gasped looking down when he kissed at the back of my palm. He did not leave my hand and keep driving with his one hand.

Soon we entered in a familiar area and I was shocked looking at my surroundings. We are in our old neighbourhood where we both used to live, where I fell in love with him.

"Dhruv..." I looked at him and he has smile on his face. Without saying anything, he exit from the car and come to my side. He open the door for me and give his hand. I hold his hand and came out from the car.

"I want to bring you here where we spent our childhood. I talked to our old landlord and he was ready to give me this house for rent for one month." He said while taking out the house keys from his pocket.

"We are going to stay here for a month?" I asked and he chuckled softly while shaking his head as no.

"We are going to stay here for only two three days. He wasn't ready to give me the house if I didn't offer him a whole month rent." He said and walked to the main gate to open the lock of his old house while I was roaming around my eyes to my old house where I used to live and tears welled up in my eyes when my eyes fell on the close window of my room. Again the painful memories flashing in front of my eyes. In that same road My father throw me and asked me to leave the house without knowing what I had gone through.

The painful memories are still fresh like a wound. They always remind me how I was abandoned by my family and why I should not lobe them. The only happiest memory is attached to this house was my room's window where I used to watch my handsome neighbour and waited for him that one day he will open the window, that one day he would notice me.

"Aditi...." I came out from my trance when Dhruv called me.

"Come...."

I nodded my head and walked with him inside his old rental house where he used to live with his family. We entered in the hall way get shocked when I found it well maintained, no dust, no spiderwebs, furniture was cleaned and well maintained.

"I planned everything before." He said and smiled.

I walked forward and looked at hallway again where I and Divya used to fun a lot. My mostly reason to came this house was only to get glimpse of Dhruv and now I came into this house with him as his wife.

I gasped when suddenly Dhruv lifted me in bridal style. I encircled my arms around his neck and our eyes locked to each other. Without saying a word, lost in each other's eyes he walked us to upstairs. My heat was beating faster, I am sure he could hear my heart beats.

He opened the bedroom door with his leg and without breaking our gaze he made me laid on the bed. My back touched to the soft mattress when Dhruv closed the distance between us and took my lips in a sift smooch which increases my heart beats than before but before I could get into that smooch he leave my lips and move back.

"You stay here, I'll come with our luggage." He whispered and I nodded my head as yes. He kissed on my forehead and then leave to downstairs to take our luggage.

After he leaves, I stood up from the bed and went to the famous window of his room which was always closed and don't know how many times I have prayed that he open his window at once at least so that I could get his glimpse.

So much of memory attached to this single window of his room and my room. A smile crept on my face think of how Dhruv came back from Delhi after completing his crash course and I have a assignment to complete and need a internet connection. He opened his mobile hotspot, so I could complete my assignment. That time how I wished to be this side of window and open it for me but who thought I will be standing here with him as his wife.

"Your room have a clear view from here." I feel his  presence beside me but I didn't avert my gaze from my room's window.

"Why do you always close your room's window?" I asked and then looked at him.

He chuckled softly and asked, "So you had waited for me to open the window?"

I looked down to hide my blush and tuck a strand behind me ear. He was aware of everything but still ignored me.

"I don't want any distraction from my goals and you were a good distraction." He smiles and looked amused.

"What do you mean?" I asked when I didn't get him.

"At night when you were sleep I used to see you through my window. Seeing your sleeping form, was the most beautiful sight for me. That was the only time you were not worried about house chores or your mother's scolding. That was the only time you don't have pain in your eyes." He whispered while caressing my cheek lovingly and looked into my eyes.

"Yes, you were a distraction, a beautiful one." He slowly traced his hand lower to neck and made a small circle seductively.

I closed my eyes when he slowly pushed back me to the wall. My back made a contact with wall. He leaned down to my level. His right hand were on my bare waist, he blow the hot breath to my lower lip and soon his lips made contact with mine. I encircled my arms around his neck and we both kissed each other slowly but passionately, shoving his tongue into my mouth, mixing our breath, he was kissing me like he kissed me for the first time. He moved to my neck and give sloppy and wet kisses to my neck made my knees curls into the pleasure.

He pick me in a bridal style and walked us to the bed.