Sahil's POV

I got up and got ready to go to market. Where was Swati??

Mom was overexcited and was about to panic if everything was in order or not. Though Sagar had finished everything.  Sagar and mom were ready and waiting for Swati to get ready.

" Where is Swati?? I need to leave now... As I have to go.. and pick the fruits, sweets and clothes. " I asked.

" She is not ready till now.. you go alone... " Sagar said.

" No way... I will not go to pick the dresses alone... Tell her to come fast." I was adamant. I would not go to a saree shop alone, at any cost. I would wait till Swati come.

I  turned all of a sudden and bumped into Manu making her lose her balance. She was just about to fall when I caught her in my arms. She was looking so beautiful and sweet. Her long black hair was open. Her big black orbs had become bigger with shock. I felt a little tug kind of thing towards her.

We both kept standing in the same position as if we were frozen for a few seconds. We kept looking at each other and then I realised it and straighten ourselves. I released her a bit reluctantly. I liked the feeling of her in my arms. But she got very embarrassed again. She was again not looking at me.

" Manu is ready.. she can go with you... Swati will come with us. Manu beta... Please go with Sahil as Swati is not ready yet." mom said to her but she seemed reluctant. She looked at Sagar and he nodded.

Why was she friendly with my identical twin but not me..?? Did she need his permission to go with me ?? Weird...

What have I done?? I already said sorry for yesterday. I thought that she was Swati.

" Ok, aunty. " She said 

I went towards my car and she followed me. We went to the market and bought the fruits. I saw that she handpicked the fruits and got them packed.

She talked very sweetly with the fruit supplier. He smiled at her and said that she knows how to pick fruits very well. She smiled and thanked politely. He packed two baskets of various exotic fruits.

Then we went to the sweet shop. I did not know which ones to buy.

" I don't know, which one to buy, they all look so good. "

" Take whatever you want," she replied without looking at me.

" How about Kaju katli? "

" Hmm ok. How many boxes do you want? "

"  7 boxes I mean 7 kgs.  were written on the list.  "

" Ok, so get  2 boxes of Kaju katli,  2 of motichoor laddoo, 2 of Moong daal barfi and one of any other. " She suggested.

I selected some Kaju rolls stuffed with  Gulkand (sweetened rose petals mixture) because they looked very nice.

" Bhaiya, bilkul fresh wali hi dena please  ( please pack only if it is absolutely fresh). " She said to the person who was packing the sweets for us.

" Ma'am, aap taste ker ke dekh lijiye.. ( ma'am you can taste them). " He said and gave a piece to taste it. She took half of it and told him to give the rest to me.

I took it and tasted. It was very nice.

" Hmm this is good... Please taste every variety you are taking ." She said to me without looking at me.

What is wrong with her?

I tasted all of them and got them packed and I paid for them and took them to my car.

Now we had to pick the sarees and dresses.

We went to the shop and I followed her as I didn't know the showroom from where we had to go.

She went to the person on the cash counter and showed her the bill. He nodded and asked us to sit for sometimes at it would take 5-7 minutes to go and get them.

We sat down, one of the salesmen came to us and asked her, " Ma'am that day you selected a dress but it was not available in your size. But now we have it. Shall I show it to you? "

" No, I am in a bit of hurry. We need to go to a function but I will come in a day or two and take it. Thanks. " She declined politely.

" Ma'am it may get sold again. You can see while your sarees come. "

" Not now, please... I don't want to be late. "

" It will take just two minutes ma'am. I have it here only. " Salesman was quite persistent. But manu looked a bit uncomfortable.

" Here it is ma'am. The exact design, colour and size you wanted. I showed it to you as it is so pretty that it might get sold before you come back for it."

" I was going to a family function so I am not carrying my credit card. So I can't buy it right away. " She said to him.

" Oh!! But it's ok...  I can pay for... " I was saying when she cut my sentence in the mid.

" No... I don't want that. This dress is not that important. "

" Aree ma'am paise sir de rahe hain, le lijiye, bik gaya to fir same colour and size shayad na aaye.( Ma'am it's ok, let sir pay, it might get sold then it will be difficult to get the same colour and size again). "

" I will come and pick it up tomorrow morning. And if by any chance, it gets sold, then also I am ok with it. " She finally said with determination.

" Oh c'mon Manu,  it is such a small thing, I can pay for this .... And we are friends... "

" Correction, Mr Sahil Malhotra...  We are not friends. I am friends with Swati, not you. And I don't want you to pay anything for me. " She said in a low but firm voice. She looked very angry.

What is wrong with the girl?? She was overreacting on such a small thing.

Why is she giving me this attitude??  Let it be I don't care...

We waited for another minute and a man came with two big boxes beautifully decorated with the saree and accessories and 2 big carry bags.

She asked the owner to send someone with the stuff to drop them to our car.

We came out of the shop and placed everything in the car and went to Mathur uncle's place.

She helped me in taking out the two baskets and placed them aside. And when I took out the bags, she shook her head and said, " No, those are for Swati and me. " Then I called someone to carry the fruits and sweets to carry inside.

We went inside with all the things and greeted everyone. I placed everything near mom and Manu asked about Swati. Mom said that she had gone to meet Damini. She also wanted to go... So aunty sent someone to take her there.

Sagar told me to make a video call to dad so that he could be a part of this. I did that.

Damini's father started the ceremony. He gave Sagan to Sagar.

Then they called Damini, she was looking very beautiful, my brother couldn't take his eyes off her.

Aunty made her sit and Mom went near her she touched mom's feet and mom kissed her forehead and hugged her. Mom started the ceremony and gave her Sagan.

So the ceremony was done and everyone was so happy.  They took blessings from everyone. The gift were exchanged. My dad was also very happy and said that he would be back within 10 days.

The dates were fixed for engagement and wedding. The engagement was fixed after 15 days and wedding in a month. Sagar was very excited and so was mom.

We all came back to guest house. Sagar had told me earlier that he had hired a bungalow for us to live here. He liked that bungalow as it was very big. Gautam's family had also used it for his wedding.

The bungalow was ready. So we had to shift there. It was fully furnished so we just needed to shift there. We planned to shift there after a very small pooja.

Though the bungalow was rented mom insisted that before we shift there,  we must have some kind of pooja and havan as we were going to have a wedding there.

So we planned to have a pooja on the next day and then shift there. We didn't want mom to take the stress so we took the responsibility for the pooja as well. Samar also came for help. He asked his pandit Ji and arranged a pooja.

Sahil's POV

We all arranged everything that was needed for pooja. The pundit Ji came and started the pooja and havan. He asked to get the prasad which should be prepared at home. He had not told us about it... We had everything that was ordered from outside. We all were very confused.

I was not sure what to do? Only mom could make it.  we were about to ask mom to make something but Manu said, 

" Aunty, I can make it, you don't worry  and just attend the pooja."

She went into the kitchen and saw that it was fully furnished. She was looking for the ingredients. Samar, Swati and I came for helping her as there were going to be at least 50- 60 people.

She looked for the big utensils and the ingredients. Swati and Samar helped her.

" Manu there is no Rava ( semolina). " Swati said and shook her head.

" Tell me what you want, I will get from the market. " I offered but Manu shook her head and said, " It will take too much time. We need to make it soon. I can make halwa with wheat flour. Just like the Kada Prashad, we get in Gurudwara Sahib. Will that do?"

" Oh yes... I love that.. " Swati said with excitement.

" I love it too. " Samar said and she smiled at both of them.

Well, I loved it too... But I don't think she was interested.

She started making the halwa. Samar asked her, " Would you be able to make it in so much quantity? "

" Rest assured... I can. " She nodded and smiled at him.

Swati chopped some dry fruits.

She was making it with a smile on her face and looked really pretty. So looked so simple, yet very beautiful.  I was standing near the door frame.

She was confidently making it though Samar and Swati were tensed. She was smiling stirring it constantly.

She was heating the water simultaneously. The very nice aroma of halwa started coming out. She tried to pick up the heavy vessel with water but it seemed difficult. I wanted to help her but saw Samar telling her to stop.

" It is very hot and heavy let me do it," Samar said and picked it up effortlessly.

" Be careful Samar Ji, now pour it in this kadhai ( big broad thick bottomed vessel) " she was standing very close to him keeping one of her hand on his forearm to direct him how much and when to add water. She was stirring it constantly.

" That's it, Samar Ji, thanks we don't need more water. " She smiled at him and he returned a cute smile to her.

She stirred for some more time and then added sugar to it.

" Oh god!!! It is looking so good,  I can't wait to eat it Manu... " Swati said and Manu smiled at her adoringly.

" This is prasad Swati.. we need to offer it to god first. " Samar said to Swati as if she was a child. I rolled my eyes at that.

" I know that Samar Ji... I was just kidding. I would eat it only after the pooja. " She said to Samar.

" But seriously Manu, it looks and smells so good. You made it as if you are a professional. " Samar said and she just smiled at him.

" It is ready. She took out some of it in a big bowl and covered the rest of it. "

Swati sprinkled some dry fruits on it and Manu took it to where the pooja was going on.

Sagar smiled and nodded at her and she just smiled back. Damini had also come with her parents and uncle by now.

The pooja and havan were performed and everyone attended it. Swati, Damini and Manu distributed prasad among everyone. Damini came and gave the prasad to me. I tasted it, it was so delicious. Just like the Kada prasad we used to eat in Gurudwara Sahib. I loved it and looked at her. She was smiling at Samar and Swati.  Apparently, they were also praising her about the Halwa. She smiled and gave more halwa to Samar.

She was coming this way so I went near her to ask for more prasad.

" The prasad was amazing, I loved it.  Can I have some more?? "

" Yeah sure... Take it. " She gave the whole bowl in my hand and went away.

What ?? How rude?? She ignored me?? Me ?? I just saw Samar saying the same thing and she smiled sweetly and gave him more halwa. And she gave me this and a cold shoulder.

What does she think of herself? Ugghhh...  what is her problem?? I don't care. I am Sahil Malhotra.

I saw her and Damini coming up with food for Pandit Ji. They served him a big platter of food. He said his prayer and started eating it.

The food was served for everyone. Once we made sure that the guests had the food and they left. We all started eating as well. It was very good as well. I had a lot of halwa and so did Samar.

Everyone enjoyed the food.  Sagar caught Damini's hand and took her aside. Oh god!!  this man had gone crazy. All he wanted was to spend time alone with Damini. But We would not let that happen. We didn't know what was his plan but But Samar and I were hell bend to irritate him. So I took Damini's hand and pulled her away from him and asked her to come with us. She smiled and nodded.

" What are you doing ?? Sahil leave her hand, she is not going anywhere with you. " Sagar said.

" Well keep thinking that... She is going with us. What is this yaar?? You both always spend all the time together. After all, we are also your family. " I said with a frown.

" Yeah she is my sister, she ignores me.. " Samar also said dramatically. Sagar glared at us but we did not bother.  Finally shook his head at us and smiled accepting his defeat. 

He had no option but to follow us.

We went out to see the city beautiful. Manu brought a camera with her and clicked lots of pictures of us and almost every around us.

Is she obsessed with photography?  We all were enjoying it But Sagar looked a bit lost. He wanted to spend time with Damini.  Ultimately we all left them alone and went to see a movie. I don't even know what the movie was. I didn't want to even look at Manu as she has been ignoring me...  but could not resist it.

I kept looking at her. Her expressions were priceless. She smiled on a comedy scene and cried in a sad situation. She looked so natural and pure... Not like other girls, I usually mingle with. She was... Different. She looked somewhat familiar, but I couldn't recall her.

********

The engagement and wedding were coming closer. Mom was going crazy,  going on shopping almost every day... mostly Swati, Manu and Samar accompanied her,  as both Sagar and I were busy in the office. The work in the office was going fast now as the construction was going on in full swing.

I was extremely happy for Sagar but was feeling uneasy about something.. I could not even understand why I was so restless..  this whole marriage thing was making me very restless.

I called Samar as I wanted to go out and party very hard.

"  Hello, Hi Sahil!! "

" Hi Samar, I am getting very bored. Let's go and party... "

" Sorry but I have to go shopping with all the ladies.. "

" Seriously ?? What's wrong with you?? Who enjoys shopping? You are going for shopping almost every day.."

" So Neither you nor Sagar is going with them. So aunty asked me to accompany them.  I can't say no to her. Moreover, It is safer if I go with them. What if someone misbehaves with any of them? "

" But I am getting bored... "

" So come for shopping. "

" No. I want to go to the club.. "

" Then go... but I am not coming.. I am enjoying the family outings. I am enjoying every moment of this marriage preparations... Especially the shopping part. " He said.

"  Ok fine... I am going to a party."