Shubh's POV

Oh !! It was so late. I had gone out to my friend's party and came quite late.  I slept around 3 in the morning as I came around 1:30 in the night and then a beautiful face didn't let me sleep.

I tried to distract myself but my mind was hell-bent to think about a certain beautiful girl who loved to wear high heels but was a bit clumsy.

I loved holding her in my arms both the times. I didn't know, what was wrong with my heart. It started behaving irrationally whenever she was near me. I knew that I should not think about her but her thoughts always kept intruding. 

Mom had told me yesterday that I would have to go with them for the shopping. I hated it but had to go with mom and mamiji.

I took a quick shower and got ready and when I came out of my room to go downstairs, I saw that the door of Sandhya's room was ajar and the lights were on.

She didn't go to the hospital? It is already late. Is she waiting for me? Vikram Ji didn't come to pick her or was she not well?

I was worried about her so I went to ask her. She was sitting there on the bed with her back towards the door.  She looked fine.

" Sandy? What are you doing here at this time? Are you not well? " I asked but she didn't say anything.

" Sandy?? " I called her again and still no reply.

What was wrong with her. Was she lost in her thoughts?? Hmm...  maybe about Vikram Ji.

I thought of teasing her. How could I leave such a chance?

I knew she was very scared of ghosts. So I thought of scaring her. I used to do it a lot when we were children. I wanted to do it now as she was absolutely lost in herself.

I went near her and threw a white sheet on my head,  which was lying neatly folded on her bed, and hugged her from backside taking out a haunted voice.

She shrieked on the top of her voice. It seemed a bit different.  But I was so much in character and had a sheet on my face.

I laughed wickedly and all of a sudden she started punching me.

What happened to Sandy??

She would have cried by now. I removed the sheet and was shocked as hell to see Vidhi instead of Sandhya.

What the hell?? What was she doing here? 

Don't tell me that I was imagining her. No, I held her in my arms just now. She was really here.

" You?? " We both said at the same time.

" What were you doing? Did you want to scare me to death?  " She asked glaring at me.  

" I... I... thought you were Sandy. What are you doing here, wearing her clothes??" I asked.

" Something got spilt on my dress so aunty told me to change into Bhabhi's dress." She said and I smiled.

Of course what else ?? She was a very beautiful clumsy girl.

"  I called her name twice but there was no reaction, so I was trying to scare her. Why didn't you say anything? " I asked her.

" I was listening to the music as aunty told me to wait here till everyone got ready. " She said showing me the earphones. 

I was very embarrassed at what I just did. I had hugged her too.

" Um... Sorry for all that... I thought that you were Sandhya. " I said.

" Yeah... I am sorry as well, I punched you," she said and I grinned.

"  You call them punches ?? I didn't even feel them. I was just shocked that what happened to my sister?? You know she gets scared so easily she doesn't even like to watch a horror movie. I always keep scaring her. " We both laughed. I loved being in her company.

We both went downstairs, I went to the kitchen to eat something. Mom and mamiji were getting ready.

She asked me if I wanted her to get something for him. But declined as I didn't want her to change her dress again. She was looking beautiful.

I kept looking at her she was the epitome of beauty.  I swear, I was trying my level best to stay away from her but I was getting drawn to her as a moth got drawn towards the flame.

I had my Breakfast and by then mom and mamiji had also come. Everyone was ready to go shopping.

It was a long tiring day. The women kept buying stuff. I tried not to look at Vidhi but my eyes kept drifting in her direction.

Just then I saw that two boys of the age around 20 were looking at her for quite a long time.

I was going towards them to warn them when one of them took out his phone and was about to click her pictures. I lost my mind.

I reached them and grabbed his phone and checked it. He had clicked a picture of her. I deleted it immediately.

" What is your problem man? " He asked.

" What were you doing? "

" Why?? "

" Stop it or I will break a few bones of yours. " I said glaring at them.

" Chill bro... Why are you getting angry? Is she your sister?" The other one said.

" It is none of your business... " I glared at him.

" Oh !! So, she is not your sister... girlfriend? " I didn't say anything just gave him a warning look but it seemed he wanted to get a few punches.

"  She is hot... Is she good in..." He could not even finish his sentence and I grabbed his collar and dragged him outside.  Another one was too shocked for a minute but he followed me soon.

" Don't you dare say another word or I would break every bone in your body."  I punched the boy whom I dragged out.

The second one tried to punch me but I punched him first.

I was very angry but didn't want to create a scene while I had my family with me there.

" Get lost or I will call the police right away. "

They both were a bit shaken to see that I was furious. So they ran away. I calmed myself with great difficulty.

I washed my face to calm myself and drank 2 glasses of cold water.

I came back inside and looked at her, she was oblivious of what happened and was enjoying her shopping.

I saw that she stole a few shy glances towards me too.

My heart was pounding against my chest.

She came towards me and said, " I want to buy something for bhai, but do not have much idea, can you please help me? " But before I could say anything, she held my hand and pulled me to the men's wear section.

She got an outfit and asked, "What do you think about it. "

" Hmm, nice. "

"Do you think, this size is ok for him?"

" How do I know, Vidhi?? "

" Change into it? "

" What?? "

" Change into this outfit. "

" Why?? "

" Because you are almost the same size as Bhai. "

" Vidhi, let him do his shopping himself. What if he doesn't like it? "

" Doesn't matter... I want to buy it. Do you like it?? "

" Yeah, it is good. "

" Go and try it. "

" But... " I was saying but again she pulled me towards changing room. It was awkward that a man of my size was being pulled by a girl around a showroom.

Was she going to change my clothes too??

I was feeling a bit awkward but she was absolutely fine with it. She pushed me towards a trial room.

I wore the outfit and came out to show her, she looked at me and whistled.

God !!! was she real?? She whistled at me??

For the first time in my life, I felt that my cheeks were getting warm. She was so cool about whistling at a man.

I was going inside to change again. But she held my hand again. I looked at our joined hand. It felt so good.

" You are looking even more handsome in this. Let me click a picture of you," she said and clicked a picture.

" Vidhi... "

" I have a better idea, Can I have a picture with you?  " and before I could say anything she stood by me and clicked a selfie. Then she gave her phone to me and asked me to click from another angle, I was shocked but I did that.

She smiled at me and when I was giving her phone back she saw the bruise on my hand.

" Hey what happened?? "

" Nothing... "

" But this is absolutely fresh. Please tell me. "

" It is nothing Vidhi. "

" Shubh, I will not talk to you, if you don't tell me right now. "

" Ok fine, I punched two guys. "

" When? Where ? "

" Here only, around half an hour ago. "

" Why ?? " she asked but I didn't say anything.

" Why Shubh?? "  She placed her hand on my upper arm.

" Because they were staring at you. " I told her unintentionally as my mind was distracted with her hand on my arm.

" Seriously ?? "

" Hmmm," I said and she kept looking at me for a few seconds.

I wanted to know what was she thinking...

Shubh's POV

" You punched them because they were staring at me?? But Shubh they could have fought with you as they were two in number. Or could have complained against you as staring is not a serious offence but punching is." She said

" One of them clicked your pictures. I grabbed his phone, just after he clicked it. I deleted it. That's why I punched them. I could not allow them to do it. "

" Aww... Thanks a lot for that. " She said looking into my eyes. Then all of a sudden, she hugged me lightly.

Oh... No !!!

I felt a current as if I was touched by a live wire.  I removed her arms from around my torso and took a deep breath as if it was stuck in my chest somewhere.

" Oh... You don't need to thank me for that. " I said with difficulty as I was in shock and she smiled shyly her cheeks looked a bit pink.

Oh, God !! She looks even more beautiful when she smiles shyly. Help me to resist that charm. I need to stay away from her.

I went to change back into my clothes.

She had gone back to where everyone else was. I got the outfit with me and gave it to her. She smiled mischievously.

Oh, God !!! What was she thinking now?

We came back in the evening. Sandhya and Vikram Ji also came back after an hour.

My mom and mamiji prepared dinner for all of us.  The table was already laid. We all settled down to eat.

Vikram Ji was smiling like anything. He even took permission from my family for Sandy to accompany him for movie and the friends get together.

I looked at Vidhi, she was also looking at me and smiled.  

Oh, God !! She would make me a heart patient very soon.

" So, Vidhi are you done with shopping now.  I hope you don't want to do more shopping. " Vikram Ji said

" What is this Bhai?  You promised me to go shopping with me. " Vidhi said.

Seriously??

" Oh, God !!! Vidhi how much do you want to shop?  You are a shopaholic."

  " That's not fair Bhai. It's my only brother's wedding. " she pouted.

" Exactly Vidhi !! It is my wedding and you want to shop the whole city. What would you do in your wedding? I really pity your would-be husband."  Vidhi rolled her eyes and got angry with him.

Absolutely... my thoughts exactly, I was also thinking that. She was crazy about shopping. I pity her would-be husband too.

I thought that, but somehow, all of a sudden, I felt bad and uneasy as if I was unwell.

But why??

Maybe I was uneasy because how can someone be so crazy about shopping...

What nonsense ??

Just the thought of her getting married to someone else was disturbing. I hated it.

" I hate you. " She said to him. And I came out of my own thoughts.

" But Vidhi,  you are here for only two more days.  And on both days I have to do surgeries. I can't take a day off. You can confirm from Sandhya. " Vidhi looked at Sandy and she nodded.

" We can go in the evening..." Vidhi said.

Oh my God! She was really absolutely crazy about shopping.

" No Gautam has been asking me to come for a movie for too long. I already committed. "

" You don't have time for me. " She pouted again and I smiled.

That was any girl's trump card. Be it a sister, girlfriend or wife.

" Vidhi,  as it is I get bored during shopping. You take my card and do the shopping. Ok??  "  He said but she shook her head. She looked like a cute teenager.

" Ok, Vidhi I will come with you day after tomorrow. Will it do? " Sandy said to Vidhi.

" Ok fine !! And bhai give me your card. " She said to her brother.

" Ok, ma'am... " He smiled at her. She looked happy now.

My mom said, " Shubh, You have not finished your shopping. So why don't you go with them? You and Sandy also do your shopping. "

No mom... I don't want to go anywhere with her. I need to stay away from her.

" But mom... "

" No buts, you have to do shopping so why can't you go with them? " Mom scolded me.

" Ok. Fine "  I said finally.

Oh, God !! how much I  hate going shopping. But I could not let any of them go alone. She was too risky to be left alone.

" Wow, Shubh !!  You will come for shopping?? That is something new."

Sandy laughed at me teasingly. I glared at her. Vidhi looked very happy too.

Was she happy as I was going with them??

" Ha ha ha... Not funny. You know I will not let you go alone. How can you both go alone? What if... " I was saying but she cut my sentence.

" Oh please, I am 22... You always treat me like a child." She said glaring at me.

" Whatever... You know I will not let you go alone to an unknown place. "

Mamaji smiled and said, " Shubh take it easy now. It is good that you care for her, but she is getting married now. Will you go to her Sasural with her as well, as it is an unknown place for her. " Sandy smiled and looked at me.

" Mama Ji  ( maternal uncle) her Sasural is not an unknown place for her. She knows everyone there. She would be safe there and anyways Vikram Ji would be there to take care of her. I can't let them go to do shopping alone. "  I said and smiled.

Vidhi said to Vikram, " Just see Bhai. He can't let his sister go alone. You don't care for me. " She teased him and he smiled and shook his head.

" Vidhi, it's ok...  We will go, he is really busy. " Sandy said to her and she smiled.

" Hey bhabhi, you are already covering up for him. How cute... " She said and everyone burst out laughing.

Vikram Ji bent towards Sandy and whispered something. She turned red.

" I think I should get the dessert.. " she got up from the chair and went to the kitchen and brought a bowl full of Moong daal Halwa.

" Wow !!! I love this halwa. Who made it? " Vidhi asked.

" Well, it is my buaji's speciality. It is awesome. Try some. " Sandy said. 

" Try some? Don't tempt her she can eat the whole bowl. " Vikram Ji teased  Vidhi.

" Look who is talking... What about those Choorma Laddoos? He is crazy about them. "  Vidhi said.

" Oh !!  you like them beta? Sandhya made them today.  Sandhya please get them for Vikram. " Mom said and she nodded and went to the kitchen and got them.

" I remember he used to love it. Rachna used to make them for him. " Mamiji said. He smiled at that.

" I really want to eat them right now but I had halwa and I would burst at the seams if I eat anything else. Can I take them home and eat later?  " Vikram Ji asked.

" Yes beta, I will pack them for you and halwa for Vidhi. " Mom smiled at them.

" Yay !!  I love you, aunty. The halwa is awesome. "  Vidhi said and mom smiled at her.

She packed both the things for them and they went out after thanking for the dinner and saying good night to elders.

Vidhi hugged Sandy and said,  " Bye bhabhi. I enjoyed my day and dinner. Thanks " 

Then she whispered something to her. Sandy blushed and slapped lightly on her shoulder and she laughed.

All of a sudden she remembered that she forgot her shopping bags inside our home. Sandy said that she will go and get them but she said no she will do it herself. She started going inside.

" Er... Shubh, I  can't carry that many bags on my own. So can you please help me?" She asked me and I nodded and went inside with her.

I didn't want to be alone with her again. As I was already fighting with my feelings. I was getting too aware of her being close to me.

Her hand had felt so good in mine when she was pulling me in the showroom. It was so soft and small against mine.

I wanted to kiss it. Every single time she touched me, I felt a spark at the mere contact.

But she was like a forbidden fruit to me, I had to maintain the distance. I guess I would have to keep a check on my emotions.