Vidhi's POV

" Shubh, let me go... "

" No... You are with me... "

" You are behaving strangely. Shubh. "

" I don't know... You tell me. "

" What?? "

" Do you like me?? " He asked looking into my eyes.

" Yes... "

" More than you like him? "

" Whom ?? "

" Sid?? "

" Sid is just my friend... "

" And me?? " he asked with so much intensity.

" I don't know... "

I wanted to move away but could not as he had tightened his arms around me. 

" Shubh... Please. "

" Please what?? "

" Let me go... "

" No... First, you tell me. "

" What ?? "

" What do you think about me ?? " he again bent his head towards me.

Oh no !!

" Bhai !! " I said looking over his shoulder and he immediately loosens his arms around me.

I pushed him with might and ran out of the circle of his arms.

He ran after me to catch me. He caught me but we lost the balance and fell into one of the coloured water pool.

Oh shit!!!

I could not even breath. I was really scared so I wrapped my arms around Shubh's torso. He realised that I was scared so he got up fast. But I kept clinging to him. I didn't even realise that.

Only when I could breathe properly, I opened my eyes and saw that Shubh was looking at me with wide eyes and a cute shy smile was creeping on his lips.

I saw how I was clung to him as if my life was depending on him. My cheeks were on fire. I was thankful that we fell in pink coloured water otherwise anyone could have seen how pink my cheeks had become.

" Shubh leave me... " I said bit he kept smiling.

Just then I saw bhai coming towards us. Bhai was in a different mood altogether. Bhabhi was also tensed.

" What happened?? " Bhai asked.

" Bhai I was talking to Shubh when all of a sudden, someone bumped into me and I fell on Shubh and he lost his balance and we fell into the water. "

" Oh! Ok. You are really clumsy...  Thanks, Shubh, for saving my sister once again.  I know I can always trust my sister with you. I hope you are not hurt. " Bhai said.

" No... I am fine. " Shubh said in a deep husky voice. His smile was lost. He seemed to have gone back into his grumpy mood.

" Let's wind up the party... " Bhai said.

" Why so soon Bhai ?? "

" There was a problem. Someone misbehaved with Maurvi and she got unconscious. Gautam and Sid have taken her home. Let's wind up. "

" Who is Maurvi, Bhai ? "

" Gautam's girlfriend... She is like a sister to me.  "

" Oh, God !! Is she alright now? " I asked.

" Hmmm... A severe fight broke up. So let's all go home. "

" Ok Bhai... "

" Shubh, come with us... You can't drive. "

" Why ?? "

" Because the thandai, that you drank had bhaang in it. "

" What?? "

" Hmm. Sorry about that... It was Holi. So I thought of being a bit mischievous. But it backfired. "

" Oh ok... That is why I felt a bit different. As If I had no control over me. "

" Still you took care of my sister. Thanks a lot. Shubh.  I was scared after that incident. As soon as Gautam left, I thought of my Vidhi. I got so tense,  I would have killed the man if he had touched her. Gautam and Sid have beaten him like anything."

Bhai hugged me tight and kissed the top of my head.

We all left for home. Bhabhi sat in the front passenger seat. Shubh sat beside me. I looked at him. But he had his eyes closed. He looked guilty.

But why was he looking guilty?? Earlier, he was behaving differently...

He was more open and said he liked me a lot. He was looking at me so intensely. He kissed my hand and was about to kiss me. He was behaving as if he was possessive about me as if he was getting jealous that I played Holi with Sid. Now he was behaving as if he didn't know me.

Was he feigning then or now??

For the whole time, he kept sitting with his eyes closed. As if he was having an internal turmoil.

What was he thinking?

" Vikram Ji can you please drop us at our place. I am not feeling well. " Shubh said.

" What happened ?? " Bhabhi and I asked together. 

" Nothing... my head is hurting, I just want to sleep. "

" Ok, Shubh... I am sorry once again. "

" It's ok Vikram Ji, it was Holi,  a bit of fun was not bad. I am feeling sorry for that girl. I would have killed that man too. If he had misbehaved with my sister or my girl... "

" You have a girlfriend??" All three of us asked all of a sudden even before he could finish his sentence.

" I meant if I had one... I was thinking about how your friend Gautam must have felt. " He said and Bhai nodded.

" Same here, I could kill anyone if they had misbehaved with Vidhi or Sandhya. "

Oh, God !! What do we do with these overprotective men around me?

The wedding was to be held in Jodhpur... They all would be going to Jodhpur on the next day. Bhabhi asked me to come with them. Bhai also agreed.

We reached their place and they got down. They said bye to us. Aunty invited us for the dinner and after that, we came back to our place.

******

I just kept thinking about Shubh only. It was evening and both of us got ready and went to their place. Shubh remained in his room saying that he was not well. 

I was very upset. I wanted to talk to him. I went to see him upstairs but he didn't even open the door.

I don't know why but I was almost on the verge of crying. I went to Bhabhi's room and washed my face. And came back to the living room.

Bhai was getting sad as bhabhi was going to Jodhpur and would meet her on the day of the wedding directly.  But it was a part of our rituals. We both came back.

Next day I went to Jodhpur with all of them. During the whole journey, he didn't even utter a word. We took a halt in a nice place on the way to stretch our limbs and freshen up. We had our lunch there and I got a chance to talk to him when no one was around.

" What is the problem, Shubh ?? " I asked him. He behaved as if he didn't hear me and walked past me but I caught his hand.

" What happened Shubh??

" Nothing Vidhi, nothing is wrong. "

" Then why are you behaving like this?"

" Like what ?? "

" As if you don't know me... As if we are strangers... "

" Nothing like that... Listen I am like this, boring, arrogant and idiot. Just leave me alone. "

" You don't even want to talk to me now?? Only yesterday, you said that you like me a lot,  you didn't want to let me go out of your arms. You even kissed my hand. Now you are avoiding me like plague. "

" Listen forget whatever I said or did yesterday. I was under the influence of bhaang. I was not serious. "

" Oh, but you looked very interested in me yesterday. "

" Delete that memory from your mind." He said in a somewhat angry tone.

" Ok, sir... Fine. But at least tell me what happened all of sudden that made you change your mind about us. "

" Nothing... there can be no us.  We just can't be together. We are like poles apart. We are not meant to be together, I am sorry for my behaviour yesterday.

" Ok fine...thanks for explaining. I would never bother you now. " I said and went to take a walk alone in the opposite direction of where everyone was. As I was feeling too suffocated. I tear slid of my eyes but I wiped it immediately.

" Just, where do you think you are going?? " he came after me and tried to stop me.

" Are you talking to me, mister?? "

" Vidhi, come with me. "

" Hello, who are you?? I don't know you. Please stay away from me. I don't talk to strangers. "

" Vidhi... " he caught my hand and started pulling me in the direction where everyone was.

" Hey, you... What are you doing?? You can't take me anywhere without my consent. "

" Cut the drama... Or I would pick you up and go there. Everyone is waiting for us. For god's sake, don't create a scene. " He finally pulled me there. We resumed our journey.

We reached Jodhpur and I went to my place without even a glance in his direction. What does he think of himself?? I will not think about him now.

Only a few days were left for the wedding. The marriage preparation was going on in full swing.

Shubh's POV

Vikram ji had added bhaang to that thandai. I had felt a bit different after drinking it. I felt as if I did not have any control over my mind.

I wanted to beat that Sid for playing Holi with Vidhi. He even hugged Vidhi and she smiled. Did she love him? Vikram Ji said that he would take care of Sandy and insisted that I must go and play Holi.

I nodded and went after them they were dancing on holi tunes. I went near her and drew her in my arms. She was a bit startled but I took her aside and applied colour on her face. I was dying to do it, but I was restraining my self as, if I had taken one step in the direction of my temptation, things could have gone out of control.

But because I had 3 glasses of bhang, I was not in full control of myself. I couldn't control my urge to go after Vidhi. I was getting more attracted to Vidhi day by day.

I just didn't want Vikram Ji to feel bad about it. I could not express my feelings for her and at the same time could not suppress it as well. I was going crazy about her.

I tried to stop myself from feeling that way but it was getting difficult day by day.

I didn't want a strain on the relationship between Sandhya and Vikram Ji. So I was avoiding her. But that bhaang was opening up all those emotions which I had bottled up tightly.

She said I was scared of Holi colours if only she knew, I was scared of us being close.

Yes, we were exactly opposite of each other and I knew opposites always attracts each other.

I knew we were not meant for each other. But... My stupid heart was jumping in my chest.

The moment I saw that she was with someone else, I lost my mind and the bhaang lowered my ability to be rational and sensible.

I kissed her hand and was about to kiss her too. Then we lost our balance because of my clumsy beauty. That was just too much for me to handle. She clung to me as she was scared as hell and I felt a current passing through my body.

I was going to kiss her when we saw Vikram Ji coming. He looked in a different mood. I hope he was not angry to see his sister in my arms.

But he was a bit preoccupied. There was some mishap at the party. I was also shocked.

I would have gone mad with rage if it was my sister or Vidhi instead of another girl.

The cold water had brought my mind back in normal condition. I was shocked to know that I was under the influence of bhang. I should not have touched her. I was feeling very guilty.

I would have killed a man for doing this to my sister. I would have kissed Vidhi if he had not come at that time  I could not even face Vikram Ji.

He offered to drop us home. I kept my eyes closed as I was ashamed of my wayward behaviour.

I went to my room and locked myself in. They both came for dinner that night but I told everyone that I was not feeling well so want to sleep early as we all had to go to Jodhpur the next day.

Next day Vidhi went to Jodhpur with us and I didn't even look at her. I was embarrassed at what I did.

She was just like a child but I was mature. I should have kept myself in check.

I could feel that she wanted to talk to me, but I didn't. I avoided talking or looking at her.

But she caught me when we took a halt. She tried talking to me but I told her to forget about me and stay away.

She was very much hurt. She got angry and started going away. My heart was crying out for her but I had to stop this madness.

We dropped her at her home. I got busy in the preparation of marriage.

Vidhi's POV

Everyone was busy in the preparation... Invitation Cards were sent to all the friends, families and colleagues of Bhai and bhabhi.

The marriage rituals would start very soon. Bhai had not seen her for the last 5 days... And as per our tradition, they couldn't meet till the wedding. He was dying to meet her.

Bhai's all friends had reached our place.  As usual, they were teasing each other.

The rituals and functions of the wedding were about to start from today. Our Haveli was decorated very beautifully adorned with lights and flowers.

I saw Gautam Bhai, Sid and Maurvi,  we had just arrived from the market. Bhai asked me to show Maurvi to her room.

Gautam Bhai stayed with his friends while Sid came with us to help Maurvi with her luggage.

Sid looked happy to see Shruti, while Shruti avoided him I saw the way Shruti and Sid exchanged curious glances at each other when they thought that the other one was not watching.

This wedding is going to be interesting. 

The functions had already started. We had the Ganesh pooja, then Pithhi Dastoor. It was a combo of Haldi and our traditional Sangeet ceremonies.  Turmeric and sandalwood paste was applied on Bhai and bhabhi in our respective homes.

There was so much excitement in everyone. Women of our family sang Sangeet songs and danced on Dholak and Nagara beats. Almost everyone was wearing yellow coloured clothes.

I went to Sandhya Bhabhi's place with mom, Shruti, and wives of bhai's friends after bhai's Haldi ceremony and enjoyed the functions at both places.

I was too determined not to think about Shubh. I was enjoying my time with my friends and family. I could feel his eyes following me everywhere. He was somewhere near me all the time.

What was his problem? He was following me like my shadow. But I just ignored him as if I didn't even saw him.

Sandhya bhabhi was looking very pretty just like any blushing bride to be.

We came back after the ceremony there. Bhai was getting very restless as he was not allowed to meet, everyone else was enjoying the wedding a lot.

Shubh's POV

We had haldi function for Sandhya. All the women from Vikram's family came to the ceremony.

The moment I saw Vidhi, I was dumbstruck. She was looking so beautiful and hot. Her dress was a bit bold with almost a non-existent back in her blouse.   I couldn't even breath properly. I could say, she took my breath away.

Was she doing it deliberately ??

She was looking..... God !! Help me, I don't even know if I should look at her or not.

I wanted to hide her from Everyone. I saw a guy looking at her with interest. I glared him and thankfully he understood that he should stay away from her.

I had to be near her, in case I had to send another man away after breaking his jaw.

I was following her everywhere like a lovesick fool and she didn't even look at me.

Vidhi's POV

In the evening, there were many rituals like Janev, Palla dastoor ( God Bharai). All the females of our family went to Bhabhi's place to give her gifts, clothes, jewellery, sweets and all kinds of bridal trousseau items.

After that there was Mehandi. Her hands and feet were adorned with Henna.  Bhai's name was hidden in the intricate designs of henna in her palms. I was teasing him mercilessly along with her rest of the bhabhi.

Bhabhi made me have my hands adjourned with Heena (Mehandi).

She teased me that I can tell the name of my someone special to Heena artist and get his name written in my Mehandi too. I just shook my head.