Ishan's POV

"Hey homie, you're free now?", I ask as I sit next to her in the lounge of the resort.

"Uh, no.", she tells, "I'm contacting people for the reception preparations."

"How's it going on?", I ask her.

"It's a little hard.", she tells as she looks down at her book and continues writing down something it it, "It's happening in Mumbai and well, planning it from here is just so hard because I can't be there."

"Shall we hang out after a while maybe?", I ask her.

"Um, no I'm busy now and there's still a lot left to do.", she tells me.

"Tonight?", I ask her expectantly.

"It's Smu's bachelorette party tonight so that wouldn't be possible either.", she sighs.

"Maybe tomorrow?", I ask her.

"The wedding's day after tomorrow, so I'll have to set up catering and seating tomorrow.", she tells.

I sigh and lean back in the chair, annoyed.

"Isn't there any way we could spend time? There's a series against South Africa and the four of us literally leave the day after the reception.", I tell her.

"Nope, even I'm busy until then and I have some work after the reception too", she tells in an annoyed tone,"why don't you spend your time with Aahana?"

Shit, she's upset that I didn't tell her that I've dating Aahana for a while.

"What does she have to do with this?", I frown at her.

"Nothing", she shrugs, "if you are here for another week, I think it's better you spend it with her. She'd miss you since you won't be here for another month or so."

"Yeah you're right. And about that, I'm sorry I never told you about her.", I apologise.

"It doesn't matter now.", I shrug, "Anu, Smu and I are okay with it. You wanted to have your privacy and we get that."

What does she mean by privacy?

"Uh, then I'll leave I guess.", I tell her, "good luck with the planning."

"Uh yeah, thanks.", she tells me awkwardly.

Did I just ruin everything between us?

Two days later

Outfits.

Decorations.

Shubman's POV

"Why in the world do you guys keep your weddings so early in the morning?", I ask him after I yawn tiredly.

"Go and ask my ancestors, how do I know that.", Shreyas tells as he rubs his eyes.

"Yeah but don't yawn during the wedding, bohot galat lagega.", Abhay advices me.

This guy talks such absolute bakwaas when he's sleepy.

"Obviously.", I give him a look.

"Do you think the girls are angry with me?", Ishan asks me.

"They're not the only ones.", Shreyas glares at him.

"Trust me I would've told y'all.", Ishan whines, "it's just that we've been dating for about a month and-".

"WHAT?", Abhay yells.

"Just one month???", I ask him with a look of disbelief.

"Yeah.", he shrugs at us, "Isliye, I didn't tell you guys. We wanted to take it slow."

"Ishan, you've brought her to your best friends' wedding and have introduced her to your family already.", Shreyas states,"that screams 'going faster than a bullet train' and definitely not going slow."

"I just-", he sighs, "I don't know."

"If you're this confused about things, you should've taken your time to think or atleast taken some advice from someone", I frown at him,"Trust me, taking decisions hastily in relationships can ruin everything. You wouldn't want to do that."

"I think usne yeh pehle hi kardiya hai", Abhay tells us and Ishan buries his head with his palms.

Shahneel di opens the door, "Shubi,you have to go to the stage now for some ritual."

(A/N: I haven't been to a wedding in a really long time, so I'll just refer the pictures from my parents' wedding album and write it down hehe. I might make mistakes regarding them or miss some so please don't mind <3)

The first ritual was called "Maman Kalyanam". Smriti's father explained that during older times, the girl was usually married to her maternal uncle. People barely followed that now and so as to compensate for that, there was this ritual where the paternal uncle of the bride and groom had to tie a thread on their wrists.

(A/N: this is what my mom said, so if it's wrong forgive us pls🤡)

My uncle and I finish the ritual and I get back into the dressing room cause apparently, I'm not supposed to see Smriti until the time we have to do some rituals together.

After Smriti and her uncle finish the ritual, I'm called out and I join her on the stage.

"Hey.", I whisper as I sit next to her.

"Hi", she whispers back, "you're so lucky."

"Why? Because I'm marrying you?", I ask her.

"No.", she giggles as her cheeks turn red, "you just have to wear your dress. I don't understand why people from my place love gold so much. I mean look at this.", she groans as she points at the jewellery hanging around her neck.

"Look looks suffocating.", I grin at her,"but nevertheless, you look pretty." The only pieces jewellery she preferred were pendants, rings and bracelets. Totally minimalist.

"Thanks, you look quite dashing too.", she smiles at me.

"Ahem.", the priest clears his throat and we keep quiet. He gives us some things and asks us to put it into the fire as he chants some prayers.

A while later, Shreyas brings a plate on which the mangalsutra, which they called as Thali was on.

Woah. It's really happening.

The priest applies some vermillion and sandal as he chants some mantras. He hands over the mangalsutra to me and motions me to tie it around her neck.

And then we had lots of flowers petals thrown on us, it was fair to say that we were literally a mess now.

"Now could you both come out of this?", Smriti's father asks us from the back. I get up and offer my hand out to her so as to get up. She takes it in hers, gets up and mutters a small thank you.

Her father, who noticed all this, smiles at us and hands us a garland each.

Well, this was going to be fun.

Abhay and Subeer lift me up while Shreyas and Ishan lift her up.

Ishan could look like a minion but god, he has a lot of energy in him.

"Bhai you're so hard to lift", Abhay grunts and I glare at him.

"You're already taller than me and now this thing-", Smriti complains as they lift up while she tries to put the garland around my neck.

Then Smriti being Smriti, tries throwing it around my neck and it falls down but luckily, Shahneel di catches it.

"Sorry.", she laughs sheepishly as di hands the garland back to her.

After we finished exchanging garlands thrice, we were told walk around the pyre seven time lead by Shreyas, who held a lamp in his hand. We sit back on the stage and Smriti's father performs the Kanyadhaan ritual.

After that, we do a few more small rituals which were left and then take the blessing from our families.

"Ayyo amma, don't cry.", Smriti gives her mom a smile since she had tears in her eyes,"I'll visit you and Appa once in a while."

"I'll take care of her.", I assure them,"she has my parents and Shahneel di too, they love her just as much as you do."

She placed her hand on my head and blessed me. I was glad that she trusted me and my family enough because those few words calmed her down in an instant.

We click pictures with the guests and then go to eat lunch with our friends.

"I'm so hungry and tired, oh god.", Smriti whines as she sits on the chair next to Jess.

"You were excited for getting married na, have fun.", Shreyas teases her, "Aye!", he yells as she takes the appalam (also known as paapad) from his plate.

"I mean, it's nice and all but it's just, all these ridiculous jewellery.", she whines as she eats the appalam she took from Shreyas' plate, "it's so heavy I think I'll probably faint."

"That's something all of us don't want.", I chuckle.

"Bhook lagi hai.", Abhay whines,"I'll go get some food. You want some Anu?"

"Sure, thank you.", she smiles at him.

"Abhay, main bhi aata hoon. Shall I get some food for you? I'm not tired.", I tell Smriti

"Yes please, thanks", she smiles at me.

"You are so whipped already.", Abhay makes fun of me as we go to get food.

"Look who's talking, you've known Anu for two months and you're taking food for her.", I tease him,"Atleast Smri and I have known each other for years."

Kashish's POV

"Congratulations bacchon.", Ishan tells Shubman and Smriti as he ruffles Shubman's hair.

"Thank you dada ji.", Smriti laughs.

"Yaar mere baal choodo.", Shubman slaps Ishan's hand which was on his head, "abhi ek aur photo session hai."

"Smu is going to faint today, pakka.", Anu makes fun of her and I laugh.

"I am not going to survive today.", Smriti groans, "Shubman I'm sorry to say this but you'll end up becoming widower today."

"Aise dhokha mat do", Shubman tells as he over dramatically places his hand on his chest.

They're so adorable.

"You guys are so dramatic." Jess shakes her head.

"Uh, guys I gotta go.", Ishan tells us.

"Itna jaldi?", Abhay asks him.

"Haan woh.", he pointedly looks at Aahana.

"Oh right.", I tell him and he leaves after giving us an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry about him, I swear I'll knock some sense into his head during the upcoming series.", Shubman assures me.

"Don't worry about that Shubi, you focus on the game tabhi. I'll be okay.", I wave it off.

"Kuch bhi", he gives me a look, "Look, I know you well. Ishan means a lot to you and you love him. He's just being an idiot now, everything will be alright between you guys soon."

"How are you sure about that?", I ask him.

"Look at Smri and I, we're examples of that.", he tells me.

"Thanks.", I give him a smile.

"Arre ye kyun bol rahi hai. We're friends right? I've got your back.", he smiles back at me.

I guess I'll have to take his word for it.

Author's note:

SHUBMAN AND SMRITI ARE FINALLY MARRIED SJSHDJDJJDJDK

Much much more drama to come in a while👀

I hope you liked this chapter!

Lots of love
~S.

Published on: 25 July 2021.