Arjun's P.O.V
Everyone was walking around and chatting with one another. People were talking so loudly, the music was super loud and children were yelling and playing with each other.

It was chaos..

Varun came standing by me.
"Man oh man... How is this going to turn out yaar? Everyone is here! Literally everyone!"

"I know dude.. And to be honest, I've no idea..."

The music was turned softer and the guests started to come to the mandap. The groom was already seated behind the fire.

The priest welcomed everyone and started with the functions.

By the look on Sidharth's face I could tell that he was nervous. He was continuously fidgeting with his hand and even the priest started to get annoyed.

"Look son, I know that you are getting nervous, but please. There is no need to do that. Sit still please", he spoke with a slight hint of irritation in his voice.

Sidharth quickly nodded and tried to sit still while the priest carried on.

After a few minutes Sidharth looked up to me and Varun. Varun gave him a smile and a thumbs up. I smiled at him, gesturing that everything was fine and going according to plan.

After a few minutes the priest cleared his throat. "Call the bride downstairs please"

Varun and I shared a look. Just like the rest of us, we were eagerly waiting to see how the bride was dressed. More importantly, whether it was the correct one.

After a few minutes a small figure appeared above the stairs. I looked at Varun and smiled.

"Our plan is working!"

"What are you talking about? Can't you see that that's Alia?", he quietly hissed.

I took a better look and indeed. It was true. I sawof the way she walked, or as Varun calls it; like a duck. And also how she refused any help from someone and slowly descended the stairs all by herself

"Where is Shraddha?! Alia doesn't know what to say! Are they going to get married for real?", Varun almost cried.

I gestured him to be silent and we both walked away from the scene. Varun, once out of sight, started to run towards the other room.

"Hey! Calm down! I'm not as fast as you are", I said while trying to catch up with Varun.

He entered Alia's room and found Shraddha. She was sitting there, crying silently.

Shraddha's P.O.V
Varun entered the room with Arjun. I tried to wipe my tears and pretend that everything was normal. But I failed.

Varun came closer and sat down before me. He took his hands and mine and spoke in his sweetest voice. "Shraddha are you okay? Do you need help?"

I replied in the negative.

"Shrads... Can you please tell me what happened to you. Why are you crying?"

"Alia.. she.. she.." I started crying again

"Calm down okay? Nothing is going to happen. Shraddha, please tell me what's going on?", Varun asked devastatingly.

"Alia.. she.. she.. she took my position as a bride.. it would tear her family apart if she wouldn't do this. She is... she is going to do it... for her family"

Varun started to worry. "Do what?"

"She was going to marry Sid. She hopes that in this way her father can be proud of her and that she doesn't have to spend the rest of her life without a family.... she is going to marry him.. and I can't do anything... it's not fair"

I cried even more and Arjun and Varun shared a look.

"Take care of Shraddha please. I have a situation I need to fix.", Varun said.

Arjun nodded and sat down next to me. As he started calming me down, Varun made his way out of the room downstairs.

Arjun's P.O.V
I really felt bad for Shraddha. "Shraddha, are you okay?"

"Yeah, just a little bit shocked", she replied.

I gave her a hug and she sighed.
"Never imagined that this would happen Arjun. Never."

I pulled away. "Me too! Alia was trying to be strong without her dad, but I guess that she can't be."

"Come I'll cheer you up!", I said.

She wiped her tears away. "Me?"

"Yeah you! Come!!"

I grabbed her hands and guided her all the way downstairs. There was food everywhere and there was a small kid playing with a few cherries.

"He is not supposed to be here?", I said hesitatingly

"Leave him. He's so cute! Just see how adorably he looks at the cherries Arjun! He's so cute!"

Shraddha went towards the kid.

"Hi! I am Shraddha. Do you-"

"I know you! I saw you on tv! Do you wanna play with me tv Madam?", the kid replied in it's cute voice.

I smiled. He was really adorable.

"Of course I will play with you!", Shraddha exclaimed. "Now tell me one thing little one. What if we..."

Well, there goes my plan. Ah well, doesn't matter anyways. As long as she is happy right?

Varun's P.O.V

I ran down the stairs as fast as I could. But once I was within view I walked slowly as if nothing had happened.

I walked back to my spot. Sidharth noticed me and smiled at me.

I could tell that Sidharth was nervous since he was fidgeting the entire time again.

He smiled at me and gestures to the ceremony. "When are we going to begin?", he whispered softly.

I pointed at Alia, then upstairs and made a vice versa sign. Sid understood, still shocked and looking with big eyes.

"Why?", he gestured with his mouth.

I raised my hands, gesturing that I had no idea what to expect.

And then the lights were dimmed as if some cliche movie scene was about to take place. But since there were a lot of actors present, it wouldn't be such a crazy idea.

Karan entered the room wearing a green suit with purple studs. It actually shouldn't work, but it kinda did with Karan. As usually he smiled with that I-know-you-hate-me-but-you-have-to-love-me-if-you-want-to-live.

He cleared his throat and he narrowed his eyes and looked around the room. As if he was looking for something. When his eyes found mine, he stopped looking and smirked. As he spoke, I found him looking at me a lot and I became really uneasy and uncomfortable.

"Well, well... Ladies and Gentlemen, tonight I present something big to you. It is the moment you all have been waiting for. The wedding of the year! A round of applause please for our lovely students!!"

He smiled again at me. I had this weird feeling in my stomach. That something bad was going to happen. I slowly backed out and walked to the bar.

"Just give me something please", I asked.

The bartender who was busy cleaning glasses, put the glasses down and grabbed a clean one. He filled it with a familiar drink and I took a sip of it, trying to put my mind to a rest.

First Alia found out about Karan and her dad. Karan has been lying to her for more than 7 years and she trusted him blindly. He is such a good actor. And her dad really doesn't deserve her. And this was all about just some stupid deal.

I really couldn't believe it. Why would you be so cheap? So full of trash and bullshit? You didn't raise a child for more than 10 years, only to find out that you don't want it anymore and therefore deny its existence. That is so full of crap! And then-

"I'm sorry what did you asked?", I asked the bartender as he looked at me.

"Didn't you want to join the party?", the bartender asked me.

"Been to too many events like this. I've seen how it goes. Besides, I need to clear my mind."

"Oh yeah, I know the feeling. I suggest you take it slowly and then you will feel better again", the kindly bartender suggested.

"I'll keep it in mind. For now, I have some business to do.", I said.

I dunk my entire glass in one sip and I put down a banknote. "Thanks again", I said to the bartender.

"No problem kid. Just take it easy."

"Will do. Later. Now I have some unfinished business I need to solve."

The bartender chuckled. "Alright then. Take care kid."

Parineeti's P.O.V

I was sitting next to and old man.My chair was not comfortable and I needed to pee very badly....

"So? Excited?", the older man asked.

I smiled at him politely. "About what exactly?" I really didn't feel like talking today. Not now. I knew that something was wrong the second I saw Arjun and Varun running away from the scene. There must have been some major changes because Varun seemed pretty tense.

"The wedding? Is it not exciting?!", the old man asked me again.

"Yes. It is.", I said fast. I really didn't want to talk with him and I believed that it was best if I kept my answers short.

"Oh I see. Well, you are still a young girl after all. You must be new to all of this right ?", the old man asked again.

"Nope. I'm used to it. Excuse me please.." I walked away from the man since it didn't seem like there would be something happening very soon. And on top of that my bladder felt like it was going to explode.

I quickly walked towards the bathroom and I opened the door. As I entered, I searched for a free toilet but all of them were occupied. Ugh! This had to be my luck again.....

Luckily, after 2 minutes one of the doors opened and I quickly walked towards it.

When I got out of the bathroom, I took a little peep at Sidharth. He was still nervous and tensed. It seemed like the pandit (priest) was waiting for something and started getting impatient.

"Jaldi kar!" (Hurry up!)

Well, it didn't seem like there was much going on. Some people had in fact already left the ceremony and went back to either eating, dancing, or talking.

I heard that the plan had failed miserably. Just like most of Arjun's plans...He is always making up stupid things.

I didn't want to wait in the main room anymore since then the old man would start talking  with me again. And he was so annoying! I decided to go and see how Shraddha has been doing.

I was slowly walking away from the toilets and then run up the stairs. Well, running? I tried to run, but with an heavy outfit it was difficult to actually run.

Once I was upstairs, caught my breath and I walked towards Shraddha's room. I was just about to touch the golden doorknob when someone harshly pushed and pulled me away.

"Stop it. You're not going on there!", Arjun said to me. He was holding both of my arms with a lot of force so that i barely could move.

"Arjun, you're hurting me. Stop it.", I said.

"Parineeti, come with me. Right now." He pulls me with him and drags me into a room. He closes the door

"Arjun? What's wrong?", I ask with a slight amount of fear. Seeing the way he is grinning and thinking back of the last couple of days when he was grinning like this, it doesn't make me feel very comfortable.

His face softens as soon as I ask the question. He lets out a sigh and then turns back to me. He gently tucks back a strand of hair behind my ear before he speaks again.

"You're looking so beautiful tonight Pari..", he whispers.

"Arjun... is Shraddha okay?", I ask. I'm just gonna pretend that I didn't hear that because I don't know what to say to this. He's never been like this...

"Shraddha is fine. She has gone downstairs to watch."

I let out a soft chuckle. Arjun's face tins into a confused one.

"Pari, why are you laughing? It's a very serious situation."

I smile at Arjun. "Nothing... just knowing that we worked so hard on this plan, but it still failed. Your plans always fail", I chuckle.

"That's not true!" He takes a step closer to me. "Remember that time when you needed help with your little crush? I made up an entire plan for you and it worked right?"

"Huh? When did you do that for me?", I ask him.

"Pari!! Don't you remember? Your car had been broken down and you just had your drivers license and you didn't know what to do. I took care of it, but you were still worried. So, I took you to this party to distract you from your worries and there you met this guy who became your crush!"

"Ohh! I remember. But then I was 20 Arjun!"

"And you're still as cute as you were back then...", he smiles. I blush at hearing his words. I've never seen this side of him and tbh? I love this side of him.

"Ahw, My pari turned into a tomato! How adorable!!"

And then it hits me. I stare at him. "What did you just say?", I whisper

"That you're a tomato and looking adorable.. you're blushing again... what are you thinking of?", Arjun says.

"You called me your Pari..."

Arjun smiles and takes my hands into his one. He places them on his chest and looks down at me. "Yes. I did. Problem?"

"Arjun.....", I blush.

"Pari....", he mimics me.

I slap him lightly on his chest. "You're such an ass!!"

"But I love teasing you!!!", he innocently pouts.

At that sight I start to laugh. "Okay Drama Queen, I think it's best if you-"

"You're the Drama Queen Pari, not me. You literally have a song called Drama Queen!!" He points out.

"Yeah so? Anyways, I think that that we should head back to the wedding. They're going to notice that we're gone"

"But I want to stay here Parineeti. Don't want to go back...", he whimpers.

"Please? Come back to the wedding with me okay?", I ask him.

"Can't we just stay here for a few minutes? It's my freedom in here right now. I don't want to see Karan's ugly face the entire time.", he laughs.

I chuckle. "Arjun Kapoor, you're such an ass!!"

"And I have a good one right?"

"I won't judge about that...", I blush.

"Ohhh Pari come on!! I've seen the way you look at me...", he says while coming even closer. Our foreheads are almost touching each other's and oddly, I'm not uncomfortable at all. In fact, I'm feeling good. What's happening?

"Arjun... I don't do that.. that's not true...", I said. I feel the blood rushing to my cheeks and suddenly it becomes very warm.

"We both know it Parineeti... We both do..." He brings his face even closer to mine and I can feel his warm breath on my skin.

"Am I making you feel uncomfortable Pari? You should tell me if I'm doing that okay?", he whispers.

"No Arjun... you've done this before.", I say and he immediately pulls away.

"Yeah, about that...I'm really sorry for my rude behaviour towards you. You really don't deserve it Pari. You're so sweet and caring for me..."

I smile at him. "So sweet.." He gives me a hug and then he kisses my forehead. I feel the blood rushing to my cheeks again and the temperature is rising again.

Arjun pulls away. He looks at me with a serious face and starts smiling. "Pari, I need to tell you something. I believe I am in lov-"

"What is going on?", we suddenly hear a voice say. We both look at the direction of the voice and see that Shraddha has entered the room.

"Shraddha, we were just talking and-"

"Talking? Didn't look like it...", she says with arms folded over her chest.

"We were just talking Shraddha! What does it matter to you anyways? We haven't done anything", Arjun says.

"Chill guys, I'm just messing with you. I'm happy for the both of you. At least you've found your match.", she says a bit upset.

Arjun and I look at each other with a both of an uneasy feeling.

"Uhm...", I begin

"It's not like that", he adds

"Yeah, we're not dating.. we're friends? Right Arjun?"

"Uhm Yes. Totally!!", he says.

Shraddha walks away. "Fine, keep fooling yourself. Are you guys coming downstairs or what?"

"Yeah, just a moment please", Arjun says.

Shraddha nods and she goes downstairs.

Arjun turns to me. "Listen, I am really sorry about my behaviour these last few weeks. But I'm not sure why I did that. I don't have an excuse. So you can be mad at me, yell at me, or even hit me. But as long as you won't leave me alone. Please don't do that Parineeti.", he says quietly.

"Arjun.." I walk towards him and give him a big hug. "Don't worry, I won't leave you. As long as you're being yourself and relaxed, nothing will happen okay?"

He nods and pulls away. "Btw, we really need to have a talk. About us. Because I'm not sure what's going on, but I really enjoy your company and I think you do too. So I think we just need to talk this over, see where we stand you know?"

I nod happily. "Yeah, good idea. Let's get downstairs now before Shraddha gets pissed."

Arjun nods and we both walk downstairs, happier than ever before.

That took such a long time to write!! But now I have vacation until 1 September so a lot of updates coming your way!

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Varia_nv
25 July 2019