||CHAPTER 29||
《¤》

"Our daughter."

Terrible, Raman Oberoi was a terrible person.

My eyes connected with my mother, and I could decipher her expression, pleading me not to make a scene.

It was harsh on me. I could now feel the anger that my actual family did. I knew I was good at masking my feelings, but anger was a totally different dimension. The only thing that kept me from bursting out then and there was my father's words that kept reminding me what I was actually here for.

Raman Oberoi's hand went over my back, squeazing my shoulder. "Mr. and Mrs. Ahuja, they are our really close friends, and own the Clara Pearls."

I turned to look at the couple. The lady had pearls covering her neck, and the man's french beard was somewhere between being completely gray and black.

"Arvika Deewan," I extended my hands forward for a handshake, making sure my name was crystal clear to them. "Nice to meet you."

Mr. Ahuja shook my hand, and his wife overwhelmed me by a hug. "You look like your mother."

But I can talk like my father, and you need to know that.

"Well," I giggled, "I hope that was a compliment."

They laughed when I winked at my father.

He seemed to like the joke too. My mother on the other hand, was busy sipping on a glass of champaigne.

"So, what are your dreams, Arvika?" Mr. Ahuja asked.

"I am-"

"She's now studying in eleventh, and will soon join our business, I guess," my mother abruptly joined our conversation. Someone clearly didn't want me to reveal where I lived, it seems.

"She definitely has the wits for it," Raman Oberoi commented, and I shrugged.

"It runs in the family," I laughed. "Atleast that's what the plan is."

What runs in the family is cold blood and deceiving.

"Please enjoy the night," Raman Oberoi said, "Hope to see you tomorrow at the wedding!"

Subtle way of excusing themselves.

Mr. Oberoi glanced between us, patting my back. "It seems you guys have a lot to speak about. I'll leave you guys to bond for a moment."

When he was out of sight, I turned to my mother. She kept her glass on the tray the servers were carrying around, and when she looked at me, her voice was stern. "Is there something you want to say?"

I don't know what reason I had given her to use that tone on me. "You look pretty."

She did, a deep red ball gown adorning her curves and a chignon enhancing her facial features.

"Brides are supposed to look pretty."

"I don't know what about me gets you in a chipper mood," I cut out, "but I'm not going to beat around the bush either. I am trying to look supportive, alright? I am trying to pretend to look happy, for your sake, and I find it extremely strange that it's not the other way round!"

It was crazily difficult to maintain a smile throughout the conversation.

She closed her eyes, sighing. "What do you want me to do?"

I smiled. "Do you really want to know?"

Sensing my hidden answer, she said, "No, not really. But... Mai bas chahti hoon ki tum khush raho, and Mumbai laut ayo. Raman isn't a bad person-"

"Neither was my Dad, but yeah, whatever. Raman Oberoi aapko pasand hai mom, mujhey nahi."

"Binoy ne tumhare dimaag me uske baremein buri baatein ghusayi hai na?"

I couldn't help but laugh at that. "Out of all the people, you are the last person I thought would think that I am fazed easily. Aapse ek family tho sambhali gayi nahi, and aap mujhe apke naye wale mein khushi-khushi ghusne bol rahi ho?"

She looked away, making me think that maybe I shouldn't have said that. But I felt light, confiding in her the chaos that had been eating my insides.

I strode forward, and I knew we had more than a few eyes on us, trying to capture any conflict. But I was gonna give everyone just what they didn't like- a non-controversial moment.

My mother was suprised when she felt my arms around her. Sensing the cameras, she had no option but to hug me back and smile.

The flashes went off, when I realised that my heels were not the reason why I was as tall as she was in her six inches. With a smile, I spoke in her ear, just for her to know.

"Have a happy new life Mamma, par mai aapke aachal ke peechhe nahi chhupne wali."

¿¤?

Wandering alone in the secluded corner of the backyard, I craved for removing the footwear that was clawing my ankles and toes. The only thing that kept me from doing that is one of the life-lessons that I had learned when growing up with my mother- pretend you don't care, and in the end, you don't have to pretend anymore.

The place was beautiful, it was a creation of the best few architects after all. But home, this place definitely was not.

And that would have led me to my philosophical self, had not a voice interrupted me.

"Hello there, Vika darling."

I stopped on my tracks, but I didn't have to turn around to know that it was Aryan Oberoi. A smile crept on my face.

"Hello there, cousin," I greeted him as he walked to my side from his earlier position.

"You'd be my least favourite one," he informs me when I look at him. Seems like his hair dye no longer coloured his hair brown- they were black, gelled to leave a few strands falling on his eyes. He had shaven his facial hair- which I know had been growing when I left Mumbai.

"Aise mat dekho hame, warna firse tumhare liye jeene lagunga," he said in a low voice, slightly leaning in.

"Kyu? Mujhe bhula nahi sake ab taq?" I kept on standing straight.

"Bigaad jo diya hai tumne hame doosron ke liye." His smirk screamed how shallow his words were.

But I knew Aryan. He was anything but shallow.

"Fir tho aur bhi baddhiya hai," my hands reached up to comb his hair back. "Ab tumhe acche aur sacche me fark dikhayi dega."

He stepped back, just like I had predicted. It's not that he was overprotective about his hair; he just wasn't comfortable with proximities that could affect his mind when it came to me. When he started chuckling, I joined him in his laughter.

"You didn't tell me you were going to Delhi."

"You didn't even know that I was from Delhi to begin with," I smirked.

"Touchè," he huffed. "But now that we are going to be a family, I think you can let go of your boundaries."

I shook my head as we walked. "I can't believe I used to date you, Aryan."

"Tum meri insult karne ki koshish kar rahi ho ya khudki?"

The guy had learned some savage sarcasm.

"Atleast it's a good thing I dumped you," I hit his shoulder. "Your personality has undergone a makeover."

He laughed as we reached the party again, "Do you want me to keep saying ki tumne mujhe bigaad diya hai?"

"Well, mujhe ye jaankar khushi hui ki mera tumpar itna asar pada hai."

"Tumhara to sabpe asar padta hai, Vika darling," he chortled. "Chachu seems to be besotted with you."

"Kyu, is cousin se jalan ho rahi hai kya?"

"Jalan?" He scoffed. "More like sympathy. I can only imagine how happy you are with this bandhan."

Bandhan. Seems like he knew about the contract between my maternal side's company and the Oberoi's.

"Aw," I place a hand on my heart, tilting my head to the side. "That was such a warm welcome."

He winked. "Always a charmer, that I am."

His eyes told me we were running on the same track; but I didn't understand his reasons why he was on my side about this wedding.

With a glass of golden liquid, Raman Oberoi strode towards us, a smile on his face. "Aah, a sweet reunion!"

His nephew shrugged. "Glad we met again."

"So," he looked between us, "What were you guys talking about?"

"Oh nothing," I grinned. "We were just discussing about how grand this wedding is going to be."

¿¤?

I woke up when I didn't feel my hand sweeping the cold tiles after rolling thrice, like it did in Delhi. My eyes slowly opened, not feeling the sun rays streaming in. It was still dark in here, and clock on the bedside table showed it was two thirty seven in the morning.

The morning my mother was going to marry the man I never got around to like, personally.

Pushing the covers down to my waist level, I sat straight, picking up my phone from the night stand.

It's locked for a reason, stupid.

That's what my lock screen said, in bright white letters against the black background. I had set it for Arnav, because lately, he was very adamant in cracking my passcode and look through my phone.

When the screen dimmed, I quickly entered my code, and was greeted by many messages, most of which I'd never even check.

Scrolling down my whatsapp contacts, my phone suddenly started buzzing.

It was Ishita Gupta. The girl who just couldn't leave me alone.

Her face was brighter than the fairy lights she had used to decorate her room.

"What are you even doing at this time of the night?" I groaned.

"Mom and Dad aren't home okay? And you were online." She shrugged.

I grabbed my earphones from the night stand drawer, and plugged it in.

"So, kaisi chal rahi hai shaadi ki tayyari?"

"Pata nahi," I yawned, sliding down on the bed for a comfortable position. "Kal news pe dekh lena."

She laughed. "Bade logo ke haav-bhaav."

"Look who's talking," I commented, referring to the fact that her sister, who though, was still in college, was quite a name around Bollywood.

"Guess what?" She said enthusiastically. "Aaj Negi mam ne Arnav se poochha ki tu kyu nahi ayi-"

"Torture jo karne nahi mila!" I cut in.

"Tu poori baat tho sun!" She frowned. "So she asked your bro about you, and guess what he replied?!"

"What?"

I did have a hunch.

"He said, she went somewhere you don't want to talk about! And oh em gee!! Negi mam ka expression us waqt! Dude aaj tujhe ana chahiye tha!"

"Agar mai aati, then tum logo ko mam ka expression dekhne ko nahi milta," I chuckled.

"Wo tho hai. By the way, did you meet your ex-boyfriend?"

I rolled my eyes. "Agar tujhe woh itna pasand hai, tho mai tujhe uska number de dungi. Mujhe pareshaan mat kar."

She stuck her tongue out. "Take care behen. Aage jo hoga, himmat aur dhairya se kaam lena!"

The way she had curled her fist to emphasize her point made me shake my head.

"Life surprizing honi chahiye, planned nahi."

"Well, surprizes tho definitly tumhe milne wali hai. G'night!"

_____

Namoshtaii!

So in the chapter preceding the last one, my AN wasnt updated. So, I'm gonna ask my question here. What do you think about Komal Pandey as Arvika? I mean she seems pretty fun. Her fashion blog is something you should see, I mean I liked her expressions in her stuff, which were almost similar to what Vika is most of the time. What do you think?

If this chapter and bandhan doesn't make sense to you, pls stay tuned for the next few chapters.

Well, I'm so happy rn bcus after many weeks I've got my Saturday off! It's heaven guys! How are you doing?

Also, this chapter is kinda dedicated to my dear friend Maitreyi! I miss you loads girl ;P

Anyways, read, vote, comment and promote!

~emcee.