GREY

Ranbir had been smiling from last ten minutes and Prachi don't know why? Though she was puzzled and slightly irritated by it, she was more happy for the fact that he was genuinely happy for some reason. She was slightly suspecting the reason to be the sweet Arhana. They, together, can really cheer up any living specimen. They are the cutest pair ever.

Not more than you and Ranbir were, a small voice in the back of her mind whispered.

Were. It stung her heart. The oh so familiar pain clutched her heart again. Stop it. Not now. Act Happy. Act Happy. She chanted like a mantra. She took deep breadth to calm her tycoon of thoughts. She looked around at the lush green surroundings and her eyes landed at the most calming figure that can stop her frantic thinking. 

There he stood. Staring at her with his stupidly handsome face lit with smile and eyes twinkling horrendously bright. Looking purely gorgeous. Well he always looked swooning good, but that wonder doing smile just multiplying his charm by millions.

Whatever the reason, she blessed the reason or the person that uplifted his mood.

Ranbir noticed her staring at him and winked at her. He adjusted his jacket and it was then that Prachi paid attention to his clothes. He wasn't in his later usual dark formals. Instead he was wearing a blue pair of jeans with a hoodie over-layered with a brown leather jacket.

It was the hoddie that caught her attention. He was wearing a light grey hoodie that though was topped with jacket, but still strike being the lighter color than the other pieces. She averted her gaze but her heart felt warmness seeping in. She looked over at Aarav who gave her a questioning look and she shook her head with a smile.

Ranbir just couldn't stop smiling and looking at Prachi. He was right, they do have heart to heart connection like his Chief and Pragya. He just couldn't stop himself since he had seen her clad in that beautiful grey suit. He hadn't seen her in this kind of dress ever. It initially was a shock, but it soon turned into nothing but a bliss. She was wearing minimal jewelry consisting of a pair of earrings and Aryan's gift watch. She was looking positively breadth-taking. And Shahana's little confession had took him to cloud nine. There was nothing that can bring him back down. Not today at least.

He winced and glared at Aryan who had reverted to pinching as the last resort to catch his attention.

"What yaar? What is it?" He hissed, rubbing his tortured arm.

"You have been staring at Prachi for last fifteen minutes straight. I know you love her and are over the top happy by your little win. But if anyone see you looking at her like this, they might take you to be a serial killer on loose who prey on beautiful girls. It's creepy." Aryan said.

"What do I do." Ranbir almost jumped up and down in happiness. "I feel like dancing. You were right, we have that connection and it is still there. Buried somewhere under her stubbornness, but strong. I feel like nothing can spoil my mood today."

They all, that consisted of the youngsters, being the four boys and two girls, who had stayed behind while the elders were doing the last minute preparations for the puja up stairs in the temple, before the auspicious time started, turned towards the new approaching car. Three of them groaned while other three had no reaction, what so ever.

No one but her. Ranbir cursed the bad timing.

The coming was the reason of their waiting. Rhea Mehra got out of the car. Ranbir couldn't help but roll his eyes for being fashionably late was a trademark for her, no matter the occasion. Shahana frowned at the out of place outfit while Aryan tried to control his laughter on the same. 

Rhea was wearing a bright lemon yellow lehenga making it look like it was a haldi ceremony instead of a small family puja. She walked down the small space, with what would have been a ten on ten ramp walk, if it weren't for that the fact that the imaginary ramp was a dirt road. She stopped in front them and looked over at everybody with a haughty expression. Most probably thinking of them as underdressed, that was till she saw Ranbir standing there looking somewhere between amused and hysterical.

"Ran... Ranbir what are you wearing? Weren't you going to wear that yellow sherwani?" Rhea asked befuddled. Aryan was biting the inside of his cheek to keep himself from laughing.

"What Sherwani? Rhea we are in for a small puja not a K.Jo. movie wedding." Ranbir asked thoroughly confused.

"But I video called Aryan and saw you in the background trying a yellow sherwani on." Rhea, it almost sounded like, whined.

"Wha-- I was just organizing my closet." Ranbir excused, and thanked Aryan for talking him out of wearing that thing. His seventh outfit choice to be precise.

"You were just organizing your closet" Rhea said in a monotonous, "And I wanted to match you so I..."

A text message was received by Prachi and she informed that they were being called up by the elders.

They all made their way up towards the high situated temple and Shahana pulled Aryan back at the far back of the group.

"You did this didn't you?" She asked Aryan in hushed voice.

"Did what?" Aryan muttered back, being fully aware what the girl was talking about.

"Don't fake innocence in front of me, I know you tricked Rhea into wearing that.. that thing." Shahana giggled, "I'm SO proud of you." she rushed ahead but not before presenting him a bright naughty smile of her's. Aryan felt heat rising in his face and he couldn't help himself and smile at her running figure.

They all made their way up and awed at the simple yet beautiful decorations of the temple. The elders greeted Rhea and Aryan detected a couple of sniggers here and there undoubtedly on her choice of clothes.

"Everyone take their places, the Puja is about to start." The panditji called everyone in the open verandah of the temple, in front of the stone sculptures of Lord Shiva and Aadishakti.

"What are you children doing? It's so hot here and you'll have to sit in front of the Havan Kund. Boys loose those jackets, I'm having a heatstroke here by just watching you in layers of clothes." Dida scolded.

"This generation gives more importance to fashion statement than their health." Pallavi chidded.

"But mom..." Ranbir started.

"No but child, she is right. You don't feel now but it'll be really uncomfortable and sweaty in a while." Pragya said softly.

"Okay aunty." All four boys shrugged out their jackets and piled them in a corner along with the other stuff.

"There, he listened to his mother in law, not to his mother or dida." Pallavi teased.

"Like you two listened to him." Vikram muttered to himself, but then spoke out loud, "That is because she didn't insulted their clothing sense like you two did."

"Panditji, let's start shall we?" Abhi diverted the route before the firing could start.

"Just wait for sometime, I've asked a fellow pandit of mine to bring the auspicious Chunri for devi Aadishakti." Pandit ji replied. "He should be here soon. That Chunri will be used in this havan and then presented to her almighty."

"Oh okay, we'll wait." Pragya said.

Ranbir headed over to Vikram to make use of the time by discussing some office thing. Vikram excused himself and listened to his son. He felt proud of his son paying attention to business, being mature. But at what cost? He sighed heavily. What has his wife done to their son out of her ego and possessiveness. 

"Dad? What happened?" Ranbir asked breaking him free of his thoughts.

"Nothing." He smiled at his son. He decided to lighten the mood and point up the invisible elephant in the room. 

"Nice hoddie by the way." Vikram complimenting him raising an eyebrow, Ranbir gave a small smile and his gaze reflectively moved to Prachi. He snapped his eyes back to his father and smiled before making his way over to Aryan.

Aryan in-turn was blushing lightly by the small comment Purab had passed him, "Nice combination you two" He had said averting his eyes momentary to Shahana.

"Here, sorry I got late." came the voice of other panditji for whom they were waiting. They all turned towards them and both boys felt like the ground was knocked out from under their feet. They looked over at Prachi and Shahana who had identical confused look on their faces. Shahana, sensing someone's gaze, turned to look towards them and narrowed her eyebrows. Aryan and Ranbir gave her a panicked look and she slowly moved towards the two boys.

"Why do I feel like I have seen him before." She asked them.

"Because you have." Aryan replied.

"That's not the problem, the problem is that he had seen us before," Ranbir muttered.

"We'll have to think of something fast or he'll expose us." Aryan looked around to make sure no one was looking at them.

"God, if the truth got out, Prachi will firstly kill me and then resurrecate and then kill me by lecturing." Ranbir said, and looked over at the beautiful girl, who seemed to be still confused.

Shahana gasped, her eyes widened. It signaled the boys that she had now understood the graveness of the situation. She turned sideways to face the boys and clutched Aryan's forearm tightly.

She whisper shouted her newly discovered fact, "He is the same pandit that we had arranged for your and Prachi's marriage in the temple."

Aryan and Ranbir nodded their head like toddlers and they turned back to the newly arrived problem. It didn't help that before they could elope the scene, the new Pandit spotted them and called out to them.

"Arey, I have seen you before." Pandit ji said. "but where have I seen you?" He continued scratching the back of his head.

"The world is so small, you must have seen us somewhere or another." Aryan said trying to put him off.

"Yeah, so small, the world is. Also the duration of the auspicious time is small, let's start the puja shall we." Ranbir supported trying to change the entire topic.

"Yeah," the pandit said, and the trio heaved a sigh, but it got caught in their throats when the pandit exclaimed in joy as he recalled. "YES, you were the one's that came to me for marriage."

They all opened and closed their mouths like a fish, trying to think of a way to get out of this mess. But Panditji beat them to it. "There was another girl with you three," he said looking around at the family. "She, it was her right? What was your name? Ah, yes, Prachi, right?" He said pointing at Prachi.

Prachi looked ahead, eyes wide, she looked like she herself had recalled the day. Everyone turned to look at her and she in-turn turned to look at the three panicky, owners of the flop masterplan.

"Marriage? What is pandit ji saying Ranbir?" Pallavi asked her son.

"Vo...vo.. Nothing mummy. Nothing important." Ranbir shrugged off the matter but everyone held onto it.

"What marriage? Tell us the truth." asked Purab giving a suspicious look to Arhana. "Who was getting married?"

"No one was getting married," Aryan explained hurridly sensing his father's implication.

"But panditji just said you all met him for marriage." Abhi stated.

Aryan and Ranbir were about to refuse but Shahana cut them off, "Ranbir, Aryan, Prachi. There is no reason of hiding the truth anymore." She said in an unusual for her, serious way. She turned to everyone and took a long deep breadth. Aryan and Ranbir gave each other a scared look while Prachi was blank.

Rhea was scared as well. Thinking if they will reveal about the deal, or the fact that it was Prachi who Ranbir loves. Her evil mind was running miles to think up a way of turning Prachi to be the vile creature and coming clean herself. Even her buji wasn't here to help her.

"What truth?" Pragya asked, "What are you hiding?"

"Actually massi, The day when Mr. Mehra and Meera aunty were getting married, we, I mean me, Aryan, Ranbir and Prachi, we went to the Laxmi-Narayan mandir for marriage. We as good friends thought it as our duty to unite our friends to their true love." Shahana explained.

"Stop riddling it Shahana, tell the truth clearly." Pragya asked.

"Our friends, I mean, Aryan and Ranbir's friend, wanted to marry his girlfriend. And his girlfriend didn't had anyone from her family, so me and Prachi offered to be the Bride's side while Aryan and Ranbir offered to be Groom's side. Right Panditji? You were there and you witnessed the marriage. Those two dressed as groom and bride? I mean of course you did, you were the one who got them married, Right?" Shahana looked at him expectedly.

"Yes but..." Panditji started but was cut of by Aryan.

"Of course you do, why won't you remember? You were the sweet Panditji who agreed to get them married on such an auspicious and busy day." Aryan smiled brightly. "You seem to have a really good memory, I hope you remember everything right?"

"Yes but..." Panditji started again.

"Yes, you remember everything, this is my dad by the way, this is my whole family. I hope you remember all I told you about them." Aryan grinned.

"D.. Do.. Don?" Panditji stuttered.

"Panditji?" Aryan exclaimed, but then said softly, coming towards him. "Panditji, come let me video call my friend and his wife. The one you helped so generously to get married. Come." He almost dragged him away from the family members, Shahana followed suit.

"Why were you guys refusing to accept it, you did a good job uniting two lovers?" Purab asked Ranbir and Prachi.

"I.. we thought you all will scold us for getting them married against their parents will." Ranbir answered on both of their behalf. "Right Prachi?"

Prachi just nodded. Rhea let out a long held breadth. Thank god Prachi loves her parents too much to reveal the truth. She smirked thinking that there was nothing that could saperate Ranbir from her clutches. If Prachi stood by her promise, which she always will, there is no one that can come inbetween her and Ranbir. No one.

Aryan and Shahana came back, "Panditji had some other work, so he left." Shahana informed everyone.

"It's okay, Dad, Mom can we start the puja?" Rhea said, finally beginning to feel uncomfortable in her extravagant outfit.

"Yes, everyone lets get seated." Abhi said and everyone followed as asked to.

Once everyone got seated and the girls took the place as mains in front of the hawan kund the puja started. Everyone prayed the almighty to fulfill their heart's desires.

"The Puja had been reached to an end." The Panditji said, "Here present this auspicious shagun to the Aadishakti along with this chunri."

"Ranbir? Why don't we present this to the god together and seek their blessings for our happy life ahead?" Rhea asked, expactently.

"No, Rhea, this puja was for you and Prachi. It should be the two of you to present the shagun." Pragya tried to explain.

"But Prachi and Rhea completed the Havan, why can't Rhea present the Chunri with Ranbir? After all, they will get the blessings from the most ideal pair in the entire world. Lord Shiva and Maa Gauri." Pallavi supported Rhea.

"But,..." "It's okay Pragya, let them, if Rhea wants to present the chunri then be it so. It's no big deal. And even Prachi don't have any problem." Abhi cut off Pragya and looked over at Prachi to object. But she just shook her head a little and smiled slightly. A fake smile of course.

"There, Rhea and Ranbir can present the shagun. It'll be good for them."

Ranbir's heart broke a little at the clear hurt on Prachi's face. But no one noticed it, as usual. He reluctantly dragged his feet towards Rhea who was holding the shagun plate with a triumph smile on her face. Looking like she just won an years old brawl.

What God? I did so much to match Prachi, and you still got confused. What about the color coding couples? We are even wearing the same color and you still messed up. Not done yaar. Ranbir silently complained to the sculptures in front of him.

No not 'no one'. Someone did noticed it. And he is NOT going to let Prachi get ignored.

"It'll be good for Rhea and Ranbir. But what about Prachi Mr. Mehra?" Aarav asked, polietely yet strongly.

"Prachi don't have any problem with it then why do you have?" Pallavi asked, rather rudely.

"Mrs. Kohli... Prachi is way too polite for her own good." he continued, "Dida, Dasi, you two are elders, you must know a lot, correct me if I'm wrong, isn't the puja considered incomplete if the one for whom the puja is doesn't present the shagun themselves?"

"Aarav calm down, I really don't want to.." Prachi said, placing a hand on his bicep.

"It isn't for what you want or don't want Prachi," he said holding the hand on his arm. "It's about the completion of the Puja. If you don't present the shagun, the puja won't be counted to be complete. Than what is the basis of this whole thing?"

"He is right, both the girls should present the Shagun. Otherwise the Puja won't be considered complete." Panditji said from a corner.

"But I wanted to present the chunri with Ranbir so that we can get god's blessings for our life together." Rhea whined.

"You just want to present the chunri to maa Gauri," Aarav asked.

"With Ranbir."

"Then do so, you present the chunari to maa Gauri and Prachi will present the other shagun." Aarav suggested.

"Yeah and like this even the Puja will be counted complete." Shahana approved an everyone followed in positive reactions.

As decided, Ranbir picked the chunari and gave the rest of the Shagun to Prachi. Prachi smiled brightly at Aarav and the rest of the family members and did as said by the elders. Following precisely every step Prachi lit the camphor balls placed in front of the sculptures. She folded her hands in front of her.

Rhea and Ranbir moved forward from both side to hoover the chunri before placing it on the idol. Rhea was moving with much difficulty because of the height of the idols while Ranbir was not bothered much. It all happened in a split second that only those who were looking intently at them had seen it. Anyone who was busy even in blinking missed much part of it.

As Rhea was moving forward, her feet got caught, in what seemed like the hem of her heavy flowey skirt, and she lost her balance completely. She found herself being pulled towards the ground by the gravity. Nothing but thin air was blocking her path towards the ground. She lost hold of the corner of the chunari and it flowed in air.

Prachi who was just getting up after lighting the camphor balls caught the sight of the chunari about to fall on the balls. Camphor being the thoroughly flameable compound it is, would have burned the chunari. That was the only thought that crossed her mind as she caught the chunari herself, just before it could fall on the lit balls. She hurriedly uplifted the chunari from the flames. The candle stick moved a bit and Ranbir held it. Not finding anywhere else to put the chunari Prachi placed it on the head of the idol and look past to see Ranbir adjusting his side of the chunari. Looking intently towards her. An unreadable expression on his face, but a bright glint in his smiling eyes.

She turned around on the circus behind her. Everyone were fussing over Rhea who had fallen face-first on the ground. No one had seen Prachi putting the chunari on the idol. She was thankful for the momentary avoided drama that would have unfolded if someone had seen her presenting the chunari with Ranbir.

Everyone turned back when they made sure that Rhea was fine and haven't even had a small scratch.

"Prachi what's that?" Aarav strode towards her, took her hand and brought it up for better examination.

She let him held her hand and twist it a little to the side. She hadn't noticed till now since her first priority was saving the chunari. But now when a sharp pain shot through her hand, followed by a strong burning sensation, did she registered that in the hurry of catching the chunari, she had placed her hand directly above the flame. It had resulted in the burns that were on the back of her right hand and on her wrist.

An unsuppressent hiss left her mouth and Ranbir was by her other side in a flash.

"When did this happened?" Aarav asked gently holding her hand.

"The chunari was about to fall on the camphor balls. The camphor would have burned it in an instant. So to save the chunari I tried to catch it before it fell on the flame. I think that's when it got burned." Prachi said trying to keep the pain out of her voice.

"Why the hell did you had to play the daredevil?" Ranbir scolded, not caring for whatever anyone think. "Why.. just why do you decided to put your hand above a burning flame? So what if the chunri would have burned? God doesn't want his devotee to get hurt just for a non-living thing."

Rhea was fuming in anger, Prachi had touched that chunri which was supposed to be her and Ranbir's. That was too much to handle by her.

"I completely agree," Aarav said after sending Piyush to bring the first aid box from the car. "What exactly would have happened if it would have been burned?"

The usually quick witted Prachi was at loss of words. She could only handle one person at a time. Be it Baklu or Abra. And she blamed it on the pain shooting through her arm.

Piyush brought the first aid box and forwarded it towards the injured girl and Aarav and Ranbir reached for it at the same time. They looked at the other's hand and to each other, no one made any movement to retreat their hand. Aryan sensed where it might lead and took the first aid box, much like snatched.

He opened the first aid box and moved forward towards Prachi and silently started treating her wounds. The boys looking at Prachi and tried to ignore the stares everyone were giving them. Amused to Aarav and confused and angry to Ranbir. Ranbir flinched everytime Prachi hissed because of pain. Even though Aryan was being as much careful as one can, Ranbir was feeling an overpowering urge to overtake his job. Her every wince was clutching his heart in uneasiness.

"Ranbir, let us present the shagun again." Rhea said, buying everyone's attention.

"Huh?" Ranbir asked, not believing what she just said.

"Yeah, I'll just take it off the idol and we will present it again, together." Rhea said, not even trying to hide her irritation.

"No child, once anything is presented to the idol, it is not taken off, and if it is, it is not presented again." Dida explained to her.

"Then I'll go and buy a new one and then we'll present it." Rhea offered.

Aarav, who was waiting patiently for Prachi's dressing to complete, helped her stand up and turned to the family drama about to unleash, not before nodding at Aryan.

"You'll be good for some hours, though the dressing should be changed once we reach home." Aryan said to Prachi.

"Now if you all give us permission, I'll take Prachi home and you all can come home after you present the other shagun." Aarav offered.

"No everyone will leave right now." Ranbir stated and picked up his jacket and passing the other three boys their's.

"No Ranbir, we will offer the shagun." Rhea, well, Rhea.ed.

"No Rhea," Abhi ordered, "Prachi is hurt, and we will go home."

"But Dad..." "No but, no or, we will go home."

"No dad, I wanted to present the shagun with Ranbir, and I will.." Rhea said stubbornly.

"Fine then," Ranbir stated, "You present your shagun, I am out of here. Aryan, Shahana get in the car, if you want to come, that is." he said, not taking his eyes off the selfish girl.

"Let's go" Aryan said and they left. Not before making sure that Prachi had left safe and sound. And everyone followed suit, not wanting to stay there anymore.

A/N:- Hey sweethearts. I hope you all are safe, happy and cool wherever you are. Here is the next update. A bit late I know, but an update what so ever. How do you think it is? Do you like the new chapter. If you do please make sure to VOTE and comment. Inline comments are heartly welcome. Hope you love it.

# What do you think of the outfits? Prachi's, Ranbir's and *giggle* Rhea's?

# What do you think of the chunri presenting part?

Lots of Love,

Simran