MARRIAGE INVITATION

Prachi tossed and turned around in her bed. Trying to find a comfortable enough position that may help her to slip into slumber, but nothing helped as she lay wide awake. Everything was just as she liked it to be, from the low light that spread in the room, the perfect chilly temperature, to being tucked in her favorite blanket.

Even the weather was kind enough to shower drizzles on her windowpane but even that could not lull her to sleep. The fact that irritated her was that she knew what her heart desired and she did not want to bow to it. Again. 

A frustrated groan left her throat as she shot up in her bed. A frown was already etched on her face. She flung off the covers and turned t the side, her feet hanging over the side of the bed as she contemplated the other options she had instead of giving in to her naughty stubborn heart.

It's been three weeks since the supposed wedding of the twins with Aarav and Ranbir. And also the big incidents that had every slate clean and out in the light. Prachi's injuries had healed magnificently. Her body was void of any bandaid except the cast on her wrist which still had two weeks to come off.

Aarav and Piyush had left for London two days prior, but not without promising to stay in contact and return for Pranbir's marriage. Everyone missed them. And after knowing that they were in fact, Shahana's cousins, even Aryan could not help but bond with them over time.

Prachi trotted out of her room, trying to make as less noise as she could. Creaking open Shahana's door, she peeped around the room lit up by the new Lava lamp Shahana had brought recently. The younger girl was fast asleep in the middle of her bed, cocooned under the covers. Prachi's frown deepened. 

Everyone was asleep but her.

She softly padded her way downstairs and into the kitchen, giving in to her heart's second most desired wish. She took out the half-leftover tub of ice cream from the refrigerator she had saved for a night like this. Clutching the cold plastic box between her side and the not-good arm, she reached for a spoon, shuddering as the coldness seeped through her thin Kurti.

She went to her favorite spot in the house, the far backside of the hall, where the large glass window overlooks the open area behind their mansion, and opened the ice cream tub. She slipped down on the love seat- that her father and Purab chucks had so generously turned around so that she could enjoy the view comfortably whenever she wanted- and scooped out a spoonful of ice cream, licking it slowly.

The cold had just started to nip at her skin when she felt some movement behind her. She didn't turn around, instead just held the ice cream in one hand, stretching the arm away from herself as the soft blanket was thrown over her.

"I was just about to finish your share of the ice cream too." She whispered, giggling lightly as the soft fur of the blanket tickled her chin. 

"No, you wouldn't have." Came the reply and she giggled some more.

She held out the tub as her partner in late-night-ice-cream-treat adjusted next to her and then took the tub from her. She looked to her left, trying to make out the sharp features in the dark. Not that she needed light. She had his face engraved forever in her heart and soul.

"I know I am handsome Chikchiki, and I am so yours, but you don't need to stare so much." Prachi could make out the smirk in his tone that made her eyes roll automatically.

"Don't boost your ego," she replied, covering her arms with the blanket and snuggling closer to Ranbir's side.

Ranbir put down the now empty tub and wrapped his arm around Prachi's shoulder, pulling her closer into his warmth. After making sure that they were both fully wrapped in the blanket, with only their faces exposed and legs overlapping each other's, Prachi rested her head on his shoulder as Ranbir carefully held her cast-ed hand over their laps, mindful not to squish it in between them.

"Couldn't sleep?" Ranbir muttered softly, stating more than asking.

"mm- hunc." Prachi denied.

They sat in silence, looking at the raindrops that slid down the window. Blurring anything on the other side. Taking away any view that might pick their interest and leaving them alone to focus and cherish just each other.

"This is bad," Prachi said after a couple of minutes. 

"I know," Ranbir replied.

"But I like it," She mumbled and regretted it instantly. 

"Me too." Ranbir smiled softly as red drizzled Prachi's cheeks.

Some moments passed as the small pitter-patter turned heavier and then into a full-blown thunder. The occasional lightning blazed through the hall and the heavy rustling of winds could be heard talking through the empty roads. Playing tap and run among the trees.

Prachi turned her head to face Ranbir, about to say something, but just as she looked at him, the words died in her throat. The lightning illuminated his face in the best ways possible, and then even better. The white light gleamed against his porcelain skin, casting shadows and bringing out his sharp features.

"Ranbir..."

He turned to look at her, his eyes shining.

"i love you" The feather quiet whisper echoed in Ranbir's ears and then in his mind, where it will probably keep reverberating till it stopped working altogether.

He heard the quiet hum of words amidst the horrendous thunders. His heart swelled to double its size and his soul swayed in heavenly bliss.

Prachi cast her eyes down, overcome with such raw emotions that she had never felt before and didn't even think could be felt. Nervousness, excitement, adrenalin rush, and shyness swarmed her senses all at once. But the most prominent?.... alleviation. The relief flew in her veins faster than blood.

Ranbir, on the other hand, was the farthest thing from relaxed. He wanted to get up. Get up and dance. Dance around the whole of Delhi. Go to each and every family member's door and bang the shit out of the doors until they open up and then tell them that Prachi told him the three magical words.

He wanted to go to Aryan and make him dance with him. He wanted to go to Shahana and tell her that it finally happened. He wanted to drive to each of his college friend's and office colleagues' houses and tell them the news. Even more, he wanted to go to those who said that this moment will never come and rub it in their face.

He wanted to tell the entire world.

And so he did...

"I Love you too." He whispered back in the ear of the girl sitting with her face hidden in his neck.

He could feel the shiver that went through Prachi's body carry into his own. He slowly trailed his lips from her ear to upwards towards her temple, pressing his warm lips to her skin. His eyes closed of their own accord as he poured all his happiness out.

Prachi, finally relaxed as per having her heart's first desire filled- to be next to Ranbir- that has been keeping her up till these late hours of the night, slipped off into a peaceful sleep.

~*~

"It is Okaaayyy...." Shahana faked an uninterested tone.

"You call it 'okayy' because you probably don't even know how to use it." Aryan replied referring to the new Lava lamp he had helped her pick for her room. 

With Prachi and Shahana now having their own rooms, it was quite lonely at night. And to keep her brain occupied, she had decided to bring some addition to her room. Aryan, being the overprotective self he has been around her since the 'happening' had tagged along and had finally made her buy the lava lamp instead of the wind chimes that Shahana had decided to pick. 

And now Aryan wanted his fair share of thanking. Shahana might have thanked him eventually, but no. He had to demand the greetings at early seven in the morning, and he just could not wait. So he had very conveniently irked Shahana.

"I do!"

"Then you clearly don't possess a good taste." Aryan commented, coming down the stairs with Shahana in tow.

"You don't know a thing about me or my taste." Shahana said, not baking out.

"Yes I do, You like it but you won't accept, so just your welcome."

"I didn't say 'Thank you' ." Shahana walked past him to face him.

"You just did, love." Aryan smirked, flicking her nose and crossing her.

Shahana stood still, frozen from either the lack of comeback or the little nickname he just called her. Unknown to her, Aryan had just stayed unaffected till he crossed her, and as soon as he had registered what he had just spurred out of his lips, he halted too. 

He quickly turned around to look at Shahana's expression at the same time as she turned causing her to bump her forehead straight into his nose.

"Oww, oh- Oh god!" Aryan bent over in pain while Shahana too did to check.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, show me, Oh god! Aryan let me see. God! Are you okay? Let me see!!" Shahana panicked around him.

"Hey champ what happened?" Abhi and Purab approached the two.

"ee brok mai nozz." Aryan whined and Shahana guiltily peeked at the two elder men. 

"I'm sorry, I didn't do it intentionally. Actually, he was behind me and he turned and then I turned and I didn't know that he would be right there and my head bumped into his nose." Shahana hurriedly explained. Guilt, sadness, and hurt dripped from her tone and face. 

Completely unaware of the wide grin plastered on the allegedly 'injured' boy who stood behind her barely controlling his laughter while silently requesting his father and uncle to not ruin the moment.

Purab and Abhi tried their best not to burst out laughing and maintain a sober expression.

"Oh god! N-Now what?" Abhi asked, walking over to Aryan who quickly covered his nose again and scrunched his face to fake pain.

"Yea- Yeah, now what?" Purab repeated the question and Shahana looked at Aryan.

"His nose got broken!" Abhi exclaimed.

"Now we would have to get him to have a nose surgery." Purab added.

"But that would hurt a lot!" Abhi said and Shahana's guilt increased.

"Then you want my son to have a crooked nose for the rest of his life?" Purab asked.

"We couldn't do that. Who will marry him?" Abhi asked, glancing sideways to Shahana whose eyes were fixed solely on the groaning boy.

"Who will marry my son when his crooked nose will come in the way of his looks." Purab exclaimed a little louder.

"What happened?" Pragya approached, listening to the commotion, the Kohli's in tow.

"ee brok mai nozz." Aryan repeated again, pointing a finger at Shahana who shook her head.

"It was an accident." Shahana breathed.

"But who will marry him now? He is going to have a crooked nose!" Purab recounted.

"Who pays the fine?" Vikram asked.

"Huh?" 

"You tell me Shahana, who pays the fine?" He repeated.

"The one who breaks the law." Shahana said.

"Who serves the punishment?" Vikram shot another question.

"The one who commits the crime." Shahana answered obediently.

"So who broke his nose?" 

"It was an accident." Shahana corrected hurriedly.

"Let me rephrase it," Vikram nodded lightly, "Who is the reason behind Aryan's now crooked nose?" 

"Me," Shahana replied, innocently unaware of where it was leading. Even Aryan, confused, removed his hand from his nose.

"So who should be punished?" Vikram asked.

"Me.." Shahana breathed, looking down.

"Simple, Shahana will marry Aryan, Judgment passed, case solved, Jury dismissed." Vikram announced.

"What??" "ME?!?" Aryan and Shahana exclaimed at the same time. Shahana whipped her head so fast she saw blur, but as soon as her eyes landed on Aryan, more like his perfectly fine nose, her anger flared. 

"You...!! You were faking it all this time! How could you? This is so mean. I was feeling so guilty. Now that I think of it, I should've broken your nose, you would have understood when all of your elite butterflies would have refused to marry you because of your crooked nose" Shahana heaved.

"Enough," Pragya interrupted before another fight could break out. "Go and call Ranbir and Prachi for breakfast." She instructed the ready-to-fight pair.

"But Prachi ain't in her room." Shahana told.

"Yes, even Ranbir isn't in his room." Pallavi informed, "We thought he might be here, that's why we came."

"They both are missing together.." Aryan mused, earning an elbow in the stomach from Shahana.

"I'll call Ranbir." Shahana said while Aryan rubbed his rib better.

"Listen," She said and everyone strained their ear and tried to determine the direction from which the buzzing sound was coming. 

"Here." Aryan lead her to the side and they glanced over the backrest to see the love birds cuddled up all cozily.

"Here they are!" He exclaimed, clicking yet another picture of them.

It wasn't the first time they had found Pranbir there. They had caught them together in a mess of limbs a couple of times before. And this was just the other opportunity that the evil duo of best friends wanted. The previous times when they had been caught together, Prachi had flustered uncontrollably.

This time was no different. The two of them were now sitting next to each other in the living room, fully awake thanks to the courtesy of Arhana. Prachi had her eyes glued to the floor, refusing to look up while Ranbir's danced around everywhere. The elders talked on normally as if nothing was out of place despite sending glances at Ranbir. 

Ranbir had the brightest grin plastered on his face and nothing could seem to wipe it off in this lifetime. 

"Bro, relax," Aryan couldn't control himself and ask sitting on the armrest next to the giddy boy, "You are grinning madly since you've woke up, I'm surprised your face hasn't started hurting yet!"

"Aryan I am about to burst out dancing, you are asking me for the smile?" Ranbir patted Aryan's back.

"What's got you smiling like that?" Shahana asked slipping in between the two lovebirds and Prachi blushed some more.

"Not what, it's a who..." Ranbir said proudly.

Prachi was about to get up but Shahana kept her seat. "Oh hoo..." Shahana teased.

"What was it?" Aryan asked.

"Shut up, all three of you." Prachi snapped, "Shahana is mad since childhood, I haven't seen Ranbir behaving normally too but you Aryan? You are supposed to be on my side. And you," she addressed her loverboy, "aren't you a bit ashamed of what happened in the morning now that you are all bouncy like a bunny?"

She was about to continue but the sudden sound of the doorbell stopped her rant, effectively saving the three musketeers from Lil. Miss Chickchiki.

Everyone turned just in time to see the house help leading in a thin, petite girl of about the same age as Prachi and Shahana. The girl looked preety clad in a purple punjabi suit, and an elder man, apparantly her father or such, followed behind .

"Pragya bua..." the girl ran to Pragya, swiftly touching her feet before hugging her tightly. She then proceeded to Prachi and Shahana, taking turns meeting them while the man greeted everyone.

Pragya introdused the man as her spoken brother and the girl as the daughter of the man and a friend of both Shahana and Prachi.

"But you here, so suddenly. Everything is fine, right?" Prachi asked the girl standing beside her.

"Fine? Everything is fantastic. And will be more so soon." The girl, Kanak, said with a wide smile raising her hand where, on her finger sat a brilliantly shining ring.

"You are engaged," Shahana squealed, pulling the girl in another tight hug, "When did the engagement happened? Who's the boy? Why didn't you tell us anything?"

"You are asking as if we talk everyday. You bot haven't called me twice since you came here two and a half years ago." The girl countered. "But not anymore, now I won't hear anything. The two of you have to come with me."

"Where?" Ranbir asked, god knows Prachi had just faced such a major accident, he was deffinately not going to let her away from his sight.

"To Hoshiarpur, for my wedding."

"You are getting married?!?" Shahana exclaimed.

"Yes. Next week! And both of you are comming with me today! And I am not taking a no for an answer" 

And she did not took a 'No' for the answer. The most that the entire family could bargain with the tiny girl was one day! And so, Prachi, Shahana, Aryan and Ranbir were going the next day, they just couldn't let the girls go alone and the elders saw it fit, from car, while the elders were approaching a day before wedding.

Damn, the petite girl was stubborn.

A/N:- Hey flowers! How are you all? Hope you are fine and happy. Here is a new chapter for you all after ages. 

I hope you liked it, If you did make sure to vote and comment on your favourite part.

Lots of Love,

Simran

P.S.- What is your least favourite weather? I personally hate summers to the T!