Third pov:

Today was the mehendi amd the sangeet.

Everyone woke up around 10 and and got themselves ready. Aashna and Shahneel however kept sleeping late till 12, due to talking till 2 in the morning.

Aashna's eyes opened and she checked the time.

"Shahneel di! Di!! Uthooo, it's 12 already!" Aashna shouted but it had no affect on Shahneel.

"Oh shit, ye toh uth hi nhi rhin, ab kya karun? Shit shit shit, aaj mehendi he inke bhai ki aur dekho kese soyi padi hain!" Aashna rambled in stress.

She started to shake Shahneel a little.

"Chh chh, Shahneel di!"

"Kya peekar soyi thin yeh?"

She shook Shahneel a little harder making her stir a bit.

"Hmmm" Shahneel murmured in sleep.

"Ab esa he chup chap uth jao, varna me aapko chhod ke chali jaungi!" Aashna said loudly.

"Kahan jana he subah subah bacchi?"
Shahneel moaned.

"Aapke bhaisahab ki mehendi me!" Aashna said.

"Bhenchod! Aaj idiot ki mehendi he??" Shahneel said stretching in bed and turning over.

"Haan!! Yaad nhi rehta kya kucch? Mujhe tak yaad he, aap kese bhul gayi?" Aashna said panicking and calling the reception for househelp.

"Yaad he yaad he, kya time ho rha he?" Shahneel said calmly laying in bed and pulling up her covers.

"12 baj chuke he!!!" Aashna shouted and started to gather her things for a shower.

"What!? But the mehendi was set to start at 11!!! Hey bhagwan mujhe meri mummy se bacha lena! Aaltu jalal tu, aayi bala ko taal tu! We are royally late!" Shahneel threw all her covers from her and start to jump and run, gathering her things and running out of the room.

Bear even started to bark at this behaviour. He thought it was some game they were playing. The problem was that he was still only 4 months old, and yes he had grown up enough to drag Aashna whenever they went on a walk, he still classified as a puppy and was very excited and energetic. Though he had no one to play with, he missed his dad who used to play all kinds of clumsy games with him.

According to Bear, mom was a source of cuddles and love and infinite kisses and food and treaties!!!

But from his dad, he got his mischievous amusement. Rough body scratches and pep talks, that he only understood partially.

He needed both his parents together.

(A/n: he's grown sooooo biggg.🥺)

The room service came inside and quickly did their work but Bear did his duty and kept them at bay. He was proud of himself, smiling happily as the fellas went out.

Aashna quickly did her thing and got ready.

Bear found solace in chewing the end of Aashna's dupatta as she sat down to professionally do her makeup.

Aashna scolded him a few times but he always seemed to get back at it. So Aashna let him do whatever he wanted, knowing very well the dupatta could be torn, but if her son wanted to do that, she had no say.

When everything was done, she picked up her purse and putdown food and water for Bear. And hid several treats in the room for him to find.

After a whole hour, finally Aashna and Shahneel made their so called fashionably late entry at the function.

(A/n: Shahneel di's outfit^)

They saw Sara sitting down in a green lehenga and saying something to the mehendi guy.

"Bhaiya, please aap bohot minimal lagana, I don't want that typical old fashioned mehendi till my elbows. So aap bass mere wrist tak end kar dena, and very minimal designs." She said obnoxiously to him.

Both shahneel and Aashna looked at each other and stopped a laugh.

The typical mehendi till the elbows was too much but you can always stop a little before the elbows, those dark covered mehendi designs always looked good traditionally.

What's a bride with minimal mehendi? Aashna thought.

Suddenly, they saw Keart walking towards them.

Aashna tightened her grip on Shahneel's hand.

"Behen hone ke naate kuchh responsibility he ya nhi? Kaka ne mehendi lagwane se mana kar diya he, meri toh koi baat nhi maanta yeh ladka aur Sara, itni si mehendi lagwayi he bass, log kya kahenge?" She said.

"Mummy, ham log late uthe the, isliye late ho gye. Aur kaka kyu hi lagwayega mehendi? Jab ladki uski pasand ki nhi he toh fir kya matlab? Aur rahi baat Sara ki, toh uske mann me jo aayega wo wahi karegi!" Shahneel said to her mom.

"Tum log jaake lagwa lo mehendi, tum bhi lagwa lena, ab mujhe tumse koi problem nhi he, mere bete ki shaadi toh meri pasand se hi ho rhi he, you are welcome." Keart said to Aashna and moved back to what she was doing.

In a corner we saw Ishan sitting with Aditi getting her mehendi done and Abhishekwad there too. So they went over there.

Aditi was wearing a light green sharara suit.

Aashna's heart was still beating a little hastily after the encounter with Keart.

Aditi was getting her mehendi done and she said that after her turn was over, then the mehendi girl applying to her should move forward to the other girls.

"Hi Aashna! Mehendi lagwaogi?" Abhishek asked her.

"Haan! I love mehendi and the smell of it." Aashna said.

"Ma'am zara mera naam bhi likh dena iski mehendi pe!" Ishan said to that girl.

"Yes sir, sure." She said.

Aditi looked at Ishan with those cute eyes and a pout and Ishan leaned forward to touch their foreheads.

"Waah! Me tum dono ke liye line me khade rehke paneer tikka laun? Aur tum dono yahan romance kar rhe ho?" Shubman, who was initially sitting with them stood there with two  plates of paneer tikka in his hands.

"Arey nhi bhai, aaja yaar tu bhi karle romance hamare saath." Ishan said and Shubman made a disgusted face.

"Ye pakad apna paneer tikka, mujhe chhod de!" He said handing the plates to Ishan.

"Aashna tune kucch khaya he subah se?" Shahneel asked.

"Nhi di, bhuk toh lagi he par abhi thodi der me kha lungi." She nodded.

Shubman sat down on a chair beside them and started using his phone.

He kept glancing at Aashna every now and then, just wondering how could someone look so beautiful.

Aditi whispered something into the mehendi girl's ear and she nodded.

Next it was Aashna's turn.

Aashna sat in a comfortable position with legs up on the sofa. And put her hand forward for the mehendi.

Shubman watched as her mehendi emerged into a beautiful design that went up to her thin snow white wrists.

But none of them knew that on Aditi's say, that girl had hidden Shubman's name in Aashna's mehendi.

The girl then moved to Shahneel to do her mehendi.

"Shubhi, mera ek kaam kar de pleaseeee." Shahneel said to Shubman.

"Khud to mehendi lagwa rhi he, me nhi karunga tera kaam, chal nikal yahan se." He said.

"Bhai nhi he mera please?" She said giving him doe eyes.

"Chal theek he bol! Ab karna toh padega hi. Bol ab kya he?" He said.

"Yaar kucch khane ko le aa please!!" She said.

"Kya chahiye?"

"Aashna tujhe kya chahiye?" Shahneel asked Aashna.

"Kuchh bhi chalega, I'm so hungry!!" She said.

"Kuchh bhi accha sa le aa theek he?"

And Shubman went to bring something very nice for Aashna.

So he knew her taste. She loved gulab jamun. She loved pav bhaji, she loved chaat, she loved pasta....what else?

He got everything she loved and the plate was overloaded. He also brought her favourite drink. A tequila sunrise.

When he came back, Aashna widened her eyes.

"Itna saara khana kiske liye laye ho?" She said.

"Tumhare liye." He said and placed the plate in front of her.

"I can't eat that much!" She said.

"Kha lo, wese bhi esa lag rha he ki kuchh din baad toh hawa se ud jaya karogi." He said making Aashna glare.

"I can't eat, my hands are busy." Aashna said showing her mehendi to him.

"I'll help you!" Abhishek perked up.

He took a bite and fed Aashna. But according to Aashna, the bite was too big for her little mouth.

She could barely chew with her mouth full of food.

"Abhaayyy, yeh itna bada bite kyu khila diya?" She said while chewing it.

"Sorry sorry, mere liye normal tha toh mujhe laga ki tumhare liye bhi normal size hoga..." He said sheepishly.

"Abhay, tu jaa abhi mere liye paani leke aa!" Shahneel ordered feeling the need to shoo him away.

He went but the water counters were a little crowded so it took him long enough.

Aashna waited for her feeder to come back.

"Yaar abhay kahan chala gya, mera khana thanda ho jayega!" Aashna said with a pout.

Shubman got up from his seat and sat next to Aashna. He picked up a papdi chaat and brought it near Aashna.

"Seriously Shubman? Din ka function he, sab aas paas hi he, agar kisi bade ne dekh liya toh kya hoga?" She said.

"Tum toh cool thi, achanak se itni khadoos kabse ho gyi?" He said while laughing.

"Chalo ab muh kholo!" He said and Aashna opened her mouth as Shubman fed her half the papdi.

He knew what he was doing. Giving her only small bites at a time as she ate small bites. Feeding her only one pasta at a time. Mixing what she needed to mix, putting the right amount of bhaji on the pav and dipping the gulab jamun into chashni, all in the right amount.

Probably because in the last two years, he may have made fun of her to tease her for the small childlike bites.

Such small bites made him laugh when he ate at home with her for the first time.

But he had noticed how she ate everything and he had learned it by heart now. He just instinctively knew how much of everything she wanted.

Abhay came back but Shahneel di made him sit beside herself.

It made Shubman a little.....little too jealous that Abhay was trying to stick so much to Aashna. He was his best friend but he needed to control.

Shubman got up and brought water for Aashna.

After drinking the water, Aashna burped loudly in front of Shubman and he laughed but neither of them were embarrassed to do anything in front of each other that was non-sexual.

"Shut up! You burp all the time, even after eating a toffee!" Aashna said.

"Shubman tum....mehendi lagwa lo...your mom was saying that you should...." Aashna said.

"Me koi mehendi nhi lagwaunga!" Shubman said.

"Agar hamari shaadi hoti toh bhi nhi lagwate?" Aashna said.

"Yk Aashna....agar hamari shaadi HOTI toh mujhe khud nhi pta ki me kya kya karta? Lekin hamari shaadi nhi he, toh me kuchh nhi kar rha hu!" He said and left the table.

Aashna took her tequila sunrise and drank it in one gulp. She needed alcohol for this shit.

"Arey yaar aaj raat sangeet he, chalo jaldi hame practice karni he, ladki walo ko harana he!" Shahneel di said.

"Di me atleast sangeet me dance nhi karungi...please!" Aashna begged Shahneel.

"Tum dance karogi! Yeh mera order he!" Shahneel said in the kokila tone.

"Nhi yaar....yeh galat baat he...me nhi karunga dance!!" Aashna started to whine like a kid in front of Shahneel.

"Agar tune aaj dance karne se mana kar diya....toh bhul jaana ki koi Shahneel di bhi thi teri!" Shahneel said.

"Yaar yeh aapki galat baat he, you are cheating!" Aashna said.

"Arey itna kya natak kar rhi he, kar le na!" Ishan said.

"Haan Aashna kar lo, ham sab karenge!" Abhishek said.

"Ok....fine....bass ek song pe karungi. Aur wo bhi group me!" Aashna said.

"Yayyy!"
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.
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In the afternoon, they all practiced themsleves to exhaustion but perfection.

Ishan amd Aditi partnered up.
Shahneel and khushpreet partnered up.
And Aashna with Abhishek.

They all decided to dance on a mixup of old bollywood songs. The girls had a start on 'akh lad jave', followed by 'garmi', followed by 'yaad piya ki aane lagi'. Then the boys would enter.

Then they would dance on a mashup of 'tip tip barsa paani', 'dilliwali girlfriend' and 'galat baat he'.

And at last, they would end their performance with 'oh ho ho ho'

The programme was at night.

So everyone took a nap in the evening so that they can perform without any exhaustion.

Everyone got ready till 8 p.m. and was the sangeet was ready to start.

Abhishek came to Aashna's room to escort her downstairs.

She was wearing a heavy turquoise lehenga.

Abhay and Aashna went to a seat and sat down and waited for their turn.

Ishan, Aditi, Shahneel and khushpreet also came and sat down with them.

(A/n: Shahneel di's outfit^)

(Aditi's outfit ^)

There were a few performances and tbh, Aashna was getting a little bored on seeing boring performances.

Sara performed a dance on an old crappy bridal song. She wore a red lehenga.

After the overdramatic performance got over.

A song played that stole Aashna's attention.

"Dekha he jabse tujhko haye me to hil gaya
Lagta he mere seene se dil nikal gaya"

The ICT boys were dancing to that song.

And then the main like came.

"Palat!"

And Shubman came on stage.

A smile made its way to Aashna's face.

"Tera dhyaan kidhar he ki tera hero idhar he
Tujhe itni bhi khabar he ki tera hero idhar he."

It seemed that Shubman had spotted Aashna in the crowd and now he pointed towards her whenever needed and looked in her direction as if saying the lyrics to her.

Now it was finally turn of them to dance.

The stage went black and the girls took their positions.

The light flickered back on with the beat of akh lad jave.

Jo akh lad jave
Saari raat neend na aave
Menu bada tadpave
Dil chain kahin na pave pave pave

Baaki saari fake lagein
Dekh ke tujhko break lage
Dur dur se theek he rani paas aaun to sek lage.

Me baavri hu teri
Tu jaan he na meri
Bas pyaar hi he maanga
Kis baat ki he teri(2×)

Tadpave
Tere bin ye reh na paave
Mahi jo tu na aave aave aave.....

Haye garmi!

Kab jo din aayega jab ham bhi mehendi lagwayenge
Na jaane kab aayenge aur doli me le jayenge
Baari na aaye hamari
Baratein dekhi saari
Naache ham sabki baaraton me

Yaad piya ki
Mere piya ki
Yaad piya ki aane lagi
Haye bheegi bheegi raaton me.

The girls performed tirelessly and the whole place erupted into huge applauses.

Everything about their dance made an impact. Their waist effortlessly swaying and dripping along with the beats. And their legs working under their skirts.

Seeing Aashna dance on stage made Shubman drool and he couldn't take his eyes off her. The other two women dancing with her seemed to blur out, the song thickened and her steps seemed to come out in slow motions as the lights casted a heavenly glow on her face.

It felt to Shubman that he was stuck in a movie and his heroine was dancing right in front of him.

The way her hips and thin waist moved along with the beats. Her expressions changing every now and then.

Then the boys entered. They positioned themselves and placed their hands on the girls' waists.

And jealousy boiled inside of Shubman.

And the tune of tip tip barsa paani started playing.

Tip tip barsa paani
Paani me aag lagayi
Aag lagi dil me jo
Dil ko teri yaad aayi
Teri yaad aayi jo
Jal utha mera bheega badan
Ab tum hi batao sanam
Me kya karun......

...

It was hell for Shubman, seeing Aashna swaying with Abhishek.
Him holding her hips, her waist, her hand, twirling her around, laughing.

Tere liye hi toh signal tod tad ke
Aaya dilli wali girlfriend chhod chhad ke
Ghar walon ko bhi bye shye bol bal ke
Aaya dilli wali girlfriend chhod chhad ke

Teri akh ka ishara mujhe fraud lage
Tu toh majnu aawara by God lage

Oh kasme wade kha le
Apni pocket money bacha le
Aaya tere liye paise waise jod jad ke ke ke...

Naam tera hi likhwaya mene wedding card pe aaya dilliwali girlfriend chhod chhad ke.

Now it was time for shubman to join them for the next and the last song.

Shubman came and the beat dropped again.

Oh meri jaan tera yun muskurana
Toh galat baat he
Apne aashiq ko sankat me laana toh galat baat he

Then aashna twirled to shubman's side and began to dance with him as scripted.

Chhu kar dil ko chhu ho jaana
Aadat he teri buri
Chhup ke dikhna
Dikh ke chhupna
Aafat he dekho badi

Then Shubman bent down with other guys and did the steps with the ladies waist.

Thoda khud ko oh kudiyon sambhalo zara
Yun sare aam hamko patana he bura

Tum karo toh sahi ham karen toh
Kyu galar baat he?

Oh meri jaan tera yun muskurana
Toh galat baat he
Apne aashiq ko sankat me laana
Toh galat baat he.

And with that, they ended the performance.

They erupted into wide smiles and Shubman kept looking at Aashna who was at his side.

Her face was lit due to the light shininig on the stage. And her ear studs sparkled, as did her smile.

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.

Later, when everyone got down from the stage and the music and songs stopped, Sara walked towards Aashna.

"You danced very well Aashna!" She said.

"But there are a few things that I didn't like. You wore sea green, I'm about to wear sea green on my wedding, second thing, you were dancing better than me, don't do that again, thirdly, stay away from Shubman, he's mine!"

Aashna smiled.

"I'm sorry for stealing your shine but literally all I did was wear a sea green lehenga and you're insecure?

And I didn't even give half of my best efforts, so it's not my fault that my dance turned out to be better than you in a day's practice even after you practicing it for weeks.

And thirdly, I'm away from Shubman, if I want, I can steal him like that, I had the chance a month ago and I still do today....but I choose not to, I had my time, ab mera Shubman tumhe mubarak!"

She finished talking and after giving a sassy answer, she turned her back to Sara and walked away.

Sara stood there in shock and you must be thinking that Aashna must be feeling like a queen but it was the opposite.

She didn't want any of it!
She didn't want any conflict, any drama. She had been strong for too long, now she couldn't wait any longer to break down and cry like a baby and go back into her cocoon.

A lot had happened today.

First shubman fed her with his own hands, then she was sure that he was dedicating that dance to her. Then when they danced together, he kept looking with at her after it got over.

And now Sara. It was too overwhelming.

Aashna picked up a bottle of whiskey from the bar counter and went outside of the banquet hall.

It was silent and calm. The moonlight shining above.

She kept on drinking and crying till someone else too came outside.

Shubman lit a cigarette and went outside for a smoke.

He saw Aashna sitting on the stairs and drinking away.

He went near her and sat down.

"Aashu, why are you crying!" He asked her.

"You look a lot like Shubman, you know my ex? And you even sound like him!" She said drunkenly.

"Ok....do you like Shubman?" Shubman asked Aashna.

"I love shubmaaaannn, but.....he is a dick, he is a huge chutiya, a huge fuck!!" Aashna said loudly.

"Uh huh? Guess he really is an ass huh?" He said amusingly.

"No don't you dare! Only I can call him that! Not you!!" She said jabbing a nail clad finger at his chest.

"And why is that?" He said.

"Because I love hiiimmm! He is like a baby, a smooollll baby, he is like gulab jamunnnn, he is like my rasmalai!" She said with a cute giggle.

"You love gulab jamun?" He said.

"Yes! My fav and Shubman too, my fav." And with that, she blew a kiss in the air.

"What if I told you Shubman loved you the same, maybe even more?" He said to her.

"Don't give me false hope, he'll never love me the way I can love him!" She said wiping a stray tear out.

"Don't you think you have drank enough? Mind going to your room and sleeping?" Shubman asked her.

"Never, never tell a girl that she has drunk enough, it's never enough!" She said putting a finger up to his face and he held it.

Then he picked up Aashna who wws already half passed out.

During their trip to her room, she fell asleep in Shubman's embrace.

Shubman managed to open the door to her room without waking her up. Thanking god silently for making her so lightweighted.

But as he was putting her down, her eyes opened slightly and she tried getting up.

"Do you need something honey?" Shubman whispered silently.

But she pushed him and stood up, opening the hook of her lehenga making it drop down and before shubman could understand What was  going on, she unhooked her blouse and tried taking it off.

Shubman, not knowing what to do, turned off all the lights in the room.

He heard Aashna gasp.

"Turn on the lights Shubman Gill!" She said.

"You know I'm h-here?" He said.

"Of course, I saw you when I got up..." she slurred drunkenly.

Of course she was drunk.

"Ok! Let me help you, tell me where are your clothes?" Shubman asked her.

"Just grab me a bra, that's IT!" She said and giggled.

Shubman opened her closet and saw the underwear section.

He dug in his hand in the flashlight and pulled out whatever he found.

It was a red coloured padded bra, but he turned off his flashlight and closed his eyes shut before handing it to Aashna.

"Can you turn on your flashlight? I can't see anything!" Shubman did as she said and closed his eyes shut again.

She took off the blouse and threw it away somewhere but it hit Shubman's face. Taking the bra from his hands and putting it on.

"Now, can you stop being so scared? And attach the hook?" She said.

"No." Shubman said and turned the other side.

Aashna huffed loudly.

"You, Gill, are such a pimp!" She said and tried doing it herself.

She let out a whine.

"Aaaaa I can't do ittt!" She shouted.

"Ok, ok don't scream, I'll do it." He opened his eyes very little.

And turned to Aashna who had her back to him, with squinted eyes, he only touched her hook and attached it.

Aashna adjusted her bra turning around and shubman again looked elsewhere.

She found her bed in the dark and fell on it. Shubman, with little difficulty covered her.

But as he was leaving.

"Shubman, stay with me. Please I'm sacred." She said holding his hand.

"What are you scared of? You have Bear with you?" He said caressing her forehead.

"Of everything, I'm always scared." She said above a whisper.

Shubman stood up straight for a moment and after taking a deep breath, he took off his sherwani, his shoes and his pants and climbed into bed in his boxers.

Aashna shifted a bit to provide him ample space.

They both laid in silence, none of them falling asleep. A deeper emotion taking place within the both of them.
Getting nostalgic.

Aashna glanced towards Shubman and turned to her side to face him.

Shubman quietly laid out his arm and lifted her head and slipped his arm under.

Aashna shifted a bit closer to Shubman and he engulfed her in his presence, pulling her close to meet his bare body.

Aashna drifted off to sleep. Shubman kept thinking that he will be talking to her tomorrow morning. Because she was drunk right now and probably won't remember this tomorrow.

AUTHOR'S RANT:Hey guysss, here is a long chapter, I think that they will be patching up in 3 more chapters.

Tell me did you like the song preferences, the costumes and the play.

Vote and comment on this chapter.
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