Continued...

2 hours later...

The wedding rituals were started, the groom and the bride were seated in front of the holy fire, with their close relatives surrounding them...

Naina, Arjun and her friends were seated far away from the mandap, looking at the rituals and chatting among themselves.

Sid who arrived a bit late, was shocked to see Arjun and Naina sitting beside each other, laughing and chatting, Ishaan too frowned looking at the scene

'I thought, they don't talk to each other...' Ishaan comments

'I was under the same impression bud ! Let me find out...' Sid says and walks towards Jai

'Dude what happened...?' he asks Jai, pointing towards Arjun and Naina

'The Besties patched up bro... Arjun apologised...' Jai smiled

'And Naina just gave in...' Sid asked bewildered

'Well yeah... We know she can't stay mad for long, with anyone...' Jai says

'How stupid she can be...' Sid muttered

'What's up with you Sid ? I have noticed you are being cold with Arjun since he returned...' Jai looks at him suspiciously

'Well he cannot be everyone's favourite, can he...?' Sid gritted glaring at Arjun, and walked away

Jai was shocked to hear this revelation, but did not react, he knew Sid, he'll eventually come around..

Sid walked around and took a seat beside the twins, simultaneously looking at Arjun and Naina, who were laughing

'Great to see them back isn't it...?' Adi comments and Sid fists his hands

'It's not like they are dating...' Sid comments, not looking at the twins

'I wish they were, it would be cool to have Naina as my Bhabhi..' Sash smiles and Sid took a deep breath

'I am sure your brother isn't that lucky Sash..' Sid comments rolling his eyes

'Are you shipping Naina and Ishaan...?' Adi raised his brows

'I am shipping Naina with anyone except your brother...' Sid mutters under his breath

'What...?' the twins asked together, Adi didn't hear anything, but Sash surely did

'Naah... Nothing... How much more time the wedding will take...?' he asks changing the topic

'I know right, I am so hungry, and trust me bro, the food looks damn delicious....' Adi says, dramatically licking his lips

'When will they open the counters...?' Sash asks, whining and holding his stomach

'We helped with the arrangements, I am sure they will oblige to open the counters for us...' Sid said

'Yeah... That can happen... Sash let's go.. ' Adi gets up dragging Sash with him

'What if they shout at us...' Sash protests

'Who will dare to do that...' Adi says proudly and takes Sash away from there

Sid gestures Ishaan to come and sit with him, and looked at the duo again, who were lost in their own world

'So...?' Ishaan asks

'They are back together....' Sid massages his temples

'What !? As in Dating...?'

'Ofcourse not, but Now Naina becomes out of reach for almost every guy out there...' Sid huffs

'Why...?'

'Because her bodyguard is back... He won't date her, ofcourse because that bestie shit, but he won't let any other guy get closer to her...' Sid says glaring at Arjun

'How can you be so sure...?' Ishaan asks looking at them too

'Because the guy likes her, but won't accept the fact...'

'That's the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard...' Ishaan comments

'Wait till you hear why he got into a relationship...' Sid rolls his eyes

'No thanks, I am fine, not knowing it....' Ishaan shrugs

'So you don't have any chance now...' Sid says

'That's fine bud, Naina isn't the only girl out there...' Ishaan stretches his arms and looks around

Sid chuckles at this... 'True....'

'Will you get over her....?' Ishaan raised his brows

'I don't like her that way Bro... It's just that she's a pure soul, who wants good for everyone, even if they hurt her....' Sid smiles

'Well that is so true... One of her most attractive attribute...' Ishaan agrees

'Yeah... And If in my knowledge, she gets hurt by a confused man, I won't forgive myself...' Sid looks at Naina who was laughing now

'Will you warn her about him...?'

'She's so in love with that fellow bro, she's ignoring all the major red flags, I hope she sees through things before getting too much hurt....' Sid sighs

'I don't think Arjun has evil intentions for her...' Ishaan looks at Arjun

'Let me tell you something Ishaan, to hurt somebody, you don't have to be rude with them, sometimes your actions are enough... This is going to happen with these two... Naina is so in love with him, slight change in his behaviour is going to hurt her....'

'Oh ho... Baba Sidharthanand !' Ishaan says amusingly and Sid hits him

'But you should atleast warn her...' Ishaan gets serious

'That I will...' Sid says looking at them

Same time, few seats away from the bride...

'Why are Indian weddings so long and boring...?' Arjun rolls his eyes, yawning

'How many weddings have you seen...?' Naina raises her brows

'A few of them in Boston, all of my seniors of course, I like their way, not so fancy decors, limited guests, no unnecessary rituals, just slide the ring, kiss the bride and done !' he says

'Now I know how you will get married...' She rolls her eyes...

Yes Naina did accept the fact that he will be someone else's someday, this way she won't get hurt much...

'How will you get married...?' He asks her

'See I have already planned my wedding okay, it's going to be a traditional, and much grand than this one... All my friends and family members will be there, and the decor would be of orchids, because rose is such ewww... And there's going to be a huge glass chandelier and everything will be peach, I once saw a picture... It looks so amazing...' Naina says dreamily and Arjun looks at her amused

'And... And Me and my husband will be twinning, in all the functions okay, there's going to be a grand Sangeet, Haldi, Marriage and... And....' she continued her banter and Arjun stopped her

'Enough enough, Looks like your whole wedding is planned, all you need is a husband now...' he laughs and she hits him

'What kind of a guy do you want....?' he asks her and she stiffens

How can she just say she wants no one except him, but she cannot.. Why is life so complicated...

'Uh... I don't know...' she lied

'So you know what this guy will wear at the wedding... But don't know who he should be...' He asks amused

'Well... I don't know who he will be... I was so busy in dreaming about the wedding, that I forgot how Future Mr. Malhotra should look like...' Naina says scratching her head

'Hmmm... Future Mr. Malhotra, I like your equality thoughts...' He pinches her cheeks and Naina's eyes land on his left wrist, which had a watch on it

He grabs his arm and looks at the watch

'Heyyyy you still have it...' She said happily

'Of course, it's my favourite.....' he smiled

None of them did not say anything further, as no one wanted to discuss what happened when this watch was given to Arjun..

Naina had butterflies in her stomach and so did Arjun, but both were scared that they committed a mistake, so they promised themselves of not speaking about it ever

'I got something for you from Boston...' Arjun said to break the uncomfortable silence

'Really ? What...' she asks excitedly

'You have to wait till Abhi bhai's wedding for that...' He grinned

'That's just a week away... I can wait till then...' Naina says

'You cannot if I tell you what it is...' Arjun grinned

'You are such a dog...' she hits him and he laughs

'Did they open the food counter...?' Naina asks looking towards the crowd which was gathering there

'I guess so... Let me check... You want something...?' Arjun asks Naina

'Yeah, A juice please, I am starving...' she whines

Arjun chuckles at this, 'Fine I'll get something to eat then' he says and gets up

While walking towards the counters he collides with Sid who was walking towards Naina

'Hey, Sorry Man... Didn't see you there...' He says to Sid

'That's fine bro...' Sid adjusts his Kurta

'I am going to get something to eat for Naina, you want anything...?' Arjun asks and Sid controls his frown

'No thanks, I am fine...' he replies, Arjun nods and walks towards the food counters

Sid quickly walks towards where Naina is seated and sits beside her

'Hey... Where were you...? I searched you all over...' She says

'Was busy with some food counter thing, we are going to fall short of plates I am telling you...' he says looking at the guests

'Yeah, guests are more than we expected...' Naina looks around too

'#JustIndianweddingthings' Sid comments making the hashtag sign with his fingers and Naina smiled

'Funny thing, Arjun was just saying something like this...' Naina says and Sid stiffens

'Yeah... Regarding that... I see you are BFFs again....' he comments sarcastically

'Yep, you know I can't stay mad at him...' Naina says looking at Rads who was helping her sister to stand up for Pheras

'I know that, but I didn't think you can be so stupid...' he says, unable to control his irritation now

Naina frowns and looks at him, he looked pissed..

'Sid what are you saying...?' She asks

'How can you give in so easily Naina...! Did you forget what he did...?' he says, trying not to raise his eyes

'Sid you know how I feel for him...' Naina began, but he cut her off in between

'That doesn't mean you will let him manipulate you whenever he wants...! I thought you were smarter than this Naina...'

'He was forced...' she tried to defend

'Oo... He becomes a victim now...! No one can be forced Naina, unless they want to be... There were 100s of companies in America, he could've left the firm....' Sid counters

'He's a practical Man, he did what was right at that moment...' Naina huffs

'That is absolutely correct Naina, that fellow is practical as hell... But you are a emotional fool....' He matches her tone

'Sid, don't talk to me like that...' Naina says controlling her tears

Because she knew what Sid said was absolutely correct

'Naina, he won't think twice doing that again... Please find your sanity and stop believing him blindly... You have feelings agreed... But him, he may never reciprocate.... Are you going to wait for him life long...!' Sid exclaimed

Naina looked at Arjun, who was laughing with Jai right now, probably commenting on someone and couldn't control her tears

'Listen to me girl, you are lot stronger and smarter than you think, I agree everyone has that one person, who makes them weak, I am saying choose the person wisely...' Sid held her shoulders and she wiped her

He was right, her heart chose Arjun, it was always Arjun, she doesn't know about the future, but right now she was confident that he won't hurt her...

'Arjun won't hurt me...' Naina declares

And now Sid couldn't control his anger, he stands up angrily, which Jai and Arjun notice from the distance and also see teary eyed Naina, who was glaring at him

Arjun fisted his hands and Jai looks at the scene bewildered

'What's happening there...?' Jai asks

'I don't know, but Naina seems hurt....' Arjun says and they start walking towards them, dodging the guests

'You've got to be kidding me girl....' Sid says angrily

'Listen Sid, I really appreciate your concern but I think I am smart enough to recognise what is right and wrong for me...' Naina gets up too wiping her tears

Sid grabs her arms and drags her away from the crowd to avoid curious glances

'That is what I am saying girl... You don't know what is right for you... My method is definitely harsh, but you've got to understand that I want to see you happy... Arjun is bad news...' he says once they are at a distance from the crowd

He didn't realise that he held Naina's arms really tight and few bangles on her wrist were cracking because of it...

'Sid.. I am not going to date Arjun... Will you relax...' Naina says and winces as one of the bangles break

'It's not about dating Naina... You are being manipulated...! Why don't you get it... He won't let you date anyone, and simultaneously won't date you...' he tries to reason

'What's wrong in that...! I don't want to date anyway....' Naina counters and Sid was losing his cool

'Oh god... How stupid you can be girl ! Can't you fucking see what you are getting yourself into...' He raises his voice and they hear cracking sound in Naina's wrist and she whimpers audibly, as one broken piece hurt her

'Sid leave my hand...' She tries to get out of his hold, Sid had no idea that he broke the bangles in her wrist

Same time Arjun and Jai reach there too

'What's going on....?' Arjun asks, Jai sees Naina's pained expression and then at her arms, which Sid held tightly

'Sid leave her hand...' Jai says in a warning tone and Sid looks at him bewildered

Arjun too looks at her hands and gasps

'Are you crazy Sid ! Leave her hand...!' He forcefully removes Naina's hands from Sid's hold

Naina whimpers audibly, and her arms were red, with blood oozing out from the wound, Sid massaged his temple and then looks at her hand and gasps audibly

'Shit ! Naina I am so sorry....' He moves towards her, but Arjun shields her

'Back off man...' he warns and Jai holds Sid

'Bro you hurt her...' Jai says while Arjun removed the broken piece from her arm

Sid looks at his own hand, which had traces of Naina's blood and closed his eyes in disappointment

I was supposed to warn her, not scar her...!

She will never listen to me after this...

'Can anyone of you tell me what's going on here...!' Arjun exclaims looking at Sid and Naina

'Nothing...' they answer together and Arjun - Jai looks at them bewildered

Naina glares at Sid

'I want you to stay away from me...' she says angrily

Sid glared at her too 'Gladly....' he answers and they give last glance to each other, before moving away...

Arjun and Jai look at them bewildered...

Sid's concern was genuine, and Naina failed to understand that... Not realising that it will turn out to be biggest mistake of her life...

Love has it's own place, but one needs to be practical as well...

An emotional Naina, was never a match for practical Arjun...

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