Khamishiyon mein boli tumhari
Kuch iss tarah goonjti hai
Kaano se mere hote huve wo
Dil ka pata dhoondhti hai

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Today was the engagement day of Aaryah, I have been trying to avoid everyone since last night drowning myself in the household work, Maa even asked if something is wrong I told her no, it is enough that without doing anything everyone hates me I don't want everyone want to think that I go and complain everything to Maa.

"Bhabhi, kya aap Aaryah ko bula dengi" Shweta comes in the kitchen looking at her face all I can think about what she said last night about me. I nodded and left to call her.

Aaryah is still sleeping well she is the soon to be bride, all the functions will happen here only we haven't booked any venue Papa Ji wanted this way, going in her room I saw how much mess it was firstly I walked over the bed "Aaryah wake up" I said softly she rolls to the other side of the bed.

"Come on Aaryah wake up, Dado is asking for you" and with that, she instantly sits up on the bed.
"Oh Bhabhi I don't want to do this" she whines running her hands through her already disheveled hair.
"What do you mean Aaro?" I questioned confused.
"This getting married, I want to study further and become something I don't want to be a machine who does all the household work and pops children out of her body" she groans loudly.

Oh God she is having second thoughts on this, if Dada Ji and Dadi Ji finds about this they will be so angry at her "Aaro, this is something that everyone wants in their lives, and trust me it is a beautiful feeling, marriage is not about doing household chores, giving birth to babies there is more to it and once you start looking it that way you will understand whatever happens is for a reason, everyone in their life needs someone who will give them love, care, support them through thick and thin not everyone is capable of spending life alone and we shouldn't" I spoke out softly, she just looks at me blankly.

"What are you talking about Bhabhi, look at you what have you got Bhai is not anymore with you no one in this family leaves a chance to treat you like shit?" She looks at me with so many questions in her eyes, though the choice of her words hurt me a little.
"Now, now I don't have Anay with me but whatever time we had it wasn't just about the work and taking care of him or Maa, Papa it was more than that sure like everyone else we had our ups and downs no relationship is perfect but it is up to us how we mend it or how we deal with it, see Aaryah I know you are young and probably want to do so many things in your life but where is the fun and happiness in those things when you don't have anyone to share it with" I resumed with making her understand the beauty of marriage.

"Sure there is a lot of work and efforts you have to put into a relationship but when it is about your happiness and your partner's other things don't matter just like words of people in this family doesn't hurt me much because I know Anay loved me and I know what we had plus there is Maa and Papa Ji who loves me so what some of our family doesn't like me that doesn't mean they hate me" I added.

"Uff I don't how am I supposed to deal with all this," she says.
"Sure you know with patience and love, besides you are not the only one with these questions I'm sure Veer is going through the same so why not try finding answers to questions together," I said keeping my one hand over hers giving assurance I know the jitters of getting married and it happens with everyone.
She pulls me in a hug "oh Bhabhi I don't know how you keep up with all this but I'm sure about one thing Bhai was a very lucky man to have you and this family is too" she says sniffling lightly.

I smiled at her "now get up and get ready fast Dado is asking for you I'll go and check on the breakfast okay" and with that I left the room, going downstairs I noticed everyone running here and there the whole house hustling and bustling with people, the decorators, catering people, music guys all the cousins decided to have a Dj set up in the house, I noticed Shweta and the others picking up a song on the entry of Aaryah, and what will they play when they exchange the ring it brought a smile to my lips looking at everyone so happy and smiling.

I was about to go into the kitchen when Dado calls me "Ji Dado?"
"I heard what you told Aaryah, I must say I'm impressed the way you handled the situation, see we want her to get married before something happens to me and your Dada Ji, you are a smart girl you understand responsibilities besides Veer is a nice guy he will keep our Aaro happy," she says, with a content smile on her face.
"I understand Dado, and you needn't worry I will be around her to help her out if she ever needs me," I said and we start to walk towards the garden.

"I know there are many in our family who doesn't consider you as a part of this family and now with Anay gone, it is going to be hard for you but I have a feeling you can survive anything" Dado continues, while I kept quiet not aware what to say.

"And you have your mother-in-law standing behind you, always supporting you" she adds.

We sat in the garden talked for a while until Aaryah joined us she looked fine and had a smile on her face which didn't look fake.

"You wanted to see me?" She sits down across Dado.
"Yes, I want you to go to the salon take Mihika with you and take your Dada Ji's credit card," she says looking at me with a smile.
I was surprised by it I didn't expect that she would allow me to go anywhere "come on then get ready Bhabhi, I'm gonna get everything done today after all Dadu is paying" Aaryah giggles pulling me along with her.

"But first eat something Aaro, till then I will clean up your room and get ready okay," I told her, she hasn't eaten anything I know we girls love to do the dieting and all before our wedding but I believe we should have a necessary food so you don't faint on your wedding day.
"Okay, and tell someone else to clean the room," she says.
"No, no it's fine I'm not doing anything else so I'll clean everything up okay," I said and start to go to her room.

It is going to be a hectic day, Aaryah's dress is also not delivered yet everyone is so busy with the other things I suggested Papa Ji hire a proper event planner who would take care of every preparation but he said what we will do sit and eat so we shrugged off the thought.

I started to clean everything her clothes keeping back in the closet, her makeup back in the bag, and her other accessories she still has to do the packing all the things she will be taking with her but looking at all things lying around like that it doesn't seem she has started yet maybe tomorrow or after the engagement ceremony I'll help her anyway, the ceremony is at the time of lunch later a separate dinner will be held in the garden. I was done with keeping her stuff where it belonged I went back to my room taking out my pink pastel salwar suit I got ready leaving my hair in a braid.

There was a knock on the door it was Aaryah "bhabhi you are ready?" She asks.
"Yes, I'm done and after the engagement, we have to start doing your packing also, and remember you have to go shopping also in the latter days for other rituals dresses and some you might want to take with you after the wedding after all you should have some sarees also," I told her whilst picking up my bag putting some cash, my card and phone.
"We don't deserve you, Bhabhi you know that" she spoke smiling at me.
"What do you mean?" I ask smiling.

"I mean you are so amazing, person and a good daughter-in-law, anyone could ask for and all everyone do here is talk behind your back," she says with a hint of guilt in her tone.
"Aaro, I love this family and everyone has the flaws I don't mind them talking about me" I lied, of course, I mind not always but sometimes words can be hurtful in such a manner the person doesn't even realize, but when you are family you gotta look past those things or else there will be a new fight every day in the family and no one likes that.

I've always believed that if you are capable of forgiving someone for their flaws and accept them just the way they are there will be one day when that very person would accept you just the way you are moreover life is all about accepting, forgiving, and loving.

"Now too much of this let's get you ready" I asserted and we left for the salon.

••••

We were sitting in the salon when my phone started to ring it was Maa "how much time Mihika?" She inquired from the other side of the call.
"She is almost done Maa they are just doing her hair don't worry I'll get her ready fast" I assured her, in response she hums and I hung up the call I went inside and Aaryah was done paying the salon lady we drove back home.

Everything was looking so beautiful and gorgeous the whole house was decorated in lights, flowers along with other different things "you go to your room I'll meet you in a minute" I told Aaryah.

I headed inside the house "Mihika will you call the catering guy, we specifically told him to prepare daal baati churma and no one did" Chachi comes with a bag of dress in her hand.
"Yes, sure Chachi Ji" and with that, I went outside at the back of the house where all the food was getting ready.

(Daal Baati Churma is a Rajasthani dish)

Informing the cook, to which he said there are not many ingredients for it "aapko phele batana chahiye tha Bhai Ji, Abhi thodi der mai function start hona hai aur aap Abhi inform kar rahe hai, chale Acha aap Daal ki tayaari shuru kare mai intezaam karti hu baaki cheezo ka" I said letting out a frustrated sigh.

(You should have informed earlier, soon the function will start, and you are telling now, start preparing Daal, I'll arrange the rest of the ingredients)

I dialed a number of a person who delivers everything needed every month giving him a list of all the ingredients I hung up the call, going back in I informed Chachi Ji "uff okay then do one thing take care of this if they don't deliver take the car and get everything" she says, annoyed she is been up since early morning running errands with Maa it is been hectic.

I thought of informing Aaryah she must be waiting for me so going to her room I knocked on the door Shweta opens up "oh Bhabhi I was just coming to call you" she says.
"What happened?" I ask concerned.
"Help me get this thing on," Aaryah says looking frustrated at the dress which was lehenga choli.
"Oh yeah, Shweta please help her, I have to take care of the food there are some ingredients needed to be delivered," I said apologetically.

Quickly heading downstairs I went inside the pandaal informing the cook till then I helped Maa and Chachi with other things damn having a wedding is such an exaggerating task I wonder now what my family must have gone through. My phone starts to ring it was the delivery guy taking all the things I gave to the cook I went into my room lying down on the bed I let out a sigh of relief my legs were so jelly because of all the running here and there.

There is ample pain in my waist also, I thought of closing my eyes for a while maybe I should take a nap anyway neither I have to go to the ceremony nor the dinner, but the loud music was making it difficult for me, maybe I should take a shower, then I'll try to take a nap no matter Dado allowed me to be here anywhere near the preparation she is taking a risk by letting me be here even though she knows people will talk and if anything bad happens it will be blamed on me, widows will never be considered as a happy thing for anyone which is hurtful and hypocrite.

After I took a shower I lied down back on the bed and by the cheering downstairs I assume everyone is already here plugging in my ear pods, I start to dance more like just started to move my body letting it taking over, I remember the first time Anay asked me to dance with him it was a fest in our college and him being an amazing dancer he participated and wanted me to be his partner we had so much fun that time because I was an amateur but just to be close to him I agreed.

I was head over heels for him, every other girl was in our college.

It was that time that brought us closer to each other after that we decided to date, I don't think so I could find someone to turn my every moment of life into something magical, every thought of Anay is so perfectly wrapped in a happy memory which I cannot even think to throw away, my reverie was broken by a sudden realization that for the rest of my life I will have no one to share these moments or to share what do I feel.

Why would someone take him away from me, from his family?

Who could be behind the embezzlement?

Then an idea crosses my mind, I made my way to Anay's study maybe I will find something there making sure no one is around I unlocked the door I know this is wrong snooping around like this but it seems Kabir and Viraj aren't able to do much or maybe I can find something to expose that person because the more I think what Viraj said about my family the more I will start going crazy. I start to look through some files which were on the table they only have some kind of contract for some agreement, the rest of the file on the desk also seemed to be useless, I started to go through the drawers one of them was locked I tried opening it with the keys I have but none of it helped.

Before I could continue looking more my phone starts to ring it was an unknown caller ID"hello?"
"Even after you were warned you won't listen right, do you want to die or should we kill your parents this time" it was the same guy who threatened me in the market, I can recognize the voice.

"Who are you?" My voice came off quivered as fear starts to take over me locking the door of the study behind me I start to look around if there was someone.

"Stop looking through your husband's study room you will not find anything there or anywhere else, better accept the fact he's dead," he says acidly.
I gulped at the tone of his voice, how did that person know what I was doing.

Is Viraj right which means someone in my family is paying some goons to do this.

I quickly hung up the call with my trembling hands running back to my room I closed the door behind me, my breathing getting rapid, without giving it much thought I sent a text to Viraj.

Oh God, what is happening?

******

Hello, Lovelies!

What do you think about the chapter?

I hope the story is not moving too slow or too fast, as I have planned this story will be a short story not many chapters will be there in this one too because I've realized that people enjoy reading short stories and I love that too.

Plus the plot I have thought for the book there will be not many chapters.

Anyways moving on

What do you think about Mihika?

What are your thoughts on her family?

Did anyone seem suspicious yet to you in her family?

Please share your thoughts and any theories you guys have I would love to know, at least drop a heart if you don't want to comment on anything else.

Till next time

Keep Reading, Keep Smiling ❤❤

XoXo A.K

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