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Chapter 29: Shopping

Her eyes fall on Parvati and Swara, who had walked inside the mansion with Durga Prasad and Ram.

"Swara, Dadimaa?" She was confused as she whispered to herself, flapping her eyes to make sure she wasn't hallucinating.

"Annapurna!"

"Sujata!"

Annapurna and Sujata walked to the hall after hearing their names being yelled out by their perspective husbands. Confused and unsure, they stood in front of them.

"Ji?" Both responded and then stared at Swara and Parvati.

"This. . ." Durga Prasad hesitated to introduce Parvati whereas Ram was more than comfortable "This is Parvati Maa." He didn't even stutter or hesitate, he rather said it as it is, sounding more happier than usual.

"Parvati Maa?" Both Annapurna and Sujata were surprised, knowing of her but meeting her for the very first time.

"Parvati Maa. . . Isn't that Ragini's grandma?" Sanskaar questioned loudly as he stood behind Sujata with Adarsh, surprising the two ladies again.

Ragini inched closer into the hall, making herself visible after hearing her name, yet confused with what was happening. Lakshya had walked out, at a distance watching them with his eyebrows scrunched.

"Does that make Ragini our cousin?" Adarsh asked while raising one of his eyebrow, curious to know.

"No." Durga Prasad replied, clearing his throat. "Parvati Maa raised me and Ram after our mother passed away when we were younger. Us and Ragini's father were  childhood friends." He added, revealing the news to them, who slightly stretched their mouths in shock.

"Wait. . . So you and Ragini's Dad grew up together and Ragini's grandmother took care of you when you were younger?" Uttara asked, clearing her confusion and received a nod from Parvati herself, Ram and Durga Prasad.

"Oh. . . I didn't know that." Ragini replied, absolutely amazed yet surprised at this revelation.

Lakshya merely listened and watched in a corner, sighing afterwards.

"Laado. What are you doing here?" Parvati asked as she faced Ragini, who gawked at her. "I'm here to help."

"We are too." Swara responded and Ragini blinked at her. "We came to help with the wedding preparations because Daadi insisted."

"Oh."

"No, you don't have to. Please take a seat and thank you for coming over. . ." Annapurna finally spoke, being kind to Parvati who glanced at her.

"Why don't I have to? I want to." She replied being straightforward, putting Annapurna in an awkward position.

"But. . ."

"You don't need to worry. I know I'm old but I'm not useless. I'll teach you the old traditions." She interrupted and Sujata looked on while Annapurna nervously smiled at her.

"Maa Ji. Who said you're useless? We have so many laying here. . ." Sujata trailed off, offending Uttara, Adarsh, Sanskaar and Lakshya.

"Mom."

"Chachi."

Lakshya merely scoffed, not saying anything while Sujata continued. "You come with us. We have a lot to do. What shall we do for the mehendi?" She wanted to make it less awkward and more friendly, to welcome Parvati and make her more comfortable.

"Luck Buck. . ." Nikhil stood behind him, tapping him on the shoulder.

"Hmm?"

"I've managed to get. . . Tesla's for the wedding!"

"Okay." Lakshya was more interested in his family drama than Nikhil's word, until the word Tesla hit him.

"What?" He gasped as loud as he could this time, facing Nikhil with his eyes widened, grabbing the family's attention.

Nikhil nodded with a smile, "Tesla."

"No way!" He grinned as wide as he could, "you. . . You have to be lying."

"I'm not. I've done it."

"For how much?"

"50K."

"Nooo. That's mad! It has to be a scam."

"It's not man. I've done 2 Tesla's and 3 Hyundai Icons."

Lakshya's heart dropped as he looked at Nikhil, sighing a relieve. "You're making my heart kill. Don't gas me up only to say sike later on. . ." He wasn't willing to believe Nikhil at all.

"I'm going to see them in person. Do you want to come check them with me?"

"Yess!"

Parvati stared at Lakshya, remembering him. "He's your son?" She asked Durga Prasad, who shook his head positively. "Yes, Lakshya."

Lakshya and Nikhil faced the family, who had been watching them for the past minute.

"No ways, Tesla's?" Sanskaar was in disbelief too and Nikhil smiled. "Yes. This would be a show stopper but sorry big bro. We're riding 1."

"What the. . . I'll ride the second one then." He replied and Nikhil shrugged, "if the groom lets you. You might need to ride the icon."

Sanskaar made a face while Adarsh smiled. "I can't wait to ride a Tesla. I never rode one before."

Sujata sighed. "Let them talk about their cars. Let us get to work."

"I agree." Parvati made a face as she looked at Nikhil and Lakshya. "Let's start with the rituals that need to happen in the mehendi and what items we need. . ." She continued, grabbing the females in the house's, attention.

XX

"Thank you so much beta." Mrs Lalwani sounded grateful as Uday flashed his smile at her.

"It's okay Aunty. Don't worry about it. I'll leave now."

"Come in to eat, or at least for a drink?"

"No Aunty, I'm fine thank you."

"Are you sure?"

He nodded and she continued smiling at him. "I'll go now, take care."

"You too beta and drive safe!"

"Thanks Aunty." He started walking away and Mrs Lalwani closed the door afterwards.

"That's done, now I can go home and rest." He muttered to himself and slid the car key out of his pocket, colliding into another figure.

"Ouch! Couldn't you see and walk Mr?" A female voice snapped at him as he lifted his head, staring at her. "Sorry." He apologised and she took her shades off, staring at him.

Her expressions changed and she continued to blink at him, he passed her an awkward smile and started walking away, she turned as her eyes followed him.

"Anu, what are you doing out here?" Mrs Lalwani uttered after stepping out and the figure faced her. "Maasi. . ." She trailed off and walked towards her. "How are you Maasi!" She screeched, pulling her into a hug and Mrs Lalwani smiled. "I'm fine, you tell me. How are you? And where is your mother? I'm trying to get through to her but I can't."

"I'm here Di." Another woman walked towards them with a suitcase. Smiling at Mrs Lalwani.

"Diya. . ." Mrs Lalwani broke the hug and walked towards her younger sister Diya. Pulling her into a hug.

Anu, originally known as Ananya smiled at the two. Lifting her eyes to see a car exit the gates of their house. Intrigued and interested in the person she recently met.

XX

Lakshya was walking around the house, delivering one box to one place to another. While Durga Prasad looked on, watching Lakshya help out. He felt suspicious, not knowing why he feels Lakshya must be up to something.

"I can't believe he left me and took Sanskaar!" Lakshya fumed as he mumbled to himself, annoyed that Nikhil didn't take him to check the cars out and rather took Sanskaar.

"Why even ask me if he didn't want to!" He further added, huffing as he placed a box down on the table.

"The water is not coming JiJi. . ." Sujata complained as she shouted.

"Adarsh, can you please check?"

"Maa, I'm busy with work!"

Lakshya sighed. "I'll check." He volunteered, surprising Ram and Durga Prasad.

He headed in a direction and Durga Prasad looked at Ram, who looked at him.

x

While entering a room, he glanced around. Seeing the water pipe broken from which the water was leaking out. He shockingly looked on.

"The pipe exploded!" He shouted as loud as he could, now watching another pipe squirt water out in the air. Splats hit his hands and he hissed, feeling the heat of the water splats.

"What happ. . ." He was altered by Annapurna's voice and instantly turned, hiding her in his chest while blocking the water from reaching her. The splats fell on his back and he hissed again, moving out of the room with her. She was shocked yet confused.

As soon as they exited the room, she moved back and looked up at him while he looked down at her. "The water is hot."

"Are you hurt?" She asked and he nodded. "I'm fine." He replied, straightening his posture.

"Are you sure?" She scrunched her eyebrows and he nodded, yet she was unable to believe him. "Stop lying to me Lakshya. Tell me. Are you hurt?" She was concerned and he shook his head while looking at her.

"What happened to the water?"

"The pipes are disconnected and the water is squirting everywhere." He replied and she looked on.

"How?"

"I don't know." He replied and her eyes move towards his hand, which was going red.

Ragini stopped at a distance, seeing Lakshya with Annapurna. Annapurna grabbed his hand, and rubbed it concernedly. "What happened here?"

"Nothing." He replied and took his hand out of her hold.

"I'm sorry this happened. . . I'll call the plumber today and sort this out. . ." She trialled off, sounding worried and stressed.

Lakshya lifted his eyes after sensing someone else's presence. Ragini smiled at him and he blinked at her, she signalled him to comfort her while he merely flapped his eyes at her.

"I'm sorry you're hurt because of this. . ." Annapurna uttered again, feeling upset at herself and Ragini signalled him again.

He struggled yet glanced down at Annapurna. "It's okay, it wasn't your fault don't worry about it." He sounded more casual than what Ragini was expecting.

Ragini passed him a look and sighed, palming her forehead which he saw. She wanted him to make her feel his warmth but he was casually replying which wouldn't give away what he wanted to show.

"I'll get ointment and apply it. . ."

"It's just a small rash. Don't worry about it. I'll be fine." He replied and Annapurna looked at him, still not convinced.

"I'll call the plumber." She uttered and Lakshya nodded.

Annapurna walked to the side and away while Ragini sighed again, moving forward towards Lakshya.

"What was that?"

"What?" He asked and she looked at him. "You sounded like you were ordering food over the till! Why isn't there any affection in your tone?" She wondered and he looked on.

"What do you mean?" He was offended as he argued back. "I don't sound like that. This is a casual tone that I have most of the time."

"Not really. You always have a different tone when you're around me and when you're around your friends but with all your family, you have a similar, bored uninterested one!"

"I. . . Don't." He refused despite knowing she was right, yet not willing to agree to her. "My tone depends on the way people treat me."

"She was nice to you but you treated her like a stranger."

"It's. . . It's not easy okay. I can't randomly mend my relationships in just a day. After all that I've been through, this is normal. . ."

"I never said it was going to be easy. You need to try. But you're not even putting the effort in."

"I am trying."

"Not hard enough."

He didn't have an argument against that and she looked at him. "One person at a time, try harder with her first." She added and walked away, leaving him in thoughts.

x

"Please come soon, it's a disaster!" Annapurna distressfully uttered, disconnecting the phone afterwards.

She faced Sujata and Parvati, who were making laddo's while sat on the floor, with Swara and Uttara joining them with another two platters.

"What happened?" Parvati asked and Annapurna sighed. "They said they're booked today. But we can't leave it today, it'll become a disaster by tomorrow. So they said they'll try to send someone within an hour."

"Take less stress. It's bad for health. Come sit here and relax." Parvati assured calmly and Annapurna walked towards them, still in distress.

"Try relaxing. Everything will be fine. Nothing will go wrong." She added, comforting her and Annapurna nods her head, listening to her positive words.

She takes a seat on the floor, in between Sujata and Parvati. Joining them.

"Chhori. Take less stress. . . Okay." She uttered and Annapurna tried to curve a smile, exhaling to calm herself down.

xx

After few hours, most of the preparations were done, and left to be completed tomorrow. Ragini, Nikhil, Parvati and Swara left to go home. While the people in Maheshwari Mansion prepared to sleep, being tired of this day. Wanting to have an early sleep.

Lakshya laid on his bed, closing his eyes and falling asleep instantly. He felt at slight peace, yet a little nervousness today. Not knowing how to exactly describe what he was feeling and why. Despite a hectic day, he enjoyed a bit of his time helping out, never expecting he would.

XX

Ragini and Swara were sat in Parvati's room, listening to the story from her. About how she knew Durga Prasad and how he knew their father. Intrigued and interested.

They never knew this to be revealed at an uncertain point of their lives, yet they wanted to respect the fact that their father grew up with Durga Prasad and Ram. Despite feeling slightly uncomfortable, they are willing to let that feeling pass and try their best to help them.

XXX

As the sun rose, the birds tweeted across the sky and a new morning was painted in the sky. Bright and shiny.
It was a nerve-wrecking morning for everyone again. They had to continue making arrangements for the wedding which was now in three days!

Ragini, Parvati and Swara has arrived at Maheshwari Mansion as early as they could as they promised Annapurna yesterday. Annapurna, Sujata, Uttara were awake and ready, whereas Adarsh, Sanskaar, Ram and Durga Prasad had already went office early due to a meeting.
Lakshya was the only one home, who was still asleep.

"Uff! How can they all leave JiJi?" Sujata complained as she sighed. "Not even a single one said they'll take us to shopping today."

"It's okay Sujata. We will ask one of the other boys to take us."

"Who?"

"Nikhil, or Uday."

"But, why will they JiJi? They're Laks's friends and they won't help us if he doesn't say. . . Right?"

"Wrong!" Sujata turned as she watched Nikhil and Uday walk inside. "Why wouldn't we help?" Nikhil continued and Sujata flapped her eyes at him.

"We will definitely help. But where's Lucks?" Uday's face stiffened as Nikhil glanced around, asking another question.

"He's still asleep."

"Huh? He is? But he was meant to. . . Let me go wake him up. In the meantime you can tell Uday what you need help with." Nikhil added and rushed up the stairs, heading towards a room.

Uday glanced at the ladies staring at him. "What can I help you with ladies?"

Sujata didn't hesitate to mention "shopping." Surprising Uday.

"Shopping?" He questioned and Sujata nodded. "Yes, we have so many things we need to shop for!"

"Oh god. . ." Uday sighed as he saw what he was getting into. "You ladies take 10 years to shop." He bluntly continued and earned a stare from all of them.

"What do you mean?" Uttara asked, feeling offended. "One dress would take all of you 5 years to find. And you ladies don't even stick to one shop. . ." He replied and Uttara scoffed.

"Excuse me?" Swara questioned, feeling offended too and he nodded. "Excused."

"It's okay, you don't have to take us." Annapurna uttered and he glanced at her.

He felt slightly bad and sighed. "I'll take you."

"We'll come along too." Nikhil uttered, dragging Lakshya out.

Lakshya sighed, slightly sleepy yet ready and dressed to head out. Uday instantly looked away after seeing Lakshya and headed towards the exit.

"Great. Let's go." Sujata uttered and headed out as fast as she could before they could change her mind.

"Don't be mad Lucks. I took Sanskaar yesterday so he could pay for them. But today we will be going for a test drive in that Tesla." Nikhil uttered in a low tone as they followed the ladies out.

Lakshya sighed, nodding his head yet remaining silent.

As they headed inside the car, Uttara, Ragini and Swara sat with Uday while Parvati, Sujata, Annapurna and Lakshya sat with Nikhil.

XX

After a while, Nikhil and Uday parked the car outside a mall, where the ladies met with Mrs Lalwani, Parineeta, Ananya and Diya, ready to shop for the wedding alongside them.

Uday and Lakshya made eye contact but Uday instantly moved his eyes and walked towards Sujata, standing next to her. Lakshya rolled his eyes, realising Uday was still mad at him yesterday.

"Do you like shopping?" Ragini whispered to Uday who leaned closer, shaking his head negatively. "I hate it. I don't even take my mum out and when I do then she takes 8 hours, I'm not even lying."

"Really? I don't like shopping either. I prefer online."

"Online is much better and convenient." Uday agreed and the two continued chatting.

Lakshya watched the two intensely along with Ananya, who couldn't keep her eyes off Uday, feeling slightly jealous that he was talking to Ragini.

"Let's go now. We'll leave them with Uday and go for a test drive." Nikhil whispered in a low tone, facing Lakshya, who was distracted.

"Lucks." He whispered and nudged him, grabbing his attention. "Huh?"

"Let's go for a test drive now."

"What about them?"

"Uday's here."

"Uh. . ." He glanced back at Uday and Ragini. "We can't do him like that. He'll hate us."

"He'll just do his drama but he'll get over it."

"No." Lakshya refused and looked at Nikhil, "me and him already had an argument yesterday and I don't wanna worsen it by leaving him out."

"What? About what?"

"Me being friends with the girl he's laughing with." Lakshya sounded a little annoyed as he replied to Nikhil.

Nikhil looked forward and watched Uday and Ragini chatting silently while smiling at each other.

"Oh that girl. Why are you two fighting over that girl? One minute you're saying you hate her and next minute you two are chatting with her. What's going on?" Nikhil questioned, sounding serious and Lakshya sighed.

"I don't have any grudges against her anymore and I don't think he does either." Lakshya replied and continued "By the looks of it. . . He seems like he found a lost friend."

"Let's go." Uttara uttered, grabbing their attention and the two followed the ladies and Uday into the mall.

x

"No bhaiyya. Show that one. . ." Mrs Lalwani trialled off, pointing at a saree.

Swara, Ragini, Uday, Nikhil and Lakshya were stood at a distance, feeling bored as they watched them pick out a suit.

"This is so boring." Lakshya sighed, and Nikhil agreed. "I feel like going to sleep."

Ananya was sat near the mirror, trying out jewelleries while her eyes were on Uday, who she could see through the mirror as he was stood behind her.

"Can we not, like, wait outside or somewhere else? I mean, we're not needed at all." Ragini uttered as she faced them.

"We can do." Lakshya replied and Uday looked at Ragini. "Besides they're going to explore this whole mall and they know their way through, so it's better we just wait in the cafe or something."

"True." Nikhil agreed and nodded. "So let's go."

"I'll go let them know." Swara volunteered and they nodded.

Uday and Lakshya started to head out the same time but stopped. Avoiding eye-contact, Uday stormed past him and out. Lakshya sighed as he followed and Nikhil followed the two. After informing the ladies, Swara and Ragini also headed out, with Ananya who opted in to join them out.

"So, are you new here?"

"Well, I usually come here in holidays but I'm pretty much new around Kolkata. I'm usually here for 3 weeks." Ananya replied to Ragini, who initiated the conversation.

"Oh okay."

"How about you?"

"We moved here when I was 6."

"Oh okay. That's great, so you've stayed here pretty much of your life."

"Yup."

Ananya was merely curious about one thing which she didn't hesitate to ask, "how do you know those boys?"

"Which boys?"

"The ones you came with."

"Oh. . . Them. I only know one."

"The tall one?"

"Well yeah. I guess two of them. I know the one with the white jacket more, but I recently became friends with the one in the yellow shirt." Ragini replied after clearing her confusion herself.

"Ahh okay." Ananya was slightly relieved, not knowing why she felt more happier knowing there wasn't anything going on between Ragini and Uday, the yellow shirt guy.

"Whats their names?" 

"You can ask them yourself." Ragini replied with a smile as they stopped in front of them, in the cafe.

Ananya felt slightly nervous, forcing a smile over her lips as she stared at them.

"This is Ananya. Parineeta's cousin. She joined us because she was also feeling bored inside."

"Do you not like shopping?" Lakshya asked as he examined her from head to toe. "I do, but I'm not into this kind of shopping."

"Ahh. I guess we know where you like shopping." Nikhil uttered as he smiled at her. She felt a little uncomfortable yet passed him a smile.

"We do too." Lakshya noticed her feeling uncomfortable.

"What's your favourite brand?" She asked, imitating the conversation.

"Gucci." Nikhil replied with a grin.

"Louis Vuitton." Lakshya replied and then she looked at Uday.

"Dior."

"Wow, great." She replied with a genuine smile.

"What about you?"

"Dior, Chanel, Burberry, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Prada. . ."

Nikhil, Lakshya, Swara, Ragini and Uday's mouth slightly dropped hearing all these being her favourite.

"Oh wow, Ms Expensive!" Nikhil exclaimed and she stopped, chuckling a little.

"What's so expensive in that?"

"Damn, you probably spend your whole day in shopping those brands right?"

"Trust me. I have my own boutique just for those stuff to be stored." She replied to Lakshya and they looked on.

She glanced at Uday, who was silent and Nikhil offered the three a seat.

"I'm going to the toilet." Swara uttered, excusing herself.

"What would you like to have?" Uday asked Ragini and Ananya.

"Could I just get a. . ."

"Let me guess. . ." Nikhil interrupted her, "a Frappuccino?"

She glanced at him with a small smile, slightly surprised. "How'd you know?"

"Ms Expensive, it was a guess that you'll go for well made products. Since you are one." He flirted, and she scoffed while Ragini looked at the two. Lakshya and Uday found it cringing. "I'll have that too Udz."

Uday rolled his eyes hearing 'Udz' and looked at Ragini.

"And you?"

"I'll take iced caramel latte please." Ragini replied to Uday and he nodded, heading towards the till without asking Lakshya.

Lakshya felt a little offended but he stood up, heading towards the till.

"And I'll have. . ."

"No one asked you." Uday snapped back at Lakshya, continuing to avoid him.

"What the hell is wrong with you? You were upset at me for being her friend and now you're her friend. Like what?"

"She apologised for misunderstanding me so we sorted it out between us. And you hesitated to choose me over her PLUS you told me to grow up. So now how about you leave from my sight."

"You're honestly pathetic. You son of a. . ." Lakshya stopped as soon as he heard a voice.

The two cocked their heads to the side, watching a female figure standing in front of Nikhil, pulling on Ananya and Ragini's hair, trapping their hair in her grip.

"I asked what is this?" He swallowed, watching her fierce eyes gawk at him in anger.

"I. . ." He stuttered, unable to find words. "You told me that you were busy today, only to hang out with two girls?"

He shook his head, "I don't know them." He instantly refused to know about Ragini and Ananya. "I swear I don't even know who they are, I've met and talked to them today, just now."

"Of course, now that you're caught you'd say this. I can't believe you would do me like this Nick. . . You're cheating on me with TWO girls! I'm so done with you. . . I'm breaking up with you!" She yelled, feeling hurt, dejected and upset as she let go of Ananya and Ragini's hair.

Lakshya and Uday dropped their mouth as they heard her. "What?" Both utter at the same time, in disbelief.

"Palak. . . Wait, listen. . ." She stormed off as Nikhil stood, calling for her name. He shortly rushed in that direction while Ananya and Ragini touch their hair, in frustration yet pain.

Uday and Lakshya look at each other, "what just happened?"

"Did she just say she's breaking up with him?"

"Did he have a girlfriend?"

"When was he dating?"

"What?" Both utter in confusion again, unable to work their heads around the situation that just occurred.

To Be Continued. . .

Up Next - Nikhil to reveal about his secret relationship. . . Another day closer to the D-Day. . . Ragini & Lakshya get closer.

____________

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