When Ditiya got back to Indiana, She spent her first month getting back into a daily routine, throwing herself into her job. She made herself so busy that she was getting only four or five hours of sleep per day. And suddenly Coffee became her best friend. Every two days she would shower but tried to change clothes regularly.

Aditi, overriding her mild protests, had taken Ditiya out to dinner almost once every week. It was exciting and a good bonding exercise.

But what happened in Chicago stayed in Chicago. As Ditiya never opened up to her sister Aditi about her times with Dhruv, what she called a mere sensual attraction. Ditiya hadn't asked about Dhruv and certainly had not talked to him. Dhruv and Ditiya stopped texting all together and never talked on the phone anymore. They met once or twice, while Dhruv had come to visit Aditi and Ditiya was not entirely sure how she had managed to avoid him on those occasions. Ditiya was scared. Scared that all it would take was a look and a few words, and she would be a pathetic girl. She didn't want him to see how hopelessly in love with him he still was.

But the things in Ditiya's life suddenly came a change with Arjun reentering into Aditi's life. Aditi's relationships with Arjun began to improve, and she slowly committed herself to become a perfect wife again, and she moved back to Chicago. Everyone was so happy, especially Aditi's and her mother because Aditi did not have to stay alone for rest of her life now.

........

It was weird for Ditiya to think that only four months ago it was she and her sister, inseparable, but now only to detach and took root apart from each other. She figured that at least her sister was happy again with her husband.

...........

It was now after eleven at night, and Ditiya's boyfriend of three months, Rusal, was still not home. Quietly lying there, she heard some rumbling noise of a car with no muffler, which has just started up and seemed to be coming toward the front of her house. It started slowly but picked up momentum. The closer it got to her house, the louder it got, and then the loud noise died down as it slowly came up into her driveway. It grew louder and louder again until the gears were shifted into park or neutral. It stayed that way until it was driven away.

In about 10 minutes, she heard a loud knocking and banging at her door, as well as the mummer noise. Her neighbor's dog barked. House, extremely drunk.

As Ditiya pulled her the door swung opened. Her boyfriend stands there, drunk. He was cursing the weather, the traffic and everything else he could think of.

Ditiya told him that the food was in the fridge and if he was hungry, he could warm it up, she was angry with her boyfriend, it was sharp and clear in her voice.

Ditiya was about to go to her bedroom when suddenly Rusal held her wrist tightly and squeezed, twisting so hard she felt the skin burn.

He lowered his face up to her and forcefully parted her lips with his insistent tongue and kissed her deeply. His putrid breath hit her face as she felt like vomiting.

"Move!" Ditiya hollered, pushing him away with all the force she could muster but accidentally stuck her fingernail into his eye and it started to bleed. When he saw his blood, he went crazy.

"You little bitch!" Winding up, Rusal backhanded her across the face.

Her head lulled the side other of face exploded in pain and she tasted her own blood on her lips she howled in pain as her salty tears rolled down her burned face. A strange feeling had suddenly come over her and she hated it, even if she didn't know where it came from. Because it was just weakness.

"Would have pushed your lover Dhruv away?" He punched her again in frustration. Everything was right between them until she told him about Dhruv. She wanted to share that with someone and she thought she would do that with Rusal. Suddenly Rusal was a completely changed human or inhuman.

"You are mine and I can kiss you whenever I want!" He hit her a third time. As if somehow, by hurting her, he could convince her of his power on her life.

He punched her again and again, bruising her face, widening the cut on her lip, even adding cuts on her left cheek and eyebrow, but, no matter how many times he hit her, she stood there staring at him with a tear dropping on her bloody lips and a sad glint in her eyes. The pain in her face blossomed into a dull ache, sharpening with every blow, but distant. She was focused on the barbaric expression in his eyes, amused by his disturbance at not being able to break her. She knew that she was made of tougher stuff than he'd dealt with before. Not physically but emotionally she was stronger and more resilient than him. He could beat on her all night but she will not die from it.

Next week, Ditiya was back at the apartment she used to share with Aditi. She had left very next morning after the incident took place. Aditi tried video calling her every day from Chicago, but she never picked up, they talked almost every day, voice calling and text and when Aditi did ask what happened to her, she didn't say a word about it.

Ditiya looked her at the mirror it was terrible, her eyes swollen and bloodshot, her face streaked with tears. Small blue half moons underlined her sad eyes.

Suddenly Ditiya's mind wondered how different her life would have been if she could have made him understand how much she needed his attention because she felt the very in love with him. Ditiya was taken aback by her own thoughts. Was there really a limit to how desperate you were allowed to be if you fall for your friend's boyfriend who was also your sister's brother in law? She hoped if there is she wasn't crossing the line. She prayed not.

The shrill tone of the doorbell cut through the silence. Ditiya looked down at the sink basin, turned on the faucet, stopped it up and filled the sink with lukewarm water. She looked up once more into the bathroom mirror and examined her face.

The doorbell rang again.

Ditiya considered. A quick look at the clock showed it was almost half past eight. Ditiya peered cautiously through the peephole in the front door, hoping it would be Fatima Martin or any other neighbors of her. It was neither. No, there was some kind of postman standing there. And he had a parcel.

Ditiya opened the door, surprised.

'Ditiya Vrik?' asked the man with the parcel.

She nodded. The thought occurred to her as she did so that she must look quite a sight; her face was bruised and swollen.

'I have got a parcel for you,' said the man, holding it out. 'It was to go directly to you. Can you take delivery?'

'Yes,' Ditiya was wary, taking the package. 'Thank you.'

'Thank you!' said the man, smiling. 'Have a nice day!'

Ditiya made no reply to this, but shut the door and locked it. She gave the parcel a gentle shake. It weighed scarcely anything and made no sound when she shook it. She looked for the address of the sender, the parcel had been sent from India. Ditiya could tell it was from Bagwant Malhotra, Dhruv's and Arjun's father.

As she pulled out the card, the names 'Shreya Mann' and 'Dhruv Malhotra' leaped out at her, then, 'you are invited to celebrate the marriage of....'

'Oh. My God.' she exclaimed. She sat down at the kitchen table and studied the golden-edged card. The fiery red inscription informed guests that the wedding would be held in Le Meridian over the weekend of17 and 18 February. 'Ditiya plus one' was written in glittery red pen in the top right-hand corner.

A map of the area around the hotel was tucked inside the envelope with details of flights, and a note that informed her, she was one of a select number of guests or Family member. So she was invited to stay in the hotel where the wedding would take place.

A tight knot formed in her throat as she picked up the phone and rang Aditi.

......................

Dhruv was an imposing and handsome figure in his cream silk sherwani and red turban matching with Shreya's sari.

He stepped on to the silver plate placed at his feet. Shreya's mother poured water over his feet, and the father washes his feet, and the father and mother together wipe them. But there was something about all of this that made him visibly uncomfortable. Then Shreya's parents welcomed him, Arjun, Aditi and his parents, garlanding them with flowers.

The main hall was decorated with mango leaves and marigold flowers. It was filled with people, noise, laughter, and happiness. He entered the hall. The smell of the wedding hall, the smell of flowers, silk saris, and costly perfumes affected him in a wrong way. He felt lonely.

In the bride's dressing room, the bride, Shreya was excited, and tensed at the same time, waiting to be married to the man of her dreams.

Shreya's dyed mixed brunette hair had been tied into a big bun at the back of her head, covered in garlands of fragrant white jasmine flowers. Her hands were covered with the beautiful pattern of mehndi. Shreya looked beautiful in the red sari with the pallav in front and head covered with a thin red veil. Like any other bride, she was totally covered in jewels; heavy earnings were put in her ears, and pearl and gold necklace and then the gleaming choker; close to her neckline and against her throat.

"By the time Dhruv removes all of your pieces of jewelry he will so tired that he would fall asleep." One of Shreya's friends teased her, Shreya glared at her friend for a moment and then smiled with almost affection in her eyes.

......

Soon Dhruv and his friends were taken by Shreya's family into a well-decorated side room to wait till all was ready for the ceremony. Dhruv fixed his sehra as stared at himself in the mirror. The face he saw was full of worry. He sort of wondered if he had made the right decision of getting married so early.

Mrs. Malhotra came to the waiting room, taking Dhruv hands in her own Mrs. Malhotra said, "You are a handsome groom, Dhruv." She looked at her son's face and pride swelled within her chest.

Her eyes twinkling Dhruv retorted, "Hardly handsome, Ma, but presentable, I dare say."

Mrs. Malhotra hesitated a moment then said earnestly, "Are you altogether sure this is what you wish, Dhruv? I know it is what I have pushed you to. Indeed, I have done everything to make sure you never do things what Arjun did with Aditi... With us. And I wanted, still do want, you to be married to the girl you like and we also like but suddenly I find you looking worried and pale, my dear."

"Don't you think I had good reasons to be nervous? I'd never done anything like this before in my life?" Dhruv asked with a laugh.

"Don't laugh like that Dhruv," Mrs. Malhotra said sternly, "You look stupid!"

"How flattering you are, Ma!" Dhruv retorted with a shaky laugh.

"That is not what I meant and well you know it," Mrs. Malhotra said. "we all have last-minute doubts and it is perfectly natural."

Gently Dhruv said to his mother, "I like too much to want her to be unhappy but I doubt I will be able to keep her happy."

Impulsively Mrs. Malhotra hugged her son. "You have always been the better son and I am sure you will prove to be the best husband."

Fifteen minutes later, Dhruv was led by Shreya's father to the mandap, a colorful and ornately decorated canopy under which the ceremony would take place.

Dhruv sat on a wooden pita, and then the purohit started to recite some mantras. Dhruv watched Shreya as with slow, graceful steps she walked down, the long stairs. She was looking Dhruv with a smile and walking straight toward mandap.

His marriage had all the essence of a fairly tell marriage.

Everyone in the hall was happy and amazed to see such a beautiful bride. As she reached near the stage. Dhruv for courtesy stood up and extended his hand to help Shreya to step up on the stage. They soon moved to the "Jaimala" ceremony where Dhruv and Shreya exchanged garlands. Arjun lifted Dhruv above his shoulders as Shreya tried to the garland around him. At the same time, her cousins lifted her so she could easily garland him.

After that ceremony, Dhruv went back to the waiting room to freshness up.

Suddenly he heard his phone beeping. He quickly rushed to take his phone from his cousin. He unlocked his phone and swiped down the notification and saw one missed call and 3 messages. He tapped it to see, who sent it.

Ditiya had called and sent his message, he was about to open the messages. Arjun came to take him for the main wedding. He left his phone and walked away for veedi with the heavy heart. As he was walking down the lift, his mind was recalling all the happy days spent with Ditiya. Although he was satisfied and happy getting married to Shreya he hated the series of broken promises, unfinished business, and good friends that somehow turned into someone confusing between Ditiya and him.

He wondered, will he be able to be a good husband. He knew he would try his best. When he saw Shreya sitting in mandap smiling at him and having the excitement of having him in life and their new phase together.

Dhruv's was tied to Shreya's veil, uniting them as man and wife in a marriage knot.

Pandit chanted mantras as they reached the most important ritual in the ceremony-the Saat Phere or seven vows. As they circled the sacred fire seven times, and they will make a lifetime promise to each other, and anticipated a lifetime warranty.

"We vow to keep a pure household. Avoiding all things harmful to our health. We vow to developmental. Physical and spiritual strength. We vow to acquire wealth by righteous means. We vow to acquire knowledge. Happiness and harmony by mutual love and trust. We vow to raise virtuous, intelligent and courageous children. We vow to exercise self-restraint for longevity. We vow to always remain true companions and life-long partners."

Dhruv and Shreya tossed morsels of sweet rice into the fire as an offering to the deity Agni. They fed each other sweet rice. And murmured mantra that suddenly seemed gibberish to Dhruv about some everlasting commitment to building a life together. He slipped an emerald-gold band on her finger; her face was enveloped with joy and happiness as her eyes were wet with sweet smiles.

The Pandit declared them married. The crowd clapped and smiled and threw rose petals over the new couple.

Dhruv tried looked very happy, at that moment; he vowed that he would try to be a committed, dedicated, faithful husband. As indeed he should be happy he was, now married to the woman of his teenage dreams and his young love.

The newlyweds moved around the room bending over to touch the elders' feet and seek blessings for the first time as a married couple, seeking blessings as one. When the blessings were done, the guests descended on the couple, hugging and kissing and congratulating. By the time Dhruv reached them, Arjun and Aditi looked love-worn and drunk on happiness. Arjun practically lifted Dhruv off his feet as he hugged his elder brother and patted his back with warm feelings. Aditi pulled him close and whispered something that sounded like a secret in his ears. But he didn't hear her.

He heard nothing. He felt nothing but the huge choking lump and ashamed near Aditi.

Dhruv and Shreya sat side-by-side on cushioned ornate chairs underneath the mandap as a professional photographer set up his equipment in front of them. Shreya placed her hand on his.

"Okay, the Dhruv's family should be first." Shreya's father suggested.

The cameraman motioned Dhruv's parents to stand behind the newlyweds. Mr. Malhotra and his wife awkwardly took their place.

"Where's the Arjun beta and Aditi?" Shreya's father asked.

"Probably Arjun Bhai needed some personal time and so took Aditi bhabi with him." One of their cousins commented. Soon Arjun and Aditi joined them for the perfect family photo.

Shreya's father's whistled through. He signaled the photographer to proceed.

"Ready?" the photographer said in Punjabi. "One... two... three."

.................

An unexpected late-night rain splattered upon the roof of the house and Ditiya tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. A night in the USA meant It was morning in India. Dhruv was getting married to Shreya.

Ditiya knew it was finally over. Some that never really began. But in her heart she wanted him to be her for real. Yeah, it did hurt to know her; to know that he never found her enough to love her was kind of like someone punching her in the face. And it also did pain her to walk past him that night, pretending they weren't sleeping just a moment ago together and never stayed up all night talking, which felt like a knife through her chest every time. But what truly hurt most, so bad that she couldn't find the words to explain it, and she kept waiting for a sign or something from him, but she should have accepted that sometimes, no message is also a message.

She inched along the bed and reached for the phone on the bedside table. Ditiya stared at the phone sometimes, and then went to find Dhruv number. Her hands were shaking as she dialed his cell phone. The phone rang, rang, and rang but nobody received. First, she wanted to cry when Dhruv didn't pick up the call. Ditiya heart was heavy when she decided to convey her wish to Dhruv with a message. She wrote: Shreya is one of the luckiest girls I know

Because I've had the pleasure of sharing my space with you in the past

And I had spent one of the best days of my life with you

so I hope that our friendship will always last

Through the good times

And through the bad

On your wedding day just know

You're the best friend I've ever had.

May your marriage be blessed with joy and happiness! Wishing you a great day with lots of wonderful memories that will last forever.