Chapter 20 A – A Royal Wedding
Wedding festivities was a week away. Girls: Unnati, Manyata, Jai and Isha head early to Devgarh. They spend their days working with wedding planners from around the globe to decorate Devgarh Mahal and Jaigarh Mahal. Even cities of Devgarh and Jaigarh were decorated.
M was helping Unnati to decorate to Jaigarh palace.
“Oh my god Bhabhisa your palace is amazing. It’s so beautiful”
“thank you, it’s all dada”
There was piano set up in the living room along with a drum set and guitar.
“who plays?”
“my mother did… she loved music. This was all her and her star pupil, dada”
“no ways Uday plays?” asks M getting a nod from Unnati “wow… you should ask him to play during the wedding”
“Hmm, maybe... he slowly stopped playing after our mother passed away”
“ooohhh” adds Manyata not wanting to go down this road.
The week goes by fast. The events were starting tomorrow. Arjun & other family arrive and all surprise Unnati letting her know that the wedding will be held at Summer Palace, which was close to her mother’s heart. M, I and J had slyly decorated Summer Palace without Unnati’s knowledge. Manyata eyes kept searching “are we missing someone” she asks
“ya Uday and Rohan will join later they both were busy with work” replies Sid
‘halkat Veda, time pe nai aa sakta’ she thinks to herself.
The whole day she was restless, poking her head out of the house every time there was a commotion outside, hoping the person that was living rent-free in her mind would come soon. He didn’t, but others came that did make her happy: Chris, Jen and Rehan had joined.
In the morning, Manyata was headed for breakfast. En route someone pulls her by her hand into a corner. Finally, her eyes meet those chocolate brown ones she had been searching all day yesterday.
“Hi Princess”
“why can’t you call like normal person. Why do you do this?”
“humhe mazza aata hai (leaning closer to her ears) you don’t like it?”
She gives him a ‘hell no’ look … he adds “So did you miss me?”
“No, I had better things to do…ab hato, I am hungry” she shoves past him. A smile adorns her face as she walks away from him, she was happy to see him after what felt like forever.
Evening came fast, and it was time for Sangeet. Guests started pouring in. Rajgarh family, second wealthiest/powerful Royal family along with Devgarh, join the party. Of course, Jaigarh was the most successful/ powerful, which people thought was due to charms of the Jaigarh family.
DS – ‘Meenaxi beta why don’t you join the kids. They are behind stage”
All kids were gathered doing last minute practices. “you ditched too many practices, I hope you are ready” Manyata asks Rohan.
“yes meri amma.. chill” he says. She steps on his toes causing Rohan to yelp in pain. Uday laughs seeing the sight in front. “this is your fault” whispers Rohan to Uday. Unnati was introducing everyone to Meenaxi, who had just joined. Meenaxi grew up in London most of her life and so was close to Jaigarh family.
“whoa ex-girlfriend alert” whispers Sid to Uday, who signals him to be quiet. Meenaxi and Uday greet each other formally.
DJ makes the announcement; the first dance was done by girls followed by boys. Unnati and Arjun enjoyed their dances, both groups were synchronized and well prepared.
DJ – “okay guys next performance is very special. Its from groom side.. Isha will sing a song she wants to dedicate to our lovely couple (everyone claps) … there is more, Manyata and Rohan will perform to her song. The light turns off:
Music starts (Flute)
M and Rohan stand back to back, slowly they hold hands. The second their hand touch, Manyata feels butterflies in her stomach. “wow I am so nervous” she thinks.
Tu jo mila……sab mil gaya
Spotlight on Isha while M and R are still standing back to back
Dil ki namaazein jaake
M & R turn as all lights come on.
Pahunchi falak se aage
M is shocked to see UV instead of Uday.
Toh jaake paaya tujhko
Mere rehnuma…
“what are you doing here and where is Rohan?”
Mujhko mera Rabb mil gaya
Baahon se aage tere
Duniya nahi hai meri
Rakhle yahin tu mujhko
Mere rehnuma…
“you didn’t answer my question before, did you miss me?”
“tum pagal ho? Rohan and I have to perform. No time to joke”
“we are performing aren’t we, have I messed up any steps yet?”
Guzri hoon jab se, main tere dar se
Hasne lagi hoon main, khul ke rehbar
Dard se tere rista juda toh
Ab muskuraate hai mere manjar
Haan.. Rabb ki mujhe saugaat hai
She ponders on his question and think “oh shoot he knows all the steps’
“soooo you like my surprise?” asks Uday
She gives him a fake smile causing Uday to laugh at her antics. A small smile also appears on M’s face.
Dil ki namaazein jaake
Pahunchi falak se aage
Toh jaake paaya tujhko
Mere rehnuma…
Feeling a pair of eyes, she looks up to meet his eyes. The intensity with which he was staring caused her to feel uncomfortable. Yet she couldn’t break away. Uday says “I missed you so much”
Baahon se aage tere
Duniya nahi hai meri
Rakhle yahin tu mujhko
Mere rehnuma…
He twirls her to the left & brings her back
Still under each other spell, he says “princess will you go on date with me?”
He twirls her to the right and he dips her as he brings her back in. They were almost nose to nose. She smiles and nods yes.
All the clapping breaks their moment.
On the other side, while they were dancing someone was watching and burning in jealousy. Meenaxi who notices walks up to this person while thinking ‘these women, they will never learn’.
“don’t they look cute together” says Meenaxi trying to add salt to the burns
Jay scoffs at her comment, then gulps her drink, causing her to open up to this stranger “he is everything she has hated all her life… a spoiled, entitled Prince, who cares only about himself”
“he is Yuvraj Udayveer Singh, no one can escape his charms.”
“hmm… These things never work with her. I have known her all my life” Jay looks over to them to see them smiling at each other. She gulps another one. Seeing this, Meenaxi smiles “I guess she is blinded by the past. She doesn’t realize the innocent caring friend she knew has died long time ago and what remains is a ruthless, selfish royal who uses and throws people at his convenience.” Meenaxi signal a waiter, she picks up two glasses, giving one to Jay.
“Cheers” both say as they raise the glass to the occasion. Her misery of seeing the man she likes enjoy with another girl makes Jay chugs her drink yet again. “the blindfold needs to come out, she needs to see the real him” adds Meenaxi. “What do you mean” asks Jay. Meenaxi shares her plan causing Kay to disagree. “I guess she will have to learn the hard way, I hope she is a strong girl”
Caring for her sister sounds better than I am jealous. Now Meenaxi’s ideas and conversation were making more sense as it was packaged as caring for your sister, on top of that alcohol did not help. She agrees.
Isha mesmerized everyone with her voice. She was surrounding by new fans and an old fan.
“as always beautifully sang” Rohan says extending his hand
Things were still bit awkward between them. He tried his best to not make her feel uncomfortable, but it was hard. She tried her best to keep things normal but her feeling came out one way or another. Regardless, she shakes his hand and thanks him.
Her new fan, zooms through to reach her “OH MY GOD! Isha – the next Shreya Ghosal. You sang it better than the original.” She smiles at his inflated compliments. “so angelic! Tell me, did it hurt when you fell?” he flirts. She knew what he was implying so did most people, a very common pick up line. She felt a bit embarrassed and uncomfortable with his flirting, while it caused few ppl around them to chuckle. She briefly glances at Rohan, somewhere hoping he would react.
M & U were no less, people showered them with compliments. Feeling her cheeks burning with all the blushing, she escapes to the garden. “now that’s what I call setting the dance floor on fire” says Isha. M smiles at her, I adds “still nothing going now between you two?”. M shares about Uday asking her out, causing Isha to hug her out of excitement. “I always knew you two would end up together”
“oh shut up aisa kuch nai hai. It’s just a date. Waise bhi its Uday.. I mean (pauses)”
“he likes you Manyata just stop at that, don’t overthink. Give your brain a break & let your heart takeover.”
PART B - in progress will update shortly.
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