Chapter 17

 Thanks Yasmin! Thanks everyone for your sweet comments!

 

Here is part 17! Hope you enjoy!

The conference went well and they were able to keep the funds for the New Sanjeevani. Meanwhile a date for Armaan and Riddhima's wedding was set. The actual engagement would take place two days before that.

 

 Armaan sent an invitation to Abhimanyu's family for the wedding.

 

" Thanks Armaan. My family would like to get to know Nikki and all of you better . This will be a great opportunity  to do so," Abhimanyu stated gratefully.

 

 Armaan smiled.

 

" Just make sure you two don't elope. I want to be there for my best friend's wedding," he retorted.

 

 Abhimanyu shook his head.

 

" Nahin yaar, hum yeh galti ne kar sakte," he promised.

 

 The two men shook hands before heading off to their separate duties.

 

 The engagement day arrived. Everyone was excited for Armaan and  Riddhima. They all planned to do a special performance at the reception. The engagement was in the late afternoon. Afterwards Nikita spent time with Suman telling her how she and Abhimanyu used to hate each other at first.

She reddened when she mentioned the crazy glue stunt.

 

 Suman put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

 

" He was being too stern, if you had to stop him that must have been an interesting option. Maybe I should have used that when he refused to sit in his chair and eat dinner. You should have seen him the night before he took the medical licensure exam!  He kept pacing and must have almost made a hole in the floor!," Suman  quipped.

 

 The two women  were  laughing together, when Muskaan and Anjali came over to her.

 

" Nikki jaldi aao jao! Abhimanyu is waiting for you," they declared pointing at where Abhimanyu started to squirm.

 

That wasn't part of the plan. He just wanted to rehearse before the  reception.

 

" Go ahead Nikki.  We'll share more funny stories another time," Suman stated.

 

 She nodded and headed over with the girls to go practice.

                                                                                                        

 

 During the pheras  two days later, all the other young couples imagined  themselves  doing the  same, hopefully in the near future. When Shanshank and Padma gave Riddhima away, Nikita's eyes filled with tears and she had to leave the altar .

 

 Abhimanyu went after her. He found her staring out at the late evening sky lost in thought. She was trying to stop crying. When she felt another person's presence she quickly composed herself and turned to meet his eyes.

 

" Kya hua Nikki?"

 

" Who will give me away Abhi? Mera toh koi nahin hai," she stated bitterly.

 

 Abhimanyu cupped her chin.

 

" Don't worry we'll figure things out. Maybe Armaan and Riddhima can or we can ask Dr. Shashank and Padma Auntie," he assured her.

 

 She nodded briskly.

 

" Tum theek bol ra ho. I am not as unlucky as it seemed before," she replied.

 

 He wiped her  tears and they headed back to meet with everyone else.

 

At the  reception  all four couples danced to Desi Girl, Ab to Forever and Mahi Ve.

 

 Abhimanyu's parents promised to consult with a panditji soon to fix the rokha , engagement and  their wedding dates soon.