ManVeer OS : You look good.
Maanyata peeped out of the trial room , only to find UV slumped against the wall , checking himself out in the mirror while talking on phone.
UV( on phone )- Dadisa, relax. I told you. Leave everything on me and I will take care of it. Maanyata will do nothing that will embarrass me or the two royal families. Trust your Uday…
Maanyata humphed. Literally. She had sent Unnati for damage control to call up Sicky and Bhootni to tell them that she will be late for the surprise party but everything should go as planned for Pakaash. If it was not for Unnati, Maanyata would have had to literally rebel against UV and at this sensitive moment , when he was becoming her tame lamb, she couldn't afford to lose to be in his good books. But darn! What was she supposed to do now. She will have to go out in this dress in front of UV and UV only. There was nobody else in the trial room. UV had sent away all assistants and staffers and charmingly asked those two-three women customers to let him and Maanyata have these trial rooms. Silly women! Were they mad? A man asks you to vacate a trial room and you smile like a duck and go away. Maanyata was sure that UV practiced black magic. Ughs! Pakaash's birthday party – a stupid high fi award function event – trials in these silly dresses and UV for company. Wow! Talk about a chain of unfortunate events. Maanyata was fuming at the door when UV spotted her reflection in the mirror. He grinned at her fuming , cribbing and mumbling face as he slipped the cellphone in his pocket and turned towards her – tilting his head like a child and smiling at her.
UV ( calmly )- Come out, Maanyata or do you want me to come into the trial room. I can see that you have changed the dress – now , come out and let me have a good look at you. I have to see what look suits you the best .
Maanyata smiled at him, giving him a 300 abuses under her breath and came out into UV's full view. She was wearing a full sleeve , full length red dress with a satin bow at the waist. Errm. Sorry , it used to be a bow . Maanyata was holding it in her hand. UV literally had to smother his laughter but he did. She looked like a Barbie doll gone wrong – her brilliant peach complexion in contrast to the flaming red an d her unruly wild hair all over her face and shoulders. Maanyata shrugged her shoulders at him . UV shook his head and amused at her child-in-a-toy-shop antics walked up to her.
Maanyata( looking at herself in the mirror)- I look like a letterbox, Uday…and why did they attach the purse to the waist for heaven's sake!
UV comes to her and with a mysterious smile turns her towards the full length mirror , softly pulling her hair off her face and tucking them behind her ears.
UV( standing right behind her holding her by her shoulders )- Maanyata, firstly, you have worn the dress all wrong. Secondly, like I said before , this dress is not right for you.
Maanyata ( putting her hands on her waist and glaring at UV in the mirror )- As in?
UV rolls his eyes and takes the huge red satin bow from her hands.
UV ( coolly looking at her in the mirror )- Lift your arms, princess …( Maanyata looks at him confused )… don't worry. We are not flying or doing a Titanic here. Just lift your arms.
Maanyata gives him a bored look and lifts her arms. UV slides his arms around her waist , slightly pulling her back towards him. Maanyata feels a strange vibration in her chest and she actually feels that her tummy is sinking to her feet , making her hold her breath. Damn! This always happened whenever UV was anywhere physically close to her and till date she had not been able to figure out if this sensation was disgust or something else? She slowly looked at UV's image in the mirror and then, lowered her eyes to her waist. UV , with a no nonsense expression on his face was pinning the bow to the waistline of the dress. When he had pinned it , his hands rested at her waist as she looked at herself in confusion in the mirror.
Maanyata ( like a child )- Oh! So, its not a purse?
UV( chuckles as he leaves her waist making her breathe easy and catch on the skipped heartbeat)- No, Maanyata. It's a bow . See, how pretty it looks now.
Maanyata nods and then, makes a face at her mirror image as she looks at the sleeves that are loose on her shoulders.
Maanyata ( sulking cutely )- But why are the sleeves falling when that staffer said its my size.
UV ( looks here and there and then, rubbing his chin as though taking a chance smirks at her )- Are you sure you want me to tell you? Or do I call a staffer?
Maanyata ( irritated)- Are you drunk before the awards function only, Uday? You brought me here, right? So, obviously , I will ask you.
UV ( smirks )- Fine, but don't blame me for anything.
Before Maanyata can realize anything , she feels UV's fingers on her fair back and she straightens up like a livewire that has been shot with a current. The fingers go uptill the nape of her neck, zipping the dress to a decent close. And the sleeves now rest calmly on her shoulder. Maanyata goes a flaming red in her face as she quickly moves away from UV, her head hung like a papaya from a tree.
UV( putting his hands in the pockets of his trousers and behaving as though nothing had happened )- You had forgotten to zip it up from the back , so the sleeves were obviously falling all over….
Maanyata ( touching the nape of her neck as she felt there was a strange burning sensation there )- Y-You could have told me , Uday…
UV( makes an innocent face )-Your arms are not long enough to reach your back so that you can zip it up on your own and I offered to call a staffer but you said no….( looks at her face )… don't look like a beetroot, Princess. I did nothing. And I have seen better.
Maanyata looks up at him at the last sentence in anger and he winks at her.
UV ( smiles )- See, how easy it is to replace a shameful red with an angry red.
Maanyata ( feeling a tension between herself and UV that threatens to burst out of her chest )- Can we just buy this red tent and be done with it?
UV shakes his head , looking into her eyes and clicks his fingers. A female staffer comes running.
Staffer – Yes, Sir.
UV( looking at Maanyata )- Look, this red 'tent' doesn't work for my fiance. The dress has too long sleeves and its hemline sweeps the floor. I don't want a dress that makes her look fluffy and frumpy. Long dresses don't work on short girls…. ( Maanyata looks at him with a dropped jaw)….Get her something knee length, sleek, with least fabric detailing and short sleeves. Not a stark colour, okay? Something that sets off her complexion and compliments her body type…I want to look at her, not her clothes that dominate her personality.
Staffer ( taking the details )- Got it, Sir. Just give me 10 minutes.
UV ( charmingly)- Take your time, my lady. And mind you, no plunging necklines. Simple , elegant and regal. Okay?
The staffer nods and with a secret smile begins to leave.
Maanyata ( angrily )- What are you giggling about?
Staffer ( mischievously)- Nothing. I have never seen a man give two hoots about what his girlfriend or wife is buying . They seem the least bit interested but Sir is different. Lucky you.
UV smirks and Maanyata forces her mouth to broaden into a smile.
Maanyata ( after the staffer has left)- Why didn't you tell me straightaway that I look ugly in this red tent?
UV( smiles at her and makes her face the mirror again)- Because that girl in the mirror is beautiful. Clothes define what you look like and not who you are. When I saw you after 16 years , I didn't see the rags and the sweeper clothes – I saw this brilliant regal face. Got it?
Maanyata ( looking at her own face from all angles )- I don't look untidy with my hair in my face and this yellow papaya face?
UV( bends down and whispers in her ear)- You look good. You always do.
Maanyata feels a spark under her veins and looks up at his eyes . She is sure that she felt that floor under her feet melt for a second or so and her heart skipped a beat.
Love and luck always,❤️
GOD bless everyone. 🤗
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
