"Hey Rushvi wanna come check out that amazing chocolate fondue fountain?" Victoria asks, her mouth turned up into a happy smile.
Rushvi could swear she saw a significant glance between Lizzie and Victoria but chose to dismiss it. "Sure," Robert immediately got up as she stood to leave giving her another reassuring smile.
"What was that?" He asks Lizzie as both Rushvi and Victoria turned around the corner.
"What was what?" Lizzie smirks at her younger brother.
"Liz...." He whines.
"I just wanted to talk to you for a minute. Such a crime?"
"No but....what about?"
"Rushvi...and your feelings for one another."
"And what have you concluded Miss. Insightful?" Robert asks with a corner of his mouth hitched up to match his raised eyebrow.
"We need to get to know her a bit more," Lizzie admits. "The thing is Rob, we're not sure exactly that she's not just with you for the fame."
He was about to put to rest her suspicions about Rushvi but right at that moment both Rushvi and Victoria came back into view.
"They had everything covered in chocolate; everything you could possibly think of!" Victoria gushes. "Let's go see it Lizzie."
Lizzie rolls her eyes as her younger sister pulls her up by the arm and drags her around the corner.
"She wanted to talk to you in private right?" Rushvi asks in a low voice, keeping her eyes focused on the candle flickering on the table.
"Yes," Robert admits. "Nothing bad though,"
Rushvi takes the moment to look into his eyes and sees that same calming look that always kept her at ease. "I hope they like me,"
"They want to meet you some more, if you're okay with that." Robert adds.
"Works for me," Rushvi smiles as he places his hand on top of hers.
In Mumbai
"Maya!" Maya hears Rinki calling her and so she throws the book she was reading onto the window seat as she rushes down.
"What's up?" Maya asks as she walks into the living room and sees Rinki hunched over some spreadsheets while Harshad's lazily lying on the sofa flipping through channels.
"Do you know a place where I can buy the mehndi that's not made with chemicals? The normal kind?"
"Umm..no?" Maya says in an apologetic tone.
"Rinkz didn't we buy some of the powder before the engagement?" Harshad asks.
"Where is it?" Rinki asks.
"In the upstairs hall closet," Harshad replies.
"I'll go get it," Maya offers, rushing up the stairs.
"You won't find it," Harshad calls after her as he goes up the stairs.
"And that puts my plan in action," Rinki smiles to herself as she slowly tip toes up the stairs.
Maya opens the door and doesn't bother turning on the light since it was filtering in from the hallway. She moves around the boxes as she searches for the mehndi when Harshad comes to the doorway of the closet.
"Wrong side," he comments as he takes a step in the closet behind her.
Suddenly the door shuts enclosing them in the darkness. They hear a faint click of the lock right before the doorbell rings.
"It's locked," Maya whimpers.
"Are you crying?" he asks.
"No! I just don't like the darkness—and being enclosed in a small space." Maya admits. "Shouldn't we shout?"
"No point," He says softly as the door slams shut downstairs.
"Kya?"
"Koi fiada nahin hai," He repeats in Hindi.
"I got that genius; I meant why is there no point?"
"Rinkz was going with Sushant to pick up her friends from the airport."
"Crap! So we're stick here for a bit?" Maya asks.
"Yeah, unless you've got a cell phone with you; because mine is downstairs."Maya makes out Harshad's shoulders shrugging.
"Nope—left it in my purse." Maya sighs.
"Great," His voice was heard like a whisper.
"How long do you think it'll be till they all get back?" Maya asks in response.
"Just about as long as it'll take for you to tell me you like me." Harshad states.
Maya takes a few minutes to register this in her mind before even trying to respond. "What?"
"What what?" Harshad repeats.
"What are you trying to say?" Maya asks.
Somehow in the darkness he seemed to have found her face as he tenderly touched her cheeks. "Maya, why won't you admit it?"
"Because there's nothing to admit." Maya whispers.
"Really?"
"Really."
He smiled hearing the hesitating tone in her voice. "If that's how you really feel...then fine."
"Fine what?" Maya asks still surprised that his hand hadn't left her cheek.
"Fine...if you really feel that way—then you won't mind when I hang around with Rinkz friends. Those girls are awesome."
"Right. No problem." Maya says in a lighter tone as his hand leaves her cheek and she makes out him shifting further away from her.
She hated feeling this way around him. He was just supposed to be a friend like Alekh was for her; yet somewhere along the time they spent together she grew to like him as more than a friend—but there was a part of her that was still hesitant to admit it. She didn't want to get together with him and then realize she was just a rebound for him after Sanjana. He snaps his fingers in front of her face snapping her out of her thoughts. "Kya?"
"You weren't talking and one of the advantages of being locked in a closet WITH someone is to keep from boring yourself. Don't you think?"
She couldn't help but smile. He always said the stupidest things that had the ability to bring a smile on her face. "Sure—what would you like to talk about?"
"Let's play truth or dare,"
"In a closet? In the dark? You're crazy."
"I know...but it'd be fun. Koshish kare?"
Maya sighs dramatically. "If we must."
"We must. I'll start. Truth or dare."
"Truth." Maya answers, feeling too scared to say dare to him.
"What's your favourite English song of ALL time?"
"English?" Maya frowns. "I barely listen to it."
"Kuch to hoga..." Harshad prods.
"Miss you when I'm dreaming," Maya answers.
"What?"
"Westlife."
"Oh...your turn to ask."
"Truth or dare?" Maya wasn't prepared for his answer.
"Truth."
"Hmm....will you answer honestly?"
"Is that your question?"
Maya could swear she could hear the smile in his voice when he retorted back. "No genius. Hmmm why did you suddenly confess about you-know-what to me?"
"Because it was time Maya. I've been feeling things I never felt around Sanjana. There are these butterflies and I get tongue tied when you come in front of me."
The honesty she heard in his voice toyed with her heart. A part of her ached to rush into his arms in the darkness and tell him she loved him as well; but there was still a part of her that needed to be sure for her own sanity.
"Does that change what you think?" Harshad asks after a few moments of silence.
"Hmm? It's your turn to ask now." Maya says trying to change the subject.
Harshad shakes his head in the darkness and then sighs. "Truth or dare?"
"Truth,"
"You'll have to pick dare sometime you know," Harshad teases.
"We'll see."
"Okay umm—what's the most embarrassing thing that's happened to you?" Harshad asks.
"Hmm...I'll have to think," Maya sighs.
"Kuch to hoga?" Harshad asks.
"Oh yes! There was this one time but ugh Harshad it's too embarrassing." Maya whimpers.
"Just say it. You really think I'm going to judge you?"
"No—but I'm embarrassed." Maya tells him. "Fine...I was on a date with this guy and we were in a parking lot. I was wearing a white shirt and it started to rain—"
"Don't even go there. I don't want to know," Harshad interrupted.
"Let me talk at least na?" Maya sighs in a frustrated tone.
"Okay,"
She felt an annoyed tone in his voice but still proceeds with her story. "Anyways so I danced a bit in the rain TILL I realized about my shirt—and instead of being a typical guy—he gave me his jacket and yeah."
"There's something you're not saying..." Harshad says.
"How can you tell?" Maya asks.
"In your voice; you trail off."
"He kept the jacket away and pulled me close instead...he tried to kiss me but I turned my head away in time and he ended up kissing my hair."
"That was embarrassing?"
"For me yes it was."
"Did he have bad breath?" Harshad laughs.
"I don't remember," Maya giggles.
Right then the door bursts open and both Harshad and Maya shield their eyes while bursting out laughing.
"Rubina I could kill you!" Harshad says loudly.
"What did you want—sunglasses first?" Rinki rolls her eyes while standing there with one hand on her hip. "What are you doing here?"
"We got locked in—" Maya says as she stands up, brushing off her pants.
"And I'm sure you wouldn't know how?" Harshad adds while he stands up.
"Of course our Rinki would have NO idea about that," a female voice from downstairs floats up.
"Kiran! Is that you?" Harshad slips out of the closet and rushes downstairs and Maya watches from the banister as he tackles a girl with long brown hair flowing down her back.
"Who is she?" Maya leans on the banister and asks as Rinki stands and does the same.
"That's Kiran—the one he's hugging." Rinki points out as Harshad greets all the girls. "The one in shorter hair, with the capri's is Shabo; the one in the gorgeous anarkali suit is Aradhna, we also called her Radz and we've got another one of my friends coming but she's still outside with Sushant, her name's Ravjot." Rinki tells her.
"Uh huh...okay," Maya smiles as they both walk down the sisters.
"Girlies—this is my new friend Maya, she's also the new creative on Harshad bhai's show." Rinki tells them.
"Hi Maya," All three of the girls greet her.
"Hey," she smiles at all of them and then her eyes fall on Harshad whose arm is wrapped around Shabo's waist.
Right then Ravjot and Sushant walk in smiling together and Maya smiles at both of them still feeling a bit out of place.
"Ravs!" Rinki runs towards her and tackles her in another hug. "This is Maya,"
"Hi," Ravjot smiles and then backs away. "We just hugged at the airport."
"AND," Radz goes to Harshad and shoves his shoulder slightly. "Tum kyun nahi aaye?"
Harshad holds his ears. "Maya trapped me in the closet,"
Maya's eyes immediately fly up and she furiously shakes her head. "I didn't do anything—we just got locked in somehow,"
"I'm sure," Kiran laughs. "We'd all love to get locked with this idiot."
"He's always so much fun to talk to," Shabo agrees, smiling shyly at Maya giving her the impression that there was more to Shabo than met the eye.
"You guys should rest up before the mehndi tonight," Rinki tells them. "One of you can share with Maya and the other would me and then the other guest room for the other two of you,"
"Thanks Rinki, we'll see you soon," Shabo grins as the four of them trudge up the stairs with Sushant and Harshad taking their bags up.
Rinki goes to Maya while she stands there looking after everyone going up the stairs. "What's up?"
"Nothing—" Maya shrugs. "Your friends seem really sweet."
"They are...once you get to know them." Rinki laughs. "Oh everything ready for the mehndi?"
Maya nods and then shuts her eyes. "I forgot to get the mehndi powder. Lemme go get it." Rinki smiles as Maya goes up the stairs and into the closet again.
"Where is it?" Maya mutters to herself.
"Looking for the mehndi powder again?" Harshad walks past the closet and backs up seeing her reaching up to one of the shelves.
Maya nods. "I totally forget when her friends came,"
"Let me help," Harshad smiles as he comes into the closet and reaches up and holds Maya's hands as he guides her towards the mehndi boxes.
Maya couldn't help but blush under his stare and when he finally let go—she couldn't help but feel the loss from him. "Thanks," She whispers to him.
She gets a smile in response as he turns around and walks away. She didn't know what to think anymore. She knew how Harshad was with her—but then today—when she saw him with Rinki's friends, it was different.
How was that? 😛 I'm sorry but until I get my dear Rinkz and Sushant married it's going to be very much in India just so I can get all these wedding festivities in, but that doesn't mean RR won't be in the updates, their story is just starting to progress past the 'young love' stage.😛 Stay tuned! 😃
Love you loads,
Meera😳
A few hours later Maya was getting herself ready for the mehndi function but was having difficulty putting on her outfit. The criss cross in the back had to be done up but the girl she was sharing with, Aradhna also known as Radz was nowhere to be found. "Anyone outside? I need some help..."
The door creaked open as she saw Harshad's face pop through. "You needed help?"
She whirled around immediately trying not to let him see what she needed help with. "Uh no. Tum jao—can you send one of the girls please?"
"Maya—you just need to be tied up and besides I'm here. Let me help," he stepped into the room and Maya wasn't sure if she should let him tie it all up with all these mixed feelings she was having but then when he put his hands on her shoulders turning her around to face the mirror; she realized she'd have to let him do it. She shivered slightly as his hands traveled towards her lower back grazing the edge of her skin as he found the two strings that he pulled tightly and made it into a small bow.
"Thanks," She whispered.
"Anytime," he whispered back, giving her a smile before walking away again.
She was tired—tired of feeling this way anymore. She wasn't sure if she should actually let her feelings out, but there was a part of her that was still scared and she was getting annoyed with herself. She decided to just forget about all her inhibitions and let herself enjoy this whole wedding ordeal for Rinkz.
She made her way downstairs and saw all the girls sitting by Rinki while Harshad was standing by himself in a corner wearing a burgundy colored sherwani that 'somehow' matched perfectly with her outfit. She shakes her head and walks over to him. "How did you know the exact shade of what I was gonna wear?"
He shrugs. "Mujhe kahan pata tha," He nodded to Rinki. "She handed this to me this morning,"
Maya narrows her eyes at him and then smiles. "Whatever—it's fine." She smiles brightly at him before going to sit near Rinki.
"Ab isse kya hogaya?" He mutters to himself. "I liked having her all nervous around me."
"Who was nervous around you?" Sushant leans near Harshad and asks.
Harshad nods towards Maya. "Maya—she's been acting all nervous for some reason,"'
"Uh huh." Sushant smiles knowingly before running a hand through his perfect hair.
"Waise—what were you and Ravs smiling about when you came in?" Harshad asks.
"Woh mujhe bhi jaan na hain," Rinki smiles as she comes over and leans on Harshad's other side.
"Mehndi dikhao," Sushant asks her, holding out his hands before she hides them behind her back.
"First tell us,"
Sushant sighs. "Ravs is going to kill me."
"Pehle bolo bhi," Harshad prods.
"She was just telling me about her fiance, Yug."
"Fiance?" Rinki shrieks. "She never told me anything!"
As if on cue the doorbell rings and Ravs rushes to open it as if she knew who was on the other side. When the door opened everyone turned to see a guy a little taller than her walk in with floppy hair that covered his forehead. His smile looked baby-like and his eyes were softer than most.
"Everyone, this is Yug." Ravjot announces. "My fiance,"
Yug raises his hand and greets everyone, while both the guys go up to him and get acquainted; Rinki however takes Ravjot to the side and glares at her.
"What?" Ravjot asks.
"You've come to MY wedding? And you tell me all this now??" She asks.
"Sorry?" Ravjot smiles and shrugs.
Rinki tries looking angry for a few more minutes before bursting out laughing while hugging her. "Okay let's get this mehndi going,"
Ravjot smiles and follows Rinki back into the main living room.
"What's this Rinki?" Kiran whines. "Your mehndi party is kinda boring."
Rinki gave her a look which shut her up quickly.
"But she's right you know," Aradhna adds. "We need to liven it up," She glances at Ravjot who nods before smiling at Harshad who hit the play button on the stereo.
Hathon mein in hathon mein
Likh ke mehndi se sajna ka naam
Likh ke mehndi se sajna ka naam
Ravjot quickly grabs Radz and they both start swaying to the music holding up their hands showing off their mehndi while Rinki sits on her little stool, waiting for her mehndi to dry.
Hathon mein in hathon mein
Jise parti hoon main shubhosham
Jise parti hoon main shubhosham
Rinki looks down at her mehndi and as she looks up she sees Sushant staring at her and blushes right as he winks at her and smiles. Unfortunately though Radz caught this and pulled Sushant and both she and Ravs danced around him teasing him the entire time while Rinki sat there laughing.
Hathon mein in hathon mein
Likh ke mehndi se sajna ka naam
Likh ke mehndi se sajna ka naam
Ravs kneels down near Rinki and nods in Sushant's direction who crosses his arms and stares at his blushing bride who shakes her head and runs behind her brother.
Yaad mujhe jab... unki aaye
Haye re haye.... bada sataye
Harshad slowly moves away from his sister and goes to dance with Radz who shakes her shoulders with him.
Yaad mujhe jab... unki aaye
Haye re haye.... bada sataye
Maya stood in the side of the hall silently getting her mehndi put on by the artist since she took too long to get ready and so all the other girls got their mehndi done earlier.
Dekhu surat main unki shubosham
Dekhu surat main unki subhosham
Her eyes darted up as she saw Harshad spin with Radz and both of them laughing as they tried to mesh with the music.
Hathon mein in hathon mein
Likh ke mehndi se sajna ka naam
Likh ke mehndi se sajna ka naam
She saw as Harshad took Radz mehdni filled hands and place them in front of her face before dipping her to the ground.
Ab uske bin...laage na mann
Woh jogi hain...main hoon jogan
Finally she notices him walking towards her and the nervousness comes back before she notices him walking past her towards Rinki.
"I want to talk to you," she hears him say as he takes her into the kitchen.
Ab uske bin...laage na mann
Woh jogi hain...main hoon jogan
Maya slowly follows them to the kitchen since everyone else was too preoccupied and peeks around the corner and sees Harshad shake his head at Rinki and Sushant who had entered from the side.
"Be good," he pats Rinki's cheek before exiting the kitchen and catching Maya's eye before she darted behind the wall again.
Sapne dekhu sajan ke shubosham
Sapne dekhu sajan ke shubosham
"So?" he leans against her.
"You're a good brother," she smiles at him.
He opens his mouth to say more when Shabo drags him back to dance with them while Maya just stands there observing with a smile still on her face.
Hathon mein in hathon mein
Likh ke mehndi se sajna ka naam
Likh ke mehndi se sajna ka naam
"You're being unusually shy today," Sushant put his finger under her chin to make her look into his eyes.
Rinki shrugs. "I think I'm getting nervous. FINALLY."
"Over our wedding?" He asks.
She nods as his arms enclose around her back. "We'll be together forever right?"
"As long as our love stands strong."
Those were the words she always wanted to hear from him. The re-assurance she felt worked better than any amount of chocolate for her. (Yes chocolates came a close second)
Rinki sighs as Sushant slowly moves all her curls from her shoulder to behind her as he leans down and presses his lips against hers and she finds it almost torturing to pull herself away from this person who always made her feel alive.
Hathon mein in hathon mein
Jise parti hoon main shubhosham
Jise parti hoon main shubhosham
"Dulhan ji kahan gayi?" Ravs asks as the song finishes.
"Woh—she's a little busy right now," Maya gestures towards the kitchen.
Ravjot nods and walks back to her friends when Yug's hand comes out of nowhere and pulls her into the spare room.
"Yug! Kya kar rahe ho?" She shrugs out of his grip.
"Ravz—we're engaged. We should spend some time together na?"
"Baad mein. They'll be looking for me now." She keeps glancing towards the door when Yug grabs both of her wrists and holds them in front of him.
"Ssh!" his face was mere inches away from hers as he saw her cheeks heat up.
His face inched closer and closer when Aradhna stampeded through the door. She gasps as she sees Yug and Ravs in such close proximity. "Oh gosh! I'm so sorry!" She covers her eyes and rushes away.
"Great," Ravjot sighs. "How much you want to bet she'll be telling the rest of the girls about this?"
"A kiss," Yug replies in a cheeky tone.
"What?" Ravjot shakes her head.
"If she IS telling them—then I can give you a kiss, if she's not, you can give me a kiss?"
"Tum pagal ho," She smiles as she tries pushing him away.
"I know."
Yeh mehndi yeh mehndi mehndi shagna di
Yeh mehndi yeh mehndi mehndi shagna di
Shabo's turns her back to the girls as she swings her hip in beat with the music matched on the other side by Kiran.
Mehndi lagaongi main sajna ke naam ki
Kuch na khabar mujhe ab subhosham ki
Main sun rahi hoon yeh kaisi sadaye
Sapno ka sajan mujhko bulaye
Right then Maya leads Rinki out of the kitchen and Shabo and Kiran both rush to get her to dance.
Mehndi lagaongi main sajna ke naam ki
Kuch na khabar mujhe ab subhosham ki
They both twirl in circles around a blushing Rinki while Sushant and Harshad leaned against the wall watching them. Shabo and Kiran both rushed to both the guys and pulled them in leaving Sushant in the middle with Rinki and Harshad dancing with the both of them.
Baatein banaye chahe koi samjaye
Par dil chahat batlaye
Hoga sajan tera lakhon mein
Ankhiyaan teri muskaiye
Chahe jo bhi ho
Shabo turns while she's dancing and notices Maya standing there looking forlorn and so she went to her and despite her resistance she pulled her into the dancing group.
"Parva nahin hain mujhe kisi ilzaam ki....mehndi lagaongi main sajna ke naam ki, kuch na khabar mujhe ab subhosham ki" Rinki sang as she danced around with her friends, doing synchronized moves they promised they'd do with this song way back when.
Shabo quickly held up Rinki's accessorized hand. "Sone ka kangna sone ka jhumka, taro wali bindiya taro ghungta,"
Rinki shakes her head and turns the other way, going smack into Sushant's chest and his arms wound around her to keep her from falling.
All the girls immediately started giggling and blushing at the fact that dulha and dulhan were so in love with each other.
"Parva nahin hain mujhe kisi anjaam ki..Mehndi lagaongi main sajna ke naam ki...Kuch na khabar mujhe ab subhosham ki...Main sun rahi hoon yeh kaisi sadaye...Sapno ka sajan mujhko bulaye.." Kiran giggles as she nudges Rinki about how she was feeling. Rinki just blushes and still sees Maya looking a bit forlorn or maybe homesick and so she nudges her and makes her sing the last line of the song.
"Mehndi lagaongi main sajna ke naam ki...Kuch na khabar mujhe ab subhosham ki..." saying the last line she spins around and nearly falls to the floor, completely dizzy but is held up by a hand and when the room stops spinning her eyes flutter open and she sees a dazzling smile and a wink as she gets pulled up.
"Agar main na hote—to tum to gir hi jaati," Alekh brushes off his hands.
"Haan haan, you're my saviour na?" Maya rolls her eyes as she hugs him. "I've missed you."
"Me? You're the one who moved in here!" Alekh laughs. "Not that I'd blame you," he glances at all the festivities.
"Qaidi!" Harshad goes and hugs his friend. "Glad you could come,"
From the corner of her eye Maya could swear she saw Aradhna turn a dark shade of red and laughed realizing how she felt the first time she had seen Alekh the morning she had gone to shout at him.
"I'm Alekh," he walks towards the other three girls and put out his hand to Radz.
"Aradhna," She smiles as he shakes her hand.
Radzie!! You got a scene with Alekh...you'll get more though! 😛😃 Tell me how it was! 😳
Love you loads,
Meera & Rushvi
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Anupamaa
