Part 8
Daksh was standing talking to guests. He wondered where Dhwani went after her dance with Mukhiji ended. He wanted to introduce her to everyone. It was just a business party but Daksh wanted everyone to know who Dhwani is. The love of his life. While he was trying to find Dhwani, he looked towards the bar and noticed a few of his friends sitting there. He called over to them and waved. They signalled for him to go over so he started making his way to the bar. Daksh greeted all his friends and thanked them for coming. As he did so he noticed one of his friends, Rudr, had a few bruises on his face. He asked what happened and that's when the others revealed that he flirted with a girl and her father beat him up ruthlessly. The rest of the men started laughing at Rudr's expense.
Daksh: That's what you get.
Rudr: It was just harmless flirting. My mistake was flirting in front of her father.
Daksh: Was she pretty? Was she worth the beating you got?
Rudr: She was hot!
Daksh: I bet you she wasn't as gorgeous as my fiancee. I'll introduce you to my Dhwani. Two seconds, let me find her.
Daksh noticed Dhwani walking into the hall and called her over.
Daksh: Dhwani meet my friends. This is Varun, Akshay, Aman and this one is my childhood friend Rudr.
Dhwani looked and was shocked to see the faces of the men who eve teased her a few nights ago. Rudr was the one who grabbed her wrist. The one that Mukhiji beat up.
Dhwani: These are your friends?
Daksh: Yes, we haven't seen each other in a while. Please ignore the bruises on Rudr's face. It's a matter of love.
Dhwani: Is that what you told Daksh?
Dhwani asked Rudr directly.
Daksh: What's wrong?
Dhwani: These friends of yours misbehaved with me the other night. I slapped your friend Rudr here because he held my wrist. Then Mukhiji beat him up.
Daksh: You tried to flirt with my Dhwani?
Rudr: I didn't know she was your fiance. I was just flirting with her.
Dhwani: He grabbed my hand to drag me away. It was not harmless flirting.
Rudr: Look Daksh, believe me, you've known me for a long time. Do I look like the type to eve tease? I'm sorry, I made a mistake but I didn't know she's my future Bhabhi.
Dhwani: Stop lying.
Rudr: Okay Bhabhi, I apologise to you. I didn't mean what I did the other night. I was drunk. Please forgive me.
Daksh: Okay Dhwani, he said he's sorry. Now let it be.
Dhwani: No! He tried to touch me and if it wasn't for Mukhiji, God knows what would have happened.
Daksh: Why was Mukhiji there?
Dhwani: I went and met him to apologise for what I said. He heard us talking in the office.
Daksh: So you can apologise to Mukhiji but you can't let things go for my friends. Plus you slapped him.
Dhwani: You're believing him over me?
Daksh: I just know Rudr would never do that. He's not that type. I think you misread the signals.
Rudr: Look I'm sorry Bhabhi. I didn't mean to cause a rift in your relationship. Can we just forget this and move on?
Rudr placed his hands in front of her to shake hands but Dhwani walked off angry, away from Daksh and his friends.
Daksh: I'm sorry Daksh.
Dhwani: Don't worry about her. I'll pacify her.
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Daksh watched helplessly as Dhwani walked away from him. He needed to pacify her but thought to let her calm down first. Speaking to her now, she was angry and the situation would just escalate further. For now, he excused himself from his friends and continued to converse with other people as the host.
On the other hand, Daksh' friend Rudr was making a plan against Dhwani. She had dared to slap him in front of everyone and got him beaten up. Now she was also ruining his friendship with Daksh, she was coming in between two friends. He wasn't going to let her get away with that. He would avenge his humiliation. Rudr noticed Dhwani walking around catering to everyone. He bribed a waiter to do as he asked and spiked a glassful of juice. The other friends tried to talk him out of it as she was Daksh' fiancee but at the moment, Rudr could not think of anything but revenge. Rudr watched as the waiter went to offer that drink to Dhwani but that old Mukhiji came in the way.
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Dhwani was furious after what happened with Daksh and his friends. How dare that Rudr try and pin the blame on her. Harmless flirting, my foot! She kept muttering to herself when Mukhiji appeared in front of her. The man she was trying to avoid, along with Daksh, had to come in front of her. How could she keep a distance if he was always around her? Vir could tell she was angry.
Vir: Are you okay?
Dhwani: No. You know those men that tried to misbehave with me the other night. Turns out they're Daksh' friends. Look, they're over there at the bar.
Vir looked around and noticed the men sitting, drinking at the bar. Seeing them reminded Vir of their actions from the other night. He started walking over but Dhwani stopped him by holding his arm.
Dhwani: Please don't. It'll create a scene and everyone will know what happened.
Vir: I don't care.
Dhwani: But I do. Plus I don't want Daksh' party ruined.
Vir: I still don't care. I hate men who treat women like a commodity, with no respect.
Dhwani: Okay, then please don't do it because I care what people think of you. They'll think you're some goon and that Daksh is doing business with a goon.
Hearing Bawri say that she cared about his reputation stopped Vir from reacting. He gave her a glass of drink from the waiter standing nearby and she started drinking it. She had drunk from the glass halfway when Chandni started calling her, so she excused herself and left the glass on the table in front of Mukhiji. Mukhiji picked up the glass and started drinking the juice that Bawri had left behind. There was nothing wrong in sharing his wife's drink.
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Dhwani was telling Chandni about the men who eve teased her and how they were Daksh' friends. How Daksh took his friend's side which made her even more angry. As she was ranting, suddenly she started getting a headache and feeling dizzy. Chandni made Dhwani sit on a chair.
Chandni: Are you okay?
Dhwani: I just feel a bit dizzy.
Chandni: Do you want me to take you home?
Dhwani: I'll be okay in a bit. I just need to sit down for a while.
Chandni: Okay, you stay here. I'll go get Daksh.
Dhwani: No! Don't get him. Leave him with his friends. Dhwani said bitterly.
Chandni: Look. I don't want to leave you here like this. I've got a room booked in the hotel in case I wanted to change or touch up my makeup. I don't like doing it in the bathroom. So I'll take you there to rest for a bit, until you feel better.
Dhwani: Thank you Di.
Chandni held Dhwani as they walked to the hotel room upstairs. Rudr was watching from across the room intently. His plan falling into action. As the women made their way out of the party, he started following them.
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Vir was sitting on a sofa enjoying the juice that was left over from Bawri. He was keeping a close watch on the men from the other night. Vir didn't want them anywhere near his Bawri. He didn't trust them even if they were Daksh' friends.
As he finished his drink, he noticed the man he beat up get up off his seat. The man walked out of the hall. Vir noticed Bawri was no longer in the room. Alarm bells started ringing in his head. What if this man attacked her again? He followed the man out of the party, slowly walking behind him. As he walked in the lobby, he noticed the man was following Chandni and Bawri. Chandni seemed to be holding Dhwani and walking. What is wrong with Bawri? Is she okay? Vir was concerned now. He watched as Chandni and Dhwani went into a room. After a few moments, Chandni walked out of the room.
So Bawri was in the room by herself and that creep of a man was going towards that room. Vir grabbed him before he could get to the door.
Vir: What are you doing here?
Rudr: Nothing.
Vir: Don't lie to me. Tell me, why are you stalking Dhwani?
Rudr: I wasn't.
Vir: I've been watching you. You've been following her, that's why you're here.
Rudr: No, you've got it wrong. I...
Before he could finish his sentence, Vir grabbed him by the throat and slowly started clasping it tighter until Rudr struggled to breathe. Vir warned him that if he was ever seen around Dhwani again or any other women, he would snap his neck. Even if it meant he went to prison. Rudr saw the anger in Vir's eyes and knew he wasn't joking. Vir slowly released his hands from his neck but kept a hold of his collar.
Vir: Do you understand? Next time it won't be just a few bruises. You were lucky Dhwani stopped me last time.
Rudr: I promise(stammering). I'll never misbehave with another girl again. Please, just let me go.
Vir let go of Rudr's collar and he proceeded to make a run for it.
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Downstairs party
Veer and Sudha were standing around awkwardly. They didn't discuss much other than their family and struggled to hold a conversation together. It had been 6 months since their marriage and Veer was still struggling to accept Sudha. He knew Priyasi was not the right girl for him and maybe he could have liked Sudha as more than a friend but she ruined all that when she deceived him by sitting at the mandap. He had a difficult time trusting her. They had become friends again but he didn't know if they could be more.
Veer: Would you like a drink?
Sudha: Yes please.
Veer walked over to the bar to get a glass of juice for Sudha. Whilst he was waiting, he noticed a man approaching Sudha. She smiled as she spoke to him. Veer started making the walk back to her and handed the juice to her.
Sudha: Thank you Veer. Meet Nishant, he's a good friend of Daksh and Dhwani.
Veer: Hello.
Sudha: Nishant, meet my husband Veer.
Nishant: Hello. I was just telling Sudha how crazy Daksh is for Dhwani.
Whilst the trio were conversing, Chandni came and interrupted them looking for Mukhiji.
Chandni: Have you seen my Chand anywhere?
Veer mouthed 'who's Chand?'
Nishant mouthed back 'Your father'.
Nishant: Di, meet Veer and Sudha. Mukhiji's son and daughter-in-law.
Chandni: What? He has a grown up son? Hello. Tell me, are you Mukhiji's only child?
Veer: No, I have two sisters and a little brother.
Chandni was stunned, she would have to become a step-mother to become Mukhi's wife.
Chandni: But my Chand is worth it. Anyone seen Mukhiji?
Veer: I last saw Baba walking out of the party.
Chandni: Don't tell me he's gone already?
Veer: No he won't go without telling us. He must have gone out for a bit of fresh air.
Chandni: Oh okay. I'll see if I can find him.
Sudha: So Nishant, tell me more about Pur... I mean Dhwani.
Nishant: I don't know much about Dhwani but I just know there's no one who can love and look after Dhwani better than Daksh.
Sudha and Veer both knew of someone better. Sudha thought to try and get more information regarding Dhwani from Nishant so she can help Mukhiji with getting Purvi's memory back. She asked Nishant for his phone number, not noticing that Veer was clearly unhappy and uncomfortable with her actions.
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Vir made his way to the room he knew Bawri to be in. He needed to make sure she was okay. So he knocked on the door. She didn't open the door so Vir knocked a few more times. Eventually he heard her ask who it was and he said it was him. It took a while but Bawri finally opened the door. When she did, Vir could tell she was struggling to stay on her feet. Vir straightaway went closer to her to hold her up and closed the door.
Vir: Are you okay?
Dhwani: I don't know. I've been feeling dizzy for a while so Chandni Di brought me here to rest for a while.
Vir sat Bawri down on the bed. His head was starting to spin as well. What's happening to me? Dhwani noticed Vir placing his hand on his head.
Dhwani: Is your head spinning too?
Vir: Yes but I don't know why.
Vir sat down on the bed next to his Bawri. Dhwani put her hands on his shoulder, trying to push him, to get him to leave.
Dhwani: You shouldn't be here.
Vir: Why not?
Dhwani: I need to stay away from you.
Vir: Why?
Dhwani: I can't tell you. It's a secret(whispering and giggling).
Vir: I won't tell anyone(whispering).
Dhwani: No, I can't tell anyone how I feel when I see you. Ooopppsss! I didn't mean that.
Vir: How do you feel?
Dhwani: No I can't say.
Dhwani placed her finger on her lips to stop herself saying more. Vir just laughed at her actions. She was adorable. The way she acted sometimes gave away her age. Most of the time she acted mature for her age, that he couldn’t tell that she was only 19 years old. Today he could tell.
Vir: Tell me. Trust me, I won’t tell anyone.
Dhwani: Okay.
Dhwani indicated for Vir to come closer to her so she could whisper in his ears.
Dhwani: When you come near me, my heart starts beating so fast, I feel like it might come out of my chest. When you touch me, like you did today, I get this tingly feeling where you touched me. That’s why I ran away to the bathroom after we danced. Why do you make me feel this way?
Vir: I didn’t do anything.
Dhwani: Liar! You’re a magician. You make me feel this way. So Mr Magician, please get rid of these feelings.
Vir had no response to what Bawri was saying. Inwardly he was happy, Bawri was telling him of her feelings. If only he was in his full senses to enjoy the moment more. Instead, he was having to deal with this headache and dizziness. Bawri continued babbling to him.
Dhwani: Do you know, you look so handsome today.
Vir: What?
Dhwani: You look so handsome. All the ladies in the party were drooling over you. I didn't like them doing that. I don't know why but I felt jealous.
Vir was not surprised to hear that. She had been jealous like this before, outside her college. When she had started loving him. He was happy but he couldn't even celebrate due to the headache.
Dhwani: I don't know what's happening. Every time you touch me, I get this tingly feeling. I see you everywhere I go. I really like you and I’m attracted to you but how can this be? You're old.
Vir: Who are you calling old?
Dhwani: You! (Giggling)
Dhwani got up and started singing 'Hum tum ek kamre mein band ho' and laughing whilst doing so. As she did, she started twirling around and nearly fell. Vir managed to catch her in time but both fell on the bed. Vir was now on top of Dhwani.
Dhwani felt breathless with Vir on top of her. She had a hand on his collar which she grabbed when she was about to fall. Vir had both his hands on both sides of Dhwani. Vir raised his hands close to Dhwani's face and brushed his hand across her face, then moved the stray hairs covering her face as he always did. Dhwani closed her eyes in reaction to his fingertips touching her face and moved her face as he touched her. Vir moved his face closer and his lips were right above Dhwani's lips. He looked up to see her reaction, if she would allow him to kiss her. That's when he noticed that Dhwani had fallen asleep. Soon enough his vision was getting blurry, he could barely see her and before he knew it, he fell unconscious right above her.
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Downstairs party
Daksh needed to speak to Dhwani. He needed to pacify her. He trusted his friend Rudr but he also knew Dhwani never lied and Dhwani was the woman he was going to spend the rest of his life with. He needed to apologise but he couldn't find her at the party. That's when he found his sister and asked her if she had seen Dhwani. She explained that Dhwani wasn't feeling well so she took her to the room she booked upstairs. Chandni went and got a spare key from the hotel reception and handed it to Daksh.
Daksh made his way up to the room Dhwani was in. He needed to check on her. What made her feel unwell? I hope she's alright. As he was standing right in front of the room door, he placed the key into the door top open but then realised Dhwani may be changing so he knocked on the door first.
Daksh: Dhwani? Dhwani can you hear me, It's Daksh. I'm just here to check if you're okay? Can I come in?
When Daksh kept knocking but heard no response, he got a bit worried so he turned the key on the door and slowly entered the room. The sight that befell his eyes knocked him backwards.
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