FF: ~Crashed~ This is my First: Preview of Chp 26 Pg 76 - Page 42

Chapter Seventeen

I was wringing my hands together and I was pacing back and forth and every minute or so I would look out the window to see if they were here yet but there was no sign.

Maa ji was busy praying while papa ji was busy on the phone talking to a client.

I was busy in the kitchen trying to prepare lunch for when Dhruv finally came back home from his trip.

I missed him and I always hated when he was gone beyond my vision, beyond where my hands could reach him and it took much convincing from Kunal for me to say back.

At the mention of Kunal I slightly blushed recalling what happened yesterday on Saturday.

We didn't leave until around the afternoon and even then that was due to maa ji banging on the bedroom door.

I blushed and I continued on to what I was cooking but I kept on trying to look outside the window and fell back into disappointment when I didn't see his car.

I sighed and continued to add in the sooji and tried to stir it in while continuously looking at the window.

I was trying to prepare halwa for Dhruv, his favorite, especially since its been a while since I could cook for him.

I smiled and I concentrated on my cooking until I heard a horn and I looked at the window and saw Kunal's car slowly pull up from the driveway.

I smiled and I dropped the spoon in the pan...but it was almost ready and it would get burnt.

But I saw that maa ji finished praying and was heading towards the door along with papa ji.

"Ramdeen!" I shouted.

The honking from the car stopped and I looked at the window and saw Kunal come out the car and heading towards the backseats.

"Ramdeen!" I called out again.

Finally he came running into the kitchen out of breath.

"Yes ma'am?"he said.

"Please finish this for me..." I said while pointing to the pan.

"Yes ma'am." He said.

I smiled and nodded and made my way to the foyer to see Kunal holding Dhruv in his hands while maa ji was busy trying to bless Dhruv for coming back home safely.

I smiled at seeing how maa ji was smiling at Dhruv and I felt my heart soften at the scene as Kunal handed Dhruv to papa ji who was kissing his forehead and chatting with him until Dhruv made eye contact with me and he tried to wiggle out of papa ji's grasp.

Papa ji laughed and placed him on the floor.

"It seems as if he is inheriting more than one trait from you than not." Papa ji said turning to Kunal.

"Huh?" Kunal said with a bemused expression.

"It didn't have to be a day or two that you had to spend away from your mother but you would always come back home, running to hug and stay with your mom." Papa ji said while laughing.

"That's not true!" Kunal said.

"It's very much so." Papa ji said while grinning

I ignored them as I gripped Dhruv into my arms and he wrapped his arms around my neck and I wrapped my hands around his back, squeezing him tight, never wanting to let go.

"Mama." Dhruv said excitedly as he hugged me back just as much.

I felt a tear slip down and I never knew that I was holding in.

"Mama...mama I can't breathe." Dhruv said.

I stopped and pulled him away.

"I'm sorry Dhruv." I said apologetically.

Dhruv smiled and leaned up and kissed my cheek and drew away with a smile.

"Its okay mama..." he said but paused as he lifted his hands to my cheek.

"Why are you crying mama?" Dhruv asked in confusion.

I smiled at him and kissed his forehead.

"Because I missed you...every mother misses their child when they are not around them and the same goes for me missing you." I said softly.

Dhruv smiled and wrapped his hands around me.

"Then I won't go anywhere again so you won't cry." Dhruv said passionately and with conviction.

I laughed in my head at how similar he was becoming like his father.

I looked at Kunal who was squeezing maa ji's cheek and she swatted him on the arm and I smiled as papa ji scolded him for such.

I smiled even more.

"But you are lying." I said teasingly.

Dhruv pulled away shaking his head and with worry.

"I'm not lying mama." He said innocently.

"Really? But you said you are not going anywhere but you have to go to school and then I hear you are going to eat ice cream with dadi and dada ji...without me." I said sulkingly.

"But mama..." Dhruv said in confusion and then his eyes lit up.

"I don't have to go to school...I can stay at home and learn and next time when we go shopping we can buy ice creams so everyone can eat it together so no one will be left out." Dhruv said smiling.

I looked at him in awe.

I ruffled my hand through his hair and kissed his cheek.

"You are learning too much from your father. Never mind as there is no way as you are not going to stay home for school and no ice creams as to what happened last time. You ate so many that you had such a severe stomachache." I scolded.

Dhruv pouted.

I laughed and smiled and kissed him on forehead.

"Cheer up...I made your favorite." I said winking at him.

At that his pout disappeared and his grin reappeared along with the same gap that was smacked in the middle of his mouth.

*************

(Three days later...)

I stared at her...well at the ridiculous large bear that she had glued to her side.

I was busy having lunch by myself until she popped out of nowhere and decided to sit herself in the opposite empty seat in front of me.

Luckily it was shielded from the rest of the others in the restaurant so I didn't have to be looked at like a nutcase while talking to myself.

I wanted to ask something anything to dispel the tension...but it felt awkward after our last blow up or argument or rather disagreement.

I've been tense more so after Kunal left on his trip and I felt like I cried a river of tears at him departing.

It was embarrassing as everyone was staring at us at the airport even to the point where a police officer believed that Kunal was harassing me.

"He's fine." She said.

I looked up at Jin who had her hands wrapped around the bear and was in another ridiculous outfit but she left her hair alone with the ribbons and bows.

"I'm...I'm sorry Shraddha." She said slowly and still never leaving eye contact with her bear that she was holding on to with a death grip.

I looked at her and she still was playing with her bear but her body was tense.

I sighed and smiled.

"I'm sorry as well Jin. I didn't know...I didn't know..." I tried.

She released her hands around the bear and turned to me and smiled.

"You didn't comment about my bear?" she said.

I looked at her bear and smiled and turned back to her.

"It's really cute...so who gave it to you?" I said playing along with her this time around.

"Someone who likes...or rather loves me." She said while swinging her feet in the chair.

I scrunched up my eyebrow at that.

Well she did said there were others...

But is it human or...

"Really referring to him as an it is really offensive you know." She said while pouting.

"Sorry...but you never said you liked him so why are you defending him?" I said trying to tease and distract her.

She blushed and turned away.

"I never said I didn't like him." She said.

I stared at her and she blushed even more.

"Ehhh...soo..."

"Stop it! Don't say anything further as I won't answer. I will deny and deny over and over again...look at me...lalalalalalalalalaa!" she said putting her hands on her ears and shaking it as if the rest of the world didn't exist.

At that I smiled and I sipped on my tea as she continued until she finally quieted down.

"I believe you." She said.

I put my tea cup down and I stared at her in confusion.

"Believe what?" I said confused.

"I believe in what you are saying. You might not have proof but I trust you...and...and...I should practice what I preach so..." She said with a deep sigh.

"I trust you." She said looking at me.

The conversation completely turned into something altogether than what I had originally had in mind and I was confused as to how the conversation could change so drastically and so quickly.

But the conversation Kunal and I had over a few days ago came in mind and I stared at her as I thought back.

A smile spreaded over my face and I knew I had my answer.

"So when does this woman makes her next move?" I enquired taking a sip of my tea that wasn't really hot anymore but I felt like keeping my hands occupied with something.

She tugged on her bear and pinched its nose while she answered.

"Another three months or maybe in another 11 weeks, three days, 7 hours, 35 minutes, 47 seconds from now." She said.

I stared at her.

"I wasn't meaning in actual literal details." I said.

"You asked how long and I wasn't sure if you wanted any retrospect of time within the last days, weeks, hours, minutes, or seconds so I gave the best of all worlds." She said with amusement although she never turned away from her bear.

"When will she appear again?" I said this time more seriously.

The time for games were nice but I wanted to make this conversation productive.

No matter how much I was enjoying my time I had to be serious.

I didn't know what she was seeking but I had to be on my A game when she comes back.

Distractions and misconceptions and understanding before was what got me in this mess.

"I'm glad you are at least understanding how serious this is." Jin said removing her hands from her bear once again and turning around to stare me squarely in the face.

"To answer your question, you know more so than I do on that." She said.

I scrunched up my eyebrow.

"How would I possibly know?" I said confused.

"Things haven't changed. She isn't aware that you know so she is following the same scheme as she did before. So what happened around the time of May?" Jin questioned.

I wrinkled my forehead as I tried to think but around that time I really cut off distance with Kunal.

We were barely talking unless it was dealing with Dhruv or in front of maa and papa ji for appearances.

He was barely home at the time and that is why when he came back home one evening with a lipstick stain on his shirt and smelling like perfume...I assumed...I thought.

I stared back at Jin.

"I don't know." I said truthfully.

She sighed.

"I had a feeling that would be the case. Then how about this...Kunal's schedule. What do you know?" she said.

Or rather...I should say...what do you remember about his schedule?" she said.

I thought deeply and then something struck my mind.

"There was a party around the beginning of May if I'm not mistaken. He said it was just a party for his clients and he wanted me to come along but of course I said no." I said snapping my fingers.

"Was the woman, Yoona, in question at the party." Jin said.

I scrunched up my eyebrow.

"I don't know I never went." I said confused.

"So when did you see her...I mean before this time...last time...I mean in the regular scheme of things?" Jin said.

At that I answered quickly.

"It was around August. Supposedly it was her birthday at the time and she invited everyone and Kunal kept on insisting as it would appear rude especially to his copartner." I said.

"Co partner?" Jin said.

"Yeah at the time they had enough dealings I guess that they became partners. But I never really noticed as I was just not interested." I said drumming my hands on the table.

"August is way too late. May will have to be the time. Even though I'm worried on how late it is...but it will have to work." Jin said.

I nodded.

"If it's her you cannot act strange around her. If she knows that you are suspicious or skeptical. She might do something else. For the love of everything do not slip. If she is the one...she will catch on quickly and she will do something else that even I won't know about." Jin warned.

I nodded.

She didn't have to tell me that.

After seeing the petrified woman trying to sneak in a simple bracelet, to see her being threatened and weaseled in by some random guy...

This Yoona was serious in whatever she wanted.

Plus the guy that was with her...always with her...

"Hey Jin...did this woman in question who ever caused the accident, did she have an accomplice with her? I mean was there ever a man that was with her?" I asked quickly.

Jin scrunched up her eyebrow.

"A man?" she said confused.

"Awww...I see what you mean..." She said just as quickly realizing she searched through my thoughts to answer her question.

She pressed her lips and her eyes turned a freaky blue once again and I wanted to groan at the timing but luckily she didn't disappear and the color changed back to her regular brown hues.

"I don't recall...but I know the woman in question had many hands with her." She said.

Why was she so complex?

But I did get the underlying meaning that she was saying.

"Many hands?" I said still curious in her response however.

"If you are someone who has power and control...you never get your hands dirty. You always have many hands to help you." Jin said simply yet metaphorically.

I got what she meant even if she didn't answer.

"So what should I do next?" I said smiling at her completely projecting nonsense so she wouldn't read what I was thinking.

That caught her by surprise and I could tell she was trying to search my mind as to my sudden change but she scrunched up her face in annoyance when she didn't get what she was hoping for.

"Wait. But be alert to anything with this woman you think is the person. I won't say anything but one slip up will cost you Shraddha." She said.

I nodded more seriously.

"There is nothing for me from where I came from. I don't care how far I will go or have to go but I will not repeat my mistake. This I promise you." I said with confidence that was pumping my determination and will power.

Jin stared at me and finally a soft smile broke across her face and this time for once I could see her older beyond the body she was in.

"Despite the confusion I might cause...I promise that I will not let you go back to that." She said softly.

I smiled and then I went back to trying to sip some of my tea but realized I finished it all.

I tried to signal a passing waiter but it seemed as if it was either another rush as there were bundles of people and less waiters that could be seen around.

I sighed.

"Hey...what is that?" Jin said.

I looked at her confused and looked behind my shoulder and saw nothing.

"What is what?" I said confused.

She huffed and let out a huge breath of air like she was trying to push out fire from her mouth like a dragon.

"I meant what is that around your neck." She said curiously.

At that I grabbed the necklace that Kunal gifted me for Valentine's Day and I blushed.

"It was a present that my husband bought for me for Valentine's Day." I said while stroking the heart-shaped locket that was attached to the chain.

She stared at it intently and I looked at her confused.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

She came out of her zone and looked at me with a smile reappearing on her face.

"Oh nothing it reminded me of something I've seen before but its look beautiful." She said smiling.

At that I smiled and then recalled what happened around the night and I blushed despite everything.

A waitress came around and I asked for another refill on my tea and she nodded.

She finished and walked away and I continued on with my conversation with Jin Yeon.

"Seen it before?" I said confused.

She realized she caught herself off guarded and she froze while she was squeezing the bear's fur.

"I meant it reminded me of something I saw before. It's not the same thing and for that I'm sorry for the confusion." She said.

I stared at her and sighed.

It was really just easier to let it go but my curiosity got the best of me.

"Of what?" I said.

She stared at me in panic and worry and then she sighed.

"It was of a necklace I saw when I had to do...when I had to do one of these things...what I did when I found you to be specific. The person was holding onto a necklace he was suppose to give to his love one but he never got the chance...so it reminded me of that." She said softly, sadly.

At that I paused and I felt guilt and sadness at that for some odd reason but maybe it was akin to empathy could describe the feeling that I was getting.

"What happened to that person?" I asked curiously.

She stared at me and blinked in confusion and then she smiled.

"I can't tell you about stuff like that...but let's say it found its way towards their partner...eventually it did." She said while staring at the necklace around my neck with a faint smile on her lips.

I smiled in relief at least that he saved her/him or whatever so I took the handle of my cup in my hands and lifted the cup on upwards to take a sip of the tea that was now just lukewarm.

*******************

(A month later...sometime around March)

Everyone was busy running about trying to prepare the house for the celebrations for the Holi festival.

She was stressing on how much last year when bua ji and fufa ji came to visit for the celebrations everything felt so cheap and ridiculed down to the last scent.

I couldn't lie as after a while fufa ji decided it might be a smart idea to start charging people for eating and drinking the food and drinks and I thought my dad was going to pop a blood vessel.

I laughed and noticed the drummers and other musicians was making their way through the front of the house to slowly begin to set up in the backyard where more preparations still had to be made.

I was clutching the phone close to my ear as I was trying to finish my batch of sweets that I made as I was trying to figure out when the caterers will come before the celebrations began.

While I was on the phone I saw maa ji in the foyer and living room area freaking out at the servants and workers.

"This is unbelievable...there is at least one good hour...one hour before everyone comes...this place still isn't fully decorated...Ramdeen!" she called in her frustration.

The poor servant came rushing towards her and I felt bad as she went off on him.

I sighed but the batch of sweets I was cooking was done so I slowly placed it on the platter of the earlier sweets I made.

I smiled at my handiwork and I poured oil slowly into the pan, lowered the temperature, and continued to make another batch.

I heard laughter and small childish voices and I looked up and saw Kunal carrying Dhruv as they came from the living room to the foyer area, closer to the kitchen.

I smiled as I saw Kunal laughing to whatever Dhruv was trying to describe to him; Dhruv with his hands in mid-air and Kunal with a bemused expression yet humor in his eyes.

I didn't pay attention to what I was doing, despite hearing the crackling of the oil as it smacked and licked against the batter I put into the pan.

My eyes were concentrated on Kunal and especially what he was wearing.

If it was another woman, they would have just concentrated on just the way his outfit, his kurta molded perfectly against his chest, how that five o'clock shadow made him look dark, dangerous, how that glint and mischief disguised behind his gaze made him see carefree and approachable.

Nope .

That wasn't what pulled me in.

It was always on how he and Dhruv were able to bond.

How it seemed as if they were long lost friends than father and son.

Something about the way he centered his attention on Dhruv even when he might be saying something that most might be considered childish or foolish, nope Kunal concentrated and questioned.

His attention was paid solely on Dhruv and he encouraged him onward with whatever he was saying.

For that always drew me and even though it was two years and a half since we have been married, it's still was something that I was grateful for, always cherished, always...

"Mama its burning." Dhruv said alarmed.

I was rocked out of my thoughts when I looked down and noticed that it was starting to sizzle and turn from golden brown into a darker black coloration.

I cursed under my breath.

I lowered the temperature and used a spoon to toss the spoiled batch into the trash.

"Look like someone was distracted." Kunal said with intrigue and heat in his gaze while wearing a grin.

I smiled and instead of continuing with what I was doing I stopped.

What I have will suffice.

If not there will be other food and sweets to eat so it would hardly matter.

With that I shrugged and walked around the kitchen's island and called out for one of the servants who came into the kitchen.

"Can you please put this with the other sweets once the caterer comes?" I said.

"Yes ma'am." I smiled and I turned back to Kunal and Dhruv.

"Of course I was distracted." I said.

Kunal smiled even more and before he could release a self-satisfied wise crack I turned my attention to Dhruv.

He was adorable as his hair was framed around his eyes, to the point where it almost covered the upper most of his eyelids but his brown eyes that matched mines was just staring at me with confusion and I couldn't help but kiss him on his forehead.

He was wearing a matching pair of white kurta pajamas like Kunal and I would remark on how handsome both looked but it would feed even more into Kunal's ego and I wouldn't have known of that.

"I was distracted by Dhruv here. You see how cute my son looks...he looks just like me." I said while trying to scoop him out of Kunal's grasp.

But Kunal wouldn't let go as he was offended.

"Excuse me...MY son looks just like me...can't you see the resemblance. Of course he is going to take after his father's great and spectacular looks." Kunal said while bringing Dhruv closer to him and turning him around until both of their cheeks were pressed against one another and both were staring at me.

Dhruv laughed and nodded along with Kunal.

I smiled and I couldn't help but laugh at how adorable and ridiculous he was being.

But I didn't want to say anything to deny Kunal being Dhruv's father.

He was his father in every sense of the word and surpassed relations linked by blood such as Dhruv's real father.

"I see the resemblance." I said while giving in and kissed Dhruv's forehead and then Kunal's going on my tip toes to do so, slightly brushing my chest against his arm that was around Dhruv's frame.

He sucked in his breath and I smiled as I drew away.

"I'm sorry guys but I need to change before the guests arrive and before your mother has my neck for being messy like this." I said while rubbing off some of the batter and mess that splashed on my arm and neck.

Kunal wanted to say something but I turned on my heels as I left the kitchen, smiling slowly as I could feel him blowing out a long deep breath.

*******************

Everyone was finally filling in and just hugging, kissing one another cheeks, and some were just giggling and laughing...tell tale signs that they got intoxicated before they came.

The music could be heard throughout the house, laughter mingled between children and adults as well, while people were walking around with trays upon trays of foods and drinks.

But that wasn't what I was looking for.

Where is she?

I waited for Shraddha to come down after she said she had to clean up but that was 47 minutes ago and things were picking up.

Dhruv was busy pumping up a water gun and firing it at one of his friends who tried to use a water balloon and throw at him but the water missed its mark and splashed reddish-pinkish color onto another boy's clothing.

I smiled as Dhruv grinned and aimed it at the boy who tossed the balloon who was soon running away.

"Kunal!" A voice said.

I turned around and saw Kittu with a smile as she was in the entrance way while Anand was busy holding on to Mithra who was giggling with a full head of her curls falling softly down her cheeks.

I looked back at Kittu and she was smiling and she appeared radiant and glowed as she was wearing a white saree that had a pink border; she was wearing silver and pink bangles, while her hair rested on her left shoulder in a thick plait as her bangs fell down on her side of her face in small ringlets.

I looked at Anand who had a soft smile on his face as he stared at Kittu with affection and love that I had to double check to see if my eyesight was failing.

Anand and love...well blatantly showing it wasn't something he was known in doing

I simply just shook my head and walked over halfway while Kittu bomb rushed me.

"Kittu." I said smiling and kissing her forehead.

"Happy Holi!" she said.

"Happy Holi." I said back to her and I wrapped my arms around her tightly.

"How is my crazy sis?" I said teasingly.

She pouted and smiled.

"She is fine but she wishes her bhaiyaa would visit her more often." She said while talking in third person

"Sorry Kittu...work has become hectic..." I tried to say.

"I was kidding. I know your attention is all used up for Shraddha and Dhruv but from time to time you can visit your sis and your niece. When was the last time you played with her? I'm afraid she might not even know who you are." Kittu said jokingly.

I pinched her cheeks and she fussed and placed her hands over mine to remove my hands.

"None of that please. Where is mom and dad?" she said while looking around.

"I think mom is in the back with the rest...dad could still be around here...somewhere..." I said looking around.

"That's fine I will find them..." She said and she kissed my cheek and walked inside with Anand who gave me a quick pat on the back and wished a happy Holi to me as well and I kissed Mithra on her forehead and cheek who squealed in delight before Anand carried her away in his wife's wake.

Next up was Ishaan who was holding his wife's hand as he walked her in.

I smiled but I saw the expression on his face and I my smile slowly dissolved.

He had his arm linked with his wife, Malika whose gait was obviously affected as she was waddling, almost like a duck, while she pressed her hand on her back as the obvious swell from her pregnancy was weighing heavily and impacting her spine.

I wasn't sure how far along she was but it seemed that she was about to be burst at any moment.

She was really pretty especially in the white churidar dress that she was in and it showed her belly without it seeming as if it was straining against the dress.

However, I studied Malika's expression and she wore a tight frown on her face and I arched my eyebrow in further confusion.

I was going to ask as to what was causing their discomfort it was answered as close behind them was Jaya and Ashish and if the tell-tale sign from the tight-lipped and stern expression on Malika's face and the usual entertainment and amusement in Jaya's eyes realized the two were engaged in another fight...which from Shraddha's end was a daily thing between the two.

I sighed and placed a smile on my face.

I didn't really know her as much as I would like but she seemed like a really nice and caring person.

The few conversations we had she seemed to be bluntly and brutally honest to a fault but not biting or malicious as compared to the counterpart that was next to her.

"Malika, Ishaan!" I said.

Malika's expression quickly kicked into a soft smile and brightened her green eyes almost to a weird mix of light blue and gray that softened her features.

Ishaan was still in his musings but he muttered a tight hello.

Something totally happened between the four...or should I just say the two.

But none of that today.

I wrapped Malika in my embrace to pull her into a hug and she quickly wrapped her arms around mine as soon as Ishaan released her hands.

"Happy Holi!" I said to her and to Ishaan as well but he was already walking off towards the back.

I stared at him and I turned back to Malika who had an apologetic expression.

Before I could say anything Jaya came bustling through.

"What is this Kunal. I see you wishing everyone but you can't do the same with me?" Jaya said.

Malika froze beside me and I tried to keep the smile I had intact from turning into a frown or a grimace.

"I was talking to Malika and I would have done the same for you as well. Happy Holi Jaya, Ashish." I said.

Ashish smiled and nodded and said the same but soon saw someone he recognized and walked away.

I groaned.

I was dealing with two feral women who could soon turn their claws on one another at any moment.

Hey I have dealt with mom for the past good 31 years of my life I should be able to deal with them.

"Anyway Malika how are you doing?" I asked trying to dispel the tense situation.

"Nothing as usual. If she was being productive she would have told Ishaan to stop..." Jaya started and I internally groaned.

But Malika cut her short as she interjected.

"I'm doing fine. Someone doesn't know how it feels to carry a living, breathing, and thriving being inside of them. You have to share, do, carry, and run for two in just one body. But Kunal I'm wrong as she does have a living and breathing thing...that nasty parasite that is now taking over her brain. She has kept it nourished all these years and look now...it must be starving as of late as it keeps trying to spread its toxins to everyone else." Malika said quickly, with a smile, and never skipped a glance at Jaya who was turning a bright red and eyeing her in anger.

I stared at her and she smiled right back, even brightly.

I cracked a smile.

Why I haven't gotten to know her better I didn't have the slightest clue but that was going to change henceforth.

Ishaan has done really well for himself when he selected his wife.

I wasn't sure if I recalled correctly but these two were a love marriage if I wasn't mistaken.

Jaya broke her silence and began to say something but was once again was cut off by Malika who really by most wouldn't seem as a threat due to her short stature and petite frame but she was a firecracker and something about her radiated determination, confidence, and fire.

She must be my lost twin.

Someone that mom and dad hid from Kittu and I.

Or rather dad has something he needs to tell me...

"You see I tell you it's taking over her brain. See how red she is...inflammation and swelling is how it always starts." Malika said with the same smile.

"This...you has the real gall especially for a husband that doesn't have a job!" Jaya said slightly raising her voice that wasn't load to create attention especially over the music that was beginning to play.

At that Malika lost her smile and cut her glance at Jaya who was smirking.

"You said the same in the car. And the time before that and the time before that as well. Why is your taunts now as of late relating towards my husband? Why won't you make your taunts about my height, my weight, my eyes, and the way I look? Why is it always reverting back to Ishaan? Is it because you have nothing? Has that parasite finally let your brain rest to realize your attacks are meaningless against me?" she said getting angrier.

Things were heading out of control and I had to step in to dispel the situation before it gets worse.

"Stop it Malika...and Jaya stop with the taunts. There is no need for arguments...you should..." I saw someone pass with a tray of filled with drinks and I carefully plucked one out of it.

I handed it to Jaya while I squeezed Malika's shoulders.

"Here just drink, dance, laugh, and enjoy. The only type of arguing and competition should be who puts which color on who...nothing else and nothing more." I said with a smile.

Jaya stared at the drink in her hand and was ready for a battle but Malika turned and dismissed her.

She smiled at me and nodded.

"You're right I'm sorry I should have behaved more accordingly...sorry about that." She said while tugging her ears with a puppy eye look.

Yes dad had some explaining to do.

I smiled and I kissed her forehead.

"It's okay..." I trailed on as I felt someone close to my shoulders and I looked at Ishaan who was staring at me with anger and possessiveness as he stared at Malika.

"Cool it big man...sheesh." Malika said while pressing onto Ishaan's stomach before he could open his mouth.

His features crossed from anger to heat and I looked away.

Malika smiled as she put her arm around Ishaan's waist and smiled back at me.

"See you later and I reserve the right to color you with green gulal." She said while winking her eyes that was of course green.

I laughed at that and walked away leaving Jaya who was halfway done in drowning down the rest of her drink.

********************