The wedding celebrations beat their maximum as music of dhols was vigorously played. Hundreds of guests came and danced to the notes of the shenai.
Back inside the hall, dressed in their best salwars, Soni and Mahi were watching everything from the balcony. Mahi, especially felt particularly concerned: she had to make sure everything was going well and her eyes were intently watching all the rituals.
' Kitni sundar lag rahi dulhan...' Soni said dreamily, ' Maine to fasla kar diya hai! Apne shaadi ka jhoda mein India ke sabse bare designer se karva lungi! Aur music ek aache se orchestra ke saat... aur decorations to main-'
' Tumhe nahin lagta kuch missing hai tumare ine bade plan mein? ' Mahi asked.
' Kya ?'
' Ek insaan to missing hai'
' Kaaauuunnn?? Bauji hain, Tum ho, Mama hai - '
' Dulha! Waise bhi shaadi ke liye do insaan ki zaroorat hoti hai! ' Mahi grinned sheepishly.
' Mahi! Woh tum mil hi jaeyga.'
' Aur kya humare future Jijaji ke kuch armaan nahin hoge apne shaadi ke liye?'
' Usske kya armaan honge? Main to bholti hoon, uska ek hi kaam hai: shaadi mein aane ka!' And with this the two sisters laughed and chatted without even realising that a black car had just arrived outside.
Shabd first came out of their car. He looked around amazed at the obvious joy everyone felt for the newly weds. His relations with his family were, on the other hand, very strained. His parents had never had time for him because of their business and the rest of his relatives were there only when they needed some money from him. If it were not for his best friend, Veer, he would have been left all alone in his empty world. So, coming to this wedding in this strange place with Veer was already quite a big deal for him. Today was the first time in a very long time that he wore a Kurta and it suited him to perfection. Veer, for his sake, was already enjoying himself for he was at ease in such celebrations. He immediately searched for his friend, Rohit, the dulha.
' Hey Rohit! Congrats, man! Ab to tum phas chuke ho! Isnse milo. Yeh hain mera dost, Shabd Sareen aur meri behan, Suhani,' he said pointing to a Suhani who was clearly wishing to flee from there.
' Thanks. Oh! The Shabd Sareen! Pleased to meet you! Hmm... Aap kuch pijiyey, main abhi aaya'
Veer looked around, impressed by the decorations when he suddenly caught a glance of Soni leaning against a balcony. She looks so beautiful! was the only thing he could think of. He kept staring at her until her own gaze met with his. She too was as mesmerised as Veer. He just couldn't stop himself from contemplating her until Soni, who was blushing profusely, looked shyly away.
' Shabd!' Veer motioned his friend to come, ' Shabd! I'm in love!'
' WHAT? HOW? WHEN? No wait... With whom?'
' With this most beautiful woman leaning against the balcony'
' Veer... Yeh tum kaise keh sakte ho ki tumhe isse pyaar ho gaya hai? You barely know her!'
' Isse se kya hota hai? Pyar to aise hi hota hai...' Veer retorted, his gaze still locked on Soni. He knew Shabd had not received the same loved Suhani and him had received from their parents. Such notions were naturally alien to him.
' Mein nahin manta. I don't believe in love at first si-'
Shabd never had the time to complete his sentence for by a series of unbelievable turn of events he saw a young woman run down the stairs, slip and fall straight into his arms.
He caught her right in time but the moment he looked at her he was stunned...Her cheeks had taken a rosy shade and her hair, loosened from her braid, fell all around her face. Her arms were around his and it seemed to him that it was just perfect. But it was not just that. Sure, she was beautiful, but her eyes, still registering her fall, were twinkling, as if conveying a thousand emotions to Shabd. It was first time that he had ever seen that. In Mumbai, there were hordes of girls who were running after him but none was as this petite woman. They remained like that for what felt like an endless moment until the worried voice of Soni shouted out, 'Mahi, tum theek ho?'
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