ArYa FF: Dil Jaanta Hai - Thread 1 (chapt 1-10) - Page 9

As soon as Vidhi told her parents about Arti's marriage, they insisted on calling the Dubeys. They had been so worried when Arti suddenly disappeared a few days ago. Her mother suspected Vidhi knew all about it but Vidhi wasn't going to tell them anything – not till she heard back from Arti.

"Mrs. Dubey? Namashkar. I am Sunaina Shankar. Arti and Vidhi, my daughter are best friends" said Sunaina as she made the call.

"Namashkar Mrs. Shankar. Arti has told us so much about Vidhi. We are so happy to hear from you."

"Yes, the two girls have always been together. Vidhi tells us that our Arti is to marry your son Prashant" Sunaina wanted a confirmation.

"Yes. We just got the date from the Panditji. The marriage will be two months from now."

The two ladies continued their conversation. It turned out that Arti was getting married exactly a week before Vidhi. Sunaina asked if they could have the marriage in Mumbai, but they finally settled on Indore as the venue. The Shankars' insisted on splitting the costs of the marriage and would also be the ones doing the kanyadaan.

When Arti heard about it, she was overwhelmed. The Shankars had always showered her with love and affection. While she hadn't been officially adopted by them, she was unofficially treated as a family member by the entire family, including Vidhi's uncles and aunts. It was Arti who kept a certain distance, not wanting to burden this lovely family. And now, in the midst of preparing for their own daughter's wedding, they were going to spend money on hers and find the time to do the kanyadaan as well!

Vidhi, her parents and brother Pratik arrived at Indore two days before the wedding. Arti had arrived that morning and met them at the station. They were going to stay together at the same hotel, till Arti had her bidaai.

The two friends ran to each other, gave a quick hug and then, grinning widely, did a kikli on the crowded platform itself, earning amused glances from their fellow travelers.

"Girls!" Sunaina called. "Calm down. Chalo" she added, smiling at them.

Arti touched Vidhi's parents' feet, taking their aashirwaad. Sunaina smiled tenderly as she gave her a hug and whispered "Abhi toh Mummy bula sakti hain na?" When Arti was younger she used to call Sunaina "Mummy", copying Vidhi and Pratik. As she had grown older and understood relationships, she changed that to Aunty. Sunaina had asked her once about it, but the girl had avoided the question and continued calling her Aunty.

Hearing Sunaina's whispered words now, Arti's eyes filled with tears. "Haan, Mummy."

"Mera baccha" Sunaina said tenderly and holding her face in her hands, kissed Arti's forehead.

"Papa", Arti said softly as she went to Vidhi's dad, Mukesh.

"Pagli. What took you so long?" said Mukesh, pulling her in for a hug. Vidhi and Arti spent the next few hours chatting, catching up on the intervening months. Towards early evening, Pratik came into their hotel room.

"Achha Didi,I am off to the station now" he said.

"What's he going to the station for?" asked Arti.

Vidhi blushed, "Woh, Pankajji is coming. I hope you don't mind Arti. Actually na when he heard we were coming here, he asked if he could join us. We haven't met in a while you see."

Arti was rolling with laughter by now – she had never seen Vidhi blushing and hesitant like this.

"Mind? I am thrilled! I get to meet my Jiju. Waise Vidhi, aag toh dono taraf barabar lagi hai" she teased.

She was delighted to see Vidhi in this state. During school and college, all the other girls had had crushes, fantasized about actors. Vidhi had never cared. She would study, take part in all cultural programs and enjoy herself with a small group of female friends. Boys outside her family had never played a role in her life. So seeing Vidhi in the first flush of love was so endearing .

Arti met Pankaj at dinner. She was charmed by his courtesy and manners. Vidhi and Pankaj couldn't keep their eyes off each other, but barely exchanged a few words in front of her parents.

As they left the dinner table, Mukesh turned to them and said, "Don't stay up too late kids." Sunaina added "Remember, it's your haldi tomorrow Arti."

Inspite of the warnings, the four met later that night at the hotel restaurant for ice-cream.

"So Gundi-didi, how do you like our Jijaji?" Pratik asked Arti. He was 18 months younger than Vidhi and had always tagged behind the elder two girls. For him Arti was as much his didi as Vidhi, and he filled the role of bhai in Arti's life.

"Oh, I like our Jijai very much Pratik, though I don't think I like you" Arti retorted as she crinkled her nose at him.

"You are just jealous of my good looks" Pratik replied, continuing their usual banter.

"Right! You look as good as a monkey" Arti quipped right back.

Grinning broadly by now, Vidhi said "Stop it you two!" The quick exchange had managed to break the ice though and all four settled back in their chairs comfortably, their ice-cream cups in their hands.

"Gundi-didi? Why that?" Pankaj asked.

"Oh, Artidi is very talented. She is an expert at using a hockey stick – can beat any guy to a pulp with it. Waise, khelna nahi aata, buss stick use karna aata hai" Pratik supplied.

"Khelna nahi aata? Accha – I'll use the stick on you and show you" Arti turned to him in mock anger.

Spreading his hands wide, Pratik grinned "QED!!" (thus proved).

Vidhi intervened "Arti was our university hockey captain. Don't let Pratik fool you. But yes, he is right. She is very talented you know. Amazing artist – she makes lovely sketches, but chose accounting as a career."

"Why?" Pankaj turned to Arti.

She shrugged, "I like accounting too. And it makes for a more stable career."

Pankaj smiled, "Don't let my family hear you. I have a bunch of artists in my family. My brother Yash makes beautiful sculptures. And the family channels their creativity into the event planning business you know."

"You use both your creativity and business degree too" Vidhi said promptly.

He smiled at her tenderly, "Perhaps. But I took a more traditional route. I can sketch too so I went into architecture" he explained to Arti.

They chatted late into the night till Pankaj checked his watch. "Oh, its past 11pm. Artiji, it's your haldi tomorrow and we kept you up so late! Vidhi, please take her to bed" he said. The four dispersed saying their good nights. As they got ready for bed, Vidhi couldn't help herself. "Arti" she called softly.

"Mmm?" replied Arti, turning back the covers on her bed..

"Are you happy?"

Arti sat on the bed and looked at her friend. Vidhi watched as a dreamy look came over her face.

"Very. Finally Vidhi, finally I will have a family of my own. Some one to call my very own." And she smiled blissfully.

Vidhi crossed the room and hugged her friend tightly as two tears fell from her eyes. She couldn't imagine the pain, the fear of being an orphan; but she had seen it play a role in every aspect of Arti's life. Even now, two days before her wedding, she was terrified that her best friend was making a mistake. But as long as Arti was happy – and after all she and Prashant did love each other.


The wedding was simple, though beautiful – conducted at Arya Samaj Mandir at the couple's request. Arti made a lovely bride and Prashant a handsome groom. It was followed by a grand reception at the same hotel where the Shankars were staying.

Except for the Shankars and Pankaj, all the invitees were from Prashant's side. Arti did feel a little awkward initially and the Shankars heard murmured comments from some guests about "orphan". But they made Arti feel like a princess – after all, it was her special day.

As Sunaina and Vidhi got Arti ready for her bidaai the tears flowed freely. After so many years Arti had finally let her guard down and allowed herself to be close to Sunaina. These two days had made memories she would cherish for a long time to come.