ArYa FF: Dil Jaanta Hai - Thread 1 (chapt 1-10) - Page 12

Arti and Prashant reached Mumbai the evening before Vidhi's wedding. At the Shankars' urging, Arti had wanted to come earlier but couldn't get Prashant to agree. She knew it was because he wasn't comfortable with Vidhi; though to be fair to Prashant they were going straight to Delhi after Vidhi's marriage and wouldn't get a chance to spend time with his parents'.


"Chalo chalo chalo, you are so late Gundidi" Pratik exclaimed as soon as he saw them alight from the train.


"Yes, the train moved especially slowly since it knew you were coming to the station" Arti teased. As Pratik pulled a face at her, she laughed out loud.


"Chaliye Jijaji" Pratik said, turning to Prashant and ignoring Arti.


Arti and Prashant were welcomed at the door by Sunaina and Mukesh. Sunaina did their aarti and put tilak. After getting their aashirwaad, Arti asked, "Where's Vidhi?"


"In her room" Sunaina answered.


Without a backward glance, Arti ran up the stairs to Vidhi's room. Pratik chuckled and turned to Prashant who was still at the door "Come Jijaji, let me show you your room. I don't think you'll see Artidi again tonight." Arti pushed the door open and saw Vidhi sitting at the window by herself. "Vidhi!" she exclaimed.


At that, Vidhi turned around and seeing Arti, rushed to her. As she threw her arms around her best friend, she burst into tears.


Holding her close, Arti rubbed Vidhi's back. When the tears did not stop though, she gently put Vidhi away from her and asked "What happened?"


Vidhi shook her head. "I don't know what I am doing. How can I get married Arti? I can't marry."


"You are just nervous Vidhi. It happens. And why do you feel you can't marry? You like Pankaj Jijaji, don't you?"


"Yes. But marriage? I'.I am scared", the last in a whisper.


"What are you scared about?" Arti asked gently.


Vidhi turned away to face the windows again, "I'.its'.main nahin kar sakti".


"Kya nahin kar sakti, Vidhi?" Arti asked, and then she realized what was scaring her friend. "Do you mean a physical relationship?"


Vidhi sighed and turned back to face her. "Yes! How can I ' with a complete stranger? You and Prashant have known each other for years. But I barely know Pankajji. How can I? And my bidaai is tomorrow itself. I can't do this Arti ' you have to call off the wedding."


"Accha relax, calm down. Have you talked to Mummy?" asked Arti, stalling for time as she tried to figure out how to calm her down.


Vidhi turned back to the window again and said in a low tone "No. How can I talk to her about this? You are the only one I can tell this to."


As Vidhi sat slumped by the window, Arti knew she had to fix this. She pulled her phone out and sent a quick message to Pankaj ' thank god they had exchanged phone numbers last week.


Then she went to Vidhi and sat next to her. "Don't worry Vidhi. You don't have to do anything you don't want to. I am sure Jijaji will understand and give you time."


"You don't know Arti. Pratik told me they are planning the suhaag raat for when we reach Bhopal. And there are traditions in that family about the night" Vidhi said softly as a shiver ran down her spine.


"And you believed that monkey?" Arti asked, trying to make Vidhi see how ridiculous she was being.


"He and Yash are planning something" Vidhi's tone was flat.


"What are they planning?" Arti was exasperated. Just wait you monkey, I'll put you to rights over this, she thought, furious at Pratik now. "Vidhi, listen to me. A suhaag raat is between the husband and wife. Not between two families. So Pratik and Yash cannot plan anything. It's up to you and Jijaji. Talk to him, tell him you need more time ' I am sure he will understand."


Vidhi shook her head, "How can I talk to him about this? He'."


Just then Vidhi's cell phone rang. Handing the phone to her Arti said, "Its Jijaji."


Panic set in as she took the phone. In a hoarse whisper Vidhi said "Hello?"


Arti heard a tinny "Vidhi? It's Pankaj. Are you all right?" before she moved away to give Vidhi some privacy.


Vidhi's mumbled response was barely audible. Arti watched her friend from the other end of the room. She had turned back towards the window so Arti couldn't see Vidhi's face, but her body language was loquacious. Arti watched the tense shoulders relax slowly, a slight sigh leave her and then a hand lift as Vidhi wiped her tears away.


Ending the call, Vidhi turned back to Arti and gave her a watery smile. Smiling back at her Arti asked "Did you tell him?"


Vidhi replied "He brought it up himself. And said nothing will happen till I am ready for it''How did he know?" and she turned a wondering look towards Arti.


Arti grinned, "Jaadu! So, should I call off the marriage now?" she teased.


Vidhi blushed, "Rehne de! Nautanki!" Later that night, sometime after Vidhi fell asleep, Prashant called Arti on her cell.


"Hi Jaan" Arti said.


"Are you coming? Or staying with Vidhi tonight?" Prashant asked.


"Staying with her. Don't mind" Arti said cajolingly.


"I do mind. But I won't if you do something for me" Prashant said.


"What?" Arti asked.


"Look out your window" he said.


Arti peeked out the window. Vidhi's room overlooked the portion of the garden where the rose bushes were. The garden was flooded with moonlight and she saw Prashant standing in front of the rose bushes looking up at her.


"Waise miyanji, you are looking very handsome in the moonlight" she flirted.


"Come and join me" said Prashant.


"Vidhi is sleeping" Arti said in protest.


In the garden below, a wave of irritation crossed Prashant. "So? She is not a baby ' she can sleep by herself."


When Arti did not reply, Prashant cajoled, "Come on down, please Arti".


Making sure Vidhi still slept, Arti ran down the stairs. She tripped across the moonlit lawn and laughed softly as Prashant caught her by the waist and twirled her around.


He put her down and placed his arms over her shoulders, lacing his fingers together through her open hair. "We didn't even exchange a word since we got here. Do you even know where our room is?"


"First floor, third one on the right" Arti replied promptly.


Startled, Prashant dropped his arms. "How do you know?"


She smiled cheekily up at him, "That's my room in this house."


"Acha, tell me, why did you want me to come here?" Arti asked.


"For this" Prashant said and picked up two chocolate ice-cream bars from the ice-filled packet he had hidden behind a bush.


"Prashant!" Arti exclaimed gleefully as she gave him a hug. "How did you know I wanted one?"


"You barely ate dinner. And when you are hungry and stressed you always want ice-cream" he explained.


Arti kissed him on the cheek and they snuggled together on the grass eating their ice-cream. Who else but Prashant would get her ice-cream in the middle of the night? Arti mused to herself, thankful she had him in her life. "Here Arti, this is for you" Sunaina said the next morning. Arti was going to her room to shower and get ready.


"What is it Mummy?" Arti asked as she took the package.


"A lehenga-choli. All of us got new clothes for Vidhi's wedding, this is yours" Sunaina explained.


"Mummy, you just bought me a whole wardrobe of new clothes for my wedding. Why another dress?" Arti protested.


Sunaina put her hands on her waist and glared at Arti. "Why? If one of my daughters' gets married, won't I get some new clothes for my other daughter? Those clothes were your trousseau, for your marriage. This dress is your new one as part of Vidhi's marriage."


Grinning, Arti went to her and gave her a quick hug. "Thank you Mummy. And thank god we are not going to Delhi by plane ' I couldn't have fit everything in our luggage then!"

-----------------------------

The wedding was to take place at a villa near the Shankars' residence. When Arti reached there in the early evening, the decorations were nearly complete and she walked into a magnificent, flower bedecked shamiana shaped like a palace. She smiled inwardly, Vidhi always used to say she would get married in a palace ' and she is!


The baraat was 'shockingly- on time! Sunaina had asked Arti to help her greet the baraatis and she wasn't quite ready when they got to the venue. Running and putting on her earrings at the same time, Arti met Sunaina just before the doorstep.


Sunaina grinned at her "Who would have thought a baraat would actually be on time?? By the way my dear, you look lovely." Arti had worn the dress Sunaina had given her that morning. It was a deep burgundy, with blue-green and silver needle-work. It looked heavy, but was surprisingly light and fit her well. The color brought out the deep chocolate brown of her eyes and set off her dusky complexion. Arti had opted to wear the pearls Shobha had gifted her, instead of a more traditional gold-set and the sparkling orbs added the finishing touches.


Pankaj got down from the horse and Sunaina did his tilak. As he went in, the other baraatis came forward one by one, and Sunaina, Arti and Suneeta welcomed each member individually.


Arti had welcomed a few already and was performing the task almost mechanically, an automatic smile of welcome on her face. She barely looked at the next person as she did his tilak, but when she put the garland on, her fingers brushed the skin and she felt a spark of electricity. Jolted out of her ennui she raised startled eyes to meet amused ones.


"Static again, Artiji?" Yash Scindia asked, obviously amused at her discomfiture.


This won't do ' dulhe ke bhai hain. Arti, get a grip on yourself, she thought to herself. Recovering quickly she retorted, "Oh no! This is dil ka connection, from ladki-wale to ladke-wale".


He sniggered back "Sambhalke Artiji! Kahin dil ke connection mein aapka dil hi na le jaayen!"


"Hamara dil toh kisi aur ka ho chuka Yashji. You take care of your dil though ' there are many heart-breakers here!" Arti snapped back as she turned to the next person.


After the jaimala, Vidhi and Pankaj went back to the stage to greet the arrivals. The muhurat for the ceremony was still two hours away ' dinner was being served in the meantime. As Arti got off the stage to help take care of the guests, an arm shot out and pulled her aside.


"Pssst, Ms. Dil-ka-connection, can you help me?" Yash whispered.


"Yashji!" Arti exclaimed. "What do you want? You know I am not going to help the ladke-wale."


"This is not about Bhaiyya's wedding ' it's about mine" Yash said.


"Huh?" Arti was confused. She knew of course that Yash and Arpita's wedding was two weeks later in Bhopal.


"You know my fianc, Arpita? See, she is the one in the golden lehenga" Yash pointed out.


"I know. I saw her at the alumni reunion" Arti said.


"Oh yes. Well, can you help me meet her tonight?" Yash asked.


At Arti's raised eyebrows, he explained "You see her family is very traditional. Since we got engaged, we have not been allowed to meet 'unsupervised'. For the last month, we have not even seen each other. If this hadn't been Bhaiyya's wedding, Arpita would not have been here. This is my only chance to meet her. But if I go, I will be chased away by her family. And any one of my cousins would also raise their suspicions. So, I need your help. You are from the ladki's side here, from her college, you won't raise their suspicion, not much anyway."


"What's happening here? Arti, are you ok?" Prashant asked. He had seen a man accost his wife and had made his way to the area next to the stage as quickly as he could.


Turning to him, Arti said, "Prashant! Meet Yashji, he is Jijaji's brother. Yashji, this is my husband."


"Namaste Mr. Scindia" Prashant said, mindful of the respect due to the baraatis.


"Namaste. And congratulations on your marriage" Yash replied, shaking Prashant's hand.


Arti filled him in on Yash's request. With a thoughtful frown Prashant said, "Here? It will be difficult". Husband and wife conversed and quickly came up with a plan. Arti left and Prashant turned to Yash, "Come with me."


Arti found Suneeta and together they went to where Arpita was standing with her family. "Excuse me, you are Arpita Raisingh, right? St. Xaviers?"


"Yes", Arpita replied smiling at them.


"Some of our teachers and the principal is here for the wedding and would like to meet you" Arti said.


Arptia looked at her mom and said "Ma, I will be back in a few minutes. Just going to meet with some of my old teachers."


Arti took her to meet the teachers as a safeguard and then quickly hustled her away towards the terrace of the villa. The terrace was at the back half of the villa and not visible from the shamiana which was built on the huge front lawns.


Yash was waiting, with Prashant. Seeing them, the girls' hurried over. "Five minutes" Arti warned. They had been away too long already and Arpita's parents would start worrying soon.


Arti wasn't sure that either Yash or Arpita heard her though. The two went off to the side together, but not before Arti got a glimpse of their faces. They both looked at each other as if they were the only two people in the world'..and Arti felt a twinge in her heart. Prashant never looked at her that way; and well, she didn't look at him like that either. She shook herself mentally ' they did love each other and what was the point of comparing with another couple?


At the end of five minutes Arti went up to the other couple and cleared her throat. When they didn't hear her, she touched Arpita on the arm and said "Arpitaji, time to go. We will get into trouble otherwise."


"Yes'.yes of course" Arpita said and left immediately with Arti. As they left the terrace, Arti glanced back at Yash and he mouthed a silent "Thank you" to her. She nodded and smiled. The bidaai took place very early the next morning. The tearful event left Arti feeling depressed. Her childhood'.their childhood was finally gone. It was time to go back to her real-life again. Back to Delhi, back to work and a new life with Prashant. Normally the thought thrilled her'.but today it left her feeling as if a whole section of her life was gone forever. Vidhi's bidaai had become her's too.