FF: Betrayed by Love: T2 *Note and a teaser page 143* - Page 50

Originally posted by: Barun_Riti_LMH

Nice part
loved it...

Originally posted by: ..sweetchilly..

The relevations really have shaken her up...
Avinash being Dolly's brother came as a complete shock to Priya..
Avinash was her good friend...and helped her in all the times but never really knew the truth...
Arjun's family is so sweet and caring...
Swati is Lucky to have them...
SHOPPING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dress selection...
Swati so cute...
Priya and Arjun's interaction..
Just amazing..
Beautiful update...
Continue Soon..

Part 34

The next morning the haldi ceremony of Sameer and Swati was performed separately. It was a simple ceremony with just the presence of family and few friends. They had decided to keep things simple because of time constriction.

Priya couldn't help but feel happy for her friends as she stood back and watched as Arjun's whole family showered Swati with love and affection. She forgot all about her discomfort and anxiety as she too was pulled into join the fun and festivities.

Once the haldi ceremony was finished the whole family pitched in to get the house decorated for the mehndi ceremony that was to take place that evening. Again it was to be a small affair with the family and few more friends than they had for the haldi ceremony.

Arjun was supervising the decorations when he glanced towards the stairs; once again he stopped in his tracks, when he saw Priya come down in yet another traditional dress. This time she was in a lavender sari instead of a dress. He caught his breath when he saw her smile at Swati but frowned when he saw that she once again left her hair down, the right side of her face was completely covered by her hair.

He was about to step towards the two women when someone from the back stopped him; he turned to see his cousin holding the duppatta of his sherwani.

He glared at his cousin Maya, "Why did you stop me?"

Maya wrinkled her pretty button nose and gave him a teasing smile, "You were going in the wrong direction; there is still work to be done in the front hall."

"Yeah, so?" Arjun asked with a raised eyebrow.

Maya sighed and released him then moved to stand next to him. She looked at her younger cousin steadily, "You love her a lot, don't you?"

Arjun sighed and looked away from his cousin. "Is it that obvious?"

Maya squeezed his shoulder, "Only to those who looks at you closely. Your face lights up as soon as she enters the room. Your eyes follow her everywhere and her discomfort pains you."

Arjun gave his cousin a sad smile, "But she is oblivious to it all."

This time it was Maya who looked away from Arjun. "May be she has a good reason to not see what is obvious to everyone." Maya spoke softly.

Arjun was about to ask Maya to elaborate on her strange statement but he was interrupted when one of his cousins shouted for him from the front hall. "We will talk about this later," he said as he ran towards the front hall.

Maya breathed a sigh of relief as she watched Arjun run out of the room. She should have never said anything to Arjun and she hoped he forgets she ever said anything.

Priya's head snapped up when she heard someone shout Arjun's name. She craned her neck to get a glimpse of him but the crowed around him prevented her from seeing him. She got an occasional glimpse of him when someone moved slightly but she couldn't get a full view of him.

She was about to give up when the crowed suddenly parted and she got to see him in full view. She gasped when she saw him in cream sherwani with delicate gold zari work and maroon duppatta draped around his neck. He looked breathtakingly handsome and the five o'clock shadow on his face only enhanced his striking features.

But more than his gorgeous feature it was the smile on his perfect lips that took her breath away. To say he looks attractive is an understatement.

Priya came out of her trance when she felt Swati elbow her on the side. She turned to glare at her friend for distracting her from her admiration session but grimaced when she saw Swati smiling at her with a naughty glint in her eyes. "Should I call him over so you can take a closer look?" Swati asked teasingly.

Priya felt her cheek warm up at being caught ogling Arjun. She shook off her embarrassment and glared at Swati. "Not necessary."

Swati gave Priya a knowing look then turned back towards the front and this time she was the one who caught her breath when Sameer came into view. To her he looked dashing in a maroon and white sherwani. He too had the dupatta draped around his neck same as Arjun.

Her eyes met his across the room and he raised an eyebrow questioningly as if to ask if she approved. She grinned back and him and nodded her head slightly. He winked at her in approval and mouthed, "You look beautiful."

"Hmm..should I call Sam over?" Priya asked Swati.

Swati grinned at Priya. "What are you waiting for? Get up and bring him to me."

Priya shook her head. "You are impossible."

Swati glanced at Sameer then leaned over to Priya, "That's not what he says."

Swati giggled when she saw Priya gape at her. Before Priya could scold her she saw Arjun's mom and several other ladies approach Swati with a decorative tray of mehndi cones.

Priya moved to the side so the ladies can start the mehndi rituals. She watched as Arjun's mom applied the first design in the middle of Swati's palm. She couldn't help but envy her friend for the easy acceptance by Arjun's family and the way she blended into the whole family so easily.

She wished she possessed small amount of Swati's easy going personality and an ability to comingle easily with other people. Priya knew that even without the baggage of the past she would have had hard time mixing in with Arjun's family because of her introvert nature, hence her reason to hold back from him then.

Priya came out of her reverie stance when she felt someone tap her on her arm. She turned to see Maya standing next to her with friendly smile on her face.

Maya took her arm and walked towards one of the mehndi designer next to Swati. "Here is your best friend Swati." She made Priya sit next to Swati.

Priya had no choice but to extend her arm for the mehndi. She glanced over at Swati's arms and smiled. "It looks beautiful Swati." She whispered in awe of the designs on her friend's hands and arms.

On the other side of the room Arjun had finally finished helping with everything and approached Sameer who was standing in the corner watching Swati with a goofy smile on his face.

Arjun decided to tease his friend a little. "Smile all you want now because after you marry her you are going to cry only."

Sameer glared at Arjun, "Never, she won't make me cry but if you get on her bad side she might make you cry."

"I hate to break it to you Sam, but I don't think your wife-to-be likes me very much." Arjun said as he glanced towards Swati and Priya.

Sameer stayed silent at that and Arjun didn't push him to tell him the reason for Swati's dislike of him. Arjun decided to put all that aside and celebrate the last night of his friends freedom instead. "Are you planning on standing here all night and stare at her or are you going to join us for celebrations?" He said as he dragged Sameer away from the mehndi rituals.

Sameer didn't protest and followed Arjun out the front room.

Two hours later Priya found herself with Maya, outside, in the garden. Maya had asked her to join her for fresh air and Priya had jumped at the chance to get away from all the people and the rituals.

Priya turned and leaned against the gazebo pillar and gave Maya a considering look. "How did you meet Avinash?"

Maya smiled at Priya's direct approach, "We attended the same college. We were good friends only at that time but once he came back from the police academy our relationship changed slightly."

"That was after Dolly's death." Priya said softly.

Maya sighed, "Yes, he was completely shattered by what had happened to his sister. All he focused on after that was avenging her death and making sure he caught up with anyone who took advantage of girls like his sister."

"I wish he had told me who he was," Priya said.

Maya went to Priya and squeezed her arm. "It wasn't that he didn't want to tell you but he was even more shattered after the undercover assignment. He couldn't face you."

Priya's head snapped up at that and all the color drained out of her face as she realized that Maya knew what had happened to Priya. She tried to turn away from Maya but she wouldn't let her.

"Yes I know what happened to you but no one else knows Priya. The only reason I know is because Avinash broke down one night after a nightmare and I pushed him to tell me what had happened." Maya said understanding why Priya looked scared suddenly.

Priya took several calming breaths to slow her racing heart. She looked away from Maya, "I never blamed Avinash for what happened that night. If it hadn't been for him I would have died that night."

Maya smiled, "I know," She paused then decided to approach Priya with what was in her mind. "Arjun doesn't know yet."

Priya shook her head, "I can't tell him. He will only blame himself for it."

"You have loved him for a long time, even before Roshni came into his life." Maya said.

Once again Priya gave her a sharp look. "I saw it in your eyes the first time I met you." Maya said.

Priya didn't confirm or deny Maya's words. "You should tell him, he might surprise you."

"I should have known I would find you two in the garden." Priya and Maya turned to see Arjun standing behind them with a plate of food.

Maya blocked his view of Priya to give her few moments to compose herself. "Arjun, why are you looking for us?"

Arjun held up the plate, "Food, thought you might be hungry."

Maya grinned and stepped forward, "For me?" She tried to take it from him but he held it out of her reach.

"This is not for you. Your food is waiting for you inside. Your mom and my mom are both looking for you." He said then winked at her.

Maya pouted and placed her hands on her hips. "I see." She said with a teasing grin. She laughed when he made a face then walked towards him. "Have fun," she said teasingly before hurrying out of the garden.

Arjun watched Maya leave with a smile then turned towards Priya and his smile faded a little. He had a feeling his cousin and Priya were having a serious discussion that he may have interrupted.

He walked up to her and held the plate in front of her. "This is for you." He said softly.

Priya attempted a smile then held up her mehndi-laden hands, "You shouldn't have bothered, I was about to come in to wash my hands and join Swati to eat with her."

Arjun took her elbow then made her sit beside him at the first step of the gazebo, "Sam and Swati are in their own world so you are stuck me, and it's only been couple of hours, you can't wash your hand yet." he said then held up a spoon full of food in front of her mouth.

"Besides I have strict orders to make sure that you eat," He said as he urged her to eat. "And your best friend is no less than a Hitler when it comes to dictating to people, poor Sam." Arjun said with a straight face.

Priya gaped at him making it easier for Arjun to place the spoon full of kheer in her mouth. Priya's taste buds exploded at the sweetness of the Kheer. She had never tasted anything like it before.

"Like it?" Arjun asked as he held up a bite of roti and palak sabzi in front of her mouth.

Priya slowly nodded then opened her mouth slightly for him to feed her the bite of the food by his hand this time. The minute his fingers grazed her mouth everything seized to exist as her eyes flew to his to check his reaction.

Priya immediately looked away feeling bit awkward at the intimate gesture while Arjun feigned ignorance at the intimacy and held up another bite in front of her mouth. "I knew you would like my mom's cooking. Didn't I tell you that your cooking reminds me of her?"

Arjun continued to relegate her with stories of his mom's cooking and his favorite dishes to ease her out of her awkwardness. Soon Priya forgot all about feeling awkward and relaxed as she listened to Arjun talk about himself and his family.

Soon the plate was empty and he set it aside. He washed his hand then held up the glass of water to her mouth, once she was finished he placed the glass with the plate then gave her a considering look. "Now that wasn't so bad was it?" He asked with a playful smile.

Priya couldn't help but smile at his attempt to make her feel comfortable. "Thanks Arjun, I hadn't realized how hungry I was and you were right, your mom is a wonderful cook."

"No need to thank me Priya; you owe me one for helping you out."

Priya frowned at that, "How do I owe you one? I thought you said Swait coerced you into helping me."

"And that is why you owe me one. Do you know how scary your friend is when she wants something?" He said and made a face.

Priya couldn't help but laugh at the look on his face. She wondered what Swati had threatened him with to make him fear her.

Arjun was completely enchanted with Priya's laugh and all he could do was stare at her like a love sick puppy. He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear when she stopped laughing and looked at him with a smile. He caressed her right cheek with the back of his hand, "Now that's more like it. I don't know why you hide your true self from rest of the world." He said softly as he continued to caress her face.

"This world is a cruel place Arjun." Priya said softly.

Arjun couldn't argue that point but still he made an attempt to ease her fears. "Yes it is but if you open your heart you will see that there are people in this world that could make it worthwhile to share yourself with them."

"That is easier said than done."

"Yes but still give it a try; you will be surprised at what you may find." Arjun said as he helped her stand.

Priya smiled at him faintly. "You have always been an optimist"

Arjun chuckled at that. "I am always glass half full and you have always been a glass half empty. We are perfect together." He said with a wink.

Priya's smile faded a bit. If only she could convince him how wrong he was about that she thought. "Do you ever give up?" She asked instead.

"Nope, never and you need to remember that. And you still owe me one." He said as a way of reminding her.

Priya gave a dramatic sigh. "Fine I owe you one. What do you want?" She immediately bit her tongue when she realized what she just said.

Arjun raised an eyebrow as he picked up on her discomfort. "Now that's a leading question, but I don't think you really want to know what I want."

Priya glanced down at her hands to ease her embarrassment. She stared at a particular design on her hand and gasped when she realized what the symbol in the middle of the design represented. "I am going to kill her," She muttered under her breath.

Arjun looked at her averted face in confusion. "What's wrong?" He heard her mutter under her breath. "Who are you going to kill?" He asked

"My best friend and your nemesis," She said absently as she rushed away from him. She didn't give him an opportunity to stop her and ask what Swati had done to upset her to this extent.

He just shook his head and followed her inside the house.

*~+~*

Please excuse any errors.😊