The following Monday, Yash was in office still trying to sort out his mind about what made Aarti so obsessed with Aprita when Prateek stepped into his room. Despite his good sense telling him otherwise, he decided to get Prateek's inputs on this matter.
"So hypothetically speaking, A marries B but A likes C so A told B that A likes C immediately after they got married and now B keeps bringing C up in all A and B's conversation. So what do you think is going on B's mind?"
"Huh? Say that again!"
Yash had to repeat himself twice before Prateek could get him.
"Why A marries B when A loves C?"
"Say A had to marry B for some reasons and A had no choice."
"So A marries B but A plans to have an affair with C and expects B to accept it?"
"No! C is already married to someone else whom C is in love with. Actually the focus of this question is really on B."
"A and B are married, C and D are married and no one is planning to have any affair then I do not see what the issue is. What kind of riddle is this? I am out of here. This is too ridiculous. "
"Oh my god! Oh my god! A is you, B is Aarti babhi, C is Aprita and D is Aaman! Oh my god! So you told Aarti babhi about you liking Aprita. I was always wondering why Aarti babhi reacted like that when she heard Aprita's name at the breakfast table!"Prateek exclaimed a few seconds later.
"No,you are..."
"Wait a minute, you mean you told Aarti about Aprita on your wedding night? It was the day after your wedding right when we were having breakfast then suddenly Aarti babhi had a weird reaction when she heard Aprita's name. Yes, I remember now."
"What are you tal..."
"Are you crazy bhaiyya? You barely know her since whenever I asked you to call her before the wedding you said that you two will get to know each other after marriage. And the first thing you thought she needed to know is about Aprita? How come you can be so smart to be a CFO and so dense at these things?"
"What you mean..."
"And if Aarti babhi is talking about Aprita all the time, it must be because she is feeling uncertain of your feelings for her! I bet she is jealous of Aprita or something like that. Oh my god! You are a hopeless case."
"Prateek this is a hypothetical scenario which means it is all made up. I do not know where you get this idea from but..."
"Just reflect on your marriage, bhaiyya. Like seriously analyse it like how you scrutinise the budgets and forecasts," Prateek sounded all dramatic.
And with that Prateek left Yash office for him to ponder on his "wise words". It was just not possible. No way would Aarti envy Aprita! She seemed so secure and confident that he was sure she did not feel any sense of jealousy towards Aprita. It must be something else. And Yash continued to brood over this til Sunday night.
That Sunday night was the wedding of the daughter of one of their close business associate and the whole family was attending it except Buaji who hates weddings. Prateek joined Yash and Aarti in Yashs car while the rest of the family travelled in another car driven by Pankaj bhaiyya.
"Aarti babhi, I want to ask you a riddle. There is this situation where A marries..."
"Prateek seriously, no one wants to hear your nonsense," Yash interjected and glared at Prateek through the rear view mirror.
"But I want to hear the riddle. I am sure I can solve it. Dont listen to your bhiayya, Prateek. Just continue please."
You are the riddle Aarti! Yash thought to himself.
"Sorry Aarti babhi, I cannot remember it anymore since Yash bhaiyya interrupt me. When I recall I will ask you ok? Anyway Aarti babhi, do you believe in love at first sight?"
"Yes! I think your heart just knows it when you meet the right one! It feels like magic. Do you like someone? Does she know you like her? How you met her? What's her name?"
"There is no one actually. That is just a hypothetical question. So was it love at first sight when you met Yash bhaiyya?"
"Prateek..." Yash warned. Now what the hell is Prateek talking about? Does he even know what he is rambling? And he seemed to be oblivious to the concept of respecting one's privacy! But does Aarti love him?
Aarti was rendered speechless by Prateeks question. She peeked at Yash from the corner of her eyes and wondered what he was thinking but his attention was only on driving. Does Yash know that she likes him? And why is Prateek so inquisitive? He seemed more interested in their marriage since the past one week! To think of it, even Yash seemed to be acting quite strangely lately. He was texting her more frequently and they seldom end up in spats. And when they were heading to the car just now, he actually said that she was mesmerizing which startled her that she almost trip and his praise made her blushed profusely.
"I love what you are wearing. This anarkali is so beautiful and the colour is amazing on you. The two of you are a sight!"Aprita greeted Aarti. Aarti was dressed in a pastel yellow Anarkali with intricate embroideries and she had let her hair hang lose and waved its ends while Yash was in an off-white sherwani.
"That is what I told her too,"Yash chipped in making Aarti turn red all over again. He was about to pass a remark on Aprita's designer saree but stopped himself for he knew Aarti would be after him about it.
"Thanks Aprita. You are looking great yourself," Aarti returned the greeting. Somehow Aprita and Aman are always immaculately dressed!
"Yash, it has been a while man." Aman addressed Yash.
"Yup, you were not around at Rajs birthday party. Not that you were missed."
"Well some of us have important things to do like saving lives instead of partying away."
Yash rolled his eyes and Aarti and Aprita shared a smile.
"Anyway, when are we having a tennis session again? Or being defeated twice left you with a cold feet Yash Scindiya?"
"Well I guess some of realise that it is not all about winning. Sometimes it is about the fighting spirit and the experience you gain."
"My, how is it possible that..." Aman was interrupted when Prateek appeared to summon Yash and Aarti as Bauji wanted to introduce them to some of his old friends.
It was after some time when Yash was engaged with one of his colleague that Aarti bumped into Aprita again at the buffet table. She was also alone as Aaman was occupied with his friend.
"Aarti you are just glowing. Must be cause of the love that Yash is showering," Aprita teased. What is Aprita talking about?
"Anyway, what are you doing to my best friend?"
"What you mean by that?" Aarti was clueless. What has Yash been complaining to Aprita about her? How could he do this to her? No wonder he had been acting strange! Aarrrgggh...She was so mad right now!
"I am surprised he is not by your side right now since he is totally smitten by you. And to think he used to say that he did not believe in love! Now he is all about checking your messages in meetings and day dreaming about you in office! And he has this silly grin whenever he read your messages! And the Yash Schindiya I know is so competitive...And to hear him say that it ain't all about winning just now? Even Aman was surprised! What jadoo is this?"
Aarti blinked, perplexed. Aarti wonder if Aprita was saying what Aarti thinks she was saying. "Aprita, I mean...Yash is not like that. I mean he..."
"Yash is exactly like that! You see now he is coming towards us to obviously get you! He cannot stay away from you." As though Aprita's words were a spell, Yash instantaneously appeared before Aarti.
"What are you girls doing here? Aarti, Vidhi babhi is looking for you actually." Yash announced his arrival. Aarti was actually hanging out with Aprita and does not appear to be jealous of her. This Prateek was totally messing his head!
"Vidhi babhi is looking for Aarti or are you the one missing her? I was just asking Aarti what jadoo she has cast on my best friend that he cannot see beyond his Aarti!" Aprita pulled Yash's leg.
"Vidhi babhi was really..." Yash was confused. What is happening? First Prateek and now Aprita? What is the world coming to?
"Aman is gesturing me to go over. I got to go and leave you two alone. See you around. And I will arrange the tennis game ok!"
"Where is Vidhi babhi? I will go find her," Aarti asked Yash. She was feeling awkward after Aprita's teasing.
"She is at the table with Maaji. I am gonna get some desserts and I will join you all later."
Yash was puzzled by Aprita's statement that he could not see beyond Aarti! Was it really true?
He was on his way back to his table after getting the food when he caught the sight of Aarti with another man instead of at their table where she was supposed to be. He marched over to Aarti.
"Oh my...you are looking so different. I still cannot believe it is you. You really look better all cleaned up! Is Gauri around too? I have not seen her since college as well."
"We broke up. Guess she did not like the cleaned up me."
And they both laughed.
"This is definitely not Vidhi babhi." Yash smiled at Aarti, gritting his teeth as he stood beside her.
"Duh! I know that. This is Raul my college friend. And Raul, this is Yash. "Aarti made the introduction.
"Hi Raul. I am Aarti's husband." And was it Aarti's imagination that he emphasised on the word husband?
"Hi, Yash. Nice to meet you. You did not even invite me to your wedding Aarti. Well, you finally got married. Gauri was always telling me she hated hanging out with you guys since it was sad how you and Mansi were going on and on about meeting your Prince Charming and the weddings and the honeymoons."
Aarti eyes widened and Yash chuckled.
"I did not know me and Mansi were that popular that Gauri had to discuss us. Anyway, I need to get back to my babhi. She was looking for me." Why do people not know when they are embarrassing you? And she and Mansi discussed boys and marriage like any normal young girls would!
Before they parted ways, Aarti and Raul exchanged numbers and Aarti even took a picture of Raul on her phone cause apparently she needed to show Mansi how good looking Raul was now.
"Why do you need to show Mansi Raul's picture?" Yash asked annoyed as they made their way to where their family were seated.
"Because Raul used to be such a hilly billy when we were in college. He had long hair and beard and all that just trying to be that rebellious kid. I bet Mansi cannot guess who he is when I show her the picture on Monday. She used to call him Hairy Raul. Can't wait to see her reaction."
"It must be the highlight of your night meeting Raul! And that is of course perfectly fine."
"What you mean? Why are you getting angry now?"
"Fancy you making a big deal when I praised Aprita and you yourself go on flattering Raul that he must be thinking he was Brad Pitt. "
"I only said he was looking great cause he complimented me just now. I had to return the compliment and he really is looking better now. Dont you know the basics of being courteous? He obviously knows he is not Brad Pitt."
"I did not recall receiving the same treatment from you just now. Is being courteous only to selective individuals?"
"What you mean? Oh..." Aarti realised what Yash was talking about. "Yash Scindia, I think..." Aarti said softly and bit her lower lips and lowered her gaze. Yash looked at Aarti expectantly.
"I think it is kinda pathetic right if one has to fish for compliments and ask for his picture to be taken?" She continued.
"Aarti, you are here. I want you to meet my friends," Vidhi babhi whisked Aarti away before Yash could say anything. He smiled to himself and sighed.
They left the wedding late that night and by the time they reached home both Yash and Aarti were exhausted. But their minds played over the things that happened that night when they laid on the bed. Aarti got a little hopeful about this marriage. And Yash got a little more than he expected - an answer to the riddle and clarity on his feelings. He just need the right moment!
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