As they neared the end of the line, Vishal looked sideways at Dipika and smiled satisfactorily…. He had not lost his friend… He didn't want Dipika to know about his feelings, but always feared the moment she may come to know…. But now all was fine…. He felt contended and happy! 😛
After lighting the lamps Vishal and Dipika came down…. Coming down they noticed that the whole team was there talking to Mrs.Malhotra… Some other people had also come from the neighborhood…. 😊
Dipika saw them and scanned the group…. For whom? Of course for Aryan… But she didn't see him in the group….
But Vishal saw him…. He saw that Aryan was at a distance talking to the priest…. Seems he had met his team… But he thought to keep Dipika away as far as possible…. He still had that plan up his sleeves…. 😉
So before Dipika could take her eyes of the team he pulled her down fast…. So the crowd blotted out the view fartherest the hall
Seeing them coming down the stairs Mrs.Malhotra called out…..
Mrs.Malhotra: Are Dipika, Vishal jaldi aao… Pooja shuru hone waali hai…. 😊
Hearing Mrs.Malhotra mention Dipika's name Aryan turned towards the stairs but at the same time Dipika came down and so he couldn't see her at the other end of the crowd…..
He had heard from his maami that she had come and was lighting lamps in the terrace… Did he want to go up or not? ❓ He didn't know… So he decided against going up to meet her… He chided himself for been embarrassed…. Never had he felt before anything like this…. 🤔
Smiling Dipika went to greet the team…
Aryan just turned back to the priest, but was not yet ready to believe that he was disappointed not to see her…. He thought of it to be yet an attraction between colleagues…
Vishal came down and the others greeted him warmly too….
Ajay and Shotgun introduced their mothers… He sought their blessings…. Then moving a little he purposefully went and stood in the front of Dipika blocking Aryan's view of her and vice versa… 😉
Seeing Vishal and Dipika Mrs.Malhotra raised her eyebrows at her son…. Vishal nodded and indicated everything was fine… Mrs.Malhotra smiled relieved and resumed her talk with Ajay's and Shotgun's mother…. 😛
Everyone was looking handsome and beautiful….. The house was decorated and the there was an atmosphere of holiness and happiness everywhere…. Vishal looked around and was happy…. His mind too free of the guilt he wore…. 😊
Neha was also beautifully dressed in an orange short salwar… Haseena had come in a beautiful yellow designer saree…. Ajay was wearing a green sherwani… Shotgun a green and black one, Zubin a violet one and Boxer a polka dotted orange one…. ⭐️
Mrs.Malhotra had changed into a beautiful olive green blue bordered silk saree…. Aryan's selection for his maami…. 👍🏼
But Aryan was the handsome of all in a wonderful white sherwani with gold thread work and a red duppatta… 😳
Meanwhile Dipika went to the sofa where she had kept the gifts she had bought that evening…. Seeking everyone from her team she gave them the gifts….
Dipika gave Neha her gift….
Neha: Thank you! Lekin Dipika hum shopping saath me gaye the naa… Phir tumne mere liye kab khareeda gift? ❓
Smiling Dipika said….
Dipika: Bas tab hi jab tum Ajay ki maa ke liye ek gift dhoondh rahi thi… Tumhari pehli diwali hai naa unke saath… 😊
Blushing Neha nodded….☺️Looking around at Ajay's mother, Haseena and Boxer, Vishal and his mother, Aryan and looking at Dipika she said….
Neha: Aaj to kayi naye rishte bane hain... Isliye is saal ka Diwali yaad gaar hoga…. (Feeling sad 😕 ) Lekin shayad kisi ka aakhri naa ho! 🤢
Looking at Neha Dipika understood what she meant… Consoling her she said….
Dipika: Don't worry Neha… Kuch nahi hoga… God will see to it! 😔 (Then seeing a CD in Neha's hand she asked) Ye CD?!?!? ❓
Indicating it Neha said…..
Neha: Oh ye… Haseena ke EID celebration ki hai… Hum sab gaye the naa… Us din record kar rahe the… Cassette se Haseena ne CD banake di hai for us to watch… Usne circulate karne ko kaha hai… 😛
Dipika: (Hitting her head lightly) Are haan…. CD se yaad aaya… Humari dandiya night ko bhi record kiy a gaya tha…. Use CD me maine transfer kar di hai… Lana bhool gayi… Kal laaongi… Anyways remind me please!
Neha nodded and Dipika excused herself to give the gifts to the others…. 😊
It was really a happy occasion… Finally Dipika had Aryan's gift alone in her hand and started seeking him when Vishal noticed this… He came up to and asked innocently… 😊
Vishal: Kise dhooooooooondh rahi ho?☺️
Looking at him and smiling blushing she said….☺️
Dipika: Vo main… Aryan ko… (Hastily) Uski gift deni thi naa!
Vishal : (Smiling mischeiviously) Ah… Gift deni thi! Theek hai naa… Yaheen kaheen hoga… Mujhe do main de deta hoon… 😉
Dipika hesitated a little and said….
Dipika: Nai….. Ye vo gift hai… Main khud de deti hoon…. 😳
As Vishal started to interrupt again he saw the priest and Aryan coming up to the group he immediately diverted Dipika's eyes to the far end of the room…. He slowly turned to see that Aryan was scanning the group… He knew he must be looking for Dipika….☺️
The priest asked Mrs.Malhotra….
Priest: Maa ji pooja shuru karein? ❓
Mrs.Malhotra nodded and stood in the front pulling Aryan too the front…. So he just missed Dipika at the back of the group…. Calling back Mrs.Malhotra said….
Mrs.Malhotra: Vishal! Dipika! Yahan aao…
Dipika placed the gift on the sofa and she and Vishal went to the front….
Everyone assembled in front of the idol kept in the hall…. Vishal came trough to the front and made Dipika stand next him on the far side… So even if Aryan twisted his neck he wouldn't be able to see her because there were a lot of people present there… And they had made lines behind them….. 😳
The pooja started…. It was wonderful occasion to be celebrated… As Hindu mythology says victory of the right over wrong… Of goodness over evil….
Vishal prayed and then looked sideways at Dipika…. Dipika prayed too but kept looking behind the group scanning to get a glimpse of Aryan…. 😉
He smiled privately and nudged her… Startled Dipika looked at him who indicated to pray… Reluctantly Dipika tore her eyes from the back and closed her eyes… Vishal pitied her state… But what he was doing was for her sake…. Keeping her and Aryan away surely would yield more results he felt… 😳
While all prayed for their well being, for their family, for their friends…. The foremost prayer which the team kept forward was to save the girl who was at danger today…..
After the pooja aarti was done…. With it done the priest took it around…
Aryan had taken his aarti and glanced back when he saw a pair of green bangled hands taking the aarti…. Looking up he saw the hands smooth over the face and head…. But before the hands could come down someone blocked his view…. He saw that it was Ajay…..
Ajay: Its cracker time! [:D/]
Immediately there was a general enthusiasm amongst the crowd…. Neha grasped Dipika's hand and pulled her to the terrace…. 🥳
Neha: Let's go! (Looking at Aryan) Come on Aryan… Jaldi… 😃
Saying Neha dragged off Dipika to the terrace….. And immediately the others walked behind them…..
But since Neha was in front of Dipika and other people beside them, Aryan still didn't notice Dipika….. 😕
Vishal stood watching the fun…. That both hadn't seen each other…. Silently he thanked Neha and Ajay…. Then thought maybe he could get their help to get Aryan and Dipika still closer…. Because he knew that they cared for them as well as he did… Of course his foremost concern was Dipika but for them he knew it was both and especially Aryan…….. 😛
He made way to the terrace…. Mrs.Malhotra was going to the terrace with Ajay and Shotgun's mother when she Aryan still in his place lost in thoughts… She excused herself from them and came to him….
Mrs.Malhotra: Aryan!
No response… Grasping his shoulders she shook him lightly and called him again…..
Mrs.Malhotra: Aryan!
This time Aryan looked at her startled and asked…
Aryan: Ji… Ji maami…. 😳
Mrs.Malhotra: Yahan kyun khade ho? Upar nahi aa rahe? (Twinkle in her eyes) Kya baat hai? Kisi ko dhoondh rahe ho? 😆
Seeing the mysterious smile on her lips Aryan said…. 😉
Aryan: Kisi ko?? 😔 (Shaking his head) Nai… Nai to maami…. Chaliye! 😉
Saying he went off towards the stairs… Smiling Mrs.Malhotra and the others went up to the terrace😆