~**NEW: Chapters 39-43 posted on page 6!**~ - Page 2

Chapter 17: A Sudden Change

"Rashmi!" Suman called out as she poked her head into Rashmi's room. "Rashmi, where are..." Suman paused as she noticed the gorgeous jewelry laying on Rashmi's bed. She sneaked into her room and went to go look at them.

Oh gosh, Veer and his family gave Rashmi all this expensive jewelery? she thought. Hmm, let's see how it looks on me.

She grabbed some bangles and tried them on. Suman thought they looked really nice on her, and she grabbed some more jewelry and tried it on. She was admiring the finery when she heard Nani approaching. She quickly hid her arms behind her so that Nani wouldn't see her wearing the jewelry.

Nani came in the room, walked up to her and slowly tugged on her left arm. Suman's arm was decked out with Rashmi's bangles.

"Your jealous of Rashmi, aren't you?" Nani asked as if she already knew.

Suman looked everywhere in the room except at Nani. Nani raised an eyebrow and made a "talk to me" face.

"What would make you think that?" Suman said slowly after a long pause.

"Open your eyes! Your wearing your friends jewelry: the jewelry that Veer's parents gave her for the Joraa. And you didn't even ask for permission!"

"She's not even home right now. She's off on a date with her... super rich, truly loving, very handsome boyfriend," she said with a hint of jealousy in her tone.

"Why are you talking like that? Nani spat at her. You're not in love with Veer; are you?"

After a very long pause, Suman said, "Yes Nani, I like Veer."

Uh-Oh, she thought to herself. "This could be a problem," she said.

"Nani, don't you think I deserve Veer? I mean, I'm a rich man's daughter, and I heard that Veer's mom and grandpa wanted Veer to have his Joraa with me - not Rashmi."

"I completely agree, dear," said Nani. Suman was surprised to hear her say it. Nani continued. "Ever since Rashmi has came into this house, she has taken everything from you. Your parents, your home, and now your love; who knows what she will take from you next. But it's too late to tell anyone now. Everyone from Veer's family will be seeing Rashmi tomorrow, and everyone from our family will see Veer at the ceremony."

"I know Nani, but we have to do something! I need to have my Joraa with Veer! I will die if I don't! And I'll do whatever it takes to take that maid's daughter out of my way!" she shouted.

"Ssh, be quiet! If anyone hears this, who knows what will happen? Don't worry, I will help you get Veer, no matter how much that girl will have to suffer," she explained, while hugging Suman.

"I'll come up with something so devious that that girl will remember it for the rest of her life!"

Chapter 18: The Romantic Surprise

It was finally the day of the ceremony. Rashmi was very excited, but also very, very, nervous because Veer's family was going to see her, and she really wanted them to approve of her. The ceremony was being held at Veer's place, and she was in her room getting ready.

Rashmi was sitting at her computer typing up her speech for Language Arts when she heard a huge thud and saw the bottom half of a person falling into her room from her window. Rashmi stifled a shriek and nervously got up to see who had just intruded on her privacy.

"Ow!" the mystery person shouted.

"Oh my, gosh!" said Rashmi, her silent composure going down the drain.

Rashmi found Veer laying on the marble floor beside her bed, flat on his face. Rashmi took him under the arm and helped him get up.

"Veer, what are you doing here? You're not supposed to be here. And even if you wanted to come here, why did you come through the window?"

"How else was I supposed to get in?" he said, making hand motions.

"Oh gee, I don't know, coming through the front door?" she said sarcastically.

"Well, coming through the front door would be plain stupid, and using a ladder is what ordinary people would do, so I decided to take the risk and do some rock climbing."

She stood there, shocked. She couldn't think of anything to say to him.

"This is for you, my love," he said as he showed her his hands, scarred from climbing.

She took his hands to find that they felt like sawdust. "I never told you to climb into my room. Ammo is going to come in any second now, just leave!"

"Whoever wants to come, let them come. I don't care."

Well good for you, Mr. Buff n' tough, she thought. "But I do. Please Veer, just leave!"

"You want me to jump out that window? No way, yaar. My work here will only take a minute. After that I'll leave. Just relax. You look beautiful today. You look like Miss India! No even better: Miss World, oh god what the heck am I saying, I mean Miss Universe, no I got it: Miss Milky Way Galaxy! No no no, even better than that!-"

Rashmi was hysterically laughing. She was amazed that he was praising her beauty. Wow Veer, I'm even better than the alien beauties out there, she thought. Veer's fact was true, and she was stunning. She was wearing a gorgeous pink and green Indian dress called a sari (saa-ree).

"Okay, you saw me, now leave, otherwise Ammo will come!"

"Wait. I have to do one more thing. But first, go to your mirror."

"Okay," Rashmi said nervously and she stepped in front of her mirror.

"Now close your eyes."

Rashmi closed her eyes and she felt Veer tying something around her neck. She opened her eyes and saw a beautiful gold necklace. She gasped.

"Veer..."

"Ssh, don't say a word."

"Rashmi!" shouted Ammo.

"Veer, go!" she shouted as she pushed him towards the window.

"You want me to jump out the window and break my knees? Okay, here I go!"

"No, hold on a sec!"

She ran to her closet, hitching up her long skirt, and pulled out a rope-like ladder. She untangled it and handed it to him.

"Here, use this to climb down and I will kill you if you get caught by the guards!"

"Don't worry yaar. I won't."

Veer placed the ladder at the window.

"See you in a little while!"

Then, at the same time they said, "I love you!" They smiled at each other. Veer continued down the ladder and ran off.

"Rashmi, why are you staring out the window? Come on, It's time to go to Veer's place," Ammo said as she pulled on her arm.

"Okay," Rashmi said as they left the room.

Chapter 19: The Ceremony

Rashmi was finally at Veer's house for the ceremony. They had an even bigger mansion than Suman's family. All the people from Suman's family were here, and also a family who cared for Rashmi and Ammo when they were in poverty. They are her non-related Nani, her first friend, Leher, and her two brothers Raj and Jai. She was really happy to see them after a long time.

Rashmi spotted Leher and was glad to see her. "Hey Leher! I'm so glad to see you! I haven't seen you since my birthday!"

"Hey Rasham," said Leher. "Now I know what you've been up to nowadays. You've been spending time with some guy named Veer. Gosh, I can't wait to see how he looks like!"

"Well whatever he looks like, we all know he's just like Rasham," said Nani.

"Hi," said Veer as he came next to Leher. "I'm Veer. Rashmi must have told you guys about me."

"Of course she has," said Rashmi's Grandma. "Oh my gosh, you are absolutely perfect for our Rashmi! You seem like a loving, caring, kind, and friendly person; just like our girl!"

"I know, everyone says that we both are one-in-a-million."

"May I have your attention please," said Veer's father into a microphone. "Today, Mr.Thakur and I have invited all of you to come here for the ceremony to inform you that my son Veer, will be having his Joraa with Mr. Thakur's younger daughter, Rashmi."

I don't think so, Suman thought. I'm going to be the future daughter-in-law of this house, not you Ms. Goody-two-shoes!

"Right now, I would like Veer and Rashmi to put their ceremony rings on each other's fingers."

Rashmi held Veer's hand and put her ring on his ring finger, and he put his ring on her ring finger.

Everyone started clapping and cheering, except for stubborn Suman.

"I hope that you all will be able to attend the Joraa which will be held in two weeks at the Thakur household. Invitations will be sent to your homes with the full description of the event. For now, please enjoy some snacks and other appetizers."

Rashmi was standing next to Veer when some lady about her mom's age came up to them.

"Wow Veer, your saathi is so beautiful! You're very lucky to have your Joraa with a rich man's daughter. You two make a wonderful couple!"

"Oh, um, thanks Auntie," he said, while knowing the fact that she isn't a rich man's real daughter.

"Rashmi," said Veer's mom. "Since you are going to be the future daughter-in-law of this house, I would like to give you a tour of our home."

"Can I come too?" Suman asked Mai.

"Sure," she said.

"Rashmi, since you know that Veer calls me 'Mai', I will allow you to call me that."

"Wow Auntie, your house is so big and beautiful!" exclaimed Suman. "Gosh, I wish I could also be the future daughter-in-law of your house. But it's okay,"Suman said as she foreshadowed her own future.

Suman and Mai continued to talk to each other, while Rashmi was standing near them staring at the house, and to be honest, it really was beautiful! She zoned out for a minute and her juice accidentally spilled on the floor. She crouched down and cleaned the floor with her napkin. Everyone stared at her and were whispering to each other about what she was doing. They were astonished to see that Rashmi was "cleaning the floor", a job done by maids.

"Rashmi!" whispered Mai. "What are you doing? This job is done by maids! Stand up at once!" she softly said in an angry tone.

Rashmi got up and immediately apologized to her. She forgave her and called a maid to clean up the mess. Everyone continued to stare at her and probably made comments about that. She began to blush, feeling embarrassed about what she did.

Why did I just do that? Ugh, I'm so stupid! I've been living upon these rich folks and I should always remember that servants and maids are supposed to do most of their master's housework- not guests.

Veer came to Rashmi and took her upstairs. He noticed she was feeling down and wanted to cheer her up.

"Hey, don't feel embarrassed. I know you didn't mean to do that," he said, trying to brighten her mood.

"I'm really sorry Veer. I didn't know your mom was so sensitive."

"Ah, don't worry about it. She's always like that. So, are you excited about our Joraa?"

"Of course I am! I can't wait until that day!"

The lovely couple was so happy and excited about their Joraa that they had no idea that an evil eye was spying on them, which would soon not only ruin, but change their lives forever.