Shehnaaz did a solo performance as well, it was kept a secret from everyone Amrit who had helped her prepare it. Some of her friends were also invited, Mary aunty, Meera, Vicky and Rizwan.

Sidharth couldn't help but blush when she winked at him from the stage in front of everyone singing, "Tapti dopeheri si, ladki gilehari si. Meri jaisi chahiye, tere jaise ko!" And danced like no one was watching her except him.

"Haye, kaise naach rahi hai sasural walo ke samne! Ye kudi bhi!" Shehnaaz's Mami awkwardly spoke.

Rita ji took out the biggest note from her purse, swinging it over her head from a distance and gave it to one of the guys who were handling the music system to ward off evil eyes from her daughter in law and so did her Chachu.

"You're a complete package! Chhota pataka, bada dhamaka!" Shonty complimented when Shehnaaz stepped down the stage.

"Haye, thank you!" She giggled and panted, tired of back to back performances.

"Chal khana kha le, dinner lag gaya hai." Sidharth told her as he handed her a glass of water. The entire family had dinner together while Sidharth's relatives made a few attempts to know more about the bride's family.

"Maine toh Rita se bol diya tha, family me sare businessman hai. Bahu bhi kisi ache aur bade ghar ki honi chahiye, ha! We've never really been a part of mediocre jobs, you see. And I'm glad they found someone like Shehnaaz, dress designer! I'm very impressed!" Sidharth's Bua spoke while the rest of the family passed apologetic smiles awkwardly.

Nobody paid attention to her words and carried on with their dinner, Shehnaaz tried her best to not let it affect her. She joined the youngsters at the terrace after the meal for their party as per the plan and the guests began to leave with time.

"Dekhiye meri baaton ka galat matlab na nikalein, mai toh working ladki chahti thi apne bete ke liye. Aaj kal ki ladkiya kaha ghar baithna pasand karti hai?!" Bua added a little later and it eased Harjot into the conversation.

"Hanji, meri toh dono betiya kaam karti hai. Thik keh rahi hai aap" Harjot said with a smile.

"Vaise aapne len-den ki baat kar li Rita se?" Bua asked again.

"Ji baat nahi hui hai, lekin hum ready hai. Jitna ban padega karenge apni beti ke liye." Harjot replied, even though Jagjit didn't like the idea he didn't say a word.

"Didi, aap kya bol rahi hai? Harjot, aap bhi kyu bhala ha bol rahi hain! Hum kuch nahi lenge aapse." Rita ji immediately interrupted.

"Mujhe pata tha, I knew you wouldn't have said anything so I brought this up!" Bua replied.

"Didi, na humne Preeti aur Neetu ke time pe kuch diya tha, na abhi lenge. Please don't say anything that'd make anybody uncomfortable." Rita ji mentioned in a tone that was a clear hint to the rest of her family as well and took Bua away from the living area.

"Koi uncomfortable nahi hota, ache khase ghar ke toh lagte hai!" Bua shrugged.

"I'm not going to allow it. So please!" Rita ji replied in finality and the topic was dropped.

"Mai thoda walk karke ke aata hu." Jagjit told his wife and went out for a stroll. He was going towards the lawn when he heard people shouting from the terrace area and decided to join them for a change of mood.

"Shots! Shots! Shots!" Shonty and Anni were rooting for the couple as Shehnaaz and Sidharth gulped down their drinks from a very small glass and then sucked on a slice of lime.

"Ahem!" Jagjit cleared his throat and there was pin drop silence followed by his appearance.

"Chachu." Shehnaaz mumbled, afraid he'd tell his wife about the after party.

"Cold drink hai uncle, simple coke!" Anni chuckled, lying.

"Toh mujhe bhi thodi si milegi ye cold drinks?" Jagjit asked his son in law for his glass.

"Umm, Chacha ji.." Sidharth was afraid to do so.

"Dekh, mainu pata hai ki ithe sab kuj ki ho reha si! Ek peg mere lai bhi banao!" He replied and the guys chuckled, making him a glass of drink.

"Bas Chachi ko mat batana!" Sidharth requested and toasted his glass with Jagjit.

"Don't worry puttar!" Chachu replied and gestured to everybody to carry on.

"To Sidharth and Shehnaaz!" He announced, finishing off his glass in no time.

"Chachu aram se, bhaiya inko aur nahi dena!" She told Anni and laughed when her uncle danced with the cousins. They were having a good time and clicking pictures among themselves until someone found them.

"Meri votti aa gayi!" Jagjit excitedly exclaimed, welcoming Harjot who was nearly fuming next to Rita ji and a few more people.

"Aunties, maine plan kiya bhai ke liye. Sorry!" Shonty apologised.

"Arey koi na puttar, aa Harjot!" Jagjit replied, pulling his wife to the dance small floor they had set up and moved to the beats.

"Rabba mereya!" Harjot hid her face in her palms.

"Ab aa hi gaye hai toh 1-2 peg hum bhi laga hi lete hai. Sana ki shaadi ka mauka hai!" Shehnaaz's Mama mentioned, joining Jagjit and got himself a glass while his wife shook her head in disbelief.

"Cheers Mama ji!" Sidharth made him a glass as well and the men toasted among themselves.

"Kal subha ki rasam me jo time se ready nahi hua, usey toh mai bataungi! Neetu Preeti, kal tum dono ko hi saare kaam dekhne hai!" Rita ji mentioned before she left the terrace. All of her kids were there, her daughters who had been in the background all quiet.

The party resumed, even Harjot had a few drinks along with her husband on the special occasion. "Chachi ji! Mujhe nahi pata tha aap bhi.. hmm?" Sidharth smirked, teasing her.

"Wo, umm. Mai toh kabhi kabhi.." Harjot couldn't find words to answer and it made him laugh all the more.

"Thank God mujhe pata chal gaya, ab shaadi ke baad aap, mai, Sana aur Chacha ji sare sath me milke piyenge!" he said.

"Badmaash!" She blushed, hitting his shoulder playfully and watching her niece dance around carefree.

Sidharth had pulled Shehnaaz in the corner while the rest of the gang were busy among themselves. "Parso shaadi hai humari!" She sighed, resting her head on his chest.

"Nervous?" He asked.

"Very?!" She faked a cry.

"Why baby?" He asked again and so cutely that she had to hug him.

"Mai achi biwi nahi ban payi toh?" She asked and he couldn't help but laugh.

"Tujhe banne ki zarurat bhi nahi hai. Tu already hai meri jaan!" He cooed and she looked up at him in awe.

"Haaye sachi?" She asked.

"Obviously darling! Tu bata, kya mujhe kuch karne ki zarurat hai pati banne ke liye?" He asked her the same.

"Nah! Tu jaisa bhi hai mere liye bohot hai. Mera sab tu hi hai, mera pati, mera mata, mera pita, mera bhai, mera dost sab tu hi hai!" She replied and he smiled, caressing her lovely, innocent and adorable face that mirrored her soul. Everything that she thought and believed would be in her face and he loved her for that. They were singing and dancing together for the rest of the night.

The next day, it was the haldi ceremony everybody was preparing for. They had prepared a turmeric paste mixed with oil and rose water to apply to the couple so that they'd glow on their wedding day.

Dressed in an all plain yellow cotton saree, Shehnaaz sat on a small wooden pedestal next to Sidharth, who was in a yellow kurta set himself, where their family, friends and relatives applied the paste on them and wished them luck. The ritual was interesting, banterful and like the Holi playgame in itself for them.

"Hi, mai suit le aaya." Rizwan approached Shehnaaz.

"Pehle haldi toh laga de!" She chuckled, replying.

"Ah, ok." He did as asked.

"Arey kya kar rahi ho?" He was surprised when she applied haldi on his cheek as well.

"Teri dost ki shaadi hai, tujhe bhi toh glow karna chahiye na. Khair, ja Sidharth ko dhund. Abhi uth ke gaya andar, usey de dena suit." She told him. Rizwan nodded and began to leave when she called him out again.

"Acha sunn, ek baar trial karne bolna. Shayad aur fitting ki zarurat pade." She suggested.

"Ok." He nodded, walking into the house. All of this conversation was however watched by some of their relatives from a distance, Shehnaaz's distant aunties shook their heads in disappointment.

"Ouch!" Rizwan ran into someone and gasped looking at his ruined clothes.

"Dekh ke chalna chahiye na? Are you okay?" Akriti said, dusting away the haldi that ruined his shirt through her hands.

"It's okay, I'm looking for Sidharth by the way. Ye unka suit hai." He replied, maintaining a safe distance now.

"You must be Rizwan na? Mujhe bataya tha Mama ne ke tum aoge unka suit leke. Chalo. I'm Akriti by the way, unki bhanji hu, ek lauti. Acha, kuch khaoge?" She introduced herself.

"Nahi, I was only looking for Sidh-" he mentioned again.

"Ha, ha. I know. Come!" She rolled her eyes at him and took him to her uncle's room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hello ji.. Sangeet ceremony ko aage badhate huye chalte hai aage..

Kaisa raha hoga Shehnaaz ka performance.. the one she did in the amla hair oil style?? Or the one she did in the colors awards function??? Isn't she the cutest??

Haaye.. anyway aren't the aunties way too irritating?? Argh.. I wish shaadiya sirf young log mil ke kar lete.. inke unnecessary baatein nhi Sunni padti.. but it is what it is..

Rita ma ke liye hearts!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Isn't Sidharth the sweetest.. Haye aisa koi mil Jaye toh Roz bhagwan ko bhog lagau..