SIDHARTH'S POV

God! Whom do I stop? Girls or the guys? They have gone crazy, as if it's the last party on earth! And I'm surprised that they've actually thrown a happening bachelorette to Meeti. Every person here is a friend of the 'to be bride' or a striper! I'm definitely going to ask Shehnaaz how she managed this? How she knows the DJ guy too!

Sitting in a corner, still holding my first glass 'cause I'll be driving them back, I keep an eye on her.

"Hey man! Join us!" Jasmeet shouts from the dance floor.

"I'm good. You guys enjoy!" is my answer for the nth time I believe. Shehnaaz is mad at me, I can give you more than 10 reasons on that.

Because I'm following her everywhere, because I didn't let her have vodka shots, because  I didn't play their so called 'spin the bottle' game, because I refused to dance, because I'm using my phone here. Plenty enough ?

Currently, she's dancing, and I wanna know what is Amandeep speaking into her ears, that she's laughing so hard. Good that she's in the middle of the circle with her friends, no jerks around. 

"Hey..! I believe I've seen you somewhere..?" a girl approached me.

"Sorry.. Me?" I ask.

"Can you see anybody else here..? Hotter that youuuu.." she sat beside me.

"I..I don't think I've seen you anywhere.." I tell her.

"Well.. You're seeing me now.. Infact.. If you want.. You can see me more.." her hand slowly reaches to my shoulder, as she moves ahead.

Shifting back a little, "Actually.. I'm here with someone.. So.." I gestured her to go.

"Really..?  I saw you unassisted since I'm here... " she shrugs.

"Listen just lea.." I was directly going to ask her to leave.

"Oh poor boy..forget her.. She wouldn't leave you like this..if she cared any less.." her hands now rest over my chest.

"Sidharth?" Oh No! There came Shehnaaz. At the very unfortunate timing. Looking back and forth between me and this stranger. Her moist eyes told me already that she had definitely not heard us. Stomping her foot, she ran out of my sight.

"Shehnaaaz..! Baby! Ruk yaar!" I went after her, before I could catch her she dashed into the washroom. Without caring that other females in the washroom would shout at me, I went in.

To clearly hear her sobbing inside a locked door.
"Open the door!" I knock. "Don't you trust me darling? Open the door nah baby!" I keep calling her out. Before there's any kinda scene created.

"I hate you!" she says, Unlocking the door.

"No.. You love me! But you don't trust me!" I reply.

The next moment she bunches my collar, "What hell do you think you were doing..? And I'm not an idiot.. I saw her hands all over you..!" her mascara is all smudged with tears spilling out. My cry baby! I try correcting it, but she jerks my hands away.

"Answer me.. Who is she? !" she screams at my face.

"Your answer is Stranger.. I don't know who she was.. She just came to me.. I tried ignoring her okay..!  And do you think I'm this stupid.. To flirt with a girl knowing that you're in the same place..?" I said. She thinks for a while. And finally happens to release my shirt.

"Chal bahar.." clasping her wrist, I wanted to go out. But she is not done yet.

"That doesn't justify why was she sitting with you.. Why didn't you ask her to leave..!?" she asks.

"I asked her to leave! But she wasn't moving!" I said.

"That's it?" she asks.

"Ha baba.. That's it! You think I'm lying?" I move forward, this time she let me have her hands in mine. She's thinking something again, then washes her face quickly.

"Chal!" she asks me to follow her.

"Where were you Sana..?" her friends enquire, but as soon as they saw we came out of a ladies washroom. Began passing all kinda dirty smiles to me.

"I'm looking for a girl.. Pink top-pink skirt.. Height medium.. Fair skin.. Dhundo!" she announces. Oh, that seems fishy. But I'm excited to see what she's gonna do!

"There.. The one on at the counter..?" Katherine said.

"Ha yahi hai.." she strode to her. Picking up a stray half filled drink from a table she passed by.

"Hey!" she pats her shoulder, the moment the girl turns back, she emptied the glass, splashing the drink in her face.

"What The Fuckk?!!" girl shouts, totally blown away. I hear people gasping in the background.

"Dare you touch my man!" she roars. I never thought drunk Shehnaaz could be violent too.

"Youuu.." the girl stepped forward to rebuke, but caring more for her face and dress she left.

"Gayi vo chudail.. Tu mood theek kar apna.. Bhook lagi hai..?" Amandeep asked. She nods. Moving towards a table, ignoring my presence.

"That was bad one!" Jasmeet exclaimed.

"Yeah!" High-fiving him, I chuckle.

"What have I done yaar!" I pull her back, when she still didn't talk to me. Looking for a cab, instead of getting in the car.

"You don't know? You just said that yourself!" she spat.

"Abb kya bol diya maine bey..?" I begin to raise my voice.

"Tune washroom me bola tha..! Am I stupid to flirt with any girl knowing that you're in the same place! Abhi bata?" she fights. Fuck man!

Her friends left some minutes ago in the other car and here she is. Still arguing!

"Baby.. That just slipped out.. Flow flow me bol diya hoga.." I said.

"Tu sach me flirt karta hai bahar.. Jab mai nahi hoti.. ?" she makes that crying face again. 

"Tu pagal hai.. Kuch bhi bol rahi hai..! Ek toh talli.. Upar se jhalli.." for now she's too drunk, to understand, what I'm trying to say. I hug so she calms down. As my hand touched her bare skin, whoa it's  cold!

"Baith andar!" opening the door, made her slide in.

"Tu mere se pyaar nahi karta na.." she blabbered once the car started.

"Karta hu meri maa..!" I tell her.

"Stay na..." she held my hand, when I turn to leave after dropping her to her apartment.

"Gotta go baby... Tu call karna uthne ke baad.." I left kissing her head.

SHEHNAAZ'S POV

Woke up with a heavy head, "Bebuu...?" I call out for him.

He hugs me, "Good morning sweety..!" I hold him back with my eyes still closed.

"Why did you shave?" I caressed his face, soft and milky!? His hairs, long?? I open my eyes slowly, to see it's not him.

"Ammaaaa! What the hell? Kathy!" I jerked myself away. She laughs hysterically, soon I hear two  men joining us.

"This was not funny!" I stand. Dashed into the bathroom and shutting the door loudly.

"Bebuu.. I love you.." I hear Jassie mimicking me.

"Shut up!!" I shout, to hear them laugh more. I had no idea, it was Katherine talking to me. Once everyone was ready we left for Meeti's place. My parents arrived, we got her house decorated as the functions began.

"Loh ji.. Jassie da vyah hoya iss Katrina de naal.. Meeti da vi ho jana hai kuj dino me.." Rajjo aunty, Meeti's massi sighed. The haldi ceremony had just completed. Everybody was having lunch.

"Excuse me aunty.. It's Katherine.." Kathy corrected her.

"Oh ekko gal hai..!" Massi brushed off.

"Aye Kudiye.. Tune vyah nahi karna..?" another aunty asked Shefali.

"Massi mereko baksh do.. Meri jab tak job nahi lag jati.. Maine nahi karna vyah-shayh.." auntys made faces on Shefali's answer.

"Arey.. Mai dikh raha aap logo ko.. Enna changa.. Handsome.. Gabru Munda hai.. Mera layi ekk soni si kudi laado na Massi.." Amandeep sat beside the ladies' group. The ladies giggle seeing his excitement.

"Iss bandar se kisi ne nahi karna vyah..!" Shefali smirked.

"Mai bandar..?" he asks, getting up.

"Han.. Tu bandar!" she places her hands over her waist. Just then, he grabs a fistfull of the turmeric paste and applies it mercilessly all over her face.

"Bandariya!" he teased and ran away. She chased him, till she took her revenge. They still fight like they used to in during our school days.

"You think they is something budding between them?" Kathy asks me.

"Noo.. That's how they were as kids.." I tell her their banters while we served food to the guests.

"Well.. They aren't kids anymore.." she nudges me to look at a particular direction. I see Aman holding her face and wiping her it with his handkerchief.

"Maybe.. You're right!" I agree with her.

"Sanuu.." Adi came running to me.

"Hanji baby..?" I kneeled down to him.

"Sidharth uncle.." he returns my phone.

"Oh..lao do.." I take it from him.

"Bebuu.. Tune pictures dekhe? Kaisi lag rahi hu..?" I asked.

"Amazing meri jaan.. Bohot pretty lag rahi hai.. Aur phone toh sath me rakha kar na..!" he says.

"Arey this haldi and all was going on.. Ganda ho jata iss liye andar rakh diya tha.." I reply, going  into the kitchen, for some privacy.

"Hogaya function?" he asks.

"Han abhi ka ho gaya.. Shaamko mehendi and sangeet.. I'll wear that green salwar suit tonight!" I chip.

"Great! Toh tumlog ka dance prepare ho gaya?" he asks.

"Ha hogaya.. I wish ye Aman gadbad na karde..!" I answer, we've prepared a dance sequence, but I'm afraid Aman is a horrible dancer.

"Tu apna kar na.. Uske sath kyu perform kar rahi hai??" he chided.

"Couple dance hai na!" I whine.

"Right.. Go dance! Best of luck!" and he cuts the call. Kya ho jata hai isko achanak se?! I call back.

"What?" he asks.

"How many times have I told you to not to cut the call on my face.. Jab baat nahi karni toh call kyuu kiya?" I ask. He  took a breath before answering.

"Ha. Right. Right. Mujhe call hi nahi karna tha.." now he's angry! For what?

"Kya hogaya baby? Tu pyaar se baat karte karte badal kyu jaata hai achanak se..!" I ask.

"Aisa hi hoon mai!" is his hard answer again.

"Sidhaaarth.. Mujhe samajh nahi raha! Kya ho gaya tujhe ?" I calmly try talking.

"Sana.. I've been looking for you.. Chal practice karni thi na?" Aman came.

"That's it!" I hear Sidharth before he ends the call again. Damn! Now I understood, he has a problem with Aman! Aman? But he's like a brother to me!

Not again Sidharth! He has to get over with this stupid insecurity now! We've been dating for more than 6 months, and this is where he stands? Deal with it yourself dude! I send some more selfies we clicked. Precisely the one with me and Aman!

SIDHARTH'S POV

"Ha Preeti..?" was working in the office, when she called me.

"I had a meeting Mr Thapar.. Kuch papers pe tere signatures chahiye.. Plus I wanted to discuss something too.." she says.

"Theek hai.. Mai aata hu shamko.." I look at my watch, to mentally calculate by what time I shall be free.

"Nahi.. Shamko I've a meeting.. I'm coming now.. Bas 15 minute ka kaam hai.." she says.

"No.. You stay.. I'm coming.. Okay?" I ask her.

"It's okay.. Mujhe meeting ke liye jaana hi hai.." she insists.

"Fine!" I canceled every for the while she came over.

"Kab tak office continue karegi.. Don't you think you should rest..?" I suggest her to stay home.

"Please! I'm not leaving my office at any cost.. Untill my first trimester atleast.. " she answers.

"As you wish!" I give up, she's stubborn.

"By the way.. I heard tujhe aaj kal neend nahi aati..? Raat bhar baith ke documentaries dekh raha tha..?" she asks. Mom must have told her.

"Nothing like that! Ek achi series hai.. Interesting.. You should watch it too.." I said.

"Konsi? How to paas time.. When bae is not home..?" she laughs.

"Kaam hogaya na tera.. Jaa abhi..!" I snap.

The time my sisters got married, I was young. Too young to even conceptualize what a marriage is, a bundle of joy for two people in love, I had thought. Gradually with age and observation, marriage was a huge responsibility for lifetime to me. I had lived life quite happily, but with Shehnaaz simple and obvious stuffs seem enjoyable. Each passing time feels good. Special.  Memorable. I want her like never before. Always by my side. Practically. The excitement to see her is the same as it was in the initial days after we had just confessed. I've decided I'll ask her, to shift to my place completely, because that is how much I need her. Literally everytime. I believe we've reached a point where we can live together, we know each other so thoroughly. Getting married was never my priority, it might scare her, if I directly proposed. We can plan that later, however I want a baby too. But it's too damn early for that. No, honestly it's just I love Atharv (nephew) alot and now that Preeti is going to bring a new family member too, I'm in this kids' zone.

I haven't seen Shehnaaz, after the club night. Only over the phone, we talked. She's so involved in the functions, that she barely has time to talk. Actually no time for me. We catch-up once a day, only when she calls back after seeing my missed calls. I can't blame her for this. She is busy doing something, attending guests or so.
I found out, I could not even sleep properly. It's been six days, she left.

As per a routine, I called her in the noon, 'Paath chal raha hai.. Will call u later' she texted.

Tried calling once again at night around 11, then 12. She didn't pick up. Then she called back really late at night, by the time I had slept.

'Sorry bebu.. Kal ke liye  haldi ki tayari kar rahi thi..' was her message I saw in the morning.

Some photographs too, of her with her friends decorating the house. One with Amandeep on his knees presenting her flowers, one with Shehnaaz wearing a flower on her bun. I just cannot bear her close to any man, except for me. What makes him roam around her all the time? Be it her childhood bestfriend. I can't change the fact, that I don't like seeing her with him. If I  tell her this, she'll kill me! I didn't call her the next day, knowing she would be busy with the functions.

But she had sent some pictures again, dressed in a yellow Patiala. Hairs braided into a fish tail, resting on one side of her shoulder.

Smiling into he camera, 'Mummy ka suit dala hai..!' she had captioned.

'Gorgeous baby!(kisses)' I typed. Just then another picture arrived of her placing a small bindi in the middle of her forehead.

'Abhi?' she asks.

'Perfect!' I reply.

'Call karu mai..?' she asked.

'I'm in office darling..' hard luck, my meeting was about to begin. She sent upset faced emoticons.

'I'll call you once I'm free.. Ok?' I texted.

'Okie! I'll be free in d noon.. Missin u puttu!' she says.

'Aww.. Me 2 baby!' I sent before keeping the phone down.

Back from the meeting, her pictures welcomed me again. What is with this Amandeep guy, always all goofy goofy around girls? This one photo of him, hands around Shehnaaz made me loose all my temper. Looks like they are posing together. Once she told me about some dance. Yeah, that must be it.

"Hello..?" Adi answered call on her behalf.

"Hey Adi! Kya kar raha hai!?" I ask.

"Games khel raha hu.." he says.

"Shehnaaz ko phone de.. Bol Sidharth hai.." I said. Soon he handed it over to her. We were peacefully talking until she mentions him again. Why God?

Bet you, she's not at all missing me. And having a pretty amazing time with her 'bestfriends' I've started to hate this word now. And then she asks what happened? Having no idea of how left out I'm feeling! How crazy I'm about her, that  it takes a toll on me keeping myself away from her.

"Kya hua baby..?" her sweet voice, laces me with self-guilt for being rude. Sorry. I wish you knew, how it is to live in the same city and not see you. I'm done texting, come live!

"Sana.. I've been looking for you.. Chal practice karni thi na?" that guy came AGAIN.

"That's it!" I hang up. Soon she fills my message box with some selfies, with her 'bestie'. She did this on purpose! How mean! I cannot take it now. Switching off the phone, throwing it away to a corner. I headed out.

"Riya.. Reschedule all my meetings.. I won't see anybody today.." I left the office.

"Are..are you alright sir?" she asks, must have seen me anxious.

"Headache" I said before leaving. Driving myself out, even this traffic seems less chaotic than my life. What am I, a fool? A fucking emotional fool. Thinking of getting married! Haha!