I'll Love You Longer Than Forever

Chapter One Hundred and Nine

As the date for the wedding grew closer, the excitement only increased. The gang met up whenever they could, preparing for the wedding, and spending time together, having fun and reminiscing. Both Armaan and Riddhima’s extended families seemed pretty excited about the wedding too. Barely any one of them had been able to make it to the engagement, and so they were all looking forward to the wedding. The weekend before their families were set to arrive, the gang took it upon themselves to throw the couple bachelor and bachelorette parties to blow off some steam.

Unsurprisingly, Armaan had not been entirely on board with it. “Yaar! Hum sab ek saath party karte haina? It will be so much fun, like always!” He whined.

“No, Armaan! Ek saath party nahi hogi!” Anjali declared. “It’s a bachelor and bachelorette. Woh kabse saath mein hone lage?”

“Aur waise bhi… ek saath toh hum sab hamesha hi party karte hain,” Muskaan added. “Teri aur Ridzy ki shaadi hai toh kuch toh different hona chahiye na!”

“Meri aur Riddhima ki shaadi hai toh humein decide karne do na kya karna hai! Har cheez mein tum sab bulldozer ki tarah full speed se aage badh jaate ho. Mujhe aur Riddhima ko kya chahiye usse kya fark padta hai, right?” He asked sarcastically.

“Absolutely right,” Muskaan replied. “Aur iss maamle mein na… tum dono ki bilkul nahi chalegi… kyuki bachelor aur bachelorette party tumhaari taraf se nahi humaari taraf se hai. Toh hum hi decide karenge ki humein kise invite karna hai aur kahaan.”

“Waise, yeh sab chodke bhi… Ridzy ne toh already haan bol diya hai, Jeeju,” Anjali told him. “In fact, usne insist kiya ki parties separately ho. She wants to spend time with just the girls.”

The look of betrayal on Armaan’s face was far too funny for either of them to not react to it. Both the girls started laughing loudly, scandalizing Armaan even further. “Chodo. Ab main tum dono se kya kahoon jab dhoka toh mere pyaar ne hi de diya.”

“Oh, Mr. Drama Queen… itni nautanki mat karo. We’ll all have fun! Dekho ab separate parties hongi toh hum woh kar paayenge jo hum chaahte hain, instead of compromising and finding a middle ground. Tum baithke dekhoge hum sabke saath cheesy romantic movies?” Anjali asked.

“Of course!” Armaan cried immediately. “Yeh koi poochne ki baat hai? I will 100% watch them. Kaunsi movie dekhni hai tumhe? Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge? Kuch Kuch Hota Hai? Ya thoda Hollywood style jaana hai? The Notebook? Sleepless in Seattle? Main sab dekhne ke liye ready hoon!”

Muskaan let out an impressed whistle. “Not bad, Hero. Tujhe itni saari romantic movies ka naam pata hai?”

“Mujhe inn sabka plot bhi pata hai,” Armaan fired back. “I’ve watched them a million times. Tum shayad bhool rahe ho ki I had cousins growing up… and I’ve been in a very serious relationship for three years. Of course, maine yeh saari movies dekhi hain!”

“Armaan, you’re so cute!” Anjali exclaimed, pulling him into a hug. “But still… party toh alag hi hogi. I’m sorry, Jeeju!” 

“Fine… you win this time. But please, for god’s sake, koi aur function aise alag - alag mat plan karna. Tumne Papa aur Dad se special permission li haina? For all ceremonies to happen together? Lekin fir bhi alag - alag parties chahiye. Ab tum sabko nahi ladna ki kaun meri side se attend karega aur kaun Riddhima ke side se?” He asked, side eyeing them.

“Armaan… it doesn’t even matter. Tumhe pata hai ki bachelorette pe sirf ladkiyaan hongi aur bachelor’s pe sirf ladke. Iss tarah taunt mat maaro tum,” Anjali replied.

“Theek hai, theek hai,” He relented. “Do what you want. But, you better compensate for this separate party nonsense by planning the best parties ever.”