PERFECTLY IMPERFECT [ON HOLD]

CHAPTER 4 - Mehendi Mishap (Part 2)

Malhotra House (Ishqi's POV)

The dance performance was now in full swing. I too was vibing to the music but my eyes were fixed on one person only. 'He looks good while being so carefree !!', my heart whispered to which I sub-consciously nodded. Then I realized what I was thinking !! Ohh crap... why was I thinking about HIM again ?? This AVM will certainly make me go mad one day !!

The next moment, my thoughts were broken by a hand being offered to me. I looked up to see the smiling face of Mayank. Really !? Why is he acting so sweetly suddenly ?? And did he really think that after whatever he said and did to me in the past few days, I would forget everything and pretend that everything is okay between us ?? Hell no !! But well, right now, I don't want to create any scene and hence, gave him my hand reluctantly. He took me to the dance floor and we both started dancing.

Sonu and Raj joined us too and seeing them dancing so happily together, I also put on a fake smile on my face while dancing. Soon, everyone else started dancing around us, and due to the dance floor becoming so chaotic, I found myself losing balance and started falling.

I was flailing my hands to balance myself when I felt another hand wrap around my wrist and pull myself. Before I could react, the same hands steadied me by wrapping around my waist. Instantly, I recognized the touch and looked up to meet the eyes of HIM, the one who is plaguing my thoughts too much now-a-days – My AVM.

Time had paused for both of us. It seemed in this moment, that all other things in the world were inconsequential. Him and I was all that mattered.

Surkh wala, sauz wala, Faiz wala love

Hota hai jo love se jyada waise wala love

Ishq wala love

I continued staring at him, trying to soak in his warmth as he slowly made me stand properly but didn't step away as if even, he didn't want that moment to break.

Hua jo dard bhi toh humko aaj kuch zyada hua

Ishq wala love

Suddenly, I came to my senses and ran away to the place where I was sitting before. 'No no Ishqi !! What are you doing !? You can't fall for him !! He is committed and so are you... Mayank is the one for you even if AVM is the right one !!', my mind scolded me.

I somehow convinced myself not to stare at him and averted my eyes from him. The mehendi artist asked me something which I didn't even hear. All I could think about was AVM. The person who made me feel things that I wanted to feel for someone else, the person who was slowly ticking all of my love-list check boxes without even knowing about it, the person who even though fought with me 24x7, didn't hesitate to help me whenever I need him – "Ahaan", I unconsciously whispered.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't even see Sarla Auntie sitting beside me until she started trying to take a peek at my mehendi. "Mera ho gaya auntie, aap mehendi artist ko le sakti hai !!", I told her politely, fearing that she will start another drama if she doesn't get the main mehendi artist all to herself soon.

"Want me to distract her for a while !?", a soft voice whispered in my ear. I turned to my left to see Sonu's friend, Monami, sitting behind me. I smiled at her suggestion and whispered back, "Nah, abhi ke liye theek hai, mera sach mein ho gaya. Bas haan, yeh offer seasonal sale ki tarah thode wakt mein band mat kar dena, agli baar jab yeh drama.com mein log in karne wali hongi toh mai offer le lungi !!". We both giggled at that before composing ourselves as Suman aunty came to me.

I went with Suman aunty to another room where she made me sit on the bed and went to bring something to eat for me. "Maasi sahi hai, Mai sach mein bahut lucky hu ki mujhe Suman auntie jaisi saas mil rahi hai aur mai shaadi todke unhe hurt nahi karna chahti... par isme meri kya galti ki Mayank aesa dikha raha hai jaise ki yeh shaadi yaa mai kisi se use koi affect nahi padta !? Sorry aunty, par agar Mayank ne mujhse maafi nahi maangi aur ek achhe mangetar jaisa nahi bana, toh mai sachhi muchhi shaadi tod dungi !!", I spoke to myself determined. No matter what this so-called society would say, I refuse to get myself bound in a loveless marriage where one thinks he is superior to the other, like my maasi.