By Your Side..Forever & A Day!

22. Harry Plot-ter

5000 reads & 200 votes!! I am overwhelmed :D Thank you so much :) :)
Dedicated to mysteriousforces007 who recently celebrated his birthday.. I had a mini stardom moment when he asked for an autograph :P Thanks for your constant support, buddy! :) Waiting for you to begin your story.. Come on, write! Write! Write! :P
Happy reading.. :)
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Tamanna's PoV :

''Red?''
''Too bright!'', and she threw one outfit over her head into the rejection bin.
''White?''
''It's not a Christian wedding.''
''Yellow?''
''I feel like puking!'' There went the third.
''Blue?''
''Too sober.''
''Pink?''
''Too girly!'' It became the fifth colour to fly off the choices.
''Black again?''
''Maybe.'' One could never go wrong with black. ''It's a business party, Sha. I have to keep it formal'', I declared and my self proclaimed fashion stylist helplessly pouted.
''Oh wait, no! I cannot go to the party!'' Realization dawned upon me.
''Why? What's the matter?'', asked Trisha being confused at my sudden outburst. Without answering her I dialed Aryamann's number.
''Rise and shine, sunshine! What makes you ring me up so early in the morning?'', he greeted. It was half past nine, not so early. His extremely good mood made me hesitant about talking my next sentence.
''I cannot make an appearance tonight'', I spoke in a low voice.
''Oh why, Tommy?'' His tone changed from chirpy to concerned.
''UEL's administrators are going to be there!'', I said the obvious.
''So?''
''No students are invited!''
''So?'', he repeated, failing to understand what I was intending.
''I'll be questioned about my presence and relation with the Rathores'', I said matter-of-factly.
''So what, Tommy? Say we're family friends'', he suggested, but it wasn't as simple as that.
''I don't want them to get a false hint that my scholarship was because of some influence and nothing that I deserved'', I explained my point of view. ''I know you've a surprise in store for me, but I'm so sorry Aryamann, I cannot come tonight.''
''Everything will fall into place. Just give me an hour'', he guaranteed by playing his usual no-tension-always-cool card.
''But...'' Now I failed to impute his intentions.
''You trust me, right?'', he confirmed.
''I do.'' Blindly!
''Then leave everything to me and just answer - Have you decided a dress for tonight?'', he quizzed in attempt to change the topic, but that raised my worries even more.
''That's an even bigger issue - No!'', I replied. I had a closet full of nothing!
''Great! Don't!'', he exclaimed in no sarcasm. ''Just keep calm for the next sixty minutes and wait for my call'', he instructed and cut the conversation without warning.
Wait. Did he just hang up on me?

I was clueless of the plan developing in his master mind until I heard the doorbell exactly after an hour. A young man dressed in all corporate attire stood on the porch with a warm smile on his face and a large gift box in his hands.
''Are you Miss Tamanna Sen?'', he enquired and I confirmed my identity.
''Mr Aryamann Rathore has sent this for you'', he informed while handing over the parcel to me and left without another word after having accomplished his job.
When I upturned the box, I found a note stuck on it which read : Party theme changed from 'Boring' to 'Mask'. Your identity will be concealed. But everybody will die to know who the pretty face in this gorgeous dress is! ;)
I made no delay in tearing open the box in anxiety and found an extremely gorgeous turquoise gown inside. Aryamann selected the same moment to ring me up.
''Perfect timing!'', I uttered as soon as I answered it.
''Did you like it?'', he asked in a nervous tone.
''How much does this cost?'', was the first question that spat out from my mouth. Was it a gift or was I supposed to pay for it? Either ways it was apparent that it was way beyond my budget. Plus, what happened to dressing formally?
''Who said I bought it? Darling, I know a store that provides apparels on rent. I only hope it doesn't smell of sweat'', he snorted slightly in humour at the last sentence.
Having not heard anything in reply from the other end of the phone, he comprehended my doubts about wearing the outfit.
''Don't worry, it's dry cleaned after every use and you can pay the rent yourself, it's very pocket friendly'', he assured and I breathed an 'OK' of relief. I definitely wouldn't like it if he paid for me everytime.
''It's perfect for you, Tommy. No glam, no glitter, only pure elegance - just the way you like it!'', he exclaimed in mere imagery of my body draped in it. Made simply of satin, net and lace, it sure was fit for my wardrobe.
''I need an expert opinion'', I replied comically and my second thoughts about it vanished after Trisha gave a big thumbs up to Aryamann's pick.
''Thanks Ironman! You're always a saviour!'', I exclaimed. He was always at my beck and call.
The little girl in me was enthusiastically geared up for the princessly roleplay that evening.