When past clash with Present

Chapter 11-Engagement Party

Next morning Sai woke up in Virat's arms at the sound of the alarm. She hurriedly checked her phone, and it was 7:30 am. She tried to get up from bed, but Virat was practically sleeping, hugging her tightly. So she woke him up and showed the clock. He unwillingly let her go after she reminded him that it was not their home. She quickly got dressed and rushed out of Virat's room before anyone saw her.

When she was near her room, she saw Patralekha heading towards Virat's room with the attendant carrying his bed tea. She saw the normal tea and thought he was going to shout now. He is very particular about his morning tea; it should be a Darjeeling leaf, that's why he carries his preferred tea bags when he stays out. She stayed out and, as expected, heard Virat shouting.

After Sai left, Virat also thought to get up and go out on the deck to have fresh air. So he went to the washroom to freshen up. When he had just finished brushing his teeth, he heard a knock on the door. He opened the door, expecting Niraj, but seeing Patralekha with the attendant made his head hot. The attendant entered with the tray of tea and kept it on the center table.

 Patralekha smiled, "Good morning Virat, I thought to accompany you during your morning tea, the masala tea and good company for a good day." Virat's head was already hot for Patralekha, now Masala tea added fuel to it. He called the attendant, who was just going out, and said, "Please take this masala tea. I would like to have a cup of Darjeeling tea." The attendant picked up the tray and said, "Ok Sir, I am informing the kitchen to send you Darjeeling tea. Should we add a sugar cube?" Virat smiled and said, "No sugar please, and infuse for 5 minutes." The attendant left, and then he turned towards Patralekha.

Patralekha was looking shocked and said, "You refused your favorite masala tea I brought for you with love and care?" Virat couldn't keep his cool anymore and yelled, "Did I ask you to bring tea for me? Are you delivering tea to all rooms personally?" She shook her head negatively and tried to speak, but Virat continued, "Then why this special attention towards me? Please spare your attention and care towards your would-be husband, not me. And by the way, I never liked Masala tea; it was your favorite, so I used to have them with you. Please stop bothering me. See you at the engagement party till then bye."

Patralekha came there to start a beautiful morning with Virat, but it turned out to be a nightmare. She ran down crying badly. After some time, Sai came to Virat's room and scolded him, "Veer, you became very rude to her this morning. Minakshi di told me she was crying badly. I know you were upset seeing the masala tea and irritated by her attitude, but you could have said those things politely. I think you should apologize to her. It's bad to make the bride cry on the day of her engagement."

Virat tried to protest, but Sai looked towards him with angry eyes. He gave up finally and said, "Ok fine. I will say sorry. But you know that I am not Viran or Vansh, I am their Dad. Don't show me those scary Mom eyes you show them." Sai laughed at his response and his puppy face. She pulled his cheek and said, "But now their Dad looks younger to them and damn adorable."

To Patralekha's utter shock, Virat came to the breakfast table and asked for an apology for his rude behavior. He said, "Sorry for the morning Patralekha, I should not have shouted at you and insulted your hospitality. But my head was hot for some work-related issues, and I am very particular about my morning tea. I really like to start my day with a nice cup of Darjeeling tea. And one more thing, please don't give me any special attention; it's not right."

He didn't give Patralekha much time to respond. After she said ok, he left the table. But her day was made. She became happy for the rest of the day and looked forward to seeing him again.

The day passed with arrangements and last-minute preparation for the evening party. Soon the afternoon came, and the makeup artist came to get Patralekha ready. She was not much interested in getting decked up, but there was no other way, so she asked her to do light makeup and hair. Her mother asked her to wear a lehenga, but she opted for a light pink silk saree. At the end of the getting-ready session, she was looking like an invitee, not the bride herself. Many of her cousins and relatives were overdone.

In the evening, Patralekha and her bridal party came to the top floor as the party was arranged by the groom's side. Rakesh wore a sky-blue kurta with an elegantly embroidered white Jawahar coat, looking handsome. Patralekha greeted Rakesh and his family under her mother's strict observation, but her eyes darted towards Virat's suite door very often. Soon the door cracked open, and a handsome man in a navy-blue suit entered the party. He paired it with a white shirt, red tie, and white pocket handkerchief.

Virat came and greeted the couple. After congratulating them, he got busy chatting with Minakshi, Akshay, and Rajat. Suddenly a sight caught his eyes, and he forgot to breathe. His wife came in a White and navy blue gown matching his own outfit. Minakshi pinched him, "She is your wife only, don't gawk at her, or Patralekha will doubt." Virat cursed in a low voice, "This girl will kill me one day; so many people are looking at her, and I can't even keep her near myself also." True to Virat's words, Sai stole the limelight. She was looking so elegant and beautiful that everyone was looking towards her.

Soon the party started in full swing. It was time for the couple to exchange the ring. Patralekha tried to find Virat and saw him standing at the front, cheering for Rakesh with a smile. Sai held out the ring for Rakesh to take and put it on Patralekha's finger. She looked towards Virat while Rakesh slipped the ring on her hand, and all, including Virat, also clapped with a smile. Angry tears came to Patralekha's eyes. She picked up the ring Puja handed him and slipped it on Rakesh's finger. Everyone congratulated them, and the photographer asked them to pose. She helplessly looked towards the smiling face of Virat, who was busy talking with Minakshi. Her love and her best friend, none cared for her.

Soon the DJ called couples to the dance floor. Rakesh asked Patralekha for a dance, but she declined, saying she was feeling tired. Rakesh's smile faded away, and he also sat beside her. Many people whisked their partners onto the dance floor. Suddenly, Sai came to Rakesh, "It's not fair, Dada, you are not dancing at your own engagement as your fiancée is feeling tired. Give this dance to your little sister. Come dance with me." Rakesh couldn't say no to Sai's puppy dog face and went to dance with her.

It didn't affect Patralekha much; she was searching for Virat, assuming that he was sitting somewhere and not interested in dancing, as it was not possible for him to dance with her. She thought that he was acting brave during her engagement but couldn't be with any other woman. But suddenly, he appeared in front of her sister-in-law Puja.

Virat asked, "I have seen your husband is busy in the preparation; till then, may I steal you for a dance?" Puja smiled and put her hand in Virat's, "It's an honor to dance with the handsome, dynamic Mr. Virat Chavan." Virat flashed his charming smile towards her, "You are looking amazing, and the pleasure is all mine to get the opportunity to dance with this beautiful lady in this beautiful evening." Without further delay, they entered the dance floor and started to dance.

Patralekha was shocked to see Virat flirting and dancing with Puja. Another of her bubbles burst; she thought that he could never let any woman near him. But everything seemed different. The song changed, and couples changed their dance partners. Puja's husband also joined her, and Sai now became the partner of Rajat while Virat's partner was Minakshi. During the dance, Virat and Minakshi pulled each other's legs and laughed wholeheartedly. They were enjoying, and Patralekha was crying silently seeing them. How could these two people enjoy when she was in pain? They should have rushed to her and pampered her like old times, but everything changed.

Again, partners changed, and Sai and Virat became partners now. They were engrossed in the dance and each other, forgetting about the surrounding. Soon the dance ended, and the DJ thanked all the couples. While all were leaving the dance floor, the DJ said, "May I request Mr. Virat and Miss Sai to stay on the dance floor." All left except them when the DJ continued, "You both are marvelous dancers. I have been watching you the whole evening. Can we conclude the evening with your couple dancing?" They agreed, and soon a romantic song played. Their chemistry, techniques, and skill amazed all the audience, and all became happy except one.