As The Pink Blush Appeared....

20.

That night Saanvi got a message from Manjiri while she was having her dinner at the hostel mess. Her friends had dragged along with them, apparently they were celebrating as their school was already over and now they'd be entering 'a new phase of their life.'So, she had been sitting, sulking and all the while her friends pretended to be drunk over plain 'mango flavoured soft drink'. Suddenly, her phone chimed with a notification and she felt her heart flutter and unknowingly a smile appeared on her face. Herfriends were quick to notice her changed expressions and questions were hurled at her. She somehow escaped all that torture and ignored her friends. She opened the chat and saw Manjiri's message, and her heart dropped to the core of the earth.

Saanvi woke up at 8:00 a.m. She could she could not get even a wink of sleep the previous night, in fact, she had been going through insomnia since the last exam got over. She tried not to think about the day on which it all happened, on which she got the message, the invitation for her wedding from Manjiri. It angered her, saddened her to see Manjiri vulnerable, exhausted and depressed as she'd be degraded, humiliated and stomped upon, her soul broken and Saanvi couldn't bear it when Manjiri would be in pain. She realised during this period which they spent away, apart from each other, indeed, she liked Manjiri. She liked being in her company, her long hair which she would slowly and stealthily untangle, her mellifluous laughter, she liked everything, literally everything about Manjiri. She wanted to offer her little help, whatever she could do to support Manjiri, even though she knew that Manjiri was a fierce lioness. But then her mind was muddled up with various thoughts and feelings. It was overwhelming, on one side was the girl who was ready to fall into a deep pit of darkness and on the other was her family.

Her phone beeped and she looked at the caller-id and picked up. "Meet me in ten at our usual place," Vanshika Didi said. Saanvi stepped out, almost dragged herself towards the cafeteria. Vanshika Di was a graduate in medical sciences. After some greetings and frivolous talks, which only Di did, Saanvi took a sip of her second coffee. "Saaaanuu, why do look like someone dumped you? And are you planning to get wasted by drinking coffee? Have you any idea how much caffeine you just threw in your system and I'm sure this isn't the first time you're drinking since you woke up, isn't it?" Saanvi looked up from the coffee cup and mouthed sorry. "Pour it out, don't leave anything here," Vanshika Di said in a stern voice. Saanvi had no choice but to tell her everything. She told everything about Manjiri, of course she did cut the part about her liking towards Manjiri. "What a girl! She's ready to sacrifice her whole life for some silly family superstitions, I tell you Saanu you should go and stop her from doing this, by hook or by crook." With this Vanshika Di picked up her coffee cup and winked at her.

Saanvi sighed, what was she supposed to do then? It was already half past nine and she'd only two and a half hours, plus her steps need to be calculated. She quickly gave a call while she walked, or practically over to get a car from the famous garage. On other instances she'd have appreciated the beauty, the white, brand new SUV in front of her, but nope, she was running short of the time. She pressed the accelerator and changed the gears as fast as she could. She was driving at a crashing speed of 140 Km per hour for she'd to reach Jalna within next two hours.

As she reached the Mangal Karyalaya,she saw the commotion at the entrance. She thought that that was her chance and made a run for the back rooms, discreetly. Clouds had gathered in the sky and slightly cool wind was blowing but still Saanvi's palms were sweating and herheart was thrumming louder than the shehnai music which was being played in the main hall. That was what Manjiri did to her. Saanvi quickly moved her hand through her hair. She was absolutely pleased to see the rooms on the ground floor. Though, she had had her fair share of experience of climbing up and down from a number of multi-storey buildings, she didn't want that at the moment forshe had less time. Then she spotted a balcony where a white kurti was hung to dry. She recognised it and jumped over the railing and into the balcony,landing softly into the balcony. She opened the door that led into the darkroom. The sight she met was something she'd never forget and her breath halted,Manjiri stood there in her red bridal attire, her long hair plaited and adorned with jasmine strings, her fair hands had deep brown mehandi patterns on them,her eyes were sad but twinkled soon, her lips were plump and her round button nose looked so cute. Saanvi snapped out of her daze and stopped checking Manjiri out when she heard her say, "You?" Saanvi noticed the sadness which Manjiri tried to hide behind her shining eyes and stunning smile and at that very moment she wanted to embrace her and kiss all the worries out of her mind.  

A/N : Now, both Saanvi and Manjiri know that they like each but are hesitant to express their feelings. Enjoy further! 🤗