TPQ (Aru Shah) One Shots

THE OTHERWORLD IS HOSTING A WHAT?

"THE OTHERWORLD IS HOSTING A WHAT?" screeched Aru.

Aiden winced, "A New Year's party, Shah," he said. "Masi told me she's planning it."

Aru groaned. "Mom's gonna force me to go!"

"Brynne, Mini, Rudy and the twins are coming," said Aiden pointedly. "If you don't come, you'll miss out."

Aru sighed. "What's the dress code?"

Aiden shrugged. "I already asked Nikita to be in charge of it," he paused and looked down at her. "And I was wondering if you could be my date?"

Aru smirked. "What if I said no?"

Aiden smirked back. "It wasn't a question, Shah."

Then and there, Aru Shah had understood that she had agreed to be Aiden Acharya's date to the Otherworldly New Year's Party, without uttering the word "yes".

"So I heard the Otherworld is hosting a New Years event," said Krithika, sitting down with her cup of chai.

"Unfortunately," muttered Aru, sinking deeper into the couch.

Krithika looked at her incredulously, "You're going, right?"

"According to Aiden, I have no choice," said Aru. "And Nikita already started making my dress."

"She's a talented young girl," said her mother. "She does what she does best."

Krithika paused. "Urvashi wants me to attend,"

Aru raised an eyebrow, "Why?"

"Not just me," said her mom. "All of the Pandavas' parents. Besides Malini, because, you know,"

"Yeah," said Aru.

"Is Nikki making your dress too?" asked Aru.

"I wish," said Krithika. "But I know what I'll wear,"

"And what's that?" asked Aru. Krithika just held her pointer finger to her lips.

A few days later, someone had shown up with something.

"This is your dress, Aru," said Nikita, holding a parcel at the door of the museum.

"Why thank you, Nikki," said Aru, accepting the parcel.

"If you throw this one in the dryer, I will murder you," said Nikita menacingly.

"Understood, ma'am," said Aru, smirking at the younger girl.

Aru closed the door to the museum, looking expectantly at the brown blob in her hands that contained a dress. She carefully unwrapped the parcel and gasped.

The dress was satin, medallion yellow, nearly gold, stretching all the way down to the floor. The waist was cinched comfortably, and the sleeves were off the shoulder, made with an organic material making them look like gold floating clouds.

"Nikita really outdid herself this time," said Krithika, looking at the marvellous dress. "Isn't it beautiful, Aru?"

"Very," she said, smiling.

The day of the Otherworldly party had put everyone in a rush.

Aru called Aiden, who was trying to find more lenses for Shadowfax, meaning he was busy and couldn't talk to her. Brynne was busy making profiteroles that she promised Urvashi she'd bring, and Mini was freaking out because Rudy had asked to be her date.

"Aru!" exclaimed Mini.

"What happened?" asked Aru.

"What if I trip over Rudy and I make a fool of myself? Or what if I bump into a telephone pole like last time because he's handsome? And what if-"