Concealed Passions

~ 4. Wedding Arrangements ~

~Dhriti's Pov.~

“Oye, Randhir, tu mere Vihu ko aise daat nahi sakta,” came a familiar voice from behind us, making everyone turn in its direction.

(Hey, Randhir, you can't scold my Vihu like this.)

We turned to see none other than Mr. Arunraj Singh Sisodiya, accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Nitya Arunraj Singh Sisodiya.

Uncle and Aunty stepped forward together to greet them. Aunty warmly embraced Nitya Aunty, her sister, while Randhir Uncle gave Arun Uncle a hearty hug.

Filled with joy, I exclaimed, “Arun Uncle! Nitya Aunty!” and rushed towards them to hug them both.

But there was someone else who squealed with happiness just like me. And when I found out who it was, I rolled my eyes because it was none other than Vihu.

He shouted, almost like a girl seeing her crush, “Arun Masa! Nitya Masi!”

Realizing we had spoken in unison, Vihu and I turned to each other, locking eyes in a playful yet intense glaring match. Our silent confrontation was abruptly interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat, breaking our eye contact and snapping us back to the present moment.

"Hello Dhri bacche," Uncle and Aunty greeted me warmly, hugging me back.

"Hey Vi... Aa su che?" Uncle asked, noticing Vihu’s face, then burst into laughter along with Aunty.

(What is this?)

Aunty took a seat beside her husband and asked the same thing in a different way, but she was cut off when Sanu Di interjected by coming forward and hugging them both while they were seated, "Arey Masi - Masa, ane chhodo ane mane jovo."

(Arey Masi - Masa, leave him and look at me.)

“O mera baccha, soon to be bride, how are you?” Aunty exclaimed.

“I’m fine,” Sanvi di answered with a smile.

“Dhruv aur Amy nahi aaye?” Vihu and I asked simultaneously, then immediately glared at each other.

(Dhruv and Amy didn’t come?)

Aunty responded, “No.”

“Why?” we both said together again, our glares intensifying, which made everyone laugh.

Arun Uncle chuckled, “Ye dekho, in dono ka idhar bhi saath hai,” which made everyone laugh even more, while Vihu and I continued our glaring competition.

(Look, these two are together in this too.)

Impatiently, I asked, “Nitya Aunty, Dhruv aur Amy kyu nahi aaye?”

(Why didn’t Dhruv and Amy come?)

Aunty replied, “Aapke Dhruv ka manna hai ki agar vo sara work wind up karle toh vo marriage mein fully enjoy kar sakte hai apne friends ke saath, isliye nahi aaye. Aur Amy apne college project mein busy thi.”

(Your Dhruv believes that if he winds up all his work, then he can fully enjoy the wedding with his friends, that’s why he didn’t come. And Amy was busy with her college project.)

I nodded, accepting the explanation and said, "Accha.”

(Okay.)

"Ek Dhruv hai jo sara kaam acche se karta hai aur ek Vihu hai jo ek kaam karne mein bhi sochta hai," Randhir Uncle remarked, making me instinctively look at Vihu's face. His crestfallen expression made me feel sad too.