Fragrance of love

32 TEEJ

SHANAYA

"Hi," I said, trying to sound friendly. "I'm Shanaya."

The girl smiled and said, "Saanvi Malhotra."

I repeated her name in my head, trying to place it. But I couldn't recall ever meeting her before.

"Nice to meet you, Saanvi," I said, trying to sound friendly.

Saanvi's smile widened, and she turned to Saransh. "Thanks for introducing us, Saransh."

Saransh grinned and said, "Anytime, Saanvi. I knew you two would hit it off."

I raised an eyebrow, wondering what Saransh meant by that. But before I could ask, Mom called out from the kitchen.

"Shanaya, come help me with the snacks!"

I excused myself and headed to the kitchen, leaving Saransh and Saanvi chatting in the living room. As I worked on the snacks, I couldn't help but wonder who Saanvi was and why Saransh seemed so fond of her.

"Mom, how can I help you?" I asked.

"Nothing, beta. I just wanted to remind you to wake up early tomorrow morning," she replied.

I smiled and nodded, "Okay, mom. I'll make sure to wake up on time."

Mom smiled back and said, "Good, now go get some rest. You can go to your room and relax."

I headed to my room, feeling a sense of calm wash over me. I wondered what mom had planned for tomorrow, but I was too tired to think about it anymore. I just wanted to rest and enjoy the peace and quiet of my room.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Saransh entered and said, "Mom, can I ask you something?"

"Of course, beta," his mom replied.

Saransh asked, "Mom, why did you give Shanaya a red outfit for Teej? As far as I've seen, people wear green on Teej, don't they?"

His mom's hand flew to her forehead as she exclaimed, "Oh dear, I completely forgot! You're right, green is the traditional color for Teej. I'll get a green outfit for her right away."

Saransh smiled and said, "I've already taken care of it, Mom. I've brought a beautiful green outfit for her."

His mom's face lit up with delight. "Wonderful, beta! You've done a great job. Now, go give it to her, okay?"

Saransh nodded and headed out of the kitchen, eager to see Shanaya's reaction to the outfit.

Saransh entered the room, carrying a beautiful green outfit, and said, "Shanaya, I got this for you to wear on Teej."

Shanaya looked up from her phone, slightly surprised. "But mom already gave me a red outfit."

Saransh smiled gently. "I know, but traditionally, green is the color worn on Teej. Mom forgot, so I picked this up for you."

Shanaya nodded, taking the outfit from him. "Thanks, Saransh. That's really thoughtful of you."

But as their eyes met, Saransh sensed a hint of melancholy in her gaze. Her smile seemed forced, and her eyes lacked their usual sparkle. He felt a pang of concern, wondering what was troubling her. "Hey, is everything okay? You seem a bit...off," he asked, his voice soft with concern.

Shanaya shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "Nothing."

Saransh's expression turned gentle as he moved closer, sitting down in front of her. He took her hand in his, his touch warm and comforting. "Juth nahi bol sakti ho mujhse?" he asked softly, his eyes locked onto hers. "Can't you tell me the truth, Shanaya? You know I'm here for you, always."