Nawal - Missing Moments

29. Holi - Part II

Unedited chapter. Not proofread. Please excuse continuity or any other errors.
Its not the best but I hope you guys like it.

Holi - Part II

"Oye mere baby Makhwana...biwi aagayi to Bhaiyon ki planning ko bhool gaya?" Chirag nudged him on the shoulder and he jerked out of his dream zone. "Chal zara apne arrangements try karte hai thoda!"

"Han...chal" he agreed. She was in the middle of ladies panchayat now and Maa was reprimanding her for playing Holi before they did some new bahu rasams and refraining her from playing any more now. Good. He would get back at her later.

They reached the 'arrangement' where many people had gathered by now. How everyone came to know of this they didn't know but they downed a glass before it all ended up empty. In fact, in frustration, Dhawal had downed more than he was intending to and some time later, it was starting to affect him. He was feeling pleasantly buzzed and a bit too happy without any reason.

The party was in full swing now and people were fully involved in colouring and drenching each other, some more interested in munching on the snacks while some were secretly indulging in the 'arrangements.' Amrish and Bhaven were busy with the business associates, Hetal and Pranali were attending to the guests and Chirag was now busy taking Dolly's photos. Dhawal mingled with everyone and made small talk where ever necessary but his eyes were scanning for only one person.

Ye Maddy kaha gayi ab?

He scanned the lawn and found her chatting with Dhama and her brothers who had just come in. He made a beeline towards them and greeted them smiling widely. Natasha looked at him, curious as to why he was so happy seeing her brothers. But once they went to meet everyone else, she turned to him.

"Ye tum itna muskura kyu rahe ho achanak se?" she asked suspiciously

Dhawal was now feeling really buzzed and lightheaded and surprisingly uninhibited.

"Maddy, my baby, my sweetheart, sab tumhara asar hai! I'm really happy to see you!" he explained happily, pinching her cheeks. "Kya gazab lag rahi ho tum aaj! Matlab aaj to maar hi daalogi mujhe" He scanned her from top to bottom very prominently and gave her a flying kiss.

Natasha's eyes almost popped at this. Baby? Sweetheart? He never called her such things! "Dhawal! Ye kya ho gaya hai tumhe?' she looked around to see if anyone had heard him, flushing slightly at his blatant compliments. A few people were looking at them, hearing Dhawal's loud declarations, Amrish amongst them as well.

"Kuch bhi to nahi hua hai, darling! Apni jaan-e-mann ki tareef bhi nahi kar sakta kya main?" he pouted cutely and Natasha felt a blush creeping up her at the way he was addressing her. Something was up. He was behaving a bit too strangely for him.

"Tum theek ho na? Kuch ulta sidha to nahi kha pi liya hai?" she came closer to him and leaned in to sniff his mouth suspiciously.

He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her, leaning even closer to her as if about to tell a secret. "Hmmm? Maine 'sidha' pi liya hai!" he replied loudly near her ear and started laughing at his stupid joke.

She sneaked a look back and saw Amrish Bhai staring hard at them, mouth in a straight line. Dolly and Chirag were giggling behind his back and Chirag was looking a little guilty....Dhawal was drunk, she realised, likely on Bhaang as obviously some smartass had the brilliant idea to smuggle such things in a dry state and well, the point was that Amrish Bhai was looking ready to pin this on her anytime now and she had to do something immediately.

She grabbed his hand and started dragging him towards the house before anyone could hear or see him acting like this and word spread.

"Arey kaha le ja rahi ho? I know I'm irresistible. Lekin mujhe abhi party enjoy karni h! Ye sab main abhi nahi kar sakta. Tum--" he started to say but Natasha clamped a hand over his mouth, her face blushing red at his implication.