Shrishti Reborn

Chapter 70. The Party - I

'Oh wow.', Divya commented. 'That's your choice?'

'Huh?', Shrishti frowned. What was Divya talking about?

They were at Raghav' birthday party where the drinks had just been served. Divya held kaala khatta flavoured drink in her hand while Shrishti had orange. Raghav had yet to arrive to the party. But some of his guests had come, including Divya and Daljeet. Shrishti noted that other than the two girls who were Shrishti and Arpit's friends, there was nobody else from their college who studied there currently. All either seemed to be Raghav's former classmates or their college's alumni or his current classmates. Shrishti was introduced to some of them and they had thanked her for promoting their work on the day of the floods.

In response to Shrishti's reaction, Divya pointed to someone behind her. Shrishti turned and her eyes widened. Her jaw dropped open slightly as she watched Raghav stand there in the peacock blue salwar kurta, his duppatta placed on his shoulder in such a manner that it did not hide the silver embroidery on his kurta.

'Wow.', she blurted out as she watched the handful of party goers go to Raghav and wish him for his belated birthday party and also talk to him.

Behind her Divya chirped, 'Wow indeed. Now stop drooling.'

Shrishti felt her cheeks burn at those words. 'I am not drooling!'

'You being unable to look away from him says something else.', Divya said amusedly and Shrishti finally looked away from Raghav to turn and pinch her best friend.

'Stop teasing me.', she hissed.

Divya laughed at her reaction. Shrishti pouted. Why were her friends so cruel?

Suddenly, Divya gasped. 'He is coming your way.'

'Huh?' Before Shrishti could react, Divya almost ran away from there. Shrishti gaped at her best friend before a tap on her shoulder distracted her. She turned and her breath got caught in the throat at the person standing in front of her.

There was Raghav, dressed in the outfit, she had gifted him, looking like he had stepped right out of her dreams.

'How do I look?', he asked her. She blinked. And she blinked again. She realised she was too stunned to speak.

'Pari?', Raghav looked at her expectantly.

'Uhh....', she stared at him stupefied.

'I think....', they heard Arpit speak before he came into their view, 'you broke her, Bhai!'

'Broke her?'

'Yeah! You know! You stunned her! You made her speechless.'

Raghav turned and glared at Arpit. 'Stop teasing.' Arpit raised his hands and walked away.

Shrishti took in a deep breath. 'He is not teasing.', she said softly, 'I am everything he said!'

Raghav turned back and looked at her with shock. She smiled and ducked her head. A hand sneaked into her view and a little finger snuck out and tugged on her little finger. Her smile widened.

'You look pretty too.', she heard him whisper. She looked up at him delighted. He was smiling at her, his eyes all warm and affectionate.

'Thank you.', she whispered. 'You look the most handsome tonight.' She finally managed to find her tongue.

He smiled bashfully. 'Thank you for making me the most handsome.'

'Huh? Oh the outfit. It was a gift.', she shrugged.

He shook his head. 'Not the gift. It is you. You deign me with your glance and I feel like I am the most handsome!'

She gasped at his words before wrenching her finger away from his. Her whole face burned as she blurted out, 'Stop flirting with me!'