Akshita

chapter 4

"Akshu, bahar ka darwaza kholo jakr!" Mummy ki awaaz se mera songs wala playlist ka mood tut gaya.

"Arrey, kya hai Mummy?" Maine door khola, toh saamne Savita Aunty apni typical smile ke saath khadi thi. Woh smile jo matlab rakhti thi, beta, kuch kaam hai tumse.

"Haanji, Aunty, bolo?" Maine curiosity se pucha.

"Beta, humari Lata ki shaadi hai, aur tum sabko zaroor aana hai! Aise shadiyan toh roz-roz nahi hoti."

"Lata ki shaadi? Wah, matlab ek aur dhamakedar wedding ho gayi," maine teasing tone mein bola. "Aunty, mujhe batao, dance performance ke liye mujhe bulane aaye ho kya?"

"Chup, nautankibaaz! Tere dance ki zarurat nahi hai. Par sundar ban ke aana, samjhi?" Savita Aunty mujhe fake ghoor rahi thi, aur mummy peechhe se hass rahi thi.

"Waise Aunty, mujhe dulha-dulhan ki story sunao na. Love marriage ya arranged?" Maine unhe chhedte hue poocha.

"Tu bas aaja shaadi mein, baaki sab wahan dekh lena!" Savita Aunty ne mujhe mithai ka dibba diye haath main or chali gayi, aur main ek dum excited thi. Shaadi ka mazaa aur free ka khaana—kya baat hai!!

Next Day: Normal College, Normal Day

College mein kuch khaas nahi tha. Wahi boring lectures, wahi canteen ka chhota sa gossip session, aur wahi Shreya ka mazaak.

"Akshu, tumhe kabhi ek real crush nahi hoga kisi pr, sach mein jaise tere high standards h..!" Shreya mujhe tease karte hue boli.

"Bas, ab dekhna. Mere prince charming se jaldi hi milne wali hoon!" Maine confidently bola, par andar se meri confidence level zero tha.

Shreya hasne lagi, "Haan haan, dekhte hain tumhara prince charming kaun hota hai."

Main fir use ignore karke apne khayalon mein wapas chali gayi.

"Lata ki Shadi ka din"

Shaadi ke din ki vibe hi alag hoti h!!
kapdo se lekar makeup tak, sab kuch ekdum perfect hone chahiye. Maine apne wardrobe ke andar se apni sabse sundar purple dress nikali, jo mujhe princess wali feel deti thi.

Maine dress pehene me baad Kaanon mein bade jhumke pehne, neck pe chhota sa pendant, aur forehead pe ek choti si bindi—bas ab toh main kisi Bollywood heroine se kam nahi lag rahi thi. "Maine apni hi taaref krte hue khud se kaha aaine ke samne."

"Akshu, jaldi kar! Baaraat aayi nahi hai, toh iska matlab yeh nahi ki tu late hogi," mummy chillayi neeche se.

"Arrey aayi, Mummy!" Maine jaldi-jaldi apna phone aur lipstick apne clutch mein rakha aur seedhi shaadi mein.

Shaadi Mein

Venue pe pohonchte hi, sab kuch ekdum dreamy lag raha tha. Lights, flowers, music—itna sundar setup tha ki mujhe laga jaise main kisi movie ke set pe aa gayi hoon.

Maine aate hi pehle food counter ki or gai or apni plate le kar food stall ki taraf kadam badhaye. Khayal yeh tha ki pehle gulab jamun aur tikka plate main bhar loon, aur phir baith ke sab enjoy karoon.

Tabhi, food counter ke pass, mujhe woh ladka dikha—woh hi ladka..jo us din raste pr us aunty ko road cross krwate hue kitna dashing or handsome lg raha tha..

Mera dil ekdum "dhak dhak" karne laga. Kya karoon? Usse baat karoon ya ignore kar doon? Par mere steps automatically uske taraf jaane lage pta nhi kaise...

Par tabhi phir mujhe ekdum se chakkar aa gaya—shayad excitement zyada ho gayi thi. Main balance lose karne lagi thi, aur tabhi...main bus girne hi wali thi ke..

Voh ladka mujhe pakad leta hai. Haan, uski strong arms mujhe sambhal leti hain. Or woh mujhe girne se bacha leta hai.

"Miss be Careful," usne softly mujhe kaha. Or usne mujhe properly khada kiya, or ek chhoti si smile dekr, aur phir... Voh waha se chala jata hai!

Main wahin freeze ho gayi thi., apne dil ki dhadkan ko shant karne ki koshish karte hue. Ek hi thought chal raha tha Yeh abhi kya tha? Destiny ya ek aur coincidence?

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