Akshita

Chapter 6

Shaadi ka vibe ab full-on masti mode mein tha. Dhol waale apne drum ke saath apna world tour kar rahe the, aur auntiyan dulhan ki jewellery ke weight pe full analysis kar rahi thi. Lekin mera dimaag toh ek hi question ke aas-paas ghoom raha tha—woh ladka kaun hai, aur iska naam kya hai?

Maine apne mission ka naam rakha:
"us ladke ka name pta krna."

Par iske pehle ki mission shuru hota, Savita aunty phir se aayi, “Beta, yeh mithai ka dabba Lata ke cousin ko de aa, woh wahan corner table pe hai.”

“Mithai ka dabba ya mera patience ka dabba khatam karne ka plan hai, aunty?” Maine apne dil ki baat andar hi rakhi aur ek fake smile ke saath dabba leke chal di.

Mithai ka dabba deliver karte hi maine decide kiya ki ab mujhe woh ladka ka naam pata lagana hi padega. Maine dekha, woh food stall ke pass khada tha, ek plate samose ke saath. Ekdum classy, ekdum calm. Haye, yeh banda har angle se perfect kyu lagta hai?

Main apni nervous energy ko sambhalte hue seedha uske paas gayi. Baar-baar gir ke toh nahi mil sakti na, ek na ek din toh baat karni hi padegi to main uske pass jakr kaha..

"Hii," maine apne andar ki awkward Akshita ko shant karte hue kaha.

Woh thoda sa surprise hua, phir dheere se smile krte hue bola,  "heyy."

"Waise... thank you for saving me twice," maine hasi dabate hue bola.

"Twice? Oh, haan," usne samosa ka ek tukda khaate hue smile kiya. "Lagta hai aap aur balance ek dusre ke dost nahi hain."

Mujhe hasi aa gayi "haha", par andar se dimaag chilla raha tha, Beta, naam pooch!

"Waise... tumhara naam kya hai?" Maine casually (aur thoda overcasually) puchha.

Usne plate side rakhi aur bola, "Aditya" 
Aditya name h mera.

"Main Akshita," maine apne best confident tone mein bola, jo mujhe pata tha ki confident bilkul nahi lag raha tha.

Aditya ne smile karte hue bola, "Nice to meet you, Akshita. Ab tak toh mujhe lag raha tha ki shaadi mein sirf mithai or dance hi interesting hai, par shayad main galat tha" usne meri or dekh muskurate hue kaha.

Mujhe laga main phir wahin gir jaungi, lekin is baar real mein gir gayi hoti toh mujhe lagta ki Aditya ke pass mujhe bachane ka quota khatam ho gaya hota.

Dance Floor Ka Dhamaka

Tabhi DJ ne ek dhamakedar gaana bajana shuru kiya—“Abhi toh party shuru hui hai!” Mere cousins mujhe firse kheench le gaye dance floor pe, aur mere surprise ke liye, Aditya bhi dance floor pe aa gaya.

Woh ekdum casually dance kar raha tha, aur main apne inner Katrina Kaif ko unleash karte hue full energy mein nikal padi. Beech-beech mein Aditya mujhe dekh kar hass raha tha, dance krte hue  mujhe lag raha tha ki ab yeh shaadi meri life ki best shaadi banne wali hai.

Par phir ek problem ho gayi—Savita aunty wapas aa gayi!

“Beta Akshita, zara yeh juice ka glass le jaakar pandit ji ko de aana!”

Seriously, aunty? Abhi ke abhi? Maine apne dimaag ko shaant karte hue glass le liya, lekin jaate-jaate ek baar aur Aditya ki taraf dekha.

Usne mujhe goodbye wave diya aur bola, "Milte hain."

Mera dimaag: Milte hain? Kahan? Kab? Batao na!