Akshita

Chapter 7

Shaadi ka mahaul ab ekdum colorful tha. Stage pe dulha-dulhan ki over-smiley photos chal rahi thi, aur dance floor par naye-naaye Nach Baliye aspirants apna talent dikhane mein lage the.. Main apne mango lassi ka sip le rahi thi tabhi meri nazar padhi ek group of girls pe jo corner mein khade hue kisi aur ladki ka mazaak udaa rahe the.

Woh ladki thodi nervous lag rahi thi, aur uski aankhon mein aise vibes thi jaise woh bas wahaan se bhagna chahti ho. Group waali girls uska skin color lekar kuch random comment kar rahi thi,
"Arre yaar, yeh dulhan ki cousin hai kya? Aisi lagti toh nahi."
"Kaunsa fairness cream use karti hai, ya karti bhi hai kya?"

Bas, Akshita ka patience level zero ho gaya!

Main lassi ka glass ek cousin ke haath mein thama ke seedha un girls ke paas gayi. Time for Akshita-style gyaan session!

"Excuse me, ladies," maine unke beech aake bola, "Kya yeh shaadi ki entry ticket fairness ka certificate leke hoti hai? Agar aapko lagta hai ki aap duniya ki Miss Universe ho toh ek kaam kijiye—mirror mein jaake apni personality bhi dekh lijiye. Kya pata wahan bhi make-up lagana pade!"

Woh girls ekdum shock se mujhe dekhne lagi. Ek ne toh socha ki back-answer karegi, lekin maine uske bolne se pehle hi bol diya:
"Jo ladki yahaan khadi hai na, woh is duniya mein kisi ke bhi opinion ke basis pe nahi bani. Yeh apni originality lekar aayi hai, jo tumhare fake standards se bahut zyada better hai."

Jo dark-skinned ladki thi, usne mujhe ek thankful smile di. Maine uska haath pakda aur us group se door le aayi. "Ignore kar inko. Log tere talent ya character ko judge nahi karte, bas tere skin tone pe stuck ho jaate hain. Par tu yeh yaad rakh—tune apni originality mein shine karna hai, aur kisi ka approval nahi chahiye."

Uski aankhon mein ek confidence aaya, aur woh shaadi mein ekdum relaxed lagne lagi. Mujhe laga mission accomplished, aur main wapas apne lassi ke paas aa gayi.

Meanwhile, Aditya’s Silent Observation:
Jo mujhe nahi pata tha woh yeh tha ki Aditya corner se mujhe dekh raha tha. Uske chehre pe ek soft smile thi, jaise woh mera ek aur perspective dekh raha ho. Lekin main toh apni duniya mein hi khoi thi. Kaun Aditya? Kaun si silent observation? Mujhe lassi chahiye bas!

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Shaadi ke baad, main apne ghar wapas aayi, ekdum tired but excited. Sabse pehle Shreya ko phone kiya. Ab toh usse puri story sunani thi.

Shreya call pick karte hi: "Haan bol, phir se tumhare ‘fictional’ crush ke baare mein koi naye kisse hain kya?"

Main: "Abey! Fictional nahi, real life ka crush hai is baar. Us shaadi mein ek ladka tha—so handsome, so perfect, aur ekdum gentleman."

Shreya: "Acha? Aur kya kiya usne, tumhe ekdum Bollywood slow-mo mein dekh kar? Tumhare dupatta hawa mein ura?"

Main: "Arey sun na!" Maine usse pura dramatic style mein story sunayi—kaise Aditya ne mujhe girne se bachaya, kaise woh smile karta hai, aur kaise uska naam Aditya hai!

Shreya: Beta, tu toh ab full filmy mode mein hai. Waise tujhe lagta hai ki tu usse dobara milne wali hai?

Main: "Waise mujhe bhi lagta hai. Par tu bas ready reh, uska poora analysis tere saath karna hai mujhe yrr."

Shreya: Haan, karenge analysis. Pehle tu MLBB khol, tumhare ‘fictional mr prince charming’ ka hangover game ke liye bacha rakh.

Aur phir hum dono MLBB khelte-khelte us shaadi ki masti aur us ‘Aditya’ ke baare mein baatein karte rahe. Main apne mind mein uska smile baar-baar imagine karti thi, aur Shreya mujhe nonstop chidhati rahi...