Broken (Wattys2016)

CHAPTER 18

On 13th January, Aaliya found herself standing outside Aarav's house. They had promised Jay that they'd be at the farm house on thirteenth and would help him with all the preparations. Aaliya was sitting in her white Honda City from the last ten minutes and was waiting for Aarav to come. She honked for what seemed like the hundredth time in the last ten minutes.

"Get your damn ass out, Aarav Vinayak!" She shouted as she drummed her fingers on the steering wheel frantically.

Just then Aarav stepped out of the house with a big stroller and a smug smile on his face. He wanted to irritate Aaliya and he knew he had succeeded. He locked the front door and then walked towards the car with his stroller. Without saying a word Aaliya opened the back door and Aarav threw his stroller in before he came in front and sat on the shotgun.

"Good morning." Aarav said once Aaliya started driving.

"I just saw you and am going to spend a week with you, how exactly is this a good morning?" Aaliya said and turned on the radio just to avoid any further conversation and it worked. Aaliya drove silently towards the outskirts of the city for the next two hours as the songs and gigs on the radio entertained her while Aarav just kept texting on the phone whom Aaliya assumed to be Raima.

It was after driving for two long hours did they finally reached the farmhouse. It was a big farmhouse that the Dixits, Fernandes' and Vinayaks had bought together. They always spent their summer vacations and celebrated Diwali here. Their parents had already planned that their kids would be married off from this farmhouse and it happened that way. Priyansh's marriage ceremony had taken place here and so had Aarav and Aaliya's small marriage after party. Now, it was Jay's turn to get married here.

"Let's fake it now." Aaliya said and hopped out of car with her bag. Aarav followed her and got out with his stroller. Aaliya pressed the button on the keys and the car got locked automatically.

"Shall we?" He asked as he extended his hand. Aaliya raised an eyebrow and Aarav mimicked her.

"What? I'm not going to hold your hand." Aaliya said and Aarav sighed.

"Not like I'm any interested but we have to fake being a happy couple. The old Ally and Aarav always held hands. They'd catch us in a minute if we don't do that." With that being said by Aarav, Aaliya slid her hand in his. Aarav gently squeezed her hand in assurance but Aaliya doubted that.

"Drama for a week." Aaliya muttered under her breath.

They walked in through the front lawns and the scene in front of them was similar to the one they had seen a couple of years ago during Priyansh's wedding. The lawn was full of different flowers, carpets, clothes and people. Some people were decorating the whole house with lights, some with flowers and some were just busy discussing things amongst themselves. Aaliya smiled as she took in the scene, she never thought that she'd be able to see Jay get married because he was never that type. The main door of the farmhouse was open and people were spilling out talking about various things. They walked in holding hands and saw that the whole foyer was filled with relatives and cousins. Aaliya smiled and greeted a few of them as she made her way to the sofas where she spotted Jay talking to some girl.

"Jay!" She shouted and dropped her bag on the floor.

"Finally you're here!" He shouted back equally excited. Aaliya ran into his arms and hugged him tightly. Jay lifted her and twirled her around as if she was still a five year old giggling in his arms.

"I still can't believe you're getting married. Seriously, how?" Aaliya asked as she tightened her grip around his neck almost choking him with all her excitement and love. She looked over his shoulder and saw a short girl giving her a pointed look as if asking her to back off from Jay.