Wooing Ms. Raizada

The Lehenga

"Designing?" Varun asked as he walked into the room.

Arnav looked up from his sketch book and smiled.

"Saree for Yara" he said and kept the book aside. Varun sat on the bed and looked at the book. "Wow, awesome" he cried.

Arnav smiled.

"How are your preparations going on?" Arnav asked.

"Of what? Marriage or test?" Varun asked.

"Both"

"Marriage....I don't know. Mom and dad are busy planning. I don't know what the groom is supposed to do! Test....well physical test is cleared and the final interview is within four days...so I'm stressed! I hope I get through it! Dad would be disappointed if I fail!"

"You will get through" Arnav said, "You worked hard for this! You left the job at AR to be a police officer!"

Varun smiled and nodded, "There is a problem. If I get selected I'll have to go for training. That's the main reason why I put forward the marriage matter. I want to marry Ana before I leave!"

"What's the problem then?"

Varun chuckled and said, "I might not be able to see her...and you all too!"

"Don't worry, you guys will make it!" Arnav said patting his shoulder.

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"Hey, lunching alone?" Aman asked sitting opposite to Adil in the canteen.

Adil smiled and nodded.

"You didn't make any friends here?" Aman asked taking a bite of his pizza.

"I tried. Apparently no one wants to be my friend" Adil shrugged, "Except the watchman. He loves me!"

Aman chuckled and said, "Me. I'm your friend. And Esha too!" he added laughing.

Adil burst out laughing and said, "Yeah right. Esha is my best friend!"

"So how's it going? Is she troubling you more?"

"No, it's fine! She has mellowed down!" Adil said smiling, "ASR lectured her, Ana said!"

"I heard" Aman said nodding.

"What's the deal with Esha and Dr. Mehra, the neurosurgeon at city hospital?" Adil asked suddenly.

Aman stopped eating and looked at him shocked. "How do you know?"

"She asked me to book an appointment! She has gone there and didn't return but left me a message to cancel every appointments of today" Adil said.

"Don't tell ASR" Aman said.

"Okay" Adil said frowning.

"No one, I mean. No one should know" Aman said seriously.

"Is there anything wrong?" Adil asked.

"Nothing you should know" Aman said and looked down to his pizza.

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"Daaaaaaad" Yara screamed as she entered his room.

"What the! What happened?" Arnav and Varun jumped from the bed alarmed.

"Uh nothing wrong" Yara smiled cheekily.

Arnav clutched his heart and said, "You could've given me an attack Yara" Varun made him sit on the bed and gave him a glass of water. He looked at Yara and scolded, "Your father is growing old Yara. Don't do such stunts again!"

"Sorry" Yara bit her lip and looked down.

"It's ok. Come here!" Arnav forwarded his arm and she ran to him. She had her arms tied to her back.

"What are you hiding?" Arnav asked.

"Can.....Can I....Can I wear this for Varun bhaiyya's engagement?" Yara asked nervously showing the dress she had in her hands.

"Wow" Varun cried looking at the beautiful dress, "It's beautiful! Where did you get this from?"

"Found this on maasi's wardrobe. I asked her and she told....that this is mamma's...." Yara finished nervously and Varun looked at Arnav.

Arnav was staring the red-blue lehenga.

Images of him dragging her up the mandir steps flashed before his eyes.

The shock in her eyes!

The six months contract!

The insults from family.

The slap from Garima.

The hurt look from Payal.

The broken look from Anjali.

The disbelief on Nani.

Her tears!

The way she clutched the mangalsutra and broke down before him.

The way she held his collar demanding answers.

Sleeping alone in the cold at poolside!

Being kicked out of her own house!

Her broken heart!

"Dad" Yara whispered and Arnav forwarded his arm.

Yara handed him the lehenga and Arnav said hoarsely, blinking his tears, "I'll design you a sari or lehenga.....whatever you want"

"Sari" she said looking down.

He clutched the lehenga and nodded.

"Chachu" Varun whispered and held his shoulder, "Are you okay?"

Arnav nodded and said, "Leave me alone for a while". He stood up and walked to the poolside clutching the lehenga close to his heart.