A GIRL LIKE YOU

6

"Pose like this." Aaliyah said to me, as I stood in my black Saree, all dolled up and ready for my engagement.
Yes. One month has already passed. I am getting engaged.
"I am tired Aaliyah. We have enough pictures." I said and settled down on the bed of the hotel room we're staying at.
"Okay fine." Aaliyah settled in front of me.
"Talk to me Aaliyah. I am feeling weird. Distract me."
"Okay. Ummm..." She took a pause and continued, "Why the hell you didn't tell me that Aarav's best friend is a total hotty?"
Oh god! Of course. She's seen him here.
I've been dying to see him too. But I had to get ready. I couldn't leave my room, not once.
"Ansh?" I played dumb.
"Yeah, the best friend."
"I don't know. I guess I forgot." I mumbled.
"You kidding me right?"
"What?!"
"I know you Kiara. Sometimes better than you know yourself. I know the girl I grew up with."
"Where are you going with this?"
"If Kiara sees a hot guy she never forgets to mention it to Aaliyah."
I hate it when she address us as third persons.
"It's not a big deal."
"Oh it is a big deal. You didn't mention him on purpose."
I am busted. Oh god. What is this girl? A psychic?
"Shut up Aaliyah. Talk about something else. Don't go all detective on me."
I am being defensive. I know it. She knows it too.
"What are you not telling me?" She poked my bare waist peeking out of the saree.
"Nothing. Just stop!"
"Okay. Fine. But he is hot."
"You are married."
"So?"
Sometimes she is really annoying. I was about to tell her to fuck off when the door opened. Mom came in and looked at me.
"You look so beautiful." She said and I smiled. "Come on, lets go downstairs."

And so we did. I walked down the grand staircase with my mom and Aaliyah. I smiled at the photographer as I descended the stairs into the room full of people looking at me. The song in the background is a cheesy romantic. I saw several faces. My boss. My colleagues. My few college friends. My cousins. Aarav's family. His cousins. His friends. Preeti. I waved at her as I made my way up to the stage.
The first person I saw is Ansh. Standing there staring at me with his lips parted as if he can't breath. I have the same feeling. He looks so handsome in his black tux. I can't belive my eyes.
I can't believe myself! I am eye-fucking my future husband's best friend. I smiled and quickly spotted Aarav. I didn't look at Ansh again. Aaliyah helped me get seated beside Aarav.
"You look so beautiful." Aarav said, nearly a whisper, only meant for me. But Aaliyah heard it and beamed at me.
The music continued as Ansh gave him the ring. I looked up at him for a moment. And yes. He is staring at me.
Why didn't you sent your picture at my home, Ansh? It would've been you in place of Aarav.
I looked back at Aarav and shook my head. Forget Ansh.
Aarav took my left hand and slid the diamond ring on my ring finger. The whole place erupted with the sound of clapping.
It was my turn. Aaliyah handed my my ring. The flashes of camera were almost making me blind. So, I didn't look anywhere but at Aarav. It might seem like I am totally in love with him. But in reality, I barely know him.
I slid the finger on his ring finger and the claps started again.
There we go. I am engaged. I am going to get married. The congratulations begin. People started coming on the stage for pictures. And the next two hours, I sat at the same place, with a same pose, with a same fake smile, meeting people I might never see again in my life and clicking pictures with them.
My cheeks hurt. I wanna go. I wanna get rid of these clothes and makeup and hide under my bed. I couldn't see past the cameras. All I knew that people were moving for dinner now. I probably won't get dinner tonight.
"Oh god, my cheeks hurt!" Aarav gave words to my thought. I looked at him and noticed that Ansh haven't left his side. Not once. Aaliyah is also coming and going with her husband.
"Mine too." I said.
"I am gonna take a break." He said and stood up. He looked at Ansh. "Keep her company, I'll be right back."
I sensed that Ansh wanted to object, but Aarav already left. And it helped. The photographer left us, and people left us for that time being.
I sighed deeply.
"Do you want something? Water? Or anything to eat?" Ansh said. I looked at him.
He is the first person who has asked me this, since the morning. Nobody cares about Bride's appetite unless she looks pretty.
"Water." I said as my heart melted a little when he quickly brought the bottle.
He settled beside me in place of Aarav. If only, Ansh.
I chucked the water and closed its cap.
"You don't have to keep me company." I said.
"I want to." He said simply. I looked up at his gorgeous eyes.
"Thanks for the water."
"No worries. You looked like you could use some." Only you noticed Ansh. Only you.
"Yeah." I looked at the room in front of me and spotted Aaliyah eyeing me suspiciously with her husband. What is she? I quickly looked back at Ansh who is fidgeting with his watch. A nervous habit, I guess.
As if he felt my eyes on him, he looked up at me. I cleared my throat. I have to say something.
"Thanks for giving Aarav another chance." He said first.
I sighed. What can I say? I don't have any other options, Ansh?
"He is sweet." I managed.
"Do you know the first thing he said to me after your first meeting with him?"
"What?"
"He said 'Dude! I am going to have the hottest kids.'" Ansh imitated his voice.
I chuckled. Internally I cringed. Is he marrying me for kids. I am not ready for that. Is he marrying me cause I'm beautiful?
I want to say something. But what? Before I had to, Aarav strolled back. Ansh stood up. Pretending as if he wasn't talking to me just a few moments ago.
Aarav settled back in his seat. I smell smoke.
"Were you gone for a smoke?" I asked directly. Aarav looked at me like a deer caught in a headlight. Ansh also looked at Aarav like he wanted to strangle him.
"Are you crazy?" Ansh whisper-yelled at his friend.
"I...I..umm.." Aarav said looking between his friend and me.
"Don't sweat it. Are you addicted?" I asked.
Aarav now looked at his friend. I know Aarav. He is trying really hard to pretend to be this perfect guy. Nobody's perfect.
"He is not addicted." Ansh answered for him. I looked at both of them. I can't say if they're lying, but they both gulped visibly.
"Relax." What do they think, I'm gonna run in the opposite direction just because of a cigarette? I've seen worse. Oh wait, I've had worse. "I can help you with the addiction."
They both looked at me in shock. Oh shit! Now. I'm the deer. Divert this..say something else.
Aarav's not the only one pretending to be perfect here.
"What? I've read about it in books." I defended myself. Its my turn to gulp.
Before any of them could call me out on my lie, my mom appeared.
"Lets go for dinner." She said. And so we did just that.

...