Dil Kyun Yeh Mera...Shor Karein? (Why Does This Heart of Mine Pound?)

Chapter 20: Wedding Bells!

***Aparna's POV***

*SKIPPING THE FLIGHT BACK HOME AND THE NIGHT ANJALI AND I GOT TO SLEEP*

After some good hours of beauty sleep, Anjali apparently decided to be my alarm clock at 9am, and startled me out of bed. "Didi, wake up! Shaadi ka time ho gaya!"

"Shut up, Anju! Jhoothi. Sagayi ke bina shaadi kaise ho sakta hai?" I mumbled and turned away from her, pulling the covers over myself.

"Arrey, didi!" Anjali sighed while laughing. "At least tayyar hone ka time ho gaya! Jaldi uthiye! Don't play dumb."

"Acha ek baat batao. Why do you look so happy that I'm marrying someone whose guts I hate the most? Tune kaha na, 'Zayn jeeja-ji ko yeh paise ki zaroorat nahi hai'" I replied mockingly, immediately feeling a bit guilty that I rubbed that into her face.

"Offo, didi!" she heaved a sigh, her face falling. "Why do you have to be so difficult?!" and then she turned away and scowled, arms folded across her chest.

After a few seconds, I tapped her shoulder and asked, "Buri lagi?"

"Thodi si," she said softly.

"Sorry," I told her, and we patched up with a big hug.

"Acha, one small consolation... Designer Manish Malhotra designed your engagement lehnga! And OMG it looks soooo pretty!!" Anjali began to squeal.

"Acha? Yeh kab hua?" I asked, smiling.

"Well, I requested Manish to help look at lehnga designs for you and I guess he knew how to design the perfect one. And also because when our parents went engagement and wedding shopping, sadly well, they only bought a lehnga for me" Anjali looked down at her feet.

"Really? How low can they actually stoop? I mean, they obviously don't realize that this is MY wedding we're talking about," I accidentally raised my voice, and realizing the guilt that was overcoming her, I pulled her chin up to look at me.

"Listen babe, " I began. "Our parents don't care about me, we all know that. And none of it is your fault, really, but I guess you should be happy that they still have affection for you. I mean, I'm happy about that."

"But.."

"Suno, do you like that lehnga they bought you?"

"Y--Yeah..." she said hesitantly.

"Toh pehnlo! Because, nothing is better than the gifts and blessings of your mom and dad. Manish Malhotra acha designer hai, aur I love his clothes, but he's not someone who can fill love within the gifts he would give me. I don't know him like that. Well, my consolation is that, I get to rock a dress for a whole day and night, and then stock it away and keep it to wear at some other place during a different lifetime. But you, you can wear your dress anytime, because even if you outgrow it or something happens to it, you can still look back and brag that the people who love you the most bought it for you. And also, don't feel bad about this in any way! I never said you couldn't wear the lehnga! But also, zindagi mein, if not anything else, I only want the happiness of my little sister. I want her to feel loved by the people whom she is supposed to love, and I want nothing but to fulfill her wishes.

"Awhh, didi!" she sprung into my arms and hugged me tightly, and I could fear tears slipping onto the back of my shoulder. I broke the hug, and then she asked, "Why can't Zayn jeeja-ji see that you're this amazing a person? That you actually have a heart?"

"Well babe, you wanna know why they say that it 'takes one to know one'...Well he ain't amazing and he don't have a heart. So can't know one, let alone see one." I scoffed sarcastically, and we both got out of bed to go downstairs.

Just then, Raj and Rohan seemed to be waiting for us downstairs, and I excitedly hugged both of them.

"Arrey vaah! It's been so long, and you guys...haven't changed a bit," I added sarcastically.

"Shut up, Aparna," Raj said cheerfully and spun me around, carefully stroking every part of my wavy hair, and sort of nuzzling into my neck. I knew I had to break this intimate hug, even if it felt good to be in my best friend's arms after a long time.

Then, also realizing that I was still in my pajamas, I broke the hug and then said, "acha main freshen karoongi and then I'll be down in a few. In the meantime, Anjali will keep you company!"

"Oh no need for that, 'cuz Anjali already saw us, and we only stopped by to check in on you two. We're leaving now, because your parents are taking both you and Anjali to the beauty salon to get your hair and makeup done in some time. Rohan and I will return in the evening." Raj said. Rohan looked at Raj, confused, as I could see he really did want to stay with us, but Raj nudged him slowly in the ribs. 

"The guests have all checked into local hotels and they will be here this evening for the wedding." Rohan added, obviously trying to hide the confusion. "Bye Aparna!" he waved at me as I was making my way upstairs to go shower. "Bye An..ja..li..." he added in a raspy voice, as he made one circle around her, crept his arms around her waist, and delivered a wet kiss on her cheek.

I waved at him, and Anjali blushed a dark tomato red while she flirtatiously blew him a kiss saying, "Bye Ro...han."

Raj just nodded at Anjali, added a quiet, "See you two tonight" while our eyes briefly connected, and then made his way out the door, Rohan following him. Maybe he caught on to the fact that I was avoiding the long hug? Maybe he thought I was lying when I said I needed to go freshen up? Reality is, I really did need to go shower, but a pang of guilt struck me once again.

*****A/N***************

Hey guys, no engagement yet, I know, but I promise the action will progress from the next chappie which will have the engagement details? So any ideas of drama that will arise then? teehee... ILY guys and happy reading <3