Ceasefire Of Senses (under editing)

c h a p t e r t w e n t y f o u r

Song : My Oh My by Camila Cabello

____________

"GET OUT!" I yelled at Aarav.

"Okay! Okay! I'm going!" Aarav backed off.

"Give us a few more minutes. And don't forget to tie up Waffles." Kriti told my brother.

"Thank God its finally over tonight. I can't handle one more day of wearing a lehenga." I said as Aarav left.

I was inside the bathroom, trying to wear my lehenga , keyword being 'trying'. Naina and Kritz were already done with everything. I was the only one left because I hated wearing heavy dresses like the one I was wearing right now.

"Good thing about today's ceremony is that we don't have any work except put up our fake smiles and talk to people we do not recognize." Kriti said as she helped Naina with her hair.

"Ooh! I have a trick for that!" I yelled from inside the bathroom. "Just tell them that 'Grandma is here.' These people love meeting our Grandmothers and Grandfathers."

"Aloo, you've been in there for the past 15 minutes! Come out already!" Naina yelled.

"I look terrible." I said walking out.

"That is for us to decide." Kriti said.

"That lehenga looks amazing on you!" Naina said.

"I look like a freak!" I said.

"Shut up, you crazy girl." I heard a voice.

"Niyaaaaa!" I yelled.

"Alliiiiii!" She yelled back as she hugged me.

"Hi Niyanta." Kriti said.

"Congratulations to the bride." Niyanta said as she hugged Naina.

"The three of you pulled these off better than my heroines." Niya said.

Niyanta Khanna was one of my closest friends from the Tellywood industry. She had been designing wedding dresses for the actresses on Hindi Television for the past five years. The moment she had heard that Naina and Aarav were engaged, she had called me up and told me that she would be the one who would be giving us the dresses for one function, atleast. I had refused at first, but she had somehow managed to convince me. Which brings us to today, where Naina, Kriti and I were wearing dresses designed by Niyanta. Naina was wearing a red coloured one, Kriti had a purple one, and I had a pink one.

"Kriti di, just tie it up into one of those fancy buns. It'll go with the style." Niya said pushing me down on the chair in front of the dressing table.

"Are you serious? We should be focusing on Naina right now." I said.

"Shut up and sit. I have been sitting here ready for the past half hour. And so has Kritz." Naina said.

"Done." Niya said five minutes later.

"Wait, what?" I said.

"Darling, try dressing brides on television for five years. You'll get used to it." Niya comment setting down the make up bag. "I swear, I will kill you if you open your eyes. Lakme eyeliners take a lot of time to dry. And we don't have time."

Within fifteen minutes, the three of us had reached the venue aling with Naina.

"Where were you guys?" My mother asked as we walked into the hall.

"Alisha." Kriti said.

Mom raised her eyebrows and sighed. "I swear, when she gets married, the timing for the wedding will pass, but she will still not ne ready."

"Chill, Ma. You won't have to see that day. If I get married, how will I irritate my dear brother and sister in law all day and all night!" I joked.

"Now hurry up! Everyone is waiting to meet Naina. Kriti, Niyanta, I need your help with something." Juhi aunty said.

"Kay kay." I replied and walked over with Naina towards Aarav.

"You look amazing, love." I heard Sam's voice behind me as he placed a soft kiss on my cheek.

"Stop using your terms of endearment. I am not your girlfriend. And stop this public display of affection." I said helping Naina sit on her chair.

"Do you guys need anything, drinks and stuff?" I asked Naina and Aarav.

"Tu yaha aa." Aarav said.

"What?" I asked as I went and stood beside him.

"Since when is Karan your boyfriend?" He asked.

"I can't believe Sam actually fell for it. By the way, where is Karan?" I replied.

"There he is!" Aarav exclaimed.

"You're here. Finally." I hugged Karan.

"Just go with it." I whispered into his ear.

Karan looked extremely confused. Sam looked surprised.

"Sam, meet Karan Khanna. Karan, meet Sameer Mehra." I said.

Karan raised his eyebrows which indicated that he understood what I was doing and why I was doing it.

"So, are the two of you very close?" Sam asked Karan.

"We know pretty much everything there is to know about each other." Karan replied. "We work together, so we see each other all day."

"That's great." A very baffled Sam answered.

That's great? Bas?

"Naina, Aarav. Congratulations!" Karan said hugging them.

"Where is the groom!" Niyanta said walking towards us with Rishi and Kriti not far behind her.

"Hey Niya." Aarav said giving her a hug.

"Congratulations." She said.

Karan looked at me. I tilted my head indicating him to introduce Niyanta.

"Sameer, meet my wife Niyanta. Niyanta, this is Sameer, Naina's brother." Karan said.

"You're his wife?" Sameer asked.

"Yes, why? Am I too old or something?" Niya asked, laughing.

"No, I didn't mean it in that way." Sam said shaking her hand.

"Chill, Sam." Aarav said as he laughed. "We were just pulling your leg. We wanted to know how you would react to the situation. And before you say anything, it was Ally's plan, not mine."

"If you don't mind me asking, dear brother," Naina said. "Why did you care so much that Alisha has a boyfriend?"

"No. I didn't care. I just wanted to meet the person who was crazy and stupid enough to be in a relationship with her." Sam said.

Okay that's it. I am done with this guy.

"Give me a ring if you need anything. I'll go check on the guests." I said.

"Ally," I heard Sam.

"Mom's calling me. I don't have time." I said walking away.

___________

My city faced a cyclone and an earthquake last night. Half of the city has a blackout, the other half doesn't have  mobile network or internet. I had to go to the terrace of my building twice, just to check on my Whatsapp messages. I am not getting more than two bars of network at home. In short, I had nothing to do. So, I wrote this and decided on an early update. I am halfway through the next chapter, which I will update by the weekend.

Stay tuned