03. Meeting Him and In-Laws

"I was like a burning sun that others fright, but all that flame just shrunk itself when you were at sight."

Saying she shifted her gaze and went straight to the washroom to have a bath without waiting for her mom to reply. While Avni with an amused expression turns around to find her gone, she then gulps the bitter words of her and walks out to see the arrangements.

Dia came out wearing a bathrobe after the shower to find her mom gone already and sighs heavily. She then walked to the mirror where the two maids were standing to help her. One of them forwarded her anarkali gown to wear and tears welled up again but she pushed it. 

Let's just do this Dia!!

Though they were never able to be good parents, you were always a good daughter. And let's just do what a good daughter would be doing, she says to herself, closing her eyes.

She walked toward her closet to wear that heavyweight embroidery stone stud dress which was ankle length with a U-neck in front and backless from behind. It also had long net sleeves. The dress had maroon colour at the end of the dress as borderline with the dress colour in green, going perfectly with her fair complexion.

Coming out after being dressed she sits on the stool in front of the mirror. The maids looked at her angelic face feeling pity at her seeing the paleness on her face. Shrugging they sighed and started doing her makeup keeping her hair open. They helped her with bangles, anklet, nose ring with a small stud diamond on it, earrings and then tugged the dupatta at her left with a safety pin's help and said it's done.

Her gaze looked at her own reflection and was stunned to see the beauty with Indian attire, she looked. But still when she zoomed at her eyes and lips it showed how much sad she was from inside. Even if she wanted she couldn't smile as the pain and sorrow in her heart was pulling her smile back.

You can do this, Dia!, she pushed her inner guts.

Sighing heavily as she turned, the maids bowed a little with one hand held out indicating to walk out. Nodding, she walked till the hall with her eyes down, catching everyone's attention from her anklet and bangles voice. But didn't dare to look at anyone knowing she would again tear up. She knew her dad, mom, grandpa and other staff were staring at her.

Avni came and took her in her embrace, walking toward the centre of the living hall and made her stand beside her father. His father was awestruck with her daughter looking so beautiful in that attire and accessories but didn't dare to comment.

Her grandpa patted her head giving blessings while she closed her eyes painfully when the car honked from the porch making her heart sink in her stomach and head snapped to the entrance gate. She felt her legs getting numb and body trembling with fear with the voice of that horn.

Her father stepped forward to receive them but she held his hand tightly from behind requesting through her teary eyes.

"Please dad.. Please don't do this to me. I don't want to marry. Pl-eas-e don't..", she pleads with a sob.

Aditya stopped with his heart sinking deep, he wanted to make her wish true but shutting his eyes closed, he made a cold face. And turned back to decline her request but froze seeing her red puffy eyes hidden behind that makeup again getting teared up with hopes. His chest ached with the sight and breaths got hitched. 

He didn't have inside him to say no to her, looking at her state. He quickly looked aside holding back his tears and shrugged her hands away making her heart shatter louder than before. Hurt, pain, shock, and brokenness were all returned to her face.

"Fine… Mr. Agarwal I would marry the guy you want. But trust me after that you'll lose me forever", she says bitterly, wiping her tears off and masking her face.

Her words pierced his heart, tearing his flesh in a slow, deathly manner. Her mother gasped while he was shocked but masking it soon he turned his back to her.

I'm sorry, my beloved daughter. But I'm helpless. It's better to see hatred in your eyes than seeing you dead, he says internally.

He became a 'sinner' for doing this to his daughter in her eyes but according to him he was just protecting her. He then composed himself, and looked at his wife passing a small smile as he left, acting heartless while his wife followed him.

Tears threatened to roll down her eyes but she controlled, as the guests arrived at the doorway. She started inhaling and exhaling to compose her inner tsunami standing like a statue which can fall down any moment. When she heard the footsteps approaching her, she looked down to plaster her face and again looked straight flashing a smile.

A middle aged man of her father's came approaching her. He had perfect jawline, raven hair and was wearing a three piece armani suit. Coming closer, he smiled and complimented her look while she smiled back and muttered thank you, which came out as a whisper only. Then a lady like her mother's age approached her and hugged, giving that motherly vibe to her and she felt weak again but composed and smiled bright.

Later, the lady exchanged gifts, sweets, dry fruits and savouries with Avni as it means Roka which indicates their alliance is fixed in Indian (Punjabi) rituals. Then they took their seat in their respective places while she was still standing unable to contemplate what to do. When a cute little 16 year old girl came to her and dragged, to the side sofa to sit. 

She introduced herself to Dia saying her name is Ariha and she is her cute little sister-in-law while she glanced up at her.

Sister-in-law? Mine?, she asks to herself but shrugged soon.

Her heart felt warmth with her word's, smile and gestures. She then smiled back and said her name is Dia. The little girl chirped with her name tasting at her tongue making others smile. Dia after saying her name paused thinking. Should she call herself this cute girl's 'bhabi'?

But then shrugged it off as she smiled wholeheartedly.

"Dad, where is bhai? See, Dia I mean bhabi is so pretty and beautiful. I am sure bhai would be whipped with her beauty", that girl asked feeling agitated.

While listening to her unknowingly a crimson red settled on her cheeks making her feel warm.

Her brother is not here… means the groom has not reached yet, her subconscious shouted feeling lighter.

But then her eyes fell on the guy who was sitting next to Ariha laughing so cutely and eating samosa. Ariha noticed her confusion and moved her attention to her fully.

"This is my younger brother Sameer and the one whom your eyes are searching for is Karan. But he got stuck with something like always and will be late", Ariha informed.

Her trance broke listening to her and she passes an awkward smile for getting caught feeling shy. While Sameer who was so busy stuffing Samose gave a toothy grin to her earning a slap at his arm from Ariha. 

"Stop eating like a hungry Dumbo, we are here as guests to meet her and not to eat like there's no tomorrow", she snapped at her younger elder brother.

"So what? I already saw her and she is beautiful", he says. "But guess what she will be staying with us soon so why not concentrate on Samosa for now", he snapped back making Dia chuckle at his cute face and act.

Other's eyes brimmed seeing her chuckle for the first time from the moment they met which was giving a complimentary look to her appearance. Her dad was finally seeing her happy and it made him smile too. But suddenly, she paused feeling the whole world stopped and her breath got hitched while her heart just stopped beating only as her eyes fell on someone at the doorstep.

Others seeing her suddenly froze followed her gaze and saw a man tugged in space cadet blue raymond suit with a cornflower blue shirt inside it and the first to break the trance and speak was Ariha. 

"Finally bhai you made it. I thought even this time you will say that I can't make it up", Ariha said, mocking him. 

Dia looked at Ariha and then again to the man standing at the entrance who was now approaching toward them. Her heart skipped a beat again while her cheeks got warm and red with his stare. She looked down instantly thinking he would come and sit beside her but sighed in relief when he sat opposite.

"This is my Karan bhai, the busy man who hardly shows up, especially at occasions. But I am sure you will change him into a family man who spends his time with family. Omg!! Look he is really whipped by your beauty as his cold eyes are fixed at you", she whispered to her.

Dia peeked to look at him and saw him really looking at her which made her shy. She looked down instantly as those intense stares were making her go red more than what she is already. The elders were busy in their own talks and she didn't pay any heed while Karan was just pretending to hear.

"Bhabi.. omg you are blushing actually no you are getting red as tomato. I didn't know like my brother you are whipped too", she teased her making her blush.