Suraj and his family were on their way to Rohan and Priya's reception. The Rao family had decided to leave their daughters and Jai at home. Virat, really, was the one to make the decision and no one had the courage to speak against it.

Meera was relieved when her brother declared she wasn't going to go, she never had feelings for Rohan and honestly, she didn't really care that he got married, but it still would have been embarrassing and even humiliating to attend. To attend the function that was supposed to be for her, watch another woman stand in the place meant for her, wearing the clothes and jewellery designed for her.

She didn't care for any of that superficial stuff, but people did, and they know. She didn't want the pitiful glances. She'd rather stay home, with her Jai. Her relatives calling to get the details was already bad enough for her.

As she sat by her window, she gazed up at the moon. It was so beautiful. She bit her lip as she let her thoughts wander. Shourya must be looking so out of place in the bright decoration. Hehehe. Or maybe he likes overly bright colours surrounding him? I wonder what he's wearing. A suit? Maybe a kurta? Or a sherwani? Her mind wandered to the day at the temple.

The white kurta suited him, we looked good together in the picture Raj uncle took of us. He was so stiff though, didn't say a word just nodded his head and stood next to me. He was standing with his back as straight as a ruler. Hehehe. I wonder if he even wanted the photo of us together. I wonder if he even wants to marry me.

A frown etches Meera's face as she lets out a sigh. Will he leave me too? But the way Aarav and Riya were teasing him, he didn't even get angry at them. I mean he didn't ignore me as Rohan does. We didn't speak, but he walked next to me on our way out, and he smiled at me also. And what was that video Aarav was talking about? He was going to show me but Shourya grabbed his collar and pulled him away from me. Hehehe. I think I like being around his maa, and dad as well. And I've always loved the twins. I think I liked being around him too.

Meera lets out a dreamy sigh, cheeks covered in blush as she thinks about her soon-to-be fiancé.

At Reception Hall:
"Namaste, Namaste. Suraj, yaar tum logon ne toh bohot der krdi," Neel says as he approaches his best friend.

(Namaste, namaste. Dude, you guys took so long to get here.)

"Bilkul, hum log toh aapka wait kab se kr rahe hai," Raj says as he blessed Anushka and Virat.

(Exactly, we were waiting for all of you guys.)

"Are kya bataoon Neel, teri Bhabhi ko koi lipstick pasand hi nahi aa rahi thi. Is chakar mein late hog aye." Everyone laughs as Rohini elbows her husband. Neel clearly happy to have his best friend back.

(Oh what do I tell you Neel, my wife didn't like any of the lipsticks she had. Because of that we were late.)

Once the Rao family had greeted everyone and met the newly married couple, Shourya guided them to their table. He noticed his future fiancée wasn't here, but neither was Muskaan or Jai.

"Aap Meera aur Muskaan ko nahi kaye? Aur hamare nanhe Jai bhi nahi hai?" Suman asks.

(You guys didn't bring Meera and Muskaan? And our little Jai isn't here either?)

"Aunty woh, Meera was very tired when she got home today, uske school mein aaj koi function tha, hamne kaha ki aaj nahi jaaye, lekin use un bacho se itna pyaar hai ki baat hi nahi mani humari," Anushka says.

(Aunty, actually Meera was very tired when she got home today, her school had a function. We told her not to go but she loves those children so much that she wouldn't listen to us.)

"Aur Jahan Meera, wahan Jai." Virat says.

(And Jai would obviously be where Meera is.)

"Thik hi hai Bhabhi, Meera aaj nahi aayi, accha hai," Reema states which quieten down the group.

(It's good that way, that Meera didn't come. It's great.)

"Neel, tumhe aapne aur bhi guest dekhne hoge, in fact, all of you must have guests to attend. Please don't let us stop you." Suraj says breaking the silence.

(Neel, you must have guests to attend.in fact, all of you must have guests to attend. Please don't let us stop you.)

Once they all leave, the family exchanges glances. "Mein Meera ko phone krke aati hun, dekh loon sab thik hai," Anushka says before stepping outside.

(I'll just go call Meera, see if everything is okay.)

At the Rao's home:

"Ji Bhabhi sab thik hai, you guys enjoy yourselves. . . . nahi Bhabhi aesa kuch nahi hai. I've moved on. . . . . . khana kha lenge aur time se so jayenge. . . . . bye Bhabhi." Meer hangs up before going downstairs to make dinner. She's decided on channe puri and ghajar ka halwa. She knows Muskaan was looking forward to eating junk today at the reception, so she's hoping tonight's menu will make up for it.

(Yes bhabhi, everything is okay. . . . . . . .no bhabhi, it's nothing like that. . . . . . . . We'll eat and go to bed in time.)

Once the dough was ready, Meera started on the channe. She had put on The Lion King for Jai so she could cook peacefully, and Muskaan was with him whilst finishing her assignments. Meera promised her that if she got her assignment done by the end of this week, she'll take her out for lunch at her favourite place.

Just as she was about to get her tadka ready when the landline rang.

At Reception Hall:
Shourya held the phone to his ear; he knew their landline and was secretly hoping for someone specific to pick up. One minute he was thinking about what his chachi had said about Meera earlier, and then the next he was outside calling her.

"Hello?"

She picked up. What do I say?

"He-hello, is anyone there?"

He said the first thing that came to his head.

"Meera."

Silence. She knows it's me.

"I-ji," she replies. (I-yes)

"You didn't come tonight."

"N-No, woh bhai ne mana kr diya tha." 

(Actually, my brother said no.)

"Good, there was no need for you to see this, that too in front of so many people."

"Hmmm, I- I didn't really want to come anyway," she says without thinking.

She didn't. Does it upset her? Him getting married. To someone else.

"Really, does it upset you?"

"No, I'm not upset. Really. But it's still humiliating. Honestly, I didn't want baba or anyone else to go either."

"I understand and I'm sorry."

"You don't h-ave to be, you d-did nothing wr-wrong."

There was a second of silence before Shourya speaks again.

"I called to make sure you're okay. It's quite late as well, do you need anything?"

Meera blushed at that; she didn't know how to respond.

"I-umm. . . . . well no, thank you, we don't need anything. And it's not that late."

"I was just a little worried."

Her face was burning, her ears, neck, cheeks, everything.

"Ummm. . . you don't n-need to be. We're o-okay. Th-thank you for checking on u-us though."

Cute

He found her stuttering so endearing.

"Well then, if you're okay and you don't need anything I'll hang up."

"O-okay, good night."

He smiles at the phone, even after the call has ended. Her face is still recovering from the blushing.

"Di, we're getting hungry!"

"Almost ready."

Meera spent the rest of the evening smiling, she just couldn't stop.

I can't believe he called me.

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