One month later...
One day before Vidhi's wedding
Siddharth's POV
It was early morning and their Haveli was glowing with the beautiful lights it was adorned with. Those beautiful tiny lights were teasing me that I would never be able to see such a day in my life.
I was here with Shubh in his room. They were having their functions together as Sandhya bhabhi had to be a part of rituals on both sides.
Friends and family could meet and attend the functions only the groom and bride were not suppose to meet.
Shubh had become very friendly with me, Samar and Sahil. We were enjoying ourselves so much and had become so close that we were also being referred to as the 4S group by Bhai and his friends.
Shubh was changing with time... He was missing Vidhi badly and could not even sleep. So we called up Vidhi at around 12:30 at midnight. She must have been shocked to see him calling at night so picked up the phone immediately. The phone was on speaker mode.
" Hello !!! .... Hello ?? Shubh ?? " We could literally hear the surprise in Vidhi's voice.
Shubh wanted to talk to her but he had his own set of weird rules. Vidhi used to say that he was from another planet or some part century.
" Say something.. she has picked up the phone. " We said in hushed voices.
" No... Look at the time.. it is not right. Disconnect it and give it to me " Shubh said.
" It is perfectly alright. You will get married to her in 2 days... Talk to her."
" But... "
" Hello ?? Shubh ?? " Vidhi was saying but it seemed that someone switched on the speakerphone.
" No, it is Sahil... " Sahil said
" Oh... Hello, jiju... " Vidhi said but we could hear a trace of disappointment in her voice.
" Actually he was missing you a lot so we took his phone and called you but now he is not talking. Vidhi, I think he is not interested in you. If you want, I can suggest the name of a very good friend of mine. He is also tall dark handsome like Shubh. What do you say?? " Sahil said and Shubh was shocked to hear that.
" What are you saying ?? Have you gone mad ?? Don't you dare... Just give my phone back " Shubh was saying but I snatched the phone this time.
" Yaar Vidhi, even I am a bachelor... I love a girl but she is not interested in me. You love a man but he doesn't even want to talk to you. Don't you think we should forget about them and ... " I said. Though I said it as a joke but was hurt by it.
" Shut up Sid !!! Not another word I will break all your teeth. Go and find another girl, if Shruti is not interested... Vidhi is mine." Shubh was saying and there was a roar of laughter after that. I was laughing too.
" Why another girl?? She is my friend and understands me well. As it is, you are not interested in her and I would have to find another girl too so it would be better... " I said to tease him, but at the same time, I was getting very uncomfortable. But I had to be normal.
" Get lost Sid, before I kill you. Sahil, manu is right you are a SATAN. Give me my phone back... Only Samar is good. "
" But even that good boy is talking to my sister right now. And I am going to go and get my wife from Vidhi's room. I can't sleep without her. Now only Sid and you are left so either you talk to Vidhi or... " Sahil said.
" No way... I will talk to her. " Shubh said and snatched the phone back.
" Hello ?? " Vidhi said.
" Hello Vidhi !!! " He said and we all shook our head and went out.
I went to take a round of the haveli. I remembered another night when I had taken so many rounds of this haveli in anticipation of meeting and clearing all the misunderstandings. And today... I had no hope.
Bhai and Maurvi were really concerned about me. They kept asking me if I wanted them to intervene? Maurvi asked me If she should arrange a meeting with Shruti? She wanted to talk to her but I refused to let her go and talk to Shruti.
After that encounter with her father and cousin in the hospital, she went on leave for two days. I was dying to talk to her but I could not.
When she came back to the hospital, she was very sad and aloof. I tried to talk to her but she started crying.
She said she needed some time. I could understand, so I gave her time of about 10 days but she was unusually sad.
Though she was still working with me, we were neither together nor separated. She was avoiding anything romantic between us.
I tried to talk to her many times but she said that she can't marry me. I even said that my dad can talk to her father but she said that he was going through a lot and she could not give stress to him.
My family was pushing me to talk to her or let them interfere. But I refused to let them involve in this.
I was taking another round to get tired. So that I could sleep. But Samar saw me asked me to come with him.
Shruti's POV
Vidhi saw that I felt really bad when Siddharth said all that on phone. I was so much in love with him. Vidhi asked me, what was going on between us but I refused to talk about it.
I felt very jealous when he said that he would have to find another girl. I felt so helpless that a few tears rolled from my eyes.
Maurvi and bhaiya had tried to talk to me a few times but I avoided them.
******
Vidhi had her Haldi, Shubh called her and we picked up the phone to tease them.
" Hello ?? " Shubh said
" Hello, jiju... " Manu and I started laughing.
" Oh hi... How are you?? " He said
" We are good... How are you?? "
" Good ... Can I talk to her?? "
" Her?? Sandhya bhabhi?? Sure jiju... " Manu said and I laughed.
" No... Vidhi. " We teased them a bit and then left them alone.
******
I was trying to sleep but could not... There were so many things on my mind.
I was missing him... Oh, I loved him so much.
I still remember that day in the hospital when Siddharth confessed his love for me, in front of my father.
He knew the repercussions of me accepting that I loved him too, while both Nihal and Papa were already so angry.
So he said that he was in love with me while I never reciprocated his feelings.
He asked for my hand again and again in marriage but my father declined his request.
" No way !!! You belong to another caste. She doesn't even like you. Don't you dare to come near my daughter? "
" Who said so?? " I said.
" What?? " Papa and Nihal said together.
" Who said that I don't even like him. I love him too. I didn't accept my feelings out of respect for you, papa. I didn't want to break your trust. I wanted to have my career, I have it now. I studied with dedication and did not pay any attention to him, but let me tell you that he is one of the finest men I have ever met. I am madly in love with him. You may not allow us to marry, but in that case, I am not going to marry at all. "
" Shut up Shruti!!! Or you will get another slap from me. " Nihal came towards me. He was very angry, but before he could touch me, Siddharth was standing in front of me.
" Just don't even think Of touching her... " He shouted at Nihal.
Nihal threw a punch towards Sid but he caught his fist with one hand and was about to hit him back.
I really didn't want both of them to fight like that. So, I shouted at both of them to stop the nonsense immediately. I came to stand between them .