Chapter 1

Gauravi's POV

Parking my car on the porch, weariness settled in after enduring a marathon of duty hours covering for a colleague. Longing for the solace of sleep, my anticipation shifted abruptly upon entering our home, where a symphony of aromas enveloped the air, the whole house was bursting with aromas of different delicacies. Tami(Gautami, my younger sister)  was arranging fresh flowers in the vases while orchestrated household tasks at the same time. 

" Hey, what is going on? " I inquired. 

" Di, Mihir Jiju and his family are coming for the dinner. " Tami revealed.

" All of a sudden? On a weekday?"  I queried. 

" Gautam uncle called up to tell us they  are coming for dinner. " She replied with a smile. 

Exhaustion and irritation clashed within me. " But why? I am so tired, almost dead on my feet, I just wanted to eat something and sleep. "  

My maternal aunt ( chachi) teasingly  declared, " Oh, c'mon, you will be as fresh as a flower as soon as you see Mihir. " 

Protesting my fatigue, I just rolled my eyes. Tami just smiled and went to the kitchen. 

" There is nothing like that... I really want to sleep. " 

" But you can't, go and get ready. They will be here in half an hour. " Aunt Shruti said. 

" Chachi... " 

" No arguments... " I engaged in futile arguments until Siddh ( my first cousin) and my uncle walked in carrying many bags.They both smiled at me. 

" Oh, my god, Gauravi, you are looking like horrible. Go and get ready or we will have to call a cardiologist to save Mihir. "  Siddh said. 

" Shut up! You go and see your face in the mirror. I look good in any condition."  I said making a face.  Everyone burst out laughing. 

" Siddh, don't say anything to my princess, or I will beat you. " My uncle (Chachu) said hugging me. 

" Dad, this is not fair, you always take her side. "  Siddh said with fake anger. 

" But dad, how can you beat Bhai, he is a boxing champion. Only dad can beat him, after all, he taught boxing to him "  Tami said with a smile. 

" I can still beat him as I am his dad. " chachu said. Just then Mom came out of the kitchen. 

"  Great! Everyone is here. Have you got everything I asked you to get, Siddh? "  Mom asked. 

"Ji! " 

" Good, not go and freshen up both of you. Gauravi, go and take a bath.  Shruti, since you are ready, please  give them some snacks and tea, I will go and get ready." Mom said to Chachi. She nodded with a smile. 

" Tami, go and change... " Mom said. 

" Why do I need to change, Mom, they are not coming to meet me. I am fine, as it is I have a lot of work, I have to submit my project tomorrow, so I will stay in my room."  She said and went away before Mom could argue. 

" This girl is always busy. " Mom shook her head and said. 

" Mom, I need to talk to you. " I said. 

" Later on... I have to be ready before your dad and Shahs come. I am sweating after making so many things. " She said and rushed to her room. 

" Go get ready... " Chachi pushed me to my room. 

Why the hell didn't Mihir say anything to me? Why are they coming to our place? 

I need to talk to him. 

***

After about half an hour, I went downstairs, Dad had also come back.  The moment he saw me, his face lit up and he hugged me. 

" Good evening, sweetheart. You are looking very pretty, " Dad said 

" Of course, Bhai, both the sisters look like Maurvi." Chachu teased Dad and he nodded. 

" Thank God, they have inherited their looks from their mom. " Dad burst out laughing. 

" Dad, I need to talk to you. "  I said. 

" Yes, beta... Tell me. "  He said. But I could not talk to him in front of everyone. 

" Can you come with me? " 

"  Where?"  He was surprised at my request.

" To the study. " 

" Now?? " 

" Yes, Dad. " 

" Not now, they will be here any moment. "  Dad said shaking his head.

" Mom, dad, can I please talk to both of you? " I said and before they could say anything the doorbell chimed. 

" Oh, it seems they are here. We will talk once they leave. " Dad said. 

I wanted to argue but just then they all walked in.

We all greeted each other, Mihir winked at me, and Megha Aunty (his mom) , and Mahi (sister) hugged me. While Ron and Uncle smiled at me. 

I managed to smile somehow. Everybody sat down and all the elders sat together, while we youngsters made another group. The helpers started serving tea and snacks. 

" Aunty, where is Gautami? " Mahi asked. 

"She has to submit her project tomorrow, she is working on it. Sri, please, go call her.  " Mom said. 

" It's okay Aunty, I will go and meet her," Mahi said. 

Was she really busy or was she...? I was thinking about her when Mehul uncle asked Dad, " Gautam,  we are here to say that if you don't mind, can we fix the wedding date? "  

Oh, no!! 

" What is the hurry, Mehul? "  Dad asked. " 

" Since Mahi has got married and has gone to live at Kapoor Mansion, our home has become very quiet. We are missing our daughter. So, we want our daughter Gauravi to come and live with us now.  " Uncle replied and everyone smiled. 

Mihir kept looking at me and his brother-in-law Ron cleared his throat. 

"  Stop ogling at her, there are other people around you. Her dad might beat you. "  Ron said and grinned. 

" Shut up! Look who is talking, the one who can't take his eyes off my sister. " Mihir retorted. 

" Your sister is my wife now. I have every right to see her. " Ron replied. 

" So? Gauravi is engaged to me. I have every right to look at her." He said. 

"Mihir, may I have a moment?" I inquired. His grin widened as he nodded, assuring me, "You don't need to ask; I'm all ears for you."

"Come with me," I urged. Ron interjected, "Hey, you can talk to him in our presence, I swear I won't tease you." Mahi joined in with a teasing smile. 

"Ron, please, if you don't mind, can we talk? It's something urgent," I solemnly requested. Ron acquiesced, nodded, and urged Mihir to join me.

As Mihir and I found ourselves alone, he closed the physical gap between us, pulling me into his arms. I gently pushed him away, determined to express what weighed on my heart.

"What?" he asked, wearing a long face.

"I said we need to talk, so let's go and talk," I replied, glaring at him.

"About our honeymoon? Yes, let's talk," he joked.

"Mihir, I am serious," I asserted.

He paused, the gravity of my words sinking in. "So am I," he replied, inching closer, his eyes searching mine.

"Fine, then listen. We can't get married." I said it bluntly.