Chapter 4 •4•The Surprising Guest

-Jivika's POV-

My jumbled thoughts came to a halt when I saw Radhs in that gorgeous Lehenga Chachi had chosen for her Engagement. Yes I know now I should be happy but rather I am confused because I know Radhs. She is not someone who would just give up on her word for someone else's expectations. She is ambitious and stubborn. Very stubborn.

"Radhs are you okay? I- I mean-"

"Jivi, would you please call our hairstylist. My hair is a complete mess."

What? How can she act so normal? Like nothing happened.

"Oh....Ok. I... I'll just be back." I stuttered and went down to look for the stylist who was waiting for us in the living room. I asked her to go and attend Radhs.

The stylish went off and I stood there. After her reaction, I should be happy and satisfied that she didn't go against Chachi. But my instincts are screaming that this is just the silence before the storm.

No. No. No. I shouldn't be thinking this way. Radhs would never do such a thing.

"Mam? The Khurana family is here." The maid said and left. My heart broke at those words.

Ranbir has come. For Radhs.

I have no place here. In their lives. They belong together. I should just stop feeling this pain. I should just accept this truth. "Haaye rabba! (Oh goodness)" Chachi's voice brought me out of trance. "What is this Jivi? You are still looking like a maid. The engagement is going to start. Go and get ready. Fast."

"Ji Chachi." I said and moved to my room searching for something to wear. Well, Chachi did ask me to get a dress made from Radhs' designer but I just can't. He designs too revealing dresses which are not at all my type. But whatever I wear, who cares. Anyway I'm not going to face the media and... Ranbir. I chose an old fashioned Orange Anarkali with a golden border and a zari embroidered neck. Even though it's not-so-classy, I'm comfortable in this. And today I gave a holiday to the specs. I hurriedly tied my hair up in a messy bun and put on some light make-up and my favorite pink lipstick and headed downstairs. He will be there. How will I face him?

Ranbir looked so dashing in his black fabric. Ahem! In my defense, all the girls were drooling over him. Not just me. The smile on his face, the eyes of love with which he was staring at Radhs while she was descending down the stairs made me feel a little jealous. A little.

I walked downstairs and Chachi took in all my appearance and said, "you're looking beautiful Jivi."

"Thank you Chachi." I said. I was still worried about Radhs' strange behavior.

Chachi sensed my worry and said, "Jivi, I know you're still thinking about what I did with Radhika but trust me it's for her own good. She left me no other option."

"It's okay Chachi. I understand." I said slowly.

"So... During the party, I have a surprise for you." Chachi said.

"Surprise? What surprise Chachi?" I asked excited and confused.

"Ohho! If I tell you how would it be a surprise then? Just wait and I know you're going to love it." She said and walked off.

"So you're here?" I heard someone's chirpy and excited voice. When I turned around, I saw a beautiful girl with perfect features and complexion walking towards me. Before I could register anything on my mind, she kept walking towards me with so much elegance that I just kept staring at her. "Bhabi?" She said and took me in a hug.

What?

"I kept telling Bhai that I want to meet you but only if he ever listened." She said, her voice full of sophistication. She adjusted the volumes of her hairs with her perfectly manicured hands and continued, "oh! How stupid of me? Bhabi, I'm Ishani. Ishaani Khurana. Ranbir Bhai's younger sister."

"Listen Ishani, you're mistaken. Ranbir is not getting engaged to me. It's my sister, Radhika. There." I said pointing a finger at Radhs.

She was clearly embarrassed. "Uff. I... I'm... "

"It's OK. It was just a mistake. Now go and shower all your love on your real Bhabi." I said moving back. She didn't say anything, just nodded and walked towards them with the same graceful moves and I felt a sharp pang of jealousy.

All the while during the engagement, Radhs had her perfect plastic smile on her face. Not once did she talk to Ranbir, Chachu, Chachi or anyone. For guests, it was just a forced Hi or hello and thank you for their greetings.

Normally, she would flaunt her Mannish lehenga, diamond jewelry, Gucci heels and pretty much everything.

She even behaved with Ranbir the same way. Ishani stayed by her side to which I was thankful. I tried to talk to her many times but she just didn't. Then Chachu took the mike and announced the union of our families through this engagement. Ranbir seemed happier than ever. He was looking at her dashing in that black fabric.

The rings were brought and... I can't see this. I rushed inside and tears made their way through my cheeks. After a few minutes, I heard loud claps from the crowd. So it's done. The engagement is over. Now they are officially each other's. Ranbir's Dad and Chachu hugged each other in happiness. So did Chachi and Ranbir's Mom. The press covered the whole event and I stood far away from them.

Ranbir asked permission from the elders and took Radhs with him. They teased him a lot about it.

Today, I'm really missing someone. If HE would have been here, I would have been comfortable, felt better.

Suddenly, All the lights went off. What? How can this happen? All the generators should be on by now. Ugh. I was just going to the monitor room to check but I hate darkness. I was about to open my phone's torch when I heard a very familiar voice...

"Tendulkar Ke bina INDIA adhoora

Jai ko Veeru karta hai poora

JIVIKA Bulaaye aur ABHIMANYU na Aaye

Is dialogue par Rajnikant bhi Taali bajaye!"

Oh God! It's him. There was a spotlight and the man in it kept coming closer and revealed his face. And without a doubt, there stood ABHIMANYU.

"Abhi!" I yelled in excitement and ran to him. He opened his arms and took me in a bone crushing hug, just the way I like. "I knew you would come."

Abhi, is a piece of my soul. He is my OWN younger brother. After Mom and Dad's death, Chachu kept me with him and sent Abhi abroad to do his MBA so that he became a perfect and smart businessman strong enough to take the load of the entire Singhania Empire on his shoulders. Yes, My Chachu is a very good man and he loved his brother too much.

He had promised himself to handover Papa's share of business and property to Abhi, once he became reliable enough. "Abhi?" Chachu shouted. "Beta what a surprise?"

"Wait." Chachi said all of a sudden. All of us looked at her in confusion.

"What happened, Chachi?" Abhi asked.

"Who are you?" Chachi asked straightforwardly.

"Chachi, I'm Abhi. Your nephew." Abhi said with a pout.

"I know that... But that identity is what this family gave you. What's yours? Tell me what identity have you created for yourselves in all these years."

He smiled. We know. Chachi does this often. "Chachi, I'm Abhimanyu Singhania, a student in business. I don't have any degrees worth my status uptil now but I have a Chachu and Chachi who have faith in me that one day I'll be the best. Two sisters whom I'll always protect, a lovely family that I'll forever cherish. I'm a struggler, a son, a brother... But before that..." He walked towards me and stood in front of me, "I'm the first love of my Di's life, the light of her existence, and I'm the mascara in my Di's eyes. If she ever cries, my existence will just fade away." He said in his all-so-filmy style and I just kept staring at him with tears of happiness in my eyes.

As the tears flew, he wiped them and said, "Jivika, I hate tears." He said in the same tone as Rajesh Khanna Sir. He is such a freak when it comes to Bollywood. He is so obsessed with Indian cinema.

"I called him. Jivi was feeling lonely, that's why." Chachi said. "So Jivi... Did you like the surprise?"

"Liked it? I loved it. Thank you sooo much Chachi." I cooed and emotionally hugged her. "You made my day Chachi. This moment couldn't get any better."

"Di please. Rulaogi kya? (Will you make us cry?)" Saying this, he wiped my tears and caressed my hairs. "I'm here. Don't worry." His soft consoling voice silenced the storms in me.

"Abhi?" We heard a familiar voice and saw Radhs standing at a distance. "Hi Abhi, When did you come?"

"Just now. And where is my Jija Ji? (Sister's husband)?" Abhi asked, looking behind Radhs.

"He had done important work so he left." She said.

Phew! Thank God.

"Come Abhi. I have to talk to you about a lot of things." I said pulling Abhi with me.

"OK everyone... See you all later. I know you all will miss me but what to do... Di has already booked me, so sad." He said waving his hands like a celebrity while I kept dragging him.

Jivika's Room

"Abhi I've so much to share with you. I was so sad from the past few days or maybe I was missing you and I didn't realize. OK... So where should I start from?"

"Di, you should start from... The beginning." He chuckled.

"Very funny. OK, first of all, tell me... Why no call and no texts to your Di for so many days? What was keeping you so busy? Or... WHO was keeping you so busy?"

"Di Aap bhi Na..." Oh my God. He really blushed? "There's nothing like that." He said with the same shy smile.

"Awww... Really?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"OK Di... Please stop that. Actually Ya you're right... You always are. You know me better... but I want you to trust me enough. Yes. You're right but... I... Don't know her answer. I don't know if she's serious. So..." He dragged that 'so' so pleadingly that I just couldn't say no.

"OK! Your little secret is safe." I said slowly, smiling at him with a wink and again took him into a hug so tight that it might have suffocated him. "Missed you so much bro."

"Mee too Di." He hugged me back. "Di, I wanted to ask you something."

"Go ahead." I said moving towards the pile of clothes and folding them.

"You remember... As a child, how desperately did you crush on Ranbir? Is it the same way... Still?" He asked in a serious tone.

Oh no. He still remembers? This time, I'll have to remove every doubt from his mind about my feelings.