Chapter 20

Sana

@sweetangel_25

Part 20

A week passes and Muskaan recovers well from her weakness...all the elders were back home after the marriage...now the reception was to be held in Mumbai...and so all the family is busily getting ready to attend it. But Muskaan seemed to be the busiest...she was picking up every particular thing carefully...her clothing...accessories...shoes...and she was stuck in front of the mirror since the past one hour...but sadly she cudnt figure out how all the girls manage to do their makeup and accessories right...

as for herself...she was never so bothered about it...and hardly knew the basics...but today she felt this sudden urge of dressing up to the tip in traditional style for the reception...looking her best...who knows...someone might just notice...she blushed thinking about it...

Naaz was observing her all morning...the way she had been fussing about every detail...and the excitement...she definitely found it odd for Muskaan...but then she thinks...may be its the change in place and atmosphere that has bought the change in her...

Now..observing how Muskaan was struggling to get things right...she decides to make things easy for her...

Naaz: Muski...itni der se khud try kar rahi hai...mujhse nahi bol sakti...I would have helped you na...

Muskaan: sorry Naaz...mujhe laga tujhe late hojaega...so I thought I will try myself ...aur mujhe kya pata tha ...ye sab itna difficult hota hai...mujhse kuch thik se nahi ho raha...mujhe kuch nahi ata..(her eyes get a little moist)

Naaz: are isme itna upset hone ki kya baat hai...main hoon na yaha...tu ja...wash the mess you made on your face and come back...aur fir dekh main tujhe kaise ready karti hoon...bride bhi pheki pad jaegi tere samne...

Muskaan chuckles at her statement...and goes to the washroom to clear all the mess she created... Naaz helps her completely to get ready...she picks up a glam golden coloured saree for her from her wardrobe...and all matching accessories...and does a sweet and simple yet beautiful makeup on her...

Muskaan stares at herself as she looks into the mirror...she never thought she could look like this...she smiles widely at Naaz

Then Naaz herself goes to get ready.

But Muskaan just cant keep herself away from the mirror...every few minutes she takes a look at herself...appreciating her beauty and grinning happily.. doing touch ups here and there...something clicks her...she checks her cupboard and gets a jewellery box out of there...as she looks at the piece...

Muskaan: Naaz...please ye bhi pehna de na..plzz

Naaz: oh wow...this is the one Armaan bhai got for you right.. .it will go well actually...(she fixes it on her forehead)

Muskaan nods her head...yes he had given it...and he had even told her the day before...how much he likes women dressed up traditionally when they were discussing about the reception...she took all the pain...to see how much will he notice..

It was time to leave...Muskaan and Naaz were climbing down the stairs..when Muskaan feels a strong gaze on her...she looks up to see Zaheer's eyes fixed on her...his jaw dropped open slightly as he dumbfoundly stared at her...not even realizing that she was staring back...

He gets back to his senses when he hears his dad asking him to get the cars ready...Saba and Farhat too compliment Muskaan and Farhat lovingly puts a black tika from her kajal behind her ear ...Muskaan blushes with all the compliments...but the one she took all the pain for...was missing...Saba informs them that he left early to join his friends there..

******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Once they reach the place...Muskaan eyes cudnt rest...she was constantly searching for him.. but he was nowhere to be seen...

Finally...after about an hour he appears...joining the family as they were seated together...on being questioned he convinced everyone that he was stuck up with some important work...

Muskaan was waiting for him to talk...or atleast look at her...but he simply took a seat nearby and looked straight at the stage...not once did he turn to her...

Muskaan: Armaan...(she softly called him)

He turned as if jerking out of deep thoughts...and got totally surprised looking at her

Armaan: Muskaan...I wudnt have recognised you..I...mean.. you are...looking gorgeous...

Muskaan smiles...: thank u...but whats wrong with you...you are looking so lost...

Armaan: umm...nahi...kuch nahi

Just then he notices Tabrez standing at a distance signaling him to join him.

Armaan: I will just be back...(he quickly leaves)

Naaz also notices this.

Naaz: what is it Muskaan

Muskaan: pata nahi Naaz...he seems so lost

Naaz: koi khichdi pak rahi hai kya...baki gang bhi dikhai nahi de rahi...chal zara...dekhte hai

Muskaan: kaha jaenge...pata nahi kaha gaya hai Armaan..

Naaz: tu chal to...we will see

Naaz enquires with some acquaintances and follows the trails to find Tabrez and Zia standing in the lawn outside the seating area.. she dsnt go to them...instead starts to look around searching for Armaan...she finally spots him at quite a distance ...but there was another person accompanying him...shocking Naaz

Naaz: oh God...what is she doing here

Muskaan too feels restless...staring at the women with him...they seemed to be arguing over something

Muskaan: kaun hai wo

Naaz: wo umm...an old friend of ours..

Tabrez and Zia notice the two girls and walk upto them...

Naaz: ye kya ho gaya ab...what is she doing here

Tabrez just sighs...and signals her...she gets tensed...understanding his expressions...but Muskaan was getting restless...she could see the women was trying to get close to him again and again...

Muskaan: Naaz...mujhe to koi kuch batao..kya ho raha hai...kaun hai ye

Zia : wo..Muskaan...wo hamari college friend hai...koi misunderstanding hogyi hai na...to...Armaan usse baat kar raha hai

Naaz : muski...chalte hai yaha se...bhai ajaenge...chal...(she holds her hand and takes her away...they take their earlier seats)

Muskaan: Naaz...kuch to problem hai...that you dont want to tell me about

(she makes an angry face)

Naaz : wo...actually na...wo Nisha hai...Armaan bhai ki ex gf

Muskaan was about to drop the glass of juice in her hand...her eyes were wide with shock...she just stares at Naaz baffled

Naaz notices her expressions and realizes she used the wrong word: oh...I mean...not gf really...wo hum log unhe tease karte hai...she is his college friend...she had proposed to him...he said no...but tabse unhe bohot pareshan karti hai...shayad abhi bhi kuch kiya hoga

Muskaan breathed a little easier...but she wanted to know more..: to kya..Armaan bhi... usse..

Naaz: are na na..Armaan bhai to...u know him by now na...he is very sweet and caring...college life se hi na... a lot of girls would go mad for him...but wo waise flirt type nahi hai na...he would keep it to friendship only..but Nisha was quite a spoilt brat...into drugs and all.. she gets attacks as if...of madness...abhi bhi she threatens him...and he runs to her rescue...thats why I was scared...wondering what did she do now

Muskaan was just listening quitely...after a while she joins the whole family for dinner...

During the rest of the reception...Armaan hardly joined them..Muskaan noticed him 2-3 times...he was hanging around with his gang of boys.. chatting and laughing away...

**************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

She was standing by the window of her room...thinking over Naazneen's words...'a lot of girls have fallen for him'...so even she was another one now? But what difference did it make to him...he was just being friendly..'caring and sweet'...was she nothing for him? 

What is it then? If he considered her any more than a casual friend ...he wouldnt have been so ignorant tonight...he didnt even talk to her properly ...he had time to hang around with his friends later...but didnt meet her again...when she was so tensed for him...wondering if that Nisha has created any trouble for him...and that girl...!!!! she was getting so close to him..!! trying to touch him !

Uff.. why is she thinking all this.. its not like she owns him!

She angrily wipes those few tears streaming down her face...if I am no one to him...why am I scratching my brains for him...even I dont want to think of you...

she wipes the remaining tears...and takes her place next to Naaz on the bed to try to sleep.

Part ends.

Comments awaited.

luv,

Sana