Published on 16th February 2021.

______________________

– S H R U T I –

Hearing someone clearing her throat, I turned back and saw Akriti standing at my door. "You need something?" I asked and she shook her head, carrying a bag in her hand. "Are you going somewhere?"

"It's not for me but you."

"Me?" I asked and she threw the bag towards me. I caught it on time and asked, "What's with this bag?"

"Try them."

"Dresses?"

"Somewhat like that. See, I know that you don't have any experience in such things. But being your elder sister, it's my duty to teach you everything."

What is she going to teach me?

Something is fishy!

"Now go and try. See if you feel good in them. If your answer will be yes then we'll buy some more for you." She said and pushed me inside the bathroom.

And now, I was feeling nervous as hell...

She's not going to kill me, right?

No, she won't.

She's my own sister. We shared the same womb, the same blood.

Unless any one of us is adopted.

Adopted?

Am I?

What the hell am I even thinking?

I unzipped the bag and saw a red lacy fabric poking out, saying hello to me. Pulling it out, I came across the shortest cloth which could barely cover someone's body.

Who in this world wears this thing?

Spreading the fabric, I took a full view of it. It was the most revealing thing I had ever seen. How can someone wear clothes like these? These can't even be called proper clothes.

But what if I wear them someday?

No, never!

Maybe I should try it and see how it looks. There's nothing bad in trying.

Taking a deep breathe, I took my clothes off and stepped into the two piece revealing lingerie. This might be the first time when a woman is trying to wear lacy lingerie, just for the sake of trying.

As I turned towards the mirror, I saw myself looking different than ever. Ofcourse, I never wear things like these. I prefer comfort over fashion. And my wardrobe is filled with comfortable yet classy dresses.

Those two pieces of red fabric on my body did nothing to hide. It's better to be naked rather than wearing these so-called dresses.

But, it looked good in a way. Maybe sexy too.

I traced my curves and smiled.

Why am I being a pervert for myself?

It would be the first case where a woman is eye raping herself!

Pulling the pair off, I was about to wear my clothes but saw a pair of navy blue colour. It was looking good enough. Pulling them out, I fitted my body inside it and sighed. It was tight but sight-worthy.

Sight worthy?

I am going insane!

Wearing my clothes back, I walked out and saw Akriti sitting on my bed. Just when she saw me coming out of the bathroom, she pulled her head up. "Did you try all of them?"

"No. I didn't try anything. It's just too gross."

"Gross? How will we go to shop them then?"

"Shop? I don't want to buy these things. You can keep them with yourselves." I said and she rolled her eyes.

Even if I would ever go on a sexy lingerie shopping, I would prefer going with Aditi. Akriti is not someone with whom you could go to shopping. She's always confused between things, and at last buys the whole market.

Whereas with Aditi, we decide together and then buy. Although she would tease me when I shop for these personal things, but I can endure that.

Atleast it's better than losing your whole income when you go out with Akriti!

"Okay then. If you don't need them, I can't do anything." She said before leaving the room.

✨

It was our Engagement day. Our ring ceremony.

And I was nervous as hell.

Not because I'm going to marry Rishabh but because of me being the centre of attention tonight. I hate being in everyone's attention.

I took a deep breath to calm myself and saw Aditi entering inside. "How's everything going?"

"Good. But I don't know anything about these rituals. You know, I was never a proper religious person."

"You're neither an atheist too."

"I know, but I don't know anything about puja and it's rituals. What if I fail at them?" I asked and she narrowed her eyes.

"Nothing will happen, relax. It's just a ring ceremony. And as for the rituals of wedding, we'll take same information out. Also, you have an old habit to copy things in your mind. It might help you this time too, like the time of your exams." She said and I slapped her arm.

She was about to say something but stopped as we saw Parth huffing while coming inside our room. He locked the door and turned towards us.

"What happened to you?"

"These people are dangerous. They don't even allow me to meet my best friend before her wedding. I mean, I'm not the groom. Why do they have to stop me?"

"Really? They stopped you?" I asked and he nodded.

"They did good. Stupids like him don't deserve a place here." Aditi said and he glared. Their cat-fight won't ever stop!

But the strange question is— if he likes her then what's the need to tease and irritate her? Can't he just show his caring side to her?

Maybe not, because he's Parth Sharma!

A gone case...

"Can you both just stop. Or better, get a room for yourself." I shouted.

"Room? Why would I share a room with him?"

"See. Pervy people have only pervy thoughts. You can't do anything about them." Parth said to me, dedicating the lines to Aditi.

"Okay, stop. It's about the time. The guests are here. I think we need to go too. It's my first time to have an engagement ceremony of mine."

"As if we all are married five times!" Aditi snapped and this time I narrowed my eyes.

✨

Rishabh bent down on one of his knees and took a velvet box out. "Will you do the honor of marrying me, miss Shruti Goyal?" And I was dumbfounded. I never expected for our ring ceremony to turn into a full-blown proposal.

I looked around and saw everyone smiling at us. It's rare to see your family members grinning when a man proposes you. But my case was different as my family was seeing me getting married after tons of hardships.

But strange thing was the proposal.

Wasn't it supposed to be followed by the rituals?

And why did he propose me?

Maybe, because the females would've forced him to do so.

Poor him!

"Are you ready to become Mrs Shruti Rishabh Randhawa?" He asked and I smiled. I nodded and he slipped the ring around my ring finger.

Shruti Rishabh Randhawa!

I'm not dreaming right?

But it looks like a dream I saw years ago.

On the day of his farewell from the school, I saw a strange yet beautiful dream. In the early morning dream, he was proposing me just like the way he did now.

How could it be so true and accurate?

Déjà Vu?

That's the reason people say that early morning dreams come true!

As I slid the ring in his finger, everyone clapped and some even hooted. "Congratulations." Radhika came near me and said. Her five month baby bump was easily visible.

"Thank you. How are you? It's been a long time we met."

"Good, see..." She said, directing towards her belly. "I can't believe you're marrying Rishi bhai. Everything is so changed." She said and I smiled.

Rishi?

Yes. She used to call him Rishi.

I guess it was his nickname.

"I'll get going. I'm a little hungry." She excused herself and I nodded.

All through the party, I saw Akriti acting weirdly with Radhika and her husband. What's with her now? Even they both were acting the same.

"Shruti." I heard the same known voice and turned to my side. "You're looking beautiful." I hope that I'm not blushing in a party!

"Thank you. You too..... are... looking great." I said, trying to stop myself from looking like a creepy leech.

As the celebrations were about to end, I heard our parents talking with Panditji about the dates of our wedding. Wasn't it too early for the wedding?

But I can't say anything in it.

Wedding is something which could shiver everyone.

Hope it goes good!