ME & YOU ||18+||

“Finally settled with this muhurat saree?” I ask my sister who is beaming with a big smile on her face.

“Yeah and it’s just what I had imagined that I should wear on my wedding day” she dreamily replies.

“Woo-hoo!! Someone is blushing thinking about her soon-to-be husband” I tease her while she shushes me, before covering her hands over her face embarrassed by my words.

“Girls… if you’re done here, shall we go now? I have an important meeting in an hour. If you still wanna be in this store, I will call one of the drivers to pick you both up later once you’re done” chachu or Appa informs us.

I guess you’re confused now. Let me explain. This is not my own family. I was adopted and raised as their own since I lost my birth parents when I was 3 years old. I don’t even remember the faces of my parents except the photos that I have seen. Appa or chachu is my father’s younger brother who took me in and gave the same love that he did with his own daughter, Deepika who is the bride now. Chachi is also very loving and cares about both of their daughters, even though I know that there is little more love for me than for her own daughter. They both didn’t ever try to control me or pressured me to do what they wanted. It was the same freedom that I had what Deepika di had.

It’s like I was born to them, not that I was adopted or their brother’s child. Never once have I cried thinking about my parents because they treat me like their own. So, I call them Appa and Amma rather than calling them chacha-chachi. But when I really want to plead with them to get me something or I need to go somewhere, I use that while showing my puppy eyes which is the goner for both of them.

“Everything is done here, papa. We can go home now” Di replies to appa.

“I can’t come with you both, I am gonna meet with those 3 people as they are pestering me from yesterday to meet up” I say about my 3 friends who are here to attend my sister’s wedding.

“Then I will also be meeting my friends before all the rituals start,” Di utters, reaching out her phone from her clutch to contact her group of friends.

“Okay then, I will be going to the office straight from here. If you want the car, call Sheshadri and he will send you one-” we both nod our heads with an okay reply from me- “see you girls later. Be safe” he says before kissing both of our foreheads and walks out of the saree shop.

Di assures me to go on with my meeting as she will inform the shop people to send the sarees and the jewels that she bought from the same distributors to our house. I wave at her before going to meet my friends who will be meeting me at our usual place, “Mean Mugs.”

I hired a cab which is really close to my location as it’s rush hour in Mumbai, and the traffic is so much at this time of evening. I put on my airpods to listen to my favourite pop-stars, BTS. Especially V. Ahh! I am a sucker for this guy and his deep voice.

The cab stopped making me look where we were, ’coz I was completely into the music. I paid the guy before I walked inside “our adda” to see they were already sitting in our spot and waiting for me with their mojitos and milkshake in front of them.

“Look finally who decided to come” Abhi teases me as I take the seat across from him.

“I thought she was the one who is about to get married, and was taking so much time to select her saree” Amisha joined in ‘making fun of Aradhana with Abhishek kashyap’ program.

I glare at both of them causing the other one, Aditi to laugh at us.

“Fine. If you want to make fun of me, then I am leaving. You guys carry on with your conversation” with that being said, I frustratedly stood up from the chair, faked my anger and started to walk away from our table, but their voices stopped me from doing so.

“Sorry, Aari. We were just trying to pull yowithin leg and we know how many things that you have planned for yourself once your masters is done. And I am sorry on behalf of these two for teasing you” I hear Aditi apologising to me instead of the two culprits that actually teased me.

“Okay! But those two will pay for me,” I declare, not giving a choice in this.

“Of course. Every time we tease you, the one who teases you will pay. We know that, you don’t have to remind us every time” Abhi says as I stick my tongue out at him, before he shakes his head muttering something under his breath which I couldn’t get.

I ordered my usual, Mexican fries and cheese burger, oreo shake for a drink. “We left home for the shopping three hours back, and half an hour back she agreed with something, well more like loved that. It’s a dark colour saree. Who would like to wear one for their wedding?” I cringe just by thinking about the colour Di selected for her wedding.

“So, your sister has become a bridezilla?” Aditi asks me to which I nod my head confirming her words.

“Recently she is acting suspicious and I think she is hiding something from us. It’s not usual as we both share every single thing with each other including the boys we were seeing. So, her behaviour is strange” I express my words which cannot be spoken aloud in front of Appa and Amma.

It’s not that they won’t consider my words, or whatsoever. But I was not completely sure about this and I didn’t have any proof against this, so I couldn’t just go and worry them in this peak level of her elder daughter’s wedding.

“Maybe it’s just the wedding jitters” Amisha’s voice brings me back from my overthinking mind. I nod sipping up my oreo shake that was served while I was deeply concentrated in my thoughts.

Maybe.

“The rituals start tomorrow and after two days, the wedding. Oh my God!!!” I squeal with excitement, gaining attention from other tables too.

“Relax, Aari. This is not your wedding to be so excited” Abhi interjects my excitement.

“Party pooper” I scowled at him, before I could show him the finger, the familiar tune of ’Winter bear’ was heard suggesting that I am getting a call.

Sighing, I receive a call from my chachi- Amma- concerned about why am I still out even after 6:30 in the evening. She is a little protective of me compared to her own daughter- mostly because I am younger than her own.

Mostly.

“Haa Usha Krishna Murthy-ji! I am still with my friends- Yeah! Ah?? No, no. Abhi is here and he will drop me off at home” I look at him to confirm my words, while he responds with a thumbs up, “I think we will leave in another 30 minutes. I will call you then. Okay ma-ji. Bye-bye.”

“I guess you’re her daughter more than your Di. Every time you two speak either on the phone or directly, I just feel that bond that I feel the same with my mom than with Mausi and Deepika Di” Aditi voices out my own thoughts as I chuckle to her words, shaking my head. “What don’t you think like that or is it just me?? Guys?” She asks looking for the other two who were also agreeing with her words by nodding their he,ads.

“Hmm..,. whatever. I don’t mind being pampered” I shrug my shoulders munching on my Dairy milk chocolate.

“Being a dentist, she eats chocolate like a baby” Abhi scolds me, trying to snatch my chocolate.

“Yaah! What’s so wrong with eating chocolate if I am a dentist?” I ask him with my hand on my hips, and glaring at him.

“Nothing is wrong, Aari. If you two stop fighting, we can drop you off before your chachi-ma calls again asking about your whereabouts” Aditi interjects the convo of Abhi and myself as I stick my tongue out at her and walk away from them towards the exit of the cafeteria.

“I seriously feel sorry for the guy who marries this kid who happened to be 24 years, yet acts like an 8 year girl” Abhi mutters under his breath, but I happened to hear him.

Am I that child-like? Whatever, I don’t mind being playful. I push away those thoughts back to my mind and stand at the entrance of the Mean Mugs waiting for Abhi to bring his car from wherever he has parked it.

“See you girl, after two days” Amisha comes up to me and hugs me before pulling away and walking towards her two-wheeler.

“Yeah. But I expect you to be there tomorrow as well, for haldi and mehndi” I shout over her retreating form.

I get a thumbs up in return as her response before I meet the gaze of Aditi who was smiling at me silently assuring me that she will bring that girl with her tomorrow.

“Okay, baby. Meet you tomorrow wearing a yellogoingt. Until then, bye-bye” she air-kisses me and walks to her car which was right in front of the cafe.

Where the hell is this guy? I stomp my foot and wait for that punk to show up with his car, but my eyes travel to the other side of the road to a kid clutching his Spiderman toy to his chest and tears running down from his eyes.

Either the paediatric instinct or the motherly one, drags me to console that baby boy who looked terrified. Is he lost? I cross the road and walk close to the lil’ guy who seemed to be afraid of everyone around. I bend down on my knees to meet his height before smiling at him.

At first he starts to quiver and takes a step away from me, but I raise my hand in defence indirectly telling that I mean no harm. His beautiful hazel brown eyes look at me intently as if analysing me what would be my next move.

“Hey champ! Did you get away from your parents?” I ask softly with a smile present on my lips.

For a few seconds, he reads to me as if he could do that like the older ones do.

“I came with my chachu. He got a phone call when I saw the ice cream shop there-” pointing towards the right corner (to my left side) by the end of the road with his cute small index finger, “-I removed my hand from his, as I ran towards it. But later I couldn’t find him or I could go to the ice cream” he whispers with a sad pout.

“Do you know where you were before you separated from your chachu?” I ask him to figure out a way to help this cute boy.

He points towards my right with his index finger, still clutching his Spiderman with his other hand with a vice grip.

“Okay then, shall we go and search for your chachu?” I ask the lil’ man who just nodded eagerly to meet up with his family as I stand up fully on my feet before offering my hand for him to hold. What surprised me is that he opened his arms indirectly informing me to hold him up in my arms, which I obviously obliged with a smile of my own that mirrored from him.

As I start to walk in the direction that the lil’ guy pointed with him in my arms, while his fingers playing with my curls.

“I am Aradhana Murthy and you’re?” I introduce myself glancing at him who looks at me from the crook of my shoulder where he snuggled into me.

“Aarav” he mutters against my skin, making me chuckle at his shyness.

“Nice to meet you, Aarav. I need you to look around and tell me if you see your chachu anywhere, who might be also searching for you. Can you do that for me?” I ask him softly who nods at my words and removes his head from my shoulder, looking around us.

After a few minutes of me walking down the Saibaba road before stopping in front of some clothing shop, I noticed a guy rushing to every single person on the street showing his phone and asking about their whereabouts. Is that the one Aarav is searching for?

Before I could question my thoughts vocally, the boy from my arms was pulled away with a force that caused me to stumble a few steps back. I was about to yell at whoever it was, but stopped myself when I saw the guy was clutching Aarav so tight and protectively, whispering something into the lil’ guy’s ear.

“Finally, you met your chachu, lil’ man. Hope that next time you won’t pull the same stunt again and get lost from your family, okay?” I speak, gaining both of their attention.

“Hmm. I won’t go away Aaru” he replies smiling at me and my heart melts how sweetly he addressed me using the same nickname which he asked permission to call me since my name is too big for him to pronounce.

I nod, a smile of my own playing on my lips. My attention moves from the sweet Aarav to his chachu who was already looking at me, almost as if scrutinising me with those dark blue eyes which made me fall in love just like the way I love the deep blue water. The eye contact somewhat intimidated me and the aura he portrayed was powerful and dominating. Unable to keep eye contact, I blink my eyes and take a look at his other facial features.

Damn! He is the most handsome guy that I have seen in my life other than Taehyung. This guy almost met every single thing that I wanted in my future husband. He stood around six three or four in height, his pitched dark curls styled in a professional manner, the mesmerising blue iris making me dive into their depths, long straight-pointed nose, stubble covering his cheeks increasing his manliness, lips pressed together in a straight line, and the razor-cut jawline itching my fingers to run over the border. Not to forget the muscular body which is not too built or not under built. In one word, he is perfect.

“Thank you for your help. It is a very small word, but what you did to me is a big gesture. I don’t know how to thank you for bringing this guy to me. You can ask me anything, I mean anything and I will get that for what you did for me” the deep baritone voice of this handsome chachu of Aarav brings back from my thoughts.

“N-No.. it’s fine really. I didn’t do it for any rewards or something. It’s just that he looked sad and crying, clutching that Spiderman to his chest. You don’t have to thank me. But keep an eye on him the next time when you bring him with you” I smile at him who just nods in my direction.

“At least, let me take you home for your help” he says, before I could reply my phone starts to ring.

“Sorry, I have to take this” I mumble, answering the call from Abhi.

“Where are you, Aaru? I have parked the car in front of the cafe, but I can’t seem to find you. Don’t tell me you booked the cab and went away even after you literally begged for me to give you a lift” he exaggerates and I can imagine him placing his right hand on his chest with a pout on his face.

“Don’t be dramatic and I am down the road towards Saibaba road, just come here Abhi. I will explain everything on the way home” I reply and end the call.

“My friend is coming to pick me up, you don’t have to drop me. It was so nice to meet you and the champ. Hope we will meet in the future. See you again, Aarav” I wave my hand at him as he mirrors my action with a small sad pout on his face before I walk in the direction that I have come.

I notice Abhi’s car slowing down the road as I open the passenger door getting in as he drives off the road not before glaring at me.

“Oh! Don’t be mad at me now. It’s a big story…” with that I narrate how I met Aarav and then the handsome man who was the kid’s uncle.

“Someone is crushing on that dude. Thank God! You have finally found some Indian male than the Korean one who doesn’t even know about your existence” he mocks as I hit his arm with an angry pout settling on my face.

“Shut up. Don’t you dare say anything about V” I punch his arm again as he fakes that he is in pain, with a smile I turn my head looking outside the window.

The rest of the ride we enjoyed with our playlist of Arijit Singh playing in the background and him singing in his ugly voice to which I laughed wholeheartedly until we were in front of uncle’s place.

“Thank you for the ride, and I know you will not come inside as mausi is already waiting for you. So, let’s meet tomorrow for mehndi and haldi-” he opens his mouth to object me, “-don’t you dare deny me. You and that skinny girl are coming tomorrow and that’s final. End of discussion. Okay! Bye…good night” I wave at him as he mutters curses under his breath before I walk inside the well decorated and relatives filled house.

Two more days until the wedding, then I am again going back to my place in Bengaluru to continue my life. Little did I know everything will be shattered on that day, right from my career to my love filled, dreamy wedding.

Hello guys! How are you all?

I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of Me & You.

What do you think about the Handsome man and our Dr. Aradhana?

QOTD: Do you guys listen to BTS songs? If so, whic is your favorite?