𝗡𝗔𝗔𝗭 : 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗜

Cherry Picking

Naaz

"Vah! Kya nazariya dikha diya dulhaan ne?"

(Woah, the scene bride made us see!)

I had enough of their taunt in roka. Just because I once said he has a sexy back. Since then I was getting teased. 

My engagement was short and we celebrated at home. I wasn't pleased that he couldn't make it. What type of guy does that? Skipping his own event!

Lemme get straight I was nervous as hell. I barely knew the guy and the sudden rush of emotion. It's all about biology that males attract females. He was “hooked by the look” type of male model in bad-boy magazines. 

When I first saw him I was nearly in doubt if he was Indian or not. His physics doesn't say so. It was confusing at first. I was right he grew up out of India and his mother was half-Russian.

Advik Malhotra.

The name was one of the common names in business associations to charity events.

He was a long and masculine couple of years older than me. I wasn't against the idea of arranged marriage. Just I fussed for days because my father came up to me and directly announced my engagement date.

I was wondering about the traditional engagement ring on my finger. The point of arranged marriage was always business to me.   

When my sister Neha got married I had to witness their cheesiness. Their marriage was arranged but Jiju was the one who proposed to her directly and she asked for time.

In my case, it's nothing like that,

Just two days ago I swore upon myself to get myself out of this marriage where the husband couldn't provide me the spouse facility. 

"Still thinking about him?"

I shrugged not giving the exact point of thinking about him. She was right when she arrived and my trail of thoughts about him paused.

The man hardly got off my mind since last night. 

A look we shared.

Nothing much, nothing less.

His gaze steadied on me for a few seconds before he turned away to answer what my father asked him. 

His shaven sharp jawline and taunt muscles. I skimmed my eyes on his rugged masculine back and mouth-watering biceps. 

I was sure it was nothing more than business to him unlike me. I urged him to unwrap and my interests abruptly perked up.

He wasn't the type of guy to approach for marriage and an alliance with me was an unbelievable fantasy. We are strangers. He should have gone for some elegant, classy women.

Me? Absolutely no one.

I should have asked my father to arrange a meeting with him. 

"Hello, Ms. Sehgal. Where have you driven into?"

My thoughts were again rudely interrupted by my sis. I was annoyed. Why does no one take my 'please, leave me alone' seriously?!

"Don't think much, just a few days he will take you to him. Then maybe you can enliven your dark trail thoughts."

I grunted and took out my lenses. She smirked, keeping those gifts aside and folding my pile of clothes.

"Should I remind you what you did before Haldi?"

She halted in process and turned to give me an eye to not let out any word.

"Kabir already gave you what you demanded to be quiet now you better shut up."

Now she's burnt.

"It wasn't me who said “Kuch kuch hota hai. Tum nahi samjhoge". Right?!"

I quoted taunting her, flipping my hair, and sighing dramatically. Neha was hopelessly romantic. She and Kabir took a few months to get to know each other before marrying. My sister threw a pillow at my face.

"Says who was shamelessly daydreaming about him until now and gushing about how HOT he is."

I snorted out loud and mocked those words she exclaimed. They just had to slap that on my face.

"Why do I need to be ashamed? It's in front of us that you got married now you both have a kid. And where's that kid coming from?"

I sassily replied but she hissed, throwing another pillow in my way.

"I should have recorded that for Bua then she would have cleaned your mouth with sanitizer."

I rolled my eyes.

Bua makes her appearance at every event by draining my energy. She glares like she is reading my thoughts.

"Enlighten me first, Who sent my wedding card to Bua? "

I would have avoided her even if it was my funeral.

"Of course Ma, silly. 'She is family baccha'."

She rolled her eyes with air quotes.

Ma is the kindest soul I had ever seen. Everyone knows that her one and only sister-in-law does complain and badmouths yet adores her like her own sister. 

My sister's phone rang and she moved to the balcony to attend to this.

Both of my best friends Ishita entered my room while Ishaan followed behind with two laddoos in his hands. They are twins. I heard My younger brother yell at someone. Poor guy had been working. I had always seen him living like a nawab(Royal persona) and ordering around for a glass of water.

Seeing Ishaan something propped in my brain. 

It's better than too late.

I scooted closer to him and hugged him tightly. He looked as if I had gone insane.

"Ishaan."

I chirped at him, stretching his name extra long, fluttering my brows, and waggling my index finger beckoning him to move closer.

"What?"

He snapped irritatedly with absolutely no time for taking my shit as he was making faces. I megawatt smiled showing off my teeth.

"I never noticed how handsome you are!"

I complimented by cupping his face and he blinked his eyes. I nodded to make him believe but he scoffed moving away.

"Ask straight Nina."

He grumped. My facade falters and I pout. Okay then.

"Please find me his social account or number anything would go. I can't marry a guy without even knowing."

I desperately asked showing him the best puppy look I could.

"Wow! Now you are talking. I told you to do it before and what were you doing then?"

Ishita was spitting every word like rapid fire. She had been busy too. I narrowed my eyes and my sister snapped me a look to remind me Bua would verge anytime.

She hates it when someone talks in a high tone. Papa loves his sister dearly to irritate her.

"Better than never right?"

I pointed it out and she cocked her brows with an expression saying how any of my words didn't make sense.

"Please yaar. I swear it's the last time I will owe anything to you." 

I whispered to Ishaan. He sighed as I pleaded with my eyes. And it worked. A smug look of triumphant set on my face.

He mumbled something under his puff and started his searching mission. Then Ishita dragged me with her to get me ready for the Henna function.

"Look at the color, it's so pretty."

My niece Sera gushed all over my Henna-covered hands. My best friend let out a strangled cry from trying out a simple design on her hand. I peeked to see but instantly clamped my lips close to suppress the laugh.

Her Henna looks like she pooped there instead of using the toilet.

I was getting irritated every second with this mehendi on my hands. The corner of my lip itched for half an hour now. I had the name of a man who was still a mystery to me. Doesn't look bad anyway.

Yeah.

My Nimrat Chachi fed me some of the cookies. I was starving since morning. Ma had been running from back to forth and Papa was almost out of my sight. I saw him early this morning.

My Chachi smiled as she noticed me staring at my hands and she wiped the corner of my lips.

Why do I always have to get caught up in situations like that?

"I can't believe you Nina Shegal grumbling and complaining not even hours ago about how you want to get out of this "lame" arranged marriage."

That was exactly what I had called it.

It's odd for anyone to see how I turned quiet after throwing a huge tantrum. I see no reason to grumble if they are not gonna take you seriously.

Ma had been assuring me that Advik is a nice guy. The tone they were using didn't need to think twice that they were huge fans of Advik Malhotra. I had seen his parents occasionally. They were nice people.

"It's Nina we are talking about the same girl who never liked any dress with one look."

Ishita received a side eye from me. Chachi left with a plate and my little cousins were screaming and playing happily.

"I never said I will tell no to a good dick."

I whispered and smirked, enjoying her shocking gasps. 

"Girl, get a grip!"

She snapped her finger at me to gain my attention. 

"Ewww. Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?"

I laughed ignoring her gag attempts.

Looking around the foyer, I climbed the stairs to reach the wide balcony leading from my room to another room. She trailed down behind me. Yesterday he was there standing in the middle of our large landscape lawn.

"Remember we used to play on this lawn and would hide on this balcony?"

She smiled while memorizing them. Time runs fast.

"I never thought you would marry this early."

She sounds sad but she cleared her tone.

"Me neither."

I took her hand and gave it a small squeeze.

"Don't you dare to cry now I spent my time and patients with you. I'm going to whoop your ass if you let a tear ruin my work of art."

She sounded serious but we both smiled at the end. 

"Yeah, your nonexistent patient."

I mocked and she rolled her eyes.

"Learn to be grateful, Nina."

Ishaan called out my name and giving one mischievous smile I sprinted to see what he got.

Can't wait right?

I snorted and something sank inside me as I got suspicious of lots of things. He is anything but a traditional man.

Why would he marry someone he never had known? I can't ignore the skeptical thoughts engrossing half of my head. 

It's Just A Start? I'm not a creep to start something twisted. But can't wait to make it dark. Hehe

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It would inspire me to update a new chapter😁