Wedding bells

Manya was wrapping up all her work as fast as she could; determined to keep her promise to Vendy. If she had to make it to their meeting that evening, she really needed to summon supersonic speed because there was barely enough time for a normal human to finish all the tasks. Fortunately, Shambav was proving to be a great helping hand; this was the reason why she always admired kids- they were so full of enthusiasm.

Shambhav had entered her office a few minutes ago, to find that Manya was doing everything by herself, and definitely not having an easy time of it. So without taking a moment to think, he had started helping her out. 

*He had genuinely started to admire this girl; after everything, she was handling her work so well, without getting bothered by her emotions. He was yet unaware of the reasons for which his dad wanted him to spy on her, but his sleuthing had made him see the sides to her that others were still unfamiliar with.

He had dated plenty of girls, and had always found that no one had ever been able to resist his charm. But when it came to Manya, it was as if his charm didn't matter at all, like water off a duck's back. She had never once cared about his background, or the various brands he wore. All she seemed to care about, was his talent and how he treated everyone, indicative of his inner values. This was what prompted him to share his actual thoughts with her, but the impulse was fleeting at best. Within moments, his love for money and fame managed to surpass this feeling, and he once again put on the mask he was supposed to wear in front of everybody.*

Manya noticed that Shambav was helping her and his hands were moving in synchronicity with hers, but his brain was off somewhere, wandering in a different place and definitely not close by. 

She put her hand a few inches in front of his face, and waved. "Are you sure you are still here?" She said, laughing.

Shambhav's face became totally red as he was caught off guard. He blushed even deeper, so that his face resembled the famous kashmiri apples, as he momentarily considered the possibility of her being privy to his inner monologue. He spoke quickly to divert his attention, "No, actually...Manya...I am sorry!" He replied, totally flustered.

"Relax kiddo, I was just teasing you. But why are you still here, isn't it already past your working hours?"

"Actually, I was just leaving, but I had left something in my office. So I returned and found you working here alone, without anyone's help. Isn't it past your work time as well?"

"Hmm, nice trick! You have trapped me with my own question. But unfortunately for you, I have a very good answer for this, so your trick is going to become invalid."

"What is it?"

"This is my project, and I don't work under anybody who would pay me for filing overtime, or something like that. Rather, it is my own work, which I have to finish before the deadline."

"But aren't you the head designer of ARENA's?" Shambhav asked, not knowing the complete scenario that had unfolded just a few days ago. 

"I am indeed the head designer at ARENA's, because me and Ishaan are best-"

She stopped in the middle of her sentence as she realised what she was going to say. *It stung, remembering how the two persons she had trusted most in this world, had cheated her. It was like they had chosen the most cruel way to make her aware of the fact that the word 'trust' was never meant for her. 

She had trusted Ishaan to be her best friend, she had done everything a friend was supposed to do, over the course of almost ten years. What would have happened if once, only for once in all that time, he had mentioned to her that he was not the person she was assuming him to be?

And then there was Arjun. Wasn't he supposed to be her childhood best friend? What happened to all those promises they had made to each other? Were they suddenly deemed null and void, by the sole error of hers, of mistaking Ishaan for Arjun? He had promised her that he would find her, no matter what, that he would never let her suffer alone. He had promised to be her safe place, that she would always find her home in him. And now, here she was, living in hiraeth. Perpetually searching for the home she couldn't return to, or perhaps one that had never existed in the first place.

But this was not the end of the irony, not just yet. She was in love with the person who had cheated her! No matter how much she tried to pull Arjun out of her mind and throw him to the dark pitch where he would be doomed to hell, he somehow managed to find a way back to her memories. But it would be over eventually, as she would be leaving this place very soon, and going somewhere she didn't have to face either Ishaan or Arjun.*

"Your best friend?" Shambhav completed her sentence for her, and then continued nonchalantly, smiling sweetly.  "I know, in fact, everyone in this office knows this!"

She looked at him as if he had just spoken an alien language. She was caught in a daze for a second, unable to decipher what he had just said. But she quickly gained her composure in the next two seconds, and smiled at his reply.

She then prompted, "I think the work is pretty much done, and we made it, well before the deadline! Now, all we have to do, is hold a practice for the ramp walk session. Can you do me a favor and book the flowers for tomorrow's event?"

"Of course, you don't have to frame it as a favor, it is a part of my job as well."

"No, it's not your work to do. It is well past your work time, but I am still asking you to do this, because I have a really important meeting with someone. I need to convince her to be the model for my showstopper dress!"

Shambhav replied, slack jawed. "Are you telling me that you haven't decided on the model yet?"

"Technically, I had done my part well enough in advance, but she has declined at the last moment, and now this meeting is my chance to salvage it."

"How can she do this?! You can take legal actions against her-"

"I know, but she is one of my friends. I'm sure she must have been stuck in some problems, otherwise she would never have denied me at the eleventh hour."

"Hey, hey! Don't panic, look at me, just take deep breaths. And I happen to have a better suggestion for you, anyway."

Manya started laughing at Shambhav's attempt at trying to calm her down. She remarked to herself at how cute the kid was, and then asked, "Are you familiar with models as well? If you are, then don't worry about their charges, just ask them to come for an interview tomorrow. I will handle all payments. "

"Actually, I don't think she will be needing any payments!"

"Huh!? What do you mean, why won't she be demanding money?"

"Because I am talking about you! I doubt you will be charging yourself for wearing your own dress as the showstopper in your own fashion show…" Shambhav revealed with a teasing smile.

"Stop joking," she said, laughing at the hilarity of his suggestion. "God knows what's wrong with you and Vendy today!"

"I am not joking," Shambhav pouted, feeling slightly offended.

"Let's go, I will drop you today. I have an appointment soon and your hostel happens to be on my way!"

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Vendy was waiting for Manya, sitting on a chair by the window in a completely empty restaurant. When she spotted Manya stepping out of her car, she got up from her chair and sat at the table placed in the middle of the restaurant.

Within five minutes, Manya entered the restaurant and made her way to where she was seated. Vendy stood up, giving her a warm hug. After a few minutes of customary greetings, both the girls sat on their respective chairs. Reluctant to waste time on idle chit-chat, Manya initiated, "What would you like to have? Let's place the order first, and then we will talk about why you are so adamant on denying my offer."

Vendy looked at Manya, considering her for a second before dropping the bomb on her head. "Ishaan and I are getting married!" 

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