SUNAINA's POV

Today's function went well. Bhaiya's getting married in less than five hours. Right now, I'm on the terrace in my PJs, trying to get some fresh air.

Who am I even kidding? I'm here trying not to overthink the words my mother spat at me.

I gaze at the sky—the sun is setting to make way for the moon. What am I doing with my life? I wasn’t always this weak. I shouldn't let her words get to me. I'm not sensitive. I've seen worse. The world is cruel. You are a lawyer, Sunu. Get a grip on yourself. I took deep breaths to calm down.

Don’t spoil your mood—it’s a happy day.

That’s how I cope with my social anxiety in the US. I’m proud of myself, though. I’ve come a long way.

"sunu bachha kya hua hai" bhaiyu said, startling me.

(Sunu baby, what's wrong?)

" kuch bhi toh nahi, I just came here to attend a phone call bhaiya" I replied and he sat beside me.

(Nothing, I just came here to attend a phone call bhaiyu)

"apne bhaiya se jhooth bolegi hm, tu ro rahi thi" he said, wiping my tears which escaped unknowingly from my eyes.

(You will lie to your bhaiya hm? You were crying.)

I need to get this fucking tap of my tears checked.

Asshole starts automatically.

" I was not crying, relax, kuch nahi hua bhaiyu" I said .

( I was not crying, Relax! Nothing happened)

"mumma said something, haina?" he asked.

(Mumma said something right?)

"nahi bhaiya unhone"- he raised his eyebrow giving me a 'I dare you to lie' look.

"okay fine, mai aapko shadi k baad batati hu, happy?" I said signing.

(No bhaiyu she- Okay fine I'll tell you after your wedding is over, happy?)

"Fine, I am giving you time to get your thoughts together, after my marriage we are having a conversation on this. understand" he said narrowing his eyes at me.

"yes sir" I said in an australian accent he chuckled.

"chalo now let's go down, we both need rest, dulhe raja shadi h aapki" I said getting up wearing my slippers.

(Our groom is getting married)

"Let's go dulhe ki ikloti behen" he replied, chuckling.

(Let's go the only sister of the groom)

We went downstairs to get some rest since we had to get ready in less than two hours. As soon as I reached my room, my bed was seducing me to take a nap. I mean, come on—who can resist a bed? I set my alarm for two hours and drifted into dreamland, completely forgetting about a certain someone.

Unfortunately, my sleep was disturbed by a phone call. Still half-asleep, I made the mistake of picking up without checking the caller ID.

"Hell-" I was rudely interrupted by someone's scream

"WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU, YOU IDIOT" Ladies and gentlemen I present to you, my only best friend, Ashika Jain.

"uh in my room?" it sounded more like a question.

"Amazing her highness, if you fucking remember that you were supposed to fucking pick me up from the fucking airport you fucking ass of my bestfriend" she said more like screamed.

(Count the number of times ashika said fucking for a cookie🤭- author.)

"OH FUCK, SHIT SHIT SHIT I'M SO SORRY ASHU, REACHING IN 15 , TILL THEN WHY DON'T YOU DO SOME SHOPPING, THE BILL IS ON ME" I said hurriedly running to get my car keys, tripping in middle too, but I quickly rushed down the stairs.

"ooye madam kaha bhaag rahi ho milka singh ki tarah" the jerk asked, at this point I don't even remember his name, just kidding I do I do, but jerk suits him more.

(Ooye madam where are you going? running like milkha singh)

"Tell bhai that I'm going to pick someone special from the airport" I said running away before he could say anything I quickly drove off to the airport.

Don't judge me, guys. I had my reasons.

I drove as fast as I could without breaking any signals—or someone’s bones—and reached in 25 minutes.

I'm dead.

She’s going to chew me alive.

Let’s just accept my fate and call her.

‘She’s your best friend, Sunu, A best friend. She’s not going to kill you. She won’t. She can’t,’ I muttered and pressed the dial, waiting for her to pick up.

"Hm, so maharani ji aagyi hai" she said as soon as picked up without letting me complete.

(Hmm so her highness is here)

" hehe haa, but ek problem hai" I said nervously.

( Hehe yes, but there's a problem)

"ab kya kand kara tune?" she said giving up on me probably 100th time .

( Now what did you do?)

"jyada kuch nahi bas jaldi jaldi mei I forgot to change so aapko apna luggage lekar car tak aana hoga, hehe" I replied.

(Nothing much but I forgot to change in a hurry so you've to bring your luggage to the car alone,hehe)

"SUNAINA VASHISHT I AM GOING TO KILL YOU, YOU JUST COUNT YOUR DAYS, AAJ TOH TERKO YAMRAJ BHI NAHI BACHA SAKTE" she screamed and I had to keep my phone away from my ear to save my eardrum.

(Today not even the god of death can save you)

"I'm waiting," I said and disconnected.

She came muttering curses at me, struggling with her luggage at the same time. Without waiting, I unlocked the trunk. She threw a deadly glare at me via the rear-view mirror..

"Hello, my love," I said cheekily.

"Shove that hello up your ass, you fucking idiot," she said, buckling her seatbelt.

"I’m sorry, Ashu. You know I’m handling everything. Plus, my mother gave me a reality check, and I was in a sour mood. I didn’t realize when I fell asleep," I said, pouting.

"I waited for an hour. The luggage was so heavy, I had to carry it all by myself," she replied, pouting too.

"I know, baby, I’m sorry. How about I treat you to your favorite pasta after the wedding is over?" I offered, and as always—food worked. Her million-dollar smile returned.

"Fine, I forgive you. But on one condition," she said. I nodded slightly, waiting.

"aunty ne kya kaha teko, I wanna know now. taaki mai unka murder accordingly plan kar saku" she finished and I signed.

( What did aunty say? I wanna know so that I can plan her murder accordingly)

" I'll tell you after the wedding's over, I don't want to spoil the vibes, I've already cried twice because of Mrs.. vashisht" I said.

"YOU CRIED" she screamed.

"Jeez woman will you stop screaming, yes I cried, I didn't want to but I couldn't stop myself.Now no more questions." I admitted.

"Okay okay" she said and finally settled herself.

After a further 25 mins drive of silence as my pataka was peacefully sleeping, we reached.

"Ooye get up pataka, we've reached" I said shaking her.

(Pataka - firecracker)

"uth ja kaminiii" I said, shaking her more.

(Get up bitch)

"wake up fucking idiot" I screamed in her ear.

"aaaaaaaaaaaaa bhooottttttttttttttttt" she screamed getting up with a jerk and I just gave her an 'I am done with you' look.

(Ahhhhhh ghosttttttt)

"Your highness we've arrived safely, I'd like to request you to kindly get your ass out of my car so that we can proceed further" I said giving her a sarcastic smile.

" Fine whatever" she said getting out of the car and I just shook my head at her stupidity.

"uncle ye car park karwa dijiye ga, or iski diggi mein luggage hai mere room mei rakhwa dijiye" I said to the watchman.

(Uncle please get this car parked, and send the luggage to my room)

"hanji bitiya aap jaiye hum krwate hai" he replied .

(Yes sure my child, you go I'll ask someone to do it)

" Thank you uncle" I said with a smile and went in with my best friend.

"BHABHIIIIIIIIIIIIII" she again screamed running towards nishita bhabhi and hugged her carefully. She's Devesh bhai's cousin too.

"Hi ashu how are you?" bhabhi said, hugging her tightly.

"Very beautiful, smoking hot" she replied cheekily.

" in your dreams " me and devesh bhai said at the same time and laughed.

"Shut up stupids, beauty ki asli pehchan sirf beauty ko hi hoti hai" she said, flipping her hair.

(Shut up stupids, only the real one knows the Beauty of beautiful things)

"isiliye toh terko pehchan nahi hai" devesh bhai said smirking at her.

(That's why you don't know)

"Shut up dev, stop teasing her and go and get her something to drink. She must be so tired" bhabhi said, caressing her hair and that dramatic ass nodded pouting, bhaiya and I just rolled our eyes- again.

"goooo" bhabhi said again glaring at dev bhai, pregnancy hormones made a comeback y'all.

"Fine I am going" bhaiya said getting up and went to get her something to drink.

"How's my munchkin doing there?" she said, caressing bhabhi's belly.

"your munchkin is doing well but troubling mama with his/her kicks"bhabhi replied smiling.

"don't worry mama and come soon baby we are waiting for you" she replied kissing bhabhi's belly.

She’s just like this—adorable, innocent, clumsy, short-tempered, caring, reliable—all in one piece. My best friend is the best, and I’m so glad to have her in my life. I know I can always count on her. She stood by me through the worst.

Okay, that’s enough. I’m not going to praise her more or I might puke.

"What are you thinking about, sunu?"bhabhi said, caressing my hair.

"nothing bhabhi, bas aise hi" I said smiling.

(Nothing much bhabhi, just like that.)

"you okay right?" she asked.

"Yes bhabhi I am totally fine, you don't worry " I said assuring her. She was not convinced but decided to not say anything.

"Here you go, your highness your favourite chilled water" devesh bhai said, handling her a glass of water, making me laugh like a dying witch- bhabhi and ashu just stared at him dumbfounded.

"what" he said when bhabhi and ashu glared at him, I was just controlling my laugh.

"Okay fine, your oreo milkshake is coming, stop glaring at me as if you both will chew me alive."he said sitting beside bhabhi and I finally let out my laugh I was holding.

Ashu started laughing cause I was laughing and bhaiya bhabhi were blankly staring at us loosing our shit probably done with our shit.

"Oh so is special guest ki baat ho rahi thi" bhaiya said, coming towards her and giving ashu a hug kissing her forehead. She's another baby sister of bhaiya.

(Oh so this was the special guest in question)

"hi bhaiya kaise ho aap" she said.

( Hi bhaiya, how are you?)

" I'm good but slightly mad coz you missed rituals" bhaiyu said pouting, dramatic ass 2.0 and  devesh bhai and I rolled our eyes-again.

"I am sorry bhaiya but my boss is so cruel that I was left behind to complete some pending work" she said side eyeing me.

Yeah we work together and now she's going to handle everything in the US branch.

"Oh come on, stop your drama" I said.

" guys let's goo, everyone is resting so you both go rest too. then we've to leave for Mehra mansion in like 2 hours." bhaiya said we all nodded and proceeded towards our room, ashu with her milkshake though.

" ahh damn I am so tired" I said throwing myself on my bed and she closed the door sipping her milkshake

"Get your ass up and tell me what's this special someone wali baat" she said narrowing her eyes on me.

(What's this special someone thing?)

Bitch got a memory of an 800 year old goblin.

"What special someone wali baat, kuch bhi toh nahi hai" I said laughing nervously.

(What special someone? There's nothing.)

"out now." she said sternly.

"ughhhhh fine, so you know bhabhi's brother and bhaiyu's best friend right" I said sitting straight on the bed, let's just do it.

"You are talking about Adhvait bhaiya" she asked, sipping her milkshake making a slurping sound.

"yeah the same one, so I kind of have a crush on him but I hate him he is so annoying" I said closing my eyes and she choked.

"wait - what"she said in between her coughs.

"You heard me but he is a jerk I don't want to like him" I said frustratingly.

"Tell me everything"she said suddenly, very much interested and I blurted out everything that happened.

"So yeah this happened and he's so annoying" I said and she started laughing.

"Will you stop laughing, I am serious yaaar broo" I said irritatingly.

"Okay okay I won't laugh but let's be clear on one thing, do you like him or not" She said.

"I don't like him,........yet" I said and all of a sudden she hugged me screaming 'yayy' , we both fell on the bed with the impact she hugged me.

"can't...breathe" I said and she got up from me and started smirking.

"So my best friend is finally liking a male species huh." she said smirking and I could feel heat creeping on my neck , cheeks and ears.

"Shut up and let's start getting ready." I said, getting up. She groaned but nonetheless nodded getting up.

"I'm going to take a shower first," she said and ran, closing the washroom door. I just shook my head at her childishness.

"Come out now you idiot" I said banging my washroom's door for nth no. of time now, she went to take a shower approximately an hour before.

"hm hm hm " I KNEW IT SHE'S DOING IT DELIBERATELY !! I thought when I heard her humming a fucking song.

"FUCK YOU, YOU IDIOT KEEP LINGERING IN THE SHOWER I'M GOING" I shouted and took my clothes and went to a guest room for a shower.

"thank god this room is empty" I said and locked the door and directly went to take a shower.

After taking a relaxing shower I wore my lehenga and went directly towards my room to get ready.

"Miss vashisht" someone called me all of a sudden.

"huh who?" I said turning towards him, who called me, Adhvait Mehra.