SUNAINA'S POV

As soon as we reached downstairs, I saw something that sent a shiver down my spine and gave me a sudden urge to puke my guts out.

MY BESTIE, ASHIKA JAIN, was in HIS COUSIN, NIVEDH VERMA’s, arms—who, I assume, had just saved her from falling. And to top it all off, there were flowers around them.

EWWWWWW WHAT THE HELL.

I glanced at him. He had the same ‘what the fuck is going on’reaction as me. I quickly gestured for him to stay quiet and snapped a few pictures of the two of them, completely lost in each other.

Come on—I wasn't about to lose an opportunity to tease my best friend!

I gave him a thumbs-up to indicate I was done.

“OKAY, LOVE BIRDS, SNAP OUT OF IT!” he shouted, making them both flinch. My dear bestie’s juicy ass hit the floor, and I just couldn't stop laughing. He chuckled too.

“Ouch, you dumbass! Why would you do that?” she said, rubbing her backside as Nivedh helped her up.

“Oh, my baby, do you need some ointment? Your pretty ass must’ve gotten bruised badly,” I said in a baby voice.

“No, I’m okay,” she replied through gritted teeth, glaring at me.

"Nice shot, haan by the way, Nivedh. Apne pyaar mein gira hi diya tumne meri unromantic best friend ko," I said, wiggling my eyebrows at Nivedh.

(Nice shot Nivedh, you made my unromantic bestie fall for you hard.)

"N-no, I-it's not like that," he said, scratching his neck and blushing.

"Oh really, huh? Lovebirds, the way you guys were lost in each other said otherwise, right Sunaina?" he said, smirking, and Ashu choked.

"Oh, so you guys are on a first-name basis now? Damn, that's progress," she said, smirking at me.

"Shut up, Ashu. Don’t talk nonsense," I warned her, but she just smirked back.

"Let's go, we've got work to do. We'll see you around, Nivedh and Mr. Mehra," I said and dragged her with me.

Soon, we were all busy with the wedding, enjoying every bit of it. Bhaiya and bhabhi were doing pheras now.

Looking at Bhaiya and Bhabhi, the only thing I wished for was a successful marriage for them. They were doing the rituals when a throat-clearing sound pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Hi," Mr. Mehra said, leaning toward my side.

"Hi," I replied, giving him a glance before turning my attention back to the couple.

"Imagining yourself with someone special?" he asked.

"I don’t have someone to imagine this with," I replied with a chuckle.

“Mere sath karlo” he replied, WH-

(Try imagining me next to you)

“sorry?” I asked, maybe I heard it wrong.

“I mean Mai help kardeta hu dhundne mei"he replied, clearing his throat.

( I mean I can help you find a guy)

“Uh- no- no need” I replied looking ahead, my neck and cheeks suddenly felt warm.

And just like that, the wedding was over—and now came the most dreadful part: the vidai.

I walked over to aunty and said, “I promise on my life, aunty, I won’t let anyone hurt her—not even my own brother.”

“Thank you, sunu beta. I trust you,” she said, hugging me, and I hugged her back.

“Take care, okay? And whenever you want to meet bhabhi, just come over. We’ll have our girls’ day,” I said to Pari and Ayesha, who were both sobbing like babies next to aunty. They nodded and hugged me.

“Okay now, give me your best smiles,” I said.

“Yes, this is perfect,” I told them as they gave me their beautiful grins.

"Acha aunty uncle hum chalte hai," I said, folding my hands at them—because my parents literally don’t care about showing some respect; they had already left early for a stupid business trip.

(Okay aunty, we'll leave now.)

Uncle and aunty nodded and smiled warmly at us. I smiled back and walked toward our car, where bhaiya was helping bhabhi with her huge-ass lehenga.

“Hop in the backseat with bhabhi—I’m driving,” I said, snatching the car keys from bhaiya.

“Suno, no—you must be tired,” he said, trying to take the keys from me.

“Not more than you, bhaiya. Go and sit fast—see, Devesh bhai’s car already left and Bhabhi's tired too. Don’t keep her waiting any longer,” I told him.

“But—”

“Jaa rahe ho ya main dhakka du?” I asked, glaring at him.

(Are you going by yourself or should I push you in?)

“Fine,” he huffed and sat beside bhabhi, who smiled at us.

“Chale?” I asked as I adjusted the mirrors of the car.

(Shall we go?)

“Yes,” bhaiya said.

“I wasn’t asking you, bhaiya. Bhabhi, chale?” I said, and bhaiya’s jaw practically hit the ground.

(Bhabhi, shall we go?)

“Dekh raha hoon main, sab dekh raha hoon. Tere rang kaise badal rahe hain. Bhabhi ke aate hi bhaiya ki koi value hi nahi rahi,” he said, fake crying.

(I see it all—I see how you've changed. Ever since your bhabhi came, I don’t matter to you anymore.)

“Shut up,” I said, turning toward bhabhi, who was still lost in her thoughts.

“Bhabhi, do you want to meet them one more time?” I asked, bringing her back from her thoughts. Bhaiya gently squeezed bhabhi’s hand, which he had been holding the whole time.

“Huh? Oh, sorry. No—let’s go. Warna main ja nahi paaungi agar ek baar aur dekh liya toh,” she said, and her eyes filled with fresh tears.

(Otherwise, if I see them again, I won’t be able to leave.)

“Here. Now you both relax, I’ll start driving,” I said, handing her the tissue box and giving bhaiya a look that clearly said, I can’t see her cry anymore. He nodded in agreement and started driving.

After 90 minutes, we arrived at our mansion. I stopped the car in front of the door.

“I’ll be waiting at the entrance—help bhabhi,” I said to bhaiya, who had just woken up as I stopped the car with a jerk. Bhabhi was still asleep, probably exhausted. He nodded and I stepped out.

“Nishita bhabhi, you’ll do the grahpravesh ritual—not me,” I said as she handed me the aarti thaal.

“No, sunu…how can I—” she said hesitantly.

“Of course you can. And practically, it’s only you who should do it,” I said.

“But sunu…you’re the sister,” she said, still unsure.

“And you’re bhabhi,” I replied with a genuine smile.

“Please—you’re elder in every sense. You have all the rights,” I said, holding her hands. She still looked unsure.

“Dev bhaiya, bolo na bhabhi ko,” I said to Devesh bhai.

(Dev bhaiya convince bhabhi please)

“But sunu—” he started.

“That’s enough. Bhabhi, you’re doing the ritual. I call you bhabhi because I mean it,” bhaiya said from the main entrance.

“Okay, fine,” she said and started the ritual with a warm, teary smile.

Pregnancy hormones made a comeback, y’all.

“I think they’re both tired. How about we skip the rest of the rituals and do them tomorrow?” Devesh bhaiya said.

“Yeah, right. Let’s go to sleep, guys. I’m sure Ashu must be hogging my whole bed,” I said. Ashu couldn’t stay awake anymore due to her jet lag, so she had gone to sleep right after we arrived.

“Bhabhi, if you need any help, please let me know,” I said, hugging bhabhi.

“Finally, you’re here.” I continued, and she softly chuckled.

“I love you already—even more than bhaiya,” I said, pouting at her cutely.

“Me too,” she replied, and we both chuckled, looking at bhaiya’s face—his jaw was on the ground for the second time.

“You…y-you…you both—” he tried to say something, but we all burst out laughing, and he smiled too.

“Okay, see you guys tomorrow morning,” I said and walked off to my room. As soon as I entered, I quickly changed and fell asleep hugging my bestie like a log.

Tomorrow, we start our normal life. Let’s get it.