1.

L A S Y A

I stared at the golden exquisite invitation card placed on my glass table in front of me in a daze. I wasn't surprised or shocked, but it felt just a bit off. My eyes burned as I tried hard to keep my tears at bay.

Raina Agarwal
Weds
Moksh Mehrotra

The wedding card read and I just scoffed, staring at it in amusement. I ran my fingers over the golden and ivory design, picked it up and went through the date, time and venues. Raina Agarwal, my sister, and when I say sister it meant blood-related sister was getting hitched to God's knows who and I was being made aware by just a mere invitation card.

My family had done the greatest honour of all time by at least sending me an invitation a week before the big day expecting my presence. But it wasn't enough, they not only expect my presence as a family member but also as the event manager planning the whole damn event. The card sent wasn't just a mere invitation it was all related to business. Obviously! Why waste your precious money on finding a wedding planner when your daughter, I mean namesake's daughter runs an event management firm? Sigh

I founded my event management firm Mubarakan when I was just 20 and in the middle of my degree. I started it from scratch, struggling between work and completing my master's. It took me years to strengthen my pillars but I made it through it. Now I have created the most renowned and successful name among the elite club with my amazing team and hard work. With great calibre and dedication, we won awards through the years and reached miles. My whole youth was dedicated to my goals and ambition and making their dream events come true. And I for a matter of fact knew that everything, all the hardship, extra efforts, and sleepless nights were worth it. It was worth the wait.

But now I was 28 and unmarried, great right? I just didn't get the norms of the society. Like why was a woman supposed to get married in her early twenties and let a man decide her worth? There are many great things to do out there rather than getting hitched and having your freedom curtailed and ambitious under the shackles of your in-laws and husband. Settling down doesn't only mean marriage, there are various factors like goals, life experiences and financial stability. I wasn't really against the idea of marriage, but I was an ambitious woman who was living her life on her terms. Maybe that's why I think my parents decided to outcast me from the family.

My phone vibrated on the table and a smirk graced my lips, my mother only called me once a year only if it was important or sometimes not even that. No birthday, Diwali or New Year wishes. I had spent my years in the loneliness of my apartment or with my friends.

"Greetings Mother!", my voice was sharp and curt

"I hope you might have received the card", she replied her voice void of emotions and at times I really did wish for her to show some feelings towards me. But every time I did, I was left hanging with false hopes and shattering reality that I wasn't their first choice or priority

"I did", I answered back still scanning the card

"We will be expecting your presence with your team then", she announced and before I could say anything the line went dead

A deep sigh escaped my lips and I chuckled drily, the hollowness filling my heart yet again.

I was 28 and not married yet, so just imagine the dishonour of my family and the horror everyone might go through that the younger daughter is getting married before the older own so them not inviting me isn't a surprise either, they care more about their honours than my presence.

My family was super rich, like richy rich. With my great-grandfather owning textile miles in his era and having a leading business, the wealth passed on from generation to generation as the men of the family followed each other's footsteps. Before my great-grandfather passed away he equally distributed his property among his five sons, my grandfather even though he was the middle child took the business to great heights and my father followed swiftly that A.K and Son's was now one of the well-known textile businesses. And why I wasn't following their roots was the story for another time.

Deeply engrossed in my thoughts I played with the paperweight, spinning it aimlessly when the door of my cabin burst open and a headache walked in.

"Aur chudail, kya haal?", he questioned before landing his butt on the plush leather seat of my cabin
[Translation:And witch, how are you?]

"Haramkhor", I muttered under my breath and glared at him while he just looked at my cabin with disgust
[Translation: bastard]

Samyukt Joshi, aka Sam Joshi the leading fashion designer of Mumbai, was one of my best friends. He owned Dhaage, the most celebrated clothing brand, from bridal to casual he had it all covered under him. We met in middle school and instantly he became a member of our group with his broken humour and sarcastic attitude. But let me tell you, he was dramatic, like really overdramatic that he would put the typical high school famous girl from English dramas to shame.

"So depressing", he muttered and made a disgusting face staring at the white walls of my cabin. According to him, the shade of my office wall was too depressing for a normal human being to survive. As if I cared about his opinion.

"I wonder what you are doing here crashing in my office?", I asked with a raised eyebrow

"Kyu? Apni pyari dost se Milne nhi aa sakta?", he questioned back relaxing on the chair in a very awkward position. I know I was far for being his dearest, he just wanted to get on my nerves and enjoy me losing my calm. He very well knew about my short temper, anger issues and he used them very well against me to rile me up and enjoy.
[Translation:Why? Can't visit my dear friend?]

I looked at him displeased with his antics as a scowl marked my face.
"Get your ass out of the office Joshi", I snarled. Even though he was my best friend still I found it hard to bear his presence for more than a few seconds. The only time we could stand him was when he was being less dramatic or feeling low which he wasn't anytime.

"Let me tell you, people die to catch a glimpse of this ass that you just disrespected", he added making an offensive face. I stared at him with a really? face and attempted to throw the paperweight in his direction.

But to my bad luck, it missed him and went flying towards the door as he dodged the glass at the right moment.

"A flat ass you might add", the glass paperweight was caught by Prithvi who entered through the door

He walked towards my work table and placed the paperweight before taking his seat. Sam looked at him with a very offended look and threw laser beams at him through his eyes.

Prithvi Chauhan, the infamous business tycoon and the topmost owner of the luxurious jewellery brand Kashish was my other best friend. He was cool, calm and composed Prit, but get on his wrong side and he would show you who the real Prithvi Chauhan is. He would un-alive you first and then ask your corpse the reason, he got a really bad temper. But we had a great understanding. He was the knight in shining armour for me. Both of us couldn't stand Sam's presence but alas he decided to stick with us no matter the insults we threw his way.

Sam would always complain that we made him feel left out and he felt like an outcast among us, but we care less about him. Prit and I had a whole different vibe, and our thoughts matched while we discussed about economy and life crisis Sam would jump in between with his views about which colour he should replace his drawing room curtains with.

No matter how different Sam was from us, he was a good different. He was jolly, would find happiness in the slightest of things and fun to be with, as exaggerating as it may sound but he was the only source of entertainment and added colours to Prithvi's and my life. But we won't admit it in front of him, because he would get invisible wings of his own and fly on the nth cloud boosting and flexing about his non-existent ego. I was blessed to have my best friends with me or else I knew I would be doomed.

"Jokes apart guys, we have a really important task at hand. I need to tell you people something ", I decided to address the elephant in the room

Both of them looked at me sensing the tension in my voice. Taking a deep breath I slid the invitation towards their direction and waited for their reactions. Both of them blankly gazed at the paper, reading the lines shocked by the information.

"Raina's getting hitched?", it was Prithvi who decided to break the silence and I nodded, impatiently staring at Sam as he appeared white as a ghost

He was frozen in his seat and I feared how he was going to take the news. Well, Samyukt liked Raina, he admitted that he had a crush on her since childhood but never confessed his feelings. And we weren't fool enough to not be aware of the whole thing going under our noses, those sneaky stares, from saving her favourite chocolate whenever she came to Mumbai during her vacation, to designing dresses for her and always crashing at my place during her stay. We were aware of everything but just didn't let it know.

"Ohh! Okay Rai's getting ma-married? Rai ki shaadi h-ho rhi hai? t-that's a g-great news",his voice broke as it carried an unknown disbelief in it. As if he wasn't able to believe the reality.
[Translation: Rai is getting married?]

Raina never liked anyone giving her a nickname but Sam being Sam was adamant and came up with Rai, pronouncing it as Rey since according to him she was a ray of sunshine in his life. I know it was going to hurt him pretty badly but he needs to accept it sooner.

"Yes, and she messaged me that she wants you to design all her wedding outfits, from Haldi to reception. It's her wish", I let him know. I know I was being harsh but he needed to know since I'd never kept anything away from him.

I'd made him aware that Raina doesn't reciprocate his feelings several times because I didn't want to keep him in the dark, but he had always brushed off the topic masking his emotions with a smile. He'd say that even if his love was one-sided, it was strong and enough for both of them. I felt bad for him.

"O-obviously! Ye-yes. I mean yes, i-if Rai wants it, she gets it", he licked his lips and held the invitation card with his shivering fingers. Prithvi kept a comforting hand on his shoulder and took him into a bro hug when I heard a small sniffle.

I stood up from my seat and walked towards him. Even though I wasn't a hug-type of person and despised physical touch, I made an effort for him. I wrapped my hands around him and kept my chin on his head. My hold tightened when I felt wetness on my white shirt and a slow sob. I hated myself for putting Sam through this situation. He was too pure to endure this.

"It's okay Sam, it's going to be fine", I consoled rubbing his arms when he wrapped his hands around my waist, his fingers crumbling the fragile paper and he broke into silent cries.

I knew he was broken and was suffering, I always knew the feeling of losing your loved ones. And at the moment Sam looked so fragile and delicate as if he would shatter any moment. I know he was bloating up his emotions because society had taught so against men's showing their emotions.

Soon after his cries subsided Prit passed him a glass of water while I rubbed his back in a comforting manner. He hiccuped a few times and then closed his eyes. When he opened them they appeared red and puffy, his face swollen and he masked everything with a smile.

"Kya hua tum dono ko huh? Yaar mera toh chalta rehta hai! Aaj yeh toh kal koi aur. Chalo koi baat nhi, but aren't you excited about the wedding? Bhai, Raina is getting married! Lots of preparations and arrangements are to be made, all the event theme, colour shades uff so much work",

[Translation: what happened to both of you huh? I'm like this only, Today I want her , tomorrow I'll think of the other. Leave it now, but aren't you excited about the wedding? Bhai, Raina is getting married! Lots of preparations and arrangements are to be made, all the event theme, colour shades uff so much work]

"I'm off the hook, I need to plan a lot, she had asked me for the outfits and above all we only have a week, I'm taking my l-leave to see you in the evening at the airport", he shuttered before walking out of my cabin as tears blurred his vision

We stared at his retreating back with a grim feeling as we watched him disappear from our sight. I slumped on Sam's seat, ran a hand through my hair and pulled at the roots.

"Ahh! I hate myself for this", I growled in anger as I suddenly felt dejected and regretful for my best friend. Sam was one of the strongest people I'd met after him. He would never shed a single tear or bat an eye towards things that hurt him, he was a pro in veiling his emotions but seeing him breaking down and crying like a baby had left me with mixed feelings of grief and sorrow

"Don't worry, he's Sam he would come around quickly. He just needs to wrap his head around all the happenings and accept the reality that his love isn't his love anymore", Prit patted my head and passed me a reassuring smile. He was my unpaid therapist and I always thanked my stars for his presence.

"Do you think it was so insensitive of me to share about the outfits and all", I questioned as I kept my head in my palms rubbing my face tiredly

"You're overthinking now Lasya, as I said give him some space he will be back to being Sam even before you know it", he added passing me a glass of water

I nodded and drank the water staring at the now crumbled invitation card.

"I think you should change", he said pointing at the dark wet patch on my shirt and I nodded absentmindedly

After talking and comforting me Prithvi left to make arrangements for our departure not before making sure I was fine. All the things were taking a toll on me, both mentally and emotionally.

The fact that my own sister didn't consider me important enough to share the details about her betrothal only left me a message concerning her outfits and pieces of jewellery. She wanted her wedding outfits designed exclusively by Dhaage and jewellery from Kashish.

My family only wanted me there to get away from the taunts of the namesake society opinion. Or else it was strictly business which was proved by the way they sent me the card directly and my mother's phone call.

Time skipped and we were ready to leave for Delhi, my birthplace. The venue decided was a countryside farmhouse which was 3 hours away from the main city which meant arranging everything in bulk so that we wouldn't run out of stock on time.

I passed through the airport waiting lounge and walked towards the private aircraft which awaited me.

"I hope you're fine with the arrangements Sam?", I asked when I saw him ascending the stairs

"Mai toh thik hu mujhe kya hona hai?, baby girl, for now let's take our seat", he assured me, his voice was a bit hoarse. I still looked at him not taking his excuse. What mattered to me more was my best friend not even my sister. Even though I adored her, but Sam was more important and came before her I'm my list. Do hell with the wedding, Sam's my first priority.

[Translation: I'm fine, what will happen to me?]

Soon we were in the air and I updated my Instagram. I was quite a bit famous on the platform with few a million followers. I scrolled through the latest trends. Both Agarwal's and Mehrotra's were the hot topics on the news. Many raised speculations that it was a business merger while others came up with their own theories. I just shrugged caring less about anything.

All they knew about me was that I was going to organise one of the biggest and most anticipated weddings in the town. No one knew that I was Manish Agarwal's elder daughter except Raina Agarwal. I was the mysterious princess of the Agarwal who everyone thought was still hidden under the walls of the palace.