“Project bada hai. Ek se kaam nhi chalega.”

(The project is big. Only one will not work.)

Priya nodded with a knowing smile and kissed his other cheek too. Atharva smiled in satisfaction, making Priya giggle and blush. 

The two were sitting in his office. Atharva was doing his work and Priya was doing hers when she remembered something.

“Arre mujhe abhi yaad aaya.”

(I just remembered.)

She said suddenly, startling him a little.

“Kya hua?”

(What happened?)

“Wo mai puchhna bhul gyi thi. Aap iss Thursday ko 2 ghante nikaal paayenge apne time mai se?”

(I forgot to ask you. Will you be able to take out 2 hours from your schedule this Thursday?)

Atharva frowned at the unusual request and asked.

“Kyu? Kya hua?”

(Why? What happened?)

“Wo actually mumma papa ki 30th anniversary hai. Aur humne ek chhoti si party organise kri hai. Agar aap bhi aa paaoge toh achha lagega.”

(It’s mumma papa’s 30^th anniversary. We are organising a small party. It will be nice if you’d be able to come.)

Atharva smiled and said.

“Agar request krogi toh nhi aaunga.”

(I’ll not come if you request.)

Priya bit her lip and cleared her throat.

“Atharva! Shaam ko 7 bje se party start hai. Aur aap aayenge.”

(The party begins by 7 in the evening. And you have to come.)

“Jaisa aapka hukum madam.”

(Whatever you say, madam.)

He bowed his head dramatically and she giggled while looking away to control her blush.

“Achha waise mai aapko kaise introduce kru? Boyfriend kehke kr du?”

(How should I introduce you? Should I call you my boyfriend?)

She teased and it was turn for Atharva to blush. He cleared his throat but the tips of his ears turned pink. Her boyfriend. He liked it.

“Jo tumhara dil kre.”

(Whatever you like.)

Priya chuckled and shook her head seeing him being shy and blushing.

Priya was dressed in a black party gown. Her hair were styled into loose curls. Her gaze continuously moved towards the entrance.

It was close to 8. The cake would be cut soon. Where was he stuck? She had messaged him at 6 and he had told her that he was just leaving.

“Kiska intezaar ho raha hai? Nazre nhi hatt rhi entrance se.”

(Who are you waiting for? You are not able to look away from the entrance.)

Priya heard her bhabhi’s teasing whisper and blushed.

“Aisa kuch nhi hai bhabhi. Bas…kisi ko invite kia tha.”

(Nothing like that Bhabhi. Just…I invited someone.)

“Ummhmmm! Mai dresses dhundna start krdu? Shaadi mai kaam aayengi na.”

(Should I start looking for dresses? They will be of use in your wedding.)

“Bhabhi!”

Her bhabhi laughed softly making her blush even more. She looked towards the entrance again and there he stood.

His eyes moved around in search of her. Priya promptly moved towards him, making his gaze snap towards her and stopped. 

“Kabse wait kr rhi hu aapka. Kaha reh gye the? Aur ye sab? Atharva iss sabki koi zarurat nhi thi.”

(I was waiting for you. Where were you? And all this? Atharva all this is not needed.)

She said pointing towards the gift and bouquet he held. Atharva snapped out of admiring her and cleared his throat.

“You look…beautiful.”

He whispered and she got tonguetied. She bit the inside of her lip and looked away to hide her blush.

“Thank you. Lekin mai kya keh rhi hu. Ye itna sab kyu le aaye aap? Chhoti si party hai Atharva.”

(But what am I saying. Why did you get so much? It’s a small party, Atharva.)

“Anniversary hai. And I’m also meeting them for the first time. Khaali haath nhi aa skta tha na. It’s not much anyway.”

(It’s anniversary….I couldn’t come empty-handed.)

He countered and she smiled. 

“Achha chaliye! Mai milwati hu aapko. Phir cake cutting ka bhi time hone wala hai. Aao aao!”

(Ok come on! I will introduce you. Then it will be time for cake cutting. Come come!)

She said and guided him towards her parents.

“Mumma…papa…ye Atharva hai. Bataya tha na maine invite kia hai.”

(Mumma…papa…this is Atharva. I told you I invited him.)

Her parents turned to him. Her mother smiled as Atharva handed the gifts to them.

“Happy anniversary sir and mam. You look lovely together.”

“Thank you beta. Lekin itna sab ki need nhi thi beta.”

(But all this was not needed.)

Her mother said and Atharva laughed off politely. Priya jumped in the conversation wanting to earn him some brownie points with her father and said.

“Papa…businessman hai Atharva.”

(Papa…Atharva is a businessman.)

That caught the man’s attention and he raised his eyebrow in interest.

“Achha?”

(Really?)

The conversation between her father and Atharva started. Priya smiled seeing him and hadn’t realised she had been staring until she felt a soft nudge on her waist.

She saw her bhabhi smiling mischievously.

“Tone down those love eyes a little Piyu! Mummy dekh rhi hai.”

(Mummy is watching.)

She whispered and saw her mother look at her with suspiciously narrowed eyes. Priya smiled nervously and looked back at her bhabhi.

“Waise banda cute aur handsome toh hai.”

(He is cute and handsome.)

Her bhabhi teased and Priya gasped.

“Bhabhi! Batau bhaiya ko abhi?”

(Should I tell bhaiya?)

“Hatt! Kuch nhi kr skte tumhare bhaiya mera.”

(Shut up! Your bhaiya cannot do anything.)

Priya chuckled and went back to staring at her saiyaan. 

“Waise hot toh hai.”

(He is hot.)

Her bhabhi tried to tease again but this time, her brother heard and wrapped a hand around her bhabhi’s waist before asking.

“Kaun hot hai?”

(Who is hot?)

He asked, looking into his wife’s eyes. She grinned up at him, leaned into him and said.

“Aap!”

(You!)

Priya shook her head as her brother bumped his forehead against his wife’s in a loving manner. 

“Ye kaun hai papa ke saath?”

(Who is that with papa?)

“Priya ke friend hai. Businessman hai.”

(Priya’s friend. He is a businessman.)

Her bhabhi said knowing how her husband would also jump into the conversation with a fellow businessman.

“Achha?”

(Is it?)

Priya and her bhabhi chuckled seeing Priya’s brother too join in the conversation.

After the cake cutting, Priya looked around for Atharva.

“Kaha gayab ho gye ye?”

(Where did he disappear?)

She mumbled to herself while looking around. She found him standing at a distance from the other guests, talking to her father.

They seemed to be in a serious conversation. Before she could go and intervene, she was pulled back by a cousin who asked her to join on the dance floor.

It was time for dinner and a huge table was set up for the family dinner. Priya made Atharva sit beside her.

“Tumse kuch baat krni thi. Dinner ke baad.”

(I wanted to talk to you. After dinner.)

Atharva whispered in her ear. Priya raised her eyebrow in question but he shook his head saying that they would talk after dinner. 

After dinner, Priya stood before Atharva and asked.

“Haan bataiye. Kya baat krni thi aapko?”

(Yes tell me. What did you want to talk about?)

Atharva gulped and started to speak but Priya was called by her cousin.

“Priya! Aa naa yaar! Last song hai. Special request pr.”

(Come on! It’s the last song. On special request.)

“Haan bas do minute. Bataiye na jaldi!”

(Yes just two minutes. Tell me quick!)

She prompted Atharva who smiled and shook his head.

“It’s ok. Tum jaao. Baad mai baat krte hai. Mai yahi hu.”

(You go. We will talk later. I am here.)

“Toh phir aap bhi chalo. Last song hai!”

(You also come. It’s the last song!)

Priya dragged Atharva to the dance floor. His movements were awkward and unpractised as he admired Priya dancing wholeheartedly. Priya’s brother and bhabhi got her parents on the dance floor and the DJ played a romantic song.

Her father danced and twirled her mother around, making her blush and hide her face in his chest. All of them awwed and hooted.

It was almost time for everyone to leave.

“Aap driver ke saath aaye ho?”

(You came with the driver?)

Priya asked Atharva who shook his head.

“Khud drive krke laaya hu. Why?”

(I drove myself.)

“Phir aap time se nikal jaao. It’s already late. Aur aap akele bhi ho. Safe nhi hai na.”

(You leave on time then. It’s already late. You are alone also. It’s not safe.)

Atharva nodded and said.

“You’re right. Plus mujhe ab raat mai drive krne ki jyada aadat bhi nhi rahi.”

(Plus I am not habitual of driving so late at night.)

“Jaa paaoge ya bheju kisi ko saath?”

(Will you be able to go or should I send someone?)

She asked genuinely concerned and he chuckled.