“Mummy! Look at this! This is so pretty!”

“Hai toh. Lekin pehnegi kaha? Shaadi mai?”

(It is. But where will you wear it? In the wedding?)

She joked. Pankti rolled her eyes and said.

“Hen’s party bhi toh hai na mummy.”

(I have my hen’s party too mummy.)

“Achha khasa Bhagwaan ne insaan banaya hai lekin iss ladki ko murgi banna hai. Kya hoti hai ye Hen’s party?”

(God has made you human but you want to be a hen. What is this Hen’s party?)

“Arre mummy! Girl’s ki bachelorette ko bolte hai.”

(Girl’s bachelorette is known as Hen’s party.)

Swaraa suppressed her giggle seeing the banter between the mother-daughter. She could see herself and her mother in them.

“I don’t know. Dekhle jo samajh aa raha hai. Baad mai bas mujhe mat kehna mumma ye reh gaya ya wo reh gaya.”

(Take you want to. Just don’t tell me later, mumma this is left or that is left.)

“Can I try this on?”

Pankti asked Swaraa, who nodded and directed her towards the fitting room.

She came out and said with a pout.

“Ye bhut loose hai. Fit ka pata hi nhi chal raha.”

(This is very loose. I can’t see the fit.)

Swaraa smiled and brought the clips.

“Saari dresses freesize hoti hai mam. Here! Let me help.”

(All the dresses are freesize mam.)

She clipped the pins at the right place and Pankti gasped at the outcome.

“Mummy! Dekho na!”

(See!)

“Haan achaa hai. Iski straps bhut pyaari lag rhi hai.”

(Yes it’s beautiful. The straps are very pretty.)

“Hai na!”

(I know right!)

Pankti admired herself some more and then finally declared.

“Ye final hai! Mai apni hen’s party pr yahi pehnungi.”

(This is final! I will wear this to my hen’s party.)

Swaraa nodded and Pankti came back after changing. 

“Aap apne measurements de dijiye. Jab tak aap baaki explore kroge, ye ready ho jaayega.”

(You give your measurements. Until you explore further, this will be ready.)

Pankti nodded and gave her measurements. They explored some more before finally deciding that they would get the rest of the dresses customised according to Pankti’s liking.

Swaraa had put her team on this task. She had asked each designer, along with herself, to give her sketches by the end of the week, so that she could get it approved by Pankti.

Swaraa had the sketches. She was about to call Pankti to ask her if she was home so that they could finalise the designs, when she stopped.

She bit her lip and scrolled down to his contact number. He wouldn’t know she had Pankti’s contact number right?

Giving herself the mental boost, she dialled his number. Shaurya was surprised seeing her call and picked it up with a smile.

“Hello Swaraa.”

“Hello, Mr. Rajvansh.”

Shaurya leaned back in his chair and stared ahead with dreamy eyes.

“How may I help you, mam?”

His voice came out teasing. Swaraa bit her lip and looked around, trying to ignore her heated cheeks.

“I…umm…I actually wanted to know if Pankti is home? Uske dresses ke designs ready hai. I wanted to get them approved from her.”

(Her dress designs are ready.)

Shaurya frowned, clearly remembering that Pankti had informed him about giving her number to Swaraa.

“I’m not at home. Mai office mai hu. You can call her.”

(I am in the office.)

“I…ummm…I don’t have her number. Tabhi toh aapko call kia.”

(That’s why I called you.)

He raised his eyebrow and grinned mischievously realising the truth. His heart soared with happiness. She liked him too,

“Oh! Achaa! No problem, I’ll send you her number.”

She hummed and disconnected the call before she could say something to embarrass herself. Swaraa hadn’t even realised that Shaurya hadn’t sent her Pankti’s number, before she called her.

Swaraa reached the Rajvansh mansion and looked at it in awe. She had heard from her father and sister that they were one of the richest families in the business world, but had no idea that they were this rich.

Swaraa frowned seeing Shaurya get out of his car.

“I thought you were in the office.”

She teased and he smirked at her.

“I also thought you did not have Pankti’s number.”

Her eyes widened slightly before she looked away and shrugged.

“I didn’t. Aapne bheja na. Tabhi toh mai usse baat krke yaha aayi.”

(You sent it. That’s why I came here talking to her.)

Shaurya took a step closer and whispered naughtily.

“I didn’t. Check our chat, Swaraa. I never sent her contact number. You already had it.”

Swaraa’s eyes widened in disbelief when she realised that he wasn’t bluffing. He hadn’t sent her anything after their conversation over call.

She closed her eyes at being caught and tried moving inside quickly but he held her wrist and pulled her back.

“Jab uska number tha…toh mujhe call kyu kia? Not that I would ever mind you calling me without reason…I want to know why.”

(When you had her number…why did you call me?)

Her heart was beating wildly inside her chest. His words and their proximity made her lightheaded.

“Mr. Rajvansh…”

She whispered, looking into his eyes. His lips parted as if he was about to say something when they heard Pankti’s excited voice.

“Swaraa di! Meri dresses!”

Swaraa sprang away from Shaurya and looked at Pankti who had just came running and stopped at the threshold of the mansion’s gate.

Swaraa smiled wide and nodded.

“I have the designs ready.”

“Chalo phir! Chalo chalo!”

(Come one then! Come come!)

An excited Pankti took Swaraa inside and the three ladies spent a good time together discussing Pankti's dresses.

Shaurya kept looking at them with a smile. Swaraa didn’t get the courage to meet his eyes again. What would she reply if he asks him again? She could say that she forgot she had Pankti’s number and later found it.

Shaurya was enjoying her hide and seek from him. Even her his mother asked her to stay for lunch, she denied, not wanting to give him a chance to corner her.

“It’s ok maa. I’ll see her out.”

Shaurya intervened when Swaraa insisted on leaving. Her eyes widened and he smirked. She slowly followed him with a nervous gait. 

As soon as the two stepped out of the mansion, she felt a shiver down her spine. She kept waiting for him to say something or do anything but he just quietly accompanied her to her car.

Swaraa was surprised when he did not utter any word and simply stood beside her car. She felt a little disappointed but took out her keys. 

She had just unlocked the car when he turned her around and softly pushed her against her car. She looked at him wide eyed as he towered over her.

“Agli baar agar baat krni ho toh bahane ki zarurat nhi hai. You can call me anytime.”

(You don’t need any excuse if you want to talk to me next time.)

She bit her lip and looked away. He held her chin and made her look into his eyes.