Chapter 23: Chapter 23

*Jiya Pov*

I looked around to find out a few familiar faces and many unfamiliar faces. And then a few pleasant faces and many unpleasant faces in those few familiar faces.

God this crowd is giving me a headache! I thought, shaking my head and felt so weak because of the tablets.

Everyone finally arrived except the Mehra’s. Surprisingly, they all are getting ready at a time because of which I was the one who welcomed everyone.

“Finally!” I mumbled when B’s parents walked down the stairs holding each other’s hands.

“Joshna! You didn’t tell me that you already found a girl for your son, She is beautiful.” One old lady said smiling warmly at me.

Before Madam could reply, I smiled a little and said, “I am just a worker, Madam.”

She nodded and continued her chatter with Mrs.Joshna. I continued to go around ignoring the snide remarks from some special people.

“Who is this pretty woman?” I heard a voice and turned to see Raj copying Srk’s pose.

“I am preity zinta.” I replied shrugging.

I looked around to see everyone walking towards their partners calling their names for the dance to begin.

“Who is your partner?” I asked him.

“Someone I don’t want to dance with.” He replied, giving me the paper.

“Destiny!” I said, smiling, looking at Ms.Rose name.

“Ewww no.” He said, horrified.

“Don’t worry! Someone else must have got your name, and then you could dance with at least that person.” I said patting his shoulder.

“How will this theme work? I didn’t understand.” He said frowning.

“Look now guys pick a name and girls too pick a name. See now you picked one person’s name while someone else must have picked your name.” I started explaining, and he nodded.

“So you have to dance with the person you pick and also the person who picked you.” I continued.

“Ok! So the girl who picked my name must already have another dance partner who must have picked her name.” He said.

“Exactly! And by this, everyone will have two partners not to get bored with one.” I said.

“Awesome idea.” He said smiling.

“I know! But if the married or engaged couple wants they can dance too like that, but these must be followed too, at least for a few minutes.” I added.

“Who picked me?” He asked, looking around and then I saw Ms.Malathi walking towards us smiling.

“So Mr.Raj, want to have a dance?” She asked.

“Definitely!” He replied.

“Rab ne bana di Jodi.” I said, and he narrowed his eyes on me.

I looked around to see Mr.Mehra already staring at me. I turned away and continued to see whether everything is going as we considered.

“Mr.Mehra! I am your dance partner.” I heard Ms.Rose voice.

“Lucky him!” I thought, shaking my head.

“That can never happen, Ms.Rose. I didn’t put my name in the bowl at all.” He said, and I turned back to see them in confusion.

“Why, Sir?” She asked frowning.

“Well, I decided to dance with only one person so that it will help with everything to even have second's meetings with the clients.” He replied, and I shook my head already understanding his plan.

“Now, if you excuse me.” He added and walked towards me.

“Shall we dance, Ms.Sarin?” He asked forwarding his hand.

“Someone picked my name and I have to dance with him.” I replied.

“You removed your name from the bowl right?” he asked raising his eyebrow.

“How do you know?” I asked him in shock.

“Nothing happens in this house without my knowledge.” That’s all he replied and pulled me to the dance floor.

“I don’t want to dance Mr.Mehra. I am not feeling that good.” I said, but he placed his hand lightly around my waist not touching me that much.

“I know you do not want to be in my arms. So I will keep my distance, but I don’t want you to dance with anyone else.” He said.

“Why?” I asked him rolling my eyes.

“Because I too don’t want to hold anyone else in my arms.” He replied, and I closed my eyes.

Like he said we met few clients in the middle, and I had to give a small brief regarding that client before the talk start.

Because of this reason, even Mrs.Joshna kept quiet. I so wish she is not that understanding and made him meet someone else.

“Jiya! What is this? You forgot your friend.” I heard Raj’s voice.

“I will not forget you Jab tak hain Jaan (Until my life).” I said, turning towards him, and I felt Mr.Mehra’s hand tighten on my hand.

“That’s like my friend. We need to talk so much.” He said, and I nodded smiling.

“I feel so jealous, Jiya.” I heard Mr.Mehra’s voice.

I glanced up to see him looking at me, and I calmly asked, “Excuse me?”

“I know that he is your friend, but I still feel jealous. Did you ever felt?” He asked.

“No!” I replied without a doubt.

“I have been such an idiot, Jiya. I really lost you didn’t I?” he asked.

Before I could reply, he kissed my cheek and walked away. I turned to look at five people witnessing it.

His parents, Raj, Ms.Rose and Ms.Malathi. Wow, I am so lucky! I thought and walked far away from them.

“There is someone here for you.” I suddenly heard him whispering in my ear after some time, and I turned to see Mom and Dad.

“What are they doing here?” I asked him back.

“They will tell everything to your parents.” I added.

“I am going to talk to my parents everything today after the party. Go and meet them.” He whispered back.

“But I don’t want you to.” I said frowning.

“I cannot hear another story of your’s where you try your best to be the bad fellow. I don’t want anyone to think bad about you even in their dreams.” He said and left again kissing my cheek.

“How are you, Jiya?” Dad asked, and I nodded at him.

Mom just looked at me for a second and then looked away. I frowned at her behavior because she is hiding something from me.

“What is it, Mom?” I asked her frowning.

“Nothing!” She replied.

I would have asked her more, but someone called regarding some food arrangements. I asked them to have food, and that I would be near them most of the time before leaving from there.

When everyone had their dinner, and I know that within a few minutes, everyone will leave. I started taking care of last arrangements and saw Mrs.Joshna giving classes to Mr.Mehra and Mr.Nilesh stood calmly.

Did he already tell them with guests around?

“Excuse me friends.” We heard a voice near the dining table and turned to see Ms.Rose.

What does she want now? I thought, frowning.

*Raj Pov*

What does she want now? I thought and glanced at Jiya to see that she is just as confused.

“I thank everyone for coming here and enjoying this bash. Really, it is a great event and thanks to Mrs.Joshna Mehra.” She said we all clapped.

“In this happy moment, it pains me to tell a sad news.” She said, and I frowned walking towards her.

“That the very capable co-worker of us has gone through some bad situation.” She added staring at Jiya.

I started rushing towards her feeling something bad is going to happen.

“Ms.Jiya has undergone a miscarriage just a few months back and is overcoming the loss.” Hearing that my legs rooted to the spot.

“I just want all of you to tell her the condolences.” She said and then smirked at Jiya.

I pulled the mike from her hand and said, “Very funny way of saying the original news Ms.Rose.”

I laughed and said, “Actually, Ms.Jiya was about to get a promotion few months back, but the idea was dropped and that is sad news, especially for Ms.Rose because we all know Ms.Jiya is an exceptional worker.”

“So she just put the words in a different style. Don’t mind her as she is a little dumb and all.” I said, and everyone laughed except seven members and then Ms.Rose friends.

“Thanks again for enjoying.” I said, and everyone left one after the other congratulating the Mehra’s while Mr.Ajay Mehra’s hand is held tightly by his mother.

I walked towards Jiya and placed my hand on her shoulder, but she is still staring ahead.

I looked around to see everyone left except Ms.Rose friends and Ms.Malathi and then her parents. I glanced at them and said, “You too can leave.”

But they ignored me. I sighed and held Jiya’s hand asking “Are you fine?”

Before she could reply we heard a shout from Mr.Mehra saying, “Let me go Mom.”

Jiya’s hand trembled in my hand. I turned to see him walking towards us or mainly her with a jaw clenched and hard expression.