1 Chapter 1

1

Mithran Yadav walked into the Jhodpur Palace, decked up like a bride, for his bestfriend Shravan Maheswari's wedding reception. Isha, their college mate had traveled with him for the function.

His other bestfriend Abhay Agnihotri and his wife Kiara has also reached the destination.

"Hey man. When did you reach?" Mithran asked

"Just now. Siddhu came here a few days ago. Mom and Dad are meeting with Shravan and Drishti's parents. When did you arrive?" Abhay Agnihotri asked.

"We arrived by evening. Booked into a nearby hotel. Took a much needed nap. And here we are" Mithran said

"Let's go inside. We are already late" Isha said

"As you wish darling" Mithran said with a wink, earning an eye roll in return from Isha Mehta.

He has known Isha Mehta since his college days. After their undergraduation in Bangalore, Shravan had gone abroad for post graduation. And he himself had worked as an architect at a firm in New Delhi.

Unlike Shravan Maheswari, he comes from a humble background. His father was a government employee and his mother a home maker.

After his post graduation Shravan had brought up the idea of a start up. And Mithran being a risk seeker dived into it without a second thought.

And their company has thrived and their first project was a huge success.

Isha had joined their team, when they began it. And their friendship had grown over time.

If anything his parents marriage has taught him, then it is that friendship is more important in a marriage. Even more than love.

He do not want a submissive woman as his wife. He wants someone who wouldn't hesitate to call out on his bull.

And he wants friendship in his marriage.

That's where Isha came in. Isha is his friend and he had even had an on and off crush on her over the years. So he is pretty sure, love can happen once they get married.

All he has to do is to get her to agree to his proposal.

They walked into the ball room where the function is held and he saw Drishti complaining about something to Shravan.

"How about a photo guys?" Mithran asked as he walked towards them with Isha, Abhay and Kiara.

"You guys are late" Drishti accused as soon as she saw them.

"Sorry Drishti. Kiara had an appointment with a doctor in the morning. So we got delayed" Abhay said

"Oh. What happened to bhabhi?" Drishti asked in worry.

"Nothing. Just a light fever" Kiara said

"Okay guys. Stay closer for the photo" the photographer called out

The formal party was over soon and Shravan's mother took Drishti with her to introduce her to the other family members.

Mithran stepped out into the garden with Shravan and Abhay.

"You look very happy" Mithran commented noticing the constant smile on Shravan's face.

"I am" Shravan said with a sigh of content

"Aww. Shravan is in love" Mithran couldn't help but tease. Shravan had always been the silent type. Always opting for peace. People had mistaken his silence for arrogance many a time.

It was kind of hard to believe that the silent peace loving Shravan had fallen in love with loud and crazy troublemaker Drishti.

"I don't know Mithran. I have never been in love before. So I don't really know what love is. If wanting to wake up to Drishti's face every morning and wanting to go to sleep with her in my arms is love. Then yes, I think I'm in love." Shravan said staring at nothing, with a smile on his face

Mithran gaped at his best friend as he heard the poetic note in Shravan's words.

Shravan Maheswari being poetic? Would the surprises cease to happen?

Not necessarily, as long as Drishti Maheswari is in his life. They have seen a totally different side of Shravan ever since Drishti had come into his life. Mithran was pretty sure that Shravan had fallen in love at first sight of the green eyed beauty.

"But then I wonder if it is too soon to know whether it is love or not. I mean, we have known each other for hardly a month. That is too short a time to fall in love, right?" Shravan asked in confusion.

"Maybe. You shouldn't hurry into something without being sure of your feelings" Abhay said in a tone than made both the friends look at him.

If Shravan has changed for better after marriage, the exact opposite has happened with Abhay. To think that his was a love marriage unlike Shravan's accidental marriage.

"Abhay. Is everything alright?" Shravan asked

"Ofcourse yes" Abhay said too quickly raising more suspicion in the other two people's mind.

"If you say so" Mithran said, not at all believing what Abhay said. Something is definitely wrong with him. If it were anything other than marriage, they could have pried it out of him.

But marriage is between two people. And no third party is allowed to interfere.

"Tell us more about you and Drishti" Abhay prompted, they let him divert the topic rather than frying him to come out with his problems.

"What do I tell? She is so totally opposite of me. She sometimes gets on my nerves like crazy. Logically speaking, I should stay hundred miles away from her, I need to stay sane. But when I don't see her around, a weird restlessness happens to me. As I said, the feelings are so confusing. But I like those feelings" Shravan said

"Maybe you should stop confusing us too" Mithran joked

"Maybe I should" Shravan said with a chuckle.

Mithran's phone rang and he saw that it was a call from his mother.

"Excuse me guys. I need to take this call" he excused himself and moved a little away from the other two and attended the call.

"Amma" he greeted as soon as he picked up the call

"Mithran. He is bringing her home" he heard his mother crying.

"Who? What are you saying Amma?" He asked in confusion.

"Your father is bringing her home. I heard him telling on phone" his mother was hysterical.

"I don't understand Amma. Who is he bringing home"

"His daughter. He is bringing his daughter home"

"No. That's not possible. That must be a misunderstanding. How can there be a daughter. I'm an only son" Mithran said trying to comprehend what his mother was saying.

"I will die if he brings her home. I have always turned a blind eye on him having then in his life. But I can't let her into my home" his mother cried through phone

"You knew it all along?" He asked in disbelief

He couldn't believe that his father has another family. He had always known that there is a lack of communication between his parents.

His mother has always been the typical obedient wife, who never questioned her husband's words. But he can't believe that she would have let him have an affair.

And his father, he had always seen his father's love for his mother. He had seen the way his father cares for his mother.

All this while, he had thought that his mother's nature is the problem in their relationship. He never realised that his father's affair was what made his mother that way.

"Relax please. I will be there by tomorrow morning. We will talk then. Take care, Amma" he said and hung up the call.

"Mithran? What's the matter?" Shravan asked as soon as he came back

"I don't know. I need to get back home soon. Mom sounds so panicked. She was almost hysterical. Give me a moment. I need to make another call. You guys go inside" Mithran said and proceeded to book early morning tickets for his return journey.