3

"Who's the pretty goddess over there?" Shivam murmured to Arjun as they stood at the bar, surveying the rehearsal dinner crowd.

"Shruti something," Arjun remembered. "She's Arohi's best friend."

"Not the twin sister?" Shivam wondered, eyeing Arohi's sweet, younger-by-six-minutes sister across the room. "Odd."

"Arohi isn't very close to her family," Arjun shrugged. "She doesn't even use her legal last name; she goes by 'Goenka,' which is her paternal grandmother's maiden name, but she's a 'Maheshwari' by birth. Hell, her real name is 'Arohi' that's why we call her Aru."

Shivam shrugged. "She's certainly the type to do such a thing. Will she take our name?"

"I don't think so," Arjun shook his head. "She likes being Arohi Goenka, so I guess it'll stick."

"Back to the pretty girl," Shivam said, switching gears. "Have you met her?"

"No," Arjun denied. "Neil just mentioned her briefly. She is lovely, though."

"I think I'll introduce myself," Shivam smirked, heading in Shruti's direction.

Knowing his brother was about to make an ass of himself, Arjun followed.

"Hello, there," Shivam greeted her smoothly. "Shivam Punj, Neil's younger brother."

Shruti eyed him before offering her hand. "Shruti Sarnaik, Arohi's best friend. Arjun, right?" she said to the other brother.

"Yes, that's right," he confirmed. "It's nice to meet you, Shruti."

"Arohi played me some of your music," she told him. "It's really good. Did she say you just signed a record deal? That's amazing."

"Thank you," he accepted, feeling his ears heat up at her compliment. "What do you do?"

"I go to DU," she answered. "I've been studying drama, but I think I'm going to switch to public relations."

"You could be a spokesmodel," Shivam offered. "You've got quite the face for it."

Arjun rolled his eyes at his brother's unoriginality. "Ganpati Bappa."

Shruti laughed. "Arohi has told me all about you, so you won't faze me."

"We'll see about that," Shivam murmured, stalking away, upset his reputation was preceding him.

"Sorry about him," Arjun apologized.

"It's okay," Shruti assured him. "So will you be playing at the wedding? Arohi said she'd asked but you were playing hard to get."

"Oh, I don't know," he shrugged noncommittally. "I guess my reservation is that it's a big deal to perform at a wedding, especially Arohi and Neil's, and I don't want to screw it up."

"You just signed a record deal!" she reminded him. "If you were the type to screw it up, whatever label you signed with wouldn't have signed you. As I said, I listened to your music and it's good. I have great taste, so you should trust me."

He chuckled. "Is that so?"

"Would you look at that?" Arohi said to Neil as they watched Arjun and Shruti talking and laughing together. "I'm not sure I've ever seen Arjun laugh."

"Not in a long time," Neil agreed. "Not since Shrishti."

Arohi shuddered. "Please, do not mention her. I only met her once and she was vile. And that's coming from me."

He smiled. "You're not vile, Arohi; you're perfect."

"Now that's vile," she teased. "Ooh, think she can convince him to sing tomorrow? He does seem enamored with her."

"I suppose we'll find out in the morning," Neil replied. "Come, let's speak with my aunty."

"Excuse me, may I borrow Shruti for a moment?" Arjun asked later in the evening when he approached the group if Shruti was entertaining. "It's wedding stuff."

Shruti excused herself from Arohi's cousins and followed him to a corner of the room. "What's up?"

"Well, I have this song," he began, "and I was thinking I could play it tomorrow, but no one has ever heard it. Would you mind listening to it? The first time I play a song is always the worst, so I need to get it out of my system."

"Sure," she agreed. "Do you have your guitar?"

"I sent Prince upstairs for it," he said, referring to the eleven-year-old who worshipped him.

When Prince returned with the instrument, Arjun ushered Shruti to a smaller room off the event space in the hotel the rehearsal dinner was being held in.

"Okay, so it doesn't have a title yet, but I did write with Arohi and Neil in mind, so here goes," he muttered, beginning to strum.

Ishq mein aashiqui tu hai

Subah ki roshni tu hai

Shaam ko tere saath hi main dhalun

Chand main chandni tu hai

Oss ki har nami tu hai

Khwab tu tujhe dekhta main rahoon

Bin mangi si duaa hai tu

Meri kismat ki wafa hai tu

Tujhe nazron mein bharun...

Nayan ne bandh rakhine

Mein jyara tamne joya che [x2]

Tame cho en karta

Pan vadhare tamne joya che

Hey joya, hey joya, hey joya...

Hey joya, hey joya, hey joya...

Nayan ne bandh rakhine

Mein jyara tamne joya che [x2]

Tame cho ena karta

Pan vadhare tamne joya...

Palkon ko yun jhukana tera

Seene se dil le jaana mera [x2]

Tujhe sochun tujhe chahun

Main harpal har lamha

Tu mujhme main tujhme

Ab hoga ek..

Nayan ne bandh rakhi ne

Mein jyara tamne joya che [x2]

Tame cho ena karta

Pan vadhare tamne joya che

Hey joya, hey joya, hey joya.

Hey joya, hey joya, hey joya...

Mane sharaa-e joya che

Bahaare tamne joya che [x2]

Tame cho ena karta

Pan vadhare tamne joya...

"Wow," Shruti breathed when he finished. "That's beautiful. You have to play that tomorrow."

"Yeah?" Arjun mused. "It's not bad?"

"Bad?" she repeated. "If I weren't so afraid of screwing up my false eyelashes, I'd be crying."

"All right then," he grinned. "I'll let Neil know. Thank you, Shruti." He reached out a hand to help her up from the chair she'd been sitting in.

The spark that shot through Shruti when their hands touched sent shivers down her spine. Their eyes locked and for a brief moment, she was sure he would kiss her.

"Arjun?" Prince called into the room then. "Neil needs you to say goodnight to Priya aunty."

"Right," Arjun breathed, backing away from Shruti. "Thank you again, Shruti, for your help."

"Sure," she whispered as he walked away after his little brother. "Hey, Arjun ?" she called to him.

"Yes?" he turned around.

"'Nayan main Bandh Rakhine'" she told him. "That's what you should call it. It's memorable."

He smirked. "Goodnight, Shruti."

"Goodnight," she murmured.

The following morning, Arohi burst into Shruti's room of the bridal suite the Maheshwaris had rented in the hotel and jumped on her bed. "How did you do it?"

"Do what?" Shruti grumbled, pulling her pillow over her head. "Arohi, go the fuck away."

"Shivam just texted me and said Arjun has agreed to perform our first dance song," Arohi reported. "I know you convinced him. What did you say? Cause we've been asking for months and he refused."

"I didn't say anything special," Shruti recalled. "I just said he was good enough."

"Bingo," Arohi nodded softly. "That's it then. Arjun has severe insecurities about never being good enough that's a story for another time-but hearing it from a stranger, a particularly beautiful one must've done it."

Shruti sat up, knowing her best friend would be too wired to leave her alone now. "It's barely 6 AM. The hair stylists and makeup artists won't be here for another two hours."

"Can we just watch a movie?" Arohi requested. "This could be the last time you and I ever really get to do this; we leave for Mumbai two days after we get back from the honeymoon."

"Okay," Shruti acquiesced, scooting over so Arohi could join her in the bed. "Grab the remote."

After flipping through the movies, the girls settled on Lights out as it was just starting.

"This is so not a wedding day movie," Arohi laughed.

"No, but we used to watch this all the time in middle school, so it's appropriate," Shruti reasoned.

"And Akshara being the saint she is would tell us it was immature and tacky," Arohi added with a roll of her eyes.

"Don't," Shruti shook her head. "She's your sister and my friend."

"Yeah, yeah," Arohi groaned. "So, what else did you and Arjun do last night? You spent most of it together."

"Nothing," Shruti shrugged. "We just talked."

Arohi eyed her. "Arjun doesn't 'just talk' to just anyone, Aru. He's very guarded."

"What was her name?" Shruti joked. "Anytime a guy is 'very guarded,' it's because some girl screwed him."

"Shrishti," Arohi sneered. "She was a viper in designer clothing. They were still together when Neil and I started dating and then she destroyed him by sleeping with his old singing partner. That's why he still needs a new one."

"What about Rishabh?" Shruti suggested, referring to their longtime friend. "He's a really good singer."

"It's a hobby for him," Arohi pointed out. "He's going to med school."

"Because his father wants him to," Shruti shot back. "Rakesh is a loser, so their dad has to put everything into Rishabh and he's too nice to say no. He'd much rather make music."

"Well, you do know him better," Arohi sighed. "I mostly just slept with him."

"As kids," Shruti teased.

"Consenting 17-year-olds," Arohi corrected. "Not kids."

"And now, here you are, getting married at twenty-two," Shruti went on, "to a twenty-sever-year-old guy that you've known a year."

"Ooh, taking a page from Ananya's book and judging?" Arohi mused. "You like Neil."

"I do," Shruti agreed, "and he's done wonders for you."

"He's the best," Arohi said quietly, a rare warmth in her tone. "I wasn't a good person before I met him."

Shruti side-eyed her. "Are you saying you are now?"

The bride elbowed her. "I'm saying I'm better."

"True," Shruti chuckled. "I loved you then and I love you now; that's never gonna change, Arui."

Arohi reached for her hand. "I love you, too, princess. And after last night, my soon-to-be brother-in-law might, as well."

"Stop," Shruti blushed. "He's about to become a music superstar. I spend my days analyzing Shakespearean monologues. We're different."

"But, you aren't," Arohi denied. "You're both stubborn and bossy. You like to get your way. And you're damaged."

"I'm damaged?!" Shruti cried.

"Duh," Arohi scoffed. "Your dad left your family for another woman when you were twelve and your mom works more than humanly possible. You're mostly alone and that's jaded you. Arjun has a few skeletons of his own." She sighed. Look, all I'm saying is that you're not so different. You were also both viciously cheated on."

"Stop," Shruti demanded quickly. "We aren't going there and I'm not getting involved with Arjun ."

That evening, after the beautiful ceremony, Arjun nervously made his way to the stage to perform for Neil and Arohi's first dance.

"Uh, hello," he said into the microphone as he sat down on a lone stool. "For those of you who don't know, my name is Arjun, and I'm Neil's brother. I um, wrote this song for the couple to dance their first dance to." He locked eyes with Shruti in the crowd. "It's called ', Nayan Main Bandh Rakhine' and I hope you two enjoy it. Congrats."

Shruti smiled as Arjun began to play and the newlyweds danced. She'd known Arohi most of her life; she lived next door to Arohi's Mandeep uncle, so they grew up together, despite the Maheshwari twins being a year older. And while Shruti loved Akshara dearly, she'd always been drawn to Arohi. The girl knew how to get things done and her ferocity was something to envy. Besides, Akshara had Ananya and the two of them were a little too self-obsessed and boring, respectively, in Shruti's opinion.

"He's going to be huge," Arohi stated as the song neared its end. "You'll have to keep an eye on him, Neil. He's new, so he'll be taken advantage of."

"Arjun? Taken advantage of?" Neil laughed softly. "If anything, he takes advantage. And he does it with a full blast."

Arohi sighed. "Well, he's a sociopath."

"Welcome to the family, Arohi," he teased, leaning down to kiss her.

"You're welcome," he smiled, taking her into his arms as 'You' by Armaan Malik played through the speakers. "May I ask who he is? I sensed a little hostility."

"Ritesh and I dated all through high school," she told him.

Arjun grinned. "Let me guess: school head boy and head girl?"

"Wide receiver," she corrected, "but yes. He was charming through junior year, but then senior year came and he became a super douche. Anger management issues run in his family and they manifested that year. I stuck it out though because I loved him and despite his behavior, he still treated me pretty well. Until I found out he cheated on me the morning of graduation. Four years down the drain for a slutty girl from our rival school." She bit her lip. "I'm boring you, aren't I?"

"No," Arjun shook his head. "He's an idiot."

"No, he's still pretty much perfect," she grumbled, looking to where Ritesh was laughing with Arohi's brother, Kairav. "Starting wide receiver for a championship college team from NYC, First Son of Manali, and works a suit better than anyone." She glanced back at Arjun. "Almost."

"Anyone who allows you to get away is an imbecile," he assured her. "He'll figure that out someday, I promise."

Shruti blushed. "Thanks."

Shruti spent most of the night with Arjun and his siblings, getting to know her best friend's new family. She liked them. Their parents had died years before, but they stuck together like glue. Shruti envied that; her parents all but ignored her and she was an only child, so she liked the closeness of the Punj family.

"You should come to Mumbai sometime," Neil's sister, Shanaya, offered to Shruti as the night was winding down. "I mean, Arohi is moving there now, so you have reason to visit."

"Sure," Shruti agreed. "That would be nice."

"Arjun would like it, too," Shanaya went on. "He's quite taken with you, Shruti."

"He's nice," Shruti mumbled, unsure how to respond. "And he's going to be successful with his music; I can tell."

"I hope so," Shanaya said. "He's worked hard and it's all he does. That and painting or drawing. He's very artistic."

"So is Shruti," Rishabh spoke up as he joined the two girls. "She's studying drama."

"Oh, wow," Shanaya breathed, suddenly nervous. "That's great."

"Shanaya, right?" Rishabh asked. "Rishabh Kapadia, I grew up with Arohi and Shruti. I'm sorry I didn't get to introduce myself earlier."

"That's okay," Shanaya smiled brightly, tossing her curls over her shoulder.

While they talked, Shruti excused herself to start packing away gifts. It was supposed to be Arohi's parents' job, but while she loved Vanraj and Savatri, she couldn't leave it to chance.

"So, we're leaving now," Arjun told her as he leaned against the gift table. "I have to get Prince up to bed because we're on an early flight in the morning."

"Oh?" she mused, trying to contain her sadness. "Okay, well, it's been nice getting to know you, Arjun ."

"Please, call me Sunny," he requested. "It was lovely meeting you, Shruti. I thought Delhi would be terrible, but you made it a little less so."

She laughed. "Well, I'm glad to have been of service."

He stepped forward. "If you're ever in Mumbai-visiting Arohi, of course, let me know." With a soft kiss on her cheek, he backed away and disappeared through a side door of the hotel ballroom.

One year later...

"Everyone, I want you to meet my new assistant," Shanaya announced to the tour crew. "This is Shruti Sarnaik, she's Arohi's best friend from Delhi and she'll be working with us this summer."

Arjun, who'd been checking emails from his publicist, looked up at the mention of the girl who'd plagued him for the last eleven months and twenty-six days, but who was counting?

He stood up from his seat backstage. "Hello, Shruti."

"Hi, Arjun," she beamed.

He shook his head.

"Sunny," she corrected herself. "Hi, Sunny."