Akash wanders among the executives and said hello to some business friends and he also made few new acquaintances in different fields. Akash met a few of his partners as well who directly or indirectly work as customer or supplier in his family business.
While meeting people, Akash occasionally observes Varsha who is still talking at one side with her newly made friend. Varsha also felt happy whenever she found him looking toward her and her new friend Swati would tease her for her shy exchange with Akash.
When Varsha turned her had back with a shy smile on her face, Swati teased "Stop acting like a newlywed. You have come to my stall and now biding your time in stealing glances at your own husband."
"It has just been four-month and not even for one year. How would I act if not as newlywed? It feels good to know that he is caring toward me even when he busy in socializing." Varsha smiled and said. She felt like she could say anything to this girl who is so intrepid by nature. Varsha also found herself more open with her.
Swati looked at how cheery Varsha is and said in a calm voice "You are from a family of food business and I am also planning a type of food business. Don't you think I am trying to get close to you for my own selfish motive?"
"Well, if I can fulfill your motive just by talking and being an acquaintance then be it. Can you start your business just by taking one few Lac of my words?" Varsha laughed and said.
Swati made a thinking face and then said "Okay. Then I will take the benefit of the association." And laughed. Both girls continued joking and laughing with each other this way.
On another side, Akash just finished saying 'Hello' to a group of organizers and turned to walk toward Varsha. When he turned he is face to face with a couple he couldn't be more familiar with.
"Hello, Akash. How are you? I heard you got married." The girl gave her usual confident smile and said. And boy beside her showed an annoyed expression when the girl started the conversation.
Akash looked at the couple but other than a bit of frustration, he did not feel anything. When he looked at her smart and beautiful face he felt vexed that his heart might be pained and he won't be able to hide. But looking at her proud and confident look, he felt like things were ages ago when he has liked this girl.
The couple in front of Akash is Arushi Sharma and Aditya Pal. Akash looked toward Arushi and said with a smile "Nice to meet you too. Always to the point. And for your questions...Fine, thank you. And Yes I got married."
After saying that he turned toward her fiancee and smiled and said "Hello. I am Akash Patel. I was a classmate of Arushi." Both men shook their hand different emotions. While one person is annoyed and another is confused but both looked calm and collected on the face.
Arushi turned toward her fiancee and said in a loving tone "Aditya, could you please excuse us for a few minutes? Well, I need to ask him a few things related to our college times."
Aditya looked at the calm and beautiful face of his fiancee who is acting skittish for a few seconds and then sighed and said "Okay." Then he pointed toward some seats at one side and said "I will get some snacks and be there. Come after you have finished talking." And then he walked away.
Arushi smiled while seeing her fiance walking toward a server. Then she turned and faced Akash who is standing calmly with both his hands in the pockets of his pant.
She looked at him and asked in a calm voice "Are you here with your wife?"
Akash looked at her expression to find any sign of anger or jealously and after seeing none he nodded and said while pointing toward two girls who are talking and laughing "Yes. See, those two girls. The one in Saree is my wife."
Varsha laughed at something and while laughing she looked toward Akash and found him talking to a girl and pointing toward her. The girl looked very beautiful and it made Varsha feel a bit self-conscious. She smiled toward them and turned back again to talk with Swati.
Arushi also saw Varsha and when she saw the smile of Varsha, she felt like this was the purest smile. She has thought that she won't get affected but now she felt a strange type of irritation. Now she wanted to humiliate that girl somehow.
Arushi again faced Akash. When she turned toward him, she had a different expression on her face and it surprised him. Arushi asked him in an annoyed tone "Did you not accept my proposal because you were already betrothed?
Akash got startled from this question. He did not expect this question to come when he is already married and she is also engaged. He looked at her calmly and said "No, I did not know about that at the time. And later I did not have a reason to say 'No' as well."
"If you would have accepted my proposal, would you be able to break that engagement made by your elders?" Arushi asked again. She did not want to ask such stupid question but she wanted to catch him with some wrong answer to prove him wrong and thus cause misery to that girl who annoyed her. As Akash is a proud person and when proved wrong, he will certainly feel anxious and ashamed.
Akash looked at her and said "Yes, I could have. More than being humble to my elders, I believe in fulfilling my responsibilities. And a promise is a responsibility."
The answer of Akash made Arushi more annoyed as he still looked calm and she could not sense any unease in him while answering her. She felt vexed and asked, "Why did you say 'No' to me?"
Akash saw that Arushi is acting anxious. He thought to clarify her and calm her mind and said "I did not say 'No'. I asked you to wait. I did not want to put anything else on first priority before I attained what I aimed for and that was to prove myself. But before that, you found someone better."
Now the anger of Arushi has truly risen. She looked just irritated outside but inside she is boiling. She pointed toward Varsha and hissed at him "Look at that girl. You left me to get a village girl. That naive and stupid-looking girl. She also is backward by wearing a Saree when this is a business type of party. That girl does not suit you."
Akash truly felt like his patience is being tested now. He never thought Arushi might act this way. His remaining guilt or remorse for the past failed love was gone with her words. He said in a stern voice "You are the fiancee of someone else and I am not so close to you to receive such type of suggestion. Please mind your words.
"We were friends and I know you." Arushi also said in a stoic voice.
"That is the point to be clear about. Those who were my friends and knew me are still my friends. You did not know me. Friends? Please never mention this to anyone again. This feels funny." Akash laughed and said in a mocking tone.
With these words, Akash turned and walked away from Arushi toward Varsha. He wanted to go away from this girl who is acting in such a haughty way and making him uneasy. He also wanted to avoid causing a scene by losing his cool due to her words.
Although Akash and Arushi were discreet their interaction could not be hidden by many prying eyes. Those people could not hear them clearly but they could see their expression and their gesture and by that observation, they could make out many conclusions. One of those looking is the group of Mahat Pawar. Few more people are there who have been paying attention to Akash and Varsha and who they interact with.
Arushi looked at that departing back of Akash and felt angry. Then she looked at Varsha who is talking and laughing mirthfully with another girl and muttered "Village Girl! If I did not show you your place then I am not Arushi Sharma."
Arushi is not the only girl who has made Varsha her enemy. There is one more girl who is looking at Varsha. Then she looked at Akash who is walking toward Varsha. The girl sneered "Because of this village girl his family rejected my family's marriage proposal. She has to face the consequences for that. How can Priyanka Pawar be rejected? I am the one who should have rejected him and not the opposite."
"Haha. Here is the proud girl making plans to make others miserable." Suddenly someone laughed beside her.
Priyanka Pawar looked at her brother Mahat Pawar and then his friends who are tagging with him and said in an annoyed tone "So, do you want to make me your enemy by making fun of me." She has accompanied her brother to the party and her friends are not present so she is with her brother.
Mahat Pawar raised his hand and said in resignation "No, No. We will just watch the fun."
Unaware of all this when Akash reached behind Varsha, Swati raised her head and looked toward him. Varsha followed her gaze and when she saw Akash, a lovely smile bloomed on her face. Akash saw her smile and he felt that all his annoyance and headache from the previous encounter is gone in an instant.