Coldness appeared in her eyes as she looked at the glamorous woman entering inside. A cold murderous aura surrounded her.
Several images of a bride in red bridal attire with sindoor & mangalsutra appeared before her eyes.
Tara dig her nails in her palm under the table, to keep her composure. She reminded herself about the purpose she's here for.
The pain in her hand pulled out of her daze, and the cold aura dissipated slowly.
She looked at the girl from the corner of her eyes, she was looking bold and sexy in her grey coloured designer saree and sleeveless blouse. Men stared at her with eyes full of desire, while women felt envious of her.
Neela felt a chill ran down her spine, she felt a murderous gaze directed at her. But failed to notice the person, shrugging it off, she walked towards the group of ladies with a mesmerizing smile on her face. "Good evening, aunties!"
"Good evening, my love. You're looking as beautiful as ever." Shrija praised the girl wholeheartedly. Neela cast her eyes down shyly listening the praises.
"Where's the couple of the night?" She asked while scanning her eyes around the hall. Her eyes fall on two person and it stopped onto them.
Naina and her friends were closely watching her, they followed her eyes to notice it spotted on Sitara and Kartick, no, only on Kartick.
They shared meaningful glances with each other before talking, "Aaah, they are on the way, and will arrive soon." Nita replied to divert her attention from them.
The girl nod her head with a polite smile, but clenched her fist secretly watching the two together.
Sitara looked at the man sitting beside her from the corner of her eyes to see his expressions.
But what surprised her even more, the guy had his eyes spotted on their tangled hands.
He was looking at the ring dazedly instead of the girl. Sitara felt like dreaming, an idea popped in her mind suddenly.
"Baby, what are you looking at. Look there, Neela dii is here. Just look at her, how beautiful she's looking."
Kartick looked at her excited face and smiled. He felt another pang of guilt in his heart and shook his head.
How stupid he was to not notice how cute & beautiful the girl was. He felt guilt for wasting his time in searching for beauty when he had the most beautiful girl with him.
Determination flashed in his eyes, he clutched her hand tightly promising himself to not let her go ever. "Sitara, for the past several days, I was thinking about something."
Sitara looked at his face which was filled with nervousness while his voice was hesitant.
"What? Why are you so hesitant?" She asked putting her another hand over his hand to show him some support.
Kartick swallowed thickly before talking again, "You know, I want to share something with you. I want to confess something."
Sitara felt uncomfortable in her heart, making a hurtful expression she spoke out, "Do you want to b.. break up, b... by any ch.. chance?"
Kartick snapped his head and looked at her almost crying face, "What nonsense are you talking about? Where did this idea entered inside your mind?" He scolded her harshly.
The girl felt her tears falling down, she shivered in fright listening his angry tone. Kartick sighed helplessly, he rebuked himself for losing his composure.
"Baby, I'm so sorry. I didn't wanted to be rude with you, but how could you think like this. I will never leave you. Never ever! Its a promise."
Sitara just looked at him tearfully, she was elated outside, but inside was utterly puzzled and somehow dumbfounded.
In the one long year she had never seen this much of emotion in his eyes, nor heard this type of words from him and that confused her more.
By reading his expressions and body language, while listening his words, she already had predicted to some extent about what he wants to say.
Now the confusion was, why? Why he suddenly wants to confess? What's the reason of this change of heart?
Her trail of thoughts broke with the sweet voice of a girl. She turned to see Neela was standing before her.
"Good evening, Sitara. Long time no see, how are you?" Neela asked with her honey coated voice while glancing over the man occasionally.
Sitara took a deep breath and opened her eyes before smiling gratefully at her, "Neela dii, I'm fine, how are you?"
She asked her back, "Fine, just a little too busy with work. How are you, Mr. Roy?" She asked Kartick to gain his attention.
Kartick looked at her with stoic expression and nod curtly, "I'm fine, Ms. Sharma." With the curt reply he busied himself with his phone.
Neela felt sharp jealousy in her heart as she watched him holding Sitara's hand carelessly.
The reason why she attended the function was this man, but he's behaving like he doesn't even know her. It seems like aunt was right, I've to do something.
"Neela dii, please sit with us—"
Tara invited the girl to sit which she did, but then Kartick suddenly stopped her, "Baby, don't stop her. I've something important to discuss with you." He looked at the girl who was already looking at him expectantly.
She didn't understood the hidden meaning behind his polite words, "Ms. Sharma, will you please excuse us? I've some private discussion with my girlfriend."
The girl felt stumped, it was like someone had poured a bucket of ice water onto her. Feeling too embarrassed Neela quickly stood up and left without saying anything.
Tara felt too satisfied to see the stunned & embarrassed expression on the girl's face.
She felt like patting Kartick's back in appreciation for the first time.
Kartick was unaware of the girl's inner thoughts, he thought she was upset for his behaviour towards Neela, so he decided to explain. "Baby, I don't want to sound rude, but I'll be assured and relieved if you stay away from that girl. I don't like her."
Sitara felt the urge of laughing out loud, it was hilarious, this guy want her to stay away from the girl. Does he have any idea about how dangerous I'm?!
She opened her mouth to say something, but then her eyes fall on the couple who just walked inside together holding each other's hands and closed her mouth.
She stared at the couple with eyes full of love, her sister was looking very beautiful tonight.
Shanaya & Suhas entered inside garnering attention from everyone. They were looking so beautiful together, Shanaya was looking ethereal in her pastel blue coloured sequined lehenga paired with a sleeveless designer blouse with a sweetheart neckline.
There was a extremely beautiful diamond necklace around her neck, she didn't wore any other accessories. There was diamond bracelet around her right wrist, her hair was curled down freely.
With very little makeup, she was looking absolutely stunning. While Suhas was slaying in his off pastel blue colour three piece suit.
The two straight walked towards their families to meet them before the guests started to walk towards them to wish Suhas a very happy birthday.
He accepted gifts and flowers from the guests with a curt smile. Shanaya just stood beside him with a smiling face, she was truly happy tonight, and that was clearly shown on her face.
Suhas roamed his eyes around the hall to look for someone, but with all the guests gathering them from each side he failed to see anything.
"Happy Birthday, brother-in-law!! Many many happy returns of the day." A sweet voice bloomed in his ears resulting him to turn quickly. Indeed, the person he was searching for, the person whom he waited for the entire day to get one wish has finally wished him.
He accept the bouquet from Sitara with a big grin before shaking hands with Kartick. Sitara hugged her elder sister who was wearing an angry expression on her face.
"Sissy, many many congratulations! Always stay happy." Sitara wished the girl sweetly ignoring her cold shoulder.
"Huuh, do you even have time for me? It's my engagement party, and you are showing your face now. I'm mad at you, and not gonna talk with you." Shanaya mumbled in a childish manner for everyone to smile.
Sitara shook her head helplessly, she already predicted this when the girl didn't received her call in evening.
She was thinking about how she would pacify the girl when she heard someone talking in microphone.
The person were Suhas's parents, "Good evening, ladies & gentlemen for joining us tonight for the celebration.
As you know, it's the 32nd birthday of our son Suhas Maheshwari today, but there's also a very special occasion which we've arranged tonight to make this event much more memorable.
My son is going to get engaged with the daughter of my best friend, Sunil Singhania. Shanaya & Suhas was in a relationship for a long time, so, we decided to get them engaged tonight.
Bless our son and daughter-in-law for their future life, we will start the cake cutting ceremony before the ring ceremony. So everyone please join us."
After the semi-long speech the couple stepped aside for the couple of the night to stand at the centre.
The large rectangular shape chocolate cake arrived before the birthday boy. Shanaya lit the candles with the lighter before everyone started to sing the birthday song.
Suhas blew the candle before cutting the cake, he fed the first piece to his mother, then father and then Shanaya.
He looked at Sitara from the corner of his eyes to watch her talking with Kartick.
He wanted to feed her the first bite, but he cannot even feed her the last bite of his birthday cake. A fire lit up in his heart as he noticed the girl chatting happily with someone else other than him.
He was frustrated with all her happy expression. He want her back in his life as before, but he was unable to do that.
His jaw hardened, as he remembered the night which destroyed his happiness, his relationship and everything.
He felt more hatred for Shanaya, he knew Shanaya was innocent, and she was also a victim that night, but still he made her responsible for everything.
While all these was running in his mind the rings had already arrived. He looked at the platter of the rings and realized that, from tonight all the roads will be closed for him.
After tonight everything will be finished permanently between them, or maybe he already had lost her.