‘That’s why I told Dhruv to go to hell this morning when he tried to rope me into playing hostess for this circus,’ Meera said smugly.
‘Oh, you should’ve seen his face,’ Kashvi said, sighing in dramatic satisfaction.
Siya’s head jerked toward Meera. She asked, her voice tight with disbelief. ‘Wait… he asked you to host today? I’d specifically told him to leave my friends out of it. It’s like he goes out of his way to go against what I say.’
‘Your dad sent him,’ Meera said, shaking her head. ‘He asked all of us. He even offered to pay us, but none of us agreed to stage-produce their version of a happy family, especially not when it’s being forced on our girl.’
Siya offered her a grateful smile. ‘So, who is she?’
‘Aarti Jha, a hired actress. Dhruv brought her in before people started showing up. Your father’s opinion is that an event manager might have felt transactional, so he wanted someone who’d act like your friend to add a personal touch to the evening. They’re lucky that none of us are hosting. I know Luv would turn it into a roast night for the Kashyaps.’
Siya said, ‘Thank you for being here.’
Meera lightly bumped her shoulder and warned, ‘Don’t thank me yet. We still have to survive the cringy and cliché games she’s about to announce.’
As if on cue, Aarti clapped loudly, quickly drawing everyone’s attention. She declared with a flourish, ‘Okayeveryone, it’s time to add some desi tadka to this mehendi night and play some games!’
The men across from them groaned, but the guests cheered as they shifted closer.
‘So, we’re kicking things off with a classic coin toss, because obviously, what’s a good war without fate marking the first move?’ Aarti announced, twirling a strand of her hair around her finger to appear demure, but her shrill voice grated on Siya’s nerves.
‘She’s horrible,’ Kashvi muttered, leaning onto Siya’s shoulder since her mehendi was done.
‘And I swear, if she touches me again, I’m slapping her with my wet mehendi hand,’ Siya vowed.
‘Now there’s the bridezilla energy I’ve been waiting for,’ Kashvi teased her.
Her huge jhumkas bumped against her cheek as she whirled around and pointed toward Siya.
‘Whichever team wins the toss gets to assign fun and humiliating little tasks to the opposite team. So, who is your coin-tosser, Dulhaniya ki toli?’ she asked, building suspense.
‘Kashvi!’ Meera immediately yelled, pushing Kashvi’s shoulder lightly.
‘Go, go. I could use a win today,’ Siya encouraged her.
Kashvi rolled her eyes but stood and walked barefoot to where Aarti stood. Across from them, Swayam stretched with an exaggerated sigh and rolled back his shoulders. With that easy, cocky confidence that somehow never came off as obnoxious,he came up to Kashvi, close enough until the tips of her toes brushed his shoes.
His close proximity and the warmth seeping off his body made Kashvi take a step back. She barely smothered the urge to fan herself. Swayam noticed her nerves, so he teased in a low voice, ‘Try not to get distracted by me, Kash.’
‘Oh, I plan to win, but I must say victory will taste even sweeter once I beat you,’ Kashvi warned him with a scathing smile.
‘Heads or tails, Kashvi?’ Aarti asked, dangling the coin on her thumbnail, ready to toss it in the air.
‘Heads,’ Kashvi answered, not taking her eyes off Swayam, who watched her with an amused smile playing on his lips.
The coin flicked into the air, gleaming as it spun, and tumbled down to land neatly on the floor. ‘Heads, it is!’ Aarti exclaimed. ‘Looks like the bride’s army gets to decide how much trouble they want to give the groom and his gang.’
Kashvi raised her hand in mock victory as Swayam let out a long, suffering sigh. Guests clapped and cheered as Kashvi returned to her sister’s side, and high-fived Meera.
‘So the bride’s team gets the first pick. Meera, you get to choose and put one groomsman at a disadvantage. Let’s see who’s your victim.’
‘Okay, okay. I choose… Luv!’ Meera said, drawing out the words.
Luv stood and gave a dramatic bow. ‘I’m honoured, Mihu. Do your worst. I’m all yours.’
‘You have to walk up to any woman in this room, and hold a full, polite, perfectly innocent conversation without flirting. You’ve got two minutes, Romeo.’ Meera said.
Gasps and laughter erupted immediately, especially when Swayam declared the challenge impossible.
