Sixth Update!!!

Mandy entered, dressed in a rose pink lehenga, which was heavily embroidered with dull golden sequins. She noticed the gang standing in one corner and started to walk towards them.

“Hey guys” she smiled at them but got no reply

“Is everything okay?” she asked

“You look…” Jun Pyo said

“I look?”

“Breathtaking” Ji Hoo said in a trance

“Really?” she looked at him with wide eyes

“Yes” he replied and kept starting at her

“Your eyes will fall out” Niya joked and moved next to Mandy, which made Ji Hoo return back to reality.

“You are done already?” Mandy checked Niya’s hands, which were full of motifs drawn with henna.

“Yeah, and it’s already half dry; so you sit down now, so that yours can dry out too” Niya said

“I will, I just have to take care of something” Mandy said and started to walk away from them

“Where are you going?” Niya shouted

“I have to get this party started; my sangeet cannot be this boring” Mandy shouted back and walked towards the idle sitting dhol players. After 2 seconds of that, loud drum beats started to play and the whole function became lively.

“You cannot forget about dance, can you?” Niya smirked at her best friend.

“You know me well” Mandy grinned at her and took her seat with the mehendi artists.

All the people started dancing and Sarabjeet and Harleen dragged the F4 and the G3 to dance with them. Just then Gagan came to sit down next to Mandy.

“Hey” Mandy greeted him

“Hey” Gagan said, surprised. This was the first time he could remember that Mandy had greeted him in a pleasant tone; otherwise it was either always in an irritated or bored tone.

“You look really beautiful” he complimented her “and happy” he added

“I am happy” she smiled at him

“Would I be the reason?” he asked mischievously

“If you want to assume that, you can”

“And she’s back” Gagan said and Mandy giggled

“So, where’s my name?” Gagan asked peeking into Mandy’s hand

“Not here”

“Why?” he demanded

“Not here yet; they have just started” Mandy referred the last part to the mehendi artists.

“Oh”

“So, why are you not dancing?” Mandy nodded towards the dancing crowd

“Wanted to spend time with you instead” he looked at her

“We have the rest of our lives to spend together; go enjoy now” Mandy said

“But…”

“No buts; go!” Mandy forced him

Gagan joined the whole group and Mandy looked at them all and smiled. Mandy was observing from her seat the whole area, when the mehendi artist tried to get her attention.

“Kya hua? (What is it?)” Mandy asked in Hindi

“Dulhe ka naam kisse shuru hota hai? (What’s the starting letter of the groom’s name?)” The mehendi artist inquired

“G” Mandy replied and again started observing the mood around her.

The whole crowd was enjoying when suddenly the dhol players stopped playing and Harleen took the mike.

“Ok, ladies and gentlemen, now it’s time for the competition between the bride and groom’s families” she announced and cheers went through the crowd.

“Competition?” Woo Bin asked Niya

“Yep, singing competition between the two sides”

“And what’s the purpose of it?”

“Everything isn’t supposed to be for a purpose; some things are done just for fun” she answered

“So what are the rules?” he asked further as everyone started to divide into two groups

“That depends from game to game; let’s see what game di has planned” Niya said, diverting her attention to Harleen.

“Ok, so in honour of the bride, we are going to have her favourite singing activity” Harleen announced and Mandy cheered

“Oh no” Jun Pyo groaned but Jan Di made him shut up

“We are going to have a night of karaoke” Harleen said

“Oh, sweet” Woo Bin smiled to himself

Harleen continued “Now the rules are very simple; one person from each team has to come and sing the song that’s gonna come out of the song bowl and no person can come twice”

“Then how will it be a competition?” Someone asked from the crowd

“We will see which side sings the most beautifully”

“And who will be the judge of that?” another asked

“I was just getting to that; the judge will be the an manager of the resort”

“But the resort is owned by your husband” another voice came up

“Exactly” Harleen grinned and left the mike with the DJ, who started to conduct the game.

“So first up we will have some one from the groom’s side…” and the night went on like this. Family members from both sides participated enthusiastically, but Ji Hoo just sat at the corner of the group, looking out into empty space.

He was thinking about the time he had sung at the karaoke bar and the way Mandy had looked at him. That’s why when the DJ asked about who would be the last participant coming from the bride’s side; Ji Hoo stood up and announced “I will”.

“Yay, Ji Hoo” Mandy cheered and the F4 and G3 also supported him.

Ji Hoo took out a piece of paper from the song bowl and smiled at name of the song. He whispered the song to the DJ, and strings of a guitar could be heard

Your hand fits in mine

Like it’s made just for me

Bear this in mind

It was meant to be

And I’m joining all the dots with the freckles on your cheek

And it all makes sense to me

I know you’ve never loved

The crinkles by your eyes

When you smile

You’ve never loved

Your stomach or your thighs

The dimples in your back

At the bottom of your spine

But I love them endlessly

I won’t let these little things slip out of my mouth

But if I do, it’s you

Oh it’s you that they add up to

I’m in love with you

And all these little things

You can’t go to bed

Without a cup of tea

And maybe that’s the reason

That you talk in your sleep

And all those conversations

All the secrets that I keep

Though it makes no sense to me

I know you’ve never loved

The sound of your voice on tape

You never want

To know how much you weigh

You’ll still have to squeeze into your jeans

But you’re perfect to me

I won’t let these little things slip out of my mouth

But if it’s true, it’s you

It’s you, they add up to

I’m in love with you

And all these little things

You’ll never love yourself half as much as I love you

And you never treat yourself right, Darlin

But I want you to

If I let you know

I’m here for you

Maybe you’ll love yourself

Like I love you

I’ve just let these little things

Slip out of my mouth

Coz it’s you, oh it’s you

It’s you they add up to

And I’m in love with you

And all your little things

When Ji Hoo finished, there was a loud applause and he chuckled and left the center area.

“That was really good” people muttered as he sat back in his seat.

“Ok, so I think we have a winning side…” the DJ announced. “And it is the bride’s side” he announced and the whole left side gave out a loud applause and soon dhol also started playing again, and Mandy’s cousins dragged her to dance with them, but after doing a few  dance movements, she excused herself and went to stand near the bonfire. She scoured the whole area, but her eyes seemed to be searching something special. She then sighed and went to her suite.

Mandy’s mehendi had dried out and she was standing in front of the sink, removing the henna with the help of a blunt knife.

“You’re in love with him, aren’t you?” Niya stood on her right and said

“Huh?”

“Ji Hoo, you love him”

“Of course I do, just like I love you” and Mandy turned back towards her room.

“No, you love him more than that” Harleen came into the room too

“What has gotten into you two?” Mandy laughed and said

“You know, you are not a good liar and I know you better than anybody else in the world. I know that you giggle to hide your lies and your voice gets high when you are in denial and I know that you try to laugh and smile deliberately more when you are upset.” Harleen said as she looked straight into her younger sister’s eyes.

“No I don’t” Mandy said defensively

“Yes you do” Niya said

“Ok, but what does that have to do with Ji Hoo?” Mandy asked

“You are not happy with this marriage”

“But that’s because I’m sad that I’d have to leave you all behind” Mandy argued

“No, it’s not because you don’t want to marry; it’s because you don’t want to marry Gagan, coz you have someone else in your heart”

“The person I want to marry is the one whose name is etched on my hand” Mandy said and showed the palm of her hand to Niya and Harleen.

They both smiled

“What’s so funny?” Mandy asked

“Have you looked closely at your hand?” Niya asked

“No, why?” Mandy asked confused

“Even your subconscious knows it, but you don’t” Harleen smirked

Mandy was confused about their behavior and looked at the palm of her left hand, which made her eyes go wide.

I told you all so right! Everything just takes its sweet time to happen

2 more chapters left and then the story is over

stay tuned