Read A Perfect Mismatch for Free Online Page B

after loud shrieks of enthusiasm, teary hugs and much talking about female solidarity, they dragged Zara to a classy lingerie shop for ‘girls alone’ shopping.
    Armaan’s contemptuous comment on her dressing sense had irked her. Now she wondered why she dressed in drab clothes at all. It was partly due to a lack of interest in fashion and partly to hide the deep-seated insecurities about her body, she acknowledged. She was quite rounded, she thought morosely, looking critically at herself in the mirror. She was relieved that the marriage was not real as she would never have been able to match up with someone as good-looking as her future husband.
    “Admiring yourself in the mirror?”
    Zara raised troubled eyes and met Bani’s dark onesglittering with malice. Not wanting to start the day with another battle with her cousin, she turned towards the bathroom.
    Bani moved swiftly to block her way. “What did you do to him, you slut? Just a few days back, he was all mine. We were lovers and suddenly he wants to marry a nobody like you?”
    Her spiteful words managed to disturb Zara deeply though she maintained a calm exterior. Why had Armaan not told her this? She was angry that he had such little respect for the women in his life. Perhaps the only one he did care about was his mother.
    “Look, Bani,” she said pasting a smile on her face, “whatever questions you have about this issue should be addressed to Armaan. He never mentioned it and I do not care! Maybe he was through with you and wanted a pleasant change!”
    “You can laugh for all I care,” sneered Bani, “Don’t ever be under the misconception that it would change anything between Armaan and me. You don’t have it in you to keep any man, let alone a man like Armaan! He is probably regretting all this at this very moment. If it were not for his stupid mother, none of this would have happened! Enjoy it while it lasts!”
    “I most certainly will!” said Zara with a flippancy she was far from feeling.
    White with fury, Bani stormed out of the room. She would not allow her shallow cousin to ruin her day, thought Zara, calming herself. She went in for a bath and cameout feeling a little better … only to find that her day was completely ruined!
    On the bed lay her lovely dress as she had left it. The only difference was the large wet, black patch in the centre of the
lehenga
and
choli
! With something almost akin to murderous rage, she touched the patch with her fingers. The ink dyed her hennaed hands and she almost cried out in pain at the sacrilege. Of course she knew who had done this!
    Zara had half a mind to challenge Bani right then! However, she knew enough about her aunt’s tendency to be unfairly partial. It would be a waste of time and energy. She could hear the laughter and chatter of the guests downstairs, the song and dance among the women, as she stood without a clue about how to solve the problem without killing Bani.
    No one would believe her! There was no solution, she had nothing appropriate enough to wear at such short notice. The other dresses were still at the boutique and the blouses for the brand new saris were yet to be stitched. Since she had shifted to her own apartment, there were hardly any dresses left here at her aunt’s residence. Not that it would have helped as her wardrobe consisted only of a few plain silk saris in grey and mauve and other sober shades, with comfortable blouses. She flung open her old cupboard to inspect the items she had left behind. The
salwar kameezes
though relatively new appeared suddenly unsuitable for anything but casual wear. She slumped down on the floor hovering on the brink of a deluge.
    She jumped up gritting her teeth and looked through her wardrobe once more in despair. Her eyes alighted on a little gleam of screaming orange colour tucked away at the back. She pulled it out grimacing, wondering if she was demented enough to attempt it.
    The orange blast-in-your-face attire was a gift from