Disclaimer : All the characters written below are imaginary and a work of pure fiction. There is no resemblance to any incident or situation and is written as work of fiction.

The wedding got over and throughout all the rituals Mishti has avoided him and not given a single chance to even talk to her. Now that the wedding was over , he went and sat near the pool of the resort. His Taani will leave him and he didn't know how to deal with this. He knew there could be nobody better for Taani than Aman. He was his best friend and Ritwik knew him too well.

He looked around to see the poolside completely empty. It was at the back side of the venue and everyone was enjoying their time after wedding or were having dinner. He kept his elbows rested on his knees and covered his face and felt his tears. He cannot love without Taani. The house won't be the same anymore. Nothing will be the same anymore.

Mishti had seen him quiet today. She had avoided him all the while but he was not like he usually stays. And when he had slowly slipped out of the crowd , she had noticed that as well.

She followed him to see him sitting on the recliner of the poolside. She knew that he was crying. She went and sat on the recliner beside him.

"sir...." she said slowly and kept a bottle of water beside him.

He wiped his face and looked ahead. He picked the water and had a sip.

"thanks...." he muttered.

"are you upset about Taani?" she asked slowly.

"she'll leave...." he said with a broken voice.

"she is just getting married....she will still be your sister....nobody can take that relationship away from you two...." she said softly.

"but she won't be staying at home nuh?" he looked at her , his eyes brimming with tears.

"why not?she will be coming every now and then....that is her home as well....it will always be...." she said immediately.

"but she won't be staying there everyday....she won't be coming to wake me up....she won't be going to jog with me in the garden....she won't be fighting with me for sitting beside mumma during dinner....i won't be checking on her if she has covered herself with blanket at night....you know she doesn't cover herself with the blanket in AC....and then she gets cough and cold....she is so clumsy....she keeps falling here and there...." he said urgently.

"sir....sir please calm down...." she held his hands. "i know how you are feeling....it is sad that we girls have to leave our home....even if we don't , we are made to feel that with vidai...." she said slowly. "you cannot break down....think about choti maa and uncle....they will be heart broken....Taani will be heart broken....can you imagine her situation?she must be so nervous to actually start a new life where she will have to shift to another home and stay with new parents and Aman....if she sees you like this....you think she will be fine?you have to be her strength...."

He had tears flowing down his cheeks again.

"sir please...." she said slowly and wiped his tears. "please don't cry...."

"you know after we left for Mumbai Taani was born....and i habituated myself to be with her as her best friend more than a brother....you were not there nuh laddoo...." he smiled with tears.

She smiled softly and looked down.

"laddoo you know i used to give Taani all my chocolates like i used to give you....make her win in all the games....like i did with you...." he said softly.

"and pull her pony?like you did to me?" she asked chuckling.

He nodded laughing.

"and hide her shoes...." he added as their laughter got louder.

"sir you remember once you put paint on my school uniform?and choti maa made you sit in the garage?" she laughed and he nodded. "and my mom took you to our house and scolded choti maa....my mom always took your side like choti maa took mine...."

"nothing has changed....your choti maa is still on your side...." he rolled his eyes.

"jealous...." she made a face and laughed.

"laddoo?" he looked at her lovingly.

"hmmm?" she asked looking at him.

"thanks...." he said softly.

"anytime...." she said softly.

"will you marry me?" he asked out of the blue.

"huh?" she looked at him shocked.

"will you marry me?" he took out a box from the pocket of his sherwani. "i went and got it in the morning...." he said slowly. "i know you are avoiding me intentionally....i don't know why....i just wanna assure you that i love you and will always love you....our moms will handle everything and our papas will let their egos go for us i know....because papa loves uncle even now....i assure you to love your parents the same way i love my parents....to respect you and them....i will love you more than the previous day , everyday....will share all our happiness and sadness....i will make you feel loved everyday....we had to meet laddoo....we are soulmates....i will love you with my soul...." he said looking into her eyes , with passion burning in his eyes.

"you will miss Taani so you need a replacement right sir?" she asked frowning.

"she is my sister you idiot....i want you to be my wife....not sister....and this is what you have to say after what i just told you?and can you stop calling me sir....i will break something i swear....it irritates the shit out of me...." he said in irritation.

"how dare you call me an idiot?" she asked angrily.

"can you please concentrate on the important parts laddoo?" he scolded her.

"calling me an idiot is the most important thing for me okay sir?" she got up angrily.

"i just proposed to you...." he said getting up and said unbelievably.

"i know...." she took the box from his hand. "thanks sir....see you at dinner...." she said and walked away.

He looked at her walking away.

"unbelievable...." he kept looking at her retreating figure with widened eyes. She was impossible.

He didn't know what to do when it concerned her. How to react. She was out of syllabus.