Veer takes Bani to his room. Both were lost in each other. He didn't care that she was all muddy and was staining his clean clothes. To him, she was still the most beautiful woman in existence, even when caked in mud.

He took her into his bathroom and placed her on the bathtub.

V: let's get you cleaned before it dries up, okay?

B: sorry..vo-

V: shh...first clean up okay..

He was leaving when Bani called his name.

B: pr mai pehnungi kya Veeranshu? I don't have any clothes.

V: mai maa ko bol deta hoon..

Veer told his mother about this and took his clothes. He headed towards the guest room. On his way, Ponky stopped him.

P: bhai...Bani ki koi galti nahi thi..vo-

V: Ponky? Do you think I need an explanation?

P: vo bhi hai..

Veer winked and left to get cleaned up himself.

.................................

In a dark room, an old man was getting tortured. He had chains on his feet. Another man had his hair in a fist. He kept trying to drown the old man in barrel and would take him out right before he ran out of oxygen.

OM: kyu ..cough* cough*..kyu kr rahe ho aise?...maar hi do cough* isse toh?

M: usse mera kya faida hoga?...mujhe sirf mere ek sawal ka jawab chahiye..

................................

Veer entered his room and was taken aback. Bani was sitting in a simple, pink saree and wiping her hair. She tied it in a towel and turned.

She saw Veer and gave him a guilty smile. Veer was far too gone to notice her expressions. It was the first time he had seen Bani in these clothes and to be honest, this was giving him wifey vibes. He could think of them, living together in this room. She would get ready in the morning and he would ogle her from the bed. He couldn't imagine that if Bani could look this pretty in a borrowed saree and over-sized blouse, how pretty ahe would look in just attires that she would own.

B: Veeranshu?! Kahan kho gaye..

V: hun? Kahin nahi..

B: sorry Veer..meri wajah se itni-

V: hold up sweetheart! Don't fret. Mai gussa nahi hoon...infact mujhe to bohot maza aya...kya panja maara...meow!..uff meri jungle billi!

B: Veer!..

Bani blushed and looks away. Veer's eyes fall on her bare back as her hair was in the towel and the blouse was deep. He noticed the small wound.

V: gussa mujhe sirf ek baat ka hai..

B: maine sb gandagi krdi isliye na..so-

V: you hurt yourself sweetheart.

B: what?

V: your back..aao..

Veer tried to touch her back but Bani stepped away, unsure and shy.

V: kitna sharmati ho..accha ek kaam karo...yahan aao...udhr mirror me..tum mujhe dekho , mai tumhe dekhunga and trust me, mai kahin aur nahi dekh paunga..

Bani looked at Veer and they got lost in each others' eyes. Veer applied the ointment while lost in her deep orbs.

....................................

The old man struggled to breathe.

OM: batata hoon..sb batata hoon..jo poochna hai poocho...bs mujhe jaane do...akhir mera kasoor kya hai?

M: Kasoor ye hai ki tu ek cheel hai...chal apne rajkumar ka naam bata...

OM: tumhe kyu jaana hai..

M: jitna poocha hai, utna hi bol!

He began to torture more and more.

M: saale buddhe...tu nahi tootega...ruk teri granddaughter kahan hai...usse bhi maine yahin band rakha hai..

OM: nahi..usse chor do..

M: toh bol!

OM: V-Veeranshu Singhania..vo hai humare Rajkumar..

M: Iske janm ke time Gandhak wapis aya tha na...BOL!

OM: h-h-haann..

The man smirked and messaged his boss.

............................

Ch: bachoon aa jao lunch kr lo..I know tum lunch pr bahar jaane wale they pr ab it is not possible...and Bani maine tumhare kapde dhulwa diye hai..drier me se aa jayenge toh zyada time nahi lagega sukhne me...I know ye saari old fashioned hai and blouse bhi tumhare size ka nahi hai...you must be uncomfortable, specially because you don't wear such clothes.

B: thank you aunty..and koi issue nahi hai..it is still comfortable and agr aap nahi hoti aur mujhe ye saari nahi dete to mai kya pehenti? Veeranshu ki shirt?

Bani joked and they laughed. Veer gulped as a picture of Bani in just his shirt flashed before his eyes. He tried to chase the thoughts away.

Ch: phir bhi...ghar jaane ke time you won't feel comfortable...tumhare clothes ready ho jayenge...tb tk?...(thinks) Veer tu kahin bahar mt jaana..keep her company okay?

V: Yes mom!..I mean okay sure..kr lunga

They had lunch. Chandrakala and Bani engaged in small talks. She liked Bani and also observed how Veer stole glances at her.

Ch: (thinks: lg gayi Lanka!...ab to ek saath hi saare gehne double banwa leti hoon...Tapish ne toh ek saal lagaya tha pr ye Veer ka kya bharosa, ek hafte me hi bolde shaadi krni hai)

Post lunch, Vani entered Veer's room. Bani was slightly uncomfortable in that saree so she adjusted herself in a comfortable position on the couch. Veer gulped as it put her smooth stomach on display.

V: thinks- this little temptress! ...kitna control kre koi!

Vani engaged in small talks about their aspirations and hobbies. It is said that time runs faster when you are having fun. Same happened to Vani. They didn't realize when hours went by like minutes. Bani changed into her old clothes and Veer dropped her home.

.....................................

Jai smirked. Mandakini, who had bought him juice was confused on seeing his expressions.

M: kya hua beta?

J: mil gaya...cheel rajkumar kon hai, mil gaya..

M: kon?...

J: Mera business rival...Veeranshu Singhania...mujhe pehle hi samaj jaana chahiye tha...usse meri kabhi nahi banti...I hated his guts the moment I saw him. Aaj samaj aya ki vo itna kyu khatakta tha..

M: pr tune dhooda kaise? He is also a powerful cheel prince, uski bhi koi scent nahi hoti..

J: easy Masi...ek cheel se uske rajkumar ka naam poocha...aur Gandhak kiske pass hai ye poocha...I knew ki vo Akesh ka hi roop hoga...Veer!...ab uske ass pass agar koi female hai to uska pata lagana hai...wohi hogi adi naagin!..

Jai laughs!

M: plan to accha hai Jai..

J: plan kiska hai...vo party wali ho skti hai...ya phir maine suna tha Veer ek saal se apni school friend ko date kr raha tha...abhi unka status to nahi pata...but pata chal jayega..haha! ..

................................

Ritu was chasing Mayank around the dining table.

R: itna bada ho gaya hai pr harqt bilkul bachoon wali hai..beshrm...khana kha le..

Mayank: kuch accha banaogi, uss din kha lunga...abhi kuch bahar se order krne do..

R: haw...ruk..

Her phone rang and she huffed. She picked her phone.

R: (on call) hello?...oh Namaste samdhan ji...kaise ho.....haan ...haan...nahi nahi, vo bohot late hai....haan ...nahi nahi aap log ho to ho hi jayega...accha?...okay..

R: Bhabhi...apnse baat krni hai..Chandrakala ji hai..

Bhawna picked the phone and spoke for a while. Her expression was slightly shocked at first but later betrayed nothing, Bhawna skillfully maintained a poker face. Post the call, Ritu asked what she said but Bhawna changed the topic.

R: accha lekin meri jo baat hui hai...uske hisab se aab hume jldi jldi haath chalana hoga kyunki Meera ki shaadi chaar din baad hai...parson se functions shuru hai!

Mahesh: itna jaldi!?

R: haan..aaj kundli dikhayi thi unhone unke panditji ko...unhone kaha ki ya toh chaar din baad wrna do saal tk koi mahurat nahi hai..

Manoj: nahi utna late bhi nahi...chaar din baad hi thik hai...pr after dinner sb baithte hai...work divide krna hoga taaki saara kaam acche se ho jaye..

Bani and Mayank: aye aye captain.

They had dinner after which the family jumped into the planning of Tara's wedding.

..................................

I am not going to write wedding rituals in great detail. I literally have a whole book dedicated to that topic only so this book will not have wedding scenes in great details.

Thanks! Love loads- xoxo