Balwant and Tapish were laughing loudly. Many others in the attendance found the situation funny but the others did not have the audacity to laugh loudly at 'the Veeranshu Singhania'. The powerful cheel prince, who was currently getting laughed at, felt helpless. He rolled his eyes and his sleeves, trying his level best to pull his heavily pregnant wife off the dance floor at Poyuri wedding.

B: Aye boring singhania! Let me dance...meri bff ki shaadi hai!!!!...aur mere devar ki bhi....double khushi me dance to banta hi hai...

V: Sweetheart, please...tum please careful raho...chalo na corner me ...wahan baith kr dance kr lena..yahan dhakka lg skta hai..

B: Baith ke dance, vo bhi akele...?!?!....tumhara dimag thik hai na? Usme koi maza nahi hai..

Veer was sick with worry while Rehan was staring at his parents. He was really worried about Bani too. His cousins were dancing with the newlywed couple but he was too worried to join in.

R: Mumma, please...aise mt kro na...aapko chot lg skti hai...yrr Veeru smjha na!!

V: To mai kya encourage kr raha hoon? Mai bhi toh mana hi kr raha hoon...

R: Aap toh Cheel Rajkumar hoo na..???...itni bhi nahi chalti aapki...

V: Rehan chup kr tu...ye baat na mai tujhse poochunga...tu bada ho pehle..

A: Arey bhaiya....Rehan, aap dono argue krte raho, waha bhabhi table pr chadne ki koshish kr rahi hai...

V: THAT'S IT!!!

Veer marched off to where Bani was dancing and grabbed her, pulling her in his arms, he turned to leave.

V: Saale Ponky!!!!

B: (smacks his head) shhh....aisi language mt bolo, baby sun lega to kya asar padega...

V: Uff...Ponky JI!!!!!....thoda ruk nahi skta tha shaadi ke liye?!...

P: B-Bh-Bhai vo...

V: Chup!...aur tum!! Meri Naagin, kitni careless ho tum...language ka dhyan hai, aur ye jo tum dance kr rahi ho, vo samaj nahi ata ki dhakka lg skta hai...

Veer took Bani to his room. The others laughed at the two as they left and continued with the celebration. Ponky and Mayuri had finally married. Tapish and Meera soon left as Tara was getting fussy, the little girl couldn't stay awake in the loud music longer. Daksh and Amna stayed back till Darsh and Rehan wanted to. Once the boys got tired, they too excused themselves but Balwant offered to take care of the boys so that the couples could enjoy. After all, it was a night of celebration.

..............Meanwhile................

Veer was angry at Bani. The moment they reached the room, he became really quite. Bani was ranting that he did not let her have fun but he kept very quite. He helped her out of her heavy wedding finery and change into comfortable maxi. Soon, Bani realized that she was the only one talking. Her hormones were all time high at the wedding but now that she was slowly calming down, she realized she had behaved recklessly.

B: Sorry Veeranshu!! Pta nahi mujhe...

V: Haan haan...pta hai kya kahogi, blame the hormones...but gharwali dhyan rakhna hota hai..

B: Sorry na..

V: Whatever..

Bani pouted sadly and Veer turned his face away. He knew if he looked at her, he'd melt.

B: Kro ignore, mai bhi baat nahi krungi... (shows tongue)

....2 minutes later....

B: Veer-...dekho na..

V: (ignores)

B: Ve---ah!!!

V: (ignores)

B: Ouch!!!

V: Ye sb acting mt kro..

B: Acting nahi kr rahi...ah!!! my water broke!!!

V: WHAT?!!

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

Bani was rushed to the hospital late at night. The doctor checked and confirmed that Bani was not diluted enough. This is when Veer informed everyone at home regarding this. He had actually flown Bani there. Everyone was angry at him but they understood that he rushed in a state of panic. After all, this was his first time. He did not live these moments with Rehan.

By the time, the news came, Poyuri had already left for the honeymoon. Daksh and Amna stayed back home for the kids who were asleep and Balwant rushed to the hospital with Tapish and Meera. A while later, Ritu and Mahesh also reached the hospital.

R: Bhaisaab, Bani kaisi hai???

Ba: Abhi to labour me hi hai, Veer hai uske saath..

T: Ye Veer bhi na, normal logon ki tarah bata kr nahi laa skta tha, beech raat me akele le gya..

Tapish wanted to say that he flew her here but he edited his words knowing Ritu and Mahesh were unaware humans.

Ba: Tu vo sb chor, subah Rehan ko pta lagega na tb sbki class lagegi...

Tapish gulped and nodded.

T: Usse utha dete hai...

M: Tapish!! Sb bacche bohot thak gaye hai..

T: Lekin tum Rehan ko to jaanti hi ho...

While Tapish and Meera were discussing whether Rehan should be informed and bought to the hospital, a nurse ran out of the ward. Soon, a doctor rushed to the ward followed by the same nurse. Upon Balwant's enquiry, they were informed that it was time. Singhanias were going to see a new addition into their family soon.

....Lots of pushing, sweat and screams later.....

Veeranshu Singhanias looked at Bani. He could only make out the outline of her body through his glassy eyes. He smiled and closed his eyes, feeling every emotion that was running through him like the tears on his face. He was now a father to a beautiful daughter. The bundle of joy, starring at him with doe-like eyes, was quite in his arms. Veer had never held his own baby like this, or been a part of his child's birth. He loved Rehan and Bani but the protectiveness that washed over him as soon as he held his daughter surprised him too. It is a feeling he can talk about for hours and still not explain. He just looked at his tired wife and pecked her head. Bani gave him a smile despite the visible fatigue and slowly gave into darkness.

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

The private ward was full with tons of balloons and packed with people when Bani opened her eyes again. Veeranshu was sitting next to her with their baby girl in his arms. Rehan and Darsh were standing next to him, looking at their sister with big eyes. Balwant was there with Ritu and Mahesh.

Ba: Bani beta! Kaisi ho tum?

B: Thik hoon Daddy ji..

Ba: Accha hai tumhe hosh aa gaya, ab ye Veer se meri grand-daughter ko mujhe dene bolo, kissi ko bhi hold nahi krne de raha..

B: Veeranshu?

V: Arey! Look how small she is! Kissi ne dhang se nahi pakda toh??

B: Veer! Accha mujhe do...

V: Tum aram se utha logi na?

Bani raised her eye brow.

B: Ek baby already paal chuki hoon mai...

Ba: aur mai do! Tu jaakr Bani ke discharge ki tayari kr, sb ghar me wait kr rahe hai...

Veer cautiously gave his baby girl to Bani and Balwant smiled as he looked at the new baby of the family. Bani was overcome with joy.

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

The entire mansion was lit like it was diwali. The cheel and nag realms roared up in celebration. As long as Bani could go and see, she only saw festive decorations and joyous celebration. Veeranshu had gone overboard if you asked her but he knew her man in love. He was always like this, all in and he did love the little girl- with everything in him. The celebrations lasted weeks! Much to everyone's surprise. They thought Veer would go grand but didn't know he would celebrate for so long but his joy was infectious and paired up with his carbon copy son- it was a force none could parallel.

As for Bani, she had never felt more complete. Her family with the man she loved! She smiled with content as she saw her daughter sleeping atop Veer's chest. His big hands cupping the small child carefully. She got up and gently placed the comforter on them. Kissing her forehead and lightly pecking his lips, she whispered-

B: I love you!

She left the room and checked on Rehan who was sleeping soundly- tired after a day of school and playing with his sister. She ruffled his hair with love and left the room. She walked back towards her room. As she walked, she took in the large frames on the wall that captured their life. A life Nageshwari couldn't have, a life she was scared she'll never have and a life she would not have had if she did not take risks with her heart. Her mind always saw Veer as the enemy. She wondered if she knew better in Satyug, would her story be any different? She chose to leave that thought there- with the guilt that never left- of her hurting the man who loved her truly in both eras. She failed to see in satyug and she almost lost it all in kalyug too.

Thanking her bholenath for giving her the second chance at it all and for letting her write her tale again. It might not be textbook perfect but she was- Perfectly Happy!

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

Fin

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

A glimpse into the future:-

As Bani feared and predicted- Veer and Rehan's protectiveness grew with Vani's age. Yes! They name her Vani. Honestly- do you think a name more apt for a symbol of VAni's love? Veeranshu Singhania- the passionate lover, a man with emotions so raw never knew anything other than giving his all to people he loved. His life was not his. It wasn't intangible and roamed in physical forms- as his wife & kids and he always spent every waking hour making sure they were cared for and happy.

Yes, they had all kinds of days but they sailed through all. Vani lived a long happy life leading the realms and when the time came; their son Rehan- an extraordinary cheel with nag powers took control of the cheel realm while Bani's daughter took charge of the nag mandir and duties of adi naagin. Vani remained important in those realms for who could forget them but it was something else that went down in history- their extraordinary, everlasting love story- from foes to a forever- Life and beyond.

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

Thank you for your patience and love! This book is officially closed.

(Unedited draft: Feel free to point out the errors)

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

I had a few plot ideas but I don't think I'd write them down. I thought I'd pause and write it when I am in the head space but it has been so long and I haven't found the will yet so I'll be posting my rough plots on TOV (Tales of Vani ) soon. It will be available on my profile and anyone willing to progress them into stories or simply read it as food for thought may do so.

Loads of love

xxx