''I am going to Radhika's house right away. You come in the evening.'' Sam instructed Neil as he walked back into his house. The view opposite to his eyes made him smile. His nieces squealed playing among themselves as Prerna and Nandini chatted.

Neil dumped his bag in the corner, squatting down he came to their level, ''Hello to you two.''

Prerna smiled watching her son playing with two dolls. ''How come they are here early morning.'' He asked Nandini , a little surprised

''Their parents are at each others throat, I decided to leave them with Prerna and then handle those two. '' Nandini replied. Turning to Prerna she handed her a bag, ''Its their stuff and food. I will pick them in the evening.''

Prerna smiled, ''No worries. I am glad I have them all to myself.'' Nandini took her leave after giving the two babies a loving glance. She knew that girls were very friendly and wouldn't bother anyone.

Prerna watched as Neil got lost in two girls, ''They bring luck.'' Prerna said

''How so?'' Prerna's words surprised him

''If not for them, Radhika wouldn't have come back to Arjun . I wouldn't have met my family after years and you wouldn't be smiling in my presence.'' Neil froze. He picked the girls  up and sat next to his mother, placing Anya on her lap ''I am sorry.'' The three words were enough to break all the walls between them

''I am sorry too. I made your life hell.'' Prerna apologised. Neil smiled , he kept his head on her shoulder which Anya didn't like. She had already claimed Prerna's lap and screamed on Neil for trying to claim her granny. They laughed, ''Fine, I am off. What about you, do you love your mamu.''

Anusha blinked at Neil and then giggled throwing her arms on him. He felt overwhelmed, ''I don't want them to grow up.''

''They are almost 8 months. Few more to go for one. '' Prerna added pecking Anya. After a moment of silence she asked, ''Will Sam forgive me?''

''she was never angry. On the contrary, she wanted to know if you would be able to forgive her.'' Prerna smiled, ''I will reach out to her. I got too possessive about you. '' Anya made her presence known, her fist in her mouth, ''She is just like Radhika, ever ready to fight.'' Neil pinched her nose which earned him a beautiful giggle. Prerna decided to make  something for the girls as Neil had described Radhika's pathetic choice of baby food adding lot of spices to Arjun's story.

***

''Arjun, for once understand Radhika's point of view. All she wanted was to end Nandini di's loneliness. '' Sam reasoned

''Nandu is not alone. She has me, us.''

Sam huffed, ''You had Nandini di when Radhika left you. Weren't you lonely?'' Sam's words had hit the mark. Arjun didn't respond but the angry lines over his face didn't change.  Sam huffed, ''Think of it Arjun, like all of us Nandini di might also have had some dreams which were shattered by fate and my dad. When life is giving her a second chance, why the hell you are acting as a bone.''

He still didn't answer. Sam decided to give him some time to let her words sink in. Sam decided to meet Radhika before leaving. Her dear Chashni had doubled in size due to anger.

Sam smiled and hugged Radhika from behind, ''Give him time.''

''That's what I have been giving him from the beginning, time. What hurt me was that he thinks I am trying to get rid of Di. Please explain him that if given a chance, I would marry di and not him.'' Radhika's words made Sam laugh.

''Where are my darlings?''

''With Prerna aunty.'' Sam pulled Radhika's cheeks to make her smile. ''Call me if you need anything.''

***

Radhika walked back into her room with frown on her face. She gave Arjun one glance, made a face  at him and got busy arranging her already set wardrobe.''

Arjun shook his head, he tried to void but she made sure she made enough noise for him to react, ''what are trying to do?''

''None of your business.''

''Radhika , why are you messing it up when its perfectly arranged.'' He questioned

She made a quick turn and stood opposite to him with her arms crossed over her chest, ''That's the problem. You feel its perfectly arranged like your brain, in reality its messed up.''

Arjun kept his laptop aside, he was aware she was looking to pick up a fight and wouldn't stop until she had vented out her anger. ''You can now start.''

''WHat am I ? Some kind of machine or a motor that I should start. I have had enough of your nonsense and broodiness. Do you think that straight poker face of yours makes you look handsome? No, it makes you look like  a boiled egg . If show that broody face to some director , they will cast you as a ghost in a movie. '' She took a breather glaring at him.

Arjun's confidence had just taken a nose dive. He had never been thrashed so bad on his looks but today he felt that he had been dropped from the league of gods.

''I am not that bad. Girls wold still do anything for my one look.'' He tried to boost his confidence

Radhika smiled, ''Which girls? Where are they? Please let me meet them and they would leave the idea of looking at any guy, let alone you.''

''There are no girls , I was just giving an example .''

''How can you give an irrelevant example?''

Arjun knelt joining his palms, ''Please forgive me. Never again I am going to pick a fight with you. I promise.'' Radhika smirked walking away as Arjun sat with his head in his palms. 'I wish one one of my daughters in like me. If both are like her , I am dead.''

***

Radhika stepped into Nandini's room a little nervous. Nandini got to know reason for her and Arjun's fight when her girls woke up hearing their parents screaming. She had then taken the babies with her without giving couple a single glance.

''Are you annoyed with me Di?'' Radhika asked in a nervous voice.

Nandini looked through her reading glasses, keeping her book aside. She took off her glasses asking Radhika to take a seat.

''What made you think that I would want to marry Rajiv?''

''You look happy around him and he loves you. Its quite visible.'' Radhika replied , her eyes on the earth.

''When did you start match making business? And tell me, do you want me leave this house? If yes, I will move into the apartment.''

''Arjun deserves to be your brother. Why would I want you to move out. On the contrary,  I was thinking about bringing Rajiv in. He is alone and is in a rented accommodation. We can fit him in some corner.''

Nandini tried to hide her smile, ''Why would he move in?''

''If he  doesn't then he is out of the picture.'' Radhika's convenient answer made Nandini laugh. She moved closer to Radhika, ''I know you care and I know you read my pain but I don't want to hurt Arjun.''

Radhika took her hands in to hers, ''Di, you have done enough. I want you to b happy and it would be so nice to have one more helping hand with my daughters.'' 

Nandini huffed, ''I do like him. After years, even I wanted to dream but then I was worried about Arjun.''

''Leave him on me. I will make his ear bleed.'' Radhika replied confident. Nandini hugged her, ''You are the right one for him. Since everything is settled, get my babies home.''

Radhika turned quiet, ''Di, we got not calls from Neil or Prerna aunty that means those minions didn't miss me at all.'' Nandini laughed louder, ''I hope, they both grow up to b like you.''

Arjun who stood at the door shook his head, 'And I would sink into depression.'

***

It was late evening when Arjun-Radhika decided to pick their daughters up. To their surprise, they were welcomed with Neil playing guitar and their daughters squealing all excited.

''WOW! They didn't miss us.'' Arjun concluded. Prerna smiled, ''Because they met their granny and mamu after so long.''

Neil greeted the couple with a smile, ''They love music and I am going to teach them.''

''We will see that after you have your own.'' Radhika teased. Arjun extended his arms towards Anya in Prerna's arms. She blinked once before turning her face away. 

''This one is turning extra smart.'' Arjun said with a shake of his head. Prerna caressed Anya's head, ''They are precious, they bought happiness to all of us.'' Turning to Radhika she smiled, ''I should thank you as well. You helped Neil realise his feelings and that made me realise my mistake as well. I am going to meet Sam's parents tomorrow.''

Arjun congratulated Neil with a hug who kept blushing at Radhika's comment. After a moment he let the big cat out of the bag, ''I think now even Ankush bhai can marry Manya.'' That bought pin drop silence as three pair of eyes were now focused on Neil. He looked around, ''I thought you all know. Never mind, I have one more song for my nieces.''

***

After 3 months.

Neil and Sam got married in a beautiful ceremony with family and friends sharing their happiness. It was a month for Radhika girls first birthday and Arjun had declared a big celebration. 

With passing days, the little girls were turning naughtier. They would crawl under the furniture or into shelves leaving their parents tired.

''What are doing here and where the hell is your daddy.''  Anusha smiled with a sock in her mouth. Radhika made a face, picked her up and walked back into the room to find her husband acting like a monkey, ''Now what got into you?'' She asked annoyed

" i was entertaining Anya.'' Radhika rolled her eyes, ''And this one slipped out. She was enjoying the taste of your socks.''

Arjun took his little darling with a wide smile on his face. ''Now don't act like that for rest of the day. We have a party so go get ready.'' Arjun placed the two in the crib, ''Radhika, you need to stop scolding me.''

''What if I don't?'' She asked , her eyes locked with his. Arjun opened his mouth but nothing came, ''If you don't then nothing.'' She smirked before walking out.

The evening turned into a grand affair, it was going to be the most talked about celebration of the year.  

Arjun Radhika walked into the party with their Princesses. Arjun once looked at Radhika, with a nod they handed Anya to Rajiv and Anusha to Nandini, ''Their first birthday cake with their favourite people.''

The older couple were overjoyed. Rajiv had found his happiness into two girls and the new family. He had accepted moving in but made sure he never over stepped the boundaries.

Neil-Sam were expecting their first child within few months of their wedding and that made them the target of all around them . Sam would blush but Neil handled the shameless jokes  with more shamelessness. His replies could shut anyone.

Arjun walked to Neil, ''Soon, everything will change.''

''Like.''

''The Sam who loves you unconditionally will blame you for everything. Even for all the mischief of your kid.''

Neil stared at Arjun, ''I understand that my cousin can be difficult but you should thank her for making you more humane.''

''Means I was a monster.''

''Jerk!''

''I thought you are my friend more than Radhika's cousin.''

Neil smirked, ''Chashni is Sam's best friend. Technically, I have started liking all my wife loves. Recipe to happy life.'' Arjun made a perfect O realising the two friends were sailing the same boat. 

Though, they had all set in their lives. they had to set Ankush's love life straight. Both the families though respected each other but felt that match was not right. The couple had left for Australia after big show down at respective houses and now Arjun -Neil had decided to set things straight as Radhika had decided to resign from her job to set things straight

________________________________________________________________________________

This one will end with an epilogue. I will be posting the same in 10-15 days.