Veer hugged a sobbing Bani close. His heart clenched. He patted her head and let her pour her pain away. A while later, she sniffed and backed away; sobs still escaping her mouth. Veer took in the woman in front of him. Her nose was red and her eyes looked slightly swollen from all this crying. She looked up and Veer felt lost. He hated seeing her in pain. The idea of something hurting her like this made him mad. He felt the weight of unknown emotions entering him and swallowing him whole. For the first time in his entire existence did he feel this attached to someone, this affected! He stood, lost in her eyes, unblinking and unbothered if anyone saw him gawking.

B: Veeranshu?

He was still in a trance and Bani coughed to catch his attention. She lightly patted his face and this got him out of his zone.

V: Bani? Kya hua tha?...accha pehle ek second...

He took his jacket off and made Bani wear it. Bani was amazed at the amount of care Veer displayed. How he observed little things. He gestured her to sit on his bike.

B: Nahi Veeranshu, maine ghar pr kissi se kuch nahi kaha..

V: So? I will talk to your chachi..

Bani eyes welled up slightly at the name of her Chachi and Veer realised that she must be the reason of Bani's state.

V: Do you trust me?

Bani thought. Did she? More than anyone you ever have! Spoke her heart and she nodded slightly. Veer smiled and made her sit on the bike.

B: Mai aaj se pehle kabhi nahi baithi..

V: There is always a first time.

He carefully made her sit and his bike roared.

B: Hum kahan jaa rahe hai...

V: You'll see...

Bani enjoyed the wind on her face. She felt at peace and felt sad at how she missed on this till now. Veer stopped at a house and they got down. Bani looked at him with glee.

B: I loved it Veer!!!

V: And I love it jb tum Veeranshu ka Veeer krti ho... (winks)

Bani blushed. Ye aise kyu baat kr rahi hai? Flirty!

Veer guided her inside and told her this was his farm house. He gave her something to eat and tried to talk to her. At first Bani was apprehensive but because of her emotional state, she blurted at how Chachi hinted that she wasn't a woman of character. She began telling about how she has been treated. Her every word made Veer more angry and sad at the same time. Angry at how someone could be so cruel to such a sweet person and sad at how he couldn't protect her then. I promise sweetheart! Ab mai aa gaya hoon na to tumhe kuch bhi nahi hone dunga mai! Ab in ankho me dard nahi ayega!

He asked Bani to make herself comfortable and left to make some phone calls. He came to see Bani was asleep on the couch. He gently picked her up and set her on the bed. He covered her with a blanket and sat beside her, holding her hand and studying her face.

I don't know ye kya feeling hai sweetheart. Mujhe kyu tumse itna attached feel ho raha hai. Tum bohot acchi ho and tumhari in ankho me ansu dekhr mujhe lagta hai mera dil tut gaya hai....mujhe is duniya me koi apna nahi lagta jo mere dil ke behad kareeb ho...aur mujhe pata hai tumhara haal to mujhse bhi bura hai pr phir bhi tum kaise itna pyaar bant paati ho, vo tum hi jaano pr mai tumse vada krta hoon....aaj se tumhara bhi koi apna hai aur vo mai hoon...jitna tumhara mujhpr haq hai na, utna kissi ka nahi hoga...mujhpr, meri cheezon pr ...sirf tumhari davedari hogi....

He patted her forehead and left.

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

Bani's POV

I woke up. My eyes hurt a little and I remembered I had been crying but Veeranshu helped me. My opinion about him was changing. Mehek and Dehek told me was a flirty man who used girls, didn't care much but ever since I met him, he has shown me a lot of care and I never noticed him look at any girl in the wrong way. In fact, many woman approached him when we used to walk in the evening and he would politely turn them away. He is nice and I am trying to keep an open mind about him, not guided by other people's judgment.

I coughed and felt thirsty. I looked around. I must have fallen asleep and Veeranshu must have put me to bed. I smiled but then looked out. It was evening! Chachi must have created a havoc. I started to rush and my feet got entangled in the sheets and I feel down.

Thump!

My knees flopped against the rough floor board and that is same time someone entered the room.

B: Meera di?

I looked at her confused.

B: Aap yahan?

M: Vo sb chor ...pehle tu bata..tu aise zameen pr kaise?

B: Vo mera pair ulajh gaya tha...

M: Aram se utarna than a...itni jaldbazi kyu?

B: Mujhe laga late ho gayi and Chachi gussa ho rahi hongi...Usse yaad aya...chachi..

M: Maa ki baat chor Bani. Vo Veer ne hum sb ko yahan bulla liya and Veer ki family bhi yahin hai...

B: Kya? Kyun?

V: Kyunki humari shaadi ho rahi hai!

Veer said to me while coming in and I felt shocked.

B: Kya?

V: Shocked kyun ho sweetheart? Shaadi to krni hi thi na...

B: Haan! But...vo..

Meera di smiled at us and left. I understood she wanted to give us time. I asked Veer why the hurry.

V: You are not happy in that house sweetheart. (I opened my mouth to protest but he cut me off) Don't you dare lie to me. See, humari anyways shaadi hone wali thi and we even got these few days to know each other but why delay now? Let's get married. I have made all the arrangements.

B: Chachi maan gayi?

V: You think she could deny me?

B: nahi...pr Meera di ki mangni hui thi and unki shaadi se pehle meri shaadi ke liye chachi maan gayi? I am shocked thoda sa...

V: Uhne maine keh diya tha ki humare pandit ne kaha hai age shubh mahurat nahi hai and Tapish se bhi baat hui, unka to six months ke baad ka mahurat hai...I am not waiting that long...

He winked at me and I blushed. What is with this guy and making me blush?

V: Accha isse pehle ki mai bhool jaun? Kl raat ko humari engagement party hai...kl subah designers ayenge aur tumhari saari outfits ke trails honge...thik hai na? And tumhara saman ghar se bhi aa gaya...You can get whatever you want but I wasn't sure ki tumhe apni pehle ki life ka saara saman rakhna hai as memory ya nahi...

B: Thank you Veeranshu! Tum bohot considerate ho...

I was so happy to have found someone so concerned about my well being.

POV end

Bani and Veer headed downstairs. Veer was fussing over her knee wound and kept asking her to sit and if it was paining her. Bani giggled at his over protectiveness. They spoke to both the families. Balwant was there with Ponky and Daksh. Veer's cousins were looking after preparations along with Balwant. Bani's family was also there. Mehek and Dehek were relaxing in the luxurious bathrooms. Meera was calling guests and Mahesh was talking to Balwant regarding the wedding. Ritu was slightly pissed off as Bani was going to wed nicely. She didn't want to spend a dime on her wedding but knowing that Singhanias were going to have a good wedding, she was mad. However, she could not protest as it wasn't her money after all. She was throwing daggers at Bani with her looks but a ferocious look from Veer put her into place.

V: sweetheart?

B: Hmm?

V: Tum ab Mrs. Veeranshu Singhania banne jaa rahi ho...kissi se darne ki zarurat nahi hai tumhe, okay? Koi tumhe tang kre na...koi bhi...to sunna diya karo...rest mai dekh lunga...

Bani gave him a grateful look and sat down. It felt strange to her to not be busy, not be a part of the work but Donky were specifically eyeing their Bhabhi to-be, ensuring that she does not busy herself with her own wedding preparations.

That night, Bani laid down next to Meera with a huge smile on her face. Her eyes went to the window and widened.

B: Cheelu? Tum yahan bhi? Tum hi ho na? Roz wale?

The majestic bird looked at Bani. Bani got down and opened the window. She went into the room and poured water in the cup. She looked around but saw only some fruits in a bowl on a table. She took a few grapes and took them with her.

B: Sorry Cheelu, aaj nahi hai crumbs, ye mera ghar nahi hai na...

Bani felt like the bird was giving her a look. She shook her head. Must be my imagination! She began talking to the bird.

B: Pata hai kl meri engagement hai...Veeranshu ke sath...waise to humari arranged marriage hai...pr vo accha insaan hai, bohot accha....waise to shaadi humare bado ne arrange ki hum dono ko blackmail krke aur phir humne deal kr li....pata nahi ye shaadi kaisi hai, mujhe bohot confusion hota hai kabhi kabhi....pr bs ek baat ka sukoon hai ki Veeranshu dil ka accha hai, mujhe khush rakhne ki koshish krta hai...aur jb tk humari shaadi tikegi, mai bhi usse khush rakhne ki koshish karungi....

Her eyes darted to the clock.

B: Arey! Time dekho! Kitna late ho gaya...kl designer ayenge, I have to sleep aur mai bhi kya tumse baat krne baith gayi...tumhe kya kuch samajh aa raha hoga...waise Cheelu you remind me of Veeranshu. Vo bhi tumhari tarah dekhne me rough and tough lgta hai...pr jaise tum cheel ho pr kitne cute ho, mujhe chot nahi pohonchai...waise hi Veer bhi bohot cute hai....(giggles) accha good night!

She closed the window and went to sleep, a smile adoring her face. The bird spread its giant wings and left soon after.

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

xoxo

Precap: Engagement party