Veer was walking slowly, a 5 year old girl was following him. They were tiptoeing inside when a cough stopped them both on tracks. They got shocked and turned to see a woman rested well on the couch with a smirking 10 year old boy sitting next to her. Veer gulped and the girl that was following him quickly moved to hide behind his legs.

V: Sweetheart?!

B: Oh just shut up!...mana kiya tha na maine ki isse ice-cream nahi khilani hai, mausam dekha hai...bacchi hai, gala thand pakad lega...pr bacchon se kya expect krna jb tum itne bade hokr nahi smjhte!

Bani left fuming while the smug boy showed his tongue to the girl and rushed after her. Veer cursed himself for getting caught and looked at the girl. He lifted her up and carried her inside.

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

Later, at the dining table.

Bani served everyone food and sat near Meera, away from Veer. Tapish frowned. Bani not sitting next to Veer was a very unusual site. He made a face as he sat near Veer as Bani had claimed his seat.

T: kya kiya hai tune?

V: Kya bhai! Kuch nahi kiya hai maine...ye meri sweetheart mujhe cutiepie of icecream khilane se rokti hai..

B: Meera di jb insaan ko lgta hai ki usne galti nahi ki to vo sorry kyu bol raha tha...

M:

V: Kai baar insaan sorry isliye bhi bolta ki kyunki usse apne favourite insaan ko dukhi krke accha nahi lgta..

M:

B: Meer di-

M: Bs! Meera naam hai mera, dakiya nahi...direct baat kro, mujhe kyu beech me laa rahe ho..

Bani glared at Veer while he gave her a pleading look.

B: Accha chalo, maaf kiya...pr last time...weather dekho...iski tabyat khrab ho jayegi toh kon dekhega..

The boy chirped in.

B: Sweetheart, maine to dadu se kaha tha mujhe nahi khana pr ye Reya hai na! Nahi sunti...maine to inko jaane se bhi mana kiya tha...

V: chup!..bilkul papa pr gaya hai...dadi ka chamcha!...Rehan bhi maa bhakt tha...

B: tum chup! Kyu bolte ho mere Rohan ko? Itna accha baccha hai...meri saari baat manta hai..

Rohan showed a tongue to Reya and snuggled into Bani's side. She kissed his cheeks.

V: Sweetheart? Mai to sunta hoo na tumhari baat...

M: seedha bol, you want a kiss..

T: (eyes pop out) Meera!

V: Apki wali time ke saath zyada hi frank nahi ho gayi...(whispers) aur meri wali strict..

B: kya khusr phusr kr rahe ho...

V: k-kuch nahi..

B: better!...

T: strict nahi, ziddi ho gayi hai...teri tarah

Post the meal, Tapish and Meera returned to their home. They lived with their son Tarun and his wife Naina. They also had an adorable granddaughter called Akira. Tapish' first born- Tara was married and settled in foreign.

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

It was past bed time. Rohan and Reya hugged each other and slept. Bani went to check on them and smiled. She covered them with a thin blanket and kissed their fore-head.

V: inka bhi smjh nahi aata sweetheart. Din bhar ek doosre se ladenge, ek doosre ko dant padwane ki scheme lagayenge aur raat me phir sb bhoolkr so jayenge...

B: Bacche hai, tum Vani aur Rehan ko bhool gaye...vo bhi to aisa hi krte they...Rehan Vani ko kitna tang krta tha pr agr koi aur usse kuch kahe to bardash bhi nahi kr pata tha..

V: hmm...

He back hugs her. Bani snuggled into his warmth. Suddenly she felt a buzzing in her stomach. She took out her phone that was tucked at her waist.

V: ye adat kabhi nahi sudhregi tumhari!

Bani showed him her tongue and saw it was video call from Rehan.

V: iss time bhi maa ko phone kr raha hai...chain nahi hai isse bhi..

B: shut up!

She picked up the call. Rehan's face popped on the screen.

R: Hello Sweetheart! Kaise ho aap? Dad bhi wahi hai...Hi dad!

V: Sweetheart naam kbhi sirf mera tha..phir ye beta aur ab uska beta...chor!

R: Dad? Kya kaha? Clear nahi aa raha..

B: kuch nahi...kaise ho tum? Aur Priya kaisi hai?

P: Mai thik hoon mummy ji!

V: waha sb thik hai na..

P: Ji daddy ji...

Bani turned the camera to show a sleeping Rohan and Reya.

V: yahan pr bacchon ki chinta mt krna...have a great time!

R: aap sb ho to kaisi chinta?

They all wished each other goodnight and the call ended. Vani came back to their room. Veer was getting a call from Vanisha.

V: Princess?

Va: Hey Cheelu!...mom ka phone busy aa raha hai...

B: hello Vani...vo Rehan ka phone aa gaya...

Va: kitne boring hai bhai bhi...raat ka time hai, trip pr gaye hai vo bhi with wife aur maa ko phone krke bore kr rahe hai..

V: wahi na...na hume chain se rehne dega aur na khud rahega...

B: chup! Tum baap beti mere bete ko kuch nahi bologe...aur phone usne kiya to baat to sbne ki na...ab wahan pahunch gaye hai to iska phone to karenge hi na..

Va: haan haan...

V: vo sb chor...tu kb aa rahi hai...kitna time ho gaya...

Va: wahi batane ke liye phone kiya tha....actually Arjun ko next month kuch hafton ke liye abroad jaana hai for some work so I was thinking ki maa ghar aa jaun?...what say?

V: you never have to ask princess...and tb tk toh vo  bhi aa jayenge..sbse milna ho jayega..

Va: great!...so see you soon dad...aur haan mai bhai ki tarah nahi hoon so phone jldi rakhti hoon...bye! love you!

The phone call ended.

B: iska kya mtlb hai?

Veer pulled her into his arms.

V: Mtlb jo tum smjho!

B: Uff!...itne saalo me ye cheez bilkul nahi badlyi..abhi bhi hr time bs romance...

V: tum bhi kahan badlyi..hr time nakhre...abhi tk sharam aati hai kya?

B: ab iss umar me bhi tum-

Veer didn't let her finish. He twirled her around and now her back was resting on his chest. He started to sing in her ears while swaying a little.

Ai meri zoharaa-zabi
Tujhe maalum nahi
Tu abhi tak hai haseen
Aur mai javaan
Tujhape qurabaan meri jaan meri jaan

Bani began to blush like beetroot and turned. They hugged and she rested her head on his chest. They began to reminisce their life since the birth of their children. They raised them together, watched them grow into these beautiful human beings. There is immense joy in watching a part of you grow and blossom. They experienced this joy together. They watched them fall and picked them up but sometimes, let them struggle themselves too. They watched them succeed and fall in love. Rehan married Priya and later, when Vani found Arjun, Veer had a tough time letting his princess go. He even teared up a little durning her kanya-daan.

Another wave of joy hit them with their promotion. They became grandparents. Rohan was born and then they welcomed Reya into their lives. They faced painful moments together as well. A few years after Vani's marriage and Rohan was one, Balwant passed way in his sleep. It was heartbreaking for both and suddenly Veer became the eldest in the family. His friend Tapish supported him a lot but Bani and Veer sailed through the rough patch together. Daksh left them with his wife Divya as he took a position in the Cheel army in the realm. He put his sharp nose to use and often led tracking missions. As for Ponky, he became responsible once he met his match, his beloved Maira. He settled in Delhi to head their companies branch there.

Chandrakala had died long before Balwant and was visiting Jai at the time she died. Balwant went to her funeral and even Veer went to pay his respects to a deceased soul that lived with him since childhood. That was where he saw Jai for the first time in all these years and probably the last time as well. With his lost powers and left as a weak human, Jai was sitting on a wheelchair to attend his mother's funeral. He had no one in his life really save a care taker. Last Veer heard, Jai died after a viral.

B: Veeranshu? I am so so so lucky that our parents arranged our marriage. You were really the best for me.

V: Likewise love. I didn't believe in love before I met you but I am so glad I did.

They pecked each other foreheads and sat on the bed, cuddling each other. They took another trip down memory lane.

They remembered Vani's miscarriage and how painful it was for both of them to see their child in pain. Together, they tried to help their daughter in their best capability. A year after Reya was born, Vani became pregnant again and gave birth to her twins- a boy and a girl. She named the girl Avni after her grandmother and also, Avni was like Vani with rearranged letters. The boy was named Aryan after Arjun's late father, Aryaman.

Veeranshu and Bani sailed through all walks of life, rough patches and the good times, in sickness and in health. They fit each other like puzzle pieces.

V: (pecks her lips) I get never ever get enough of you...I know you know it, but I will always have your back..

B: ( rest her head in the crook of his neck) I don't want you to have my back. Hold my hand instead. We'll walk together.

They kissed softly.

V: I wonder what would have happened if we did not meet.

B: We would have met. If our parents did not arrange for this, then as well.

V: how?

B: because we were meant to be, It was fated. I think our stars arranged us to love.

V: That I truly do.

They slept like they did all these years, in love and in each other's arms.

.......

In a love like theirs, there can be no happy ending, only a happy eternity because a love like theirs', never ends.

.......

So this concludes this book! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I loved to write this. The bonus chapter made me emotional. For me, a happy ending is having loved together a life time and beyond.

And talking about next! I have decided to continue with plot 1 for now. Plot 2 would begin later after plot 1 is on track.

Happy?

For those who wished for a plot 2, I will write it. It would just take me a little longer. Do give plot 1 a chance meanwhile. I hope you won't get disappointed. Thank you.

Attaching its poster and teaser in next chapter. Do check it now and tell me your honest views. The book will be posted on 25 March, 2021.

xoxo