It was almost 8:00 PM and Bani was standing near the pool area ,looking up in the sky. She was gazing at the sky filled with stars that were twinkling and radiating the light of hope amidst darkness .

She sat on the sun lounger as her hair flew with the wind. It was chilly outside. Bani was feeling cold but she just wanted to stand still and live in the moment.

That's when somebody puts a shawl on her shoulders and settles on the sun lounger beside her.

Bani - Aaj dantoge nahi? (She says with a soft smile)

Veer - Abb maine haar man li hein... Tum toh apna khayal rakhne se rahi toh abb decide kar liye hein maine ,ki abb woh mera department hein..

(He says and Bani looks at him)

Veer -I me.. Mean jab tak tum yahaan ho woh mera department hein..

(He says trying to cover up. Bani then notices an ice cream bowl in his hand)

Bani - Mere dhyan rakhne ki baat chodo.. Tum apna dhyan rakhte ho?
Veer - Haan bilkul..

Bani- Kaise? Sardi mein ice cream khate huye?

Veer - Come on Bani.. Ice cream ka asli maza toh sardi mein hi hein.. (He says and that's when he sneezes)

Bani - Dekh liya maza kaise saza bangaya..

Veer- Woh mohhabat hi kya jismein dard na ho...

Bani - Aaj kal bada filmy nahi hogaye ho..?

Veer- Tum hi ne kaha tha acting career ke barein main sochne.. Bas following your orders you see.. (He says and eats another spoon of ice cream.)

Bani - Pagal.. (She says and laughs. A smile automatically forms on Veer's face looking at her cute laughter)

Veer - So yahaan akele kya kar rahi thi...

Bani - Bas yunhi..

Veer - Has anyone ever told you that you are a very bad liar..

Bani chuckles

Bani-Aaj maa baba ki bohot yaad aa rahi thi.. Toh socha yaahan aajao.. (She says looking at the stars) ... Taron ko dekh ti hu toh lagta hein mano main unko dekh rahi hu.

Veer - Tum isse sach manti ho?

Bani - Baat sach ya jhuth ki nahi hein.. Baat toh bas yakeen ki hein.. Aur agar ek baar kisi cheez par yakeen hojaye toh hum aakhon ko chodkar dil ki baaton ko manne lagte hein..

Veer - Aur kabhi agar ye yakeen, ye bharosa dagmaga jaye.. Toh phir?

Bani - Hum insaan hein Veer.. We are all flawed... Dusro pe toh kya kayi bar hum khud par bhi yakeen nahi kar pate.. Agar rishton ke dhage tut te hein, toh unhe wapis aese jodo jisse woh pehele se bhi zyada mazboot hojaye...

Veer -Tum mujhe roz kuch sikhati ho ..

(He says with a soft smile and Bani also smiles).. Waise I have a good news for you..

Bani - Kya..?

Veer - Tumhara presentations clients ko bohot zyada pasand hein and they want to collaborate with your company..

Bani - Oh my god Veer seriously...

Veer - And not just that.. You are even promoted and here's your promotion letter..

(A big smile forms on Bani's face and she hugs Veer. Veer was taken aback for a second but he hugs her back.His heart was beating rapidly. Yes, they had kissed before but this hug was something else. A different kind of warmth was in this hug. This small soft moment seemed way too intimate.)

Bani - I am so so happy.. This was my first big project Veer . .. And this promotion.

(She pulls back from the hug and looks at him realising what she just did by looking at Veer's face flustered for the first time.)

Veer - Pighal gayi..

Bani - Huh..? (She says slowly looking towards him)

Veer - Meri ice cream.. I mean meri ice cream pighal gayi...

Veer and Bani laugh awkwardly.

Veer- So abhi ka kya plan hein..? Kyunki iss news tumhare neend toh puri tarah chura li hein..

Bani- Woh toh hein..well I am planning to ..watch a movie!

Veer- Movie..?

Bani - Haan.. Meri partying aese hi hoti hein... Movies aur food ke sath.. .

Veer- Umm.. You mind a partner ..?

Bani - Tumhein neend nahi lagi hein..?

Veer (slowly) - Abb kon bataye inhein ki humari neend bhi kisi ne chura li hein..

Bani - Kuch kaha tum ne?

Veer - Nahi.. I was just saying ki mujhe neend nahi lagi hein..

Bani - Okay.. Sure then.. Let's do it..!

Veer- So konsi movie..?

Bani - Wohi soch rahi hein.. Mr singhania usse dekhne wale hein.. Matlab uski toh shoba hi badh jani hein..

Veer - Ms sharma movie ka toh pata nahi par aap humare sath waqt bitayegi.. Toh humari shoba zarur badh jani hein..

He says making Bani blush. She turns around but ends up slipping in the pool. She holds Veer's collar to support herself but both of them end up falling in the pool.

Veer holds her hand to make sure that her wound doesn't get wet and then pulls her closer.They finally look into each others eyes and realises their proximity.Both their hearts were beating rapidly.Bani's hand was on his torso, she could feel his abbs as the shirt stick to his body.Veer also notices her cloth which was now sticking to her body and giving him a view of her perfect figure. They move closer to each other, both of them breathing hard due to the affect which they had on each other.

They continued holding each other and were not ready to leave each other's embrace. Veer suddenly moves his fingers through her hair while holding her waist below to balance her.
He later realises what he was doing and they move away from each other and finally come out of the water.

Veer-Bani...

Bani- Hmm? (she says controlling her rapidly beating heart.)

Veer- Jao.. Change karlo.. (He says lowering his gaze and putting the shawl again on her).

Bani nods and leaves towards her room. She goes and changes. As she comes out, she starts drying her hair, though her mind was still thinking about that moment.

Bani(in mind) -Tum aas pass hote ho toh mujhe itna farak kyun padta hein Veer? .. Tumhare pass humesha khichi chali aati ho... Apni haalat uss parwane ke tarah lagne lagi hein, jo janta hein ki shama usse jalayega hi par phir bhi uski tarf khicha chala jata hein.

She was still thinking when something striked her.

Bani - Woh promotion letter toh main Veer se lena hii bhul gayi..

She goes towards Veer's room. She knocks on the door but finds it open.

Bani - Veer...

(She calls him out but nobody answers. That's when she hears the sound of opening of knob. And veer comes out of the washroom with just a towel wrapped around his waist. His hair was wet while few water droplets were on his torso. )

Bani - Aaahhhhh...

Veer - (looking at her for a second and then at himself)... Aaaahhhhh...

Thats when they hear a knock at the door.

Veer - Abhi kon hoga..

Manyata - Veer beta sab thik toh hein na?

Bani - I don't know.. Main kahan jao.. Kahan chupu.. Humein aese dekhenge toh kya sochenge.. (She says panicking) .. Main khidki se kud jati hu..

Veer - Bani...shanti! (he says holding her hand).. I will handle it..

Veer goes and opens half of the door.

Veer - Kya hua maasi?

Manyata - Kya hua mujhe chilane ki aawaz aayi..

Vivaan - Sir all okay na..?

Veer - Woh.. Wohh... Main..

He looks at Bani whi was behind the door. She acts as if she is sacred giving him a hint to answer Vivaan and manyata..

Veer - Ma.. Main dar gaya tha..

Vivaan - Dar gaye the.. Woh bhi aap.. !??

Manyata - Kisse beta..

Veer again looks at Bani. Who was now holding her sandle in her hand..

Veer - Chapal se...

Manyata /Vivaan - Huhhh..?

Bani puts her hand on her forehead. She then acts as if she is killing something from the chappal.

Veer - Ohhh.. Main cockroach se dar gaya tha.. (He says it like a question instead of an answer )

Vivaan - Cockroach se..?

Veer(in mind) - What the hell...Cockroach se .. Woh bhi main.. ?

Manyata - Tum rest karo beta...

Veer nods being embarrassed and closes the door. As he turns Bani starts laughing.

Veer - Seriously.. Cockroach!?

Bani - Hhahahah.. Tumhari shakal dekhne layak thi..

Veer - Hasna band karo .. Sab tumhari galati hein..

Bani - Meri?..sari galati tumhari hein aese kya kar rahe ho...? ..

Veer - You mean main apne room main nahakar kyun nikla tha..?

Bani - Main yahaan bas woh file lene aaye thi..

Veer - Ek second main shirt pehelu..

Bani - Main chalti hu..

Veer - Woh sab abhi bahar hi honge.. Thodi der ruk jao..

Bani nods, turning away. Veer starts wearing the shirt while Bani's eyes falls on a mirror and she looks at him for a second but immediately lowers her gaze.

Veer - Mujhe dekh rahi ho..?

Bani - Main tumhe koi dekh wekh nahi rahi.. Samjhe... (She says looking at him)

Veer - Dekho phir dekh rahi ho..

Bani - Ahhh.. Main ja rahi hu yahaan se.. Dekhna hein sabko toh dekhne do...

Veer laughs. He loved teasing her and seeing her all flustered.

Veer - Waise suno..

Bani - Kya hein..?

Veer - Movie plan abhi bhi on hein kya..?

Bani - Okay.. (She says and leaves. Veer smiles)

After sometime Veer goes to Bani's room where her movie setup was ready. He goes and settles beside her on the bed. She had choose a romantic movie and they started watching it. He looked at her face from time to time. Her smile during the funny banters of the leads, her blush during the romantic scenes. They continued watching the movie that's when an intimate scene played and Bani looked downwards, feeling shy specially with Veer being beside her. He chuckled internally looking at her cute antics.
The movie was almost at its end, it was going to be 12.Veer looks at Bani who had now fallen asleep on his shoulder.He smiled looking at her and switched off the Tv. He then placed her on the bed and put a blanket to cover her.
It was 12:00 AM now.

Veer bends to Bani's level and puts a kiss on her forehead while whispering in her ears.

Veer -Happy Birthday Sweetheart!
***
Next morning

Bani got up and got ready. Last night event crossed in her mind and she smiled.Her smile faded away when her eyes fell on the calendar and she saw today's date. It was her birthday but unlike other people she wasn't happy. A wave of emotions hit her. She felt numb as the trauma of that day hit her again.
She tried controlling herself and got ready. Her parents death anniversary was two days after her birthday and only she knew how painful her birthday week was for her. Sumitra never used to celebrate her birthdays. Andy also used to be gloomy during those days.Only Mahir used to wish her and they used to spend some brother and sister time together.

She comes down stairs and everybody look at her. She was dressed in casual attire, yet she looked beautiful.

Bani - Kya hua.. Aap sab mujhe aese kyun dekh rahe hein?

Bela - Kyunki hum tumhari hi baat kar rahe the..!

Bani - Meri...?

Bani (in mind) Inn sabko bhai ne bata toh nahi diya ki aaj mera birthday hein...

Bela - Woh.. Maine aaj ek girls day out plan kiya hein.. So tum mere sath chalogi.. And yes Veer ki chinta mat karo.. Usko maine mana liya hein..

Bani - Yeah sure...

Mahir comes in the hall and has a eye contact with Bani. Bani goes towards Mahir when he acts like he got a call and picks it up.

Bani mouths good morning to Mahir and he says it back and leaves from there.

Bani (in mind) - Shayad bhai bhul gaye..I mean it's alright.. Anyways aaj ka din celebration ke layak nahi...

Bela - Bani toh chale...?

Bani - Yeah sure!

Bela - Cool, tum ready hokar car main jao.. Main aati hu..

Bani leaves towards her room.

Bela - (on call) Mr sabke aapke plan ke mutabik hi chal raha hein.

Veer - Great..!

That's when Mahir comes from the other end and takes the phone from Bela.

Mahir - Veer... I really don't like this.. Pata hein kitne aas ke sath woh mujhe dekh rahi thi..

Veer - Mahir.. I know mushkil hoga.. But trust me... Bani will love our surprise.

Mahir - Hope so..

Bela - Accha abb aap dono ki baat hogayi ho.. Toh can i get my phone back.. Bani aane hi wali hogi..

***
After sometime

Bela and Bani were now in the car.

Bela - So Bani.. Aaj ke plans sorted hein, pehele hum shopping ke liye jayenge aur phir main tumhe humara farm house dikhaungi and then finally you will be getting a makeover from Ms Bela kapoor. (She says flipping her hair back and laughing)

Bani also chuckles.

Bani - Par suddenly ye makeover kyun..?

Bela - Main toh tumhein engagement wale din hi tayar karna chahti thi par koi baat nahi.. Abb karlenge..

They finally reach the mall. Bani and Bela go for shopping. Bela makes Bani try many dresses.

Bani - Bhabhi.. Aur kitne dresses?

Bela- Bas thode aur... Mujhe meri responsibility acchi tarah se nibhani hein..

Bani - Responsibility?

Bela - Mera matlab hein.. Ki tumhare accha dikhna meri responsibility hein.. Aaj main jo tumhe tayar karna chhati ho.. (She says covering up and bani nods)

Bani - Okayy..

Bela - Abb ja le..last dress try kar... Jaldi jaldi..

Bani goes inside the dressing and comes out wearing a blue dress, giving straight away princess elsa vibes.

Bani - Kaisa lag raha hein..?

Bela - Woow... Bani you look soo soo pretty...! Aaj toh Veer ki pata nahi kya haalat ho jani hein...

Bani - Bhabhi.. (She says blushing).. And Thank you. Accha abb aapki bari.. Jaiye apne liye bhi ek acchi dress select kijiye...

Bela - Par..

Bani - Bhabhi no par war.. Go nowww..

Bela also tries few dresses and they select one for her as well.

Bani - Offo Bhabhi kya baat hein.. Kahi aapko meri hi nazar na lag jaye (she says dramatically)

Bela - Drama queen (she says and laughs)

Bani - Woh toh main hu.. Thodi si..

(They share a hug with big smile on their faces. Bani definitely considered this birthday to be special,after all she found a sister in Bela today.)

After sometime they go to a restaurant to have food. That's when Bela gets a text.

Veer - All good?

Bela - Saaf saaf puchlo ki aapki madam kaisi hein? 😏

Veer - Phir se shuru hogaya tumhara.. 🙄

Bela - Thik hein jao.. Nahi bataungi..

Veer - Waise main soch raha tha ki kyun na tere bachpan ke kuch kisse Mahir ko suna du.. 😏

Bela -VEER! DON'T YOU DARE🙂🔪

Veer - So....

Bela - Ye le khud hi dekhle..blackmailer kahinka 😒

(She sends him a picture of her and Bani while eating the ice cream. It was a very cute picture and a smile formed on Veer's face looking at Bani's goofy side.)

Veer - Thank you. Abb bye.

Bela - 😒😒😒

Veer - I love you too behena❤

A smile forms on Bela's face reading Veer's text. She was happy seeing the changes in Veer and it was all due to Bani. Love always changes you into a better person and she could clearly see that. He had started smiling more, spending more time with his family, just like those previous times , before that dreadful incident. Bani looks at Bela smiling.

Bani - Bhabhi.. Kya hua?

Bela - Thank you Bani. (She says with a soft smile)

Bani - Kis liye bhabhi..?

Bela - Humari zindagi main aane ke liye....

Bani - Thank you toh mujhe bolna chahiye.. Aap ne Mahir bhai ke life main itni khushiyan jo bhar di hein.

Bela - Nahi Bani..maine toh Mahir ko bas mohhabat se joda hein par tum .. Tum Veer ko khud usse jod rahi ho.. Uski rooh se.. Uske uss khoye huye jazzbaton se.. Janti ho Bani Arnav ke iss halaat ke baad Veer ne sabse khudko cut off kar liya tha..Arnav humesha chahta tha ki Veer iss duniya se.. Uske andhere se dur rahe hein...par Veer ko uss andhere ne apne pass khich hi liya..uss hadse ke baad sab badal gaya... Woh gusel hein, akdu bhi hein par woh uska copying mechanism hein..Sab usse darte hein aur woh feelings se.. Par abb woh badalne laga hein.. Khudko dheere dheere bharosa dila raha hein ki he isn't incapable of love... (She says being a bit emotional)..

Bani - Bhabhi.. Main..

Bela - So sorry.. Main bhi kya ye sab batein lekar baith gayi.. Chalo farmhouse chalte hein..

Bani nods. She was some where feeling guilty. What will happen when everyone will get to know the reason behind their engagement. She halted her thought process and they left for the farm house.
****
After sometime they reached the farmhouse.

Bela - Bani tum room main jao ,main ek call karke aati hu . Phir hum ek mandatory besties makeover karenge..

Bani (chuckles) - Okay bhabhi..

Bani goes towards her room and that's when her eyes falls on a room which was locked.

Bani (in mind) - Ye room locked kyun hein?.. Baki sab toh aesa nahi hein..

She goes towards her room and Bela comes there after a while.

Bela - So ready!!!

Bani - Yes.. (She says with a smile)

Bela starts helping Bani in getting ready, thats when Bani suddenly asks her a question.

Bani - Yahaan koi rehta bhi hein kya bhabhi?

Bela - Arnav usually yahi raha karta tha pehele..

Apna Kaam yehi se manage karta tha...

Bani- Oh..

Bela was now putting eyeliner on Bani's eyes.

Bani - Woh room locked kyun hein Bhabhi?

She asks and Bela pauses for a second registering her question.

Bani - Kya hua Bhabhi?

Bela - Woo..woh.. Liner phail gaya.. Main tissue paper lekar aati hu ..

Bela goes to another room to get the tissue.

Bani (in mind) - Mujhe aesa kyun laga ki bhabhi ne baat tal di.. Nahi Bani Tu kuch zyada hi soch rahi hein.. Forget it.

Bela comes in with the tissue and they don't talk about it further. Bani and Bela got ready.

Bani- Bhabhi ye thoda zyada nahi hogaya...

Bela - Bilkul bhi nahi... Uff Bani ..you look so lovely!

Bani - Sab aapka kamaal hein. (She says with a smile)

Bela- Chalo phir chalte hein.. Aaj tumhe dekh kar pakka kisi ko heart attack aane wala hein..

Bani - Bhabhi meri baat chodiye.. Aaj toh Mahir bhai ka priceless expression dekhna hein mujhe.

Both of them smile, internally blushing. Bani and Bela start leaving but Bani's eyes again falls on that door.

Bela - Kaha kho gayi..?

Bani - Kuch nahi bhabhi.. Chaliye..!
***
In Singhania Mansion

Bela and Bani enter inside Singhania Mansion and suddenly the lights went off.

Bani - Bhabhi.. Ye light ko kya hogaya!

That's when she sees veer who comes in front of her with a candle in his hand.

Bani-Tum yahan kya kar rahe... (Before she could complete her sentence veer puts his index finger on her lips)

Veer- Shh.. Chalo mere saath. (He says, his gaze still fixed on her)

Bani- Kahan lekar ja rahe ho ?

(Veer keeps holding her hand and takes her  inside.)

Bani - Yahann... Par...?

That's when the light comes back.

SURPRISE!!!
***

Kahaniyon mai apni khushiyan woh dhudhne lage hein ,
Socho haqqeqat ne unhein kitna rulaya hoga.

Hello dear readers!
How was the chapter?

Did you guys like the Vani moments?
What do you think is behind that door ?
How will Bani react to the surprise?

Love you guys!
Stay tuned!