Khushi's POV

The pre-wedding rituals had started. Today was the Haldi ceremony, I brought my mother downstairs in yellow attire.

I made her sit on the stool, Ruhana came and kissed her forehead. I smiled and she applied Haldi on her face, hand and legs.

Avni Di and I went at the same time, we glanced at each other.

I spoke "pehle main.."

"Nahi pehle main" she argued with me.

Ruhana stopped us with "offo.. Lado nahi dono ek saath lagalo"

We both dug our hands into the haldi and applied on each side of her face. She kept her hand on our face. I smiled..

After it was over, she went to take a bath. My phone rang, and I picked it up. "Dost." I spoke.

"Khushi.. Where is your mumma? Mera phone nahi utha rahi hai wo" Aarav said.

I laughed "dost.. Aap wait nahi kar sakte na shaadi tak" I said a bit irritatedly.

"Offo.. khushi tum bhi bado ki tarah restrictions mat lagao.. Aur tum janti ho na mujhe rules todne mein kitna maza aata hai" he said teasingly.

I smiled "Wo toh hai dost waise aap dono ko ek dusre se mile bina shanti nhi milti haina" I replied..

"ab kya kare... Tumhari mumma hai hi itni..". He paused when I interrupted.

"uff aapko to bilkul sharam nhi hai... Batayie kya kaam hai?" I asked..

He told me something, I agreed on the condition "mujhe chocolates.. Milengi?"

Aarav replied "beta.. Ek baar ghar aa jao main tumhara room chocolates se bhar dunga"

My eyes glowed hearing him. I nodded.. "Okay toh kal mehendi ke baad aapka kaam ho jayega"

He kissed me on the phone "meri pyari beti love you" and ended it.

The next day, Mehendi and Sangeet were organised together. While Mehendi was getting applied in her hand, I performed on a song with Avni Di.

She laughed seeing our act, there was a different glow on her face which I always wanted to see.

I then glanced at her henna beautified hands.. "Wow mumma it's amazing.." I said while She smiled.

She was thinking something I asked. "desperate ho?"

She gave me a look.. "nhi to"

"aww.. Aap to bholi si ho desperate to dost hai naaa" I said teasingly..

"exactly... Wahi hai call pe call kiyee jaa raha hai" she replied.

"Haa mere papa hi desperate hai aap to desperate nhi ho isliye unke paas rehte ho to kuch yaad nhi rehta" I whispered in her ears.

She passed me a look.. "wahi desperate hai okay..." she clarified

"😜 mumma maan kyu nhi leti aap bhi unse milne ke liye desperate ho" I said.

"Nahii hun.." she gave me the same reply but I know she is also desperate to meet him. It is just so fun to tease her.

The guests left after the functions were over, i heard Vineet and Ruhana talking. My mother, Avni Di and I were in the hall while the other two were entering the hall.

"chalo.. Saare functions ho gaye kal shaadi hai, sabse zyada important" Vineet said.

"Haan Vineet... kal tak mujhe ye sab impossible lag raha tha" Ruhana replied.

"Par ye ho raha hai Ruhana. Hum chahte they wo apna ghar basale, der se hi sahi.. Jo khushiyan 14 saal pehle chali gayi thi kal milne waali hai" he said with a smile.

Ruhana nodded positively.

"Haan.. Aur ab mujhe fikar karne ki zaroorat nahi hogi. Thanks to you." she said.

"Thanks bhagwan se kaho, Ruhana. He granted our wish." Vineet said.

"Unhe bhi aur tumhe bhi. Pata nahi Vineet, agar tum sath na dete toh sab bikhar jaata. Tum na hote toh main Mannu aur khushi ko akele nahi sambhal pati. Thank you. Jo sapna toot gaya tha, aaj 14 saal baad phir sach hone ja raha hai." Ruhana said tearily.

Vineet embraced her in a side hug.

" Tum hi kehti ho na, ki Manvi tumhari pehli beti hai, Avni se bhi pehle. Toh meri bhi kuch lagti hai na wo. Jo insaan apni zindagi mein apni family ke liye kuch na kare, toh uski zindagi ka koi matlab nahi hota Ruhana. Toh main kaise nahi karta! Bahut lucky hoon main, Ek nahi 3 betiyan hai meri. " Vineet said and Ruhana smiled.

I rushed to him and hugged him.

" Lucky toh main hoon bade papa. Jo aap mere aur mumma ke sath ho. Agar aap aur maasi nahi maante toh ye possible nahi tha. Thank you and i love you." I said.

Vineet smeared my head

" we love you too bache. Yaad hai na, jab mumma koi baat na maane, toh kya karna hai? " He winked at me.

" Just one call! Fir mumma kuch nahi kar sakegi. " I chuckled.

" waise bhi tumhari maasi ke aage tumhari mumma ki nahi chalegi." Vineet said and we giggled.

" haww! Ye galat hai jeeju! Aap isko behlao mat. Aarav kafi hai uske liye. " Manvi made a face.

"Mere dost, sorry hone wale papa kuch nahi karte. Aap unko blame nahi karo." I said glaring at my mother while other three laughed.

I noticed, Avni was sad.. "Par maasi chali jayengi toh khushi saath jayegi aur mujhse milne nahi aayegi" she spoke.

I hugged her and said "di.. Khushi se itni jaldi chutkara nahi milega aapko.. Aapse, maasi se aur bade papa se na milne ki himmat toh mumma ne nahi ki toh dost kaise karenge?"

Vineet smiled and smeared my head.. "Aur tumhe waha apni mumma ka khayal rakhna hai.." he said.

"Main kyun rakhun? Dost rakhenge.." I replied, winking at him.. "Jaise maasi ka aap rakhte ho"

I then remembered something, I said.. "Acha maasi, di.. Meri help kardo na kal ke liye"

Ruhana and Avni nodded and I took them to my room. I then shouted "bade papa aap bhi aao Khushi ko bahut zaroori baat karni hai"

He also came upstairs.

Aarav's POV

The pre-wedding rituals were going in full swing. It was the Haldi ceremony, I sat down on the stool.

Ahana came and applied Haldi on my face and tears escaped down my eyes. She wiped it.. "Aansu?? Kisliye?"

"Kuch nahi.." I was just blessed to have her as my sister-in-law. A mother figure to me.

I went to take a bath afterwards and wore a sherwani for Sangeet. I quickly came downstairs and Ahana pulled on the dance floor.

She teased me and hid my face in between my palm. I then took Virat to a side, he glanced at me.. "Kya hua?"

"Bhaiya.. Mujhe manvi se milne jaana hai" I informed him.

"Paagal ho? Kal aa rahi na wo.." He said.

"Please bhaiya.. Yaad hai jab apne bhi bhabhi se milne ki zid ki thi toh maine aapko bachaya tha na Dad se.." I said reminding him.

Virat glared at him.. "No..." he said firmly.

"Bhai.. please" I said with an innocent look.

"Acha acha.. Jaa.. par jaldi aa jana zyada der nahi sambhal sakta main Ahana ko" He said. I hugged him tightly and left the house hiding from Ahana.

I had already planned with Khushi, she left the main gate open and I entered the house. I saw the stairs right in front of Manvi's room window.

A smile crept my lips "Love you khushi.." I climbed the stairs and jumped into the balcony.

I saw her sitting on the bed looking into her hands. I entered and said "kya dekh rahi ho?"

She looked at me and was about to shout but I kept my hand on her face.. "Shh.."

She eyed me and I removed my hand.. "Tum yahan? Kaise?" she asked.

"Balcony se" I answered her.

"Paagal ho kya? Di aur Jiju aa gaye toh? Jao tum" she said in low but anger tone.

"Nahi aayenge Khushi ne unhe busy rakha hai.." I replied proudly.

She smiled.. "Acha.. toh sab plan pehle se banake rakha tha"

I nodded in yes and sat beside her holding her hand.

"haan toh tumne kya kaha tha? shaadi tak mujhe apni shakal mat dikhana.. lo dikha di apni pyaari si shakal" I said winking at her.

Manvi sighed.. "Tum nahi sudhar sakte ho"

"bilkul nahi.." I replied.

I glanced at Mehendi "kitni achi hai.. Let me find my name" I tried to locate my name..

"Nahi milega.." she said.

"Aise kaise nhi milega.." I said confidently.

Finally, I found it.. "See.. Aarav.. Ye raha" I showed her. She tilted her face towards me and I looked into her eyes.

We were lost in each other's eyes, I approached more closer to her and she closed her eyes.

She pushed me away with "no.. abhi nahi"

I frowned.. "Not fair.. Itna risk leke aaya hun kiss toh leke jaunga" I said.

I pulled her closer, and my grip was firm enough. She tried to free herself but failed. I finally kissed her and she could not deny it.

She said.. "Tumne rule toda hai.. Shaadi se pehle milna mana hota hai.."

I smiled.. "Main toh paida hi rule todne ke liye hua tha.. Aur issi mein hi maza hai"

I heard a door knocking sound, she panicked and said.. "Di.. go.."

I sighed and smiled "Abhi toh jaa raha hun kal aaunga baarat leke phir tumhe aur mujhe koi alag nahi kar sakta ye samaj bhi nahi"

She nodded and I left the room from the balcony. Finally, tomorrow I will get married to her after lots of hurdles.

Manvi's POV

I unlocked the door and Ruhana entered in. I smiled at her and she asked "kaun tha room mein jisse tu baat kar rahi thi?"

I replied innocently "koi nahi Di.."

She pushed me aside and looked outside the balcony. I came and saw the stairs were not there. It seemed Khushi had already removed it. I had a sigh of relief.

Ruhana smiled, she took me and made me sit on the bed. She was staring at me, I asked "kya dekh rahi ho?"

"Tumhare chahre pe muskurahat.. Jo 15 saal pehle kho gayi thi" she said while kissing my forehead.

I smiled.. "Ab nahi khoyegi.." I assured her.

"Janti hun.. Tumhare aur Aarav ke beech mein bahut bada age gap hai par pyaar usse bhi zyada hai" she said holding my hand.

I kept my head on her lap and was emotional. The same feeling I had 16 years ago when I married Arjun and went to his house.

"Di, sab ache se ho jayega na??" I asked holding her hand.

She had her one hand on my head while I was holding the other one. She kissed my head.

"Haan Mannu! Jo main chahti thi wo ab ho raha hai, main khush hoon. Ab toh sab acha hi hoga." she said.

"Meri khushi...." I paused, remembering the trifle I had with Arjun's family.

Ruhana made me sit and cupped my face.

"Teri khushi tere pas hi rahegi. Jab tak main aur tere jiju hain na, tujhe kisi cheez ki kami nahi hogi mannu! Aarav usse bahut pyar karta hai. Mujhe bhi darr tha, par jab maine dekha ki khushi Aarav ki baat kaise samajhti hai, main samajh gayi wo ek acha pita banega." Ruhana said.

"Sach na Di? Ab kuch bikhrega nahi na?" I asked, I wanted her to say that things will be perfect now. I wanted her to assure me.

She lifted my face up and I looked at her.

"Tujhe pata hai Mannu, main hamesha chahti thi ki tu khush rahe. I was so happy jab teri shadi Arjun se hui thi. Lekin shayad kismat ko ye manzoor nahi tha. Jitni takleef tujhe hui, utni mujhe bhi hui thi. Kyun? Kyunki teri takleef se meri takleef badh jaati hai na. Kitna mushkil tha na wo waqt. Meri hamesha hansne wali mannu kho gayi thi. Himmat kisi ne dikhayi toh wo tere jiju they. Varna apni mannu ko kamzor dekh kar main toh toot hi gayi thi. " She said, her voice got teary.

Even I was teary-eyed. I know my sister and her husband have supported me a lot. I won't have been alive if they won't have held me. They are not the only family, but my guardians, and I know they'll be there always.

"Jab tu sambhal gayi, uske baad main chahti thi ki tu phir se shadi karle. Lekin tab tu zidd leke baith gayi. Lekin aaj 15 saal baad, wo khushi wapas aayi hai, Mannu. Aur mujhe toh Aarav pe pura bharosa hai ab. Wo tera mujhse zyada khayal rakhega." Ruhana says.

"Par wo aapki aur jiju ki jagah nahi le sakta."I said.

" Jaanti hoon. Par tu us par bharosa rakh. Ab toh sirf khushiyan hogi. Aur khushi ko uske papa mil jayenge. Tujhe bas ab sab acha sochna hai. Sab acha hoga Mannu. Naye rang, nayi khushiyan, aur dher saara pyar. " she said and kissed my head.

I smiled and hugged her, hiding my head in her chest. Tears rolled out of our eyes. I never thought of loving someone after Arjun, but I guess Aarav was in my destiny. Tomorrow will be the day I will unite with him finally after 6 months of the pain of separation. 

To be continued....

😂 Longest chapter of the story. ❤️

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