The dazzling golden orange rays half covered with the cold mist surrounded the ever-crowded London city. Radhika sat on the lawn while relishing her cup of coffee and enjoying the slight, natural view in front of her. Soft touch of fur on her back startled her a little; turning her head, she smiled gently looking at Aunt Agatha. Arjun had to go for some urgent work, although he had zero percent wish to leave Radhika as after so long he got some private time with her. But thanks to his absence in London site which made his schedule hectic after comeback.

'It's getting cold Madam. Let's go inside.' Aunt Agatha said warmly while adjusting the scarf on Radhika.

'Yes, aunty. Just few minutes.' Radhika replied still looking at the colorful horizon.

It looked like she was thinking something deeply and lost in those thoughts. She had a big battle going on inside her. Her mind was still reluctant to accept Arjun even though her heart knew he had changed for better and even if he was same arrogant he won't apply that on her. Even if he tried, before she could do anything, Priya would lash out on her brother. She knew how righteous Priya was.

Aunt Agatha knew what Radhika must be thinking, she didn't want to force it on her but she wanted from her heart Radhika to accept her master and she would definitely gave a try from her side too.

'If you don't mind aunty, can I make tonight dinner?' Radhika asked once they were inside.

Apart from her job, she felt proud of her culinary skills and sometimes it helped her in diverting her mind; thus brought peace. Like then!

'Definitely Madam. You don't need my permission.'

'First I am not any Madam. I am Radhika and you should call me by that. You are much elder to me, so I should ask for your suggestion before doing anything. Am I right, aunty?' Radhika had a mirthful childish grin, which reflected on Aunt Agatha's face. Her eyes filled with water and heart with joy.

'You are right my dear.' Aunt Agatha could reply that much.

"Now I know why our little master wanted you so desperately in his life. You are sunshine of his life. I hope you will accept him and both will live like a fairy-tale life forever."Aunt Agatha came out of her thought feeling Radhika's touch on her.

'What happened aunty? You seem lost.'

'Nothing dear, let's go.'

They both went inside kitchen to do cooking for night. Anyone from outside might think they both were like mother and daughter despite they met the same day afternoon. It was Arjun who installed such beautiful thoughts regarding Radhika in Aunt Agatha's heart.

In India

'Stop doing it Priya. You may eat all your fingers after sometimes.' Sourav said to Priya who was biting her nails as if it was some sort of chips.

'Di must forget it's her finger, not potato French fries.' Rajiv repeated causing a roar of laughter between both men.

'You both mean to say I am stupid?' Priya narrowed her eyes.

'We meant what we said but you interpreted according to what you are.' Before Sourav could start next word, a pillow came flying on his direction. However, he dodged it and poor Rajiv become victim of those two mad beings.

'Di.' Rajiv made a fake crying face while pointing where pillow hits.

'I am sorry little bro. Calm down.' Priya held Rajiv affectionately while caressing his back like a mother did with her child but once she felt curve on Rajiv's lips, she twisted his ears, ' Nautanki. Drama queen.'

'Finally I am confirmed my sister is back.' Rajiv gave a satisfactory wide grin showing his pearls.

Priya smiled knowing how they both were trying to make her smile.

'If you are worrying about Arjun, then don't be.' Sourav assured.

'How's that fiancee? We all know his impulsiveness and impatience.' She expressed her concerns and some extent she was right too.

'But he won't be any of these for Radhika. Do you know why?'

Priya shook her head in negative.

'Because of his fear of losing.' Rajiv replied that time calmly.

'Why do you mean by that?'

'You saw how our little champ put an act in front of your oh-so-great brother that if he will be failure this time, then he would lose Radhika. Then we all know what Arjun can do when it comes to Radhika.' Sourav explained jubilantly.

Priya smiled but soon her face lost that curve and again her eyes narrowed, ' By the way what do you mean by my oh-so-great brother? You still don't like him.'

'Out of everything you only heard this. Like brother like sister.' Sourav mumbled looking at Rajiv then turned to Priya with a wide smile, ' I like him too. How can't I, when he will be my future wife's brother. Do I have a choice?'

Priya was literally fumed. Before she could onrush toward him, Sourav put his hand on Rajiv , 'But I love this brother of yours way more than Arjun.'

'Even I love this idiot.' Priya calmed down immediately, sat other side of Rajiv on couch, and held him over Sourav's hand.

'Woah. I am not five, guys.' Rajiv whined.

'You will be always for me. Even if I become father in future, you will be always my first-born and my first priority. No argue on that.' Sourav said with all his delicate emotions, which reflected on his eyes and soft embrace. In a moment his memory lane took him backward in past, how he found little Rajiv in a time when nobody was with him. Rajiv brought him the joy that he wanted badly at the particular moment. Same for Priya too.

'I agree.' Priya said emotionally.

'You both are making me weep when you know I hate tears.' Rajiv said in between wiping his face.

'Okay. End of this discussion.'

'I need a help.' Rajiv asked with seriousness while stood up.

'What?'

'Samaira is in love with Brother Neil and now he strongly denied this.' Rajiv sighed and sat down forcefully while covering his face by his both palms.

'Seems like you are really here for matchmaking.'

Sourav's statement created another round of laughter among them, which they would love to be in that notion.

In London

Radhika was standing in front of a room contemplating whether she should go inside or not. Her body was not supporting the idea to not go inside. She was awake and working continuously from past 42 hours without resting. Her ethics took a back seat when she entered inside and the view came in front of her took away all her sleepiness and tiredness away.

It was like she entered in mirage of her own world. From the backside of door to wall paintings, wall hangings, computer wallpaper everything depicted her pictures and paintings. Some of them were her old pictures when she worked in birdsong. She was literally shocked when her eyes fell some of her school and college days pictures.

How did Arjun get this? She wondered but then she knew it must be her brother. Ankush had no problem with Arjun and moreover, Ankush was good friend of Priya.

Radhika sat down on a corner of bed feeling heaviness in her head with her chest pounding loudly. The feeling was so surreal even if she was witnessing everything with her own eyes. Her hand fell on a diary placed near pillow. She opened it to find herself only, a picture of her above and below a quotation regarding it. It seemed Arjun poured out all his feelings there. She knew he loved her, but the depth of his longing she got that day.

She didn't know what she should feel, but definitely she couldn't digest so much things at once. She remembered Arjun's proposal. She felt choked and got up to ran outside. Alas! Nevertheless, banged with someone and looked up.

'Arjun!' Radhika whimpered slowly while rubbing her forehead. She wasn't ready to face him, not then at least. She needed time to understand those deep feelings.

'Are you alright? I shouldn't come like this. Did I startle you?' Arjun asked concerned.

Arjun was shocked when he tried to touch her forehead out of concern where she got hit, she stepped back. He took next step, but she backed double.

'I shouldn't come inside. I didn't know it is your room.' She said looking down.

'You did nothing wrong. Everything mine is yours. It's your right.' Arjun pressed each word while saying so.

'oh. I should go now.' She turned to go.

Arjun called her from back, ' And don't bow down your head again, never. I can't see my love in such vulnerable position.'

Radhika stood rooted listening him. He was not hesitating to declare his love and she was not ready to listen anything right then. She needed someone to share her feelings.

'mmmh..' She ran outside literally, while Arjun looked on.

Radhika was standing near window panel of her room, looking outside. She was wondering why her heart was beating irritably when Arjun was near her.

'This man.' She sighed and picked her phone.

Surprisingly a call came, which she wanted to dial. She received with a pleasant smile, 'Do you know what happened?'

'Don't say your love story become talk of town and I have no clue yet?' Rajiv teased in a whining manner from other side.

'Idiot.' Radhika replied and sighed again, 'I wanna talk with you.'

'I am all ears.'

Radhika explained all her worries regarding Arjun and that day incident also.

'Listen dear; I can't say about past but presently what you feel is more important. If you ask me, I will say you to follow your heart. I am not saying go around giving second chances everyone, but Arjun. In past he never did confess you, but now he did. If he promised you something, he would fulfil it. We all know why and how he did all the fiasco, but that didn't define him. You know him better than me.' Rajiv tried to make understand his best friend.

'But, still.'

'No But and all. If you don't give a chance to life, how will you know how beautiful it is?'

'You may be right. I am still unsure I don't know why. If I will be left alone in mid way?'

'Then we will be there to pick you up. Why are friends for then? But isn't it better to experience and tossed down rather than not experiencing.' Rajiv said thoughtfully.

'I know you will be there always.'

'Don't forget about Di and big bro, they will hunt down anyone who tried to hurt you, like making qeema out of those poor living beings.' He said in funniest way.

Radhika laughed out heartily hearing him, His face reflected same too.

'Thank you.' Radhika said grateful.

'oh! Mention not. I know I am awesome.' He said. Radhika knew he had something to say but he didn't.

'You wanna say something?'

'Oh! Not really. It's minor thing. You enjoy and be happy always.'

Even though they disconnected call, Radhika wonder about Rajiv's hesitation. Rajiv wanted to talk with her about his adamant brother and Samaira. He knew Radhika could make Neil understand. But then, she had her own agonies to deal with. He decided to handle himself without making his best friend worry more.

In India

'Listen to me, Neil. What's your problem?' Prerna sniffed irritably.

'What's my problem? Are you really asking me this, mom?' Neil huffed so out of his cool dude character. He continued, 'How many times I have to clear that I am not interested in any marriage or dating thing now. But still you fix one blind date.'

'And you don't think once before embarrassing your mother.' Prerna retorted exasperated.

'You didn't think before arranging the rubbish when I clearly said no.'

'That's not my Neil who talks to his mother like this. If you are then you would have understand why I did so.' Prerna was hurt by Neil's arrogant behavior lately. She left for her room without a further word.

Neil sat down on sofa frustrated, yanking out some of his hairs. He felt guilty too that he raised his voice on her mother for first time. That mother who raised him alone fighting against whole world.

'This time you are wrong brother. You should have listened to Mom at least once. I didn't expect this from you.' Rajiv who just came from outside and witness such unpleasant dramatic view in his home.

'Listen well Raju...'

'No, you listen to me. Samrat uncle called Mom to talk about you and Samaira. You know it better, Mom can't say no to him. If you don't want Samaira, you could have refused politely. But you never go inside to check whom Mom was talking and now creating scene.' Rajiv, who was equally chilled and jubilant like Neil, shouted back on his elder brother.

Neil was shocked hearing this information. He realized his mistake but it was true that he was not ready for any kind of relationship, not with Samaira even.

'My dear little brother.' Neil called softly following Rajiv to his room.

'Don't talk with me till you make up for Mom.' Rajiv shut the door on face of Neil.

Neil sighed looking at the closed doors in front of him. He sighed and realized he was not like this and he had to mend up because they are his family. He went near Prerna's room , ' Mom.....'

In London

'Radhika.... Radhika.' Arjun's restlessness clearly noticeable from the way he was knocking her room door constantly.

'Did your horse run away? What's so emergency happened that you are on fire?' Radhika opened door and shot him a look.

To her surprise, Arjun rubbed his forehead and sighed. After a moment he laughed. She was literally thinking if she cracked some joke or he became insane.

'What's so funny?'

'Oh! Nothing. The way you ran out from my room I thought something bad happened. But ,now I see you are back. The perfect shine in darkness.' He replied nonchalantly.

'You are mad.'

'Accepted. Now let's have dinner. I am hungry.'

Radhika went downstairs followed by Arjun. Once they sit for dining, Radhika was going to serve herself, Arjun stopped her by placing his hand over her which she immediately took out. He wondered what happened to her suddenly, that touching was not intentional. Even though it was intentional, he wouldn't mind.

'Let me serve tonight. Afterall, you did take all the pain of cooking.' He didn't know why but he was smiling like a fool around herself.

'Okay.'

After sitting down with foods he said, 'You know I missed your handmade food from quite a long time. I should have taste it when you offered the first time but my bad. Thanks to Sam , I tasted your food.'

'Oh! Really. So how's it?' She asked but her whole concentration was on food as it was the last time she was having it and the world would end next day.

Arjun noticed that. He was somewhat astonished on her behavior. He marked she was looking at everywhere but him. That thing was happening from the time he was back. Did someone try to hurt her or she did the favor to herself? Definitely, something happened.

'It's awesome as usual.' He said stuttered while fixing his gaze on her.

'But I wonder, what happened to you? Why you are not looking at me?' He asked finally not bottling inside.

'You are imagining things.'

'I am not someone who drowned himself in imagination when his dream sit live in front of him.'

Radhika looked at him surprised then, 'What?'

'What's what? You are making me worry.'

'Then don't.'

'How can't I? When my wife is worrying me to death, how can I be so calm?' Arjun just said in flow.

Radhika was just munching on final piece of chapati, she choked and coughed. Arjun immediately rush to her and handled a glass of water. He rubbed her back even though she didn't let him touch her.

After getting her composure, she took a deep breathe, 'Mr Mehera, did you just say wife? According to whom? And importantly when did you marry me?'

'In my dream. Don't worry; I will fulfil my dream in most beautiful way.' He just shrugged off.

'You are crazy.' She walked off to her room.

'Thanks for the compliment. Only for you, sweetheart.' He replied munching on the cucumber while smiling to himself.

Radhika stopped hearing him, but didn't turn. She closed her eyes to calm herself and went.

It was already ten past ten; Radhika was looking at watch and herself. She was in same dress from morning. She badly needed her comfy sweats for night after a warm bath. However, her clothes were left in hotel and she didn't want to disturb Simon, for the reason she granted his leave. In addition, aunt Agatha would come next day morning. Those pencil skirt and formal shirt felt no more comfortable. She was sleepy too.

Arjun was working on his presentation, when his room door was knocked. He left his door open , so he looked at Radhika who stood holding the door edge.

'What happened?' He went near her.

'Actually my luggage left in hotel. If you don't mind......' She abruptly stopped to find further words.

Arjun looked at her, she was uncomfortable around him and he didn't like that. He went inside and Radhika's gaze followed his exit. Her eyes went bigger seeing the pair of sweats with him.

'You wanted this.' He said.

'Yes. Thank you.' Her eyes lit up.

She was about to go, he called her back, ' I wish you to be comfortable around me. Nevertheless, I will wait. Goodnight.'

'Goodnight.' She replied with a wide smile, which made his heart jump with joy. He could do everything to keep that smile on her face forever. It felt peace for him.