One year later

"Are you sure I look good? Am I dressed correctly?"

Amulya looked up from her suitcase towards Alaric. He was wearing a Navy blue dress shirt with cream pants. He looked gorgeous as usual.

"Yes you are, for the fifth time today" She rolled her eyes at him, smiling. "Why are you so worried?"

"I am meeting your parents for the first time. I don't want them to have a bad impression on me"

"Alaric, my parents love you. I'm sure they love you more than they love me. Now stop worrying" She assured him.

"Okay fine." He sighed moving around the hotel room picking up his shoes.

"I'll get some breakfast while you get dressed." He told her going out of the room.

Alaric and Amulya landed in India not even ten hours back. It was late at night that's why they decided to check in into a hotel room before they'd head to Amulya's home town.

There was a naming ceremony for Madhan's son. Amulya was super excited to find that her brother was going to have a second baby. Little Tej was born just two months back.

Amulya couldn't shut up about how much she couldn't wait to meet the little boy. Alaric couldn't deny he was excited too, but his anxiety was skyrocketing.

He was going to meet her parents for the first time. Even though they apologized for their behaviour, he was still scared they were going to speak out of line.

The past year has been full of many ups and downs. The pandemic settled down, it took almost a whole year for the public places and flights to operate again.

Amulya moved in with Alaric. She even met his mum a few times. The woman adored Amulya. She couldn't wait for them to get married. Hilary jumped down when she heard the news of the engagement causing both her kids to give out squeals of excitement, even though they didn't know why they were celebrating.

By the time Alaric returned with breakfast, Amulya was already dressed. She was wearing an elephant grey silk sari which had brick red border. Her long hair flowed behind her in soft curls. She looked truly beautiful.

"Would you wear this for me every day?" He asked her with a smirk.

She just narrowed her eyes at him before declining his offer.

"It's not as easy as it looks. I'm not wearing it every day Alaric"

"But you look beautiful"

"Don't I always?" She told him playfully, wrapping her hands around his neck.

"You do sweetheart" He kissed her forehead. "I love you"

"I love you too"

They journey back home was nerve wracking. Amulya squeezed Alaric's hand tightly between hers to control her anxiety.

She might have talked to her parents many times but it was the first time in almost three years she was seeing them.

As soon as they got down the car, Amulya's mother rushed out to greet them. She wrapped her daughter in a tight hug; kissing her cheeks saying how much she missed her.

Next was Madhan and Jasmine along with the little boy. She hugged them cooing over the baby.

"Where is my princess?" She asked Jasmine looking around for her niece. Alaric was talking to Madhan.

"She is somewhere around here" Jasmine smiled thinking about her daughter who couldn't sit still for a moment.

They all walked inside. Amulya lead Alaric to her old room where they put their bags in the closet to unpack later.

When they went down again, the ceremony has already started. Madhan and Jasmine sat down with baby Tej. There were a few kids playing nearby. Amulya went there to greet her niece.

Alaric watched as his fiancé started ticking the little girl making her giggle. The sight was truly beautiful. Amulya was good with kids. He smiled knowing one day it was going to be his kids and he suddenly felt lucky. He was really glad he chose to make a dating profile to get out of writers block.

"Hello son" Alaric turned to see Mr. Natraj walking over to him. "I read your book." He said referring to the book Alaric was finally able to publish.

"It was truly beautiful. I love how beautifully you used the words. You have a way with your words Alaric. Keep writing" the man smiled at Alaric.

"Thank you. I had a beautiful inspiration to keep it going" he shifted his looks towards the woman who was still playing with the kids.

"I hurt her a lot. I forced her into a marriage she didn't like. I said I'd rather her be dead." Natraj said with a solemn voice. "I never saw her happy, Alaric. Thank you for making my daughter happy"

Alaric smiled back. He didn't need to answer him. The smile held a promise not to ever hurt her voluntarily.

He looked over at Amulya. She was glowing with happiness as she laughed and talked to her cousins. He would do anything just to keep her smiling and happy.

She turned her head and their eyes met. He smiled at the woman in front of him. She raised her eyebrows as if to ask him what he was thinking. He shook his head and mouthed−

I love you.

Amulya smiled back wider, making her way towards him and when she was close enough she held his hands in hers and told him−

"I'll always love you"

And she did.

~*~

It's over guys!!

Hope you had fun reading this!

Don't forget to vote and comment!

07.05.20