Sunrays peeped inside the guest room of Singhania house to take a look at two people cuddled into each other's arms like long lost lovers, except they were not lovers. However, the sharing of pain and heartfelt conversations last night had created a bond between them that they were both yet to fathom.

Veer woke up first as the rays hit his eyes. He moved only to get restricted as Bani was sleeping on his chest. Hair were spread everywhere and she looked like a new born baby while sleeping. Veer felt a rush of unknown emotions. Waking up to such a beautiful person is something he would love. He saw rays hit her eyes and a frown mark her face. She moved and hid her face further into his chest. He felt a rush of protectiveness. Removing her arms from around his chest, he slowly got up without disturbing her. He drew the curtains and saw the time. It was eleven-thirty.

Veer got down after a bath. Daksh and Ponky were sitting in the hall playing a board game.

D: Good morning bhai! Aaj to bade fresh lg rahe ho!

P: Haan, bohot dino baad sukoon se soye hai na.

The thing is, Daksh and Ponky had seen Veer and Bani cuddling when they went to check to them as they were not there for breakfast. They did not disturb them then but they wouldn't let a chance to tease Veer go like that. Veer smacked their heads and sat down to plan the day.

Bani woke up around lunch and realized she over slept. Not only that, but she probably had the best night's sleep since ages, probably since her parents died. She looked around and saw Veer wasn't there but a small bag was kept near the foot of the bed. It had her things from Chandigarh. She took out a simple outfit and took a bath.

Bani went downstairs and was greeted by the Singhania brothers.

V: Sweetheart! Welcome, I have quite a day planned for you, but first- Lunch!

B: (Blushes) Thank you. What have you planned? I am fine this way..

D: Chill na Bani. Bhai rarely plans things for others, let him.

They had lunch. After this, Bani spoke.

B: I am grateful you people saved me from VSR and Veeranshu, I forgive you for what you did. I understand your reasons. They were wrong but your apology seems genuine so I'll give you a second chance.

V: Thank you. I won't disappoint you.

B: I have questions though. We were so busy, escaping and then I got really emotional. I didn't ask you a question that has been plaguing my mind.

V: I guess I know what you want to know. Still, ask.

B: Did you, I mean did you really fly?? (She looked scared) What exactly are you?

V: I knew this was coming. I will explain everything to you. Just try and keep an open mind, okay?

Bani nodded.

V: The world is not how you perceive it. Humans are not the only intelligent creatures to walk the earth. Supernatural creatures have co-existed for as long as time itself. We, my family, belong to the clan of Cheels. We have shape-shifting powers and can take human form. We have our own realm. Likewise, there are gidhs, nags and many more. Some kingdoms are strong and have their own realms while some are really small kingdoms and have no system at all.

Veer went on to explain everything he could to Bani. She listened and absorbed everything she could. She was shocked but she also felt they won't harm her.

B: Wow! I probably met supernatural creatures everyday without even realizing!

She was letting it all sink in.

D: Ha! True. You were married to one. Did you not know?

B: WHAT!!!??? VSR IS A CHEEL TOO??

V: HA! He wish he was that cool. He is a nevla

Veer and Ponky made a face.

B: Nevla? Isn't that the creature that looks like a big fat rat with a lizard's face? Eww, I cannot even imagine.

The brothers roared and had a good laugh about it. They spent post lunch hours explaining things to Bani and answering her doubts. The bell rang and everything looked at the door. Veer checked his watch.

V: About time!

He got up and bought two ladies with him.

D: (Whispers) Bhai, iss type hi party ka shaq apko kbse ho gaya?

V: Abe chup! Waisa kuch nahi hai.

The girls had bags in their hands.

V: Bani, these girls are here for you.

B: Me? Why?

V: (Shyly) I was looking for ways to de-stress on the internet and realized a pampering day could be a great idea.

B: Veeranshu, you have already done so much-

V: Bani, please. You deserve to unwind. A little me-time. Okay?

Bani nodded and went to the guest room. The girls massaged her and waxed her body. They polished it and prepared for her to have a bubble bath. After his, they tended to her hands, feet and hair. They did a facial and painted her nails. Bani dozed off in between due to all the relaxing massage. Post this session, she wore a comfortable dress and walked downstairs. It was dinner time.

B: wow! I had been gone really long. This was so good. Thank you Veer.

V: Tch tch tch! Bani you wound me. Mujhe laga hume dosti ho gayi hai ab. Kl ke baad we aren't just strangers who met due to entwined destiny. We've become close. Ab itna haq to banta hai na fir mera.

Bani smiled genuinely. She hadn't been this happy since a long time. She felt a strange peace near Veer. They had their dinner and went to the study. The four played a few card games.

V: Accha ab serious baat. We have to address the elephant in the room. Going by past record, VSR will try to find her. He seems to have a weird obsession with her. So, I guess we should be careful. I have already set my men to keep an eye on his activities. Also the security around the house is increased. Bani, please don't leave the house unprotected for a few days, okay?

Bani nodded.

B: But I cannot hide forever Veer! He is powerful and now I know he is also supernatural. Will this ever stop?

V: It will. I promise everything will become alright!

D: Bhai, I guess we should do something that she can call us out when needed. Or, we should keep watch on her. Like patrolling. We can take turns?

V: No need. I will manage keeping a watch on my own.

B: Like patrolling? Seriously! I am a human. You don't need to act like watch dogs around me.

V: I agree. Going by my hunch. Ye nevla Bani ko wahan na dekh kr pagal ho gaya hoga. He knows koi supernatural help hai. Vo yahan zarur ayega.

B: I should leave then. I don't want you guys to get hurt because of me.

V: Do you not know who we are? Cheels can have these nevlas as side-dish. Plus, our clan is way big. Don't worry.

Bani was assured by the brothers and they agreed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

VSR: Ugh? Us cheel rajkumar ko meri wife se kya lena dena hai? Vo kyun le gaya usse? Kahin koi personal dushmani ke chakkr me to nahi le gaya. Will he hurt my wife??

He turned to his men.

VSR: You sure the cheels have her?

Person: Yes boss, our clues lead to him. We are sure she is there only.

VSR: Hmm, prepare my men then. We will get my wife back.

P: B-boss. We are so less. Humara to kingdom chota sa hai plus the Nevla king doesn't support going against such a strong clan. So sirf aap apne kuch soldiers ke saath itne bade clan ke saath kaise?

VSR: Sochne ka kaam nahi hai tera. Hum konsa head-on ladenge! We'll simple steal my wife away, like he did.

The man went to prepare VSR's men for a fight.

VSR: Tomorrow night my love, we'll be together again!!

~~~~~~~~~~

It was late at night, the four left to their rooms. Suddenly, Veer heard a knock.

V: Come in!

It was Bani.

B: Veeranshu...

V: Aao Bani, kuch kaam tha?

B: Vo (looks shy) mere saman me mera teddy nahi tha...mujhe phir nightmares ayenge.

V: Oh? Nahi tha. Un logon se pack nahi kiya hoga. Koi baat nahi. Substitute ready hai ma'am. Hop in!

He made place for her on his bed.

B: I don't want to cause discomfort. Kl bhi-

V: Tum itna kyun sochti ho. Maine samne se offer kiya hai na.

Bani didn't protest further and soon they both fell into deep slumber. The teddy, belonging to Bani carefully hidden in the mansion's store.

~~~~~~~~~~

The next day rolled in. Bani and Veer got ready in their rooms and met at the breakfast table.

B: I was thinking, I want to do something. I am away from VSR and I trust you guys that i will soon be full free but I can't stay idle.

V: I get this. What do you want to do?

B: Vo to nahi socha utna but I wanted to research over it.

P: Great! Hum after breakfast study room chalte hai. Wahan bohot books hai aur computer bhi hai. We'll research.

V: Great! I also have work so you guys keep busy.

Bani felt bad at this but her feelings confused her.

~~~~~~~~~~

That night, VSR rushed inside Singhania territory with his pitiable army. He already had less men and most of them also ran away when they heard that they were expected to go against the Cheel prince. They called this a 'suicide mission' and refused despite the good pay.

VSR: I don't care how less men follow me here, I will get my wife and I will do this despite all odds.

He turned into a very small mongoose and sneaked inside the house. His men did the same and all started to sneak inside the rooms to find Bani.

Men: Boss, we searched all rooms. Most of them are empty and only in three rooms, three men are sleeping. They must be the prince and his family. Ma'am isn't there. Maybe our information as wrong.

VSR sulked. Unknown to his men who had exited Veer's room the moment they entered it, Bani was actually cuddled to his side and was hidden from the view as Veer's bulky body towered over her small frame.

VSR: It is actually good news. Means she is not with another man. I am glad about this.

Meanwhile, in the middle of the night; Bani woke up feeling parched. She saw the empty bottle of water and recalled how Veer and she had a water fight before going to bed. They emptied the bottles and the mattresses in her room got wet so they were sleeping in his. She got up and picked the bottle and started to go downstairs.

VSR was trying to sneak back out when he heard footsteps. He hid himself and took a peep. He saw Bani step downstairs. She looked half-sleepy and was wearing her night wear. He saw red thinking how she was living in a house full of three men and wore clothes like this. He followed her into the kitchen and saw her take a bottle out.

Bani closed the fridge door and saw VSR standing there. He was stoic and looked mad. Her eyes widened, sleep left her. 'Was she dreaming?' Involuntarily, a scream left her throat.

B: Aaaahhhhhhhh!!!

VSR quickly shut her mouth.

VSR: HOW DARE YOU LEAVE ME???

Men: Shant boss...dheere

VSR: CHUP (he told him but tone his voice down) We are going home dear wife and this time you'll receive the punishment that is going to tame you for sure!

Bani struggled but her small frame was no match to his bulk. She thrashed and her legs caused some utensils to fall.

Men: Boss we need to hurry. Bohot shor ho raha hai..

VSR was rushing with Bani when she mustered up all of her strength and bit him hard. He yelped and left his hold for one second. She took this opportunity to kick him 'where the sun doesn't shine' and ran towards the halls.

VSR: You B****! Ugh! Catch her. If she doesn't come then kill her. But meri nahi to Bani kissi ki nahi.

VSR and his men rushed behind Bani while she ran but they were catching up to her. She tripped near the stairs and fell. VSR laughed and moved towards her. His men were grinning but suddenly all of this stopped as they all heard a very angry hoot. Out of nowhere, landing before them and sealing their view of Bani with his majestic wings was the cheel prince himself!

Veer looked up. Death dancing in his eyes. He tossed a red flashy stone- 'Gandhak' out of his pocket and soon his men flew up in the air and turned upside down.

VSR: WHAT THE HECK!

V: CHILLA MT! MERE MANSION ME MERI PERMISSION KE BINA GHUS TO GAYA PR TU JAYEGA NAHI!!

VSR: SALE! TU KONSA MERI PERMISSION LEKR AYA THA AUR TU TO MERI BIWI KO BHI LE GAYA!!!

V: BIWI? TU JAISE TREAT KRTA HAI USSE, VO BIWI HAI TERI??

VSR: MAI JAISE BHI KARU, MIYA-BIWI KE BEECH ME BOLNE WAALA TU KON??

V: KAISI BIWI BE? CHUP KR! AURAT PR HAATH UTHANE WALE NA-MARD! ZABARDASTI KI SHAADI KO RISHTA NAHI KEHTE..

VSR: KUCH BHI BOL TU, LEGALLY MERI BIWI HAI YE AUR TU MUJHE ISSE DOOR NAHI RAKH SKTA.

Veer turned to Bani.

V: Shit sweetheart! Ye to sach bolla is nevle ne. Ye tumhara legal husband hai..We'll have to rectify the situation now.

Saying this, Veer punched VSR in the face. The man cried and attacked Veer. Veer fought well. He hooted and Daksh came downstairs with Ponky. His guards also flew in.

V: Daksh, Ponky- protect Bani. Guards, seize his men.

The fight began. Bani couldn't see much behind the wall of men that Veer had created to protect her innocent eyes but she could here loud thrashing. She prayed it was VSR getting bashed up and not Veer. After a while, the sea of men that sealed her view parted. Veer walked towards her dragging a bloodied up VSR by his neck. He threw him at her feet.

Veer looked at her expectantly. Bani looked into VSR's eyes. She still saw the lust and cunningness. The image of her parents corpse danced in front of her eyes. She let out a loud scream and slapped him in the face. Despite all the wounds, VSR looked angry at Bani's slap. He opened his mouth to yell at her but Veer shut his jaw with a punch. He walked to a teary Bani and hugged her. He pulled her face into his chest and turned them so that she doesn't see what is happening next.

V: Boys!! (To his guards) feast on!!

He left with Bani while his men turned cheels and feasted on the mongooses.

~~~~~~~~~~

It took Bani a few days to forget what she saw that night but she slowly recovered. She absorbed the fact that VSR was indeed gone and she was free. She thanked Veer. Later, being the widow of VSR, she got most of his property. She donated it to charities and people she wanted to. She didn't want to retain anything from him. The bitter memories he gave were already enough.

Veer helped her trace back her parents' home and property. It wasn't much but it gave Bani a sense of peace. A month after the incident, Bani moved into a PG and enrolled for a baking & cooking course. Veer knew this was important to her. She needed to find herself again to recover for all that was lost from her. They became very close friends.

Two years later, bani had finished her course and Veer helped her set up a cafe. Despite his urges, Bani refused his financial help. She used her parents' money and took the rest cash on loan. Veer helped with the interiors and promotions. He wanted to help more but Bani told him that him being with her was emotional support enough.

Over these two years, both of them had become more than just friends. They started to like each other a lot. A month before her cafe's opening, Veer saw her with a male. Turned out, he was just a sue chef she was interviewing but the insane jealously he felt momentarily made him realise his true feelings for her. He got scared to lose her when he saw her with someone else. Likewise, Daksh once got a call that Veer had caused an accident. Turned out that Veer had only tripped off a chair 'accidently' but Daksh was standing near Bani when he was talking. She panicked thinking he was seriously injured. The entire ordeal made her realise her true feelings as well.

On the night of the cafe's opening, Veer took Bani on a date to celebrate. They walked in a beautiful roof top restaurant.

V: You look ravishing Bani. And, congratulations.

B: Thank You Veeranshu. You look good too.

They ordered their food and did small talks. Veer asked Bani how she felt now, being an owner of such a gorgeous cafe. Soon the orders came.

B: Excuse me? I didn't order this.

V: Let it be. It is made especially for you.

B: Dessert before meals? Why doesn't all this feels like a déjà vu??

She said and dug in her cake. Her fork clashed against something and she frowned. She looked at the cake and found out a ring on it.

She was confused and look up to see Veer was already on his knees. She gasped and tears pooled her eyes.

V: Bani? Two years ago, I misunderstood you and insulted you in a similar fashion. Still, your kindness amazes me. I am glad you gave me a second chance to know you. I am so lucky that despite my impulsive behaviour, you gave me the opportunity be next to  you. You are kind, beautiful inside out and the most loving person I know. I love you. I love everything about you. Your cute button nose, your smile and your honey-like voice. Please make me the luckiest man in the world by giving me the chance to wake up next to you for the rest of my life.

Tears were pouring out if her eyes. It was only when a waitress nudged her slightly that she realised that she was crying and Veer was still on his knees. The whole place was quiet and looking ather expectantly.

B: Yes! YES YES YES!!! Oh my god!!

She jumped into his arms and the people clapped. They said congratulations and Veer slipped the ring onto her finger. Vani hugged each other and felt at peace. Veer looked above and saw those stars, the ones they bonded over and whispered a thank you to the gods above. 

~~~~Fin~~~~~

Thoughts?

Pending tracks from my end:-

1. Has Teer in it.
2. Has Noor in it.
3. Bani is on the verge of death.
4. Veer is stuck in an unfavorable situation.
5. Has Meera in it.
6. A spy and a army person.
7. Has a kidnapper in it.
8. Some tracks based on fairy tale concepts (I have two such ideas)
9. Veer rescues Bani and they help her take revenge
10. Bani is a runaway bride.

Pending requested tracks:-

1. Vani after the mistletoe- party track, minus the Farishta

...

Up next: I feel cold revenge was heavy on emotions and I want to pick up a lighter topic now. I was thinking of clubbing two tracks. That is, Veer is stuck in an unfavorable situation and a fairy tale concept.

Until we meet again
Take care
Much love
❤❤