'What the hell Veer?!' screamed Bani.

V: Shant ho jao..

B: Tumne mujhe poocha bhi nahi...

V: Arey! I helped you na. Now you help me..

B: I won't live-in with you!!!!

V: Relax, I am not asking you to sleep with me. Bs ek ghar me rehna hai. Aur to aur kl raat bhi hum ek room me the na?

B: Pr Veeranshu, mujhe ye sheher me nahi rehna..I don't feel safe.

V: Bani I will keep you safe. Tum ghar pr rehne and online Mumbai ke baare me, wahan ke jobs- ye sb research krna. Okay? Chaar mahine ki toh baat hai. I helped you na...Now it's your turn. I don't need those jewels. This is the payback I want.

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

Somehow, Veer convinced Bani. Veer went to see the house and fix things. Meanwhile, Bani washed her last night's undergarments. She removed the clothes as they were very uncomfortable and wrapped the bath towel again. She saw the large TV and switched on some music.

After finalizing the house, Veer went and bought some things for Bani. He also bought their dinner and reached his room to see her sleeping on the bed with music on. He looked at her small frame and felt an urge of protectiveness wash over him. He woke her up gently.

'Nahi karungi shaadi mai, vo gunda hai...'

She mumbled in her sleep. Veer chuckled and somehow woke her up.

B: Veer, tum aa gaye??

V: Nahi, on the way hoon..

B: (Yawns) tang mt kro na...

Her bath towel had some a little loose during the sleep and Veer could see her cleavage. He gulped and looked away.

V: Vo mai saari laya hoon tumhare liye, isme size ka issue nahi hota na...aur petticoat bhi free size hi hai.

B: Blouse?

V: Vo mai 'M' le aya...

B: Chalo subah wale size se toh better hi hai..

She quickly changed into the saree and wore her now dried undergarments. In proper clothes, she felt comfortable. They had their food.

V: Bani kl Saturday hai. We'll go buy a few things for the house. Vo fully furnished hai. Mere company ke staff ko bolkr maine kitchen supplies aur groceries stock krwa li hai.

B: Hmm, phir bhi ghar me aur bhi cheeze lgti hai. Aur mujhe kapde bhi chahiye. Aur mere documents bhi toh nahi hai mere pass..

V: I will get a fake Id for our marriage made online. Rest, tumhe apna Aadhar card ka number yaad hai toh mai baaki sb nikalwa lunga..

B: Yes! Thank you so much..

She told Veer her details. He made the necessary changes.

V: Bani, isse pehle mai bhool jaon..

B: Bolo..

Veer filled her hairline with vermillion and place a nuptial chain round her neck.

B: Ye kya kr rahe ho?? Ye sindoor?? Mangalsutra..

V: Relax, shaadi nahi hui hai pr logon ko lagna chahiye hui hai. Aisa krke tum meri ardhangini lg rahi ho. Bani Veeranshu Singhania.

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

The next day, they checked out of the hotel and went to the house. The owner was an old couple. They came to meet them and hand over the keys. They were sceptical but as decided earlier, Bani answered all questions asked by them and Veer smiled at her while she replied. This made them look like a couple in love while also avoided risk of double- answering. The couple saw no reason to doubt them as Veer had her ID taken out online and edited the name to Bani Veeranshu Singhania in an app. They open the house. It had a hall, a kitchen and just one room with attached bathroom. A balcony was attached to the hall. It had furniture properly laid and covered. Bani popped down on the seat.

B: Waise tum krte kya ho? Jis tarah se tumne document fake ki hai, koi mafia toh nahi ho na..

V: Please sweetheart! Ye cheeze baacho ko bhi pata hoti hai..

B: Mai flat dekhr aayi..

V: Okay, jldi aana, hum phir ghar ka saman le ayenge..

B: Okay..

A while later,

B: Yahan ek hi kamra hai..

V: Kya??

They called the broker but he said why a couple will need two room and earlier also he was looking for one bedroom flat for Veer. Bani somehow invaded his doubt laden questions and cut the call.

V: Sweetheart, tum bedroom me so jana, I will manage on the sofa. Abhi chale? Waise kitchen ka saman aur groceries aa jayengi raat tk, aur kya hi chahiye..

B: Saaf safai ka saman? Bed sheets? Aur bhi cheeze hai, chalo ab..

Vani went shopping and bought household things. They felt like a couple shopping. Bani then asked him to sell the jewels so that she also had money but he told her that it is not safe as anything can be used to track her down. They will sell only in Mumbai. Bani agreed and bought some clothes and other essentials for herself. They had their meals and came back home.

Together, the cleaned the bedroom first and put the bed together. They spread the sheets.

V: Chalo tumhare sone ka hisab toh gaya..ab hall kr lein?

B: Aaj nahi Veer. I am tired. Kl karenge. Aaj tum yahin so jaana..

V: Sure?

B: Can you control yourself?

V: What do you mean? Off course!

B: So you can sleep.

They dozed off feeling tired.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The next day, they woke up and Veer went out to get breakfast again.

V: This has to stop. If I eat outside one more time, I will throw up. I am eating out since so many days.

B: I will make lunch for us then, breakfast kr lo pehle. Then we'll clean out the kitchen.

Vani cleaned the kitchen and Bani arranged the things for lunch. Meanwhile Veer set his things in the cupboards and cleaned the small dining table.

V: Wow sweetheart! Tumhare hathon me toh jadoo hai.

Bani blushed and thanked him for the compliment. They rested post lunch but got to work. By the night, they had cleaned the entire flat but assembling a few things was left. They slept quickly post the days labour that day.

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

Bani woke up first the other day, she saw Veer sleeping like a baby and took a quick bath. She made his breakfast and thought.

B: Ye kitna accha hai, mujh anjaan ladki ki kitni madad ki hai. I know this living situation is a payback according to him pr I should make his stay here comfortable as a way of thanking him. Waise bhi ye kaam pr jayega to mai akele krungi kya??

Bani was deep in thoughts when Veer came there. He wished her morning to which Bani smiled. He had his breakfast and left for work.

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

Veer's POV

I had this amazing breakfast. I have to admit she is such a great cook. We also have great conversations. Somewhere I am glad I don't have to live alone.

I went to work. Around 12, a staff member came with a lunch box.

V: Ye mere liye hai?

I was surprised.

Staff: Sir, vo ma'am ka call aya tha ki mai lunch pick kr loon ghar se.

I had given Bani the number of my office staff in case she needed something but her sending me lunch was so sweet. I opened the box and saw a note.

'I know you are tired of having outside food, I hope you are not mad I called the staff. Happy eating :)'

I was touched by her gesture. She indeed is a sweetheart. I ate the delicious food and it automatically put me in great mood. Heaven knew I needed it as I had a long day of meeting planned ahead.

~

I finished my last meeting and was very tired. I reached my cabin.

S: Sir, here is the phone, the sim card and the laptop, as you ordered.

I nodded at him. I got these for Bani as she needed a phone to contact me and laptop to pass her time. I was really tired and reached home.

Bani opened the door with a smile. It made all my stress melt. Did it feel this great to come home to someone?? She asked me how my day went and I told her everything. It considerably lifted my mood. I saw that she had put everything in proper place. I asked her why she did so but she told me she would have gotten bored otherwise.

I gave her the laptop and phone. She was denying at first but I made her accept it. I saved my number on her phone. She was really happy and this gave me joy. We ate the dinner prepared by her and went to sleep.

I think I am going to enjoy these four months. Crashing into her is the best thing that happened to me in a while.

Veer's POV ends

~~~~~~~~~~~

This continued for two months. Vani had now grown accustomed to each other. Veer would go out and work while Bani took proper care of the flat. It really resembled a shared household. They also grew very close. They shared everything and craved each other's company. Bani's good nature also won over her neighbours. They absolutely adored her. They also witnessed how Veer cared for her, this left no doubt in anyone's mind that they were married or not.

Bani was still scared to roam freely in the town. She knew that the man she was getting married to won't accept defeat that easily and she won't be truly free until she leaves town. Maybe they were searching for her at different places and no one expected her to be still here. Anyways, she was really glad she crashed into Veer.

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

One day, Veer came from work but Bani didn't open with a smile as usual. In fact she did not open at all. Worried, he used the spare key for the first time and entered. There was no Bani in sight. He got panicked.

V: Shit!!! Mujhe usse Mumbai bhej dena chahiye tha...Oh shit!!! Kahin vo un logon ke haath toh nahi lg gayi...

He started to rush out panicked when he heard her sweet laugh. He looked around to see that she was standing with their landlady and talking to her.

V: BANI!!!!

Bani was shocked to hear her name being called like this. She turned but was immediately enveloped into a hug by Veer.

V: Tum ghar pr nahi thi, mai kitna dr gaya tha pata hai tumhe???

Bani tried to calm him down but he had her face pressed so tightly in his chest that her words were getting lost.

'Uhem!'

They old lady coughed but Veer was busy pamper-scolding Bani.

'Uhem!! Uhem!!'

Veer finally realized and let go of her. The old lady smiled while Bani blushed.

O: Isliye ye bacchii 7 baje hi bolne lgti hai ki mujhe ghar jaana hai...kitna panic krta hai tu iske na milne pr...kahin zyada ati jaati bhi nahi...Bani, tera pati toh sach me bohot protective hai. Humesha khush raho..

The lady blessed them and went. Vani came into their house.

B: Tum bhi na Veeranshu. Mai khud is town me kahin bahar nahi jaati, pr yahan aas pass ke gharon me hi jati hoon kbhi kbhi..

V: Hmm.. I got scared Bani. Kahin vo Gunda??

B: Relax!!

She said it like Veer does. Veer cracked up a smile and pulled her into a hug again. Their first hug moments ago had ignited a new need for physical warmth in the two. They melted in each other's embrace.

'VEER????'

The both heard a female voice and parted. A pair of eyes looked at them really shocked.

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

To be Continued

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Who do you think it is?