Author's POV

"T-thik hai aap?" he whispered caressing the back of her palm with his shaky fingers as she woke up after hours, his voice trembled due to heavy emotions.

"Aap paas hain. Sab thik hai." She mumbled smiling weakly despite the fatigue in her body.

He kept looking at her with a small smile in his face who was struggling to keep her eyes open.

She lightly squeezed his palm which was already tangled with hers and again smiled in reassurance, "Hum thik hain."

He nodded and kissed the back of her palm, placing it on his cheeks to feel more of her presence.

She tried to scoot closer to him but her face twisted with pain and she hissed closing her eyes tightly.

Her back was aching due to lying in the same position for hours.

His reflex came in action and he stood up from his chair and caressed her head with worry written all over his face.

"K-kya hua?" he questioned examining her expressions.

"My back feels stiff. It's hurting." tears gathered in her eyes and before they can fall he wiped them away.

"Shhh.... Look at me." she slowly opened her damp eye lashes and looked at him in pain.

"Hold me." he guided her arms around his neck and she hugged him while tightening her hold on him.

Locking his arms on her back, he carefully lifted her to sit and placed pillows behind her back for support and slowly leaned her down on to the pillows.

"Is it okay?" he asked not leaving her shoulders until she was sitting comfortably.

"More than that." She hummed releasing a sigh of relief.

He smiled faintly and sat besides her.

Just then Abhiraj ji, Akshaj ji and Abhinav entered the room with files in Akshaj ji's hands.

As soon as they saw her wide awake, their serious expression softed and they came towards her bed.

Garvit stood and gave way to his father while Akshaj ji stood on the other side of the bed.

"Kese ho beta?" Abhiraj ji asked keeping his warm hand on her head.

"Ji thik hain." she smiled weakly and he kissed her head.

She looked at her father and waited for him to say something but he didn't even looked at her and fidgeted with the soft toy placed near her.

She felt hurt and slowly reached for his hand but he retrieved it that made her heart ache.

"Naraz hain humse?" she asked meekly, although she knew the answer.

"Nahi, hum kon hote hain naraz hone wale. Aap humein apna kahan samjhti hain jo apne bare mein kuch bataye. Hum toh paraye hain na." he uttered, his voice at th me edge of breaking but he remained still, while stealing glances from her.

She gasped weakly, her lower lip trembled and tears started pooling her eyes.

For her, Akshaj is everything like she is his'. Although they live distantly since few years but there's no distance between their hearts. They lay close to each other.

And today listening to him like this wven when she is with him after months, her innocent heart shattered.

"P-papa." her voice faltered with a broken sob and she lifted the blanket from herself, trying to get down the bed to reach him.

"I-I am s-sorry pa...papa. Please aap-" everyone's heart dropped and before she can get down, her father came and embraced her in his arms.

"Nahi beta, rote nahi. Hum mazak kar rahe the." he chuckled fakely to lift her mood but she sobbbed more clutching to his shirt.

Garvit's heart ached watching her weak and crying but he knew this is a father-daughter moment and chose to stay still.

She pulled back from the hug and lightly slapped Akshaj ji's chest while complaining, "Dekhiye na Kaka sa, kaise har vakt humein tang karte rehte hain."

Everyone erupted in laughter while Akshaj ji kissed her head lovingly and Abhiraj said caressing her hair, "Chalo beta, ghar chalte hain."

Listening to him she smiled and nodded her head.

The paperwork was already done and they reached the Kashyap house shortly.

"Kuhoo di, ye sab kya hai?" Sunidha asked as she saw her bringing a pooja thali.

"Up. Up." Zivaa came running behind Kuhoo and asked Garvit to lift her up in his arms.

"You got uii-uii Eeya, so we are doing your aarti to dhishoom all baddies." she squished Sunidha's cheeks between her palms and exclaimed in her bubbly voice.

Everyone at were at awe and Sunidha smiled at her care for her, kissing Zivaa's palms.

After having dinner, Garvit looked towards the couple and her father, as they nodded he said something that made Sunidha pause while she was playing with Zivaa.

"Sunidha ji, hum kal Delhi ke liye nikal rahe hain." he exhaled quitely.

She stilled for a moment.

Everyone knew they were leaving and were sad about it.

Her heart dropped on the news and she come to an extent of thinking that made her realise that she won't be able to come back again atleast for another year due to so many events at the college.

She exhaled slowly to get a grip on her emotions and looked towards the family.

"Hum packing kar lete hain fhir." she mumbled with a fake smile and stood up with Zivaa in her arms.

Akshaj ji stopped her and stood in front of her.

"Humne apki packing kar di hai, beta. Aap bas..." he placed his palm on her head and told her in us soft voice,

"apni Nina ke kamre se zaruri samaan le lijiye." he requested and she knew.

She knew the actual need of packing things from her Nina's room.

She looked down and nodded silently.

"Zivu, apne Nanu ke sath carrom khelengi aap?" Akshaj ji asked stretching his arms towards Zivaa and she squealed in happiness jumping into his arms.

"Mumma Papa bhi." she declared excitedly and they smiled lightly.

"Garv, tum zara Kashu ki help kar doge?" Akshaj ji asked and Garvit nodded in agreement.

All the while Sunidha's eyes were downcasted but she finally looked at him and they started walking towards the room which was below the staircase.

She opened The door and entered in the room filled with a familiar scent of sandalwood that brought back the memories,

"Nina, aapse mitti ki saundhi khushboo aati hai." her grandmother chuckled and caressed her back her grand daughter squeezed her in a hug.

And just like the first rain hits the earth, damping the thirsty soil to quench their thirst, the same way those memories came her senses and went away with a lingering ache like the cold clouds goes with the flow of wind.

"Ninaaaaaa! Humare kadhi chawal. Apne hath se khilaiye naaaaaa!" she bounced in her Grandma's bed with a watery mouth as she saw the food.

"Aaja meri bachi." she smiled and started feeding her while telling her story of horse and hare.

But she didn't knew the taste of food which she loved from her hands will become a distant memory that she wouldn't be able to live again. Only if she knows another pair of hands are dying to feed her, unknown to her existence.

All these memories started flashing in her mind while she was packing the stuff she needed.

Sunidha was quiet as usual she is, but her silence wasn't just about silence itself. This was the pain, unsaid words, sadness of loss and longing to relive the past once more.

He understood her too well, and knew she wouldn't talk it out herself so he asked,

"Aapko koi regret hai?" he asked packing the books inside a box but his whole focus was on her even if he didn't met her gaze.

Her hands stopped for a moment but she managed to mumble, "Nahi."

"Regret unhen hota hai jo kuch kehna ya karna chahte the unke liye jo chale gaye. Magar humne toh Nina ke sath har pal guzara hai." she smiled sorrow but it didn't reached her eyes.

"Bas dukh iss baat ka hai ki....thoda aur vakt mil jata unke sath. Bas....thoda sa."

"Unhe jakad ke sona, unke sath mandir jana, unke hath se khana khana, unke sath pakwaan manana, unse kahaniyan sunna...." she stopped and he slowly looked at her.

There she was controlling herself to not shudder, to regain her control over the emotions.

Garvit stood up and made her stand. She sniffled back her tears and he took her towards the gallery.

"Vo dekhiye..." he whispered making her stand beneath the constellation of stars.

She looked up and remembered those words of her nina,

"Nina, vo tara itna kyun chamakta hai?" little Sunidha asked her grandmother, pointing towards the dhruv tara while they gazed at the blanket of staurs above them eating kulfi.

"Uska mtlb hai ki koi apko upar se bahot yaad kar rha hai." her Nina mumbled, although not a fact but a hope for future her.

"vo upar unn taron ke bich chupkar aapko nihaar rahi hain. Dekh rahi hain ki aap kya kar rahi hain. Khush hain ya nahi." he whispered making her eyes tear up again.

She was again at the verge of breaking down.

"Milaengi nahin aap humein apni Nina se? Akhir vo humein thode janti hain." he suggested to lighten her mood and she looked at him from her shoulder.

Turning towards the sky she smiled softly and said, "Sahi kehte hain aap. Nina ne bhi kaha tha ye."

Blinking her eye at the sky she began, "Nina, ye humare mangetar hain. Aapki Sunidha ke hone wale pati. Kehti thi na aap jinse humari shadi hogi unki kismat khul jaegi."

She paused and looked at him again and continued, "Lekin bhagyashali toh hum hain. Jinka byaah inke jaise pati aur itne pyaare ghar pe ho rha hai."

His breath hitched and his eyes filled with warm tears. Thankfully she was back facing him and he quickly wiped the tears away.

Clearing his throat he began in his low voice," Sunidha ji ki Nina, hum aapse aashirvaad ki kaamna karte hain. Vaada karte hain ki inka sath humesha denge. Inhen kabhi akela nahi rehne denge, chahe puri duniya inke khilaaf ho, h

unse guzarne se pehle uss pareshani ko humse guzarna hoga."

A choked sob left her mouth due to the overwhelming feeling from his words.

His heart panicked but he remained caom, slowly he stretched his arms and placed them on her arms in order to offer some comfort but scared to to rush before taking her permission.

As if understanding, she took a step back without a word and released a quiet breath before engulfing her in a back hug.

He smiled softly in relief that she is letting him in from the boundary she had unknowingly created to separate herself from the world. She is started to trust> him that gave his heart a fluttering ache both in relief and pain as he is finally coming closer to her.

Baby steps but towards a biggest dream.

His biggest dream.

Having her in his arms, their children playing around them, their elders blessing them and what not.

Breaking the silence he mumbled looking in the sky, "Vese toh aap humari Maa sa se mil chuki hain. Magar aaj fhir se milate hain."

She smiled amd nodded her head quietly.

And before he could say anything, she started, "Pranaam Maa sa. Aap toh humein jaanti hi hain."

He opened his mouth but closed in amusement as he listened her speaking.

"Jis vakt hum mile the uss vakt ke halat thode thik nahi the. Lekin aaj hum ache se baat kar sakte hain aapse." she reaclled the night when he was unwell but then everything came to its place.

"Hum jaante hain aapne apne Garvit ko khoob pyaar se paala hai. Aur vo sanskar inke har dhang mein dikhte hain. Hum vada karte hain. Aapke bete ko kabhi akela nahi hone denge. Humesha saaye ki tarah inka sath denge. Bas hum par vishwas kijiyega."

A chill ran down her spine as she suddenly felt the weigh of responsibilities that are waiting for her in that house.

A wife, a bahu, a bhabhi.

All these titles along with great responsibilities awaits her.

And Garvit? He was frozen in his place. His hands still like ice around her waist wehn he heard her.

All these years he had dreamt of becoming a good and responsibke husband, father, son amd brother.

To love his family shike expecting nothing from them in return.

But listening to her, his heart felt extremely heavy with deep emotions that he didn't even knew were there inside his heart.

His inner child was leaping with joy to hear her take oath in front of her beloved mother to take care of him and his family with so much devotion.

His eyes filled with tears but he blinked them away.

"Aapko pata hai?" she whispered looking at the sky, leaning on him.

He squeezed her palm in response, his throat feeling too tight to response.

"Nina humse kehti thi ki humare ek dost the bachpan main. Tab hum bhot chote the ki humein kuch yaad ho. Lekin vo humari dhundhli yaadon mein zarur hain." she recalled the fragmented memories coding her eyes and kept silence for a moment.

Getting impatient, he softly but carefully asked but to show her his......jealousy.

"Kya kehti thi vo?"

She opened her eyes and smiled while mumbling, "Ki vo humare sabse kareeb the. Humare sath sote the. Humare liye mahine ki har special tareekh ko zidd karke dher sara naye khilone laate...." while started laughing while throwing her head back on his chest while narrating.

Her laugh was carefree and real, not the forced ones.

He just stood there listening to her laugh while coding his eyes as if his ears longed for this moment.

And he knew whom is she taking about.

20 years back, he used to come at her home- this home, riding on his bicycle with a small helmet, his parents trailing along him but he was too excited I wait for them and reached before them.

"Choti maa!!" he whispered finding the baby and her mother, taking baby steps to ensure not to wake up the baby if she is sleeping.

As soon as Shraddha heard the door open, she shouted from her room, "Your Baby panda is awake Garv!"

He squealed in delight vs rushed upstairs with a soft toy in his hand.

Before climbing on the bed, he first washed his hands and legs then made his way towards Shraddha.

Her heart melted with his carefullness and she started peppering his face with small pecks.

"How are you choti maa?" he asked kissing her cheeks.

"I am all well beta." she replied smiling.

"I brought this you for her." he showed her the toy proudly that made her awe.

She kissed the top of the toy and whispered, "Very pretty."

"I know." he replied confidently spreading his little chest wide.

"Ye ladka aur iski batein." his mother, Sandhya ji chuckled entering the room with her husband Abhiraj ji.

"Can I give this to her?" he asked innocently.

"Ofcourse baby." Shraddha ji whispered happily, setting his hair in place.

He grinned widely and came out of her lap.

"Carefully." his mother warned him and he grinned. "I know Maa." that made her shook her head watching him.

He climbed on the bed from the other side very carefully and looked at the baby who was playing with her hands.

He sat beside her and propped himself on his elbow staring at the baby.

"Aisa kya dekh rahein hain humari Sunidha ko?" her mother asked teasingly when she found him lost on the baby.

"Kitni pyaari hain ye." he whispered touching her chubby cheek.

She scrunched her nose not liking being touched on her cheek that made him giggled.

Hearing him, her mother and his parents were at awe, their heart filled with contentment.

"Ye dekhiye, hum aapke liye kya laye hain." he brought the toy to her view and she squealed.

Her hands took the plushie from his and she squeaked looking at the toy.

"See, I knew she will love it." he announced proudly and kissed her cheek gently.

All of them laughed and the baby again got busy playing, but with his soft brown curls.

"Nina ne bataya tha ki unhein lagta tha mahine ke har uss din humare liye tohfe laate the jis din humara janm-din aata hai." she spoke as her giggles ended.

Only if she knew this guy who was standing before her is the same kid she was talking about who has took her peace since these tales by her grandma.

He closed his eyes smiling as his ears burned with heat, redness painted them and he hummed nuzzling his face on her hair.

After standing there a while he stepped back, creating a distance between them and he spoke, "Let's go inside. The air is turning chilly."

She nodded and they resumed their work.

She was feeling much lighter than she had intended to be, all because of him and his talks.

He opened the door for her and they kept her belongings on the living room and walked side by side till her room.

"Aapko pata hai...." she started gaining much more courage and just to tease her he didn't wait and replied, "Nahin." although he knew she didn't asked but started to convey her thoughts.

She tilted her head slightly, scrunching her nose slightly but didn't responded.

He stiffled his laugh with all his will as he watched her cute little scrunched nose.

"Acha sorry." he apologised but she didn't said anything.

He stopped in front of him and catched his ears, "Maaf kar dijiye naa." he repeated.

Her heart melted watching him and a small smile grazed her lips but she hid it by looking down.

"Aap pehle hain jinko humne khud ko hug karne diya aaj. Jisse ek alag sa sukoon mila. Jitna Papa ya Nina se ke gale lagne se bhi nahi....utna sukoon-dayak tha. Sirf aapka tha." this was not her but her heart conveyed the emotions she felt feom the deepest of her heart.

Her breath stuttered, neck covered with red stain of heat and her hands trembled that mirrored his state. Probably because this was the first time she had told someone what she truely feels about their presence.

Just when she was about to run, he grabbed her wrist, gentle but firm and she stopped, both back facing each other.

Her heart skipped a beat and she closed her eyes shut while breathing unevenly, her hand burned at the area his hand had wrapped from the blush.

"Hum....humein k-kyu?" he asked breathlessly.

"Humare dil ne kaha aapko pata hona chahiye." he smiled loosening his grip, letting go of her hand, her bangles and the jhanjhar gifted by him jingled as she practically ran to her room with a flushed face.

She closed the door from inside with a shy smile and leaned onto it covering her face with her trembling palms.

"Bawali." she breathed, trying to catch the rhythm of her heartbeat.

Meanwhile Garvit stood at its place, looking at his palm from which he had held her delicate wrist.

He kissed the same palm and closed his eyes as he recalled the softness under his skin and placed it above his heart.

"Ohh humare 'Idha ji ke liye bawale dil', pata hai humein tumhen unke paas rehna hai, lekin rehti bhi toh vo tum mein hi hain. Apne bawale-pan mein dhad-kar humari jaan nikaalne ka irada hai kya?" he patted his chest just above his heart, whispering to himself and blushing like a teenage in love.

The next day came within a blurr.

Sunidha's night was restless, she had made her father sleep with him to feel every moment with him before leaving.

It was not easy for Akshaj ji either, he had prepared everything for her that she might need with heavy heart, but showed no worry in his face in order to not make his daughter see his pain that might break her.

Beacuse he knew she can read his face like an open book with bold letters, just like her mother.

Bidding her bye again meant giving not a piece but his whole heart to another city, where his wife lives in his daughter's comforting presence.

Abhinav and Kuhoo were done with their stuff already loaded in the car trunk and were having breakfast with Sunidha's family.

Her mother was as usual cold and distant but was in relief today as all of them were leaving.

Whike having breakfast, Sunidha's phone buzzed silently and Garvit's caller i'd came in view, she quickly hid it under her dupatta as she knew her Kuhoo jiji and Abhi bhaiya will tease her.

Quickly finishing the breakfast, she excused herself from the dining tabke, which caught Kuhoo's sight and she giggled signaling Abhinav, who suppressed his smile and signaled her to stay quiet.

"Lagta hai important call hai." Kuhoo couldn't control to let go of the opportunity to tease her little sister.

Everyone giggled silently and watching them Zivaa too giggled to accompany them.

"Hello. Humne aapk-" ge paused as soon as he noticed her slight red face.

"Sunidha ji aapko fir se fever chadh gya kya?" she closed her eyes abruptly and pulled her face away from the camera.

"N-nahi vo.... Jiji ko pata chal gaya ki...apne call kiya hai." she mumbled in embarrassment and he didn't need to ask much to know what must have exactly happend.

He chuckled softly and talked about the reason he had called for.

He then noticed she was not wearing kajal which was why she looked different from the other days.

"You haven't applied kohl today?" he asked frowning slightly.

"Ji vo...humari kajal ki dibiya khatam ho gyi." she replied while packing the essentials from her vanity table.

He hummend quietly just then Abhiraj called him, "Garv, we are ready to set off."

"Coming Baba." he replied and hung up the call with sweet biddings.

"Coming to meet you." he whispered quietly to himself and tapped his phone on his heart closing his eyes with a contentful smile.

But before reaching Kashyap house, he went to the market where he can buy some kohl for her.

"Kaka, ye kajal ki dibiya de dijiye." he handed the tiny boxes of different types and pulled out the money to hand over when his eyes landed on the shiny bangles diaplaying in front of him.

"Chudiya!" he whispered and remembered her obssession for bangles, even her vanity has lots of placed neatly according to the colours.

He smiled on the thought that of how beautifully she would smile when he will give these chudiya to her.

"Kaka, ke kanch ki chudiya bhi de dijiye." he smiled to the shopkeeper and handed him some orange, red, green amd multi-coloured bangles, few of them had glitters on it and few were simply glass bangles.

Simple. Minimal, yet elegant. That screams so her.

"The shopkeeper smiled teasingly and asked while packing them carefully," Apni biwi ke liye le jaa rahein hain?"

He shook his head and corrected him with a soft smile," Humari hone wali biwi ke liye."

The shopkeeper's teasing expression changed into something soft and he commented, "Vo ladki bahot khush-naseeb hongi jinhen aap jaise pati milenge."

He simply shook his head still smiling as Sunidha's happy face flashed in his eyes as if she is right in front of him.

"Nahi kaka, khush-naseeb toh hum gaon jinhen unke jaisa anmol ratan mil rha hai." the shopkeeper's hands paused as his words stunned the shopkeeper.

He smiled in awe as he watched Garvit's sincerety in his words.

"Toh aap ye bindiyan bhi le jaiye, unka dil khush ho jaega. Hum humari biwi ke liye jab jab ye lejate hain vo toh fuli-nahi-samati hain." he chuckled recalling how his wife gets excited whenever he brings shringaar for her without even asking for.

Garvit listened to him and thought he might as well buy them, not leaving any opportunity to make his Baby bear happy.

"Aaj kal ke zamane mein aise log dikhne ko abhot kam milte hain. Gauri-Shankar karein aap dono ki khushiyon ko kabhi kisi ki nazar na lage." Garvit's heart warmed at the blessings from an unknown person whom he has met just a few minutes ago.

"Shukriya kaka. Bholenath karein aapka parivar humesha khush aur swasth rahe." Garvit smiled warmly at the shopkeeper who mirrored his smile and he departed for Sunidha's home.

Reaching the lawn, he noticed his Father’s and Abhinav's car was already there.

Entering the home, he greeted Akshaj ji who told him to call Sunidha for their departure.

He knocked at the door and entered thw room when he heard her 'come in'.

"Ohh aap hain. Hum bas niche aa hi rahe the." she smiled at him amd zipped the small bag in her hand.

"Vo... Hum...." he scraped the back of his neck and shifted on his feet as he hesitated to give the small bag of things he bought in hamds which he was hiding.

"Hum?" she pressed, asking him to continue with her eyes.

Gathering courage, he forwarded the bag in feont of her making her confuse.

She looked inside and her confused eyes gleamed with happiness as she saw her favourite things.

"Ye sab humare liye hain?" she asked grinning like a child.

His nodded wirh a smile exhaled a deep breath and relaxed as he saw her happiness which he imagined.

Her eyes twinkled at his reply and she started taking out things, watching them in pure adoration, "Bahot bahot pyaare hain." she commented.

"Aapse kam." he whispered in his thoughts.

As she took the kohl to apply in her eyes, he reached for the tiny box and askex, "May I?"

She was stunned to hear this, too shy to deny so she nodded.

He took a step closer to her and dipped his ring finger in the box.

His eyes fixed on her waterline and he carefully glided his finger on it.

Sunidha saw his eye brows furrowed slightly, his lips little parted and eyes squinted in concentration.

"Done." he announced and she blinked twice as she came out of adoring session.

"Aapne toh bin aasu laye laga diya, hum lagate hain toh aasun nikal aate hain." she gasped.

He chuckled lightly and replied, "Ab apke ankhon mein kabhi aansu naa aye uski kasam khai hai. Nibhani toh hogi hi." she smiled looking down just then there was a knock in the door.

"Kashu, jaane ka vakt ho gya hai." Kuhoo said with a soft smile with Zivaa clutching index finger with her small palm.

"Ji" both relief in unison.

"Eeya come fast!" they chuckled at her excitement.

"Aa rahe hain bacha." he applied the leftover kohl in the back of her ear yar made her look away in shyness.

"Hum soch rahe the ki ye chudiyan pehen len." she expressed her thought that made him smile brightly.

"Isme sochne ki kya baat hai." he started searching for the multi-coloured bangles that matches her floral outfit and made her wear them himself.

She was quietly watching him, observing him the while and wonder how lucky she is to have this man in her life who never lets her feel down and always keeps her happiness and comfort before his'.

"Done." she looked down and her eyes shone brightly as she saw her hands filled with ahiny bangles. She shaked her wrists making them jingle and smiled more brightly.

"Wow! Humein bahot pradan hain ye." she cheeped making he smiled even more as adored her.

"Chaliye." he said forwarding his hand she took it without thinking which was shocking for him but his heart did a summersault as they stepped up towards a close relationship for their future.

He started keeping her luggages in his w

car trunk while she was bidding her family, well her father specifically as her mother and brother were least bothered who were resting in their respective rooms after just saying a 'bye' to her.

Abhinav and Kuhoo came in the parking lot with Zivaa happily trailing behind them.

Watching him keeping Sunidha's stuff in his car made them laugh.

Kuhoo shook her head and reached for the passenger's seat to sit.

"What happend? Why are you guys laughing?" Garvit asked getting confuse at their weird behavior.

Abhinav shook his head, "Zivuu, please unlock the car and open the trunk." he request Zivaa and she jumped in her father's arms and happily pressed the keys to unlock the car, her favourite thing to do.

"Lagta hai humari behen se durr rehene ka sabr kho chuke hain aap." Kuhoo teased making him more confused.

"Kashu humare sath rethi hain. Naaki aapke. Toh unke saman bhi humari car mein rakhenge na." Abhinav explained that made Garvit realise why were they laughing.

"Just ten more months Garv, then your Baby bear is yours only." thia time it was Abhinav who teased him and he wished the ground to part and swallow him whole just to save himself from the embarrassment.

They shifted Sunidha's belongings in Abhinav's car and went to the entrance of the house where everyone were present.

Sunidha was sad leaving her father and Akshaj ji was consoling her while bitting back his own tears.

"Beta, ye lo aapki khoi hui amaanat." Her father gave her the lost key pendant and eyed dadi sa, she knew what he meant.

Previous evening.

Dadi sa was sitting in her room when Akshaj ko came to meet her for an important purpose.

"Kaki maa, aapki saheli ki baat zahir karne aaye hain hum." he said with a painful smile.

Dadi sa straightened her spine as he mention her best friend. Sunidha's Grandma.

"K-kya kwh rahe ho Aksh?" she whispered with trembling voice.

"Maa aur aapki yahi khwahish thi na ki humare vo koi shadi ho jaye." Dadi sa nodded listening him carefully.

"Toh aapki saheli ne kuch baatein aur yadein iss bakse mein kaid kar rakhi hain. Aur ye khat aapke likha hai aapke liye." with a smile, he handed her the box and the letter to Dadi sa which she took with trembling hands.

"Isski chabi Maa ne Sunidha ek pendant ke roop mein di thi, jisse humari bachi anjaan hai. Abh ye aapki zimmedari hai ki aap unhen iss vakse aur chabi ka sambandh kaise bataengi. Vo bhi sahi samay par." with that he took his leave, leaving Dadi sa in the whirlwind of emotions.

She opened the letter and read.

Lagta hai humari khwahish puri hone ja rahi hai, sakhi. Humein pata hai hum uss vakt tak sath na rahein isliye hum ye log rahein hain.

Hum chahte hai ki humari bachi Sirf apno se ghiri ho. Itna toh hum jante hi hain ki tumhara parivar humari bachi ko khub pyaar aur izzat dega. Bas agar koi bhool ho jaye unse toh maaf kar dena. Bahot maasum hai vo. Khayal rakhna, apna bhi aur humari bachi ka bhi.

Tumhari Sakhi."

As the letter ended, Dadi sa has tears in her eyes. She clutched the letter to her chest and whispered looking at the photo in locket that she wore," Vada karta hain. Khud ke bachon se zyada izzat aur laad karenge humari Nritya ko."

She kept the sanduk in her suitcase and decide to gift her the box at their wedding.

Present

As everyone settled in their seats, Akshaj took Garvit with him at a place away from everyone's eyes and handed him a box.

Garvit frowned in confusion and Akshaj ji hugged him with a soft smile and whispered, "Isme aapki Idha ji ka bachpan hai. Jo kuch bhi aapne miss kar diya, sab inhen dekh kar jee lijiyega."

Garvit was shocked at this statemwnt of Akshaj ji, he didn't ever thought that he could live in the moment where Sunidha has nurtured.

But seeing the box in his trembling hands, he could watch those moments and know how her childhood was, which he wished to live every day till now.

Patting Garvit's shoulder Akshaj ji told him to peoceed towards his car after hiding it from Sunidha in the car trunk.

Dadi sa and his elder son amd daughter-in-law were sent to the railway with Akshaj ji while Singhanias and Goenkas left Banaras for Delhi.

After six hours of travelling, they stopped by a dhaba for having refreshmentsand straightening their back.

"Sunidha ji, ye lijiye chai." Garvit handed her a cup of tea in an earthern pot wrapped in his hankerchief as it was too hit to hold.

Sunidha smiled at his carefulness but hesitated to drink the tea.

She was never fond of tea which was why she was hesitating. But watching him happily enjoying his tea, she decided to have it, just to accompany Garvit.

After a while, Sunidha was walking around the dhaba with Neil, having small conversation with him when she noticed a big  tree of guavas.

"Amrudh!" she gasped, her eyes shining as she looked at those big, green and fresh gauvas.

Garvit who was watching her from distant, instantly noticed the shift of her expressions amd moved his eyes where her eyes were looking.

"Bas inn amrudon ko dekh kar ye khush ho gayin, toh socho jab hum inke hatho mein vo laa demge toh kitni khush ho jaengi yen." with this thought a wide smile danced his lips and without wasting time he rushed towards the tree.

"Aap yahin rukiye hum abhi tod kar late hain." he yelled while climbing the tree is, giving her not a single chance to stop him.

Her happiness turned to horrified look as she looked him actually climbing the tree and she prayed from god crossing her fingers not to let him fall.

After five minutes, he brought the guavas collected in the extra cloth of his kurta.

"Why did you yourself?" she mumbled feeling sad about making him do so this.

She felt even more bad when she saw some dirt in his kurta abs the sweet dropping from his forehead.

She came forward and gently wiped those sweat beads from the loose end of her dupatta.

"Don't feel bad of yourself, it was me who willingly brought you them, okay. So you just enjoy them." his words brought a small smile on her face and he made her sit in the car first.

"Where are you going agrim now. It's getting cold and dark outside." she grabbed his arm in concern.

He immediately stopped and assured her, "We need to wash them before eating na. Don't worry I'll be back in a minute."

She nodded releasing him arm.

"Bholenath, kaise ache karam kiye the humne jisse humein itne samjhdaar Insaan ki patni kehlane ka saubhagya mil raha hai." she whispered feeling overwhelmed from the respect of she is getting without even asking for, while looking at Garvit who was coming towards her.

They enjoyed the rest of the journey having those sweet gauvas, talking about many interesting things that included the upcoming events at college, the festivals, their enjoyment at the engagement and about the wishes for the wedding.

Neil was quite speaking occasionally, but Sunidha made sure he was not feeling left out, where Neil too liked her company.

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Word count- 5953

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135+ votes

60+ comments

Sorry for this much wait.

Signing off

~Epa𐙚˙

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