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It is Vihaan and Aadhya's wedding, where the guests are arriving whom are being attended by Vansh and Anika.

Garvit's Baba, Abhiraj and his younger son, Neil were sitting on a round table.

Vansh came to their table along with Sunidha's father as both the families were going to share a single big round table.

Sunidha and Garvit both were busy to get their best friends ready for their big day.

Garvit's father gasped when he saw the man coming with Vansh she the world blurred in his surrounding.

"Sir, meet Mr. Akshaj Kashyap. Your university's prominent dance proffessor's father." Vansh introduced Sunidha's father to Garvit's with a soft smile.

"And sir, meet Prof. Abhiraj Singhania, Garvit's father." he introduced each other.

But both the man thereby standing were equally shocked to see each other after all these years.

The destiny has made the long lost teenage best friends stand against each other after all those uncertain circumstances.

But this era is different.

The time had changed and so their lives.

Vansh left from there by escorting her father his table.

Garvit's father stood up from his seat and covered the gap between them, and Akshaj ji within a few long strides came to hug his friend.

And in less than a second he returned the hug back.

Both of them's eyes were shining with unshed tears as they have met each other after two whole decades.

As they parted Abhiraj ji asked,

"Tum mere hi dost ho na, jo humse 20 saal pehle ruth gaye the?" he asked, his voice filled with love as tears threatened to spill from his eyes.

["Are you my friend who became upset with us two decades ago?"]

"Nahi, ruthe tum the, chod kar chale gaye the mujhe iss desh mein. Na hi koi call bhi kiya." Akshaj ji said by fake glaring at him.

["No, you were angry and left me in this country. Nor did you made any calls."]

They both bursted into laughter as they remembered his they used to bicker like this when they were younger and now again even after they have here old.

They laughingly hugged each other patting each other's backs.

"Kaise ho tum? Bhabi kaisi hain? Aur humare nanhe proffessor? Vo kesa hain?" her father asked the things altogether out of excitement.

["How are you? How is elder sister-in-law? And our little professor? How is he?"]

Before Abhiraj ji could reply, Akshaj ji again asked looking at a teen-aged boy who was sitting there confused.

It was none other than Neil.

When Akshaj ji noticed him, Neil gave him an awkward and confused smile while bowing his head to show respect.

"Ye humare chote bete hain, Neil Singhania." Abhiraj ji introduced them.

["This is my younger son, Neil Singhania."]

Akshaj ji was a little surprised but very happy at the same time as a big smile bloomed his face.

Neil came forward and touched his feet.

"Humesha khush raho beta."

He blessed him and hugged him.

["Always be happy son."]

As an introvert child, he remained silent unless Akshaj ji, his uncle involved him in some talks to know about him.

"Aao betho yahan. Bahot saari batein karni hai tumse." Abhiraj ji insisted making him sit down his place and himself seated near him followed by Neil.

["Come sit here. I need to talk to you about a lot of things."]

"Beta, ye humare teenage friend hain. Jab aap nahi huye the, aur hum aapki Maa sa aur aapke bhai ke sath Banaras mein rehte the. Tab se bi pehle se hum dost hain." he said with a smile stretching out his face as he recollected the old beautiful memories.

["Child, he is our teenage friend. When you were not born, we used to live in Banaras with your mother and brother. We have been friends since then."]

"Haa itne ache dost ki ye mujhe ye chod kar hi India se chale gaye." her father, Akshaj ji retorted.

["Yes, such a good friend that he left me and left India."]

"Yaar kab tak unhi baton ko le kar bethe rahoge tum?" Abhiraj ji whinned as a series of laughter joined him.

["Dude, for how long will you keep up with those things?"]

As he knew that something which he was not ready to say in front of his younger son was coming. So before he could ask further, Akshaj ji sent his son to fetch some soft drinks as an excuse.

"Acha, bhabhi aur Garvit kahan hai, kaise hain dono?" Akshaj ji asked curiosness dripping his voice.

["Ok, where is sister-in-law and Garvit. How are they?"]

"Umm... Voo...." Abhiraj ji was stuttering and every where but him, to not meet his gaze.

["Umm... That.."]

Just then Akshaj ji held his hand and insisted, concern latching his voice.

"Yha meri ankhon mei dekho. Kya hua hai! Aise to tum kabhi nahi atakte, aise kyu behave kar rahe ho." Akshaj ji asked worriedly.

["Look here in my eyes. What has happened? You never get to stutter like this, why are you acting like this?"]

"V-vo actually tumhari bhabhi ab iss duniya mei nahin rahin." he revealed, his head low in his hoarse and very hurtful voice.

["A-actually, your sister-in-law is no more in this world.]

Akshaj ji's face turned pale, he was unable to process this information.

His heart was ripping to hear this piece of truth when he looked at his friend his stomach churned to see his jolly friend in gloom.

He came for a consoling hug to ensure that he is there with him and remained silent, as sometimes silence is the best medicine.

After a while of silence, when Abhiraj ji felt better he spoke,

"Acha Akshaj, hum nahi chahte ki ye baat hum Neil ke samne karein. Vo apni Maa sa se bahot attached the. But unke jane ke baad unka swabhav bahot badal chuka hai. Bahot gumsum ho gaya hai. Kya hum aisa kar sakte hain?? Please..." Abhiraj ji pleaded earning a nod from him.

["Well Akshaj, I don't want to talk about this in front of Neil. He was very attached to his mother. But after her death, he has changed a lot. He had become really quite Can we do this?? Please..."]

Just then a girl appeared with Neil, holding a tray of juices.

She was a little confused to see her papa with her university's director. But thought to let it go and focus on introducing them.

"Khamma ghani Kaka sa, kaise hain aap?" Sunidha placed the tray in n the table, served drinks to the three men sat there and stood beside her papa with a smile.

["Hello uncle, how are you?"]

She loves to greet him with his tradition, as she loves rajputi and marwadi culture.

And this side of her that is developed in modern tradition, while keeping up with hindu religious rites, upbringing with love for nature, her passion and all human beings.

Is also another way that differenciates her with other girls, acha makes her more lovable and outstand in his eyes.

"Hum ache hain, bete. Aap bahut khubsoorat lag rahi hain aaj." Abhiraj ji made a beautiful complement for her earning a shy smile from her.

["I'm good, child. You are looking very lovely."]

"Aap dono ek dusre ko jante ho??" Akshaj ji asked in surprise.

"Ji papa. Hum inke hi university mein dance proffessor hain. Aur fun fact, humein ye baat pata bhi uss vakt lagi jab Aadhya jiji ke Di ki shadi ho rahi thi." she chuckled at last.

["Yes papa. I'm a dance proffessor in his university only."]

"And Kaka sa, this is my very very loving papa. I used to say na, that I get fatherly vibes from you..... That was because you always remind me of my papa." she said with a shine in her eyes looking at her papa, her innocence and honesty making her words even more true and sweet like honey.

And here both the men were equally astonished but for different reasons.

Akshaj ji thought that her daughter knows his best friend, but she didn't knew that they both really are best friends and thought of them as strangers on the way how she was introducing the two aged men.

And how would she even knew when she was a three year old baby when Abhiraj ji left with his family.

On the other hand Abhiraj ji was surprised from the fact that his best friend's daughter, who is more than a daughter to himself, is here in his university as a proffessor since these years.

Who used to play with his beard when she was a baby. Who used to sleep in his arms when her father was unavailable. Who used to play with his elder son so happily. Who used to seek mother's love from his wife, making Garvit jealous.

But she was just a 2-year-old baby when this happend.

Garvit forgive her as he couldn't resist to pull the adorable baby's cheeks playfully.

He couldn't keep his anger for more than a minute as he couldn't resist her adorable calls for him, and her cheeks weren't supporting to keep his anger for prolonged time.

Abhiraj ji got up from the place and hugged Sunidha which caught her offgaurd.

She was really surprised that a man, who is so distant to other girls except her. Is now hugging get her too.

"Ka-kaka sa, aap thik hain??" she asked in surprise.

["U-uncle, are you alright??"]

After a while, he parted and patted her head loveingly.

His eyes showing the love and warmth for her.

His heart swelled at the thought that she, his best friend's daughter who is no less then a daughter for himself, was already in his close people's list.

Yet his soured at the thought that he didn't knew the girl who is this gentle, calm, sweet and gentle was in front of his eyes and he didn't even knew.

"Uhh... Nothing bacha. It was just. Yun-hin.... Chodiye, aap jaiye. Aadhya must be looking for you." he quickly wiped his tears and say in his seat, glancing last time at her.

"Ohh...haan! Papa hum aate hain naa." she just said this and disappeared in thin air.

["Ohh yes! Papa I'll be right back"]

"Beta araam se! Hahaha..... Meri beti aisi hi hai, har vakt hadbadi aur bhaag daud." her father chuckled while telling her to carefully go.

["Child slowly! Hahaha.... My daughter is like this only, everytime rushing here and there."]

"Haan! Pata hai humein. Itne time se humari bachi humari ankhon ke hi samne thi, aur humein pata bhi nai tha ki yen humare pakke dost ki beti hain. Tabhi toh ek ajeeb sa naata ban gaya hai humare bich, jo humein keh raha tha ki yen koi humari hi hain." Garvit's father expressed his emotions looking still looking at Sunidha's running figure.

["Yes! I got it. But this time our daughter was in front of my eyes only, and I wasn't even aware of it that she is the daughter of my best friend. That's why I felt an unknown bond with her, that screamed that she is someone close to me. That she is someone special."]

Just then another waiter came that served them other starters and they resumed their talk.

Sunidha was going towards Aadhya's room when Anika called her to ask her whereabouts.

She was walking fastly sprinting to be more precise her entire focus was on the call, forgetting about her surrounding.

Garvit was taking long strides towards her while explaining arrangements of wedding to an organizer, his entire focus in his tab.

As he was done explaining, he handed over the tab to organizer and took out his phone.

Just as he look up, he colloided with Sunidha.

Her head bumped in his chest and she bounced back, her legs shook as she was about to touch the ground when his hand instinctively slided around her sleek waist, securing her from falling.

She pulled her hands to her chest in fear, her eyes closed as she took deep breaths out of the sudden things happening around her.

Garvit's face lit up when he saw Sunidha, her friend whom he met two years ago, who shares same vibe as his.

But that happiness was soon replaced with worry on seeing her distress and fearful expression.

"Sunidha ji?" he called her out, his voice etched in concern.

She opened her eyes in a snap of seconds as soon as she heard a familiar voice calling her name.

Her deep breaths shallowed down, her stiffed body came to relax as she circled her arms around his neck for support.

Her russet-brown eyes found his ocean-blue ones.

"You remembered me?" was the only words slipped off her tongue.

"You were unforgettable." he answered instinctively, his voice so calm and sure that it came out as a desparate plea, as of he was waiting to answer this for so long.

They were totally lost in each other.

Their eyes speaking the thousands of words that were hidden since these two years.

The sight they saw each other for the first time was totally different from this one.

Both people who werw earlier tended to shy in even initiating a talk, are now facing each other in this manner that they are lost for an unknown reason.

Garvit came to his senses and he looked anywhere but her, still holding her in his arms.

Sunidha too came out of her trance and Garvit helped her stand firm on the ground.

Just as she stood in ground he retreated his arms.

"Aap thik hain??" he asked in his ever-so-soft voice.

["You alright?"]

"Umm.. Ji vo-" a kid who was running towards them halted with her from back which made her fall forward in Garvit's chest, to which he protectively secured her, resisting her to fall.

"Beta, be careful!!" he almost shouted at that kid who ran away like the speed of wind, his hands still around her arms.

He saw her face, her eyes looking at her, but she averted them the moment he looked at her.

"Aap thik hai? Kahin lagi toh nahi na..?"

["You alright? You didn't fhir hurt anywhere, right?"]

"Hum.. Hum thik hain. Bas vo... Uhm..." she cut him off telling him she's fine but was loss of words when she again looked at him.

He sensed that she is still in his arms and gently released her, making sure she was properly standing.

["I... I'm alright. It's just... Uhm.."]

"Uhmm... Ya good. Great." he spoke with an awkward smile scratching his neck, looking here and there except her as he made her stand.

Sunidha's phone pinged with a notification and her eyes widen with the thought of getting late.

"I'm so sorry Garvit ji, I have to leave. Aadhya jiji is calling." she started panicking as she needed to go to Aadhya's room too and wanted to stay with him too.

He noticed her paick state and gently held her hands in his and spoke, "It's alright Sunidha ji. We can talk anytime. Go, Dr. Aadhya needs you." he cooed her with a soft smile, the calmness in his voice that is only revealed in front of her.

After a reassuring glance, she headed towards Aadhya's room.

He chuckled at her retreating figure, who was cutely sprinting.

As he got some vacant time for himself, he thought of visiting his father and brother.

As he reached, he saw his father's face lit up with joy.

A real one after such a long time.

Where Neil remained calm absorbing the scene unfolding in front of him.

He eyed Neil with a questioning look about the things happening there, but he just shrugged in response.

"Baba!?" his voice came out with uncertainity instead of telling him he was here.

"Ohh!! Garv. Here meet your........" His father was introducing each other but stopped in seeing a confused look in Garvit's face.

Sunidha's father stood up looking at his friend's son, who used to play with him, teach his 2-year-old daughter the words he used to learn at school and accompanied him with riding bikes.

"Toh humara andaza sahi nikla. Aap ek successful proffessor ban hi gaye. Haina humare nanhe professor." as soon as her father completed his last sentence, Garvit lunged into Akshaj ji's arms, the way he used to do when he was a toddler. He found it nostalgic with him and his warm embrace.

["So our guess turned out to be correct. You finally have become a successful professor. Right my little professor."]

"Aap finally..... Itne salon baad......" his words stuck in his throat as a lump formed there, restricting him to speak further.

["You finally... after so many years... "]

He recognised his Kaka, even after two whole decades, even after his kaka has grown old, have grown few strands of grey in his hair and has loosen skin, he still recognised him with his dashing features and radiant smile.

It was not a connection of family, but from heart.

They were very close since he was a toddler.

But one day broke that 5-year-old child for forever.

Broke his family, his relations with his kaka, his friendship with his baby bear.

Shaking all these bad memories, he focused on meeting his kaka.

"Kaka, aap yahan? Aap kese hain? Aur....aur vo humari baby bear kaisi hain. Aur kaki, nani sa? Sab kaise hain. Kahan hain, aap unhen lekar nahin aaye?" overwhelmed by emotions and the excitement to meet all the family members, well especially his baby bear, was killing his ever-lasting patience.

["Uncle, are you here? How are you? And... and how is our baby bear? And aunt, grandmother? How is everyone? Where are they, didn't you bring them?"]

His mind racing with the thoughts of how would he react or say on meeting her.

"Beta relax! Hum sab thik hain." he chuckled before continuing.

["Child relax! We all are fine.]

"Aur aapki baby bear bhi thik hain." he replied easing Garvit's concern.

["And your baby bear is also fine."]

But as he looked around, he saw Akshaj ji has told him with a hint of mischief.

And his father too had a mischievious smile plastered in his face, Neil where was giving a confused smile as he didn't knew to whom he is referring to.

These glances resulted in showing his rosey cheeks as he blushed hard due to these playful glances casting at him.

"Haa lekin aapki nani sa nahi rahin." he unleashed this news with a sad smile that soured both Garvit and Abhiraj ji's heart.

["Yes but your grandmother is no more now."]

For them she was like their own mother.

"See kaka, I told you both na, that you'll never age old. See these grey hairs are just adding more to your beauties." all burst out in fits of laughter as he recalled what he just randomly said a kid.

"And beta, you know whㅡ" Abhiraj ji was about to say something but stopped when Akshaj ji put his hand over his shoulder to stop him in his track, as he knew was coming next.

Abhiraj ji understood and changed the topic.

"Beta we should sit and talk with him, as he is leaving for Banaras the very next day." Abhiraj ji sit, with a pissed expression told Garvit to which he spoke.

"Kaka this is not fair. Aap humare ghar chaliye vahan rukiye, humse baatein kijiye, itne arse baad mil rahe hain hum." Garvit pleaded.

["Uncle, this is not fair. You should come to our house, stay there, talk to us, after all we are meeting after so long."]

"Haan beta, but humara jana zaruri hai. Agar aap log ka iss hafte ka schedule vacant hai, toh aap log aaiye na. Aur tum-" he reffered solely to Garvit.

["Yes son, but it is important for me to go. If you guys have a vacant schedule for this week, then you guys should come. And you-"]

"Apni baby bear se milne ki itni talab hai? Toh chalo humare sath." Akshaj ji, again with a playful glance insisted him to come over.

["You have this much quest to see your baby bear? Then come over to our home."]

And here his family trying hard to suppress their laughs.

✧

As the wedding ended, everyone headed to their respective home.

Sunidha and her father whereas left for Banaras as she got a vacation from university.

But her mind still lost somewhere which she even not knows where it was.

Garvit on the other hand had a tousled mind, everything at university was going smoothly, but the thought that he'll get to meet his baby bear made him happy, but the thought of someone else in his mind was restricting him to move forward.

As Abhiraj ji entered his dimly lit room breaking his train of thoughts.

"Baba aap? Kuch kaam tha?" he asked as he noticed him at his room at ab unusual hour.

["Father you? Do you need anything?"]

He frowned looking at the smart watch at his wrist that showed 11:45 p.m.

His father is very health conscious and had a very strict and particular schedule.

"Kyun? Abh kya bin kuch kaam ke nahi aa sakte hum. Itne arse baad tumse chain se baat karne ka mauka mila hai." he replied with his calm voice, that made Garvit smile on seeing this peacefulness in his baba.

["Why? Can't I come here without any use? After such a long time, I have got a chance to talk to you peacefully."]

"Aapko itna khush dekh kar bahot khushi ho rahi hai humein. Jo shant man honge ka aap dikhava karte hain na, aaj vo man sach mein shant hai." Garvit expressed his heart on seeing his father with a calm expression.

["I am very happy to see you so happy. Whatever calm mind you pretend to have, today that mind is really calm."]

"Hoga hi. Apne dost se milne ki khushi jo jhalak rahi hai." his father replied with a giggle earning a small nod from him.

["It will happen. The happiness of meeting my friend is visible."]

"Garvit." Abhiraj ji called him making him look at him with a sudden turn of voice in him.

"You believe in me right?" he asked his tone getting nervous."

"Ji baba." Garvit frowned and shifted in his place as he answered.

"You believe in my decisions too?" he again asked.

"A hundred percent baba." he replied, truth latching his every answer.

"Toh kya tum humari pasand ladki se shadi karoge?" he finally asked the question he was preparing himself for.

[""So will you marry the girl of my choice?"]

Garvit was a bit stunned to hear this question and all the questions from earlier made sense to him.

He was not surprised by this question as he was prepared for it.

"If you have another girl your heart then just say it. I won't force you beta." Abhiraj ji panicked as he didn't got any reply from him.

"Nahi baba.. I knew something like this would come up when I'll turn to this age, hence I am ready for a marriage. And I'm not seeing anyone too, even if I were.... You wind be the first one to know." he replied taking his baba's hands in his with a reassuring smile.

Abhiraj ji exhaled a deep sigh of relief.

"Thik hai. But ye yaad rakhna, hum jo bhi karenge, aapki bhalai ke liye hi karenge, aur aapki zindagi ki itni badi dor humare hath thame ke liye bhaot bahot shukriya. Hum chalte hain." he placed his hand on Garvit's shoulder while expressing his concern and turned his heels to leave his room.

["Okay. But remember, whatever I do, I will do for your well-being, and I thank you very much for giving the opportunity to take the major decision of your life. I shall go now."]

He stopped at the door and tilted his head a little as his next words left Garvit astonished and took that night's sleep from his eyes.

"Hum 2 dinon mein Banaras ke liye nikal rahe hain."

["We are leaving for Banaras in 2 days."]

★ ° . *　°　.　°☆ 　. * ★ ° :. ★ ○ °

So guys..... Did you liked the first chapter.