"Rithik, don't sulk. Get up and finalize your outfit." Shivam yelled and smacked the head of the younger one who was lying on the couch in the living room.

"What? Aapka to roka ho rha. At least think about me. I haven't talked to my girlfriend for 15 days now." Rithik sulked, burying his face in the pillow.

(It's yout engagement ceremony.)

"Her father hasn't given her the phone yet. Abhi to exam bhi ho gye." He mumbled and looked up to face his brother who shrugged his shoulders.

(The exams are done now.)

"What if uska paper accha nhi gya that's why?" Ayansh said, walking into the room.

(What if her paper didn't go well.)

"Dispossible ladle." Rithik yelled, straightening up while the two furrowed their eyebrows at the new terminology.

"Ho hi nhi skta ki uska paper kharab ho." He told them, proudly and confidently.

(It can't be True that her paper is ruined.)

"Bhaiya, please Aap uske papa se baat kar lo. Or invite them to your roka, this way I'll be able to meet her. Please." He almost begged in front of his brothers who rolled their eyes and walked away from him.

(Please tall to her father.)

Rithik stomped his feet on the floor before lying back on the couch, burying his head in the pillow.

"Rithik," Naveen walked into the living room, a while later holding Mehek in his arms.

Everyone was busy preparing for the function which was going to take place after a week and Mehek was the responsibility of the eldest person of the house.

"Ritttthiiii" Mehek exclaims, copying Naveen which made him laugh at the little one.

Rithik looked up and smiled seeing Mehek and getting up from the couch, held her in his arms.

"Chachu. I'm your chachu. Say it, chaaachhuuuu." Rithik mumbled, trying to teach her the new word.

"Chachiiiiiiii." She exclaimed, making him laugh.

"Kaise aayegi chachi jab sasur Ji baat hi nhi krne de rhe." He sighed and looked at Naveen who raised his eyebrows.

(How will your aunt come if my father-in-law isn't letting me talk to her.)

"Ese Devdas ban ke kuch nhi hoga beta. Uske papa ke pas phone hai to call and talk to him." Rithik gulped down listening to him.

(Nothing would happen if you sit here like Devdas. Get up and talk to her father.)

"Bade papa-

"Kya bade papa. You will leave her alone in this situation? Expect her to fight alone? Then what's the meaning of this relationship?" Rithik thought for a moment before he stood up from the couch.

He kissed Mehek's cheeks which made the little one giggle before he walked up the stairs.

"Talk to him respectfully, not recklessly." He heard Naveen before he went into his room.

His heart was beating loudly when he took his phone, nervous and anxious.

But his uncle was right. He can't let her fight alone in this. Whatever happened was the worst. He couldn't talk to her, he couldn't meet her. There was nothing more that could go wrong.

So his trembling fingers hovered over her contact before he dialled her number. Sweatbirds formed on his forehead and he gulped down.

He waited and after a few rings, the phone was picked up.

"I told you not to call her. Don't you understand." He inhaled a deep breath listening to her father's harsh words.

"Uncle, I wanted to talk to you." He mumbled, hesitantly. There were no words from the other side. Just pure silence.

"I'm sorry uncle things came in front of you like this." He added, chewing his bottom lip between his teeth out of nervousness.

"But you shouldn't take away her phone. She's an adult." He added further.

"She's my daughter, you don't teach me what I should do and what I shouldn't." He gulped down listening to her father. The words were strict.

"And the least you can do is to trust your daughter, Uncle." He immediately replied. He was crossing a line, he knew that but there was no other way to talk to her father.

"Rithik-

"Uncle, I have known Ishika since she came to Delhi to prepare for JEE. I know, you're her father and you have known her more than anybody. And I respect that. Being a father, you'd want the best for her. The best school, the best college, the best guy, the best husband. Everything and in future, if I have a daughter someday I'd want the same. I may not understand your feelings and emotions right now because I'm not a father but right now, I'm a boyfriend." He exhaled and licked his lips.

He waited for her father to start scolding him but there were no words so assumed he could speak.

"A boy who's in love with your daughter. I may not be the best man out there but I'm trying to be the best man for her. Before meeting Ishika, I really had no goals in my life. I'm someone who grew up getting everything on my plate. But the day I met Ishika, her competitive nature changed everything in me. The way she is dedicated to her studies and career have forced me to study hard and do something of my own. The only thing that has driven me to be where I'm is the competition from Ishika. And now what's driving me towards my goal is my future with her."

His palms were sweaty by now, his throat was dry but all he knew was, this was his last chance to let her father know how much he loves her.

"I see a future with her and I'm willing to do anything to have her in my life forever. Uncle, I'm not in her life to distract her. That is not even the last thing I want to do to her. So please don't be harsh on her. Please uncle, it's not just about the phone at this point. It's about your trust in her. You should trust Ishika, uncle. You should trust her that she'll study hard and will get into the best college for her masters. Please uncle." He concluded, hoping for her father to say something.

There was silence from the other side.

"Uncle, if you think it's about the phone it's not at all about it. Even if you don't give her phone today or tomorrow or for months, it won't change a single thing between both of us. You can choose to keep her away from me but for how many weeks and months? It's about your trust in Ishika." He mumbled when he didn't hear anything from the other side.

Her father heaved out a deep sigh.

"I'm going to kill you if you ever hurt my daughter." That was the only thing he heard before the line went off. Her father hung up without saying anything anymore.

There was a mixed feeling in his heart. He didn't know if her father was going to give her phone back or his next move. He neither rejected him nor accepted him. He was afraid that he'd say something to Ishika. What if he scolded her for it? He wasn't sure.

For now he was waiting for Ishika's message or call. Tossing the phone on the table, he laid on his bed.

"Rithik, get your ass down. Bhot kaam hai." Ayansh yelled from the living room and letting out a groan, Rithik moved out of his room.

(There is a lot of work.)

☆▪︎☆▪︎☆

The house was filled with soft wedding music. Ayansh and Aadhya doing the last minute preparation while the elders sat on the couch, observing everything.

Aadhya was decorating the ring tray meanwhile Rithik was busy preparing the last minute stage, adjusting the chairs on it.

"Rithik, tuje safety pin lane ko bola tha." Riya shouted, walking into the living room.

(Rithik, I told you to bring safety pin.)

"Yaar kisi Aur ko Bol de, can't you see I'm working." He yelled, shifting his focus back on the workers who were doing their work.

(Ask someone else.)

"Idhar aa," Ruhi pulled Riya's arm which made her sequel.

(Come here.)

"For how long I have been calling you. Ek hi jhumka pehen ke nikal gyi. And this bracelet, it's not going with your suit. Also, I have safety pins. Wait, let me pin it up." Ruhi mumbled, shaking her head and gave her another jhumka. Also, she took the safety pin between her teeth and lips and tucked it with the dupatta on the pastel yellow Kurta she was wearing.

Riya stared at her before taking the jhumka from her and wore it before changing the bracelet.

"Aadhya, Jaldi room me aa." Mahi called Aadhya from the room.

(Aadhya, come to the room.)

"Ye rings hai. Keep it to yourself carefully." She gave the rings to Ayansh before taking the stairs and walked into the room where Niyati was getting ready.

"Aadhya, ye saree. Iska pallu hi nhi set ho rha." Niyati sulked, holding the fabric of the saree in her hands.

(Aadhya, I'm not able to set this saree.)

"But why do you have to set it? It looks beautiful like this." She said, furrowing her eyebrows.

"But it's difficult to handle it. How will I handle this pallu and Mehek-

"Forget about Mehek. I mean, don't worry about her." Aadhya said, trying to assure her.

"That's what I have been saying to her. For one day, just one day don't worry about Mehek. We all will handle her, you should focus on your day." Mahi added.

"Hmm and see, how pretty and beautiful you look." Aadhya said and taking the kohl, she put it behind her ears.

"Yes, pretty mamma." Mehek clapped, standing on the bed. Niyati looked at the little one who was smiling brightly, her teeth shining as she smiled.

"Come on, wear the bangles now." Mahi said, noticing her empty wrists and was about to take the bangles from the vanity when she saw they weren't on there anymore.

"Aapke bangles," She asked and then looked at Mehek and then at the bed where Mehek scattered it like her toys.

Three of them let out a chuckle which made Mehek giggle. Keeping her hand on her mouth, she moved off the bed and ran out of the room.

"Mahi," Samar came into the room, holding his son in his hand. Behind him was Vedanth who was holding a crying baby girl who was just a few months old.

"Thodi der bhi nhi sambhal rhe Bacchae. Who told you to put twins in me." Mahi sulked, taking her crying daughter from Vedanth.

(Can't you handle them just for a while?)

"I just did my work because you wanted a baby. Ab mere genes and stamina strong hai, not my fault." That received him a slap on his arm. Mahi was about to turn around holding her daughter when the baby boy also started crying.

"Hey Bhagwan." She sighed and looked at Samar.

"Chalo," he mumbled, following her out of the room into a different room meanwhile Aadhya helped Niyati arrange the bangles.

"Is it hitting you yet? You'll be getting married in a few months." Aadhya said, putting the bangles on her wrists.

"Doesn't feel like that yet, maybe because everything feels like home. There's nothing strange I'm feeling and I guess, that's the best part." She said, looking at her reflection in the mirror. She pulled out a bindi from the packet and put it on her forehead.

"Ho skta hai. Vese bhi, you guys are married in your head. Bas rituals Baki hai." Niyati chuckled at her words before they heard a knock at the door.

(You guys are married, only the rituals are left.)

Both of them looked up to see Shivam standing at the doorstep with Mehek in his arms. He was dressed in an off white kurta and pants, wearing a watch in his hand meanwhile Mehek was playing with the brooch on his Kurta.

"1 ghante bhi Ek dusre ke Bina nhi rha ja rha." Aadhya teased, walking out of the room.

(Can't leave without each other even for an hour.)

"Haan Haan. Aap Aur bhaiya to bade Ek dusre se dur rhte ho." Shivam exclaimed, making her laugh. And when Aadhya went out, he walked into the room.

(Just like you can stay away from bhaiya.)

His eyes never left her even for a moment. She was dressed in a sea green saree with golden borders, pairing it with golden jewellery. Her hair was left open, into more defined curls. The look was completed after she wore the gold bangles in her hands.

"Hayeeee." Shivam mumbled, keeping his hand over his chest with a soft smile on his lips which made her blush.

"Hayeee." Mehek mimicked him and giggled, keeping her hand over her mouth which made them chuckle.

"Your mamma is too pretty for my poor heart, Mehek." He added, walking closer to her. Mehek nodded, as if understanding his words and agreeing with him. He put Mehek on the bed before taking out something from his pocket.

Niyati looked at him as he took out the Gajra from the paper and looked at her, smiling.

"It'd match your saree as well." He mumbled, turning her around to face the mirror and tucked the Gajra in her hair before wrapping his arms around her waist, hugging her from the back.

"God, you're looking so unreal today. I mean you look beautiful every fucking day but today you're extra beautiful." He mumbled, bending down to keep his chin on her shoulder.

"Papa," Mehek called him. He tilted his head to look at the little one and she pointed at her hair, looking at the Gajra in her mother's hair.

"Oh yes." Shivam exclaimed, taking out another paper from his pocket in which there was a small Gajra. Mehek turned around without a word and chuckling at her, Shivam clipped it in her curls with the help of pins.

"So pretty." He told the little one who clapped her hand and picked her up before putting her on the vanity.

"See, so pretty." Mehek nodded, smiling into the mirror. Shivam's heart melted. It was officially the engagement day and soon he'd be getting married.

"Come on, I'm going to click a picture." He said and looked at Niyati before taking two steps back and taking out his phone.

She held her daughter close to herself, smiling widely into the camera as Shivam clicked their pictures.

"Mehek," Mehek heard her name being called. It was Aarav at the doorstep. Shivam put her down on the floor and with tiny steps, she ran out to play.

"Okay now," He mumbled and holding her wrist, pulled her closer before raising his phone to click a selfie making her smile.

"Rithik," He called his younger brother when he saw him passing through the door. Rithik peaked in, he wasn't ready yet.

"Click our pictures," He told him. Rithik nodded, walking into the room and taking out his phone.

"Photographer nhi bulaya?" Rithik sulked.

(Didn't you call photographer?)

"Nhi," Shivam taunted before posing for the pictures.

(No.)

"I'm trying to take candids." Rithik said. Shivam wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer before kissing her cheeks. Niyati's cheeks flushed, a smile adoring her lips.

"Kitne besharam ho Aap." Rithik muttered under his breath, clicking the perfect picture of the day.

(How shameless you're.)

"Pyaar me aksar log besharam ban jate hai." Shivam mumbled, winking at her.

(People becomes shameless in love.)

"By the way bhabhi, you're looking so pretty. Shivam bhaiya to aapke samne Kuch nhi lag rhe." Rithik commented, making her blush.

(Shivam bhaiya is nothing in front of you.)

"True that." Shivam agrees, making her cheeks even more red.

"Chalo, I have to get ready. I'm going." Rithik said, going out of the room. He was missing Ishika. After the talk with her father, she has only texted him once or twice saying she has got her phone back but couldn't call. He was okay with that. At least her father was putting his trust in her.

Upon his wish, her family was invited for the ceremony and yet she wasn't here. He was unsure if he'd be able to meet her if she arrived with her father. That would make things complicated. Heaving out a sigh in defeat, he walked into his room to get ready for the ceremony.

Niyati and Shivam walked down the stairs, into the hall. The cameras flashed, photographers trying to take the perfect shot but they weren't feeding the cameras.

Shivam held her hand, his eyes never leaving hers even for a second.

"Bhaiya samne dekh ke Chalo, Gir jaoge." Ruhi commented, making everyone laugh.

(Bhaiya, look ahead or else you'll fall.)

"Gir hi gya hu, inke pyaar me." He spoke out loudly.

(Already fallen in her love.)

Everyone hooted while Niyati's cheeks grew the deepest shade of red.

"Kuch bhi." She muttered under her breath, feeling the attention on herself.

Then she looked around for Mehek, the little one wasn't in sight. But she came running, her silver anklets echoing through the marble floor with a half eaten laddoo in her hands.

Niyati shook her head. She knew her daughter had a sweet tooth. On normal days, she'd control the portion of sweet she was eating but today, she let it be.

"Papa," Mehek exclaimed and the room melted with her voice. She ran to Shivam and smiling at her, he immediately bent down catching the little one as she crashed into him, his one hand not leaving Niyati's. Her hands made a little imprint on his kurta making him laugh.

Holding Mehek in one arm and holding her hand in another, they moved to the chairs. Mehek settled in his lap as they both sat on the chair.

"Mehek." Aadhya called her but Mehek shook her head, refusing to get down, eating her Laddoo.

"It's okay bhabhi." He told Aadhya, assuring her that it was fine. Mehek was part of him, a part of Niyati and her presence was making everything better for him, for them.

It was chaos, the music playing, everyone talking, kids running around. Mahi had to take care of her two kids who were crying, one after the other.

Rithik walked down the stairs. His eyes searched for her. She was invited, her family was. She had to be here.

He looked here and there and noticed her. Ishika stood beside her mother, in the crowd as they talked to Mahi's parents. Her father was beside her, talking to someone.

Divya and Manish greeted them earlier when they arrived. Her father didn't say a word about their relationship and that's why Ishika was scared.

Her father was quiet. He has never been this quiet. He was silent from the moment he gave her phone back. Did something shift in him, maybe.

Her mother has talked to her. The real reason why her father was so against this relationship was because he was afraid his daughter would get hurt. That's what her mother told her. She understood his feelings so didn't say anything.

She didn't fight her father. How could she fight for one important man to the one who was most important in her life. She couldn't, so she left everything to fate. She was happy when her father returned her phone. Why she wouldn't be but she avoided talking to Rithik. She didn't want to make him angry.

Shaking her head, she tried to concentrate on the conversation.

She was wearing a blue kurta set, her hair were done straight and the golden jhumkas complimented her dress very well.

She was looking too pretty for him to look away. He has imagined this moment, finally seeing her but not like this. Not in the crowd where he couldn't run to hug her.

He thought she wouldn't look at him in her father's presence. Maybe she wouldn't talk to him but she did, like a muscle memory.

For a second everything disappeared when their eyes met. His heart raced seeing her and he immediately saw a faint smile on her lips. Then he noticed her father who followed her gaze and was looking at him.

It made him feel nervous. He gulped down. She was here, and so was her father.

After all the nights they spent without talking to each other, after all the unfinished conversation, after all the texts he wrote but didn't send her, after all the things she wanted to say but couldn't.

He looked at her father who was looking at him, so he took a step forward.

The old rithik would have avoided the conversation, the confrontation but love changes you in many ways.

Maybe love makes a boy grow into a man without even knowing.

So he stopped in front of her father first, not her. Straightened posture, crisp navy blue kurta twinning with hers, hair gelled back and a watch in left hand.

Mature and confident, yet a little bit hesitant.

"Namaste uncle." He mumbled, bending down to touch his feet. Ishika gulped down but her mother smiled. Her father nodded and Rithik touched her mother's feet as well.

"Khush rho beta." Her mother smiled, patting his head.

(Be happy.)

The moment turned silent. Everything around them was loud, yet this corner where they were standing was painfully awkward.

"How was your exam?" her father asked.

"Good, I'm confident I'm getting a good rank." He told him, confidently. Her father nodded.

Rithik wanted to ask about her exam but he knew it went well. She texted him after getting her phone back. He looked in her hands, for her phone but it wasn't there. Maybe in the bag she was carrying.

Her father's words were still ringing in his head, telling him not to hurt her daughter. He never wanted to but he understood the protective nature of a father.

Beside him, she inhaled shakily. She was nervous and quiet. He didn't like that. He liked her loud and chaotic Where she'd barely give anyone a chance to speak.

Where she'd annoy him. The girl whom he loved silently and then loudly.

"Rithik, idhar aana." Ruhi called him. He excused himself but then turned around and glanced at her. Her father noticed but didn't say anything.

"We should start. Muhrat nikal rha hai." Divya told everyone.

The priest came, putting tilak on both of them and performed a small Ganesh Pooja for the auspicious occasion. Then Divya and Niyati's mother walked over the stage to both of them.

Mehek was watching everything curiously, sitting in Shivam's lap all the time. Niyati's mother gave the box of clothes to Shivam while Divya gave it to Niyati, blessing them afterwards and feeding them sweets.

Now came the ring exchanging ceremony.

"Where are the rings?" Divya asked. Ruhi and Riya walked to the stage with the decorated tray with rings, it caught Mehek's attention immediately. She jumped off from his lap and with tiny steps, walked to them.

"Cutu," Riya mumbled, showing her the tray and the little one tried to grab it, making everyone laugh.

"Okay, hold it carefully." She gave the tray to Mehek and slowly, three of them walked to the couple while Mehek was holding the tray walking in the middle.

"Papa. Mamma." She babbled, passing the tray to them which made them chuckle at her cuteness.

"Hold it okay." Shivam said, picking her up in his arms. Then he took the ring from the tray and stared at it. Such a small thing yet it was going to mark the start of something beautiful.

His heart was beating loudly. The nervousness, excitement everything came together knowing she was going to be officially his, in front of everyone, with everyone's blessings.

He looked at the ring and then at her. He has proposed to her before as well but this was different. At that time, he told her his desires, promised her to always protect the relationship they had and right now, he was holding their entire life and love in his hand in the form of this ring.

His hands were trembling as she forwarded her hand to him.

"You're shaking." She mumbled.

"You make me nervous." Her heart gave away right there. The family around them started cheering loudly when he sat on his knee, putting Mehek on the chair beside them.

Rithik played the song "Joru ka gulaam" making everyone laugh.

He finally slid the ring on to her finger, eyes never leaving hers the entire time and kissed the back of her hand.

Everyone cheered loudly while his hand rested against her hand, gentle and grounding. Like he didn't want to let go even after the ritual.

Now it was her turn. She was about to take the ring when Mehek caught it before her.

"Mehek, give me beta." Niyati mumbled, trying to reason it out. Mehek shook her head, looking at the ring curiously and tried putting it in her hand. It was too big for her.

"See what I got you." Shivam mumbled, taking out a bracelet from his pocket, shining, blue coloured. Mehek looked at the bracelet and immediately took it and he slowly took back the ring, giving it to Niyati, still on his knees in front of everyone.

Taking the ring, she stared at the ring and then at him.

"I can't wait, please." He mumbled, getting impatient. Letting out a chuckle, she put the ring into his ring finger and kissed his hand.

"Oh my god, I'm going to faint." He exclaimed dramatically, getting up and hugging her.

"Thank you for choosing me." Shivam mumbled, kissing her cheeks.

"Sabke samne Kya shuru ho gye bhaiya." Riya shook her head and rolled her eyes, he held Niyati even more closer, kissing her other cheek as well.

(Started in front of everyone.)

"Ab to I can say, Meri hone wali biwi. Meri Marzi" Niyati slapped his arm listening to him, heat reaching to her cheeks instantly.

(Now I can say, she's soon to be wife so my wish.)

Then he went off the stage, Mehek and Niyati following him with their gaze curiously. Grinning widely, he came back with two bouquets. One large one of red roses and the other one having two sunflowers.

"Flowel." Mehek clapped her hands watching him as he kneeled down in front of them and gave them the bouquets, before kissing Niyati's ring finger.

Giving the bouquet to Mehek, he kissed her cheeks making her giggle.

Meanwhile Rithik noticed Ishika talking to Riya, they were laughing about something. Her parents weren't with her so while picking up a bowl of ice cream, he went near them.

"Get lost." He mumbled to Riya, giving her a smile. She rolled her eyes, taking the bowl of ice cream.

"Ungrateful." She muttered under her breath while he looked at her and his eyes immediately softened.

For a few seconds, they stood there. No words were exchanged. He called one of the waiters and picked up two bowls of ice cream, forwarding one to her.

"I missed you so much." He mumbled, looking into her eyes. Her eyes turned glossy listening to him and at that very moment, he wanted to take her away from there and hug her but he knew he shouldn't be doing that. It'd be a very wrong impression on her father.

"Ishu,"

"I'm sorry I didn't call you even after getting the phone back. I was just scared." She mumbled, blinking away her tears.

"It's okay. Please don't cry now. It's not going to happen again and if it does, we'll be standing there because I'll make it official." He assured her, pointing at the stage where his brother was standing.

She let out a chuckle Hearing him.

"I thought things would change between us." She mumbled, looking at him.

"Did yours?" She shook her head listening to him.

"Mine neither." He assured her. She smiled listening to him.

"I missed you too." She told him. He just smiled and looked over at her. Her father was watching which made a little conscious .

"I called on your phone a few days ago. I talked to your father." He told her. She furrowed her eyebrows, a little shocked and took out her phone from the bag.

"When? There's no call log. I checked it thinking you might have called me when papa had my phone but there was none." She told him.

"Maybe he deleted it but don't worry. I talked to him about how he should be trusting you and how you're not a kid anymore and he should trust me as well because I'm not going to hurt you. Just a small talk." She looked at him horrified and shook her head.

"You have guts Rithik." She mumbled.

"Of course. I fell in love with the only daughter of Mr. Sharma." He chuckled, making her smile.

That's when he realised. Love wasn't a grand proposal. It was standing together in difficult times, waiting for each other, trusting each other.

He moved a little closer, his hand brushing against hers before he held her hand into his, intertwining their fingers.

Because years later when they'd be looking back at this night, he wouldn't remember the song playing or the lights but he was going to remember the feeling.

The feeling of choosing each other, the feeling of getting back and having each other's back, the relief of finding each other.

"I love you." He mumbled softly.

"I love you too Rithik." He smiled while listening to her and then looked towards the stage where his brother and Niyati were standing. Mehek was still sitting on the chair like she owned it.

"Now," Niyati whispered in his ear, her lips brushing against his cheek.

"You'll dance with me." She mumbled and Rithik played a romantic song. His heartbeat stumbled. The smile on his face disappeared slowly. Nobody noticed because everybody was busy dancing.

His throat tightened. Of course he was getting back at it but in front of everyone, it was difficult.

"Too many people." He mumbled to her. She held his hands into hers, gently.

"They all are family." She told him. There were only close relatives and family yet he feared the idea of judgment. He has seen everyone dancing and enjoying but only saw, never danced with them.

"One dance, only with me." She told him. Her eyes were shining brightly while his eyes were moist at this point. It was overwhelming but he knew there was no pressure.

But he'd listen to her in every universe, every word she'd tell him like a command. And today, if she wanted it she'd get it.

"Aapka hukum sar aakhon pe." He mumbled and she tilted her head, smiling softly. The one he always craved for when he started seeing it initially. The one he could die for.

(Your wish is my command.)

Then slowly, his fingers slipped between hers and he carefully placed his hand on her waist, a measured step. His body stiffened when he noticed that everybody stopped dancing, they were looking at him.

"Just look at me shiv," that did something to him. His fear cracked, everyone disappeared in the background. His shoulders relaxed, his movements became less hesitant when he moved along with the beats, along with her.

And before he could over think it, he turned her gently, clean and elegant. Everyone cheered, he became conscious again but when he looked into her eyes again, he forgot about everything and kept dancing.

Somewhere between swaying her and forgetting the crowd, pieces of the boy he used to be returned quietly.

She looked at him and at his family which was going to be hers as well, soon. She looked at their fingers. A new beginning, this time it wouldn't end in something wounded or broken. This was something which had healed her and her broken dream.

"I love you." She mumbled. He smiled, brushed off the tears that rolled down her cheeks and bent down. Holding her from her knees, he picked her up making her squeal. She kept her hands on his shoulder for support.

Mehek cheered, clapping loudly when he turned around with her.

"I love you more." He told her, smiling ear to ear.

Her eyes glistened as he danced with her. The idea of living her dream was beautiful because now, having a family, having a lover didn't feel like a distant dream. It was her reality now.

The song changed and Shivam watched everyone dancing. Mehek was with everyone, playing and dancing with her new buddy Aarav who was only a year older than her.

He put Niyati down and held her hand before he pulled her along with himself, away from everyone into his room.

He looked to see if someone was following him before he locked the door and looked at her who was out of breath due to dancing and running.

"What- her words stuck in her throat when he pulled her closer by her waist and smacked his lips on hers.

It was hunger, it was desperation, it was love, it was everything that he was feeling at the moment. More than anything, it was the contentment in his heart knowing they were each other's forever.

She put her hands around his neck as he pushed her down on the bed.

"So fucking pretty, I'm losing my mind Niya." He mumbled between the kiss, his lips moving to her jaw, kissing every inch of her skin.

She laughed a little, feeling ticklish and smiling between the kisses, he looked up at her.

"I'm so happy Shivam." He nodded his head, brushing off a few hair strands away from her face.

"Me too. I'm on cloud nine. I can't explain how I'm feeling right now. This, everything, it feels so unreal." She nodded listening to him and holding his face between her palms, kissed his forehead.

"I'm so proud of you for dancing in front of everyone." He smiled listening to her.

"Couldn't have done without you. You helped me heal my dream." He mumbled, kissing her cheek.

"And you healed everything in me. My trust, my faith, me and my dream." She told him, her eyes glistening with fresh tears.

He chuckled and kissed her tears before kissing her forehead.

"I promise, I'll be forever yours." He mumbled.

"Forever the person you can trust, forever the person you can lean on to when things get tough and forever the person who's going to love you to the moon and back." He added, making her chuckle.

She nodded her head.

"And I'm going to stand by your side, forever and ever. I'll become calm to your chaos, home to your stress." She told him, making him grin widely. The smile that reached his ears.

"Forever each other?" He raised his eyebrows.

"Forever." She nodded with a chuckle as he flicked her nose and kissed her forehead.

The end.

It's Healed dreams you'll 😭🩷

Can't believe the book finally ended after almost two years 😭

Thank you everyone for putting faith in me that I'll complete the book and thank you for being the part of the journey of Shivam and Niyati.

When I started this book, I wasn't sure of the response or how long it will take me to complete the book. But now it is complete, I feel so happy.

Writing this book was always the roller coaster. There have been days when I couldn't write even if I wanted to due to the circums☆▪︎☆▪︎☆

Happy reading.

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