As Prachi entered the house, Pragya hurried towards her, followed by Saritaji and Sahana.

"Prachi, don't go anywhere without telling me, okay? My one daughter is already in the clutches of God knows who, I don't want the same fate for my other daughter too." Pragya cupped Prachi's cheeks worriedly. 

Prachi placed her hands over her mother's hands and smiled reassuringly.

"Don't worry, Ma. I won't go anywhere again without telling you." Prachi smiled.

Pragya pulled her into a warm and loving embrace of a mother. As the mother and daughter reveled in their love for each other, Pragya's phone came to live, bringing them out of the embrace. Pragya picked the phone up and glanced at the screen. She looked up at Prachi, Saritaji and Sahana's curious faes and mouthed 'Vikram Kohli'. Then she answered the call.

"Yes, Mr Kohli?" Pragya answered the call.

She remained silent and listened intently for a while.

"Sure, we will be there right on time. I assure you." Pragya replied to whatever the man said from the other side.

"You too have a nice day." Pragya cut the call after ending the conversation.

"What happened, ma?" Prachi looked at her anxiously.

"Vikram ji asked us to reach the mansion before evening as your and Ranbir's mehndi and sangeet functions will be held this evening." Pragya smiled.

On one hand, she was happy for her elder daughter as she was getting married to a person like Ranbir who was the kind of son in law every mother would want for their daughter. However, on the other hand, she was worried for her younger daughter who was still in the clutches of her abductors. The two emotions – happiness and worry – were warring in her heart. However, she decided to be happy for her elder daughter as Ranbir and Prachi's wedding would automatically bring about Rhea's release. And she wouldn't be able to achieve anything by worrying about Rhea other than spoiling Prachi's happiness.

"Let's go and get ready for the function." Pragya urged.

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After a few hours

Pragya, Saritaji and Sahana were waiting in the living room of their house, clad in beautiful sarees and lehenga.

"Where is Prachi now?" Pragya glanced at her watch restlessly and then at the closed door of her daughter's room.

No sooner did her words came to an end than the door was unlocked and pulled azar.

The trio were mesmerized to see the exquisite beauty clad in a silvery grey lehenga with matching jewellery framed in the doorway.

As Prachi sauntered away from the door and towards them, Saritaji made a hand gesture to remove the evil eye.

"You are looking so beautiful. May God keep the evil eye away from you." Saritaji beamed.

"My princess really is looking like a princess." Pragya smiled with all the warmth and pride of a mother and cupped her cheeks.

"Thank you, Ma, Saritaji." Prachi smiled.

"Shall we leave now?" Pragya asked.

"Okay." Prachi smiled.

Sahana who had held back, edged closer to Prachi as they followed Pragya and Saritaji out of the house.

"Haye! Ranbir ji – ja – ji is already crazy for you. Today he will cross all limits of craziness when he will see you." Sahana teased.

"Keep quiet or else I will leave after locking you inside the house." Prachi blushed

"Awe, my Prachi is blushing!" Sahana continued teasing.

"Girls, what are you doing? Come fast. The cab is here." Saritaji urged.

"Coming" Both Sahana and Prachi chorused and rushed towards the waiting vehicle.

As soon as all four of them settled down inside the cab, the cab pulled away and headed towards the mansion.

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Ranbir was restively glancing at his watch and towards the entrance alternatively, forcing himself to greet the guests with a polite smile and make small, formal conversation before sending them on their way towards the elders. Suddenly, someone tapped on his right shoulder. He turned to see but found no one there. As he turned to his left, he staggered back a little.

"Aryan! You almost gave me a heart attack!" Ranbir huffed as he glowered at his best friend.

"Not possible. How can I attack your heart when she hasn't arrived yet?" Aryan smirked.

Ranbir moved his hand swiftly and messed Aryan's hair, making him jerk back.

"Ranbir! You have messed my hairstyle!" Aryan grumbled

"That was payback for startling me. And, anyways, I was just trying to tame the bird's nest. But seems like it loves to remain as unruly as ever." Ranbir chuckled.

"You.... OH MY GOD!" Aryan was about to retaliate but as his eyes encountered something behind Ranbir, he couldn't help exclaiming in stunned surprise.

"What?" Ranbir frowned.

"Make an about turn. I am right here to hold you in case you faint." Aryan sniggered.

"What nonsense are you talking ab...." Ranbir trailed away as he whirled around and his eyes met a heavenly sight.

"I can't believe this!" Ranbir exclaimed, completely mesmerized as his eyes followed the progress of the ethereal beauty down the hall.

"Can't believe what?" Aryan looked at his best friend, bemused.

"That anyone can be so beautiful." Ranbir's eyes were still glued to the girl walking down the hall with her family.

"True. You both make a handsome couple." Aryan beamed as he watched Prachi and her family being greeted and welcomed by Vikram and Daljeet.

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"Prachi , you are looking so pretty. We are lucky to have such a sweet, kindhearted, loyal, responsible, loving and caring person as our daughter in law." Vikram smiled, placing a hand on Prachi's head.

"Vikram is right. We really are lucky to have you as our daughter in law, puttar." Daljeet chimed in.

"Please come." Vikram urged them to move inside and led the way followed by Daljeet , Saritaji, Pragya and Sahana.

Prachi fall back as she was adjusting her dupatta. As she began to hurry to catch up with her family, she tripped over the long, flowing skirt of her own lehenga and was about to tumble over when two hands hold her by the waist, fingers splaying over her bare waist and sending tingles of awareness throughout her being. She didn't need to turn around to see who it was. She could recognize that touch in a million.

Ranbir leaned forward and removing a hand from her waist, he tucked a few stray strands of her hair.

"I won't ever let you fall." Ranbir whispered.

"I know." Prachi muttered back, even as a crimson hue tinged her cheeks.

"But do you know how beautiful you are looking right now? I feel like gobbling you up." Ranbir mumbled mischievously.

"Ranbir! You are shameless! Let me go!" The crimson hue on Prachi's cheeks deepened as she looked around to see if anyone was observing them.

Thankfully, everyone seemed to be engrossed in something or other.

"That I am. But only with you. And I won't ever let you go. Just for now I I may consider it if you pay the toll." Ranbir smirked.

"Ranbir! Never here." Prachi blushed furiously as the memory of the fare he demanded in the car flashed in her mind's eye.

"Relax, chikchiki! Not that toll you are thinking about. This is a different and much simpler toll. Say I love you and I will let you go. Or if you want you can stay here like this. I don't have any objection." Ranbir chuckled as Prachi lightly hit the arm around her.

"I love you. Now please let me go before anyone notices." Prachi entreated.

"I love you too." Ranbir pulled her closer, making her gasp and then the arm was gone and she was free.

Prachi hurried away, leaving a laughing guy in her wake.

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The women led Prachi to a cushioned area in the center of the hall and settled her down. The professional mehndi artists began to perform their art on her hands. She beamed at her mother, Sarita, Sahana, Daljeet and Vikram and then looked around. Her eyes met with a pair of eyes which were twinkling with happiness.

Ranbir's eyes were glued to his would be bride when he saw her looking around, as if sensing his fervent gaze. He witnessed the joy and contentment in his heart at the fulfillment of his dearest dream reflected in her eyes. They smiled at each other. It was a moment when they felt so much connected with each other that the world around them dissolved into oblivion.

Prachi was brought out of her trance when one of the mehndi artists asked her the name of her groom. Before she could reply, a male voice answered their query.

"R for Ranbir Kohli."

They turned to see that the groom himself had answered, his voice dripping with utmost possessiveness. The bride smiled shyly as she recognized the possessiveness in his tone.

Aliya rolled her eyes, utterly bored while Pallavi sighed in frustration. All the other elders, especially Vikram, beamed seeing the couple so happy to be with each other. Vikram thanked the Almighty that finally his son was getting the happiness that he deserved and that his wife's whim could not win over his son's love as his love was in his destiny.

"Won't there be any song and dance in this mehndi party?" Sahana chirped.

"My niece has been abducted and you want to dance now? This marriage was not even planned. We are having to get Ranbir and Prachi married under duress. All rituals are being done and that is enough. Don't expect anything more." Aliya glowered at Sahana.

"Fine. Okay. Chill. Calm down. Or you will have to be hospitalized for raise in blood pressure level." Sahana retaliated, rolling her eyes.

"You..." Aliya was about to retort.

"Mom and Sahana, could you guys please stop fighting. Don't ruin it for Prachi and Ranbir." Aryan sighed.

Both the woman and the girl huffed and looked away.

Pranbir, who were lost in each other's eyes, didn't register the chaos. Soon, the mehndi was done and the artist asked Prachi to wash it after it had dried. Prachi suddenly began to feel thirsty and excused herself. She sauntered away.

Ranbir, who had been watching her avidly, began to walk towards her when someone pulled him back. Annoyed, Ranbir turned back to see Aryan grinning cheekily.

"What?" Ranbir growled.

"Where are you going?" Aryan wiggled his brows.

"To find a priest who will marry you off to Sahana." Ranbir replied without missing a beat.

"What?" Aryan's grip loosened as he stared at Ranbir, flabbergasted.

"It always works." Ranbir winked at him, shrugged off his already loosened grip and strode away, smirking.

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Prachi was standing in the middle of the spacious kitchen, wondering how to pour some water in the glass from the jug without ruining her mehndi when a man's hand lifted the jug and began to pour some water in a glass. She turned to see her beloved engrossed in the task at hand. She smiled lovingly, amazed yet again at his love and care for her. 

"I know I am handsome, but don't look at me like that or people will think you can't keep your eyes away from me." Ranbir smirked, even as he hold the glass in front of her lips.

"Oh please! Stop blowing your own trumpet, Baklu." Prachi rolled her eyes.

"I only speak the truth. What can I do if people can't digest it?" Ranbir looked at Prachi with an innocent expression that made her giggle.

She sipped some water and then moved away a little.

"Feeling better?" Ranbir smiled.

"Much better." Prachi smiled back.

"Now, let me see your mehndi." Ranbir demanded as he replaced the glass on the counter.

Prachi lifted her hands to do just that when she noticed that the mehndi had dried.

"Ranbir, it's dry now. Wait, let me wash them off. Then you can see the colour and design." Prachi moved to the sink and washed her hands off.

The Mehndi had turned dark red and the beautifully drawn design was adding a different beauty to her hands. Ranbir took her hands in his and admired the mehndi designs on them.

"This is so red and beautiful." Ranbir wondered aloud.

"Yeah, they say mehndi's colour turn very deep when...." Prachi, who was smiling, suddenly looked down shyly.

"When..." Ranbir prompted with a knowing smirk.

"No...nothing." Prachi gulped as she looked up and witnessed the intense look in his eyes.

"When... the groom...loves...the bride...very...much." Ranbir interspersed every word with a kiss on her cheeks, making her blush furiously.

She wrenched her hands free from his grasp and scampered away, making him grin mischievously.

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The mehendi function came to an end and the guests began to take their leave. After the guests left, Pragya took leave from Vikram, Daljeet, Ballu Dadi and left along with Prachi, Saritaji and Sahana. After all, they would have to prepare for haldi ceremony and the wedding the next day. 

As they were leaving, Prachi, who was on the garden outside the mansion, sensed someone's gaze on her. She stopped, turned back but there was no one who was staring at her. Frowning, she was about to turn away but then, yet again, she felt the full force of someone's gaze on her. Involuntarily, she looked up. Ranbir was standing behind the boundary wall of the terrace and looking at her with a smile. His smiled broadened as their eyes met, she smiled back and waved at him. He waved back. Then, out of the blue, he blew a kiss towards her, making her blush again. She hastily mouthed 'bye' and whirled around and hurried down the road leading to the main gate. Ranbir chuckled at her shyness and kept looking till she disappeared inside the waiting cab.

[So sorry for such a late update buddies. I was just not active here much. Hope you all will like this update.]

Precap - Haldi and Marriage