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I breathe in gasps of air, "is it... is it true, Advu?"

"As true as it can get, Bugu. Dadu just settled in the car, we'll be there in thirty minutes." The smile in his voice, flutters my heart more. He's coming here. With Grandpa. With his family. He's coming to fulfill his promise.

"Sun.." I hum in response, not able to form words. "Meri vohti banauga main tujhe." The five words, and my already heavy heart brims to its fullest making my eyes turn glassy.

I'm taken back to the day he said these exact words to me for the first time ever. Our first dating anniversary and since then on each of our anniversary dates, he'd get me tulips, go on his knees and whisper these five words. Every time. And today, he's on his way to turn them real.

"Wear that saree from farewell. This time for me, dil-o-jaan." I let my lips curl up in a smile. It's been exact one year and three days to the 'patch-up'. A year and three days to our farewell and he's still holding that against me and only asks to see me in that saree once again, only for him.

"Ab toh bas karde! Chal rahe hai na waha." I hear Sahil scoff behind him. "If only he wasn't making all this happen, I'd dump his ass here and never make him a part of this." My boyfriend lowly grumbles to me. I smile knowing he's lying. No matter what, Advik will never ever even go for ice-cream without Sahil & Suhana by his side, leave coming to see me for marriage. 

"I am not driving." Advik screams making me chuckle. Sahil throws some curse words at him. "Let's goooo..." Suhana shrieks and I can literally see all three of them in the car, bantering.

"Let her get ready. Cut the call." Sahil says.

"Get ready, Falak." My boyfriend murmurs. Suhana shouts behind him, 'hum baarat laa rhe hai.' The guys ignore her and Advik disconnects the call. I breathe in long inhale, keeping a hand on my heart to settle it down. I turn to the door when someone knocks. My parents peek in.

"How was the surprise?" Mumma wiggles her eyebrows making me look down, blushing, trying my best to tame down the face splitting smile.

"How--How did this happen?" I ask as they both step inside, closing the door behind. "Like we initially discussed, I started bringing up Mehr in front of Papa and how well they are doing financially in fashion sector. One day we were sitting when I told them that the part owner of Mehr has a son your age and they are looking for a girl for him. That immediately intrigued Papa." Papa starts telling me the entire thing.

"Sahil made Advik's biodata, I showed it to Papa. He liked Advik and said to forward Mehrotra's your biodata, which was also made by Sahil." Dad laughs before the laughter dies down, heaving a sorrowful sigh. "Kitne gehre zakham hai ode dilo wich, par apni jimmedariyaa ni vula vo bacha. Advik ki taakat ban khada hai har jagah."

I keep my head on dad's shoulder, humming. "Sahil is doing it all but look after himself, Dad." I say lowly.

"Jab wo aayegi, sab sambhaal legi." Mumma says, holding my hand and pressing on it tightly.

"She better, Maa, she has a lot of making up to do." Mumma hums in assurance, we three sit in silence and take a moment before it's broken by my grandfather calling my father.

"Did you decide what you will wear?" Mumma asks raising from the bed's edge.

"Saree." Mumma chuckles at my answer. Advik complaint to her once when I didn't listen and wore the saree for him.

"Finally!" Maa laughs walking out of the room. I smile to myself, walking to get ready for him.

•

I hear the voices. I hear the loudness that makes Mehrotra & Sahdev's my family. My heart thumps loud and fast as I yearn to glance at him. To see how he does it, how he enters my house to ask for my hand from my grandfather. Since in my Dadaji's eyes, I know no one from the family; even Suhana cannot come to me. The times the girls have stayed at my house has been zero. Both Ahaana Suhana often came to my house but only in my grandfather's absence because he didn't like much noise and hurly burly in the house.

With my heart in throat, I wait for someone to summon me in the living room. I softly pad to the door and press my ear to it, but hear nothing other than some low murmurs and so return back to the bed. "Falak." My ears and each cell in my body instantly jolts up when I hear the light knock on the door. Mumma gently twists the knob and peeks inside, her face adorning the brightest grin ever.

"Come, bache." Mumma opens the door more and forwards her hand, I jump out of the bed and sprint to her. "Slow down! Arrange marriage." My mother reminds me under her breath and I look down, slowing down my steps before stepping out of the bedroom.

I keep my eyes lowered down, the intense gaze of all the people present making me shrink into myself. But then I feel differently, I feel the nerves die down as soon as they started to cripple up. I let myself steal a quick glance to the side that made me feel as if I'm falling into a mountain of feathers. The smile that greets me rushes gentle coolness in my burning veins. His eyes glides down my face to body as the first raindrop of season trailing down my arm.

"My granddaughter, Falak." Dadaji stands up from the couch and gestures at the empty seat beside him. Mumma helps me sit down and after I'm settled, I finally look around-- making sure to never look at him-- the familiar warm smiles that greets me, calms my heart down. If I have these people, nothing can go wrong. They will never allow it to.

"Stop smiling, look down." Dadaji slowly murmurs in my ear, turning his head sideways and instantly the smiles wipes off my face.

"Hey, Falak." Shika Maa speaks up. I look at her, faintly smiling.

"Hello, Aunty." I greet her back.

"I hope we aren't making you uncomfortable with this sudden visit." Shika gives me a faint smile, which is her way of asking, 'You're okay na, Falku?' I blink my eyes in assurance.

"Not at all, M--Aunty." Suhana clears throat at the right time like she saw this coming and I immediately correct myself.

"Can we know a few things about you, Falak?" Rudra Uncle joins in, in the conversation. I bite back on the smile when Samyak Uncle hides his chuckle behind a cough with how edgy Rudra Uncle seems. He cannot act, it's just not him to pretend something.

I give a nod. Rudra Uncle clears throat, only now trying to think of what to ask. I wait for him to question something... anything. All eyes on him. Samyak Uncle jumps in to his rescue, "Where did you do your graduation from, beta?"

I heave a sigh of relief when the attention is turned away from Rudra Uncle to Samyak Uncle. I give him the answer to that and my grandfather out of no where remembers that he needs to ask the same question from Advik. But Advik's quick in lying and he gives some other college name.

The conversation has to be dragged. Mehrotra and Sahdev's have no clue of what to speak. They are extremely careful of what leaves their mouth, not wanting to give anything away. Grandpa stays mum throughout the conversation. His eyes stays on my grandfather as if it's taking all his strength to not end up saying something that could ruin this but I know he has eyes on all the wide eyed stares, the glares when I smile or look up at anyone my grandfather sends my way.

"I guess enough quiz to last the elders a lifetime." Grandpa finally speaks up, breaking the conversation between Advik and my grandfather. "It's these two who will live together, they should be given a chance to know each other." Grandpa gestures at Advik and I.

"Live together?" My grandfather humorlessly chuckles, "we are just meeting for the first time."

"One glance is enough to know if the person is the one, Dadaji." Sahil stares at my grandfather, my eyes move between the two as they glare at each other. I look at Advik who nudges Sahil's foot with his and makes him avert his eyes from my grandfather's.

"I agree with you, Arjun, this man is not for Falak." My eyes widen out of my damn face if it was possible. When I find my grandfather looking at Sahil and not Advik, all color fades from my face. The Mehrotra and Sahdev's look equally confused.

"What do you mean?" Grandpa asks.

"When I found out about your family, Sahdevji, more than Advik... this boy intrigued me. He had that look in his eyes in the pictures that showcase just how powerful he can be in the future. I wanted Arjun to ask for his hand and not Advik's." I look at my father to see him looking down, his eyes lowered in... shame.

"Sorry to shatter your dreams of hooking your grand-daughter to me 'for the power', but I'm already engaged." All eyes turn to him, my heart instantly hurting for him. There's a limit of everything and my grandfather knows how to cross each one of them to stoop the lowest.

I quickly look for my phone wanting to tell him I had no idea of this. I didn't know Dadaji had something so corrupt in his head. When I don't find it, I realise I left it back in the room. That one conversation between Sahil and my grandfather having changed the whole air. My heart pounds when I feel this is ruined. There's nothing left for Advik and I.

"I really don't want to entertain this conversation, Mr. Khanna. But you need to know that you should thank your lucky stars that it's Advik and not Sahil. This grandson of mine is a hellion and the other hellion who matches his energy has him already wrapped around her little finger even when she's sitting oceans across." Grandpa states, trying to end it up with a chuckle.

"Oceans across?" Oh god, someone remind him his limits. I mentally facepalm.

"Advik's little sister, Ahaana, she is currently pursuing her under grad from London. Mrs. to-be- Sahil." Grandpa answers but his tone shows just how done he is with this conversation. He doesn't like talking about family thing and with how nosy my grandfather is, the conversation can take wrong turn any second. I share a look with my father to somehow drop this conversation.

"Uncle, I agree with you, it's Advik and Falak who should know each other. Falak, take him to your room beta." My father quickly jumps into the main thing without beating around the bush. Thank god!

"Room? Why room?" My grandfather loses his sh.. calm yet again. Arghhh! "Take him to the balcony, Falak." Dadaji grumbles gesturing at the balcony. I internally roll eyes knowing he's doing this to keep an eye on us.

I quickly get up before he can change his mind and decide to tag along. Advik follows me to the balcony, I slam the glass door shut.

"Arey shaant meri jaan." Advik keeps his back to the living room and mutters. I pout at him tilting my face sideways, my grandfather's eyes burning holes in my back.

"I had no idea about it, Advik." I curl my fingers in a fist, controlling the urge of hiding myself in his arms. "I know, Bugu. Don't worry about it." He gives me a smile, making sure to keep distance.

"Sahil will kill me and throw my body in the ocean." He chuckles at me whining. "He won't, meri jaan. He knows how Dadaji is." He continues looking at the side of my face.

"Fuck I want to hold you." He mutters looking away for a moment to breathe in and out. I smile at that.

He turns back to me, "Just let the roka happen. I just need that out of the way, phir dekh lenge baaki sab, okay?" I nod my head at his words.

"Roka? Without proposal? Not so romantic, Mr. Mehrotra." I tsk trying to tease him, he laughs lowly.

"I should up my game, hm? Be one of those fictional men you read about, Bugu?" The teasing glint in his eyes and smile warming my heart. God, I'm in love with this man. Watching him become this 'man' from the boy I made friends with, has to be the most hottest thing ever. He teases me so much about these spicy fictions I read, unknown to the fact that it's him I imagine while reading all those.

"You should, but I don't think you will be able to do that, baby, considering you have vowed to not touch me before we are married. My fictional men ravish their women." I avert eyes when his gaze starts to glide down my body like caressing me with his gentle fingers.

I don't know why people nowadays want power & money in everything. Have you ever felt yourself blushing under the gaze of the man you love? Man who has only love to offer. Man who is the literal definition of kindness and love.

I don't know how my grandfather could think of Sahil over Advik. But ofcourse the man cares about how much money the families make and not how Advik is as a human. How Advik loves me when I hate everything about my looks, my life. How he still makes sure that there's no nasty creature before we walk into a room. How he sends me tulip flower and cheesecake each month on the date that he proposed to me back in tenth grade. How he makes me my favorite tea by himself the minute I step in Mehrotra or Sahdev household.

My Dadaji doesn't know how Advik makes it his mission to take my mind off, to put not a smile but life back in when I'm crying over something that Dadaji taunted me with. How gently he holds me. How he kisses my tears away and doubles up the happiness in my life. How he looks at me like I'm his whole world.

How even though he hurt me back a year ago, that too when he was falling apart himself, he still apologies for it to this day with hand written notes and more sugary treats. How he thanks me for not giving up on him and this relation and for forgiving him for all the hurtful things he said in the moment of distress. No one knows how he is holding true to his words from when we were in tenth grade and has never ever even glanced at me when I'm changing right in his face. No one knows how deeply he loves because one thing that we both have always kept a secret is our love.

Even though every one knew we were in love, they never saw us fluttering in love. They never saw how my racing heart slowed down when my eyes met his on the first day of school, as if my soul recognized his. No one saw how he held me when I was sacred of a lizard. No one saw how hard it was for me to hold him back from getting in fight with Sahil when Sahil scared me with a fake reptile or insect for the first time. How he sniffs my hair whenever he needs calming down.

Advik fell in love with me because he says and I quote, 'I looked at you and knew you will complete my heart' and I fell in love with him because I was lonely and scared and terrified until he held me the first time in his arms, my soul found a home in him since and it continues to do so each time our eyes collide from a mile away or a breath away.

"As if you didn't come to my voice over the fucking phone just last night, Miss-you-can't-beat-my-fictional-boyfriends." He interrupts my train of thoughts, bringing me out of Advik-land. My face reddens at his taunt, "Advik!" I reprimand, glancing behind us to check if anyone heard.

"You were mewling and moaning like that with my voice only and imagine I am yet to touch you. trust me, I am going to ruin all your fictional men for you once we are married. Just you wait and watch, hone wali baiko." I blush more at his teasing words. While we are it, I want to add, Advik is not what he seems. This man is the most shameless person I have ever come across. He has the mouth of a rowdy. He also has this weird habit of calling me 'wife' in all the different languages of India.

"Bas baatein! You don't even know how my skin looks down the throat." I shake myself out and form a quick comeback. Both our hands are holding the glass fence of the balcony, his little fingers slides closer to mine. I turn sideways to make sure my grandfather isn't looking before locking our pinky fingers together.

"On our honeymoon. I will make love to you for the first time on our honeymoon and I swear Falak, you will cry for one break. One fucking break." His finger nails digs in mine. I hiss at the feeling of his nail over mine... or his words? I don't know. But the way I feel my lower stomach clenching, I know even my body knows Advik takes his promises seriously.

"Jao jaake haan kardo, meri jaan." He tips his head sideways back to the living room, a smirk on his lips. When I continue looking at him, he winks biting down on his bottom lip making my insides dry out. "Mana karungi." I mutter, turning around to stomp away; the sound of him chuckling behind fills my heart and stomach with butterflies.

The flutters in my heart vanishes when I walk back to the families, my grandfather's hard eyes makes me lock away my smile. Feeling his presence behind me, I take the empty couch. Advik settles down beside me.

"So?" Shika Maa looks between us, I look at my parents and nod. My father sneakily rolls eyes, shaking head as a faint smile spreads over his face.

"It's yes from Advik."

"Yes from Falak." Both my father and Rudra Uncle says in unison.

"Yes? Already? We should find some more about the families." My grandfather chimes in, dulling the happy moment before it even began. I control the urge to shout out loud and make a mental note to do it later in my pillow.

"Mr. Khanna the kids are saying yes, they have spoken about everything they wanted to, I'm sure. Instead of delaying, I think we should just go for roka." Grandpa says and gestures at Shika Maa, who stands up with a jump; like she has been waiting for this moment since she walked in.

"Roka? Aaj hi?" My grandfather says but everyone just ignores him when my parents stand up to hug the elders of Mehrotra and Sahdev's.

Mehrotra's are quick to react and so are my parents. Before my grandfather can cause any trouble or even have the time to think it all through; my father stands in front of us and asks my mother for the pooja-thali.

Mumma already had it prepared, the house help hands it to Papa. Sahil picks up my dupatta and places it on Advik's head, "ab toh zindagi bhar pallu pakadna hai, so let's start early?" Our families shake up in laughter at Sahil's teasing remark, my father applies tilak on Advik's head.

The moment I see him, like really see him, sitting beside me with my dupatta over his head and that red dot between his eyebrows, my heart calms down and at the same time starts doing somersaults.

Our eyes momentarily meets, the faint smile on both our faces reflecting our happiness. The shine in our eyes telling how much we have prayed to be in this moment since we started dating seven years ago.

When his mother nears me, I take my eyes away from his and let her put the tilak on my head. Rudra Uncle hands her the cash he's holding, and Maa puts it in my hands. "I'm going to bring so many gifts for you for the official Roka ceremony, for now accept Advik and us with this small token of love." Shika Maa murmurs to me before curling my fingers around the money and kissing my head.

"Shi Maa, you have finally done what you should have done years ago." Sahil says from somewhere behind. We all turn to look at him confused, "Sell Advik, wo bhi saamne se paise de kar." The grin on his face is so silly and at the same time sweet, it makes me want to pinch his cheeks and slap him hard for making fun of my fiancé.

Fiancé! Haayeeee. Main sadke jawaaa!

And kanjar Sahil. Chittar khayega!

I was busy shooting glares at Sahil when I hear Dadaji clearing his throat trying to gain our attention. Feels like he is finally out of the headrush these cheeky Mehrotra's, Sahdev's and my lovely parents put him in with their spontaneity.

Noticing he finally has everybody's attention, he opens his mouth and drops the bomb that only he could have dropped, "so what about the wedding dates? I mean with how quick you all are in saying yes to this, I'd think you guys came ready with the dates as well."

Everybody is momentarily stunned. A hand grips mine tightly under the saree pallu, I turn to look at Advik in whose eyes I can practically see his worst fear resurfacing. I try to reassure him by blinking my eyes when my own heart is ready to plop out of my body.

Just then Sahil quips with his usual non-chalance and surprisingly a pout on his very stupid face, "Dadu, you promised me that I will be the first one to marry. Hun saadi hon wali vohti vilayat nikal li taan mera ki kusur? Apne vaade se na mukarna Sardarji!"

Oh damn! This man just did not pull the 'sardarji' card on Dadu. Did he really? But with the way Dadu is currently glaring at him, I know this idiot just did that. From what I have heard, Dadiji (Sahil's grandmother) used to use this 'sardarji' card when she had to make Dadu agree on something that he would most probably deny. The word 'sardarji' from his favorite person in the world, and Dadu would be legit butter in hot water. Hayeeee these love sick Mehrotra and Sahdev's!

Dadu turns to Dadaji once he has made it abundantly clear to Sahil with his eyes only that 'chittar party is waiting for him at home' and turns his attention to my grandfather, "he is right, Khanna sahab. Sahil is the eldest of all so he will marry first. But we didn't want to lose on a precious child like Falak that's why the spontaneous Roka. I hope you don't take this to your heart. With the Roka done and the wedding preparation not hovering over their heads, the kids will get time to know each other better in this duration; don't you think?" Dadaji begrudgingly nods to Dadu's statement and excuses himself to his room stating he is tired.

Shika Maa and Avni Maa comes rushing my way and captures me in a big bear hug, squealing. Meanwhile I see Advik leaving my side to touch my parents feet and Dad hugging him heartily. My nose stings and eyes tear up while my elated heart takes a long sigh, "finallyyyy!" My heart whispers.

Advik longingly looks at me probably wanting an alone moment exactly like I am wishing for. When we notice the elders busy in themselves, Sahil gestures both of us towards my bedroom door. His way of saying, 'you go, I'll handle here'.

"Be quick." Suhana mutters making way for me, I smile at her and quicken my steps. Advik right behind me. He locks the door behind us and then I am suddenly in air. Giggles bubble out of me as I encircle my arms around his neck as he twirls me around. He then makes me stand and cups my face, our heads joined and nose brushing together. We both gasp a happy sigh together, "Finally!"

My eyes get teary reminiscing how we started and what storm we have been through in recent years. He wraps me in his arms, his hold so tight it almost chokes me but at the same time calms my heart so much with his presence and us being together, living this moment. The moment we have wished for since we started dating.

"We did it, Bugu." Advik whispers, his nose nuzzling into my hairs, sniffing them like usual.

"We did it." I sigh, feeling content. His arms offering me peace like usual.

"I wanna meet you properly, in our bedroom, just the two of us. Aayegi na tu?" He breaks the silence, gently pulling away from me. I pout, not liking being out of his arms' cocoon. He presses a quick kiss on my lips and pulls back before I can deepen it making my nose flare almost angrily, my reaction only making him chuckle.

"I love you, Bugaa." He breathes, his eyes roaming over my face just as the back of his hand brushes over my cheeks. I cradle in his touch. "I love you more." I mumble back, my heart overwhelmed with love and gratitude to be living this moment with the man of my heart.

"Advik." Suhana's voice filters through the closed door, he continues looking into my eyes before pressing his soft lips on my head and then lips. "I'll be waiting for you." He taps my nose with his index finger before taking steps towards the door. Peeking outside he makes sure my grandfather isn't around before heading towards the families.

I walk out the bedroom after taking some moments to myself and letting that 'it's done' feeling sink in. When I reach them, they all are stood up and ready to leave. "I thought you must be resting." Dadu smiles at me, opening his arm for me; I finally walk into his arms for the first time today.

"I-I was in the powder room." I reply but I also see Sahil's left eyebrow raising as if saying 'oh... really?'. I bluntly ignore him and continue stealing Dadu's love. These days have been rough on the Mehrotra and Sahdev's. Dadu's health continues declining and he has now turned into the worst stubborn man on the earth, saying no to even see the doctor; take the medicines or anything that could somehow increase even a minute in his life. It's as if he wants to... go. Leave us and just go to his 'sardarni' now.

But his kids, they are worst than him in this department. They have two twenty-four/seven nurses available for him. Doctors coming in to check up on him every six to eight hours. None leaves his side. Rudra Uncle and Samyak Uncle has brought their work home. Shika Maa and Avni Maa are always around him, similarly all three of his grandkids.

They are even sleeping with him. Day before yesterday Advik, Sahil and Suhana got into a huge fight with Samyak and Rudra Uncle because the father's said and I quote, 'he is our father, not yours. Sleep with your mothers and let us sleep with our father.' It was chaotic. That night the fathers' won. They slept with their father. The next morning Advik sent me a picture where they were snuggled with Grandpa.

"Ghar aana hai shaam ko, I have to give you something." Grandpa pats my head as I step away from his chest. Sahil --this man has a death wish-- quickly comes and brushes Grandpa's chest and arms, as if wiping me off of Grandpa, when I make a whiny face looking at Dadu, he twists Sahil's ear.

My parents takes blessings from Grandpa. Advik and Sahil helps Dadu walk. We all follow the family to the elevator. Our families hugs and bids each other bye, ordering me to 'come home in the evening'.

•—•

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FALAK

"pal ye hai pyar ke pal..." I walk into the Sahdev house and hear Dadu silently humming along with the radio, all four elders sitting on the floor circling him. My vision instantly blurs as I take in all their faces. Rudra Uncle sobbing with his head on Dadu's knee. Samyak Uncle's head on Dadu's arm that is stroking Samyak Uncle's head while the other hand is on Rudra Uncle's head. Shika Maa and Avni Maa sitting by his feet holding onto each other as they watch Dadu console both his sons.

Quietly, I take a step back to not invade their privacy more than I already have but my movement makes Dadu turn to me. Dadu sniffles, wipes his cheeks and gestures me to come close. I shake my head, tears running down my eyes. "Come here, kiddo.." Dadu whispers, his voice heavy with emotions, at his words all eyes turn to me and they begin clearing their faces. Putting on their happy faces and pushing their tears back.

Shika Maa pauses the music, helping Avni Maa to stand up. Samyak Uncle and Rudra Uncle take each other's hand and clear way for me. "Nahi... mujhe sunana hi nahi hai aapki baat. You are making everyone cry these days. Yesterday it was Advik, Sahil and Suhana. Now it's the parents." I say, shaking my head. The tears continue running down my face, and my feet taking me closer to him.

He holds my hands as I reach him. "Nahi na Dadu, I don't want to hear it." I beg him.

"But you have to. Mehr isn't here, so you have to listen for the both of you." Grandpa smiles, covering my hand between his. I look down to his hand, it continues shaking. The skin of the back of his hand so pale but the palm so pink, soft and warm like that of a newborn baby.

"She will come... and when she does, right here we both will sit and listen whatever that you have to say, I promise." I mumble through my sobs.

"She won't, doll. Mehr late ho jayegi." His words shatters something inside me on a whole another level. Mehr better be not late, she won't be able to live with herself. And neither will Sahil.

"They have promised me, that when Sahil is fighting her, hurting her which I know he will, they will support her no matter what. Similarly, you too will promise me Falak, when these people are hard on my little one after she returns, you will make sure that she's not hurt beyond repair." Grandpa stays mum for a moment, taking slow and steady breaths before he continues lowly, just breathing the words, "Promise me Falak, you will be her anchor; you will not let anyone speak ill to her, let anyone break my Mehr's heart, you will make sure Shai and Mehr finds their forever, even when Sahil denies it because they are it for each other."

When I say nothing and just continue sniffling and nodding my head to each of his word, he looks at the elders. "Sahil is right at his place. He has every right to be angry, to fight with her but I know my grandson, I know he will never be able to forgive himself if he ever hurts his Shea's heart. Let him get angry but make sure that neither of them are hurt deeply by each other's actions and words. Mere bache bahot nazuk hai ek duje vaaste."

"You five, promise me... when my three grandkids are fighting my little Mehr, you five will make sure to be her wall. You five will protect her from all three of them. When she finds herself alone, you five will hold her hand and make her stand back no matter what. You will not let her lose herself when she's fighting to get back the love of her life, her brother and her bestfriend." Grandpa holds his palm out, looking at all of us one by one. "Promise me." Grandpa urges us again.

Avni Mumma keeps her hand over Grandpa's the first, followed by Samyak and Rudra Uncle and then Shika Maa. All eyes then turns to me, I put my hand over all theirs. "Promise Dadu." I whisper through my tears, keeping my forehead on his knee, sobbing like a little girl.

"Enough now, get back to work you all." Dadu continues caressing my head but his command makes the elders leave. "It's time for my walk, Doll, will you join me?" He asks softly, I nod slightly; wiping off my tears before looking at him.

Probably for the first time in so many years, I look deeply into his eyes. Like really dive deep and find that even though he doesn't want to leave like all of us assume that he does truly want to leave us behind. He has to. He has accepted that his time has come and he, himself wants to make sure that things are running smoothly, lives of his kids are running good after he leaves. He's fulfilling his side of duties before he has to bid bye to us and meet the love of his life. She expects him to do all this while she waits for him to finally meet her.

I stand up straight and forward my hand, he denies it. "I don't have the energy to walk now, Falku, let's take the wheelchair?" I nod and even though I make sure to not show it on my face, my hearts falls down to my stomach. The first time that Rudra and Samyak Uncle brought the chair, he had scoffed to them and said, "Meri jutti baithe iss de vich, nalayako." But now he's asking to be sitting in it. He has no energy since many days and we don't know just how to help him. There's no treatment for old age, whyyy?

Since grandpa is already settled in his chair, I move behind it and start pushing it. His nurse steps towards me, Dadu gestures at her 'no' at the same time as me. I take us out of the Sahdev house and to the elevator, pressing the button for the ground floor, we both silently complete the ride down.

The watchman of the tower greets Grandpa as he helps me take Dadu out of the elevator and then down the sliding ramp. Thanking him, I move the chair towards the garden. "No. The club house." Grandpa gestures at the way that leads to the clubhouse. It does surprise me a bit but without saying anything, I just take us there.

I bring my hand up to open the clubhouse but Grandpa's words stop me, "here.." I look down to what Grandpa has forwarded towards me. "This is from all four of us. Your Dadiji, your other two Dadu and Dadiji in-law and I." The anklet box stares back at me. Before I can begin denying, Dadu flips it open leaving me in awe. The thick sparkly chain with tiny white pearls dangling under it and that little dancing peacock in the midst of it, looks stunning over the red velvet.

"This was your grandmother-in-laws. Advik's grandmother. She was diagnosed with cancer and was the first one to go among all four of us, she accepted the fact that she would go very soon the moment we found out of the disease. Rudra and Shika had just married then, Advik only two years old and no existence of little Ahaana. While all of us were busy looking for the best doctors that could cure your grandmother, she was busy bidding bye to us." The first drop of tear down Grandpa's eyes is all it takes to make me burst into tears yet again.

"While she gave all of her jewellery --all the gifts that Anup had showered her with on their anniversaries and birthdays-- to Shika and Avni. She gave two things to Sunaina and I. Aasha had said, "I know Anup will follow me very soon; no matter how much I deny, he will come right after me, chasing like always. That's why this is for both of you, I'm trusting you both to hand these to both my granddaughter-in-laws. Sahil aur mere Aadu ki biwiyon ko dekar aana ye, warna khair nahi tumhari." Dadu completes, chuckling in the end.

"Sahil ki biwi ko toh uska nazrana maine, Anup aur Sunaina ne Sahil ke haath aaj se kaafi saal pahle uss tak phocha dia tha, haan filhal wo Sahil ke kalai par hai... par kaafi jald wapas uske pass hoga jiske haq ka wo hai. Meanwhile this one's is for you... for Anup & Aasha's Aadu ki biwi." Tears continue streaming down my cheeks, relentless and unbounded. I wanted to deny this gift but I don't even know how I could feel Advik's grandparents themselves handing this to me through Grandpa that I reach out to touch the ankelts and more warmness wraps around my heart.

The twelve year Falak and not this adult Falak, that little girl feels arms hug her. Not one or two but four pairs of hands. Four grandparents showering her with love the kind that she craved from her own grandfather. It was Grandpa who handing this to me but I felt the soul of other three other surround me, bless me and love me all with that single touch of mine of the anklets.

I find no courage to pick the anklets, I just continue brushing the tip of my finger over them and gazing at them while I feel Advik's grandparents look over me from somewhere close, very close. In Grandpa's eyes, in his smiling and teary face; I find faces of Advik's grandparents, I find their blessings and love through him.

"Keep your foot here." Dadu picks one anklet out of the box, I deny shaking my head, having no words left in me. "Please bacha, aap alag thodi ho mere liye? Jaisi meri Ahaana-Suhana, waisi Falak." His words leave no room to say no. I gently place my foot over his knee, he wraps the anklet around my ankle. He does the same to my other one and I lean down to touch his feet but instead he bring his face to my head and place a loving kiss over my hairs.

"Thankyou so much, Grandpa. Thankyoy for accepting me and loving me like your own." I join my hand in front of him, he tsks parting my hands and giving me a glare.

"What do you mean like my own? You are a part of me just like those other four hellions." He says caressing my hairs with his soft hands.

"No matter how much we want to deny the fact, doll, but everyone has to leave one day." I start to speak but he shushes me with a shake of head. "I have had great joy of knowing you, of watching you become a part of my family. God knows there could have been no one better than you for my shaant but shaitan bacha, Advu."

"Thoda chanchal, aur kaafi samjhdaar. He started giving love when he himself was in the age where he had to receive love. Having a younger sibling who seemed to be always at the edge of dying, has been the hardest teacher for him. I know how that has made him and broke him, he now only knows how to love and doesn't know how to receive, but you do. You know how to offer love to him and he lets you. That's what makes you both different from Ahaana-Sahil and Suhana-Yug." Grandpa leans down a bit to my ears.

"Those two can fake how much ever they want but nothing hides from Rajveer Sahdev's eyes. I see their little relationship flaring under my nose just alright." We both share light chuckles at the mention of Suhana and Yug's brewing relationship.

"Where Sahil and Ahaana are the definition of fire and ice, Suhana and Yug's love story seems to be fervid but cute. But yours, your and Advik's love story is pure calmness. No fire, no ice. It's like walking into nature and breathing only coolness--the kind that repairs your soul-- and scenty--the kind that makes you want to take another long inhale and then another and then another. You both love each other the kind that both of you deserved but were denied some how and nothing helps revive a soul better than love. My Advik doesn't know how to put himself first neither do you, so put each other first when the world is blinded by fire and sass and ice, shower and coddle each other with love and let it mean the world to none but you two."

"Pyaar dena aata hai use, tum lena sikhna,
Wo mana kare phir bhi, use pyaar dena sikhna,
Duniya ki bheed mein, ek dusre ke liye thehrana sikhna." Dadu pats my cheeks and I see nothing in his eyes other than utmost love and adoration. In that moment, more than his words, his eyes speak. I could only nod because I don't think I have ever looked at both of our lives and our love story like this. He summed up both of us in the most beautiful three lines I have ever heard.

"Advik." Dadu calls out as loudly as his voice could manage, the door opens instantly as if he was already waiting on the other side of the door, "all yours, Advu." Dadu smiles at him first and then me. Advik forwards his hand, confused I give him my hand as I watch Sahil, Suhana and Yug step out of the clubhouse grinning; without saying anything they leave us alone outside the clubhouse, taking Grandpa with them.

"Ofcourse I had to give my romance reader fiancée a proposal she could gush over for a lifetime." Ad-- My fiance breathes in my ear, I turn my face sideways bringing out my lower lip.

"Advu.. you didn't have to." I say throwing my hands around his neck and clinging to him.

"So you had something to taunt over all our lives?" He murmurs squeezing me more into himself.

"Mhm." He starts laughing at my response, his lips brushing over my forehead. "Why clubhouse?" I ask even though I already have an inkling.

"Because we grew up in love here. Meeting here each day, hidden away from all the eyes of our families and friends. The day that you said yes to my proposal, I kissed your forehead the first time here under the tennis table. The day that we had our first fight over that new girl talking to me, we sorted out here."

"She wasn't only talking to you, she was making eyes at you." I grumble, still hidden in his arms.

"She was asking me the way to her classroom." He pulls me away from his chest, I whine like a little annoying child and he lets me hide my face back in his chest. "Fine. Yes, okay, she was making eyes at me." Even though I can't see his face, I feel him rolling eyes as he accepts it.

"Can we not talk about your fan girls right before you propose me? Don't you fear hearing me say 'no'?" I can't believe the audacity of my man right now.

"No? We got our Roka done today, Bugu, I fear nothing." I can't believe this man.

"Are you challenging me?" I finally look up to his grinning face.

"Are you trying to stir up a fight right before I propose you?" He raises an eyebrow.

I shake myself out of his arms, "I don't wanna do this with you." I mumble turning to leave, he grabs my elbow and pulls me back. My back slamming to his chest. He then moves me around, in our earlier positing, chest to chest.

"You have to do this with me. Just like you have done all other firsts of yours. You have to not only say yes to the proposal but also take vows with me, also let me claim yourself in all ways I want, also birth my kids, and then fucking grow old with me. Your first chance of saying no to me was when I first proposed to you back in tenth grade, second chance was when we broke up for thirty five hours last year, and your final chance was this morning when asked about what your answer is for my rishta. You chose me all these three times and now, you get nothing but me. You, now, only get me for this lifetime." With the way his voice turns gravelly and husky from all sweet and cooing, it makes my heart skip a beat.

After that promise many years ago, the moment Advik senses any sexual topic upcoming in our conversations, he turns it into comedy or his favorite-- pissing me off by teasing me. But there are times when I somehow get him so hyper that we end up doing things on call, like last night. I have never seen... him and neither has he-- because this hard headed man doesn't break his promises. But I have heard him speak, I have heard him go all dirty and put my dirty talking fictional men to shame. Maybe it's the love between us or maybe it's his this voice but I have always let myself go free even when he keeps telling me to not touch myself.

Advik is nothing like what his face shows. He has such dirty mouth, I forget all about the things I read in books. And the voice that he makes when he comes. It's... *salivating*. I have once orgasmed to him scolding me for something. In my defense, he sounds so hot when he's pissed.

Between the two of us, it's me who cannot wait for our honeymoon because I cannot wait to see what Advik is when he lets go. I mentally kick myself yet again for asking for that promise years ago.

"Stop it." He grabs my jaw between his fingers, tilting my face up with a jolt. "W-What?" I ask, gulping the salvia to wet my dry throat.

"Don't clench it." He growls over my mouth.

"Clench what?" I feign innocence.

"Your pelvic muscles, Falak." His hold tightens over my jaw. I bite my tongue to stop myself from asking him to do this to my throat instead. What the fuck is wrong with me? How can I be into this? I'm the good girl then why am I not into vanilla sex?

I release my pelvic floor muscles and the need to ask him to fuck me right here, goes away a little bit. I look down from his glaring eyes to his chest as I feel his own breathes settling down under my hands. "You start staying away from me. One of these days I'm going to throw you on the damn floor and have my way with you." He mumbles pushing away from me, creating some distance between us. His words warms my face as my head blasts a Bollywood song in my head, 'main toh kabse hoon ready tyaar..'. I gotta make some distance with my sister-in-law, she's getting in my head and it's the one place she shouldn't be considering all the dirty thoughts I have for her brother.

He turns away from me, giving me his back. I watch him take some breaths and run fingers through his hairs before he finally turns to me, leans down and brushes his lips on my forehead. "Stop turning me on with only your fucking existence, Bugu. Our marriage is probably years away, I'll die of blue balls." I smile at his words as he brushes our noses together. With one last peck on my lips, he urges me in the clubhouse.

The setup is nothing extravagant, but all that I have ever wanted in my dream proposal-- Tulips--so so so many tulips in every nook and corner of the place, my favorite cheesecake--sitting on the carrom board and the man of fifteen year old Falak's heart.

He walks me to the tennis table where with rose petals 'marry me!' is written. The exclamation mark makes me chuckle as I turn my eyes to the goofy man who is now siting on his knees in front of me with a velvet box flipped open and the prettiest ring shining at me. The pear shape sapphire stone sitting in the midst of plain band looks every bit of perfection.

"Bugu, you have been nothing but the light of my life. My safe heaven and the greatest gift in this life. You never gave up on me, even when I gave up on myself and our relationship once and yes I know that was the stupid-iest thing I have ever done and I will forever be in this exact position-- on my knees, grateful to you for not letting me ruin our relationship. It's still hard for me to believe that I belong to you, that you have chosen to live this lifetime with me. I don't know how I got so lucky but I promise to try and show you my gratitude for choosing to love me, for deciding to walk beside me this lifetime, each waking moment of our lives."

He takes a long breath at the same time as me, his eyes shining bright and lips stretched into the biggest smile ever. "Receiving your love has been the most precious thing I have gotten from you. Being able to be someone who could make you smile, laugh and also sometimes cry. I cherish the moments we have shared since last so many years and I want to continue stealing those moments with you for the rest of our lives, so will you give me the permission to do so? Will you let me steal you away from family gathering so that I can get that last kiss you were going to give me before someone interrupted? Will you let me steal you away from your office before that meeting that you are so nervous about and make you laugh? Will you let me steal you away from those books that you are reading biting your lips and that light blush on your face? Will you let me steal your worries away? Will you let me snatch away each of the problem that tries to come over you? Will you let me steal away the death that comes for you? And will you let me steal and lock away your heart for me for all of the eternities to come?"

I sniff reaching to cup his cheeks, "Are you asking me? If yes, the answer is no."

"I was but now I am not. Naa sune meri jutti!" He shakes head at my teary eyes and face splitting grin, grabbing my left hand he pushes the ring in my finger. He gets up wrapping arms around my waist as I let him kiss the breath away from my lungs. "I love you so so so much, Falak." He whispers breaking the kiss. I heave like I just ran a marathon, "I love you more, Advik." With that we kiss each other's breath away again.

We both spend some moments in the clubhouse, stealing innumerable kisses and hugs. Sharing our favorite cheesecake from our favorite cafe in the city, in our favorite hiding spot. A call from my mother-in-law breaks our little happy bubble. He answers the call and puts it on speaker.

"I would never disturb you but i'm literally at the gun point here." Shika Maa says from the other side.

"Maa?" Advik and I jump down the tennis table confused.

"Sahil is trying to threaten me with the showpiece I got from Italy, he has it moving like a pendulum in the air if I don't break your little moment. He says and I quote, 'ask that soul sucking witch to let my best friend go or I'll break this.'" I roll my eyes so freaking hard, I swear I am still surprised that they didn't get stuck somewhere. Advik chuckles shaking head at his best friend like he's some little naughty kid. I glare at my man for a moment longer than I should have considering the fact that he just proposed me and gave me so many kisses and hugs.

At my scary glare, my fiancé instantly clears throat and cuts the call saying, 'we'll be there in a few minutes'.

"Why is he so pissed at me? What did I ever do to him?" I ask walking hand in hand with him out of the club house. "I don't know, baby. Ask him?" My shoulder slump down in defeat, of course I am not going to ask the idiot why he doesn't like me.

I'm just going to sit still and keep myself in delulu that he's jealous of me because I have his best friend wrapped around my little finger. Huh. You can't beat that, Sahdev, now can you?

I continue gazing at my ring, curled up in his sides while he keeps kissing and sniffing my hairs. We create some distance between us when we reach at their floor and enter Sahdev house since everyone practically lives there these days, to be around Grandpa.

We truly enter into the scene where Sahil holding the glass show piece that Shika Maa got for Sahdev house from her last trip to Italy between his thumb and index finger and the show piece seems ready to slide out of those any second now. He sets it down the moment he spots us at the threshold and runs finger through his hairs like he wasn't just throwing a baby tantrum.

I give him a glare but in my heart smile to be able to get these little snippets of our Sahil still in there in him.

"Ye lo tumhara pati, mere sautan." I give Advik a push with my shoulder in Sahil's direction, not without making sure to wave the ring in his face. Sahil scoffs, "I helped him pick that." With that he leaves, for his bedroom, without even speaking to Advik. As he continues taking the stairs up to his bedroom, I feel the darkness swallowing him yet again.

"Falak, come here." Samyak Uncle helps me take my attention off of Sahil and his broken heart. The parents gestures at me to take the seat and I sit beside Advik on the couch. "Where's everyone else?" I ask as both the fathers stand in front of us. "Your grandpa is resting, Yug and Suhana just went out." Avni Maa informs me.

"Since we couldn't do much for the Roka, we are going to do as much as we can, now." Both the fathers sit down on the coffee table and takes my hands in their. When I see the mothers handing their partners the gold bangles, I try to pull away my wrists from their hold. Advik's hand on my knee makes me look at him.

"The proposal didn't end yet." Advik says and I look at him confused.

"Today you will be getting seven pieces from this family. When you accept these gifts, you not only accept the items but also the people who offer you these. With the payals, you accepted my grandparents. With the ring, you accepted me, with these bangles..." Samyak and Rudra uncle makes me wear the bangles at that moment. "With these bangles, you accept both my fathers. And with these earrings, you accept my mothers." Advik gestures at the mothers who stands with earring in their hands. When the fathers are done, Avni and Shika Maa take their place and removes the earring that I am wearing before making me wear the one in their hands.

"Thankyou for accepting not only Advik but also us, Falak, you are a god sent angel in our lives and we love you so so much." My mother in law whispers before kissing the back of my hand. I wrap my arms around both the mothers, hugging them and letting their love wash over me.

I got so lucky with not only Advik but also this family. Thankyou so much, waheguruji!