As Pranbir and Mishti reached Ranbir's car, Prachi came to an abrupt halt.

"I forgot to ask you, Mishti. Is this surprise for us or for the whole family as well?" Prachi smiled.

"The whole family, bhabs. First, I went home from the airport without saying anything to anyone.  And then surprising them and depositing my cases at home, I came here directly to surprise you guys. How was it?" Mishti wiggled her brows.

"Awesome." Prachi giggled.

Mishti grinned in response. She was about to open the passenger door when someone hit her head lightly with knuckles. Bemused, she turned to look at her brother.

"Back seat." Ranbir gestured towards the back of the car with his thumb.

"Why Bhai? Is this seat reserved just for Bhabs?" Mishti batted her eyelashes innocently.

"Yes, my naughty sister, now it is." Ranbir narrowed his eyes.

Prachi blushed at his blunt reply and hit him playfully on the arm. Ranbir just shrugged in a nonchalant manner, not at all bothered about his bluntness, while Mishti giggled.

"I understand, Bhai. Just don't run us into some other vehicle as there is always the danger of you getting lost in Bhabs' eyes while driving. Are you sure you want to drive? I can do it for you. Then you will be free to keep staring at bhabs and.... Ow! Bhai!" Mishti's teasing changed into a groan as Ranbir twisted her ear.

"Do you want to add anything more?" Ranbir raised a brow.

"Ow! No, Bhai! Please! Leave my ear. I won't tease anymore. I promise." Mishti entreated.

"Good girl." Ranbir finally let go of her ear.

"Bad guy." Mishti retaliated while rubbing her ear grumpily.

Chuckling, Ranbir pulled her into a side hug and forgetting her annoyance immediately, Mishti, too, reciprocated the hug. Prachi smiled seeing the sweet bond that the siblings shared, much like the bond between her and Aryan.

"Shall we?" Ranbir asked.

"Sure." Mishti agreed and breaking away from the embrace, jogged away towards the back of the car and settled down comfortably in the spacious back seat.

Prachi was about to open the door to passenger seat but another hand beat her to it. Surprised, Prachi turned towards the owner of the hand and instantly a smile lit her beautiful features from within. Ranbir opened the door for her with a soft, loving smile. Smiling shyly, Prachi settled down on the passenger seat. Smiling himself, he made his way towards the other side of the car and settled down on the driver's seat. Soon, the car drew away and headed towards the nearest highway. 

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Soon the white gold rays of the afternoon sun paved way for the red gold rays of the setting sun of the dusk which in turn paved the way for the blue black colour that painted the night sky.

The whole mansion had been decorated with red and gold draperies on the glass windows, the chairs in the dining area were draped with red while the tables were covered with golden draperies. The theme for the Mehndi ceremony had been decided to be red and gold. Therefore, the whole mansion had been decorated in accordance with the theme.

All the female guests had arrived for the function since it is primarily a woman centric ceremony. While their male counterparts had been designated to the terrace where they could mingle and enjoy each other's company along with scrumptious refreshments.

Pallavi had been looking for Pragya when she came across the other woman who was instructing the waiters regarding arrangements.

"Pragya, everyone has arrived. The girls who will do the Mehndi designs have arrived too. Where is Prachi?" Pallavi looked around and towards the stairs yet again.

"Don't worry, Pallavi. I have sent Sahana and Mishti to see if Prachi is ready and to bring her downstairs." Pragya smiled.

"Okay. But where are the trio? I will check on them." Pallavi turned on her heels and was about to head towards the stairs but stopped short as her eyes encountered a mesmerising sight.

Prachi was walking down the flight of stairs. She was looking absolutely gorgeous in a beautiful red lehenga with golden works on it. Her hair was left open and the parting of her hair was adorned with a beautiful gold maang tika. Her ears were adorned with a pair of gold long chandelier earrings. Her wrists were adorned with gold bangles.

"Oh my! Prachi! You are looking so gorgeous." Pallavi gushed happily.

"Thank you, aunty." Prachi smiled shyly.

"Aunty! Not done. From now on you are going to call me mom. Okay?" Pallavi smiled, patting Prachi's cheek affectionately.

"Okay, aun....mom." Prachi smiled.

"Really, our Prachi is looking fabulous." Disha, who had just entered the scene, smiled.

"May God bless you and keep you away from any kind of harm." Pragya side hugged her daughter.

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

"By the way, Pallavi aunty, don't you think our jiju aka Ranbir will be mesmerized when he will see her?" Sahana giggled.

Prachi glared at her while blushing furiously. The others, however, laughed merrily. Prachi leant a little towards Sahana.

"In the exact same way in which my dear brother will be enchanted seeing you?" Prachi smirked, her words were for Sahana's ears alone.

Sahana glanced nervously at the elders and then pleadingly at Prachi.

"Prachi! Don't! What if someone hears you?" Sahana muttered under her breath.

"But people have to know about it sooner or later. So, why not now? Let me do the honours." Prachi smiled smugly.

"Noooo! Please! Not yet. I will do anything you want." Sahana entreated.

"Anything?" Prachi smirked.

"Anything" Sahana promised.

"Excellent. Then stop teasing me right away." Prachi ordered.

Sahana pouted but the threat actually worked and shut her mouth effectively.

"What are you two whispering about?" Disha looked at the two friends with raised brows.

"Nothing important, Masi." Prachi giggled, seeing Sahana sulking.

"Okay, girls, talk later. Now come with me." Pallavi held Prachi's hand and took her towards the place in the center of the room where a place had been set covered with golden sheet for the bride to sit for her mehndi. As they settled her down on the seat, Mishti leant towards Prachi.

"Bhabhi, you know what I was wondering? What must be bhai's condition as he has been kept away from the mehndi ceremony and especially from seeing you? He must be going out of his mind." Mishti giggled, causing Prachi to smile shyly.

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The terrace of the mansion had been decorated exquisitely with the same red and gold draperies and the buffet table lined up along one corner, containing the refreshments, had been covered with a golden sheet too. The chairs placed on the terrace for the male guests had red coverings. Along with the other male guests, the male members of the Mehra, khanna and Kohli families had been barred from attending the function till the bride washed off her mehndi. Hence, the men were having a party of their own within the terrace. However, one man in particular was not very happy with the arrangement.

Aryan smirked seeing a lonely figure pacing restively like a caged tiger along the farthest corner of the terrace. He nudged his father and inclined his head towards the interesting scene. Purab chuckled witnessing  the young man's restlessness. 

"Vikram, your son is going crazy. Look there." Purab called out to Vikram and diverted his attention towards his son.

"What's wrong with him now?" Vikram frowned, bemused.

"Hey oldie, I know you are no longer of the age to understand the concept of romantic love but your son is still young and he is missing my daughter and his would be wife. Poor guy probably wants to see how she is looking in the red dress." Abhishek guffawed.

"Abhi! You are impossible! And my son is getting married to your daughter. So, if I am old than you too are, my dear friend." Vikram smirked.

"Excuse me, speak for yourself. I am still young." Abhishek retaliated immediately.

"Okay, both of you, stop fighting. Let's try to cheer Ranbir up. Okay?" Purab decided to play the mediator. 

When the other three agreed, Purab called out to Ranbir and beckoned him to join them. Reluctantly, Ranbir made his way towards them. He was looking absolutely handsome in a red sherwani.

"So, young man, enjoying the men only party?" Abhishek wiggled his brows.

"To be frank, not in the least, chief. I mean, what is this nonsense rule that men can't participate in the mehndi function? Why can't we? Why are we being treated as outcasts? This is so unfair!" Ranbir sulked.

"I know right! I so wanted to see how Pragya was looking. But..." Abhishek trailed away deliberately with a mischievous smile.

"Exactly, Chief. And I was waiting to see how Prachi was looking. But this stupid rule!" Ranbir complained.

As soon as the words left his mouth, Ranbir realized just what he had said and bit his tongue. The others, however, burst into gales of laughter. 

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The girl who was engrossed in drawing intricate patterns in Prachi's hands looked up suddenly and beamed at the radiant bride to be.

"What is your groom's name?" The girl smiled.

"Ranbir" Prachi smiled shyly.

"Oye hoye! Bhabs! You are feeling shy already? What will happen when Bhai will come in front of you?" Mishti wiggled her brows.

"What else? Our Prachi will faint due to shyness." Sahana giggled and feigned swooning.

"Shut up, Sahana. Or else I will expose your secret in front of everyone right away." Prachi inclined her head towards Sahana and mumbled in a low voice, audible only to Sahana.

Her threat worked its magic and silenced Sahana effectively. 

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Ranbir looked at Abhishek with a puppy face and it melted Abhishek instantly. 

"Stop it guys. Why are you tormenting my champ? Now no one will laugh at him, got it?" Abhishek frowned at them, restraining a disobedient smile with great difficulty.

"Wah! See Purab, I will never understand when this man will flip." Vikram complained.

"Good that you have finally realized that you can never understand me. How can you, Vikram? You need a brain to understand something or someone and you, my dear friend, are completely lacking in that department." Abhishek teased Vikram mercilessly.

"What!" Vikram glared at Abhishek who was grinning mischievously.

"Nothing. Ranbir, you go with Aryan and try to sneak into the Mehndi party if you can. Just don't reveal to anyone that it's my plan if you get caught, especially to Pragya." Abhishek winked at Ranbir.

"What are you teaching them? Are you out of your mind? Do you think Pragya Bhabhi, Pallavi, Beeji are gonna let us get away if these two get caught? No they won't because they will know immediately that it's us behind these hooligans' attempt to break in." Vikram protested.

"Dad! You are calling us hooligans!" Ranbir's complained.

"Yes. I am. Who breaks in and enters there bride's mehndi function?" Vikram raised a brow.

"My father did. Dida told me all about mom's mehndi ceremony, dad." Ranbir smirked smugly.

"Vikram!"

Abhishek and Purab exclaimed together, turning as one towards a suddenly sheepish Vikram.

"I never knew you are an expert in this too." Abhishek raised a brow with a sly smirk.

"No, actually...I....just..." Vikram stuttered,   red faced.

"And to think of how you were lecturing the boys on decent behaviour." Purab didn't let the poor guy finish.

Ranbir grabbed Aryan's arm, making him  turn to him.

"Let's get out of here before dad beats me into a pulp for exposing his secret." Ranbir muttered.

Leaving the three friends engrossed in their 'discussion', Ranbir and Aryan slinked out of the terrace.

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Disha was enjoying the banter of the girls as well as the blissful aura of the auspicious occasion when her phone rang. As she checked the caller ID, her lips curved into an affectionate smile. Excusing herself from others, she sauntered out of the hall. 

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Ranbir and Aryan had just descended the flight of stairs connecting the corridor of the first floor of the mansion to the terrace when a feminine figure emerged at a distance out of the blue. Cursing their luck, Ranbir grabbed hold of the back of Aryan's sherwani and dragged him behind the nearby pillar which had enough girth to hid both of them. As the woman sauntered towards them, recognition dawned on them. It was none other than Disha. 

Unaware of the presence of the two youngsters, Disha accepted the call and pressed it against her ear.

"How was your day? Have you eaten something? Don't tell me you were too busy to eat." Disha smiled.

Ranbir and Aryan looked at each other, each wondering whom Disha was speaking to in such a loving tone.

"Oh! You have returned. But why haven't you informed me that you are returning to India?" Disha frowned.

"Who is she talking to?" Aryan muttered under his breath.

"How would I know?" Ranbir whispered back.

Disha, on the other hand, appeared a bit discomfited as she listened to the person on the other side of the connection.

"I, well, actually I am staying at Abhishek Bhai's house for now." Disha replied with some hesitation.

However, the hesitation on her visage soon transformed into a frown of annoyance.

"Don't talk like that, Sunny. He is your father. He may have committed some grave error. But he still is your father. And I won't have you speak about him in such a manner." Disha reprimanded her son, inadvertently answering Aryan's question.

An intense dejection took hold of Aryan as he realised the true extent of the damage that Aliya Khanna's obsession had brought about. That vicious woman's poison had destroyed not only the relationship of a husband and wife but also shattered the bond between a father and a son. It served to fortify his resolve to unite the family even more.

"Okay, I will forgive you. But on one condition. Since you are back early, you will have to attend the functions of Ranbir and Prachi's wedding, starting from the Sangeet tomorrow. No if, no but." Disha smiled.

After listening to the reply, her smile transformed into a full fledged grin.

"That's like my son. I will be waiting for you tomorrow. Tell Radha to prepare your dinner and take rest. You must be suffering from jet lag. Goodnight." Smiling, Disha ended the call and turning on her heels began to walk away.

"Ranbir, I want dad and Disha aunty to sort out everything before Sunny Bhai comes here. Then it will be easier to make him understand. What do you say?" Aryan looked at his best friend questioningly.

"I think you are absolutely right and I also think that I know what we have to do. Aryan, you go and bring Purab uncle to your room and I will bring Disha Masi there. There you can reveal the whole truth to her." Ranbir suggested.

"Great idea. I will go right away." Aryan grinned and got to his feet, followed by Ranbir.

Keeping an eye on Disha, Aryan furtively walked towards the stairs and began to

After making sure that Aryan had disappeared from view, Ranbir strode towards Disha.

"Masi" Ranbir called out.

Startled, Disha came to an abrupt halt and whirled around.

"Oh! Ranbir, it's you!" Disha smiled.

"Sorry Masi. Did I scare you?" Ranbir apologized.

"No, no. It's just that you called suddenly, so I was a bit startled. That's all. But what are you doing here? Let me guess. Trying to sneak in to see Prachi?" Disha smiled knowingly.

"Not right now. At the moment, I am here to pass a message. Aryan said that he needs to show you something. So, can you accompany me to his room?" Ranbir made a random excuse.

"Oh! Okay. Let's go then." Disha agreed much to Ranbir's relief.

Together, they headed towards Aryan's room.

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As Disha entered Aryan's room, she looked around. However, there was no trace of another human being apart from herself and Ranbir.

"But no one is here Ranbir. Where is Aryan?" Disha frowned in confusion.

"I am here."

Before Ranbir could reply, Aryan's voice caused them to turn around. However, Disha was baffled to see Purab sauntering into the room after Aryan.

"What's going on here? I want the truth." Disha glared at them.

"We are here to do just that." Ranbir assured her.

"What truth? What are you talking about?" Purab stared blankly at them.

"The whole truth about your shared past,  Aliya Khanna's manipulation and my background." Aryan smiled sadly.

"Your...Aryan! Do you....do you know?" Purab spluttered, flabbergasted.

"Yes, dad, I do." Aryan shrugged.

"Aryan..." Purab took a step towards Aryan, his eyes displaying a sudden fear, fear of losing the son he had always loved as his own.

"Relax, dad. You are and always will be my father." Aryan assured his father.

Purab finally smiled even as his eyes shone with unshed tears.

"What do you mean? I don't understand anything." Disha looked from father to son and back again, utterly bemused.

"I will explain." Aryan smiled slightly.

He explained the whole truth, every single thing that he had heard that night when he came to know about the biggest truth of his life.

By the time Aryan concluded his narration, tears were cascading down Disha's cheeks. With a stifled sob, she collapsed on the couch behind her.

"What a monster! How could a woman stoop so low for the sake of a whim?" Disha choked through tears.

She looked at Purab through the somewhat hazy curtain of tears and a wave of guilt swamped over her as she realized how she had punished an innocent man and left him ans refused to trust him when he needed her the most. Purab hadn't uttered a single word since Aryan had stopped talking, his eyes brimming with tears of helplessness and agony.

Aryan walked over to Disha and knelt down on the carpeted floor in front of her. He took Disha's trembling hands in his own.

"Please, don't misunderstand my dad. He has always loved you and Sunny bhai more than anyone. But, knowing that you hated him and wouldn't even listen to anything he said, he decided to live his life for the child who was not his own flesh and blood but still was as dear to him as his own child. If you have suffered, then he had suffered too. If you were broken, then he was too. Please, give him another chance. Give him his beloved wife and his son back. If you want I will go away here and never return again in your lives." Aryan offered, his own eyes were moist.

"Aryan, what are you saying? Have you gone crazy?" Purab protested vehemently.

"No dad. I mean it. You have sacrificed your entire life for me. How can I not do this small thing if it bring back the happiness you have lost?" Aryan's tone brooked no argument.

"You will go away to give me my love back?" Disha stared down at the young man kneeling in front of her.

"Yes." Aryan's reply was immediate and unequivocal.

"And cost me my younger son?" Disha asked with a tremulolus smile.

"Me? Your younger son?" Aryan gaped at the affectionate woman in front of him in utter disbelief.

"Yes. I think of you as my younger son. So, will you leave me as it will hurt me very much?" Disha smiled at Aryan, her eyes shining with the unconditional love and affection of a mother.

"Never. May I call you mom?" Aryan promised and then asked tentatively.

"Don't you dare call me anything else." Disha instructed with a smile and freeing her hands from his grip, cupped his face affectionately.

Ranbir beamed happily while Purab wiped tears off his eyes, this time they were of a boundless happiness.

Knowing it was time to let the couple sort everything among themselves, Ranbir called out to Aryan.

"Aryan, let's go. I have some important thing to discuss with you." Ranbir gestured to Aryan.

Understanding that they need to give the couple privacy for their reconciliation, Aryan agreed and together they walked out of the room.

As they walked out of the room, closing the door behind them, Purab walked over to Disha and settled down on the couch beside her. He took her hands in his own and a sense of serenity and blissfulness that had been absent from his life for years seeped into his being.

"I am sorry, Purab. So sorry. I misunderstood you and left you when you needed me the most. I will never be able to forgive myself. Everything that you have suffered for all these years in the hands of that nefarious woman, somewhere I am responsible for them too. At least my lack of trust is." Disha apologized tearfully.

"Don't say that, Disha. It wasn't you. It was the situation which was at fault and Aliya ofcourse, who manipulated people and situations in her demented desire to get what she wanted. I have and will always love you." Purab tried to calm the sobbing woman down.

"And I have and will always love you too." Disha promised.

Purab pulled her into a warm embrace and Disha too responded with all the love and warmth for this man that she had concealed in her heart over the years.

After a separation of so many years which had appeared to both at one point to be ceaseless, the starcrossed lovers started the process of healing as they shed tears of love, loss and grief of separation in each other's embrace.

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Prachi was engrossed in conversation with Mishti and Sahana when the girl drawing beautiful patterns on her hands with Mehndi called out to her.

Prachi turned to look at the girl questioningly but the girl only smiled sweetly.

"Your Mehndi is dry now. You can wash them off now." The girl informed.

"Yes, bhabs, please wash your Mehndi quickly. We want to see how dark it is." Mishti urged with a playful grin.

"But how can you be so sure that it will be dark?" Suhana, a cousin of Mishti, asked.

"Simple. Because we all know that Bhai loves Prachi so much. We want to see just how much." Mishti giggled.

The other girls and women too joined in the teasing session, making colour surge up Prachi's cheeks.

"That's enough now. Stop teasing my daughter in law. Prachi, you go and wash the Mehndi off." Pallavi came to Prachi's rescue.

Agreeing immediately and smiling gratefully at her mother in law, Prachi got to her feet and made her way towards the flight of stairs leading to the first floor of the mansion.

Prachi was walking through the corridor of the 2nd floor, engrossed in observing the beautiful patterns drawn with such expertise on her hands when a hand reached out and grabbing her arm, pulled her inside a nearby room.

Let's end it here. 😁😁
3842 words 😮😮
So, here goes a big update for my sweet readers since I couldn't update for sometime. Hope you all like it.