[I won't reveal who it is who grabbed Aliya. Keep reading to know the answer. 😁😁 Also, this book has crossed 20K reads. So, I am very happy. And here goes my gift for my lovely readers who made it possible. Thank you so much buddies.]

Within a few moments, darkness began to engulf Aliya as the arm tightened it's choke hold around her throat. She began to gasp, running out of breath and her hold on the gun began to loosen. Finally, after some more moments of futile efforts to free herself, Aliya gave in to the darkness which was rapidly engulfing her. Her grip over the gun loosened even more and finally the fatal weapon clattered against the concrete floor. Aliya collapsed and the person holding her captive let her go immediately. She slid down to the floor, unconscious.

Till then, the four people present on the spot were watching the unequal tussel in a trance. Only when Aliya collapsed did they look up to see who their saviour was.

In front of them was a man in his late twenties. He was a handsome guy, clad in a sky blue suit, paired with a crisp white shirt.

Aryan and Purab stared at the man with admiration and gratitude shining in her eyes while Disha's eyes glistened with unshed tears of pride.

"Sunny!" Disha exclaimed in a voice clogged with tears.

Purab looked at Disha, startled and then at Sunny, with so much love as well as hesitation in his eyes. He wanted to just run towards the son he hadn't seen for years and pull him into the waiting arms of a father but was totally unsure of his reception.

Aryan smiled with pride, now aware that the person who had saved their lives from the vicious woman was none other than his elder brother. Aliya had done this one favour on him. She revealed the fact that filled him with utmost joy. He too had a family, his own family. He was proud to call them his family, his biological parents and his brother.

Sunny strode towards Disha and both mother and son hugged each. Disha began to sob while Sunny tried to calm her down. On the other hand, Purab stared at Aryan with eyes brimming with tears and pulled him into a warm embrace.

Meanwhile, the policeman took Aliya away and tactfully provided the family the privacy they required to deal with their emotions.

After a while, when Disha calmed down and mother and son parted away, she turned towards her love and her younger son.

"Sunny..." Disha trailed away as Sunny began to speak.

"I have heard everything, mom. I know now who really was the culprit for all these lost years and the upheavals in our lives." Sunny smiled, his own eyes were not dry anymore.

"Then reacquaint yourself with your father. The man had been innocent but had to suffer so much. If we were deprived of Purab and Aryan, then they were deprived of us too. I don't want to waste another moment and want to see my family together for the rest of my days." Disha smiled through tears and patted Sunny's arm affectionately, urging him to initiate the reconciliation.

However, before Sunny could take a step towards the father he had hated with a vengeance for so many years but knew now that he was as much a victim of a vindictive woman as he and his mother had been, Purab began to take tentative steps towards his long lost son.

Disha rushed towards Aryan. She still couldn't believe he was the son she had lost soon after his birth, the son for whom she had cried herself to sleep nights after nights.

Almost at the same time, Purab reached Sunny while Disha reached Aryan. The father and elder son and mother and younger son hugged each other. After a while the parents let go of their respective children and hugged each other while the brothers hugged each other.

Tears flowed freely, washing the pain of separation and paving the way for the happiness and a lifelong togetherness.

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Mehra and Kohli mansion

The members of both the kohli and mehra families welcomed Sunny with open arms. Everyone was ecstatic as all the members of the Khanna family that had been torn apart by the vicious malice of an obstinately obsessive woman had finally found their way to each other. However, one person was going through gut wrenching guilt along with exhilaration.

"I feel so guilty of what Aliya did. I can't explain how ashamed I am to say that we share the same blood. I am so sorry. I was the one who had fulfilled all her wishes since she was very young and hence, contributed in her being as stubborn as a mule. As if once was not enough, I repeated the very same thing with my own daughter, Rhea and look where it has landed her. I just don't learn it seems. I am so sorry guys." Abhishek shook his head resignedly as self recrimination scorched his insides.

Pragya and Prachi both placed a hand on each of Abhishek's arms in a gesture of both support as well as consolation. Purab walked towards his best friend and placed his arms on Abhishek's shoulders.

"Abhi, please, don't blame yourself. You might have indulged Aliya too much but the evil ways she had resorted to, she had done it all on her own. Don't accuse yourself. Let bygones be bygones and move forward together in life." Purab reassured Abhishek.

"And the best way to start doing just that is to get engrossed in the Sangeet party of Ranbir and Prachi." Aryan announced.

Everyone agreed and smiling and laughing and pulling each other's legs, they engaged themselves in the preparations for the Sangeet ceremony which was going to take place that evening.

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The busy morning gradually paved way for an equally busy afternoon which, in turn, paved way for a glamorous and fun filled evening. The entire mansion had been decorated with orange blossoms and draperies of finest silk in soothing saffron adorned the glass windows of the living room. The theme for the Sangeet ceremony had been decided to be orange colour as it was the colour of an approaching dawn just as it was the beginning of a new dawn for Pranbir, beginning of a new journey of togetherness.

Pragya was hurrying down the hall, engrossed in a final inspection of the preparations when she collided with Disha who had been coming from the opposite side.

"Oh! I'm so sorry, Disha! Are you hurt?" Pragya apologized sheepishly.

"I am absolutely fine, Di. Relax! And where are you hurrying off to?" Disha raised her brows with a smile.

"I am just doing a final inspection of the preparations." Pragya smiled.

"Don't worry, Pragya. I have covered the other half." Pallavi assured Pragya.

"Thank you Pallavi. You have reduced my work by half." Pragya smiled gratefully at Pallavi.

"What are family for? To share work, joys, sorrows, problems, etc, isn't it?" Pallavi grinned.

"Absolutely." Disha agreed wholeheartedly.

Someone tapped on Disha's shoulder and she whirled around to see Daljeet in front of her.

"Puttar, where are our bride and groom? The ceremony is about to begin." Daljeet flicked a searching glance towards the stairs.

Before anyone could answer, they were distracted by the giggles and voices of a pair of girls and a pair of boys sauntering into the hall from opposite sides.

"Beeji, I will see to it. Sahana, Misti, Aryan, Sunny." Pragya called out to the youngsters after assuring Daljeet.

As they approached her, Pragya asked the girls to escort Prachi and the boys to escort Ranbir to the party. Agreeing instantly, the two pairs of boys and girls made their way towards the flight of stairs.

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Prachi's room

Prachi was standing in front of the mirror of the dresser, trying hard to put on the chandelier earring matching her beautiful orange lehenga with heavy embroidery. 

She was still engaged in her tussle with the earring when someone sauntered into her room. Hearing the footsteps, Prachi looked up with a frown. However, the frown cleared as soon as her eyes met a handsome pair of brown eyes through the mirror and her lips curved into an enchanting smile. 

"Ranbir" His name left her lips in the merest of whispers and yet was audible to both. She was mesmerized seeing her prince charming dressed in a saffron sherwani and looking as handsome as ever. 

It was as if in a trance she saw him advancing towards her and turned around slowly, already oblivious of the task at hand. Ranbir was equally mesmerized by the enchanting picture of loveliness that Prachi portrayed in the gorgeous lehenga. She had been the most beautiful girl in the whole universe to him. But at that moment, in that ethnic attire, it was as if her beauty had acquired an ethereal quality. 

Ranbir came to a halt in front of her and very gently freed the earring from her grip. As he leant towards her, her eyes closed out of their own volition. He blew the thick, dark, silken tresses concealing her ear. His warm breath made her shiver a bit. He tucked the tresses behind her ear with utmost care and then engaged himself into completing the task at hand. He carefully put the earring in its place and fixed the latch to secure it. In the process, his fingers brushed against the sensitive spot behind her ear, causing a sense of pleasure to course through her being.

After accomplishing what he had set out to do, Ranbir straightened away from Prachi and smiled as he stared at her still closed eyes and lightly trembling lips. The reason behind her reaction was not unknown to him. His condition wasn't much better than her. She was looking so breathtakingly beautiful that all he wanted to do was just abandon his control and give free reign to his desires.
Her closed eyes and trembling lips were inviting him to do just that. He was about to surrender to his heart's diktat when Prachi's eyes flew open and she turned towards the door with a jerk.

Bemused at her reaction, Ranbir followed her gaze and stared at the still empty doorway for a few seconds before the approaching footsteps and familiar voices penetrated his preoccupation. Instantly grasping the reason behind Prachi's sudden alarm, Ranbir took a few steps back. It took them a few more seconds to calm their racing hearts down.

As Sahana and Mishti sauntered into the room, Prachi and Ranbir turned to them as one. The two girls came to an abrupt halt as they encountered the unexpected presence of the groom to be. Soon the surprise in their eyes morphed into mischievous humour and their lips curved into identical impish smiles.

"I was about to ask Prachi what was taking her so long. But, I guess, now there isn't really any need, is there?" Sahana raised a brow, making Mishti giggle.

Red stained Prachi's cheeks while Ranbir rolled his eyes, quite used to their teasing by then.Prachi was about to say something when two young men barged into the room.

"Girls, is Prachi ready? I have no idea where Ranbir is. He was not there in his room." Aryan huffed impatiently.

"How can you find him there when he is here? You should have known that if you want to find Ranbir then look for Prachi because..." Sunny, who had noticed Ranbir right away, trailed away with a smirk.

"Because Bhai will be where Bhabs is." Mishti finished Sunny's incomplete sentence with a mischievous smirk.

"There's nothing like that. I just came to help Prachi with her earring. And now, if you all don't mind, we have a ceremony to attend. Come, Prachi." Ranbir clasped Prachi's hand and led her out of the room, ignoring the teasing laughter that followed them

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"Hey, we all are here. But where are the bride and groom?" Abhishek looked around with raised brows.

"I had sent for them. Don't know what's taking them so long. Wait, let me check on them." Pragya was about to leave when a voice stopped her on her track.

"We are here."

Everyone turned around and the enchanting sight of the handsome couple walking down the stairs together captivated them. Not a single soul left in the hall who failed to admire the couple.

"Come children, let's start the Sangeet ceremony." Daljeet urged.

Everyone instantly agreed to her. The music began to filter into the hall. Every person's feet began to tap against the marble floor of their own accord.

Tere aankhon ke matvale 

Kajal ko mera salam

Ranbir clasped Prachi's hand and led her to the dance floor in the middle of the hall.

Julfo ke kaalein kaalein

Baadal ko mera salam

He twirled Prachi out and then twirled her in, causing her to collide with his chest. Her hands grasped fistfuls of his sherwani while he hold her by the waist. They lost themselves in each other's eyes.

Ghayal kar de mujhe yaar

Tere paayal ki jhankar

Aryan led Sahana to the dance floor while the elders cheered for the young couples.

Soni soni teri soni 

Har ada ko salam

Aryan twirled Sahana, making her giggle in sheer delight.

Salaam e ishq ishq ishq

Salaam e ishq

Pranbir walked in rounds while still not letting go of the other while Arhana moved around each other while cupping their palms and saluting each other in the form of a salaam.

Ho teri mastani anjaani

Baato ko mera salam

Aryan and Sahana dragged Sunny and Mishti into the dance floor too.

Rango mein dubi dubi

Raato ko mera salaam

Ranbir stepped away from Prachi and taking her hands in his, touch his lips lightly to her knuckles. Prachi let her eye lashes screen her eyes from him even as a crimson hue tinged her cheeks and her lips curved into a shy smile.

Khwabo me kho gayi mai

Diwani ho gayi mai

Prachi freed her hands from his grasp and took a few steps back. Mishti and Sahana joined her and the trio grooved to the beats of the music.

Sone sone aise sone

Har ada ko salam

With a broad smile, Ranbir too stepped back and Sunny and Aryan joined him. All three of them matched their steps to the rhythm of the music.

Salam-e-ishq ishq ishq

Salam-e-ishq

All the guys advanced towards the girls and taking the hands of their respective partners twirled them in. They bumped their shoulders against their respective partners. They repeated the action again and then again.

Teri meri nazar jo milli pehli baar

Ho gaya ho gaya tujhse pyaar

Ranbir came closer to Prachi and looked straight into her beautiful dark eyes. Both of them reminisced the first time they had seen each other in the college locker room. They recalled their first bickering. She had started affecting him from that very moment with her simple yet elegant beauty, her aloof and candid nature, her mature outlook and her propensity to lecture him on his wayward personality. He had realized that later.

Dil hai kya dil hai kya

Jaan bhi tujhpe nisar

Ranbir placed his hand over his heart and then extended it towards her. Prachi recalled all the times he had courted death to ensure her safety, may it be in the kidnapping scenario or the bank theft one. Her eyes brimmed with tears of happiness at her fortune to be blessed with a life partner who didn't just say the words but put in action his determination to protect her at any cost.

Maine tujhpe kiya aitbar

He took both of her hands in his larger one and placed both of their hands on his chest. She recalled each and every moment when almost everyone apart from her family had accused her but his faith had remained an unwavering shield, protecting her from fatal blows of others' accusations and mistrust.

Prachi freed her hands from his grasp and took a few steps back. Mishti and Sahana joined her and the trio grooved to the beats of the music.

Sone sone aise sone

Har ada ko salam

With a broad smile, Ranbir too stepped back and Sunny and Aryan joined him. All three of them matched their steps to the rhythm of the music.

Salam-e-ishq ishq ishq

Salam-e-ishq

All the guys advanced towards the girls and taking the hands of their respective partners twirled them in. They bumped their shoulders against their respective partners. They repeated the action again and then again.

Teri meri nazar jo milli pehli baar

Ho gaya ho gaya tujhse pyaar

Ranbir came closer to Prachi and looked straight into her beautiful dark eyes. Both of them reminisced the first time they had seen each other in the college locker room. They recalled their first bickering. She had started affecting him from that very moment with her simple yet elegant beauty, her aloof and candid nature, her mature outlook and her propensity to lecture him on his wayward personality. He had realized that later.

Dil hai kya dil hai kya

Jaan bhi tujhpe nisar

Ranbir placed his hand over his heart and then extended it towards her. Prachi recalled all the times he had courted death to ensure her safety, may it be in the kidnapping scenario or the bank theft one. Her eyes brimmed with tears of happiness at her fortune to be blessed with a life partner who didn't just say the words but put in action his determination to protect her at any cost.

Maine tujhpe kiya aitbar

He took both of her hands in his larger one and placed both of their hands on his chest. She recalled each and every moment when almost everyone apart from her family had accused her but his faith had remained an unwavering shield, protecting her from fatal blows of others' accusations and mistrust.

Ho main bhi toh tujhpe mar gayi

Diwanapan kya kar gayi

Prachi freed her hands from his and danced around him while he kept watching her with a smile. She recalled all the time they had fought with each other and all those moments too when he had extended his support to her unasked.

Meri har dhakan betab hai

Palko vich tera khwab hai

Prachi put her hand over her heart and then twirled around. Finally, she stretched her hands out to Ranbir who grasp them instantly. 

Ho jaan se bhi pyaari pyaari

Janiya ko salam

Ranbir twirled her around and pulled her towards him, making her back collide with his chest. Still holding her hands in his, he wound his arms around her and swayed to the music. Both them relished the peaceful haven that they found in each other's arms.

Ho salaam-e-ishq salaam-e

Salaam-e-ishq

Sunny and Aryan grabbed Ranbir's arm and pulled him back while Mishti and Sahana clasped Prachi's hands and pulled her away. All three boys and the three girls grooved to the music. And then, while dancing, they approached each other and began to dance in pairs with Ranbir and Prachi in the middle and Sunny and Mishti and Aryan and Sahana in left and right respectively.

Disha's motherly eyes did  not fail to notice the camaraderie between Mishti and Sahana and her sons. Her expressions morphed from speculative to pensive and finally, decisive. She nudged Purab who was standing right beside her and enjoying the ceremony with a very light heart after ages. Purab turned towards her and raised his brows quizzically.

"Don't you think Aryan and Sahana and Sunny and Mishti look good together?" Disha smiled.

"Hmm...what are you planning, madam?" Purab quirked an eyebrow.

"I was thinking if we could...." Disha trailed away at the knowing smile on Purab's face.

"Ask Pragya di and Kohlis for Sahana and Mishti's hands for Aryan and Sunny." Purab smiled.

"You knew what I was about to say?" Disha looked at Purab, surprised.

"I know you well. Also, you are not the only one observing them, are you?" Purab smirked.

"Do you agree, then?" Disha asked.

"Of course I do. We will talk about it after Prachi and Ranbir's wedding." Purab suggested.

"Okay." Disha gave her consent with a smile.

With a lot of laughter and joy, the Sangeet ceremony, which was the witness of a beautiful relationship and paved way for other such relationships, drew to an end. 

Hope you all like this part. As per the demand of PrachixRanbirLove  here goes a lengthy update. Over 3300 words.

Precap - Haldi and wedding