This is a very random yet clear scene that rushed to my head as soon as I saw few pictures from the airport (where Ranbir comes back for a three day leave from Luv Ranjan's shoot in Delhi) and I knew I won't be getting any sleep if I don't draft it here, even if that meant this lil chapter won't get to see the light of the day (not excited to break my current wedding sequence :()

If this chapter makes it on your timeline, then ya, congratulations! You got 3 freakin FROS back to back updates <3

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17th Jan, 2021

Delhi

The weather in Delhi had been crazier than he had ever experienced. A half jacket wasn't enough to save him from getting frozen. Today was a half leave for the team of Luv Ranjan's upcoming movie and thus Ranbir found it the perfect time to snuggle more into his warm blanket and stay in bed for few more hours.

They had begun shooting in Delhi ever since his return from their family epic New Year holiday at Ranthambore. The trip was so good that nobody wanted to leave! It took a lot of cajoling from Bharat and himself to take back their respectful wife/girlfriend. Even their mothers had taken a special liking to the magical forest experience.

He had promised them to have more of such in the coming future.

Ranbir had at last re begun what he was born for - movies! Two more years of his life went without a release of his films in theatres and it wasn't a deliberate 'pseudo intellect' move but a very exhausting delay in the one's he was part of.

Luv Ranjan's film was the first he signed three years back (minus Brahmastra & Shamshera) and thus he had to begin shooting for it first thing in 2021. The team were having a good time until a little mishap. Few of his fans/well wishers wanted to meet him and he did. But some of them posted it online and thus it created few issues with the hotel and the movie team. Thus offering him a little time to sit inside the hotel while the team handles the issue at hand.

As Ranbir yawned inside his blanket, his phone's shrill woke him up completely.

Must be his mother, he thought.

He sat up on his bed, unwillingly and reached for his phone on the stand next to him. With half eyes open he barely read the caller name and picked up the ring. "He (yawns) llo maa. How's Alibaug. Everything fine ?" he massaged his face before pouring himself hot water in a glass while the phone was kept on speaker.

"Ranbir it's ME!"

He smacked his head with a chuckle. Ah, the lover boy of his life! Also of his future wife's life, if that's not a daunting image.

"Ayani tu tha ? Abey I thought it's maa. I didn't read your name. It's too cold here and since we got shoot only in the eve, I and this bed are best friends for now."

He drank his hot water in sips, enjoying the warm liquid generating life in his body.

But his friend on the other line kept silent for a while which was so unusual of Ayan. Sensing something fishy, he thought of pressing on the matter.

"Oye, so gaya kya ?"

"Bir, uh actually, I don't think anyone must have told you this. But I know you'll strangle me later if I don't say now. So ..." Ayan kept pausing awkwardly on the phone but his friend knew it was indeed something grave. His heart raced for an unknown fear creeped in him after a long while.

"Tell me NOW" he ordered.

"Uh dekh you know Aloo is busy with Gangubai shooting and ...."

"Ayan get to the point straight!" Ranbir took a sigh and massaged his temple. His friend would kill him someday with his suspense tricks. But his breath froze for a minute when his thoughts took a train to a place he hadn't been for a while now ... what if she's ...

"Where's Alia ?" he asked coming straight to the point.

"You don't stress out okay. So like I said she was shooting nonstop and then today morning due to over exertion, she fainted on the set and one of her old leg injury blew up! And she's now hospitali-" before he could complete the statement, Ranbir threw the blanket from his body in a instant move and stood on the floor, with his body heaving.

"Hospital ?! She's in hospital ? Which one ? And over exertion on sets ? Tell me everything dammit!"

His voice was faltering and cracking with every passing minute. Anything that concerned with her or his loved one's health, kept him on his toes until he gets to do things in his might to make them feel better.

"Tu pehle calm ho jaa. See this is why I told jeej not to give me this responsibility! Now listen, she will be under observation at SN Reliance and it's nothing much to worry said the doc. She needs complete rest for the day while the med team inspects her injury and makes sure she won't get another blow up soon in the future."

S N Reliance, the only name that stuck him throughout the conversation.

The same hotel where his dad struggled for life for months until ....

Ranbir felt his hands getting slippery, his heart pounding against him as if warning him for an unexpected danger. Last year's trauma and the days he and his mother spent inside that and many more hospitals abroad, made him feel nauseated at the thought of those sterile rooms that monitored his father's sensitive frailing body.

That pungent smell of medicines, washing him over again. He sat on his bed like a leaf falling on the road beneath. His body giving up strength at the mere thought of hospitals, especially Reliance, where he lost his father! The trigger hitting him senseless.

"Rana are you okay ? Your listening na ? ..." Ayan failed to cover his fear. Neetu maa had warned him to not slip up the hospital name particularly. She understood her son's fear of hospitals in the past three years of agony they've withstood.

She knew he couldn't bear any of his closed one's being admitted. It just brought up old memories of theirs from New York and the last being ... the days before they lost their everything! It triggered her as well but she didn't let them win over her. She stomped over them for her children, for her own sanity. But her Rana ...

He was still stuck there. Trapped in that hospital room of his father. Screaming to revive him ...!

"Okay Bir relax. Take a deep breath and exhale. Do it for a couple of time for me please. You with me ?" Ayan pleaded for his friend to return from the trance he was stuck in. So stupid of him to have revealed the hospital name!

Without moving even an inch of her little toe, she had managed to become his everything!

And now he was scared to loose her.

Her phone rang a couple of times more before someone answered it for her. "Hello, Sunil speaking."

"Sunil, it's me Ranbir. Is Alia awake ? Can I speak to her now ?"

He looked at the little form of his mistress, lying on the bed in her hospital gown. It teared him apart to see her being so careless with her health. She was a kind human, and he was her guardian. He at times felt like a big brother in shield. Who would always protect his little sister.

"Yes Sir, ma'am is awake," he answered and whispered to her "Ranbir sir wants to speak to you. Are you feeling okay now ?"

She was wide awake. They had rushed her to SN almost around dawn. Since she fainted on the set, she took a good nap for three hours or so. But her heart longed to go back to her set, where she belonged. Cinema was her life and these were part and parcel of the beautiful privilege she got to live every moment of her life. And she was more than happy to accept it with a smile, albeit tired.

And now her boyfriend was 'requesting' to speak to her. That made her soul giggle. Had she really brought the big Kapoor down on his knees ? Like how her friends and colleagues joked.

At Alia's faint nod, the phone was passed to her ear and Sunil volunteered to stand outside to give them their privacy. As soon as the door closed behind him, she smiled and stared at her own reflection on the big television hung in front of her.

"Is my boyfriend getting restless ? Did I troubled him ?" her voice held humour, trying to cool his hyperventilating head cause she very well knew how scary it gets.

Ranbir let out a loud sigh and slumped on a sofa in his suite room.

"No of course not. Madam Alia is very capable of taking care of herself. So much that she barely hurts herself, or faints, or has episodes of injuries that could prove fatal for her life. She's so smart that she never underestimates her health. In fact she never makes me worry for her. How lucky am I to have you, my dear girlfriend!"
He grits the last part in a typical Ranbir manner.

A little chuckle from her side makes him smile.

"Arey yaar you toh got very pissed! Itna bhi kuch nahi kiya maine, bas zara sa rest hi toh kar rahi hoon Sir," she smiled as her voice softened at his concern.

He rolled his eyes. "Normal people toh aise hi karte hain. Rest lene ke liye hospital pohonch jaate hain! Wahan toh maza aata hoga. Injections, bitter medicines, drips, glucose .. what a life. Who wouldn't want that little slice of paradise ?"

Now she rolled her eyes as he began his sarcastic points. "Offo ab chodo yeh sab. Tell me how's the situation at your place. Is Shraddha doing well ?"

Ranbir shook his head at his love. Even in her moment of despair, she would be concerned about others. That made her even more precious than she already was, if it were to be possible.

"We are all fine my darling. At least none of us are vacationing at hospitals." She giggled at that and he joined her.

But he wanted to know the real reason behind her condition. His mind warning him to stay strong and not over think about the reasons he thought was behind this.

"But Alia tell me honestly haan. Was it Bhansali ? Did he make you work extra ? Did he forced you for multiple shots ? Was he the reason why you exhausted yourself this bad ? Please be honest with me. Baby I swear I won't hesitate-" she cut him in his angry rant with a yawn.

"Stop being a Kabir Singh. Sanjay sir was just being himself. He didn't exhaust me. You know me right ? I pushed my limits way too much and this was an old leg injury that decided to show up again. Don't think too much now."

He was still not convinced. Because for him Sanjay Leela Bhansali was more than just his once mentor/first director. He was a man who squeezed the life out of him as an artist. Who made him work for hours and hours just for a futile scene that wasn't according to his grand vision. He abused him and beat him as he kneeled on the floor. Threw his footwear at him in front of people. The dark life he endured alongside working with this man was long and frankly speaking, he was the only one to confess it.

But who would believe him ? They closed off the chapter and nobody after that ever exposed him. Yes he gave him his first movie, an entry into this magnanimous world. But the sensitive scars on his mind and body were yet to be healed. Perhaps they would never.

He wasn't a great fan of Alia working with him. Very well knowing how careless she was in real. That in her thrill to work alongside her dream director, she might even agree to many of his stupid tiring whims. That it would break her like it did to him. She was young and it would affect her as much. As much as he wanted her to have her dream come true, he wanted to protect her from him.

And from everyone who tried to drain the life out of his life.

If Sanjay was the one behind this, Ranbir swore in his heart to not let him go.

"I am coming back." He announced all of a sudden. Making his mind. He had to see for himself and get that peace of head.

"What ? No you can't!" she reprimanded. Here goes her stubborn lover. What was she ever going to do with him ...

"Yes I will and I can. Now you take proper rest and be a good child. Eat your medicines and food on time. I'll be there as soon as possible."

She thought he was lying. But he wasn't.

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19th Jan, 2021

Alia resumed back her shooting for Gangubai, a day after her complete bed rest. They had completed 90% of their film and just a few songs were left and she was adamant to complete them on time, owing to her multiple projects lined ahead.

Meanwhile Ranbir didn't have to convince his director for a one day break, at least. Shraddha caught a little cold and since everyone's on a high alert mode owing to COVID protocol, the crew decided to let the members take a three day break.

He was overjoyed to meet his little one. The joy of his heart and the peace of his mind.

She had her arms wrapped around his being like no one ever before. He smiled to himself at the new found revelations he had about deep genuine love. Thanks to this bundle of sunshine he gets to call as his.

He quickly packed his bags and made his way to the IGI from which he flew in his private jet and reached Mumbai's private airport, making an unexpected entry amidst the pap welcoming him back.

He sat in his car, thinking of ways to scold Alia. For not listening to him. For joining shoot the next day! Ugh, this girl !

But he was overjoyed at the thought of seeing her beautiful face after all these weeks. He missed her. Every single second of his life. Without her things weren't as pretty. She made the world a better place to live in. She made his life a much bearable existence. She was his home.

And now he was back to his, oops, their home!

The home that she bought with her own price for them (fought with him to pay), on the fifth floor of the building he already lived in Pali Hill. It was now their home together as a couple, a soon to be family. The house was designed by Gauri Khan who impressed everyone with her magic on his bachelor pad. They got it finished by November and Alia shifted permanently with him in their new house ever since.

The Rover parked beneath his Vastu building and he rushed out from the back seat as soon as possible. He jabbed the lift button so that he could reach her. It was a beautiful morning in Mumbai and she was home today. He couldn't wait to hear her scold him ...

Ranbir walked out of the lift on their floor and belled his new house in anticipation.

"What's taking so long to open a damn door!" he groaned under his breath tapping on his feet impatiently.

As if hearing his dilemma, the door flung open to reveal a shocked maid.

"Baba aap waapis aa gaye ?" Ranbir hushed his utterly surprised maid to lower her voice. She let him in and he quickly took off his shoes and put them in a separate rack, wearing his home slippers.

He quietly makes his way into the living room is when she walks in.

The Queen of his palace.

The real Master of them all.

Alia Bhatt, soon to be Kapoor.

She hopped slightly on one leg and had her eyes trained on the floor lest she fell again. A female helper right behind her just in case. Her eyes stopped on a familiar pair of legs and slippers she knew and it trailed all the way until she faced him. Her man.

The guy with whom she was about to begin her new life with. A life of memories and magic.

Alia's hand flew out to cover her mouth in shock. This couldn't be possible. He can't be serious!

"Ranbir ?!"

He had already sanitized himself some hundred times before entering their home. He couldn't bear wasting a single moment of not being next to her. If that meant sanitizing whatever germs he had taken alongside him.

She assessed his face for any remorse.

But no! That ass was smiling like a brute!

His eyes scanned her from head to toe and they hardened painfully at her leg. Her heart hammered against her. What did she do to deserve this love ?

"My God I missed you soooo bad ..." in two large steps he was standing in front of her, cupping her face in his large palms. He hurriedly inspected her body for any other surface wound. While she stood like a frozen statue in his arms.

Was he really going to give their house helpers a free romantic show ?

"I can't believe your here! I told you na not to come. How could you be so reckless Bir ?" He wasn't listening to her. He just wanted to drink in her presence. The fact that she really was in his arms. That he could touch her and hold her.

As long as he could be there right next to her, he was more than fine.

"Where does it hurts, haan ? I told you to take few days of rest but no! You don't listen to me and call me reckless ?" his voice shivered with excess of panic as he kept checking for any hidden injury. Upon the conclusion that she only hurt her leg, he sighed a deep relief.

He cupped her face in a more firm grip and began planting sloppy but passionate kisses from her forehead on to her cheek.

Then her nose, her eyes, her hair until he slumped his head on her shoulder and held her up a little to crash her for a tight embrace. He mumbled to himself that she was alright. In his arms.

Alia relaxed into his overwhelming hug that seeped into her heart's core. Melting all her worries and even her little complaint. She was more than glad to have him back. To have him mother her senselessly. To have him care and protect her with every breath he took. She missed him terribly those few weeks of them being separated by work.

It was never this way. She was always composed about her feelings. But last year had over turned both their feelings into something more concrete and deep. They no longer were a random romantic pair. No childhood crush. No teenage affair.

But a mature, deep rooted passion. A union that longed to be culminated into marriage.

Looking back at her face, he grinned and winked at her still in daze face.

Alia let a feeble yelp as Ranbir picked her up in his arm, bridal style.

She smacks his butt in an attempt to free herself because they weren't alone. Their helpers blushed and giggled at their masters being so romantic right under their nose. "You just didn't do that" she whines pathetically but deep inside it made her happier than he'll ever know.

He really was opening more to her. Showing more of his romantic side than anyone has ever seen.

He laughs at her lame warnings while walking with her thrashing in his arm, into their room.

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NOTE : I planned to write a tiny ff and look how long this is! Uff my writer heart :p

I personally wanted to write on last year's ranlia time in quarantine/their new home etc but then everything has a time so here's a little something into their new home <3

After this I'll continue the wedding sequence , pakka :)

I have learnt one thing from FROS that - if you get a strong 'scene' in your head, write it before it vanishes! Like the fictious ff where Alia has cancer thing, I wasted time and let the idea go away from my head. By the time I wrote the main part, I swear I forgot what happened next! So let's see whenever I can continue that or it'll just stay that way ;)

Anyways, this Bhansali thing is slightly creepy. I mean I want him exposed if HE REALLY DID all that to my baby but there are recent ivs where he just talks so good about him (ofc he has to and he's kind) that some believe it's a wrong allegation.

I just wrote what I had in my head and from what I read from the article where rk says slb did all of this to him.

And I'm so happy I get to write EXACTLY what was there in my head yesterday <3

ps : everytime ima about to post a fros ff, my wifi goes blank dead -.-

I hope your January was beautiful thanks to FROS updates. Will try doing more updates in the coming months. And eagerly waiting to see if Ranlia can attend Varun-Natasha wedding coz I need a traditional Ranlia entry/pics ;)

EVEN MORE HYPED FOR THEIR OWN WEDDING NOWWWWWW!

Love,

Jemi :)