Aditi's heart skipped a beat when she heard the sound of her name being called from outside, muffled by the rain. She wasn't sure at first, convincing herself it was just the wind or her imagination. But then, there it was again, clearer this time.

"Adu! Adu!"

She rushed to the window and pulled back the curtain, her breath catching in her throat as she saw Shubman standing in the rain, drenched from head to toe, his clothes clinging to him, his hair matted to his forehead.

Before she could process what was happening, he looked up at her window, his eyes locking with hers. His face was etched with determination, but there was something else there too—something that made her stomach twist with emotion.

Aditi's pulse quickened, and she rushed to the door without thinking. She threw it open, her heart hammering in her chest as she ran toward him.

"Shubman!" she called out, her voice shaking with a mixture of worry and disbelief. She could see the pain in his eyes, and it broke her heart. "What are you doing here? You're soaked!"

He stepped forward, and despite the rain still pouring down, he reached for her hands, his fingers cold and trembling.

"Adu, I... I couldn't let you go like that. I couldn't let you think you're alone," he said, his voice rough with emotion, the words coming out in a rush. "My parents... they disowned me. They said I couldn't be with you. But I don't care. I don't care about anything else. I need you."

Aditi stood frozen for a moment, her mind reeling from the weight of his words. He had left everything behind for her—for them. The realization hit her hard. Shubman, the man she had fallen in love with, had chosen her. Chosen her over everything else, including his family.

Her heart softened, and before she could stop herself, she stepped forward, wrapping her arms around him tightly, pulling him close despite the cold rain drenching them both. She didn't care. All that mattered was that he was here, standing in front of her, proving that love wasn't about perfection or approval—it was about choosing each other, no matter the odds.

Shubman wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as if he was never going to let her go. "I'm sorry," he whispered against her hair, his voice full of raw vulnerability. "I'm sorry I made you feel like you weren't enough. You are more than enough. You're everything to me."

Aditi pulled back slightly, looking up at him, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "You're everything to me, too," she whispered, brushing the rain-soaked hair from his forehead.

She kissed him then, softly at first, as if savoring the moment, feeling his lips against hers like a promise, like a vow that no matter what the world threw their way, they would face it together.

When they finally pulled away, their foreheads resting together, Shubman let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.

"You're my world, Adu," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the rain. "And I'm never letting you go."

The day was a quiet, serene one, the kind where the world seemed to fade into the background, leaving just the two of them, standing together in the temple. Shubman and Aditi had made the decision together—no grand ceremony, no huge crowd. It was just them, the sacred space, and their love.

Aditi, dressed in a simple yet elegant sari, looked more radiant than ever. Her smile was soft, but it held the kind of warmth that made Shubman's heart skip a beat every time he saw her. He had always known she was special, but in this moment, standing by her side, it was impossible to imagine a life without her.

They stood together at the altar, the sounds of the temple's bells ringing softly in the background. It was almost like the world had come to a standstill just for them, as if the universe itself was blessing their union.

Shubman took Aditi's hand gently, his fingers tracing the back of hers with a tenderness that made her breath catch. There were no words needed between them. The love they shared was enough.

The priest spoke the sacred words, and as they exchanged vows, their eyes locked, each one silently promising to stand by the other for all the years to come. Aditi's heart felt full, not from the traditional expectations of a wedding, but from the pure, unspoken bond they shared.

And then, the moment came. The ring slid onto her finger—no fancy exchange, no intricate ceremony. Just a simple promise. Shubman leaned in, placing a kiss on her forehead before taking a step back, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Aditi... I'll always choose you," he whispered softly, his voice barely audible over the temple's peaceful sounds.

She smiled, her eyes full of love. "And I'll always choose you, Shubman."

With that, they both stepped out of the temple, hand in hand, as the sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a soft glow over the world. It wasn't a traditional wedding, but it was their wedding—their new beginning, with just the two of them.

And for the first time, Aditi felt like she truly belonged, not just to him, but to a world she had always wanted to be a part of.

Three years had passed since Shubman and Aditi had married in that small, intimate temple ceremony. Their lives were filled with joy and chaos, much of it centered around their two children—Lalitha and Shashank. Lalitha, their fiery toddler, looked exactly like Aditi, with her big, bright eyes and playful smile, but her personality was pure Shubman—full of energy, mischief, and an unmistakable confidence. On the other hand, Shashank, at just one year old, was a carbon copy of Shubman in looks, but his little ways were all Aditi—gentle, empathetic, and with a hint of mischief in his giggle.

The house was a constant whirlwind of activity. Aditi loved every moment of it, though sometimes it felt overwhelming. With the kids always around, there was never a dull moment. Lalitha loved running around, her little feet pattering through the house as she tried to outpace her father, who would chase after her with a smile, pretending to be exhausted. Shashank, who was still learning to walk, would grab onto anything he could reach, trying to follow his sister's every move, his tiny hands clapping in excitement.

One day, as they were finishing breakfast, Shubman's phone buzzed with a message. He glanced at it, frowning as he saw who it was from.

Message from: Mom

Shubman, we need to talk. It's important. Please call us when you get a chance.

Shubman set the phone down, not looking at it for a moment. His mind raced back to the last few months, the years since he had left his parents behind. They hadn't reached out much, and even when they did, it was always filled with tension. He and Aditi had built their life together, far away from the disapproval and coldness of his parents, and he had never looked back.

But now, this message—it felt different. He could feel a knot form in his stomach. Aditi noticed the change in his expression immediately, as she always did.

"Everything okay?" she asked, wiping her hands on a dish towel as she watched him.

Shubman sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's my parents. They want to talk. I'm not sure what it's about."

Aditi gave him a concerned look but smiled softly. "Maybe it's a good thing. Maybe they want to see the kids."

He glanced over at Lalitha and Shashank, who were busy making a mess with their cereal, and then back at Aditi. "Maybe. But I don't know... it feels like they're going to bring up old things again."

She walked over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Whatever it is, we'll handle it together, okay? We've built this beautiful life, and no one can take that from us."

Shubman nodded, his tension easing slightly as he felt Aditi's support, her love always a constant. He sent a quick reply to his mom, agreeing to call her later, before turning his attention back to the kids.

But even as he tried to focus on his family, the message lingered in his mind. It was the first time in years that his parents had reached out like this, and a part of him wondered if they had finally come to accept his decisions—or if they still couldn't let go of their prejudices.

Later that afternoon, after the kids were napping, Shubman sat down in the living room, his phone in hand. Aditi was in the kitchen, humming a tune as she prepared snacks for them. Taking a deep breath, Shubman tapped on his mom's contact and waited for the call to connect.

When the line clicked, his mother's voice came through, cold but steady.

"Shubman," she started, the tone of her voice making it clear that this wasn't a friendly catch-up. "We need to talk about Aditi."

Shubman's stomach tightened. He had known this conversation was coming.

"Mom, please don't. We've been through this," he replied, his voice quiet but firm.

His mother sighed heavily, and for a moment, there was silence on the other end of the line.

"We don't like what's been happening," she continued, her voice full of frustration. "You know, this... situation with Aditi, the kids... It's not how we raised you. We thought you'd come to your senses by now."

Shubman clenched his jaw, his heart pounding. "She's my wife, Mom. The mother of my children. This is my life. You either accept it or you don't, but I'm not going to change."

His mother's response was sharp. "You could have had a future with someone else, someone with a family. Aditi... she's not the kind of person we ever imagined you with."

"Enough," Shubman interrupted, his voice rising with frustration. "I'm done with this conversation. I love Aditi. And I love our life together. You don't have to approve, but we're happy. Please respect that."

There was a long pause, and then his mom finally said, her voice still full of disapproval, "We'll see. But don't expect us to be part of this... if you continue down this path."

Shubman's heart sank as the call ended. He stared at the screen for a moment, the weight of his parents' words pressing heavily on his chest. But then, a small hand tugged at his pant leg.

He looked down to see Lalitha, her big eyes looking up at him with all the innocence in the world. "Daddy, where's mommy?"

Shubman smiled, the knot in his chest loosening just a little. "She's in the kitchen, sweetheart," he said softly, picking her up and holding her close.

As he walked into the kitchen, holding his daughter, he caught Aditi's eye. She raised an eyebrow, sensing something was wrong.

"Everything okay?" she asked.

Shubman nodded, a soft smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he held Lalitha out to her. "Yeah. Everything's fine. Just the usual, you know? But I'm good. We're good."

And in that moment, standing in their home with his family in his arms, Shubman knew that no matter what happened, he had everything he needed right here.