"Maybe it's love,"

Leaning on the balcony of his room under the starry sky and gazing towards an equally sparkling freely flowing river. Viaan Kundra couldn't help but analyze the reason behind his sleepless state. The reason that was currently sitting on the river bank with his idiot of a cousin.

Laughing and gazing at the river like loons. Well, they both were lunatics and he doesn't have any doubt on that matter. Not at all. He has seen their craziness. He has been the witness and even used as a human shield plenty of times by them.

The Dharamshala disaster, a perfect example of this. Both of them had started fighting and by fighting he means, literally fight, standing in the middle of the road pulling at each other's hairs and raining kicks on the other while not letting go of each other. And trying to break the fight, he was gifted with many unintentional kicks too. Savvy, trust him on this-Swadhin Raizada can't ever be trusted in such a situation. Why? Because that idiotic best friend of his was cheering for them to fight harder. He was totally useless.

Rohan and he had to bodily pull them apart. After, asking them to let go of each other's hairs. 

And surprisingly the reason for their fight was Ansh calling Aaina's car khatara and then Aaina in anger had kicked Ansh's car. Ansh then wallowed about his "Baby being hurt" and called Aaina's precious-valued more than life- sports bike- (defected piece) and then Aaina in her danger Avatar had broken Ansh's car's headlights and windshield. And so, they were fighting like cats and dogs in the middle of the road. Yes, he is surrounded by crazy people.

But now watching them sit so serenely beside each other. Viaan couldn't help but have a totally ridiculous thought in his mind.

No, the thought didn't have anything to do with jealousy. He knows - normally, under such circumstances, people tend to feel jealous. Their fiance sitting on the river bank with their cousin in the middle of the night talking about god knows what? It tends to make normal people jealous when they have such a clashing kind of history. After all the famous "Love in clashes" quote doing rounds everywhere. It will be quite normal to feel jealous. But no, He isn't quite feeling jealous. Not after all their history and geography. 

He is actually feeling worried about what should he do if one of them decided to throw the other in the river? He means it's quite a possibility with the beings he called friends and taking in their past antics in consideration. It is a fair worry.But thankfully that situation didn't arrive as after few minutes Aaina walked away from there. Thank god, he didn't fancy jumping in the river in this hour of the night.

But now again, he was struck on the original source of his problem. He couldn't sleep and the reason was his Aaina.

"Have you ever felt responsible for someone's feelings for you? Like if someone says they love you. Do you feel burdened by that confession? Cause in someway you also contributed to making that person fall in love with you? No!" Then it means he is the only one who feels so?

He always had been conscious of these feelings. In the past too when Aaina confessed readily. She always did- those words always rested on the tip of her tongue. Always had been. Whether it was her feelings or anger. She always expressed them freely around him. She wore her heart on her sleeves whenever she was just with them. It seemed like a game, a game, he was well aware of, flirting with each other in that healthy yet suggestive manner. Acting just friends yet eyes, her generally glaciated eyes used to suggest something totally different.

Yet, both of them never acted on those feelings. She had her cases and minions. He had his cricket and flings. Too afraid, too confused, too broken to ever consider those feelings that commitment. Both of them were free yet afraid. 

And the "I love you's" uttered in a flirting, teasing or joking manner left him burdened. It didn't make him feel free. It did the opposite actually. But today when she introduced him to her father (he still doesn't like that man. No matter what Aaina says) when she said those words again so earnestly, her eyes sparkling as she held onto his arms. He felt a warm bubble bloom inside him. He felt like he was floating. He felt like he was a happy balloon. He felt happy. He felt blessed.

The same had been happening to his heart every time she hugged him from the past few months. Everytime she casually touched his face or ruffled his hairs. The words, the feelings that were totally his own that he didn't want to share with anyone else. Will open up in front of her with her one look? She made him feel brighter. She tend to make everything seem alright. 

Never alone, her eyes always reassured him.

But Why suddenly?

Is he really in love with her? 

Is Savvy really right?

He doesn't know. Why didn't he break his engagement with her after his mother's demise? Was it because it was  his mother's last wish, the last thing she wanted to happen with all her heart or something entirely else? Was it because she was the only one with him through everything. The hardship, the trolls, the depression. Everything. She understood him. Ro, Savvy, Ranvi and her, they never left his side. Never. They were there even when he insulted them and asked them to leave him alone. They didn't. They stood by him. Is this the real reason of his jumbled mess of feelings about her? 

He doesn't know.

He isn't sure of his own damn feelings.

And so here he is standing on his balcony asking the moon for answers. 

But can the moon really send him the answer he requires?

*************************************************************
And then, it was early in the morning and the moon failed to provide him with any apt answers. Even the Havan which was wonderful and actually peaceful. Failed to answer his questions. He was actually transfixed when Aaina sat beside him at the "yajman" position. He couldn't actually concentrate much on the havan.

For his attention was on Aaina. Aaina with a gleeful expression doing "swaha"   she looked happy adding the samgri and ghee in the brightly burning yet not smoking flames. And all he could do was look at her transfixed and she listened to the sage with all her heart. Listened why we actually make a line with water around the havan kund after igniting the fire.

In the whole havan ceremony, he watched her transfixed as she gazed at the holy fire transfixed. He could just watch at how taken she looked by the "Shanti path, "

She seemed especially taken by shlok "सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः ।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु मा कश्चिद् दुःखभाग्भवेत् ॥
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥"

It literally means "May all sentient beings be at peace,
may no one suffer from illness,
May all see what is auspicious, may no one suffer.
Om peace, peace, peace."

The shlok recited at the end of the Shanti path and translated in Hindi to them by the sage. After that, the sage told them "The right date of your marriage will be after 6 months. IT's not the right time now"

Viaan didn't know what he meant by not the right time? The sage said their stars aligned perfectly with each other. Aaina is the perfect bride for him, his Ma said so, so did his Ishani chachi. But, the marriage can't be done before 6 months. He didn't understand the logic behind these words. He didn't know why he was suddenly feeling not very happy about this. Why should they wait for another 6 months?

He didn't know why was he feeling unhappy with this decision too?
And it also seemed like he was the only one annoyed with this as all the elders seemed in sync with the sage.Even Aaina's bapi and Ma.So, he couldn't help but keep his unhappiness to himself. Though, he felt better when the sage brought forward the blessed rings.

The rings had been kept in Kankhal (the place which is hailed as goddess Parvati's home.) And a small prayer had done with the rings. The rings are blessed by the gods for the auspicious ceremony. In a prayer to keep the bride and groom happy and together forever.

Viaan wasn't even aware that there were such customs in his family. But from the way, Ishana Chachi smiled watching those rings and looked at her engagement ring and then at Reyaan chachu.

Viaan was sure this happened with every bride and groom in his family. Yeah, even Karan bhai, no doubt, he missed that affair. And there was that bitter sad gloomy feeling evaporating around him again, whenever he thought about Karan bhai. No, not today. He steeled his nerves.

The sage asked Viaan and Aaina to interchange the rings and asked the elders to rain flowers and rice on them.The raining flowers and rice is considered their blessings and approval to this bonding. After that, the sage asked them to distribute the prasad among everyone. Though it all felt quite surreal.  He means, he doesn't believe in this stuff but still, it all felt good.

But neither the rising sun neither the bright flaming holy fire could answer his question?

Is he really in love with Aaina?

He doesn't know but watched has followed Aaina fascinated as she distributed prasad to everyone smiling.He had never seen her in a saree to be truthful. Aaina and Saree never went hand in hand. The girl he knows was always had this "don" type aura around her.

The glares, threats of violence, whether in jeans or shorts or even a dress. It never stopped her from looking like she can kill you without batting an eye.She still looks the same even in a Saree. A fierce warrior wrapped in velvety red and white saree. She looked herself.

The clothes didn't define her but she defined them. Whatever she wore, she made it match her personality. And Viaan didn't think he has seen anyone else who looks absolutely themselves in anything.

It's just an Aaina thing. Never losing herself and her own personality.

"Viaan!!!! " the sudden not so gentle nudge from Savvy screaming right in his ear brought him back out of his Aaina land.

"What?" He snapped back irritated. Why was this idiot disturbing him from his wonderful Aaina view?

He means Aaina looked really happy feeding wheat balls to the fishes along with Panchi and Danika. While the elders i.e Ishana Chachi-Reyaan Chachu, Khushi Massi-Arnav uncle, and Omkara bapi( he doesn't like calling him that but Aaina insisted) - Gauri ma walked hands in hand like some romantic couples on the Lakshman jhoola pointing at various things.

And looking at the things being sold by the vendors sitting on the bridge.

"Are you even listening to me, bruh??" Savvy screamed again in Viaan's ears annoyed.

While Vi rolled his eyes watching Ansh posing on the bridge and Ro snapping his pics.

"Yes, " he answered to Savvy though, in reality, he hadn't heard even a single word he spoke till now.

Savvy rolled his eyes totally not believing him and repeated his words.

"Ma is again pestering me to get married. Bro, do you know she even wished in Nilkanth temple for my marriage. Its just horrible." Savvy stated sounding very sure of this fact.

Why can't his parents just understand this fact?
He doesn't want to get married. He isn't marriage material anyway.

"Well, you should get married then, Khushi Ma will stop wishing the same thing from every God, " Viaan said not a sounding even a little bit considerate of his feelings.

"Now, you're just being mean, bruh. I'll go and complain to Aaina." Savvy complained annoyed though not really.

"Try now and she'll feed you to the fishes, " Viaan shrugged as he motioned Savvy to go and try his luck.

"There isn't any human-eating fish in Ganga, " Savvy was sure of this fact.

"Well, haven't you hear of the goddess Ganga's vahan Makara, " Viaan asked Savvy with a "how can you not know? It's terrifying" look.

"Ugh...what's that??" savvy asked sounding unsure of himself

"A fearsome crocodile-like being, " Viaan loved scaring Savvy the most.

While he fed Savvy imaginary stories about the fearsome Vahana, glancing at Aaina.,

He is sure after he finishes his story sessions with Savvy. Savvy will be afraid to step inside the river Ganga again.

************

Omkara was loving this tranquil evening walk on the Lakshman jhoola. It has been ages since he got to enjoy himself like this among peace.

In just two days stay here, he got many fresh sculptures and painting ideas. Plus meeting Aaina again has lifted an unknown burden off his heart.

Aaina really seemed happy to him. And he know as Aaina's dad he has a say in this wedding. But all the years he had known Reyaan and his family. They're good people and he is sure Aaina will be happy in this family. She really seems happy with all these. So, Om is happy for his child. She didn't seem changed to him at all. She still seems his little girl to him. And the trip is going well. Though, he didn't really bond with the Raizada's. For Arnav Singh Raizada reminded him too much about his brother.

How can he forget the year when Arnav got married?

It was a mess. A social mess.

For their, were two brides of the century.

Anika and Khushi.

The media just couldn't accept both the most desirable bachelors of the city had married below their stations.

Arnav's bride Khushi was the countryside bumpkin.

Shivaaye's bride Anika a slum dweller.

And just three months of the wedding both the billionaire's had publicly slandered their wives.

In Shivaaye's live press conference Anika had been handcuffed and taken in police custody for the crime of kidnapping Tia and bride replacement.

Shivaaye had publicly called her a "con", " fraud" and "money whore"

Omkara never did understand, "how Anika forgave Shivaaye after all this? How did she agree to be his wife after spending 6 months in jail?"

It was still a mystery to him.

And then there was ASR.

"Who publicly divorced his wife? Called her a thief, called her bad luck and his greatest mistake. The reason for his stolen designs and his brother-in-law's mistress."

ASR like SSO had done everything to defame his wife. They both had not left a single stone unturned for their demise. But, but as fate would have been both the girls were innocent.He had heard how ASR left everything behind and tried mollifying and winning back his wife and child. He had started a new life in Delhi, leaving behind his company and everything. He had begged Khushi to marry him again.

But did all this begging erase all the past woes?

Omkara doesn't know for they seemed happy now.

Happy walking hand in hand like some teenage couples. Totally in love.

Only if Om turned back and looked at Savvy. He would have learned that past mistakes don't let anyone ever in peace.

Ghosts of pasts haunts.

For ask a son who watched the video of his father defaming and slut-shaming his mother publicly.Savvy whose world had suddenly turned upside down, his superhero, his idol, his dad has suddenly become a mere human that day. Losing all the respect in his eyes.

For past do haunts.

"Gauri!!!!" The sudden excited scream from Ishana as she beamed at Gauri happily, really wanting to show something she found to Gauri. And Gauri rushed to her friend's side eager to see and be a part of the findings. While their poor husbands looked at each other and shook their heads fondly.

Om walked towards Ishana and Gauri at a more leisurely pace when his phone started ringing.

He had told his business associates, he'll be out of reach for a week. So, who is calling him now?? Sighing, he fetched out the phone from his pocket and was surprised to see the caller ID.

Mishu Flashed on the screen.

And Om picked up the call without further delay.

"Omisha!! everything all right beta, " Om asked worried for Misha doesn't call him much.

"Where are you, Papa??"

~to be continued~