Sehgals were returning to India after celebrating their son's achievements. However, it had been a short trip. Aarna had been after Agastya to visit India with them. But he had some important interviews that he couldn't miss. Naina made her understand and she hugged her bhaiya teary eyed.

"Bhaiya promise me you'll come to India to meet me soon. Nahi not like this, promise me!"

She had made her bhaiya promise her like they used to during their childhood by locking palms and an equally emotional bhaiya had obliged. Agastya had appeared for the lined up interviews and had managed to crack most of them. He had strong references and recommendations from his professors, professional connections and team members. He was definitely a scholar, quite intelligent and his acedemia proved it during the interviews. The interviewers were impressed with his subject matter knowledge and management skill sets that he was tested on during the interviews. Now he had options to choose from many offers and he chose one of the best, in terms of organization, his personal and professional interest, the position and the package offered along with the growth opportunities he saw being well researched.

The Sehgals were quite happy for reasons more than one. Naina had hugged Aarav while they discussed after his phone call.

"Shona mera beta kab itna bada ho gya pata hi nahi chala. Aisa lagta hai abhi kuch saal pehle hi to aai aunty se mumma bani thi main, mere piche ghoom ghoom ke choco milk shake, mango shake, cake and not to forget cheese wala aloo paratha banwata tha. Ab management post-graduate ho gya aur kamane lagega. Kuch saalon me shadi ho jaygi fir khud ki family hogi. Baby aapke aur bachho ke sath pata hi nahi chala ye saal kaise guzar gaye aur bachhe bade ho gaye"

Aarav had hugged his wife and tightened his hold kissing on the side of her head.

"All thanks to you my baby. Agastya ko uski mumma dene ke liye, hamare bachho ko itni achhi upbringing dene ke liye, maa ko ek friend dene ke liye, papa ko unki gudiya rani dene ke kiye aur is hopeless Aarav ko uski zindagi wapas dene ke liye jitna thanks kahu utna kam hai. Ye saal jitne jaldi guzre lag rahe hain wo isiliye kyuki tum mere sath thi, hamari family ke sath thi. Aur champ to apni mumma ki pooch hai poora. Shuru se hi pehle aai aunty aai aunty fir mumma mili to daddy ko bhi appointment lena padta tha mumma ko pyar karne. But secretly i love how he absolutely adores you and can't do without you. I truly am blessed baby. Are haan Sid aur Prashant ka call aaya tha, tum Sanaya aur Ragini se baat kar lena they wanted to talk to you to congratulate you for Agastya. You were talking to mumma daddy so I have told them that you will call them. Chalo this is smoochi time jaan"

While, Agastya had texted Janhavi informing the same

"Hey sweetest heart ! A good news, had applied for few open positions in few companies. Joining one of the best in the sector soon as Assistant General Manager - Operations and planning at their NYC head office. What's up with you?"

His text got a reply in sometime
"Yayyyy! Congratulations and celebrations. Super happy for you, my day is surely winding up on a great news. Thanks for that. Btw which company? Deets please?"

Agastya was smiling throughout reading how truely happy his Jaanu was for his success. He replied to her ditching few asked details

"Thank so much my sweetest heart. Well tum bhi kuch achha keh kar make my day happier naa?" His cryptic text did make her heart thump.

"Kaha to congratulations and I'm really happy for you. What else then this can make your day happier? And deets? Where are you joining?"

Agastya rolled his eyes as he looked a glance at one of her pictures on her social media page as he mumbled to himself

"Kitna banti hai baby? Ye badla le rahi hai naa mujhse? You understand everything but still choose to play dumb, don't you?"

"It's late there, aren't you sleepy my baby bear? Btw thanks for the wishes and being there just at a knock of a text. Thank you for wishing me those all the bests all through these years without fail. Just to let you know, for records they always worked as my lucky charm. So jao, catch yaa later. See yaa. Nighty night my darling "

His good night text spun her head in the middle of the night. She read and re-read and read it again to believe what she had just read

"My baby bear? My darling? What the fuck? Agastya Sehgal! what has gone into your head all of a sudden? Pehle my jaanu; ok understandable, then sweetheart; still alright, on to my sweetest heart, moving on to my baby bear and my darling? Is it really you or am I dreaming? Ugh! kya chal raha hai dimag me tumhare Agastya? Why are you doing all this? Why do you want to make me feel, kinda special since sometime. Don't do that because you can't stick to it. Achha lagne lagega mujhe to tum wapas dry behave karoge. There is no point in all this. Lekin tumhe kaun rok sakta hai, tum hamesha apni hi marzi ki karte ho. Asked you a few times the details of your joining, you royally ignored. Ab puchungi hi nahi apni bezzati karane. You confuse me so much. Bloody moron, sahi me Gusty Wasty hi ho tum!"

She had struggled to take her mind off those cute monikers he had used for her. Giving up, she pushed her mobile keeping away and had dozed off swearing at him for doing such things.

In the weeks ahead, Agastya had joined one of the companies he had aimed for, accepting their offer letter that was lucrative. He kept in touch with Janhavi and kept on his cute antics irritating her. She didn't want to fall for the trap fearing him going back to being neutral for her and treating her indifferently like everyone. Because for her, he had been special, she had feelings for him. But those were not reciprocated rather Agastya's behavior had almost made her think that he had abandoned her. Hence she had kept her interactions neutral to safeguard herself from heartbreak again.

ONE YEAR LATER

"Aarav! Aarav ufff! kaha chale gaye? Aarna! baby daddy kaha gye? Unko pucho florist se baat ho gyi naa? You know how particular our bride and groom are?" An exasperated Naina asked her darling daughter to remind her father about the floral arrangements specially required as a favorite for the bride and groom, as per their choice.


"Ohh hoo! Shakal to dekho hamari dulhan ki kaisi khil gayi hai. Nahi maa? Hehehehe" Sanaya nudged dadi and dadi was already giggling feeling shy

"Kya tum sab bhi. Ye koi umra hai haldi mehendi sangeet aur dubara shadi ki. Pota poti shadi ki age me aa gye hain ab" dadi had sheepishly said caressing her designer outfits that Naina and Aarav had got for them to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

Sehgal villa had turned into a wedding venue of dadu-dadi's Golden Jubilee. Apparently, Aarna had complained once saying she wanted to see all their wedding fun like her bhaiya could. But was sad as she wasn't born and missed it. Aarav subtly poked a finger in Naina's waist.

"Mumma! We should have had Aarna. Now see she missed all our wedding fun"

On her complaint, Aarav and Naina had thought to celebrate maa and papa's golden jubilee on a grand scale and get them married again. All their close relatives were invited apart from Aarav and Naina's friends who were like family. Aarna was especially too excited and was actively a part of the planning team. They had planned haldi, mehendi, sangeet and cocktails and wedding over three days. Kids' friends were also invited and Jaanu was family. How could she be not present! Manasvi and Akshay too were visiting India as their annual holiday. All kids had grown up and loved being a part of sides they had chosen. All the boys had picked up dadu's side to be able to dance in the baraat procession while the girls obviously were in dadi's team. Their parents kept it neutral.

Manu's son, Vihaan asked his mother "Mom! Who is going to steal dadu's shoes and demand ransom?" Everyone had laughed aloud listening him calling 'neng' as ransom and Akshay explained him.

"Vihaan! It's not ransom beta. Koi kidnap thode hi kiya hai, ransom nahi it's called Neng"

But the kids were too smart "But dad, someone will hold dadu's shoes captive and demand money to release. Although not human, poor shoes will have to bear a lot to be returned back to the rightful owner for money extracted out of blackmailing. This is ransom in English"

With his logic, he had made everyone quiet as Prashant said "Baat to sahi hai. Sala hum neng neng karte hain, asal me hai to ransom hi. hahaha"

So, it was decided that Siddhant's mother, Prashant's mother, Naina's mother, dadi's sister in laws and cousins would take part in the 'joota churai' and the young girls would help the old ladies keep the shoes safe till dadu would give money.

Agastya had come a day before and was too jet-legged. He had been sleeping since he had arrived. All the out station guests had already come and the wedding chaos made the home lively. Just before the ceremony would start, Agastya came along wearing pathani kurta pajama in white. He met everyone hugging all of them. Siddhant patted Aarav "Beta bada ho gya buddy"

"Haan sala! apan budhhe ho gye bey!"

How could Prashant be left out as he butted immidiately "Kya kuch bhi! Ghoda aur aadmi kabhi budha nahi hota. Chill guys age is just a number" he winked and everyone laughed including Agastya who high fived with Prashant. The ladies were preparing for the mehendi ceremony when Sanaya asked

"Are Naina! Jaanu nahi dikh rahi? Aur Madhura nahi aayi abhi tak?"

The guys were standing just around, when listening the name 'Jaanu' thumped his heart. His eyes wandered all throughout the hall to find his Jaanu when her mother Madhura walked in smiling at Naina and others

"Sorry thoda late ho gayi traffic me. Janhavi to bahut pehle nikal gayi thi. Pahuchi nahi kya?" she asked keeping her handbag when Naina announced looking at the entrance of the hall,

"Lo! Aa gayi sabki Jaanu". She spared a look at her son, Agastya and found him standing rooted looking at the door for the sight he was adoring after 7 long years. The best sight and the most beautiful one that thumped his heart while the one who had made his heart race was unaware of his arrival as it had to be revealed as a surprise for her. She still was busy talking to the mehendi artists walking in with her while he was still busy, rather lost in the beauty. And there were few wet eyes in the hall, Aarav, Naina and Agastya.

_______________________________

TAAAAA DAAAAAAAAA 🤩

SURPRISE!!!!
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