[@ReetikaPalateru asked me for a bonus chapter. So this epilogue is my gift to her.]

The days passed among fun and frolic and the bond between Veer and Ananya grew even stronger and deeper. Their love for each other grew stronger with each passing day. Soon, it was time to return home. It was their last day on Goa. Everyone except Veer and Ananya had gathered in the hall with their luggages. Veer and Ananya's belongings were there, stacked against the wall along with that of the others. However, the owners could not be found anywhere.

"Yeh dono kahan gayab ho gaye?" Riya looked around yet again.

"Jahan bhi honge saath hi honge. Likhwa ke le lo. Jab best friends the tabhi yeh dono ghanto ek dusre ke saath gayab ho jaya karte the aur ab toh boyfriend girlfriend hai." Rahul chuckled.

"Woh toh hai." Soham guffawed.

"Par sawal ab bhi wohi hai ki dono gaye kahan." Sonia sighed.

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The white washed bricks of the ancient church had a strange glow, whether it was due to the golden rays of the sun or because the deity residing within its sanctum was enraptured at the union of two pure souls was a matter of controversy. 

It was a warm day and the relatively cooler interior of the church was almost empty of worshippers with the sole exception of a boy and a girl. They were kneeling in front of the Almighty, praying with their eyes closed. There was not a trace of the despondency that had been dominant on their handsome features the last time they came here. Instead, there was a glow of contentment and fulfilment lighting their features from within.

Together, as if by prior arrangement, they opened their eyes and turned towards each other. 

"Jo dua manga tha kya woh pura hua?" Veer looked at Ananya curiously.

"Ho gaya. Aur tumhara?" Ananya beamed happily.

"Mera bhi. Toh ab batao kya dua manga tha tumne?" Veer grinned excitedly.

"Yahin ki tumhe tumhara pyar mil jaye." Ananya replied shyly.

The incredulous look on Veer's handsome visage made her giggle. Soon, his incredulity was replaced by an intense love and affection.

"Ab tumhari baari." Ananya reminded him, biting her lips in anticipation.

"Yeh ki tumhe tumhara pyar mil jaye." Veer shrugged, grinning.

"Matlab hum dono se apna apna pyar hi manga tha bhagwanji se?" Ananya giggled in disbelief.

"Ji Madam. Aur double power tha isliye bhagwanji ne jaldi accept kar li humari dua." Veer laughed.

Ananya swatted his arm with the flat of her palm playfully, laughing herself. Thanking the Lord once again, they got to their feet. Veer put his arm around her shoulders while Ananya wound her arm around his waist and together they walked out of the church.

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"Par yeh dono kab tak aayenge yaar? Koi call karo na inko." Arnav suggested.

"Oye, Einstein! Humne bahut pehle hi try kar li hai. dono ka hi mobiles switch off aa raha tha." Soham rolled his eyes.

"Let me try again." Madhura fished out her mobile from her clutch and was about to call Veer.

However, they were interrupted by familiar chatter and laughter and turned towards the entrance and soon enough, Veer and Ananya sauntered into the hall.

"Yeh lo aa gaye do hanso ki jodi." Riya chuckled.

Veer and Ananya looked at each other and then at Rahul, bemused.

"Kya hua?" Ananya was the one to break the silence.

"Hua kuch nahi. Bas hum yahi soch rahe the ki tum logo ko shayad yaad na ho par hum bhi tumhare saath hi aaye hain. Toh kahin jao toh zara bata dena ya fir apna phones hi chalu rakhna taaki hum bechare hi tum love birds ko contact kar le." Rahul guffawed.

"Isliye toh main humara phones switch off kar deta hu. Mujhe kya pata nahi ki Rahul kis sardard ka naam hain?" Veer smirked.

"Guys, ho gaya tum logo ka? Ab chale? Prince, chalo." Ananya rolled her eyes and dragged Veer away grabbing his arm with both hands.

Laughing and pulling each others' legs, they filed out of the farm house and embarked on the journey towards home.

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The vehicle was moving towards their destination speedily. Soham, Sonia, Rahul, Riya, Arnav were engrossed in chattering, laughing and singing. Though Madhura was occassionally joining in, Abhinav was very quiet and was was more interested in glaring at Veer, who was driving the vehicle. Ananya was sitting beside him. She felt tired as she woke up at crack of dawn. She yawned once and then again. Veer glanced at her and smiled, shaking his head slightly.

"Meri Pari ko neend aa rahi hai?" Veer smiled at Ananya.

"Haan, Prince." Ananya pouted childishly.

"Tumhara pillow toh humesha ready hi rehta hai. So jao. Intezar kis baat ka hai?" Veer gestured towards his shoulder, grinning.

Giggling, Ananya inched closer and rest her head on her favourite pillow which was his shoulder and closed her eyes as the familiar feeling of peace and safety seeped into her being.

After a while, when the noise in the back of the car became particularly loud, she opened her eyes and straightened up. When Veer looked quizzically at her, she gestured towards their friends and made a puppy face, making Veer turned to them with a frown.

"Oye! Sabji mandi hai yeh koi? Itna chillam chilli kyun kar rahe ho? Pari ko neend aa rahi hai . Tum logo ke shor sharabe mein toh kumbhkaran bhi so na paye. Dheemi awaz mein baat karo warna tum sab bhi so jao." Veer rebuked them, making them gape at him. 

"Dekh lo bhai log, shaadi se pehle yeh haal hai. Shaadi ke baad kya hoga?" Rahul chuckled.

"Tum bhi kya buddhu jaise baat karte ho. Shaadi ke baad yeh humein thodi na layenge apne saath. Kyun Anu sahi kaha na maine?" Riya teased the couple, making Ananya blush.

"Pari, tum dhyan mat do inke bakwash par. Tum so jao. Abki baar inhone shor kiya na main in sabko chalti gaari se uthakar bahar phenk dunga." Veer assured Ananya with a mischievous grin, making her giggle. 

A round of protest rose among their friends. Laughter and happiness filled the ambience within the vehicle, with one exception.

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The sky was tinged with the red gold hues that announced the culmination of the day into a dark night when Veer's car pulled up in front of Singhania Mansion. The mansion was drowned in a sea of darkness. 

"Arey Veer, tum humein apne ghar kyun le aaye? Humein toh market mein drop karne ki baat thi na? Wahan se hum apne apne ghar chle jaate." Madhura looked at Veer, bemused.

"Pata nahi. Dad ka call aaya tha. Unhone kaha ki apne saare doston ko lekar ghar aa jao. Sab yahin pe dinner kar lenge aur fir sabko unke ghar pahuch diya jayega." Veer shrugged.

"Koi occassion hai kya?" Riya nudged Ananya.

"Mom aur dad ne kaha ki ek bahut bara occassion hai. Par kya occassion hai yeh nahi bataya humare puchne par bhi. Sirf itna bola ki jab hum ghar pahuchenge toh humein khud hi pata chal jayega." Ananya shrugged.

"Toh chalo fir chalte hain." Rahul suggested.

They disembarked from the car and made their way towards the mansion. Veer and Ananya had their fingers entwined with each other. As they reached the threshold, they peeped into the hall but everything was immersed in darkness. Ananya clutched the sleeve of Veer's shirt with her other hand and looked at him worriedly. Veer placed his other hand over her to reassure her and together they crossed the threshold of their home.

As soon as they crossed the threshold, the manson lit up. It was then that they noticed that the mansion had been decorated beautifully and a bunch of people had gathered in the hall. Veer's parents were in the forefront with huge smiles on their faces.

"Yeh sab ho kya raha hai? Aaj hum dono mein se toh kisi ka birthday nahi hai. Aap dono ka bhi nahi. Fir yeh kaunsi surprise party hai?" Veer stared at them in confusion.

Their friends and Abhinav too had followed them iside the mansion and were now looking at each other, trying to decipher the meaning of the things happening around them.

"Yeh surprise birthday party nahi hain." Mr. Singhania smiled.

"Toh fir?" Ananya stared at them with innocent confusion.

"Yeh surprise engagement party hain. Tum dono ki." Mrs. Singhania elucidated.

Totally thrown by that out of the blue piece of news, Veer and Ananya stared at each other and then at their parents.

"Surprised?" Mr.Singhania raised a brow.

"More like shocked. Dad, agar hum dono kisi aur se pyar karte fir aap kya karte?" Veer smirked.

"Kya tum dono kisi aur se pyar karte ho?" Mrs. Singhania looked at them questioningly. 

When both of them shook their heads negatively, she smiled and patted their cheeks affectionately. 

"Hum bhi tumhare parents hai baccho. Tumhare dil mein chupi baat humse chupi nahi reh sakti." Mr. Singhania laughed.

Veer laughed while Ananya blushed a deep shade of crimson. Their friends cheered for them and congratulated them while Arnav could only glare at them in futile fury.

Mr and Mrs Singhania led Veer and Ananya to the middle of the hall and surrounded by friends and family the couple made each other wear rings, promising each other a lifetime of friendship, love, trust and support.

Everyone was so engrossed in rejoicing the ceremony that officially bound Veer and Ananya into a lifetime of togetherness that they failed to notice a solitary figure trudging out of the hall, his shoulders drooping with weight of the misery caused by unrequited love.

THE END

Author's note -

So, buddies the story ends here. Thank you so much for being a part of this journey and making it a memorable one. Thank you so much for your love and support. But everything has to come to an end sooner or later and therefore, this is the happy ending of this story. Hope you like this last part too. :)