||Forever bonds||

*-*-*-*-*

Shravas was happy after their small date. While dropping Lasya back, they had a small dine-out so she wouldn't have to cook after reaching home. They had gone to a cozy Italian restaurant with white sauce pasta for the main course and a muffin sizzler with ice cream for the dessert. They had no appetizers as Lasya was already full after that heavy lunch at his home.

While driving back, Shravas was reminiscing about their moments.

*-*-*-*-*

"Okay now. It's already late. You should go", Lasya said, pushing him back into the car.

Shravas made faces showing no interest in going back.

"What?"

"I don't want to go. I will sleep here today", Shravas said looking at her.

"You are not doing any such thing." Lasya faked an angry face and shooed him away.

"That's not fair little hearts", Shravas engulfed her in a tight embrace not letting her go, "I am not going"

Lasya didn't wriggle; they just waited for him to calm down. She didn't know why he was behaving like this but then she also wanted this closeness in her mind. But didn't dare to let it out in front of him.

"I just want to be close with you. Let me stay for a minute, please...", Shravas whispered in her hair.

Lasya sighed and took his warmth, and her heart felt content with him, this close.

Shravas couldn't understand the sudden urgency of having her this close. Maybe because they have just confessed and his heart wants to be with her after knowing she also feels for him the same way.

"Okay now. I shall go. Take care little hearts. If there is anything, I am just a call away", Shravas said while pulling away.

Lasya nods her head in agreement and sends him off.

Waving a bye, Shravas drives away towards the highway with a smile.

*-*-*-*-*

Upon entering, Shravas noticed everyone being gathered at the dining table.

"Oh, you came. Come on, let's have dinner", his mom voiced out while arranging the plates.

Shravas smiled at her as he came near the table, "Oh, Mom. I am sorry to burst your bubble. I already had my dinner at a French restaurant with Lasya. So I am full now"

"Aww, someone is being romantic there", his father teased him.

Shravas chuckled and said, "No, Dad. It's not like that. Since it was already late, I didn't want her to get tired from cooking since we have college tomorrow, so..."

"Yeah, I understood. I was just pulling your leg", his father patted his hands.

Shravas mouthed him, 'I know'

*-*-*-*-*-*

"Hey bro, I heard your lover was here?", Sujan asked teasingly.

"Yeah", Shravas touched his nape and felt his cheeks burning with embarrassment.

"Aww, someone is feeling all shy now", Sujan cooed earning a glare from his younger brother.

Sheethal laughed out loud, "Vasu bhaiya. You look like a tomato now"

"Shut up", Shravas whined making everyone surrounding him smile.

"Leave my matter. You guys have dinner. After that, I would like to have a chat with you, my bhaiya", Shravas said and moved toward the kitchen to drink some water.

When he came back, he could feel his elder brother not in this world. He seems lost and not eating at all. He was just looking at the plate as if it had suddenly grown two pairs of hands.

Shravas understood his mentality and said, "Bhaiya, please eat quickly. I have something very important to discuss, and that too at the earliest. So finish off the dinner and join me in your room".

"Sure bro. I will be there as soon as possible", Sujan said and continued to eat without any appetite. But he did finish his food without wasting it.

He doesn't want to show his anger towards the food. It didn't do anything to him. So, yes he finished quietly and went towards his room where his brother Shravas was waiting for.

Their parents exchanged worried glances, and Shravas nodded his head in understanding and made a thumbs up, letting them know everything was under control. They smiled in return.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*

"So bro, tell me, what is it that you want to talk about?" Sujan took a seat on his balcony and waited for Shravas to join, "is it something related to business?"

"Nope, it is purely personal", Shravas answered as he took a seat on his adjacent side.

"Okay..." Sujan didn't know what to say, so he kept quiet waiting for his brother to initiate.

"So, where is my sister-in-law?"

"Is she not coming back?"

"What's going on?"

Shravas asked questions back to back, making Sujan, his elder brother squirm in his seat.

They have never talked about this. For 5 months, nobody has asked, and now enough is enough, and it is not going well either, so at least one has to ask the dreaded question, and Sujan is now bound to answer it honestly.

"Well, nothing..",

Shravas cut him off in the middle, "Bhaiya, don't you dare say any lies, here. We are fed up and I am fed up. So come clean, now"

Sujan sighed and decided to let him know the issue, "Well I know you are missing your sister-in-law. Heck, I miss her like hell. I love her so much that it pains me to even think about it.  I don't know what is wrong and all I know is it has to be with our marriage. I am so sure of it"

Shravas kept thinking about what he said, and asked, "Are you sure it is not like falling out of love or something?"

"No, she loves me a lot and I love her like there is no tomorrow"

"Then what is the problem? I am not able to understand. Please bhaiya. Let us bring her back", Shravas requested with tears in his eyes.

Seeing him like this, Sujan also had tears, "What to do? I don't understand where to start?"

Shravas thought to throw the final stone at him as per Lasya's idea, "Are there any issues with conceiving a baby?"

"I know what you are hinting at bro. I have guessed it so many times. But then, I don't think that is the case. But then I am also not sure, though, as she rarely talks to me regarding that. Heck, it's been more than 15 days since I have talked with her. 15 fucking days!"

Shravas moved in a swift and took his brother in arms. He embraced him tightly and caressed his back as he used to do when he was a kid.

"It's okay bhaiya. Everything will be alright. Let's go to her", Shravas said making his brother look at him.

"What? Now?",

"Yes now. It is now or never and it's already late. It's been days and you should have done this pretty early. So here I am telling you, let's go now and bring her back home"

"Aww brother, you are something. I love you, bro. Yes, we will go now and clear it for all once. So tomorrow will be our best day", Sujan said as he pulled away and slowly got up making his way towards the door.

"Get ready, I will come down within a few"

"Sure, bhaiya," Shravas had a big smile on his face and sent a message to his love, letting her know they were on their way to his sister-in-law's house.

Lasya felt happy and sent an alright and all the best emoji.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Even though it was midnight, Shravas and Sujan knocked on the door and entered their in-law's place.

Sister's parents were shocked to see them at that time but didn't say anything as they also knew that their daughter had yet to resolve the issue.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*

"Sujan, my son in law. You guys are here, at this hour?",

"Hello uncle, yes it is urgent, and may I go and meet her?" Sujan asked hesitatingly.

"Yes, sure. She is in her room",

"Thank you", Sujan said and turned to look at his brother who was already looking at him, "I will be back with her soon"

Shravas mouthed, 'all the best'

"Shravas, come sit and relax until I get you a coffee", his sister-in-law's mother said with a knowing smile.

"Sure auntie. And please don't worry about anything. Everything will be alright"

Her parents nodded in understanding.

*-*-*-*-*-*

After two hours, his brother and sister-in-law were coming downstairs by holding onto each other.

"Sissy, I missed you!", Shravas seeing them return, jumped on his seat exclaiming.

He hugged her sobbing silently.

"Hey! Are you crying? Vasu...look at me", his sister-in-law asked him with concern etched on her face, "I, too, missed you, my little bro," and continued hugging him tightly.

They are very much close to each other as they have a huge age gap. So she considers him as her brother whom she never had.

"Then, you are coming along with us, right? to pamper me?" Shravas asked in his hoarse voice after all the cries but anyone could tell his voice was filled with hope.

"Yup, I am coming tomorrow but along with my parents"

He shook his head with disapproval.

"No, you are all coming with us now," He said sternly, like a small kid.

They all laughed at him thinking how cute and funny he was.

"By the way, I heard someone here has finally fallen in love," his sister-in-law teased him.

Shravas, not knowing, easily surrendered his hands above his head and ducked his head.

"Well, yes I am in love with a simple girl who has a very beautiful heart and smile. She means the world to me. I can't even think of a day without her"

His sister-in-law smirked and stuck her tongue out thinking how she had pulled his leg and made him answer it.

"Very mature", now Shravas teased her back.

*-*-*-*-*

They then had tea together and talked for a while.

Sujan was finally happy to see his love back into life again.

Yes, the thing was she was not able to conceive properly since she had a weak uterus. So she was devastated and couldn't think about anything else.

She also didn't want Sujan to get hurt because of this news, so she decided to leave them, making them hurt her back. But Sujan was so understanding and made her understand that he loves her so much more than this life, so giving him a child or not is not considered a problem.

He doesn't mind whether she can conceive or not. All he wants is her presence and togetherness in his life. He did get it. That's it.

True love triumphs over a hundred hurdles - my quote.

Later, all of them drove off to Anand's Residence. Within an hour, they reached and were happily welcomed by Shravas and Sujan's parents. They cleared all the misunderstandings they had and Shravas's dad warned his elder brother Sujan to show his full interest in business now. For that, everyone laughed at him whereas he went behind his wife's back, the better place to hide away from all the struggles.

Shravas's heart swelled with happiness as he thought about Lasya, his little heart. With one doubt, all the existing misunderstandings became clear. His family was relieved from the stress they had been facing for a few months. Shravas let them know, including his sister-in-law, about Lasya's prediction of the issue, how she helped them indirectly, and how he is grateful to her.

"I didn't know she was this brilliant in prediction and giving ideas. We must thank her", Shravas's dad said after a while.

"Yes, I do agree. She is one kind of lucky charm for us. I kindly requested Vasu to preserve and protect her", Shravas's mom said.

"If you guys are saying this about her, then I don't think I will be able to wait till tomorrow morning to see her once. Call her now, please bro",  his sister-in-law complained like a small kid.

"Hahahahah, not happening. I want her to sleep. Because she never gets her sleep properly. She works hard. I will tell you about her in detail tomorrow. Later in the afternoon, we shall go to her apartment. What say, guys?" Shravas asked everyone in his family when they were gathered around to have some coffee.

Shravas felt proud of his choice. Lasya was indeed a lucky charm for him. After she had come into his life, so many changes occurred and all of them had turned into happiness.

"But what about college? Don't you have class tomorrow?" his mother as,ke,d making everyone look at her.

"Well, I have asked her to cancel tomorrow's class. So she will be at home. So don't worry", Shravas said in understanding.

*-*-*-*-*-*

After a lot of fun, they all left their respective rooms. Shravas was in full, happy mode, and he so wanted to call her to know the good news but then canceled that urge before his call was connected, as it was already midnight and she might be in a deep sleep.

But to his surprise, his phone started ringing and the caller was none other than his love.

"Hey, didn't you sleep?" Shravas asked surprised.

"Who disturbed my sleep?" she asked back in a mocking tone.

"Oh uh..hm...I am sorry", He said in a guilty voice.

"Hey Ravi, it's okay. I was not sleeping, by the way, and I was just kidding. Also, I was going through my subjects since the sem exams are coming in one month. So, you didn't disturb me. okay?" She stated.

She heard him sigh.

"What happened, you didn't sleep. It's already past midnight" " she asked him while closing all her books and lying down comfortably.

"Well, I am happy, to be precise," He stated excitedly.

"Yes, I can understand that from your voice. May I know the reason for your happiness?" She asked irritatedly since he was not giving her correct information because he was beating around the bush.

"You," he said simply.

"What?" She shouted.

"What, what?" He rebuked

"Urgh.." she groaned "What do you mean? Ravi, can you please tell me in detail?" She asked in frustration.

She heard him Chuckle.

"It's that my sister-in-law is back home, and all the problems were solved because of only one person, and it's you. Only because of one doubt, we were able to fix their problem and now everything is good", He explained.

"Wow" she squealed in his ears.

He shifted his phone from one ear to another because of a loud voice. He chuckled mentally.

"Thank God for making everything well and good. I am happy for you Ravi and your family", she said and continued softly, "They are very important to me too"

"You are also my life. My family.." He paused. "From now on, don't tell as my family alone. Say our family. Is that clear to you?" He snapped at her.

She flinched hearing his voice.

"Okay, I am sorry. Our family. I love you,  Ravi. I love you so much", She said.

"I, too, love you, my little hearts," He responded instantly.

"Now, sleep well. It's already late. We will talk tomorrow. Good night Ravi", She said yawningly.

"Good night dear. By the way, I forgot to tell you something. We are all coming tomorrow in the evening for a coffee", He said.

"What?" She asked sitting straight in the bed.

"Yes, we are planning to come for dinner tomorrow. I mean, we will be there by 5 o'clock, and then at 7.30 we will go out and have dinner", he said, shrugging his shoulders even though she couldn't see it.

"That's great. Thank you very much for letting me know, now at least" " she said sarcastically.

"Sorry baby. I will make it up to you. Now kiss me good night"

She can understand he might be smirking.

"But I want to tell you something before that." She said.

"You can tell me about anything Lasya", He encouraged her.

"I want you all of them for dinner here in my apartment. I want to cook for you all. Please, will you let them know?" She asked with hesitation.

"Dinner? Are you kidding?", He snapped.

"Why? It's just dinner" " she said as if it was not a big deal.

"Lasya, you want to cook for us for around 7 people. Is that something that you will take lightly? It's not that easy", He said.

"I understand it's very difficult to cook for all. But that doesn't mean it's not possible. Also until now, there was no one for me to cook and serve. So now I have some people whom I can call my family and I would happily cook for them even if it's a tough task. Please, Ravi, I want you to support me. I don't want to go out and have dinner that too for the first time. We shall go again some other time. Please this time, also I cook well. Not to boast, but I am telling you the truth. And cooking is easy for me." She made him understand."

"Okay, as you say. But do you want me to come and help you?" He sighed and asked.

"Nope", she said popping the letter 'p'.

"Also, now msg me, letting me know your and others' at least one favorite item" " she said in excitement.

"Okay, I will message you. Now sleep. You have a big day tomorrow", He said.

"Yup, I know. I am excited already, and first thing in the morning, I am going to go grocery shopping" " she said.

"Okay okay. Within 10 minutes, I will message you with the favorite lists. But you will see that in the morning. Now, just go and sleep and also dream about me. Good night baby." He said smirking.

"Okay, good night Ravi. Take care, and I love you. And yeah, here is your kiss, muah!", She wished and hung up the call.

Smilingly, she slept without checking her phone, respecting his words. He also had an unstoppable smile on her face and he soon remembered and sent their favorites to her phone. So that she can prepare it for dinner.

'God, she is so stubborn, and I hope she manages everything alone. I would have gone to help but she denied it. So I respect her and I hope my family loves her cooking.' he thought to himself.

*-*-*-*-*-*

In the morning, after doing the morning business Lasya checked her phone. She had a smile, looking at the reminder.

*-*-*-*-*

"Happy birthday Poo. May God bless you with everything that you desire!"

"Aww, thank you, La. It means a lot. I thought you might have forgotten it because you were busy for a few days", Pooja, her friend on the other side of the phone said softly.

"Whatever it may be, I will not forget your special day my dear. And I hope I am the first person calling you after the sunrise!", Lasya giggled.

"Yes yes. You are! And you always were, and thank you again, La. You made my day", Pooja said lovingly.

"I am happy to know, and yeah, Poo, I have a bit of work to do, so I have to hang up now. But enjoy your day with your family, and we will meet tomorrow at the college, okay?" Lasya said slowly, not knowing how she would take this.

"Hey, yeah, I understand, and ye,s, carry on. I will see you tomorrow. Take care and you too enjoy", Pooja said smilingly.

*-*-*-*-*

Heaving a sigh, Lasya hung up the call and checked the message from last night.

It was Shravas who had sent her the list of dishes they would prefer, and yeah, she had to go out grocery shopping.

' Ugh...' she mentally groaned seeing the lists.

There, she saw the list of items sent by him, stating it as their favorite.

But it seems he has planned and sent her all easy recipes.

'it's okay, I will get a chance again to cook for them. Now, I will have to go and get the groceries required and will start the preparations.' she said to herself.

Soon, she grabbed her backpack and left the apartment with her Ritchie. She reached the nearby supermarket where she used to work.

If she shops from there, she gets a discount as she was once a hard-working employee and the only condition she has is to purchase from here for a year. Ritchie waited near the entrance as she entered, pulling the cart.

Within 25 minutes, her cart was filled with various items ranging from paneer to Olive oil. She paid for it and quickly made her way out of the market.

"Ma'am" she heard someone Calling her name out. She turned around to see Shravas's driver smiling at her waving his hands, letting her identify him in the crowd.

She also waved her hands and walked towards him happily.

"Yes, Raj uncle. You here?" Lasya asked.

"Yes ma'am. I am here because of sir." He said.

But Lasya didn't understand why he was there.

"I didn't get you. And by the way, you can call me Lasya. Not ma'am." She narrowed her eyes at him.

He chuckled and nodded.

"Well, the thing is I was asked to drive you back to your apartment after your grocery shopping. It's a special request from Shravas sir." He stated.

She knew if she denied it, this uncle would get an earful of scoldings. So she understood that it's better to get help rather than argue.

"Okay, let me put these inside." She said as she picked up the baggage.

"No, I will do that Lasya. You can sit and relax. The door is already unlocked." He said and kept loading the grocery packages. Ritchie also followed her and sat near the foot base. Within 10 minutes, they reached her apartment and the driver helped her unload the baggage. She greeted him and went directly to the kitchen, keeping all the baggage on the island. She closed the door and went on to drink a glass full of water as she was thirsty.

She started searching for the recipes.

With that, she started cutting all the veggies and required other things for dinner. She kept everything handy in the refrigerator.

She then cooked Maggie for herself and took a nap till 3. The alarm rang for the first time. She woke up with a jerk. She rubbed her eyes and checked the time. It's exactly 3 o'clock. She washed her face and made her way towards the kitchen without wasting her time. She started to prepare, and by 5 in the evening, everything was ready.

She prepared - Butter Chicken as a starter - Paneer kofta and Butter Roti as the main course, Mushroom Biriyani as the rice item, and last but not least, Pineapple pudding as dessert.

By this, she was all sweaty and untidy. She hurriedly cleaned up all the areas of the kitchen and ran towards her washroom to get herself a hot shower. Within 15 minutes, she was ready to dress.

Today, she planned to dress up. She selected a peach-colored knee-length spaghetti strapless top with frills in the bottom which made her look exactly like a princess.

She didn't do any make-up. Just put on her lip balm and a bindi. She was gifted naturally. At around 5.30, her doorbell rang. She started getting nervous because this was the first time someone close to her was coming. She bit her nails out of tension and was looking at the door wondering what to do. Again, she heard her bell ringing. Shiveringly she made her way towards the door. She took deep breaths and opened the door.

"Hey, what took you so long to open?" Shravas asked as he came forward to hug her. He felt her shivering a bit.

He patted her back calming her down. "It's okay. We are your family. So don't be tense and cool like you are always." He comforted her.

"I am okay. This is the first time. So I was just worried about how well things would turn up." She assured him by pulling her away from him.

"By the way, why are you alone here? Where are the others?" She asked looking around to see if others had come or not. He chuckled seeing her antics.

He then whistles loudly, and there comes the army!

"Gosh, you people scared me!" Lasya exclaimed keeping her hand over her chest.

And she could hear their laughs!

*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Thank you for reading

I appreciate it