Praneet left in the morning. The smile on our faces gave away our state. He sat in the car then came back, hugged me and sat again. He repeated it three times before actually going.
I wanted him to stay but for the first time, I understood this distance we decided to keep will act as cement to our relation. It was our courtship period post marriage.
I revealed to Praneet and others about my research on Azam. Since I joined Praneet's office my inclination was towards finance. I used to ask about various details and was never denied, well I was the Prince's girl. I observed there was a suspense account in the HR department's account every year. I wanted to point that out but I wasn't confident. I tried on my level and found Azam was the one responsible for the HR department's slips. The cash flow also did not match. The finance head told me they were trying to get their hands on the culprit. I didn't share my suspicions with him yet. I tried to carry investigation on my level. I guess Azam got a hint I was spying on him.
Badal saw me working so he thought I was interning at the company. When I punched him and ran locking him inside, he called up Azam for rescue. That's when they planned the kidnap.

"Pri what you did was also not taking Praneet into consideration." Chaya pointed out at the breakfast and I realised we indeed need time to understand each other. Build trust and confidence.

Uday encouraged me to study and appear for my CA final exams. I had lots to cover but he said he will help me. I opened the books but my eyes inadvertently went to the bed which encountered the most beautiful night.
The kiss at the entrance was supposed to be our last kiss before Praneet left but things heated up. We broke the kiss and came inside. Praneet came to drop me till my room. We both had an urge to kiss again. I was standing behind the door looking at Praneet while he was hesitating and fidgeting with his hands.
Fuck!

"Can I kiss you again?" Praneet asked and I frowned. He skips asking about bigger issues but asks about silly things.
Was a kiss silly?
No! But I was too shy to say yes. I was playing with my fingers when he requested again, "please."
That was it. I lost control and he came inside my room. We kissed hungrily behind the door, near my study table, with support of the wall and finally on the bed, first sitting and when we saw in the eyes of each other, we lie down and kissed softly. It was the deepest kiss and shivered me.
Praneet took off my jacket and his. He didn't ask for permission, probably he was learning to read my eyes. We were glued to each other and I couldn't stop my hands from moving in his silky hair.
"Just stop me Pratima, just help me stop myself, " Praneet spoke between the kisses but it was beyond my capacity. I couldn't control myself either.
Praneet's hand moved from my neck to my body causing a sensation absolutely foreign. I copied him and what I touched I loved. He was so strong but his touch was so soft.

"You are so hot, Pratima." Praneet gave me a compliment I had never received. I wanted to tell him he was making me hot but I just could not. This romantic endeavour I was having with my husband was filling me with emotions. He kissed my forehead, my eyes, my nose, my cheeks and I felt cherished. Something wet touched my cheek and I saw Praneet was in tears. I was worried.

"I am sorry for not understanding your touch yesterday. If I had, you would be safe. It kills me to imagine what that asshole Badal was capable of. I am sorry Pratima." Praneet looked so guilty. Boys don't cry and don't accept their fault easily. This boy sleeping beside me was a Prince, crying over his mistake and admitting it.
I must be special.

I kissed his entire face like he did and the fine lines of tension flew away from his handsome face. "I hope you understand my touch now," I asked moving the pad of my thumb on his cheek.

He smiled and replied, "You have no idea how bad my analysis is." He pulled me on top of him and caged me in his arms. I slept on his chest while he rubbed my back.
It is a good position at the wrong time. Something poked from below and I bit my lips.
Aaa! Oooo!
Praneet quickly shifted me back to the side, highly embarrassed by his erection. I could be the reason for a boy's boner? The moment just got more awkward with Chaya and Ragini's jumping on the floor above. The noise was increasing and our room was silent. I couldn't hold it any longer and laughed. Praneet joined me after a few seconds.
I wrapped my hand around him and put my head on his chest. The mystic feeling of sleeping in the arms of your man is indescribable.

The entire night we kept talking and revealing our secrets. He told me the moments he wanted to kiss me and the moment he wanted to make love to me. I was thrilled with the thought.
"The date in Mussoorie, I swear when we were in the room I had lost control over myself. You have no idea how sexy you are." Praneet teased me but his hand went around my waist to pull me closer. With the movements, my t-shirt had lifted and Praneet was now touching my bare waist. His hand was caressing my navel while my vagina was throbbing. I wanted to do everything with him but not until we concrete our relation. This was going to be tough.

"I think you should go and sleep in your room." With a heavy heart, I requested Praneet.

"That's the last time I am sleeping in a separate room." Praneet kissed my forehead and pecked my lips before leaving.
"Hey, wifey, I... Love..." I got up with anticipation of the confession.
"Mussoorie." He smirked and I threw a pillow at him. But with the other pillow, I hid my face. This was happening in my life?
Did I kiss my first love so many times?
Did I give him an erection?
Yes! I did.

"Earth to Pri." Uday snapped his fingers and I came out of an amazing replay session. "Let's study."
God! Uday was such a mood killer. He was explaining something to me but all I could imagine was a pair of lips that kissed me so fervently last night.
"Let me know when you stop thinking about your boyfriend/fiance/husband/Mr doubtful." Uday teased me and I hit him.

"Thank you for everything Uday." He had genuinely been an anchor in this switch.

"Call me to the wedding this time." He joked.

Chaya and Ragini were super excited to resume working at the hotel while Granny and I were anxious about living as a family. We never have. I hoped we get through. My parents will be coming in the evening to live with us.

Praneet had reached safely and started living at the company guest house. His father and grandfather were not speaking to him or Ragini. His grandmother however assured him she was with them. She offered Praneet to stay with her but he preferred the guest house.

"I will feel guilty imagining wild things about my wife, at an ashram." Praneet could make me blush over the phone too.

Days passed in a jiffy. I studied throughout the day while Praneet worked at his company. He focused more on accounts and internal issues. Security was tightened at the company. He didn't want any other problems. Praneet also shelved Chaya's father's cracker factory and proposed to set up a project to uplift the people living in the area.
Chaya's father filed a suit against him for forgery but Praneet's verbal arguments were enough for him to take back his case.

Ragini and Chaya were doing wonderful at the hotel. I was stunned to see the way they transformed the motel too. Princesses were surely talented. Our three-star hotel was doing well and was booked almost at eighty per cent capacity on most of the days. One thing the princesses made sure of was there was enough staff. They told my parents even if they tried they couldn't work like them.
My parents were no longer the parents I left before the switch. They gladly agreed. In fact, we now had domestic help at home too so that I don't have work pressure and can concentrate on my studies.

Praneet played a perfect boyfriend/fiance/husband, I don't know which category to put him in. Uday's question had no answer.
His flirty remarks made me red, his care and concern made me overwhelmed.

He worked throughout the day while I studied. In the nights we were glued to the phone talking about random stuff to how we missed each other. Long-distance relationships were tough but we were enjoying this phase too.

"The moment we meet I swear to God I am not leaving your hand for a second." Praneet declared during one of the video calls when we were missing each other a lot.

"I will punish you if you do." I was almost into tears warning him.

"Pratima, stop! I can't see you crying. Your tears bother me." Praneet was feeling low, I know. But I couldn't help it. I was missing him so much. "Fine! I am coming if that's what you want." Praneet warned me. I wiped my tears and tried to smile.

This used to be our state at least once a month especially when I was PMSing. We both figured it out after some time. Praneet used to send me chocolates every month to celebrate my being on periods.
Ragini teased him he never did that for her, she also used to bleed. Siblings and their banter was so much fun.
Uday may have proposed me to be his sister but the bond he shared with Chaya was beautiful and pure.
Life was tough without Praneet's physical presence but I felt him inside me and that gave me courage.

I did appear for my exams but I was sure I won't get through. Praneet encouraged me to appear again in November with better preparations. "I doubt I will be able to concentrate," I told him honestly.

"We can extend our break if you want," Praneet suggested.

"What? Noooo!" I replied immediately realising he trapped me. I could hear him laughing on the other side of the phone. I had to pretend to be angry for his prank because, in reality, I loved this side of his. Funny, witty and caring.

"Pratima, I miss you more than the peacock misses the rain. I am all alone here and at times I miss my nonexistent family. Thank God I have our poodle, Chocolate with me." Praneet was living alone and there were still months to go before we see each other again. I felt so helpless. I wanted to comfort him.

"Have you tried talking to your father?" I asked him.

"When false pride is above love nothing matters," Praneet replied in a single sentence and I diverted the topic.

Where I got my family back, Praneet lost his. My parents were earnestly trying to bond with granny and me. My mother and granny cleared their differences and made a peace pact. My parents decided to start a restaurant in Mussoorie town. We had land and my father decided to develop it. We also asked for Chaya and Ragini's opinions considering their amazing efforts with our hotel business.

Life was on track with family, friends and love.
After two months when my results came I was astonished to see I cleared one group and was only left with one to clear. Uday however cleared both groups and finally decided to tell his parents about his sexuality. He was sacred so we devised a plan.

It was granny's birthday and we had a small party. Chaya and Ragini were here and we invited Uday's parents too. Post dinner when everyone was chit-chatting over drinks, Chaya started, "Granny, uncle-aunty, I would like to tell you all something. Ragini and I are not just friends but we are... we are in a relation. She is my girlfriend."

My parents and Uday's parents were startled but they didn't react violently like the royals. After a few moments of silence, my mother revealed, "My father was a bisexual as well. My mother and he never loved each other. He was always busy with his business and never had time for us. When my mother told me I was adopted I figured his reason for cold behaviour. Pri was my own still I never made her feel loved. To say, you love is one thing but to show your love is what matters. Chaya, Ragini, we are with you. When Pri decides to marry you can tie the holy knot of matrimony too." My mother's speech made me emotional and proud.

"I can understand the reason for Rama's frustration now. If not for her greed she could have parted with him and found her happy ending. But, right now, cheers to royal eagles." Granny raised a toast.

"Chaya, will you give us the honour of your 'kanyadaan'?" Uday's mother requested Chaya and she hugged her tightly. Sometimes, Hindi movie dialogues could bring magical moments.
Our plan worked now was the time for Uday to confess.

"Mom, Dad, I also wish to share something with you." Uday built the plot before narration.

"You are Gay, we know. We saw you and Viv several times. We wanted you to come forward and tell us. Uday, your sexuality and choice doesn't define you. Your character defines you. Besides, I am proud of a son like you. However, can Viv change his style a bit? He is too flashy." Uday's mother teased her son. They knew and gave their son space?
Wow!
They were indeed the rarest species of parents.
Uday hugged his parents and Chaya was now an addition to their family.

"Pratima, what's the name of your Nana?" Praneet suddenly questioned. We were on a video call.

"Umm... Shyam Juneja." I answered.

"Oh! God! The man I was suspecting for so long. Granny you saw Pri's Nana with my Dada Saab that day."
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Dear Readers
Word meaning:
Kanyadaan: a ceremony where the bride's parents hand over their daughter (her maiden name) to the boy/ partner.

The story has moved quickly but I guess you understand what's been happening.
Uday certainly deserves parents like these.
The world is small and round. Pri's Nana is Praneet's grandfather's, lost love.
Did you expect that?
Now that everyone knows, what will happen?

Find out!

Marriage of the Royals coming up.

Stay hooked!
Lots of love