Reception night :

Yash's pov :

I and Daksh reached the reception venue.

Arjun informed he will come along with his family and will be late.

Mr and Mrs Kapoor ( Ithika's parents ) welcomed us. We exchanged greetings.

Till there is some time to begin the function. Even the new couple are not present here but this crazy Daksh dragged me early.

He is busy looking for Mahira.

I got a call, so I excused myself and went to attend the call.

I'm talking on the phone and went towards the garden area.

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I completed my call. I observed the garden, it looks beautiful. I plucked a leaf from a tree beside me admiring the night view.

"You Mister!"  I heard a shout from my backside.

I turned to see the person.

"How dare you pluck the leaf unnecessarily? Don't you have any work beside harming plants and trees?" Again this crazy girl started shouting.

"I also can ask you, don't you have any work other than shouting at everyone you see?" I questioned back.

"I have and I don't shout on everyone I see. " She said.

"Really, then why is that special offer only for ME?" I asked pointing towards myself.

"Because you behave like a disobedient kid. " She said mocking me.

"Oyee! Who is a kid? You are a kid, who involves unnecessarily in other's issues. What is your problem, if I pluck a leaf. Does it have your name? " I asked.

"It may don't have my name, but you can't destroy anything which nature gave. Everything which is produced in nature is for everyone, no one have a right to destroy it. " She explained.

"What! When did I destroy something? I just plucked a single leaf randomly. Don't lecture me." I said.

"Why? Why did you pluck the leaf? Is it for any use? No. Right. You just said you plucked it randomly. How can you do it? If only there is any need, we should pluck leaf or leaves or flowers or any other product from the trees. Do you know each leaf of a plant produces about 5 millilitres of oxygen per hour? Just know you plucked a leaf that would have produced more and more oxygen in its lifetime and you are saying you don't destroy anything. How dare you? What answer will you give to this tree, which is providing oxygen for all of us selflessly? Can you understand its feelings? No right. Day by day global warming is increasing by the things you are doing without thinking anything." She shouted.

What! Me plucking a single leaf increasing global warming.

"Girl, you look like a mad case. No... no.. you are making me a mad case. If I stay a few more minutes with you, you will say all types of pollutions are happening due to me. No thanks. I'm going. Stick this leaf back to the tree or breath the last oxygen it is producing. Leave me alone. " I said giving her the leaf and running back to the function.

Mad girl!

God! How much speech, she gave for a single leaf.

If Arjun marries Aaradhya, I have to meet this mad girl many times throughout my life. God! Save me.

Daksh's pov :

Arjun already informed he will be late for the reception.

He looks very happy after speaking with Aaradhya. He explained to us everything. He is waiting for her answer.

I want to see Mahira, so I dragged Yash along with me to the reception.

We entered inside.

Mr and Mrs Kapoor welcomed us. We exchanged greetings.

My eyes are searching for Mahira.

Yash excused himself to attend a call.

I started searching for Mahira.

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Finally, I spotted her checking some arrangements.

I went to her.

She saw me and went in the opposite direction.

This continued for some time. Me following her, she avoiding and escaping from me.

In the hurry of running from me, she got slipped on steps and about to fall. I catch her in my arms from falling. She closed her eyes in fear. Luckily no one is here, as it is the backside of the venue.

I started admiring her. I want this time to freeze.

She slowly opened her eyes and saw me. She hurriedly tried to go out from my hold but I catch her again.

"I will release you but answer me, why are you avoiding me?" I asked directly.

"I'm not avoiding you. Leave me." She said.

"It's not happening. " I said smiling.

She gave an angry look.

I released her.

"Ok. Now I released you. So say, why are avoiding me? Are you angry with me for taking you to the beach without your knowledge or because of my confession? " I asked.

She stayed silent.

"Ok. I'm sorry for taking you to the beach without your consent. I just thought to surprise you, I never thought to make you uncomfortable. I don't have any bad intentions. And I'm not sorry for my confession because those are my genuine feelings towards you. I. LOVE. YOU. " I said.

"I don't have such feelings for you. " She answered.

"Ok. Do you like anyone another person in such a way?" I asked.

She shook her head as no.

"Am I a bad person? Do you hate me? " I asked.

She again shook her head as no.

"Good. Then I can try until you get feelings towards me. Mahira I will never force you. Take your time. If you want to spend some time knowing me more, it is ok with me. " I said softly.

She looked confused.

"It's ok. Don't think much. Enjoy the function. " I said going back to function and giving her some space to think.

Author's pov :

The reception party started, guests started arriving.

Ithika's parents and Rahul's father are receiving guests.

Mahira and Purvi are checking all the arrangements one last time.

Rahul and Ithika started to the venue.

Rahul's mother took Aaradhya and Amulya into a room, saying there is a surprise for them.

When they entered the room, they spotted there parents.

Aaru and Amu are surprised to see them, as when Ithika and Rahul invited them for their marriage and reception. They said, they can't make it as Aaru and Amu's grandma got sick recently and she needs someone to take care of her all the time. As there grandpa also recently had a heart operation, so their parents are busy taking care of them.

"Hi Maa and Pa. What a pleasant surprise. " Aaru said hugging her dad and Amu is hugging her mom.

"Yes maa. What about grandma and grandpa? " Amu asked.

"Your grandma recovered well and grandpa is also having no problem. We arranged someone to look after them in the meantime of our visit here." Their mother replied.

"Oh ok. It's good. Then why don't you both say anything about your arrival? I would have come to pick you both. " Aaru asked.

"Umm... It's my surprise Aaru. I only asked them not to inform you both. " Rahul's mother answered.

"Oh. Thank you very much aunty for such a sweet surprise. " Aaru said smiling towards her.

She smiled back.

"Amu, will you please go and see if Ithika and Rahul arrived or not." Rahul mom asked.

"Sure aunty. " Amu answered going to check for them.

After Amu left, Rahul mom started speaking.

"Aaru, I have another surprise for you." She said excitedly.

"What is it, aunty? " Aaru asked looking confused.

Rahul mom turned towards Aaru's parents and started speaking.

"Veer bhai , Komali bhabi. Your Aaru became our family member in all these years along with Ithika and other girls. She is such a good girl with a caring nature. Today I specially requested you both to come, as I want to ask Aaru's hand in marriage for our Anirudh. You both already met Anirudh along with Rahul during Aaru's college days. Anirudh and Rahul are friends since childhood. I know Anirudh very well. He is a good boy. He will take care of our Aaru very well. I even know his parents, they both are doctors same as Anirudh. They are also very friendly people. Our Aaru will be always happy. What do you think? " She asked.

Aaru got a mini heart attack listening to her words. She is already confused thinking about Arjun and here they are talking about her marriage with someone.

"It's good to hear that you are thinking so much about our Aaru's happiness sister but I think marriage is a lifetime commitment, it needs both boy and girls opinion. We can't decide if they have no such feelings towards each other. " Aaru father reasoned out.

"Yes. You are right Bhai. I always wanted to ask Aaru's hand for Anirudh but I waited thinking the same as you but one day I got to know Anirudh likes Aaru so much. I personally observed it and confirmed it with him. He felt a little shy to say to me but at last, he agreed that he likes Aaru. I also asked Aaru during Rahul's marriage shopping, if there is someone special in her life but she answered no one is there, so I'm asking conforming from both boy and girls side." She explained.

Aaru got shocked listening to her words. She never expected Anirudh liked her in such away. She is not even close to him until recently. She just started speaking with him from Rahul's marriage shopping day.

And she remembered Rahul's mom asking her about marriage and soul mate. At that time she really had no one special in her life but know her heart is thinking about Arjun all the time.

"Aaru, what do you say?" Rahul mom asked her suddenly.

She is still in shock with all this new founded information.

Aaru mom understood Aaru's discomfort.

"It's ok bhabi. She just got to know about Anirudh's feelings right. Let her think. Aaru no need to be tensioned, think well and answer us. Your opinion matters here. It's a lifetime event. " She advised her daughter.

Aaru nodded her head and thanked God for giving such understanding parents.

"Yes, Aaru. Take your time dear." Rahul's mom said.

Two persons are listening to all this conversation from outside.

One is Amu, she got suspicious when Rahul's mother suddenly asked her to go out and check on Rahul and Ithika's arrival. So she just messaged Purvi asking to inform her about their arrival and started listening to the conversation happening inside the room.

The second person is Arjun, he started searching for Aaru after his arrival and reached the room and saw Amu listening to the conversation which is happening inside.

When he tried to ask Amu, what is happening? Amu mouthed him saying they are speaking about Aaru's marriage.

That's it. Arjun got a shock of his life.

His heart went crazy listening to Rahul's mother words.

Listening to Aaru's mother answer he got a little peace.

He can't imagine losing his angry bird.

If Aaru likes him. He is determined to fight for his love.

Now just Aaru opinion matters to him.

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Hope you all are doing well.

What do you think about the chap?

Finally, Aaradhya's parent's came. I know many are waiting for them.

Did anyone expect this?

Now everyone just needs Aaru's opinion.

Bye. See you all in the next chap. Take care.