Chapter twenty-nine: Back home

Manvi smiled as a teardrop cascaded down Rekha's cheek. She was quick to embrace her aunt warmly, who reciprocated.

"Chachi, I'll see you soon now," she whispered, her eyes twinkling with an excitement.

"Kya see you soon? Tu rehti hai Delhi mein, aur mein Pune mein- (What do you mean by see you soon? You live in Delhi and I in Pune-) Rekha was cut off as Manvi broke the hug and put a finger on Rekha's lips.

"Shh, listen to me, me and Virat have a quick announcement," her voice was slightly louder, gathering everyone's attention.

"Announcement?" Shubman asked, tilting his head.

"Yes, an announcement," Manvi said as Virat came out of the room to the living room, rolling in two trolley bags.

"Oh, you're telling them?" He asked, looking at Manvi, a soft smile on his lips. Manvi nodded as the couple looked at each other, mirroring each other's excitement and nervousness. The decision was big, life changing. The two had jitters about it, yet an excitement for a new chapter of life remained.

"Mannu di, what's the matter? My heart's beating too loudly because of the suspense!" Sara breathed out and Manvi chuckled.

"It's nothing scary, in all honesty." She smiled at Sara, "Just a big change in our lives," Virat nodded as Shubman turned to look at his brother-in-law.

"We're moving to Mumbai," Manvi finally announced and soft gasps followed. The first reaction was of Sara's- wide eyed and speaking in a shrill and high voice. She jumped a little, enveloping Manvi in a hug.

"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!" Sara squealed like an excited child, and everyone smiled at her excitement.

"Virat, yeh aise achanak? I mean, tumhari puri family udhar hai..." (Virat, how did you take this decision so suddenly? I mean, your entire family's there...) Sudeep trailed off and Virat nodded. While they had their conversation, the ladies had their independent talk- mainly Sara and Manvi discussing everything they would do in Mumbai together.

"Ji chachu, it was a little difficult, but the job I got in Mumbai was too tempting to pass on," he replied and Sudeep nodded.

"Well, congratulations beta," Sudeep said and Virat grinned.

"Yes, congratulations Virat beta, I'm glad you're going to be in Mumbai- there'll be someone to keep an eye on our idiots," Sachin commented, looking at Shubman who gasped.

"Kya uncle? Maine kya kiya hai?" (What did I do uncle?) he whined. "Also, congratulations bhaiyya," he quickly said before turning his attention to Sachin.

"Akele rehte ho tum dono waha, of course hume constant tension rehti hai," (You both live in Mumbai alone, of course were always tensed)

"Arey but neither of us has gotten into trouble, ever," Sachin smiled at Shubman's argument.

"Tum nahi samjhoge Shubman," (You won't understand, Shubman)

"Ha ha, pata hai abb aap bologe, ki yeh sab baap banne ke baad hi samajh aata hai," (Yeah I know that you'll say that I'll understand all of this only when I become a father) Shubman replied and this time, Sudeep laughed.

"Bikul, beta ji!" (Hundred percent!)

The room was lit with laughter and joy, the true essence of celebrating any festival.

🦚

( next day )

"SARAA, uthaaaa!" (SARAA, get up!) Her father said in a sing-song voice, pulling away the cozy quilt. Sara stirred in her sleep, but didn't get up. Sachin sighed, switching off the fan.

"Aata baghu kashi nahi uthat," (Let's see how she doesn't wake up now) he mumbled to himself. Instantly, as if on cue, Sara groaned loudly.

"BABA, jhopu dya na," (Please let me sleep, Dad!) she said, turning over, burying her face in the floral pillow.

"Sara, aga diwalila lavkar uthaycha- (Sara, you're supposed to wake up early for Diwali-) he started but was cut off as his daughter turned around again, opening her eyes wide.

"Diwali?" She mumbled. "TODAY IS DIWALI!" She got up hastily, and announced, her eye sparkling with joy. Sachin shook his head, smiling- his daughter really was a bundle of sunshine.

"SHUBH DEEPAWALI BABAA" Sara said, hugging him. Sachin lovingly patted his daughter's back, breaking the hug.

"Chala lavkar tayar ho, mandirat jaychay na," (Cone on, get ready soon, we have to go to the temple) Sara nodded, striding away.

Something in the air was different. The Gupte house, which was generally silent, was buzzing with excitement and anticipation today. Perhaps it was the effect of the Diwali festival, or maybe it was the fact that a happier Sara was back home for Diwali after missing the festivities for two years in a row.

🦚

"Arey Sara yeh toh..." (Sara, this is...) Rekha trailed off as Sara twirled, showing off the saree she was wearing.

"Haa, yeh aapki saree hai!" (Yes, this is your saree!) Sara nodded, beaming. "It had been quite some time since I wore this, so I decided to wear it today," Sara excitedly said while Rekha adoringly smiled at the girl.

"You look very pretty, mere bacche," she complimented Sara, gently holding her hand.

"THANK YOU," Sara said, hunching Rekha, wrapping her arms around her aunty's neck and pressing a kiss on her cheek. Rekha softly chuckled at Sara's actions. Sachin and Sudeep who were busy chit-chatting about something saw the duo, a content smile appearing on their faces.

And Shubman? He could have won the 'happiest man on earth' competition in that moment. All of his favourite people, together, smiling and living life. He didn't know how much he needed to witness a moment of pure, unadulterated joy.

Sara touched Rekha and Sudeep's feet, wishing them a happy Diwali.

"Ayushmati bhava" both of them had blessed her, while Sachin blessed victory for Shubman. "Vijayi bhava"

🦚

The five went to a small, peaceful temple which was not crowded by people. Since it was Diwali morning, families visit temples near them, seeking energy from the divine. Luckily, Sudeep and Rekha knew a temple where their famous son could enter without getting jumped on by others.

"Abb kaha jaana hai Muma?" (Where do we have to go now, Mumma?) Shubman asked as he started the car. The mandir visit had been peaceful and had made everyone happy to start the wonderful day.

"Haa, abb woh Joshi Sweets le chal," (Take us to Joshi Sweets)

Sachin, seated beside Shubman was busy replying to all the WhatsApp messages he had received, wishing him a happy diwali. Sudeep was on call, talking to his parents while Rekha and Sara were discussing about mithai.

"You're wrong, sweetie. The rasgulla from Joshi sweets are the best," Rekha said and Sara shook her head, her earrings swaying because of her head movements.

"Kaku, I love you but I have to disagree. The gulab jamun are the best there!"

"Uh huh, not at all! Those gulab jamun are not good at all! I make better gulabjam than those," Rekha said.

"Offo," Sara animatedly said, "That is not a fair argument, kaku," Sara animatedly frowned. "You make everything better!" Rekha laughed, a mischievous smile on her face.

"I know, betu. That's my secret weapon to win all arguments!" She said and Sara laughed.

"You're unbelievable!" She commented. Shubman's lips curved into a soft smile at his mother and girlfriend's exchange. He noticed how Sara's eyes twinkled with a sparkle of happiness, her voice laced with sheer joy. Happy, Sara was undeniably happy and that's all that he wanted.

They reached the confectionary store, and the aroma of freshly made sweets hitting their nostrils as they entered. The other foodstuffs like the just put up on display samosas, kachoris, etc didn't go unnoticed by them. Sachin, Sudeep and Rekha were busy buying mithai and Sara was enjoying a samosa while Shubman was conversing with the owner of the shop, clicking photographs with him.

"Abb mein lagaunga idhar yeh photo, sabko pata chalega ki celebrity log bhi humare dukaan se kharidari karte hai," (I'm going to put up this photo on the wall to show everyone that even celebrities buy stuff from my shop) the elderly uncle said happily, his Marathi accent shining through even while speaking Hindi.

Shubman politely concluded the conversation, making his way to Sara who was peacefully eating the samosa.

"I'm hungry, give me also," he said and Sara nodded, immediately giving him a bite of her samosa. At that exact moment, Rekha turned towards them, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion at the scene unfolding right in front of her.

These two boneheads never share food.

She shrugged off her thoughts, thinking that the two had just matured over time, diverting her attention back to the mithai.

"Ah, I feel better. I was so hungry that my head started to pain," he mumbled, sighing after having a samosa.

"Dada, ajun ek samosa dya na," (Please give us one more samosa) Shubman said and Sara laughed softly.

"Kya hua?" (What happened?) Shubman asked, raising his eyebrow.

"You can speak Marathi fluently only while asking for food, it's so adorable," Shubman laughed, agreeing with her.

"Anything for samosas!"

"Cheers to that, girl!" Sara said, beaming at him.

"Not a girl," he mumbled as a worker of the shop handed him his plate of samosa.

"Right, but calling you girl- that's just, it's like a vibe, you know? It's like calling someone bro, I guess,"

🦚

"Wait!" Sara said while everyone was standing in front of the elevator.

"Kya hua Sara?" (What happened Sara?) Sudeep asked.

"I want to click pictures," she said and everybody else rolled their eyes immediately. Sara pouted, tugging on Shubman's arm.

"Let them go, wait and click my pictures please," Sara sweetly requested him.

"Wow, tumhe itne pyaar se baatein karna bhi aata hai?" (Wow, you can talk so sweetly?) he asked a rhetorical question and Sara sighed.

"Five minutes, five minutes, please," she added and Shubman gulped. Who could say no to that pretty face?

"Abb woh bol rahi hai toh kheech na photo, paagal," (If she's requesting you, click her pictures, you idiot) Rekha immediately reprimanded her son who frowned.

"Kabhi toh meri side liya karo," (Take my side too, sometimes) he mumbled and they heard the ding of the elevator as it opened. The three adults left, leaving Shubman and Sara alone. Shubman turned to Sara, sighing loudly.

"Sorry I didn't say yes immediately, it would have been a little suspicious," he said, holding his ears and Sara smiled, resisting the urge to pull him in a kiss. The fuck you thinking Sara, you're not home!

"Stop apologising, I know that we have to act in a certain way in front of our parents," she mumbled, and he noticed how her cheeks were flushed and she was fidgeting with the hem of her saree. He smiled at her lovingly before speaking.

"Now let's click some pictures of my gorgeous girlfriend, yeah?" Sara eagerly nodded, almost dragging him in front of a flower tree their society had, thinking that spot to be perfect for clicking pictures. Shubman was a compliant photographer, clicking pictures the way Sara wanted to, listening to her ramble about the 'good angles' and the 'bad angles'. He found it queer, according to him, she looked pretty in all the pictures he had clicked; even the ones Sara opined were clicked in bad light and from a horrible angle.

"AREY SHUBMAN BETA!" The couple heard a familiar voice and Shubman snapped his head towards his aunt.

"Bua!" (Paternal aunt) he beamed at her, bending to touch her feet.

"Arey jug jug jeeyo, " Shubman's bua was a packet of energy - straight out of a Bollywood movie. She was pretty, kind, loving yet completely unfiltered.

"Hello bhaiyya," her son was quick to greet his elder cousin. An IITian, he was the ideal Indian child, soft-spoken and introverted but mannered and sweet (in his own way)

"Arjun, kaisa hai?" (Arjun, how are you?) Shubman asked, but before the kid could open his mouth, his mother spoke up again.

"SARA, tu bhi ithe hai! Kinni soni lag rahi hai," (SARA! Even you're here! You're looking so pretty) Sara smiled at the woman, touching her feet.

"Thank you, bua,"

"Arey khush raho,"

"Hi Arjun," Sara smiled at the younger boy who reciprocated the smile. "How's Chennai?" She asked and he nodded.

"It's good, it's good. I just miss parathas every morning," he commented.

"Haa, iss ladke ko mummy-papa chhodke sabki yaad aati hai!" (Yeah, this boy misses everything and everyone except his parents!) Harleen bua commented and Shubman-Sara laughed.

"Bua, aap toh isse din mein das baar call karte hoge, kaise yaad aayegi usse phir," (Aunty, you must be calling him ten times a day- how would he miss you then?) Shubman cheekily said and Arjun grinned at his elder brother.

"Exactly bhaiyya!" He said, surprised at his brother siding with him.

"Haa, tu bhi le iski side abb, mera toh koi hai hi nahi," (Even you take his side now, I don't have anyone) Harleen frowned and Sara laughed, while Shubman wrapped his arm around Arjun's shoulder.

"Bua, don't worry, I'm here for you!" Sara grinned and Harleen warmly looked at her the girl, touching her chin.

"Thank you, Sara!" Harleen said.

"Kya ho raha hai?" (What is happening?) Harleen's husband came onto the scene, smiling at the scene of everyone laughing.

"Hello uncle, happy diwali," Shubman greeted, seeing his blessings.

"Happy Diwali!"

Festival time- for everyone to meet, reconnect and laugh together.

🦚

Shubman, Sudeep and Rekha settled in the living room after concluding the Laxmi Pooja. The family was chatting, talking about the most mundane things. Sudeep shared anecdotes from his retirement club from the garden he visits everyday. Rekha gossiped about the people around them, somehow knowing everything about their neighbours, family friends, relatives and others. Shubman recalled incidents of all his friends, especially Ishan, Yashaswi and Abhishek.

"Arey ha, meine besan ke laddoo banaye hai, tu tere doston ko milne waala hai na, unhe dede tabb," (Oh yes, I made besan ke laddoo, take them for your friends) she said and he nodded.

"Ishan and Yashaswi particularly loved them," he said, trying to hide his growing smile. He couldn't listen to the name besan ke laddoo without thinking of Sara. His mind flashed back to the memory of Rishabh bhai actually calling Sara 'Besan ke laddoo'.

He snapped out of his thoughts as Sudeep's phone rung loudly.

"Ha bol Sachin," (Yeah, what happened Sachin?)

"Aate hai hum, aate hai" (Yeah we're coming) he said, hanging up. "Let's go, Sachin is also done with the pooja and dinner's almost ready," he said and the mother-son duo nodded.

At the Gupte household, Sanvi and her parents were present when the Gills arrived.

"Hogayi Pooja?" (Is the veneration done?) Rekha asked and Sachin nodded.

"Jao darshan leke aao," (Yeah, go and seek blessings)

The Gupte household was buzzing with cheer as everyone was indulged in conversations, occasionally someone would have to leave the conversation as they got a call. It was like a typical desi household during festivities.

"I need to announce something," Sanvi's mother- Gauri said, getting up.

"Kay zala maushi?" (What happened, aunty?) Sara asked, curiosity piquing her.

"We're having a traditional Marathi engagement- sakharpuda and a party for Sanvi and Abhinav, we're here to invite you all for that," she said.

"Oh that's wonderful!" Rekha exclaimed and Sudeep nodded, agreeing with his wife.

"Agreed; we'll be there,"

"Congratulations Mr and Mrs Marathe," Sachin said.

"It's on the 9th of December," Shailesh Marathe- Sanvi's father informed and Shubman's smile disappeared instantly.

"Sanu, this is amazing," Sara whispered in her friend's ear who was glowing with joy.

"I know right, Sarika! Because of the engagement thingy, even my parents stayed back in Pune for Diwali instead of going for some business meetings!" Sanvi talked in hushed whispers, yet her excitement came through. Sara smiled, turning her attention towards Sanvi's parents. Sanvi and her parents...they were a different story altogether.

While Gauri and Shailesh were building castles about Sanvi's grand wedding, everybody was attentively listening, except for Shubman. Sara glanced at him, noticing his nervous demeanour as he tapped his foot on the cold floor with urgency. She nudged him with her elbow, leaning in to whisper.

"At least congratulate Sanvi, you fool," she reprimanded his absentmindedness. Shubman gulped, turning his head to face her.

"Sara...I'm not going to be there for the engagement," he worriedly said. "I'm going to Australia, remember?" Sara's eyes widened, and she nodded.

"Shit, I forgot for a moment,"

"I feel so bad-

"No Shub, don't feel guilty, I'm sure Sanvi will understand," Sara reassured him, placing her hand on his.

"Sara, she will understand, I'm sure. But, it doesn't change the fact that I'll miss such an important day of her life," he shook his head, a sad smile on his face.

"Sara, Shubman- is there something more important that you two are completely ignoring our conversation and talking amongst yourselves?" Gaur pointedly asked and Sanvi sighed, cringing because of her mom.

"Aai, can you," Sanvi jumped in her friends' defence but Shubman cut her off.

"Uhm aunty," Shubman started in a low voice, "I won't be there...for uh, Sanvi's engagement ceremony," Sanvi tilted her head to look at him, shocked.

"Really?" She asked, her voice barely a whisper and Shubman unwillingly nodded. Sanvi quickly masked her actual emotions, putting on a broader smile on her face.

"That's completely fine, Shubi. I understand," she grinned. "Also, just because you're not attending doesn't mean you can get out of my buying me a huge, expensive gift anyway," Shubman smiled, nodding at Sanvi's poor attempt at humor.

Everyone noticed the change in the atmosphere, Shubman's revelation hanging in the air. The two despite not being blood related, acted like actual siblings- taunting, annoying, roasting each other. Yet, there was deep rooted affection, loyalty and honesty in their bond.

Empathising with the situation, Rekha decided to divert the topic.

"Itne acche mauke pe photos nahi kheechni?" (Shouldn't we click pictures to commemorate such a beautiful occasion?) she said the first thing that came to mind.

"Arey of course!" Sara said, standing up. The conversations resumed, and Sara-Sanvi were caught up in their own world, clicking selfies and sending random texts to their friends. Every now and then, they'd also let Shubman in the pictures, just to record the evidence of him being present on the day.

"Take a picture of us," Sachin said, wrapping his arm around his best friend. Sudeep smiled, the two friends smiling for the picture. After a couple of clicks, Sara barged in, standing beside her uncle.

"One with me too, please," she grinned and Sudeep laughed.

"Arey mein bhiiii," (Even me) Shubman whined, getting into the frame.

"Copycat," Sara teased him, mockingly showing him her tongue for a second. He reciprocated the action and Rekha laughed at their childish antics.

"Chalo, mein bhi aati hu," (Even I'll come in) Rekha said, standing beside Sara.

A complete family.

Sanvi smiled at her happy friends. The previous year, Shubman and his parents weren't in Pune for Diwali, and Sara couldn't return because of her shoot for the last couple of years. But this year they were all back home and it finally felt like the grand festival Diwali is.

Inn dono ki shaadi mein use karenge yeh photo, welcome poster pe lagayenge! (We'll use this photo on the welcome poster at their wedding!)

A/N: I remember taking like two days to write this chapter, lmao. How was it? I know it wasn't very Shubman-Sara-focused, but I wanted to show how close their families are and everything. You'll like the next chapter better, I guess. (Side note, this is one of my favourite chapters)
Did you notice what other Picture Perfect chapter did I refer to with this one? Lmk.
Also, did you guys hear? Picture Perfect was pregnant! And it gave birth to another ShubSara story! It's called 'Can't help falling in love' and is up on my account, do check it out❤️