"Someday, Someone will decorate your sky with your favourite colours..That someone can be you as well"

And then, in the midst of near despair, something has happened beneath the surface.You know you are in right place when you know that there will always be a next time, and that you may submerge in darkness and misery, but that you won't stay submerged. And each time something has been learned under the waters, something has been gained, and a new kind of love has grown. The best you can ask for is that this love, which has been built on countless failures, will continue to grow...

She sat there sitting on one end of the sofa sniffing, and sobbing silently, while he on other end, rubbing his hand on forehead, everytime she sniffed he would let out an internal groan, regretting his own words, detesting himself, for he is the reason behind it, and that would just anger and break him more...

"Shehnaaz can you please stop crying" he groaned finally..she paused for a minute as she glared at him her red welled up eyes, churned his stomach..

"You want me to go?" she asked in lowest tone..the way she asked him melted him in a second, he suddenly found himself falling weak, and wanting to just let his arms wrap around her, and hold her, till they both uncovered themselves...

"You know I would never want to-" he said looking away, as his voice started choking up, while she kept looking at him...

"You know, you can cry too, I know you are hurt as well" she spoke after few minutes, making him look back at her astonished, it was moments like these she would just make him believe that nothing could push them apart, it was these times he would fall in love with her unpredictible nature, he knew she was paining equally, he was the one who started it, started by saying mean things to her, even when she had asked him earlier only about Shreshth and Shanaya picking her bangle set from Punjab, it was him who agreed, yet he was the one who took out his guilt on her in form of taunts he fed her with..

He felt his heart sink down as he let himself lose, falling off the sofa, seating himself on floor besides sofa set, he let his head rest on the sofa seat as all the words she said about him being stuck on Roop, or being guilty into loving her echoed in his ears...He could feel her gaze at him, he could feel her fighting back tears, to not sniff so as to hurt him further...He let out a sigh as he extended his hand to hold hers to pull her to him, he looked up at her, as she pulled it out before he could hold...He sighed and moved further to hold her...

"Don't touch me..dur reh mujse abhi" she spoke in her choked voice, making his own eyes well up, he knew she did this when she was hurt, he knew she feared touch, when she was aching, when all she needed was someone holding her, while she was falling apart or fearing mere touch of him...

"I won't, mere pas aa" he spoke, baby talking her, trying to hold her, while she kept sliding back, pushing him off...he battled his hand with hers, to hold her, he fought her hands, till his hand was holding her, he pulled her to him, as he held her in his embrace, holding her in his arms as she sobbed clutching his Tshirt, he stroked her hair rubbing her back, till her sobs subsided..

"Shh...I am sorry meri jaan, I should not have said that, It was just-" he spoke trying to calm her...

"I am sorry Sidharth, muje bhi gusse par control karna chahiye tha, It is just I don't, muje lg-, I am sorry" she fumbled, as she mumbled between her dwindling sobs..

"Sh..." he just shushed her, rubbing her cheeks, wiping away her tears with his thumb, as he sat there holding her in silence, till she calmed down, she held her head up in his arms, pressing a soft kiss against his adam's apple, laying her head back on his chest, rubbing it with her open palm...

"I don't know if I ever told you this, but I think I should have, what I had with Roop was very different from what I have with you Shehnaaz, it can never be same, with Roop, she was my friend, but it was more of an obligation, that we were married, so we were tied-"

"You don't need to-" Shehnaaz cut him as he pressed finger on her lips,gesturing to let him continue, placing her head back on his chest patting it as he spoke..

"In our case, we are tied already, for me marriage to you is just celebration of what we share, of love we hold, my way of announcing to the world that it is me and mine, Shehnaaz, you are my confidante, my helpmate, my friend. My lover. You are everything the word wife means to me. In my heart, we are wed. In my soul, you are mine, and nothing of this sort I have felt for anyone ever before, you are not my first, but honey you shall be my last by all means"...She looked up at him, as he said those words, her tears touched his cheeks as she pressed a soft peck to corner of his speaking lips, she did not know how much she loved him, but she knew if there was life left in her, it was not possible without him by her side now......

"I was guilty of not having had a succesful marriage with Roop, or not being able to reciprocate the devotion Roop had for me, with equal love she deserved, but it does not mean that my love to you is bound by that guilt, My love for you holds a passion beyond that, when I said you are my second chance, I meant you are my second chance at life, You told me that day "You are life after survival"...but honey you are my life that wants to make me survive, to love you, to fall in love more every day a little more for the first and last time"

" I hope you outlive me so I never have to know what life is like without you." she responded, getting up laying her legs on each of his side cocooning herself in him as she rested her head against his neck, his arms wrapped around her waist as she snuggled into him, breathing him like he was more her than she was her, like there was no begining and no ending of what they shared..

"How can you think I can ever leave you, aisa kyu bola tune, Tuje lgta hai, I leave people like that?" she asked her voice choking up as she asked him..

"Main gusse mein bol dia, I did not mean it baby" he kissed top of her head...

"I can never leave you Sidharth, you are all I have (she tightened her grip on him, as she spoke, tears streaming her eyes)...All I have ever really wanted for myself, I know I don't express much, but you know I have never really loved anyone before, I have never had anyone to rely over, to understand me, to know me, to hold me like you do (he stroked her hair, muttering I know, pressing feathery kisses to her face) ...."You know you press where it hurts, and all of sudden it does not hurt anymore, you live me Sidharth, how can I ever leave you...even when we were apart, a part of me lived with you, only for you, I can never leave you, sach m" she snuggled further into him, as she whimpered burying her head in his chest...

He pulled her head up pressing his hand under her chin, He pulled her closer, snaking his arm beneath her neck and down to her waist where he splayed his hand, fingers wide, at the small of her back.....as he leaned near her face his breath fanning her lips.."Sidharth-" she parted her lips to speak again,

"For the rest of my life, I'll want nothing but hearing your voice breathe my name." saying so he pressed his lips to her quivering, parted once, suckling on them softly, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing herself against him. They kissed as if in a fever... they kissed as if the breath were leaving their bodies....He clung to her more tightly, knotting his hands in her hair, trying to tell her, with the press of his mouth on hers, all the things he could never say out loud...He tasted passion, emotions, He tasted a world she could have never imagined, one she never thought any one could never enter. It was right there in front of her, suddenly open to her. Unexpected, Exciting....Scary....She felt him in the heartbeats and the gaps between each, felt the air charged between them, felt the ache of her skin to have what their souls had found.

Then with the softest trace of his lips, she felt her tears kissed away. One, two, three of them, each of them with feathery kisses her pressed all along her each inch of face holding her ever so carefully..His fingers slid down the back of her neck, tracing its shape, and every place they touched was electric....She ran her hands down his chest and tugged his shirt free from his jeans. He groaned as her cool hands explored his bare abs. he slowly slid her shirt up, his fingertips stroking her bare skin and making goose bumps prickle, his other hand wandered up from her waist, enjoying her curves until he was cupping her breast. She moaned into his mouth and arched her back into his touch...Something felt different between them as he held her to the bed. Instead of the impatient need to have her naked , he took his time undressing her. He noticed little things he hadn't before, like the freckles across the top of her shoulders, which he kissed as he slid the straps of her bra down her arms.

Under the covers, his hands and mouth moved slowly over her. By now, he knew what she liked,
knew all the things that had her moaning his name softly and loudly , and when he finally eased
into her, he kept his lower body still for several moments as they kissed, wanting to simply savor the feeling of being inside her.And in that moment, he was pretty sure that nothing else had ever felt quite so right...and he made sure she knew that with every thrust that there could have, or could not have existed anything like this, like what they shared before..

"Eres la mujer de mi vida" he spoke in a soft caressing yet affirming tone, she hummed in question waiting for him to explain...while she drew patterns on his bare chest...

"You are the woman of my life"....he spoke holding her hand, as they laid sprawled ,his hands weaving her long tresses...she looked up at him as a tear escaped her eyes, which he was quick enough to wipe with the thumb, of hand that wrapped on her neck..The love she felt for him now was a burning tenderness, a knowledge that he was the one who'd taught her that it was POSSIBLE to love, who had melted every ice of her heart. it was strong and gentile and steady, full of admiration and the intimacy of shared likes and dislikes. it was golden and warm like a summer afternoon.....

He took her hand and lifted it to his lips. His mouth was warm and soft on her fingertips, weaving a spell around her as only he could do. He brought her hand closer, pressing her palm to his chest, to the heavy throb that beat against his ribs, thudding loudly..... "I can't ever let you go...... Because whether you want it from me or not, you have my heart. You have my love, and it is when I loved you, I knew what love is"

"I feel precious to myself, to hold your love, it makes me want to keep myself, live a little more, just to hold you a little more" she spoke pressing a soft kiss, to where he had pressed her palm...

"I don't even regret fighting with you" he chuckled at his own self, making her giggle...

"And why is that"

"Because each time we make up, I feel a bit more closer to you, if that is possible" he turned around, facing her, still holding her in his arms...

"I love-hate fighting with you" she responded with a pout..

"Why is that?"

"I love banters with you, but I hate fighting with you, it scares me, that you will be fed up of me someday" her voice got heavy as she confessed, her fingers playing with his skin...

"Then it's alright" he said kissing her nose, making her look at him in confusion..he chuckled as he continued "You might hate it, but i love it, so my love will win over your hate, so even if you hate it, I will pacify you into love, just like now" he spoke moving at pecking her lips again..

"Blouse" she screamed against his lips, making him jerk back immediately, as she pushed him away getting up from the bed,..."Blouse lena hai yar muje, parso nikalna Goa ke liye nikalna hai, blouse bhi nhi bna ab tak, haye kitne kam hai.." she blabbered wearing her clothes back, as he wore his boxers, chuckling and getting out of his bed, as she held her hair in one hand, looking around for rubber band..

He snaked an arm around her waist pulling her in from behind, pulling down her hand holding her hair together alongside...while she stood before mirror, touching her face up, as his hands travelled her body, his lips pressing kissed along her neck..

"Ye bhi to ek kam hai" he mumbled, as she tried to remove his hand...

"Daffa ho, ye kam nahi hai, ye time pass hai, or muje bhot kaam hai...Shadi tk ab kuch nhi, bhot stress hai muje jaane de" she spoke freeing herself walking out in hall..

"I feel used.." he groaned dramatically, walking behind her, handing her another earring she was searching.."And what is this shadi tak kuch nahi, 7 din hai abhi shadi mein" he spoke emphasising on 7 din...

"Bas 7 din hai, and tu soch bhi nhi skta itna sab pending hai" she said widening her eyes and strapping her sandals, leaning on wall for support..

"Tu soch le, niyat teri hi bdlegi sbse pehle" he crouched down strapping her sandles, as he spoke..

"Challenge?"

"You will lose baby" he said pecking her cheek..

"We will see baby" she said planting a peck on his chin, opening the door..

"I just saw baby" he said winking at her, as her cheeks flushed color, while she supressed her smile, closing the door behind her...

"So are you still sticking to your nothing till wedding pact?" he questioned, as they sat surrounded by cousins and family on their way to Goa for wedding....

"Why baby, are you losing it?" she asked in a teasing tone...

"It's just my room had a private beach, but it's okay baby" he said winking at her, singing the song on behalf of his team, as they played antrakshri.. "Aaj kal tere mere pyar ke charche har zubaan par...." ....their cousins, hooted and teased as Shehnaaz sang along.."Acha?" ...."Sabko maloom hai or sabko khabar ho gayi.."

"Daa is genuis" Vaidehi squealed high fiving with Sidharth..."He never loses" she said flipping her hair, poking her tongue at Rohan who was in Shehnaaz team..while Sidharth raised a brow to Shehnaaz at Vaidehi words...

"I never lose" he whispered softly against her ear, seating back...on his seat..he observed as the game continued, he noticed an odd thing however at the way Vaidehi was keeping minimal interaction with Shehnaaz, even when Shehnaaz tried feeding her apples, she was a bit aloof, Shehnaaz did not react but there was this worry at the back of his mind, hoping it was just his assumption, and nothing happens again...

"Family Lunch"

"Sangeet "

"Mehendi Night "

"Haldi"

"The White Wedding"

"Saptapadi and Reception".... Vaidehi amd Sharman read out loud as soon as all of them assembled at reception of the resort, handing out flyers to the guests along with rooms allotted..

"Sidharth jiju apka suite, Groom Side Wing 2 mein" Sharman said handing him the key..

"Di aapka, ye mere sath vala hi hai, chalo sath hi chlte hai" Sharman said handing her the key next...

"Chote, ye alag wings ka idea kiska tha,or tera konsa hai bhai?" Sidharth sweet talking him not budging checking room allotment..

"Wing 1 mein beta" His mother said coming from behind...

"Kyu tuje Wing 2 mein chahiye tha?" Priya his sister-in-law teased joined by Aditya, his elder brother and her husband, making Sidharth look down sheepishly...

"Wing 1 Hai #BrideKeBaraati, Wing 2 hai #BridekiToli" the group of cousins echoed,making them raise brows at the hashtags and plannings...

"To groom ka kya hai?" he asked..

"Bride" Twinkle her friend interrupted, hugging her from behind..making Shehnaaz hit her, hiding her smile..as he chuckled at response..

"Haan jiju, ap bolo to hum setting krwaye, #BridekiToli Wing mein?" Shehnaaz cousin Jeevani teased joining in, as they both supressed the red creeping their cheeks, looking away and in all directions...

"Nahi, saali sahiba jab apki behen ko khud yaha tak le aaye, to agge bhi manage kar lenge" he reverted coyly, winking at her as he picked his bag, walking away....She saw him holding his bag, as he was walking through the corridor, halting to turn around, as he saw her mother holding her small bag along with her, her heart melted like a puddle, when she saw him ever so respectfully, taking that bag from her, the love and respect, and mostly the humbleness he held, after owning everything, he was grounded like he held the soil beneath him, and that was what made him stand apart, that made her respect him utmost...

"Hie Bhabhi" the group of girls squealed breaking her trance of thoughts making her look in their direction...

"I am Amisha, Sidharth bhai ki cousin, and she is Vaani, and she is Sanu.." she squealed introducing themselves, adoring and squealing, Shehnaaz leaned forward taking each of them into a hug, and pressing a kiss to their forehead...

"Hii,tum log sab kitne pyare ho" Shehnaaz cooed in joyous tone, showering all the love on them, as they fell into easy conversation while Shehnaaz introduced her cousins to them, they all seemed to have bonded easily...as Jeevani and Vaani high-fived over something, Shehnaaz eyes fell on Sidharth looking at her fondly across the corridor, his eyes just saying it all, as she captured another moment where she could see him loving her more than he did some time back, as he smiled widest at her, before Vaidehi dragged him along as he met her eyes one more time before walking away with Vidu, Sharman, and her friend Aini, who was responsible for organizing all ifs and buts of this grand celebration...

"Wonderful, hum bhi ussi din kar rahe hai" she heard two of her cousins Divya and Jeevani squealing as they huddled up with their newly met friends in Sidharth's family, dancing around, ushering and discussing on something, giggling together as they did.....

It was just the start but her heart felt so full already, with the way everyone was pompous and joyous, hustling and laughing around just to be part of their happiness, thriving the plans to make this day even more special to them, and mostly for the butterflies she felt everytime she found The Day coming a bit more closer with one more step taken...

Few names I missed out shall be part of next few chapters, but please don't mind if I miss out on anyone, I am here to stay and so shall the books, We can have you all in some other book in some other chapter, if not in this one, each of my reader is dear to me, this is my way of thanking each of the readers who tagged along me in this long journey as I near its end...

Lots of Love and Warm Hugs to You..
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