Nalani tapped her fingers on her thigh as she waited for the arrivals. There weren't many people around her. The airport was not a busy place like the metropolitan airports. It was peaceful.

Another ten minutes passed before she saw the figure approaching the gates. She beamed as he searched for her. It didn't take him long to find her as she waved her head, and only two other people stood beside her.

Hridyanshu chuckled as he made his way towards her. When he was two feet away, he left his luggage and pulled her into his arms. Nalani laughed, hugging him. "Awe, I missed you too. . ." Hridyanshu pulled away but kept his arms around her. He kissed her forehead while Nalani looked at his face with a sweet smile.

"I missed you."

"I know." Hridyanshu's gaze went around. "You came alone?"

"Yup, I wanted to spend some alone time with you before you meet everyone." Hridyanshu laughed as they made their way towards the parking. "Vedant said he was going to pick me up."

"He was, but I put up a fight and got the keys. I wanted to pick you up from the airport myself, and guess what."

Hridyanshu was pleased that Nalani decided to pick him up, not Vedant. He was going to tell Vedant to bring Nalani along. Later, he changed his mind, knowing Nalani might be busy. There were dark clouds, and it might rain later in the evening.

Nalani unlocked the car and stopped Hridyanshu. "You wait a minute." She picked up the flowers she had nicely wrapped in paper and handed them to Hridyanshu. "Here, I selected the roses from our garden for you."

Hridyanshu was surprised to receive flowers from Nalani. "They― They are beautiful." Nalani beamed. Hridyanshu admired the flowers before putting his luggage in the back seat. "Hand me over the keys. I will drive."

"Nope, you don't know the roads, and I'm the perfect driver." Hridyanshu chuckled as Nalani opened the car door for him. "Okay, ma'am. . . I hope this journey isn't the last journey of mine."

"Hey." She playfully slapped his arm. Hridyanshu got inside and opened the driver's door. "Well, thank you." Nalani put on the seatbelt and glanced at Hridyanshu. She was wearing a white anarkali, and she braided her hair. "Ready?"

"Yes." Hridyanshu looked at the sky as Nalani started driving. "How far is it from here?" Hridyanshu asked. "An hour, it might rain tonight."

"Did everyone come?" Hridyanshu looked out of the window. It was his first time, and he was taken aback by the greenery everywhere. "Yeah."

"You have never been here, right?" Hridyanshu hummed in response. "Vidha and Vedant were here twice." Hridyanshu looked at her. "They visited?"

"Yeah, to attend my cousin's wedding. I invited them as they have never been to a Malayali wedding."

"Lucky them."

"Uncle and Aunty were here when my parents celebrated their 25th marriage anniversary. They got married for the second time. Atulya, Vidha and Vedant also joined them." Hriyanshu smiled. "I remember it. I was in Japan attending my friend's wedding."

"Yeah, I know." Hridyanshu leaned against the seat and watched Nalani drive. "They were so happy. My Mum didn't want to return home for days." Nalani chuckled. "That's true. They decided to spend two weeks here."

"Good times." Nalani glanced at Hridyanshu before looking back at the road. "Are you nervous?"

"Should I be?"

"Hmm―Maybe, how will you talk with my grandparents? My Uncles are dying to see you."

"Wow, I was expecting this from your dad and didn't think you would ask it." Nalani chuckled. "Just checking what your answer would be."

"Well, I know Malayalam a bit, and I understand your parent's side of Malayalam, but I heard that Malabar Malayalam is different and fast. I might not be able to catch up with your grandparent's pace, but I will try."

"You don't have to worry. . . My grandparents aren't scary; they have helped my Mum, who doesn't even know a word in Malayalam. And you know the basic Malayalam. That will help."

"Hopefully." Hridyanshu placed his hand on Nalani's. "I couldn't wait to see you, but the connecting flight was delayed."

"Yeah, I know. We usually book trains from Hyderabad to Kerala. But from Jaipur, flights are the better option. Trains usually get delayed for hours." Hridyanshu played with the dupatta that fell in between them. "I have been to Kochi, Varkala and Munnar a couple of times with my friends."

"Oh, like way back when you were in high school?" Hridyanshu smiled. "Yeah, I don't know if you know Keshav and Amrutha. They were my schoolmates. Amrutha is from Varkala, and Keshav is from Kochi. When I was in 12th― My friends and I came to Kerala. Stayed in Varkala for three weeks."

"That's cool, I haven't heard of them before." Hridyanshu hummed. "Don't worry, they are going to join us. I missed them too, and they were surprised when I called them saying I'm coming to Mahe."

Nalani chuckled. "They are together?"

"No, Amrutha married another classmate, Raghav― From Mumbai. They now run a backpacking hostel in Varkala. Keshav is settled in Dublin. Luckily, he is in India with his family right now. He married a German."

"I only know your friends from college. Who are usually present for the events that happen in Jaipur," Nalani said. Hridyanshu turned in his seat. "I haven't met any of your friends except the ones at your friend's wedding."

"You have met my best friends." Hridyanshu rolled his eyes. "Come on, they are my siblings."

"Yeah. . . They are my best buddies, and you have also met my best friend, Aadya."

"Vidha and I have a lot of familiar friends. We were in the same school, college and university. You met most of them at Holi events."

"I have seen them. I never met them and had a conversation." Nalani chuckled. "That's because you always ran away whenever they wanted to have a conversation."

"You know why I run away whenever they are home."

"Yeah. . . Yeah. . . You were a taken guy and didn't want some teen girls crushing on you." Nalani smirked when Hridyanshu shook his head. "And don't forget that they always become touchy for some reason, and I do not like when girls touch me without my concern."

"Touchy? You mean that you don't like it when they hug you?"

"Yeah, why would you hug me when you barely know me? I don't see them hugging Vedant and Atulya." Nalani laughed.

"Hey, Vedant has some admirers. You just never saw them hug him." The time passed as they kept talking. They had almost reached their home when it started raining. "It's a welcome for you."

"The most awaiting welcome." Nalani got out of the car and watched Hridyanshu as he pulled his luggage out. Vrishali and Vidha were standing at the entrance. "Hridyanshu, we are all waiting for you." 

"Hey, Mum." Hridyanshu could see the people rushing outside to see him. That made him laugh and nervous. "You will be alright," Nalani muttered and patted his hand. 

*

Hridyanshu sipped his coffee as Malavika, Nalani's grandmother, spoke to him. He kept smiling as she shared her love for Nalani and how happy she had been when she had heard about him. They kept switching the languages for him to understand.

Nalani's uncles were surrounding him, and they liked him. Padmanabh laughed as he sat beside Vrishali. Dyuthi and Dev were sitting opposite them. They all watched Hridyanshu interact with the elders. 

"I still can't believe you are marrying him," Vidha said. Vedant chuckled. "They are getting engaged tomorrow." 

"Yeah, but still." Nalani wrapped her arm around Vidha. "Why? You would've agreed if I married Vedant or Atulya?"

Vidha's eyes widened in horror. "No fucking way. I would've imagined you with anyone but them." Vedant rolled his eyes. "Don't be dramatic. She is joking." 

"I'm happy that you are with Hridyanshu bhaiyya, but it's unrealistic to me." Nalani smiled. "Wait until you watch me living with your brother in the same bedroom." Nalani joked.

"Yeah. . . Watching their kids run around in a few years will become the most realistic thing," Vedant joined. 

"Wait, does that mean she will stay single and live with us?" Atulya asked, walking over to where they stood. Vidha hit Atulya as they laughed. "You are the one who is going to stay single till the day you die." 

Atulya shrugged and smiled. "I don't mind staying single, sister." Vedant turned to Nalani. "How do you feel? Nervous? Excited? For tomorrow?" 

"Not at all nervous. I'm happy and excited―" Nalani looked at Hridyanshu, now speaking with her grandfather. "I cannot believe it's happening. I thought your brother would take another year to marry me, but I was not expecting him to put the ring on my finger. He didn't even waste a minute or wait for my answer." 

Vidha chuckled. "I guess he wasn't going to take no as an answer or doesn't want to hear anything." 

"I wasn't going to say no." The siblings agreed. "I still can't wrap my head around it. You, out of all people, fell for that one person I thought you hated, and he agreed to those dates and fell in love after going on three dates. Like― Wow? What changed? And how?"

"My perspective towards him changed. I never hated your brother," Nalani answered. Vidha gave a nod. "Just don't break up with me even if things don't work out between you two." 

"Everything will work out. Do you think Hridyanshu is going to leave her?" Vedant asked. "I don't ever think so. Have you seen the way he looks at her?" 

"Eww, no." 

"I'm sure he is worried that Vidha would come in between you two," Atulya said. "Vidha, after they get married― Start finding your own man. Don't disturb them," Atulya joked, and Vidha glared at him.

"Opps― They are already searching for a man for you. My bad." 

"Shut up." Nalani chuckled and looked at Hridyanshu, who was already smiling at her. 

'I love you.' she mouthed and watched his smile grow. 

"What did you tell him? Why is he smiling like that?" Vidha asked, and the other siblings groaned, pulling her away. 

*

Hey, everyone. . .

I request you to please vote for the chapters and, if possible, follow my account. I will be updating a new chapter on Monday! We are nearing the end. . .