Present day

Mrunal still couldn't take the words wholly, glorifying their mafia group. Her hatred raised more upon hearing the gruesome tale and wanted to have no association with them.

Arjun was really successful in giving her a crude insight on the Mafia world being secretly run by the most prestigious family. She got betrayed at being not privy to their mafia world and secondly got frustrated at the way they were able to get away with their murderous crimes.

Her mind was not able to take the intricate detail of how the Tigris and Panthera were actually helping the authorities in uncovering the most notorious and heinous criminals under the pretext of mafia.

It was all the training and her father's truthful hurtful words that played on her mind, which was not accepting Prisha's praises for Rajeev.

The only thing that she could take from the tale was 'kidnapping' 'stab' 'murder' 'kill' making it even more gothic to her.

Prisha saw that the girl was not paying any attention to her words and stopped. She got up and gave her final words "...you will regret your whole life, at not understanding my Rajeev..."

Mrunal moved out of the café and didn't glance back at the disappointed Prisha who thought that it might be best to let Mrunal leave Rajeev.

As things had become unrepairable beyond her hold.

If not love, hate should also be not present in between Rajeev and Mrunal.

The Kumars were rejoicing in their own world at being able to have a good life for their Mrunal.

Mrunal was sitting on the one-seater getting henna on her hands for her big day tomorrow.

Dubai

"...did you get the call from him?..." the Sheikh was getting restless while puffing on his smoke.

The girls surrounding him were giggling by the effect of the drug which they were induced with before being presented to the Sheikh and his party.

The Papi consiligere nodded his head on giving him the assurance that the Papi's new right hand had personally gone to take care of the business which would vanish the mafia and their family from the face of the earth.

The gold teeth laden Sheikh gave his evil smile, grabbing one of the minor half-conscious girl with him to his harem.

The Papi consigliere grinned at the way he had twirled the Multi billionaire Sheikh in his little finger.

The phone pinged with the message from the Papi associate – '...the packet will be flown from the D-Day of the nuptial...be ready with the dosage...will sign off...'

Mumbai

Kumars residence

The Nairs entered the premises of the wedding house to be welcomed by the loud music blasting from the speakers.

Sonia went to hug Deepika after a glance to Vinay and Rajeev as the men went towards the garden area.

The Menons and Varma arrived 15 minutes later to join the party in the new moon night.

The garden area was lit with the decorations glimmering the small space with the much-needed aura.

Mrunal was laughing whole heartedly listening to the funny conversation among her friends.

Prisha saw the way Rajeev kept his head down not caring to glance at his Buji. She signalled Dino to not leave Rajeev alone in the crowd as she didn't want him to sulk for such a minor thing.

Sanal was taking in the details given by Dhiraj on the new procedure being introduced in the military camp. He loved to hear the new equipment that Sanal told him about in his gym room and invited the Soldier to join him whenever he can.

The elders were busy discussing the post marriage rituals with Deepika, taking in the viewpoint by Sonia and Latha alike. Reena was guiding on the designer clothing for the bridegroom and the household members as that would be the highlight of the ceremony.

"...Raj?...What are you doing here alone, Son?..." Arjun came to the man who preferred to stay away from the hula bola of the party. Dino had left him few minutes back as Tanisha complained of a backpain and wanted to go home.

"...Nothing...just chilling..." saying Rajeev went back to his drink, twirling the glass. Arjun then encouraged him saying "...oh...I know what you are missing...I will talk to Vinay for a nice bride for you...so that you need not sit alone and sad...*laughs*..."

Rajeev gave a forced smile to his words and nodded.

Arjun looked back at his family and the friends enjoying with this lonely man sulking in the corner. He feared that the sight would encourage his innocent daughter to enquire and would lead to unwanted bondage in between them...again.

"...Raj...you are the music teacher...why don't we hear to one of your songs?!!!...it will also lighten up the mood in here..." Arjun then dragged the refusing Raj who gave him a line of excuse to not being the centre of attraction.

But as he reached the centre, Arjun took the mic and announced a song from the music teacher – Rajeev Nair.

Vinay moved his attention to the announcement and saw the way his son was being pulled to be the joke of the day.

The entire family knew his emerging love to the bride to be but kept their anger intact to not ruin Mrunal's day. But her father was trying to ruin his daughter's day himself along with the clueless Rajeev.

Pradeep had two minds to tackle the father of the bride to insult the boy like this. But Gaurav stopped him who glanced over the other members while getting helpless to not create a scene for the sake of Rajeev's love for his Buji.

Arjun handed the mic to Rajeev who refused politely but the man was diligent. Rajeev at not wining at his uncle's words, just closed his eyes which pictured her smiling face. 

https://youtu.be/VLJ0bUdtVF0

(Kindly imagine Rajeev sing the above song)

Prisha was getting enraged at the way; the family was dragging the boy in their pathetic way to sadden him. Her gaze immediately went to Mrunal who was teary eyed at the gloomy way he was pouring out his heart.

But she was not able to pacify him as she didn't want to betray Akash who loved her.

The audience could feel the amount of pain that the song had which was equally depicted by Rajeev who was not able to stop his tears. He didn't know that why was he so adamant to have her when she didn't want him. His heart was trying to pacify him that his love is gone and would never come back to him.

But was she his love in the first place?

When did he start to love her? It was only after knowing her undying love for him that his heart started to beat for her.

Prior to that wasn't she just a student, close friend and just a girl whose eyes would always glimmer whenever he smiled.

So, he didn't have any rights to love her now, as her heart is beating for Akash.

Then why doesn't he understand that she is not his anymore.

He broke her heart with his ignorance, his principles, his love for the family.

Why couldn't he love her when he had the chance? Why?

Now, when she is so near, why does she feel so far?

Maybe he deserves this to break her heart for the numerous times with his oblivion to not love her back with the same intensity as she had – the thoughts didn't leave his head every time he would picture her mesmerising smile in his vision of his Buji.

As Rajeev finished the song he moved his teary eye towards the bride whose lips quivered. He couldn't take her tears and thought to not torment her anymore with his presence too.

But can he let her go?

Rajeev moved out of the space ignoring the cheers from the clueless crowd and raging aura from the mafia family.

"...how more are you going to torture him, huh?...didn't you had enough?!!..." Prisha rushed to Mrunal gushing out her anger on hurting her Rajeev. Sanal held her back to not pounce on the bride and make a scene.

"... I was not aware, Chech...I...I...*sniff*..." Mrunal explained her zero involvement in the sudden scene that hurt her Rajeev and looked over her mother who was confident that the nonsense was pulled by none other than her husband.

"...oh please!!...save your crocodile tears for your husband and his family...it won't work on us!!!...and mind you!...stay away from us!...especially my Raj!!!..." saying her final words the mafia associate moved out of the house, not able to take their insult.

Deepika had overheard the other day, when Arjun was filling their daughter's head with the bad influence of a mafia in the life of a common man.

Mrunal got scared at the way her father explained that the life of a mafia is only filled with guns and blood who would kill even their own family for their fake pride and principles.

Since then, Deepika came to know how her daughter started to distance herself from the humble and caring family.

She and even Dhiraj tried their level best to make Mrunal understand the nature of the Nair family who had the heart of gold. Their mafia tie up was a turn to help and protect the weak and innocent. But Mrunal trusted her father more who was her role model and hero who would only want her happiness.

As the family vacated the place, Deepika could only shake her head at the way the father and daughter lost their most trusted friends, just because of the mafia tag.

Dhiraj went to the Rajeev's car and apologised for the awkward scene. Prisha tsked at the soldier's words even when Sanal tried to quieten her.

"...Chech, I am sorry...I didn't know that..." Dhiraj tried to pacify the built-up anger of his favourite family but got interrupted by Prisha who defended.

"...No Dhiraj!!!...it's not!...I understand that both had a past...but it was never so serious that... that you torture only one person...while the other...*inhales deeply*...I am sorry, Dhiraj...but this was not right..."

"...Chech..." Rajeev whispered to her who silenced at his voice and glanced back at him who shaked his head still tearful and smiling. Prisha slumped back on the car seat and folded her hand across her heavily breathing self.

Sanal took their car out not before Rajeev told his bestie that he would call him upon reaching home.

The next day,

Mrunal looked over her reflection in the dressing room mirror and remembered the cute event from her childhood.

'...how do I look, Raj?'

'..hm...not good!...'

'...*pouts*...why?!!...'

'..*sighs*...because...this should be put over the head like this!!...*shakes his head in disapproval*...'

'..ohh!!..'

'...now, ok?!....'

'...perfect!!!...'

She smiled at the words that enunciated in her head. She just wished to see him one last time before...

"..Buji?..." the voice made her look back with her happy tears. 

"...I came to give this..." Rajeev bought forward the box containing his broken heart for her. 

She brushed her henna painted fingers on the pendant and looked back at him.

"... I hope it gives you the strength to love your husband the way he deserves...with your whole heart..." Rajeev spoke in his broken words and closed in for a last peck, as he tied the necklace around her neck.

Mrunal didn't realised that Rajeev was the first man to ever bind a necklace around her swan neck with all his love...his pure love.

"...Can I, please?!!..." his broken voice made her teary eyes nod at his request. Rajeev pressed a long peck on her forehead to remember her presence for the last time, before she is taken away from him, forever.

She whiffed his musky scent and unknowingly hugged his buffed self, murmuring repeatedly '...I am sorry!..."

"...don't be..." Rajeev kissed her hair and moved back to cup her face blessing her "...I wish you a lifetime of happiness and love from your life partner..."

He then led her out of the dressing room to the waiting ladies to lead her to the madappam.

She looked back one last time, to see him smile with flowing tears from his droopy brown eyes.

💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

Hello My dear Readers,

Kindly give this story a try❤️

This story is the extension of the Gandharva's Muse and Seraphim love storyline, depicting the story of Vinay and Sonia Nair's Son Rajeev. ❤️

Do vote and comment ❤️

Lots of love ❤️

Take care❤️

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