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Chapter 3

"Papa, I'm ready. Tell me, how do I look?" Krishnaa twirled before Satvik in an emerald-green gown. Her hair was braided in a fish braid and embedded with rhinestone-encrusted floral pins. Her accessories included statement silver and emerald earrings.

"You are the most beautiful Princess in this world," Satvik praised Krishnaa. Let no evil eye fall upon you, and the Almighty protect my little girl." He tenderly caressed Krishnaa's face and kissed her forehead softly.

"Thank you" - Krishnaa bowed dramatically before her father and earned a chuckle from the latter - "Now, let me make this bow right" - she began to adjust the bow and pinned a peacock brooch on his suit.

A satisfactory smile spread across Krishnaa's face. Her father was the most handsome man and looked perfect for his engagement with Pavitra. It warmed her heart to see her father finally move on after taking care of them singlehandedly - he finally had a partner he deserved and would care for him all his life.

"Krishu," Satvik called her out, " Are you sure about this? I mean, do you truly accept Pavitra?" he asked, unsure at the last moment.

When Krishnaa was young, she did not like the presence of Pavitra, claiming she would take away the place of Asha. No amount of coaxing could have convinced the little girl that Pavitra would never take away her Mumma's place. Krishnaa was the most attached to Asha, and he knew it was the toughest for his then-young daughter to accept the concept of remarriage.

"I was young and naive back then, Papa," Krishnaa smiled softly and took Satvik's hands within hers. I was also possessive about Mumma and you back then. Accepting Mumma's death was not easy, and with the way everyone wanted you to remarry, I almost felt left out. But that's not the case anymore. I'm old enough to understand the need for a life partner now more than ever," she explained, heaving a sigh as tears rolled down her eyes. 

"My Princess," Satvik said, gently wiping her tears with a handkerchief he pulled out of his pocket. This has to do with what you feel for Arjun, doesn't it?" He had a knowing smile across his experienced features.

Gobsmacked. Krishnaa was left gobsmacked at Satvik's revelation and had her eyes wide and jaw-dropping to the floor.

"I know you look jaw-droppingly gorgeous for a change. But that doesn't mean you become this obsessed with your looks. Especially when I'm there," Krishna cockily said, making Krishnaa roll her eyes and Satvik chuckle and smack his son's head. "And you, Papa, look as handsome as I do. And since it's, your engagement may be a little more. I'm generous with my compliments," Krishna said dramatically, earning another smack on his head, this time from both the father and daughter.

"Thank you for the rare compliment. Have you checked everything? I don't want anything to go wrong today, and it's Papa's big day, Krish," Krishnaa asked her brother, who nodded in assurance.

"Everything is done. Listen, I'm getting the car out and waiting for you guys outside. Check everything properly, Krishu. The doors and windows need to be double-locked. Put the snacks in the fridge and come with Arjie bhaiyya; he's still upstairs. Okay," Krishna instructed.

"All will be done," Krishnaa assured her brother, showing a thumbs up.

Satvik's phone rang, and he excused himself to attend the call and join Krishna downstairs.

Krishnaa heaved a sigh at Satvik and Krishna's retreating figures. Life had moved so fast that it had only begun to sink in. Arjun had returned from Paris, Satvik had finally moved on, and Krishna, too, had found his footing in the film industry.

But what had she been doing in the past ten years? She studied, found a job, and worked tirelessly. When she saw what everyone in her family was up to, she felt that her life was rather mundane. At times, seeing her life more stagnant than the ones around her felt weird.

She mechanically did all that was asked.

A knock on the door broke her thoughts, and she answered the door.

There, he stood at the threshold, looking handsome as ever. Dressed in a classic black suit and black shoes, he was deliciously dapper in her eyes. His usually unkempt curls were slicked behind neatly, and his cologne smelled as beautiful as ever.

Krishnaa did not want to take her eyes away, but she did when she realized he had caught her almost drooling at his sight. A Cheshire cat-like grin was etched on his face, and she shook her head to return to reality.

"I'll just grab the keys," Krishnaa said softly, taking them from the key holder.

"Hmm, " Arjun hummed. But don't you think Papa is hurrying?" A teasing glint in his eyes took over. 

"He's not," Krishnaa replied, flustered, locking the doors and slipping into her stilettos. "He's not. He's, in fact, late because I made him wait all this while...." she rambled, making Arjun chuckle and shake his head at her.

"That's enough" - Arjun placed his palm over her mouth, and she stared at him.

There it was again, the same fuzzy feeling at his touch that made her heart perform somersaults. Her breath almost hitched at the proximity, and the enticing scent of the citrus cologne hypnotised her.

Please. She pleaded through her eyes and anxiously looked around. What if the nosy neighbours caught them? She did not want to be the talk of the town for the wrong reasons.

"Sorry." Arjun stepped back and released his palm as she heaved a sigh.

"Papa and Krish must be waiting downstairs. Indra Uncle will join us directly at the venue," Krishnaa said, not looking at him. She took long strides ahead of him as he caught up with her.

***

"Pavitra, Satvik's daughter, is here," Sheela, Pavitra's elder sister, informed Pavitra as Krishnaa tailed behind the former. She wants to talk to you," she said, scanning Krishnaa as the latter bobbed her head and dismissed the stylists and make-up artists.

"Aun. . . I mean Pavitra Maa," Krishnaa softly began making Pavitra smile in the mirror where she saw the reflection of Krishnaa and herself.

"Whatever you're comfortable with Krishnaa. Don't force yourself," Pavitra said with a soft smile and turned to face the young woman. "Tell me what it's about," she encouraged Krishnaa and asked her to sit on the chair next to her. She had a gentle smile on her face.

"Do you really love Papa?" Krishnaa asked as tears pooled in her eyes.

"What do you think?" Pavitra raised a brow.

"I..." Krishnaa could not form words and was taken back to the first time she met Pavitra.

"Arjun, you need to have food, or else there will be no books for..." Krishnaa threatened Arjun and dragged him to her house after she found him sitting quietly on the stairs.

"Your threats are empty ones, Krishu," said Arjun, smugly smiling and pinching her nose.

"They are not empty. I can hide your books very easily, and you will never find them until I want you to find them," Krishnaa huffed and pouted, earning chuckles from Arjun.

"You can't see me sad, and that will never let you hide my books," Arjun teased Krishnaa, which earned him a stomp on his foot from the latter.

The two kids had reached Krishnaa's house. Satvik kept his door open because he knew Krishnaa had gone out to play, and Arjun would follow her.

It was almost a ritual in the past year since Arjun and Krishnaa's friendship began. Satvik's home was where the two usually hung out - sometimes with home-cooked meals by Satvik and others with Satvik and Arjun taking turns reading books to the twins, who found it cumbersome to read them.

Today was just another day for family time, and Krishnaa happily skipped a long while Arjun followed her, knowing no amount of denial would deter his Krishnaa.

"Madhavi Dadi!" Krishnaa screeched, seeing Madhavi, her neighbour. Who's this lady?" Krishnaa scanned the young woman sitting with her father and fidgeting with the hem of her skirt while Madhavi looked between Satvik and Krishnaa.

Madhavi knew she had landed herself in a soup, and Krishnaa's scrutinizing eyes were only the beginning.

"Arrey, arrey, Krishu beta, see, don't bite her, okay?" Madhavi laughed nervously as Krishnaa narrowed her eyes at the woman in a floral skirt and white blouse. I asked her to come here. And you will get a new Mumma," she said, and Satvik sighed.

Krishnaa was not as open to his second marriage as Krishna was. Krishna was fine as long as the woman did not turn into Cinderella's stepmother and trusted his father's choice, while Krishnaa found it more difficult as she was the closest to her mother and had lost not just her Mumma but also her best friend.

"I don't want a new Mumma," Krishnaa said, tears pooling in her eyes. Papa, no new Mumma." Krishnaa's words were more distant.

Will this new woman snatch away her only surviving parent?

She did not want the life Disney Princesses lived before their prince came into their lives. She already had her Prince beside her; she knew Arjun would always be by her side.

Why couldn't the King, the Prince and the Princess be the happily ever after, she wondered.

"Beta," the woman walked up to Krishnaa and blinked in assurance to Satvik and Madhavi, "I'm Pavitra. Pavitra Shukla, tell me, what makes this pretty lady sad?" Pavitra asked.

Krishnaa sniffled while Arjun silently squeezed her hand to talk to Pavitra.

"Talk to her, Krishu. She may hear you. She gives me good vibes," Arjun whispered. I'll be at my home. We'll meet in the evening," he assured. He folded his hands in a namaste before the elders and took his leave.

"Krishu baccha, she will not be Cinderella's stepmother," Satvik said as Krishnaa looked between her father and Pavitra and sniffled.

"What if she becomes after she comes home?" Krishnaa asked, facing Satvik.

"I will not become. I will not marry Satvik until both Krishna and you accept," Pavitra said firmly, her words reflecting her firm belief in herself and her budding love for Satvik.

"Pavitra, you wanted to..." Madhavi spoke.

"Madhavi Kaki, it's true I want to marry Satvik and even agreed to this match," Pavitra said, cutting off Madhavi. But what's more important is the happiness of our children. This alliance can not go further if even one of the kids feels unsure. They are a part of us and are more important than anything else, sometimes even the self," she asserted.

"That means..." Krishnaa asked, unsure what those words meant.

"That means I will only marry your Papa when not only your Papa agrees but also your brother, and you truly accept along with Darsheel," Pavitra said softly, pointing to each of them. "That's my promise to you, Krishnaa Raichand. A promise of Pavitra Shukla to Krishnaa Raichand."

Krishnaa softly smiled as she remembered Pavitra's promise to her. Pavitra could have married Satvik back when she had accepted Madhvi's proposal. She never had to wait fourteen years before she accepted it with her heart.

Pavitra was the woman who not only respected Satvik but also Satvik's children. A nine-year-old Krishnaa may not have understood, but she did as she grew older - she understood what the heart wanted and what Arjun meant to her.

She could never live in a world without her Arjun; he was the reason for her existence. She pursued their relationship persistently. She saw herself in Pavitra in the past fourteen years. Satvik to Pavitra was what Arjun was to Krishnaa. The men they will turn the world upside down for, the wait and distance are more bearable than a complete absence.

They both made efforts to win the hearts of every loved one in their beloved lives.

But was that the only reason, she wondered.

It wasn't. Pavitra was selfless. She visited them often, carving a place in Satvik's heart and the twins' hearts. She encouraged Krishna to pursue his passion for acting. She cooked meals with Satvik, and they spent time as a family—it always felt like one—but the realisation hit a little too late.

She always considered them a unit. Pavitra was the motherly figure Krishnaa looked up to during her teenage years. She was also Krishnaa's secret keeper; she knew everything about Krishnaa, from her celebrity crushes to her love for Arjun. The two women had come a long way. 

"You love us. You love Papa and us," Krishna said with a watery smile.

"Aww, baby," Pavitra hugged Krishnaa and wiped her tears. I love you alright, maybe a little more than Sattu," she winked at Krishnaa.

"You're the best," Krishnaa giggled. Welcome to the family, soon-to-be Mrs Raichand. I'm waiting to set the house on fire with you." 

A throat-clearing and multiple fake coughs broke the tender moment between Pavitra and Krishnaa. The two women turned in the direction of the sound and shook their heads.

"Krish, Arjun, Darshi, come inside the three of you," Pavitra called the boys who stood at the door.

"Maa, I'm so happy for you," Darsheel squealed, narrowing his eyes at Krishnaa, who looked everywhere but him. What's this Monkey doing here?" he asked, scanning Krishnaa up and down while Krishnaa scowled at him.

"Mumma loves me more. Now shoo away, you Giraffe," Krishnaa mocked Darsheel's height.

Darsheel and Krishnaa barely stayed sane when they were in the same room. Not a minute would pass without them either pulling each other's hair or hurling insults they called creative, but it never really was.

"Mumma loves you both," Pavitra swatted Darsheel's hand, which was about to smack Krishnaa's head. And you two also. I love you four, so no pouty faces. Today's a happy day," Pavitra said, inviting Arjun and Krishna into the hug.

The five stayed in the hug, soaking in the moment of bliss. The hug of love. The love of a mother and children.

******

There goes the third chapter!

I understand that this chapter is less romantic and more about the other characters, but fleshing out the characters was necessary so that everything would fit together.

I hope this was an enjoyable chapter. 

Until then, take care and see you guys in the next chapter.

Love Siya

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