Mahir again drove in silence as the person sitting beside him was all red since that 'almost kiss' stunt he pulled on her. She was shy to even look at him.
Sitting on his lap and kissing his cheeks was the end of her boldness but little did she know that Mahir Ji's boldness started from there.

She was still not able to form a word, she kept looking outside the window as if the trees were more handsome than her Mahir Ji. 

She was nervous and his glances every now and then were not helping either. She was fidgeting with her fingers in her lap. Mahir tried to hold her hand but she jerked away his hand being scared. While he was amused she looked scared with a scarlet face. She didn't expect this all of sudden. He again shifted his focus on driving and she calmed down.

Minutes later, he felt a warmth over his left hand, he looked at his hand to find Bela's small hand slowly covering his hand. His heart fluttered with love and excitement. He looked towards her to see her smiling looking at her lap. He smiled softly, pulling her hand closer to his mouth he kissed the back of her hand.

He put her hand on his chest above his heart as if asking his heart to calm down, telling his heart that finally, the owner came to rule it all over again.

Bela could feel the lingering kiss on the back of her hand, she could feel his love, his love that was making her feel bliss, making her feel solace. She was so flustered that she lost the courage to even look at him once.

Mahir kept driving with her hand in his till they reached her home. It pained him that now she would have to go. He wanted to stay longer with her, keep her protected in his arms till forever. He sighed in despair. He looked at their intertwined hands and then at her and again his heart screamed "I want to keep you to me till eternity".

Sadly he tried to let go of her hand when she tightened the hold, she looked at him with love, he was gone the second he saw love in her eyes for him. She locked her eyes with his, pulling his hand closer to her, she kissed the back of his hand. He closed his eyes feeling her soft lips. She didn't say a word but her eyes confessed it all. He was at peace.

She left glancing at him for the last time, he kept staring at her disappearing figure with longing.

He reached his home with a flushed face, smiling to himself. Andy and Sumi were surprised to see his pink cheeks and a toothy grin.
Andy rushed to check his temperature, "Sumi, call the doctor. He does not look fine " Andy acted like a melodrama queen.

Sumi rolled her eyes at Andy, "Mahir what happened? " She asked with little hope thinking Maybe it was really a misunderstanding and they both sorted it out.

"Yes"  He said and Andy's face lit up with joy. They understood what he wanted to convey. He played the song and pulled Sumi closer to him, matching his steps with the song. "Andy" Sumi blushed but he was just too happy to leave her without a dance.
Mahir too blushed looking at them but they pulled him and they three danced celebrating Mahir's happiness.
Listening to the music, Vish and Ajitabh came out of their room and joined them in the celebration.

****
It was the last day of Bela's work. She was doing some final touch-ups to Mahir's room while her team was packing the stuff and cleaning the place where work was done.

"It's done" She chirped looking at the room satisfied.

The team welcomed the family members inside Mahir's room.

"Wow! "
"Beautiful"
"Better than my dog of a brother's face"
"Better than my useless son's ass"

Everyone complimented the team in their own way making them chuckle. Aarav looked at the whole with his button eyes and then clapped throwing his legs, encouraging the whole team. They were already gaga over him and he never left a chance to make them go "aww" Over him.

Bela was looking for Mahir but he was nowhere to be seen. She thought to go and call him to show him the renovated room for which he was desperate much and that's when she noticed him standing at the entrance with his head and shoulder leaned on the door and arms crossed over his chest. He was analyzing the room with dreamy eyes. He had a sweet smile on his face as if dreaming something beautiful.

Bela went to him and asked him to come inside but he politely denied "the room looks more than what I expected. It's heavenly gorgeous" Although he was talking about the room, his eyes were on her. Bela blushed looking at the floor. Mahir smiled at her and went back to the guest room.

"Is he still angry with me? " She thought when she saw him going away.

One of her team members dragged her to the backyard where Andy had organized the lunch for the whole team and they were happily munching on it. Bela sat with them and they all enjoyed their farewell. It was great working with Seghals. As Bela already said it was their best project to date.

****
Mahir entered the guestroom after attending his three-hour-long conference call. He was upset that he couldn't see Bela on the last day of her work in his house.

He sighed sadly, keeping the laptop on the bed. When he turned around, his steps froze, the angel draped in a  white saree with her Guitar took his breath away. She looked at him with her twinkling doe-shaped eyes, her pink lips carved in a beautiful smile, she was looking adorable.
Mahir kept admiring the beauty of his Goddess as she sat on the chair with the guitar in her lap.
She signaled him to sit too. With a heart beating like a drum, he sat before her. He wished to capture her in his hold, showering all the affection he has for her but he dared not... What if he was dreaming?

He slapped himself realizing she was for real. She chuckled at his face that include his wide eyes like a cartoon and mouth perfectly shaped -O.

Her sweet giggle scattered in the whole room, making his heart rush at the speed of a bullet train. Her earrings jingled as she shook her head at his childishness. She adjusted the nodes of the guitar as her bracelet shimmered yet again making Mahir groan, he desperately wanted to cage her in him but here she refused him to even come near her and touch her.
His patience was slowly giving up as his princess sat there in a shimmery white saree with a pearl border, making him go crazy.

The fondness in her eyes was clearly visible as she played with the strings, warming his heart with her melodious voice.

Tere dar pe aake tham gaye
Naina namazi ban gaye
Ik dooje mein yun dhalke
Aashiqana anayat ban gaye
Main aur tum

Kaisi dil lagayi kar gaye
Rooh ki rubaayi ban gaye
Khaali khaali dono thhe jo
Thoda sa dono bhar gaye
Main aur tum

Chalo ji aaj saaf saaf kehti hoon
Itni si baat hai mujhe tumse pyaar hai
Yunhi nahi mein tum pe jaan dethi hoon
Itni si baat hai mujhe tumse pyaar hai

Chalo ji aaj saaf saaf kehti hoon
Itni si baat hai mujhe tumse pyaar hai
Mujhe tumse pyar hai

Mahir's heart skipped beating as he heard her. He forgot to breathe, tears of happiness, tears of love made his way out of his eyes. He was truly overwhelmed looking at her eyes which wanted to convey to him that words couldn't define. The ardent flames of love were shining in both of their eyes. With their eyes interlocked and hearts intertwined, Bela continued...

Lag na ye dhoop zaruri
Lag na ye chao zaruri
Milte hain ishq zameen par
Ab doh hi naam zaruri
Main aur tum

Apna khuda bhi hoga
Apna hi rab le lenge
Khud ki bana ke duniya
Yeh zindagi jee lenge
Main aur tum

Chalo ji aaj saaf saaf kehti hoon
Itni si baat hai mujhe tumse pyar hai
Yunhi nahi mein tum pe jaan dethi hoon
Itni si baat hai mujhe tumse pyar hai
Mujhe tumse pyaar hai...

She finished the song only to find Mahir's face red with tears. He was looking at her without blinking his eyes. She kept the guitar on the chair and kneeled down in front of him. His reflexes quickly come into action and he too kneeled down before her, wiping his face. She held his hands in hers, "Mahir Ji when I saw you for the first time, I felt as if I have seen you before as if we have met before. Then you, being my client and then gradually friends. I have never felt this comfortable with anyone. With you, something clicked instantly. I didn't know when waking up to your " Shall I come to pick you up? " Messages to "sleep early, you have work tomorrow"  Became my new normal. Let me tell you, I felt special when I came to know you hardly text anyone but you never failed to text me every day. I never knew when I lost myself in your eyes, in your sweet talks, in your this innocent face" She pinched his nose and he chuckled rubbing his nose.

"You, always trying to gain my attention, always trying to engage me in yours talks irritated me but also made me feel cared. I never realized that I was getting possessive of you until you told me that you are already in love with someone. Guess what? I was jealous of my own self. The more I tried to suppress my feelings thinking it to be unprofessional behavior the more it bounced back with much deeper attraction, much deeper affection.
Mahir Ji, give me a chance to shower all my attention on you. Give me a chance to love you as you do. Let's cherish our togetherness, Mahir Ji...because I love you "

"I love you so very much" She kissed his forehead. He pulled her closer, burying his head in her neck, he clung to her. He sobbed trying to sink in all her words. She could make out his muffled voice saying "I love you, Bela. More than anything else. I love you" She caressed his back, "I know Mahir Ji".

Of course, she knew, the way he used to talk about her, describe his love to her. The truthfulness she saw in his eyes that made her jealous once, was for her. His promise was for her. She pulled him even closer not letting an inch of air pass between them.

He joined his forehead with hers, looking deep into her eyes he again whispered "I can't describe how much I love you". She smiled caressing his cheeks.

" wait! " He rushed to his closet and pulled out a heart-shaped box. Kneeling down again, he pulled out the ring from the box. The exact copy of the ring that was Bela's in the tangent universe.

"May I? " He asked, she happily nodded and he slid down the ring in her ring finger. The same ring which defined their love. The ring of love. The ring of their reunion. A feeling of possessiveness hit him. They looked at each other to say something but the loud sound of claps echoed in the room.

They gasped, finding the whole family including Bela's mother and Gracious standing there smiling and clapping for them. They quickly stood up flustered, trying to form words.

Bela's mother came forward, opened a small box, and gave her the ring, signaling her to make Mahir wear it.

She looked at her Mother shocked. How did they know? Probably when she requested to meet Mahir before going or when Vish draped her up in the saree.

She hit her forehead thinking about Vish's big mouth. She raised her eyebrow at Vish to which she just winked in return making Bela blush.

Her mother nudged her and that's when she realized they were waiting for her. She moved closer to Mahir and made him wear the ring. He was on cloud nine. He was definitely going to protect the ring more than his life.

Everyone cheered for them, Gracious jumped on Mahir, kissing his cheek. Bela glared at her with a my-man look but she dismissed her with her tail. Bela huffed making Mahir chuckle.

Aarav who was silently watching everything giggled showing is not so toothy mouth in Vish's lap

They all chuckled at Aarav's and Gracious's cute behavior.

Surely, Aarav and Gracious were going to be the best of friends with all the naughtiness they had to share with one another.

Mahir pulled Bela in a side hug and Gracious too invited her throwing her limbs.

"We have finalized the date for marriage. It's after a month" Andy chirped happily.

"What? " Bela and Mahir looked at each other and then at their family members "so soon? /so late? "

Andy chuckled at Mahir, "My desperate boy that date is the nearest "

"Can we cut out some rituals and directly have a Marriage ceremony? " Mahir again desperately tried but got "A big No"  in return.

Bela glared at him, he sheepishly smiled at her.

Family members laughed at his antics and later got busy discussing the rituals.

Seeking the opportunity Mahir sneakily caressed Bela's waist making her eyes go wide as saucers. She threatened him with her eyes to pull his hand back but he winked at her. She blushed trying to get away from him. He pulled her closer, kissing her forehead and making the family members go all "aww" For them.
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Please ignore grammatical mistakes.

Geer up for the Final chapter that contains all their marriage ceremonies and of course the punishment for Ridhi and her Mother.

I think this is the most romantic update I have ever written. Hehe!... Apologies if this novice could not get anything right! 😅

***
I thought I seem rude which is why people don't really feel comfortable sharing their thoughts so I started with that behind the writing sequence just to entertain and interact with the people reading the story.

Because my childish brain showed me the pictures where people were happily interacting with other writers but not me. After being crying for long, making myself upset for days, I finally realized it was my fault if I was expecting something. Rather than focusing on myself, I was focusing on others too much.

I never realized when I got too much involved in Wattpad and forgot that it's not the world.

I read a lot outside Wattpad, majorly self-help books that made me realize that instead of focusing on what I already have, instead of being grateful for what I have I was foolishly running around trying to catch what didn't belong to me.

Yes, this was me back then we just had begun with the book.

A gentle reminder this is NOT  for getting any compliments, votes, or comments.

Now why I am telling you this is because we generally do this with ourselves. Instead of cherishing the love, we all are getting we choose to focus on the love which we are not getting and we assume that we deserve it.

Always remember that not everyone will love us, even if we become 100% perfect. Take the love you are getting, cherish it with all your heart, and keep going❤. Don't stop until you reach your target❤. Not just for Wattpad but for everything you do in your life. Don't run around for things you assume you deserve instead run around what you can do to improve yourself❤.

"Karm karte jao, phal ki aasha mat kro" A line from Srimad Bhagwat Geeta.

Always stay gorgeous and stay humble.

Stay humble because you never know what the other person must be going through. Maybe your single compliment or just some sweet talks can make his/her day.
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. Thanks for reading❤.