"Why did you forgive him so easily?" Nandini asked when she and Myra were enjoying their afternoon coffee time on the patio.

Myra turned abruptly to see her mother-in-law whose eyes were fixed on her elder son, Neil. He was running behind Niren who had clutched Neev in his arms, they were busy playing with little one. Last day, Nandini had invited the trio for dinner and compelled them to stay for a couple of days at Singhania House.

Today it has been a full week since the storm named Meera had gone from their life forever.

From last evening Myra had observed her in-laws giving silent treatment to their both sons for their hiding game. Both Nandini and Dev were not aware about their schemings and plottings.

"You should have made him feel guilty for his actions. He deserves punishment. He cannot take you for granted every time. You are his wife, not any outsider. Being your husband he was answerable to you with truth. Myra, my dear, these hidden games are enough to give a crack to strong, matured relations as well..." Nandini's words were showing her disappointment over her son's behaviour.

"If I would have been in your place... I would have given him a tight slap... And would have left him alone..." Nandini vented out with gritted teeth. She continued twisting her nose "At Least for a few days."

Looking at her drama queen mother in law, it was hard for Myra to suppress her chuckle.

"Mom... I will be truthful to you. Even I desperately wanted to teach him a lesson for hiding things from me. But when he confessed, I remembered my Mumma's words, 'To find the truth behind someone's words, look in their eyes. Eyes are a mirror for anyone's heart.' I did the same. And I saw the truth in Neil's eyes. His intentions were pure but his ways were wrong. Super wrong." Myra admitted grabbing every bit of attention from Nandini.

"Mom, it's very easy to break any relationship but it's very difficult to maintain the same. Just a couple of months back we accepted each other as husband and wife. Before that we were just parents for Neev."

"For any couple who is getting married either in love or arrange marriage gets some period of courtship to know each other as life partners. This phase also helps couples to understand their responsibilities and essentials of this bond. It's a new bond, new phase, new experience for both of us. And when it's new... mistakes are bound to happen." Myra turned her eyes from her mother in law to her husband.

She remembered from that dreadful day, she had observed changes in Neil. He had turned more responsible towards their relationship. He had apologised to Myra on numerous occasions, promising her to not repeat his mistakes.

"But if you cover up his mistakes he won't realise the severity and may make the same again in future." Nandini counter questioned.

"Punishment is necessary when one does not repent for his misdeeds. Repentance is always more effective than punishment." Myra mentioned naturally.

One part of Nandini's heart rejoiced seeing Myra. She thanked almighty for bringing this pious girl in her son's life as his soulmate. Nadini nodded her head in agreement but she took a mental note to talk about it with her son.

After visiting and spending an entire weekend with their family, Neil had planned to take Myra out for a few days.

"Where are we going Neil?" Myra asked when their jet took off.

"Where has everything started?" He said caressing his son's hair. Neev was sleeping on the seat beside him. "I need to impress my wife, right?"

"Calgary?" After almost 15 minutes of thought Myra could guess it.

Neil turned to look at his wife who was looking at him with wide open eyes with a slightly open mouth.

"Yes, my nightingale." He touched her chin and closed her mouth while suppressing her laughter.

After 4 hours of long flight they landed in Calgary, cars were ready for them to take to their destination.

Myra was looking at her surroundings, this was the city she grew up in. She had spent the beautiful days of her teenage years in this city. When their car was passing her eyes were flickering with serene feelings remembering those old golden days.

"Neev see this was Mumma's school." Myra pointed at the building.

"Yes, Neev and this is where Dadda had first met Mumma.... No actually Dadda had listened to Mumma's voice."

"My Mumma" Neev did not understand anything his parents were narrating to him but he clapped his hands with a bright smile.

Myra came out of the car when it stopped in front of a small two storey building.

"Come let's go." She felt Neil holding her hand and taking her inside.

As she took steps towards the entrance of the building she could read the letters of hoarding.

'The Soulful Music Academy'

Smile automatically graced her lips, with moist eyes. With every step they took inside, she was remembering the days when she used to come to this dwelling for her singing classes. She could see herself sitting on the bench near the reception area waiting for Neil to enter. Today, she smiled imagining the excitement, spark she used to feel during her teenage years.

"You used to wait for me here right?" His whisper brought her back to earth. He was pointing towards the bench when she stared at him from corner eyes. She nodded her head with glistening eyes.

"Come... come inside." He directed her towards the auditorium.

"Why is this empty? Where did everyone go?" She checked her surroundings.

"To give us much needed privacy." He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and entered inside.

Myra could see the stage, it was decorated exactly the same way she had seen on the day of musical concert evening.

"I had missed coming on that blissful evening. And I lost my ways to my Nightingale. So now here we are to find Violinist's Nightingale and Nightingale's Violinist. Go ahead, your wait is over Myra." He planted a kiss on her forehead.

He took Neev in his arms and climbed down from the stage to sit on the front seat with Neev in his laps.

"Go for it Myra." He encouraged with an assured blink of an eye.

"Mumma Go... goooo" Neev competed with his father clapping his hands.

She smiled brightly looking at her two precious possessions with teary eyes. She closed her eyes for a few moments to gather herself. And then started singing their song.

Entire auditorium vibrated with her flawless singing. Today, she was singing the same song when he was there sitting in front of her eyes. And her eyes were fixated on him. He walked to her when she finished the song.

He wrapped her in his embrace. "You know this is what I had done on that day." He cupped her face to kiss her forehead.

"Myra, you are the one who makes me feel complete. You are my sunshine. You were always there when I needed someone. You are my strongest support system. You are my peace. Even before I hadn't met you... your voice was always there with me. Your voice always spreads peace, serene feelings in my heart. My heart always belonged to you."

"I know, I have hurted you. I was always the reason for your pain and tears. But today, I promise you. There won't be any tears in these beautiful hazelnut eyes. I know I am not perfect, but I will give my best to our bond. This smile on your face is what I want. And I will do anything and everything to keep this smile on your face. Because I love you. I, Neil Singhania, am madly, crazily, terribly in love with you my dear Nightingale. And I will love you till my last breath." Tears were rolling over their cheeks but their hearts were rejoicing over finding their other half.

Myra threw herself in his arms, he embraced her tightly.

He released their embrace and went on his knees. Myra looked at him in confusion.

He raised his hand towards her, "Will you marry me, Myra?"

"Neil?"

"Will you marry me Myra? My Nightingale?" He asked again.

"Neil, we are already married." Myra reminded him with an amused smile.

"Not really... We had just signed the papers. But marriage bonding is beyond that right? We didn't take our vows." he was still on his knees.

"Please Myra, will you marry me?" this time he asked urgently. He turned to his son who was standing beside him. "Can you please ask Mumma to say yes?" He asked his son in a childish way.

"Mumma... yess" Neev did not understand much but copied his father's words.

"Please say yes." Neil pleaded one more time.

"Yes....Yes... yes...." Myra laughed overwhelmingly.

Neil stood up on his feet and Myra threw herself in his arms.

"So let's get married my Nightingale on our first anniversary." He gave a peck on her lips.

"My Mumma" Little Neev made his presence clear by clutching his father's leg.

"Of course my Baby. She is your Mumma." Neil bent to take his over possessive son in his arms.

"But she is my wife too. And you are going to keep your hands in your pockets... don't try it on my love .... Go and find your girl. Else I will send you to boarding school." Neil as usual teased his son.

"You go boing ischool" Neev was now infuriated over his father.

Myra laughed whole heartedly seeing the banter between two.

Two days later, the trio returned, and when they entered Singhania House it was decorated beautifully with white lily flowers.

"What's going on here?" Myra roamed her eyes over the living room.

"Remember we are getting married." Neil whispered in her ears, giving a feathery kiss on her cheek. His words and actions set her heart racing with marathon speed.

"Finally you two are here." Earlier Nandini was busy instructing wedding planners about preparations when her eyes fell on Neil and Myra.

"Go upstairs and get ready." Nandini was beaming with happiness.

"Mom, you look beautiful." It was for the first time, Myra had seen her stylish mother in law draped in beige and golden saree with heavy gold and kundan jewellery.

"But my daughter has to look the best today. Come let's get you ready." Nandini held Myra's hand and pulled her along with her.

"Neil, you and Neev also go and get ready in Niren's room. Whatever you will need is over there. Please hurry up. Panditji will be here soon." Nadini shouted while climbing stairs.

"Pandit ji?" Myra asked. When Neil asked her for marriage two days back, she had least expected it to be an Indian style wedding provided the Singhania family's background.

"It's a surprise my dear. Ohh my god I am so excited." Today there was no limit for Nandini's happiness. She took Myra to their room where dressing artists and beauticians were all set to get her ready in bridal look.

"Come sit here." Nandini made Myra seat in front of big mirror.

"Mom, what's the need for all this?" Myra was overwhelmed. She could see their room was packed with a variety of clothes and jewellery.

"Last year on this day, you came to this house for the first time. I was not there to welcome you. I was terrible and even today I am ashamed of my behaviour ... we didn't do anything for you when god almighty had sent you as an angel in my son's life but I refused to accept it because of my stupid ego. I am really sorry my dear."

"No Mom, please."

"But today, I want to celebrate this day... make it memorable for my children. So please let me do it." Nandini kissed her forehead.

Within two hours, Myra was ready. She looked at herself in the mirror, dressed in golden lehenga paired with a gold and emerald heavy jewellery set with light makeup highlighting her hazelnut coloured eyes, hair set in a bun covered with golden stone and zardosi work... for a moment, Myra could not believe on her own eyes while seeing her reflection.

"You are looking gorgeous. My son is going to have a very hard time controlling his hands." Nandini teased with pressed lips.

"Mom." Myra blushed profusely.

When there was a message from a servant about Panditji's request for a bride. Nandini took Myra downstairs. Both walked towards the backyard of the house where the mandap for the rituals were set.

The guest list was limited to Julia, Nancy, Andrew in addition to Singhania family members.

She could see her father in law, her biggest support over this last year was taking steps towards them. When he came in front of her. Myra bent to take his blessings but he stopped her  to kiss her forehead passing his blessing "Stay blessed my child."

Dev and Nandini held Myra from either sides walking along with her towards the Mandap.

She could see Julia, her eyes were glistening with happy tears. Julia was the one who witnessed the journey of two strangers into soulmates. Julia, passed a flying kiss to her.

She could see Andrew and Nancy, Nancy was adjusting Andrews sherwani's buttons. She was looking very cute in a beige coloured lehenga. It came as a sweet surprise for Myra when Nancy informed about dating Andrew. Nancy was always in love with Andrew but she had stepped back earlier seeing his pull towards Myra. But she acted as his strong pillar after Myra's marriage with Neil. Both didn't realise when her support turned into a blissful relation between them. They had decided to tie the knot soon. Both give her thumbs up with a bright smile.

Then her eyes fell on Niren, her brother by choice. She knew he had a critical role in knocking senses in his dumb head elder brother. She always wanted a brotherly figure in her life from childhood, she got it last year in the form of Niren.

She turned to see her mother-in-law, Nandini was smiling and was walking along with her. Myra smiled inwardly remembering their initial days when she used to get frightened to even stare back in Nandini's fiery gaze. But today, Myra was experiencing mother daughter bonding with her.

Myra felt continuous eyes on her, she looked in that direction. It was Neil.

Her soulmate.

Her violinist.

The boy she loved with all her heart in her teenage years, the man she got married in forceful marriage...

Exactly last year, she had lost her every hope to even dream about the blissful future with him. But today, she was taking a step towards their forever togetherness.

Over the last one year both had made some mistakes, stupidities, they had even embarrassed each other. But they learned to love each other. They learned to stay by each other's sides. Their relationship was maturing by every passing moment.

Neil was dressed in off white golden sherwani, with perfectly set hair and clean shave he was giving perfect competition to any Greek god. He mouthed 'I love you'. She lowered her eyes couldn't able to match with his intense eyes, blushing turning her cheeks into cherry red.

But then her eyes fell on the little bundle of joy who was peeping out from his father's back. It was her beloved son, Neev.

He was dressed in sherwani just like his father. Little kid was looking adorable playing with the pearl work on his sleeves staring at his mother widening his eyes. He was the one who had acted as a formulation of keystone in their relation.

Neev means foundation, he was the one whom destiny has chosen to bring back the lost soulmates together binding them in closely knit bonding in the name of marriage.

"Oh my goodness. He is looking so handsome." For a moment Neil thought his wife was complementing him. He took a step but his bride ignored him to go on her knees to match her height with her son.

"Neev my baby... You are looking so cute." She peppered his face with her kisses.

"Mumma" Neev shrieked with happiness. He showed shiny pearls to his mother which has fascinated the little one from the time he wore Indian traditional cloths.

"Ball.. See white ball..."

"Yes my baby."

Both mother and son totally forgot the world around them momentarily. Where as Neil was looking at them being dumbfounded.

"That was a total insult." Niren mumbled in his elder brother's ears.

"My own son is a villan of my love story." Neil murmured feeling jelous.

Later panditji called Neil and Myra on to take their seats. He started chanting mantras, Neil and Myra were performing rituals as per his instructions.

"Happy Anniversary wifey." He whispered.

"Same to you."

They took seven rounds around the holy sacred fire taking vows promising for their life time commitment, to be each other's strengths and support, and flourishing husband and wife relation with love, care, trust and respect.

When Panditji asked Neil to fill Myra'a hairline, he took pinch of sindoor and enriched her hairline with his name of sindoor. Myra had closed her eyes feeling blessed for the moment she was living... the moment she had dreamed from the day she had realised her love for her violinist.

Tear streamed over her cheek. Neil stared at her face with smile. He raised his face to plant an assuring kiss on her forehead. "I love you" he mumbled on her skin.

"I love you too." She replied smilingly with teary eyes.

Nandini brought the mangalsutra which Neil made her wear as per Panditji's instructions, tied two soulmates for the lifetime in holy matrimony.

Post all rituals, Nandini performed her grip pravesh as per instructions. Today, Myra stepped in this house with all relations wrapped around her little finger. She reminded the day a year back when she was all alone but today... she was blessed with a wonderful, loving and caring family.

Later at night, when Neil entered in his room all set for his wedding night. Flower decoration, aromatic candles and soft romantic music playing in the background gave him goosebumps with excitement as well as nervousness.

"Dadda" He heard his son who was hiding behind the decorated bed.

"What are you doing here?" Neil almost screamed his lungs out dropping his shoulders in annoyance.

"Dadda... flower white..." these days little kid has started recognising colours. He was very proud about his accomplishments.

"But what are you doing in my room?"

"Mumma"

"Oh god no... not again" Neil was on the verge of crying when Myra came out of the washroom after freshening up.

"What happened?" She asked casually with a thought to play around her husband.

"What is he doing here?" Neil pointed at his son who was now sitting on the bed playing with his cars.

"What is he doing here? It's his time to go to bed." Myra settled beside her son making an innocent face.

"Myra it's our wedding night.... I am taking him away. He can stay with Mom for the night." Neil was determined, unaware about the teasing game his wife was playing around him. Without giving any chance to Myra to react, he took Neev in embrace and took him to the doors.

"Neil, wait... let me make him sleep at least."  Myra knew Neev was tired, but the little kid will give tough time to his grandparents to make him sleep.

She took him in her arms and started taking rounds mumbling his favourite lullaby. Neev immediately slipping in deep slumber.

Neil was looking at his two precious possessions remembering his journey over last year.

'You will thank me for this one day.'' His father's words, surely he owed this bliss life to his father. Every passing moment he was thanking his father for forcing him to marry this girl.

Neil could never understand Myra's pious love for a person like him who had hurt her, belittled her, even during recent Meera's episode he had played hidden games with her. But still she was there with him, loving him unconditionally. Even today, he was guilty for his actions.

'If I would have taken Myra into confidence, she wouldn't have had to endure so much pain.' His eyes filled with tears remembering the day when she had left him. She had taken away his breath with her.

Today, he had understood one of the secret formulas for any happy marriage... No hidden games.

"I am sorry Myra." He mumbled with tears streaming over his cheeks.

"I trust you more than anyone in this world Neil." She cupped his face with both of her hands. She bent to plant a kiss on his forehead. "I love you." She whispered, keeping her lips over his forehead. She knew inhibitions he had developed over last few days. She needed to clear them out before stepping into blessed future.

He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he did not even realise when Nandini came and took away sleeping Neev.

Over the last few days, Myra had observed Neil, oftenly he would slip in his shell repenting for his deeds. She had seen remorseful tears which he had always tried his best to hide from her.

He stood up enveloping her in his embrace. Holding and raising her chin, he stared in her eyes for a moment before capturing her lips in a deep passionate kiss. He  kissed her deeply with a bitter sweet agony and pent up longing. The agony that he went through when he had realised she gave up on their marriage. The guilt that he felt when he realised his mistake of hiding things from her and despair when she asked for breaking their pious relation. Everything came out in a flood and he could not get enough of her. She was his life and he would never let her go.

He broke their kiss and stared at her, "Myra if you don't want me to go further, stop me now. I don't think I will be able to stop myself later." He held her tightly to him. 

"I am all yours, Neil" She tiptoed to match his height and gave briefe kiss on his lips.

Neil felt his blood rushing to his head and he picked her up in his arms, kissing her as if she was his most precious possession in the world. He laid her down on the bed and asked one more time hovering over her, "Are you sure Myra? I mean... if you want I can wait..."

"Are you such a hopeless Neil?" she teased with twinkling eyes and Neil laughed wholeheartedly  when her words registered in his mind.

"Myra, you made me sound like a stupid" He shook his head caressing her face with his finger tips. He acknowledged her laughing beauty without saying any further word. She hit her inner lip feeling his intense gaze. His fingers came up to play with her hair. He was enthralled by her mere presence.

They both were surrounded by the silence but the heartbeats and their uneven breaths were initiating a harmony and they both were drowning in it.

He cut the distance and she helped him with it too. Finally, their lips met for one more time and a sigh escaped both of their mouths. Their hearts were melting. They were feeling the blissful sensation and it was the magic of this relationship. The relationship between husband and wife. A relationship of love. They finally accepted the real meaning of it.

What they both initiated was surely not going to quench with just a kiss this time. They yearned more. They craved for each other. He explored her, she explored him. He teased her, she smacked his chest playfully. As they discovered each other's deep secrets. His devotion touched her heart and soul. Her warmth aroused him.

He treasured her trust and cherished her with his tenderness. She entrusted herself completely in his arms. In spite of his past experience, he trembled in her arms. He wanted her to treasure this moment for the rest of their life. And she wanted to love him like he had never been loved before.

Together they reached the pinnacle of sensual pleasures and ecstasy. The consummation of their love made Neil and Myra to start on a new journey of deep trust, pious love and sensual intimacy.

"Are you ok?" The concern dripped from his words. She hid her face in his neck and mewled like a little kitten rubbing her nose against his neck.

"I love you Myra." He wrapped her in his embrace kissing her hair. He confessed with all emotions exploding in his heart.

"Love you too." She murmured against his bare chest before slipping in deep slumber somewhere early in the morning.

Morning sun rays disturbed Myra's sleep,  she opened her eyes to notice an empty bed. She smiled to herself touching the pillow beside her and a flashback of last night appeared on the screen of her mind giving her goosebumps.

It was so surreal.

She was covered with a blanket and his scent. She sat up on the bed when she saw a pair of fresh cloth neatly kept on the night table. She wore a t-shirt and pajamas  and was about to get up from bed when Neil entered inside with a tray in his hand.

"Good Morning" He came to her. He gave a quick kiss on her forehead.

"Good Morning" She tried to get up when he rushed to her and picked her up in his arms.

"Neil, what are you doing?"

"You must be sore... just trying to give you a helping hand." He teased rubbing his nose tip on her cheeks.

Her giggling sound spread around their room.

He put her down, settling her on the arm chair. "Come, let's have some coffee." And himself settled on another arm chair.

Meanwhile, Neev ran inside their room. "Mumma" he scrunched his eyebrows with a flared nose. It was his signature way to show his anger at not seeing his beloved mother's face first in the morning.

Myra pulled him and made him sit on her lap.

"I am sorry baby."  She said, tickling the sides of his stomach. He laughed and it made Neil and Myra's day.

Neev saw Myra's mangalsutra, a diamond pendant captured in his eyes. He started playing with it and there his eyes captured a red mark on his mother's neck. Though he was just a little kid, he found it strange. He brushed his finger over that mark and looked at Myra with a question mark face.

"Mumma... boo boo" His wide open eyes were shifting between red marks and Myra's confused ones.

"Dadda shee this.." now he was showing it to his father

Neil closed his eyes in embarrassment looking at his son pointing out evidence of their passionate night.

Looking at Neil's flushed face, Myra understood, she whispered covering up "It's nothing baby."

"Monter did this?" He asked again, blinking his eyes.

'No baby, not any monster but your Dadda did this. What will happen to you Neil if I tell this to my baby?' She gave a quick pitiful look to her husband.

"What? I am not scared of him, ok?" Neil understood the hidden meaning behind her mischievous eyes.

"Really?" Myra blinked her eyelashes.

"You wanna see?" Neil challenged.

He quickly moved to her side and grabbed her neck, titling his face he smashed his lips with her taking her in a passionate kiss in front of his son.

"No eating my Mumma. Daddaa Baaaad" And Neev started screaming on top of his voice.

Neev punched his father's body making every attempt to release his mother from his father's clutches.

They broke the kiss feeling dire need to breathe in some air. But he did not release Myra from his side embrace, he was still holding her possessively.

"Sorry .... but she is my wife too." Neil pinched Neev's cheek to enraged him more.

"Daddaa NOOOOOOOO" He got down from his mother's lap and started searching for some object to throw on his father to save his beloved mother from his father's clutches.

Myra was a laughing holding her stomach.

Finally he found a spoon from the tray which he pointed at his father.

"Ohh god Dadda is scared" Neil surrendered raising his hands.

"No Dadda No.... My Mumma" Neev announced with authority. He went and climbed to sit back on Myra's lap encircling his both hands around her neck but giving a murderous look to his father.

"Thank god you were asleep last night." Neil said to Neev, but staring at Myra. His teasing eyes were locked with her shy ones.

**************************************************
So finally we are almost at the end of the story... please do wait for Epilogue coming up for next week.

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