Do play the song I added, it is one of my favorite and apt for this chapter.

********

VIREN POV

Every time the door opens, my heart starts beating erratically. Expecting to see her walk through that door and snuggling beside me.

But it eventually breaks when dad walks in with my uncle in tow.

"You are set to go home," Dad announces happily.

I nod my head and look away, I have let everyone see enough to make them think how weak I'm.

"You can change into your clothes and then we are leaving.." Dad says and a male nurse walks towards me.

I nod and with the help of him, I stand up and change into a t-shirt and trousers.

"Your mother is waiting for you!" Dad says and we walk outside the room.

"What about Dhruv?" I ask my uncle,

"We will keep him for a day, and he can leave too." He replies.

"And-"

"Prithvi will be discharged after you, his parents are coming." Uncle reply before I can speak his name.

I nod my head and with the help of my dad, I enter the elevator.

"Where are Shaurya and Arhaan?" I ask him.

"Arhaan is with Maanya and Shaurya, I don't know." He replies.

For the next few minutes, I just follow my dad's lead to the car at the back gate.

Just as I sprawl my legs, a hiss leaves my mouth.

"Your ribs are still healing, your mom wanted you at home, said you will recover faster around your family." Dad confides.

I nod and look outside the window.

When we pass over a tea stall, I remembered the time I spend with Paakhi.

Her enchanting smile, her entrancing eyes, and wild fragrance all lure me to her.

"There was a call from the New York office for you, I put it on hold, tell me when you are ready to attend." Dad's voice distracts me.

"Right now, give me my phone," I reply.

He nods his head and takes out my phone from his coat pocket.

"Here," he gives it to me.

I switch it on and see 102 missed calls from Dhruv and numerous messages from everyone.

Swiping through all, I check my email, and get back to work.

As I reach home, I exit the car and see my family waiting at the doorsteps.

"It's so good to see you, son," mom says hugging me.

"Bhai, I'm so happy you are okay," Riya comes after mom.

"Me too," Maira joins in.

"Now, now, girls, let him have some rest. You go prepare for the evening." Aunty comes forward and shoos them away.

"Come," mom takes my hand and helps me to my room.

"Is it paining?" Mom asks probably noticing me flinching.

"Ascending steps is putting a bit pressure, that's it," I reply.

"My son," she whimper.

"Mom, I'm okay!" I assure her.

"Of course you'll be when you'll see her." She comments while pulling a duvet over me.

What did she mean by that?

"What do you mean?" I pry.

"That I will get you some soup." She replies walking to the door.

"No-" and she disappears.

Was she talking about Paakhi? Is she coming to meet me? Did she forgive me? But what did I do wrong in the first place?

All these questions stimulated me to sleep.

"Should we wake him or not?" I'm disturbed by the nagging voice of Shaurya.

"He looks tired, let him sleep." Arhaan mutter.

"But he would want to see Paakhi?!" Shaurya's comment wakes me.

"Paakhi?" I ask groggily.

"Here," Arhaan pass me a glass of water.

Drinking it, I stare at them.

"Today Dad called Maanya's family for dinner. They will be here in 10 minutes." Arhaan explains.

"10 minutes?" I ask mortified.

"I look like hell, how am I suppose to get ready in 10?" I ask angrily.

Throwing the duvet aside, I sit up, and with the help of Shaurya I get up.

"Taking help feels like a burden." I scoff limping to the washroom.

Shaurya opens the door and helps me to the pot.

Before I could consider anything, he bends down and drops my pajama.

"Will you now stand here till I pee?" I inquire.

He blushes and scrambles off.

Finishing my business and washing my hands, I walk into the room to see Arhaan arranging my clothes on the bed.

"Everything you might need is here." He says walking towards the center table and picking up a beer bottle.

"Do you need my help?" Shaurya asks from his position on my bed.

"What's the matter with you? Why are you so intent on doing all my work?" I ask grabbing the shirt from the bed.

"I'm just practicing." He replies shrugging.

"Oh man, you do all this for Aditi?" Arhaan asks laughing.

"Not yet, but I saw some videos where pregnant women need assistance for basic things. So I don't want Aditi to be skeptical about considering me." He confesses.

"Damn, so tell me, when are you planning on marrying her?" Arhaan asks him while walking towards me and helping me wear this damn shirt. Stretching my limbs is putting pressure on my ribs.

"You want to marry her right?" I ask when he doesn't reply for a minute.

"Of course I do! But knowing Aditi, she will think I'm marrying her because of the baby and not because I love her." He admits.

"Ya, don't spoil it as I did." I scoff.

Arhaan's phone ring and he step back to attend it.

"It was mom, they are here." He informs helping me wear the socks.

"You guys go, I will do it myself," I say adamantly when I notice hesitation on their faces.

They leave the room and I struggle to wear the socks.

No matter how physically strong you are, but these wounds hurt like hell.

After a lot of curses and hard work, I'm ready to go.

Walking out of the door, I anxiously look at the stairs.

Taking a deep breath, I take each step like a 2-year-old who's learning to descend the stairs for the first time.

Just as I reach the last steps, I stumble and prepare myself for a massive fall.

"Viren!" Her euphonious voice and her arms around me put me into a trance.

"Is everything okay?" Arhaan's voice brings me out of it.

He rushes forward and helps me stand properly.

Paakhi stares at me and then walks into the living room.

I frown at Arhaan and follow her.

"Viren! Come sit here." Mom rushes towards me and makes me sit in between her and aunty Reshma.

"How are you son?" Mr.Harsh Sharma asks me.

"Better sir," I replied nodding my head.

"You are one brave man, fighting for your love made me believe that both my girls have chosen the right men." His statement is accompanied by hysterical coughs from Paakhi.

Maanya rubs her back and she looks at everyone embarrassed.

Her behavior seems weird, it doesn't seem like she is angry with me.
She seems to be distant.

"Here, everyone," Mom announced when help arrives with tea and assortments.

Everyone takes a serving except me.

It hurts seeing that whenever I try to meet her gaze, she looks away.

She has been talking to everyone except me.

When dad takes all the men to the lounge for some drinks, I keep sitting staring at her.

"So Paakhi..." Aunty Reshma calls her.

"Where are your parents? Family?" Everyone seizes their talking and stare at Aunty.

"Here, my mother and grandmother are sitting beside you, my father and grandfather just went in with Mr.Singh. My sisters are here beside me, my brother-in-law is here too. So pretty much this is my family, the people I love and care about." She replies.

A smile morphs onto everyone's face.

But I can't help and notice that she didn't say my name. Maybe she doesn't care or love me.

Feeling my emotions taking better of me, I stand up and excuse myself.

"Mom, I'm going to my room," with that I walk away without sparing her a glance.

Instead of going to my room, I walk to the terrace and ask someone to get me my laptop.

"What is going on between you two?" Aditi joins me.

"Something that I have no idea about," I state.

"You know Paakhi is good at giving advice but she often is reluctant to use them. She overthinks when things happen to change." Her words seem valid.

"But what changed?" I ask confuse.

"Your relationship," I'm appalled by her reply.

"How? I loved her before, I love her now!" I ask desperately for answers.

"You don't get it, Paakhi has never been in a relationship. Loving you was a big step for her. But she never thought you would want to marry her. She is happy in as much as she has. She never yearns for more." She explains.

"But she deserves more," I exclaim.

"Tell her that, talk to her." She bends forward and squeezes my hand.

"Thank you, Aditi," I say in gratitude.

"I always knew Paakhi deserves someone adamant like you, just don't give up on her. She'll test you. But your love should always win." Her departing words make an impact. She is right, I can never give up on my love.

With a newfound determination, I exit the terrace and down those agonizing stairs.

Skimming the living room, I see her talking to Riya. Without wasting any time, I walk past everyone towards her.

And grab her hand.

"Viren?!" She asks shocked.

I pay no heed to her and tug her to stand.

"Come with me," I say with as much love I could say.

She takes one look at me and then at the floor.

"No, sorry..." Her reply breaks my heart. But Aditi's words play in my mind.

"You left no choice for me," I mumble and tug her with me.

"Hey, man-" Maanya hold back Arhaan.

I nod at her and see her and Aditi smiling at me. Maybe they are the only ones happy with this move of mine.

I tug her to one of the spare guest rooms and shut the door behind us.

"Now tell me what is wrong?" I pry.

"Nothing.." She replies shrugging.

"Really? Because it didn't seem like it." I scoff.

"I just realized, this was a mistake." Her words hit me like a bullet.

"Care to enlighten me, how you got to this absurd revelation." I jest.

"Don't you see? We are from two diff-"

"Don't start this two different worlds lecture, I don't know what does it has to do with our feelings? Does love means different in those two worlds?" I inquire.

"You don't get it, you come from a world where your life is people's interest. You earn money in a minute, what we earn in a year. Your idea of a date is a dinner at some restaurant and mine is a picnic in a garden. " she cries.

"Just because I earn more money, I don't deserve to love someone from your world? And about that, I'm learning, some most beautiful moments of my life were at a tea stall drinking a 10rs. Tea. But what made it special was the girl I had those moments with. You made them beautiful Paakhi." I take her face in mine and caress it.

Tears spill from her eyes.

"I know you are scared, as am I, this isn't easy. But nobody said it will be. You are made for me Paakhi as am I for you. I won't say that you deserve better. Because together we are better. And I want to give you the world that you deserve." I confess.

"But what if one day you think, I don't fit in your world and you leave me?" She implores.

"I will leave that world and not you!" I say the truth.

She chuckles and says, "For someone who doesn't like Bollywood movies, you are very filmy."

I just shrug and pull her in my arms.

"Now I know I did it wrong the first time, but I love you Paakhi, and want you to be with me as my wife. I don't want to waste time dating, I want us to be together." So I step back and bend on one knee.

"You are hurting," she cries looking at my scrunched-up face.

"Paakhi Kapoor, the most enchanting and entrancing woman I have met, you're the only thing I'll see forever. In my eyes, in my words, and in everything I do, your sight is the only sight that will ever bring me peace! So will you do me the honor and marry me?" I say taking her hand in mine.

"Say yes!!!" We hear shouts from outside the door.

I stand up and open the door to see, everyone lingering outside.

They barge in and I see my mom rushing towards me.

"You don't propose a girl without a ring." She puts a box in my hand.

I look at Paakhi to see her smiling at me.

I look at the box in my hand and then at her.

Unexpectedly she puts her hand out and I smile knowing what it means.

I scramble towards her and put the ring on her finger.
Everyone cheer around me and I control the urge to kiss her.

"Congratulations brother!" Arhaan and Shaurya hug me.

I'm so happy that I don't feel the pain when people hug me tightly.

"Now let's do a celebratory dinner," Dad announces, and everyone walks to the dining room.

When just Arhaan, Aditi, Maanya, and Shaurya are in the room, I grab my fiancee and kiss her.

She kisses me back, backing away we both smile looking at the ring. It is beautiful just like my Paakhi. A flower unseen, untouched yet entrancing.

_______________________________

ADITI POV

"I can't believe you are getting married too!!" I screech happily for my best friend.

"Me too," she blush admiring her ring.

"It's beautiful, " I appreciate.

"Just like you," Maanu intervene patting Paakhi.

Paakhi blushes once again.

"Now just you are left." She says looking at me.

"And the wait is going to be lengthy," I chuckle.

Though I'm joking right now, but for a few days now, I have been having these dreams about my marriage with Shaurya.

"Girls? The dinner is served." Talk of the devil and devil appears.

"Coming," Maanya and Paakhi leave the room.

"You coming?" He comes inside the room and settles beside me.

"Ya," I reply.

"What's wrong? Your voice creaks," he points.

I sigh and say, "nothing just tired."

"Do you want to rest? Should I call the doctor?" He asks anxiously.

"Every time a pregnant lady whines it doesn't need to involve a doctor. " I chuckle.

"Sorry, I care too much about you and baby." He says leaning in.

I smile and caress his face before meeting him halfway.

Just as our lips touch we hear a yell.

"You are pregnant?" We both pull apart and look at the stunned face of the Beelzebub.

"Aunty Reshma?" Shaurya rasp out.

"Tanvi Di! Manav Bhai! Dev Bhai! " she starts yelling.

Everyone join us in the room.

"What is it Reshma?" Mrs.Tanvi asks annoyed.

"This girl is pregnant with Shaurya's baby." The way she says it with disdain makes my blood boil.

"Aditi?" Nona asks shocked.

I see everyone gaping at me.

"Is this true?" Nona asks embarrassed.

"Of course it is, I heard it myself. Your so-called daughter is a characterless girl." Reshma Aunty reprimands.

I see hurt and betrayal in Nona's eyes.

"Shaurya?" Mrs.Tanvi asks.

"Son, don't worry, this might be not your child, I will take you out of this mess. This whore will leave you. Just throw money at her face." Her every word was laced with venom.

"This is my baby Aunty. I'm the father of this child," Shaurya slides an arm around me and pulls me towards him.

"You don't have to say this, if she's forcing you to do something then I'll throw her out right away." She storms towards me and grabs my hand.

She yanks me out of Shaurya's hold.

"Aunty!!" Viren stops his aunt and stands in front of me.

"What is wrong with you brothers? This girl is destroying your brother's life." She shriek.

"This girl is doing no such thing, they are both adults, they are in a relationship and now they both are having a baby, what is the problem with it?" He asks.

"Shaurya is 22 and is still a child." She adamantly replies.

"I'm not a child Aunty, I'm a responsible man, I'm helping in the company like my brothers, I take care of my girlfriend. So I don't think I'm a child." Shaurya asserts.

"How are you talking to me? Because of this girl? Who is she?" She yells angrily.

"My girlfriend,"

"My sister."

I'm astounded to see Viren standing for me.

"Bhai?" Now She whines to her brother.

"Reshma! Relax. You are insulting that girl." Mr.Singh chides.

"Why is everyone pointing at me? Don't you see this girl is pregnant without marriage?" She shouts.

"With our son's child." Mrs.Singh exclaim.

She walks towards me and grabs my hand. Carefully, she tugs me towards the lounge and makes me sit.

"I'm sorry for what she did," she apologizes taking my hand.

Hearing her motherly tone and the warmth of her touch makes me so overwhelmed that tears sprawl down.

"I know I should not ask this but-" I know she'll ask if this is Shuarya's baby or not.

"Do you both want this baby? Do you love each other?" Her concern surprises me. These guys are so lucky to have a mother like her.

"Initially, we were just casual but when Shaurya got to know about this child he promised to change and be responsible. We worked it out and then we confessed our feelings." I explain.

"So you guys love each other?" She asks smiling.

I chuckle and she hugs me.

"One more thing, I know this is not right of me to ask you, but did you guys think about marriage? I just don't want this baby to endure society's wrath." She proposes.

"We- we didn't talk about that..." I say.

"You should talk about it," she pats my hand and walks away.

An exaggerated sigh leaves my mouth and I lean my head on my hands.

"Hey..." I look up to see Shaurya standing in front of me.

"Hey," I reply.

"Mom said we should talk," he says sitting beside me.

"I never thought this will come out like this." He utters nervously.

A soft chuckle leaves my lips.

"Certainly not," I mumble with a smile.

"You look beautiful when you smile," his words touch my heart.

"I know this was not how we wanted to break this news to our family, but I'm relieved that it came out," he confesses.

"Not being able to take care of you in front of others or to hold back was very difficult. Now I can let the world know the woman I love and of course about our child." He says all that staring in my eyes.

"Do you really love us?" I say caressing my stomach. He lay his hand on mine and together we touch my belly.

"You may not consider this, but we brothers grew up looking at our Parents. They are an ideal couple for us. We all thought to have someone in life with who we can share a deep bond. But when I had my first sex, it was not special, I heard my friends boosting about theirs. So a feeling that if I bond with someone for a lifetime who doesn't satisfy me scared me.
I enjoyed sex too much to give it up.
But then I found you, we are wild in bed, and crazy outside it. I feel a bond with you. You made me a better version of myself. So I say, that let's get married and have mind-blowing sex our whole life." He kneels on his knee and takes my hand in his.

"Marry?" I ask surprised.

"Yes! Let's give this baby a proper welcome." He pleads.

"You sure?" I ask skeptically.

He nods his head with a big smile.

I smile back and nod my head.

"Wooooohhhh!!!!" He cheers abruptly and swings me around.

"Shaurya!!" I laugh holding onto him tightly.

"What's happening?" We hear many footsteps approaching.

"She said yes!" He exclaims putting me down.

Paakhi and Maanya rush towards me and gush. I look down, embarrassed.

"This day can never be better." Mrs.Singh announces hugging her husband.

I see Nona and Nana looking at me.

So I scramble towards them and say, "Sorry,"

"We are happy for you," Nona pulls me in a hug. Nana pat me on my head and I smile in bliss.

"Now I think we should have dinner," Mrs.Palak Singh announce pulling back from the hug.

I didn't say it but all this drama made me hungry.

"Before that, I want to apologize to you girls because it seems none of my children are romantic enough to know that before asking a girl for marriage, they should buy a ring." Mrs.Singh scowl at her sons.

Everyone laughs at the embarrassed faces of the Singh brothers.

"Now let's talk about it over dinner." Mr.Singh announces Leading the way to the dining room.

"I think I had enough for today, Maira, we are leaving!" Aunty Reshma rebukes scowling at Maanya, Paakhi, and me.

"Mom?" Maira whine.

"Now!" She shouts walking to the doors.

"I'm happy my husband and son were not here to see my insult at my own house by my brothers." She remarks sassily.

"Reshma, don't make a big deal out of this," Mr.Dev advises.

"I'm making a big deal? Me? I was just thinking about my nephews." She states.

"Anyway, I'm leaving, and might not come back ever." She storms out of the house.

Maira follows her but before leaving she hug Paakhi and me and congratulates us.

Everyone stays still for a few seconds but when Mr.Singh huffs and says, "Today is a very special day for our families and children. We should not waste it and celebrate it."

Smiles return to our faces and we all move to the dining room.

"If I would have known today both my sons will get engaged, I would have prepared more dishes." Mrs.Tanvi whines staring at the dishes.

"Mom this is more!" I shuffle a chuckle when Shaurya comment at the array of dishes displayed.

"You don't understand," she shrugs off him and frets over the arrangement of cutlery.

"Mrs.Singh, please relax. This dinner is special because we all are eating it together,"

"As a family!" I finish off Paakhi's sentence. She smiles at me.

"As a family!" Mrs.Singh nod and relax in her seat.

"K said the same thing, but you listened to her?" Shaurya scoffs frowning at Paakhi.

Paakhi grin at him.

"She's my daughter and I trust her." Mrs.Singh remarks.

Everyone chuckled at his troubled face.

"And again, you girls start calling me Mom, no more Mrs.Singh." she looks to Maanu, me, and Paakhi.

We share a look and nod simultaneously.

"So Mrs.Sharma, when are we planning the wedding?" I choke on air.

Saying yes was one thing, but planning a wedding is another.

Shaurya holds my hand under the table and squeezes it.

Any trace of doubt I had earlier fades away when his warmth reaches my heart.

Dinner went fine, everyone fooled around. Stories we're shared, we were teased and what not.

Thankfully the chat of the wedding was delayed till later.

"It was great having you all," Mrs.Singh hugs each one of us and when she reaches me, she says, "Take care of yourself."

I smile and she places a small kiss on my head.

"Mom?" Arhaan grips Maanya's hand and calls Mrs.Singh.

"Maanya is my wife and will be staying with me!" He exclaims. The funny part is Maanya snatching her hand, she is all flustered.

"Umm...If Maanya wants to stay..." She answers unsure.

Maanya looks at Nona.

"We believe she should have a proper vidai ceremony ( a ritual of bride bidding farewell to her family and leaving of her maternal home.)" Hearing her Arhaan face drops. He peeks at Maanu and she just nods at him.

He huff's but lets her hand go.

She walks towards us and we all walk to the cars waiting for us outside.

Peeking a glance at Shaurya I smile and enter the car. Maanu and Paakhi enter next.

"Today seemed to be a momentous day." Maanu takes my hand and boost.

"Never imagined this day would come," Paakhi mumbles emotionally.
I agree with her words and think about my life before she saved me.

I would have never been here if not for her. She will always be an angel who saved me.

"We should probably celebrate!" I perk up.

"How?!" Maanu asks.

"With ice cream and a movie!" I exclaim.

"Even though I'm full, I will not let you down," Paakhi chuckle.

I smile in gratitude which she might have missed due to the darkness in the car.

"Guys..." Paakhi utter.

"I just feel bad for Reshma Aunty," she confides.

"She got what she deserved" I rebuke.

"I know she was pretty presumptuous but she was just looking out for her nephews," she expresses.

"By insulting us?" Maanya scoffs.

"Her words were indictments, but she's their aunt." Paakhi express. This is what I don't like about her. She always looks for the good in the bad.

The discussion halt when the driver asks if we have to make a stop. Then and there we realized that he was listening to our conversation.

"To a store on the left lane," Paakhi answers embarrassed.

Just as the car stops, I jump out and rush to the store.

Picking up our favorite flavor ice cream, I walk to the cashier, and just when I check my wallet for money I realize, I have the minimum amount left. Feeling embarrassed, I walk back to the refrigerator and pick out Vanilla flavor.

Paying for it, I return to the car.

"What flavor did you get?" Maanya grabs the packet from me and checks inside.

"Is this Vanilla or I can't see in this darkness?" She scowls.

I sigh and say, "I didn't have money,"

Silence prevails for minutes,

"I got an event today, we will be meeting with the family tomorrow." Paakhi tries cheering us up.

"That's good," Maanu takes the hint and gleefully replies.

"And about the ice cream, we will add chocolate syrup on top!" Paakhi exclaim.

I smile at them, they are my pillars. Together we make a great team.

Reaching our building, we simultaneously exit the car.

"You go change and take your medicines, we will arrange the bedding," Paakhi instructs me.

"Where are the keys?" Maanu asks checking her bag.

"Here," Paakhi gives it to her and she opens the door.

"Did you leave the lights on?" Maanu accuses me.

Before I can defend myself, Sana peeks through her door.

"Hey guys, welcome home," she gushes hopping over to me.

"I'm so happy, you guys are going to be my sister-in-law" she hops over to Paakhi.

"Where were you?" Paakhi asks her.

"I didn't wanted to spoil Bhai's mood with my presence." She mumbles upset.

None comments on that instead, I rush to the kitchen and yell, "Scramble off ladies, ice cream is melting."

I hear a commotion outside and knew they are arranging for our sleepover.

Taking out some bowls and scooping up some ice cream, I add chocolate syrup on top and keep it in the freezer till we all get prepared.

Walking out of the kitchen, I see Paakhi and Sana arranging the beddings.

Walking to my room, I change into pajamas and plug my phone into charge.

I notice a text from Shaurya stating, 'In sleep, we must be apart, my love, but rest assured for I will dream of you till we meet again. Goodnight, my baby mama.'

Chuckling at his madness, I text back, 'Did you google it?'

His reply arrives instantly, 'nope came straight from my heart.'

I shake my head at his madness, and text back, 'whatever you say," with a laughing emoji.

He texts back with a heartbroken emoji.

I reply with a winky-kissy face emoji.

Our emoji chat continues until I'm summoned by Paakhi.

With a goodbye, I walk to the leaving room ready for a night with my girls and ice cream.

_______________________________

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