10.

“Morning, Mumma…" Ashika startled as suddenly Abhimanyu hugged her from behind.

“You scared me, Abhi.."

Ashika gives him a playful angry look to which he just grins and quickly kisses her cheek making her smile.

“What is for breakfast??" He asked after taking a seat beside his father who was busy reading the newspaper while sipping his tea.

“Gobhi Paratha and Poha, What do you want?"

"Poha…” Ashika serves him along with a cup of masala tea.

“Where is Aaravi??" She asked him.

“She and Abheer are still sleeping as we had come late last night,” she nodded in understanding.

“Then Aaru must be sleeping as well,…" she said as she sat beside Arjun, opposite to Abhi.

Abhi frowned at her.

“Why??" Ashika looked at him.

"She was with you guys last night, na..”

“What?! No, she was not with us, Mumma. I thought she was with you all," Now Arjun looks at him with a worried look.

Ashika turns to Arjun in fear.

“Arjun…"

"Relax Ashi, she is an adult and mature. Don't worry, she must be in office,” Arjun assures her while he himself is feeling a little anxious and worried for his princess.

“I will call in the office to find out," Abhi said and dial Aaruhi's assistant.

Abhi turn to his father and shake his head,

“Di is not there. In fact, she wasn't in the office since she went for investigation in some village," this makes Ashika more anxious and scared for her daughter's well being.

In a while, there is chaos in the whole Agnihotri house.

Abhi is talking to the police commissioner in the corner while Arjun and Aaravi try to console Ashika who is on the verge of an anxiety attack.

They didn't tell Jaiveer and Pallavi yet and also they went to their farmhouse for a day out.

“Mumma, please don't cry…Didu will be okay," Aaravi said softly rubbing her palm with her's.

Aaravi looked toward Abhi who was looking angry and worried as he was talking on the phone.

Suddenly her attention went to her son who was smiling looking ahead before he started crawling hurriedly making her look in front.

Her eyes went wide looking at Aaruhi and her brother standing at the entrance.

“Didu.." she whispered, making Ashika and Arjun look at her before following her gaze.

Abhi stops talking as he looks at them. He hung up the call.

“Aaru…" Ashika said as her heart felt at peace finally.

Aaruhi looked at them with teary eyes and started walking inside while limping. Ryan looks at her slowly walking inside. He wanted to hold her but he stopped himself in front of her family.

Arjun hurriedly walked to his daughter and took her in his embrace.

“Aaru…" He let out a sigh of relief.

Aaruhi tightly wraps her arms around him snuggling into his chest and a few tears roll down her eyes.

Abhi also stands beside his father looking at his sister with concern, seeing her tears. Then he turned to Ryan with the same concerned look seeing his forehead wrapped with bandage.

Aaravi picked Abheer in her arms as he was trying to crawl towards Arjun and Aaruhi. She smiled at the father and daughter duo before her eyes went to her brother.

She went near him and lightly touched his forehead then looked at him with worry.

“Bhai…How-"

“It's nothing, doll…don't worry,”he softly told her but she kept looking at him in concern.

He shook his head while smile at his sister's love,

“I am fine, meri Maa…Don't look at me like this," He playfully said, making her pout.

He then turned to his little nephew who was giggling cutely. Ryan took him from Aaravi and kissed his head lovingly.

"Mera Sher(My lion)”

“Aaru, Are you okay? Where were you, princess??” Arjun asked softly after pulling back from the hug.

Aaruhi just looked at him tightly holding his hands feeling scared for no reason.

Ashika looks at her face which is pale and showing her tiredness. Then she notice her outfit and frowns in confusion.

“Aaru…," Ashika softly said, making her look beside her father to see her Mumma looking at her with teary eyes and a smile on her lips.

“Are you fine, baby??" Aaruhi just nodded, giving her a small weak smile to ease her worry.

Abhi looks at her sister then Ryan who is standing with Abheer in his hands, a little away from them while looking at them.

“Ryan beta, what happened to you?? How did you get this?" Suddenly Ashika asked as she now noticed Ryan.

She walked near him and placed her one palm on his cheek, she looked at his wound before looking at him with worry.

“It’s nothing, Aunty. Just got a little hurt…don't worry," he assured her, smiling at her.

"It didn't seem little, son..” she said to which he just smiled sweetly, making her smile at his sweetness.

“Come inside,..." She said taking him to the couch and making him sit.

Aaruhi smiles lightly seeing this as she leans against her father's chest and closes her eyes for a moment.

“Aaru,...come lets sit, princess" Arjun lovingly called her caressing her head. Aaruhi smile slightly still leaning towards him

At the same time, Aaravi come from the kitchen with water and juices for both of them

“I am feeling sleepy, Papa…I I…amm" Suddenly her words turned into inaudible whispers.

“Aaru.." Arjun again calls her, this time with little worry, only to get a low hum from her.

He slightly looked down at her face to see her eyes close.

He touches her forehead to find her burning.

Abhimanyu who was standing there looked at his panicked expression and came near him.

“What happened, Papa???" He asked

Everyone now turns to them hearing Abhimanyu's question.

"She is burning…call the doctor,” he told him.

Ryan stood up in hurry and looked at Aaravi's pale face and closed eyes.

Arjun picks her up before rushing to one of the rooms. Everyone follows him in the room.

Ashika sat beside her on the bed while Arjun on the other side. Abhi covered Aaruhi with a blanket before standing beside Aaravi near the bed.

Ashika touches her cheek feeling them burning hot due to high fever.

“Oh God!!"

"How did she fell sick..” Ashika whispers to herself, caressing her cheek gently. But then her eyes fell on her hair.

She gasps slightly as she lightly touches the red color in her hairline before turning to Arjun who already noticed it but he didn't say.

“We will talk later.." he just told her before looking at his daughter with soft eyes.

Aaravi and Abhi share the surprise look but stay silent.

On the other hand, Ryan gulps as he notices the exchange between the people. His nervousness suddenly shot up.

They heard the knock on the door.

Abhi went to check and open the door for the doctor.

Everyone stand on the side while the doctor check her and after few minutes, he turn to Arjun,

“The fever is high but I will give her an injection, she will be okay soon. I am writing some medicines. Except that there is nothing to worry, she will be alright in a few days," Arjun nodded.

"Actually doctor..” suddenly Ryan said, everyone turned to him.

“She has twisted her ankle badly, please check it once," the doctor nodded.

As the doctor reveals her swollen ankle, everyone grasps in worry seeing it.

“It seems really bad…" The doctor said as he checked her ankle. He lightly presses the purple swollen making Aaruhi flinch in sleep and whimper in pain.

“I bandage her ankle for now and also add painkillers for pain but I suggest getting her X ray done in case she might fracture her ankle…and don't let her put pressure on her foot till it get better," The doctor told them after he apply ointment on her ankle and wrap crepe bandage on her foot.

Arjun looks at Ryan who is drinking juice. Ashika glances at Arjun with furrow before turning to Ryan.

Abhimanyu and Aaravi silently sat there as the atmosphere turned tense.

Ryan turns to Arjun and slowly breathes out.

“Are you feeling okay, son?" Ashika softly asked him to which he smiled at her and nodded.

“Ryan…" Arjun calls him.

"Uncle, before I tell you anything and answer your questions…I want you to call Ma and Dad, here,” He politely asked him.

Everyone becomes confused hearing him.

Arjun turned to Abhimanyu who nodded, understanding his silent words. He calls Ruhaan and asks him to come here with Siya, telling Ryan want them in Agnihotri house.

“They will be here in 15 minutes, Papa…"

Aaravi stares at her brother seeing him so nervous for the first time. Ryan turns to her sister and looking at her worried expression, he gives her an assuring smile and blink his eyes to calm her.

Ryan slowly turn to everyone after telling them everything that happened with him Aaruhi in the forest including their forced marriage.

Everyone was in shock after he finished. Ryan looks at his parents to see them still as they are looking at him.

But the only person giving a reaction is Aaravi as she is trying her best to stop herself from grinning widely.

Ryan looked at her but mentally shook his head at his crazy sister who is giving him a teasing smile when he turns to her.

Ashika comes out of shock and looks at her husband who seems lost. Placing her hand on his shoulders, she gives his shoulder a light squeeze making him turn to her.

“So you and Aaruhi are married now," Siya asked him, still not believing.

Everyone turned to Ryan, making him gulp before he slowly nodded his head.

Siya turn to Ashika who also look at her at the same time,

“Ashika Di, don't get me wrong but I will be very fortunate to have Aaruhi as my daughter in law," She said with a smile.

Ashika and Arjun share a look before Ashi looks back at Siya and smiles lightly.

“I don't know why we never thought like this before but I will be happiest with this relationship,"

Siya smile wholeheartedly.

"Arjun Bhai, I wanted to ask for Aaruhi's hand for my son and wish to make your princess the Lakshmi of our house,” Ruhaan asked Arjun, leaving everyone more shocked.

Ryan blinks his eyes in surprise. Well he didn't expect these things.

“Omggg!! Finally!!!" Suddenly Aaravi squeals, hugging Abhimanyu's forearm.

Arjun went near him,

“I would love to, Ruhaan…but I wanted to ask Aaru first,"

"Of course,” Ruhaan replied and they shared a friendly hug.

Siya and Ashika share a happy smile.

Abhimanyu rolls his eyes at his wife who is jumping like a kid in joy.

“I am sooo happy, Manyu!!!" Abhi chuckled lightly at her excitement.

Ashika went to Ryan and gave him affectionate smile she softly said,

“Ryan, you are like my own child. You can tell us if you want this marriage or not. You are free to make whatever decision you want. We won't force you to accept this relationship just because of us or Aaruhi. And I wanted to tell you this, my Aaru will be the luckiest girl to have you as her husband," Ryan took her hands in his and smiled.

“I already decided and I want to give this relationship a chance but with all your blessings,”  he said, making Siya smile widely at his son.

“My Ryan has grown up so much, Ruhaan ji," She said in awe with her son.

"Siya, he is now 31,” Ruhaan told her but she glared at him playfully.

"He is still my baby…my little Ryan,” she told him to which he just laughed at her antics.

____________________________________

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