12.

“Jaiveer ji, after looking into their horoscope, there are two auspicious dates for the wedding. One is after two weeks and another one is after 3 months," The priest said.

Jaiveer nodded at him then turned to everyone for opinion. But anyone could say anything Aaravi jump in and said,

“Dadu, I think after two weeks, is perfect for a wedding. I mean they are already married then why to delay..right Dadi," She said then turned to Priya.

Aaruhi who is sitting beside Ryan silently look up at Aaravi and thought,

"She is more excited than me..this girl,”

Priya nodded in agreement with Aaravi.

“I think Aaravi is right. What say Ashi, Siya?"

"Priya Ma, if it is up to me then I would take Aaru home, right away,” Aaravi grinned at her Ma while Ashi also smiled in agreement.

And finally It was decided that Aaruhi and Ryan's wedding will take place after two weeks in Agnihotri's farmhouse.

Aaruhi smiled when Aaravi sat beside her and lightly hit her shoulder in a teasing way.

“My Didu is going to be a bride and then finally my dear Bhabhi…" she teases making Aaruhi blush.

Ryan looked at her and felt satisfied for some reason seeing her smiling and blushing as Aaravi was teasing her with something.

“How about we do a little Roka now," Priya suggested.

Everyone happily agreed and then Siya began the ritual.

She put a red, net embroidered dupatta over Aaruhi's head. Then put a sindoor tilak in between her eyebrows. She then gave her a golden bangle that she was wearing and then fed her a sweet.

“Welcome to the family, bachcha. Always stay happy, " Aaruhi smile at her. Siya kissed her forehead lovingly,making Aaruhi happy as she got another mother in her mother in law.

After Siya, Ruhaan come and bless her placing his hand on her head,

“God bless beta," he lovingly said.

Aaruhi smile and about to bent to touch his feet but Ruhaan stop her,

"Don't touch my feet, bachche. You are our daughter and daughter doesnt touch feet,” he told her softly, smiling at her. Aaruhi nodded, feeling emotional suddenly.

Arjun and Ashika smile and feel really happy and content, seeing the love their precious daughter is receiving from her new family. There is nothing they want more now.

Ryan smiles then looks at Aruhi who has a content smile on her face. Seeing his parent's love for her and her parents' hopeful expression, he promised himself to always cherish Aaruhi and their relationship. He can't break so many hearts and hope. He knows very well, Aaruhi deserves the best and all the happiness of this world. He will try his best to give her everything she wants and desires. He will never let her beautiful and heartwarming smile ever fade away.

Suddenly Aaruhi turned to him, feeling his gaze making him snap back from his thoughts. But for some reason he couldn't look away from her face which was literally glowing in happiness.

Aaruhi feels shy under his gaze.

She moves her eyes down, not able to keep up with his constant stare and slowly tucks her hair strand in nervousness.

Ryan looked at her amusingly and smiled, seeing her so shy just with his stare.

But suddenly he realized what he was doing a few seconds ago.

“What is happening to me??" He thought mentally hitting his head.

Siya hugs Ashika who has happy tears in her eyes. Ashika hug her back and said,

“My kids are so blessed to have you and Ruhaan as their parents,"

Siya pull back and reply,

"My Aaravi and Ryan are equally blessed to have you all, Di. And Abhi and Aaruhi are my own children,” Ashika smiled at her.

Then everyone feeds each other sweets, celebrating their happiness.

Next day

Roy Mansion

Coming out of the closet already in his formals, Ryan walks in front of the mirror. Looking at his reflection, he brushes his hair and then sprays some perfume before walking out of his, taking his phone and car keys.

As he walked inside the dining room, he greeted everyone before taking his usual place.

“Ryan, take some days off till your wedding," Ruhaan told him while having his tea.

Looking at his father, Ryan states,

"But Dad, we have a very important meeting coming up next week. Also two weeks leaves, isn't it too long? Maybe after the meeting…” Ruhaan thought for a moment before finally nodding at Ryan.

“Hmm," Siya and Kritika come with breakfast and set it on the table.

Kritika started serving breakfast to others while Siya served for Ryan who smiled at her.

She ruffled his hair playfully after serving him to which he made a crying face earning a chuckle from her at his habit.

“Ryan.." Siya called him in between breakfast. Ryan looked up while eating his breakfast.

“Yes Ma,"

“Should I send Trisha to your office today?,” Ryan frowned for a second before he remembered her mother asked him about a vacant job in his company.

“Hmm, send her. I will see about it," She nodded.

"Make sure she is comfortable there,”

"I will make sure, don't worry,” he assured her.

On the other side

“Am I not dreaming, right?" Aaruhi whispered while looking at her phone screen with a beautiful smile.

She is lovingly staring at her and Ryan's photo which Aaravi took yesterday. She is looking down due to shyness while Ryan is looking at the camera with a slight smile lightly.

Let out a long dreamy sigh, she turned on her stomach, laying on her bed.

“We are married..omg!! I can't believe it!!" She squeals happily, hiding her face in the pillow.

“Calm down, Aaru…okay. Hold yourself," she told herself after sometime. But the smile on her face didn't go away.

Suddenly she sat up and opened the lower drawer of the nightstand.

She caresses the cover of her childhood scrapbook.

‘Aaru’s sweet memories’

Says the cover page with some stickers all over the cover.

She got it when she was 7 years old.

Opening the first page, a big smile appears on her face. There is a picture of her and Abhi. She chuckles seeing Abhi's face as he is showing his tongue while she is glaring at him for spoiling their picture.

Flipping through a few more pages, she cherishes her sweet childhood memories.

Suddenly her eyes fell on a picture of Ryan with Aaravi and Abhimanyu. It was his birthday celebration.

Ryan is grinning widely looking at the cake while Aaravi and Abhimanyu are clapping.

Turning the page, she saw a very messy painting sticking on the page. She caresses the faded color of the painting softly.

It was Ryan's first painting that he gave to her unwillingly while giving her narrow eyes look. She chuckles at the memory.

23 years back…

Aaruhi - 7 years old

Ryan  - 8 years old

“Bhai, don't be scared, okay. I am here na. Tell me if someone troubles you, okay!?" Ryan smiles at his baby sister's concern for him.

“Fine, doll," he said, making Aaravi grin at him.

They walked through the long hall holding their hands.

“I will find my class, doll. You will get late for class," he told her but she just shook her head.

“No!! You will get lost, Bhai. I will drop you to your class, " she stubbornly said.

Ryan just sighs and silently walks with his sister who is walking like she owns this school.

It was Ryan's first day in his new school after he got his new family. Siya is a teacher in the same school.

He is excited as well as nervous for his first day here. But thanks to his baby sister for making him feel good.

“Is this your class, Bhai?" Aaravi asked, looking at the small board on the wall.

“No, the next one is my class.."  He told her.

They walked inside class. Ryan gulps seeing the class filled with children of his age. And everyone turned to him as he entered inside. Seeing their gaze on him, Ryan felt anxious and nervously looked around to find a place to sit.

Aaravi walks beside him and frowns cutely in confusion seeing everyone looking at them.

“Why are they staring at us??" Murmuring to herself, she turns to his brother.

Ryan smiles at her before he settles on the bench at the end.

After a while everyone looked away and started playing and talking among themself.

Suddenly a beautiful girl with two ponies came to them. She smiles at them.

“Didu!!! What are you doing here???" Aaravi exclaimed happily and hugged her waist making the girl giggle at her excitement.

“This is my class, Avi,” she told her, making Aaravi smile widely.

“Really!! This is my Bhai’s class too, woah!! Now he won't feel alone. You both can be friends, " Aaravi happily said, clapping her hands.

Ryan looks at his sister then the girl in confusion.

“Hii, I am Aaruhi," Aaruhi introduced herself to Ryan. She smiles brightly at him waiting for him for his introduction.

“Bhai, bad manners. Say hii to Didu," Aaravi scolds his brother seeing him quiet.

Ryan looks at her then Aaruhi who is waiting for him.

“Um..Hi..i I am Ryan," He stammered badly.

Aaravi smile proudly at his brother and said,

"You know Manyu, my friend…Didu is his sister,” She told him to which Ryan nodded in understanding as he met Abhimanyu many as Abhi used to come to play with Aaravi in their house.

Aaruhi nodded while smiling. Ryan looks at her cute chubby smiling face then looks down.

Aaruhi's smile drops seeing his straight face. She felt bad. She didn't like it. Here she was smiling, trying to make him feel welcome but that stupid boy ignored her.

“Monkey…" Aaruhi muttered to herself but Ryan heard her.

He glares at her to which Aaruhi just pokes her tongue to him in a teasing way before she walks away leaving a shocked and angry Ryan behind.

__________________________________

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