34.

"My innocent baby....Why would I be hurt, bachcha?? I know my son...he can never hurt his Ma. My heart trusts you more than you trust yourself, Ryan. And don't worry about us, stay with Mrs. Rathore for a few days. She is emotionally vulnerable right now. So take care of her. She is your grandmother, Ryan and we can't change this fact, right?" Ryan listens to her mother while looking at her on his phone screen.

"So you are not missing me??" he asked, looking at her sadly.

Siya chuckle and said,

"My stupid boy, stop thinking too much. And why won't I miss my baby, huh?? I am missing you so much but you are needed there, right now. And also, I have you for myself for the rest of my life. Just a few more days then you will be here with us,..." She said, more like assuring herself then him

"You are the best mother in the world," he lovingly said, making her smile brightly.

"And you are the best son of the world," he laughed slightly. Siya smile seeing him happy.

"Where is Aaru?? I hope you are not trouble my sweet child," As she ask this Aaruhi come there with a cup of coffee for Ryan.

"Hello, Ma. How are you and everyone in the home??" She asked happily as she saw Siya's face on the screen.

"We are good, bachcha. And you..."

For a few minutes they talk with Siya and ask about everyone. Talking with her, Ryan felt light and good.

"Okay, you both take care of each other and also look after Mrs. Rathore...." She said at the end of the call.

Ryan nodded at her.

"We will. You also take care of yourself. And don't worry about us. And I love you," Siya smiled at him.

"Love you both... " she said softly.

Then she hung up the call after bidding bye.

Turning to Aaruhi, Ryan smiles and hugs her tightly. She smiles, wrapping her arms around him.

"You are right...After talking with Ma, I am feeling good and light,"

"Told you..." she said with a big smile as she pulled back to look at him and kissed his cheek lightly.

"Thank you so much, Ryan. Thank you for accepting her request," Tejraj said happily as Ryan inform him about his decision to stay in their house till Sheetal recover from surgery

Ryan just nodded slightly at him.

"We are leaving after the doctor sign her discharge paper,"

"Just send me an address, Mr. Rathore. We will be coming in our car. We have our stuff in the hotel so I have to bring it from there and check out from the hotel," Ryan informed him.

"Sure, Ryan..." Tejraj nodded, smiling at him.

Just then a nurse came there and asked him to complete the discharge formalities.

"We will meet you at home, Ryan.." Tejraj walks away from there to look after the procedure.

While Ryan turns to Aaruhi who is sitting a little away from them on the bench. He walked to her, making her look up feeling a presence near her. Smiling at him, she stood up in front of him,

"Let go?..." He asked, giving her his hand.

She nodded, giving him her hand before they walked out of there.

It was almost evening, when Ryan and Aaruhi reached Rathore property. They can see a huge magnificent palace standing proudly surrounded by the trees and colorful flowers around it. The view in front of them is beautiful and heavenly. The palace is very beautiful, showing the beauty of traditional Indian architecture. Soon their car entered through the huge metal gate and then driving through a long pathway, their car finally halted near the porch.

Aaruhi looks outside through the window to see the flower and light decoration at the entrance. She looks at Ryan in curiousity who has the same expression as her.

Suddenly a man dressed in formal uniform walks near their car and opens the door for Aaruhi.

She looks at the man who greets her respectfully and bow slightly.

She gives him a nervous smile before looking at Ryan who gives her a nod to step out as he also comes out of the car.

"Thank you..." she thanked the man politely.

The man looked at her for a second before stepping back with a bow.

Ryan walks around the car and stands beside her. As they take a step forward, Tejraj and Sheetal come near the entrance to welcome them. Sheetal is smiling widely, sitting on the wheelchair.

Ryan and Aaruhi look at them. Aaruhi gave a small smile to them.

"We are waiting for you both only..." Sheetal said then she looked at a helper and gestured her something to which she nodded and walked inside.

As they reached near the entrance, Sheetal stop them and said,

"It is the first time my Ryan has come here and that too with his bride, so let me welcome you both," She smiled looking at Ryan then looked at Aaruhi.

Soon that lady came there with a plate of aarti and was going to give it to Sheetal but she shook her head.

"Meena, give it to Trisha..." As she said this Trisha looked at her in disbelief as she was standing in the corner from the starting.

Aaruhi also looks at Trisha who was hidden from her till now.

"Trisha bachche, come down their Aarti as I can't do it like this..."

"Mrs. Rathore, it's not needed..." Ryan told her as he didn't want any of this drama here.

"Arre...why not needed?? Trisha come on, do this..." She told her and asked Meena to give her Aarti ki thali.

Trisha looks at Ryan with slightly glossy eyes then at her hands, which are holding plates.

She slowly comes towards Aaruhi and Ryan and stands in front of them. She blinked her eyes and forced a smile on her face as started rotating the Aarti thali in front of them.

Aaruhi notices her tight grip on the thali. And also how her eyes are staring at Ryan. So she intentionally wraps her hand around his lower arm, making Trisha clench her jaw.

Sheetal smiles looking at them then turns to her husband who has a content look on his face after so many years.

Trisha steps aside and gives the Aarti ki thali to Meena as if it was burning her hands.

Placing her dupatta on her head, Aaruhi walked towards the old couple and touch their feet, taking their blessings.

Sheetal and Tejraj taken aback by her gesture, looking at her in surprise. Sheetal smile lightly before placing her hand on her head,

"Khush Raho..."

(Always stay happy,)

Tejraj also give her blessings patting her head.

Aaruhi smile at them then turn to her husband. She called him near her through her eyes. Ryan sigh knowing what she want from him.

So he silently walk to Tejraj and Sheetal and touch their feet showing his respect for the sake of their age and then being his mother's parents.

Sheetal smile at him. But before she could place her hand on his head he step from them and stand beside his wife. Tejraj look at him feeling sadness rushing through his body. But he is also happy at his little gesture of respect.

Aaruhi smile at him give a gentle squeeze to his hand. His expression turn soft looking at her.

"Come inside..." Sheetal asks them to enter the house.

Ryan and Aaruhi entered the house and walked into a huge and elegant living room.

Sheetal is smiling ear to ear as she asks them to settle on the sofa and ask the helpers to serve some refreshments to everyone.

She turn to Aaruhi and Ryan and said,

"Make yourself comfortable. And if you need anything just let me know," Aaruhi smiled and nodded.

"I already prepared a room for both of you. You can rest for a while before the dinner,"

Trisha gritted her teeth hearing Sheetal and felt angry at how easily she had accepted Aaruhi forgetting about her. It was her who was with her and took care of her till now.

Trisha was about to walk away from there but Sheetal called her softly.

"Trisha beta, can you show Ryan and Aaruhi their room," Trisha gave her fake smile and nodded.

"Ji..."

Turning to Ryan and Aaruhi she asks them to follow her, hiding her emotions really well.

Aaruhi and Ryan are walking behind Trisha. Reaching the first floor, Trisha turned to the right and they entered the long and beautiful corridor.

"That is your room, Ryan," she said, stopping in front of the room and looking at Ryan with a smile.

Aaruhi didn't like the way she looked at Ryan but didn't say anything.

"Thank you, Trisha..." She thank with a forceful smile then looked at Ryan.

"I am feeling a little tired, Ryan and also my heels are hurting my feet, ...." She told him to which he nodded and opened the door for her.

"Please close the door, Ryan...I need to change," Aaruhi told him as she walked inside the room ignoring Trisha as if she was not standing at the door.

Trisha clenches her fist when Aaruhi removes her dupatta and at the same time Ryan closes the door.

Standing in front of the room for a few minutes, Trisha burns in jealousy and anger.

"He would have been mine if you were not in between us. I would be in your place, Aaruhi...." She whispered, looking at the door with red teary eyes.

"What is all, Uncle?? Ryan is married! Now what about my daughter, huh??" Ravish said in slight anger in his voice.

Tejraj sighs looking outside the window of his office.

"My daughter was going to be the daughter in law of this. Now she is left with nothing but a broken heart. I have done so much for you and your family. If you forget, it was me who stayed close to your daughter after you disowned her. Taking my two-year-old daughter to an unknown City because you asked me to. I always stay loyal to you but that's what I get in return. You know Trisha how much she loved Ryan and from childhood she dreamed of marrying him. Because you and Aunty give your words to me and my daughter," Tejraj closed his eyes not knowing what to do with this situation.

He is now regretting his words of the past. Ryan is already married and seems to be in love with wife. He can't destroy their married life.

Turning to Ravish, Tejraj look at him and said,

"I am sorry, Ravish but you know it's impossible now, Trisha and Ryan have no future now. I know about Trisha's feelings and feeling very bad for her. But make her understand and ask her to move on,"

Ravish chuckle bitterly and said,

"How easy is it for you to say this?? Do you even know what she is going through since she came to know about his wedding? She cries every night begging me to give her Ryan. She even tried to kill herself after coming back here," Tejraj looked at him with shocked eyes hearing about Trisha.

"What?!" A horrific voice comes, making them look at the door to see Sheetal is standing there.

Ravish looks away from them feeling rage inside him.

Sheetal came inside slowly and sat beside Ravish.

"Why didn't you tell me, Ravish?? She must be so heartbroken to make such a decision," Ravish scoffs at her and looks at her.

"Why do you care?? She is alive but I won't forgive you all for destroying my daughter's life. For playing with her feelings... "

"It's not like this. We care for her, Ravish. I truly wanted her to be the daughter in law of this house. She is very close to my heart. But no one knows that situation will turn so complicated," she softly said with a hint of guilt in her voice.

She looks up but her gaze stops at Trisha who is standing outside with teary eyes.

"Trisha, come here dear..." she lovingly called her.

Wiping her tears, she walked inside while her father and Tejraj looked at her silently.

Sheetal made her sit in front of her on a chair and hold her hand.

"Trisha, we are sorry. I know you must be going through so much but beta we now can't change what already happened? You are educated and very understanding, it is better for you to forget Ryan and move on in life. He is a married man..." Trisha looked at her with hurt and betrayal and slowly pulled her hand from her hold.

"I can't, I won't...He is mine, you yourself said this to me. Now you are asking me to forget him..." she smiled bitterly.

Sheetal looked at her with a sad face seeing her crying.

"Trisha, try to understand-"

Trisha stood showing her palm.

"No Dadi hukum, I don't want to understand anything...I don't need anyone's pity and sympathy. I will see what I have to do now," saying she stormed out of the room.

Ravish also walked after looking at the couple with anger and betrayal.

Sheetal sigh and look at her husband who was worried and tensed about the whole situation.

"Keep eyes on her, Sheetal. She is not in sense right now. I am afraid she will do something in her madness," Tejraj said looking at his wife who frowned in confusion.

"She won't, Tej. I know her. She is just emotional and heartbroken. She will be fine in a few days. She is a nice girl. I trust her,"she said, assuring her husband.

Tejraj didn't look convinced after hearing

her and didn't say anything.

"I will Dad. Okay...good night, Dad," Ryan placed his phone on the nightstand then looked at his beautiful wife who was braiding her hair, sitting in front of the dressing table.

She smiles seeing him looking at her.

"Why are you looking like this??" She asked while securing her braid with a band.

He didn't say anything as he was busy admiring her beauty. He can't get enough of her beauty.

"Come.." he said, opening his arms for her.

She smiled widely at his gesture and walked to him. Falling into his arms, she slowly melted in his embrace and wrapped her arms around his torso.

He planted a small kiss on her hair and smiled looking at her hairline adored by Sindoor.

Aaruhi smiled softly and closed her eyes, feeling him kissing her head.

"You are so beautiful..." he whispered, wrapping his arms around her, hugging her closely.

"I know..." she replied proudly with a smile.

Ryan laughs a little at her reply before making her lay over him completely.

She looked up at him with a glowing face and twinkling eyes.

"Your soft gaze on me and the way you stare at me with so much adoration, make me feel like the most beautiful woman. I love it," Ryan felt his heart filled with warmth for the woman in front of him, in his arms.

He cupped her cheeks softly and gently stroked his thumb over her cheekbone before Perking her lips. He let his lips stay on her lips for a while before looking at her, who had her eyes closed.

"I am falling for you, Ruhi..." he whispered, leaning his forehead against her.

Aaruhi opens her eyes and looks at him with a surprised look. She blink slowly still staring at him not believing her ears.

"My heart is falling for his real owner.." he told her, making her eyes turn glossy.

Ryan frowns seeing tears in her eyes and cups her face with his both hands.

"Why these tears, Jaan? You don't want me to love you, huh??" He asked with a smile while wiping her tears with his thumb.

"I want to...I just got overwhelmed," she said with a cute little pout on her lips and then sniffed like a baby.

Ryan couldn't help but give her a hard smooch on her pouty lips. Then smile at her seeing her blushing hard.

His wife is looking so cute right now, like a little baby.

"Stop being so adorable, wifey...or I will eat you up," He teases her, hugging her tightly and squeezing her softly.

She becomes shy suddenly hearing him and hides her face in his neck while smiling widely.

Ryan chuckled seeing her shy and started patting her head softly.

"Now stop being so shy, wifey. We have been married for a month now," he whispered to her to which she bit her lips still hiding her blushing face. They stay silent enjoying a serene moment in each other's arms.

After a while he felt her arms around his torso loosen, he looked down at her face to find her sleeping peacefully. He smiles and kisses her forehead lightly without distributing her sleep.

He carefully made her lay down on the bed from him and covered her properly with the blanket.

"Good night, love..." he whispered looking at her face.

Taking his phone, he got off the bed and walked outside on the balcony.

___________________________________

(Aaruhi's look)

(Rathore Palace)

____________________________________

Thank you so much for reading.

Hope you all like it.

Don't forget to VOTE N COMMENT.

See you all soon

Take care

Lots of love 💜💜