Epilogue

Here's the epilogue 🤧

The light studded house outdid the star lit sky. The house was decorated as a bride. It wasn't any different from the inside. People were rushing from one corner to the other. Bright colors adorned the insides. The fragrance of the flowers lured everyone. The chitter chatter of people spread through the atmosphere inside as they awaited for the ceremony to begin.

"Is Zoya ready?" Wasim asked Tanya as she was talking with pandit ji.

"I will check, uncle..." Tanya said and made her way upwards.

"And, also have a check on the groom..." Wasim said stopping her in her way.

"Yes, uncle...I will send Neil to check..." Tanya made her way towards Zoya's room.

"May God bless you..." Wasim muttered to himself as he watched her going.

.

.

.

"Zoya, are you ready?" Tanya asked as she entered the room in which she was getting ready.

"Physically I am...but emotionally I'm not!" She said freaking out.

"Just relax..." Tanya said keeping her hands on her shoulders.

"But, how do we do it?" Tanya mentally face palmed herself.

"Seriously....?"

"Of course, I'm serious...I'm not in the mood to joke...it seems as if I'm a joke right now...How do we do it, Tanya?"

"You just need to close your eyes and take a deep breath..." Neil said as he watched Aditya fidgeting with his fingers.

"Count till 10 and take a deep breath..." Tanya told Zoya.

"You are saying as if it's so much easy..." Aditya spoke of his worry.

"Trust me, it's not...but soon, it's going to be..." Tanya said.

"Just close your eyes...and take a deep breath whom do you see?" Neil asked.

"Her..." Aditya said.

"Him..." Zoya said.

A smile adorned their lips as they met their other half through their closed eye lids.

"Let's go...it's time..." Neil nudged Aditya bringing him out of his thoughts.

"You will see her soon..." Neil comforted him as he patted his shoulder.

"You both are soon going to be tied together in a sacred bond...it's obvious to be nervous...just take deep breaths...you'll eventually calm down..." Tanya said as Zoya slowly opened her eyes and looked out of the window at the sky filled with stars and the sea reflecting it back. The sight itself brought some peace to her.

[Earphones suggested for better sound quality]

Aditya was seated on the mandap with his hands joined and eyes closed. A little commotion from the other side of the hall made him open his eyes and he looked at the corner.

'If I could fly...'

He watched her coming towards him in a rose gold lehenga. The green emerald studded jewellery adding more to her charm. His gaze landed on her eyes and everything around them blurred.

[Their attire]

'I'd be coming right back home to you...'

She met his gaze and felt all the noises fading as she felt herself drowning in the warmth of his eyes. Their first meet coming in her mind.

'I think I might

Give up everything, just ask me to...'

Her timid walk towards him reminding him of how timidly she walked into his cabin totally unaware of what the future beholds for her.

'Pay attention, I hope that you listen...'

He got remembered of her tears, her endless talks, their laughs, their crazy moments...the moments in which they were together...beside each other.

'Cause I let my guard down...'

She remembered the day when she found him sitting under the table, just like a child...too much afraid of the world...his vulnerable state and his mischievous self.

'Right now, I'm completely defenceless...'

He remembers the day of his confession. How she saw him right through his soul and helped him fight his demons. How she made him realize his worth and made him love himself.

'For your eyes only...'

Aditya offered her his hand looking into her eyes with love and adoration. She placed her hand gently into his and stared back in his with the same emotions.

'I'll show you my heart...'

They both seated down and soon the marriage ceremony started. They both glanced at each other in between as they did the rituals. Their anxiety rising with each second. The excitement and nervousness to start this new phase of their slowly settling. Both kept taking deep breaths as they did what the pandit ji told them.

Zoya's parents came forward to do the kanyadan and gave both of them the blessings. They both stood up on their places to perform the pheras.

'I've got scars...'

The flower garlands were handed over to them to perform varmala. They held the garlands in their hands looking at each other in the eye and smiling.

'Even though they can't always be seen...'

Zoya raised her hands to make him wear the garland. He bent his neck a little back to tease her but after seeing her puppy face he bend it a little down gladly accepting his defeat.

'And pain gets hard

But now you're here and I don't feel a thing...'

She bends her head a little down making it easy for him to make her wear the garland. Their eyes twinkle as they realise the importance of the garlands which now are laid around their neck.

'For your eyes only...

I'll show you my heart...'

They begin their phera ceremony with their hands entwined together. Aditya leading the way, taking vows to protect her and seeking blessings from God.

'For when you are lonely

And forget who you are...'

They walk round the sacred fire exchanging vows and making promises which they don't want to break ever... forming a bond which will bind them together forever...

'I'm missing half of me when we're apart...'

Zoya is made to step forward as she starts taking her vows. Even a thought of separation bringing tears to their eyes. They now knew what marriage brings with itself. It brings with itself responsibility and demands patience and companionship.

'Now you know me...For your eyes only...'

For sure, it's going to be a difficult journey for both of them but the good thing is that they both are together by each other's side...to stand by the other in their worst and help them through the storm that awaits them.

'I can feel your heart inside of mine...

(I feel it, I feel it)'

Aditya filled Zoya's hairline with vermilion. Slowly yet promisingly. Her eyes filled with tears as she realised the importance of this red powder. The red color now signifies their love for each other and his claim on her.

'I've been going out of my mind

(I feel it, I feel it)...'

He tied the nuptial chain round her neck similarly tying their souls together till death separates them and even beyond that. It symbolises their love for each other and now she protects him from an evil eye... She raises her hand and touches the nuptial chain finally living her dream.

They both sat opposite each other separated by the curtain for the nikkah ceremony. Through the curtain, they were able to see each other's face and eyes...though not clearly but they could find the comfort in them.

"Qubool hai."

"Qubool hai."

"Qubool hai."

Aditya said as he looked at Zoya through the curtain.

"Qubool hai."

"Qubool hai."

"Qubool hai."

Zoya said as the qazi asked her the same question. The curtain between them was drawn away and people cheered around them. They were officially married now!

They both went and took the blessings from Zoya's parents...now 'their' parents. Tanya and Neil came forward and congratulated them both. Hugs were exchanged as happiness swam in the air. Zoya looked down at Tanya's protruding small belly and wished her the best. Tanya and Neil have been married for an year and they couldn't seem to be more happy when the found that they were soon going to be parents.

When Aditya and Zoya returned from London to Mumbai, they needed some time to deal with everything that went around them. Marriage seemes as a big responsibility which they both dreaded but when they saw how happy Tanya and Neil were they realised what they had to do. It sure is a big responsibility but they were ready to fulfil this responsibility with each other by their side.

They both walked away from them to take the blessings from a person sitting on the wheelchair. They both bent down and touched his feet. The person looked startled as he found them touching his feet.

"I'm Adi, Pa..."

"Oh...Adi..."

"And she is Zoya..."

"Oh... Zoya...May God bless both of you..." Aditya and Zoya smiled as he finally recognised them. Harsh's heart wasn't in a good condition and the cardiac arrest from which he suffered still was showing its after effects on him. The doctors did save him that day but couldn't save his memory. He suffers from memory loss but now lives happily with Aditya. His legs have also been weak and they can't support his weight for too long. But, the thing that matters is that he is happy now.

Celebrations carried on as everyone rejoiced and wished for the new life that awaits the young couple. The sun slowly dipped down and the couple was left alone to spend some time and to rest.

"How are you feeling?" Aditya asked as he entered the room which made Zoya face him.

"Happy..."

"Me too..." Aditya went forward and left a lingering kiss on her forehead sealing all the promises which they made to each other.

"I feel so peaceful here..." Aditya said as he hugged Zoya from behind and faced the beautiful sea in front of them.

"The feeling is mutual...I haven't felt like this in years..." Zoya said as she leaned her head backward on his shoulder.

"Is this what forever feels like Aditya?"

"Well, maybe it does as long as you are with me..." They both closed their eyes and tried to capture this moment, this feeling to be remembered forever.

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