[40]

Capetown

Aarohi sat on the couch, a steaming cup of coffee in her hands, her mind lost in thoughts. The soft hum of the city outside blended with the quiet in her living room.

Unbeknownst to her, Ved had been watching—taking in every little movement, every flicker of emotion that crossed her face.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward, breaking the silence.

"Can I get a sip of your coffee?"

Aarohi froze.

The voice… It couldn’t be.

Slowly, she turned around.

Her fingers went slack, and the cup slipped from her hands, the coffee spilling onto the floor as she abruptly stood up.

"Tum yahan kaise… aur achanak se kyun?" she asked, her voice trembling in shock.

Ved took a step closer, his eyes locked onto hers. "Teen saal, Aarohi. Teen saal se tumhe dhoond raha hoon. Ab jaake mili ho tum. Tum achanak Bangalore chhod kar kyun chali gayi thi?" His voice held an urgency, a desperation he had buried for too long.

Aarohi took a step back. Seeing that, Ved halted mid-step.

"Tumhe kyun farq padta hai? Kyun dhoond rahe the mujhe? Kya lagti hoon main tumhari?" she demanded, her voice laced with emotions she had held back for years.

Ved’s answer was immediate, unwavering. "Mohabbat lagti ho. Yeh woh sach hai jo main tumhe teen saal pehle batana chahta tha… par tab tak tum ja chuki thi. Kahan gayi, pata nahi. Italy ka pata tha par tum wahan bhi nahi thi."

Aarohi let out a bittersweet chuckle. "Kitna accha hai na tumhara pyaar, Ved. Jab chaaho mujhe apni mohabbat kaho… aur jab chaaho mujhe pasand karne se inkaar kar do."

Ved’s expression turned serious. "Aarohi, tumse mohabbat hone ke baad maine kabhi aisa nahi kaha. Trust me."

He reached out to hold her hand, but she pulled back.

"Sach? Phir yeh kyun keh rahe ho ki mujhe teen saal se pyaar karte ho? Jabki us din tumne Vaani di se kaha tha ki main tumhe pasand bhi nahi hoon!" Her voice cracked as she struggled to hold back her tears.

Ved frowned in confusion. "Kab, Aarohi?"

"Wahi, shaadi wali raat," she whispered, her eyes searching his for answers.

And then, realization dawned on Ved. A small chuckle escaped his lips.

Aarohi frowned, her lips forming a slight pout.

"Hassi kyun aa rahi hai tumhe?" she asked, confused.

Ved took a slow step toward her. "Pura toh sun leti, Aarohi."

Before she could react, he caught her hands firmly, his grip gentle yet firm.

"I don’t like you, because I fell for you."

Aarohi’s eyes widened.

The words hit her like a wave, washing away years of doubt in a single moment.

"Tumhare pyaar mein toh main pehle hi gir chuka tha, Aarohi. Bas kehne ki der thi. Aur jis din kehne wala tha, us din tum ja chuki thi."

Aarohi’s heart pounded.

"Kya yeh meri galti thi ki main chali gayi?" she asked softly.

Ved shook his head, his voice thick with regret. "Nahi, yeh meri galti thi ki maine waqt rehte kuch nahi kaha."

Aarohi took a deep breath.

"Toh tum hi batao mujhe… kya mujhe tumhe maaf karna chahiye?" she asked, her eyes never leaving his.

Ved gave a small, defeated smile. "Woh toh tum hi decide karogi na."

She let a few beats of silence pass before saying, "Theek hai then… main nahi karti tumhe maaf."

Ved’s heart sank. His face fell.

But before he could process her words, she continued with a teasing smile, "Kyuki yeh na tumhari galti thi, na meri. Kabhi-kabhi insaan galat nahi hote… galat bas halat hote hain."

Ved looked at her, his expression unreadable.

"And do you know what, Ved?" Aarohi said, stepping closer, "Iss teen saal ke intezaar ne hume ek doosre ki value samjha di. Isliye, Mr. Ved Ahuja…" she paused, taking a deep breath before grinning, "I love you. Will you be my husband? Will you become Ved Aarohi Mehta?"

Ved stared at her, stunned. And then, without hesitation, he pulled her into his arms.

"I love you too," he murmured, holding her close. "And yes… I will become Ved Aarohi Mehta."

Aarohi giggled against his chest as he hugged her tighter, pouring three years' worth of longing into that embrace.

"You know what, Aarohi?" Ved whispered. "Hamari kismat bahut acchi hai jo tum mujhe Cape Town aate hi mil gayi… aur hamari misunderstanding bhi theek ho gayi."

Aarohi pulled back slightly and cupped his face. "Misunderstanding baaton se theek hoti hai, Ved. Jo humne ki."

Ved smiled, nodding.

And with that, a love that had waited for years finally found its way home.

*******************

One month later…

Rishit was deeply engrossed in an online meeting, his sharp gaze fixed on the laptop screen as he listened intently. Just then, Vaani entered the room, her presence light but brimming with mischief. Her eyes twinkled as she took in the sight of her husband, so focused and unaware of what she was about to do. A smirk played on her lips.

Without a word, she strolled toward him with effortless grace and settled herself onto his lap. The unexpected contact made Rishit's muscles tense for a fleeting second, but he didn’t react, nor did he stop his meeting. His camera was off, which meant there was no imminent risk of being caught. He simply allowed her to stay, his demeanor composed, though a knowing glint flickered in his eyes.

Vaani, however, was far from done. Leaning in, she traced her delicate fingers across his face, her touch feather-light yet undeniably teasing. Her fingertips skimmed over his jawline, trailed along the bridge of his nose, and finally danced over his lips. Then, with an impish grin, she began pressing soft, fleeting kisses against them, her affection unrelenting.

Rishit, still appearing unaffected, continued his meeting, but the moment Vaani heard his voice break the silence with a husky, “We will continue it later,” she knew she had won. Without hesitation, he shut his laptop, signaling that his work could wait.

With a firm yet gentle touch, he helped her stand, mindful of her condition. She was five months pregnant, and he refused to be careless with her. But his restraint didn’t extend to his desire. The moment she was steady, he turned the tables on her, pressing her against the cool wall with a possessive intensity. Before she could react, his lips captured hers in a deep, passionate kiss.

Their movements were languid yet fervent, lips molding against each other in perfect sync. Rishit grasped her lower lip between his teeth, sucking on it with deliberate slowness, while Vaani tilted her head, her lips ardently claiming his upper one in return. The kiss was an unspoken battle of dominance and surrender, both unwilling to break away first.

When they finally parted, breathless yet utterly intoxicated by each other, Rishit dipped his head to place lingering kisses along her jawline. His voice, now thick with desire, rumbled against her skin as he murmured, “Biwi ji, bahut romantic ho rahi hain aap.”

Vaani chuckled, her fingers threading into his hair as she retorted with a playful smirk, “Aapse toh kam hi.”

A satisfied smile tugged at Rishit's lips as he looked at his wife, his heart swelling with love. But he knew she needed to rest. Slipping an arm around her, he guided her toward the bed and carefully laid her down. Leaning in, he pressed a tender kiss to her forehead, his voice laced with warmth as he said, “Now you should have some rest. Main Rivaan ko dekh kar aata hoon.”

With one last affectionate glance, he stepped away, leaving her to rest, but not before ensuring she was comfortable.

*******************

Ahuja Mansion...

Vidhi sat in her room, lost in thought, her gaze fixed on a distant point as if searching for answers in the void. The quiet hum of the evening surrounded her, but inside her mind, a storm brewed.

Vidhan entered, his steps light but purposeful. Noticing her pensive expression, he made his way toward her and settled beside her on the bed. His eyes softened with concern as he gently asked, “Kya soch rahi ho, Vidhi?”

Vidhi turned to face him, her eyes searching his as if looking for reassurance. Taking a deep breath, she finally voiced what had been on her mind. “Should we adopt a child, Vidhan?” Her voice was steady, yet vulnerable.

For a brief second, Vidhan was silent. Then, a slow, warm smile spread across his face. There was no hesitation in his voice as he said, “If you want, then definitely we will.”

Vidhi’s lips curled into a soft smile, her eyes shining with newfound determination. “We are adopting, Vidhan. We will adopt two children—a boy and a girl.” There was no trace of sadness in her tone, only a firm resolve. She had long accepted her reality, but now, she saw it as an opportunity—an opportunity to change two lives for the better.

Just as warmth settled between them, a sudden thought struck Vidhi, making her brows furrow. “Vidhan, aaj date kya hai?” she asked abruptly.

Vidhan, slightly confused, told her the date.

The next moment, Vidhi’s expression shifted from curiosity to shock. Her lips parted as she whispered, “I... I missed my periods, Vidhan.”

Before Vidhan could process her words, she bolted from the bed and rushed toward the washroom, leaving him sitting there, utterly confused and stunned.

The minutes stretched unbearably long for Vidhan as he waited. His heart pounded in anticipation, his fingers gripping the bedsheet unconsciously. Then, the door creaked open, and Vidhi stepped out, clutching a pregnancy test in her trembling hands.

Without a word, she placed it on the table and sat beside him. Their feet tapped against the floor in unison, an unconscious manifestation of their nervousness. The air between them was thick with tension, their breaths shallow as they waited for the result.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, the test showed the outcome.

For a moment, they both froze, their minds struggling to register what they were seeing. And then, as realization dawned, emotions surged within them like a tidal wave.

Vidhan was the first to react—his arms wrapped around Vidhi in an overwhelming embrace. Vidhi clung to him just as tightly, her body shaking with raw emotion. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered against his chest, “Miracles do happen, Vidhan. They do happen. We are pregnant.”

Vidhan closed his eyes, his own tears welling up as he held her even closer. “I am so happy, Vidhi.” His voice trembled, heavy with joy and disbelief.

For several minutes, they remained wrapped in each other’s arms, reveling in the moment. Then, as if guided by the same thought, they both spoke at the same time—

“We will still adopt a child, Vidhi.”

“We will still adopt a child, Vidhan.”

Their eyes widened at each other’s words, surprise flashing between them before they burst into laughter.

Vidhan cupped her face, his smile filled with love and admiration. “We will adopt a child too, Vidhi.”

Vidhi nodded, a radiant smile gracing her lips. “Yes, we will.”

With that, they both embraced—not just each other, but the immense happiness that had just entered their lives.

Their hearts beat in sync, overwhelmed with gratitude and joy. Vidhan held Vidhi close, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head, while she buried her face in his chest, letting her tears of happiness flow freely.

Life had surprised them in the most beautiful way, and as they sat there in each other’s arms, they knew that this moment—this miracle—was just the beginning of a new, extraordinary chapter in their lives.

*******************

Oberoi Mansion…

RISHIT’S POV

I was sitting on the balcony, letting the evening breeze wash over me, when Vaani walked in, her phone in hand. She plopped down beside me and, without preamble, started showing me a reel. It was some kind of Bookstagram content—something she was clearly invested in.

Before I could react, she turned to me with narrowed eyes, her lips pursed in an adorable pout. “Aap mujhe aise baatein nahi karte,” she huffed, her voice carrying the unmistakable edge of her mood swings.

Ah, the mood swings.

I sighed inwardly but responded with a gentle smile. “Karta toh hoon, baccha.”

But my attempt to pacify her failed miserably. Her hormones were in full control tonight. “Nahi karte! Main bata rahi hoon, main—” She suddenly stopped mid-sentence, her expression shifting as if she'd lost track of her own argument.

I tilted my head, suppressing a chuckle. “Main kya? Kya kar lengi aap?” I asked, my voice soft with amusement.

She blinked at me, momentarily confused before blurting out, “Wahi toh aapse nahi hota.”

Now it was my turn to be confused. “Kya?”

She exhaled dramatically before looking me straight in the eyes and declaring, “Romance.”

I stared at her for a second before scoffing. “Aur yeh jo bachhe maine ped par ugaaye hain?” I asked in mock seriousness, referring to Rivaan and the baby she was carrying.

For a second, she stared at me. Then, she burst into laughter. Loud, uninhibited laughter.

“Aap funny hote ja rahe hain, Rishit,” she said between giggles before getting up and walking toward the bed, leaving me standing there, utterly dumbfounded.

I blinked. What just happened?

Shaking my head, I followed her inside, only to find Rivaan running into the room, a Shinchan plushie clutched in his tiny hands. I smiled and scooped him up, placing him on the bed beside Vaani.

She turned to me with a childlike excitement in her eyes. “Rishit, aapko pata hai? Shinchan mera bachpan ka pyaar hai,” she said with a proud grin.

I gasped dramatically. “Haww… mera sautan?”

Vaani rolled her eyes. “Nautanki.”

And just like that, she turned her attention back to Rivaan, playfully tickling him as he squealed with laughter. I sat back, watching them, my heart swelling with something indescribable.

It felt different. It felt beautiful.

Four years. It had been four years since Vaani entered my life and turned it into a heaven I never thought I deserved.

There was a time when I believed I’d never laugh again, never love again. That part of me had shattered long ago. But then Vaani came along, and somehow, she pieced me back together—without ever trying, without ever forcing.

She healed a broken soul.

A soul that had been lost six years ago.

Nandini… you will always be alive in my memories.

And now, I had Vaani by my side—the woman who had given me a second chance at love, at happiness, at life itself. I would cherish her, love her, and give her everything she deserved.

And this, ladies and gentlemen, was my happy ending—

With the memory of my first love…

And the presence of my last.

____________________________________________________________________________

So.. how was the story, I know it wasn't perfect, there were a lot of things I could do to make it better but I also wanted it to remain a simple love story without any twist and turns.

And here my FIRST BOOK END

THANK YOU FOR GIVING MY BOOK A TRY...I HOPE YOU WILL KEEP READING MY BOOKS...AS I KNOW THAT I AM IMPROVING...🫀