chapter 44

Chapters 45 - 48 are updated on ScrollStack.

Chapter start

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" Reyansh, idhar aana.... Priyal calls out to Reyansh from a distance, calling him to her, to which Reyansh nods and gets up from Aarav and goes to his mother.

But as Reyansh reaches his mother his eyes widen seeing Neil coming towards them from the other side, Well ever since he came here he has been hiding from Neil in every way possible but where should he go now?

Seeing no other way out, he quickly hides behind his mother, holding her shoulder, which confuses Priyal.

" Kya hua?" Priyal asks him

" Mom, saamne se Neil uncle aa rahe hai..." Priyal hears this and looks ahead where Neil is walking towards them while talking on the phone, Well, Neil has not noticed Reyansh and Priyal yet

But seeing her son's fear, Priyal sighs

" Beta Teri height kitni hai ?" Priyal asks him to which Reyansh gets confused, in such a situation his mother wants to know his height

" Mom... Before Reyansh could say anything, Priyal says

" Khambhe jitne lambe mere bachhe, tu apni 5.5 feet ki maa ke pichhe nahi chhip paayega..." Priyal reminds him and suddenly she sees that Neil's steps have stopped when he sees both of them at some distance in front of him.

" And look, Neil Jiju is coming here, so now stop being afraid and stand straight, make a good impression in front of your future Father-in-law, don't be a coward." Priyal tells him to which Reyansh stands up thinking something and gets scared when his eyes meet Neil's from a distance. He gulps.

And there when Neil sees Reyansh and Priyal where Priyal gives him a awkward smile because today, even she doesn't know how she will talk to Neil after this revelation but yes she definitely knows this: that now she will have to help her son in front of Neil.

And there Priyal gives a smile to Neil but today there is no smile on Neil's face seeing them but Neil definitely moves close to them while thinking something.

And as Neil reaches close to them, Reyansh, as usual, is about to touch his feet when he meets him but Neil steps back

" Haven't I told you not to touch my feet?" Neil says to which Reyansh knows that yes he always tells him not to do this but it is also his upbringing that whenever he meets his elders, he meets him ( Neil ) he should touch his feet and seek his blessings.

But today Reyansh feels bad when Neil stops him from touching his feet as usual but he does not hug him as he always used to.

But then Reyansh stands quietly in front of him, gradually avoiding his gaze.

" Jiju, he cannot touch your feet, but this is wrong, you did not hug my son today?" Priyal reminds him to which Neil looks at her and Reyansh looks at his mother wondering why she is making an angry Neil more angry

" And now the relationship has changed anyway...our children have become friends." The mischief hidden in Priyal's words does not go unnoticed by Neil and Reyansh is just looking at his mother as if to say, mom, please don't say all this.

And before Neil could say anything, suddenly Avni arrives there from somewhere to save Reyansh.

Avni gets a little nervous seeing Neil with Reyansh and before Neil can say anything to Reyansh, Avni calls Neil from behind

" Neil... Neil turns back hearing Avni's voice and Priyal Reyansh also see Avni who is coming closer to them.

" Neil, I have been looking for you for so long...Do you care about me or not? I have mehendi on my hands and you didn't even ask me if I am hungry or not ? Who will feed me?" Avni complains showing her palm to Neil to which Neil looks at her

"I was just coming to you..." Neil says

" what is this, I was just coming, no, let's go now, I'm hungry..." says Avni to which Priyal smiles as she understands her friend's drama

" Yes jiju, go otherwise your beloved wifey will remain hungry, you can scold my son later." Priyal says adding fuel to the fire to which Reyansh's eyes widen a bit but he soon lowers his gaze when Neil glares at him.

" hmm, Well before leaving I want to tell your son something." Finally Neil says on which Priyal, Avni and Reyansh all three look at him.

" I have said yes, but that doesn't mean that I like your son for my daughter." Avni gets shocked hearing these words from Neil whereas Reyansh face hangs down sadly and Avni feels bad seeing his face like this.

" Hwww jiju, Now don't say this, what is wrong with my son ? Till yesterday you were not tired of praising him and today you are talking like this?" Priyal asks Neil

" huh, I was praising him, it doesn't mean that I will make him my son-in-law." Reyansh looks at him on hearing this.

" And you ( Neil says pointing at Reyansh ) create your own personality, to impress my daughter you copied my character, copycat." He looks at Reyansh and says that because Aaira told him that she always wanted a life partner like him ( like her father ), And Reyansh is just like him, Reyansh takes care of her just like him and that is why she likes Reyansh.

And while Priyal suppresses her smile on hearing Neil's words, Avni's eyes widen at the way Neil is talking to Reyansh.

Is he the kid who is complaining like why someone copied him.

And there Reyansh doesn't say anything, he just looks at Neil silently, he didn't copy him, whatever he did, he did it from his heart for Aaira.

But after this, before Neil could say anything more, Avni again asked him to leave from there to which Neil just gave a look to Reyansh and then left with Avni.

" Mom...what will I do now, earlier Neil uncle used to meet me with so much love, but today he is so angry...I don't want to make him angry because of me." After Neil leaves, Reyansh says this question to his mother

" Earlier you were not his daughter's boyfriend which he had banned his daughter from doing." Priyal tells him to which he looks at her

" But yes, now you will have to try to win his heart again.

Earlier he loved you because he considered you to be good and even now his thinking about you would not have changed..." says Priyal

" But now you will have to prove to him that you are worthy of his daughter and only then he may treat you like before again, do you understand?" Priyal tells him to which Reyansh looks at her thinking something.

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After talking to Neil, Reyansh suddenly feels a bit sad and while everyone is enjoying the mehendi function, Reyansh

who already avoids the crowd and is here only for Aaira but now, being sad because of Neil's words, he sits alone in a corner of the garden and watches the crowd enjoying the function at a distance.

But suddenly he feels a pair of soft hands on his eyes, closing his eyes from behind and when he touches that hand, a slight smile appears on his face when he recognizes the touch.

" We are not kids, Moonlight, that you are meeting me like this." Reyansh says while removing Aaira's hand from his eyes on which Aaira pouts while coming in front of him.

" Huh, And who said only kids do all this and you've probably grown up enough to not be a kid anymore but my dad still thinks I am a kid. So yes, I am allowed to do this." Aaira says at which Reyansh smiles

" By the way, look, the colours of our clothes matched even today. Both are green." She says this looking at his light green kurta and takes a seat in front of him.

" No, we didn't match today, yours is a darker shade of green." He says to which she smiles.

" But it is green anyway." She says on which he sees her with slight smile

" Anyway, leave all this aside, we have been here for so long, why didn't you meet me? Why didn't you talk to me?" She asks him because both of them are in Maheshwari house since almost 2 hours but Reyansh has not met her

" Everyone is here, so that's why....

Reyansh says, well he didn't meet her as he didn't want any drama again...Yes that is a different thing that now everyone knows about their relationship, His father, her family, the Mehra family and even the Maheshwari family, their relationship is no longer a secret from anyone but at the same time there are some people who still object to their being together and he did not want to ruin their mood by getting close to Aaira in front of them.

" What do you mean by everyone is here? Will you not talk to me whenever we are with the family?" Aaira questions him

" It is not like that but... Reyansh says but is unable to complete when Aaira interrupts him

" but what ?" Aaira asks questions to which Reyansh has no answer, however, the conversation that happened with Neil a while back is also a reason why Reyansh is not getting close to her.

And seeing him silent, Aaira thinks of something and the first thing she remembers is that day in school when she wanted to hug him but because of being in school he was hesitant and did not hug her and now again today, he is with her but in front of the family he is maintaining distance from her.

But in college he no longer has such hesitation.

" You don't have such hesitation in college, then why here?" She tries to clear her confusion

" The college people are not our family." He replies

And it is also true, it took a lot of courage for Reyansh to get close to her in college too but still for Aaira he changed himself, removed some of his hesitation and shyness and the situation in college is a little different, the crowd there does not know them, The crowd there has no objection to their closeness, but here among the family, he is feeling a bit hesitant and that too when Neil has expressed his anger towards him.

And there Aaira feels that she cannot understand him, she cannot understand when he is in what mood and now she feels bad that she couldn't understand his personality but still for now she thinks of leaving from here respecting his words, if he is feeling hesitant to talk to her in front of everyone, then it is okay.

" Okay, don't talk to me." Aaira says just this much, on which Reyansh gets a little shocked that she might have felt bad about something he said.

" Aaira... Reyansh is not able to say anything further when Aaira gets up from there and goes to where everyone else is.

And Reyansh is now sure that he felt bad about her words but he had no intention of making her feel bad.

He just doesn't want to anger Neil or anyone else who objects to him being with Aaira.

Later, Ansh and Advaita's mehndi and sangeet ceremony take place simultaneously and the family members make the evening more beautiful with their dancing, singing and fun.

Advaita also joins the dance with her family but the shy and quiet Ansh does not open up even today and just sits and enjoys things.

But amidst all this, Aaira now ignores Reyansh when he tries to talk to her, Well Aaira ignores him only because if he doesn't like talking to her in front of the family then he doesn't need to change himself for her.

She won't expect anything from him that he is uncomfortable doing.

But there, Reyansh doesn't like it as he has unintentionally hurt her with his words.

And he tries every possible way to meet her so that he can explain his point clearly to her that he didn't mean anything wrong in what he said.

He was just maintaining a distance from her here so that Neil and on the other side Ansh do not get angry, especially Ansh's mood does not get spoiled today as it is his special day today.

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" By the way, today I will know whether you really love me or not." These words are from Advaita to Ansh who is sitting with her and enjoying the function where the family members are performing.

And there Ansh looks at her on hearing this word

" And how? And do you still doubt my love?" Ansh asks her to which she nods her head in agreement mischievously to which Ansh looks at her confused.

" And this doubt of mine will be revealed by the colour of my mehendi, people say the darker the colour of the mehendi, the more your husband loves you." Ansh looks at her on hearing this but then thinking something he bends a little and reaches her palm which was on her thighs.

" See mehandi Ji, Today my honour is in your hands...please leave your dark colour on the hands of my would be wife so that she knows the depth of my love." Ansh speaks while talking to the mehandi on her palm to which Advaita does not do anything but smiles at his antics.

The grumpy person who didn't even talk to her at one point of time is now even talking to her mehndi.

And there where Ansh is slightly bent in front of her, Advaita takes advantage of the situation and immediately kisses him on his cheek which shocks Ansh and he immediately straightens up and looks at everyone where everyone's attention is on the dance performance and he is thankful that no one has seen them like this.

He gives a look to Advaita to which she just gives him a mischievous smile to which he shakes his head in disbelief.

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" Where are you taking me?" These are Aaira's words to Reyansh.

As soon as Reyansh gets a chance, Reyansh holds her hand and starts taking her straight inside the house, evading everyone's eyes.

And after bringing her inside the house he takes her straight to his room, Well, even though this is his maternal grandmother's house, he has his own room here, whenever he comes here he stays in this room.

" Why did you bring me here? Now the family members will not say anything seeing us alone like this?" She expresses her sadness on which he looks at her

" I told you not to overthink things..." he says to which she rolls her eyes and looks away to which he sighs

" What happened? Why are you ignoring me?" Standing close to her, he places his finger under her chin and makes her looks at him and asks her this to which she looks into his eyes.

And Reyansh knows what happened to her, she is hurt by his words and he wants to hear it from her mouth that's why he asks her this question.

" You yourself said that we will not talk in public." she says

" so ? I did not tell you to ignore me." he says

" Huh, Both are the same thing...I thought you had changed.

you had a different personality in college and that same personality remains yours when you are with me.

But here again, among the family, you are that same side of you who doesn't want to talk to me, is hesitant, is feeling shy.

Are you just passing time with me ? if that is the case then tell me beforehand, I will stop fighting with everyone for you because the way you are ignoring me in front of the family, I don't think in future you will ever express your love for me in front of them.

I thought you have become an expressive person, but no, that side of you comes only when we are alone; you are quiet in front of everyone else."

Suddenly Aaira reveals everything she thought to him, upon which Reyansh looks at her and he is really shocked at how much this girl thinks so quickly and comes to a conclusion in an instant.

He just said one thing that for now he is just maintaining a distance from her in front of everyone and she thought so much, she felt that he is just passing time with her.

" When you didn't trust me then why did you give me a chance ?" he asks to which she looks at him

" Ya, when you think that I am just passing time with you then why did you give me a chance to "pass time" with you?" he asks

To which she has no answer and suddenly she also realizes that she has again said something wrong by thinking too much.

She did not want to say all this but her problem of overthinking will destroy her one day.

" I'm sorry." She immediately admits her mistake looking down to which he looks at her and holds her hand and sits with her on the bed.

" it's ok, and it's good that you revealed all this, at last I know what all you can think from one small thing of mine, I will make sure that I never give you a chance to think of such useless things again..." He says to which she looks at him

" Come on, let me tell you the truth without lying, why was I keeping a distance from you today?

But yes, after this don't say anything to Neil uncle, promise that now you will not fight with anyone for me." He extends his hand and says, to which she, despite not being sure, placed her hand in his and promises him.

" I met uncle and he was a little angry with me." He says to which she gets a little shocked, but her father had said that he will accept Reyansh for her then why he gets angry when he met Reyansh, she thinks.

" And just so that he doesn't get angry seeing our closeness, I was maintaining some distance from you here Otherwise you know how hard it is for me to stay away from you." he says to which she looks at him

And yes this is also true to some extent, he did not leave her alone for even a minute in the college, that too when she had not said yes to him, So now he will be even closer to her but maybe the reason he gave is true, he wanted to keep distance from her because of her father.

" And yes you said it today but if you say it again that my love for you is just a time pass then...

" Then what will you do?" She asks mischievously

" I will marry you that very day and keep you captive with me for the rest of my life and will "pass my time" well by loving you." And today suddenly Aaira doesn't know from where she starts feeling shy on his words, her face starts turning slightly red on his words.

She had complained to him that she did not feel shy with him but today his words made her blush.

" Huh, You can't even talk to me in front of everyone, how will you marry me ?" She composes herself and says this to which he sighs.

" Look

" No, I don't want to hear anything but first tell me will you be friends with me?" she says extending her hand towards him while thinking something

" Aren't we friends already?" he asks

" No, Before having any relationship, I want to be your friend, I want to be your best friend, I always wanted to be your friend, a best friend where I can know you well, understand you but I still don't understand you very well...." He looks at her at her words and she continues

" You know me very well, you understand me, you know many things without me saying anything but I have failed in this task. Even today I have not been able to understand your slight change in behavior." she says to which he smiles.

" So what's the big deal in this, we have our whole life to understand each other, so don't think so much about such small things." He cups her face and says, to which she looks at him with all her innocence

" And yes, talking about friendship, for me you have always been my friend, my best friend, even though we have not talked but you were and are my friend.

But I'm glad, today you have given me the honor that I am worthy of being your best friend." He says to which she looks at him and smiles.

" So now don't you think we should celebrate our friendship with something sweet." He says it with some mischief and here Aaira is not so innocent that she cannot understand his mischievous words.

" Yes definitely, but if we share that sweet thing in front of everyone outside then it will feel better." She says teasing him because a person who is not talking in front of everyone, how will he kiss.

" Oh please, Some things feel good to do in solitude, with each other. Like this." Saying this he doesn't give her a chance to think as he leans towards her and kisses her on the cheek which makes her eyes widen at his sudden action.

And there he suppresses his smile seeing her expression

" And now come on, you return my kiss to me...you haven't kissed me even once till now..." he complains to which she sees him

" Now I can understand your desire to kiss in the rain but at least you can kiss me on the cheek, how long should I wait for this...please..." He requests showing her his cheek, to which a shy smile comes on her face but again a mischievous thought comes in her mind.

" No, that too in the rain." She says, to which his mouth hangs open.

" But yes, for now, I can give you this." Saying this she catches his hand and puts his palm under her teeth and bites it hard which pains him little.

But before he could react, Aaira leaves his hand, gets up and runs out of the room because she knows that after what she did, it is not right to stay in this room, he will definitely take revenge.

" I will not leave you." Saying this, he goes after her, and Aaira runs out of the house but before she could go to everyone, Reyansh quickly comes from behind and catches her and stops her near the door of the house and he imprisons her there between the wall and himself at which her breathing becomes a little faster, first because of running and now because of his proximity in the open.

" What are you doing, look, I have no problem but what will everyone think if they see you doing this?" She makes him aware of his shy nature, upon which he looks at her

" Everyone will say whatever they want but you, after what you have done, I cannot leave you, today the revenge of the biting will be taken by biting." He says leaning towards her to which her eyes widen.

" Mom you here?" she says to which Reyansh gets scared and he immediately leaves her and turns back where he immediately gets irritated when he hears Asira laughing that she fooled him, Avni was not here.

" Huh, Just big talks, if someone comes now you will get scared." she says and saying this she is about to leave but this time he catches her wrist again and pins her to the wall, trapping her between himself and the wall.

But Aaira's eyes widen when she actually sees her father this time

Whereas Neil, who has seen Aaira absent for a long time, goes in search of her but he gets irritated when he reaches there and sees them like this and he takes a step towards them with the intention to separate them.

" Papa... Aaira says looking behind Reyansh.

" Oh please, Stop using all these old tricks, sometimes mom, sometimes dad, I will not be fooled every time." He says this to which Aaira gets scared at first but then a naughty idea comes to her mind and she thinks of enjoying the show a bit.

And there, Neil also reaches them which Aaira finds a little awkward but she stands quietly when Reyansh continues...And Neil too is unable to say anything when he hears Reyansh's words

" And yes, I admit that I am a little timid, but not so much that I get scared of uncle's name, and it's okay, right now uncle has become a little angry with me,

But don't forget that there was a time when I was his favorite, And don't you remember, in college I had complained about you regarding the boys and how he showed trust in me and asked me to keep an eye on you." Aaira suppresses her laughter when the truth of that day is finally revealed to Neil today.

And at the same time, hearing his words Neil starts regretting his decision that from start he had given him the opportunity to stay close to his daughter.

" I will win his trust again, I will become his favorite again and you will see that the day is not far when he will love me more than you." Reyansh says with full confidence

" Achha ?" Suddenly Neil speaks from behind when Reyansh says that Neil will love him more than his own daughter. so much confidence?

" Aur nahi to kya..." Reyansh answers in flow but gets shocked instantly when he realises that the word "Accha?" was not spoken by Aaira but by a masculine voice and that voice was none other than Neil's.

Reyansh looks at Aaira, and there is a mischievous smile on her face and he understands that seeing her smile that this time her father is really standing behind him, He closes his eyes in fear

and suddenly Reyansh feels a tap on his shoulder which Neil do signaling him to turn towards him.

Reyansh takes a breath and turns towards him where Neil looks at him seriously which scares him and before Neil says anything to him, he thinks of running away from there.

" Uncle, Mom is calling me." Saying this, Reyansh does not stop there and runs away. Seeing this, Aaira hardly suppresses her laughter in front of her father.

Neil looks at Aaira and Aaira just gives him a light smile because even though she is not afraid of her father, she shares everything with him but the situation in which her father saw her with Reyansh was a bit awkward for her for the first time.

To be continued.........