chapter 4

 

Next day

Arjun called riya…hey so how was the roka ceremony…it was great….i just got a bit emotional…its okay to be emotional you know,you are going to leave your family and come stay with your new family it is going to be tough but riya I promise you that I will always try to keep you happy trust me…arjun I do trust you and you don’t have to reassure me everytime I know that you will keep me happy  and I am not emotional because I am going to be leaving my family to start a new journey with you but because I am going to have two loving families..i find my self very lucky arjun…thankyou for being there in my life.

Hey now don’t get too sentimental okay…waise its going to be our first date today so are you exited…riya blushed and softly said very exited arjun….arjun smiled at that and said be ready at 7.30 riya....she replied I will be waiting for you arjun and disconnected the call…she could handle the tough and angry arjun but the romantic arjun makes her nevous and the ever talkative riya would be left speechless.

7.30 pm

Arjun was waiting outside the mukherjee mansion…riya came outside and she literally blew him away she was wearing a beautiful halter neck blood red gown…she had left her hair open….she just had her brown lether clutch and her cell with her….riya was left spellbound when she saw arjun…for the first time she was seeing him in casuals he was wearing a black shirt with blue jeans a very common combination but he looked out of the world in it…she felt nervous and walked towords

 arjun…arjun lifted his hand and tucked a fringe behind her ear and said you look breath taking riya…marne ka irada hai kya…riya blushed and replied aap bhi kam nahi lag rahe…I hope hum kisi private jagah jaa rahe hai kyunki mujhe jealous feel hona acha nahi lagta…arjun and riya looked at each other for a while and then burst into a fit of laughter…arjun said ab chalo ya hansi se hi peth bharna hai…he opeaned the passenger seat door for her…she sat in and mumbled a thank you…he sat on the drivers seat and drove.

They reached china grill restaurant and riya almost squeeled and said yeh toh mera fav restaurant hai aapko kaise pata…arjun said mujhe pata nahi tha mein toh tumhe bas apne fav restaurant mein leke jaana chahta tha…riya gaped at him,arjun said haan yaar hum toh ache dost hai phir bhi hum dono ke ye baat nahi pata thi…riya chucked and said ab andar chale…they walked inside the waiter showed them their cabin…this restaurant had cabins so the customer could have their privacy…they ordered the food and kept on talking about random things for a while….they ate they chatted…arjun paid the bill and said park mein walk ke liye chale…riya said okay…anyways she wanted to spend more time with arjun.

They were walking in silence…but it was not uncomfortable for them…arjun broke the silence by saying riya I want to talk to you about something very important can we please sit on the bench…riya agreed…arjun looked a bit tensed so riya held his hand and squeezed it and said arjun you are going to be my life partner and I am going to be yours there shouldn’t be anything that you cant share with me…I promise if its something big and uncomfortable for you to reveal it I will think abou it with a clear mind and not overreact…please trust me…arjun was awed by her simplicity…he knew that she was childish most of the times but very mature if the situation requires it…arjun said that its not about me who has to trust you I already do that but its you who has to trust me….riya I want you to know everything about me…I want this relationship based on truth and if you want to back out from this marriage after listning to this then I completely 
understand…riya kept the cool façade from outside but she was panicking from inside…she really liked arjun and she did not want to loose him…she was about to tell him that she does not want to know anything that’s related to his past and before she could do that arjun said that he had a relationship with roshni when he was in college…riya was rendered speechless…she was shocked she could not mutter a word arjun’s words were ringing in her head…arjun slightly shook her she came out of her trance…her eyes welled up…arjun felt terrible seeing her like that…riya was about to remove her hand from his hold but he held on to her tighter and said riya please listen to me first…when I was in college roshni bhabhi and I were good friends and then she asked me out  I only use to see her as a good friend but I thought that I should give it a try maybe I will end up liking her in that  sense or even fall in love with her…because she was the only person who understood me or so I thought..but as time went by my feelings for her did not change at all infact her becoming my girlfriend made me distant from her…it was like I did not recognize my best friend at all…it became so awkward for me to share my feelings and my thoughts with her….the one person who I could talk about anything under the sun was lost somewhere…that’s when I decided to breakup with her…and with that breakup lost my best friend as well…now she is only my bhabhi my brothers wife,I respect her a lot but that’s it…please try and understand me riya….riya was thinking very hard she thought from his prospective and found that he was right…if it was any other girl she would have not thought about it so much…everybody has a past and so does arjun….that girl being her rosh di should not change her judgement regarding this matter…she looked into arjun’s eyes and said I understand arjun and I don’t blame you but please answer my one question what if you feel suffocated in our relationship then what….arjun was relieved that riya understood him and he understood her reason for her to ask such a question…he answered her saying riya its not just friendship between us…I really like you and the thing is that I don’t have any doubt in my mind that our relationship can work…I agree that I found my friend in you..after roshni I never thought that I would be friends like that with anyone but you came and changed everything…agree that I see my best friend in you but I also see a lover my feelings for you are beyond friendship…and trust me riya I would never want to hurt you deliberately and I wanted to tell you all this because you have the right to know every aspect of my life…riya looked at him with admiration she bent a bit and kissed him on his cheek and whispered thank you arjun for sharing this with me…ummm arjun if you don’t mind me asking did you ever I mean did you get close with di….arjun smiled at that question and said riya you don’t have to ask my permission to ask me something and as for the answer to your question its no I and roshni never came that close only a few hugs and they also were friendly nothing intimate…riya saw the sincerety in arjuns words and said arjun I do trust you…and I don’t want to back out from this marriage cause even my feelings for you are beyond friendship…arjun was elated hearing that….he hugged her tightly and riya responded to the hug…they sat there hugging each other,they sprang apart as riya phone started ringing….she answered the call…after the call ended she said arjun I think we should go home mom says there is a lot of preparations to do as its our engagement 


tomorrow…arjun smiled and said that only one week and then I would never have to drop you home….riya blushed at that…he dropped her home walked out of the car to leave her till the door step riya turned and said that I had the best time arjun thankyou and thankyou once more for telling me about your past…riya its my pleasure…even I had the best  today riya he then slowly wound his arms around her and took her into a warm hug…riya lifted her head up slightly arjun put her fliks of hair behind her ear and kissed her forehead….good night riya…riya kissed his cheek and said good night arjun please come soon tomorrow.

chapter 3

Arjun stood there speechless and just kept on staring at roshni he did not know what did she mean by what she said.roshni said what happened devarji cat got your tounge…arjun came out of his shocked state and replied to her sternly and said I have given you the reason for not agreeing to marry you before roshni bhabhi but just cause you are my bhabhi i will repeat it for you…I was never in love with you we liked eachother and we were seeing eachother for a while…when we were together I never gave you any false promises nor did I mislead you…I was very clear about my feelings…seeing the look on roshni’s face he mellowed down a bit.

He sighed and said roshni if I was not sure whether I wanted to marry you and spend the rest of my life with you how would I ever be able tokeep you happy…you don’t have to worry about riya…I am very sure about her I want to get married to her and want to spend my entire life with her…I don’t know about the future but I certainly will promise you that I will try my level best to keep riya happy and fulfill all her wishes.

Roshni stared at him for a while and said I hope you keep this promise arjun I don’t want my baby sis to ever get hurt do you understand.arjun just nodded.

Roshni turned and left she was thinking why did you not want to marry me arjun was I not good enough…is there anything wrong with me…how are you so sure that you will keep riyu happy when you were never sure about us….anyways why am I thinking all this I love sameer now I think I am being too protective about riyu.

roshni have a problem with me getting married…does she still have feelings for me…no no this cant be true she loves sameer bhai she must be just worried for riya that’s it.he shook his head and decided to go to sleep instead of thinking about all this.

Next morning mukherjee residence 

Aparna:panditji these are the kundli’s of arjun and riya please tell what date will be shubh for conducting their marriage.

Pandit ji:bitiya according to these kundlis their marriage should be conducted within 2 weeks because there is no other shubh muhrat for another 2 years for them.

Aparna said but pandit ji itni saari tayariya itne kam time mein kaise karenge,bitiya this is the only shubh muhrat the next date is after two years.abhay said that’s fine panditji we will talk to riya’s inlaws about this and then get back to you.

Aparna called sameer about this surprisingly sameer was okay with it they talked about all the rasams taking place…aparna told him that let the roka take place this evening and the engagement day after and the rest of the rasams we will decide that on the engagement itself is that alright…sameer said as you wish ma we will come today and perform the roka ceremony in the evening.

Sameer informed arjun about this…arjun seemed happy with this and said okay bhai jus tell me when to be ready

Sameer said ready…tu khai nahi jaa raha arjun…arjun asked why meri shaadi hai aur mein hi nahi jaaunga toh ajeeb lage ga na…ha ha very funny aaj shaadi nahi sirf roka hai aur roke mein dulha not allowed hai mere bhai….arjun said yeh stupid rasmeh banayi kisne hai yaar…hum ye sab skip karke seedhe shaadi ki rasmein nahi nibha sakte….arjun itna utavlaa math horiya kahi bhaagi nahi jaa rahi aur waise bhi sabar ka phal meetha hota hai…arjun just scowled at him and left from there.sameer laughed and said thank god panditji ne itni jadhi shadi ki date fixed karva di agar 2 years wait karna hota toh pata nahi bechaare ka kya hota.

Aparna informed riya about her roka…riya was very happy she couldn’t believe that  she would be getting married in two weeks….but then all of a sudden her smile vanished and she had this frown marring her forehead…aparna asked what happened to you suddenly you seemed happy a while ago

Riya said mumma I have not shopped yet I don’t have anything to wear for this evening…what am I going to do about this crises…aparna laughed and said that we can go for shopping right away….riya’s smile came back and said that’s a good idea lets go then we can shop for my engagement dress as well.

It took them two hours for shopping…riya selected a beautiful golden anarkali with delicate silver work for her roka and a beautiful violet lenhenga choli for the engagement…

 riya texed arjun and asked him to wear something that suits with her dress during the engagement arjun replied riya pehle shaadi toh hone do yaar tum toh pehle se hi orders dene lagi…riya laughed at that and replied abb bahut der ho chuki hai mr raute now your stuck with me for life…arjun smiled at that n replied I already know that riya…the thing is that I want to be stuck with you for the rest of my life…riya blushed at that and just sent a

smiley face…arjun replied abhi itna sa charming hua hu riya aur tumhari bolti band hogayyi shadi ke baad tumhara pata nahi kya hoga.riya replied shutup arjun abhi mujhe tayaar hona hai roke ki rasam ke liye mein tumse baad meh baat karti hu bye…aur tum charming banna band karo aur tumhari meeting pe dhyaan do...arjun replied bye and asked will you go out with me tomorrow…our official first date….riya blushed and replied yes…arjun said sure then I’ll pick you up at 7.30..bye…miss me in the roka ceremony….riya replied I will a lot…arjun smiled at that and then focused on what the client was saying.  

    Every body was present in the hall riya came down and every body was awed by her beauty…shree’s parents had also come because there was no one elder in the raute family to perform this ritual.

Riya sat on the sofa…shree’s mother came and put a beautiful red jardosi work chunari on riya’s head she did her aarti and applied tika…smeer and roshni performed the same they fed her mithai…shree’s mom said kea b aapki riya humari ho gayi hai…riya’s  family became a little emotional at that…riya called her mum near her and asked her chotu bhai and bhabhi kab aayenge…she took their name and at that time chotu and zenia entered…riya saw them and squeeled bhai bhabhi aap log aa gaye…zenia said arrey kaise nahi aate humari gudiya ki shaadi tai ho gayi hai…chotu came and hugged riya and said gudiya tu itni jaldi badi ho gayyi but anyways I am very happy for you…arjun is a very nice guy…who tujhe humesha khush rakhega aur tera khyaal rakhega…riya just gave a teary smile…she was happy that she was getting married to arjun but at the same time was sad that she would have to leave this house where she spent her childhood and go to her sasuraal leaving this house full of happy memories behind.

Roshni pulled her mother to a side and said that ma itni jaldhi kya thi  aap log saari tayaariya itni kum time mein kaise karenge

Aap logon ko 2 years wait karna chahiye tha…aparna said tu chinta mat kar hum sab handle kar lenge aur riya aur arjun in 2 hafto meh hi shaadi karna chahte hai…aur 2 years wait karna would not be appropriate beta…roshni just nodded…

chapter 2

Everybody were chatting merrily sameer noticed that roshni was very quiet,he asked her why does she look so sad isn’t she happy for her sister and brother in law.roshni forced a smile and said no she is very happy with this relationship she is just upset that she wasn’t informed about this earlier.sameer said that shona {he calls roshni shona} we just did not say all this because we wanted this to be a surprise and if I told you all this earlier you would have been exited and spilled the beans to riya.roshni just humphd and turned her face to the other side sameer thought that he would let her be for now he’ll pacify her at home.everybody had their dinner.aparna said damadji we would call the pandit jee tomorrow and get the wedding day fixed and inform you about it is that okay..arrey mummyji I have no problem with that you don’t have to ask permission from me you our my mother you are suppose to give orders to us.aparna just beamed at him and said god bless you beta.

Mummyji ab humeh nikalna chahiye bohot saari tayaari bhi toh karni hai..aprna said ji beta take care and drive slow.sameer and roshni touched abhay and aparna’s feet and bid them good bye.

Arjun went and touched aparna and abhay’s feet and said uncle I am not perfect but I would try my best to keep riya happy they both were touched with what arjun said.abhay said that beta nobody’s perfect but there are very few people who vow to try and keep their life partner happy.arjun smiled he bid them good bye he was about to leave when he turned and looked at riya riya felt his stare and turned to him he came near her bent towords her ear and said good night and sweetdreams would be wifey.riya blushed at that and said good night and drive safe would be hubby.arjun smiled at that and left.

Arey arey ab itna sharmao gi toh pata nahi shaadi ki rasmo ke waqt kya hoga meri hone waali choti bhabhi.riya said shut up sheen jab tumhari aur shree ki shaadi hogi tab dekhungi kaun sharmaata hai.sheen blushed at that and said chal ab bye…meet you very soon choti bhabhi,shree said ab tum nanad bhabhi ki baatien khatam ho gayyi ho to chale warna tumhare dono bhai mera keema bana denge kit um ghar itni late pahunchi.sheen said shut up shree mere bhaiyon ke bare mein kuch nahi okay…ha ha meri maa lekin ab aap gaadi meh beth ne ka kasht karengi.sheen sat in the car and bid everbody goodnight.

At night riya’s room…aparna said riyu tu khush toh hai na beta dekh tere upar koi dabaav nahi hai tu agar iss shadi ke bare mein soachna chahti hai to hum damadjee koh kehke thoda time maang lenge.

Riya said mumma agar mere mann mein thoda sa bhi doubt hota nah to mein kabhi iss rishtein ke liye raazi nahi hoti.mom mein arjun ko pehle se like karti thi par kabhi ye kissi se kehne ki himmat hi nahi hui…mein bas thoda shocked thi aap logon ne achanak se ye proposal mere saamne rakha isiliye kuch nahi keh paayi….phir jab arjun ne mujhse iss proposal ka kaaran bataya ki who mujhse shaadi kyun karna chahte hai to mein sure ho gayyi ki unke alava mere liye aur koi perfect nahi ho sakta.aur mumma mein yeh bhi jaanti hu ki aap or baba mere liye kabhi koi wrong faisla nahi lenge.aparna kissed riya on the head and said sleep well beta and spend most of your time with your ma and baba kyunki my gudiya will be married and would go to her sasuraal very soon.both got teary eyed at that aparna wiped her tears and said ab no rona dhona yeh sab bidaai ke liye bacha ke rakhna…both of them chuckeld at that…aparna bid riya goodnight and closed the door to her room   

Raute mansion

Arjun was on the terrace…he was thinking about riya,he thought about the first time he met her…

Flashback

He was getting late for his important meeting so he did not bother about the traffic rules…the signal turned yellow and but he did not stop the car and a girl suddenly came in front of the car arjun pressed the breaks got down and yelled at her dekh kar nahi chal sakti tum marna hi tha to kisi aur  ke gadi ke saamne aa jaati tumeh meri hi gadi milli,the girl looked up and was as furious as arjun was and replied dikhta toh aapko nahi hai  yello light hai signal pe aur uska matlab hota hai apni vehicle rok dena.arjun said dekho mere paas fizul ka time nahi hai tumse behes karne ke liye,haa toh mere paas jaise time hi time pada hai na…arjun was about to retort but riya cut him off and said look mister I have to go somewhere and I am getting late…agar phir se mile which I hope not toh yeh argument continue karenge okay…and walked away from there arjun got back in his car and was extreamly furious and said aaj tak kisi ne mujhse aise baat karne ki himmat nahi ki hai.

He went home and got the shock of his life and said tum riya who was merrily chatting with sheen turned and had the exact same expression as arjun had and said tum,tum mujhe follow kar rahe ho,arjun said mein nahi tum mujhe follow kar rahi ho yeh mera ghar hai…riya said tum arjun raute ho jeeju ke bhai,arjun got confused and asked jeeju,riya rolled her eyes and said haan meh roshni di ki choti behen hut oh sameer ji mere jeeju hue na.he had cooled off in the office about the incident and thought that it was his fault so he decided that if he ever met that girl again he would apologize but he did not know he would meet her so soon and would be related to her so he just said you are riya mukherjee…riya said a curt yes,arjun said look I am sorry for before it was my fault,riya was shocked to know that he apologized she had heard a lot about him and all described him as a short tempered and an insensitive person,she thought that may be people were wrong to judge him cause if was like that he would have never accepted his mistake…so she gave him a bright smile and said its okay…arjun put his hand forward and said wanna be friends riya said why not…and they became friends after that..

End of flashback

He had a smile remembering that day…he thought that what a fool he was that in his anger that day he forgot to notice how beautiful she was.he never thought he would apologize to anyone ever but he did not know the reason that what made him accept his mistake and say sorry to someone he did not know.he was bought out of his revive when he heard a voice from behind…he turned to see roshni behind him roshni looked straight into his eyes and asked why to you want to marry my baby sister….why are you ready for marriage now when you thought that marriage was a waste of time when I asked you to marry me…what are you playing at.

chapter 1

Riya came down and saw that everybody was gathered in the living room she said Namaste to her jeeju and hugged roshni and complained what di since you’ve got married you have forgotten us you hardly ever visit before roshni could answer she said I know I know you love jeeju a lot but usmeh se thoda pyar humare liye bhi bachaa ke rakho…roshni turned red at that and swated riya’s shoulder and said pagli kuch bhi bolti rehti hai.

Sheen interrupted and said hey hey hey behen se kya mili apni best friend ko hi bhul gayyi.riya said ohh meri drama queen tujhe mein bhul jaaun aisa kabhi ho sakta hai kya and then went and hugged her.shree said tum logon ka bharat milap ho gaya ho toh hum par bhi thoda dhyan do mein aur arjun ek dum left out feel kar rahe hai.arjun looked at shree weirdly at that and whispered abbey in sab meh mujhe mat kheech meh aise hi theek hu tujhe unsab ka attention chahiye toh mujhe in sab mein kyu ghaseet raha hai.shree was going to give a wity remark at that but one look from arjun shut him up for good.

Riya said tum logon ki kanaphusi khatam ho gayyi ho toh dinner ready hai sab log dining room meh aajao meh khana lagva deti hu.aparna said abhi nahi beta humeh kuch important discuss karna hai.arjun looked nervous at that.riya said theek hai aap log baatien karo mein di aur sheen bahar garden mein baatein kartein hai.abhay said nahi beta humeh tumse kuch important baatein karni hai.riya got tensed at her father’s tone and said baba kya hua koi pareshaani hai kya.sameer interrupted riya and said nothing like that riya its just that we want to keep a proposal in front of you…riya asked what,sameer said that we want you and arjun to elope in holy matrimony.riya stood there stunned she was so shocked that she did not even blink…

Roshni was also shocked hearing this she was not aware of the purpose this gathering was held.she prayed that riya should say no to this proposal.she was happy with sameer but was confused about her feelings still.she still could not see anybody else with arjun.

Aparna shook riya and riya came out of her shocked state and sid what…she was fumbling for words arjun understood her sentiments and asked aparna aunty cani speak to riya alone before she gives her answer,aparna said why not.roshni looked uncomfortable at that.

In the garden neither did arjun know how to break the awkward silence nor did riya.arjun,riya they both said at the same time,riya said you tell first what did you want to say.arjun was not a guy to beat around the bush so he came straight to the point and asked does dhe have a boyfriend or is she in love with someone.riya was astonished at that question,she thought how dare he ask me that but then she thought that they were not meeting as friends or reletives here they were meeting as prospective bride and groom here.so she answered no I am not in a relationship and you do you have someone else in your life he said no he does not.

Arjun said look riya you are a very good friend of mine my brother is always behind me saying that its high time I settle in my life I rejected all the proposals he got for me but when he asked me if I would agree to marry you I don’t know why but I could not say no to that.i thought a lot about it.riya I know we don’t love eachother but we respect and understand each other I know that every girl had a dream of marrying her prince charming so I wont force you riya.if you say no to this proposal then I will respect your dicision and don’t worry we will stay friend for life.so you don’t have to feel presurised you have a free will and you have the right to decide with whome do you want to spend your entire life with.

Riya looked at him and smiled.she said that she will never do anything that she feels is not right.arjun was a little confused with her answer he was about to ask what did she mean but she intervened and said shall we go inside everyone must be waiting for us.arjun nodded and they headed for the living room

Every one was waiting for them anciously aparna and abhay were worried and hoped that riya did not talk rudely with arjun cause they knew she must be angry with them for just dropping the bomb on her about her marriage like that.riya and arjun came inside.they all knew that arjun had already said yes to this proposal they were waiting for riya’s reply.riya went next to her mother and said jeeju I am ready for this marriage..i accept this proposal.everyone heaved a sigh of relief and then they jumped with joy aparna hugged and kissed riya’s fore head,sameer hugged abhay and said baba mubarakho.arjun came and took their blessings abhay hugged him and said you were already a family member for us but now I 

officialy welcome you to my family damadjee.arjun said thatkyou uncle uh sorry baba.riya felt happy listning to that.she looked at arjun at the same time arjun turned at looked at her staring at him with admiration he smiled and then winked at her riya looked away shyly.arjun was very happy with riya’s dicision although he had to figure out the reason for his happiness.he was still unsure that why he was confident that riya would make the perfect life partner for him.