Chapter 42: Chapter 42

"Happiness is only real when shared."

Six months passed like a blur, with significant changes in the lives of Ayushi and others.

Ayushi joined as a senior software developer in one of the prominent IT-based firms, while side-by-side continuing the charity work that she did in Mussoorie. She never rested on weekends, those were the days that she had whole-heartedly devoted to the poor, unprivileged persons and the victimized women.

Dhruv too wasn't much behind. He had joined as the CEO of their empire, but this was a whole new Dhruv, with a promise of doing something good for the society, for its people. The first thing he did after regaining his position was to rescue those innocents in that mental hospital of Dehradun where even he was tortured by those brutal humans just for some money. He took the help of politicians, bureaucrats to eliminate such brutalist men from society.

Along with that, indirectly, he had also become an integral part of the Indian Army, as he had pledged that twenty per cent of all his earnings would go to the Army for their weapons and the wellbeing of the soldiers. Life as a commoner had shown him the darkest things of life which he couldn't have experienced if everything would've been normal, at least there was one thing positive that he had found out in those two years.

Dhiraj and Pratibha were finally retired along with Gayathri, taking care of the kids and always being engaged with them in the absence of Dhruv and Ayushi. They were finally relaxed, happy, and content with their life. The kids had brought a lot of happiness in their life, no doubt in that.

Payal and Makshik were in their courtship period now, enjoying it to their fullest while also waiting for the time to finally get hooked with each other. Payal aspired to become a professor of Physics, so she was currently pursuing her PhD now while teaching in a professional university as well. Makshik was still posted at Bhopal, so 'meeting with Payal' was never an issue.

Chandani, Probhakor, Anil - Ayushi's father, and Kamini were sentenced inside the jail for a lifetime under the many savage charges that were put against them. Arjun's mother had been a wreck but eventually, she too had realized how horrible her husband was and started her life again, with her son Arjun whom she had rejected months ago. Ankita, Ayushi's stepsister was a teacher, even she completely boycotted her evil parents, who had turned savage because of their greed and revenge game.

And talking about Arjun and Alka, recently they had disclosed their relationship to everyone. After the party night, six months ago, they were enchanted towards each other and this enchantment was the reason behind their beautiful love story which they were soon going to name with the pure bond of 'marriage'. And that was a surprise for all because both of them had been secretive about their relationship because even they were sceptical about it, not knowing where this would lead to.

But finally, the truth was out and it was decided that Payal & Makshik and Alka & Arjun would be married on the same day by none other than Gayathri Singh Rajput.

And talking about their marriage, it was today only and preparations were going on in full swing. But this time, the twist in the tale, was that the marriage was taking place in the ancient house of the Rajputs, with all their close relatives under the roof of the architectural monument, as it was the request of Payal who had always dreamt about a traditional Rajputana wedding.

Aranya and Agastya had become fond of all the people they were in contact with, also they had won their hearts already with their super-cuteness and their funny antics.

"Catch me, catch me," they were busy playing in the daylight on the rooftop with the other kids of Dhruv's cousins and other relatives, while the elders were busy in the preparation for the arrangements of two marriages that was going to take place today. As the roof was the only place where there were no scolding or involvement of elders, they chose this place to play to their heart's content, running freely with other kids.

While on the other hand, Ayushi was busy arranging for the dresses, jewellery, and gifts for the wedding. Then suddenly she remembered her kids who couldn't be seen anywhere. The mother within her got anxious, not finding her kids near her. She was going towards Gayathri to ask her when Dhruv met her on her way.

"Where are the kids? Have you seen them? I'm trying to find them but they are nowhere to be seen," Ayushi exasperated out in anxiety, holding the basket of flowers in her hands.

"Relax, they are playing on the roof, I've sent Madan, my younger cousin on the roof to keep an eye on them," Dhruv whispered while looking at his beautiful wife who looked breath-taking with those soft tendrils falling on her face with the small petals of marigolds on her hair, and a soft yet innocent look on her face was enough to excite his hormones.

"Thank god, I was worried about them, okay I'll go now, so much work is there to be completed," she whispered out and tried to go away from him but Dhruv had some other plans in his mind.

"Aren't you worried about your husband?" he got near her and husked near her ears. Ayushi just looked at him, shocked. Before she could say anything, he had already pushed her lightly against the wall after keeping the basket on the nearby table.

"Dhruv, someone would see us, leave me," she tried to free herself from his grasp with a tainted red on her cheeks.

"So what? We are a lovely couple, we can romance each other," he started kissing her neck while inhaling her vanilla-like scent. Ayushi moaned at his soft kisses that he was peppering on her tender neck.

"You changed your body wash?" he commented while nibbling a little at her neck, at which she pulled his hairs tightly.

"Dhruv, someone would see, please let me go," Ayushi's actions and words were completely contradictory. One side she moaned and on the other she resisted him. "You didn't answer my question," he pecked her lips after leaving her neck.

"Yeah, I borrowed it from Shivani," she replied while narrowing her eyes at him, noticing how he was again going to start their make-out session.

"Don't give me that look, from the past one week I have not even touched you," Dhruv replied grumpily while making a fake exasperated look.

"Ohoo? So, who kisses me every night on my whole face after I sleep?" she looked at him teasingly while he just gazed at her astounded.

"I don't know, I didn't kiss you," he stammered while looking here and there, not matching his eyes with her. Ayushi just smiled at her charming husband. She put her hands on his neck and pulled him closer to her.

"I know you do it hubby, every night, thinking I've fallen asleep," Ayushi whispered near his lips while looking at him seductively.

"Then let me continue my work," with that, he took her into a toe-curling kiss, while Ayushi held his shoulder for support.

"Uhu, uhu, so sorry my virgin eyes," Payal's naughty remark brought them out of their lovely moment.

Ayushi immediately broke the kiss and pushed herself a little away from Dhruv while he just glared at his sister for breaking such a romantic moment that he was having with his wife. Payal had her eyes closed with her hand covering it.

"You can open your eyes," Ayushi spoke out while glaring at Dhruv as she had already warned him that someone would come but he didn't listen to her.

"Bhabhi, I need your help, Alka is panicking now, she needs you, please come," Payal was anxious and her voice trembled.

"Wedding jitters," Ayushi mumbled in a soft tone and walked away with Payal while secretly kissing Dhruv's cheeks and winking at him.

Dhruv just looked dreamily at his wife. In these six months, they had grown extremely fond of each other that even living a second without her bothered him. Their day started in each other's arms, with lots of hugs and kisses and then their day ended in each other's arms as well, of course after their babies had slept.

Nonetheless, it wasn't a cakewalk, they had fights, serious fights but their every fight had ended in each other's solace, each other's arms. His smoking too had been long quitted, and he was a much happier man with a beautiful family. He smiled remembering the good old days and went away towards his father as they needed to check on the security system as well.

"Alka is getting jitters, you don't?" Ayushi asked Payal in a teasing tone at which Payal just grinned cheekily.

"No Bhabhi, just little butterflies in my tummy is flying here and there, I mean it's not like Makshik is unknown to me, I had known him since childhood, so I think it won't be difficult for me to start a new life journey with him," Payal's eyes held trust, faith, and love for Makshik.

"God bless you with loads of happiness, child," Ayushi smiled at her and blessed her while giving her a side hug which Payal too reciprocated.

"Di, finally you are here," Alka ran towards Ayushi when she saw her on her doorstep. Payal immediately got inside along with Ayushi and locked the door, while witnessing the emotional scene where Ayushi was hugging Alka like a mother hugs her to-be-married daughter.

"Ssh. Calm down, Alka. Everything will be alright, why are you panicking," Ayushi sat on the bed while still hugging Alka who had tears in her eyes now.

"Di, I had a failed marriage, an abusive relationship, there's a fear within me that it'll happen..." Alka couldn't complete her sentence and started sobbing while hugging Ayushi's waist. Ayushi's eyes were moist too while Payal sat on the bed, not knowing what to say to calm her best friend. When it comes to consoling someone, she was the worst at it, she agreed on herself.

"Do you trust Arjun?" Ayushi asked Alka while moving her hands softly in her hair, ruffling it gently.

Alka couldn't form a sentence, she just hummed, still sobbing in her mother-like sister, Ayushi's lap.

"Then do you think that he'll hit you? If there's trust, then there shouldn't be any negative thoughts that you're having in your mind now because of your past experiences. Not every man is the same, Alka. Calm your mind and listen to your heart," Ayushi's words were like a soothing splash of water over her mourning heart.

"In these six months that you have spent with each other, did you feel any insecurity with him, or didn't like any of his actions? Tell me," she asked and Alka left her lap and was facing her now.

"He respects women a lot, and he doesn't speak much but he knows how to speak with his actions, with his expressive eyes. He had been my support whenever I was an emotional wreck in front of him, and sometimes he had even cried in my lap like a baby, he doesn't fake his emotions," Alka's heart poured out while reminiscing those days.

"Then why do you worry, Sweetie? He'll keep you safe, not every man is a beast and for sure, he's a gem of a man, don't worry," Payal hugged Alka from the back after hearing her story at which she smiled sadly.

"Yes, Payal is right, have faith in your love," Ayushi too hugged her.

"We are the AAP girls, Aam Aadmi Party girls, just kidding, Ayushi, Alka and Payal, hip hip, hurray," Payal cheered loudly and they joined for a group hug. (A political party in India)

****

"Both of my daughters are looking breathtaking, like Queens," Pratibha whispered while her eyes had become the Niagara Falls now as today her two daughters would leave her and her house.

The room consisted of only the ladies of close relatives.

"Maa, you're making us emotional too, I don't want to look like a witch with the smudged kohl and mascara, please," Payal's comment made the other ladies chuckle a little. She could never change, and her childishness was the reason for her jovial and cute personality.

Payal had selected an embellished, mustard, and tangerine-coloured lehenga as her bridal attire in which she was looking gorgeous whereas Alka had selected peach and baby pink coloured lehenga and no doubt, she looked heavenly in it.

"You won't understand a mother's heart, beta until you've your daughter at this stage," Gayathri commented with her moist eyes.

"This Payal just takes everything for a joke, but you're sensible, Alka beta, always remember that the marriage between two persons is the purest bond that they could share, you'll care, you'll love, you will fight even but never forget that we are here for you, always. Whenever you will miss us, we are just one call away, I'm like your mother, right?" Pratibha hugged Alka and the latter cried like a baby.

"Maa, Alka, please stop crying, you all are making me emotional too," Payal's voice trembled while looking at the sentimental scene that was provoking her to cry as well.

"Wow, Bua, you're looking like a princess," Aranya came inside Payal's room followed by Ayushi as they had gone to ready themselves in proper ethnic attires. Aranya was looking adorable in her orange lehenga and Ayushi too looked exquisite in her pistachio-green and baby pink lehenga.

"Thank you, my baby, where's Agastya baby?" Payal tried to take Aranya in her arms but she couldn't even reach her level as her heavy lehenga and jewellers resisted the move. Seeing that, Ayushi took Aranya in her arms and stood near Payal.

"You're looking so beautiful and breathtaking, Payal," Ayushi praised her while Alka was still in Pratibha's arms as they both were busy in their emotional melody.

"Thank you," Payal hugged them one by one and somehow took Aranya in her arms, securing her safely in her embrace.

"Agastya is with his Daddy, doing some pranks with your Makshik," Ayushi teased Payal while going towards Alka who was an emotional wreck now.

"Mumma, I also want to become a bride like Payal Bua," Aranya was enchanted by her aunt's attire and look and now she also wished to be dressed like that, at which the other ladies chuckled.

"Yeah, yeah, my lovely great-granddaughter, you'll also become a bride, one day," Gayathri spoke while taking Aranya in her arms.

"Alka Masi," Aranya squealed loudly when she saw her another aunt in a bridal attire as well.

"Wow, you're looking so pretty," she immediately got down from Gayathri's arms and went near Alka who was surrounded by Ayushi and Pratibha, busy consoling the crying bride.

"Why are you crying?" Aranya asked Alka when she noticed her aunt's tear-stained cheeks.

"Because I'm going to leave this house, leave you behind with Arjun Uncle," Alka had taken her in her arms, trying to make as many beautiful memories with this cute baby as possible.

Ayushi and other ladies just looked at the heart-breaking scene with their eyes moist, as they too had reminisced their wedding times. Payal too was touched and even her eyes started pouring down, she was going to miss all of them like anything.

"You'll live with Arjun Uncle?" Aranya asked in her cute voice while wiping the tears of one of her favourite aunts. Aranya didn't like moments like this, the crying moments. Alka nodded her head, while her unstoppable flow of tears poured down.

"But he has a car, you can come to meet us," Payal consoled Alka while sitting at the same level with Aranya as she couldn't sadden her baby anymore who was saddened by all the cries. No one could believe that it was Payal's marriage as well, as she appeared so cool like her Makshik would come to her house after their marriage, not the other way around.

"Ladies, let's not cry anymore, our daughters are not leaving us, they'll come to meet us every weekend, so cheer up," Gayathri cheered and finally all the ladies calmed down. The makeup artist brushed up the makeup once more on the crying bride's face, that is, Alka after Ayushi's orders and finally after half an hour, they were called for the wedding.

Ayushi was the last one to leave the room as Aranya was in her arms, too quiet, unlike her nature.

"Mumma, I won't be a bride ever, I will not leave you and daddy," Aranya had whispered while hiding her face inside her mother's neck. Ayushi could just smile softly at her daughter's innocence.

"My innocent baby," she recollected inside her cognisance and moved towards the dais where arrangements for two conjugalities were done, splendidly.

****

With the presence of the holy pyre, along with the prominent Hindu wedding customs and rituals, finally, both the couples, Payal & Makshik, and Alka & Arjun were married with the blessings of all the gods and goddesses along with their families.

The farewell ceremony had taken place just a moment ago, as the Rajput family was still in tears, for their daughters' departure. The babies had already slept in their parents' arms. All the family members moved towards their house, as it was early in the morning and their tired and fatigued bodies demanded only a soft bed and a blanket to cover themselves, to have a peaceful sleep.

Ayushi and Dhruv too arrived in their room, while carrying their babies. They made them lie on their comfortable bed and sat on the nearby couch.

"I already miss them," Dhruv spoke out in a broken voice.

"Every girl has to leave their house one day, to their husband's house, it's the reality you have to accept, Dhruv," Ayushi cupped his cheeks in her hands and kissed on his forehead.

"But I'll not let my daughter go anywhere else, her husband will live with her in our house, that's final," Dhruv spoke out with finality and stubbornness in his voice at which Ayushi just smiled at her naïve husband.

"Yeah, yeah we'll," she too played along and sat on his lap, taking him by surprise.

"I wanted to tell you something," she replied in a shy tone while Dhruv looked at her in confusion and nodded his head to go on.

"Actually, umm, I missed my periods," Ayushi gave him the first hint but he couldn't get what she wanted to convey.

"You're taking so much stress these days, it affects your menstrual health. Don't do that, please baby," Dhruv's reply just irritated her to the core and she looked at him in a little anger.

"Men are seriously so dumb," she mumbled to herself.

"I am vomiting, every morning," she spoke out in a low voice, wishing that her husband would get it now. But no, he still didn't.

"And you didn't even tell me, why are you so careless? Have you seen a doctor? Tell me! God this woman, always caring about others but no time....," Dhruv was hushed by Ayushi as she handed him a box, which was gift-wrapped which she brought from their wardrobe. She was now sitting near him.

"What's this now?" he asked in his little irritated tone as one thing he couldn't tolerate was her carelessness about her health.

"Open it, and see for yourself," Ayushi spoke out in a soft tone.

Dhruv immediately tore the wrapping and opened the box. There he could do some odd things, then the realization dawned on him after a few minutes.

The box consisted of a baby diaper along with the pregnancy stick showing two pink lines.

He looked at her dumbfounded, with his voice stuck in his mouth.

"Really?" he asked her in a whisper at which she nodded her head, shyly.

He immediately got up from the sofa and took her in his arms and twirled her around while her laugh filled the room. Dhruv hadn't any words to express his glee and euphoria.

"You don't know how lucky & content I'm feeling right now, I've no words to express my euphoric state. I can't even thank you enough for this happiest news of my life, thank you so much, baby, thank you so much for coming in my life, Aayuuu," he kissed her on her lips, caressing her tummy where their third child was growing, while she shivered at his touch.

Ayushi cupped his cheeks and kissed him gently.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too," he kissed her again, but this time with more urgency and need.

The old and weak Ayushi was finally broken,

with the emergence of a bold and confident woman.

The bitter chemistry between them was long shattered,

Their undying love, care, and affection only mattered,

This was the rebirth of a new love story,

with new happiness, joys, fighting the evils, pains, and agony.

~**•**~

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