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The next day, I got dressed into casuals and went to the airport. Abhimanyu and Sahil were already waiting.

" Good morning Sahil." I said.

" Good morning maasi. How is your head?" He asked.

" It's fine." I replied back smiling.

" Let's go." Mr. Singhania said.

" Excited champ?" I asked as I saw him jumping up and down.

" Yes. I have never been to the States before." He said.

" It's an awesome place." I said, helping him buckle the belt up and then sat next to him. Abhimanyu was sitting opposite to us.

" What is the work that you need to take care of there?" He asked.

" A lot. I have to get my accounts cleared, clear the house out, hand the keys back to the owner and basically say good bye to my life there." I replied, sadness taking over me.

That place had been my home for the past six years and now it will be no more.

" Maasi, why are you marrying papa? You will never be my mumma." Sahil said.

I was taken aback. Now what the fuck do I say!

" Sahil, I will never take your mumma's place beta. I promise." I said, looking at him.

He gave me no response and continued playing on his ipad.

" So what if it is difficult? There is nothing that my doll cannot do." I heard di's voice ring in my ears. These were her exact words when I was leaving for New York.

" She talked a lot about you. She was proud of you for what you are and not the job you did." Abhimanyu said, as if reading what was going on in my mind.

" She never told me anything about you. She said that it was my punishment for not attending your wedding and Sahil's birth." I said, all the memories playing in the back of my mind.

He chuckled.

" She was mad at a certain Shivanya on the sangeet because you had cancelled that day." He replied, a small smile playing on his lips.

" She did not talk to me for three months after that. Did not even send me pictures." I said, chuckling.

We then fell into a comfortable silence. He had his head leaned over the back, relaxed looking younger. This whole thing had taken a toll on each one of us.

I opened my eyes some hours later. We were about to land. Sahil was now seated next to Abhimanyu and both of them were playing car racing. I smiled.

Within no time, we landed.

" Let me call for a cab." I said.

" My driver is here." Abhimanyu replied.

I looked at him, pressing my lips in a thin line refraining myself from saying something sarcastic.

I instructed the driver, Ray to my condo.

I unlocked the door. My house looked like it was hit by a hurricane because I had left in such a hurry.

" Wow." I heard Abhimanyu mutter. I rolled my eyes.

" What? I live alone here and had a 7 to no fixed time job." I defended myself.

He said nothing.

" Both of you can take the room. It's clean." I said and showed them.

Then I went to the other washroom to freshen up. I was done soon and then got into the kitchen which was empty.

" Sahil, do you want chinese or pizza?" I asked him.

" Pizza." He shouted from the room.

I ordered in a double cheese pizza and coke.

I occasionally had drinks but definitely not with a kid around.

Pizza was here. All of us ate and then I put Sahil to bed.

Then I went to the couch in the living room and then let sleep engulf me before I put an alarm for the morning.

The next morning when I woke up, Sahil and Abhimanyu were still sleeping. Deciding not to wake them up, I got ready and make pancakes for both of them and kept them on the isle and kept a note on the nightstand.

Will be back soon. Breakfast is in the kitchen.

- Shivanya.

I drove to my firm, got my accounts cleared and bid farewell to all my colleagues. It was seven in the evening when I got back after purchasing groceries from the store.

As I got in, I saw the cutest scene.

The Incredibles was playing on my TV while Sahil and Adhimanyu were passed out on the couch.

" Di, why did you leave? You missed such a beautiful life." I said, tears back in my eyes.

I quickly went to the kitchen to make dinner as quietly as possible, trying not to wake them up.

I was almost through I dropped sauce on my shirt.

" Shit!" I exclaimed.

Then I heard two chuckles.

" Maasi, you're clumsy." I heard Sahil say.

I looked up. Both of them were awake.

I laughed too.

Dinner was done quickly and I served them. Then I went to clean myself up and then had dinner myself.

This schedule went on for the next six days. I got all my work done and both Sahil and Abhimanyu would go out and visit new places. I did not want them to think that I was trying to take Aditi di's place so I kept my distance.

It was the day I had to sell my car. It was a Honda CR-V and I loved it.

" Okay Shivanya, you can do it." I said to myself as I was making breakfast.

" Do what?" I heard a voice say.

" Sell my car." I replied instinctively.

I served breakfast and went out to do what I had to do.

I rolled down the glass window and drove it for one last time.

Soon, I was done with it and took a cab for the condo.

The flight back to home was in the evening.

" You both can leave for the airport. I'll come there as soon as I handover the keys to the owner." I addressed Abhimanyu.

" Okay." He replied and they both left for the airport.

I had one last tour of my home before leaving it.

I joined them at the airport and the flight took off soon. I was in no mood to talk to anyone so I kept to myself.

As soon as we landed in Mumbai, I wanted to get away somewhere alone and lonely to cry the fuck out. I couldn't understand one thing that was happening in my life from the past one and a half month and I just wanted to get away from people and be alone.

" Bye Sahil, Abhimanyu." I said, nodding at him.

" I am dropping you to your house." He said.

" No, thank you. I'll manage on my own." I said, a little irritated.

" You are my responsibility, so come with me." He said.

" No I'm not. I'm not a kid and I most certainly can manage myself." I replied.

He gave me a stern, disapproving look.

" Don't worry, I told you that I don't go sleeping around the city." I said bitterly and left immediately to take a cab.

I asked the driver to take me to Sanjay Gandhi National Park and he did. I paid him and walked inside to find my favourite spot where Vivaan bhai and I used to come often as kids.

It was calm and peaceful here. All I could do was hear my own thoughts but my phone rang to distract me. It was papa.

" Hello. I'm coming papa. Don't take tension." I said.

" Soon beta. It may rain any moment."He said and hung up.

I started walking back home. It was just three kilometers but it was a bad decision. Rain had already started.

I immediately took an auto so that my luggage doesn't get wet and was at home in 10 minutes.

Mumma served me dinner.

" You are getting married tomorrow." She informed.

I nodded. Nothing was a shocker for me right now. Bade papa and maa had already moved in and tomorrow was the I day I was supposed to get married, cool!

I went to my room, changed and slept.

" Shivanya, beta wake up." I heard badi maa, shake me.

" Ten minutes badi maa." I groaned.

" Fine, but 10 minutes." She said and I pulled the duvet to my face.

" Shivanya, get up right now. We have to be in court in one hour and you have to get ready." Mumma said. I had no option but to wake up.

" Go and take bath, this is your dress." She said, showing me a red bridal lehenga.

I did not react but got in the washroom.

There was no way I'd wear that!

I got dressed in a red suit and went downstairs.

" What kind of joke is this?" Mumma asked as she saw me.

" If you thought that I'd wear that, you are gravely mistaken." I replied, rolling my eyes.

" And joke is happening with me so don't give me that crap." I added.

I know I was out of line but I was not going to apologize for it.

" Are we going or can I just go back. I need to search for a job." I taunted.

It took one hour to reach the court. Abhimanyu and his family were already there. Aunty gave me a disapproving look but I couldn't care less.

Soon the signatures were done and his mother pulled out a mangalsutra and sindoor.

" This is not necessary." I announced.

" Shivanya, stop it. Enough! I'm not taking your tantrums anymore." Mumma hissed.

I rolled my eyes and looked at Mr. Singhania.

He did hesitate to do as told but did it anyways.

I was Mrs. Shivanya Abhimanyu Singhania on paper now.

" Beta, let's go home." Abhimanyu's mother said.

" Aunty, I'll come there in the evening? I have a job interview with a firm in 2 hours." I said as politely as I could.

" Shivanya, why are you deliberately being rude to everyone since yesterday? Your job interview is tomorrow." Avantika bhabhi asked.

" I am not." I said, lying.

" Cut her some slack you guys. It's not easy for her right now." Diya said, my new and only sister in law said.

" Diya, when elders talk youngsters don't interfere." Aunty said.

" She can say whatever she wants to. According to Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution, an Indian citizen has the right to freedom of speech and expression.It means the right to express one's own convictions and opinions freely by words of mouth, writing, printing, pictures or any other mode." I said residing the constitution.

" Shivanya, be a good person. That is what I have taught you. Now you need to be a good daughter in law, mother, wife and sister in law." Mumma said, teary eyes.

Then it hit me. I will have to leave my home. I did that six years ago but this time, it's gonna be permanent which made me cry.

I hugged mumma, papa, badi maa and papa and bhaiya and bhabhi.

Then I was made to sit in a car next to Abhimanyu who had not uttered a word since he was here.

I still couldn't control crying.

" Why the fuck am I crying!? I've lived away for six years now." I muttered to myself.

He offered his handkerchief to me which I gladly accepted.

" Thank you." I said.

He nodded in acknowledgement.

We reached his house and I was made to do a couple of rituals to which I refrained myself from rolling my eyes.

As soon as they were done, I was showed a room. Aditi di's and Abhimanyu's room.

" I am not going to use this room." I announced as soon as he entered the room.

" We can do something about it. I'll take the couch and you rake the bed." He said.

" You think it is about sleeping arrangements?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

" Then what is it about?" He asked.

" This room screams of Aditi Di. It will remain as it is. Untouched. I told you, I don't want her place. It will always be hers." I said.

He nodded briskly and let the room. I did too.

" Diya, will you please show me the guest room?" I asked her.

" Sure bhabhi." She replied.

" Call me Shivanya Diya. Aditi di was your bhabhi." I said.

" No bhabhi, my brother's wife is my bhabhi and now it's you. Anyways, come with me." She said and I followed her.

I thanked her and started arranging my stuff in the wardrobe. If I have to live here for a looong time, why not do it comfortably?