" Shivanya....hey, wake up. We are home." I heard a whisper.

Unwillingly, I opened my eyes.

" We are here." Abhimanyu said, looking at me and at the same time stroking my head which was still on his shoulder.

" I am so sorry." I immediately sat straight.

He chuckled.

" Relax and let's get down." He said and I nodded.

As I got down, I saw Sahil already asleep in Diya's arms.

Aww! mY BABY!

" Shivi, now you slightly give a push to this rice filled vessel with your right foot and then place both your feet in the alta filled plate." Mom instructed.

I did as instructed and entered the house.

By then, Diya was back after making Sahil sleep in his room.

We took god's blessings and I was made to imprint my hand with the red alta next to Aditi di's mark.

" Shivanya, you were supposed to mark your hand on Aditi's imprint, not on her side." Mom said.

" Mom, that is Aditi di's place in the house which will stay as it is, I did not come her as a substitute. I am here to compliment her." I confessed honestly, looking at Abhimanyu who looked......thankful?

" We understand beta." Papa said.

" Okay now the ring finding ceremony! My fave part!" Diya exclaimed.

Mom got the large bowl filled with milk and rose petals and Diya put the ring.

" Okay guys....3..2..1..GO!" She said and we plunged our hands in to find the ring.

Diya was cheering for me and Papa for me. Mom was cheering for Abhimanyu.

" Here." Abhimanyu said, taking the ring out, I ridiculously pouted.

" Come on bhabhi....bhai can't win this!" Diya cheered me up.

" Good my lion....you have to win all the rounds!" Mumma cheered for him.

In the next round, I had almost caught the ring but Abhimanyu held my hand. I gasped and the ring was out of my finger tips and slyly he took it out.

" Very good son." Mom cheered.

" This is not fair!" I whined.

" Please....I won fair and square." He lied.

" No you did not." I pounced back.

" So prove it." He said cockily.

This shut me up.

" Come on Shivanya, don't be a sore looser." He added.

HE IS A CHEAT AND A FRAUD!

" This is the last round. Win it beta." Papa said, I nodded half heartedly.

Finally I did win it.

Finally, Diya forced me into the room which was highly decorated with flowers.

S.H.I.T

Okay, we may have being married but was I ready to let Abhimanyu.....NO NO NO!

I started panicking.

" Bye bhabhi....have a good night!" Diya teased me while making me sit on the bed...complete bollywood style.

" Diya....let's have a girl's night today?" I asked her.

She gave me a very funny look.

" No bhabhi...I'll pass." She said as she smoothly exited the room.

" Shivanya, calm the fuck down!" I pep talked.

The door opened and walked in Abhimanyu and closed the door.

Why is he locking it! We don't lock the door ever. Is he going to....!?? No. No Shivanya....don't think about that. He would not do anything you don't want him to.

" Shivanya...are you okay? Have some water." He said, looking a little worried as he offered me a glass of water.

I looked at him and then kept on looking at him. Scared.

" Shivanya, what has happened? You are freaking me out." He said, shaking me a little.

" No...nothing." I stammered.

" It doesn't look like nothing." He said.

I have never had done IT with anyone else before. Yes, I was a virgin and was waiting for the right one.

He seemed to understand what I was thinking about god knows how!

" Shivanya, if you are thinking that I am going to force myself upon you because we are married again.... I would be dissapointed" He said, hurt evident in his voice.

" No Abhimanyu....it's not that. It's just me being super paranoid because of lack of sleep. I know you will not do anything. I am sorry if you felt that way." I said.

He gave me a small smile.

" Come with me." He said, offering me his hand to get up.

I placed my palm in his and he walked me to the balcony and then went down on one knee.

" Abhimanyu...what are you doing??" I exclaimed.

It was such a beautiful scene with full moon. I was in my wedding attire and so was he. It was all magical and a fairytale.

" Shivanya, I know that we did not have a normal start. Heck! to hell with normal. It was a complete rocky one but when Aditi went away from us, I was in a very dark place and had you not been there and kept me grounded just by your presence, I would have lost myself and everyone I loved. You gave me space, grieved with me for the person we both love and will continue loving for as long as there are stars in the sky or water in the ocean. You became the mother to Sahil and gave him love like Aditi used to. You were the third string which kept me connected to my family, my son and to the world by holding onto it tight and keeping it safe from the sharp edges of the world. You helped me overcome that dark phase without me realizing it and slowly made your way into my heart like a butterfly of hope. You made me fall for yourself head over heels. You made your own space and kept Aditi's intact. I love you Shivanya and I will cherish you for my life and beyond." He confessed.

" Abhimanyu...I..." I was overwhelmed and unable to speak.

He got up and placed his index finger on my lips.

" You don't have to say anything you don't want to Shivanya. I wanted to say it so I did." He said, coming closer. His breath fanned my face and it was this moment of realization.

Yes, I was in love with this man. His honesty, composure, personality attracted me like fire attracted moth.

I took his hand in mine as I removed his finger on my lip which was making a tingling sensation.

" I love you too Abhimanyu. Yes, I do. I just did not want to address it. I have no idea how but you managed to steal my heart despite the high walls I had created for myself. You broke them one by one and never once my heart objected to it. " Here I confessed.

He then wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer to him.

We said nothing. There was no need to say anything. The moment was blissful and we were calm. That's all I wanted but my stupid brain had to bring the ring fiasco up.

" By the way, you did cheat in the ring game Mr. Abhimanyu Singhania. Just confess it." I said, steeping back.

Abhimanyu started laughing. Not a chuckle, not a smirk. A genuine rare laugh.

" You don't let go of things easily, do you?" He asked, amusement lingering in his eyes.

" No I don't. So now either you confess or I am not going to talk to you." I said sternly.

" So much for winning the game....anyways it's you bossing around." He said and I smirked.

" What did you thing? You could boss around Shivanya Sharma?" I asked.

" Mrs. Shivanya Sharma Singhania." He corrected me.

" Don't change the subject!" I exclaimed.

" Fine...yes I cheated and I am sorry." He said, sighing.

" Good. I forgive you." I said and started walking inside when he grabbed me by my waist and pulled me to himself.

" What are you doing Abhimanyu?" I said, looking down because of all the blushing.

" What do you think Shivanya?" He asked, huskily as he picked me up in bridal style and walked inside the room and made me sit in front of the dressing table.

" Woman, how are you even sitting so casually with so many heavy things on you?" He asked.

" Everything is okay but don't get me started about the hair." I sighed and tried undoing the veil in which I failed.

" Wait." He said and started taking the pins out slowly.

Some twenty minutes and hundred pins later, Abhimanyu had made me veil free.

Then as I got rid of the jewellery and he changed into his pyjamas and tshirt.

Soon I was done and finally changed into my super comfortable night suit. Ah! Heaven!!

" It's been such a tiring day, let's go to bed." Abhimanyu said and I agreed.

The bed was shouting my name, inviting me to sleep.

" Let me just go and check on Sahil once." I said.

" I'll come with you." He replied. I nodded and we walked to his room.

There he was sleeping peacefully. Diya had already gotten him into his night suit.

I kissed his forehead and Abhimanyu followed suit.

Then we slowly exited his room and went into ours.

" Goodnight." I said, dragging the blanket.

" Good night." He replied as he grabbed me towards him.

" Abhi...." I started but he shut me up.

" Just relax and sleep. I am not going to eat you." He clarified and I did relax and snuggled into his chest while he placed his arm on my waist.

Soon, I was in my dreamland.

The next time I opened my eyes was because of the sun shining right at my face.

I opened my eyes only to find Abhimanyu looking at me.

" Is there something on my face?" I asked him, sleepily.

" No." He replied.

" Then why are you staring?" I asked him, raising an eyebrow.

" Because only I can." He replied cockily and I hid my face in the crook of his neck shyly.

" Why so shy Mrs. Singhania?" He asked.

I did not say a word.

" Shivanya?" He tried again.

" Let me sleep." I whined.

" You don't have anything to say, do you?" He remarked sarcastically.

" I do. I just am not in the mood." I lied.

" Lawyers shouldn't lie." She said.

" Actually, it's sometimes a part of our job to lie.

Before I could say anything else, there was a knock on the door.

Sahil walked in as Abhimanyu opened the door.

" Good morning papa, good morning mumma." He said, cuddling next to me.

" Good morning my baby. Did you sleep well?" I asked him.

He nodded positively and enthusiastically.

Soon we got up.

" Sahil do you want a bubble bath?" I asked him.

" Yes mumma, with my yellow fish." He said.

" Okay then, mumma will be back after brushing her teeth and then we will go to your room." I told him, walking in the washroom.

I was soon done with my business.

Then we left Abhimanyu to fend for himself.

Sahil had soon started making mischeives and I was all drenched in water and soap bubbles.

" Shivanya beta, where are you?" I heard mom say.

" In Sahil's washroom mom, giving him bath." I replied back.

Within 2 minutes, she was here.

" What in the name of god is happening here?" She exclaimed as she saw me covered in soap bubbles, head to toe.

" Sahil decided to be a naughty little boy." I complained.

" Shivanya, I'll get him ready. You go and tend to yourself or you will end up falling sick." She strictly instructed and I went away.

As I entered the room, I was about to slip because of all the soap on me but I fell in Abhimanyu's arms instead who was all and had ditched his suit into a pyjamas and a tshirt instead. Was he not going to the office??

" Careful Shivanya." He said, tracing my cheek with his free hand, making me blush.

" Yeahh." I replied as he made me stand on my feet and tucked the loose hair lock behind my ear.

" I then walked into the washroom to take bath. I had decided to wear saree today.

After taking bath, I stepped out of the room in my blouse and underskirt.

" Abhimanyu, get out of the room." I said.

" No." He replied.

" I have to get ready." I countered.

" Do you even know how to wear a saree?" He asked.

" Yes I do." I lied.

" You are a very bad liar. Now come out and let me help you with it." He offered help.

" No, thank you. I'll ask mom to help me." I fired back.

" Shivanya, stop shying away from me and come out." He said.

" NO. Moreover, how will you help me with the saree? Have you ever wore one?" I asked sarcastically.

" No but I know how to wrap it." He said.

He is so stubborn that I had to walk out!

" Beautiful." He said and started walking towards me.

I walked back.

" Stop right there Shivanya. When I come to you, you also do the same. You do not walk back and away from me." He said.

" Will you help me or not?" I asked, attempting to change the topic.

" Nice try but we are talking about it once you are ready." He said. I internally rolled my eyes.

He started draping the saree around me and man he was a pro!

He must have helped Aditi di many times!

His gradual light hand brushes around my waist left me sent sparks across my body.

" Here. Done." He said and I was ready.

I quickly wore my nuptial chain and was ready.

" Why do you always forget this?" He asked, turning me towards him and filling my hair partition with vermillion.

" Because you always remember." I tell him.

" Now about the walking back." He started but I was already at the door, ready to leave.

" Bye Abhimanyu." I mocked him and ran out of the room only to hear him groan!