One step closer to its end...

Happy Birthday, Living My Fantasy.❤️

Everything around was so dreamy. The white and blue flowy decorations on the beach, people standing there enjoying the company of there loved ones and some fine wine, enjoying the sunset and salty breeze. The sky was clear and it reflected on the water giving it the blue colour. Oh! I love beaches! And so does these Puri Brothers but, it was Meera's plan to have a Beach Reception.

I was admiring the serene view when I felt someone pat on my shoulder. I turned to see who it was.

"Sahil!" I eyed him from head to toe. Even he was looking good in suit. "You're looking-"

"Hot? I know." He pulled up his collar.

I shook my head, "Hot lag rahe the; ab lofar lag rahe ho." I settled his collar back to decent mode again, " ab theek hai." I smiled.

"By the way, tujhe kisi se milwana tha."

"Kis se?"

"Sim!" He called someone, and a beautiful girl dressed in pastel green and pink coloured indo-western attire coming towards us.

"Hey!" She chirped with a big warm smile. Sahil snaked his arm around her waist. They shared a short...but intense eye contact as Sahil introduced us to each other.

"Simran, this is-"

"Warisha! Sanam's singer girlfriend? Everyone knows that." She giggled and so did I-

"Hi." I smiled.

"And Warisha, meet Simran, my girlfriend."

"Your what?!" It came out it shocking tone! Not that I didn't know he had a girlfriend or so, but, I just didn't imagine his girlfriend being this sweet and chirpy unlike him. Hehe..

"What?" He gave a straight look, "is it so hard to believe that I've a girlfriend?"

"No..." I shook my, " but she is your girlfriend, is quite hard to believe. I mean, look at her and look at you!" I was in a full mood to tease him, "are you blind or what?" I asked Simran, "you're so pretty aur Tumhe yahi Mila?"

She was snickering listening to my words and Sahil narrowed his eyes, "Warisha..?" But Simran's reply made me so happy!

"Actually Warisha, you're right. I was blind. I forgot my spectacle back in home on the day I met him!"

Simran and I laughed heartily sharing a high-five after seeing Sahil's reaction. He closed his eyes taking a deep breath, "you girls!"

"Are awesome? We know." We said in unison and laughed again.

"Kya horaha hai?" Sanam came to us, "Kya hua, Sahil?" He kept an arm over his cousin's shoulder.

Sahil sighed, "kuch nahi. Just that your and my girlfriend has paired up against me."

Sanam chuckled, " Warisha, aaj bhi? And Sim, long time! I couldn't even recognize you. Tera chashma kaha hai?"

" Have you heard anything about contact lenses, Sanam?" She rolled her eyes.

" Array mat Kar! Lense kho jaayenge!" He laughed high-fiving Sahil.

Simran gasped listening this, " Sanam! You're a chasmish yourself, okay!"

"I'm not chashmish. I'm spexy. Chashmish to woh hote hai Jo chashma lagakar din bhar books mein busy rahe." He pinched her nose, " like you!"

"Sanam!" She slapped his hand away.

"Ab Mera Bhai Mera badla le Raha hai!" Sahil said proudly.

I looked at Keshav, who came to us and was also all suited up, "You all are here! Samar is calling you guys!"

"Simran!" He grinned finally noticing her presence, he pulled her in a hug, "when did you come here?"

Getting out from his embrace she replied, "half an hour ago, maybe?"

"Come, come, let's go and meet everyone else. They would be surprised!" Keshav held her hand, and together they left towards Samar & Di.

"Yeh Kya tha?" I asked.

"Funfact- Keshav and Simran are... they just kick off well." Sahil chuckled keeping his one arm on my shoulder and other on Sanam, "Hum bhi chalte hai."

We went to our family, everyone were bonding and having their happy time. My Mom and Indu aunty were together with Bhabhi and Amy, when I approached towards them all I heard was my mom saying, "Pagal thi Sanam ke piche, itni.. ke humse chipkar woh aur Ameera unke concert Gaye the."

Shoot me!

I was taking my steps back but bless my Bhabhi!

"Kaha jaa Rahi hai?!" She called out. I shut my eyes tightly and then slowly turned towards them, "kahi bhi nahi.." I smiled nervously.

"Yeh Kya sun rahi hu main, Warisha?" Indu aunty asked.

"Aunty.." I chuckled nervously.

"Woh to kuch bhi nahi, aunty." My Bhabhi began. Ab Kya bolne wali hai yeh? "Jab Zee kehte the.." oh shit no! I can't let her reveal that.

"Bhabhi nahi!" I ran towards her. "Bhabhi, no." I pleaded.

"Kya horaha hai yeh?" Indu aunty was confused.

"I don't know, Indu ji. Yeh inhi ka mamla hai." My mom backed out from it even after knowing what exactly the mamla was! Thank you Ammi!

I was having my way with Bhabhi and taking the advantage Ameera told the Mahabharata, "Jab Zee kehta tha that he'll call Sanam to sing in her wedding to yeh reply karti thi ke Sanam apni hi Shaadi mein kyu gayega!" She had her witchy eyes smiling at me. Beach!

This sea looks good. Doob Kar Mar jaun Kya?

I felt more embarrassed after Indu Aunty started laughing and Ammi joined her followed by Bhabhi & Amy, and I was just there, standing awkwardly.

"Kis baat par itna hasa jaa Raha hai, did we miss something?" My brother came there with Papa and Vinod Uncle.

Great! Aur koi bacha hai? To woh bhi aajaye please.

"You gotta be kidding me!" I cussed when I saw the Fab-four coming here with Sahil and Remya di.

Ya Allah! Aaj itni jaldi Meri wishes kyu qubool ho rahi hai? I looked at the sky with crying face.

"Mom-Dad, aap sab yaha hai aur hum photoshoot ke liye waha wait Kar rahe hai." Suman Di pouted.

Indu aunty smiled, "beta hum to bas-" but she stopped when she spotted Venky, "yeh kaha tha?"

"He was singing along the violins, aunty." Remy Di smiled.

"Arisha aur Arsh kaha hai?" Papa asked Bhaijaan.

"Papa, abhi to yahi the.." Bhai was looking around for them.

"Uhm...woh abhi ice cream stall ke taraf Gaye." Sanam informed.

Trust me, it was so weird seeing the Puris and Ahmeds together in addition with our friends.

"Shakal ke bada kyu baje hai tumhare?" Sanam whispered standing beside me.

"Tumhare aane ke pehle yaha Jo baat horahi thi, us wajah se." I replied in same manner.

The photographer came there with his camera, "Sir, thode der mein sunset hojayega, to family photo Lele?"

"Haa kyu nahi." Vinod Uncle said.

My family and I were just walking away to give them space when Indu Aunty stopped us, "aaplog kaha jaa rahe hai?"

"Aaplog family picture click karwaye.." Papa said with a smile.

"Exactly Uncle, family photo.. to aaplog kaha jaa rahe hai. Aap bhi to family hi hai na?" Samar said that melting my heart.

"Haa Uncle, Warisha Meri behen hai to aaplog is picture main kaise nahi hoge? Mere Mom-Dad k saath hi rahenge aap!" Suman Di announced there position in the group picture.

By the look on my family's face I could say that they were really very overwhelmed with their gesture. And so was I.

"Wasn't this supposed to be my line?" Sanam complained to me.

"Shut up, Sanam!" I hit him lightly as the photographer clicked the picture.

My family got down finally to let the Puri and Singh have their photo. I was following them but Sanam held my hand stopping me. "Where to Miss?" He smirked.

"Sanam.." I looked around, "it's your family picture."

"Ek baat kitni baar repeat karni padegi, Warisha?" Suman Di said.

Vinod Uncle, too, backed them, "Warisha, jaldi Karo beta."

I was feeling so surreal with everything that was happening around me. I stood beside Sanam taking my place in their family picture. It was more than what I ever asked for. Actually I never ever thought that something like this was gonna happen. We smiled looking at the camera for the perfect capture.

"Ek aur, sir."

This time he kept his hand around my waist. I looked at him whispering, "Kya Kar rahe ho, Papa hai!" I hissed.

"Unko to pata hai, unhone hi bola." He said casually pulling me closer for the pose.

"Main mere Papa ki baat Kar rahi hu!" I clarified.

"You're posing for our family picture, tumhe Kya lagta hai- Uncle ko iska Matlab nahi pata hoga?" He looked at me with an oh-so-innocent expression.

"Sanam but-"

He cut my sentence off, "unhe officially tumne nahi bataya isme Meri koi galti nahi." He smiled to annoy me.

"Sana- aao!" I flinched feeling the cold tingling sensation on my stomach, "Arisha!" I growled.

"Sorry, Tita! Sorry, sorry, Tita!" She took her steps backwards holding her now ruined ice cream cone as all the cream was on me and my dress!

"Kya Kiya tumne?"

"Jaan Kar nahi Kiya, Titu...sorry." she was apologizing.

"Warisha, relax." Sanam said holding my hand, "Arisha, aap jao, doosri ice cream le aao, jao." And she ran away from there the very moment!

"Ar-" I looked at my hand that he was still holding.

"Jaane do na, bachi ke peeche bhaagogi ab?"

"Tumne dekha nahi usne Kya Kiya! Meri dress kharaab kardi." I complained.

"Aur use daatne we theek hojayega Kya?" He asked, "jaao, aur koi aur dress mein change karlo." He left my hand, "go."

"Haa...main toh pura wardrobe apne saath lekar aayi thi na yaha." I stated sarcastically.

"Apne room mein jao, kuch na kuch mil hi jaayega." He was so calm like he knew a Zara showroom was waiting there for me.

"Whatever!" I snapped stomping away from there.

When I entered my room and threw away my scarf on bed, it fell on a box wrapped with silver paper. I didn't keep this box here. Toh yeh yaha kaise? I picked it up, looking it closely. It had a note on it... A smiley..

"Sanam.." I opened it, knowing that it was from Sanam as the smiley was his signature make. There was beautiful white chiffon, a little lower than knee length dress. "Isko pehle se pata tha Kya mere dress ke baare mein?" I wondered with a smile.

I felt the stickiness on my skin. Ugh!

Taking the dress out from the gift box I got in washroom and changed into it. I stood in front of mirror, my make-up and accessories were no where going with this flowy dress. I replaced my ethnic jewelry with some oxidized junk earrings. Taking a look at my reflection I frowned, "not working."

I removed those earrings and left my ears naked. My eyes fell on my emerald necklace. "Sober dress with popping jewelry. Balanced!" I grinned tying the necklace around my neck and added some more accessories like rings!

Done with adding and subtracting accessories to my looks, I finally took a last glance of my appearance, "Not bad for a beach reception." I winked at my reflection and left for the venue.

It was almost the time of sunset and most of crowd shifted to the DJ area, dancing and enjoying themselves.

"You changed into a beach kinda dress...nice yaar!" Simran complimented, she was going to the dancing area with Sahil beside her who asked, "looking for your dance partner?" I nodded in reply and he pointed towards the part of the beach that was booked for today but wasn't used, "I saw him going there. Jaa tu bhi. We'll be waiting for you." He waved, leaving towards the DJ. I don't know why I felt that he was... Teasing or something.

"Dekhte hai." I shrugged and walked towards where Sahil pointed. There was not a single human in sight! I turned 360° to have a slightest sight where he was. I needed to thank him for this dress. "Kaha hai?" I breath and then I heard a single clap noise from my right side. I chuckled turning there but none was there.

"Is this a time to play Hide and Seek, Sanam?" I called out running towards that direction. As I ran further something was coming in my view.

It wasn't clear enough to understand, it seemed like a jar and vase with some flowers were there. I was intrigued by it, forgetting why I was here I made my way towards the set up and my steps became slower and slower as I neared to it. I could finally see that the jar was filled with sea-shells and fairy lights and the vase had my favorite flowers, lavender. Was this set up for me? My heartbeat was beating so fast with each steps that I felt it numbing and legs- they felt like jelly. I felt my numbing heartbeat stop at the moment when my eyes fell on the shell.

When I started this, I never knew were it's gonna lead or how its gonna end!

And never ever thought that it'll have its 3rd anniversary update and that'd be its SECOND LAST chapter.

turning 24 years old, an emerging singing talent dating her then idol- now boyfriend

But all you people! Who always appreciated me and my work, Living My Fantasy.

You people are my favorite.♥️♥️

I love you all infinity!

I might bore you with a Thank You update before or after the last chapter.🙊

Chalega na? 🙊

If you made it through this longgggggg China Wall kind author's note.🙈 Thank you, you people are real love.🌹♥️