“The Shaurya you love? I don’t know what Shaurya you love.”

He asked, looking into her eyes intently. She knew what he meant. He had confessed his feelings not much later after they started going out together.

Swaraa cupped his cheeks and smiled, looking into his eyes with immense love.

“I love the Shaurya who keeps teasing me. Flirting with me. Says things that make me blush and then behaves as if he had done something great. I love the Shaurya who loves his family more than himself. So much that he wishes all the happiness for them and none for himself. I love the Shaurya who handles everything so well and never lets anyone know if something’s troubling him. But I love that Shaurya the most when he’s carefree and laughing around me. With no tension in the world. I love everything about you, Shaurya. Because I love you.”

He felt his eyes tear up for a completely different reason now. They kept looking into each other’s eyes for a few seconds, before Shaurya snaked his arms around her waist and pulled her into a tight embrace, almost pulling her off her chair.

“I love you so much, Swaraa.”

He whispered into her ear and kissed the side of her head. She held him tighter and closed her eyes in bliss, whispering the words back to him.

She pulled back slightly and rested her forehead against his. He sighed in bliss, as if holding her in his arms was everything he wanted.

Swaraa looked up at him shyly but he had his eyes closed. She cupped one of his cheeks and placed a soft, lingering kiss on the other. Shaurya’s eyes shot open in surprise.

He kept looking at her intently, making her look down timidly. His eyes sparkled seeing her blush and he held her tighter before nuzzling his nose against her cheek.

“Why are you blushing so much? Kuch kia kya?”

(Did do you something?)

“Shaurya!”

She whispered and pushed his arm a little. He chuckled and kissed her forehead, making her melt against him.

Swaraa was really excited. Anisha was finally going to tell their parents about her boyfriend from college. She’d met him a lot of times and he was a genuinely nice man.

Swaraa watched from the shadows as her sister talked to their father. He seemed too serious and his expressions were unreadable. 

Both Anisha and Swaraa felt their heartbeat rise when their father did not utter a word for a full minute and kept staring at Anisha.

“Papa please kuch bolo na.”

(Papa please say something.)

Swaraa whispered to herself just when Anisha said the same words aloud. Their father raised his eyebrow and said.

“Nhi mai zara soch raha tha ki kitna time laga dia. Mujhe laga abhi aur ek do saal baad bataogi mujhe.”

(No I was thinking how long it took. I thought you will take a few more years.)

Both the sisters were shocked at his words. Their mother smiled knowingly. Swaraa frowned. Did they already know? How?

“Papa?”

Anisha looked at her father with a frown. The man finally cracked a smile and said.

“Jaanta hu mai sab. Kya businessman ban paaunga mai agar apne hi bacho ke baare mai na pata ho mujhe. Why do you think I never questioned when you came home late on weekends?”

(I know everything. What kind of businessman will I be if I won’t know about my daughters.)

Anisha looked down, clearly embarrassed. Swaraa came out from her hiding, wanting to enjoy the drama.

“Haww didi! Aapka boyfriend hai?”

(You have a boyfriend?)

Anisha gave Swaraa a side eye, while she giggled conspirately. Her father’s eyes snapped to her and he continued.

“Iss ghar mai kya hota hai…meri betiyan kaha jaati hai…kiske saath jaati hai…kaun unke offices mai aata hai mai sab jaanta hu beta.”

(What happens in this house…where my daughters go…with whom they go…who comes to their offices, I know everything.)

Swaraa got quiet when her father said the last part while looking at her. Her eyes widened and she pointed towards herself.

“Jee beta ji. Sab khabar rehti hai mujhe.”

(Yes my child. I know everything.)

Swaraa blinked and looked away, not knowing how to react. It was Anisha’s turn to poke her now.

“Hawww Aru! Tera boyfriend hai!”

(You have a boyfriend!)

Swaraa pinched Anisha’s arm, making her pinch it back. Swaraa pinched again and a pinching war started, until their father intervened.

“Bas kro ab dono! Kya baat krne aayi thi aur kya kr rhi hai?”

(Stop it you two! What did you come to talk about and you are you doing?)

Both of them stood in front of him like little girls being scolded, their heads lowered and lips jutted out in small pouts.

He looked at Anisha and said.

“Ghar bula usse. Baat krte hai. Aur tujhse toh mai baad mai baat krta hu.”

(Call him home. Let’s talk. And I will talk to you later.)

He said to Swaraa, who gulped and nodded. Anisha was really stressed the next two days.

It was only after the impending meeting of her boyfriend and her father was done, she relaxed. Her father knew the man because he had done extensive research on him when he’d found out about him being involved with his daughter.

Swaraa was in her and Anisha’s room, the sisters jumped with happiness because her father had given his approval for their marriage. 

“I can’t believe it di! Papa maan gye! Bas meri shaadi ke liye bhi aise hi maan jaaye.”

(Papa agreed! I hope he agrees to my wedding too.)

Swaraa pouted while hugging her sister. Anisha patted her head and nodded.

“Maan jaayenge. Don’t worry. Rajvansh’s are very reputed. And Shaurya Rajvansh toh waise bhi most eligible bachelor hai.”

(He will….And Shaurya Rajvansh is the most eligible bachelor.)

“Hamare according na di. Ya papas log aise nhi sochte.”

(According to us di. Papas don’t think like that.)

Anisha clicked her tongue in disagreement and said.

“Baaki papas logo se matlab nhi hai. Hamare papa maan jaayenge. Tu tension mat le.”

(We don’t care about other papas. Our papa will agree. You don’t worry.)

Swaraa nodded and the two started researching her wedding stuff. Swaraa got really busy. She had to make all the dresses for all four of them.

Even the wedding shervani of her jiju would be sent by them and that had to be done. 

Swaraa didn’t even realise when time passed by. A few weeks before Anisha’s wedding, her and Shaurya’s roka ceremony was also done.

Swaraa was too happy that her father had agreed to their relationship without any fuss. Things were going pretty smooth. 

Swaraa felt the loneliness after Anisha’s marriage but it was soon forgotten because of her own wedding preparations.

Swaraa was sitting in Shaurya’s cabin, waiting for his meeting to get over so that she could meet him. She was swirling around in his boss chair, when he entered.

He smiled and loosened his tie when he saw her. She got up, vacating his seat.

He sat and took her down on his lap. Snaking an arm around her waist and the other cupping her cheek, he took her lips in a soft kiss.

He kept the kiss brief and then eskimo kissed her before placing a lingering kiss on her forehead.

“Aaj kaise aa gyi yaha?”

(How did you come here today?)

He asked, caressing her hair when she melted against him. She hummed and said.

“Aapko aapki shervani ka design dikhana tha. Final kr dia maine.”

(I had to show you your sherwani design. I finalised it.)

She opened her laptop, still sitting on his lap and showed him the designs she’d finalized. He rested his chin on her shoulder and hummed in approval at every article of clothing she showed. 

Neither of them realised when time passed by. The two were sitting on their wedding altar, dressed as bride and groom.

Swaraa had her hands joined in front of the holy fire, accepting it as the most important witness of their union as Shaurya filled her hairline with the vermillion.

A lone tear escaped her eye and she looked at him teary eyed. His own eyes were tearing up. This was their moment. The moment that screamed their union.

Anisha sniffed softly, seeing her sister as a married woman. Her husband held her hand and caressed it softly before placing a soft kiss to her knuckles. She rested her head against his shoulder and prayed for her sister’s happy married life.

Swaraa was laid on her marital bed, the sheets covering her naked body as she gazed at her husband. His tousled hair were giving away the story of the last few hours.

Swaraa raised her hand and traced a finger down his face. Her fingertips running down the contours of his face, making him smile.

His fingers were continuously moving up and down her spine. She sighed and rested her head against his chest, making him gather her in his arms. 

“Are you sure you’re ok?”

He asked again and she nodded against his chest.

“I’m more than ok.”

She whispered. He held her chin and made her look into his eyes.

“Sure? Kahi koi pain nhi hai?”

(Is there any pain anywhere?)

He wanted to know for sure because he had seen her bleed a little. He wasn’t experienced in all this and felt that he might have hurt her due to his inexperience.

Swaraa smiled and kissed the corner of his lips, before speaking against his lips.

“There’s no pain. Just a little soreness. The proof of our union, Shaurya. The most pleasurable soreness I can ever experience. I’m fine, really!”

“I love you…meri fake girlfriend!”

(I love you…my fake girlfriend!)

He teased and she pursed her lips before correcting.

“Umhmm! Not fake girlfriend. Your wife!”

He smiled and kissed her forehead.

“That’s right! My wife!”

He nuzzled his nose against hers, in an eskimo kiss and then took her lips in a soft kiss before gathering her in his arms as they let their bodies rest for the night. The moon and stars looked at them knowing that this was just one of the many nights to come. A forever.