The man had the audacity to wink at her. This was why he sounded so unbothered and suspicious last night.

Shiv gave ber a sly grin and she scowled. His phone was kept beside him hiding it from everyone else.

He typed something from one hand and then pointed towards her phone. She looked at the message through the notifications on the lock screen.

Surprise!!

She twisted her lips and rolled her eyes at him. He frowned. Was she not happy to see him? Did she not want to marry him? Did he do it all too early?

Gussa ho?

Came another message and she looked away trying to hide her smile. She looked at him through the corner of her eyes and saw him looking at her with a cute frown.

Shiv saw her looking at him secretly and smiled.

"Hume toh samajh hi nhi aa raha ki aapko hamara rishta kaise pasand aa gaya. Aap log itne bade log hai. Itne pade likhe aur hum iss chhote se gaao se kabhi bahar hi nhi gye."

Her father spoke gaining everyone's attention. Before Shiv could speak something his father spoke up.

"Arre bhaisahab. Chhote bade ki baat kaha se aa gyi? Ye sab cheezein toh insaan ki banayi hui hai. Aur phir inn sab cheezon se farak nhi padta. Sanskaar achhe hone chahiye."

"Bilkul! Aur aapke diye sanskaar aapki beti mai saaf nazar aate hai. Kitni shaant, sundar, sushil aur sanskaari hai."

His mother supported and Shiv looked at his mother impressed. She knew so many Hindi words. Tara's mother chuckled and said.

"Shaant toh nhi hai hamari Tara."

"Maa!"

Tara whined making everyone laugh. Why was her mother ruining her chance to impress her in-laws?

"Bas ek baat samajh nhi aayi bhaisahab. Bura mat maaniyega lekin humne kabhi Tara ka rishta itni dur nhi bhijwaya toh aapko kaise-"

His parents looked at him hearing her father's question. Shiv took a deep breath. It was time for the truth. He looked at Tara and she understood what he was going to do.

She gripped the side of her sofa feeling nervous all of a sudden.

"Hum rishta discuss krne baithe toh mai iski shuruwat jooth se nhi krna chahta. Rishta kahi aur se nhi aaya uncle. Maine bhijwaya hai."

Her parents looked shocked.

"Bhut pasand krta hu Tara ko. Jis din pehli baar dekha tha shayad uss din se."

He confessed looking into Tara's eyes and she smiled while trying to hold her tears in.

"Hume iss rishte se koi dikkat nhi hai. Agar Tara taiyar hai toh."

Her father said and all the eyes turned to her. She lowered her head in shyness and said.

"Jaisa-jaisa aap thik samjhe baba."

"Toh rishta pakka matlab? Ab toh meethayi withayi khilwayi bhabhi ji."

Shiv's mother spoke making everyone else smile. Her mother got up nodding her head but stopped hearing Shiv's voice.

"Umm-aunty ek minute. Before you actually say yes. Tara?"

He looked at her making her look at him with a frown. He got up and stood in front of her. He gave her his hand and she looked at her baba before placing her hand in his.

He softly pulled her up and then took a step back creating a little distance between them.

"Are you really sure about this? Tum finally haan kro usse pehle I want to clear a few things. You know about my profession. It is vey demanding and I could be expected to rush for emergency even in the middle of the night. Bhut time nhi de paaunga. Reh logi?"

Tara smiled and said.

"Ji. Bas itna wada chahiye ki jitna bhi time denge wo mera hoga. Uss waqt no kaam."

"Waada!"

She smiled wide and he continued.

"Ek waada aur krunga. However much demanding my profession may be, lekin kabhi bhi tumhare upar kaam ko prioritise nhi krunga. For a doctor, his patients are very important. So is for me. But, you'll always be an exception. You, over everything Tara."

She felt tears pool her eyes and she nodded. He then looked at her father who was looking at him with a smile.

"Shayad aapse jyada pyaar na de paau. Lekin itna waada hai ki aapke jitna dene ki puri koshish krunga. Kabhi intentionally hurt nhi krunga. Zindagi bhar bhut pyaar krunga."

He said the last line gazing into her eyes and she felt her cheeks warm at his words.

"Bolo! Krogi mujhse shaadi?"

He asked and she nodded.

"Ji."

She whispered shyly and her mother smiled.

"Mai meethayi laati hu."

They did a small roka ceremony then and there. His parents said that they would come back with the shagun soon and also finalise the wedding dates.

They insisted on staying the night at the hotel but her parents were adamant saying that they were visiting their village for the first time and they wouldn't let the three of them stay at a hotel.

The guest rooms were prepared and all three of them were settled in.

Shiv was happy to see their parents mingle up as if they'd known each other since ages. He liked it about Indians. They could mingle up with anyone.

After dinner, Shiv went to his room. He was tired from the travelling whole night and the activities of the day.

But even after the exhaustion, there was a glow on his face. She was going to be his wife soon. His Tara.

It was almost 12 and Shiv was asleep when he heard a knock on his door. He squinted his eyes and looked at the time. He smiled realising who it could he and dragged his body out of the bed.

Tara stood there with a nervous smile.

"Aap so gye the?"

She asked looking at his sleepy state and he hummed while leaning against the doorframe and looking at her.

"Oh! Achha! Aap so jaao. Mai toh aise hi-"

She was cut off when he pulled her inside and shut the door behind her. She looked at him wide eyed.

"Ab meri neend uda kr aise nhi jaa skti. Compensate krna padega."

He whispered naughtily while leaning in and she looked at him with shock.

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