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Author's POV

"Mom, mom, mom where are you??? Bhabhi, bhabiiiii" Naina screamed as her voice echoed in the entire hall.

"Naina what happened??? Maami and naani went to the temple and from there they are going somewhere" Anamika walked towards her from her room.

"Ohhh okay. And Tia bhabi???" she asked when Anamika replied, "Well Neil and Tiasha went somewhere"

"Ufffo even bhabi too" she pouted, sadly and sat on the sofa with a thud, leaning her head against the headrest of the same.

"Well what happened??? Any problem???" she asked as she forwarded a number to her which was displaying on her screen.

"Whose number is this???" she asked, confused.

"Krish" Naina replied when Anamika looked at her with a teasing smile plastering her lips.

"Ohhh. So by the way, his number???"

"Arre my birthday is there right, so I thought of inviting him. He is in Mumbai too. Moreover, he saved bhaiyya"

"Just because he saved Neil???" she smirked as Naina looked confused.

"Huh??? What do you mean bhabi??? Listen, you all are behaving weirdly. You know it's mom's decision to invite him. Moreover, it's true that we couldn't thank him properly"

"Ohh okay. Well that's true though. So why were you looking for them???"

"To invite him. Mom or bhabi or bhaiyya should call him"

"Naina, it's your birthday. You invite him personally. Why will-------"

"-------No no no. I don't know him properly also. What will he think???"

"Then why are you inviting him then tomorrow???"

"Well that's because he is good and it's true we should thank him. Achha bhabi you call him"

"Me???" Anamika looked at her surprised, and immediately shook her head, raising her hand, "No no no. No ways. You will only call. He can't deny you"

"But bhabi-------"

"-------Just call him and invite. It's your birthday" she smiled and then walked away when Naina pouted, looking at her phone.

Sighing she sat on the sofa and after thinking a lot gave a call to Krish as from the behind of the pillars, Anamika looking at her, chuckling.

"I ship them. Well Krish + Naina ummm???" she thought, "Krishna" she added, smiling.

"What's happening bhab----" Naman screamed when Anamika pulled him and shushed his mouth with his palm.

"Naman you also na really. Shhhh be queit and calm. Absolutely chup" she said as she slowly withdrew her palm.

"But what---what happened???" he asked, whispering as Anamika directed her eyes at Naina.

"Birthday invitation to Krish" she giggled as Naman gave an amused look with a questioning eyes as Anamika nodded.

"That means we are right???"

"See right or not that I ain't sure. Well yet yeah you know there is something" she said dreamily, "That's my feeling"

"Anyways, shhhh bhabi hush. Let's see and listen to their love talks"

"Hey no. I have lots of work. Tomorrow is her birthday"

"Bhabi wait for 5 minutes" he pleased as Anamika huffed.

"Okay fine" she nodded as Naman grinned.

As the call rang on the fourth ring, Krish picked up the call and spoke up with a questioning voice, unaware of the caller.

"Hello" he answered as Naina smiled nervously.

"Hel--hello, hiii"

"Who's this speaking??? Sorry actually I----"

"----Ummm, Naina here" she said before he could complete his sentence, "You that day saved----"

"---Ohhh Naina Khurrana??? Mr. Khurrana's sister??? Well hey buddy. Sorry actually, here some Little Princess was showing as the caller id"

"No that's not a problem. Actually it's not from my always go to number so might be you couldn't recognise. This is my other number" she said as he hummed an 'Ohhh' in response from the other side.

"Oh okay well why am I saying this to him???" she thought, confused when he spoke up.

"Well so you are calling??? I mean is Mr. Khurrana fine??? Well I was just asking"

"Well that's absolutely okay and fine and bhaiyya is doing great. Actually tomorrow is my birthday"

"Ohhh is it??? That's great. Happy Birthday dear" he wished as she smiled and thanked him.

"Thanks and yeah, if you are free tomorrow, then I would be highly honoured and happy if you could please come. Actually, mom and our entire family couldn't thank you properly that day as you know we all were in so much worry and----"

"Hey hey hey that's fine. That's absolutely okay. I can understand. Please don't be so formal. Moreover, whatever I did, I did it out of humanity. Not for thanks and praises"

"Thank you"

"Well friends don't thank"

"Friends??? When do we become friends???"

"Well I didn't know you invite strangers to your birthday also"

"Hahaha you are funny actually. Okay fine friends. Happy???"

"Hahaha cool happy. By the way, when is the party???"

"You are coming???"

"Well not sure though. Yet I will try. Actually----" he trailed off the sentence when suddenly his voice sounded low as Naina gave a confused look.

"Actually???"

"Ummm actually, nothing. Just one work is there might be. Yet no worries. I will try to come"he smiled over the phone.

"Okay cool, I will be waiting then. Chalo tata for now. And thanks for listening to my rants too" she giggled and then disconnected the call as both laughed when Naina walked away to her room.

After her departure, Naman and Anamika then came out from behind, and giving a look to each other, burst out laughing.

"Friends" Naman said in between his laughter.

"I will be waiting then" Anamika added as both kept continuing their laughter session.

"It escalated so quite quickly bhabi. By the way Anu bhabi, do you think we should let others know??? I mean mom, dad and daadi would be happy"

"Yeah ofcourse they will. But we aren't sure of it. Yet one thing we can say. They will be happy about it too" she said casually and looked at him, smirking, "Well Advika Mathur's introduction can be done"

"Advi-------Advika Mathur who???" he asked, confused when Anamika held his ears.

"Advika Mathur who???" she twisted her ears as he winced in pain.

"Ahhh bhabi, my ears, my ears, my ears bhabi please" he pleased as she shrugged her shoulders.

"Naman, you should be ashamed. You didn't even tell me and not even tell your sibblings, cousins and bhabis??? This is what you call and tell us when you mean you are close to us???"

"Arre what are you saying----"

"----Ayyyy no tricks. I found a bag on your table when maami asked me to just call you yesterday night for dinner. Well what was there I don't know, just saw Advika written"

"Shit freak" he muttered under his breath, cursing him for being careless when Anamika chuckled.

"----Bhabi it's it's actually one of my friend's---friend's sister's gift, he bought it and gave it to me. He---he---"

"---Is it???"

"Yeah bhabi" he said as Anamika let go off Naman's ears and looked at him.

"So Naman, why is that he gave that to you??? And that too a small heart shaped key chain with I Love You Sweetheart??? And also---"

"----Damn the what bhabi??? You said you didn't see what's in the bag then how do you know what I have bought for Advi----" he stopped in between as realisation hit him as he shut his eyes closed, biting his tongue.

"So you are Advika's brother I guess. Well glad to know you have another sis---"

"----Bhabi no pleaseeeee" he screeched as Anamika burst out laughing while he looked all flushed and embarrassed

"Awwwww, oh my God Naman. You are dating??? You grew up my sweet brother-in-law" she squealed in excitement as Naman gave a nervous smile.

"Let Neil and Tiasha return, I will tell it to everyone"

"No bhabi please. Please don't tell it to anyone. Bhaiyya, Karan bhaiyya and Tia bhabi is ok. But not elders please. Mostly when badi daadi is here"

"What happened Naman??? You look tensed"

"Nothing bhabi. Just please don't let badi daadi here this. Already she is pissed with Priyadarshini Di's matter and on top of that knowing Advika is from a lower middle class family, she will----"

"----Hey hey hey chill. That's not a problem as far as you both love each other"

"I know bhabi. But you know baadi daadi right??? Moreover, I planned to invite her tomorrow to Naina's birthday. Let everyone just meet her. I know mom, dad and daadi even bua and phupha will agree, yet let just baadi daadi and family go. Please???"

"Okay cool. But yeah, yet this news will go to your bhaiyya, Karan, Tiasha and your sister Naina"

"Naina??? You better tell badi daadi only. Bhabi that little rat will tease me like anything. Also you know how she is, she will definitely not keep it a secret and will scream 'Bhabi' and address her. You forgot what happened during your and Karan bhaiyya's time???"

"Oh please no. I felt so shy then. She was so small then that I could say anything. Though she is small now too"

"Oh please bhabi no. She isn't a kid anymore. A little witch she is. You are lucky bhabi, you had no sibblings"

"Nah Naman. You don't know how lonely I used to feel. Well then after meeting Karan, when I found you all. Indeed life turned into a blessing"

"Ofcourse ofcourse ofcourse. You are such a sweet bhabi. Though I sometimes think how bhaiyya got someone like Tia bhabi???" she glared at him as he rested his chin on her shoulder, "I mean they are so cutesttttt. Yet bhaiyya??? Oh my God, you know I still remember the day when bhaiyya agreed for the marriage. He didn't even see the picture also" he said as he remembered that day.

"Who said he didn't???" Anamika smirked as Naman shot her a shocking look.

"But mom told he didn't see. He just agreed for her sake"

"Well true. Yet you know, I kept it inside one of his files and at night when all were asleep then I went to his study along with Karan" she said as she recalled that day.

Neil was busy scrolling through the documents, sitting on a chair with his eyes exchanging glances between the pages of the file and the laptop screen.

"Marriage marriage marriage" he slammed the file on the desk, "Everyone is behind me for the marriage as if it's the only way to live a life. Moreover mom, mom knows I never deny her and so they all asked her to convince me"

Several thoughts clustered his mind as his eyes were then shut as he was lost in his thoughts when Anamika and Karan peeked inside the room through the corner of the door.

"Anu, I don't think we should have forced him. You know Tiasha right and how is she. What if for our happiness, we sacrifice their lives???" Karan whispered to her as Anamika turned towards him.

"Moreover, Priyadarshini's death left an impact on him and you know right my brother also----"

"----No Karan no, no ,no. Don't say like that. Karan maybe today because of maami's sake, for her happiness, he is marrying Tiasha, yet you see I know her right??? She is perfect for him. Just look at him" she turned her face towards Neil as Karan followed her who was busy murmuring something to himself as tears rolled down his cheeks.

"Whenever he feels low this boy cries Karan. You see, I know there is someone who will give a shoulder to him to cry and Tiasha is the one. Behind this cold, rude and arrogant Mr. Neil Khurrana, the person will find the baby Neil. She will be his happiness. Your brother is very lonely Karan. He just needs someone who will be his companion in his loneliness and bring him to the light" she smiled and added, "Now leave this and watch there. That file"

"What???"

"Arre watch na. See his stuck on one page. I am definitely sure it's her picture. You know I kept it there secretly" Anamika chuckled as Karan looked at Neil who was busy staring at a page.

Slowly lifting his head and hand from it, he took a photo and kept staring at it, unblinkingly yet an expressionless face is what he carried.

"Seriously bhabi???" Naina asked this time as she descended down the stairs.

"Ohhh you" Naman slapped her head as Naina punched his forearm.

"Ayyyy pagal" she gave a weird expression and went to Anamika, "Bhabi see"

"Hey Naman please"

"Bhabi you please. You stupid" Naman looked at Naina who stuck her tongue out at him.

"Well anyways, bhabi you know you were right. Indeed Tia bhabi is perfect for bhaiyya. I know infact Priyadarshini di is happy too" Naman said as Anamika and Naina nodded.

"Well all is good but only if we could know why bhaiyya is like this??? Anu bhabi, we all are here still he feels so lonely??? Since I was born---" Naina's eyes welled up as Anamika interuuped in between and spoke up, "Naina, tomorrow is your birthday right??? No tears today"

"Moreover, your bhaiyya can never be lonely when he has such a sweet sister" she hugged her.

"I just hope bhaiyya gets all the happiness. Tia bhabi is here now" she reciprocated the hug and smiles and then breaking the hug, Naman and Naina walked away when Anamika was lost in her thoughts.

"Indeed God give Neil all the love and happiness and see that Tiasha and Neil always stays together and even the father-son duo solves everything. I mean yeah I know, we know we are not the one to say yet we know, we all know that whatever happened in past, it was not anyone's fault. The mistake, misunderstanding, misconceptions whatever it is, just clear it. Keep everyone happy and safe and this happy, the happiest in this world" she thought and prayed to God wholeheartedly.
.........

"Will you please say where are we exactly going???" Tiasha asked Neil being pissed as they were now driving for the past one and half hours.

"To somewhere" he replied when Tiasha shot him a glare.

"Neil it's 4:30 now. We were supposed to go to your lawyer's office. Why are we going to the outskirts of the city???" she asked as he just focused on the road and didn't answer anything.

"Neil I am asking you something"

"Neilllll" she pulled the gear as suddenly the car came to a halt as Neil jerked on his position and looked at her, shocked and surprised.

"Geez. You mad woman" he said as Tiasha huffed and looked away.

"Why do you get angry so easily Tiasha???"

"Just for you. You make me angry. You called me mad??? Neil you are that. You left that day without saying anything, now don't know what you are taking me"

"You don't trust me???"

"It's not about trust Neil. Everybody back at home is worried. Tomorrow is Naina's birthday too"

"I know Tiasha. I know that very well. Yet I know that I have something more important than that" he said and then unbuckled the belt and asked her to do the same as he stepped and got down the car.

"Come here" he said and tapped her window and waved and indicated her to come down as Tiasha got down the car and stepping outside looked at him confused.

"Neil what----" Tiasha was cut off in between when Neil held her hands and dragged her to a nearby park.

"Neil what's happening??? Where are we going???" she asked when both crossed the park and came at the end and stood near a cliff when Neil turned his eyes in front and then at her with a smile.

"Sit down" he sat on the green grasses hanging his feet down yet close to his chest as Tiasha kept looking at him, surprised and confused.

"Sit down" he said yet again as Tiasha looked at him and then at the cliff end when Neil chuckled.

"Don't worry Tiasha, I won't push you from here" he laughed throwing his head back as Tiasha gave him a weird look and sat on the ground next to him.

Seeing him giving a hearty laughter, Tiasha felt her heart smiling in content yet though she was still hurt and the only thought that was revolving in her mind was what was going to happen at the advocate's office.

"So now may I know why are we here???" she asked as both looked infront.

"This is my favourite place Tiasha" he smiled and looked at her and then back at the nature, "My childhood happiness you can say"

"Your childhood happiness???" Tiasha asked as he nodded while she nodded too, surprised as for the first time he heard about his childhood being happy.

"Strange na??? My childhood happiness" he gave a sarcastic laugh.

"You know Tiasha whenever I used to be sad, well always I used to be that only, so I used to come here and just sit and look at the sky" he lifted his head up and looked at the sky, "Well mom gave me scoldings too as I had this habit of disappearing a lot"

"Ahhh ohhh I see. So this is your childhood problem??? Back at home all must be worried" she asked though obvious of the answer.

"Well actually sometimes it's better to breathe too than feeling suffocated and getting drained out" he replied and looked at her who looked at him too, "This place is my everything actually and to be honest, no one knows about it. Not even Karan bhaiyya, Anu bhabhi and neither Priyadrshini"

"You are the first one whom I brought here, the place where I found little happiness, everytime I come here" he said as a small smile tugged up in his lips while Tiasha gave a smile too.

"Well for this don't start floating on the ninth cloud. You are still an Anabelle for me" he added as Tiasha scowled while he chuckled.

"You are so cute" he squeezed her cheeks and pinched the bridge of her nose as Tiasha looked at him, confused.

"What happened to him??? Why is he behaving so strangely???" she thought as Neil looked at her raising an eyebrow, asking about her thoughts as she shook her head while he giggled.

"Thinking right why am I behaving so weirdly???" he asked as she looked at him, surprised and a tight-lipped smile plastering her lips.

"You know Tiasha sometimes I also don't understand why I behave like this. I mean laughing, giggling and all. Actually I never experienced these emotions before or maybe you were right that I never wanted to experience these emotions before. Though yeah with bhaiyya, Anu bhabhi and Dishu it was different yet with you it's different" he said as she kept looking at him, unblinkingly.

"Well I know you are still angry and pissed with me for whatever I did that day and truly speaking I won't blame you, you have that right. Yeah maybe we are not like every husband-and-wife, we are not like other normal married couples, yet as an individual human being you have all the right, all the powers to get angry. Yet Tiasha believe me, believe me, just believe me that day whatever happened was not my fault"

"Neil we were done with this right??? Let's not talk about it please"

"You are getting irritated with my talks na??? I know. Moreover, after that day, I was the one who said that yet again that we should not interfere into each other's matter. I know----"

"----Neil it's not that"

"No it's cool. Actually you know what, even if you are, I won't mind. Mom told me that it's my fault that I badly screwed up this time" he chuckled as she did the same, "That you did actually not gonna lie" as she agreed.

"This time??? Tiasha I had being like this