***Sahana's P. O. V ***

The wedding ceremonies continued, and along with Arush, I stood and watched as my brother finally married the love of his wife. Both of them looked so happy, that it forced tears of happiness to my own eyes!

And when bhai finally put his mangalsutra around Ahana and vermilion on her hair-partition, a single tear escaped his eyes, and we all cooed ad Ahana wiped his tear - could they get any more adorable?

Once the bride and the groom - the new husband and wife - walked down the dias to take the blessings of the parents and grandparents, I turned around to find Arush sniffling his tears away as he watched his sister with my brother, both finally married.

"My baby sister got married" he choked as he wrapped his arms around me.

"She got married to the guy who loves her as much as she loves him" I smiled at Arush, wiping his tears away.

"HE will keep her happy" he murmured.

"Just like how she'll keep him happy" I nodded as we watched bhai help Ahana bhabhi adjust the dupatta over her head.

"And we'll get married the day after tomorrow" Arush smiled.

"Hello love birds" bhai's voice snapped Arush and me back to reality.

"Congratulations bachcha" Arush hugged Ahana, kissing the top of her head.

"Congratulations bhai... And bhabhi" I winked at them, hugging them both.

"I've never been this happy in my life" bhai sniffed as he gazed at his blushing bride.

"You both look so good together" Arush sniffed as he hugged bhai, and the two men got to crying!

"Shush now Rey.." Ahana began, patting bhai's arm consolingly.

"C'mon Arush.." I too trailed off, patting Arush's arm.

"Now that the wedding is over... Time for some post wedding celebrations and ceremonies I think.." Papa's voice trailed off in the background.

"Yes.. where's Reyansh's juthi?" Mom asked.

"I've locked it in the dressing room" I grinned, handing over the keys to bhai.

"Shit! I forgot to steal the juthi!!" Arush face-palmed himself as everyone began to giggle.

"Premika k dhun mein magdh ho to kya hi expect kar sakte hai aap se bhai?" Ahana winked, to which everyone chuckled again.

"Ab woh ho hi itni khubsurat... Kya karein?!" Arush shrugged, making everyone coo!

"First we can get the pictures clicked I think? Whilst the bride and groom ready for the reception?" Arush's mother suggested.

So, whilst bhai and bhabhi left to have lunch and then get ready for the reception, the other guests queued up for photographs in front of the photo-booth, whilst others went for lunch.

Arush had gotten the photographer to click mine and his picture at the beginning, so we could just sit and relax for a bit before the reception.

"How much would you wanna bet that they're going for some quickie in there?" I winked at Arush, indicating bhai and Ahana bhabhi as they took a detour towards one of the dressing rooms instead of making their way downstairs for the lunch.

"This does gives me some idea for our wedding day too!" Arush winked, sending blood rushing to my cheeks.

"But they don't have a lot of time!! They need to eat and then get ready for the reception... Ahana's lehenga is very heavy and she needs to sit and take some rest... she was saying that her back was aching..." I trailed off, biting my lip.

"Your brother loves her more than we could possibly imagine Sahana.... you really think he'll let her endure pain?" Arush raised his eyebrow.

"From when did you start understanding my brother?" I raised my eyebrow at Arush in shock.

"Because he's officially my jiju... bahanoi... and if I cut him some slack today, he will also cut me some slack on the day of our wedding!" Arush grinned.

"Hein?" I blinked at Arush.

"I'll get to have authorized sex with you day after tomorrow" Arush winked.

Blood rushed to my cheeks, though I face-palmed myself - and here I was thinking he had some valid reason to be so lenient with my brother!

"Will you let me look at you before the wedding muhurat?" Arush asked me all of a sudden.

"Hein?" I blinked at him in confusion.

"Else if I see you in your bridal wear for the first time in the mandap itself, I'll go into a state of shock... I might not be able to function normally!" he pouted, blinking sadly at me.

I flushed at his words and looked shyly at our inter-twined fingers - the butterflies in my stomach fluttered with the same intensity as the first time Arush had held my hands!

"I was so eager to get married to you, I don't think I enjoyed our time properly before we got committed" he murmured, brushing his lips to my temple.

"What do you mean?" I cocked my eyebrow at him - he was the one who was eager to marry me from literally the day we'd just had our first date!

"Like... all the time I could see you flushing as our eyes would meet, or our hands would brush, before we started dating... and your shy glances towards me.... I didn't take full advantage of it!! All those team lunches that I skipped, when I could have had come and sat next to you and been as your friend... all those times I caught myself staring at you because you'd look so adorable... I just took those moments for granted... " he trailed off, brushing his lips to the back of my hand.

"You'd stare at me?" I blinked at him, the butterflies in my stomach soaring higher at his words.

"Yes... during meetings, or during lunch time in the cafeteria... or when you'd walk around in front of my cabin.." he shrugged.

"I always thought that it was my imagination that you're staring at me!!" I bit my lip shyly.

"And I always imagined how it'd be to kiss you" he smirked, winking at me.

"Why did you have to imagine?" I blinked at him.

"Toh kya sab k saamne aake tujhe kiss karta? Tum mujhe apne juthe se maardalti!!" he chuckled.

"Hey I wouldn't have had! For all you know, I'd have reciprocated the kiss!" I said defiantly, knowing thoroughly well that I really would have started hitting Arush with my sandals if he'd actually come and kissed me before we'd started dating!

"The first day we met, and I was checking you out... you were glaring so angrily at me.. it was a miracle that I didn't burn to ashes!" he chuckled.

Chuckling, both of us made our way to have lunch - there would be a reception ceremony in a few hours, before the bidai... and I had to go home earlier than everyone else so that I could get the arrangements done before bhai and Ahana bhabhi reached home - to welcome them!

"Who is sleeping with you in your room tonight?" Arush asked as the two of us sat at a corner table with our plates of food.

"Hein?!" I blinked at him in confusion.

"Are you sleeping alone, or are some of your cousins sleeping with you?" he asked, as he brought a spoon of kheer to my lips.

"I think I'll be alone... not so sure... most of our cousins stay in the city anyway so they might all go back to their respective homes.... why do you ask?" I raised my eyebrow as I ate the kheer.

"Just asking.." he shrugged, eating kheer from the same spoon.

"Arush!! Tonight you're not coming over!" I hissed at him, glaring murder at him, though it sent a thrill of pleasure down my spine at the idea of Arush coming over and spending the night with me.

Arush shrugged as he cut a piece from the gulab jamun and brought it to my lips.

We didn't talk much as we ate, feeding one another, before I got back to the dressing room to freshen up my make up, and also check if Ahana bhabhi required any help in getting ready.

She'd be wearing the same lehenga for the reception as what she'd worn for the wedding ceremony, but she would require a touch-up on her makeup and hair.

*******

Few hours later, Arush and I stood and watched as bhai and Ahana took to the dance floor. Since the sangeet was very mellow, and Ahana bhabhi wanted her first dance with Reyansh bhai after the wedding, we decided to have a dance right after the reception where even the guests can just let go off of themselves and enjoy.

I beamed at Arush as we watched bhai and Ahana slowly revolve on the dance floor, lost to one another's gaze. Looking deep into one another's eyes, bhai spoke murmured something to Ahana, to which she giggled and bit her lip shyly.

"They are so adorable!!" I clutched Arush's arm as my eyes brimmed with tears of happiness for my brother.

"They are!" Arush nodded as he pulled out his phone to click a candid picture of bhai and bhabhi.

"Can I get the honor of dancing with you m'lady?" Arush bowed at me, extending his hand forward.

Giggling, I took his hand and moved to the dance floor, and the crowd cheered and applauded as we went to the dance floor.

"I am feeling so happy.. I don't know what to do" Arush said as we stood on the dance-floor, slowly revolving around the spot, with his arms around my waist and my arms around his neck.

"How about you just live in the moment?" I asked, smiling up at him.

"What if I want to have sex in the moment?" he winked, smirking at me, his arm moving up my waist, setting my skin on fire.

"Arush!!" I hissed, looking around to make sure nobody could see his antics or see what he was doing.

But the dance floor was dimly lit, and the song was playing loudly in the background for anybody to hear us! Most of all, everyone had now jumped into the dance-floor to dance, and were busy dancing to care what anybody else was doing!

"I'll settle for having sex in some other moment then!" Arush shrugged, winking at me.

"What do you mean some other moment?" I raised my eyebrow, looking suspiciously at him.

"Someone's very eager!" he smirked, bending down to brush his lips against mine.

I yet again looked around, but we were surrounded by a crowd of people too busy dancing to notice us!

And we continued dancing, with Arush occasionally stealing kisses from me, and suggesting something naughty, but otherwise, uneventful.

The dancing lasted for an hour, before everyone dispersed for the bidai ceremony.

As I'd expected, Ahana bhabhi was beaming as she bid farewell to her family, whilst my bhai walked along beside her, tears streaming down his face.

Ahana bhabhi's family hugged her and wished the two of them good-luck as they met her, till she finally landed in front of her parents and Arush.

Her parents too smiled as they hugged her, and then bhai, before wishing them both a lifetime of happiness.

Arush, like Reyansh bhai, was standing with tears streaming down his face, but smiling nevertheless as he hugged his sister, and then bhai.

I was about to go and tease them a little, when I suddenly realized that I had to go home and make arrangements for the two newly wed before they reached!

"Ashish!!! Can you drop me home?" I hissed, tugging at his arm as he too stood and watched Ahana bhabhi bidding farewell to her family.

Like Arush and bhai, Ashish too had tears streaming down his face - what the fuck has happened to the guys today?

"Huh?" he sniffed, wiping his tears away.

"Bharath is gonna be driving bhai and Ahana bhabhi home.. and I have to reach before them to make arrangements to welcome them to our home!! Can you drop me?" I hissed at Ashish again.

"Uh right.." he trailed off, and hurriedly we left in his car.

"Why are you crying?" I asked as he sniffed his tears away, driving to my home.

"My best friend got married... he found the love of his life after making a fool of himself so many times!! I'm proud of him!" Ashish sniffed, making me giggle.

"And here I was thinking you crushed on Ahana bhabhi!" I rolled my eyes at him.

"I um.. this might not be the right moment to tell this, but I never crushed on Ahana... I was in love with you!" Ashish shrugged, making me choke.

"WHAT?" I gasped, looking at him in total shock - when did this happen?

"Yes... but never mind that..." he shrugged.

"But... when... you never told me anything? When bhai told me that you crushed on me, I thought he was only saying that to pull Arush's leg!" I blinked at Ashish.

"We were never meant to be Sahana... that's why it never happened... I hinted to you so many times but you never understood... and you considered me as a brother.." Ashish chuckled.

"But still... oh Ashish I've been so insensitive towards your feelings! I was with Arush... in front of you.." I trailed off guiltily.

"Sahana... just because I liked you, doesn't mean that you had to reciprocate my feelings... and besides, if you and I were meant to be, it'd have had happened.... you belong to Arush, just like some other girl out there belongs to me.." he shrugged, stopping the car outside my house.

"Still... Oh Ashish I'm so sorry!!" I said apologetically, looking at him.

"It's okay Sahana... I liked you, but never with this thing that you have to reciprocate it... sure I did feel bad, but that's just life right...I just hope that you and Arush find a lifetime of happiness.... and that you can forgive me for not being able to attend your wedding day after tomorrow" he smiled sadly at me.

"Of course!! Oh Ashish!!" tears pooled my eyes at how broken he looked - why hadn't he told me anything before?!

"Now go ahead and start a new chapter of your life... I too need a new chapter.." he smiled through his tears as he opened the car door for me.

Getting to my feet, I hugged him - he had been a good friend of mine, a confidante, and a brother.

"Maybe one day.. when all this isn't so fresh... we could meet up again... you, Arush, me and hopefully my wife" he chuckled, letting go off of me and wiping his tears.

"Of course... of course!! Oh Ashish why didn't you tell me anything before?! For how long have you liked me?!" I asked, tears brimming in my own eyes.

"A few years... but bola na... it doesn't matter.." he trailed off, wiping my tears.

"What the fuck?" Arush's angry voice made me jump.

"Arush no!!" I hissed, glaring at him through my tears.

"He loves you and he's fucking hugging you!" Arush hissed through gritted teeth, standing next to Ashish and looking down at him.

"But I don't get her in my life like how you get her" Ashish smiled sadly.

Arush pursed his lips and glared at Ashish before sighing.

"I'm... sorry.." he trailed off, patting Ashish's back.

"It's okay..." Ashish smiled sadly at me.

"I need to get going.." he finally said, nodding at me, and then at Arush.

And as we saw, he nodded at us before getting onto his car and leaving the premises. Arush watched him go, looking rather furlorne.

"I'm sorry.. did I behave rudely?" he sighed after he'd parked his bike to one side and started helping me to make the arrangements to welcome bhai and bhabhi.

"You were a little rude... but you owe the sorry to Ashish... not me" I pursed my lips.

"I just... I saw you leaving with him and you didn't even tell look at me before leaving!! And then I saw you hugging him... I am not insecure... but you're so awesome and there are people who like you... better people than me... I just got angry seeing him touching you... you're mine and I don't share what's mine!" he mumbled, looking so adorable that my anger just ebbed away!

"Besides, mein badal gaya hu and you can notice it can't you?!? If it were like before I'd have directly started punching him everywhere!! But I dealt with it maturely right? I didn't hit him or shout at him or anything!" Arush added defiantly, making me smile.

"True... you didn't do anything like I'd expected you to!" I nodded as we stood at the entrance to the house, with bhai and our parents' car visible at a distance as we they made their way home.

"The changed behavior can be praised and encouraged by a kiss on these sad lips of mine!" he pouted, looking innocently at me and indicating his lips.

Blushing, I quickly moved to peck his lips and straightened myself, the arthi thali in my hand - it was time to welcome the newly weds to their home afterall!!

As the cars stopped inside the compound premises, one by one everyone got out of the cars - my parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts and cousins too!

Finally, the newly wed couple too got out of their car, looking shy and so adorably cute, I just wanted to hug them both!

"Didn't know that the bride's brother too is to be here to welcome us?!" bhai pouted the moment his eyes landed on Arush.

"I came here to help out my fiance to get the arrangements done for your welcoming" Arush hissed, glaring at Reyansh.

"And in anycase, you would be there with me to welcome bhai and Sahana bhabhi day after-tomrrow, won't you?" Ahana bhabhi grinned at bhai, whose face turned pink.

Bhai and bhabhi came to stand in front of the main door, whilst everyone else entered inside, waiting to welcome them in.

As ma came and stood next to me, I handed the arthi-thali to her, before placing the pot of rice in front of Ahana bhabhi's feet.

Blessing the two newly married couple, ma rotated the arthi-thali around bhai and bhabhi's face, before handing the plate over to me.

Holding one another's hand, and beaming, Ahana bhabhi kicked the pot of rice, spreading the rice all around, whilst all the elders blessed them and applauded.

I kept the plate filled with vermilion water in front of bhabhi's feet, for her to step in and leave her footprints on the floor of the house. And holding bhai's hand tightly in her's, bhabhi entered the house, leaving her red footprints behind and they walked together, starting their new phase of life.

*******

It was well past 11 in the night when I finally retired to my room. The post-wedding rituals took a long time, even considering the fact that both bhai and Ahana bhabhi wanted to be get done with the rituals quickly and retire to their bedroom.

I flushed as I recalled the passionate gaze with which bhai kept gazing at Bhabhi throughout the night, knowing full well what they were gonna be doing now...

Oh fuck!! My eyes went wide with horror as I realized that my brother's bedroom was right next to mine - uh-oh!!

But then, I remembered Arush, and frowned at how he'd not even bid me a goodbye before leaving. Where had he gotten to? When had he left?

I had asked papa if he knew where Arush was, and he said that he'd left.

Making my way to my wardrobe, I pulled out my night clothes, only to find Arush on my bed, smiling broadly at me.

"What the fuck?! Arush!!" I hissed in a whisper, clutching at my erratically beating heart.

"Your dad suggested that I stay here instead of leaving to my home... itni der hui hai!! Rat k 11 baje hain it's not safe!! And besides, there's a ritual to have the girl's sibling stay with her during her first stay at her inlaws!" Arush shrugged, walking up to me.

I rolled my eyes at him, but hugged him nevertheless as he put his arms around me.

"I'm tired" I yawned as he kissed the top of my head.

"Hmm.. me too... Go freshen up.. then we can sleep" he pecked my lips.

"And you?" I asked, indicating his kurta.

"I don't need a shirt to go to sleep" he shrugged.

"I have a pair of your night-wear that you'd left here once" I grinned, pulling out a shirt and a pair of pyjamas from his wardrobe.

"Cool" he grinned, taking them from me.

Twenty minutes later, we both lay on the bed, dressed in our night-wear, arm in arm, exhausted, but not sleeping really.

"You think