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

"Beta?! What are you doing?" came papa's voice out of nowhere, making both of us jump, though Arush's strong grip stayed protectively around my waist!

Uh-oh!! This ain't good!

Pulling myself together, I glared at Arush to let go off of me, oh but he always gets his way doesn't he?

Tightening his grip on my waist, Arush peered down at me, a look of concern over taking his handsome face, though his lips looked like they were twitching to form a smirk.

"Beta.." papa trailed off, only to be cut off by Arush.

"Oh uncle... Sorry... Sahana was fainting .. I just caught her in time... " Arush said, looking up at papa, with his hands still around me.

"What?" Papa asked, sounding anxious.

"Han... She was looking around, and then, she clutched at her head... I just happened to find her and she said she's okay... But she took two steps and was about to faint and fall down... So I held her... else she'd have been trampled over by the crowd" Arush said in such a nonchalant but anxious voice, whilst indicating the crowd around us, making it all sound so true!

"Arre meri bachchi.. Kya hua?" Papa asked in concern, as Arush steadied me on my feet, but kept his arm around my waist.

Papa put his arm on my shoulder to hold me tight like I'd fall off any second now, but Arush the asshole winked lightly at me once before tightening his grip on my waist.

"She looked pale yesterday in office too.... I guess she needs rest" Arush said softly as he and papa lead me to wherever it was that they were taking me.

"Hmm I think so too... She doesn't over sleep but she did wake up rather late than usual today morning... Are you overloading my daughter with work?" Papa asked, turning rather stern at the end, and making me smile.

"She's one of the most efficient member of my team uncle, and the most smartest too... She's actually helped me with a promotion too... but no I don't over load her uncle... she solves issues and comes up with such brilliant ideas that saves time for all of us... I think she likes to work... under me.." Arush trailed off, stressing the words 'under me'

Blinking in confusion, I looked up at Arush's face, who had a nonchalant expression on his face as he continued to listen to whatever papa had to reply on the subject, but was it my imagination or did Arush really look like he was smirking?

Working under him? What's there to smirk in that? Working.... Under him?! Under him.... Me under him yesterday.... Oh holy fuck!

As my eyes grew wide in realization, I saw Arush pursing his lips, like as though he was controlling himself from bursting into laughter.

Besharam aadmi!! He's fucking talking in double meaning right in front of my father!! Oh that asshole!!

"Beta where are your parents?" Papa asked Arush finally as we reached ma and Bhai who looked relieved as their eyes fell on me.

"Uh... They were supposed to be here... Wait let me call them" Arush said, finally letting go off of me, and taking the opportunity, I went to stand beside my mother, who smiled warmly at me, asking me where I'd been.

"Arre Arush beta... It's time for the aarti now.. why don't you call them on their phone and tell them to come here? You shouldn't put your back to an aarti" ma said, looking up at Arush.

"Ji aunty" Arush smiled, though from the glimmer in his eyes, it was evident that he was waiting for some such reply!

While Arush called and spoke to his father, giving them the direction to where we were located, ma Bhai and papa stood in front of us, looking towards the idols of Lord Krishna and his beloved Radha.

Arush had barely put his phone away when the aarti started. He was standing right next to me and it felt so exhilarating to be standing next to the love of my life, at this renowned temple.

I could see all the women around me checking if their dupattas or pallus were intact on top of their heads.

Oops I forgot to put my dupatta on top of my head!

I had barely reached out for the edge of my dupatta when I saw Arush moving towards me. I gasped and had barley had time to wonder what he was upto, when he bent down to my level, lifted the edge of my dupatta and draped it nearly over my head.

Tears welled my eyes at this warm gesture of his, and smiling to myself, I looked ahead, trying to get a glimpse of the aarti amidst the crowd of people ahead of us.

But seeing how there were a lot of tall people in the crowd ahead of me, I couldn't see a thing even when I stood on the tip of my toes! Pouting to myself, I stood on my toes again, to get at least one good glimpse of the aarti.

"I'd have lifted you in my arms if that was possible... but for now, this would have to do!" I heard Arush's voice in my ear, and I shot my shocked eyes to him, to find him standing right next to me and smiling, but indicating to the phone in his hand.

Arush had held his phone up such that the camera lens could capture the aarti going on ahead of us {seeing how tall he is from the rest of us!} and the phone screen was tilted, so I could see the live aarti through it... he was using his phone camera to show me the aarti!!

Tears again welled my eyes at his care, and still in awe at this man... my man.. I looked at the aarti through his phone, which finally, and to my utter disappointment, ended!

The crowd got restless and started pushing and pulling as people moved forward to get the teertha and the prasad. My family were all pushed away from me by the crowd, with Arush's strong yet warm grip on my hand assuring me that at least he was here by my side.

Making me move ahead of him, Arush held my hand tightly as we made our way to the front of the crowd... to get a glimpse of Lord Krishna and his Radha, before getting our prasad and teertha.

My family was nowhere to be found by the time we struggled and reached the front of the crowd, but all I could do was gasp in amazement as I finally saw the decorated idols of the Gods, right in front of me.

The priest kept saying something that just bounced off my ears, what with the crowd bustling all around us, and Arush's warm hand gripping mine, but most of all, the divine moment of finally standing here, in front of Krishna and Radha - the epitome of love, with my love right next to me!

I put my hand forward as the priest put forth a spoon filled with teertha, and drank the divine liquid, before putting my hand forward for the prasad. The priest handed me a laddoo, along with a jasmine.

I stood there silently as Arush repeated the same actions, but found all the wind getting knocked out of my lungs as Arush took a small pinch of vermilion from the priest's prasad plate and put on the partition of my hair, before covering it with my dupatta.

I stood there, spell bound, as Arush bowed down once before the deity, before tugging my hand and dragging me right behind him, my whole body just going numb at his action - did he just fill my partition?!

A little away from the crowd, Arush stopped abruptly, and turned to look at me, my breathing had long gone shallow and my sight was slowly getting blinded by my tears.

"I had put just a dash of the vermilion... should go unnoticed" Arush sighed, as he broke off a piece of the laddo and brought it to my lips.

"One day I can proudly fill your partition... but for now... this is all I can do to fulfill my fantasy" he sighed, looking intently at me.

"Fantasy?" I whispered, before taking a bite off the laddo that he was holding to my lips.

"Hmm... fantasy of you as my wife" he smiled, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear, before eating his share of the laddo.

Tears welled my eyes again at the tenderness in Arush's voice, his warm gaze, and most of all - his sindoor in my partition.

"Okay there's your family.... oh fuck there's my family too" I heard his apprehensive voice, and shot my gaze to the direction he was indicating, to find my parents, looking around, with bhai too searching for someone - me?!

And then, right beside them, was Ahana, with Arush's parents, as they too looked anxiously around.

"Time to meet the family" Arush sighed before both of us made our way towards our families, carefully avoiding looking at each other, or even holding hands.

"There you are!" came the relieved voices of the two sets of parents as 6 pairs of eyes landed on us, before all of us burst into laughter.

"Sorry... got lost again" I chirped before making my way to my family, occasionally peeking towards Arush who went to stand beside his father.

"Now that everybody's here.... uh... mummy.... papa.... this is Ahana" bhai sighed, sounding apprehensive, as he moved forward and indicated Ahana bhabhi to our parents.

"And this is Reyansh" bhabhi spoke softly, indicating my brother to her parents.

"And?!" Arush's father asked, sounding and looking very stern... I'd taken him for a jolly guy but maybe I was wrong?!

"And we want to get married... with your blessings" Ahana bhabhi and bhai said together, standing next to one another.

"Sure you can get married... so shall we start searching for a guy for you?" Arush's papa asked, making bhai and Ahana bhabhi look at him in shock, while Arush and I exchanged worried looks.

"I want to marry him papa" Ahana bhabhi said softly, indicating Reyansh bhai.

"And I want to marry Ahana... uncle" bhai said, sounding close to tears.

"How dare you call me uncle?! I'm not your uncle boy!" Arush's papa hissed, making me almost jump.

"I... woh.." bhai stuttered, looking first at me and then at Ahana bhabhi, helplessly and with such desperation... I saw his eyes turn glassy and for a moment there I wanted to yell and scream at everyone, while also fear crept in me - what if Arush's family rejects my bhai? 

"You were right Agarwal ji... this was funny" came Arush's papa's voice, before the two sets of parents burst out laughing.

What the fudge?!

"I am going to be your father in law... I'd prefer if you'd call me dad or papa... but please don't call me uncle... makes me feel old" Arush's father said, scrunching up his face in the end.

"Aap toh buddhe ho hi gaye ho chodo ji..." Arush's mom glared at her husband before turning to smile at bhai and saying "beta don't mind him... he does have a rather sick sense of humor at times... now come here... let me see my daamad ji"  and beaming at my brother.

"And let us have a closer look at our dear bahu... my my you're lovely" ma beamed at Ahana bhabhi as she walked to my mother on trembling feet. 

A moment of silence before ma cupped bhabhi's face and said "You will make a wonderful wife to my son... and an even more better daughter to me" 

That was when something snapped in me and I burst out "And what am I ma?!" whilst glaring at my mother.

"You are always my daughter, but you'll be the ghar ki Lakshmi... and a better daughter to the family who's son you'll marry" ma said, smiling at me.

I shot a glance to Arush, who beamed at me, before he turned his attention to his parents and my brother.

"I can't believe you set this all up" bhai scowled at papa, who just chuckled at him.

"Hmm, seeing how Sahana will have an arranged marriage, I won't get the chance to pull this on her now can I?! It was actually Sharma ji's idea to prank you kids like this... he was the one who called me today morning once we'd decided to meet up here" papa said, chuckling along with Arush's papa.

But only one thing registered in my mind - I'll have an arranged marriage?!

"And you are Reyansh's sister?" Arush's papa asked all of a sudden, bringing me to reality.

I nodded my head at him before moving forward and bending down to take his and Arush's mom's blessings - well time to butter up my would-be in-laws now right?!

"God bless you dear....  Ahana had told so much about you... you truly are a darling.." Arush's mom beamed at me, pulling me to my feet.

I blushed and shot a shy glance to Arush, who was beaming with pride, though his cheeks were tinged with pink.

"So what's your scene? Is your marriage already set, or do you have a boyfriend, or are you single?" she asked me, bringing me to reality again.

"Actually my sister has sent a rishta for her... the guy's family will be coming home tomorrow to see her" ma chirped, making my eyes go wide in horror.

"What?" I snapped at her, while through the corner of my eyes, I saw Arush's blushing face turn sour and his jaws clenched tight.

"Han.. arre I forgot to tell you... the guy had seen you during Varun's wedding and had told his parents he wants to marry you... they had approached Riddhi too to talk to us... but your papa had brushed it off saying first we'll get Rey married and then you... but now seeing Rey is already set... Riddhi suggested we meet up with the guy's family... His name is Dhyan and he works here in Mumbai... his family is good too and he's the only child... his parents stay in Delhi, but he stays here and you know he earns 30 lakhs per year!" ma explained, her eyes shining with excitement.

"He does sound like a good guy..." Arush's mom trailed off, smiling and beaming at ma.

I shot my horrified gaze to ma, who smiled as she said "Your papa and I both loved the guy and his family... just meet him once... we know we can't find a better guy than him for you beta"

"We once thought about Arush for you... but..." ma trailed off, looking at Arush's mom.

"He already has a girlfriend... and well... it's not nice to have this exchange sort of a thing now is it?! Take my daughter and give us your daughter kind of a situation.. you know..." Arush's mom trailed off.

"And we hear he has a nasty temper... quite opposite of you.... but Dhyan... he is a good boy... and you know Riddhi said that your's and his kundli match for a good 90%! The both of you will have a wonderful life, filled with riches and blessings!! You'll have good health and good kids too apparently... so just meet him beta?!" ma said softly, cupping my face.

I shot a nervous glance to Arush, who was standing behind his mother, looking like a dragon that's about to spit fire. Glaring once at me, he stormed away, leaving me with our parents.

What am I to react to this?! They've already dismissed Arush off as unworthy of me, and already looked for some guy who's their definition of perfect! 

Tears welled my eyes - just right now Arush and I were so happy... the sindhoor... and now.. this?!

"So since Dhyan's family is coming home tomorrow, you too come home.. we can have a pandit to set the dates for engagement and marriage for Reyansh and Ahana, and also get a chance for all the three families to mingle?!" papa said finally, to which Arush's parents beamed and agreed.

With my eyes still searching for my man, I looked around - hope he doesn't do something stupid now?!

To be continued...

A/n - Hey people... If you like my works then please could you vote for me for THE DESI IRIDESCENT AWARDS? The details for the same.. I've put up on my profile please go through it... and I do hope you'll vote for the book if you like it! :)

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