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

Ahana bhabhi and I giggled and chirped as we made our way into the house - only to find the environment dead serious as all the parents glared at us - what had happened?

"What.... happened?" I whispered, looking from my parents to my would-be-in-laws.

"I don't want to marry you off first!" papa hissed looking at me, while Arush's papa scoffed.

"And I don't want to marry off my bachchi first!" Arush's papa hissed, to which my father scoffed.

Pin-drop silence ensued after this and we heard shuffling of footsteps before bhai and Arush came around, talking.

"Somebody has to get married first!! So why not Reyansh and Ahana?! The second wedding date can be for Sahana and Arush!" papa said brightly, to which ma and Arush's mother groaned.

"EXACTLY... somebody has to get married first!! So let's do Arush and Sahana first and on the second date we can have Reyansh and Ahana!" Arush's dad said, while both the mothers face-palmed themselves.

"What's going on?!" bhai spoke making me turn around to find Arush standing right next to me, and bhai standing right next to Ahana bhabhi.

"Neither one of them wants to marry their daughter off first!" ma said in exasperation, to which Arush's mom nodded her head, glaring up at her husband.

"I don't want to give my daughter off so quickly!!" papa choked, his eyes brimming with tears and I quickly moved over to hug him.

"And neither do I want to give my daughter off so quickly!!" Arush's papa choked, as Ahana bhabhi hugged him.

Though hugging our respective fathers, Ahana bhabhi and I looked at one another - tears brimming in our own eyes. The bond between a father and his daughter is truly a special one and lucky are we to have such doting fathers!!

I sniffed before turning my gaze to Arush, who was looking at me with such intensity that blood rose to my cheeks. As our gazes clashed, his gaze turned warm and soft, making me smile.

"How about we have both the weddings on the same day?!" Ananad chachu chirped.

"Okay that's... hmm okay..." papa sniffed and I broke away from him to find Arush's papa too nodding to this.

"Okay so Sahana and Arush can get married at the first muhurat and then Ahana and Reyansh..." Arush's papa trialed off before Anand chachu cut him in again.

"Uh no.. I mean, get both the couples married at the same muhurat... so no more fight of who gets to marry their daughter off first! Anyway both the houses will have a set of baraat, a set of brides and a set of bidai... why not have them together?! So you will be giving away your daughter and bringing a daughter to your home at the same time..." Ananad chachu said brightly.

At the thought of marriage, blood yet again rose to my cheeks and I shot a glance at Arush who was still looking at me without blinking his eyes - does he not know subtlety?!

"Hmm that does sound good... it'll make things so much easier!!" ma said quickly.

"True... and since we'll have one big wedding, we can have a nice destination wedding... all the pre-wedding functions and rituals too can take place there... it'll be so much easier to do all the preparations!!" Arush's ma said brightly.

"But..." Arush's papa began.

"What but?! A father will never be completely okay in marrying his daughter off!! That's how it is... and even I am not ecstatic to marry my daughter and send her away!! But Reyansh is capable of taking care of her and she too loves him!! And besides, it's not like we live in another planet! We live in the same city too... just pop in on her whenever you want to see your daughter!" Arush's ma said as she too hugged Ahana bhabhi.

"Even our parents didn't want to marry us and send us away... but this is what life is right?!" ma added as she came over to hug me.

Nobody said anything and our fathers too maintained silence. I peeked over at Arush who still hadn't dropped his gaze - what the heck is wrong with him?! Can't he let me be in peace?! Now look at my heart throbbing erratically all over again... all thanks to him!!

"But.. doesn't this mean that I won't be able to take part in my own sister's wedding?! And neither would Arush be able to take part in Ahana's and mine wedding?!" bhai's voice made me look at him.

"Yes... but I do want to take part in my sister's wedding.... saale saab ka achche se khayal jo rakh ni hai!" Arush smirked at bhai.

{Saala (sister's husband); but it also means bugger/that-damn-dude (a very popular cuss word!)

translation - I do want to take care of my brother-in-law (meaning 1)
                       - I do want to take care of (sarcastically) him (kinda like I want to take care of this                                   fucker, but not as offensive as the word FUCKER)

}

"Han... han... aur mujhe bhi apne saale saahab ki khabar... I mean... khayal... jo rakhni hai!" bhai smirked at Arush.

{ translation - translates to same as what Arush meant}

"Bhai!!!" Ahana bhabhi and I said together, looking at our respective brothers before turning to one another and giggling.

"Han?!" Arush and Bhai answered simultaneously, before their eyes went wide in horror and they looked at one another.

"That doesn't.... It doesn't... Count!! I... I answered for my sister's call!! I answered for Ahana!!" Arush said quickly.

"Yes!! And I answered for my Sonu.." Bhai too said and both of them looked at one another and nodded.

How could the two of them be so... So damn similar?! And yet, so different?!

"I... I want to take care of bhai's juthi... so that bhabhi k side wale usko chura na le!" I said, breaking the silence and smirking at Arush, to which bhai came over and engulfed me into a tight hug.

{ it's a ritual wherein the bride's cousins/brothers/sisters try to steal these shoes and then blackmail the groom into paying them to get the shoes back)

translation - I want to take care of my brother's foot-wear (the ones they wear for wedding) so that nobody from Ahana's side would steal it (meaning, she wants to protect the shoes from Arush)}

I broke the hug to look over at Arush who had a wide smirk plastered on his face - this isn't good news!! As handsome as he looks right now, that smirk is my doom!!

"And I too want to protect my brother's juthi!! Who knows which idiot might steal it away?!" Ahana bhabhi winked at bhai whilst Arush guffawed with laughter.

{translation - I too want to take care of my brother's foot-wear!}

"I won't marry my daughter off first!" papa chirped brightly, to which ma, Arush's ma and even Arush groaned, whilst I let out a soft giggle. Bhai thumped the air as though in victory, whilst Arush's papa hissed.

"And now, we're back to square one!!" ma sighed, to which Arush's ma too agreed.

"I call dibs on the first wedding date!" two voices spoke together - Arush and my dear brother!

Both of them looked at one another in shock, before glaring at one another and cocking their eyebrows at one another in a sort of a 'bring it on' way.

"But I want to get married first!" Arush growled, to which bhai raised his eyebrow.

"But I want to get married first!!" Bhai growled, glowering at Arush.

"I hear you... but I want to get married first!" Arush glowered back at bhai, folding the sleeves of his shirt, as though getting ready for a fight

"Yes yes I too hear you... but saale sahab, I want to get married first!" bhai hissed, folding the sleeves of his kurta, like he was gonna fight Arush for a wedding date now!

"Boys... boys!! First let your parents decide... then you'll get a say!!" Dhyan jiju's papa chimed in.

"If we listen to them na uncle, then we won't ever get married! Arre hummare baal safeed ho jayenge aur hum buddhe ho jayenge par yeh log decide nahi Kar payenge k kiski Shaadi pehle hogi!!" bhai whined and Arush nodded, whilst Ahana bhabhi and I roared with laughter, though our cheeks were bright pink!

{ translation - If we wait for our parents to decide, then we'll just grow into grandpas with white hair and yet remain unmarried!}

"Look... let's settle this the mature way... heads or tails?!" Arush said finally, looking at bhai and fishing in his pocket for a coin.

"Yes because this is a cricket match?" Bhai cocked his eyebrow at Arush who pursed his lips.

"Then you suggest a way?! I don't care about anything else except that I want to get married first!" Arush hissed, to which bhai huffed angrily.

"I'm the oldest so I will be getting married first!" bhai declared, glaring at Arush.

"Oh God not again!!!" Arush's ma groaned as she sat down on the sofa, ma sitting next to her with the same enough-of-this-shit  expression.

"Okay how about this?! Rock-paper-scissors?! Whoever wins will get married first?!" bhai suggested.

"Yes because rock-paper-scissors is a matured person's game isn't it?!" Arush rolled his eyes.

"Okay fine then... if you don't wanna play that just means I'll get married first!" bhai shrugged, winking at Ahana bhabhi.

"Ugh alright let's play!!" Arush sighed, moving closer to bhai.

As we watched in silence, both of them stretched and cracked their knuckles and rubbed their palms excitedly before going "Rock... paper....scissors!"

Bhai had fisted his palm in a rock, and we looked at Arush, who too had his fist for a rock.

"Ugh!! Again then!?" they both said, before going "Rock... paper....scissors!"

This time too, bhai's hand showed a rock, whilst Arush too was holding out his hand in a rock.

"What the.... ugh round three then!! Third time's the lucky charm I hope!!" Arush hissed before the third round.

The third round showed bhai holding his fist in a rock, whilst Arush went for the scissor.

There was pin drop silence as everyone watched these two before bhai burst out laughing and punched the air in victory.

"YESSSS!!!" he jumped, punching the air, like as though he'd just won a match!!

"YES! YES! YESSSSSSSSSS!!!" Bhai started dancing right there, and unable to stop myself any longer, I guffawed with laughter, while everybody else just stayed mum, looking from an over-the-moon bhai, to a very somber Arush.

"So looser... I am getting married first!" bhai smirked, patting Arush's shoulder.

"I think this solves the matter?" bhai then turned to the parents, all of whom were watching him with wide eyes.

I turned my gaze to Ahana bhabhi who was blushing more than ever, biting her lip shyly and not looking at my bhai.

"Hmm yes... I... I think... the matter... uh... it's decided?!" Riddhi chachi spoke, whilst Anand chachu still looked at bhai and then at Arush in awe.

"Uh..." Arush's papa trailed off, looking from a blushing Ahana bhabhi, to a very somber Arush.

"C'mon I won fair and square!!" bhai whined, looking at Ahana bhabhi who was looking shyly at bhai.

"Yes..." Arush's papa trailed off, shooting another look to his wife.

I took the time to look at Arush who was just standing there, looking completely defeated and very somber. Forgetting everything else, I moved over to Arush, my eyes taking in his pursed lips and his defeated form.

"Hey.. you okay?" I whispered, looking up into his eyes.

"Hmm" he gave a half smile before turning all somber again.

"We're spending a whole week together" I whispered, blushing at the prospect of a long weekend with my man.

"Yes" he smiled, taking my hand and caressing the back of my hand with his thumb.

"You know, there's a very old and very true proverb - good things come to those who wait" I smiled as he brushed his lips to the back of my hand, burning my skin under his touch.

Goosebumps erupted all over my body at this simple yet enduring gesture of his - we'd literally seen each other naked a few hours ago and even slept with one another and yet... and yet such gestures always make me go weak in the knees!

"Hmm true... You are the best thing that has ever happened to me" he smiled, brushing his lips to the back of my hand again. Blood rose to my cheeks and my breath hitched in my throat at the intensity with which he gazed at me and my knees too started wobbling.

"Ahem ahem" the clearing of multiple throats made me jump as I pulled my hand out of Arush's grip and whipped my blushing gaze to the others, all of whom were winking and grinning teasingly, making me blush even more if that's possible!!

"Yes?" Arush asked rather coolly I thought, as he put his arm around my shoulder ever so casually.

But the teasing look from bhai and Ahana bhabhi, along with the wink of Riddhi chachi, not to mention my own parents and Arush's parents all pursing their lips to stop from laughing -  made me move away from Arush - oh I'm gonna get teased a lot for this!!

"Oh don't worry beta... we don't mind!" Arush's ma winked at me, to which Arush's papa nodded his head in agreement.

"Yes, and neither do we!" papa winked while ma chuckled and nodded her head.

Could the Earth just split open right now and swallow me in?! I DON'T WANT ANY MORE EMBARRASSMENT!!!!

"Ha Sonu... ja ja... it's your boyfriend after-all!" bhai winked, making me blush even more.

FUCK.... FUCK!! FAAAAAAAAAAAKKKKHHH!!!!

"Yes Sahana.... it's just me, your boyfriend... and that too right here... it's not like I took you out on a date to my place now, is it?!" Arush said in a very nonchalant tone, whilst looking at bhai with an evil smirk on his face.

At once, all the color drained off bhai's face and he stuttered a little and pursed his lips before shooting furtive glances at an equally scared-looking Ahana bhabhi, before turning back to look at Arush, an unnerved expression on both their faces.

"Hey saale sahab... aap to bura maan gaye... " bhai chuckled nervously.

{ translation - hey BIL (also meaning FUCKER in as polite a way as possible! :P ) you took it in the wrong way!}

"Nope... You're getting married first saale sahab... I am cool with it" Arush shrugged, acting all cool and nonchalant again.

"Uh... okay so Reyansh and Ahana can have their wedding first, and on the second date we'll have Arush and Sahana's wedding then?!" Papa finally asked, looking from us to Arush's parents.

"Hmm okay then... we'll get three days' gap between the two weddings to do all the preparations" Arush's ma said thoughtfully, to which my mother too agreed.

"But what if we have all the pre-wedding rituals together?! Like we'll have one haldi ceremony for Sahana bhabhi and me together, and simultaneously a haldi ceremony for Bhai and Rey together? One Sangeeth for Bhabhi and me together... So in this way, we get all the pre wedding rituals done and nothing to worry about! Of course, we can have bhabhi's mehandi function just the day before the wedding..." Ahana bhabhi chirped brightly.

{ haldi ceremony - a pre-wedding function/ritual wherein the bride is caked in turmeric paste by her relatives, and the groom too is caked in turmeric paste by his relatives.

mehandi ceremony - another pre-wedding function/ritual wherein the bride's hands and feet are all tattooed using henna.

sangeeth cereomny - another pre-wedding function/ritual wherein both the bride and the groom's family come together to celebrate the wedding and there's a lot of dancing and singing, and a lot of teasing too!}

I looked at Arush and at my own brother - surely neither of them would be okay with this idea?! And sure enough, both Arush and Reyansh Bhai were glaring at Ahana bhabhi like she'd just slapped the two of them!!

"Hmm that will make things easier..." Ma trailed off, to which Arush's mom nodded her head.

"Sahana beta.. are you okay with this?" Arush's mom asked, smiling at me.

"Han mom... I'm cool with it!" I grinned, fighting the urge to guffaw with laughter at the look of incredulity on Arush's and Bhai's face.

Oh if both Ahana bhabhi and I have our pre wedding functions together, that means neither Bhai, nor Arush can come and see us - obviously they're burning right now hehe!!

Arush's phone started ringing all of a sudden, drawing everybody's attention. Looking curiously at his phone screen, he excused himself to take the call and walked out of the house, whilst the rest of us started talking about the wedding preparations.

It was decided that since two sets of everything - from jewelry to lehengas to sherwanis to mangalsutras - are required, we'd shop for all of them together, so that there won't be any repetition of items.

Just then, Arush came back, looking very somber - oh God now what had happened?!

"That was Kabir... from Riya's place...." Arush said seriously, nodding at me - so Kabir had really gone over to Riya's place?! But how come Riya never told me about it?!

"Oh?! What happened?!" Ahana bhabhi asked, looking nervously at Arush.

"Riya's family... they've agreed" Arush smiled, but there was something he was definitely hiding.

"What are you hiding?" I blurted out inspite of myself, earning the attention of everyone in the room.

"Uh... they want to marry Kabir and Riya as soon as possible.... the pandit ji has given a date for next Wednesday" Arush pursed his lips in dissatisfaction.

"Why so early?!" papa asked, raising his eyebrow in surprise.

"Apparently Kabir and Riya can't be trusted anymore... seeing how they're in love 'n stuff... so this weekend they're taking her to her grandparents to uh seek blessings?! And then there's the wedding.... next week" Arush pursed his lips.

"But this is unfair!!" Ahana bhabhi said, looking from my parents to Arush's parents and I could understand what she meant - if these people could trust Arush and me... and even bhai and bhabhi, then surely Riya's parents can trust and understand Riya and Kabir's story too?!

"But Riya's parents... in all honesty it's a miracle that they did agree for the marriage!" I sighed, knowing her orthodox family too well!

"Still.." Ahana bhabhi trailed off sadly.

"Let's look at the bright side - at least the girl is getting to spend the rest of her life with someone she loves!" Arush's ma said kindly, though smiling sadly at Ahana bhabhi.

"Don't contact Riya yet... she.... Kabir said she'll talk to you in office tomorrow" Arush said, looking at me.

"But.." I trailed off as he cut me in - "No... she's... you know her family... it's best if we don't intervene"

It was a rather difficult task not to think of my best friend and sit here, with my family and my to-be-inlaws, whilst I knew how much Riya must be mentally suffering in there all alone!!

If Riya didn't know that Kabir and his family were going to drop-in on her parents, then obviously it must have had come off as a shock to her family. Which means, they might have had tried to act all cool and kept the bottle of their temper tightly sealed until Kabir and his family left - Riya must be facing her mother's wrath all alone now!!

How can I help her out?!

"Our intervention will only worsen Riya's situation... and besides, like mom said... look at the bright side... whatever mental torture she's going through right now - it's short lived okay?! I know Kabir - he'll do anything to keep Riya happy!! I know he loves her a lot... so your friend is in good hands okay?!" Arush said soothingly, taking my hand and caressing the back of my hand.

When had he