The doorbell rang, pulling me out of my thoughts. They were here-my parents.

I stood up and hurried to open the door.

"Hello!" My mouth widened into a smile as soon as I saw my sister.

"Tu bhi aa rhi thi? Mujhe btaya ni." I asked while engulfing her in a hug.

( You also came? You didn't tell me.)

"Well, that's what surprises are for," she laughed, wrapping her arms around my neck.

I closed my eyes, feeling her after so long. "It's been a long time," I whispered.

"I know. That's why I came," she said, pulling back slightly, her eyes glimmering.

"Bs ab bhar hi rakhe gi kya, yha andr bhi bulaye gi?"
(Won't you call us inside?)

I darted my gaze from her to people beside her, my parents. My mother, draped gracefully in a blue saree, looked like the most beautiful woman in the world. I smiled and hugged her tightly.

"Kaise ho?" she asked.

( How are you?)

"Badiya, Ma," I murmured softly.

(Good, mother.)

She nodded, stepping out of the hug. Then my eyes found my dad-the man I sometimes admired, sometimes resented.

He placed his hand gently on my head, patting once before nodding.

And just like that, they stepped inside-filling my apartment with their warmth.

"So, how's your work going?" My dad asked as he took a place on the sofa along with my mother.

"It's going good, papa."

I said as i glanced at him. He nodded.

"Vo sab chodiye ab, ab iska rishta hone wala hai and you are talking about work." My mother chimed in.

( Leave that, her alliance is about to get fix and you are talking of work.)

My dad hummed.

"Main chai bna lati hu."

( I will bring tea.)

"Ha! Ja bna la."

(Yes, go ahead.)

I nodded and made my way towards kitchen where Rheya was already sitting on the slab, eating chips.
I rolled my eyes,"aate hi lag gi?"

She pulled her tongue out, irritating me.

"Leave that. Tell me about jiju?" My heart raced at the thought of him.

"Abhi se hi blushing and all?" She spoke, her tone teasing me.

"Jiju bne ni hai, tumhare ab tak."

( He is not your brother in law.)

"Ban jaega." She spoke reminding me of how he replied when I said that I was not Mrs. Bansal. My cheeks burned at the memory.

"Blush after, make tea for everyone."
"Whatever."

I took the utensil, pouring water in it and then kept it on the stove, putting every ingredient needed.

"I never expected that you will get married like this- suddenly."

"Me neither." I spoke, my tone low.
"Aren't you scared?"

"I am. But you know Advik ji is too. We both are equal in it, I guess."

My eyes flickering at her, a smile played on her face.

"I feel he is a good guy."

" He is, rheya." I spoke my tone a little hoarse, as if trying to prove her right.

" I am happy for you."

" Thank you. Tell me about you?How's your life going?"

" Good. Too good. I wanted to tell you something -"

"Yeah, tell." I said as i poured milk in the tea.

"I got into relationship." I looked at her, my eyes widening.

"What, when, how and most importantly who?"

"With that guy I was telling you about."

"Oh mr. Sweetheart?" I smiled as i remembered how much she used to talk about him always.

"Yes, him." She spoke her eyes sparkling with love, love for him.

" Is he treating you right?"

I asked as I grabbed the pan and poured the tea in the cups for everyone.

"Yes, better than what i expected."

"Then good. But, Rheya i don't wanna scare you or something but keep in mind how strict our parents are. Be in the relationship if it's healthy and make sure they don't find until you get the job, okay?"

"Hnji, I will make sure."

"Good. Now let's go and serve the tea
"
I grabbed the plate and moved towards living room with rheya beside me who again was now munching on her chips.

"Lijiye." I kept the tea infront of my parents and settled on the chair.

"Ritika, they are coming in two hours, i just talked to them. Tum ready ho jao." My heart raced at the thought that I will meet his family. How would they be? Will his mother like me? Will they even accept me? My mind swirled through thousands thoughts making me nervous.

"Okay, ma."

"Aajao, main taiyar krti hu aapko." Rheya spoke.

I nodded and we both made our way toward my room.

(You get ready.)

˚ ♡ ˚

My hands dripped with sweat, as I stood in front of her apartment, where I was last night, laughing with her and watching TMKOC.
I looked beside me, my brother and sister giving me a side look, as if they were too excited to meet her. I was too.
I rolled my eyes and rubbed my palms around black trousers of mine. I am too excited yet nervous. I wanna see her. It's been less than two days since we met but here I was, getting restless without her. She has occupied every thought of my mind.

"Chale, beta?" My mother's voice pulled me out of the whirlwind in my head - a head filled with only her, the woman who was soon to be my wife.

"Hnji, ma." I spoke trying to keep my tone neutral.
She rang the bell and in seconds the door opened.

"Namaste aunty ji."
"Namaste, uncle ji."

The girl maybe Ritika Ji's sister greeted my parents and then her eyes glanced over me. A soft smile played on her face as she nodded at me. And then her eyes found my siblings, I looked at Vihaan, his eyes widened as he stared at that girl. As if he saw something unexpected. I frowned.
Soon he masked his emotions and passed her a smile.

"Aaiye, andr." A new voice entered my ears. I darted my gaze and looked at the owner of the voice.
Mrs. Goyal. A soft smile played on her face as she looked at me. And beside him stood Mr. Goyal. His face hardened, stoic of any emotion.
I moved my way towards Mrs goyal greeting her and touching her feet.

"God bless you." She whispered.

I did the same with Mr. Goyal passed me a little node and we all made our way inside the apartment that was filled with the scent of lavender.

We all settled on the sofa, beside me the place was vacant, maybe for her. I glanced around the room, hoping to have a glance of her.

Where is she?

"Advik seems like such a great guy. I really liked him in the first Nazar. And sent rishta to you." Mrs. Goyal's voice echoed in the room. Her words making me smile.

"And when I saw Ritika? I was astonished how beautiful she was
And when I talked to you and get to know she is independent? I felt so proud and felt she seemed perfect for advik." My mother's voice settled.

True, ma. She is so beautiful. So beautiful that my breath hitched when I first saw her in that purple top and jeans. Her brown eyes, that stared right into mine.

"Rheya, go and bring your sister." Mrs. Goyal's voice cut through my thoughts.

And with each second my heart raced, throbbed in my chest.

I rubbed my hands against my trousers, my eyes on the floor as I waited for her.

And soon I heard the sounds of bangles and anklets in the room, and my world stilled. slowly i moved my eyes from the floor to her.

And
My breath hitched.

My eyes widened.

There she was- looking the most beautiful woman known to mankind.

The kind of girl who would bring you to your knees.

She lifted her eyes from the tray in her hands and directly looked at me.

My hearts throbbing fast against my chest.

Too fast that maybe I would faint.
Faint because of her.

She was too pretty, too enchanting.

She looked away from me and gave tea to everyone and slowly she stepped in front of me, offering me the tea.

I took my hands and grabbed the cup, my fingers brushing against her hand that sent shivers down my spine. That was magical.

"Beta, uske pass baith jao." My mother spoke.

Her eyes darted away from me to my mother and she passed a small smile,"ji, aunty."

She sat beside me, my eyes never leaving her, not for once.
I bend a little towards her and spoke in a low tone,"you look painfully beautiful, Mrs bansal. And my heart can't handle this."

With each word, her cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink, her smile widening in that soft, shy way that made my heart stumble.

"Stop it, everyone is here." She glanced at me.

I shrugged, ready to tease her again, when my sister's voice cut through the air.
"Bhabhi, you're looking so pretty!"

I smiled. I loved how everyone had attention on her, I loved how she was being adored. But a possessiveness passed inside me.
Ignoring the pang inside me, i focused on the conversation.
"Thank you, Riya." She spoke her tone soft, a smile pulling on her face.
I wanted to talk to her, tell her how she was affecting me- not just her beauty but her presence, the soft one where everything feels good, so right.

"Bahu Rani, sahi main bahut Sundar hai." My mother spoke making her smile a little more.
( She is so beautiful.)

"Thank you, aunty ji."
" Stop, beta. Now I am your mother. Call me ma just like how advik calls me."
"Hnji, ma." She spoke.

"Good. So did you like advik?"
I averted my gaze from my mother to her, waiting for her to answer.
"Hnji, he is good." And my heart warmed. Three simple words yet my heart found a peace. I am glad.

"What about you, Advik? Do you like her?" Mrs. Goyal's spoke.
"Hnji, ma." I said and looked at mrs. Goyal, a smile played on her face.
"So, rishta paaka smje?" My dad chimed in the conversation.
I looked at her, and found her already looking at me, her small eyes staring directly at me, a little smile on her face. I frowned, and she nodded.
"Yes."
"Yes."
We both spoke in unison. And everyone in the room laughed.

"Then it's settled." This time Mr goyal spoke in his light tone.

"Let me call pandit ji and ask him for the date of marriage." My heart raced as I heard my mother's words.
Marriage.
I was getting married.
To her.
To Ritika ji.
It felt dream, it was too fast. Too overwhelming.
Are we doing right? Will she be happy with me? Or will she think I am a pathetic loser who is just messed up?

A sudden warmth pulled me out of my thoughts.
Her hand -small, soft -had slipped into mine. Our fingers intertwined, resting together on the sofa.

I looked down at our joined hands, then up at her. Her eyes met mine, steady and sure. They said what words couldn't - that maybe I wasn't perfect, maybe this was all happening too fast, but somehow... it was right.

She was here.
And that was enough.

A/N

SOO HOW WAS THE CHAPTER??

DID YOU LOVE ADVIK'S POV!?

Anyways thank you so much for reading and love you all<3.
(Vote and comment krdoo*puppy eyes*)