Greetings my dear readers,

In order to mark my 21st B'day🎂,
I'm treating you all with this update, the official last update of JI HUZOORI...❤️

Please give it a try.

And if you like the story,
please show some love by
voting and commenting
on this chap.

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Important :

Do follow me (Sonali_nefelibata) my dear lovelies, so as to keep track of each and every important announcement and not miss out on anything.

Moreover, catch me and your lovable JI HUZOORI's characters on Instagram with the username - 'sonali_nefelibata'. Exciting reels and igtv videos are waiting for you there.
(Link has been provided in my profile's description area.)

~~~

You may begin now.

🏵️⭐🏵️

~~~

This chap is affectionately dedicated to - 🖤✨

~~~

"So, I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you...................."

"Dadi, do something. Please!"

Lifting her heavy embroidered lehenga, Sameeksha slowly made her way towards Mrs Kaveri Mohan. As the soon-to-be bride complaint, the senior lady's gaze examined around, only to find Dev approaching her too.

"What happened child?"

"Those are irritating me. I'm telling you, you shouldn't have brought them."

With her eyes, Sameeksha gestured towards the crowd of those same ladies whom she couldn't develop a liking for, no matter how hard she tried.

The Sangeet ceremony was almost wrapped, however, many couldn't stop themselves from showing their special moves on the dance floor. Since, all the stage performances, speeches and casual eating were done, the dance floor was opened for everyone. Loud, peppy Bollywood chartbusters were bursting on the speakers. The hall of the resort was quite spacious, and it was very destination wherein Dev and Sameeksha would get married the next day.

"Why are you troubling my Dadi?"

Dev asked taking a seat beside his grandmother who very lovingly caressed his back whilst making more space for him to sit properly. Putting her hands on her hips, Sameeksha reasoned out,

"Excuse me, I too have a right on Dadi. I can talk to her whenever I want, isn't it?" The senior lady happily nodded. And that was when Sameeksha added, "Moreover, I wasn't troubling. Troublemakers are already enough over here."

Dev followed her glance towards the dance floor and couldn't really manage to stifle his chuckles,

"By the way, Taiji's moves are to die for. Right?" He asked while she rolled her eyes, "If you say so."

Mrs Kaveri Mohan couldn't help but shake her head at them as they both went on. Lovey-dovey talks weren't their type. Their love language was quite different - teasing, irritating and arguing consistently. One of the best ways to show your partner that you love them is through affectionate teasing only.

Soon the eldest Mohan lady's eyes fell on Ved and Adishri who were with their little one. Vidhi and Vaidik too were busy in giving a company to Adved baby.

"Look today's pictures. So cute, right?"

Adishri excitedly scrolled her thumb on her phone, her photo gallery was filled with her baby's uncountable pictures which she had clicked before and during the function. The baby actually looked cute in a lemon yellow traditional outfit. Ved smiled going through all those clicks. However, Vidhi's grumbling voice drew his attention towards her almost immediately,

"Bade Fufaji, Vaidik is disturbing the baby." Ved looked at Vaidik who was vigorously shaking little Adved's hands. "Vaidik no. Come and sit here."

Vaidik obliged getting settled beside Ved. Adishri helped him in sitting there, the chair was too high for him.

"Badi Mami, I want the baby to talk. Why can't he talk?"

To Vaidik's innocent query, Adishri couldn't help but smile.

"He will start talking to you soon. Till then you talk to Vidhi."

"I don't want to talk to her. She's a bad girl."

Vaidik made a sulking face. His sulk instantly got reflected on Vidhi's face too.

"You're bad. I'm not talking to you. I'm going."

"I'll go before you."

Vaidik challenged her, getting off the chair. Vidhi accepted that challenge instructing,

"Let's race till that fountain then."

Kids were gone. On finding no one around for him to stare, little Adved began whining, in high hopes to gain somebody's attention. Adishri darted her gaze from her phone to her child,

"He was so quiet now. And suddenly he started again."

"I guess he no longer enjoys in our company. He needs variety in people. New faces to hold him each time." Ved muttered as he was observed his wife swinging his child in her arms. He added smiling to himself, "Boy is out of our hands from now only, Shri. We need to be serious."

"You mean he's bored of us already?" Adishri asked and then looked at her baby cooing something to him softly, "Avi, I know your Dad is boring but you can't be bored of Mumma?"

"Hey!"

Ved interrupted with a fake offensive stare. Adishri laughed out loud making her husband laugh along.

Mrs Kaveri Mohan was not able to hear their utterances but their happy faces were enough to let her know that they were happy. Very happy together. And that only multiplied the old lady's peace and joy.

She then roamed her eyes to find her remaining extremely fond ones. Somewhere far away, across the hall, she found Shaurya and Manjiri together with Mr Anubhav Mohan and Mrs Suniti Mohan. Seemingly, the elder couple was mingling with a few of the guests while the younger couple was wordlessly trying to fit in there whilst smiling at each other in between whiles.

A while later, Manjiri murmured to Shaurya when they were done greeting every guest or friend of her parents-in-law.

"I'm sick of these. I'm tired too."

"Wanna sit there?"

Shaurya motioned with his eyes towards an unoccupied centre table with three chairs. Vidhi was already sitting on one of them and killing her time by playing a game on Shaurya's phone. Manjiri nodded walking up to that table,

"Vidhi, it's too much now. Don't you feel sleepy?"

"Just this last level, Bua."

Vidhi replied not even looking up from the phone's screen. However, she did keep speaking to Shaurya on random topics at various times.

"Let's cut these people and go back. For how long will we celebrate?" Manjiri asked Shaurya when he caught her giving odd looks at the dance floor. However, what she added next had an amusement only specific to her. "I feel pity for the dance floor." Although, Shaurya's eyes sparkled on catching his wife's uncanny humour.

She was dressed in a flared navy blue lehenga and dupatta which went well with a baby pink colour blouse. Having no pockets in her outfit, she had given her phone to him long back. She asked bored,

"What's the time?"

Shaurya purposely ignored that by getting up cross-questioning,

"Water?"

She nodded in response. By the time, Shaurya went to fetch some water, Vidhi ran to her parents giving back his phone to Manjiri.

"Here you go."

Manjiri took the glass of water from Shaurya's hand. She was sipping it whilst migrating her eyes on the dance floor. She lowered the glass from her mouth, meeting his eyes to enunciate,

"Sangeet is over and they're still dancing. I can't dance so much. Never."

"Guess what? Me too."

"Let's ask these people to switch off everything. Lights, music..." Shaurya intervened her freakish plan by speaking, also throwing a glance at his watch, "And you think they would stop with that?"

"Well, we can try." She replied yawning. While he shook his head smiling, "You're so silly!"

All of a sudden everything got darken. A soft song started playing in the background in place of the former peppy loud one. Manjiri inquisitively looked around asking softly. She could see faint figures of the people descending from the stage and the dance floor.

"Did they hear us?"

Shaurya leaned closer asking her too. She leaned in, all ears, as though he would tell her a secret. He grinned whispering in her ear,

"Happy first anniversary, Silly Head, my love."

Manjiri slowly turned making her face to come in line with his. She was clearly caught off guard. She didn't realise it was that late. She was under an impression that there was still some time for the clock to strike twelve.

"Happy anniversary..."

Barely she could wish him back when countless fairy lights got illuminated in the entire hall. Everyone clapped when Mrs Kaveri Mohan walked to stand in the middle of the hall with a mic in hand and a broad smile gracing her lips.

"Dearest Shaurya and Miru, may your first anniversary mark the beginning of another year for God to bless your way. It means the world to me to see you two being happy and sailing through life. The year went by so fast, it's like yesterday we brought our Miru to our home." She called both of them to her and continued only when they approached her, "I wish you both a long life of harmony and peace as you celebrate your anniversary. Know that my blessings are always with you. Take love."

"Thank you, Dadi!"

Shaurya and Manjiri replied in an unison throwing their arms around the lady turn wise. As soon as Shaurya pulled back from his grandmother, she urged putting a small box in his hand,

"Now take this back and set me free."

"Dadi, please. Not here."

He beseeched in a very low tone, somewhat feeling shy as everyone was looking at him. However, his grandmother didn't listen,

"What please? If you bought it for her then make her wear."

"I?"

"No, I'll do that." She shook her head smiling. "Idiot!"

Manjiri looked on surprised. She wasn't too naive to not know what could be there in that tiny box. However, she won't deny if someone ever asked her on if she was nervous too.

"Come on now."

Mrs Kaveri Mohan encouraged and Shaurya stepped forward to stand in front of his wife. Manjiri looked up to match his gaze. With the way they felt about each other, it was both adorable and frantic to look at one another at that moment.

"Shaurya Bhai, we can't see you on your knees." Sameeksha excitedly called from behind. Dev too didn't leave a chance to remark, "Yes Bhai, be chivalrous and ask for Bhabhi's hand with utmost love."

Offering a sheepish look, Shaurya wordlessly kneeled in front of Manjiri. While she looked down at him in wonder as he took her hand.

"I don't know what to say to you, how to describe my feelings for you. I'm clearly unprepared, you see. All I want is to hold your hand forever. May I?"

He drawled in a tone which was only audible to his wife and grandmother.

Inadvertently, a happy tear rolled down Manjiri's cheek as she nodded frantically. Mrs Kaveri Mohan beamed contentedly.

"Speak louder. We cannot hear anything, Bhai..." Dev's words were cut in the middle by his grandmother. "You don't have to, Dev. Just hush up!"

"Be mine through every thick and thin of life."

Shaurya whispered with a grin whilst sliding the ring into Manjiri's finger. She nodded wiping her tears with her fingertips. She murmured flashing a heartfelt grin at him as he stood up.

"Thank you!"

_

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_

After a little celebration which included cake cutting and some endowments, most of the people retired to their allotted rooms. And so did Manjiri and Adishri along with little Adved.

Once, Adishri made sure that her baby was slept, she stood up only to her sister changed into a saree. It was unusual. Smiling to herself, she chose to not probe on that and took her into a bear hug wishing again.

"Thank you once again, Dii."

Manjiri expressed her gratefulness pulling back. Adishri caressed her little sister head.

"You look tired."

"Says the one who is the most tired."

Manjiri smiled holding Adishri's hands.

"It's a new normal for me. Don't mention." Adishri added taking an exhausted sigh, "But I'm sure you must be feeling very tired. You have been wandering around, making arrangements, dancing... You hardly got any time to rest in past few days."

Manjiri smiled looking down.

"But I'm doing everything happily. You know it's actually fun to be a part of a wedding so closely. I missed the chance to enjoy mine. So..." Immediately stopping and momentarily closing her eyes, she mentally chided herself when she noticed Adishri staring at her with regret in her eyes. She suggested encircling her arms around her sister lovingly, "Ok. Stop there. Everything is going great, please just don't get yourself drowned somewhere else."

Adishri held her sister close whispering,

"How should I not when I know I'm the source behind your every regret and unfulfilled desire..."

"Hey! There is no benefit in repeating the old matters, Dii. I perfectly know that whatever you thought for me or wanted for me, all of that was good and for my betterment." Manjiri added rubbing her palms on Adishri's back, "But, everything in life is not only wealth, pride or the feel of possessing something or the feel of getting even... A good life can be spent without all these but not without respect and peace. Mental peace, content, love and care only matter at the end."

Adishri couldn't help but nod against Manjiri's shoulder. She heard her add at next,

"Dii, I know I was unable to understand God's decision at many points of my life. I had even spent a lot of nights while praying and crying in order to get a hold on everything that was happening with me. But I now I've fully understood, that it was all for my betterment. You also understand this. I'm happy now. Those were my trials to get to a fulfilling realisation." Manjiri paused taking a shallow sigh, "And by this realisation I came to know that there's nothing better what I've gained. Shaurya is good for me."

Adishri gratefully smiled. It was such a good thing to hear all that from Manjiri's mouth. It was such an unburdening feeling.

"He's the best for you, honestly. May God guide you forever and always."

_

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Wednesday | 01:39

✉️Manjiri✉️

M:
Can you come to the open corridor of 2nd floor?
I'm outside our room.

You:
What happened? Anything serious?
F

ew guests are still here and it won't look nice you know.

M:
Nooooo 😑
It's actually serious.
Reach me fast. Let your guests keep on dancing.

You:
What's wrong with you?

M:
Come unaccompanied.
Don't bring tagging along someone.
It's already too late.

You:
Ok👍🏻
I'll be there shortly.
Stay there only. Don't roam here and there alone.

M:
Fine.
Waiting!♥️

Staring at that heart emoji for than needed time, Shaurya closed his phone resisting the smile on his face.

"Shaurya child, do one thing." His grandmother approached making him look at Dev and Sameeksha who were near the poolside alone. One look at them and anyone could tell they were roasting each other mercilessly. "Call those two idiots here. No one can't tell by looking at them now that they would be getting married within 24 hours."

"Marriage can wait. But not their arguments. It's nothing..."

Shaurya chuckled distracted only to get interjected by his grandmother.

"Still call them here. I'll right away ask them to head to their respective rooms. They need rest. It's going to be a long day for them tomorrow."

"Let them be, Dadi. Look at their faces. It's quite clear that they're enjoying their arguments."

Shaurya suggested putting an arm around her shoulders and leading her to the other direction. To which Mrs Kaveri Mohan countered,

"They got an entire life to argue like this."

"But as a husband and wife, not as friends or finances." Shaurya added as he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. It had to be his wife. "Now don't fret too much, at least let them have the time which many didn't get. They'll cherish it all their lives."

"That means you feel regret for the same."

"Not really, Dadi."

"My boy! You'll now lie to me?"

Mrs Kaveri Mohan stopped to look at her grandson properly. Shaurya attempted to smile shrugging,

"I don't regret. This is not the correct word to be used in here but maybe I did at times feel a little bit disappointed about it. I mean if Manjiri and I too had given a touch of time to get to know each other better, then things really would have been easier. Well, I guess so. Ain't guaranteeing."

_

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_

In utter haste, Shaurya walked to the open corridor towards the common restrooms. A short passageway led him to the area where his room was, that faced the poolside of the resort. After a few steps in that direction, he found her at the deserted corner. Although, it was dark around but the light illuminating out of the fancy golden bulbs hanging from the ceiling was enough to let him know that she was there.

She was seated facing the poolside. Carefully latching the door of that entryway, he disengaged themselves from the outside world.

She stood up. His footsteps and the sound of the door notified her.

"What are..." Shaurya's lips parted at the gorgeous sight before his eyes. "...you doing here?"

"I felt like I could see you before sleeping if I hung around here."

She answered with complacency, having the satisfaction of watching his eyes widen slightly when he took in her appearance. She was cladded in that same lavender coloured saree which was the very first one to earn an appreciative glance and comment from him.

"You weren't having the keys?"

He questioned, finally gathering the wits to speak. She just nodded in response, her mind inherently celebrating a victory of achieving what she aimed. They surely had swapped each other's roles, off late. She literally had started to enjoy making her husband fluster every now and then. Good thing was he never stopped her from doing anything, he let her be the way she wanted.

In a split second, he opened the door and wordlessly asked her to get in. He closed the door muttering,

"You should have brought your bag along, why leaving it downstairs?"

"Few of Avi's belongings are in my bag, so it's better for it to be in Dii and Jiju's room."

She replied noticing him putting his phone on charge. Ugh! His guts to still care for his phone instead of his wife. Why had she fallen for him? She coughed a little in high hopes to gain his attention. And she did succeed when his gaze drifted to her.

She walked up to him and literally snatched the phone from his hand. Closing the distance between them, she totally invaded his personal space by locking her arms around him in a sheer firm grip.

"Don't you think this was pending on such a special day?"

Pleasantly surprised Shaurya looked down at her with a soft gaze. She had set her chin against his sternum like always to peer at him. As her gaze melted into his, he leaned in to plant a peck on her forehead before mumbling out,

"This was too."

Giving in to that soft gesture, she looked down hiding her face into his chest. She kept on rubbing her face there aimlessly. That confused him,

"Did something happen, Silly Head?"

Manjiri blinked looking up again. Why did he always think otherwise? Maybe, she herself was to be blamed for it or maybe it's their role-swapping thing doing the talking. She shook her head to get rid of whatever crazy things she was thinking and answered,

"Yeah, a lot happened. But first..." She went back to the bed where she had dropped her sling bag and came back with something. "Ta-da."

He was about to open that box which was in her hands when she stopped him declaring, "No, wait. Not like this."

She kneeled down in front of him and then instructed, "Now, open it." He shook his head chuckling. However, his chuckles faded as his eyes examined the entity kept in that box.

"Manjiri, this is your father's..." Shaurya attempted to form a sentence when Manjiri aided, "Yes. You remembered?"

"Of course. His collection is to die for."

He muttered touching the wristwatch which belonged to his late father-in-law. He felt so touched in that moment. He didn't know what to say or how to acknowledge. It felt like a reward. Manjiri made him see her father's belongings when he had visited her place. Her letter too did tell him that he was so fond of wristwatches just the way he himself was.

Manjiri took a note of his changing expressions. She attempted to smile despite the tears forming in her eyes.

"Even his daughter is too to die for. Why didn't you realise this yet? Your phone only matters to you..." Shaurya smiled making her stand on her feet. He said looking directly in her eyes, "His daughter is the most precious to me. What else you wanna know?"

"I got it polished for you. Got the cells and dial changed too."

She muttered staring at the watch. He looked at it too.

"I can see that."

Anyhow, no matter how she was trying, her eyes welled up like hell. Somewhere it was too overwhelming to hold on to so many emotions all together at the same time.

"I don't know what to say to you, dear husband, there are no words for how I feel about you." She sniffed making him to look at her with love and concern. "I think I can help you with that."

He suggested but she shook her head smiling. Wiping her tears, she tried to voice with a huge smile on her face,

"I'm very lucky and probably undeserving of your love and care, Shaurya, but I want it, I need it all nonetheless. And I..."

Manjiri paused to gain a breath in between her sobs when Shaurya completed in place of hers.

"I love you."

"I love you, Dr Saahab."

"I know!"

"You do?"

She asked smiling and he nodded wrapping an arm around her.

"Yes, I do."

Her arms reached to loop around his neck in response. He bent his neck a little forward to rest his forehead against hers. His eyes went shut. He seemed so lost in that moment that she couldn't help but adore him more and more at then,

"I love you so much that I wouldn't regret exchanging my life for you."

All of a sudden a tear rolled down his cheek and made contact with the skin of her face. She pulled back, her palms reaching out to hold his cheeks. He opened his eyes with a soft smile dancing on his lips. However, his eyes were moist. Manjiri couldn't help but whispered closely peering at him,

"Why are you smiling so sadly?"

"Nothing."

He replied trying to look away. But she didn't allow. She kept his face in place by holding it firmly. She slowly brought his face down to press chaste pecks all over it. Eyes, temple, nose, cheeks, stubble, cupid's bow, everywhere. Somewhere even twice or thrice. Very smoothly and with a deliberate unhurriedness. She seemed so eager to pour out everything in her right away in those very moments. A sigh of content escaped from his mouth,

"Out of everything you do, this is my favourite. I guess you do this whenever you are too overwhelmed."

"I'm gonna do this more often if this is your favourite."

She recited crushing him to her chest in a fierce hug. He couldn't help but gasp,

"Wow! You're being so generous today. Surprising me with surprises every moment. Is today my birthday?"

"No, anniversary!"

Manjiri chuckled, comfortably adjusting her face against his shoulder. Shaurya ended up chuckling too giving in the feel of letting her melt into his frame.

"Thank you for this."

Moments later, she thanked him glancing at the ring on her finger. It was a simple gold band encrusted with seven tiny sparkling diamonds in an intertwined pattern. For a moment, she didn't even want to think about how much it cost him. He finally made it reality. He had asked her to work with a flower ring until and unless he do not gather a handsome amount to buy a proper diamond one for her, on her birthday when they were sitting by the riverbank.

"You like it?"

He asked holding up hand. She smiled.

"I love it."

"Good."

"I'm going to be wearing it for the rest of my life. It's just as I wanted, not too glitzy like our engagement one that used to invite unwanted attention all the time." Manjiri added to tease him, "By the way, has anyone ever been more sure of a yes than you were?"

"I wouldn't know, but I would've done anything possible in order to make you say yes anyway."

"Like what?"

She asked, blinking in anticipation. His hands reached out to her waist. Absent minded, she let him grab her and come closer again. Her breathing turned heavier with the way he looked at her. He had that power to weaken her with that one mere look. His eyes took every bit of her face before speaking,

"Like -..." Much to Manjiri's astonishment, she received a flick of his fingers against her forehead. She whispered making a face. While he chuckled, running his fingers over her arms. "Like..." He added tickling her underarms making her writhe laughing in frustration. She had to stop expecting romantic stuff from him.

"Not this, Shaurya."

She shrieked in between her helpless giggles.

"Easy, Silly Head." He urged looking at her in amusement. "You'll wake up all the sleepy ones sleeping in this resort."

"Hey, I'm not that loud."

She grumbled sobering up. The movement of his hands stopped. A smile touched his lips. Moving his face closer to hers, he tilted his head to speak something in her ear.

"Oh really? I know better than you yourself about you, you're loud there you know..." He didn't complete, just let his smirk do the talking. On understanding that, Manjiri took in a sharp breath , closing her eyes in diffidence. He smiled leaning in, "Anyways, there's nothing more satisfying than get my quite, modest woman to be loud in frustration." Moving his warm mouth down the length of her neck and shoulder, even slightly nibbling at her skin and earlobe, which made her quiver a little and emit a few raw sounds.

No matter how hard she was trying to be audacious and plucky for him, discussing intimacy with him was still going to take some time getting used to. And he exactly knew about that, so never failed in taking advantage of that whenever he wanted to have an upper hand in their conversations. Swapping of roles used to go invalid in that department only.

"Looks like you don't want me here anymore. Bye. I'm going."

Offended, she managed to speak after pushing his body off hers.

"Ok, sorry. I got something else to talk about."

He tugged at her wrist. She refused to meet his gaze. Taking two steps towards her, he pulled her to him and then against the wall. He didn't even give her a chance to squeal her surprise as his body flushed against hers.

"Look over here!"

He demanded, his eyes all the while staring deeply into her. His out of tune breath fanning her cheek.

"I don't want to. You only tease me."

She murmured with difficulty yet adamantly, still looking to the side. He smiled moving dangerously closer to her,

"Well, something more is pending. What say?"

Manjiri's eyes drooped in diffidence. Her heart thudded with a strong anticipation as she sensed his fingers caress her face to down the length of her neck, holding it in right place. While his other hand slid inside bundle of pleats cloaking her belly and back. In those moments, she felt absolutely possessed. All throughout a while before, she was enjoying having an upper hand. However, suddenly he had turned the tables. It was both alarming and thrilling for her at then.

He squeezed her more between him and the wall. He literally ran into her, their body temperatures synced with one other. She gasped opening her eyes in response, just to find that smirk which obliquely informed her of his victory of getting those reactions from her.

"You, my dear legal husband, love taking a sadistic pleasure in all this, no?"

She whispered with her throat getting dried. He could only smile speaking,

"Immensely!" He was dying to take a plunge into their mutual desires. He was tempted to add when her ragged breaths seemed to beg him, "And like you don't enjoy it, my dear legal wife."

Hearing that she tried to fight back the forming blush. The blush which encouraged him to no extent, to eliminate whatever room for air was still in between them. And he faithfully did that when her mouth fall open to mutter something,

"I..." He literally ate her words with all his need. He savoured the taste of her mouth with utmost tenderness at first like taking the very first bite of a new dish, cautioned, curious, sweet. However, very soon he took a deliberate step of deepening their collision. Diving in more. Taking a tour of the feel of fulfilment.

She too tried her best to respond with the same vigour. She gave her all to him, to their togetherness.

They were totally in the moment. They loved each other. Love might not be their necessary fuel to be with one another with all their complete selves. However, their promise of intent was surely their driving force.

It was never about falling in love but rather about growing up in love together and maybe for the first and the last time.

_

_

_

"Miss Prisha, as soon as you get done my hair, kindly go to that lady in orange and complete the needful. Remember, make it sure you do it just the way I tell you to do it. Ignore her ifs and buts."

Sameeksha asked her makeup artist who busy styling her hair bun. To which her artist responded her with an assuring smile after glancing at someone through the mirror.

"Sure Ma'am. You don't worry."

Sameeksha exchanged that smile examining her loose curls. Soon she was back to fidgeting her fingers in nervousness. Pre-wedding jitters were a real thing. She wondered if Dev was nervous too or not. Well, chances were highly unlikely cause he was Dev at the end of the day. Nervousness and Dev could never be on the same boat.

Only if she could know that she was absolutely wrong in assuming that because Dev's condition was totally opposite to what she was supposing.

_

_

_

"Shaurya." Ved added poking fun at Dev, "If I'm not wrong then I can sense a human being all nervous and edgy today, right?"

Dev who was inspecting his reflection in the mirror just rolled his eyes in response. His brothers literally had got no chill. They were irritating him like hell.

"He's worried as he's reluctant to leave Mohan Villa and us and get shifted to Sam's place after marriage."

Shaurya muttered setting his own hair in another mirror next to Dev's. Ved couldn't hold his chuckle at that. He asked wearing fastening the buttons of his Nehru overcoat well complementing with his traditional Indian attire.

"Oh, then are we supposed to get ourselves ready too for that ceremonial weeping at his departure?"

"Your call. I would prefer dozing off. Who on earth wants to cry for him?"

Shaurya smirked giving a side-eyed look to Dev. Dev shook his head frowning at no one in particular. Shoving Dev aside, Ved spoke correcting his collars in the mirror.

"Yeah, exactly."

Irritated Dev straight away snapped and went to sit back on the bed.

"Do you people realise it's my wedding? And you aren't helping me in anyway. Just pissing me more and more."

Both Shaurya and Ved didn't say anything, just exchanged an amused glance at one another and then laughed out loud. Finally, it was their day to irritate the most irritating person in the world. They couldn't afford to miss the chance when the Sun was shining on their side of the fence.

"Help me get ready or just leave."

Dev announced with a tone of finality. He folded his arms over his chest and scowled more and more when none of the two individuals paid heed to him.

"Someone seems desperate." Ved muttered. Shaurya completed that adding, "Way too much."

Dev was about to say something when a knock on the door interrupted him. Ved opened the door to find his wife and son well-dressed for the function at the doorstep. Ved wordlessly praised his wife, making her blush instantly. She then pushed him aside hurrying into the room.

"Avi wishes to see the groom now."

She smiled looking at Dev. She took out some of her kohl on her fingertip by sliding it over her lower eyelid and put a small black dot behind Dev's ear. Something which she had learnt from grandmother. It worked as a sign of removing all woes and evil eyes. Unexpectedly, Dev smiled at that. His brothers were lucky men. In his opinion, they didn't their wives.

His brothers were cruel but their wives were anything but cruel.

His eyes stopped on his nephew who was staring at him throwing his hands and legs in the air time to time. He immediately took him in his arms. And that was when Adishri informed him,

"He already saw the bride and..."

"Got scared of her heavy makeup. That's why came running here. Right, Bhabhi?"

Dev asked playing with his nephew. Something which he had started doing recently to forget everything for a few moments. Playing with little Adved worked as a rebooting activity for him.

"So sorry to destroy your fancy but Avi was all charmed. Sam is looking gorgeous. You gonna fall for her all over again today and it's a bet."

Adishri challenged with a smile. And suddenly at then, a wave of apprehension washed over him. He couldn't wait to see his bride... His best friend... His girlfriend... His fiancé... His almost wife... And his lifelong Queen.

_

_

_

All of a sudden, everything became secondary when Dev's eyes fell on the woman who was his bride. She was walking up to him with a kind of smile and grace that instantly took his breath away. He realised that Adishri was right when she said that he would fall for his lady all over again the moment they would match their gazes.

He lost the bet but probably, did win at life.

He tried to move his lips but failed miserably in forming a smile. Inadvertently, tears rushed down his cheeks. He himself was surprised at that.

Noticing that Sameeksha's steps faltered. Her confident smile was all gone when the tears in her eyes too threatened her to spill over.

"Am I looking that bad that you've started crying?"

She inquired in an attempt to make him laugh as he came to hold her hand in the halfway.

"Who's crying? I'm not crying." Dev smiled, trying to control his sudden overflow of emotions. "Actually, something got inside my eye."

"Hey! Queens don't cry."

He voiced taking a close look at her face too. She attempted to tease as he carefully tried to wipe off her tears.

"But this Queen wants to cry since she deserved a King and now she has to settle with a mere Butler. Poor me!"

"I don't want to argue with you during our wedding. I don't know anything but let be the King today. No strings attached."

He persisted like a stubborn child making his bride look at him obnoxiously. One stare at one another properly and they both broke into a small laughter. They hugged each other in a quite sober manner, careful enough to ruin each other's look. Breaking the hug, they smiled as they made their way down the aisle to the stage. Mandap was set on the left side of the stage.

Manjiri and Shreya handed each of them their garlands. They exchanged them and a huge round of applause went around. As they both were asked to sit on the stage, Dev finally spoke in all honesty, "You look beautiful, Sameeksha." Rolling her eyes to appreciate his so called promptness, she remarked with a low giggle, "You look fine too."

Soon they were asked to take a seat in front of the fire after a mini photoshoot with every relative and close ones. But before the priest could resume the ceremony, Sameeksha looked at Dev with a hopeful gaze.

"Before we start belonging to each other. Before I'm being given in marriage to you by my parents, I want to clarify certain doubts. Can I?"

Dev nodded comprehending the seriousness reflecting on Sameeksha's face. Their relationship struggled like never before in past few days. It was obvious for her to have certain doubts since he had a few too.

Sameeksha commenced taking a breath, not caring about both of their families and close ones surrounding the Mandap area for some moments,

"I'll pledge to honour you, love you, and cherish you as my husband today and every day. Will you too, with all your heart?"

"Of course!"

"Will you also always be true to me?"

"Yes!"

"Will you also always give me and my family equal respect?"

"Yes!"

"Will you also always strive to keep a smile on me and my loved ones faces for all the days to come?"

"Yes, I'll try my best."

"As I vow to make my life forever yours and build my dreams around you. Take a stand for you and correct you whenever you need it. Will you do the same if required?"

"I promise to always make you feel secured."

"I'll truly appreciate if you always be vocal just the way I'm. Be open to tell me why you are into me. Tell me why I pissed you off or tell me how can I fix something. Tell me everything. Just talk instead of pulling away. I won't tolerate that any cost. Will that be fine with you?"

"Absolutely fine!"

"I promise to be your navigator, best friend, and wife. Wherever we go, we'll go together. Clear?"

"Clear enough!"

"You'll be a dumb if you let me go ever and vice-versa?"

"But obviously!"

Dev spoke out with a chuckle. And when Sameeksha didn't say anything next, he held her hand asking genuinely,

"I invite you to take all of me, to come into my life and share all I have to offer. Will you?"

"Gladly!"

Sameeksha smiled with tears of joy sparkling in her eyes. Soon her palm was cradled in his as the priest began all the related rituals. The ceremony moved particularly slowly and it didn't feel boring to any of them since they were paying attention to every detail of their special day. Learning and understanding significance of each and every thing, ritual, vow and their religious lifelong contract.

At long last, when everything was done and their marriage was declared complete by the priest.

"Now, I announce you both husband and wife. You may take blessings from your elders now."

One by one, Dev and Sameeksha together received blessings and well wishes from their elders. As they reached Shaurya and Manjiri to touch their feet to seek their blessings, Shaurya stopped them raising an eyebrow.

"Seriously?"

Dev turned to look at their grandmother complaining,

"Yeah, seriously Dadi? We just got 8 months difference between us? Am I still supposed to seek for his blessings?"

A funny argument started flowing in between Shaurya and Dev, which only got interrupted when Sameeksha voiced throwing her arms around Manjiri.

"You both carry on and let us know once you settle on something."

"Many many congratulations!"

Manjiri smiled rubbing Sameeksha's back with immense fondness in her heart. She couldn't be anymore happier for both of her comfort people. As soon as Sameeksha pulled back, Dev moved past Shaurya and engulfed Manjiri in a tight hug.

Shaurya quietly ignored Dev as he reached to congratulate Sameeksha by embracing her in a friendly hug.

"Welcome to the family, Sam."

"Thank you, Bhai. Now, allow us to congratulate you both too."

Sameeksha replied pulling back. Shaurya and Manjiri looked on confused hearing her say that. Before anymore confusion could surface, Mrs Kaveri Mohan announced as she made sure the priest was making necessary preparations for a marriage ceremony to take place all over again.

"Yes children, on the occasion of your first anniversary, we want you both to renew your wedding vows. So come on now."

Both Shaurya and Manjiri looked at each other with utterly surprised looks. They had never expected that to happen. Before they could give that thing a proper thought, Shreya came forward and made Manjiri wear a crimson and gold heavy embroidered long shawl like scarf over her head. She made her change her set of bangles too.

Shreya made her brother too to wear a deep maroon turban. Shaurya's gaze was fixated on Manjiri throughout, trying to understand what her fluctuating expressions were making an attempt to explain him.

Manjiri didn't look anywhere else but him when she was brought to sit beside him. She knew she should be happy but the more she tried to feel excited about their remarriage, the more she was reminded of how they were made to marry each other a year ago.

"Marry me?"

His whispering words were out of the blue. She looked at him puzzled and then nodded slightly, not sure of what exactly she heard. A smile lingered around his lips. Noticing how adorably he was looking at her with that smile, a blushful smile too made it to her lips. And there he felt a hundred times more contented as he took in her smiling face.

"Don't burden your silly head."

The heat from the holy fire began basking them. They felt warm. Manjiri stared at the fire wondering how her outlook changed within a span of a year. She had started disliking fire. Maybe because it had swallowed up her grandmother or maybe because she preferred staying in dark. Fire which meant light only used to make her feel exposed and more vulnerable.

However, in all that while she missed to notice that fire also was symbol of transformations and new beginnings, and not just an end of something. It was for illumination, a signal to seek for help. A signal of wanting to come out of the darker zone of negativity. Meaning of fire was subjective. It was complex and maybe that was why it was termed as one of the powerful forces of life.

The person sitting beside her held that powerful force in her life. People say - 'May the fire within burning!" Here, fire could be associated with the effort of making constant efforts. She had to agree on that their relationship only survived because the fire inside of him burned brighter than fire, i.e., destruction she had unwittingly created around.

He was fire. His love was fire which always made her heart warm. She just had to understand all of this before. But better than never. She was glad that at last she did, sooner before letting that fire only make the destruction.

Her incessant thoughts were interrupted when the priest called out for placing her hand on Shaurya's hand. Last time, Adishri and Ved performed that ritual. Thereby, everyone looked at them only.

However, Ved smiled shaking his head in no when the senior Mohans asked him to come forward. Manjiri looked on puzzled. But her puzzlement was short-lived when she found her sister bringing Jai and his wife Jiya to the Mandap.

Jai felt emotional and so did both of his younger cousin sisters. He loved his sisters and wanted nothing but only the best for them. He had struggled enough. Him being wholeheartedly welcomed despite everything made his eyes moist. Anyhow, he along with his wife came forward for the ritual and placed Manjiri's hand in Shaurya's.

Adishri rubbed her eyes smiling at the scene in front of her. She couldn't be anymore happier with whatever she was feeling at then. She had to turn her face around when she heard her husband whispering something in her ear,

"I'm so done with this mother-son duo. Who even cries in such moments of joy?"

She wiped her tears before taking her whining baby from Ved's arms. "I'm not crying. See." Ved said nothing, just smiled encircling an arm around her waist. She smiled looking at him, "You were right when you said that everything happens for a reason. I can strongly feel it now."

Ved beamed at her and then exclaimed looking ahead.

"Look at them."

Adishri smiled more when she noticed Shreya going near Shaurya with a pink scarf in her hands to put on his shoulder. Once it was put, she tied that with Manjiri's crimson head shawl into a tight knot.

Adishri couldn't help but associate that present Shreya with a year ago Shreya who was not even interested in sitting and watching her brother getting tied with Manjiri. However, present Shreya was actively participating in everything with all her zeal.

Finally, everything was falling into right places. Literally everything happens for a reason, whether one discovers that reason now, later or never.

As Shaurya and Manjiri were asked to stand up for the pheras, the rounds around the sacred fire, they witnessed the smiling faces of their family. They completed all seven rounds and were made to sit again. To solemnize their wedding vows, Shaurya took a pinch of sindoor and brought near Manjiri's forehead. Manjiri met his gaze and after a few beats of an understandable delay, she murmured in a tone which was only audible to him.

"I know I will not always be what you want me to be. I might forget to listen or forget to share. I might not always agree. I might be stubborn and I might be wrongheaded, but do remember one thing forever that I will always love you. That I'll always trust you. There's no one above you for me in my life. I will always strive to be the woman you believe I can be. My intentions will forever be pure. I promise!"

Shaurya was clearly caught off guard. He never expected that coming from her especially at then. He smiled shifting her headband and lined her hairline with the sindoor. He watched her closing her eyes, a lone pair of happy tear rolled down her cheeks.

He then leaned in holding the nuptial chain in his hands to encircle it around her neck. As he struggled with the clasp of it, he took that as a opportunity to whisper in her ear,

"I too promise to be the man that I see now in your eyes, today, tomorrow, and for always. I'll always try to give you the best of me, my heart, my soul, forever. You just have to trust me. That's all."

As he pulled back, the priest declared the completion of their marriage. They smiled looking at each other. Everyone around them showered them with flowers and rice grains. Overly excited were hooting on top of their lungs.

"Will you adhere to my love for forever?" He whispered getting closer to her. She met his gaze and smiled ever so softly at them whispering back, "Endearingly."

In the tapestry their lives, it was the threads of an endearing adherence that added depth and vibrancy to their beings. That steadfast commitment, woven delicately through time, brought them a sense of unity and purpose to their journey.

Navigating through the twists and turns, like a cherished melody that lingered in the heart, their steadfast commitment became a beacon of light that did guide them through moments of uncertainty. And in the fullness of time, let them celebrate and cherish the warmth of one another. For in their embraces, they had eventually found the true essence of - an endearing adherence.

"Stories you read when you're the right age never quite leave you. You may forget who wrote them or what the story was called. Sometimes you'll forget precisely what happened, but if a story touches you it will stay with you, haunting the places in your mind that you rarely ever visit........................."

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Following poems are written by a super talented person - anamikajha1312 for your JI HUZOORI.
Show some love -

The following one is more like a collab - (anamikajha1312 & treasure_trove)

This one is for marking the end of a beautiful journey -

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[If my efforts were able to touch your heart then do vote and follow my profile.

If not then that's perfectly fine too.

So, it's a wrap. An indeed beautiful long journey. I'm marking this book - "COMPLETE".

Though, I've planned for two bonus chaps/epilogues... But, let's just see what my upcoming schedule demands from me.
Will notify you all accordingly.

Do share this book on your messageboards and also with your friends/acquaintances here who you might think would like it. This would help me increase the engagement. Thanks a lot in advance.]

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Dear ones, do share your honest views on this chap and the story, as this is the only source of motivation which literally pushes me to pen down.
This can also help me in improving. So yes, eagerly waiting now.

I would really appreciate if each one of you will come and put forward your genuine reviews + expectations from me and
"JI HUZOORI".

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This is it for now. Hope you liked it. I am sorry for the mistakes.

In case if you want to share your views or suggest something, you are more than welcome.

⭐My sincere request to all the SILENT READERS - Do vote this chap.⭐

Till then take care and stay connected.

Love ♥️✨