The Singh house was alive with chatter, laughter, and the sound of clinking cups as both families mingled and celebrated. Warm smiles and animated conversations filled the air, but not everyone shared the cheer.
Pooja, seated in the corner, had been quietly observing the scene. The constant attention and praise lavished on Sanyukta were enough to churn her insides. She finally decided to join the conversation, her words laced with feigned sweetness but an unmistakable edge.
“Aap sab log aaye, humein toh bohot accha laga,” Pooja began, her sickening tone drawing the room’s attention. “Lekin agar Ranvijay ji ke mummy-papa bhi aate, toh aur bhi acha lagta. Vo kahin iss rishte se naraz toh nahi hain?”
Her words, though sugar-coated, dripped with malice.
Ranvijay, seated comfortably with an air of unshakeable confidence, knew this was coming. With a calm smile, he replied, “Naraz? Arrey, bilkul nahi. In fact, unhone toh tayari bhi shuru kar di hai. Papa twisted his leg in the morning accidentally, pair mein moch aa gayi. Aur Maa ko unka khayal rakhne ke liye rukna pada, bas iss wajah se woh log nahi aa sake.”
His lie was delivered so smoothly that it sounded almost poetic.
Pooja, however, wasn’t ready to let it slide. “Ekdum se hi accident ho gaya? Mera matlab hai, aaj hi ke din?” she probed, her eyebrows slightly raised.
Ranvijay didn’t miss a beat. Leaning back slightly, he quipped, “Accidents toh ekdum se hi hote hain, Pooja Bhabhi. Waise aapke yahan accidents pre-planned hote hain kya? Calendar dekh ke girte hain log?”
A ripple of chuckles spread through the room. Pooja forced an awkward laugh, but the glint in her eyes revealed she wasn’t done.
“Haan, waise bohot khush kismat hain humari Sanyukta jo Ranvijay ji jaisa rishta mila,” Pooja continued, her voice once again laced with faux admiration. “Nahi toh talak ke baad toh aise rishton ki line lagi thi ki kya hi bolun... Koi do bacho ka baap, koi handicapped, ya koi boodhha. Ab har koi Ranvijay ji jaisa bade dil wala thodi hota hai jo kisi aur ke khoon ko apna le.”
Her words hit their intended mark, and a murmur passed through the room. But Ranvijay’s expression didn’t falter; in fact, his smile widened.
“Bade dil ke saath bada dimaag bhi hona chahiye, Pooja Bhabhi,” he said, his tone carrying just enough sarcasm to sting. “Aur koi chhoti soch aur akal ka andha hi hoga jo Sanyukta ke liye yeh sab rishton ka daftar lekar aaya hoga.”
His words hung in the air like a perfectly executed mic drop.
“Waise,” he added, his voice light but pointed, “Sanyukta is one of the most courageous and resilient women I’ve met. Being a lawyer, main roj aise cases dekhta hoon jahan ghar ke andar hi Ramayan aur Mahabharat chal rahi hoti hai. Aisi bahuein hoti hain jo family ka environment kharaab karne mein PhD kar leti hain. In comparison, Sanyukta is like a breath of fresh air.”
The room was silent except for a faint, appreciative chuckle from Indira Devi. Pooja’s face, however, was rapidly turning red.
Ranvijay wasn’t done yet. “Aur rahi baat khoon ki,” he said, his voice turning serious but retaining its edge, “toh sirf biological father banne se koi asli baap nahi ban jaata. Paida karne wale se zyada bada hota hai paalne wala. Yeh toh suna hoga aapne, Bhabhi?”
Pooja opened her mouth to retort but couldn’t find the words. The room was now firmly on Ranvijay’s side, with several people nodding in agreement.
Dadi, who had been watching the exchange with quiet amusement, finally chimed in. “Aur vese bhi , mere hote hue unn dono ki koi zarurat hi nahi. Ab baaki tayari ke liye bhi toh ghar pe koi hona chahiye!”
Her remark broke the tension, drawing laughter from the entire room.
Amidst the renewed lightness, Sanyukta couldn’t take her eyes off Ranvijay. She had expected him to be polite, maybe even indifferent, but the way he had defended her without a second thought left her speechless. For the first time, she felt a flicker of respect for the man she had once considered a stranger.
Ranvijay, seemingly unaffected by the storm he had just calmed, turned to Sanyukta with a subtle smile. “Kuch aur chahiye, ya sab settle ho gaya?” he asked softly, making her chuckle despite herself.
Pooja, on the other hand, sat fuming, her attempts to derail the evening thoroughly squashed. For now, the spotlight had shifted away from her.
Sanyukta’s mother, watching the scene unfold, silently thanked the heavens for sending Ranvijay into her daughter’s life.
Indira Devi, meanwhile, looked at her grandson with pride, knowing that he had not only handled the situation but also reinforced his place as the pillar of this new family dynamic.
“Sudhesh beta, hum Sanyukta aur Avu se mil liye… Ranvijay aapke saamne hai. Ab dono ek doosre ko pasand karte hain aur shaadi karna chahte hain, toh shubh kaam mein deri kaisi?” Dadi announced with her usual thoughtful authority, her voice carrying through the room.
Sudhesh ji smiled warmly, her happiness evident as her eyes lingered on Sanyukta, who was laughing with Anjali and Anushka in the corner.
“Bilkul sahi kaha , Maa ji ,” she agreed wholeheartedly.
Without further delay, both families decided to go ahead with the Roka ceremony.
Sanyukta, though initially hesitant, felt a growing sense of assurance as she observed Ranvijay’s easy camaraderie with her family and his natural way of handling Avu. Somewhere deep inside, she knew she had made the right choice.
Meanwhile, Avu, perched comfortably in Ranvijay’s lap, yawned adorably, his tiny fists rubbing his eyes. Sanyukta stepped forward to take him, but Avu clung tighter to Ranvijay, refusing to let go.
Ranvijay chuckled at Sanyukta’s slightly defeated expression. “Lagta hai, he likes my company more" ....he teased , his lips curving into an amused smile.
“Let him be,” Ranvijay said when she reached for Avu again.
“Woh achhe se nahi so payega. Let me take him to the room,” Sanyukta insisted gently.
Ranvijay nodded, understanding her concern. But just as she managed to pick up Avu, the little boy clutched Ranvijay’s arm tightly. “Daddy, aap nahi jaoge na?” Avu’s tiny voice trembled with fear, his big eyes looking up at Ranvijay for reassurance.
Both Ranvijay and Sanyukta froze for a moment, exchanging a glance. There was something raw and vulnerable in Avu’s question, a fear neither could ignore.
“Daddy yahin hai, champ,” Ranvijay said softly, pressing a reassuring kiss to Avu’s head. The boy relaxed in Sanyukta’s arms, finally allowing her to carry him to the room.
Later, the families gathered for the Roka ceremony. As part of the ritual, Dadi lovingly placed the family heirloom necklace around Sanyukta’s neck—a beautiful token of acceptance and belonging.
With sweets exchanged and congratulations all around, the room buzzed with happiness. The elders quickly moved on to discussing potential wedding dates, their excitement evident as they consulted with the priest over the phone.
Meanwhile, Ranvijay and Sanyukta stepped out to the balcony, seeking a quiet moment away from the chaos.
“So,” Ranvijay began, leaning casually against the railing, “kuch kehna chahengi aap, soon-to-be Mrs. Shekhawat?” His tone was playful, his teasing laced with just enough charm to make her look up.
Sanyukta shook her head silently, her fingers fiddling with the edge of her dupatta.
Ranvijay sighed dramatically. “Abey yaar, look here !” he said, his tone mock-frustrated as he made her meet his gaze. “Mujhse yeh ‘silent treatment’ wali vibes bardasht nahi hoti. Main na bohot straightforward aadmi hoon. Mera funda clear hai—jo bhi hai, muh kholo aur bolo. Zindagi asaan ho jaati hai.”
Sanyukta blinked at him, caught off-guard by his bluntness.
“Ab tum agar kuch bologi nahi,” Ranvijay continued, waving a hand for emphasis, “toh mei koi mind reader toh hu nahi jo sab kuch khud samajh jaunga? Look, we’re about to get married, co-parent Avu, and live together. Agar tumhe kuch problem hai ya kuch bhi share karna hai, bas seedhe bolo. Main bhi wahi karunga.”
“Ji,” she murmured, nodding meekly, which only made him groan.
“Are you the same woman? Ya tumhe koi ‘saanp soongh gaya hai’?” he asked, now clearly irritated. “Bol kyu nahi rahi kuch bhi?”
“What should I even say, Ranvijay?” Sanyukta finally responded, her voice soft but steady. “I’m just trying to wrap my head around everything. Itna sab kuch ho gaya hai, and in just a few hours, my life has taken a complete 360-degree turn. Dar bhi lag raha hai, aur ek hope bhi hai ke ab sab accha hoga.”
Ranvijay leaned back on the railing, watching her carefully. Then, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, he quipped, “Darne ki kya baat hai? Kya main itna scary lagta hoon? Ya tumhe lagta hai main ekdum se koi werewolf ban jaaunga aur tumhara khoon pi loonga?”
His comment caught her off-guard, and she burst out laughing despite herself. “Nahi, aisa kuch nahi lagta,” she admitted, her voice tinged with amusement. “But mere khud ke fears hain… aap nahi samjhenge.”
Ranvijay raised an eyebrow. “Mujhse zyada IQ hai tumhara? Matlab seriously? Log kutte-billi palte hain, naye-naye shauk paalte hain, aur tum insecurities aur fears pal rahi ho?”
Sanyukta chuckled at his dramatic tone, shaking her head.
“Dekho, jo bhi hua, unexpected tha. Par duniya mein pata nahi kya-kya hota hai. Tumhara toh phir bhi sab kuch sorted hai. Woh chomu se tumhara peecha bhi jaldi chhoot gaya,” he said with a smirk. “You should thank your stars for that.”
Sanyukta let out a soft laugh. "I agree ,” she murmured, surprising herself with how light she felt.
“Waise, tumhare bhai ko dekh lo ,” Ranvijay added, his tone dripping with mock pity. “Bechara toh tumhari Bhabhi ke saath phasa hi hue hai. Tum toh unse inspiration le sakti ho—how he is surviving such a woman !”
“Ranvijay!” she exclaimed, scandalized but laughing despite herself.
“See? Perspective ka sawaal hai,” he said matter-of-fact, popping a handful of dry fruits into his mouth and offering her some, which she took gladly.
She found herself staring at him as he munched away, a quiet smile playing on her lips. He was unlike anyone she’d ever met—unapologetically himself, effortlessly charming, and oddly comforting.
“Waise, aise ghur-ghur ke ladkiyan pyaar mein pad jaati hain,” he teased suddenly, meeting her gaze.
Caught red-handed, she looked away immediately, her cheeks burning as his laughter rang out.
“Tumhari galti nahi hai,” he continued smugly. “I’m way too charming to resist.”
“Self-obsession bhi ek bimari hoti hai,” she shot back, rolling her eyes.
“Par pyaar se buri nahi,” he winked, earning another laugh from her.
“Aapka kuch nahi ho sakta,” she said, shaking her head.
“Kyun, tum kuch karna chahti thi?” he retorted cheekily, his smirk growing wider.
“Mujhe pareshan karna shayad aapki nai hobby hai?” she asked, crossing her arms.
“Ab new wife, new life ke saath new hobby hona toh banta hai,” he said, shrugging nonchalantly, making her chuckle yet again.
Before Sanyukta could respond, Anushka’s voice interrupted them. “Bhai, Bhabhi, agar aapki romantic baatein khatam ho gayi ho toh andar aa jao!” she teased, making Sanyukta blush furiously.
Ranvijay smirked. “Abhi toh shuru hui thi romantic baatein, par lagta hai kuch single log jealous ho rahe hain.”
“Bhaiiii!” Anushka whined, pouting at her brother.
“It’s okay, don’t be sad. Bhagwan ne tere liye bhi koi langoor banaya hi hoga. Tab tak yeh angoor khaa lo,” he said, handing her a bunch of grapes from the table, leaving Sanyukta shaking her head at his audacity.
As per the auspicious timing, the wedding date was fixed for three weeks later.
The Shekhawats couldn’t delay it, as Aranav and Poorvi’s wedding was scheduled for the following month, and two consecutive weddings within the same month would have been overwhelming for everyone to manage.
It was late evening when the Shekhawats decided to take their leave, despite the Singh family’s insistence on staying for dinner.
“Ab toh milna laga hi rahega,” Indira Devi said warmly, her voice filled with excitement, as the families exchanged final goodbyes.
Sanyukta and her family escorted them to their cars. Anjali and Anushka hugged Sanyukta, already making plans for a shopping spree together.
Satyam had already left earlier, as his home was nearby. Ranveer and the rest of the Shekhawat family departed shortly after, leaving Ranvijay behind.
Sanyukta’s family, sensing the need for privacy, went back inside, leaving the two alone in the driveway.
Ranvijay leaned against his car, arms crossed, watching her with an easy grin. Sanyukta, feeling a little awkward, looked down, fiddling with her dupatta.
“Achi lag rahi ho waise aaj,” Ranvijay said, his tone casual but teasing.
Sanyukta blinked, surprised. “Ji?”
“Jiii...” Ranvijay imitated her softly, adding a playful wink that made Sanyukta laugh despite herself.
“Shall I leave, or do you have something important to say?” he asked, crossing his arms and leaning slightly closer.
Sanyukta hesitated, then took a deep breath. “Thank you,” she said sincerely, her voice carrying a weight of gratitude. “For everything you’ve done today.”
Her gaze dropped for a moment as she continued, “No one’s ever stood up for me like that before. Especially for Avu.”
Her voice wavered slightly, and her eyes welled up, unable to mask the emotions that were bubbling to the surface. She felt overwhelmed, but for the first time in a long while, it wasn’t because of fear or helplessness.
Ranvijay, noticing the tears threatening to spill, didn’t say anything. Instead, he stepped forward and, without much thought, pulled her into a firm, reassuring hug.
The gesture startled Sanyukta—and, to some extent, Ranvijay too—but he didn’t dwell on it. “She needs this,” he thought, justifying the sudden move to himself.
For Sanyukta, however, the moment felt different. She had been holding herself together for so long that his unexpected warmth hit her like a wave. It wasn’t just comforting—it was disarming. She let herself lean into him, allowing the moment to ground her without overthinking it.
After a beat, Ranvijay broke the silence. “Are you okay now, or should I be worried that my hug is so addictive you might never let me go?”
His teasing words made her instantly pull away, her cheeks flushing. “Aap bhi na…” she muttered, wiping her eyes quickly to hide her embarrassment.
Ranvijay chuckled, stuffing his hands into his pockets casually. “Good. Stop crying, okay? And take care of yourself… and Avu.” His tone softened as he spoke, and before she could respond, he turned and got into his car.
Sanyukta watched him settle into the driver’s seat, still processing the moment. He rolled down the window and looked at her, his usual mischievous glint back in his eyes.
He honked lightly, making her frown. “What now?” she asked, leaning toward the passenger-side window.
“You didn’t tell me how handsome I was looking today,” he said, his expression as smug as ever.
Sanyukta laughed, shaking her head. “You are…” she started to say, but he cut her off.
“Impossibly handsome—I know that.” He smirked, acting as though it were the most obvious fact in the world.
“Unbelievable,” she muttered, still laughing.
“Bye, Sanyukta,” he said, the grin softening into something more genuine.
“Bye, Ranvijay,” she replied, her voice carrying a warmth she hadn’t intended to reveal.
As he drove away, honking once more for good measure, Sanyukta stood there for a moment, smiling to herself. Today had been overwhelming in more ways than one, but for the first time in years, she felt like maybe—just maybe—things were starting to look up.
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