Finally! Anushka squealed with excitement as Ranvijay and Sanyukta sat down to play the traditional wedding game, a large pot of milk decorated with rose petals placed between them.
Avu stood beside Ranvijay, watching the scene unfold with keen interest.
"You know the rules, right? Out of three rounds, jo bhi ring zyada baar dhundega, woh winner hoga!" Anushka explained with a mischievous grin.
"Aur ussi ki chalegi zindagi bhar!" Dadi chimed in, making everyone laugh.
"Bhabhi, you need to win, okay? You have my full support," Anushka declared, sitting beside Sanyukta. She stuck out her tongue at Ranvijay, who pulled a face in return to tease her back.
Anjali stepped forward, carefully placing the ring in the pot. On cue, both Sanyukta and Ranvijay plunged their hands into the milk, their competitive spirits ignited.
Ranvijay's broad palm covered most of the pot's base, leaving Sanyukta with very little space to maneuver. She huffed in frustration.
Chuckling at her expression, Ranvijay pulled out the ring triumphantly, earning groans from Anushka while the rest of the family clapped for him, including little Avu, who seemed thrilled.
In the second round, Sanyukta acted swiftly. With focused determination, she managed to find the ring first.
"Good, Bhabhi! Just one more time!" Anushka cheered her on, clapping enthusiastically, while the rest of the family chuckled at her zeal.
The third round proved to be the most competitive, with both Ranvijay and Sanyukta splashing milk everywhere as they frantically searched for the ring.
Anushka, ever the mischief-maker, quietly got up and sneaked behind Ranvijay. Before he could react, she covered his eyes with her hands.
"Anushka!" he groaned in protest, though his hand continued its search in the pot.
A sly smirk spread across his face as his fingers finally touched the ring, but Anushka was determined to tilt the odds in Sanyukta's favor. She pulled him back slightly, causing the ring to slip from his grasp.
Sanyukta seized the opportunity and grabbed the ring, giggling happily as the family erupted into cheers.
Annoyed by Anushka's interference, Ranvijay tugged at her hair, making her cry out dramatically.
"Bhaiiii! You're so bad! Such an evil man!" Anushka whined, rubbing her head while Pushpa playfully slapped Ranvijay's arm in mock scolding.
"Bandariya! Tumhari wajah se hara hoon main!" Ranvijay grumbled, clearly displeased by his loss.
Sanyukta shook her head at their antics, amused yet exasperated.
"Isliye I want Bhabhi to win," Anushka retorted with a defiant glare. "Main chahti hoon ki unki hi chale aur aapko control mein rakhein woh!"
Her declaration sent everyone into peals of laughter, including Sanyukta, who couldn't suppress her amusement.
"Yeh tumhara aur tumhari Bhabhi ka dream kabhi poora nahi hoga," Ranvijay shot back, narrowing his eyes at Sanyukta, who only giggled in response.
"Dekhte hain!" Anushka challenged, crossing her arms with mock defiance.
"Pehle apni shakal dekh! Aayi badi 'dekhte hain'," Ranvijay countered with a smirk.
"Shut up, both of you!" Ranveer intervened, his tone firm, though his eyes glinted with humor.
Ranvijay rolled his eyes in response, while Anushka pouted like a scolded child.
"Ab next rasam mein," Anushka announced, regaining her excitement, "you have to open each other's fists. Dekhte hain kisme kitna dum hai!"
Ranvijay turned to Sanyukta with a mischievous glint in his eyes, a smirk tugging at his lips as the next challenge loomed.
Sanyukta extended her fisted hand, applying all her strength to keep it tightly shut. It took Ranvijay only a few seconds to pry it open despite her efforts, his smirk growing with his victory.
When it was her turn to open Ranvijay's fist, Sanyukta tried every trick she could think of, using all her strength, but he wouldn't budge. Even Anushka joined in, pulling at his hand with all her might, but the combined effort wasn't enough.
Seeing his mother struggle, little Avu stepped forward with determination.
"Main help karoon?" he asked in his tiny voice.
Ranvijay immediately relaxed his grip, opening his fist effortlessly for Avu, who squealed in delight, clapping his hands at the victory he believed was his.
Sanyukta smiled warmly, her heart melting at the sight of Ranvijay's soft spot for their son. Mere toh nahi, but lagta hai Avu ke control mein zaroor hai koi... she thought, watching them with a fond gaze.
"Now, Bhaiiii, you need to find your name in Bhabhi's mehndi!" Kirti announced gleefully. "And if you can't, you'll have to fulfill one of Bhabhi's demands."
Ranvijay let out an exaggerated sigh. "Yaar, ab yeh last hai! Iske baad main yeh sab nahi karunga! Upar se sab cheating kar rahe hain," he grumbled, making everyone burst into laughter.
Taking Sanyukta's palm in his hand, Ranvijay started scanning her intricate mehndi design. The patterns were so detailed that finding his name felt like searching for a needle in a haystack. But he wasn't about to lose this time.
After a while, he smirked slyly and looked up at Sanyukta. "Mere naam ki yeh kya spelling likhi hai tumne? It looks like someone else's name," he said, feigning confusion.
Sanyukta frowned, leaning closer. "Nahi! Aap hi ka naam hai, aur spelling bhi bilkul theek hai!"
Ranvijay shook his head, keeping his gaze on her palm but deliberately not pointing at any specific spot. "Mujhe yeh kahin se bhi 'R' nahi lag raha," he argued with mock seriousness.
Suspicious, Sanyukta followed his gaze and spotted his name tucked in the corner of her palm. She pointed at it triumphantly. "R hi toh hai yeh!"
Ranvijay let out a mock sigh of defeat, but his eyes twinkled with amusement.
Anushka groaned, throwing her hands up in frustration. "Bhai ki tricks! Typical!"
The room filled with laughter as Sanyukta pouted, finally realizing his playful ruse. Ranvijay, however, raised his eyebrows at her with pride, clearly pleased with his little prank.
Avu, who had been watching closely, clapped his hands excitedly. Ranvijay scooped him up into his lap and started tickling him, eliciting loud giggles from the little boy.
Sanyukta watched them with a soft smile, her heart full as she realized how these small moments made everything feel so perfect.
Sanyukta got busy chatting with Kirti, Anushka, and Anjali, while Ranvijay, as usual, had retreated back to their room and fallen asleep again.
Meanwhile, Avu and Aarvi busied themselves with their playful antics, filling the house with their laughter.
By lunchtime, Pankaj arrived to take Sanyukta back home for the pagphera ritual.
Avu squealed in delight upon seeing his Mamu and immediately hugged him tightly, dragging him off to show his collection of toys.
"Beta, lunch ke baad nikal jana tum log," Dadi suggested, and Pankaj nodded with a smile.
As he sipped tea and enjoyed the snacks served by the house staff, Pankaj watched Sanyukta interact with her in-laws. His heart swelled with contentment, seeing how happy she looked and how seamlessly she had mingled with everyone on her very first day.
He chatted casually with Ranveer and Pratap, discussing general topics, while the women prepared lunch.
"Sanyukta, dekh beta, Ranvijay kaha hai... zaroor so raha hoga phir se," Dadi commented with an affectionate chuckle.
Sanyukta smiled knowingly and headed to their room. As she entered, the sight that greeted her made her shake her head in exasperation. Ranvijay was sprawled across the bed, half the pillows scattered on the floor, and the blanket haphazardly wrapped around him.
Koi itna kaise so sakta hai? she thought, biting back a laugh.
She walked over to the bed, sat beside him, and gently shook his shoulder. "Ranvijay... lunch time ho gaya hai. Uthiye," she said softly, her voice laced with amusement.
He groaned, scrunching his face in annoyance at being disturbed, and pulled the blanket over his face like a stubborn child.
Sanyukta giggled and tugged the blanket away. Unable to resist, she gave his cheek a light squeeze. "Uth jaiye... bohot so liya aaj," she teased, combing her fingers through his disheveled hair.
Ranvijay muttered groggily, "Main baad mein kar lunga lunch..." keeping his eyes tightly shut.
"Nahi," Sanyukta replied firmly. "Pankaj Bhaiya aaye hain neeche, mujhe aur Avu ko lene. Hum chale jayenge phir." She continued running her fingers through his hair, her voice gentler now.
Ranvijay cracked one eye open lazily and stretched his arms. "Shaadi sirf ek din ke liye thi kya jo lene aaye hain?" he asked, making her chuckle.
"Pagphera ke liye jana hai," she explained, ruffling his hair affectionately.
"Ab kitne phere logi tum?" he quipped with a smirk, resting his head on his arm.
"Bas, ab yeh last hai," she chuckled and was about to get up when he suddenly grabbed her wrist, pulling her back. She lost her balance and leaned onto his chest, surprised by the playful move.
"Continue what you were doing for a few more minutes," he murmured, closing his eyes as he guided her hand back to his hair. "It feels good..."
Sanyukta smiled, giving in. She sat down beside him, letting him shift his head comfortably into her lap. Her fingers resumed combing through his hair as she gazed down at his face.
Something about this moment felt so natural, so intimate. For the first time, she realized just how comfortable she was with him, his closeness no longer feeling unfamiliar.
"Hmm, toh yeh hai marriage of convenience, haan?" she teased, patting his cheek lightly. "Pehle mujhe kuch aur bol ke shaadi kar li... ab khud ka convenience dhoond rahe ho?"
Ranvijay smiled, opening his eyes to look at her. "Ab convenience ho ya no convenience... biwi toh tum ban gayi ho. Toh socha, kuch faayda hi utha loon," he replied cheekily.
Sanyukta laughed, shaking her head. "Iraade theek nahi lag rahe mujhe aapke ab..." she joked.
"Hmmm..." Ranvijay drawled, sitting up from her lap and setting his hair with his fingers. "Haiiii jo iraade, bata doon tumko, Sharma hi jaogi tum ," he sang with a playful smirk, winking at her.
The faint blush that spread across her cheeks didn't go unnoticed. She quickly looked away, embarrassed.
"Blushing and all, haan?" Ranvijay teased, tilting her chin up to meet his gaze.
His touch and teasing tone sent her heart racing, but all she could do was smile softly, trying to hide her flustered state.
Sanyukta got up, pushing Ranvijay's hand away as she tried to steady her racing heartbeat.
"Kuch bhi," she muttered, attempting to sound indifferent as she started picking up the pillows scattered across the floor. Ranvijay's laughter behind her only made her cheeks warm again.
"Acha suno," he called out, and she turned to look at him with a raised eyebrow.
"You look cute while blushing," he said, his face lighting up with a teasing grin. As Sanyukta groaned in response, his laughter grew louder, echoing in the room.
"Pagal aadmi," she muttered under her breath, shaking her head as she busied herself tidying up the bedsheets.
Ranvijay, now humming to himself as he fixed his hair in the mirror, was blissfully unaware of the soft smile that crept onto Sanyukta's face. This man... no matter how crazy, has brought so much joy and hope into my life, she thought.
He had entered her life at her lowest point, and somehow, unknowingly, he had carved a place for himself in her heart. She wasn't ready to name this feeling just yet, but it was becoming clear-she was falling for him. Despite her fears and insecurities, she was being drawn to him, both willingly and helplessly.
"Aap lene aayenge na?" she asked hesitantly, looking at his reflection in the mirror as she stood beside him.
"Aap kahengi toh aana hi padega," he replied, turning toward her with a small smile.
Sanyukta shook her head at his unevenly buttoned shirt and stepped closer to fix it. Ranvijay raised an eyebrow, momentarily surprised as she began undoing his buttons, but he stayed silent, letting her adjust them.
"Kab tak aana hai?" he asked casually, slipping his watch onto his wrist.
"Ab lunch yaha kiya hai toh Maa hume dinner ke bina toh wapas nahi aane dengi," she replied, concentrating on the buttons. "Toh aap 7-8 baje tak aa jaiyega."
He nodded in agreement, watching her closely as she finished fixing his shirt.
---
After lunch, Sanyukta and Avu left with Pankaj for the pagphera ritual. Ranvijay, meanwhile, spent the afternoon with his family, alternating between teasing Anushka and flirting with Dadi, keeping everyone entertained.
By evening, the house felt quieter as most of the relatives had already departed. Only Roshni, Arnav, and Kirti remained, planning to leave for Jaipur in a couple of days.
"Bhai, aap Sanyukta Bhabhi ko kab leke aayenge Jaipur?" Kirti asked Ranvijay, who was lounging with Arnav and Ranveer, sipping coffee.
"Kab kya? Jab sab log aayenge tab hi saath aayegi," Ranvijay replied casually.
"Sab log toh ab seedha shaadi mein hi aayenge," Kirti pointed out. "But aap aur Sanyukta Bhabhi ko toh pehle aana chahiye na, visit ke liye. Ranveer Bhai aur Anjali Bhabhi bhi toh aaye the shaadi ke baad," she argued.
"Haan, main bhi chalungi Bhai aapke saath!" Anushka chimed in excitedly, making Ranvijay roll his eyes.
"Isko le jao, ghar mein thoda shanti rahegi," Ranvijay quipped. "Aur waise bhi, wedding ke chakkar mein pehle hi break le rakha hai. Mere bohot pending cases hain... ab time nahi hai."
"What? Matlab aap Bhabhi ko ghoomne bhi nahi le jaa rahe?" Anushka exclaimed, scandalized.
Ranvijay shrugged, ignoring her complaints.
"Vaise Anushka theek keh rahi hai," Ranveer added. "Tum logon ko kahin jana chahiye. Cases toh chalte rahenge."
"Nahi Bhai," Ranvijay replied firmly. "Hearing ki date scheduled hai. Abhi kisi trip ya vacation ka time nahi hai. Baad mein dekhte hain."
Ranveer and Arnav exchanged glances but nodded in understanding.
---
By 7 PM, Ranvijay got ready and left for Sanyukta's home. As he entered, Avu came running toward him, his excitement lighting up the room. Ranvijay scooped him up, covering his little face with kisses as Avu giggled uncontrollably.
Ranvijay greeted Sudheer and Pankaj with a handshake and bent down to touch Sudhesh Ji's feet, earning her blessings.
Meanwhile, Sanyukta was upstairs, getting ready with the help of her cousin Arushi.
"Sanyukta, neeche aa jao. Ranvijay aa gaya hai," her Bhabhi, Nisha, called out.
"Nodding, she took one last look at herself in the mirror before descending the stairs.
The soft sound of anklet bells caught Ranvijay's attention, and he looked up. His gaze traveled from Sanyukta's perfectly draped saree to the delicate smile on her face. She looked stunning, and for a moment, he couldn't take his eyes off her.
Their eyes met, and he raised an eyebrow in appreciation, making her blush as she lowered her gaze.
---
Dinner was a lively affair, filled with laughter and chatter.
Sanyukta shot him a warning look, silently pleading for him not to say anything further. Pooja, realizing it was best not to engage, laughed awkwardly and avoided his teasing altogether.
After bidding goodbye to everyone, Ranvijay, Sanyukta, and Avu settled into the car for the ride back home.
"Hmmm... saree and all, haan?" Ranvijay remarked casually as he drove, glancing at her.
Sanyukta smiled, cradling the now-sleeping Avu in her arms. "Aapko achhi lagi?" she asked softly.
"Mere liye pehni hai kya?" he teased with a smirk, making her look away, flustered.
"Of course not!" she retorted quickly. "Maa ne kaha pehnne ko, toh pehen li."
Ranvijay chuckled, shaking his head as the car rolled through the quiet streets. His laughter lingered in the air, making Sanyukta smile despite herself.
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