A U T H O R's P O V —

Sun rays hit her delicate skin making her move a little in her beauty sleep as she scrunched her nose at the feeling, not wanting to wake up but bird's chipping were a no to her. She flickered her eyes and slowly opened her eyes, rubbing them.

It took a minute for her to realise that she wasn't at her home which reminded her that it was Sonali's room as a smile spread her lips. Finally after so many years, she again slept peacefully. There was no one to shout at her as soon as she woke up. Her aunt wasn't there to say harsh words which calmed her heart.

She tried to get up but felt a hand around her waist as she glanced beside her and found sonali hugging her like there's no tomorrow. A chuckle crawled up her throat as she slowly detached her hand from her waist and sat straight on the bed.

"now that's what we call a good morning. No shouting, no fights, no taunts. only peace!"

Shivika talked to herself while stretching her arms with a smile on her lips. She slid down from the bed and made her way towards the wardrobe to take her clothes out. She then quickly made her way towards the bathroom as it was already 7 am.

She isn't a person who sleeps till late so it was a habit for her to get up early. She completed her morning routine and came out of the bathroom while wiping her wet hair locks.

She glanced at the wall clock that showed 7:45 am now. Sonali was still sleeping unaware of the time which made shivika shake her head. Where shivika was an early bird, sonali was a night owl. She literally slept 3 am in the morning.

"Oh miss victoria, get up fast! It's already 8 am!"

Shivika attempted to make her wake but it was all in vain because sonali didn't even move a muscle. Shivika sighed and shook her body which was fully wrapped in the quilt, she was now hugging it like there's no tomorrow.

Poor her soon to be husband. He will die if she hugs him that hard.

Shivika's thoughts voiced out making her giggle. One more attempt of waking her up was made by her and now she wiggled a little while whining in her sleep.

"mhmmm, shiviii pleaseee let me sleep!!"

She whined.

"No, get up!! Don't you know your in-laws are about to arrive!?"

Shivika cupped her waist.

"abhi unke ane mein time hai! Not everyone is an early bird like you, shivi!"

(There is still time left for them to arrive)

Sonali said while turning around and taking Shivika's pillow before hugging it. Shivika huffed at her antics but an idea popped in her head as she smirked.

"oh? Jijuuu ap aa gaye par apki hone vali biwi toh so rahi hai. Ap chale jao ye abhi nhi uthne vali, iska wait krna bekar hai!"

(Oh? Brother-in-law you came but your soon to be wife is busy sleeping. You should leave, waiting for her is a waste of time, she won't be waking up soon)

Hearing shivika's words, Sonali's eyes widened as she with a jerk got up.

"Noooo waitt Arav jii-"

Sonali shouted while showing her palm towards the door but her brows knitted when she found none there. While shivika was pressing her lips together wanting to suppress her laughter but failed when she saw sonali glaring at her and laughed at her funny face.

Sonali was pouting while glaring at her bestie who was busy laughing her ass off while holding her stomach. She huffed and took a pillow in her hand before throwing it towards her but shivika was fast enough to catch it.

"oh no! Bad target, arav ji ki hone vali biwi!"

(Arav's Soon to be wife)

Shivika showed her tongue while throwing the pillow back on sonali before running away from there, to save her life.

"SHIVIIII TERI TOH!! RUK!"

(SHIVI YOU!!! WAIT!!)

Sonali shouted before running behind her who already had left the room and was running towards the stairs without glancing back at her furious bestie.

"catch me if you can, arav ji ki hone vali biwi jii!!"

Unknowingly that long nickname given by shivika made sonali blush but right now, catching her was a task for her as she was running with a good speed. Indeed she was the best runner in their college times.

But still, she was determined to take ger revenge and pace her speed.

"SHIVIKA RUK JA! AJ TU NAHI BACHEGI!"

(SHIVIKA WAIT! I WON'T SPARE YOU!)

Now the cats were running in the living room while everyone looked at them shocked. Shivika hid behind rekha who was massaging her mother-in-law's shoulder, making her stumble.

"Are kya subha subha chalo ho gayi tum dono!"

(You both started early in the morning!)

Rekha said while looking at her daughter whose hair was messy and her own drool was dried beside her lips making her eyes go wide. She is going to get married and look at her.

"Wth sona! What have you made of yourself, you know na that your in-laws are about to arrive. Look at yourself"

Rekha said to sonali who was still busy chasing her bestie who was now running towards rahul who was sitting on the sofa, reading the newspaper as sneha served him tea.

"ye dono billiyan subha subha hi chalu ho gayi?"

(These two cats started in the morning itself?)

Ishaan, who came down stairs with kiara, said while looking at the cats running around the living room. He shook his head and looked at his daughter who was enjoying the view. It was fun for her.

"baby, ap please apni buaon jaise mat banna okay?"

(Baby, do not become like your aunts okay?)

Ishaan said to his angel who just giggled in return making him kiss her cheeks. Oh how cute, they both were.

Shivika ran towards sneha and took her support. Sneha stumbled a little with the tray in her hands which had cups of tea for the elders, placed above it. She balanced herself preventing the cups from falling.

"Are shivu, chai gir jayegi!"

(Oh shivu, the tea will fall down)

Sneha said as shivika bit her tongue and whispered a apology before running away from there, towards the entrance of the house. She looked behind her and found sonali still chasing her with the unavoidable facial expression which made shivika laugh again.

She was running while looking behind and didn't notice the figure who was entering the mansion while focused on the phone.

She didn't realise as her one leg tangled with the carpet which was slightly folded from its corner making her lose her balance as her head hit a hard substance which made her hiss and she closed her eyes, ready to kiss the ground.

But felt a hand securing her from falling but as it was very sudden, the person couldn't balance himself and they both fell on the ground, at the entrance of the mansion.

—————

"Atharv, you go ahead, i will wait for mom, dad and nitya's car to arrive." Arav said while looking at his younger brother, who was focused on his mobile.

Atharv shifted his gaze from the device to his brother and looked at him in disbelief. "Bhai, it's your in-laws, you should go ahead, i will come along with them."

He said while the other just scratched his nape with a shy smile on his lips, making atharv look at him weirdly. Wtf? Why is this dude being shy!? His thoughts voiced out.

"No, you go, I will come with them. I don't know what i will talk about. Plus, what if Sonali is there, i am nervous."

Atharv rolled his eyes at his elder brother's antics. How can he be shy when it should be sonali who should be more shy and nervous, isn't it?

" wtf bhai, of course sonali bhabhi will be there, it's her house." atharv said while shaking his head.

Arav gave him a look and held his shoulders before pushing him towards the mansion's direction as they stood in the garden, near the huge gates of Goyal villa. Atharv stumbled a little but balanced himself.

" Just goooo!!! I am coming!"

Arav said while atharv was left with no choice. Arav was always a shy type of person and this was his marriage, so he was super shy and on top of that, it was an arranged marriage so he was super duper nervous and shy.

He wanted time to prepare himself to face sonali after falling head over heels for her. They had met a few times and they used to talk for hours, in order to get to know each other and after knowing sonali and getting to see her childish behavior, arav couldn't help but to fall for her innocent soul.

Atharv moved towards the mansion, passing through the huge verandah which was on the left side of the passway and on the right side, it was a swimming pool.

( A/n- i hope you get it🤧)

His phone rang as he was walking towards the entrance of the mansion and received the call after watching the caller's I'd. It was his secretary. He was talking on the call and didn't notice his surroundings. As he was about to enter the mansion, his eyes finally looked in front but soon widened as he saw a girl running towards his direction while looking at the back.

Her hair flew smoothly with the air as she ran. Dressed in indo-western clothes. He couldn't see her face but was staring at her running figure as his gaze went towards the carpet which was folded a little from the corner and his eyes widened.

She will fall because of it.

And his mind was right, her leg tangled with the carpet as she lost her balance and was about to fall but he was already on her way. He wrapped his hands around her waist but due to sudden action, his body stumbles and he couldn't balance himself as they both fell on the ground with a thud.

She was on top of him. His hands were wrapped around her waist, protecting her. Her silky hairs fell on his face as their fragrance hit his nostrils making his close his eyes in satisfaction. That rose smell, it was addicting. He inhaled the fragrance again and his heart paced at an unknown pace.

It was a new feeling for him when something twisted in his stomach. It felt good. It felt good having her near him. Soon the hairs were away from his face as he opened his eyes at the feeling.

His dark brown orbs got locked with her hazel ones. Even her eyes were addicting. Damn they are so deep.

He felt like drowning in those orbs which were looking at him widened. His eyes scanned her face. Those silky hairs, flowing with the force of wind, those hazel deep eyes, those rosy cheeks and lastly those cherry lips.

Her appearance itself was addicting to him.

His eyes refused to leave her orbs. Same goes with her, her hazel ones were lost in his dark brown pupils. They were gorgeous. He was gorgeous.

"Ahem ahem. Bhai kab tak ese ghuroge uss bechari ko?"

(Ahem ahem, till when are you gonna stare at her?)

His trance broke when he heard the teasing voice of his only sister. He looked towards it and found his family standing there in surprise as he turned hia head towards the other side and found his brother's in-laws with the same expression.

He left her waist as she got up from him and tugged her hair strand behind her ears. His eyes were now again at her figure and the way she tugged her hair strand, his heart tugged something inside it. His heart beat was risen.

He felt a hand in front of him as he realized that he was still lying on the floor. The colour of embarrassment spread in his cheeks as he held it and helped himself get up.

He dusted his clothes off and again he couldn't resist the urge to look at the beauty which made his heart pace. She was embarrassed as well, her cheek said everything. He chuckled internally.

"I am so sorry for Bumping into you."

He heard her voice. Gosh, it was addicting as well. Her voice was sweet as a melody toffee. His heart was beating and he felt as if it would jump out of his rib cage. Her eyes got locked with his but she looked away, not being able to meet his intimidating gaze.

"it's fine."

Finally, he answered.

"han han, don't worry, bhai bura nahi mante, kyu bhaii?"

(Yes yes, don't worry, he doesn't get offended, right brother?)

Nitya said encircling her arms around his while giving him a raised brow. She was just teasing him and he knew. His family members too gave him a look. If it were someone else then they wouldn't be standing here because of how he hates clumsy people but he didn't say anything to her, made his siblings as well as his parents give him a raised brow.

"Oh mr. And mrs. Deshmukh, we are sorry to invite you like this but these two daughters of ours, were running like cats and this happened, we are very sorry."

Rahul said while coming towards the couple who gave him a smile. Both the elderly males shared a hug and the same goes with the females. Rekha hugged the three kids as well who greeted her with a smile on their faces.

"Namaste aunty!"

Arav said when rekha hugged him as she patted her soon to be son-in-law's back lovingly.

"Ab toh mujhe aunty bolna band karde beta, mumma bolne ki adat abhi se dal le."

(Now stop calling me aunty, start calling me mom from now on)

She said making his smile go wide as he nodded like an obedient child.

Everyone chuckled at his antics. He hugged his soon to be father-in-law as well.

"namaste papa!"

"Are wah! Itni jaldi man gya. Mera hone vala damad meri beti se jyada samajhdar hai varna sona ko kuch kaho toh vo uska ulta hi krti hai."

(Oh wow, he understood so soon. My soon to be son-in-law is smarter than my daughter. She always does the opposite things told to her)

Rahul said as everyone burst in laughter including shivika as she knew her bestie very well. She was looking at the other duo when she felt a gaze on her and she knew who it was as her eyes followed the gaze.

Her eyes met with his gaze as she felt her knees giving up but still maintained a normal and looked away. Oh the way he looks, it did something inside her stomach.

" are ab kya bahar hi rehna ka irada hai kya ap logo ka, andar ayiye!"

(Are you all gonna stay there only? Come inside.)

They all heard the elderly voice of the eldest one amongst them and smiled looking at her who was standing with a plate of arti in her hands. She did the Arti of their house's son-in-law and they all finally made their way inside the house.

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Hope you liked the chapter <3

Kindly ignore the grammatical mistakes as English is not my first language 💜

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