The whole day passed soon like any normal day did and it was Saturday. Abhimanyu left for office. Sahil and I had no school and work. Maa, papa and Diya were coming back from Pune.

I let him sleep in late.

As I was walking to wake him up at 9, Maa, papa and Diya came in.

" Bhabhi!" She came over and hugged me.

I hugged her back.

" Diyu! I was waiting for you guys!" I exclaimed.

I went and hugged maa and papa.

" You guys are late." I complained.

" You know Mumbai's traffic beta." Dad sighed and I offered them water.

" All of you go and freshen up. Then we will have breakfast together. Abhimanyu is off to office and Sahil is still sleeping. I'll wake him up." I said.

They all nodded and went to their rooms.

" Sahil, wake up babu. It's 9 and see Dadaji, dadiji and bua are home!" I exclaimed.

Hearing about them, he was up in a second.

" Really mumma? I am going to meet him!" He exclaimed, hopped from the bed and ran off with his little feet.

I then went to the kitchen and served breakfast and all of us ate while papa filled me in about their stay in Pune while I was making Sahil eat.

" Shivanya Bhabhi, see I got these jhumkis for you." Diya said, handing a paper bag over to me.

" These are beautiful Diya. I love them, thank you so much!" I exclaimed.

" Glad that you liked them." She said.

I offered her a smile.

" Enough mumma, I am done." Sahil said.

" No Sahil, you have just eaten two bites." I said in a no nonsense tone.

" But I am not hungry mumma!" He whined and started running around. I stood up to run behind him.

" Sahil, don't do that or you will get hurt!" I exclaimed as he started taking rounds of the dining table, I was behind him.

" Okay mumma, I will eat if we play." He said.

" Fine champ. You finish your breakfast and then you, Bua and I will play together." I said, looking at Diya. She nodded.

" Promise?" He asked, offering his pinky.

" Pinky promise." I agreed, wrapping his little one with mine.

Then without any further tantrums, he completed his breakfast.

" Bhabhi, I'm playing with this little troublemaker. You have your breakfast and then join us." Diya said, taking Sahil to his toys section.

I quickly completed my breakfast and then all of us played blocks for two hours. Maa was taking care of lunch.

My phone rang. It was Abhimanyu, but Diya snatched it from me and answered.

" Hello bhai. Difficult to stay away from Bhabhi for long?" She teased him.

Oh god! This girl will leave me embarrassed for sure!

" Come on bhai! Don't be so rude." She chuckled.

" What do I want? I don't know, your credit card will do." She said.

There was a pause.

" Yeah yeah.....what is credit card? You can give up your company to talk to Bhabhi right?" She said.

" Diyaaa." I hissed and she chuckled.

" Fine....I'll tell her. Now bye." She said before hanging up.

" Bhabhi, bhai told me to remind you to get ready by 6 for the business party." She said.

Shit! I had forgotten about the party!

" Diya, what do I wear?" I asked.

" An evening gown maybe?" She asked.

Sahil was bored with blocks.

" Mumma, I am going to play with Dadaji. You girls are so boring." He said, stomped his little feet and left. He looked so cute that I couldn't resist taking his picture.

Diya and I chuckled.

" Let's go to your room. I'll help you decide." She said, dragging me to my room.

We finally decided on a blue A line long slit dress which was backless.

" This one is perfect Bhabhi!" Diya exclaimed.

" Okay Diyu! I'll wear this in the evening." I said and she nodded enthusiastically.

" Girls, come for the lunch. I've made Sahil and your papa eat. Now it's us." Maa exclaimed.

" God! How much time did we take? It's lunch already?" I asked, almost horrified.

Diya wore the same expression as me.

" Sorry maa. We got so into clothes that we got no idea of time!" I exclaimed.

" It's okay Shivanya. You have to go in the evening." She said, laughing.

We then had lunch. Sahil was already sleeping in maa and papa's room with papa by his side.

After lunch, I went back to my room to get some work done.

" Bhabhi, start getting ready! It's already 5." Diya said, peeking in my room.

" Chill Diyu! I will take me 20 minutes." I told her.

" No no no. I am doing your hair and make up so it's gonna take time." She said.

She made such an innocent face that I did not have it in me to say no.

" Perfect. Now go and freshen up." She said, pushing me in the washroom.

I did my business and sat in my bathe robe as she started her work on me.

" How much time more Diyu!?" I asked.

" Done. Now go and step into the dress." She said and I obliged.

" You look so pretty Bhabhi! Bhai is going to have a hard time controlling himself." She said dreamily making me turn read.

" Diya!" I exclaimed.

" I'm just stating the truth." She said with a straight face.

As I was done, Sahil came rushing into the room.

" Mumma....you look like a princess." He said, hugging me. I hugged him back.

" Thank you so much baby. Now your papa and I have to go out. Will you behave for me here and listen to everyone?" I asked.

" Yes mumma." He said.

" Promise?" I asked.

" Promise." He replied and dragged Diya out of the room to play.

It was 5:55.

" Beautiful." I heard a deep voice say.

I turned around to look at Abhimanyu.

" Thank you." I said, smiling.

He started stepping towards me, I stepped back.

" Why do you always step back?" He asked, huskily.

" Because you always come near me." I said, quivering.

" So what?" He asked.

I had no idea what to say and trapped myself in between the dressing table mirror and him.

" Don't you have to get ready?" I asked him, attempting to get away.

Instead of stepping back, this man placed the traced my jaw with his knuckles and I felt heat rising my face.

" Abhi.....Abhimanyuu, this is not right." I said, attempting to get away from the right side but before I could walk away, he placed his hand on the mirror, blocking the way.

" What is not right?" He asked.

" This.....:" I said, looking away.

" Shivanya, when Aditi made us to promise to marry each other, she wanted us to at least try and be happy." He explained.

Why does he not understand!? We cannot cheat Aditi di.

" Abhimanyu.... You were her husband and I was her cousin. We cannot cheat her!" I exclaimed.

" We are cheating her by not giving us a try." He replied, calmly.

" But....." I started but had nothing to say, nothing to object.

" But what Shivanya? But what?" He asked, slightly angry.

" We are getting late." I changed the topic.

" Nice try but we are clearly not done with this conversation." He said and went to change.

He wore a black tux and we started for the party.

The car ride was uncomfortably silent.

As we reached, he placed his hand on my shoulder, visibly calming me. I hated the paparazzi.

As we walked in, I relaxed. People were never a problem, cameras were.

Abhimanyu went to talk to the other men and I mingled up with the women.

" You look so beautiful." The only sweet looking woman exclaimed. The rest of them were giving me those unworthy looks.

" You too. By the way, I am Shivanya." I said, forwarding his hand.

" I know who you are Shivanya. I am Preeti, Kunal's wife. Abhi and Kunal are best friends." She said, taking me into a hug.

She sure is a warm person.

" I'm sure we are gonna be great friends." She added and I nodded enthusiastically.

We talking when a man of about Abhimanyu's age came and stood beside Preeti.

" This is my husband, Kunal." She said, locking her arm with his.

I forwarded my hand for handshake and he took it.

" Hi Shivanya." He said.

" Hi Kunal." I greeted back.

" Seems like you guys have already met." Abhimanyu came and stood next to me.

" We did our introduction because you were not very keen on letting us meet her." Preeti accused.

" I never said that. It's just that we all never really did have time." He defended himself.

And man he was right. After the marriage, we barely had time time for ourselves.

Soon Kunal and Preeti were on the dance floor and Abhimanyu was talking to someone when I felt someone's presence behind me.

There that jerk was......Mahesh Bhimani.

" Shivanya." He said.

I ignored him.

" Still so feisty." He commented, making my blood boil and his hand was up to touch my face but stopped by another hand midway.

Abhimanyu had got hold of his arm.

" I knew that you would try something dirty with my wife you asshole." Abhimanyu said, coming in between him and me.

" Oh! So the husband knows everything." He taunted.

I so wanted to punch his smug face.

" Yes, I know everything and if you want to see tomorrow's sunrise, I suggest you to stay the fuck away from my wife." He said, snaked his arm around my waist and we walked away.

" Thank you." I muttered to him.

Yes, I was thankful to him because whenever that man is anywhere near me, I freeze. Abhimanyu defended me and this was the first time that I had no problem with a man defending me. I thought that I could look after myself but I was clearly wrong, near Bhimani, I was as week as the young, naïve fifteen year old.

" Dance with me?" He asked.

" I don't know how to." I told him honestly.

" Just let me take the lead." He said.

I nodded and we went to the dance floor.

He pulled me to himself, placing one hand on my waist and entangled the second with mine. One of my hand was on his shoulder.

He took the lead and I followed. It was not that difficult. Soon, I was so lost into his deep brown eyes that I thought that I'd drown in them.

" You look so beautiful." He said.

Red rushed back to my cheeks.

" And you don't take compliments well." He remarked, chuckling.

I rolled my eyes.

" I told you not to roll your eyes to me. Ever." He said and pulled my a lot closer to him. There was practically no space between us.

" Abhimanyu, what are you doing?" I whispered.

" Just relax Shivanya and feel the music." He said.

Feel the music? The only thing that I had the capacity of feeling was his cologne, which was addicting and I was getting addicted to it.

Coming to think about what he had said back at home about Aditi di's promise, he was right. She wanted us to work and I could see him putting in efforts for us to work and I on the other hand was pushing him away. Aditi di never wanted us to get ourselves trapped into a loveless marriage. She would have been highly disappointed in me.

" Abhimanyu?" I sang.

" Yes Shivanya?" He asked.

" I am sorry about earlier today and I am ready." I said.

" Ready for what?" He asked.

I took a minute to form a reply.

" To give us a chance." I confessed.

He twirled me lightly in the air, holding me by my waist and then kissed my left cheek, making me all red like a tomato.

" That's all what I wanted Shivanya. We will see where it takes us but for now, let's just not overthink this and time take it's course." He whispered into my ears, making butterflies fly in my stomach.

I nodded because I didn't trust my voice.

I will give this relationship my hundred percent, whatever it takes. I will do this for Abhimanyu, Sahil, our family and for myself.