Author's pov:

Maya was getting ready in her room as they had to go to the temple. Taara's mother, Niranjana, called Vani last night and asked them to come to their Kuldevi's temple along with them. Their family priest has organised a puja. So, everyone will be leaving for the temple in an hour. Sravya also stayed back last night as it's the weekend.

Avi, who came from the bathroom after having his shower, was mesmerised by seeing the view in front of him. His bunny is struggling with the saree. Her waist-length hair was damp, and the water droplets that were falling on her bare waist were just awakening his desires. He took slow steps towards her and encircled his hands around her waist and pulled her close to him, making her back hit his bare chest.

Maya was doing the pleats of her saree when she felt two hands encircling her bare waist. She gasped a little, and the saree fell down from her hands as his lips came into contact with her skin. He pushed her hair to one side and gave her a trail of kisses on her bare back, making her clutch the hem of her saree tightly in her fist. His hands were fondling her waist. He untied the threads of her blouse and slid her blouse a little lower. He kissed her shoulder blade, took the skin in between his teeth, giving her a love bite over there, making her hiss. He turned her around, placed his rough lips over her soft ones, taking her into a passionate kiss while she just stood there, surrendering to him. He bit her lower lip, making her gasp, and she bit his upper lip as revenge. Soon, he broke the kiss, feeling her out of breath. But he continued his sweet torturing of her neck.

He kissed her forehead and left from there before he lost his control. He again went to have a cold shower to calm his raging hormones. Maya came out of her trance listening to the sound of the shower. She looked at herself in the mirror and blushed, looking at her messed-up look. Her lips were swollen and there were love bites on her shoulder and neck.

"Bunny, get ready before I come out; otherwise, instead of leaving for the temple, we will land in bed," Avi shouted from the bathroom.

She blushed, listening to him, and quickly wore her saree. She dried her hair and tied it into a bun. She wore her bangles and a beautiful neck piece along with her mangalsutra. She applied vermilion to her hairline. She applied foundation on the love bites given by her hubby, otherwise her sister and Sravya would leave no chance to tease her if they saw them.

(Maya's attire)

She went to his closet and chose a traditional attire for him and took all his essentials and placed them on the dressing table. She stuck a note to the dressing table and moved down, looking at herself finally in the mirror.

******************

Avi came out of the bathroom after having his shower. He put on his clothes and moved to the dressing table. As usual, a note was waiting for him. He took the note and smiled, reading it.

He placed the note safely in his closet and moved downstairs, not before gelling his hair.

(Avi's attire)

*****************

Soon, all of them had reached the temple. Arjun got mesmerised seeing Diya in a half-saree of his favourite color. And, he won't deny she is looking damn beautiful.

(Diya's attire)

Diya was talking with Taara when she felt someone's gaze on her. She looked around and saw Arjun looking at her intensely. She got drowned in his black orbs. She could see the pain in his eyes. Those were not the eyes that she fell in love with when she saw him for the first time. She broke the eye lock and left from there, excusing herself. Arjun, who saw her going somewhere, followed her.

Avi and Maya sat for the puja with Yash and Arpita. Varsha and Vansh peacefully slept in their grandparents' laps. Both Yash and Avi applied vermilion to their respective wives' foreheads and tied the sacred threads to their hands. Next, Arpita and Maya repeated the same with their husbands as instructed by the priest. They started the rituals and followed the instructions given by the priest. Soon the puja was done. Both couples got up and took the blessings of the priest and the elders.

They gave donations for the temple and the orphanage, which is run by the temple. Taara's grandfather is the trustee of the temple, as it was built by his ancestors. Everyone took the blessings of the goddess, and the youngsters moved to the farmhouse nearby, which is owned by Taara's family while the elders stayed back to talk with the priest regarding the marriage of Veeru and Taara. Arjun, Sravya and Maya are talking by sitting in the garden of the farmhouse.

"Did you tell to him, pumpkin?" Arjun asked, Maya.

Maya shook her head negatively which Arjun and Sravya sighed.

"When will you tell him, Mayu? Or are you planning to not tell him anything?" Sravya asked her.

"I'll tell him soon", said Maya.

"And when is that soon going to arrive, pumpkin? It's been more than a month since you guys got married. I know it's not easy for you, but at least you could have tried", Arjun said, disappointed.

"Please, anna. Can you leave this topic here?" Maya requested him.

"We are saying for your good only, Mayu. And, you saw with your own eyes what he did. May be Vyshali Akka might have changed but not that duo. And, I don't trust that Chytra ever," said Sravya.

Listening to Chytra's name, Arjun's face paled. Maya nudged Sravya and gestured her to look at Arjun.

"Sorry!" Sravya apologized to Arjun.

"That's ok. I don't care about her anymore, and also is not she a part of my life anymore", said Arjun.

They got immersed in their talks when they saw Arpita running behind Varsha with a bowl in her hand. They chuckled looking at her. Suddenly Arpita fell down and yelped in pain. Arjun, Maya, and Sravya went towards her.

Varsha stopped running and went to her mother and asked her, "Alu(Aru), are you okay?"

Listening to the name Aru, Arpita's eyes brimmed with tears. Arpita nodded her head and took Varsha in her arms and kissed her whole face and hugged her tightly.

"I lobe you Alu (I love you Aru)", Varsha said, giving a sloppy kiss on her mother's cheek.

"Aww, I love you too, my Varshu baby." Arpita said, pecking Varsha's lips, making her giggle.

Everyone looked at them in awe.

Arjun went and picked up his naughty niece in his arms and threw her up in the air and caught her making her giggle. Maya and Sravya tickled her little waist to which she giggled.

After sometime they sat in their previous place with Varsha in her pinni's lap. While Arpita was feeding her mashed fruits.

"Vadina?" Sravya called her.

"Haa", said Arpita.

"She resembles Yahvi akka a lot, right?" Sravya asked Arpita.

"Yeah! Her smile, those dark brown orbs, those cute antics of hers. Especially the way she makes me run behind her, everything of her reminds me of my Yahvi." Arpita said, looking lovingly at her daughter.

"She promised me that she would return to me as my daughter and make me run behind her. And, see, I have to run behind this little devil every day." Arpita said, getting emitional, and a small smile was playing on her lips, remembering her best friend.

Everyone got emotional remembering Yahvi. Varsha pouted, seeing nobody paying attention to her. She raised her head and looked at Maya and saw a shining thing in her neck. Her eyes twinkled looking at that, and soon she got busy playing with Maya's nupital chain. They moved inside as the elders arrived from the temple. Everyone sat in the living room waiting for them to tell the news.

"Veeru and Taara's wedding is in 10 days, and the next day it's Arjun and Diya's wedding." Janardhan said, breaking the silence.

Well, that's a shock for everyone. They didn't expect the news of Arjun and Diya's wedding. Arjun was blank for a moment. Diya looked at him eagerly. He composed himself and nodded his head with a smile. Diya smiled at him.

"But, we have very little time, and we also have to prepare for two weddings", said Yash.

"Don't worry Anna, we're all there right? And also we have Anju atta's team if you forgot", said Sravya.

"Veeru and Taara will do the Kanyadhan of Diya. The next day, we will all go to Tirupati. Jai?" Said Janardhan.

"Haa, Babay", said Jai.

"Inform this to Rishi, Sakshi, Raghav, Jhansi, Anjali, and Raghu and Radha (Yash's grandparents)", said Janardhan.

Jai nodded his head, listening to him.

The elderly retired to their rooms while the youngsters sat there discussing things. Veeru and Tara's faces were glowing, and they looked so happy. Diya looked at Arjun, who seemed to be lost. She wanted to talk to him, but she didn't understand how to initiate the conversation. She hoped he would be happy with this relationship. She didn't want him to accept her for the sake of the family. She left from there and moved to the garden for some fresh air.

Maya and Avi looked at Arjun. He was lost in his thoughts. They saw Diya looking at him longingly and leaving from there. They really need to have a talk with him. They looked at each other and messaged Arjun to meet them later. The girls went to the kitchen to start preparing the lunch.

*******************

Arjun was sitting in front of Maya and Avi.

"Will you guys speak something? Or will you stare at me like that only?" Arjun said, breaking the silence.

"Are you happy?" Avi asked him.

"Of course, I'm", Arjun said understanding his question.

"Are you ready for this relationship whole-heartedly?" Maya asked him.

"Yes", said Arjun.

"Will you keep her happy?" Avi asked Arjun.

"Yes", said Arjun.

"Will you give this relationship a chance?" Maya asked him.

"Yes", said Arjun.

Maya threw a pillow at him as he was giving mono-syllable answers.

"Ouch! What was that idiot?" Arjun said, glaring at Maya.

"Then answer us properly", Maya said, twisting her mouth with annoyance.

"Fine", said Arjun.

"Jokes apart Ajju, tell me. Are you really happy?" Avi asked him.

"I'm", said Arjun.

Maya and Avi sighed listening to him. They thought to leave him alone for sometime. They knew, he himself will come to them. So, they diverted the topic making Arjun sigh in his mind.

take care ❤