A/N Ik GauRa are not cherished here as Shivi is but I really adore them and honestly, loved the kids more. Wanted some more pre leap moments with the kids and GauRa
Timeline: alternate universe
Title: Their Vanar Sena
"Kya kare hum?"
"Hum kya kar sakte hai?"
"Hum kuch nahi kar sakte hai."
"Gadhedo!" Shiva shook his head, disappointed at his brothers who were seated with their morale low and head lowered even more, "hum nahi tum dono kuch nahi kar sakte," He said, determined. "I am for sure going to do something."
Before Krish could laugh at his elder brother, Dev held Shiva's arm in a quick reflex. Everyone knew about little Shiva's spontaneous actions, "No Shiva," The eldest amongst them, Dev, was more mature and salient for his age. "You are not going to do anything without first telling us."
Krish nodded, his long curly hair also nodding along, "haan Shiva, do not be pulses."
Shiva and Dev now looked at their younger brother and laughed pointing at him, Shiva more loudly than Dev making Krish pout at them.
"Pulses nahi, impulsive." Dev corrected his baby brother, shushing Shiva so Krish would not start crying, "and the point is, we have only one shot to do this right, I do not want Shiva's mad behaviour or Krish's kiddish behaviour to ruin it." He said, looking at his brothers, "Gombi se kuch nahi hone wala hai, and Dhara is too dumb to read Gombi's eyes."
Shiva frowned, he was the most closest to his Dhara, and he hated when anyone would say anything even remotely bad about his favourite person in this world. "Dev, do not call my Dhara dumb." He literally warned his brother who sighed at Shiva.
"I love Dhara as much as you do," Dev reassured Shiva who doubted him, no one loved Dhara as much as he did, he was literally her tail. "But let's face it, Dhara is too studious, all she does is read her books and she has no time to read Gombi's mind."
Krish, the little one, tilted his head, "but how can anyone read Gombi's mind? Ye koi magic trick hai kya?"
Once again Dev chuckled, but Shiva hit Krish's head, "stop with your questions," He was very tired of Krish and his unending questions, but Krish frowned, hitting Shiva back and Dev had to once again stand in between them. "Stop it you two," He tsked, and slid them away from each other, "Shiva, he is younger than you, understand him as I understand you!" Shiva rolled his eyes, folding his arms across his chest and Dev looked at Krish, "and you," Krish pouted, afraid of being yelled at by his brother, "I hate how cutely you get away from what I want to tell you!" Dev melted and Krish smiled at him.
"Point pe aaye?" Shiva raised his voice as the boys sat on the cot, wondering how they could proceed further with this mess. "Point ye hai ki Gombi loves Dhara a lot," He said, "Somnath mein sab ko pata hai but..."
"Dhara ko chod ke." Krish sighed.
"And hume hi kuch karna hoga," Dev added, leaning in to make sure no one else hears them, "because Gombi will never open his mouth and tell Dhara how he feels and Dhara is too du..." When Shiva glared at Dev, he changed his words, "I mean, not so smart in understanding feelings..." Shiva relaxed while the boys sighed together, "and we have to make Dhara know about Gombi's feelings, else, Dhara humari bhabhi nahi sirf Dhara banke rahegi."
"But hum kar bhi kya sakte hai?" Krish pouted, and the three boys sat down, their chins on their palm as they sat in line.
Gautam Pandya loved Dhara, his childhood friend and their neighbour, and the entire Somnath knew this. It was evident in Gautam's eyes, his actions and his behaviour towards Dhara that he was smitten by the smartest and the most serene girl in the town. He was the most salient guy himself in the small town, always silent, always well behaved. And hence, unlike other men, who could easily confess their love, Gautam was hesitant.
He did not want their friendship to be affected in any way and he also thought that Dhara was too smart, too ambitious for a guy like him.
After all he was just a kirane ki dukaan.
And she was the topper of their school, college and was now pursing post graduate course too.
However, Gautam had three little brothers, Dev, Shiva and Krish, who were the always called as the Vanar Sena and rightfully, they were the three little monkeys who often caused both chaos and mischief and spread cheers around. After Gautam's father's death and mother's paralysis, Gautam had taken the responsibility of his little brothers and the little ones loved their elder brother, whom they lovingly called Gombi.
Because that was what Dhara also called him.
"What are my little ones thinking about?" Gautam asked as he entered the house only to see his little kids sitting in a line, sad. "Kya hua mere bhaiyo ko?"
The kids lit up instantly on seeing their brother and crashed him into a group hug and Gautam's tiredness vanished as he hugged his little kids, happy to have them. "How was school?"
They ignored his questions and helped him sit, Dev getting him a glass of water, Krish fanning him with his book and Shiva already standing on the cot, massaging his shoulder. "Gombi?" Gautam knew they wanted something from him for the extra love they were showering on him, "can we ask you something?"
He eyed them suspiciously, finishing the water and the cute kids stood in front of me, "bolo?"
"Aap Dhara ko bata do that you love..." Krish said, and while Gautam raised his eyebrows, Shiva pounced on Krish and shut his mouth by his palms and Dev stood in front of them, eyes widened.
Seeing the kids struggling, Gautam separated the duo and made them look at him. "What?"
"He meant that we love Dhara," Dev corrected the mistake, Shiva glaring at Krish from the distance, "and when are you calling her home?"
"Home?" Gautam tilted his head, "kyu re bappa?" He asked Dev, "Dhara has to study for her exams next week, it is not good to keep interrupting her studies." He looked at the trio, "and you three also give her a break this week, let her study."
"But Dhara's birthday is next week!" Shiva said, pouting. He never like celebrations or birthdays but for his beloved Dhara, he would do anything. "Is Dhara not going to celebrate her own birthday?"
"Shiva," Gautam shook his head at the stubborn kid, "no making a fuss at it, Dhara has to study and you three gear up for your unit tests..."
"Par Gombiiii..." They said in unison, "Please..."
"Nothing doing." Gautam stood up, making his way to meet his mother in her room, "promise me that you will not disturb her?"
"Promise."
When Gautam left, the trio looked at each other, each of them had a crossed finger behind their backs and slyly smiled at each other and decided that this was the week that they had to tell Dhara about Gombi's feelings before this one sided relationship would destroy their chances of getting Dhara as their bhabhi.
"birthday plan," Dev said, the others nodding, "We will tell Dhara about Gombi's feelings and get them together."
_
Dhara was studying really hard for her PG exams, the lamp light giving her enough brightness as she marked the important answers and kept learning them.
"Psst..."
At first Dhara thought it was rats from the garden, so she ignored it but then she heard the noises again and this time thrice.
"Pssssstttt."
Dhara looked at the garden, narrowing her eyes in the darkness and she could see the torch light flashing at her, making her shake her head in sigh. She peeked out of the window, "kya hai?" She whispered at the three kids who were at standing at her window, "abh kya hua hai?"
"Dhara, bahar aa, baat karni hai!" Krish said, more like demanded. The other two nodding at her, but Dhara shook her head sternly.
"Exams hai meri," Dhara was careful to not create more noises to wake her beloved family, if her adopted father would see her with the kids, he'd get mad at them again. "Tum sab kal aajao."
"Woh Gombi ko kuch ho gaya." Dev made the most sad and frightful face, and Dhara could feel her heart beats dropping at the mere mention of Gombi being hurt. "Please aa jao, something is happening."
Since Dev told her this, Dhara believed them, because Dev was more truthful and mature of the three and she did not want to slide this away as a prank. She really wanted to keep studying, but then if something did happen to Gombi, she would not be able to forgive herself.
After her adopted family, Gombi and his brothers was all Dhara had. Dhara loved the little kids who loved her more than anyone ever loved her. Being an orphan and raised at the grace of her father's friend, she never wanted Gautam's little brothers to miss the family love she never got. And to be honest, whenever she was with these cute kids, she also became one of them.
These kids and her childhood friend Gautam, they were her happy place.
But lately, she had started to feel more towards Gautam and not in the friendship way. She started having butterflies dancing in her stomach when he touched her, or spoke to her or did anything for her and whenever he was nearer, her heart would betray her and she hated that this could destroy their friendship too.
Hence, she kept a safe distance from the Pandya family but the vanar sena never seemed to give her a break.
Covering her face with a scarf, she jumped out of the window and crossed her finger, hoping Gombi was fine and that she would not get caught with her toli. Slowly and carefully they crossed few houses, and entered the Pandya house, and the darkness scared her.
"Why is it dark?" She asked the kids who were holding her hands, bringing her in.
"Because it is night, Dhara," Krish chuckled, laughing at her, "you sure you topped the school?"
Dhara narrowed her eyes at the sniggering kids, "I meant the house, mere Krishna," She picked the little one, "and you are getting smarter by the day, huh." She tickled him and then Dev and Shiva joined in, tickling Krish till tears came from his eyes and Dhara hugged him.
"Chalo!" Shiva remembered why they had done this charade, "Dhara, Gombi needs you."
She nodded, setting Krish down and walked in the dark house, and while she searched for Gombi in the darkness, the kids switched on the lights and to her surprise, the entire place was filled with balloons and there was Gombi, all hearty and fine, grinning at her with balloons in his hand but Dhara instead of being happy at the surprise, slapped the baloons out of his hands, startling the Pandya boys.
"Dhara?"
"Su Dhara?" She said, hitting Gautam on his chest, "aa su che?" She asked, seething.
"Sorry Dhara," He held his ears, cutely pouting at his best friend, "kids insisted for a small surprise, I told them that you had exams tomorrow, but ye sunte kaha..."
He again got a hit from her, this time harder on his arm.
Dev, Shiva and Krish scrunched their faces, feeling bad for their brother who was getting beatings.
"Not that," She said, relieved that Gombi was fine, "kids told me that something happened to you, tamhe khabar che, how stressed I was!"
The Vanar Sena bit their lips, trying to sneak out slowly but Gautam stopped them, "I told you to ask her to come for some minor help,"
"Arrey par ye Dhara minor help pe nahi aati na, Gombi." Krish cutely spoke.
"Haan ye Dhara ke nakhre paata toh hai na," Shiva added showing his tongue to Dhara who glared at him.
"Issliye jhoot bola," Dev held his ears, "sorry na Dhara."
The trio held their ears, surrounding Dhara and she melted, shaking her head and hugging them. "Gadhedo, saare Pandyas ek samaan." She said, taking Krish in her arms while Shiva wrapped his arms around her neck from behind and Dev side hugged her. "Do not scare me like this again," She eyed Gautam who was dumbfounded.
"What did I do?" He asked, confused, "ye shaitaano ko daant na, mujhe nahi."
"Shaitan nahi, mere pyaari vanar sena hai."
The boys teased Gautam who smiled at the clan, he loved how Dhara was so gentle and loving towards his three brothers and hoped for them to be the same.
"Birthday cake kaate?" Gautam suggested and the kids cheered, bringing the cake, candles and poppers while Dhara and Gautam stood aside.
"Happy Birthday," He said, softly, his little gift behind his back.
"Thank you Gombi," Dhara replied, softly, "gift?"
Gautam gulped, he was second guessing his little gift now, especially how that was nothing in front of his beautiful Dhara.
"Nahi hai," He lied.
To that Dhara narrowed her eyes, her hands enveloping him as she found his hands behind his back, holding something, "Gombi, give it." She fought as they were practically the closest they had been, while Dhara wanted the gift, Gautam only wanted the time to freeze.
Her long hair smelled like the scent of sandalwood, and her pretty eyes were so much more prettier from this close. Dhara kept wanting to snatch the gift which Gautam hid, but Gautam was all the more lost in her scent, "kyon?" He managed to ask which startled Dhara.
She looked at him, "what?"
"Why were so worried if something would happen to me?"
Gautam's words were bringing Dhara back to reality and she realised how close she was standing to him, and hence she stepped back. Lowering her gaze she gulped, and cleared her throat, "kevi baat kareche Gombi," She tugged at her kurti's end, "you are my best friend, of course I am going to be concerned about you."
"Is that it?" Gautam enquired, tilting his head to the left as he met her eyes. "Paako?"
"Paako."
With that Gautam forwarded the little gift he had got her and she smiled, happily openeing it and to her surprise it was a set of brand new ball pens. She looked at the set and then at Gautam, while the latter worried if she did not like it.
"Woh, exams ke liye aache pens hai." He said, rubbing the back of his head, "woh tere 2rs wale pen leak hote hai na..." Dhara was looking at him, gulping, while Gautam fumbled. "You know what never mind... I'll get something nice..."
But Dhara flung herself on him, not minding where they were as she hugged him, "thank you Gombi," she said, happily, "you are so thoughtful, and so nice." She said, as Gautam smiled, happy to see her this sweet. "I love you." She blurted, just out of the blue, taking Gautam in complete surprise.
And with him, the three monkeys who were admiring them from afar, gasped.
Krish was watching them with his mouth hanging wide, "Dhara ne toh bol diya Gombi ko."
Shiva and Dev smiled, as they kept gawking at the duo from the kitchen's window.
Meanwhile, Gautam who almost got a heart attack by the words Dhara said, was spell bounded and Dhara shut her eyes, as she hit her head, separating from Gautam. The two of them now stood awkwardly in front of each other.
"I meant..." She hesitated, tucking her hair, and Gautam cleared his throat.
"I know..." Gautam added, "We should cut the cake?"
"We should, we should," Dhara said, averting her gaze, "where are the kids?"
The kids sighed in disappointment and walked towards the duo with cake, candles, and poppers and together they celebrated Dhara's birthday and she fed her babies the cake, getting their priceless gifts in return.
Krish had made her card, stick figures of she and the four Pandya brothers, and she kissed the little one, Shiva had promised her that he would bathe daily for one whole week and would also study well for their tests and Dev had pocketed his money and given Dhara the tamarind candy she loved. Clinging the gifts to her heart, Dhara hugged the vanar sena, who hugged her back. Gautam smiled at them, standing nearby.
"Aww, you kiddos are so sweet." She said, holding them close, "jigar ke tukde ho tum sab. Aaj jo maang na hai maang lo." She winked at them, "whatever you want, I swear, I'll give."
"Kuch bhi?"
"Haan, kuch bhi."
"Toh ban jaao humari bhabhi, karlo humari Gombi se shaadi. Tu Gombi se pyaar karti hai, but pata nahi kyu sharamati hai, aur Gombi toh tere peeche itne dewaane hai, saara Somnath jaanta hai." Krish blurted out, without thinking, "banale hume tere devar, iss vanar sena ko offically apna bana le, kya bolti hai tu?"
Dev and Shiva slapped their foreheads in unison and Krish realised what he said, biting his lip while Dhara and Gautam both looked at each other, startled.
Before Gautam or Dhara could even respond, the trio slowly got up, taking backward steps.
"Chal chal chal," Dev whispered, tip toeing outside the house and Krish and Shiva followed, "chal warna Dhara maar dalegi aur Gombi toh..."
The vanar sena managed to get out of the house, and waited till the duo came out. But they did not know till date what the duo spoke, or reacted, but when they came out, they were both smiling and faces red.
And that was how Gautam and Dhara had began their relationship.
With a push from their Vanar Sena.
_
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