Kasam Se Banta Rishta ~ Ssharad Malhotra x Shivani Tomar SS [Completed - Page 2

She knew it even before the test. This brings an added complication.

She has to talk to him now. Avoidance will not help. Too much is at stake.

Chapter 3 (The Confrontation and the Trembling Confession)

The next 24 hours were hell for Tanuja.

She avoided the windows.
She avoided the lights.
She avoided stepping outside unless absolutely necessary.

But most of all—
she avoided him.

Her mind wouldn’t stop spinning.

Pregnant.
Two lines.
Rishi’s child.
What will he say?
What if he rejects it?
What if he takes responsibility?
What if he doesn’t?
What if he wants something she can’t give?
What if—what if—what if—

Her nerves were shredded.

Every time a floorboard creaked, her breath jumped.

Every time the doorbell rang, she froze.

Every time she heard his voice outside—even faintly—her stomach twisted.

She wasn’t ready to face him.
Not with this truth.
Not with this fear.
Not with this child already forming a heartbeat that she hadn’t been ready for.

But fate was tired of waiting.

The Breaking Point

The next evening, she stepped outside to throw away trash, assuming Rishi wasn’t home.

Wrong.

He was standing at the end of her driveway, eyes shadowed, shoulders tense, as if he’d been waiting for hours.

The moment he saw her, he exhaled sharply.
“Tanuja.”

She froze.
Turned to go back inside.

He moved fast.

“Don’t,” he said, stepping in front of her before she could reach the door. “Please don’t run again.”

“Move,” she whispered, her voice brittle.

“No.” His voice was firm, but his eyes were pleading. “Not until you tell me what’s going on.”

“Nothing is going on.”

“Tanuja.” His tone hardened. “You won’t look at me. You slammed the door on me. You nearly fell when you walked out yesterday. You’re pale. You’ve been avoiding food. I heard you vomiting earlier.”

She stiffened—too visibly.

Rishi stepped even closer.

“And your eyes… they look like you’re carrying something heavy enough to crush you.”

Her throat tightened painfully.

His voice dropped to a whisper.

“What happened to you? What did I do?”

Those four words shattered her.

She took a shaky step back, but he gently caught her wrist—not forcefully, just enough to stop her retreat.

“Tanuja,” he whispered, “talk to me. I’m begging you.”

Her chest heaved.
Her lips trembled.
Her eyes filled.

And the truth began choking her from the inside.

“I can’t…” she whispered. “I can’t say it…”

“Yes, you can,” he said softly. “Whatever it is… let me help.”

She squeezed her eyes shut, tears slipping down.

“You can’t help with this.”

“Try me.”

She shook her head violently. “Rishi, please—just let me go.”

“No.”
his voice cracked.
“Not until you tell me what’s breaking you like this.”

She looked up at him then—really looked at him.

And what she saw broke her even more:

Fear.
Regret.
Longing.
And genuine concern.

Her lips trembled harder.

“Rishi…” she whispered, “I didn’t want to tell you like this.”

He swallowed, waiting.

Tanuja’s knees weakened. She pulled her wrist from his grip and hugged herself tightly, as if holding her own body together.

Her voice was barely audible.

“I… missed my periods.”

Rishi blinked.

It didn’t register at first.

Then his breath caught.

“Tanuja…?”

Her hands shook uncontrollably as she whispered, “I took a test.”

His heartbeat stopped.

She couldn’t look at him.
Couldn’t breathe.
Couldn’t contain the truth any longer.

Her voice cracked—fragile, breaking, terrified.

“Rishi… I’m pregnant.”

Silence crashed between them.

The world stopped.
The air froze.
Even the wind quieted.

Rishi didn’t move.
Didn’t blink.
Didn’t breathe.

Tanuja finally looked up at him—

—and saw the shock hit him like a physical blow.

She whispered again, voice trembling so hard it barely came out.

“It’s… it’s yours.”

Rishi’s lips parted, but no words came.

He stared at her—devastated, overwhelmed, terrified, speechless—his entire world tilting under his feet.

Tanuja wrapped her arms tighter around herself, tears falling silently.

“I didn’t plan this,” she whispered. “I didn’t want to trap you. I didn’t even think it was possible. I don’t know how to do this. I’m scared. I’m so scared, Rishi.”

He still didn’t move.

The silence hurt worse than shouting.

So she whispered the final truth—broken, raw, heartbreaking:

“I’m pregnant… and I’m alone.”

That’s when Rishi finally inhaled sharply—as though waking from a shock so deep it had paralyzed him.

“Tanuja…” he breathed, his voice cracking apart.
“Tell me again.”

Her sob escaped her.

“I’m pregnant.”

Rishi’s face paled, his eyes glistening with something too deep to name.

He whispered—barely audible—

“Oh… God.”

And the world around them shattered.

A Decision Neither Truly Wants

Rishi didn’t sleep that night.
Not after hearing the words that shook him to the bone:

“I’m pregnant… and I’m alone.”

He paced the living room until dawn, running a hand through his hair over and over, replaying every moment, every mistake, every consequence.

He felt crushed—by guilt, by fear, by the weight of responsibility he never expected to face again.

By morning, he made a decision.

A practical one.
A safe one.
A cowardly one.

He knocked on Tanuja’s door—softly this time.

She opened it slowly, eyes swollen, face pale.

He didn’t waste time.

“Tanuja,” he said quietly, “we need to talk about… the pregnancy.”

Her fingers tightened on the doorframe.

He continued, voice emotionless from overthinking:

“Since we both agree that night was a mistake… and since neither of us planned this, or wanted this to happen…”
He swallowed hard.
“I think the sensible option is to terminate the pregnancy.”

Tanuja’s entire body went still.

Not angry.
Not crying.
Just… still.

He couldn’t read her expression.
That scared him most.

Finally, she whispered, “You think that’s the solution?”

He forced himself to nod, though something inside him twisted painfully.
“Given our circumstances… yes. I think it’s the only logical choice.”

The faintest tremor passed through her lips.

But she covered it quickly.
“Alright,” she said. Too quickly. Too calmly. “If that’s what you want.”

His heart clenched—but he told himself this was the right path.

He cleared his throat.
“I’ll… I’ll take you to the doctor.”

She nodded once, stiffly.
“Fine.”

The Hospital

They sat side by side in the OB-GYN’s waiting room, pretending to be strangers.

But the receptionist smiled warmly at them.
“Mr. and Mrs. Bedi? The doctor will see you now.”

Tanuja stiffened.
Rishi inhaled sharply.

But neither corrected her.

The doctor, a woman in her late fifties with kind eyes, waved them in.

“So,” she said, settling behind her desk, “what brings you both here today?”

Rishi spoke first.
“We’re here to discuss termination.”

Tanuja stared at the floor.

The doctor blinked, taken aback by the bluntness.
“I… see. May I ask how far along the pregnancy is?”

“Eight weeks,” Tanuja said softly.

“And this was unplanned?”

Both nodded.

The doctor leaned forward, her voice gentle.
“If you don’t mind… I’d like to understand your reasons.”

Rishi opened his mouth, but the doctor held up a hand.

“Not for judgement. For clarity.”

Tanuja’s voice finally emerged—quiet, brittle.
“This wasn’t supposed to happen. We weren’t in the right state of mind. We didn’t… we didn’t choose this.”

Rishi nodded, though guilt clouded his eyes.

The doctor studied them carefully.

“Do you live together?” she asked.

“No,” they answered immediately.

“Married?”

“No.”

“In a relationship?”

Silence.

Painful, heavy silence.

The doctor sighed gently.
“Alright. But before you decide anything irreversible… I need you both to think.”

Rishi looked slightly irritated.
“We have thought.”

“No,” the doctor said softly, “you’ve panicked.”

Both fell silent.

She continued, voice warm and firm:

“You’re both overwhelmed. That’s normal. But a pregnancy—especially one like this—is not something to dismiss in a moment of fear.”

Tanuja swallowed hard.

The doctor softened further.
“This child may have come unexpectedly… but children are rarely mistakes. They are possibilities.”

Rishi looked away sharply.

The doctor’s voice lowered.
“And sometimes… they heal wounds you didn’t even realize were still open.”

Tanuja felt tears prick behind her eyes.

Rishi’s jaw clenched.

The doctor leaned back.
“I won’t force you. It’s your choice. But make sure it’s your choice, not fear speaking for you.”

The words sank deep into the cracked places inside both of them.

Rishi cleared his throat.
“We… we need time.”

Tanuja nodded silently.

The doctor smiled gently.
“Take it. This decision deserves it.”

Outside the Clinic

They walked through the parking lot in silence.

Rishi sensed the distance between them widening again, heavier than before.

Finally, he said quietly, “Tanuja… are you alright?”

She didn’t answer.

She opened the car door and sat inside, staring straight ahead.

When Rishi joined, she finally whispered—

“We almost ended a life without even thinking.”

Rishi’s stomach dropped.

“That wasn’t what I—”

She cut him off softly, painfully.
“You said it was the sensible choice.”

He flinched.

She whispered again, voice thick with emotion she couldn’t hide:
“Rishi… what if sensible isn’t the same as right?”

He had no answer.

The silence between them tightened, becoming something neither of them could escape.

Something that would only grow heavier with each passing day.

And for the first time, Rishi wondered—

Had he already made a mistake by calling this child a mistake?

Two Heartbeats, One Destiny

The next morning, neither Rishi nor Tanuja slept, ate, or breathed properly.

The doctor’s words echoed relentlessly in both their minds:

"Make sure it's your choice, not fear speaking for you."

Fear was speaking for both of them.

But so was something else.

Something quieter.
Something deeper.
Something neither was ready to name.

Finally, Rishi called her.

“We need to go back,” he said softly.

Tanuja swallowed hard. “Yes.”

They met outside her gate, both exhausted, eyes hollow yet restless. They didn’t talk as they drove. The silence wasn’t angry—it was heavy, fragile, full of confusion.

Back at the Clinic

The doctor wasn’t surprised to see them.

In fact, she smiled gently when they entered.

“I had a feeling you’d come back,” she said. “You both look like people carrying a decision too heavy for two hearts alone.”

Rishi exhaled shakily.
Tanuja twisted her fingers nervously.

“We still don’t know what to do,” Rishi admitted.

“And that is perfectly normal,” the doctor replied kindly. “This is not a decision of the mind alone.”

Tanuja’s voice trembled. “Then how do we decide? We’re terrified. Both of us. We weren’t ready. We aren’t together. This just… happened.”

The doctor stepped closer, her tone warm and steady.

“Before you make any choice, I want you to meet your child.”

Tanuja blinked.
Rishi’s breath caught.

The doctor explained gently, “A sonography. Hearing the heartbeat… it helps parents understand what they’re deciding.”

Neither protested.

They followed her down the corridor, each step heavier than the last.

The Sonography Room

The room was dim, the monitor quietly humming.

Tanuja lay back nervously, tugging down her kurta slightly as the doctor prepared the equipment.

Rishi stood beside the bed, his hands clenched, his chest tight, unable to look away from her trembling form.

“Ready?” the doctor asked softly.

No.
Both wanted to say.
But both nodded.

The gel touched Tanuja’s skin—cold, shocking.
She flinched.
Rishi instinctively reached out—and stopped, his hand hovering, unsure if he had the right.

But she didn’t pull back.
She didn’t tell him not to.

So he rested his hand on her forearm—gentle, tentative, grounding.

Her breath steadied.

The doctor pressed the probe against her abdomen.

For a moment, nothing.

Just white noise.
Static.
An empty hush.

Then—

Thump-thump.
Thump-thump.
Thump-thump.

The heartbeat filled the room.
Soft.
Fast.
Alive.

Tanuja gasped.
Her lips parted in pure shock.
Tears pooled in her eyes instantly.

Rishi stumbled backward a step, chest rising sharply as if the sound hit him physically.

“That’s… that’s the baby?” he whispered, voice shaking.

The doctor nodded softly. “Yes. That’s your child’s heartbeat.”

Tanuja covered her mouth with her hand, tears slipping down uncontrollably.
Rishi couldn’t blink—couldn’t breathe.

It was real.
Their child was real.
Alive.
Growing.
Beating.

And then—

A second sound.

Thump-thump.
Thump-thump.
Thump-thump.

Rishi’s head jerked up.
Tanuja stiffened.

“Doctor…?” she whispered, voice trembling violently.

The doctor smiled warmly as she pointed to the screen.

“There are two sacs. Two heartbeats.”

Rishi froze.
Tanuja’s eyes widened.

The doctor continued softly—

“You’re pregnant with twins.”

Silence.

Not the heavy, painful silence of before.

A stunned, breathless, life-changing silence.

Rishi felt something inside him break open—
a crack in the loneliness he had cemented for seventeen years.

Tanuja sobbed harder, covering her face with both hands.

Twins.
Two lives.
Two heartbeats.
Two souls connected to both of them.

The doctor gently squeezed Rishi’s shoulder.
“These children belong to you both. They’re part of you. And they already exist.”

Rishi moved closer, his voice barely a whisper.
“Tanuja… they’re ours.”

She nodded through tears, unable to speak.

He knelt beside her, eyes glistening.
“We… we created life. Two lives. After everything we’ve been through… after all the years alone… we have someone. Someone who belongs to us.”

Her hand trembled as she reached out and held his—instinctively, desperately.

“I was so scared,” she whispered. “I thought it was a mistake. But hearing them… Rishi, they’re real.”

“Yeah,” he whispered, squeezing her hand. “And they’re ours, Tanuja. Ours.”

For the first time since the storm, something warm flickered between them.

Not lust.
Not fear.
Not guilt.

Hope.

Outside the Clinic

They stood in the parking lot again, but the silence between them had changed.

It wasn’t avoidance.
It wasn’t shame.
It wasn’t anger.

It was… reverence.

Finally, Tanuja spoke—voice soft, still shaky.

“What do we do now?”

Rishi inhaled deeply.
“We talk. Properly. Honestly. For the first time since this began.”

She met his eyes—really met them.

Tears threatened again, but this time, they weren’t only from fear.

“Rishi… I don’t want to run anymore,” she whispered.

He stepped closer, voice raw with emotion.

“Then let’s face this together.”

For the first time, the idea didn’t terrify her.

It softened her.

Because after years of emptiness…

Two tiny heartbeats had changed everything.

------

To be continued.

Chapter 4 (Talking About a Future Neither Expected)

They drove home in silence, but this time it wasn’t the suffocating silence of avoidance — it was the quiet of two people trying to absorb a truth too big, too miraculous, too terrifying for words.

Twins.

Two heartbeats.

Two lives connected to them.

When they reached their houses, Rishi hesitated before stepping out of the car.

“Tanuja,” he said softly, “come inside. We… we need to talk. Not as neighbors. Not as enemies. As parents.”

The word parents sent a shiver down both their spines.

For Tanuja, it was surreal.
For Rishi, it was terrifying and strangely comforting.
For both, it was real.

She nodded slowly.

Inside Rishi’s House

The moment she stepped in, memories of that night washed over her — the storm, the darkness, the trembling kiss, the warmth of his arms.

Rishi noticed her stiffening and spoke quietly.

“We won’t talk about that night today. Only about what comes after.”

She exhaled shakily and nodded.

He guided her to sit on the couch while he sat across from her, not too close — but not distant either.

For a few seconds, neither spoke.

Finally, Tanuja broke the silence.

“I still don’t know if I’m ready,” she whispered. “I don’t know if I can do this, Rishi.”

“I don’t know either,” he admitted, rubbing his forehead. “I never thought I’d… feel responsible for a life again. After losing—”
He stopped, swallowing hard.

She looked at him gently.
“After losing her?”

He nodded silently.

Tanuja’s voice softened.
“I’m not her, Rishi. And I’m not asking to be.”

He looked up sharply — almost defensively — but her eyes held no accusation, only sincerity.

“I know,” he said quietly. “But this… this is big. And I don’t want to fail again.”

Her heart ached at the raw fear in his voice.

“You won’t,” she whispered.

“How do you know?”

“Because you care,” she said simply. “You might hide it behind anger and sarcasm… but you care. You’re already worried about the babies. You’re already thinking about how to protect them.”

His jaw tightened.

She was right.
And he was terrified of how right she was.

The First Fragile Bond & The Practical Agreement

Tanuja looked down at her hands — hands that were shaking.
“I’ve been alone my entire life,” she admitted quietly. “No parents, no relatives, no anchor. I don’t know what a family looks like. I don’t know how to raise a child.”

Rishi leaned forward slightly, something softening in his eyes.
“Neither do I,” he said honestly.

She met his gaze, voice almost breaking.
“But you’ve loved before. I haven’t.”

His breath caught.

“I don’t know how to love anyone without getting hurt,” she whispered. “And now these babies… they’ll be my entire world. And I’m scared they won’t have… anything more than me.”

Rishi shook his head gently.
“That’s not true.”

“How would you know?” she challenged, though her voice was nothing but tired.

He hesitated — then reached across the small table and took her hand.

She tensed.
Her breath hitched.
Her fingers trembled in his.

“Tanuja,” he said quietly, “those babies won’t have just you.”

Her heart stopped.

“They’ll have me too.”

She stared at him — shocked, moved, overwhelmed.

He continued, voice soft but firm, “I’m not running. Not from them. Not from this. Not from you.”

Tanuja’s eyes filled instantly.
“Rishi…” she whispered, voice breaking, “why?”

He swallowed hard, the words thick on his tongue.
“Because after years of loneliness… I finally have someone who belongs to me again.”

A tear slipped down her cheek.

The moment between them grew deeper — fragile, vulnerable, aching with a closeness they didn’t know how to hold.

But reality pressed in again.

Finally, Rishi exhaled shakily and withdrew his hand, steadying himself.
“Tanuja… we need to talk about what happens now.”

She braced herself.
“Go on.”

“We weren’t prepared for this,” he said, voice steady but conflicted. “We’re not together. We don’t even get along. Relying on each other long-term… it doesn’t make sense.”

Her chest tightened painfully, but she nodded.

“So,” he continued carefully, “I think the most practical solution is… we stay together until the babies are born.”

She inhaled sharply.
“In the same house?”

“Yes,” he said softly. “For your health. For their safety. You shouldn’t go through pregnancy alone.”

A strange warmth flickered inside her — quickly chased by fear.

“And after they’re born?” she whispered.

Rishi exhaled — the kind that carries a hundred unspoken emotions.
“After that… we go our separate ways.”

Her eyes dropped.

“And the twins?” she forced herself to ask.

His throat worked.
“We each take one. That way… neither of us is alone.”

Tanuja’s heart twisted.
Separating the twins felt wrong.
Unnatural.
Cruel.

But she swallowed the ache.

“Fine,” she whispered. “If that’s the best solution.”

Rishi nodded, though something flickered painfully in his eyes — regret? doubt?
He pushed it down.

“There’s… one more thing,” he said slowly.

Tanuja looked up, wary.

“People talk,” he said quietly. “Our neighbors talk. My family talks. And you moving in here suddenly… pregnant… would raise questions neither of us wants.”

A chill rushed through her.

“So what do we do?” she whispered.

Rishi hesitated — the longest hesitation she’d ever seen from him — before he finally said the words he never imagined saying again:

“We marry.”

Tanuja’s breath caught violently.
“R–Rishi—”

He lifted a hand gently.
“Not emotionally. Not forever. A contract marriage. Only until the babies are born.”

She stared at him — stunned, confused, hurting.

He explained softly, carefully:
“If we marry… even temporarily… no one will question your pregnancy. No one will question why you’re living here. And no one will speculate about… us.”

Her cheeks burned with shame and fear.

“A contract marriage…” she whispered.

“Until the birth,” he repeated. “After that — we annul it. Cleanly. Respectfully.”

Her voice trembled.
“And the twins?”

He swallowed.

“We each take one… and move on.”

Silence.

Heavy.
Long.
Crushing.

Finally, Tanuja nodded slowly.
“Alright.”

Rishi blinked — almost startled she agreed.

She continued quietly, “You’re right. It’s practical. No one will gossip. The babies will be safe. And… my reputation will stay intact.”

His expression softened with guilt.

“I’m not doing this just for reputation,” he murmured. “I’m doing it because I don’t want you blamed… for something we both did.”

Her breath trembled.

“And after they’re born,” she whispered, “it ends?”

“Yes,” he said firmly.

“And we won’t interfere in each other’s lives afterward?”

“Yes.”

“And we separate the twins.”

He hesitated — just a second.
Just enough for her heart to crack.

“…yes.”

Her lips quivered — but she forced a nod.

“Then let’s do it,” she whispered.

He nodded too.

No passion.
No ceremony.
No promises.

Just a contract.
A practical decision.
A future built on fear and silence.

But deep inside both of them — beneath the logic, beneath the agreement —
something ached.

A quiet, painful, undeniable ache that whispered:

Why does it feel like we’re agreeing to break something before it’s even begun?

Moving In, Moving Closer

Tanuja moved into Rishi’s house three days after their agreement.

She arrived quietly, carrying only two suitcases and a box of medical files. Rishi had already prepared the guest room — neatly, almost too neatly — careful to avoid anything personal that might make it feel like a home rather than a temporary arrangement.

But the moment she stepped across the threshold, everything changed.

Not for them.

For everyone watching.

The Neighborhood Shock

Mrs. Mehra nearly dropped her watering can when she spotted Tanuja stepping out of Rishi’s house with a newly applied sindoor and a thin gold chain around her neck—the bare minimum she and Rishi had agreed upon to look married.

The Sharma sisters whispered so loudly the entire lane heard them.

Mr. Rao, who pretended not to gossip but always listened at windows, gasped audibly.

Rishi Singh Bedi — the quiet, brooding widower who barely spoke to anyone — had suddenly married his young rival-neighbor?

And she had moved into his house?

By evening, half the colony had convinced itself:

“Arre, they must have been in love for months!”
“She must be pregnant!”
“Didn’t they hate each other?”

Rishi clenched his jaw through it all.

Tanuja avoided eye contact, cheeks burning every time someone said “Congratulations!”

Their contract marriage was meant to avoid gossip —
but somehow it only made things louder.

Domestic Life — Familiar Strangers

Living together felt foreign at first.

Rishi rose early every morning, making tea for himself and — without realising — for her too.

Tanuja would come downstairs sleepily, hair tousled, and stop short at the steaming cup waiting on the table.

“You made two by accident,” she would say.

Rishi never corrected her.
He had made it for her.

And when she cooked lunch on days she worked from home, she would place an extra portion on the counter.

“For the fridge,” she claimed.

Rishi never believed that.

They moved around each other quietly—
not touching, not talking more than necessary—
yet everything they did slowly began orbiting the other.

Somehow, they fell into rhythm:

• He carried all the heavy things without being asked.
• She reminded him to take his vitamins when he skipped meals.
• He refused to let her lift anything remotely heavy.
• She started prepping herbal teas when he came home exhausted.
• He adjusted the room temperature without her noticing so she wouldn’t feel sick.
• She sat up waiting when he worked late, pretending she was reading.

They didn’t talk about it.
They never acknowledged it.

But they were growing close.
Quietly.
Unintentionally.
Dangerously.

Rishi’s Unintentional Protectiveness

Whenever she walked too fast, he steadied her elbow.
Whenever she felt dizzy, he immediately appeared with water.
Whenever she frowned at pain in her stomach, he panicked silently.

“Tanuja, sit,” he would say, voice tense. “I told you, no unnecessary strain.”

“Rishi, I’m pregnant, not helpless.”

“You’re pregnant with twins. That’s double the risk.”

She would roll her eyes.
But she never truly minded his worry.

And he noticed that too.

A Sudden Scare

It happened one afternoon.

Tanuja was reaching for a glass on a high shelf when she suddenly gasped, her hand flying to her stomach.

A sharp, stabbing pain.

She staggered.

Rishi—who had just walked in—heard the soft cry and sprinted across the room.

“Tanuja!” he shouted, catching her just before she fell.

She clutched his shirt, breathing shallowly.

“Pain… it’s—Rishi, it hurts—”

His heart nearly stopped.

He lifted her into his arms without hesitation.

“No arguments. We’re going to the doctor now,” he said, voice breaking, raw panic written across his face.

Her eyes widened at the fear in his expression.

“Rishi… I’m okay—maybe it was nothing—”

“It’s not nothing,” he snapped, then softened brokenly.
“It’s never nothing when it comes to you. Or them.”

She stared at him.

He didn’t realise what he had said.

But she did.

In the Car — Distance Shatters

He kept one hand on the steering wheel and the other gently on her knee, trembling but steadying her.

“I can’t lose them,” he whispered, voice cracking.
“I can’t lose you.”

The words slipped out before he could stop them.

Tanuja’s heart thudded painfully.

“Rishi…” she whispered, unsure what to say.

“There will be no separating the twins if—if anything happens,” he said, swallowing hard. “We will not—I will not—lose even one of them.”

His voice broke again.

“And I cannot watch you in pain.”

Something warm, terrifying, and overwhelmingly tender bloomed in her chest.

Her hand moved gently over his trembling one.

For the first time, he didn’t pull away.

Realisation — The Contract Can’t Save Them

Later, when the doctor reassured them the pain was normal and everything was fine, they returned home in silence.

But the silence between them had changed.

It wasn’t empty.
It wasn’t distant.

It was full.

Full of everything they felt but hadn’t said.

That night, as Rishi placed a blanket over Tanuja while she slept lightly on the sofa, he watched her for a long, quiet moment.

Her face softened in sleep.
One hand rested unconsciously on her stomach.

He knelt beside her, whispering so softly even he barely heard:

“I don’t think I can let you go.”

Upstairs in the bedroom, Tanuja lay awake after pretending to sleep, hand over her heart, whispering into the darkness:

“This contract… it’s already breaking us.”

Both were finally beginning to see the truth:

They weren’t just protecting the babies anymore.
They were protecting each other.

And the contract that was supposed to keep their hearts separate…

Was slowly becoming the very thing pulling them together.

------

To be continued.

Chapter 5 (A Joke, A Jealous Moment, and a New Kind of Closeness)

The next morning, Tanuja stepped into the kitchen to find Rishi already there, sleeves rolled up, stirring porridge with a seriousness that made him look more like a soldier than a cook.

"You're up early," she said, smiling despite herself.

"You had pain yesterday," he replied without looking at her, "so I'm making something healthy."

She raised an eyebrow.
"Since when do you cook?"

"Since my... since a long time," he said quietly, voice dropping when he almost mentioned his late wife.

The air shifted — soft, fragile.

So she quickly lightened the mood.

"Well, tell your sons not to kick so aggressively next time," she joked, touching her stomach.
"I think they already want to be football players like their father."

Rishi finally turned to her — startled at first, then amused, then deeply touched.

"My sons?" he repeated, the words soft, disbelieving.

She nodded teasingly.
"Yes. Two little strikers. Kicking me like they're trying to score goals in there."

He stepped closer before he realised it — eyes warm, voice gentle.

"Tanuja... I would rather have two fairy daughters like you than two football players."

She froze.

Emotion washed over her like a quiet wave.

"Daughters?" she whispered.

"Yes," he said, smiling faintly. "Two little girls... soft, gentle, stubborn like you. Beautiful like you."

Her heart stumbled in her chest.

She laughed softly, but her eyes were suddenly too warm, too full.
"Rishi Singh Bedi... I didn't know you had this side."

"I didn't either," he said honestly.

For a moment, they simply stood there — closer than necessary, closer than safe — a small, fragile bond forming over unborn children they hadn't even known they wanted.

Rishi's First Jealous Moment

That afternoon, as they stepped out together to buy a few groceries,

Inside the shop, the shopkeeper Rohan — young, friendly, and far too smiley — greeted Tanuja warmly.

"Good morning, Mrs. Bedi!" he said cheerfully. "You're glowing today!"

Tanuja smiled, slightly embarrassed.

Rishi stiffened.
Glowing? Why is he noticing?

"And how are the babies?" Rohan asked kindly.

Rishi narrowed his eyes.
Why is he asking about the babies?

Before Tanuja could respond, Rishi stepped closer — very close.

"They're perfectly fine," he said, voice calm but with a possessive edge even he didn't recognise. "And she should be careful. The floor's slippery."

Tanuja blinked.
Was he... jealous?

The shopkeeper backed off with an awkward smile.

When they walked out, she nudged him lightly.
"Were you... by any chance... jealous?"

"What? No. Why would I be jealous? That's ridiculous," he said too quickly.

She laughed softly.
"You should've seen your face. You looked like you were about to tackle him."

He looked away, ears reddening.

"I was just... being cautious."

"Of course," she teased. "Purely... cautious."

He didn't reply, but his silence confessed everything.

The Accident That Changed Their Distance

Back home, Tanuja climbed onto a stool to retrieve something from a high shelf.
Rishi, entering the room, froze instantly.

"Tanuja, no—get down from there!" he yelled, rushing forward.

"I'm fine, Rishi—"

She lost balance.

She gasped—
He lunged—
And caught her around the waist just in time.

But the momentum pulled them both down onto the sofa—
Tanuja landing on top of him, her palms on his chest.
Rishi's hands instinctively tightened around her waist to steady her.

They froze.

Very close.
Very aware.
Very breathless.

Her hair fell over his face.
His heartbeat thundered under her palms.

"Tanuja..." he whispered, voice trembling.

"Rishi..." she breathed, her lips inches from his.

Neither moved away.
Neither wanted to.

His hands stayed on her waist longer than necessary.
Her breath lingered on his cheek.
Their chests rose and fell in sync.

For a moment—
a dangerous, beautiful moment—
the contract, the walls, the distance...

all disappeared.

But Tanuja finally pushed up, cheeks burning, breath uneven.

"Sorry," she whispered.

"Don't be," he said softly, still staring at her like she was the most fragile, precious thing he'd ever held.

A Question Neither Can Ignore

That night, they lay awake in separate rooms—

Tanuja with her hand on her stomach, remembering how gently Rishi caught her.

Rishi with his hand over his heart, remembering how perfectly she fit against him.

Both thinking the same terrifying thought:

What if the contract marriage isn't enough to keep us from falling?

Rano and Beeji's Surprise Visit

The morning began quietly.
Too quietly.

Tanuja was reading on the couch while Rishi sorted some paperwork nearby. Their movements had fallen into an easy rhythm — careful, domestic, unspoken.

Then the doorbell rang.

Once.

Twice.

Then thrice, with the unmistakable impatience only two women in the world possessed.

Rishi froze.

"Oh no."

Tanuja looked up, confused.
"Who is it?"

He shut his eyes.

"My mother... and Beeji."

Before Tanuja could react, Rishi opened the door — and immediately regretted it.

There stood Rano Bedi, arms crossed, glaring with the intensity of a seasoned interrogator.

Next to her stood Beeji, small, soft-eyed, and smiling like she already knew everyone's secrets.

"Finally!" Rano snapped, pushing past Rishi and marching inside. "I had to find out from Mrs. Mehra that my son GOT MARRIED?"

Beeji patted Rishi's cheek sweetly.
"Congratulations, puttar. You were not going to tell your Beeji?"

Tanuja stood up abruptly, cheeks flaming.
"Aunty... Beeji... namaste."

Beeji's eyes softened immediately.
"Oho, she's so polite! Such a nice girl, Rishi. Why did you hide her from us?"

Rano, meanwhile, scanned the house like a detective.

"No photos? No wedding cards? No preparations? Rishi Singh Bedi, what kind of marriage was this?!"

Tanuja swallowed nervously.
"W-we... had a simple ceremony."

"Simple?" Rano repeated dramatically. "No one gets married this simple! Not in THIS family!"

Beeji elbowed her lightly.
"Bas kar, Rano. Let them breathe."

Then Beeji turned to Tanuja with grandmotherly warmth.

"Come here, beta. Let me look at you properly."

Tanuja stepped closer shyly.

Beeji cupped her face.
"Pretty girl. Gentle eyes. This one will bring peace into this house."

Tanuja blinked, overwhelmed.

Rishi watched them — something soft and unfamiliar flickering in his eyes.

Then Rano noticed Tanuja wearing his sweater, slightly oversized on her.

Rano gasped dramatically.
"RISHI! Why is she wearing your clothes?!"

Tanuja nearly died of embarrassment.

Rishi cleared his throat.
"She was... cold."

Rano and Beeji exchanged a long, knowing look.

"Oh ho ho," Beeji said, chuckling, "so they are VERY newly married."

Rano narrowed her eyes.
"I want a proper wedding when she's feeling better. With rituals, guests, everything. This half-secret marriage won't do."

Rishi and Tanuja both stiffened.

"Mom, that's not—"

Beeji clapped her hands.
"Ho gaya! It's decided! We will do a proper griha pravesh. Rano, bring the thali."

Tanuja whispered urgently to Rishi,
"They want a REAL wedding?"

He whispered back, equally panicked,
"I know. I know. I'll handle it."

Beeji, overhearing, said sweetly,
"Beta, in our time, marriages were not 'handled.' They were lived."

Tanuja went silent.

Rishi rubbed his forehead.

Rano added sharply,
"And start behaving like a proper husband, Rishi. Help your wife. Speak nicely. Don't fight."

Rishi — the same man who had spent years fighting with Tanuja — looked genuinely offended.

"I DO speak nicely."

Tanuja coughed pointedly.

Rano glared at him.

Beeji smiled knowingly.

After They Leave

Once Rano and Beeji finally departed — promising to return with sweets, puja items, and "wedding planning" lists — the house fell silent again.

Rishi slumped onto the sofa.

Tanuja sank down beside him.

"They think we're... happily married," she said quietly.

"Yes," he sighed, rubbing his temples. "And Beeji won't stop until she gets her griha pravesh."

Tanuja shook her head.
"This contract marriage... it's getting complicated."

Rishi looked at her — really looked — for a moment longer than he should have.

Softly, he said,
"They liked you."

She looked at him, surprised.
"And?"

"And..." he hesitated, "I liked that they liked you."

Her breath caught.

It wasn't a confession.
But it wasn't nothing.

Something gentle stirred in the space between them.

Something that made both of them silently wonder:

What if this marriage... isn't just a contract anymore?

Chapter 6

Blood, Pain, and the Night Everything Changed

The night after their near-kiss was thick with unspoken tension.

Rishi avoided Tanuja's eyes.
Tanuja avoided walking too close to him.
Yet both kept glancing at each other when the other wasn't looking.

They were dancing around something inevitable.

But destiny had its own timing.

The Accident

It was late evening.
Rain had begun again, tapping softly against the windows.

Rishi climbed a small ladder near the storage room to fix a loose ceiling light.
Tanuja, chopping vegetables in the kitchen, called out:

"Rishi, be careful! That ladder looks—"

Before she could finish, the ladder shook violently.

Rishi slipped.

There was a loud crash.
A shout.
A thud.

"RISHI!"

Tanuja dropped everything and ran.

Her heart nearly stopped when she saw him—

On the floor.
Breathing hard.
A long, deep cut streaking across his forearm, dripping blood onto the tiles.

"Oh my God—Rishi!" she cried, dropping to her knees beside him.

He winced, trying to sit up.
"I'm okay. It's just—"

"It's not okay!" she snapped, voice trembling. "You're bleeding—badly!"

She grabbed a cloth, pressing it to his wound with shaking hands.

Rishi hissed in pain.
"Tanuja—slow, slow—"

"You should've asked me for help!" she said, voice breaking. "Why do you always overdo things?!"

"I didn't want to disturb you," he whispered.

"You ARE disturbing me!" she shouted, tears gathering. "By almost killing yourself!"

He looked at her—really looked—
at her fear, her trembling hands, her tear-filled eyes.

And he softened.

"Tanuja... I'm fine."

"You're not."

"I will be."

She pressed harder on the wound, trying to stop the blood.

He hissed again.
She flinched.

"Sorry—sorry—" she whispered.

"It's okay," he murmured, even through the pain.

She wrapped his arm carefully with bandages, breathing shakily.

Her hands were still on him when—

A sharp, piercing pain shot up her abdomen.

She gasped loudly.

Rishi's eyes widened.
"Tanuja?!"

She clutched her stomach, doubling over.

"It's—ah—Rishi—pain—"

Another contraction tore through her.

Rishi froze.
"Is it—? Is it—are you—?"

Her voice came out strangled.
"Labor. Rishi... I think it's labor."

His blood ran cold.

He tried to stand—
but the moment he put pressure on his injured arm, he collapsed back with a cry.

"Damn—!"

Tanuja whimpered, gripping the sofa.

"Rishi... we need... hospital..."

"I know," he breathed heavily. "Just—give me—just a second..."

But he couldn't push himself off the floor.

The ladder fall had done more damage than he realized —
his arm was bleeding again, and his head felt light.

Tanuja cried out in pain again.

"Rishi... it hurts—please—do something—"

He crawled toward her, teeth clenched in agony.

"I'm here... I'm here, Tanuja... just breathe..."

"I can't—!" she sobbed.

"You can," he whispered, voice shaking.

He tried again to stand —
and almost collapsed.

"Tch—damn it! My arm—"

The blood on his shirt grew darker.

Tanuja lifted her teary eyes to him.

"You're hurt—we can't go anywhere—"

The house suddenly felt too small.
Too quiet.
Too dangerous.

Rishi staggered to the door with sheer willpower and turned the knob—

Locked.

The storm had jammed the main door.

He kicked it.
Shoulder-pushed it.
Tried everything.

Nothing.

"NO—NO—NOT NOW!" he shouted, slamming his hand against it.

A bolt of pain shot up his injured arm, forcing him to clutch it, growling in agony.

Tanuja screamed from another contraction.

Rishi ran back to her—
half stumbling, half falling—
and caught her before she slipped from the sofa.

"Tanuja! Look at me," he whispered desperately. "Look at me."

She clung to him, shaking.
"Rishi... the twins... something's happening—please—help—"

He gathered her close, one arm bleeding, the other holding her tightly.

His voice broke completely.

"We're stuck," he whispered, forehead against hers. "But I won't let anything happen to you. I swear on my life, Tanuja... I won't let anything happen to you or the babies."

Tears streamed down her face as another contraction hit.

She screamed into his shoulder.

He held her through the pain, trembling himself.

Blood dripping from his arm.
Tanuja crying in agony.
Both trapped.
No escape.
No help.
No time.

And in that terrifying moment—
Rishi realised something with the force of a punch:

He didn't just care about her.

He loved her.

-------

To be continued.

Chapter 6 (With Their Realisation of Love)

Rishi held her through the next contraction, his injured arm shaking, breath ragged, blood dripping onto the floor.
Tanuja clutched his shirt, crying into his shoulder, her whole body trembling.

The storm howled outside.

Their pain filled the inside.

And then—
in the middle of the chaos—
their eyes met.

Raw.
Terrified.
Bare.

Tanuja's voice cracked.
"Rishi... I don't want to die..."

His heart shattered.
"You won't," he whispered fiercely, cupping her face with his uninjured hand. "You won't. I won't let anything happen to you. I swear."

Another contraction hit, making her arch in pain.

He held her tighter.
"Breathe, Tanuja... breathe with me... don't leave me—please don't leave me."

The desperation in his voice made her freeze.

He didn't even notice what he'd said.

She did.

"Don't... leave you?" she whispered through tears, voice trembling.

Rishi's eyes glistened.

He couldn't hide anymore.
Not from the pain.
Not from fate.
Not from her.

"Tanuja..." he breathed, "...I can't lose you. Not you. Not ever."

Her heart hammered.

In the middle of labor...
in the middle of fear...
in the middle of a storm trapping them inside...

Her truth burst out of her.

"Rishi... I love you."

He froze—
as if lightning had struck directly through him.

His hand shook as he cupped her cheek again, staring at her like she was the only thing keeping him alive.

"Tanuja..." his voice was barely a whisper, "...I love you too."

She sobbed — not from pain this time, but from relief.

Through pain and blood and fear, she leaned forward and pressed her forehead to his.

They held each other like the world was ending.
Like nothing else existed.
Like they had waited lifetimes for this moment.

As another contraction tore through her, Rishi held her tighter, whispering into her hair—

"I'm with you. Always. I'm not going anywhere. I love you."

Tanuja cried into his chest—

"Don't leave me... please don't leave me—"

"Never," he whispered. "Not in this life. Not in any life."

Surrounded by blood, pain, and storm-light—

Two hearts finally admitted what fate had been trying to tell them from the beginning:

They belonged to each other.
Completely.
Irreversibly.
Forever.

The Night Their Lives Changed Forever

Pain ripped through Tanuja again, making her scream, clutching Rishi's shoulders with all her strength.

"Tanuja—breathe, breathe—" Rishi whispered desperately, though he was shaking harder than she was.

"I—I can't—Rishi it's too much—!"

"I'm here," he said, brushing her hair back, kissing her forehead without even realising. "I'm here, Tanuja. I won't leave you. Ever."

Another contraction hit.

She nearly collapsed.

Rishi looked at the locked door, then at Tanuja, then at his bleeding arm.

No help was coming.

It was only them.

"Rishi... the babies... they're coming..." she cried, voice breaking.

He froze, terrified.

"Tanuja... I don't know how—"

"You have to," she sobbed. "Please... please don't let me or the babies die."

His heart cracked so loudly it felt physical.

He cupped her face with trembling hands.
"You're not dying. Not tonight. Not ever. I love you too damn much."

"I love you too," she whispered, tears streaming. "Don't let go of me..."

"Never," he whispered fiercely, kissing her knuckles. "Never."

Rishi... Delivering His Own Children

He gathered every ounce of courage he had left.

Hands shaking.
Vision blurry.
Arm bleeding.
But heart steady.

He spread blankets on the floor and helped her lie down.

"Tanuja... when I say push, you push, okay? I'm right here. I'm holding you. We're doing this together."

She nodded weakly, gripping his uninjured hand like it was life itself.

Lightning flashed.
Thunder roared.

And Rishi guided her through the pain, whispering encouragements, love, reassurance...

"Breathe with me... that's it... I'm here... you're so strong..."

"Rishi—ahh—Rishiii—it hurts—!"

"I know, sweetheart—I know—it's okay—keep going—"

He didn't even realise he'd called her sweetheart.

And she didn't flinch at all.

She needed him.
He needed her.
This was their moment.

The Terrifying Moment

Halfway through, Tanuja suddenly went limp.

Her head fell to the side.

"TANUJA!" Rishi screamed, shaking her gently. "Tanuja, open your eyes! Please—please—!"

Her breathing was shallow.
Her skin cold.

"I'm losing her," he whispered, horror flooding his voice. "No, no, no—Tanuja, don't leave me—don't you dare—"

His tears fell onto her face as he held her close.

"I love you," he cried. "I haven't even lived one day with you as mine—don't take this away from me—please—please come back—"

She stirred weakly at his voice.

"Rishi...?" she whispered.

He sobbed out loud.
"Yes—yes, I'm here—don't you ever scare me like that—please—"

She touched his cheek with trembling fingers.
"I'm not going anywhere. Not without you."

He kissed her forehead.
Her eyelids fluttered open.

She looked at him with a strength that surprised even him.
"Rishi... let's bring our babies into this world."

His heart broke and healed in the same second.

"Yes," he whispered. "Together."

The First Twin Arrives

Another scream tore through her.

"Tanuja—push—now!"

She pushed with everything she had left.

"I see the baby—keep going—don't stop—!"

With one last cry—

The first baby entered the world.

A tiny, perfect cry echoed in the room.

They both sobbed.

Rishi held the baby with shaking hands, wrapped in a towel.

"Tanuja..." he whispered, voice breaking, "it's a girl."

A daughter.
Just like he said he wanted.

Tanuja burst into weak, joyful tears.

"Let me—let me see her—"

He lay the baby gently on Tanuja's chest.
The little girl whimpered, then nuzzled close to her mother's warmth.

Tanuja cried harder.

"She's beautiful," Rishi whispered, touching the baby's cheek with reverence.

"Just like her father," Tanuja whispered.

Rishi looked at her — and knew he would die for these two.

The Second Twin Arrives

Minutes later, another contraction hit.

Tanuja screamed.

"She's not alone," Rishi whispered, kissing her forehead. "I'm here. The baby's coming."

He guided her again.

"Push, sweetheart—just once more—"

"Rishi—hold me—please—!"

He held her up with his good arm.

And with one final cry—

The second baby arrived.

A boy.

He cried loudly, strong, full of life.

Rishi let out a broken laugh-sob.
"A boy, Tanuja. A perfect boy."

Two children.
Two heartbeats.
Two pieces of their souls.

He placed the boy gently next to his sister.

Tanuja kissed their foreheads, crying freely.

"We did it," she whispered.

"No," Rishi corrected, voice soft, awed.
"You did it. You... you saved our children."

She shook her head, exhausted.
"We saved each other."

Help Finally Arrives

Just then—a loud bang.

Neighbours, worried by the shouting, had broken the jammed door open.

Rano screamed.
"RISHI! TANUJA! OH GOD—THE BABIES—!"

Beeji burst into tears.
"Haye Rabba! Twins! Pure blessings!"

Doctors rushed in behind them.

But Rishi didn't care about any of them.

He was holding Tanuja's hand.

And he refused to let go.

Even when the doctor told him to move—
he didn't.

Even when they took the babies to check—
he held her hand tighter.

Even when they bandaged his arm—
he held her hand tighter.

Even when she drifted into exhausted sleep—
he held her hand tighter.

Rano whispered to Beeji,

"Look at them... he won't let go."

Beeji smiled knowingly.

"That's because he finally found the love he lost... and the love he never knew he needed."

Rishi's Promise

As the chaos settled and the babies slept beside their mother, Rishi sat next to Tanuja, brushing her hair gently.

He whispered into the quiet—

"I'm never leaving you. Not in this life. Not in any. You're mine, Tanuja. And these babies... they're our world now."

He kissed her forehead softly.

"I love you."

Her fingers twitched weakly in his.

Even asleep, she held onto him.

And he held on right back.

-------

To be continued.

Chapter 7 (A Family Is Born)

Tanuja woke slowly, peacefully.

For the first time in hours—maybe days—she felt no fear. No pain.
Only warmth.

The hospital room was quiet.
Soft sunlight filtered through the curtains.

And on the chair beside her—

Rishi sat slumped forward, completely exhausted, her hand locked tightly in his.

His head rested near her arm as if he hadn't slept in ages.

As if he didn't dare sleep unless he knew she was breathing.

Tanuja's eyes softened.
She gently brushed his hair back.

Rishi jolted awake instantly.

"Tanuja! You're awake—" he half-shouted, half-whispered.

She smiled faintly.
"I'm okay."

His eyes filled—instantly, uncontrollably.

"Tanuja... I... I thought I was going to lose you."

She reached up and touched his cheek.

"You didn't. I'm right here."

He leaned into her palm like a man starved for comfort.

And then—
the nurse entered, pushing a small crib.

Actually—
two.

"Your children are here," she said warmly.

Tanuja's breath caught.
Rishi went still.

Two tiny, perfect babies lay inside—
one wrapped in pink,
one in blue.

Tanuja burst into tears instantly.

"My babies..." she whispered, hands trembling as the nurse placed the little girl onto her chest.

The boy was placed gently into Rishi's arms.

Rishi stared at him, stunned, emotional beyond words.

"He's so small..." he whispered.

The nurse laughed softly.
"They always are on the first day."

Rishi looked between the baby boy and Tanuja, overwhelmed.

"This... this is real," he whispered.
"We're parents."

Tanuja nodded, tears streaming.
"Yes. We are."

The boy suddenly curled his fingers around Rishi's thumb.

Rishi choked on a quiet sob.

"That's it," he whispered brokenly, "I'm gone. I'm completely gone for these two."

Tanuja laughed through tears.

They Talk About Their Future

Hours later, when both babies were asleep beside them, Rishi took Tanuja's hand.

The same hand he refused to let go during the entire ordeal.

"We need to talk about us," he said softly.

She nodded.

He continued, voice trembling, but steady:

"The contract... the plan... the idea of taking one baby each... all of that is gone. Forever. We're not doing any of that."

Tanuja's throat tightened.
"I know."

"I'm not letting you raise them alone," he said. "You're not leaving. I'm not leaving."

He took a breath.
A deep, emotional, life-changing breath.

"Tanuja... after everything that happened... I can't imagine a life without you."

Tanuja's eyes filled.

"I love you, Rishi."

He closed his eyes, tears falling.

"I love you too. More than I've ever loved anyone in my life."

And then he said the words she never expected to hear again—

"Marry me. Not for the babies. Not for reputation.
Marry me because I love you.
Marry me because I can't live without you."

Tanuja cupped his face.

"Rishi Singh Bedi... yes. A thousand times yes."

A Wedding Filled With Love

Two months later—

The Bedi Mansion glowed brighter than it had in years.

Fairy lights wrapped around every pillar.
Marigolds hung across the courtyard.
Laughter echoed through the rooms.

Because today...

Rishi and Tanuja were getting officially married.

Not by contract.
Not because of circumstance.
But because they loved each other — deeply, fiercely, unquestionably.

The Neighbors — Full Drama Mode

Rishi stepped out into the decorated courtyard to greet the early guests.

The moment gossip queen Mrs. Mehra saw him, she marched straight over and declared loudly:

"I knew you two were in love from the beginning!"

Rishi muttered,
"She definitely didn't."

But Mrs. Mehra wasn't alone.

Mr. Sharma (the retired colonel)

Stood with hands on hips, booming:

"Bohot badhiya! Finally this boy brought home a dulhan. A proud moment for society!"

Mrs. Kapoor (the self-declared matchmaker)

Whispering loudly to every aunty around:

"Maine toh pehle din se samajh liya tha. Chemistry toh dekho dono ki! Haye rabba!"

Then under her breath:

"And thank God he married this nice girl. I was worried he'd pick someone strange."

Mr. & Mrs. Khanna (newlyweds)

Mrs. Khanna whispered, "Look how sweet they look together."
Mr. Khanna nudged her, "Maybe our twins will be this cute."
She blushed. "Slow down, hero!"

Little Chintu from next door

Ran up tugging Rishi's sherwani.

"Uncle! Uncle! Will your babies play football with me?"

Rishi laughed, picking him up with his good arm.
"Of course! They'll be champions."

Ladies' Club Aunties

Standing in a circle, fanning themselves dramatically:

"Dekho dekho! First they acted like enemies... ab dekho! Rab ne jo milana ho, woh mil hi jaate hain."
"Sach mein! Iss mohalla ka sabse filmy joda."

Neighborhood Teenagers

Filming the decorations:

"This is better than any TV serial," one whispered.
"Season 2 kab aa raha hai?" another joked.

The entire mohalla was buzzing—
the Bedi home felt alive again.

Lights, laughter, and love wrapped the house in a soft glow.

The Family Arrives

Inside, the Bedi family gathered around the mandap area.

Beeji

Wiping tears repeatedly:
"Rabb ne meri dua sun li... finally my Rishi found happiness again."

Rano

Hovering around the preparations:
"Beta, make sure Tanuja has water ready! The babies must be comfortable."

Raj Singh Bedi

Placing a hand on Tanuja's bridal seat as preparations continued:
"Welcome to the family, beta. You've given our home laughter again."

Manpreet (the drama king)

Pretending to faint every ten minutes:
"My bhai is getting married AGAIN! Someone catch me!"

Beeji smacked him.
"Pagal ladka, bohot khush ho raha hai."

Yuvraj

Throwing an arm around Rishi before he walked to the mandap:
"Final call, bhai. No running now. You love her."

Rishi rolled his eyes...
but his smile gave him away.

The Wedding Ceremony

Rishi stood at the mandap, more nervous than he had ever been during a football final.

Then—

The music changed.

Everyone turned.

And Tanuja appeared, dressed in a soft pink saree, glowing with new motherhood, holding their baby girl.

Behind her, a cousin carried the baby boy, happily gurgling.

Rishi forgot how to breathe.

His eyes filled.

"My whole world is walking toward me," he whispered.

Tanuja sat beside him.
Their twins were placed between them — tiny witnesses to their parents' forever vow.

As the pandit chanted mantras,
as the sacred fire burned,
as their families watched—

Rishi took Tanuja's hand.
No hesitation.
No fear.
No distance.

Just love.
Just destiny.
Just them.

They completed the pheras, their babies sleeping peacefully nearby.

The final vow echoed in the warm air:

"Kasam zindagi bhar saath nibhane ki."

Rishi tied the mangalsutra around her neck.
Her eyes filled with emotion.

He kissed her forehead softly.

"We're a real family now," he whispered.

Tanuja leaned against him.
"Always were. Always will be."

They held each other's hands—
and for the first time in their lives,
neither felt alone.

The crowd cheered.
Beeji sobbed proudly.
Rano blessed them.
The twins woke up crying—perfect timing.

Rishi laughed, lifting both babies into his arms.

"Tanuja," he said, heart overflowing, "welcome home."

She whispered back,

"Rishi... thank you for giving me a home."

Together—
with their two beautiful children—
they stepped out of the mandap as husband and wife.

Not by contract.
Not by accident.
Not by fate alone.

But by love.

Pure, powerful, forever love.

The entire mohalla was celebrating —
because for the first time in years,
the Bedi house felt alive again.

Lights, laughter, love —
and the little cries of newborn twins —
wrapped the home in a magic that no one could ignore.

And at the center of it all—

Rishi and Tanuja,
holding hands,
looking at each other with a love as undeniable as destiny itself.

------

The End.