Author's Note: Guys, you surprise me time and time again! Just when I thought I had about 70 likes, the last chapter gained over that! WOW. Seriously, I can't believe it. So many people are reading this? OKAY. I want everyone who reads this chapter to comment with "Strawberry Shortcake" Okay? Do it, otherwise! 😆 Part of this was written around Christmas so you may see some sections linked to that. Anyway enjoy!
SerendipityChapter Twenty-Seven
"What's wrong with you guys?" Virat asked confused as Viren and Jeevika pulled him into the car. They didn't speak until they were inside, Viren driving and Jeevika next to him. "Er, hello?" He waved at the rear mirror, but got no response. He sighed. "Will someone please tell me what is going on?"
Jeevika looked at her husband, her heart yearning to speak to her devar. Viren sighed, knowing that Jeevika wasn't one to lie and that the more agitated she gets, the more she will say what's on her mind. He closed his eyes, and then opening them indicating to her to talk. She smiled, slowly nodding before peering to her right to see Virat sighing, his face in his hands.
"We're going to Maanvi's house." She said with a smile.
The younger Vadhera looked up, his eyes brightening up as he finally heard someone else other than him speak. "Even I know that..." He replied. He shook his head, clearing his mind. "I mean, why are you guys in such a hurry? The conference isn't till this evening, we have hours left." He watched as the scenery changed, the car driving past the dozen of trees.
Jeevika tried to speak but was stopped by Viren's silent expression. She cleared her throat before turning behind. "Urm," She hesitated, wanting to make sure that he doesn't find out what they were up to. "The thing is, Dadaji said that we'll be late right?" She made up her excuse on the spot, in pure nervousness. She watched as Viren gestured her to go on. "A-And the thing is V-Virat..." She bit her lip, her face becoming red from the nervousness.
Virat waited for her response, somewhat sure that there was something wrong. Viren looked in the mirror to see Virat in deep thought. "Urm, Virat?" He looked up. "The thing is, we were missing Maanvi and thought the quicker she is with us, the better right?" Jeevika nodded, hiding her nervous face.
Virat scrunched his face, not exactly believing his brother. "Okay..." He replied.
"Yes!" Jeevika exclaimed. "We were missing Maanvi so much."
"Exactly!" Viren said. He cleared his throat before looking up at Virat's reflection. "Weren't you missing Maanvi too?" Virat looked straight up at the mention of her name. "I mean, you know seeing as you haven't seen her for one night." Viren gave out a slight laugh as Jeevika softly hit him. "What?" Viren asked Jeevika, trying to hide his smile. "Do you remember your pagphera? God, I had to wait a week until I saw you, Virat is lucky that he only has to wait a night. Right, Virat?"
The Prince was lost in deep thought, remembering their moment last night and how he had told Maanvi everything about his life: about Maya, about the baby, everything. It was something he wanted to forget, but something that he'll never will be able to because those moments were a thing of his past and always will be.
"Virat?" Viren asked.
He looked up, getting out of his thoughts. "Hm?"
"I said that you were lucky that you only have to wait one night for Maanvi right?"
He looked up, replying a "Yeah" before sitting in silence. Jeevika and Viren looked at each other confused before shrugging and driving off. He looked out of the window, deep in thoughts about meeting Maanvi. He felt somewhat lighter. As if he had just gotten rid of everything bad in his life. He smiled thinking that finally he was able to meet her. One night without her was just too much.
The Beeping sound of Shiv's mobile alerted him as he quickly checked the text he received. We're there in 30 minutes. He read out in his mind. Shiv peered to his right where Maanvi sat with her parents, talking and laughing. He wondered just how to commence. He bit his lip before ruffling his hair, and got up from the seat.
"Maanvi?" He stood besides her as she gave him a look. "Come on..." She was about to say something before he picked her up by the arm and pulled her towards him.
"Shiv? What...What are you doing?" She looked at him totally confused. What was going on? She thought. She looked behind at her parents who simply shrugged their shoulders as Shiv took her into her room. "Shiv?" She asked as he opened the door to her wardrobe and fiddled through the remaining clothes. "Urm...Hello?" She waved in front of his face, who didn't react.
She scratched her head as he picked out a light blue suit, one she had forgotten to pack and smiled. He liked this dress. The light blue complimented her tone and her petite body. He pulled it out of the hanger and turned down, placing it in her hand. "Wear this." He commanded her.
Maanvi looked down at her covered hands before shaking her head. "Why?"
"Because, I told you so." He simply stated. Though he wasn't one for keeping secrets, he had to do anything to make Maanvi listen to him and in such a way that Jeevika and Viren's plan works.
Maanvi widened her eyes as Shiv left the room. "What is going on?" She told herself. "Shiv never kept any secrets from me, so why today?" She stroked her chin, tapping her finger in deep thought. "Something is wrong, Shiv is seriously up to something." She looked at the dress. "But to find that out, I need to do what he says."
Shiv gulped as he walked into the living room, his hands inside his pocket. He whistled nonchalantly as Beeji looked at him strangely. "Shiv?" She asked with a peculiar tone. "Is everything alright? The way you took Maanvi from here..."
He let out a nervous laugh wondering whether he should tell her. "Er, Beeji..." He started to say. "Beeji..." She gestured to him to go on. "Woh, actually Viren and Jeevika are coming here with Virat. To get Maanvi."
"What? They're coming here? Now?" She became nervous knowing that the house wasn't fit enough for Maanvi's sasural to come over.
"Actually, I just found out now that's why I told Maanvi to get ready, er but I didn't tell her why." He trailed off.
"That bits fine but we should have had some notice, after all nothing is in the house and everything is all messy." Her heart started to beat faster and faster.
Madan, who noticed that his mother was distressed became concerned. "What happened, Ma?" Shiv told him about the Vadhera's coming and Madan too became worried that nothing was ready to send his daughter off.
Shiv tried to calm them down. "Beeji, Chachu don't worry. They don't care about that and besides they'll come and go."
"Come and go?" Madan asked. "Meaning? Won't they stay for a bit?"
Shiv shook his head. "No, actually I learnt that today is going to be the conference." Beeji gave him a look to show him that she was confused. "As in the first time Maanvi will be introduced as the Vadhera's younger bahu. So that's why they are in a hurry." He said nervously. It wasn't the whole truth but the half truth, yes there was going to be a conference but much later in the day, right now there was something more important: Mission Get together.
Beeji nodded. "Fine, we'll wait for them to come." She gave him a smile to hide her apprehension.
Maanvi looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. She liked this dress. It suited her well and she'd always felt comfortable in it. It was one of those dresses that she just felt...lucky in it. Her heart began to get warmer, her instinct saying that today was going to be one of her lucky days. She blushed thinking that Virat was going to take her any time today, she couldn't stop thinking about how she had spent the whole night with him just talking. She didn't even known when they had fallen asleep on the old bench. As if on cue she yawned as she brushed her hair straight.
Her mind began to wander off to Virat. She wondered what was up with Shiv only to stop. "Wait, Is Virat coming now?" Her heart began to flutter as she said his name. She shook her head. "No, no. Virat can't come now, Shiv must have been acting like that for nothing."
She thought about Shiv on the phone before, "Mission Get together." He had said. She wondered what that was about. "Was that really about Shiv's friend? Or something else?" She frowned. "What is happening?"
The car pulled up to the drive way as Viren parked. Virat was still deep in thoughts and hadn't realised that they were at the destination until Jeevika opened the car door. She smiled as he got out, looking at the surroundings. His eyes stopped at the big oak tree, the same tree he had been climbing up to get to Maanvi. He smiled, thinking about how earlier he had tried to hide from Maanvi's mother.
"Why are you smiling, devarji?" Jeevika teased. She looked at the tree. "This is a tree."
He shook his head, trying to get Maanvi out of his head. "Nothing." He spoke, he looked at her nervously. "I was just thinking...nice tree." He walked away leaving Jeevika dumbfounded. She looked at the tree but couldn't understand what Virat was talking about. She shook the thought off and walked away.
The door opened and Beeji, Madan and Pinky all welcomed the younger Vadhera's in. "Welcome, it's nice to see you again." Pinky said in her usual excited self.
Jeevika hugged both Pinky and Beeji as they all went inside the living room. Virat hesitated to look at Madan, especially since Madan didn't like Virat. He tried to look away, unable to say anything to his father-in-law.
Madan thought about Maanvi and how her happiness was linked to Virat's. He let his ego aside and placed his hand over Virat's head. "I think the last time I forgot to bless you, so I'm doing it now." Virat watched in shock to see Madan smiling at him. "Forgive me." Virat shook his head.
"Uncle?" He hissed. "I mean, Papa. Don't embarrass me by asking for forgiveness. If anything I should be the one to-"
"No, No." Madan interrupted. "I'm happy that my daughter has found someone who will give her happiness, and who will love her." He smiled.
Virat smiled back thinking about the last line. "Who will love her." He thought about those four words carefully: could he love her? He just didn't know. There was only one person who he had loved, or so he thought. Did he really know what love was?
Viren and Jeevika's eyes glistened as they noticed Shiv enter the room. Virat noticed their strange interaction and was about to say something when Maanvi entered. It was as if the world had stopped in motion. He looked at her, mouth slightly open, staring into her beautiful eyes.
Sure she was beautiful, but there was something about today that made her even more beautiful than ever. If that even makes any sense. He stared at how her hair seemed like it was softly dancing against the breeze coming through, how her lips were even more red and plump than usual. He looked into her eyes, it was as brown as ever. Yes, Maanvi had never looked this beautiful. He felt his heart begin to spin, all he wanted to do was to hold her, to hug her. He wondered why he felt this way, after all he did just see her a couple of hours ago. Did he really miss her that much?
Viren coughed trying to mask his smile at Virat's obvious gawking. "Mere bhai, close your mouth and stop drooling." He whispered.
Virat shook his head and looked away as Maanvi stood near Shiv. He couldn't help but take subtle glances at her.
"Shiv?" Maanvi whispered to her friend. "Idiot, you never told me that Virat was coming here."
Shiv gulped. "Actually everything happened so quickly that I didn't know whether to tell you or not." She gave him a not impressed look. "And besides, If I told you that your husband was coming to get you, you would have taken five hours to get ready." He teased.
Maanvi pinched him, whilst Shiv let out a hiss. The others looked at them but they covered their tracks by putting a false smile. Once she was sure that they were safe, Maanvi whispered, "Fool, I'm not like most girls so I wouldn't take five hours to get ready for my husband."
"So you would take about three right?" He smirked.
"Even if I do, what is your problem? My husband, so I can do whatever I want."
Shiv looked at her, smirking. "But Maanvi I am your half-husband right? You don't get this dressed up for me." He made a sad face as Maanvi rolled her eyes.
"You need to be special enough."
"Oh, so you mean Virat is special?" He said with an awe. "Shame, I thought I was your special one."
"Your spot has been taken." She answered back.
Beeji looked at Shiv and Maanvi confused. "What are you two talking about?" She asked as Jeevika stopped her conversation with Pinky and the Vadhera brothers with Madan.
"Actually Beeji Maanvi was just saying that-"
"Nothing!" Maanvi interrupted, pinching Shiv away from the other's eyes.
He quickly rubbed his arm. "Nothing." He replied looking back at Beeji. Once safe, Shiv turned to Maanvi and whispered, "Quit pinching me."
"Then quit annoying me." Maanvi whispered back.
Viren cleared his throat as he stood up. "I think we must go now, it's getting quite late." Jeevika nodded as she too stood up next to him.
"For the conference right?" Madan asked.
Viren and Jeevika looked at each other before nodding a "yes". Maanvi hugged her family members as Shiv placed her suitcase in Viren's car. She waved them a goodbye, everyone almost teary eyed to say goodbye again. She sighed as she sat inside, waving a final goodbye to her parents before sitting in silence. She didn't want to go through this pain again. Virat looked at her in sadness, knowing that she was hurt at having to yet again say goodbye to her parents, which child would want this? He gave her a slight smile, telling her that he was there for her. He wanted to say much more but he couldn't, after all it wasn't the time and place. He watched her whimper, and sniff in quietness as Viren drove on. He didn't know what to say, he was really good with emotions. After all, he did hide all his troubles from his family. He watched her before without thinking placed his hand on hers. Instantly she looked into his eyes and stared at him. She felt so much better knowing that he was always going to be here with her. She muttered a quiet thanks as she looked out of the window.
Jeevika smiled knowing that phase one of their plan was complete. It had been their plan to get Virat and Maanvi together, to break down their barrier. She knew it was difficult to a newly wedded couple who didn't know each other before to find a common breaking ground. She smiled knowing this would be the perfect ice breaker after all when she and Viren had gotten married she too was nervous but it helped that Viren was always with her and that they had known each other before. She could only wonder what it was like for Maanvi and Virat.
Viren drove on, taking a longer route to where they were headed. As the car slowed down near a traffic light, he flicked his phone to see that he had gotten a text from Shiv. "All sorted." He read out. He smiled gesturing to Jeevika that all was sorted. She nodded as he drove along the road reaching the highway where there was a small school situated near the corner.
Maanvi looked outside confused, "This is the school where Shiv and I sometimes help out at." She spoke. "Why have you stopped here?"
Virat looked out confused as Viren replied. "Because we have a surprise for both of you."
Jeevika smiled as they got out to see Shiv coming out with the children. Maanvi couldn't help but smile as the children ran towards her saying "Maanvi Di!"
"Punters? You lot? How did you know I was coming here?" She spoke, kneeling down.
"Maanvi Di, it was all a surprise." One of them said.
"What?" She asked as they led her inside with the other's following.
She stood in awe as the small school was decorated flawlessly with balloons and coloured decorations. On the side was a large cake with Maanvi and Virat's name on in. She looked at it confused before asking Jeevika what this was all about.
"Did you honestly think that you would get married and there would be no celebrations?" Jeevika laughed.
Viren nudged his brother who wore the same expression as Maanvi did. "Kyuu bhai? Did you like the surprise?"
Virat laughed a little, slightly confused but slightly happy to see everyone smiling. He didn't know what to think. He didn't know what to say. "Bhai? All this?" He watched Maanvi talking to the children and smiled. He noticed that she looked even more beautiful now than she did.
Viren noticed Virat's look as he cleared his throat. "Do you like what you see?"
Virat looked away, embarrassed. "Bhai, what are you..." He blushed as the older Vadhera brother laughed.
"I was talking about the party you know, not about Maanvi." He laughed walking back to his wife leaving Virat in deep thoughts.
Everything he thought about reminded him of Maanvi, whether she was with him or not. Even the things that people say reminded him of her. It was as if she had a strong hold over his life, as if in just a few days she became the most important person in his life. Did he mind it? He didn't know.
"Shiv?" Maanvi said as her friend came in front of her. "You were planning this and you never said a thing? So that's why you were in a hurry earlier."
Shiv nodded. "Guilty as charged." He laughed, standing besides her. "I couldn't let my friend get married without a party, I mean come on!"
She laughed, placing her head on his shoulder. "Thank you." She spoke. He smiled, knowing that she was content in her life, he knew that getting her married to Virat was one of the best decisions he made. She held her head off before thinking about what he was saying earlier. "Shiv? What is Mission Get together?"
He coughed, he hadn't expected her to remember that. "Mission Get together?" He asked, trying to think of something. "It was...It was this! You know Mission getting all this together?" He gave a nervous laugh and tried to get away but Maanvi wasn't convinced. He didn't want to say that he did all this so that Maanvi and Virat could get together. Suddenly, he noticed Virat walking towards them and pulled him towards Maanvi. "Happy partying!" He spoke swiftly before leaving them close to each other.
Maanvi tried to protest but everything left her mind as she felt Virat's arm brush along her hand as Shiv pushed him towards her. She blushed, looking away her fingers starting to tingle.
"Urm.." They both spoke at once before both laughing nervously.
"You start." He spoke with a smile.
Maanvi looked away, not knowing what to say. "Did you...Did you know about this?" She asked.
"No." He replied. She felt her heart sink, as if she felt bad but didn't know why. Virat noticed her dull expression before replying, "I mean, I just found out about it now. I guess bhai and Bhabhi did a good job in hiding it."
"Shiv too." She smiled.
They stood in silence, not knowing what to say. When one of them tried to say something, something always happened that made them not say. They were nervous because they had lots to say but nothing that would be right for now. He was dying to thank her again for listening to his troubles and she was dying to speak to him, but just not now. Because they weren't alone.
Jeevika noticed the newly married couple in a subtle conversation, she smiled as she pulled Viren and walked towards them.
"Finally, you too are talking!" She chirped.
"Meaning?" Virat asked. "When did we not talk before?"
"Virat, Jeevika means that before you too were just married people now you are friends I mean getting there." Viren replied. At that moment, Shiv arrived into the conversation.
Maanvi and Virat looked at each other confused. "This party idea is great, at least now Virat and Maanvi can become friends now." Shiv spoke.
The new couple couldn't help but smile, as they fell into a slight giggle fit. The others looked at them confused. "Did something happen?" Viren asked.
"Bhai, when did I say that me and Maanvi weren't talking? I mean friends, whatever." Virat asked.
"I know you didn't exactly but we just thought..." Viren tried to reply.
Maanvi laughed again. "Don't worry, nothing such as happened. Virat and I are friends. We do talk, I don't know why you thought otherwise."
"Meaning we went through all this to get you too to talk to each other when we didn't need to?" Viren replied astonished.
Maanvi and Virat nodded as they laughed again. At this point, Jeevika couldn't help but blush at their foolishness as they all shook their head.
"Maanvi di! Look, it's snowing!" One of the punters ran towards her and pulled her along outside.
She gasped, watching the soft snowflakes fall onto the ground. She hadn't seen snow like this in Chandrilasia before. She loved it. It was slightly chilly as she rubbed her arms. Without a second thought, Virat took off his jacket and placed it over her, comforting her against the slight cold. She smiled in appreciation as they watched the snow fall.
"It's strange don't you think?" He asked her. "I've been in Chandrilasia for years and I've never seen it snow like this before."
She giggled. "There's a first time for everything."
He smiled, watching her hold her hand out and wait for the snow to fall onto her skin. "Yes, I guess there is a first time for everything."
The others watched them, everyone in awe. "We've been trying to get them to talk to each other and they've been okay since who knows." Viren spoke. "Looks like no matter whether we do anything or not, those two will always find their way closer. And who knows, maybe they might just fall in love?"
"Whose to say they aren't already in love?" Jeevika replied.
"Whichever it is, those two will always be together. Whether this world allows it or not, their destiny are written in the stars and they'll always be together."
Always.
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