The moon started to shine bright. Both the families sat inside the hall, the warmth of talks and comfort filling up their senses. Their small talk continued, while their eyes fixed on Abhiraj and Maanvi, now sat side by side on the large couch. Their hands loosely intervene with each other, not bothering about their family sitting across them.

“Well, since your secret has been spilt out… why don’t you guys tell us about your first meet?” Vikrant started, his gaze soft as he looked at his son quietly comforting Maanvi.

Abhiraj looked at Maanvi, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

“Come on bhaiya now spill it to them too.” Sid grinned as every eye turned towards him.

“You knew?” Nandani's brow furrowed in confusion.

Sid bt his lips and sheepishly smiled at his mother before hiding his face behind the pillow.

“Not just me. Adi, Anu, Varun bhaiya and Vidhi bhabhi too know.” he spilt the beans.

Elders gasped at his confession and angrily looked at their respective children, while they looked down glaring at Sid from the side.

“Oh my god, it means just we elders didn’t know this.” Meera gasped.

Abhiraj and Maanvi chuckled at their reaction and looked at them.

“Don’t scold them, we took a promise from them to hide it,” Abhiraj added.

Elders sighed at his answers and focused back on Abhiraj, wanting to hear his side of the story. Abhiraj exhaled, his eyes turning towards Maanvi softening on the instant.

“I met her in college, 3 years ago and soon enough we started working together for a college event. We became quite close friends during that event, and slowly fell in love.” Abhiraj narrated, his eyes never leaving Maanvi, not even for a second.

Elders exchanged looks with each other. Their eyes shone, while their faces softened as they watched the unspoken connection between their children. Arjun eyes travelled towards the couple as he stood up and went towards them. His hands slowly went towards his neck, quickly unbuckling the gold chain. He looked at Vikrant for a moment and as soon he got his signal, he placed the chain in Maanvi’s hand.

“Uncle this” Maanvi tried to deny but was instantly shushed by him.

“This is Abhiraj's grandmother’s chain. It’s her blessing.” Arjun said placing his hand over her head blessing her.

Maanvi’s eyes widened, while her lips parted in surprise.

“You are part of our family now Maanvi. This belongs to you now.” Arjun gently told her and went back towards his place not before blessing Abhiraj too.

Maanvi accepted it with a smile and looked at Abhiraj. His eyes filled with love as a small smile covered his lips. But their eye was not long as the family started the conversation once again. Their eyes turned towards Vikrant who now stood in front of Rajat smiling at him.

“Rajat, I have watched my son grow, from a carefree boy to a responsible man. But never in my life have I seen him look at someone the way he looks at Maanvi, with so much love and care that wasn’t there before. She isn’t just someone he loves. She is his strength, his reason to become a better man.” Vikrant gaze slowly shifting from Rajat to Abhiraj and Maanvi.

For a moment everyone was shocked by his sudden change in tone, but as soon as his words progressed there felt an unknown emotion building up within them. Abhiraj’s throat tightened as Maanvi’s hand gripped around him, grounding him.

Vikrant stepped closer, his hands clasping together in respect as he looked up at Rajat with hopeful eyes.

“As his father, all I want is his happiness and his happiness is Maanvi. So today, I stand before you to ask for her hand in marriage because they both deserve each other. Two souls who have found their homes in one another. I have seen the way she looks at him, with the same love, the same devotion. And I know, without a doubt, that with each other they will find a lifetime of love, respect and immense support.

So, with all my heart, I want to ask. Will you bless this union and allow them to build a future together?”

A heavy silence settled inside the room. Maanvi’s heart beating fast, his eyes settling on Abhiraj, who was already looking at her with all his love. An automatic smile made its way to her lips as she blinked at him, conveying she was ready for everything.

While here Rajat stood up in an instant, his hands resting on Vikrant’s shoulders while the other one slowly lowered his folded hands, showing his respect for him. His eyes softened with each passing minute, as soon landed on Abhiraj and Maanvi, who were now looking at each other.

“Abhiraj” Rajat’s voice echoed around the room, making Abhiraj’s neck snap towards him.

“Ji uncle” Abhiraj asked not sure what he was up to.

“Come here” His gaze was sharp, while his voice was calm but firm.

Abhiraj stood up slowly, his eyes locking with Maanvi for a brief second before he moved towards Rajat.

“Abhiraj, Maaanvi is my Princess and I have spent my whole life protecting her from everything. Just in the hope that in future even if she decided to have a love marriage, she would know how much a man should be capable of loving her.” Rajat’s eyes flickered between Abhiraj and Maanvi.

Maanvi looked up at her Dadda, her eyes filled with tears of happiness and love for her Dadda, her superhero. While Abhiraj who knows what exactly her father is trying to convey nodded his head.

“Can you promise me... That you will never let her stand alone, not just in her light, but in her darkest night too? That you will protect her, not just from the world, but from her inner fears too? That you will love her, no matter what the situation is?” Rajat’s questioned.

Abhiraj’s heart thumped with each word. He stepped forward, his hands trembling with an unknown responsibility, and unknown faith that Rajat was showing in him. His breath is steady but heavy as he finally meets his eyes with Rajat’s.

“Uncle. She is not just my Love, but my whole life. To be honest, I can never compete with the love you have given her, but I promise to protect her, care for her and most importantly love her with everything I can. Selflessly and completely.” Abhiraj’s gaze fixed on him, while his eyes glittered with love.

Rajat’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, as his hand slowly rested on Abhiraj’s shoulder, finding his words genuine and pure. His eyes flickered from Abhiraj to Vikrant as a small smile covered up his lips. For a brief moment, he looked at his princess, asking her for answers. As soon he got his answer he looked at Vikarnt once again.

“Then it’s yes Vikrant, from Maanvi’s and our side too.” Rajat’s voice filled with warmth, slowly embracing Vikrant in a warm hug.

Slowly breaking the hug, he moved towards Maanvi making her stand on her feet and gently pulled her towards Abhiraj. Rjaat’s eyes weld up in tears as he placed Maanvi’s hand over Abhiraj’s gently held it.

“Abhiraj, from now on, my princess is yours. Never break her heart” Rajat said, an unknown feeling of letting his princess marry filling up his heart. But the feelings were not harsh but filled with happiness.

Vikrant lightly pressed Rajat’s shoulders while Arjun too joined them congratulating them for the new beginning. Soon the room was filled with loud applause, with ladies busy feeding everyone sweets and children hugging their bhai and bhabhi ma congratulating them for the new beginning. Varun and Vidhi blessed them with all their love, while Aarav who just come back from his room looked at his bua crying and became tense.

“Mumma, why is bua crying?” he asked with utter innocence making everyone look at him and smile.

“It’s happy tears Aaru” Maanvi told him and picked him up in her arms.

“Happy tears?” he asked confused with the newfound term.

“Baby your bua is getting married,” Vidhi told him as he looked at everyone with curiosity.

“Mallied means?” he asked still curious.

“Your favourite uncle is now gonna be your Fufaji baby. They will get married mumma showed your wedding pics you remember?” Vidhi asked as he nodded, his eyes beamed with happiness.

“Means Bua will have an annivalsary too,” he asked, his voice filled with excitement and curiosity.

Everyone chuckled at his statement while Maanvi kissed his cheeks.

“Yes baby, but that will be after a year or more?” Abhiraj replied pinching his cheeks playfully.

“Ohoo so late Fufaji, now I have to wait for my chocolate.” he huffed in annoyance.

The room filled with riots of laughter with his statement. While Abhiraj and Maanvi met each other’s gaze. The promise, was unspoken yet profound, while their heart beat fast like writing paragraphs of their love for each other.