As Aanandita had ordered, Ashwin took the plunge and spoke to his parents about his interest in Deepthi, while Aanandita played her little trick. The very next day, Ramya and Akhil visited the Rathores’ house to speak about the rishta. It wasn’t that they were rushing, and they all knew that nothing would be decided until after Aanandita’s wedding, but they simply thought that ‘bacchon ke mamle mein humare taraf se der nahi hona chahiye’.

(There shouldn’t be any delay from our side when it comes to our kids’ decisions.)

Vidyut was shocked at first, but grudgingly accepted that his princess was growing up, and now old enough to become someone else’s queen. “Deepthi, Ashwin, kyun na tum donon baahar backyard mein jaiye aur thodi der akele mein baatein kariye.”

(Deepthi, Ashwin, why don’t you both go and chat in the backyard for bit?)

It was silent for a few minutes as Deepthi looked everywhere but at him, her fingers nervously tangled together, while Ashwin was staring at her, unable to believe his good destiny. Finally, he ventured softly, “Deepthi?” 

“Ji?” (Yes?)

“I know everything is happening so fast, but I wanted you to know that you are the only woman for me. I saw you for the first time, and I don’t know how, but everything just clicked into place. I knew that only you were my future.  I don’t mean to scare you, and I completely understand if you don’t feel the same way, but I couldn’t imagine my life, or even my next six lives, with anyone else but you.”

Hearing his soft confession, tears dripped down Deepthi’s face, but a wide smile cut through them. “How can I tell you that I felt exactly the same the first time I saw you? It was always you, and it will only ever be you. It just took me some to realize exactly what my feelings were.”

“And my sister’s wily ways.” Deepthi giggled, “That too.” “So, Ms. Deepthi Singh Rathore, does this mean you agree to becoming my wife and making me your husband?” Nodding ferociously, Deepthi managed to croak out an emotional ‘yes’. Ashwin laughed wholeheartedly, picking Deepthi up and spinning her around, making her release an involuntary shriek before she joined his laughter.

Hearing their laughter, their families gathered around. “Toh, donon taraf se haan samjhein hum?”

(So, should we consider it a yes from both sides?)

Ashwin walked over to Aanandita and wrapped her up in a bear hug, lifting her off the ground. “Bhai, saans!”

(Bhai, I can’t breathe!)

“Oh, sorry,” he murmured and let her go. “Seriously, Nandu, you’re a miracle worker! Sab tere waje se.”

(…Everything’s because of you.)

Aanandita flipped her braid over her shoulder and raised a brow. “Haan haan, pata hain. Ab sirf makhan lagana hain ya phir aap mere nek kaam ke inaam bhi denge?”

(Yeah yeah, I know. Do you just intend to butter me up or are you going to give me a gift for my good deeds?)

Ashwin was in an amazing mood, so instead of retorting back, he laughed and saluted, saying, “Jo hukum, mohtarma!”

(Whatever you order!)

“Phir mera hukum yeh hain ki…aap donon ke shaadi ka joda main hi design karungi.”

(Then my order is…that I’ll design your wedding outfits.)

“Bhabhi, agar aapne nahi kiya toh main cutiff ho jaati aapse.”

(Bhabhi, if you didn’t, then I would stop talking to you.)

“Then, I guess we’re even! Congratulations, you both!”

___

Vikram returned later that evening, in time for dinner, and was treated by his mom bursting with happiness, which he didn’t expect. He had imagined that she would still be holding a grudge against him for his impromptu trip, but he wasn’t going to ignore this blessing and remind her. “Maa, aaj khana bohot accha bana tha.” Shayad mera wapas aane ke khushi mein.

(Maa, the food is really good today. Maybe because of her happiness that I’m back.)

“Rukho bhai, aur bhi hain.” She brought out two sweet dishes.

(Hold on, there’s more.)

Uncovering the first one, Vikram sighed in pleasure. The smell of gulab jamun would forever intoxicate him. “Have I told you how much I love you, Maa?” Ranjani smiled and kissed his forehead, then uncovered the second dish, rasgulla. Deepthi laughed and clapped her hands, while Vikram glowered. “Maa, mujhe laga tum mere wapas aane ke khushi yeh sab banaya. Phir ye ghatiya rasgulla kyun banaya?”

(Maa, I thought you made all of this because you’re happy that I’m back? Then why did you bring this disgusting rasgulla?)

“Haan, main baaki sab tere liya banaya, lekin yeh rasgulla Deepthi ka rishta pakka hone ka khushi mein hain.”

(Yes, I made everything else for you, but this rasgulla is to celebrate Deepthi’s rishta.)

Vikram’s face hardened. “Yeh koi mazaak karne ki baat nahi hain, Maa.”

(This is not a joking matter, Maa.)

“Toh kaun mazaak kar raha hain, bhai?” Vidyut interjected.

(Who’s joking here?)

Vikram slapped his hands on the table and stood up, his voice quiet but shaking with indignation. “What the hell?! Kisne itne himmat ki? Why the hell did nobody tell me? Abhi uska mu tod dunga!”

(What the hell?! Who dared? Why the hell did nobody tell me? I’ll go rearrange his face now!)

Ranjani scowled at her son and pushed him back down into his seat. “Gussa kabu mein rakh. Tum aise kuch nahi karoge! Aur agar tum yahan hote, toh sab kuch pehle hi pata chaltha.”

(Get a hold of yourself. You’re not going to do any such thing! If you were here, then you would have known before.)

“Maa…” Vikram glared at his mother, but she shrugged unapologetically. “Deepu kisi se shaadi nahi karegi, kabhi bhi nahi, and that’s final. Woh hamesha yahin rahegi.”

(Deepu is not going to marry anyone, ever, and that’s final. She’ll always stay with us.)

“Bhai, you need to calm down and get back to reality. Obviously, I’m going to fall in love and get married and build a family of my own. You can’t keep me here forever.” “I damn well can, princess! Nobody is stealing my baby sister from me.” Vidyut laid a hand on his son’s shoulder. “Look at me, beta. Do you think I’m any more eager than you are to let my baby leave us? Hell no. But if you were there this morning, and you saw the look on her face, you would have agreed with me and accepted this rishta. We’ve never been able to deny her anything, ab sabse badi khushiyaan kaise mana kar payenge?”

(…We’ve never been able to deny her anything. How can we deny her the biggest happiness now?)

Sighing defeatedly, Vikram waved at Deepthi to come sit beside him. He hugged her close, pressing a reverent kiss on her forehead. “You’re too young. You shouldn’t even think about marriage for another two decades.” “You do realize that Bhabhi’s only a year and half older than me?” “Who’s the saale?” he grumbled.

**Saale means ~bastard in slang, but it’s also the term used to refer to your wife’s brother.

“Ashwin,” Vidyut answered. “Ashwin?”

“Haan, Bhabhi ka bada bhai.”

(Yes, bhabhi’s older brother.)

“That bastard, behind my back…” Ranjani shot him a look, and he simmered down. “Do you like him, baccha?” “No, bhai…” She held his hand as it tensed in anger. “I love him.” “You’re happy with him?” “The most.” “Fine, but he hurts even a hair on your head, I’ll wipe his existence from this world.” Deepthi wrapped her arm around Vikram’s and rested her head on his shoulder. “No, you won’t. Because he won’t hurt me. And even if he did, I love him, and you would never hurt the people I love.” “But I love you, and I will never let anyone hurt you.” “Don’t worry bhai, nobody is going to get hurt, and everything will work out.” Vikram muttered a curse under his breath but wrapped both arms around his sister and hugged her closer.