Chapter 19 (a):- Blissful moments.
Accoutred in a white tuxedo Armaan stood at the entrance waiting for Rebecca, to walk her towards Shaurya who was desperately waiting for his lady love at the altar with Raghav as his best man.
Finally on Armaan's insistence, Shaurya and Rebecca are getting married just as they wished but earlier than they decided since Armaan was leaving to Rochester, NY, for his surgery about which he is still sceptical, along with his family, Khwaab and Dr. Saanjh who will be with them to monitor him during the journey and till the surgery.
They are flying to NY a week prior to the surgery so that he could acclimatize to the time gap and the environment. Till then his pre-operative medications will be continued and Dr. Mittal, India-based well renowned neurosurgeon will examine him since he had checked him once, during his guest visit to Mumbai two months back.
A soft, melodious giggle broke his reverie and his heart skipped a beat seeing her, dressed in a light summer blue floral gown looking like an angel, his firefly, who has brought him to light tearing away all the darkness he drowned himself in.
He still feared the complications but he knew she would be there, with him, in everything. He can be labelled as a selfish man who is ready to spoil the life of the person he loves, but he saw her in pain, the pain which was similar to what he was going through, which he didn't think anybody would ever feel. She has hope, in him, in her God and he's no one to kill it. He may suffer from everything he never wishes to but how could he let her hope loose.
"Let's focus on Rebecca today. You have all the time to stare at my daughter-in-law." Rohit patted his shoulder, pulling his leg. Armaan stared at his father with a sheepish smile, caught staring at her by him who chuckled in response. It was after long he saw that Armaan and didn't have words to thank the angel of their life.
Walking Rebecca to the altar he gave her hand to Shaurya who gladly accepted it with the widest grin making her blush.
"Take care of her otherwise I'll beat the shit out of you after returning from NY." He warned Shaurya playfully and everyone chuckled. Their was hope, in his words, in his eyes, for the future.
Armaan got down and stood aside feeling delighted for his buddy. A small hand came in contact with his long one, filling the gap between the webs of his fingers. He didn't need to look aside to know whose hand it was and simply strengthened the hold.
"Are you happy now?" Armaan murmured softly still looking ahead at the ‘Father’ asseverating the wedding vows.
"You tell me?" Khwaab questioned back, her eyes not leaving his glowing face. It was just two days back he was discharged from hospital, signing the consent for the surgery and trying to cope up with his anxiety. And he did really well.
"Yes." He whispered, staring back at her almond shaped deep black eyes, full of adoration for him.
"Then it's a yes." She agreed, stating her happiness is just with him. A loud noise of hooting and clapping made them look away as the couple kissed after repeating their wedding vows.
"Thankyou." Armaan kissed her cheek softly when everyone had their eyes on the married couple, and Khwaab's eyes widened at the unexpected display of affection.
"For?" She asked with a face-splitting smile.
"The list is never ending. But for now, just for being 'you'." A blush adorned her face listening his words full of love.
"Just remember, I am 'me' just with you. Not with Rahul or anybody else." She reminded him again even after clearing all his doubts about loving Rahul. She still couldn't believe he misunderstood so much.
"That's not my fault, when I see you after years, hugging a guy with a grin." He shrugged it coolly, blaming her for his misunderstanding.
"That grin was on my face because I found my lost chain that you gifted me. So stop thinking rubbish." She grumbled making him sad.
"Sorry but please don't spoil your mood." Khwaab agreed seeing his pleading face and smiled at him.
"Guys you can talk later and Ammy you can kiss her anywhere, but later on. Let our just-married love birds take the limelight for today." Raghav approached them with a wide grin. Khwaab coughed and looked at Armaan who was already ready to murder Raghav with his glare.
"Shut up Raghav." Raghav chuckled seeing the way Armaan walked out of the church with his arm clutching Khwaab's waist possessively.
He was happy for his friend.
"Never envisaged but always wished to see something like this." Amaya whispered, staring in the same direction as Raghav.
"And now you know what to do Amaya. When he had forgiven her, we are no one to hold on to any grudges against her. She did what we all couldn't." Raghav reiterated gently and smiled seeing Amaya accepting it positively.
"I know and don't worry I'll apologize because her intentions were never wrong." Amaya reassured his friend and they both moved out in the garden where the beautiful lunch was organised.
Not many people were invited as everything was rushed but none minded that, as the couple were happier than ever seeing their friend smiling, enjoying and becoming a part of their wedding just as they wished.
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"Armaan!! Slow down. Why are you hiding in your own friends' marriage?" Khwaab pulled her hand back in order to stop Armaan who was going or rather escaping taking her along, opposite to the direction where the married couple was seated.
"I'm sick and tired Talwar." Armaan grouched with furrowed brows making Khwaab tense.
"What... how? I mean you're okay right?" She checked him panicking and he bit his tongue inwardly.
"Yes this question. I'm sick and tired of this question man. Everyone is asking me this same question and I'm fed up. It's Shaurya and Rebecca’s wedding, they should be troubled with all this, why me?" He protested weakly as Khwaab glared at him for scaring her like that, but couldn't hold longer seeing his irritated face.
"Armaan, you scared me. But you've to answer naah, you can't hide yourself in the whole party. And if someone will see you here then they will ask you the reason too." She suggested stifling her laughter seeing him pouting at her statement.
"You're so bad. Instead of helping me you are laughing." He muttered in annoyance, folding his arms and turning his face to other side.
"Hey Rockstar!" Armaan cursed under his breathe hearing an excited voice which must be of his another fan. It isn't like he disliked his fans and meeting them but right now, the list of questions they'll be asking will be the same he is hearing and answering from the time this ceremony has started.
"Hello rockstar. Can I hug you once please. I'm a very big fan of yours." Aakriti glees happily trying to control her evident excitement from seeing him standing fit and fine and so close to her.
Armaan looked pleadingly at Khwaab as he has just met his parents and Aakriti was an unknown face for him.
"Armaan, she is Aakriti my sister I told you about and she is Sia, my friend in Bangalore." Khwaab raised her eyebrow while introducing both of them to Armaan who were grinning widely at him and he mouthed an 'oh'.
Wordlessly he took Aakriti in a gentle and warm hug and she hugged him back tightly, courtesy her wild exhilaration that was running through her veins from the time she heard him singing . Sia gaped at Armaan, still not able to believe he did that as he seemed a little reserved.
"Hayee... it is my dream come true, to see you so closely." Aakriti divulged with twinkling eyes that she couldn't tear away from his face. Armaan chuckled at her excitement and it somewhere eased Sia.
He met Sia with a simple handshake who was ready with her demands.
"Can you please introduce me to your friend Raghav?" Sia implored with hopeful eyes which didn't let Armaan turn down her request and he agreed. But what troubled him was the fondness that Sia's eyes displayed for his friend but he let it be for now and simply looked at Khwaab for help.
"Yes, even I want to meet the other members of the band." Khwaab agreeing to their demands took them with her providing Armaan some relief.