Chapter 19(b):- Closure(s)

"Mr and Mrs. Talwar." Khwaab's parents turned around and smiled fondly at Armaan who greeted them politely with respect.

"Armaan! How are you doing young man?" Sunil asked and patted his back with love.

"I'm absolutely good. Did you guys take something?" He signalled a waiter passing by who served them wine.

"Oh yes ofcourse! Don't worry about it." Karan assured him and the couple passed him an encouraging smile as they could see he was here to say something.

"Honestly, I'm short of words but still thank you so much Mr. & Mrs. Malik for bringing Khwaab here, to me and also for being so supportive and understanding and allowing her to come to NY." He expressed his gratitude for what they did for him.

"Armaan it's not something great that we did by being supportive to our daughter who have always been obedient to us. Like every other parents we also wish for her happiness and when it lies in you, so be it." Her mother, Kirti eased him with her words, approving their togetherness.

"Yes and we trust you with our daughter's happiness Armaan. I know that things are going to get difficult in near future but we've immense faith in God that whatever he'd planned will be the best for our children. So just get well soon and come back happily."

These positive words coming from her parents comforted Armaan and his happiness knew no bounds.

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Introducing Aakriti and Sia to the other members of the band was easy for Khwaab except with Amaya. So leaving them with Raghav, Khwaab strolled in the garden to look for Armaan , who is nowhere to be seen. She wanted him to help her with Amaya as she is still not comfortable with her. In the past two days their smiles turned cordial but it couldn't remove the awkwardness that prevailed from the beginning.

"Khwaab!" Her steps halted and she turned around hesitatingly to see Amaya standing with a welcoming smile.

"Amaya, you want something. Actually Armaan is not with me..." Khwaab started explaining on its own but was cut off by Amaya, whose words gave her a shock.

"I apologize to you for being rude to you unnecessarily. I was tensed and it came out as anger which I poured out on you. I was wrong in holding you responsible for everything bad happening around without knowing about your intentions. So please forgive me.”

Khwaab blinked her eyes twice and took her own time in registering her words before replying.

"I wouldn't say that your words didn't hurt me, they did; but after meeting Armaan I could see from where you were coming and I'm happy that he got so much love and care from you all. So let's start afresh?"

Khwaab offered a handshake with a hopeful smile but her smile doubled and eyes widened when Amaya, the toughest nut to crack squeezed her in a warm hug.

"Thankyou and just... just take care of him. I know you would do that anyway , his parents will be there but I'm just a call away and don't let him get depressed again. I'm requesting you because he would only open up to you.." She murmured with hesitation, holding her hands and became silent when Khwaab squeezed her hands and said,

"Amaya! You don't have to explain yourself. I get you and I'll give my best. You’ve full rights on your friend and I won’t ever take it otherwise.”

“If that’s so, then slap him again if any negative or nonsense thoughts even dare to cross his mind. One from my side too.” Khwaab chuckled at her request and affirmed her on taking it into consideration.

"Oh hello Amaya, why are you giving her such violent suggestions? She always plans ways to murder me.”  Armaan interrupted them, side-hugging Khwaab passing a playful remark at her. Khwaab glared at him and it only led to increase in his roguishness.

“Really? With her eyes or...” Amaya winked at Armaan while Khwaab was finding ways to hide her flustered face.

“Well, she has already wounded my heart with her killer eyes, now she is trying other ways.” Armaan explained with a sullen face, rolling his tongue inside his mouth to hide his smile as she glared at him.

Khwaab gaped at the duo with wide eyes , the way they were discussing about her as if she wasn’t standing here. The duo burst out in laughter seeing her fuming and hi-fied as they got successful in teasing her.

Armaan gestured a silent apology to which Khwaab narrowed her eyes at him and pouted.

“Well, where are our just doomed, I mean wedded buddies of our group?” Amaya asked controlling her laughter and roamed her eyes to locate them.

"There they are. See how they are putting up a fake smile and meeting everyone. That is why I hate social marriages. " She herself answered her question with a chuckle but her smile vanished listening to the next words from her boyfriend, Abhinav.

"You just try to find excuses for not marrying me. Just so you know, I'm open to court marriages too, only you have to agree."

"Abhi!! Not now please. Let's go Khwaab and save their asses." Amaya sighed and closed her eyes in frustration and went away pulling Khwaab along with her.

Armaan blinked his eyes at Khwaab in reassurance and she left with a smile.

"You proposed her again?" This was more of a statement than a question that Armaan asked from Abhinav.

"How does it matter Armaan? As always she knocked back without any mercy." Abhinav chuckled humourlessly with disappointment floating in his eyes.

"Abhi, you know her. She loves you. It's just she needs some time." Armaan tried defending Amaya as he knew how much she hates this topic of marriage. When Shaurya and Aliya decided to get married, it was she who was disturbed the most.

"And I've given her three years. How much more? She is just not ready to discuss it. I know she loves me and I do too. But Armaan in a relationship, we are equals. How is it that my wishes doesn't matter to her?" Abhinav questioned, bummed out with her refusal everytime.

"It's not like that Abhi. You know how her childhood had been. Growing up and seeing her parents fighting had made her rebuke the idea of marriage. And besides marriage is not the stamp or a confirmation to your forever. So don't spoil your present for that." Armaan tried his best to make him understand but the latter had different thoughts on this topic.

"I get that Armaan but she also has to understand what I've been through. She is the only person I have , to call as my family. And now I want to start my family with her and I don't want that out of a wedlock. That's the worst thing I'll be giving my child. Now it's high time, she has to come out of her insecurities and fears. She has to trust me with them."

Abhinav left from there enraged with the discussion, with the memories of his bitter childhood. Armaan sighed with a tensed face as he didn't want Abhinav and Amaya to grow apart. Her happiness is all related to Abhinav and it's time he should talk to her.

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After clicking endless pictures with his friends, Armaan came and sat tiredly on the chair and rested his head on the round table. He was exhausted and felt his head heavy from the noise, so secluding himself he thought to rest for a while.

He didn't want to disturb Khwaab or his any other friend for a small thing as they were dancing and enjoying after a long time. It was a happy moment.

He roamed his eyes around and his gaze beheld Khwaab's laughing figure. She was giggling heartily with her sister and Raghav, while he could see Sia's mood a bit low.

“Hello my love sick son.” Rohit tapped his shoulder and sat beside him with razzed expressions. Armaan simply rolled his eyes at his father and tried to be nonchalant about it.

“Don’t you dare roll your eyes at me. All the time you’d sticked to your girl and now you aren’t even moving your eyes away from her.” Armaan bit his lip and smiled at his observant father.

“Dad! I’m just making the best use of the time till I can see her.” Armaan shrugged it with a melancholic smile while his father squeezed his shoulder.

"Armaan, don't say like that." His father uttered, worried for him again.

"You don't have to worry dad. I've made my peace with everything. So just chill." He blinked at his father who rolled his eyes at this statement.

"See this is where I got that eye-roll." Armaan pointed out with a chuckle.

"Armaan, have you eaten something? You've to take your medicines too." Ahaana approached him with a plate full of his favourite food and sat beside him on the chair.

"Not again mom. I just had a plate full of fruits. I cannot eat more.” He pleaded clutching his stomach making Ahaana sigh.

“I’ll eat later with everyone. Promise.” Armaan negotiated seeing her sad face and she kissed his forehead.

After the family lunch, it was time for the couple to leave directly to their honeymoon. All stood for the rice tossing ceremony while the couple will make their way towards the decorated car at standby for their departure.

"See her face man. She will be the first bride who is glowing at her farewell. Atleast act for a while.” Everyone chortled at Raghav's remark including Rebecca herself.

"I'll be asking the same when you'll be leaving for your honeymoon Raghav." Rebecca grinned at him and he took her in a hug followed by their group hug.

"Okay let's start the farewell ceremony. Otherwise you'll be late for the flight." Amaya suggested.

"Armaan take care and just call us once before you take off." Rebecca requested.

"Ofcourse, if you guys will be sane enough to pick it." Armaan teased them while they blushed.

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"Okay my child take care. Now we will have to leave." Karan embraced his daughter patting her back. She was visibly sad with her family leaving to their hometown while she will be going with Armaan to NY for a couple of months.

"Don't be sad Khwaab. We'll be coming there to meet you and you wanted that." Kirti whispered in her ears and Khwaab nodded in yes.

"Hey! Tired?" Khwaab asked softly sitting next to him in the passenger seat, seeing him sitting with closed eyes and head resting on the back seat of the car.

"Hmm. Your parents left?" He asked stretching his neck. Khwaab nodded with a sad face making him sigh.

"Khwaab, I'm sorry. Because of me..."

"Armaan! We've been through this same conversation many times. I want to come with you and now you don't expect me to be happy bidding adieu to my parents, do you?"

Khwaab rested her cheek on his shoulder as he embraced her in his arms. He buzzed her forehead while both sat in a peaceful silence throughout the ride to Armaan's home.

"Grandma called today." He mumbled slowly and Khwaab wouldn't have heard if not sitting so close to him.

"What did she say?" She asked coming out of his embrace. He shrugged staring outside as he didn't pick up her calls.

"You should have atleast heard what she wanted to say." Khwaab suggested cautiously as making him angry is the last thing she wants at this moment.

"I didn't know how and what to speak. Besides it was before the ceremony started and I didn't want to ruin mine and everybody's mood. She has left a voice message but I didn't hear that." Armaan confessed rubbing her knuckles with his thumb, trying to distract himself from the troublesome thoughts.

"Do you wish to hear that or talk about her?" She asked softly, rubbing her thumb over his light stubble. He wobbled his head in denial still looking down feeling guilty about it.

"Then we won't and Armaan it's fine. You don't have to be guilty about it. At the moment your health is the utmost priority for everyone, even for your grandmother so do what makes you feel good. And that is the reason she is still in Punjab right? For you." Armaan bobbed his head with a small smile feeling a lot better.

"I didn't want to disrespect her and whenever she came in front of me I could only imagine her insulting and threatening you so I requested her to be away. I didn't want to hate her Khwaab." Armaan mumbled and pressed his lips into a thin line.

"And you did absolutely correct. You didn't disrespect her and neither spoke rudely to her and I'm proud of you. Don't be so harsh on yourself. And if it makes you feel better even in the slightest then I would suggest, just listen to her voice message once. Don't reply but listen what she wants to convey.” Armaan sighed loudly listening her suggestion and played it.

"Armaan my child, I know you don't want to see me or hear my voice. And this is my punishment for keeping you in dark all these years and for doing so wrong with an innocent soul.

Ahaana informed me that Khwaab has convinced you for the surgery and y'all are flying to NY tomorrow morning. I wanted to hear you once before you leave for your another test that god wants you to pass, my child. I wish I could bless you in real but that doesn't mean I'll not pray for you. I pray for you every second and I want you to come back to India like my innocent grandchild, smiling and rejoicing, whom I'd hurt in my foolishness. And pass on my message to your firefly that this old lady is seeking for her forgiveness and will always be indebted to her for my whole life. God bless you."