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“You better,” Raashi stated.
“Welcome to not only the family,” Sameer said, “but to this mad group of friends.”
“Yes,” Raashi agreed. “You’re one of us now, and we’re never letting you go.”
Rohan gave her a grateful nod. More people began coming their way, and Rohan could feel his old anxiety and discomfort rush to the surface.
Taking his hand, Jiya excused both of them to a quiet corner.
“Breathe…” she told him. “Everyone else can wait a bit.”
He exhaled and inhaled a few times. When he finally felt settled again, he looked at Jiya. He was in awe of her. She’d understood him without him needing to say a word. He clasped a dark strand of her hair.
“I always want to see red in your hair,” he said. “Right now, this feels like you’re punishing me for not choosing you.”
She grinned. “I removed it for exactly that reason, and your reaction to it when you saw it that day for the first time, was priceless. It gave me hope that the rest of my plan would also work out. And see… It did!”
“Thank you, for choosing me. Thank you, for fighting for me. Thank you, for showing me that I am not a reflection of my birth parents. That I won’t repeat their mistakes. Thank you for showing me that I am Tara and Varun’s son and thatIdeserve to be happy.” He tugged her close and kissed her lips.
He wiped the corner of her mouth. “You were right. This red is hard to wipe off. But I love it on your lips.”
She chuckled. “Do you remember every word that comes out of my mouth?”
“What do you think?
“I think you are amazing.”
He laughed. “I have a feeling we’re going to be amazing together.”
He took her hand and led her back into the group of their family and friends, feeling more at ease than ever. His heart rejoiced. He’d found the perfect girl who loved him and understood him. The past had been laid to rest, and now there would be no looking back. Only onward and forward now.
EPILOGUE
Three months later
Delhi
The late afternoon sun rays washed over his stud farm, casting a golden light over everything they touched. Summer hadn’t set in yet, and a light cool breeze was blowing, adding to the surreal ambience. The weather was perfect, just as his wedding had been. A few hours ago, he’d married Jiya in a beautiful temple. The ceremony was attended by only their family and close friends.
Well aware of his anxieties, Jiya had insisted on this small reception to celebrate their nuptials with their close ones. And they all had come for them.
They’d had to wait for three months to get married. Rhea had delivered a healthy baby boy, Vayu, the day after Jiya had proposed to Rohan, and they couldn’t have had a wedding without Nirvaan and Rhea.
But now, finally, Jiya was his in every way possible. They’d quickly returned from the ceremony and changed again for the reception.
From his corner, he could see everyone smiling and mingling as they celebrated his marriage to the most beautiful and kind woman in the world. And not just that, Jiya was also the fiercest woman he’d ever come across, and he was grateful she’d chosen him.
Although he was better at handling small crowds, he’d needed a short break from all the chaos to recentre himself in the middle of all the emotions that were swarming him. Hence, he was standing by himself for a few moments before he got drawn back into the celebrations.
In the distance, he saw Jiya chat with Raashi, Aisha, and Aisha’s sister-in-law, Sabrina. Sabrina was their event planner and the caterer for their reception. She had done a splendid job for Aisha’s birthday party, and now, she’d done an equally fabulous job with the lawn behind his house. The whole area was decorated with red flowers and green ivy and myrtle. Round tables and chairs, set in white, were dotted around. A band played soft music in the corner.
A few months ago, he’d have never believed that he’d be getting married, but fate had a different plan for him. In everyone’s life, there came a moment in time, an instance, that changed the course of one’s life forever. Him meeting Jiya at the airport was one such instance. That one opportune meeting had definitely changed the course of his life.
His eyes tracked Jiya as she spoke to his parents now. Her red-tipped hair blew in the breeze. His heart lurched. The red was back in her hair, and everything was as it ought to be. His mom and dad looked delighted as they chatted with her. In fact, ever since his revelations, they wouldn’t stop smiling each time they looked at him. It was like they finally believed that he’d truly accepted them as his parents.
He was their son only—they may not have birthed him, but they were his parents in every sense of the word. It had taken him time to realize it. But now that he had, he felt like a hole inside his chest had been filled. And it was all thanks to her. Jiya. She’d shown him that he could be happy in life, and he was. His dad patted her head affectionately, and then Jiya left them. She turned and looked in his direction. His heart sighed. Her face lifted into a beautiful smile as she came to him.
“You okay?” she checked, her brow pinched in worry. “All this hasn’t been much for you, right?”
