Chapter 2

~Heer Mehta~

Heer's room was dark only the TV's light flashing across their faces sitting at the bed, comfortably as the movie played

All three of them Heer, Saanchi and Reva were plopped on the bed here and there, literally in any position

Heer's parents had gone to Oberoi Mansion for the tilak ceremony and date fixing and these three were spending their time together as who knows after Heer's marriage when they will be able to spend such time like this

Heer's eyes were on the screen ahead but her mind was with her parents, even though she didn't show it on her face she was nervous from inside, scared of what would her parents reveal when they get home still she kept her patience

Heer then looked at Saanchi who was completely lost in the movie and Reva who had slept watching movie, Heer smiled softly looking at Reva and shook her slightly

~Vedh Singh Oberoi~

Meanwhile, today the Oberoi Mansion was a chaos to see, everyone was in hurry some were running here and there finding their things while some were checking upon the preparations

The sunlight filtered through the soft white curtains of living room as the mess took place

"Ma where are my earrings?"

Chhavi's voice rang through the hall as she asked in irritation filled loud ear piercing voice, standing up on the top stair

"Look carefully I had kept it on the nightstand"

Sudha answered back looking at Chhavi when from the other side came Saket's voice, loud deep and annoyed as he descended the stairs

"Ma see my shirt's button broke and my watch is missing"

Sudha sighed and answered pushing him back towards the stairs

"There is a similar shirt in your cupboard go wear it and your watch is near your perfume collection"

Saket left with that same annoyed face when Shakti came looking into his phone and Sudha yelled at him

"Why are roaming freely, huh?"

Shakti was surprised to hear Sudha yell and his wide eyes looked up from his phone to Sudha's annoyed face, looking at him with narrowed eyes and lips pressed in thin line

Shakti's eyebrows rose forming a crease of confusion between them as he asked slowly, voice deep but low, genuinely questioning

"What should I do then?"

Sudha's expression turned angry as she yelled at him, her voice shrill and loud

"Call pandit ji and ask him when he will come, and why are you wearing this black shirt when I told you not to wear black today go change it and wear some other colour"

Shakti sighed silently and with a soft smile he held Sudha by her shoulders, making her sit on the sofa Shakti himself sat beside her and calm her down while caressing her back and saying soothing things

"Calm down Sudha, don't stress everything will go nicely and as you thought just take deep breaths"

Sudha took in deep breaths and exhaled, she opened her eyes now calmly and looked at Shakti with a soft smile while Shakti mirrored her smile but before they could register the peace for a moment more, one more voice rang through the hallway, Smita

Of course how can she be left behind, her loud and sharp voice came before she could be seen in the view

"Ma where are my sandals and I can't find my blusher, where is it?"

Sudha looked up at Smita and sighed before getting up abruptly and answered back

"Take my blusher from the room and your sandals are in your cupboard where your dress was"

Shakti smiled to himself before calling Pandit ji and he went out of the house

The chaos inside the mansion still went on and the only quiet person in the house was Vedh, he stood in front of the full size mirror of his room adjusting the collar and cuff links of his black shirt listening to the chaos his family was creating

He picked the comb from dresser to comb his hair when a knock came on the door and Vedh turned looking at the door he sighed and moved to open the door

The door opened and there stood Sudha in front of Vedh smiling enthusiastically while Vedh's expressions remained neutral

Sudha looked at the shirt Vedh was wearing and said to him with a frown

"Beta why are you wearing black? it's inauspicious for special days, please change it and wear something else and come quickly they must be arriving in some time"

Vedh looked at Sudha's expressions and nodded quietly before Sudha retreated with that smile of hers and Vedh also came inside

He again stood in front of the mirror and inhaled a deep breath, he then went to cupboard and took out a cloud gray shirt

He shrugged off his black shirt and threw the gray shirt on his well toned and muscled chest, looking hot as always

Now again he stood in front of the mirror combing his hair and just as he started keeping the comb back on the dresser a thought crossed his mind

Will she also come?

He thought and straightened his back, only the thought of her coming with her parents made his chest tighten in a way he couldn't register

He ran his fingers through his well combed hair and left the room, moving slowly towards the living room

Vedh's movements were calm and slow and he wanted the same calmness inside him too because as he neared the room, with every step his heart beat accelerated

He took a deep breath before entering the room and as soon as he entered, he saw his whole family and parents of Heer sitting.

He observed the room quickly with just one look and didn't saw her there, a small hint of disappointment settled in his chest but he didn't let it show and sat calmly beside Smita before greeting Heer's parents softly

"Namaste"

Both Shyam and Meena smiled as greeted him back but Vedh didn't smile, not even a twitch of lips, his expression remained neutral but his eyes were sharp

His eyes scanned every face present in the room more than three times, for a single trace of her but why? God knows

The ritual started in just a few minutes as soon as the pandit ji arrived

First Shyam then Meena put tilak on Vedh's wide forehead and gave him gifts like clothes, fruits and a gold chain and a gold ring

Vedh, at first refused to take the gold but both the families insisted on him taking it as a part of ritual so he agreed eventually

After that now everyone sat quietly waiting for Pandit ji to tell the appropriate dates

Pandit ji had the two kundalis in his palm as he matched both Heer and Vedh

Before Pandit ji could speak, Shakti spoke to Shyam, a polite request

"Mehta Sahab, if you don't mind then we would prefer if you can call Heer so that she can herself listen. I mean this is her wedding as well"

Shyam smiled and signed Meena to call Heer and Meena with a nod called Heer

Vedh looked at everyone silently but somewhere an alive corner of his dead heart beeped loudly upon her name

"Heer"

He whispered quietly in his mind without any expression on his face

~Heer Mehta~ X ~Vedh Singh Oberoi~

On the other hand, the movie had just ended and Heer just switched off the TV while the other two girls ended up sleeping

Heer shook her head softly then left them sleeping to get something to eat

She walked to kitchen and she had just taken out something from the refrigerator when Saanchi came running towards her followed by Reva who was yawning

Saanchi's breath was heavy as she informed, forwarding the phone to Heer

"Mumma is calling"

Heer stood dumbfound for a moment before she closed the fridge door with a sigh and picked up the call softly speaking

"Hello?"

Her voice was soft but purposeful and concerned

Meena pressed the phone on her ear as she whispered to Heer

"Beta we all want you to hear your wedding date so I am keeping the phone on speaker"

Meena didn't ask Heer, she told her so Heer didn't have a choice, she hummed softly without a word

Meena kept the phone on speaker and smiled looking at everyone

While Vedh stared at Meena then at the phone screen where it was written 'Heer'

He continued staring when Sudha said more excited than anyone else in the room

"Start Pandit ji"

Heer's heart pounded in her chest as she sat on the sofa straight in front of Saanchi and Reva

Reva looked at her then frowned, silently gesturing

'What happened?'

Heer didn't reply, not a word, not a gesture she just kept the phone on speaker and put it on the table in front

Vedh still stared at the quiet screen of Meena's phone knowing very well that she was on the other side

Smita caught him staring and nudged him with a mischievous smile

"The kundalis match perfectly 30 of the 36 qualities match, the problem is the couple might have fights and big issues between them after marriage but they will overcome it together and will end up together at last"

Pandit ji informed with a smile, at first everyone frowned at pandit ji's choice of words but until the last word everyone smiled

Vedh's expression didn't change, they were neutral and same with Heer, her expressions didn't falter but she listened attentively just like Vedh

But somewhere in a corner of both the hearts there was a hint of warmth settled as they heard pandit ji's words

Both Vedh and Heer sat quietly, listening attentively on the different ends of call

Pandit ji then further said with that small smile on his face

"The best day for the engagement will be next Monday"

Vedh didn't say anything, just sat quietly while Heer blinked her eyes fast to register what pandit ji had just said her heart beat ragged as she closed her eyes for a moment

Today was Thursday and the engagement was fixed for the Monday, Heer was feeling anxious about how fast everything was happening

Reva looked at Heer, her concern lingering in her eyes but she couldn't say anything because Heer had made her decision while Saanchi stared at the screen which vibrated softly every time the voice came

Vedh's elbow rested on the hand rest of sofa and his index rested softly on his upper lip waiting for Pandit ji to continue

Panjit ji again looked into the kundalis and said

"We have two dates for wedding, first is of the next week of engagement and other is of the end of this mont-"

Before Pandit ji could complete his sentence, Vedh spoke before anyone could again make decision and make him agree, his voice low but firm and held authority no one could ever defy

"Fix the date of engagement's next week"

Only one sentence and everyone fell quiet, looking at Vedh. This was the usual Vedh, who didn't say a word until necessary but when he did- no one could ever say no to him

Vedh's deep and heavy voice fell in Heer's ears for the first time and something stirred in her heart, the way he spoke- so firmly, with so much authority like he owned the world, made her breath catch in her throat

Vedh didn't explain, he didn't need to. This was Vedh Singh Oberoi he didn't give reasons he just made decisions

While Shyam and Meena both seemed uncomfortable for a moment before Shakti spoke with a smile

"I guess we should ask Heer also, if she is okay"

Shakti knew that Vedh won't ever force Heer, because he wasn't a kind of man to force a woman for anything she didn't want even if she is his to be wife that's why Shakti said this

Vedh's head moved a little in a soft nod when Meena ji asked Heer softly leaning over the phone's speaker

"Heer, tell your decision beta"

Heer heard her mother and froze for a second not knowing what to say when her mother again said from the other side

"Tell Beta"

Reva shook Heer by shoulder and gestured her to speak, and Heer snapped out her frozen world finally spoke

"I don't have any problem"

Meena smiled softly before looking up at Vedh and other members including Shyam, everyone smiled at the decision

While Vedh sat frozen upon hearing Heer's voice for the first time, her voice was light like feather in comparison to his heavy one it seemed like her voice was the water falling from a water fall unlike his deep and dense

~Vedh Singh Oberoi~

Vedh snapped back to the real world when Smita nudged him again and this time all three of his cousins were smiling teasingly at him

Vedh sighed as leaned back against the sofa. Everyone smiled at each other after Meena declined the call, Pandit ji smiled at Shakti and advised

"You can start the rituals from the next Friday"

Shakti nodded and forwarded sweets first to Pandit ji then everyone else, while everyone congratulated each other

As the box of Sweets reached Smita's hands, she forwarded a piece of sweet towards Vedh's lips while Vedh looked at her no stared at her knowing very well she was teasing him

Vedh opened his mouth just a little and took a small bite of the sweet while everyone smiled looking at them

Smita then hugged him side wise and Chaavi and Saket also came to hug him, Vedh hugged all his cousins, a warmth rushing to his chest

After sometime, the rituals completed and Heer's parents were ready to leave when Sudha held Meena's hands and said excitedly

"We will go shopping on the day after tomorrow and I insist on you sending Heer and your daughters with us"

Meena smiled and nodded softly while both the men smiled too. By daughterS Sudha referred to Reva and Saanchi as Meena had introduced Reva as her own daughter because Reva didn't have a family so they considered her as their own daughter

In moments both Shyam and Meena had left the house with all the excited members.

~Heer Mehta~

The call had ended moments ago but Heer was still rooted to her place as if someone has hypnotized her and now she was frozen at her place

Her eyes were fixed on the black screen of her phone as she thought about the blunder her life had brought, she didn't blink not once but Saanchi and Reva were looking at her with concern

They knew she wasn't fine but they tried to believe as she said she was fine, they pretended to be happy from the outer surface of their bodies but inside they all knew that this was not supposed to happen- not now atleast

Reva sighed and looked at Saanchi with helpless eyes before gesturing her something. They both stood up and sat beside Heer shaking her by shoulder to snap her back to reality

And again they put on the same mask of being happy for her. Reva smiled softly before she teased Heer, trying to lighten the tension lingering

"By the way Saanchi, our jiju is quiet hot and his voice, ssss oh my god so sexy"

Reva teased, looking at Saanchi but her side eye was on Heer and the words she said were indirectly meant for Heer

Heer sighed but did not say anything just looked at both of them before Saanchi agreed with the same playfulness so much in the mood to tease her sister

"Yeah Reva di, if I had been the elder daughter I would have married him without a second thought"

Saanchi also gave a side eye to Heer but Heer did not even flinch when Reva got an idea to tease Heer...... a bold one where she knew Heer will react

Reva then nudged Heer slightly talking to Saanchi but indicating Heer to listen indirectly

"You know Saanchi, I have thought of a wedding gift for Heer and her Ranjha"

Reva deliberately used the term 'Ranjha' depicting Vedh to be her Lover, Heer gasped at the sudden attack she wasn't ready for but before she could even say anything Saanchi asked in loud and fake curious voice

"What is it Di?"

Reva smirked slightly and Heer noticed the silent exchange of something mischievous, her eyes moving between both Reva and Saanchi before Reva dropped the bomb without a second thought

"Tabs chocolate"

Saanchi looked at Heer for a reaction but Heer was confused, her eyes were narrowed and brows were furrowed as she looked at Reva in confusion

"And what is it?"

This time Heer spoke, low and confused. Both Reva and Saanchi gasped at the question looking at Heer in complete shock and surprise, then slowly gaining back her senses Reva smirked again and coming closer to Heer's ear she whispered

"It gives you the strong desire and energy to have sex"

Reva's voice was unmistakably low and sensual but as soon as Heer heard this, her eyes widen in realization heat rushed to her cheeks and she smacked Reva on her shoulder, tightly

Reva laughed while Saanchi tried to suppress her giggle. Heer let out a shocked gasp on the bold comment before glaring at both Reva and Saanchi simultaneously before settling her gaze on the sofa as she blabbered softly, angrily

"You people don't even know how to talk in house, how can someone be so shameless, huh?"

Her voice wasn't too loud but enough to fall in the ears of both the girls as they burst out laughing, loudly this time.

The room filled with the laughter of Reva and Saanchi and Heer huffed in annoyance before Reva spoke keeping a hand on Heer's shoulder

"Heer Darling ask this to your husband when he will do this to you after marriage that how can he be so shameless"

Reva teased again, with a mischievous glint in her eyes and a playful smile on her lips. Heer gasped again at the mention of Vedh and stood up to hit Reva but before that she flew away

Clinging from one sofa to the other Reva ran to save her life from Heer still laughing while Heer ran behind her with a mock glare

Heer had forgotten everything she had been thinking a few minutes ago, now her mind was full of this moment- her present, with her family

They were still running when Shyam and Meena entered the house, and their tired faces lit up at the sight of their daughter playing like this again

Shyam and Meena looked at each other with a soft smile then at Heer running behind Reva, Shyam chuckled when Reva saw him and ran to hide behind him yelling

"Uncleeee!!! Uncle save me from your daughter or she will kill me today"

Heer also ran behind Reva but couldn't catch her as she hid behind Shyam, when finally Shyam interfered stopping Heer, Saanchi also stood behind her smiling

"What happened beta Heer? Let her go what has she done"

His voice was soft as if convincing a child and then Heer complained like one making everyone giggle for once

"You know papa, what she was saying?"

She pointed her index finger at Reva who was hiding behind Meena now, Shyam let out a soft chuckle before he asked with a nod while Saanchi was giggling behind Heer

"What was she saying?"

Reva, hiding behind Meena smirked as looked at Heer when Heer started to speak

"She was saying that wed.....wedd...wedding"

Heer started to speak but then she realized what she was about to say and stammered, she couldn't bring herself to say those words, not now not ever

"Wedding what child?"

Shyam kept his hand on her cheek and asked her softly, Heer couldn't say anything and just huffed in irritation before Meena spoke to Reva

"Reva say sorry"

Her voice was a mock warning but Reva came out and said to Heer, still mischievously giggling

"Sorry Heer"

Heer then turned away and stomped her feet towards her room, with an annoyed expression

The tension that had been lingering between the family has now started to fade slowly and fill with chatter

~

Two day had been passed with Heer still trying to digest the fact that she is to be someone's wife now and her family while preparing for the wedding as the time was less and the rituals were very much

The sun had reached the horizon, announcing the silent call of evening. Mehta house was as quiet as usual except for Heer's room

Inside Heer's room, Heer sat in front of the dressing table looking at herself in the mirror as Reva and Saanchi got her ready for the first ever meet with her to- be husband

The room was a complete mess under the mercy of Reva and Saanchi, Reva was done with Heer's makeup and Saanchi had done her hair

They both were already ready in their outfits but they made extra efforts for Heer, the to-be bride

Heer was looking at herself and then she sighed looking at the proud smile of Reva and Saanchi standing behind her

They all were teasing, laughing, giggling with each other when the door opened and Heer's mother came in and Heer stood up

Meena's eyes softened as she took in Heer's look and taking off her evil eye Meena said in a soft voice

"They are reaching, come fast"

Meena whispered as she kept her hand on Heer's cheek, Heer smiled not completely heartful but a small twitch

~Vedh Singh Oberoi~

Meanwhile in these past two day Vedh had thought a lot about his decision but then he felt it was right so he gave up everything upon god that whatever happens next is upto him

Right now Vedh was on his way to Heer's house as asked by his family, he didn't want to go but because he had agreed on taking all his cousins to shopping for his wedding, he went

There were two cars of family and other of security, in one car were Sudha and Shakti while in other car which was Vedh's, were Vedh, Saket, Smita and Chhavi

They were all so excited to meet Heer, they were also laughing, giggling and smiling to each other when the car stopped in front of the Mehta house

They waited there for at least 2-3 minutes when Heer, Saanchi and Reva came in view

~Heer Mehta X Vedh Singh Oberoi~

Heer's eyes were casted low while Saanchi and Reva were smiling softly over something they just discussed

Vedh's eyes were fixed on his phone as he checked through some important messages

Neither looked up until an over excited Saket got out of the passenger seat and greeted Heer warmly with a smile

"Hello bhabhi"

Heer looked up at Saket, his voice was soft and warm but the word 'bhabhi' stirred something in Heer,

A feeling of getting new relations, a feeling of being respected, a feeling of belonging to someone and having a new family

She looked up quietly at Saket and returned the smile while Sudha who had already been standing nearby her car smiled too

Heer nodded her head slightly while Reva and Saanchi passed a small smile to everyone and greeted Sudha and Shakti along with Heer

Meanwhile as soon as Saket said the word 'Bhabhi' Vedh's eyes immediately looked towards the window, not obeying him

Vedh's heart hoped to get a glance of Heer but Saket was blocking his path unintentionally. Vedh tilted his head a little left but nothing then a little right but still nothing could be seen

His movements weren't rushed but soft and slight which couldn't be noticed easily but only Vedh knew how much he held himself to be composed even when his body didn't follow his instructions

Unknowingly Vedh got irritated and he didn't even knew why he was trying to have a glance at Heer. He didn't let his irritation show in his actions or face

Vedh didn't know why he was so desperate to get a glance at his to be wife, the same girl he decided not to love

Chhavi and Smita also got out of car to greet Heer, their smiles reaching their eyes as they looked at Heer and others

"Hi, bhabhi"

"Hi, bhabhi"

Both Smita and Chhavi greeted and Heer smiled too, greeting back softly

"Hello"

Vedh remained seated in the car still trying to get a glance of Heer but now his path was more blocked as all his cousins stood in front

Smita and Chhavi also greeted Reva and Saanchi, they all stood with smiles not knowing what to talk as this was their first official meeting

Seeing all of them standing out of their car, Sudha walked forward instructing them all as it was getting late

"Oh God, why you all are still standing? We are getting late. Now move, Reva Beta and Saanchi Beta you both come with me and Shakti in our car and Heer you go in Vedh's car with them"

Sudha told Reva and Saanchi to come with her and Shakti and then turning to Heer, Heer's eyes stared at Sudha.

Her heart started beating loudly in her own ears as she heard his name for the very first time, something fluttered in her stomach as the name started echoing in her mind

HEER'S POV:

I heard the name, name of my to be husband who has not even come out of the car till now but as his name was taken I froze

The name spoke authority, aura and power as if even when he is not in a room, his name would scream his presence filling the place in his absence

No wonder his name is powerful but now I fear if the name is like this then how powerful this person would be in real life

This is our first meeting but it doesn't feel like first, yes the nervousness in there but with that there is something in my heart that keeps telling me - he is not a stranger

Though his name is scary and heavy but somehow it sounds familiar as if I have heard it somewhere before

Suddenly I blinked out of my thoughts when Saanchi softly tapped on my shoulder, I looked at her and she gestured me to get into the car- his car

I nodded subtly and walked forward with Saket, Smita and Chhavi. Mumma told me their names yesterday so I don't forget

I moved to open the back door of the luxury car, which didn't fascinated me at all but Smita stopped me in a hurry

"Arre Arre Bhabhi, what are you doing?"

She held my hand which was opening the door suddenly as if I committed a crime. I flinched at the sudden noise and then turning back at her I frowned

I was confused about why she stopped, I mean didn't Aunty just tell me to go in this car. Still confused I tried speaking

"Tha...that aunty ji had said-"

Even before I could complete explaining my point Chhavi lunged forward with a playful smile before taking my both hands in her and pulling towards the front seat

"Yes yes bhabhi, ma asked you to come in this car but why are you sitting behind, sit beside bhaiya"

She said while Saket opened the door with the similar smile. Awkwardness rushed over my body so I gave them a subtle awkward smile and slowly got inside the car

Saket closed the door, I did not look up neither at the car nor at him but I felt an intense gaze rushing over me probably- his

I blinked fast, gulped softly, played with the hem of my dupatta but nothing worked instead the gaze became more intense

I could feel the heat of his gaze but only on my face which means he was only looking at my face but I didn't move even an inch sitting straight with lowered face

I sat frozen like a child who is fearing an imaginary ghost who would eat him up alive if he moved even an inch

Moments later I heard the sound of someone coughing from behind but I didn't turn around, I did not dare to and I knew that cough was for teasing

I felt the weight of his gaze lifting off me, which somehow eased me and I shifted a little comfortably

I had still not lifted my eyes up when I heard him clearing his throat before his deep and husky voice fell in my ears as a command

"Seat belt"

He said, that's it not more than two words but the way his words rolled out, so smoothly but dark that made me flinch just a little

He didn't take my name not even looked at me but I knew he was saying this to me so I fastened the seat belt carefully after a soft nod

I have still not seen him in person as I didn't dare to look up at the scary person. I don't know why but I am already fearing him without even seeing him

~

VEDH'S POV:

The car was running on the roads of Amritsar as we proceeded towards the mall for the shopping of my wedding

My to be bride sat beside me in the car as I drove, at the back seat sat Smita, Chhavi and Saket whispering something among themselves

Heer sat quietly looking down at her lap playing with the hem of her beaver brown dupatta, her oxidized long earring chiming every time the car moved roughly on the road

I wasn't looking at her but I noticed everything, her every gesture

I noticed the way she bit her lower lip in nervousness, I noticed the way her dupatta stuck in her ring when she unwrapped in from her finger, I even noticed the way she occasionally pushed back a strand of hair back and I also noticed the soft tap of her feet on the car's mat

Her movements weren't loud, she wasn't speaking, hell she hasn't even looked up at me till now but still only her existence made something flutter in my stomach

I had decided not to fall in love because that's something I am devoid of since I was fourteen and the man who did not get any love since he was fourteen, how could he love someone

But as I am sitting beside her driving the car trying to focus, it feels as if she is making her place in my heart the same heart which stopped beating a long ago and now it beats when it looks at her

I had seen her in pics, this is not the first time I am seeing her but my breath hitched when I looked at her, I couldn't look away when my eyes fell on her divine face

She is too pure to be mine

Somehow her aura feels familiar as if I have met her somewhere, seen her even before this marriage thing though this is the first time we have met and still she hasn't looked at me

A few minutes later I pulled the car to stop in front of the mall. She didn't move neither did I.

As the car stopped all my cousins stepped out in a rush of excitement and she also slowly moved her arms to unbuckle her seat belt

I stepped out of the car moving to her side to open the door for her, a gentlemanly gesture I saw my father always doing for my mother but before I could even reach her side Saket opened the door

I sighed my frustration bubbling up but closing my eyes I hid it behind the cold expression of my face and remained standing a few steps away from them

Saket closed the door and moved forward but as Heer moved her dupatta got stuck in the door of car which caused a sudden pull on her neck

She jerked backwards, her feet stumbled behind and she was about to fall but adrenaline rushed in my nerves and I moved catching her before she could touch the ground

I held her palm with one hand while my second hand went to her waist and I pulled her up near my chest clutching tightly

She would have fallen if I was even a second late but I did not let her, Why? I still wonder

Her breath ragged as she looked straight into my orbs and this was the first time she is looking at me since we met

Those eyes, her honey brown orbs they felt known, familiar like I have seen them before not only seen but I have felt them

The world, the people everything faded in background blurring like the fog of winters as I measured the depth of those beautiful orbs trying to remember where I have seen them

She was already in the shock first of falling then me catching her and now I spoke, my voice deep but just a whisper even unknown to me

"Your eyes....they...they seem familiar"