"Sam, hum saath hain." 

(Sam, we're together.)

Abhishree blurted out, just as she did in front of Abhimanyu. Samrat looked at her with a 'not again' expression.

"Kon?" Samyukta asked while slowly chewing her food and looking at Shree. Suddenly, she realized what her dearest bestie meant. Her eyes went wide, and she choked on her food. She got up from her chair and started coughing loudly, attracting unwanted attention from the very few people present there. Her eyes were red, and water was trickling from them constantly. She kept looking at Samrat and Abhishree while coughing. Samrat went to her to rub her back in an attempt to make her relax. Abhimanyu hurriedly poured water from the jug kept on the table into a glass tumbler and handed it to her.

(Who?)

While taking the tumbler from Abhimanyu's hand Samyukta arched an eyebrow looking at him asked, "Did you know?"

"Yes." Abhimanyu simply replied looking into her eyes. 

Shree was standing at her place tongue- tied. She thought that that deed was done. Now she has to face the wrath of her friend. No one can save her. Not even her Krishna ji. 

"Since when?" This time the question was directed at Abhishree.

"Three years." Samyukta's eyes widened more.

Samyukta calmed herself down and sat at her place while rubbing her mouth with a tissue paper.

"Why're you saying this to me now? You could've said me after getting married only." Sam said while settling herself on her chair.

"Aha...don't say like that. I'd my reasons."

"Of course you'd." Sarcasm was dripping from her voice.

"Sam, please ekvaari sunle meri baat. Hum nhi chahte the ki hum dono ke wajah se families ke beech koi bhi jhamela ho. Or sabse badi baat yeh hai ki mai nhi chahti thi ki agar hum dono ke beech koi bhi an- ban hui to tujhse mera saath choot jai."

(Sam, please listen to me once. We didn't want any complications between our families because of the two of us. And the most important thing is that I didn't want to lose you if any issues arose between us.)

"Lekin tere bhai ko pata tha, Shree." She was hurt.

(But your brother knew, Shree.)

"Humne nhi bataya. Unhe kud pata chal gya. Unhe shuruwat se pata tha. Unhone hume kuch nhi kaha tha." Shree explained.

(We didn't tell him. He found out on his own. He knew from the beginning. He didn't say anything to us.)

Sam nodded her head understanding what Shree said just now.

"Ab kya?" She asked.

(Now what?)

"Hum shaadi karna chahte hain. Gharwalone se baat karne k liye tum dono ki madad chahiye." Samrat explained.

(We want to get married. We need your help to talk to our families.)

"Oho...isiliye tum dono ne aaj mujhe batane ka socha hai. Haan...samajh me aya mujhe nhi to agar shaadi ki baat karne me koi pareshaani nhi hoti to mujhe direct shaadi ka card hi milta." Samyukta spat.

(Oh... so that's why both of you decided to tell me today. Yes... I understand. If there were no complications in discussing the marriage, I would have received a wedding invitation directly instead.)

"Aisi baat nhi hai..." Abhishree said softly knowing very well how much she has disheartened her.

(It's not like that...)

"Nhi yaar. Tujhe mujhpe shuruwaad se bharosa nhi thana?"

(No, Shree. You never trusted me, right?)

"Nhi yaar...Sam aisa mat bol please." Shree was feeling guilty for keeping her friend in the darkness. She deserved to know this, she thought, since she has always been on her side no matter what. Even now she need her help to get married. She decided to have a talk with her after somedays in private.

(No... Sam, don't say that, please.)

"Thik hai bhai. Chal mai utna tujhe pareshan nhi karungi abhi. Mera bhai tera khayal rakhega utna mujhe ispe bharosa hai or tu bhi mere bhai ka khayal rakhegi mujhe pata hai. Lekin tu ruk jaa...mai agar teri churail nanad nhi bani naa...mera naam bhi Samyukta Chauhan nhi." Samyukta joked to lighten the atmosphere.

(Alright, brother. I won't bother you much now. My brother will take care of you, I trust him, and you'll take care of my brother, I know that. But wait... if I don't become your evil sister-in-law, then my name isn't Samyukta Chauhan.)

All of them laughed at her statement even thought Shree knew the sadness behind her words. She'll make up to her for sure.

"Ab kya?" Abhimanyu asked.

(Now what?)

Shree sighed and began, "Aaj aap dono ghar aa payenge abhi? Sabse baat jo karni hai. Please, na mat kahiye ga...hume aap dono ki support chahiye."

(Will both of you be able to come to our homes today? We've to talk them. Please, don't say no... we need your support.)

"Ab...paanch baj rha hai. Mera aath baje se meeting hai. Uske pehle jo karna hai karo." Abhimanyu stated.

(Now... it's five o'clock. I have a meeting at eight. Do whatever needs to be done before that.)

"Mai to ghar jaane wali thi abhi. Kuch khaas kaam to hai nhi to mai ab jaa sakti hoon."

(I was about to leave for home. There's nothing urgent, I can come with you now.)

They decided to reach the Rathore mansion first. Samrat had taken a day off today to face all of these and more that will unfold. 

By five- thirty, the squad had settled in the living room of the Rathore mansion. Abhishree's parents and grandparents where also present there.

IN THE RATHORE'S RESIDENCE

"Kya baat karni thi aap sab ko?" Vasundhara Devi began the conversation.

(What did you want to talk to everyone about?)

Abhishree hesitated for a moment, her gaze fixed firmly on the floor, before finally stating her words. "Dadi sa, Samrat ji or mai ek dusre ko pasand karte hain." 

(Dadi sa, Samrat ji, and I are in love with each other.)

The room screamed just one thing- shock.

"Kabse?" Uday Singh Rathore asked them in a stern voice.

(Since when?)

"Teen saal se, dada sa." Samrat replied with a tint of nervousness in his voice.

(For three years, dada sa.)

"Tujhe pata tha?" Nandini, Abhishree's mother asked Samyukta.

(Did you know?)

"Haan Nandini ma, adhe ghante se." Samyukta stated plainly. Nandini gave her a 'are you serious' look. She just nodded her head in return. 

(Yes, Nandini ma, for the past half an hour.)

Abhishree was glaring at her friend for pulling such a moves.

Nandini turned towards her son and asked him the same with her eyes to which he just nodded.

The elders relaxed after digesting the newly found information.

"Pehle kyu nahi bataya? Shaadi karwa dete." Ranjit Singh Rathore finally broke the long held silence.

(Why didn't you tell us earlier? We could have got you married.)

"Haan, chupana zaroori tha kya?" Dadi sa added.

(Yes, was it necessary to keep it a secret?)

"Hum bade khush hai iss baat se ki itne varsho baad Rathore or Chauhan ki gehri dosti rishtedaari me badalne wali hai. Bahu sabka mooh mitha karwayiye or Chauhan saab ke ghar aaj ke raat ke khane ka amantran bhejiye."

(We are very happy that after so many years, the deep friendship between Rathore and Chauhan will turn into a relationship. Bahu treat everyone with sweets, and send an invitation for dinner to Mr. Chauhan's house tonight.)

Abhishree and Samrat's happiness knew no bound. They shared a sigh of relief, grateful that they had successfully persuaded one family without much effort. However, the Chauhans still lay ahead, presenting the final hurdle in their quest for acceptance.

"Dada sa, hum pehle khud yeh baat humare parivaar se kehna chahte hain." Samrat stated.

(Dada sa, we want to tell our families about this ourselves first.)

"Haan dada sa. Aap bura na maane to kal dinner ka plan rakh sakte hain kya?" Abhishree added.

(Yes, dada sa. If you don't mind, can we plan the dinner for tomorrow?)

Uday Singh Rathore gave it a thought and finally said, "Jaisa humare bacchi ka man ho. Lekin aap sab abhi mooh mitha karke hi jayenge." 

(Whatever our daughter wishes. But you all will leave only after having some sweets.)

"Ji dada sa." Samrat replied and stood up to take blessings from the elders along with Abhishree.

(Yes dada sa)

Nandini brought a huge plate of sweets along with some snacks. She fed both Abhishree and Samrat followed by Samyukta and Abhimanyu. She treated Samyukta and Samrat as her own children just like Abhishree and Abhimanyu. She was more than happy when she learned that Samrat and Abhishree are together. She felt proud of Abhishree for choosing the right person. She trusts Samrat with Abhishree's happiness and safety. She knew how well-mannered and gentlemanly Samrat was.

Soon everybody left to do their respective work and the squad decided to head to the Chauhan's to do the great revelation they did just now once again.

IN THE CHAUHAN'S RESIDENCE

The squad was seated in the the living room waiting for the elders to come over. Samrat's grandparents came followed by his parents and uncle Ranveer Singh Chauhan.

A similar episode unfolded in the Chauhan mansion just like that of the Rathore's. Devendra Singh Chauhan was gleaming with happiness since his long time friend was going to become his samdhi. He had harbored this wish for a considerable time, but it seemed unattainable since both families had only sons (and all of them were straight). 

The elders bestowed their blessings upon the couple. Abhishree informed them about the call her mother would make, inviting them to join for tomorrow's dinner at the Rathore mansion. The elders promised to come with the entire family since it's a Sunday.

With this, Abhishree and Abhimanyu left for their respective destination after biding goodbye to the Chauhans. 

Samyukta was happy that her bestie had finally found a man to whom she could happily give herself away, knowing that she was in safe hands. She was also delighted for her brother, as Abhishree seemed to be the perfect match for him. Despite this, she couldn't help but feel a little sad, as she sensed a feeling of being an outcast. Even Abhishree's brother knew about their secret, except for her. However, she decided not to dwell on this and chose to focus on the positive side, knowing that Abhishree would provide an explanation sooner or later.

˜”*°•°*”˜