CHAPTER - 4

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In the quiet halls of the hotel, I couldn't sit still, pacing back and forth, feeling a tight knot of tension in my stomach. Just the thought of Hitler's impending arrival made me shiver with uncertainty.

How would she react? Would she unleash her anger on me? Maybe with a slipper, a broom, or her bare hands?

The last time I saw her, was 3 years before, yet her stern looks and sharp words had left a lasting impression. Even now, after all these years, I could still feel the weight of her discipline, both in her words and her actions.

It seemed like mothers had a universal right to scold and correct their children, no matter how old they were.

"Come on, stop wandering around like a lost puppy. Tujhe dekh kar chakkar aa rahe hai mujhe" Sammy's voice broke through my thoughts, irritation evident in his tone.

"Well, what do you expect me to do? Should I just sit here with a garland, ready to welcome her?" I shot back, my eyes betraying my inner turmoil.

"Umm, I don't think so. Fir aunty ko chakkar aa jane hai tera pyaar dekh kar," Sammy teased, barely able to contain his laughter.

"Shut up... Yaha mujhe tension ho rahi hai aur tujhe majak sujh rahe hai?" I retorted sharply, the weight of the impending confrontation bearing down on me.

"Are main toh bas... Chod vaise mere pass ek idea hai," Sammy said casually, a mischievous glint in his eye as he chewed on his apple.

"What? Tell me," I demanded eagerly, stepping closer to hear his plan.

"Main tera boyfriend ban jata hun. Vaise bhi 3 saal se tere saath hi toh tha, so Hitler ko shak bhi nahi honga aur kaam bhi hojayenga.. Hai na brilliant idea?" Sammy grinned, his teeth flashing in amusement.

"Wow, that's actually a great idea," I replied with a forced smile, quickly grabbing a flower pot from the nearby table.

"Aeeeee!" Sammy exclaimed as he realized my intentions, his voice echoing through the corridor.

"Saale suvar, tere ko boyfriend banane se accha hai main Hitler ke haathon mar jau," I exclaimed, hurling the pot in his direction with frustration.

"Aee pagal aurat," Sammy exclaimed, swiftly dodging the projectile as it landed at the feet of an unsuspecting passerby.

I rolled my eyes at Sammy's antics, a small smile playing on my lips. But as I turned my gaze to the figure standing before me, something incredible happened. Our eyes met, and suddenly, everything else faded away. It was as if time stood still, and in that moment, I felt a connection like never before.

Dressed in a sharp Armani suit, hands casually tucked in his pockets, he stood before me with a slight tilt to his head, his gaze fixed on mine. It was as if he could see right through me, into the depths of my soul, and I couldn't help but feel a flutter in my heart.

His presence was striking, leaving me momentarily breathless. With each heartbeat, I felt something stirring within me, a feeling I couldn't quite describe. It was as if the calm surface of a lake was stirred by a gentle breeze, awakening something deep within me.

While Veer and Kiara were lost in their own world, Our angels Krish and Kanak who were with Veer and Kiara, stood stunned as they locked eyes.

Almost 3 decades had passed since they last saw each other, and now, finally, they stood face to face once again. The longing in their hearts made it difficult to believe if this moment was real or merely a dream.

With trembling legs, they tentatively began to move towards each other, their eyes brimming with the love they had held onto for so long. Happiness radiated from their beings, and without hesitation, Kanak rushed into Krish's arms, causing him to stumble back slightly before enveloping her in a tight embrace. In that embrace, they found solace, a sense of peace they had longed for.

Prayers escaped their lips, wishing that no other lovers would have to endure the agonizing separation they had faced. It felt as though they were under some sort of curse, a relentless ache for each other's presence.

Breaking the embrace, Krish cupped Kanak's face, studying her features as if trying to fill the void that had plagued him in her absence. He placed a tender kiss on her forehead as Kanak, her voice trembling, asked, "Itni der kyun laga di ha? Satanaa accha lagta hai kya mujhe?"

"Mere haath main nahi tha na jaan. Hum dono bandhe hue hai inse, jab tak yeh nahi milte hum nahi mil sakte the, toh main jaldi kaise aata tumhare pass." Krish replied, his gaze shifting towards Veer.

Kanak followed his gaze, her eyes settling on Kiara, who was lost in a gaze with Veer.

"Veer?" she asked, to which he nodded. She then looked at Kiara and back at him, pointing at Kiara.

"Kiara?" Veer looked at Kiara for a moment before shaking his head, saying, "Naah, sirf Kanak," as they both chuckled, leaning their foreheads together in shared understanding.

"Guysss, Uloo ki tarah ek dusre ko ghurna band karo tum dono," Sammy's voice broke our staring session, startling both of us.

"What..." Sammy started to say, but his words trailed off somewhere behind me.

"It seems a whole mandaly is ready to welcome me," a commanding voice echoed, freezing me in place as I slowly turned, my heart pounding like a marathon runner.

There stood my mom, also known as Hitler in jest, aka Ritika Agnihotri, as always dressed formally. Her face still exuding the aura of strictness and discipline, her hard gaze piercing me from behind her glasses, making me gulp nervously.

"Mom, you're here," I said, trying not to sound nervous.

"You can see me, can't you, Kiara? So, yes, I'm here," she replied in a no-nonsense tone.

"Yeah, right," I chuckled awkwardly, but seeing her lack of reaction, I cautiously approached her and touched her feet for blessings, not wanting her to launch into a lecture about tradition. She blessed me by patting my head twice.

"How are you, Mom?" I asked genuinely this time.

"Good," I thought to myself, wishing she could answer in more than just one word. Thoda jyada bol dengi toh koyi tax thodi na katenga.

"Aunty," Sammy stepped forward, his arms open for a hug, but one stern glare from hitler and his hands immediately lowered, his upper body bending slightly as if to seek her blessings. I couldn't help but stifle a mental snicker at his quick retreat.

Sammy gestured something to me, and I responded with a puzzled look. He motioned again, directing my attention towards Hitler, and then I noticed her gaze fixed ahead. Following her line of sight, I froze as I spotted the 'Guchi Puchi' boy still lingering there. I narrowed my eyes at him, silently urging him to leave, but before he could budge, Mom intervened.

"So, he's the one you've chosen, Kiara. Not a bad choice, 8/10 for looks," Mom remarked, leaving me utterly shocked and speechless. No, please, he's not the one, I thought desperately, resenting her habit of rating everything she laid eyes on, which could be both embarrassing and infuriating.

"Aren't you going to greet me, boy?" Mom directed a pointed look at the person who seemed unsure of what's going on. Seeing him not responding, Mom turned her gaze towards me with a steely expression, prompting me to take action to save my beautiful ass.I hurried over to him, linking my arm with his and pulling him along.

"Baby, meet our mom... Mom, meet my boyfriend," I said, trying to sound overly sweet, while the poor man looked utterly bewildered, as if he had just encountered an alien.

"Name?" Mom asked curtly, showing no inclination to exchange pleasantries, oblivious to his confused demeanor. How could I explain to Mom that I didn't even know who he was? Naam kya khaak pata honga.

So, I gently nudged him and whispered, "Just tell her your name, please." He blinked several times, seemingly coming back to reality, before taking a deep breath and saying,

"Dr. Veer Malhotra."

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