Marriage battle #3
"I believe you."
She couldn't stop smiling.
Without realizing it, her fingers reached for the front of his shirt again.
Holding it gently.
Just like she always used to.
Rivan looked down at her hand.
Then back into her eyes.
"You still hold my shirt."
She froze.
She hadn't even noticed.
Slowly...
She tried to let go.
Before she could...
His larger hand covered hers.
Stopping her.
"Don't."
His voice became quiet again.
"I missed this."
She looked away shyly.
"I didn't even realize I did it."
"I did."
"I remembered everything."
Every tiny habit.
Every expression.
Every laugh.
Every stubborn argument.
Every silent apology.
Every little thing that made her...
Her.
She slowly rested her head against his chest.
The steady rhythm of his heartbeat echoed beneath her ear.
Fast.
Strong.
Alive.
She smiled faintly.
"It's racing."
He looked down at her.
"You're listening?"
She nodded.
"Hmm."
"Then tell it to calm down."
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because mine is doing exactly the same."
He laughed softly.
The vibration traveled through his chest.
She felt it beneath her cheek.
It made her smile wider.
Without thinking, his chin rested lightly over her head.
His arms settled around her once more.
Not tightly.
Not possessively.
Simply... naturally.
Like they had finally remembered where they belonged.
Virendra quietly cleared his throat.
Both of them looked toward him.
His eyes carried a warmth only a father could have.
"RIVAN Devyani ..."
he said gently,
"Whatever conversations are left between the two of you..."
"Finish them."
"Whatever tears are left..."
"Let them fall."
"Whatever misunderstandings remain..."
"End them."
He smiled proudly.
"Because today..."
He looked around at his family before returning his gaze to the two standing together.
"...this house feels complete again."
Yashodha nodded, tears glistening in her eyes.
"I prayed for this day every single morning."
she whispered.
"Don't let go of each other again."
Neither of them answered.
They simply looked at one another.
Then...
Without saying a single word...
Their fingers slowly intertwined.
This time...
Neither one loosened their grip.
Rivan didn't move away from Devyani. Instead he shifted slightly so he could keep one arm around her waist while turning to face the family.
His free hand stayed linked with hers, fingers intertwined tightly. "Thank you," he said, voice still rough with emotion. "For never giving up on us. For letting us find our way back to each other."
Devyani squeezed his hand in silent agreement.
Her eyes swept over the familiar faces Virendra and Yashodha, the siblings who had teased them only moments ago.
She felt the peace they had all been waiting for settle deep in her bones.
The reunion wasn't just between her and Rivan; it was healing something larger that had fractured inside the family for two long years.
Rivan turned back to her, his gaze intense and tender at the same time.
He lifted their joined hands and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.
"I Miss you, Miss Devyani shegal soon to be Mrs Thakur".
Even when I was angry, even when I tried to hate you... my heart always belonged to you.
Tears welled in Devyani's eyes again, but this time they were tears of relief and overwhelming love. She stepped closer, closing the last inch between them until their bodies were flush once more. "I love you too, Mr Thakur. And I'm never letting go again."
Rivan buried his face in Devyani's neck once more, unwilling to release her just yet.
His voice was muffled but clear enough for her to hear.
"Stay with me tonight. Just... let me hold you. I need to feel you close after everything we've been through."
Devyani's answer came as a soft nod against his shoulder.
Her hand slid up to the back of his neck, fingers threading gently through his hair. "I'm not going anywhere," she whispered. "Not ever again."
Aradhya tilted her head like a curious girl who had just discovered the cookie jar had no lock.
"But, Maa, is it some ancient rule that a man can't sleep next to his almost-wife until the priest finishes chanting? That doesn't sound right," she asked, blinking innocently while casually tossing a live grenade into the middle of the living room.
Rivan's glare could have fried an egg on her forehead. His jaw tightened so hard that the muscle twitched as if it were doing push-ups. Catching his look, Aradhya responded with the tiniest, most wicked smirk the kind that promised she was enjoying every second of his slow death by glaring.
Yashodha folded her arms like a queen about to deliver her final verdict.
"Yes. You two will sleep in separate rooms until the wedding. No negotiations."
Reyansh step forwards so fast.
"Exactly! And who even gave this man permission to breathe the same air as my sister? She's my sister, the future bride, and she's staying here. You, Mr. Thakur, can march right back to your fancy mansion. Don't even think about parking your suitcase here."
Devyani stand quietly with a serene smile, as though she were watching the best soap opera of the year.
Rivan's face twisted into the exact expression of a man who had just realized his entire support system had abandoned ship. He turned to Devyani with pleading eyes.
"Say something. Defend me."
Devyani let out a soft chuckle.
"Sorry, Mr. Thakur. They're right. I can't go against the family this time."
Rivan's eyes widened as though someone had just informed him that his bank account had been emptied.
"You too?"
This keeps the comedy while making the prose read more naturally and smoothly.