Chapter -36 The Bye's

" Where were both of you? I have been looking for you for an hour! " Kiyansh's mom asks glaring at Kiyansh and then beaming at me.

He just shakes his head.

She knows she will not get any answer from him so she turns towards me. And without any source of despodency she kisses me on my right cheek. And then beams again, " You are my official daughter now. Kiyansh will you leave her with me for sometime I have to introduce her to some of our extended family. "

" No. " He says tersely.

She glares at him again but he boredly looks towards the party around. " Okay but I have a condition. You both are coming to our family home first there are some ceremonies and....."

" What ceremonies !!" Kiyansh and me say at the same time.

She opens her mouth then laughs at us.

" I guess that's why you both were best friends. "

" We are. " Kiyansh says with an irritated glance at me.

" It's just small little things. For fun, like you both will dunk your hands in a big bowl full of milk and we will see who gets the ring first....well that sorts of things. The main reason is I was thinking of just having an evening soiree. "

I opened my mouth but she said hastily, " I think Aisha and Ronak would love to meet you tomorrow. " She sighed beckoning her head towards my mother and father who were hunched with some people and giving them pained smiles.

My chest contracted, my gut wrenched seeing their smiles. Kiyansh came closer towards me instinctively he wrapped his arms around me from behind keeping his head on my shoulders. Even though I was irritated by him with our early argument I let him do that because it felt good.

Kiyansh's mom radiated a happy grin seeing our proximity and I instantly blushed.

" We should talk to your parents. " Kiyansh whispered in my ears. His breath falling on my ears sends a butterfly rolling in my stomach but I instantly softened towards remembering the way he told my parents that they don't have to give me up.

" Mom. " Kiyansh nodded and his mom smiled back and nodded.

" I will take care of them. " She said gesticulating towards the people who were circling around them. I smiled at her gratefully.

Kiyansh kissed my forehead then stepped beside me holding his hands out at me. I took it and we both sauntered towards my parents. My heart was jumbling inside before I was even close to them.

I looked at my father who's eyes flashed towards me, he stopped speaking altogether and didn't even bid to the man standing beside him still talking. I reached the whole group and nodded at everyone who congratulated at us without even looking at them. My father was looking so young and so innocent, his face seemed contorted like he was trying to hold back emotions, I saw his eyes on the brim of tears. Kiyansh left my hand before running his fingers on my palm in a soothing motion, I noticed that it was the first time he let go of my hands on his own. I jumped at my father, I hugged him so tightly without caring an inch of what anybody else would think or was even noticing. I clung to him like I did when I came back from summer camp in childhood, his arms wrapped tightly around me.

For minutes we both didn't say anything we just held each other, both of our tears silently dropping on each other's shoulder.

" Princess. " My dad touched my hair and I smiled on his shoulder. " I love you," he said running his fingers on my hair.

" I love you too. " I said in his chest.

" Where is my hug princess. " I heard my mother's broken voice.

I instantly turn towards the voice and see her watching adoringly towards us. My father and I both open our arms at the same time and she runs towards us. Hugging us as if our life depended on the hug.

" You three always embarass me behaving like small children. " My grandmother's high pitched voice makes me laugh and I turn expectantly to find her standing close looking agiated at us.

" You want a hug too mom." My mother winks at her mother.

" Oh I am not childish like you all. " She sneers as if the idea of hugging us is the most idiotic thing in the world.

" But I would love to have a hug from my mother- in- law. " My dad says and jokingly steps forward towards my grandmother.

She steps back instantly and makes a face as if someone have said the most offending thing in the world, making all of us laugh.

" Oh but Nani gave me a hug when I told her that we all are going back to Mumbai today. " Ayan smiled at us, standing beside Nani winking at her.

My chest instantly swelled with relief. His smile was back to real, his eyes twinkling just like the Ayan I knew. I smiled up at him, he flashed his charming grin back at me.

I felt a burning gaze on my neck but I ignored it, instead smiling at the oncoming party of my friends. I felt so happy when I saw Prisha, Rohit, Kritika and even Rathi and Vikrant coming around us. Then Kiyansh's parents also came around, and I thought how lucky I was to have such beautiful family around.

We chatted and joked and laughed like this. My heart felt the happiest in years. I knew I had the best family in the world.

The time came soon when Prisha, Kritika, Ayan, Rohit, Rathi and Vikrant were getting ready to board their flight for Mumbai.

" I am gonna miss you so much. " Prisha said to me, hugging me tightly.

" I am gonna miss you too. " I felt the brink of tears again. They all were here for so many days that they felt like family. I didn't want to let them go but ofcourse all of us had works. But I knew I was gonna miss her Kritika even more because they both were going out if India for their next film. Prisha to Europe and Kritika to Africa. " I had such a good time with you guys, I can't even... "

I hugged Kritika, " I didn't know we were going to be such good friends, thank you for coming here. "

Kritika hugged me back, " I should thank you. I have such beautiful friends because of you. Gonna miss you. Try coming to Africa? I promise everything will be on me. "

" Now now don't charm our lady towards you. We both are gonna need her as you two our waving us off. "Rohit said and looked towards Kritika and Prisha, a little more towards Prisha.

I smiled up at him then hugged him. " You both look best together. " I whispered to him and he looked up at me in surprise, 'I know you bishhhhh' I mouthed up at him and grinned at me. 'Love you' he mouthed back at me and I rolled my eyes at him.

Ayan was standing in a corner smiling at me his charming smile. For the first time I held my arms in front of him and I hugged me. At first he stiffened but then he hugged me back, " I like the way you smile you idiot, I am here if you want to tell me anything don't brood on your own we all are here for you. "

I felt him smiling then I stepped back and he instantly let me go. " Thank you. And I am here too okay? Whenever,Wherever."

I grinned up at him, " I am the writer here. "

He just laughed at me.

"And thank you both of you, it was a pleasure to have you here. " I said smiling towards Vikrant and Rathi.

" Pleasure was all mine. " Rathi said winking up at Kritika who instantly turned beetroot red.

" Mam, Sir, The Private Jet is ready. " Parth the head bodyguard Kiyansh introduced today says to everyone.

I look up at the cobbled pathway and see Kiyansh coming towards us. He shakes his hands with everyone but I notice somewhat stiffly towards Ayan who doesn't smile at Kiyansh. They all head inside the two cars that are waiting for them. I wave them all smiling up at them wondering when the time will be again when we all would be together like this again. Kiyansh doesn't say anything but he holds my hand and kisses me on the forehead watching me watch them going.