“Kittu!” Mumma called my name for the fifth time now, her voice a mix of urgency and impatience.
“We have to leave for the airport!” she reminded me, but I was still sitting amidst a mess of clothes, half-packed and totally distracted.
I glanced at the clock, realizing I was far from done with the packing, and the time was slipping away faster than I’d expected.
“Aa rahi hu Mumma!” I shouted back, hurriedly trying to throw everything into the suitcase, my mind still racing with thoughts of the upcoming surprise.
I finally reached the living room, dragging my suitcase behind me, where my parents were already waiting.
Mumma gave me a small, reassuring smile, but it was my father who pulled me into an emotional hug.
He held me tightly, his voice soft with emotion, “You’re getting married now… my little girl is all grown up.”
I smiled, feeling the warmth of the moment, but the curiosity still gnawed at me.
I pulled back slightly and looked between the two of them. “Okay, now can I know where we’re heading?” I asked, hoping they’d finally spill the secret.
But they both shrugged, sharing a knowing smile. "It’s all a surprise for you," Mumma said casually, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Frustrated, I stomped my foot like a child. “Ugh, fine!” I muttered, grabbing my bags and heading for the door.
The mystery was driving me crazy, but I had no choice but to play along.
We reached the airport in about an hour, and by then, curiosity was eating away at me.
I was certain I’d finally find out where we were going once we checked in. But, to my complete surprise, even the airport staff were in on the secret.
Every time I tried to sneak a peek or ask a casual question, they smiled and stayed tight-lipped, adding to my growing frustration.
I couldn’t believe it. “Like, are you serious?” I muttered under my breath, shaking my head in disbelief. This surprise was getting bigger by the minute, and I had no clue what was coming.
Frustrated and unable to crack the mystery, I quickly pulled out my phone and texted Vayu:
“You better be ready for this, Vayu! If this surprise doesn’t live up to the hype, you’re in trouble!”
I hit send, half-serious, half-amused, but the anticipation was starting to get to me.
If he thought keeping me in the dark like this was fun, he had no idea what was coming if this surprise didn’t meet my expectations.
Finally, the boarding announcement rang through the terminal, and I felt a mix of relief and anxiety wash over me.
I was completely off the charts with curiosity, desperate to know where we were headed.
I quietly settled into my seat. Once I was comfortable, I slipped in my AirPods, drowning out the chatter of the plane and the bustling crowd.
I closed my eyes, letting the music wash over me, hoping it would help calm my racing thoughts and distract me from the mystery of it all.
As the plane took off, I felt the gentle rumble of the engines, and before I knew it, the world outside faded away.
I didn’t even realize when I dozed off, the combination of exhaustion and the soothing rhythm of the flight lulling me into a deep sleep.
We had landed in Dehradun about half an hour ago, and now we were just waiting for Reya and her parents to arrive.
No, Dehradun wasn't a surprise.
My anticipation was driving me crazy. Every minute felt like an eternity as I waited to see her.
The moment my Sunflower would step through those doors, I knew all I’d want to do was pull her into my arms, hold her close, and forget about everything else.
Just the thought of it made my heart race, and I found myself glancing around restlessly, hoping she'd arrive any second.
As soon as I reached them, I bent down to touch the feet of my in-laws, showing them my respect.
But before I could even greet them properly, Reya grabbed my arm and, without a word, pulled me to a quiet corner.
Her face was serious, and I could sense something was off. The moment we were out of earshot, she started shouting at me, her frustration clear.
“What’s going on, Kashyap? I'm not gonna marry you in your IMA campus!”
I chuckled softly, pulling her into my embrace and pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. Her frustration melted slightly in my arms, though she still glared up at me, waiting for an answer.
“Just a little more patience, okay?” I said, my voice calm and teasing.
“I promise, the real surprise is worth it. Just wait a bit longer.”
She cursed under her breath, clearly still frustrated, which only made me chuckle. I grinned, pulling her closer and teasing, “We’re getting married. You can’t curse your husband like that.”
She shot me a playful glare, but I could see her trying to hold back a smile. “I can and I will, asshole!” she muttered.
I laughed, tightening my hold around her, and continued, “How would you curse me in front of our baby, huh?”
The words left my mouth casually, but I watched as her expression shifted.
She froze, her eyes widening in shock, completely caught off guard.
The frustration that had been simmering moments ago dissolved instantly, replaced by something softer, deeper. Her gaze held mine, as if there was so much she wanted to say, but couldn’t quite find the words.
I gently brushed a strand of hair from her face and asked, “What happened, Sunflower?”
Her lips parted, but before she could say a word, Navi appeared out of nowhere, breaking the moment.
“C'mon guys the cab’s here. Let’s get moving!” she called out, waving us over.
Reya blinked, whatever she was about to say fading into the rush of the moment. We exchanged a quick glance, the unspoken words still lingering between us.
His words echoed in my ears—“How would you curse me in front of our baby?”
Our baby!
The little munchkin growing inside me, and he still had no idea.
My heart raced at the thought of finally sharing the news, but before I could say anything, Navi's voice interrupted, pulling us back to reality.
I swallowed the words I was about to say and followed them, my secret still safely tucked away, waiting for the right moment.
We settled into the back seat, his hand naturally finding mine, fingers intertwining like they always did.
Our parents had already left in another cab, leaving us a quiet moment to ourselves.
I rested my head on his shoulder, trying to calm my racing heart, his warmth grounding me.
All I could think about was the secret I was holding—the life growing inside me, the incredible journey we were about to begin.
I wanted to tell him, right there in that quiet car ride.
I’m pregnant. We’re pregnant.
But I stayed silent, waiting for the perfect moment, knowing it would change everything.
I drifted into sleep once more, and you could definitely call me a sleepyhead.
His warmth wrapped around me like a cozy blanket, pulling me into a deep slumber.
The gentle sway of the cab and the rhythm of his breathing created a soothing lullaby, and before I knew it, I was lost in dreams, blissfully unaware of the world outside, feeling safe and content in his presence.
After almost an hour, the sudden screech of brakes jolted me awake, pulling me from the depths of my dreams.
I could see we had arrived at our destination, and the buzz of excitement surged through me, mingling with the remnants of drowsiness.
“Ready for the surprise?” Vayu asked, his wide grin lighting up his face, making my heart flutter.
I nodded, trying to suppress my anticipation, knowing that whatever lay ahead would change everything for us.
We stepped out of the car, and my breath hitched in my throat as I took in the breathtaking view.
Mussoorie!
The hills rose majestically around us, draped in lush greenery, and there it stood—a charming cottage that seemed to beckon us with its warm, inviting aura.
Then a sudden realization hit me like a wave.
My bucket list!
This was it—marrying in a cozy place surrounded by hills, just like I had always dreamed. The perfect backdrop, the serenity of nature, and the warmth of the cottage all came together in a beautiful moment that felt surreal.
I turned to him, a mix of shock and joy flooding my senses. “Oh my god!” I exclaimed, my heart swelling with gratitude and love.
I couldn’t believe he had done all this for me. The sheer thought of his effort made my heart soar, and without thinking, I jumped into his arms, wrapping my legs around him in excitement.
“Thank you! Vayu!” I exclaimed, my laughter ringing through the air as I buried my face in his shoulder, overwhelmed by happiness.
His strong arms held me tightly, and I could feel his laughter vibrating against me. In that moment, all my worries melted away, replaced by the joy of this incredible surprise.
I pulled away, a playful grin still on my face, and asked him, “How did you get your hands on my personal diary? The one where I’ve written every dream and bucket list?”
He caressed my cheek gently, his touch sending shivers down my spine, and replied with a mischievous smile, “I stole it so that I can fulfill your every dream!”
We made our way inside and found our families already gathered, sitting together and enjoying tea. The warm ambiance of the cottage felt even cozier with their laughter and chatter filling the air.
As we joined them, the conversation shifted toward the important details for the wedding.
Guests would be arriving by tomorrow, and it was all starting to feel so real.
“It will be a simple and intimate wedding, just our closest family and friends,” he said, glancing at me with a smile.
I couldn’t have imagined it any other way. Surrounded by our loved ones in this beautiful setting, it felt perfect—just like the beginning of our journey together.
After the discussion, everyone retreated to their respective rooms but I was in no mood to take any rest.
So I decided to roam around the cottage. I admired the beauty surrounding me—the majestic hills, the serene environment, and the cozy warmth of the cottage itself.
It was like a dream come true, and I wanted to take in every moment.
Lost in my thoughts, I wandered outside onto the porch, breathing in the fresh mountain air.
Suddenly, I felt strong arms wrap around my waist, pulling me close. I leaned back into him, a smile spreading across my face.
“So still planning to call off the wedding?” he asked, his voice a warm whisper against my ear.
I chuckled softly, turning to face him. “Ab to bilkul nahi!”
He smirked, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Well, someone was saying she'll beat my ass off!”
“I can still do that!” I replied pulling his ear. He laughed pulling me even closer to him.
As we stood there, the beauty of the moment felt perfect, and I decided it was time to spill out my secret.
I turned to him, throwing my arms around his neck, feeling the warmth radiating from his body.
“I want to tell you something, Vayu!” I started, my heart racing as I prepared to share the news that had been bubbling inside me.
His expression shifted from playful curiosity to attentive concern. “What is it?” he asked softly, his hands resting gently on my waist.
Taking a deep breath, I continued, “I’m… I’m..”
And before I could complete we heard someone clearing throat to announce thier presence.
We turned and saw Maa standing with a smile.
Startled, I pulled away and felt a wave of shyness wash over me. My heart raced as I glanced at her.
“Oh, I’m so sorry to interrupt you love birds!” she said, a warm smile on her face.
“It's not like that Maa!” I said with coyness. She came to me, cupping my cheeks with her gentle hands. “I hope you like the place,” she asked, her eyes sparkling with warmth and sincerity.
Overwhelmed by the kindness of the moment, I couldn’t help but hug her tightly. “I love it! It’s perfect,” I said, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over me.
“Come on, you two! Take some rest before we head out for some street shopping?”
I exchanged a glance with him, and we both nodded, still buzzing from the earlier moment.
“Sounds good!” he replied, leading me inside.
We entered the room, the cozy warmth welcoming us.
As I rested against him, the secret of our little miracle danced on my lips, and I made the silent decision to share it on our wedding day, knowing that this cherished moment would make our vows even more profound.
.
.
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To be continued.
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