On Call -

"Yes! Hello, Samdhan ji, namaste." Anupama was the first to speak as Manjari answered the call.

"Mummy, put it on speaker," Saanjh whispered, her face half-covered with a skincare mask.

On Speaker

"Hello, Samdhan ji! Namaste. How are you all?" Manjari's cheerful voice came from the other end.

"We're all doing great. Everything good on your end too?" Anupama asked politely, glancing at Saanjh.

"When has anything not been great here?" Manjari laughed.

"Yes, I know. Actually, I called to talk about something important," Anupama said, her tone turning a bit serious.

"Of course, go ahead! We're more like friends now than in-laws, aren't we?" Manjari laughed again warmly.

"Why is my mother-in-law so sweet?" Saanjh whispered dramatically, pretending to wipe invisible tears. Anupama gave her arm a light smack.

"Well... I was going to ask... it's been six months since the engagement. If you all agree, should we go ahead and fix the wedding date too?" Anupama asked hesitantly.

"Oh, we've been waiting for this day! Just give me a moment, I'll start a video call and bring everyone in. Don't go anywhere, okay? Just wait two minutes," Manjari said before hanging up.

Two minutes later, a video call request popped up on Anupama's phone.

Saanjh instantly stood up and hid in the corner, trying to avoid the camera. Anupama glared at her before answering the call.

"Raadhe Raadhe, Samdhan ji! Raadhe Raadhe, Samdhi ji!" the entire Chaturvedi family greeted in unison.

"Raadhe Raadhe," Anupama and Haricharan greeted back with smiles.

"You were saying something about fixing the wedding date?" Anmol asked.

"Yes. Actually, it's been six months since Nikhil and Mrignayani's engagement, and they've had time to get to know each other. So we thought, why not start discussing the wedding?" Haricharan said warmly.

"We've been waiting for this conversation too, Mr. Haricharan. Now both families should just sit together and find an auspicious date with the help of a priest," Anmol responded.

"Shall we do it tomorrow? If that's okay with you all," Anupama suggested.

"Of course! We're all eager to welcome your daughter into our family," Manjari said with obvious excitement.

"In that case, shall we meet at the temple tomorrow? We can get their horoscopes checked there as well and fix the date." Anupama proposed.

"To be honest, Anupama ji, we don't really believe in horoscopes, but if it's important to you, we'll definitely get it done." Manjari said, making Saanjh coo quietly from the corner.

"Where's bhabhi? Did she go to the boutique?" Riddhima asked.

"Oh no, she's right here." Anupama said, turning to look at Saanjh, who was still shaking her head furiously, refusing to show her face.

"Come here, dear. Your in-laws are waiting to see you," Anupama said sweetly, though with a touch of sarcasm.

Saanjh finally gave in and appeared on screen, her face mask still on.

"Hello. How are you all?" she asked.

"Hi, dear. We're all fine. But how are you? Are you taking care of yourself? Nikhil isn't troubling you, is he?" Manjari asked.

Saanjh silently thanked the mask for hiding her tomato-red cheeks.

"I'm the one who troubles him, actually-" she couldn't finish her sentence because Nikhil appeared on the screen right then.

"What happened bhabhi? Why did you stop talking?" Riddhima teased.

"Namaste Pandey Sir, Namaste Saasu Maa. Paay laagu," Nikhil greeted with a playful grin.

"Bless you, dear," Anupama replied warmly.

"What are you all discussing without me here?" Nikhil asked his family.

"Your wedding with Saanjh. We're finalizing the date," Arvind told him.

Nikhil looked at Saanjh and smiled mischievously, clearly enjoying her embarrassment.

Unable to deal with him, Saanjh stood up and walked away from the camera.

"Bye, Saasu Maa. I've got something to do. You all continue," Nikhil said before disappearing from the screen too.

"Bhaaiya's going to talk to bhabhi, isn't he?" Riddhima asked cheekily.

"You talk too much," Shakuntala scolded, shaking her head.

......

On Call -

"Why did you move away from the screen?" Nikhil asked Saanjh.

"If you're going to tease me, of course I'll feel shy!" Saanjh replied.

"Oh really? And where does that shyness go when you crack those twisted, dirty jokes?" Nikhil shot back.

"That's because we're alone then, aren't we? When we're alone, I could practically eat you alive. But when you stare like that in front of the whole family-"

"Then come meet me right now. Let me see exactly how you plan to eat me alive." Nikhil teased with a laugh.

"Don't be shameless. You don't even know what kind of a woman I am. Got it?" Saanjh challenged.

"I know every vein of yours, sweetheart. It's you who doesn't know what I am. Just come outside, I'll show you." Nikhil replied smugly. (Rag Rag se waqif)

"Oh yeah? Then fine, tell me-what's my dream destination?" Saanjh asked, folding her arms.

"If I tell you, you'll go mad. Don't act crazy-I know everything." Nikhil smirked.

"Then tell me, Mr. Nikhil 'I Know Everything' Chaturvedi!" she pushed.

"Your dream destination is... my bedroom... and the king-size bed inside it."

Saanjh didn't say a word. She hung up immediately, her face burning with embarrassment.

"Why'd she hang up?! Hello? Mrigu?? Mrigu, come on! Baby?!?!" Nikhil shouted at his screen, then groaned and slapped his phone lightly in frustration.

"Kuch galat keh diya kya? Shit yaar. Wtf is wrong with you Nikhil.!!!" He groaned, falling on his bed.

......

"I need to meet Vidyut."

Pallavi slammed her palm onto the assistant's desk, making the poor boy flinch and look up in panic.

"Sorry ma'am, but... do you have an appointment with him?" he asked nervously.

"I don't need any appointment to meet him. Go and call your boss." she snapped, her tone sharp.

"This is unfair. Why don't you get it? I'm talking to you respectfully, but you-you're just being plain rude!" the assistant defended, clearly frustrated.

"Alright then. Respectfully, I'll go in myself."

Without waiting for another word, Pallavi charged past him. The boy scrambled behind her, trying in vain to stop her.

She didn't pause until she reached a door with a nameplate:

Advocate Vidyut Chaturvedi

"Ma'am, he doesn't like being interrupted during meetings! You'll end up embarrassed, and I'll probably lose my job. Have mercy, Devi ji. I just passed my LLB-I'm not even an official advocate yet. Please try to understand!" the assistant pleaded, nearly panting.

"Chup."

(Quiet.)

Pallavi shut him down with a single word, making the poor boy clamp his mouth shut.

And then she threw the door open-bang.

"Oye, Electric! Head of this fancy office-why don't you pick up your damn phone? Are you that busy? Busy doing what, huh? Spending your honeymoon with clients or--------- what?!"

She froze.

Her words died in her throat as her eyes locked onto the man sitting across from Vidyut.

Then she looked at Vidyut, who was calmly adjusting his glasses.

Then back to the man.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Gupta. We'll reschedule. My assistant will guide you through the process." Vidyut said smoothly to the man.

Mr. Gupta stood up, glaring at Pallavi.

"We'll talk at home," he said pointedly, before walking out.

The assistant nervously offered, "This way, sir," and followed him out.

Pallavi stood frozen, eyes wide, mouth slightly open. Mortified.

Vidyut walked over to her slowly, hands in his pockets, a smirk playing on his lips.

"So? What's the matter, Your Highness?" he asked casually.

Pallavi blinked, trying to recover.

"Respectfully... Chud Gaye, waqeel sahab. That client of yours? was my father."

(I'm screwed, Mr. Advocate)

...



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