What if - Rishmi FF

Part 21

Lakshmi and Rishi made their way outside to the car. There was silence between them. Finally all the misunderstandings were cleared, all the truth was out in the open. Rishi was still in disbelief and couldn't understand how to accept what just happened. On top of all that he was so scared to lose Lakshmi. It had almost happened. Both of them sat in the car. Lakshmi looked at Rishi behaving like a machine. He was so shocked and hurt that he almost looked lifeless. She thought it was because of Malishka's truth, afterall he did consider her his closest friend and even thought it was love at some point.
She gently kept her hand on his. Rishi looked up at her and he broke down again. He hugged her while sitting in his seat. She hugged him back caressing his hair in order to calm him down. Rishi moved back and kissed her. Tears were flowing through both their eyes but he kept kissing her with utmost care. It wasn't urgent but it just seemed he wanted to make sure she was real and she stayed. Once they came out of the kiss,
Lakshmi: Rishi tum theek ho na ab. I know tum bahot hurt ho. Malishka wali baat ki wajah se tum itna pareshan ho na.
Rishi: What. Nai Lakshmi.. Main uska abhi soch bhi nai rha tha. Infact mere dimaag me to baar baar yehi baat chal rhi hai ki agar ye sab sach aayush nai batata abhi, agar mom ko sab pata nai chalta to tum mujhse alag ho jati.
He holds her hands in his and continues
Rishi: Maine tumhe almost kho hi dia tha Lakshmi. I can't tell you how I am feeling right now. Tumse door jaane ka soch ke hi meri jaan nikal rhi hai. Thank God sab clear ho gya.
Lakshmi is at a loss of words. She can't believe her luck, he was only thinking about her all this while and she assumed it was about someone else. Granted he had given her reasons for these doubts but she should have understood his fear and his feelings, she knew how much he loved her.
Lakshmi: Sorry Rishi maine kuch aur hi soch lia. Acha ab ye sab mat socho ab to hum alag nai ho rhe na.
Rishi nods in yes and hugs her again.
Lakshmi: Ab chaliye patidev warna kahi judge madam hamare late hone ke wajah se  gusse me divorce approve na kar de.
Rishi came out of the hug but held her hand and did not leave it the entire ride. He drove to the court and they reached well in time..
Upon entering the court room, the judge was happy to see them walk hand in hand
Judge: So Mr and Mrs Oberoi kya main samajh loon ki iss divorce ki ab koi jaroorat nai hai?
Both of them quickly left their hands and greeted the judge..
Judge (laughing): It's okay. I am happy atleast ye 3 mahine ka time aapke kaam aaya aur actually ek sachha rishta tootne se bach gya..
Waise to I already know your answers but fir bhi formally puchna chahungi, what do you guys want to do ahead. Kya aap alag hona chahte hai ya hum ye divorce cancel kar sakte hai
Rishi: Ma'am cancel cancel bilkul cancel divorce. Ab hum dono ko kabhi koi alag nai kar sakta.
Lakshmi and judge laugh at Rishi's antics.
Judge: Aur Lakshmi tumhara kya kehna hai
Lakshmi: Ma'am pehle to main aapko thank you kehna chahti hoon, hamare pyar ko tab samajhne ke lie jab hum khud bhi ise nai samjhe the. Aur hume ye mauka Dene ke lie ki hum apne rishte ko pakka kar sake, apne saath ko parakh sake. Aur haan ma'am mujhe nai chahiye talaak. Main apni poori zindagi Mrs. Rishi Oberoi banke rehna chahti hoon.
Judge: Thanks ki jaroorat nai hai Lakshmi. Mera to kaam hi hai ye ki rishte ko parakh kar use samajh kar faisla lena. Aur family court me dil ki baat pe bharosa karna padta hai kyuki ye rishton ki baat hai, feelings ki baat hai. I am just happy that hume iss poore case se ek happy couple mila hai end me.
Congratulations to you guys and I am so happy ki main aapki shaadi ki saalgirah par aap dono ko alag na hone ka faisla suna rhi hoon.
Rishmi look at each other. So much had happened since yesterday that they never realised it was their anniversary today. The judge signed the papers and they happily came out of the court room. Lakshmi excused herself and went to talk to the judge. Rishi waited in the corridor. He called Aayush.
Rishi: Aayush ke bachhe, tujhe yaad nai tha aaj meri aur Lakshmi ki wedding anniversary hai..
Aayush: Oooh shit Rishi bhai ye to aap sahi bol rhe ho. Hum sab bhool gye. Aur aap mujhe kya bol rhe ho, aapko khud ko yaad nai tha..
Rishi: Haan theek hai theek hai, ab kuch plan karna padega. Tu ek kaam kar raat ke lie ek party arrange kar le.
Aayush: Rishi bhai worry not. Hum sab dekh lenge aap bas bhabhi ko ghar le aao.
Rishi cut the call as Lakshmi had come back. She had gone to thank the judge for talking to her on the day of Rishi's engagement and giving her the much needed courage and boost to win back her love and husband.
Both Rishi and Lakshmi were talking in the car.
Rishi: Aise to tumhe sab yaad rehta hai aur itna important din bhool gyi
Lakshmi: Tum to aise bol rhe ho jaise tumhe sab yaad tha. Tum bhi to bhool gye the na. Aur waise bhi kal aur Aaj subah jo haalat the kisi ko kaise hi yaad rehta.
Rishi: Haan. But ab yaad aa gya hai na to celebration to banta hai. Afterall, meri zindagi ka sabse haseen din tha wo jisdin tum meri Hui thi
Lakshmi just smiled at him. They reached home. It was only 5 since the appointment had wrapped up early. They were going when Shalu and Bani along with Ahana and Sonia came out of the house. Shalu and Bani took Lakshmi by her arms and were taking her somewhere
Rishi: Arre kaha le ja rhe ho ise.
Shalu: Hum di ko Ghar lekar Jaa rhe hai
Rishi: Par kyu. Hamara divorce nai hua. Ab hum hamesha saath rahenge.. haina Lakshmi
Lakshmi nodded in yes. She was also surprised with what Shalu and Bani were doing.
Bani: Pata hai jiju. Aur ye bhi pata hai ki aaj aapki anniversary hai.
Neelam came out..
Neelam: Aur islie humne decide kia hai ki hum aaj ke din firse Lakshmi ko apne bete ki patni aur apni bahu ke roop me ghar laenge. Wo bhi poore dhoomdham aur izzat se. Hum tum dono ke fir se phere karwana chahte hai taaki pichli baar jo rishta jhoot bolkar kia gya tha wo aaj bilkul sachhai se aur imaandari se firse Jud jaye aur usse bhi jyada majboot ho jaye..
Lakshmi blushed. She was so happy about this. Rishi was also happy.
Rishi: But mom uske lie Lakshmi ko uske maayke jaane ki kya jaroorat hai..
Neelam: Dulhan ko to Vida karke Lana hota hai na Rishi. To use to maayke jana hoga na taaki wo fir se hamare saath aa sake.
Rishi: But mom..
Neelam silenced Rishi and asked Shalu and Bani to take Lakshmi home. She told them that their outfits would be sent along with a car to pick them up and bring them to the venue. Rishi was sad that he had to be away from his wife.
The Oberois had planned a small wedding type function in their hotel but it was only a closed affair with family members. After that was a grand party planned for all the guests to celebrate the joyous occasion.
Rishi was in his room. He didn't like it because Lakshmi wasn't there. It had only been an hour but he was missing her so much. He tried video calling her but she wouldn't pick up. He kept pacing in the room and was talking to her picture on the bedside table telling her how much he missed her. There was still an hour left for them to go the venue for the wedding. Exasperated he video called Lakshmi again and this time the call was answered. But it was Shalu
Shalu: Offo jiju aapse 2 ghante bhi intezaar nai ho rha, kitni baar call kar lia aapne..
Rishi: Wo Shalu wo mujhe Lakshmi se kuch baat karni thi.
Shalu: Di abhi baat nai kar sakti, wo ready ho rhi hai. Aap bataiye kya baat hai
Rishi: Wo mujhe mere kapde nai mil rhe. Mujhe puchna hai kaha rakhe hai.
Just then Ahana came in to Rishi's room.
Ahana: Rishi bhai ye aapke kapde aa gye hai.
Shalu: Lijiye jiju mil gye aapke kapde.
Ahana: Arre shalu. Hii. Bhabhi ready ho gyi?
Shalu: Hi Ahana, nai na.. Ready ho rhi hai. But jiju call karke disturb kar rhe hai dekho na
Ahana: Offo Rishi bhai ladkio ko taiyar hone time pareshan nai karna hota aur bhabhi to aapke lie hi saj rhi hai na.
Rishi: Haan par mujhse baat to kar sakti hai na.
Shalu: Bilkul nai. Ab to aap dono shaadi ke mandap pe hi miloge aur baat karoge.
Rishi: Shalu please ek baar mujhe usse dekhne to do. Kitni der ho gyi hai use dekha bhi nai Maine
Lakshmi is blushing continuously at Rishi's impatience.
Ahana grabs the phone from Rishi's hand.
Ahana: Inhe chhoro Shalu tum mujhe dikhao na bhabhi kaisi lag rhi hai.
Shalu pans the camera to show the hair artist doing Lakshmi's hair. Lakshmi looked royal as a bride. Even without the complete ensemble she was glowing. Rishi tried to take a peek but was only able to see Lakshmi's hair as shalu had faced the camera to herself seeing him coming.
Rishi: Not fair yaar, meri biwi aur mujhe hi nai dekhne de rhe. Main ab tabtak phone nai kaatunga jabtak main use dekh nai leta. Aur agar tumne phone kaata to main waha aa jaunga.
Lakshmi: Rishi please. Hum abhi milenge na thodi der me. Please zid mat karo aur jaldi se ready ho jao. Warna tum khud hi late ho jaoge apni dulhan ko dekhne me..
Rishi was happy even just hearing her voice. He  cut the call and went to get ready. He didn't want to be late to meet the love of his life.
Rishi came down all ready. They were about to leave when a special guest arrived.
Guest: Finally Virendra tumne Hume Rishi ki shaadi me bula hi lia. Iss baar hume hamare naati ke special moment se door nai kia..
Neelam: Papa aap bhi na. Last time ke haalaat bahot alag the. Obviously hum aapko bulate hi.

Yess guys it was Rishi's Nanaji. Frankly I loved his character. If he was here in the show, he wouldn't have let anything go wrong with Lakhsmi but nonetheless this story has his presence..

Rishi came and hugged him.
Nanaji: Mujhe sab pata chala itne dino se kya hua hai iss ghar me aur tumhari zindagi me. Pehle pata hota to shayad main ye sab hone hi nai deta. But ab jo beet gya use main badal nai sakta aur tumse ya Neelam se naraazgi rakhne ka bhi koi faayda nai hoga. Islie main ye baat jaane de rha hoon. But ab aage se aisa kuch kabhi nai hona chahiye..
Rishi: Ji Nanaji. And sorry aapko aise pata chala. I know Maine bahot badi galtiyan ki hai but I am genuinely sorry aur ab main kabhi bhi Lakshmi ke saath kuch galat nai hone doonga. Uski aur apne rishte ki poori respect karunga..
Nanaji: That's like my boy. Khush raho
Dadi: Acha ab chale. Ladki Wale bhi venue pe pahochte hi honge.
They all left for the venue.
On reaching there, everyone was impressed with the beautiful decor and in such a short time.
Aayush came and everyone praised his efforts.
Rishi was getting impatient.
Rishi: Aayush wo Bani Neha log aa gye kya?
Aayush: Haan bhai. Wo log to aa gye aur jinko aapki aankhen dhoond rhi hai na wo bhi aa chuki hai. Room me hai. Aaplog baithiye main unlogo ko inform Kara deta hoon.
Nanaji came forward and said he wanted to meet Lakshmi first. Ahana took him to the room Lakshmi was in.
Lakshmi was sitting nervously. She was getting butterflies like a new bride when she going to marry her own husband for a second time. It seemed so surreal to finally have a wedding where she was sure they were both in love and nothing would go wrong. She saw Nanaji enter the room and got up. She went to touch his feet but he asked her for a hug instead. He asked everyone to leave them alone for a few minutes. Once everyone left he started to talk to Lakshmi
Nanaji: Lakshmi bete main tumse kaha tha ki tum mere lie meri beti jaisi ho. Maine kaha tha na tumse ki tumhe koi bhi problem ho tum mujhe batana.
Jab tumhare saath itna kuch galat ho rha tha tumne mujhe kyu nai kaha. Kyu yaad nai kia apne nanaji ko..main ye sab nai hone deta. Kitna sehna pada tumhe. Us Malishka ko main tumhare saath kabhi kuch galat nai karne deta aur na hi Neelam ko..
I am sorry beta main tumhe nai bacha saka itne dukh se. Meri khud ki beti ne tumhe itna sataya aur main kuch bhi nai kar paya. Please mujhe maaf kar do.
Lakshmi: Nanaji please aap maafi mat maangiye. isme mummy ji ya Rishi ka kasoor nai hai. Kasoor to kisi aur ka tha, jisne sabko jhooth aur fareb me baandhkar galat karwaya. Aur waise bhi Nanaji Rishi kehta hai na ki log galat nai hote haalat galat hote hai. Bas haalat galat the. Par ab to sabkuch theek ho gya hai na. Ab hum sab khushi khushi rahenge. Koi musibat hamara kuch nai kar paegi.
Main bata nai sakti main aapko yaha dekh ke kitni khush hoon.. Thank you nanaji yaha aane ke lie.
Nanaji: Of course, mere naati ki shaadi hai wo bhi meri pasand ki ladki se, duniya ki sabse pyaari aur achi ladki se to aana to tha hi..
He hugged her again. Shalu knocked and asked if she could come in..
Shalu: Nanaji wo di ko neeche sab bula rhe hai. Muhurat ka waqt ho gya hai aur fir thodi der me party bhi shuru hogi na.
Nanaji: Haan haan chalo. Dulhan ko mandap pe le chalte hain.
Shalu and Bani took Lakshmi down to the mandap.