✔︎𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞

Epilogue 2

Subi sat in the principal's office, waiting for him. When he arrived five minutes later, he greeted her with a "Hello, Mrs. Subi," as he took his seat.

She stood up to greet him, and they discussed a few important matters regarding her schedule and classes. Just as they were getting started, he received a call. Glancing at the number, he excused himself, saying, "I'll be right back, it's an important cal and your class is on fourth floor, just take a left."

He spoke so hastily that Subi didn't quite catch what he said. Nodding her head, she began to leave the office when she overheard him say, "Yes, Mr. Rathore, of course."

"Maan? Why is he calling him?" she wondered, lost in thought as she made her way to the classroom. "Subi, it's not necessary that it's Maan. There could be others with the same surname. Why are you thinking too much?" she chided herself.

As she turned left from the stairs, she collided with someone. "Hey, watch where you're going," a girl said, rubbing her arm, while Subi picked herself up from the floor.

"Sorry, I didn't see you coming," Subi apologized, cleaning her glasses and putting them back on. "Yeah, I can see why," the woman replied with an attitude, not even offering to help.

Subi didn't say anything more and continued on her way to her class. Consulting her schedule, she found that she was assigned to teach English Language to Class 10th B. As the class in-charge, she entered the classroom with a smile.

The students greeted her, and she returned their greetings. Starting the class with some introductory chat to get to know her students, she began discussing the novel they were supposed to read that year. "Gifts of Imperfection," she read the title, a beautiful smile spreading across her face as she thought of Maan. He was the man who had made her understand the meaning of those words.

"Ma'am, do we really have to read this? I mean, what's the point of having imperfections?" a girl asked, standing at the last bench with a book in her hand.

Subi looked up, her eyes focusing on the student. "What's your name?" she asked.

"Adarsh Malhotra," the girl replied. "Adarsh, I want to ask you something," and she just looked at Subi, waiting for her to continue. "Do you believe that the Adarsh that everyone knows you as, is really you?" it confused her and tilted her head.

"Okay, let me explain it like this," and she called her near her chair. Adarsh went to Subi and stood beside her, asking for her hand. Taking her hand, she gave Adarsh one of the books with a plain brown cover on it.

"What do you think it might be?" to which she said after thinking a bit, "I don't know, some big long boring novel?"

Subi didn't say anything and asked her to remove the cover, and she did so.

It was one of the most famous and interesting books, "Alice in Wonderland". She was having this book to teach her 7th-class students.

Adarsh's eyes widened in surprise as she revealed the title of the book, "Alice in Wonderland"! She couldn't help but chuckle at the unexpected twist. "You're using Alice in Wonderland to make a point about people having two faces?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"In this book, there are stories of people who have two faces, one that they show to the world and one that they hide from the world. The question is, which one is the real you?" Subi asked, her eyes piercing into Adarsh's, as if searching for a hidden truth. Adarsh felt a shiver run down his spine as she took the book from her, his fingers brushing against hers. The touch sent a spark of electricity through him, but she didn't pull away. SHe was intrigued by Subi's words, and the mysterious book that seemed to hold secrets. "What do you mean?" She asked,her voice low and curious.

Subi smiled enigmatically, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Ah, but that's the beauty of it, Adarsh. The story is not just about a little girl's adventures in a fantastical world. It's about the duality of human nature, the blurred lines between reality and fantasy, and the masks we wear to hide our true selves."

Adarsh felt a shiver run down her spine as she gazed at Subi, her words striking a chord within her. She couldn't deny that she had always presented a perfect image to the world, hiding her true feelings and insecurities behind a mask of confidence and charm. But was that really her, or was it just a character she played to fit in?

"Now tell me, is it a boring book?" she asked, to which Subi shook her head and said, "This used to be one of my favorite stories."

"Exactly, just like this cover, we all hide our real selves from the world. Everyone knows us as we want them to know. But a very few are there, those who accept themselves with all their imperfections and embrace them. That's the beauty of it," Subi explained, and the student nodded, though still looking uncertain.

"That's okay, your questions will be answered as we go on with the book," Subi reassured her, and told her to take a seat. But before they could do anything else, the bell rang, signaling the end of the period. Saying goodbye for the day, the student left for her next class, and just like that, the day flew by.

At four, Subi was leaving the school when Adarsh came running up from behind and told Subi that she was really excited to read and know more about what's inside the book. Smiling and greeting, they parted ways, and Subi was about to take an auto when a car stopped in front of her.

Her husband had sent his driver to pick her up. Smiling, she took her seat, and they drove back home. Subi was thrilled after her first day and was dying to tell Nirmaan all about it.

After reaching home, she freshened up and ate something. Right then, she was busy preparing for the next day's classes. When she heard someone's footsteps, she tilted her head up to see her Maan walking towards her. Leaving all her things on the bed, she jumped on him and hugged him tight, kissing his lips. Nirmaan smiled and kissed her back, brushing their noses together.

"Looking very happy, biwi?" he asked, to which she nodded her head up and down in excitement. "I'm very, very, very happy; it felt amazing going back to teaching," and his smile grew instantly.

After Nirmaan got freshened up and everyone had dinner, they came back to their room and lay comfortably on their favorite swing, with Nirmaan resting his head on the arm of it and Subi hugging him, her head on his chest.

"Biwi?" he asked, to which she hummed back. "Tomorrow morning, there will be a surprise for you," he said, and she jolted her head up

"

"Ab kya bomb phodne wale ho?" (Now what bomb are you going to blast?), she asked, knowing his levels of surprises.

He looked at her and chuckled, "Don't worry, it won't affect you, I promise. But I really hope you like it." She smiled and said she'll wait eagerly.

"But for now, let me have some fun with my Biwi," and hovering over her, he took her lips to his. Lost in each other and not caring about anything, they both spent their night loving each other.

And I might post chapter 1 of next book also By TOMORROW
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Sequel of Stepping into Arrange Marriage