Hello!!! So here is the next part! I know it's probably not that long but it's all I had time for today. I might post another shorter part along with the part for the lake FF tmr but there are no guarantees, depending on how much time I have between assignments.
Anyways enjoy and lemme know what you thought and ignore any typos.
and btw am I supposed to post warnings for this FF too. If so consider urself warned...
Part 9
She wondered if she herself was ready to take on the responsibility of not just becoming a wife but also a badi bahu and a bhabhi.
Niharika took Rani to her and when she saw her face she knew that something was wrong. She sat next to Rani on her bed and called out to Rani but Rani was lost in her thoughts. She was trying to convince herself that everything would be okay and that she would fit into her new roles easily but everything she pused one concern aside another popped up. She jumped slightly when she felt Niharika touch her should and she looked up to see the concerned look on Niharika's face. She tried to smile at her but couldn't. Niharika grew more concerned seeing this and taking Rani'd hands in hers asked, "Rani, kya baat hai? Aap itni ghabrahi hui kyun lag rahi hain? Kya bhaiya nay aap say kuch kaha?"
Rani just shook her head still silent.
Niharika who was going more concerned by the second tried to figure out what could be wrong if her brother hadn't said anything to Rani.
"Rani, hume aapki bohot chinta ho rahi hai! Hume bataiye ka huwa hai? Kya aap humay bhi nahin bataingi? Apni behen ko?"
Hearing Niharika pleading with her, Rani decided to give in. Tears started to form in her eyes as she told Niharika of her concerns about the responsibility that she would have to take on.
"Niharika, hume nahin pata hum sab sambhal paiengay ya nahin. Agar hum nahin kar paya toh? Agar humse kuch khalat ho gaya toh? Agarā¦"
She rambled on feeling the weight on her shoulders lessen by telling someone what she was feeling. Niharika let her continue knowing that she needed to let her feelings out. She listened to her friend's concerns and understood them knowing that when she will be in Rani's position she will probably have the same concerns. Finally, Rani had nothing left to say and Niharika just said, "Rani, hum aapki baat samaj rahay hain laikin aap kuch bhool rahi hain."
Rani gave her a questioning look and Niharika smiled and said, "Aap bhool rahi hain kay hum aapkay saath hain. Aur akelay hum hi nahin, bakhi saab bhi hain, Badi Ma, Choti Ma, Bhavitya, Pataji aur Yudhister Bhaiya bhi. Hum sab aapki madat karien gay. Aur agar aapsay koi khalti ho bhi gait toh koi baat nahin. Pitaji nay aapko humesha say apni beti maana hai aur woh aapsay naraaz kaisay ho saktay hain. Aur waisay bhi sab jaantay hai kay aapko waqt lagay ga sab kuch seekh nay mein. Theek hai?"
Rani nodded and wiped her tears away. She felt her heart grow lighter at Niharika's words and she smiled at her thanking her silently. She knew what Niharika was saying was true and most of her fears had left her but she was still nervous. She knew that her fears would only leave once she finally entered this mehel as a bahu and took on her responsibilities but she decided not to let her nervousness get to her. She was glad to have a friend like Niharika and said so. They chatted for a little while discussing the wedding. Rani seemed to have developed a permanent blush as Niharika teased her. They were so lost in their converstation they didn't notice the time fly by. When they finally looked at the clock they knew that Rani would have to leave soon and decided to return to the party.
Yudi, who had joined Saksham after Rani had left, was busy chatting with his friend and trying not to think about Rani. Saksham noticed his mind wandering and continued to tease Yudi despite Yudi's warnings. Yudi was finally called away by RC who wanted him to meet some people since he had been away for such a long time. Yudi was glad for the distraction because he was still confused as to why every one of his thoughts was realted to Rani somehow. He couldn't understand how someone he had just met a few hours ago had become so integrated into his life. He walked around for a little while and then sat with BR talking to her. He told her about the things he had seen and done when he had been away for a little while and then just sat there holding her hand, happy to be with his mother again. After a while he noticed that she was looking tired after taking RC's permission took her back to her room.
Once she was settled into her bed, he sat at her feet gently pressing her legs and then wondered if he could share his feelings about Rani with her. He looked up at her and her eyes seemed to be asking him what he was thinking and he smiled at her.
BR could see that her son wanted to tell her something and she knew that it probably had to do with Rani. After seeing Rani and him together she knew that they would be happy for many years. She had seen the looks they were giving each other when they thought no one was looking and the way her son's smile reached his eyes when Rani was around. She knew that they were soon going to fall in love with each other and couldn't be happier. She wished she could tell Yudi what she was thinking but tried to convey her understanding to him through her eyes.
Yudi could tell that his mother knew that he wanted to say something to her and he decided to let his feelings out.
"Ma, pata nahin hume kya ho gaya hai. Jab say hum Rajkumari Rani say milay hain, har khayal un say judha hai. Jab bhi kuch karnai ki sooch tay hain toh apnay aapsay pooch tay hai kay woh unko aacha lagay ga ya nahin. Laikin, hum toh unsay toh hum thoday ghatay pehlay hi milay hain. Hume kuch samaj nahin aa raha hai."
He gave her a frustrated look and BR smiled at him, jumping for joy on the inside. She hadn't thought that Yudi would fall for Rani so deeply so quickly but it seemed that she had been wrong but she was happy. She knew that he was confused now but would soon realize that he was falling in love with Rani and wished she could tell him that everything was going to be okay.
Yudi smiled back at his mother feeling a little bit better after telling her his thoughts and noticed that she seemed happy hearing his words. He could see that she wanted to say something to him and vowed that he would try his best to find a way to make her better soon. He sat there for a little while longer until his mother nodded off while he pressed her feet and then decided to go back to the party.
He walked down the hallways not really thinking of where he was going as he was lost in his thoughts until he noticed that he was going in the opposite direction he was supposed to be going in. He looked around and saw that he was standing right in front of Niharika's room. He moved closer to her door wondering he if should knock. He knew that Rani was inside and he had the urge to see her again but he had no reason for knocking other than that. He stood there with his hand and forehead leaning against the door. Suddenly the door opened and he fell forward landing on top of the person who opened it. His eyes had closed during the fall and when he opened them he was immediately mesmerized by the ones staring right back at him surprised.
Rani and Niharika had fixed their hair and clothes and moved to the door to go back to the party when Niharika realized she had left one of her rings on the bed. She walked back to get it while Rani pulled the door open only to have someone fall on top of her making her fall onto the floor. She was too surprised to even let out a small sound and just braced herself for the fall by grabbing onto the person who had fallen on top of her. She looked at the person and was immediately pulled into the look in his eyes.
Yudi and Rani stared at each other with Rani grasping his shoulders while Niharika walked to the door and saw them lying there. She stifled a laugh by pressing her hand to her lips before calming herself down and clearing her throat.
Yudi and Rani heard her and Yudi jumped up embarrassed as a blush formed across Rani's cheeks. They both avoided looking at Niharika and Yudi reached out with his hand to help her up. Rani shyly took his hand allowing him to help her up avoiding his gaze. Yudi could feel the warmth of hand in his and he gently squeezed it making Rani look up at him, both of them forgetting Niharika's presence once again.
Niharika smiled wistfully seeing the looks passing between them and decided to leave them alone for a few minutes. She slipped around them and out the door deciding to wait for them outside the door. She waited for a couple of minutes before shouting out, "Bhaiya."
Meanwhile Yudi continued to stare at Rani willing her to look up at him. He admired the flush in her cheeks, the small smile on her face and lowered eyes until they both heard Niharika's voice. They looked around and seeing that she was no longer in the room with them, were startled.
Rani could feel Yudi's closeness and his gaze. She tried to control her speeding heart which jumped into her throat when she heard Niharika called out to Yudi. She realized that they had just been standing there and embarrassed thought that they should leave and whispered, "Kuwarji, hume chalna chahiye. Niharika, humare intezaar kar rahi hongi."
Yudi's heart seemed to have jumped hearing her sweet voice and when her words registered in his brain he nodded and started to move away only to hear her say something once again, so softly he almost didn't hear her.
"Kuwarji, pehle hamara haath toh chord dijye."
Yudi surprised looked down to see that he was still holding onto her hand. His left hand, in her left hand with their rings brushing against each other.