The sound of her anklets roamed inside the temple as she ran around, laughing and giggling. She had beautiful flowers in her hand and incense sticks that she had intended to burn. The temple was filled with only few people who wore royal gowns and dresses.

"Aishwani, Stop running around, you will fall," Ananya sighed looking at her daughter who ran around giggling. Ananya was a beautiful woman, 44 years old, in wheelchair. "Dev, Say something to her.,"She pleaded to her husband who just smiled while squeezing his wife's hands.

"What must I say? Ananya? Our daughter is just like you. It makes me feel good to see her happy.", Dev smiled and kissed his wife's cheeks. Ananya however seemed worried and concerned. Dev glanced at her face that clearly showcased what her mind was going through.

"Ananya, I know you are scared that Aishwani might face the same disaster as you, but worry less, God will protect her.", He assured her. Ananya bit her lips slightly and nodded her head, silently praying to god that her precious daughter be safe and sound.

"Dad, We are getting late for the meeting. Isn't the puja done?", Vedang Roy, the eldest son of Roy family whispers to his father in a rushed tone.

"Vedang, Wait a little more. Pandit ji is getting the prasad and locket. The locket will protect our family.", Ananya commanded turning towards her eldest son, Vedang.

Vedang just scoffed. He was annoyed. He didn't believe in superstitions such as these and he didn't prefer coming to temple either, but still did just for his mom. Furthermore, he'd long ago stopped believing in God when his mother lost her walking ability.

Vedang was a 6ft tall man, blessed with beauty and looks, who was just 23, already indulged in business and devoted to the company of his father. He was a workaholic man who wasn't really interested in anything else but business. He didn't know how to show affection either, except for his sister of course. He would lay his body for his little sister, Aishwani. Vedang loved Aishwani for more reasons, because she reminded him of those days when his mother could still walk and dance. She reminded him of those years when his mother was just like Aishwani. And there's no way he would let it lose again.

The pandit ji comes while chanting sacred mantra with a plate of prasad and he also had a beautiful locket on his hand. He gives the prasad to Ananya, Dev and Vedang.

 "Aishwani, come to eat prasad, Dear.", Ananya called out softly.

"Maa, I just saw lots of cars outside the temple gate. Who are they?", asked Aishwani while clinging to her mother.

"Ah, it must be the Singhania family. Beta, here is the prasad for you," Pandit Ji replied and handed out a laddu to Aishwani.

"Pandit ji, How many calories are there in this laddu?", asked Aishwani while eating.

Pandit Ji laughed hearing her question. "I do not know about calories Beta, but I do know about blessings. And for a beautiful child like you, there are lots of blessings in this prasad."

"Maa, What is this?", Vedang asked softly, trying not to show his mother that he was annoyed. Ananya just put the locket around Vedang's neck.

"Pandit Ji said that if the eldest son of the family wears this locket then the family will be safe and protected.", Ananya smiled and ruffled Vedang's hair.

"Mom, I'm not a child anymore and regarding protection, I am enough to protect our family.", replied Vedang. "Alright, Alright, It's done now. Let's go home."Ananya chuckled. Vedang nodded his head.

 "Dad, I'll drop Aishwani and maa home and come to the company.",Vedang said to his dad, Dev. Dev was on his phone and it seemed as if he was having an important conversation. Dev just simply glanced at Vedang and nodded his head as approval.

"Aishwani, Where are you?", Vedang looked around at the temple searching for his mischievous little sister. He growled in a frustrated manner and walked up to the temple searching for her. And there she was, Aishwani putting the prasad in the hem of her saari.

"Aishwani, what are you doing?", asked Vedang giving her a 'are you serious!?' look.

"Ahh! Ugh! Ved, you scared me!", Aishwani shouted flinching.

"I'd like to know why you are stealing prasad.", Vedang raised his eyebrow peeking at the laddus on the hem of her saari.

"Nothing!", Aishwani quickly turned back and before Vedang could question, she ran out. Aishwani giggled softly while running downstairs of the temple. She was wearing a white saari.

The stairs of the temple were long and some people were walking upstairs, behind them walked bulky bodyguards who wore black suit.

But suddenly Aishwani tripped on her lehenga and the prasad flew up in the sky while she reared down. Aishwani's eyes widened as she tripped and she felt her heart tremble.

"AISHWANI!!!", Vedangg shouted running down to hold her,,, but he was too far away. Ananya, Aishwani's mom trembled and looked at her precious daughter horrified. She clenched her wheelchair and tried to get up, she was desperate to save her child. She fell off the wheelchair and laid on the floor unconscious.

But before the disaster could happen, A hand caught Aishwani's hands.

Aishwani heaved a relief and took a deep breath. She would have fallen off and god knows what would have happened if it hadn't been for the man.

"Huff~(take a deep breath)~Oh, Thank god!", She whispered rising up.

"So I'm your god now?",A voice asked. The voice was cold, filled with authority yet it was soothing to ears and something that could provide butterflies to stomach.

Aishwani looked over him with her beautiful doe eyes.

The man paused momentarily while staring at Aishwani. "Thank you.", And with that, Aishwani started picking up the laddu that had fallen off. She whined while picking them up. "All the prasad fell off. Now how will I receive more blessings.", She mumbled while putting them on the hem of her shawl like before. The man raised his eyebrows looking at Aishwani. Yet he said nothing and started walking up the stairs.

Vedang rushed towards Aishwani. "Aishwani!", He said in a harsh voice.

Aishwani flinched and looked at her brother. "What, Ved?", She asked softly as she saw the angered and worried look on her brother's face. "Do you know what would have happened if you'd fall off!?" He asked angrily and grabbed her wrist. Aishwani looked down guiltily. "Sorry Ved, I was just... I will be careful next time." She muttered fidgeting her fingers. Vedang sighed and just kissed her forehead.

"Maa passed out when she saw you falling. Be careful hmm.", He responded. Aishwani's eyes widened. She quickly climbed up the stairs, only to find the wheelchair of her mom empty. Dev, her father was holding Ananya (her mother). Ananya was unconscious. "Maa! How did you-!!", Aishwani bent down holding her mother's hands.

"Your mother was panicked...Aishwani, this should never happen again.", Dev whispered calmly. Aishwani nodded her head tearing up.

"Dev? What happened to Ananya?", A woman asked leaning towards them. She walked closer but Dev glared at the woman.

"The Singhania family sure loves to arrive on such time.",Dev answered in a hostile, cold tone filled with detestment. "You didn't care about my wife years ago when you paralysed her legs, so why do you care now?"

The woman's eyes watered upon hearing Dev's hostile words. Her eyes turned red with regret, guilt, pain and something deeper...concern maybe?

"Maya, Let them be. They will never understand you.",A man in his 50s held Maya by the shoulder and guided her towards the temple.

"Papa, what were you talking about?",Aishwani looked at Dev confused. She waited as silence coveted them. Dev was silent. Aishwani looked at the woman who walked inside the temple. She stared at them, unable to understand why her kind father was so hostile to them. The young handsome man who had saved her earlier gave her a cold glare before walking inside the temple.

"Father...What exactly happened?"

"Forget it, Let's not talk about old bitter memories.", said Dev while helping Ananya to the wheelchair. They rushed downstairs to the gate, towards their car. Vedang was already on the driving seat. They all got on the car. During the whole drive, none of them spoke. The silence was something that reminded them of the serious matter earlier.

Upon reaching home, Aishwani was about to get off the car. However, Vedang suddenly stopped her. "Aishwani...", He called out softly. It was only them on the car. Aishwani peeked at her brother gently humming as a response.

"Why were you stealing prasad?", asked Vedang, still in a soft tone.

"... Pandit ji said prasad gives us many blessings... I wanted more blessings so that I could cure maa.", She muttered in a tiny voice, looking at her fingers guiltily. Aishwani's answer stunned Vedang who just froze at his place. He clenched the steering tightly and leaned his head back. "You may go, Aishwani. I am heading out to company now.", He ordered. Aishwani nodded obediently. Then, she rushed inside the house.

...****************...

AT THE TEMPLE

Veer was sitting for the puja with his brother, Aditya Singhania. They were twins, although they didn't look similar. They were of the same age, same height and filled with the manly charms that could allure any girl. Veer however was a more calm, practical person who was cold and distant. He was focused on his business and company more. On the other hand, Aditya wasn't really the workaholic kind. He was a successfull movie director who enjoyed his work wholeheartedly.

"Pandit ji, Both of my sons are succeeding on their own field. Now they are already of age to marry. Please find a proper vadhu for them.", said Maya while handing the plate filled with gold and flowers and prasad to Pandit ji. Pandit ji looks at the gift and places it before the statue of Goddess and chants sacred mantra.

He then smiles and glances over the two brothers. Veer and Aditya.

"I have seen both of your kundali and there is a perfect marriage yog this year for Veer. However for Aditya Beta, marriage you is only after 2 years.",Pandit ji said while looking at the birth chart of Veer and Aditya.

Mama, the mother of the two, frowns slightly. "Why is there no yog for Aditya? They were born on the same day, just few minutes difference."

"Beti, This is the twin rahu yog, where Aditya's marriage is not good this year.", Pandit ji replied while looking at the chart.

"But we want to marry them at the same time,"Harsh responded frowning. Harsh was the father of the twins. Maya nodded her head as an agreement with Harsh.

Pandit ji sighed helplessly. "Well then, There is a solution to this.",

Maya and Harsh lightened up. "What is the solution?"

Pandit ji looked at the birthchart seriously, keeping silent sfor some moments. Harsh and Maya quietly and patiently waited for an answer.

"Mom, You know this doesn't work like that. Marriage is our will, it should be done when we want it.", Aditya scowled while hugging his mother, Maya. Maya glared at her son's skeptical words and his disbelief on God.

"Wrong Beta, Everything is God's will. Even your marriage...It will only happen when God wants it and the way God wants it.",said Pandit ji with eyes that held seriousness. Pandit ji's words held depth, a sense of authority and power, a truth that none could raise further judgements. Aditya just raised his eyebrow and looked at his brother, Veer.

"I told you to keep shut, They're not going to listen to us.", Veer said nonchalantly while going through his phone. Veer seemed to not care about any of that that was happening. Not even his own marriage, because to him, marriage wasn't something he was fond of or detested. Marriage was simply a social responsibility that he must carry out for family and social prestige.

"They're talking about our marriage and you're acting like it's nothing.", Aditya rolled his eyes and rested his hand on Veer's shoulder. "You know the woman will be your wife and the mother to your children."

Veer froze for a few seconds before brushing it off like it didn't matter to him.

"I believe in mom and dad. The girl they select, will be the best for me.",Veer responds coldly, glancing back at his phone.

"That's because you don't have a girlfriend. But what about me? Imagine pandit ji saying Devanshi's kundali and mine do not match, mom will totally freak out.", Aditya growled, his tone slightly frustrated. He had known his mother, she woukd go to the ends to follow these sorts of things. Their mother was a religious person and she never took no for an answer. But had she always been like this? Who knows?

"Who told you to have a girlfriend then?",Veer shrugged, in his usual attitude that clearly said he didn't care at all.

"Because I love her. ",said Aditya with a smile and a dimple on his left cheeks, so charming and bright that contrasted the coldness of Veer. Veer looked at Aditya, surprised and amused. He paused for a few seconds and let out a small chuckle.

"I see..." He mumbled. "And what's love?"

Aditya looked at the bright sky, the smile still plastered on his face. "Well, Love is that feeling when you feel complete, as if you have everything."

"But I already have everything.",Veer replied.

Aditya rolled his eyes. "A girlfriend too?"

"Do I even need a girlfriend?"

"It de--" But before Aditya could complete his sentence, somebody cut him off,

"Aditya, Veer, Hurry up. The puja has started.", Suddenly Maya called out.

"Well, next time, Veer.",said Aditya while patting Veer's shoulders.

"No need. I am not interested in such childish talk.",With that Veer walked inside the temple followed by Aditya.

Well, what is love according to you all?