An arranged love - Part 3 of 3

Tia was suddenly distracted by the phone ring. She still smiled thinking about the past. She saw the caller was none other than Rishabh.

"Hi sweetheart, I'm here at Delhi airport. The flight will take off within an hour. I can't wait to see you", Rishabh excitedly updated her.

"Oh, even I can't wait to see you. How will come home? Is someone coming to receive you?", she asked curiously.

"No, I'll be alone... besides I'm used to these things now. So don't worry about me sweetheart", he said.

After hanging up Tia decided to give him a surprise at the airport. She already had an idea what time the flight would reach Mumbai and at which terminal. She immediately rushed to her room and pulled out a big cardboard that would serve as a placard. After writing his name in large letters she placed it on the chair. She rushed to dress up and took out a black crepe blouse with transparent sleeves teaming it up with a black pencil skirt with dark red appliqué on it.

She got ready and left for the airport. It was just a 20 minute drive by road. Luckily she got a taxi standing near the gate.

Once she reached the airport terminal, she stood with the placard in her hand along with other receivers. She suddenly saw him coming and yelled out his name. But he did not hear her and saw him hugging none other than her best friend Anu who was also waiting for him among the crowd. She could not believe her eyes. She felt deceived by the only two people she trusted in this city. She took a cab and headed home.

She reached home and threw the placard. Half an hour later the door bell rang. She opened the door and saw him with a bouquet of red roses. He smiled and said, "Hello sweetheart, finally we met after waiting for ages."

Tia continued to stare at him in anger and said nothing. He was surprised by her reaction. Then he noticed what she was wearing and said "You look beautiful sweetheart.", and held her hand.

She pushed him away and said, "Go away, you two timer. I saw you hugging Anu at the airport. Don't think you can fool me."

Oh so that's what was bothering her although he wondered how she knew Anu as he knew that he had never mentioned her name.

He smiled and held both her arms. She again tried to free herself from his clasp, but in vain. He made her sit on the couch still holding her. He finally said, "It's not what you think it is. Anu is the cousin I mentioned to you the other day. She planned to surprise me and came to receive me. But how do you know her and that we met at the airport."

"Because I had also planned to surprise you and came to receive you", she said almost in tears and continued, "But I'm sorry I doubted you. At that moment I felt like I was stabbed by my best friend and my fiancé. Anu is also my colleague."

He leaned forward and softly kissed her and wiped her tears. "I hate to see you cry. Whatever happened was no fault of ours. I am still smitten by you and forever will be. I love you".

She looked at him and hugged him saying , "I love you too. You are the best thing that's ever happened to me."

A year later they got hitched and the wedding ceremony was held in Ranchi. After all the rituals were completed, she hugged her mom and said, "Thanks mom, without you I wouldn't have been able to find my best half."