"I wish I just could ask you what you think of me"...

Jaipur, Rajasthan, India...

"Aunty, it's kinda good... from where did you get this one?" the boy asked, holding up the bottle of perfume.

"Whose aunty are you calling here?" Ruhi asked with fake anger. She wasn't that old to be called aunty.

"You, aunty," the boy chuckled.

"No, yrr, no aunty," Ruhi got irritated, starting to look for her heels.

"Then shall I call you mom?" the boy asked, and an unknown emotion stirred up, causing Ruhi's eyes to well up with tears.

"My... my... kids..."

"STOP IT, RUHI. NO MORE CRYING OVER THIS TOPIC. YOU DID IT FOR YOURSELF," her inner devil's mind popped up.

"Aunty... are you crying? Did I do something wrong?" the boy asked with concern.

"No... no... call me Ruhi," Ruhi lifted her hand to shake. "What's your name?"

"Rishu Vadhera," he smiled, introducing himself. That smile did something to her, stirring emotions she hadn't felt in a long time. She saw a reflection of him in Rishu, and it was almost too much to bear. She shrugged off the thought and focused on the present.

Her inner thoughts were interrumpted when she received a call from Shruti, asking her to come to the venue as soon as possible. Ruhi shut down her iPhone and saw Rishu comfortably seated on the bed, eating her favorite chocolates, which made her chuckle.

"Rishu, I need to go to the venue now. Can you behave for a little while?" Ruhi asked, trying to keep her emotions in check.

"Sure, Mom... I mean, Ruhi," Rishu said, giving her a cheeky grin.

"So what basically need to do now?" Rishu asked.

"Rishu, I need to get back to the venue. Where are your parents?" Ruhi asked, getting ready hurriedly.

"My parents aren't here," Rishu informed her casually, flipping through the channels on TV while eating chocolates. He didn't seem bothered about anything, and Ruhi's iPhone started ringing incessantly, adding to her stress.

Ruhi's anger exploded. "Rishu, are you by yourself here or what the hell? Do you have any idea I need to reach the venue?"

Rishu looked up at her, unfazed. "Yeah, I know, but I don't have parents here. They are gone."

"What do you mean, 'gone'?" Ruhi asked, trying to keep her composure but feeling her frustration rise.

"Gone as in not around," Rishu said, still focused on the TV.Ruhi took a deep breath, trying to calm down.

"Rishu, you can't just wander around by yourself. It's not safe. Do you have any family here, anyone I can contact?"

Rishu shook his head. "Nope. Just me."

"Rishu, I need to go, bacche, please," Ruhi said, trying to keep her demeanor calm despite her annoyance. She knew Rishu was very calculative and mature for his age, evident from the way he handled the officer earlier without any fear.

Her phone kept ringing, adding to her worry.

"Rishu, I know very well you can't have come here all alone. Don't make a fool out of me and tell me where you're really from," she asked patiently.

"Oh, mom opps!! Ruhi, I was just getting bored and doing timepass. I hate marriage stuff, especially big grand ones," Rishu replied.

"Then why did you come here?" Ruhi enquired.

"I hate staying at home. Even though our holidays are going ohn, Dad can't get much time off, so I basically blackmailed him. I said if he can't take me somewhere, let me go with my best friend and his parents," Rishu explained.

Ruhi sighed, shaking her head at the boy's audacity.

"Rishu, you can't just wander off like this. It's not safe."

Rishu shrugged. "But I'm here now. And you seem fun."

"Rishu..." Ruhi's tone was a mix of annoyance and urgency. Rishu could tell by her serious expression that it was time to leave. He noticed her phone ringing continuously, but she seemed reluctant to answer any calls.

"Mom, just let me dial my friend's sister's number. They will be here any minute," Rishu said, reaching for her iPhone.

Reluctantly, Ruhi handed over her phone. Rishu quickly dialed the number, and his best friend picked up. He explained his whereabouts, and soon arrangements were made for him to be picked up.

"Will you miss me, Mom?" Rishu asked with a mischievous smile, trying to lighten the mood.

"More than anything, Rishu, my bacche," Ruhi replied, pulling his cheek lovingly with a chuckle.

"No... I hate when someone pulls them," Rishu scowled, trying to look serious but failing to hide his amusement.

Ruhi laughed softly, feeling a strange sense of attachment to the boy. "Alright, no more cheek-pulling. But you need to promise me you'll stay out of trouble from now on."

"Promise," Rishu said, crossing his heart. It touched Ruhi's heart. She didn't know why, but it felt like she had known him for eternity.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, disturbing their happy moment. Ruhi made her way towards the door and found a young woman standing there.

"Rishu!!! Oh god, Rishu, where were you???" the young lady exclaimed, super worried, followed by his best friend Parth entering the room.

Parth hugged Rishu as if they were long-lost lovers.

"Ankita Di, I am good and was here," Rishu said with a soft smile.

"Let's go now; everyone will start to worry about your whereabouts. Let's go now, Rishu," Ankita insisted.

"And yeah, thank you so much for keeping him safe. He is very naughty and a troublemaker, but still, thanks a lot," Ankita said, hugging Ruhi.

Rishu came forward to Ruhi and hugged her. "Thank you so much, Mom," he said. It was so sudden, but Ruhi's eyes welled up with tears as she hugged him back.

"We will meet soon, Mom..." Rishu and Ruhi both chuckled at his statement. He kissed her cheek and bid goodbye, leaving her feeling emptier but with a soft smile lingering on her lips.

Ruhi watched them leave, a mix of emotions swirling within her. She took a deep breath and wiped away her tears, reminding herself of the task at hand.

As she turned back to the venue, she took a deep breath and refocused on the event. There was still so much to do, but for some reason, the stress seemed a little more bearable after meeting Rishu. Maybe it was his carefree attitude or his unexpected charm, but she felt a bit more at ease.

With renewed energy, she dived back into her work, determined to make this event a grand success. But in the back of her mind, she couldn't stop thinking about the little boy who had managed to touch her heart in such a short time.

**************

After 3 months...

The success of the Malhotra's event propelled Ruhi's career to new heights. Her schedule became more hectic as she began receiving numerous event requests, adding to her professional acclaim. Recognized for her impeccable event management skills, she received several awards as a wedding planner. In India, too, she made her mark, opening up more opportunities to expand her business alongside Hitchhiker's.

Given the growing demand, Ruhi decided to divide Hitchhiker's into two groups to better manage the workload. She saw the dedication and determination in her team—her family now—and it allowed her to take over the international clients. Meanwhile, Abhay, who needed to return to India to handle his father's business due to his father's deteriorating health, felt torn about leaving Hitchhiker's.

An idea popped into Ruhi's mind: Abhay could manage the Indian clients while also handling his father's business. This arrangement would allow him to stay involved with Hitchhiker's and support his family's needs.

"Abhay, I know you’re worried about your father and our business, but we can make this work," Ruhi said, determined to find a solution. "You can manage the Indian clients for Hitchhiker's while also helping your father's business. This way, you won't have to leave Hitchhiker's completely, and you can be there for your family."

Abhay considered Ruhi's proposal, seeing the potential in it. "That could work, Ruhi. I didn't want to leave Hitchhiker's, but this way, I can fulfill my responsibilities here and there."

With this new arrangement, Ruhi felt a sense of relief and excitement. She could continue to grow the international side of the business, while Abhay ensured their strong presence in India. The team was supportive and ready to tackle the challenges ahead.

As Ruhi looked out at the bustling office, she felt a deep sense of gratitude for her team and the journey they were on together. They had built something extraordinary, and with their combined efforts, Hitchhiker's was set to reach even greater heights.

**************

After 1 year...

All the Hitchhiker's team members had already reached India for Abhay's wedding. Abhay had finally found his soulmate in India and was set to tie the knot next week.

Ruhi, determined to enjoy her time in India fully, needed to complete her work to take a much-deserved break. It had been so long since she last took a holiday. She was supposed to attend Abhay's engagement party, but a last-minute crisis with a significant international client forced her to cancel her plans. The client, outraged over a perceived breach in the arrangements, had threatened to sue the team. Ruhi had to carefully manage the situation to prevent any damage to Hitchhiker's reputation.

Despite her deep regret for missing Abhay's engagement, Ruhi apologized to him, explaining the situation. "Abhay, I'm so sorry I can't be there for your engagement. This client situation needs my immediate attention. But you know  Shruti, Kajal and Vansh will be there to support you. I'll make it up to you at the wedding, I promise."

Abhay understood, though he wished Ruhi could have been there as he seriously adore Ruhi as his elder sister. "Ruhi, I get it. You've got to do what you have to do. We'll miss you, but I know you're handling it. Just make sure you get here for the wedding."

Ruhi worked tirelessly to resolve the client's issues, ensuring everything was back on track. As the crisis subsided, she felt a wave of relief. She could finally focus on Abhay's wedding and enjoy some time in India.

**************

Ruhi had made an excuse to Abhay, claiming she couldn't attend his wedding due to an overwhelming workload. However, she secretly planned to surprise everyone by attending. She had already finalized everything about Abhay's venue, leaving the rest of the arrangements to Kajal, Vansh, and Shruti. The anticipation of their reactions made her chuckle with excitement.

As she packed her bags for the journey to India, Ruhi couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement. She was eager to meet Abhay's bride and be part of the wedding celebrations. Despite her busy schedule, this trip felt like a much-needed break, a chance to reconnect with friends and enjoy the festivities.

While packing, she also found herself thinking about Rishu, the boy who had managed to carve a special place in her heart with his mischievous charm. The memory of his playful antics brought a smile to her face. She wondered if destiny might bring them together again during her stay in India.

The journey to India was filled with anticipation. As the plane touched down, Ruhi felt a surge of excitement. She was finally back in the country after so long, ready to embrace the joy and chaos of Abhay's wedding.

Lemma ask who is going to be Abhay's bride and what surprise did India bring into Ruhi's life this time.

Tillthengoodbye
moonwithflames_