Aryan and Imlie were seated on the couch in the living room along with others waiting for Arpita. As Arpita came with a Pooja Thali in her hands, Imlie got up from the couch and stood beside Aryan.
Aryan frowned at her actions, and raised an eyebrow in question. Imlie simply shrugged her shoulders and said, " She is going to tie you a Rakhi, it doesn't look good if I sit beside you."
Aryan sighed in disbelief and was about to retort when Arpita said, "Imlie you are also going to sit with Aru today. Mein tujhe bhi Rakhi bandhane wali hoon."
"Arpita didi, mujhe kyun?" Imlie asked in confusion.
"Imlie aaj Raksha Bandhan hai, aur tumne humesha se meri raksha ki hai. From the day one you have protected me. First in the temple, then you helped me overcome my phobia, then during the accident due to heavy rains, you struggled to bring out the truth of Arvind's death which gave me a proper closure and then my marriage with Sundar and the list goes on. You have always protected me, Imlie."
Imlie had tears rolling down her cheeks by the time Arpita completed. Arpita went towards her and gave her a tight hug.
Imlie broke the hug and said, "Aapka khayal rakhna toh mera farz hai, didi."
Aryan interrupted them, "Ok, enough of these emotional talks. Imlie sit down and didi please start, we have to go to work after breakfast." Both the ladies did as told.
First Arpita applied kumkum on both their foreheads, then tied a Rakhi to both and fed them a piece of sweet.
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Imlie and Aryan got up to touch her feet to take blessings, but she stopped them in the middle and took both of them in a warm embrace.
Arpita extended her hands, demanding for a gift. Imlie picked up the gift hamper from the centre table and handed it to Arpita.
Arpita's eyes twinkled with happiness as she explored the contents of the hamper. It consisted of her favourite chocolates, a book of her favourite author, her favourite perfume, scented candles and a handmade collage of her and Aryan's pictures. She hugged them, thanking again and again.
"All the credit goes to me, didi. This was my plan. This, ABP had forgotten about this day, until I reminded him." Imlie said smugly.
"Oh please! Even you had forgotten about it. And let me remind you I helped you with everything while choosing the gifts and in packing too." Aryan scoffed.
"But-" Imlie started to argue but Arpita cut them in the middle, asking them to move towards the dining table to have breakfast.
As they were going towards the dining table, Preeta ran towards them and stood beside Aryan asking him to pose for a selfie, she was jumping up and down with excitement.
