By sunrise, everyone was sitting—tired, restless, and waiting.
"Come in, let's check on them!" Meghan said.
The women rushed upstairs immediately.
From the window, the family peeked in.
Arina gasped. "He did not…"
Ethan stood in shock. "He did not…"
They all saw it—Nikolai and Lilith wrapped tightly around each other under the blankets, clothes scattered across the room, the aftermath of the night evident in silence and stillness. Nikolai's arms were protectively around her.
"Did he?" Hammad asked, stunned.
"Oh he did," Sergei replied flatly.
"And it's her first time… in that state," Dr Violet said quietly.
"We can scan her later," Dr Maria added.
"Agreed," Dr Mason confirmed.
Inside the room, Nikolai stirred first. He gently rubbed Lilith's face.
"Wake up, Bambi," he said softly.
She moved slightly.
He chuckled, sitting up and leaning over her. He kissed her lips gently—she was still asleep. He kissed her forehead again, then softly traced small kisses across her face until she whined in protest.
"Stop," he whispered.
"Morning, Bambi," he said again.
She yawned, rubbing her eyes.
"N…N…N…Nikki?" she whispered.
"Hey, my sweet girl," he replied.
"H…H…Hi," Lilith said weakly as she sat up.
The blanket slipped, and immediately Nikolai covered her.
"L…legs hurt," Lily whispered.
"I am sorry, Bambi," Nikolai said gently.
He lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bathroom, carefully washing her and taking care of her. Afterward, he dressed her in a soft yellow dress he had prepared.
"Oh no!" she suddenly said.
Nikolai was drying her hair. "What's wrong, Bambi?"
"Lily cook!" she panicked.
She ran out immediately.
"Wait—Bambi!" he called, but she was already gone.
"Oh no oh no oh no oh no!" she repeated while running.
Everyone watched as she rushed through the hall.
"Hi!" she suddenly said, waving at everyone before sprinting into the kitchen.
She pushed all the servants out.
"I cook!" she declared, determined.
It was her first time cooking in her husband's house—for her in-laws.
Nikolai came downstairs, rolling his sleeves up.
"Where's Lily?" he asked.
"In the kitchen," Yulian answered. "She pushed everyone out. It's her first time cooking for her in-laws."
"Hm," Nikolai muttered.
The doors opened, and an overwhelming aroma filled the air.
"Goddamn, that smells amazing," Salvatore said.
Soon, the servants began setting the food on the dining table.
Then Lilith appeared, carefully holding a tray.
She saw Nikolai and smiled shyly.
The tray slipped.
"N…n…n…Nikki f…f…food," she stammered.
Everyone sat to eat.
Nikolai guided her to sit beside him.
Leonid secretly hid her teddy to test her emotional reaction.
She had prepared a full meal:
Crispy chicken fritters
Hot dirty beef rice
Traditional Indian dishes Riyana had taught her
Coconut rice
Paneer kulcha
Butter naan
Payesh
Dal tadka
Honey lemon tea
"Wow, this is amazing!" Salvatore said.
Her face turned bright red with shyness as they all praised her.
She quietly held Nikolai's hand and giggled.
"So which wedding is next?" Meera asked.
"Bangladesh wedding," Rima replied while eating.
"I get to see her in a Bengali bride outfit," Rima added.
Her phone rang.
She looked at the number—her father.
She ignored it.
"Just once, talk to them. Please," Addison said.
Rima sighed and picked up.
"What?" she said coldly.
"Rima, it's me," the man said.
"Yeah I know. What do you want?" she replied.
"We are heading to Bangladesh for the gem wedding. You are related to her," he said.
Rima stepped outside, placing a hand on Lilith's head as she listened.
"Really?" she asked.
"Yes. Please… if you arrive, let us talk," he begged.
"Hmm," she hummed softly, still stroking Lilith's hair.
She ended the call.
"Your father?" Nikolai asked.
"Yeah. Lily and I are cousins," Rima said.
Lilith gasped. "Really!"
"Yes," Rima replied, kissing her forehead.
"So I'm going to take revenge," Rima said playfully. "Right, sweetie?"
Lilith nodded eagerly. "I will get packing! And Lily gonna help me please Nikolai!" Rima said
"Hmmm," Nikolai said.
"Pretty pwes?" Lilith added.
Nikolai sighed. "No dangerous stuff."
She clapped happily.
By noon, chaos returned.
Lilith was searching frantically.
"Bambi, what's wrong?" Nikolai asked.
"T…Teddy g…gone," she said, panicking.
She began throwing things and turning the room upside down.
"We'll help look," Ethan said.
Dr Mason signaled the others not to interfere.
Lilith stood in the center, trembling.
Tears fell endlessly.
Her small sobs broke Nikolai's heart.
Then something shifted.
Her eyes shut.
Her fist tightened.
"WHO TOOK LILY TEDDY!!!!!" she shouted.
Everyone froze.
Nikolai flinched.
She grabbed a vase and threw it at Enzo—he dodged quickly.
Her face turned red, overwhelmed with emotion.
"Mmmmmmmmmmmm!" she cried out before collapsing onto the floor.
She sobbed violently, hitting the floor.
"Teddy… teddy… teddy…"
"Stop crying, Bambi. We'll find it," Nikolai said, trying to reach her.
Dr Clara quietly placed the teddy near the dinner area.
Olivia picked it up immediately.
"Baby, look—teddy," she said gently.
Lilith slowly removed her hands from her face.
She saw it.
Her white teddy.
She grabbed it instantly and hugged it tightly.
Sniffing, she whispered, "N…n…leave Lily again okay?"
She kissed it repeatedly.
"Separation anxiety and strong attachment," Leonid said quietly.
"I almost got blinded!" Enzo complained. "You took it—you almost got me killed!"
"Not that bad," Addison muttered.
They began arguing again.
"Quiet," a soft voice said.
Everyone turned.
Lilith—calm again—spoke shyly. "I… hate n…n…noise."
Nimra blinked. "Woah…"
Xeno murmured, "Is that her real voice?"
"Not gonna lie… if she gets better, she'll be a soft-spoken girl," Alexxio said.
"Agreed," Darya replied.
Later, Lilith tugged Enzo's shirt.
"I sowry," she whispered, swinging her arms.
"It's okay, Bennie," he said, patting her head.
"Come on, Bambi," Nikolai said later, holding a basket.
She skipped beside him.
They went to a flower-filled backyard.
He laid a mat and placed pastries—her favorites and his too.
Then she began to sing softly for him.
Title: "Mera Saaya Tum"
Main chhoti si baat karti hoon par dil mera bada sa sapna hai
(Meaning: I speak like a small child, but inside me is a big dream)
Tum ho mere ghar ki roshni tum ho mera sab kuch apna hai
(Meaning: You are the light of my home, you are everything to me)
Jab tum paas aate ho main chup si ho jaati hoon
(Meaning: When you come close, I become shy and quiet)
Duniya ke shor mein bhi sirf tumhe hi paati hoon
(Meaning: In the noise of the world, I only see you)
Tumhare haath jab mere sar pe chalte hain main mehfooz mehsoos karti hoon
(Meaning: When your hand touches my head, I feel safe)
Jaise saari thakan saari tanhai ek pal mein door chali jaati hoon
(Meaning: All my loneliness disappears instantly)
Main samajh nahi paati duniya ki baatein par tumhari aankhon ko padh leti hoon
(Meaning: I don't understand the world, but I understand your eyes)
Tum jab muskuraate ho toh mera dil bachpan sa has deta hai
(Meaning: Your smile makes my heart feel like a child again)
Main tumse ladti nahi kyunki mujhe haar jeet ka pata nahi
(Meaning: I don't fight because I don't understand winning or losing)
Bas tumhare paas baith jaati hoon kyunki wahan mujhe darr nahi
(Meaning: I sit beside you because I feel no fear)
Raat jab andhera aata hai main tumhara naam dheere se leti hoon
(Meaning: I whisper your name in the dark)
Tum mere liye duniya nahi ho tum mere liye duniya se zyada ho
(Meaning: You are more than my world)
Main chhoti si ladki hoon par tum mere liye bada sa khuda ho
(Meaning: You are my protector, my world)
Main kabhi kabhi toot jaati hoon par tum mujhe jod dete ho
(Meaning: You fix me when I break)
Mujhe nahi pata kal kya hoga par aaj main tumhari hoon
(Meaning: I only know I am yours today)
Bas itna hi sach hai main sirf tumhari hoon
(Meaning: I belong only to you)
Lilith finished singing and hugged Nikolai, resting her head on his chest.
"I love you so much, Bambi," he said.
"L…L…Love you too," she replied softly.
They spent the day together peacefully—just husband and wife.
Four days later, Nikolai kept receiving threatening messages from unknown women. He blocked them all without hesitation.
Everything was ready.
The next destination: Bangladesh.
The final wedding.
Both families packed, and planes took off.
They were heading toward the next wedding… and whatever awaited them there.