Author
Today the whole Dey Mansion is bustling. Every corner is filled with the sweet fragrance of fresh flowers. White lilies, roses, marigolds and orchids decorated every part of the mansion beautifully. Outside, the entire place was glowing under soft off white and yellow fairy lights. The grand entrance was covered with rose and marigold petals. A positive and divine energy surrounded the mansion because today was Ganesh Puja.
And also the first step towards the wedding.
Ahana's every friend and Daivik's every friend except Aastik was present there. He was stuck in one of his important client meetings which couldn't be avoided. Still, he had promised to attend everything through video call until he could join them personally.
Meanwhile, Ahana was getting ready in her room. Her room was filled with flowers, gift boxes and wedding outfits.
Ishani, Jaanvi and Dhirti were busy clicking pictures from every possible angle. Their nonstop teasing, laughter and excitement filled the room with warmth as they captured every little moment of the bride-to-be.
Ahana wore an ivory Anarkali with a long, flowing silhouette that reached her ankles. The dress was adorned with subtle sequins scattered across the fabric, giving it a soft shimmery look. The hem of the dress and the borders of the dupatta were decorated with Pink floral embroidery... adding a fresh and elegant touch. The outfit looked beautiful on her, enhancing her graceful appearance in the simplest way.
Her long dark hair fell in loose waves down her back, framing her face effortlessly. A few strands rested near her cheeks, softening her features even more. Her eyes looked sharp with a stroke of kajal, complemented by mascara that made her lashes appear fuller. Her cheeks were dusted with a soft pink blush, while a nude pink lipstick completed her no makeup makeup look.
A white pearl bracelet adorned her wrist, a gift from Daivik that very morning. Every time her gaze fell on it, a small smile threatened to appear on her lips.
At last, she put on a pair of matching pink jhumkas that perfectly complemented the floral embroidery on her Anarkali. They swayed gently from her ears whenever she moved, adding a subtle charm to her appearance.
"Guys, I'm ready. Let's go." Ahana said, turning back towards her friends with a bright smile on her face.
Her friends looked up at her and for a second, they simply kept staring. Ahana was looking no less than a princess. The delicate outfit, the jewellery and the soft smile on her lips made her look breathtakingly beautiful. But more than that, it was the glow on her face and the shining happiness in her eyes that caught their attention. Seeing her so genuinely happy after everything she had been through made all three of them emotional.
Ishani slowly walked towards her and applied a little kajal from her own eyes behind Ahana's ear.
"Bohot pyari lag rhi ho. Kisiki nazar na lage." she said softly, her voice filled with affection.
(You're looking so pretty. May no evil eye fall upon you.)
For Ishani, Ahana's happiness, her smile felt so personal. It brought a kind of warmth to her heart.
"Same to you too, madam. Aur mujhe pata hai abhi complaint aane wali hai, so usse pehele hi bol rhii hu... tum teeno hi bohot sundar lag rhi ho." Ahana laughed.
(Same to you too, madam. And I know a few complaints are about to come now, so before that happens, let me say it myself... all three of you look very beautiful.)
The three girls exchanged looks before bursting into laughter. Soon all four of them made their way downstairs. The closer they got to the hall, the louder the sounds of preparations became.
The fragrance of incense sticks mixed with fresh flowers filled the air. The entire hall was glowing under the warm lights while pandit ji was already preparing everything needed for the rituals.
The havan kund was ready, flowers were arranged neatly and all the puja items were placed perfectly. Sitting beside him was Daivik, helping him with the final arrangements. Dressed in a royal blue coloured kurta with the sleeves folded up to his elbows, he looked effortlessly handsome. The rolled-up sleeves exposed his veiny arms, making several heads turn in appreciation.
"Bhai." Ahana called softly.
Daivik immediately turned towards the voice. The moment his eyes landed on her, a smile appeared on his face. He stood up from his place and walked towards her.
"Bohot pyari lag rhii hai, ahu" he said softly, cupping her cheeks.
(You're looking so pretty, ahu)
Ahana smiled but before she could reply, Daivik's eyes shifted beside her. His expression instantly changed. The smile disappeared and was replaced by visible irritation. His jaw clenched as he stared at a particular figure standing beside Ahana.
Ishani.
"People who have a habit of casting an evil eye on someone else's happiness should never be invited to auspicious occasions, Ahu" he said, shooting a burning gaze at her.
"Interesting. That's quite a lecture coming from someone whose intentions have always been questionable, that's a rather bold piece of advice." Ishani replied with a mocking smile.
"You should be the last person talking about intentions, Ishani. Some reputations aren't earned without a reason." Daivik said, his voice dangerously calm as he pulled Ahana closer to his side.
"I don't-"
But Ahana quickly cut Ishani off by covering her mouth before the situation could worsen. The last thing she needed today was another round of their never-ending arguments. The two continued glaring at each other like sworn enemies, neither willing to back down. The tension between them was so thick that even the people standing nearby could sense it. If looks could kill, both of them would have been long dead by now.
"Enough, both of you. We are about to start the puja, not World War III. Save this fight for later." Ahana said firmly.
But neither of them seemed convinced. The glaring competition continued without a single word being spoken. Realising this was beyond her control, Ahana looked helplessly at Dhirti and Jaanvi for help. The two understood immediately and nodded.
Without wasting another second, they grabbed Ishani and started dragging her towards the other side of the hall while Ahana pushed Daivik in the opposite direction.
Finally, Ahana stopped Daivik near one of the decorated pillars. She gently cupped his face and made him look at her instead.
"Look at me bhaiya. See. We need to start the puja. Pandit ji is calling. Calm down," Ahana said softly, trying her best to calm him.
Daivik closed his eyes for a moment before taking a deep breath. He pinched the bridge of his nose and forced himself to relax. After a few seconds, he finally nodded.
For Ahana's sake.
Only for Ahana's sake.
Then Daivik and Ahana went and sat beside Pandit ji. The chanting of sacred mantras soon filled the hall as Pandit ji began the puja. One by one, he offered flowers at Lord Ganesha's feet while reciting prayers.
While on the other side Ahana took out her phone and video called Aastik. Within seconds, he joined the call. Their eyes met through the screen and both of them smiled softly. Neither of them spoke a single word. Aastik muted himself, placed his phone carefully on the table beside him and continued working on his laptop. Yet every few seconds his gaze shifted towards the screen, making sure he didn't miss any part of the puja.
The rituals continued peacefully until Pandit ji started preparing for the havan. The havan kund was placed at the centre and decorated beautifully with flowers from all sides. After completing the initial rituals, Pandit ji lit the sacred fire using dry wood, camphor and ghee.
Within moments, golden flames rose high inside the havan kund while the fragrance of burning samagri filled the air. The rhythmic chanting of mantras echoed through the hall, making the atmosphere feel even more divine and powerful.
The flames burned brightly, dancing with every offering made into the sacred fire.
It is often said that the stronger and steadier the havan flames are, the more auspicious they are considered.
Daivik and Ahana sat with folded hands, listening carefully to every mantra. The crackling sounds of the fire mixed with the chants created a peaceful atmosphere throughout the mansion.
Pandit ji continued offering ghee into the fire while chanting mantras dedicated to Lord Ganesha. With every offering, the flames rose slightly higher before settling down again.
The havan continued for more than half an hour. Time seemed to pass slowly as everyone remained focused on the prayers. Finally, when all the rituals were completed, it was time for the aarti.
Pandit ji placed the aarti thali in front of Lord Ganesha. The brass plate held a lit diya, flowers, kumkum and grains of rice arranged neatly.
Then he began singing the Ganesh Aarti while rotating the thali in circular motions before the idol.
As the aarti was completed, Pandit ji passed the thali to Ahana and asked her to make everyone take blessings from the sacred fire. Ahana nodded and before moving towards anyone else, she first lifted the thali slightly towards her phone screen.
A small smile appeared on her lips.
"Aapka bhi."
Aastik looked at her through the screen and smiled back. Ahana gently took the warmth of the fire in her palms and then carefully collected a little of it inside her handkerchief before tying a tight knot around it.
Only after that did she end the call, telling him she had to go and continue distributing the aarti.
One by one, everyone took blessings from the sacred fire. Then she went towards the other guests and even the maids who had participated in the puja today. No one treated them as employees. Today they were a part of the family, standing beside everyone equally and participating in every ritual with smiles on their faces.
Like that, Ahana continued moving through the crowd until she stopped in front of the last guest. She extended the aarti thali towards him.
However, instead of taking blessings, the man simply stood there staring at her. His gaze remained fixed on her face.
Ahana frowned slightly.
"Ashirwad lijiye."
(Take blessings)
He immediately nodded as if coming out of a trance and quickly took blessings. Ahana didn't think much of it and turned around to go back.
"Mam."
The voice made her stop.
She turned back and looked at him.
"Do you want anything?" she asked politely.
The man nodded and slowly forwarded his hand.
"Someone... someone sent this letter for you."
He handed her a folded envelope. Before Ahana could ask who had sent it or where he had gotten it from, the man quickly walked away and disappeared outside the mansion.
Confused, Ahana looked down at the envelope. Slowly opening it, she unfolded the paper inside.
There was only one sentence written in bold letters.
"It's time to return to your owner, doll."
A frown immediately appeared on her face.
Owner?
Doll?
What even was that supposed to mean?
The sentence made absolutely no sense to her. Thinking it was nothing more than some tasteless prank, she crumpled the paper and threw it into a nearby dustbin before continuing her work.
Completely unaware of how much weight... And how much warning that one sentence truly carried.
___________
2 days later
Outside of the mansion, songs were playing while joyful sounds could be heard from every room of the house, including Ahana's. Laughter echoed through the hallways and the entire mansion seemed to be glowing with celebration.
The mandap had already been prepared in the lawn. Decorated with fresh flowers and soft fairy lights, it stood beautifully under the open sky.
And It was the day when Aastik and Ahana would meet today.
Officially.
Without hiding.
Without a secret meeting.
Because today was Ahana's mehendi and sangeet ceremony, one of the most awaited functions before the wedding.
Since the Ganesh puja, Dhirti, Jaanvi, and Ishani had been staying at the mansion. Their constant presence had turned Ahana's room into a complete chaos zone.
Well, one good thing was that Daivik and Ishani had somehow managed not to face each other since the Ganesh puja. Whether it was pure luck or the universe deliberately keeping them apart, nobody knew. Every time one appeared somewhere, the other seemed to disappear moments before. For everyone's peace of mind, especially Ahana's, that arrangement was working perfectly fine.
But unlike the rest of the mansion that was filled with excitement and laughter, Ahana's room was unusually quiet. The contrast was almost unsettling, as if her space existed in a completely different world from the celebration outside.
Her eyes were fixed on an object lying before her from the last five minutes, unable to look away even for a second.
A pregnancy test kit.
On which two pink lines were clearly visible on it.
Positive.
There was no room for misunderstanding now.
No room for doubt.
A new member.
A Tiny new life.
Was about to enter hers and Aastik's world.
A part of her.
A part of Aastik.
A baby.
Their baby.
Even though the result was right in front of her, her mind was struggling to process it. Happiness, disbelief, fear and excitement all crashed into her at once. Her fingers tightened around the edge of the couch as she continued staring at the test, almost expecting the result to suddenly change if she looked long enough.
Then slowly, with her trembling hand she touched her stomach. Her palm rested there gently as tears gathered in her eyes. A strange warmth spread through her chest, something she had never experienced before. Her lips parted slightly as she whispered, almost to herself...
"I-I... I'm p-pregnant."
The words sounded unreal even after saying them aloud.
"Mine and Aastik's child. Our child."
Her lips trembled as she stared ahead. At her own reflection.
"But am I really ready for this?" she whispered.
Her voice cracked.
"I'm scared. Can I really do this? I don't want my child... our child to grow up feeling the way I did. The way his father did. I don't want her to be scared of making mistakes. I don't want her to think that one failure can make her less worthy of love. I don't want to compare her to anyone or make her feel like she has to become someone else just to make me proud."
"I want to be a mother who celebrates every little achievement of hers. I want to clap for her even when she comes last. I want to be the first person she thinks of calling when something good happens and the first person she runs to when everything goes wrong."
A shaky breath escaped her as the gathered tears escaped her eyes.
"I want her to know that home is a safe place. That she never has to hide her feelings from us. That she can tell us anything without being scared of being judged. But... what if I'm not enough? What if I mess things up without even realizing it?"
"I really don't even know if I'm ready to become a mother? Is Aastik ready to become a father? We're still learning how to live our own lives. How are we supposed to be responsible for an entirely new one?"
The questions kept coming, one after another, refusing to leave her alone.
Because despite all the happiness blooming inside her heart, she couldn't ignore the fear growing alongside it.
A child changes everything.
And she had never imagined it would happen so suddenly.
Only a few hours ago, she hadn't even suspected anything.
The nausea.
The dizziness.
The constant exhaustion.
The feverish feeling that refused to go away.
At first, she had dismissed it as an upset stomach or tiredness from all the wedding preparations. But then suddenly something clicked in her mind.
Her period.
She had missed it this month.
And even last month too.
The realization had hit her like lightning.
Without wasting another second, she had locked herself inside her room and taken the test.
And now...
The pregnancy test still lay before her.
Positive.
"I feel like my head is going to burst out with this overthinking. I can't think of anything clearly. I need to inform Aastik. I need to talk to him. As soon as possible."
She said, massaging her forehead when suddenly a knock erupted on the door. Ahana immediately flinched. Her heart skipped a beat as her gaze fell on the pregnancy test still lying on the table. Panic rushed through her veins.
"Ahana, are you ready?" Dhirti asked from outside.
Ahana quickly stood up and hid the pregnancy kit under her bed before taking a deep breath. She wiped away the traces of tears from her face and forced her expression to look normal. Only then did she open the door, welcoming Dhirti inside with a smile.
"Babe. What the hell? You're not ready? You didn't even wear your mehendi outfit. What were you even doing?" Dhirti questioned with wide eyes as soon as she entered the room. Her eyes instantly landed on Ahana's untouched outfit lying on the bed.
"Woh... I was just... you know busy with something" Ahana shrugged her shoulders.
Dhirti sighed in disbelief before placing her hands on her waist. "Aastik has already arrived and is asking for you from the moment he arrived. Agar wo abhi apni sweetheart ko nahi dekha na toh wo pata nahi kya karega." She said dramatically before handing Ahana her outfit.
"Go. Change and come quickly."
Ahana nodded before taking the outfit and heading to the changing room. The moment the door closed behind her, she looked at herself in the mirror. For a second, her hand unconsciously moved towards her stomach again before she quickly shook her head and focused on getting ready.
After ten minutes, Ahana finally stepped out dressed in a stunning plum-purple sharara set. The outfit was heavily embroidered with intricate golden threadwork that shimmered beautifully under the lights. The fitted kurti hugged her frame perfectly while the flared sharara added an effortless grace to every movement she made.
Draped over her shoulder was an olive-green dupatta adorned with delicate golden motifs and a heavily embroidered border. The contrasting shade complemented the deep purple beautifully, making her stand out even in a crowd full of people dressed for the celebration.
Perfect bride to be looked at.
Dhirti smiled at her and quickly pulled Ahana down on the chair and started doing her hairstyle.
Her fingers worked skillfully as she styled Ahana's hair in a soft elegant updo while leaving a few loose strands framing her face.
Then came the bridal mehendi makeup which continued for almost an hour. By the time Dhirti was done, the room was scattered with makeup brushes, pins, and beauty products. Yet the final result was worth every second.
Ahana then wore a pair of golden jhumka with heavy bells that created a beautiful sound with each of her movements. Then she wore a dainty purple stone necklace which rested gracefully around her neck while the matching bangles completed her look.
Ahana was looking so beautiful that Dhirti, unable to stop herself, gently bit Ahana's fingers to ward off evil eyes.
"Ouch!"
"What? Nazar utaar rahi hoon."
(I'm warding off the evil eye)
Ahana rolled her eyes while Dhirti grinned proudly.
"Now finally we're done." Dhirti said.
Ahana smiled looking at her reflection.
She looked beautiful.
Perfect.
Then Dhirti called Jaanvi and Ishani, who were busy preparing for their sangeet performance. As soon as they saw Ahana, both of them stopped in their tracks. Their eyes widened before excited squeals escaped their mouths. They immediately rushed towards her and started showering her with compliments from every direction.
Ahana blushed and thanked them while all four of them walked, outside towards the celebration area.
The moment Ahana stepped outside and took her first step forward, a pair of arms immediately pulled her in a hug.
Ahana smiled and hugged back without hesitation. The familiar warmth instantly calmed her restless heart. This was exactly what she needed after seeing the pregnancy test results.
For a few moments neither of them said anything. They simply stood there holding each other while the noise of the celebration faded into the background.
"I missed you too."
She whispered softly.
"Kaha thi itni der tak sweetheart? Iss bechare pati par thoda rehem bhi nahi aata? Itna nirdai toh mat bano."
(Where were you for so long, sweetheart? Don't you feel even a little pity for this poor husband of yours? At least don't be this cruel to me.)
He murmured near her ear.
"Sorry. I was just busy with certain things."
Ahana replied while gently patting his back. After a few more seconds they finally broke the hug.
Aastik looked at her from head to toe, completely mesmerized. The smile on his face grew wider with every passing second.
"You're looking beautiful, my bride."
Aastik complimented.
"Thank you, my groom."
Ahana replied.
"Ahemm... tum dono ka ho gaya ho toh ab jaye kya? Romance thodi der baad karna."
(Ahem... if you two are done, can we leave now? You can continue your romance a little later.)
Jaanvi teased while others controlled their laugh.
"I got my sweetheart after so many days. Don't get jealous, sali sahiba. Because you're still single."
Aastik fired back without missing a beat.
Jaanvi's jaw dropped.
While the others burst out laughing.
But she quickly composed herself.
Then crossing her arms, she shot him a look and smirked.
"Nahi jija ji. At least I'm not the one being compared to a cockroach here."
The moment those words left her mouth, Ahana's eyes widened in shock and surprise.
"Y-you knew?"
She stuttered.
Jaanvi rolled her eyes before answering.
"Come on, ahu. Aab itna bada chor pipe se utrega... koi andha hi hoga jo kuch notice nahi karega, darling."
(Come on, Ahu. If someone this huge tries to sneak down a pipe, only a blind person could miss it, darling.)
Ahana immediately hid her face behind her dupatta in embarrassment.
"You don't have to feel embarrassed, babe. It's okay. And honestly? It's kind of romantic."
Jaanvi shrugged casually.
"Secret meetings. Climbing pipes. Sneaking around. Sounds like a movie."
This time even Ishani and Dhirti nodded in agreement.
"Yes babe. Don't worry we won't tell Daivik." Dhirti said and all of them burst into laughter.
After that ahana was taken to the area where the mehendi artist was waiting for her.
She settled down on the decorated seat while Aastik comfortably took the chair beside her.
"Aap yaha q baithe? Yaha toh abhi meri mehendi hogi. Aap jaiye. Bhaiya ke sath rahiye."
(Why are you sitting here? My mehendi ceremony is about to start here. You should go. Stay with Bhaiya.)
Ahana suggested.
"Aapko lagta hai aap yaha rahengi aur main aapko akela chhor kar chala jaunga?"
(Do you think you'll stay here and I'll just leave you alone and go?)
He replied while tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
Ahana immediately looked away, blushing.
"Aap bhi na..."
"Sirf aapke hai."
Aastik completed.
And just like he promised, Aastik stayed beside her the entire time. Sometimes he watched the mehendi artist work. Sometimes he brought juices and snacks for Ahana. Other times he simply sat there admiring her while she pretended not to notice.
"Mam, abhi toh aapke soon to be husband juice lane gaye hai toh abhi hi puch leti hu. Unka naam chupa ke hi likhna hai na?"
(Ma'am, your soon-to-be husband has gone to get some juice, so I thought I'd ask now. I have to hide his name in the mehendi design, right?)
The mehendi artist asked.
Ahana shook her head in a NO.
"Nahi. Chupana nahi hai. Pura visibly dikhna chahiye. Boldly."
(No, don't hide it. I want it to be clearly visible. Make it bold and easy to spot)
She replied while looking at the design.
The artist nodded with a smile before continuing her work. Just then loud music suddenly erupted through the speakers.
Kamariya by darshan raval song started playing. (For better experience play this song ðŸ˜)
The crowd instantly cheered.
Jaanvi, Ishani and Dhirti came running towards the stage holding their lehengas with bright laughter on their faces.
All the lights turned off except the stage and Ahana's mehendi area and the stage. Excitement spread through the crowd as everyone started clapping loudly and cheering them.
The three girls started dancing. Their bodies moved perfectly with the rhythm while their lehengas twirled around them beautifully. Powerful fans were directed towards the stage causing their hair to dance along with them. The energy they brought was enough to set the entire atmosphere on fire.
Then suddenly, all three of them exchanged a mischievous glance before running towards ahana.
They grabbed her hands carefully, not to ruin the mehendi and pulled her towards the stage. Ahana laughed loudly while trying to protest but none of them listened. Within seconds she found herself standing under the spotlight with them.
Soon, she too gave in as she genuinely was enjoying every second of it.
One by one the girls came beside her and started dancing together in perfect synchronization. As the beat dropped, all four of them formed a circle and danced with their hands flying through the air. Their laughter echoed across the entire lawn.
In the middle of the performance, Ahana's eyes landed on Aastik.
He was standing near the stage.
Watching her.
His eyes hadn't left her since the moment she was pulled onto the stage. There was nothing but pure adoration in them. Ahana raised an eyebrow at him while dancing.
Aastik simply shook his head with a smile.
The woman of his dreams was standing before him.
Dancing.
Laughing.
Living her happiest moments.
And for him, that was enough.
As soon as the song ended, loud cheers and whistles echoed throughout the venue. All three of them did a group hug before climbing down from the stage. She returned to her seat while the mehendi artist resumed her work.
Meanwhile, Aastik quietly returned to his place right beside her.
Ahana was waiting for the perfect opportunity to talk to Aastik but she couldn't find any.
Because one after another, everyone was performing on the stage. The atmosphere was filled with cheers, whistles, and endless laughter. Every few minutes a new song started and a new group took over the stage. And soon she understood that today maybe is not the correct time to talk about it. At least not at the moment.
Dhirti and Avyan even performed a couple dance together. Their chemistry and constant teasing earned loud cheers from the crowd.
Then came the most awaited performance for the girls.
The boys group dance
Daivik, Avyan and Bhuvan gave a hot boys dance performance.
The girls present there were practically drooling over them.
And seeing Jaanvi's and Dhirti's reaction Ahana couldn't stop but laugh at their jealousy.
But then the music suddenly changed.
The lights turned off once again.
A hush fell over the crowd.
Confused murmurs spread everywhere.
Why was no one on the stage?
The music had already started.
Soniyo. (Roses you better play this song or you can't even feel this part I swearðŸ˜)
The song filled the air.
Yet the stage remained empty.
People exchanged confused glances while trying to understand what was happening.
Then suddenly a spotlight appeared.
And on the stage it was none other than Aastik.
Ahana gasped in shock to see him on the stage.
He stood there looking directly at her. Not once did his eyes wander towards anyone else. The soft smile on his lips made her heart skip a beat. Every lyric, every expression, every movement was meant for only one person.
Her.
His sweetheart.
His bride.
As he slowly danced, he kept moving closer to her.
The crowd had completely disappeared from Ahana's mind. All she could see was him. Dancing for her.
Finally, he stepped down the stage and stopped before her.
Without saying a word, he extended his hand towards her. A silent invitation. A smile immediately appeared on Ahana's face as she placed her hand in his. The crowd instantly erupted into cheers and claps.
Aastik gently pulled her onto the stage.
As they danced, he mouthed the lyrics while looking straight into her eyes. Ahana felt her cheeks heat up under his intense gaze.
For a moment she forgot everything else. The fear. The confusion. The secret growing inside her.
All she wanted was to live the moment.
Aastik twirled her gently.
Her plum-purple sharara flared beautifully around her as laughter escaped her lips.
One of his hands settled securely on her waist while the other held her hand. He guided her effortlessly across the stage. Their movements weren't complicated or professionally choreographed. They were simply enjoying each other's presence, letting the music lead them.
At one point, Aastik spun her away from him before pulling her back. The sudden movement made Ahana stumble slightly into his chest.
They both seemed Lost.
Lost in their own little world.
A world where there was only him and her.
And for those few precious minutes, nothing else mattered.
As the music ended, Aastik kissed Ahana's forehead and asked-
"To? Aap dengi na mera sath?"
Ahana nodded softly and whispered....
"Hamesha."
Then Ignoring the hundreds of eyes watching them, she pressed her lips against his and kissed him without caring about others.
Few guests gasped but her friends cheered for them. The loudest supporter ever.
And for that moment ahana thought everything was perfect.
Everything would end happily.
___________________________
And that's it for today!
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