Chapter 6

Part #6

Not only had Mehek awoken, but had been so long enough that she had had the time to freshen up as she now stood in a bathrobe rifling through the wardrobe for the garment bag she had secreted there prior. She jumped when she heard the bedroom door close, certain that she had been discovered, and smiled in relief on realization that it was only Aunt Kanta.
"Mehek, beta, what are you up to," the older woman asked of her niece, as she carried the tray holding a tall glass of milk along with some apple slices. She watched as her niece reached back into the closet and pulled out the item in question.
"Just a surprise for Shaurya. He is due to get ready soon..."
"Haan beta," Kanta answered. "They are just about done in
the kitchen, so he and your uncles will soon be preparing themselves for puja." She paused for a second, before she continued. "I admit I was skeptical when I learned that Shaurya was going to fast as well, but he has done very well. It hasn't been a walk in the park for him, but I must say I am very impressed."
"Well you know once Shaurya Khanna puts his mind to
something, he goes for it wholeheartedly," Mehek responded.
"Indeed," her aunt wryly replied, recalling the ardent pursuit of her niece by the man she had eventually married. "He is a good man and husband; and I'm certain, will be an even better father, Mehek."
Mehek peeked out of the window for evidence ofhow much time had passed. While she had the advantage of a longer nap to help pass the time until their fasts would be broken, her husband hadn't had that benefit, and was surely ready to bring an end to this arduous task he had committed to. She smiled when she heard her Aunt's words and turned to face her once more. "I know he will Chachi."

Kanta placed the tray down and then went to retrieve the
garment bag off the bed. "I will make sure that this gets to him, so you can finish getting ready." She nodded in the direction to the tray she had set down. "I know that we are very close to having a proper meal, but I thought to bring this just in case you need it. Don't take too long getting ready, Mehek."
"Thank you Chachi," Mehek replied and gave the woman who was
such an influence in her life an impromptu hug and kiss. "And you look
absolutely beautiful by the way," she said of the rich red saree her Aunt had changed into.
***********

Shaurya met Nehal outside near his car, and took her smile as an indication that she had been successful at her task. She handed him the plastic bag which he then placed in the boot of the car, after unlocking. "Was she still asleep?"
"Barely, Jiju. I mean she was when I first went there, so I was able to switch out the dress undetected. But by the time I finished..." Nehal exhaled loudly, as she recalled almost getting caught it the act. "I'm afraid this outfit got completely rumpled in the exchange, but it won't be until she actually unzips her garment bag, will she discover the difference. She's going to be so surprised, but once she sees its replacement she will fall in love right away...I am sorry about the condition of this one though."
Shaurya smiled at his wife's younger sister. "You got the mission accomplished Nehal; that's the important thing, not a wrinkled outfit. Thank you." He smiled at her and then began again when it looked as if she would continue with her un-needed explanations. "Trust me, I will just get the drycleaner to give this a quick pressing..."
"Nahi Jiju, I get it. I won't worry about it anymore. It's just...well," she paused and her cheeks took on a fiery hue. "Di is so lucky to have found someone like you, I can only hope that I get someone at least half the guy you are whenever it's my turn to marry. As it is, I don't think there are too many like you left around. And not because of the gift...You're like the total package Jiju: hot and sensitive. Mehek is so lucky."
Now it was his turn to turn crimson at Nehal's unabashed admiration. He was thankful that his mobile rang at that moment, and he was able to avert any further brazen talk from his impetuous in-law, as he nodded for her to go ahead of him back into the house as he attended his mother's phone call. "Namaste Mom ."
***************

As disappointed as she was to have awoken without her husband at her side, Mehek was equally pleased that at least he had felt better to the extent that he had been able to continue with the final hours to complete his fast when he had roused. His departure had definitely been a while ago, as his side of the bed was cold when she had rolled over. A good thing too, since this made her aware that her visitor was not in fact Shaurya and had saved her the embarrassment of speaking her first mind when she thought it was him near the cupboard. Instead she had greeted her sister who had come to see if she had risen yet. Nehal had also advised her that Shaurya seemed completely cured from the headache that felled him earlier. Mehek nodded, and shook her head, before her sister beat a hasty retreat. Immediately her thoughts had returned back to Shaurya. Through his participation, she had gained a totally different perspective on this ritual, and without a doubt Shaurya had done so well, but she suspected, just as she, that he was as anxious that the end of the fast was quickly approaching . For his wellbeing, Mehek hoped that this last bit of time wouldn't prove to be any more onerous than necessary. Mechanically, she reached for her garment bag, so that she could get dressed, and then hopefully offer the distraction Shaurya may need in these last moments. Placing the tote on the bed, she made to unzip it when she was disturbed by her door opening again with chachi returning; this time animatedly talking on the mobile phone she had plastered to her ear.
"Haan, Karuna Ji, she is just fine. I will let you speak to her, but before I do, thank you so much for allowing her home today. I know it must have been particularly difficult for you not to have your bahu near today.Thik Hai; here she is..."
Mehek took the phone, that she readily identified as Shaurya's, to speak to her mother-in-law, on the topic she knew she had called on. Seemingly assured that her bahu was more equipped to handle the day, Karuna listened avidly as Mehek detailed how well her son had made out so far. "Mummyji, he has been nothing less than wonderful," Mehek relayed as she crooked the mobile under her chin, so that she could continue her preparations. "It hasn't been easy for him but, he has definitely risen to the occasion. In fact, he saved me from going to kitchen to salvage ... Oh...Oh."

On the other end of the Karuna Khanna worried at the abrupt silence that befell after her daughter gasped loudly over the air. "Beti. Mehek..."
"Oh Mummy-ji, he has to stop doing things like this," Mehek responded emotionally.
Karuna felt the beginning of a laugh build up in her, "And what has our Shaury done now, beti?"
Turning up the volume
and putting the cellphone on speaker, Mehek placed it on the bed, so she could fully unzip the garment bag.
"My dress Mummy-ji: the one I had painstakingly selected for today is missing. This can only be his doing."
"Aacha, so you have nothing to wear now, beta?"
She pulled the garment, beautiful enough within the bag, out and spread it out so she could appreciate it fully. "Nahi Mummy, that's not it at all. Oh, God this is so beautiful, but ..."
"So, what exactly is the problem, dear? Haven't you in fact done something similar or am I mistaken? I'm sure I'm not, so how can you point a finger at Shaury for doing the same?"
"That's not the same. He had gone so far above and beyond what..."
"And you have not beti," Karuna interrupted her. "Nahi, I will not consider that the case, and so I am going to let you go now to finish getting dressed. I will see you both when you come home, thik hai?" **********

He was a conniver of the best kind, Mehek thought as she rotated in front of the full-length mirror, to get the full effect of the stunning outfit. Not one she would have thought to have chosen for herself, but now in wearing it, she could appreciate how perfectly it suited her. As opposed to the simple red suit she had selected, her husband thought that a softer, muted gold and red combination would suit her better: and for all intents and purposes, he had been right. She looked in the mirror and intentially pushed her shoulders back. The tiny mirror accents bordering the neckline and cascading intermittently from her shoulders were just enough embellishment to give the trendy embroidered choli she was wearing just enough sparkle. And although the square neckline was perhaps a little lower, and the bodice, more fitted than normal: which technically was not so much a design flaw, but more attributed to the first physical changes that had come with her pregnancy, Mehek had to admit she looked sort of hot in it if she did say so herself. She wasn't exactly spilling out of the bodice, but thankfully the dupatta that had come with it would cover what needed to be, even though she felt like a goddess without it in the form fitting top, to say the least. She lowered her eyes, and raised the hem of the calf length blouse. The sheer net fabric was saved from total translucence by the soft gold floral motif embroidery that vertically covered it; the metallic luster broken up only by the rich red trim that cuffed the long sleeves, and the hemmed the filmy overlay, the accented border tying the jacket styled top perfectly with the lehenga of the same color. She didn't even mind that the waist of the ruby red raw silk skirt was lower than her usual style; the perfect fit of the outfit meant that even though her midriff was more visible than normal, she was saved from total exposure. Even when shewalk ed. Coincidently, or not, even the gold sandals she had originally intended on wearing married up perfectly with the incredible outfit; the Banaras based designer had done as good of a job with this outfit, as her spouse, Kabir had done crafting Mehek's gift to her husband. Shaking her head, Mehek imagined the humor that Rachna and Kabir Tripathi must have shared, in preparing the surprises she and Shaurya had thought themselves so smart to have thought of for each other.

Glancing at her watch, Mehek realized how much time had passed,and that she was now in danger of falling behind in her preparations. Hastily she began packing away everything she had utilized getting dressed. She would backtrack after the fast to get the gifts she had for her family, she decided. Only, when she was almost done, did she notice the flashing light of Shaurya's mobile. Frowning, she collected the phone off the bed and saw that some-how another call from home had come through while she was dressing. Thinking this unusual, she checked the device, only to discover that she must have muted the ringtone instead of merely reducing the volume. She would just listen to the message and then go and see if Shaurya was ready.

She was at first surprised to hear Shruiti Bhabhi's voice on the line, and shook her head sadly when immediately realizing that her sister-in-law was obviously drunk. But then things decidedly took a turn for the worse and her belligerence turned to complete filth.
Enough was enough, Mehek thought.
*********

He didn't like discovering Mehek with a troubled expression on her face when he had entered the bedroom to discern the reason for her delay. She was wearing his gift, and, just as Rachna had assured him: his wife looked absolutely beautiful. However, he never considered how much she may have preferred the staid outfit she had selected for puja. Oh damn, he thought, had he royally screwed up this time? Was this the reason for the unhappy countenance greeting him? Or was it something-else, entirely?
"Mehek, jaan," he began cautiously.
It was as if the sun had risen again, when Mehek looked up and acknowledged him.
"Oh Shaurya, you look beautiful," she exclaimed in awe, before standing up and rushing to her husband, resplendent in his gold kurta that was subtly accented with red embroidery on the collar and cuffs. The look was classy and sexy as all out on her man. Her arms encircled his neck, as she
stepped into his welcoming embrace. "Stunning," she carried on, "And we match each other perfectly," she asserted, clearly pleased by the prospect, if her bright smile was any indication.
"So, you like..."
"I love it," Mehek contended. She stepped back from him. "Do I look as desirable as I feel in this," she queried with an exaggerated pout, before bursting out in unaffected laughter.
"And then some," Shaurya countered, liking this sassy side of his wife. "When I came in, I was afraid that perhaps something was wrong?"

Mehek shook her head. "It's nothing serious, just something I will need to take care of when I get home. But more importantly, do you think we were the butt of a most fantastic joke in the Tripathi household, Shaurya" she wondered of the husband and wife designers that they had each covertly hired to outfit the other.

Shaurya, went to stand before the mirror, clasping his wife's hand and drew her to the front of him. He turned her around so they both faced it and admired their perfection in the glass for a minute, finally speaking when Mehek looked to pull away.
"Even if we were, this makes it all worth it. You are a vision Mehek Shaurya Khanna. I'm glad you like it; especially since it meets the criteria you were going for without making you look like someone's mother as you would have in the dress you had selected."

Mehek's mouth opened in shock, but she answered him without an ounce of rancor. "For your information, I really liked that dress, and besides, I am going to be a mother Mr. Shaurya Khanna," she said emphasizing the fact by placing his hand firmly on her abdomen.

"Aacha, that is so, but you aren't telling the full truth over why you went out of your way selecting that dress, are you Jaan," he stated. He smiled when his wife averted her gaze for a second."Our family will not begrudge you being able to afford higher quality things. A plain dowdy outfit won't fool anyone you know..."
"I know, and it's not them, that I worry about Shaurya. But, you know how the people of this locality can be. I just didn't want to start any unnecessary talk, on how I am putting on airs since I've married and..."
"Hello, you tamed the notorious Shaurya Khanna, if that isn't worth a show of arrogance, then what is Mehek," he teased. "Besides, I know that when it comes to the gifts you have for everyone, you didn't have the same fiscal problems."
"Nahi, that's entirely different. I'm happy to do such for Chachi and..."

Shaurya shook his head. She was a puzzle, it was just that simple. "Thik Hai, I give up Mehek, for now at least. At least I can attest
that I understood you enough to request something attractive but not too ritzy for the occasion, right?"

"It's the perfect design," She agreed."
"Well if that's all settled, then shall we go and meet everyone now?" Shaurya looked at his watch. "We are almost there," he concluded with a hint of wistfulness.
"Absolutely," she said linking her arm through his.

They were at the door, when Shaurya suddenly look back. "Wait, you have my cellphone don't you?"

Behind his back, Mehek smile dropped for a second, but then she rushed past him to get the mobile off the dresser. She rechecked that she had deleted the last voice-message, and turned back, again smiling at her husband. "Mummy-ji was very concerned about her baby-boy this afternoon. I assured her that you were a star. Don't dare to prove me wrong so close our goal, Shaurya Khanna."

"As long as I can gaze on my beautiful wife for the
remaining time, I will be more than okay, Mehek."

"I've got your back, Baby," she vowed, thinking both of their remainder of their fast, but moreover of what she had to deal with when they returned home. "Hamesha."

Part7

[NOCOPY]