Chapter 7

Part#7

As a group, the women had moved to the terrace in anticipation of the completion of the rituals that would finally bring about the end of their fasts.  Close behind them, the group of men trailed: ready to take their positions. Their kinship buoyed by their own efforts throughout the day culminating in their second-to-last task: the laying out the sumptuous buffet prepared for all, but in particular, in salute to the women who had sacrificed so much in their names, the group of men were in high spirits, themselves. Shaurya listened to what looked to be the half-hearted resumption of the dal seasoning controversy between his wife's uncles as they headed in the direction of their spouses. Their banter was silenced when Kanta turn an eagle eye on the two brothers. Shaking his head, he passed the pair to head towards Mehek who had taken her place furthest away: with just cause. As he neared her he surreptitiously patted his pocket, assuring that he still carried the token he would gift Mehek soon.

As one who never heeded these traditions; who had in fact gone out his way in the past to ridicule those who would waste time on the useless exercise, Shaurya was unprepared for the swell of emotion that rose in him, as first Mehek raised the prayer plate, laden with the articles necessary for the ritual and moved the plate in a circular motion encircling the moon: an action being repeated by all of the women gathered. Her movements seemed especially graceful, when she raised the pot filled with water, again to the heavenly body glowing in the sky, before pouring a portion of the liquid onto the ground. And when witnessing her prayer for him, it was impossible for Shaurya not to recognize the privilege that destiny had afforded him: that someone as imperfect as he would be the recipient of such heartfelt litanies. He blinked rapidly, and quickly stole a quick glance down the line of his counterparts. By the beatific expressions he noted, he came to understand that he was not alone in his sentiment, and that his wasn't simply the reaction of his newly-wedded status. He took a deep breath to steady himself, and again focused on the beauty before him. She had moved on, and now had raised the sieve up finally up to the moon. Then, in a final act, rotated to capture his visage in the same. Her eyes, though soft and wistful, pierced him to his very soul. She saw him. He felt exposed, and yet unashamed to reveal the depth of his love for her. She held him mesmerized; unable to carry on, until she delicately cleared her throat.  Shaurya blinked, embarrassed that he had been so dazed as not to do the most important thing required of him now. He lifted the pot and held it to her mouth offering her first sip of water. Mehek literally did just that, discouraging his insistence that she partake of more, aware that he would be in greater need of the restoring liquid. She smiled instead, when without any additional urging, her husband removed a sweet off the thali and extended it to her with a look akin to relief on his face as he watched her oh so slowly chew and then swallow the morsel. His look turned to one of confusion when, Mehek remained motionless, her attention not on him at all. Finally, after a moment's hesitation, she nodded and then turned her full regard back to her spouse. Her eyes twinkled her absolute pride in him. Perplexed, Shaurya first turned to look over his shoulder to see, to his surprise, the last of the couples hastily filtering off the terrace, ostensibly on their way to commence their evening meal.

 "It was Kanta Chachi's idea," Mehek asserted, before he could question the seemingly hasty departure of the others. "We figured that you may not want to have all the undue attention, breaking your fast would bring."

"How foolish: I'm not ashamed of what I've done, Mehek."

"I know, but neither have you advertised the fact either, so what's the harm in letting everyone think that we are just a newlywedded couple  wishing to enjoy the special moment of our first Karva Chauth in private?  Personally, I take no exception to that idea, Shaurya Khanna" Mehek flirtishly teased, as she grasped the ornate pot containing the remaining water and held it aloft to him, "However, to get to that point, it first necessitates your own fast coming to an end, thik hai?"

Tempering any possibility of her husband gulping the water, Mehek decanted the liquid at a steady pace, to him. The look of relieve on his face when he had finished, told her all she needed to know, and confirmed their actions had been the right one. He had been through a lot, and didn't need to suffer an audience right now. She then bypassed the confections for a sample of the dried fruit, she knew would be his preference from off the thali and gave this to him, and then for good measure followed it up with another.

"We did it, Shaurya," she exclaimed happily, when he finished.

In response, Shaurya, relieved her of the plate and placed it down on a nearby surface. Free from the encumbrances between them, he gathered her into his arms and sighed. "Haan, Jaan, we did. Are you okay?"

"Since I have had the benefit of at least some sustenance today, that really should be a question you need to answer, Shaurie. But, ji, I feel fine," she added to satisfy his concern. She removed one of the arms encircling her and slipped it in between them. "Both baby and I, are very well. Perhaps a mite peckish after that sweet," she finished with a cheeky grin. "But for all intents and purposes, we are both fine."

 His hand splayed on her abdomen, Shaurya shook his head in wonderment. "You women are amazing: you in particular Mehek for doing this. Do you hear me little one," he spoke in the direction of his wife's middle. "You, little girl, have the most amazing Mum."

Mehek laughed, and then, resting her hand over her husband's, offered her own two cents, "But no more than your Papa, baby. Papa did all of the hard work today, and more than being amazing, remember your Mum is always right. Therefore, Baby; you shoul know that what I am saying is the truth. Your Papa is the true hero of the day."

Lost, momentarily in their mutual thoughts of their child, the pair lingered in companionable silence in each other's arms, until Mehek spoke up.

"What a difference a year can make, right Shaurie." Mehek whispered.  The vibrations of his chest; a direct result of the deep chuckle he answered with, had her smiling, and when he subsequently pressed his smiling lips against her forehead, Mehek hugged her spouse just a little tighter.

"Ji Mehek, at least we can say our cellphones are safe from damage this time around," he answered recalling the previous year. "Mind you," he continued seductively closer to her ear, "I wouldn't be too adverse if a spare bucket of water were around. If anyone can pull off the wet-hair look, it's you Jaan. Mmm," he moaned, before he wickedly began nibbling on her earlobe.

She lost herself, right there and then, quite willing to receive his affection, until from a distance she heard the interactions of the boisterous group, who had obviously begun their feasting, trickling from inside the house. She startled and pushed her wayward husband away. "Stop, Shaurya" she weakly insisted, her flushed face and breathless voice, betraying her own warm response to his attentions. "I thought your hunger would be for food not...other things."

He sighed dramatically. "Aacha," he responded mournfully "We may as well go and have our supper then."

It was pitiful: his reaction, but not one unknown to his spouse. "Later," she promised, as she took him by the hand. "So, perhaps it may just be a good idea to fortify yourself for the task ahead, don't you think?" She forced herself to lead him back towards the house, before her own awakened desire waylaid them any longer.

***********

"So, if the point wasn't that you wanted the privacy to give your wife her Karva Chauh present, then what exactly were you doing that took so long, beta," PD questioned her grand-daughter's husband. She followed her cheeky question with a wink. "Don't answer, Shaurya beta, my memory isn't that bad not to understand."

"PD," Mehek protested in defense of her husband who uncharacteristically began flushing.

They had concluded their meal, and Mehek had just returned from collecting the gifts that she and Shaurya had bought for their family. Handing PD and her Chachis their ornately wrapped packages first, Mehek continued until she came to stand in front of Nehal. "Besides, my husband's presence is all the gift that I need today." She narrowed her eyes at her sister, who looked about to offer her opinion: something undoubtedly outrageous. As a further deterrence, she held the sizable package closer to her, warning her incorrigible sibling against potentially saying anything untoward that would further discomfit Shaurya. The younger woman shook her head and grinned when her sister finally handed her the unexpected token.

Rejoining her husband, she took her seat beside Shaurya, and watched their relatives open their presents. Mindful not to select anything that would take away from the gifts received from their spouses, the couple were relieved when both Kanta and Mansi exclaimed their delight over the perfumes they each received:  the two distinct scents selected for each of them specifically. Beside her Mehek, heard Sonal's soft exclamation as she recognized the pricey brands, and quickly shook her head.  Thankfully her friend got the message, and made no further comment. Soon after, they came to know just how much PD loved the designer cashmere shawl, when she put it on immediately after opening. They were glad for her reaction; assured that she would definitely use it when the temperature dropped this winter.  Happily, Mehek leaned on Shaurya's shoulder, awaiting only Nehal's reaction to the designer handbag, that they just knew the young woman would adore.

Shaurya took advantage of his wife's distraction to finally reach into his pocket and retrieve the slim jewelry box from his pants pocket, and placed it cautiously into her hand. He felt her head lower and then turned to her after she sat up straight. "Happy Karwa Chauth, Mehek."

"We said no gifts," she whispered, contradicting her complaint by quickly unclasping and opening the hard case.

*********

"I'm sorry Mehek, if you wish, I can drop you home first."

Mehek turned from admiring her new bracelet, with a blissful expression. "Nahi Shaurya, I don't mind coming with you." She gathered up the last of their things. "At least this way I can ensure that you aren't waylaid, and we can go home at a reasonable hour."

Shaurya tried not to grimace, fearing the probable annoyance behind his wife's gentle acquiesce of his having to swing by the restaurant after his Manager had telephoned. Although it was only a cursory visit: the appeasement of the high-strung celebrity who insisted on meeting him tonight, it had been deemed important enough for his employee to disturb him. He nodded and then took the prayer plate from Mehek so that he could secure it in the car. Afterwards he returned to bid his in-laws goodbye, apologizing for their premature departure. Clearly, Mehek had made the necessary inroads to pave the way for their elders not to be completely cross with the spur of the moment commitment that had shortened their visit, as they all dismissed his expressions of regret when he bent to take their blessings before whisking their daughter away far too soon for their liking, in his way of thinking.

After a mostly silent drive, punctuated only by Mehek's insistence that she was fine with their diversion, Shaurya finally pulled up to the valet parking of the establishment that was festive with activity. Jumping out of the car, and making his way to the passenger side, before his employee could, Shaurya opened the door and assisted Mehek out.

"I promise, I will make this as quick as possible, Jaan."

Mehek reached up and caressed her husband's handsome face. "I know Shaurie, and it's okay. At least you have me dressed more appropriately than I would have been in my first choice," she joked.

 He sighed at her understanding. "I love you Mehek Khanna," he stated.

"No more than I do you," She responded.

In the end though, it turned out that the incomparable Mehek Shaurya Khanna proved to be the larger draw to the gathering of elites when the host of the party realized that not only had Shaurya responded to the summonses, but his appealing better half was in attendance as well. Long after the hotelier had made the necessary rounds, Mehek remained interfacing with her many before unknown fans amongst the who's who of the celebrity world. Amid requests for invitations to appear on her show: to simply offering her opinion on why an attempt to replicate one of her recipes had failed, Mehek was kept involved with the guests for a prolonged time. Finally, it was the party's host who rescued her and taking her by the elbow escorted her back to her waiting husband.

"You are one lucky man, Shaurya Khanna," the debonair man offered when they reached. Taking Mehek's hand, he forwardly raised it to his lips. He laughed at the small frown that came to her face, mirrored by an expression much more deadly on her husband's, and quickly released Shaurya's Khanna's beloved.

Mehek instantly rushed to her husband's side and looked lovingly up to him, before purposively reaching up to whisper in his ear.

Whatever she said, immediately wiped most of testiness off the man's face, and allowed him to take his leave from the VIP, who remained clueless as to how close he had been to experiencing the infamous Khadoos Khanna temper.

*********

"Bloody celebrities, thinking they can act anyway they wish..."

Mehek paused. She knew Shaurya had been bothered by the man's actions, but thought she had skirted the worse of his fury before they had returned home and met with their family. Now however, as they stood outside their bedroom, the thoughts that had obviously remained to fester and sour his mood had finally spilled over in the comment that slipped out. She turned around to face him 

"Shaurya Khanna, if you insist on letting that insignificant act ruin such a special day, then..."

He was immediately repentant, but still steadfast in his view. "I'm sorry, but just the thought of that man; of any man coming close to you: touching you..."

 She didn't answer him, and just reached behind her to turn the doorknob, knowing that once opening the door and revealing what lay behind it that whatever concerns her husband had would take a backseat. When she did, his height allowed him a clear view of the transformed space, and she responded to his surprised gape with a sultry expression, just before she pulled him into the bedroom that had been transformed to guarantee the most blatant of seductions.

"There will never be another man for me," Mehek whispered to her husband as they crossed the threshold and into the heaven she had pre-arranged for the two of them. "Only you - always you, Shaurya Khanna."

Part8+Epilogue

 [NOCOPY]