Taani is made to sit next to Rey. Juhi applies teeka on both Rey and Taani's foreheads. She then places a red chunni (scarf) on Taani's head. Taani holds it in place so that it doesn't fall. Juhi then gives her a plate full of sweets and fruits. Taani accepts it from her, struggling to keep the chunni in place. Seeing her struggle, Rey shifts closer to Taani and holds the loose end between their shoulders. Taani holds the other end and accepts the plate from Juhi. Juhi smiles at his action and feeds some sweets to the couple. Tanya too gives a similar looking plate to Rey and congratulates the two. They both get up and take blessings from God and their parents.
After the rituals were complete they all sat in the living room, talking, till dinner was served.
"The food smells amazing. Aapne banaya hai?" Rannvijay asked Tanya.
"Maine nahi banaya, as roke ki preparations mein busy thi." Tanya replied.
"Matlab tumhare haathon ka swaad chakhne hume kisi aur din aana padega." Juhi suggested with a smile.
"Abhi toh aana jaana hote rahega." Tanya smiled back.
"So Taani tumne kuch seekha hai ya nahi apni maa se? Humara cook retire hone wala hai aur ghar mein koi toh chahiye jo asli khana bana sake." Rannvijay smirked at Rey.
"Excuse me?" Rey squinted.
"Don't give me that look son. Pasta isn't real food." Rannvijay said with a straight face making everyone laugh.
"Well you should be happy ki at least usse cooking mein interest hai. As yahan toh mahurat nikalna padta hai inhe kitchen mein dekhne ke liye." Tanya laughed referring to Taani and Shivam.
"Hey that's not true!" Shivam opposed.
"Accha? When was the last time you entered the kitchen to cook?" Tanya questioned him.
"Abh aap itna accha khana banati ho toh.."
"Rehne do." Tanya stopped him mid-sentence.
"Rey apni mother-in-law se cooking lessons le lo. Ghar mein kisiko toh khana banane aana chahiye! Hmm?" Rannvijay looked at Rey then at Taani.
"Uncle aisa nahi hai ki mujhe cooking bilkul bhi nahi aati." Taani spoke for the first time.
She was feeling way too nervous to utter anything. And when Rannvijay asked her about her cooking skills, she froze. She may have sometimes helped Tanya but had never cooked anything before. She calmed down immediately on finding that he was being jovial. There was something about the Singhania men that she had learnt by now, they were chivalrous. They knew exactly how to make others feel comfortable.
"Mumma ko bohot baar help kiya hai." Taani explained.
Tanya smiled hearing Taani. She along with everyone present in the room knew that Taani was bluffing, but was proud that Taani was letting herself into the conversation. Taani was, by nature, a very shy person. Seeing her trying to overcome her diffidence made Tanya content.
...
When dinner was done, Juhi, Tanya and Rannvijay settled down in the study, while Rey, Taani and Shivam went to the balcony connecting Taani and Shivam's rooms.
"Tumne apne friends ko invite nahi kiya?" Rey asked Taani.
"Abhi tak unhe iss baare mein bataya nahi hai, invite kya karti?" Taani murmured.
"Kuch kaha?"
"Voh actually my friend is unwell, so voh aa nahi payi."
"Tumne bhi toh kisiko invite nahi kiya?" Shivam asked Rey.
"Well my friends are out of town aur unhe abhi tak iss baare mein pata nahi hai." Rey sighed thinking about the taunts he'll have to face when he tells them.
"Nahi batane ki koi wajah?" Shivam asked suspiciously.
"Office project ki wajah se voh bahar hai aur agar yeh news main deta toh next flight se voh yahan hote. And at this point completing the project is more important."
Rey didn't tell the real reason for not informing them. He wanted to witness in person their reactions to this news. But this reason felt too juvenile hence, he came up with the office excuse.
"Kaam personal life se important hai?" Shivam raised an eyebrow.
"Everything has its own time. Also, this was a close family ceremony." Rey was calmly dodging his accusations.
Shortly after, Shivam excused himself, giving them some space to talk for a while.
"Sorry about bhai. He can get a little too overprotective." Taani quickly apologized.
"Uska haq banta hai to ensure that I am the right guy. And trust me he'll never be completely assured."
"Aapko bura nahi laga?" She was surprised.
"Bura lagta agar meri koi behen nahi hoti aur maine yeh sab uske pati ke saath nahi kiya hota." He chuckled feeling nostalgic.
"Aapki behen hai?" This was new information for her.
"Cousin hai. Meri bua ki ladki."
"Ohh."
"Yeah, bhai, voh aur main kaafi close hai. We are more like siblings than cousins."
"Voh Mumbai mein hi rehte hain?" She asked wondering why weren't they here for the ceremony.
"Nahi, Melbourne mein."
He paused for a while finding the right words to ask her what was bugging him for a while now.
"Do you mind if I ask you something?" He hesitated.
"Aisa kya puchna chahate hai aap?" She was confused at his hesitation.
"Tumne iss rishte ke liye haan kyun kahan?" He analyzed her face and continued, "Mera matlab hai ki uss din you were clearly not ready. What made you change your decision? And please tell me that it was on your own will."
"Aap aise kyu puch rahe ho?"
"Kyunki main nahi chahata ki tum apni life ka itna bada decision kisi aur ke kehne pe lo."
Taani was astounded hearing his concern. She didn't know how to react and kept looking at him blankly.
"Abh main aapko kaise batau ki maine yeh decision aapse uss din milne ke baad liya hai. You managed to change my mind." She thought to herself.
"Yeh decision maine apni marzi se liya hai." She confessed meekly.
Rey smiled at her innocence. She kept fidgeting with her fingers and wondered if she should ask him something that was bothering her for a long time.
"Tum kuch kehna chahati ho?" Rey asked her.
"Haan, actually its nothing par.." She was hesitating.
"You can ask me anything." He gave her assurance.
Letting out a deep breath, Taani spoke, "Jab hum pehli baar mile they, tab aap bhai ke aane tak wahan kyun ruke the?" She asked in one go.
"Mujhe nahi rukna chahiye tha?" He raised his brows at her.
"No, I meant.."
"You don't have to explain. I waited there just to make sure that you didn't get into any trouble. It was very late at night. Plus, you looked scared." He explained his actions.
"Arjun sahi keh raha tha, main hi baat ka batangad bana rahi thi." She muttered.
"Kaun Arjun?" Rey heard what she said and asked.
"Haan?" She was startled.
"Nahi tum kuch keh rahi thi kisi Arjun ke baare mein."
"Nahi kuch nahi."
"Hey, I understand if you don't want to talk about your ex." He joked playfully to ease her.
And it worked! Taani, who was nervous and hesitant to talk to him, relaxed. She didn't understand how and why, but this little act of him made her feel comfortable.
"Hehehe. He is my friend." Even though he joked, she wanted to correct him.
"And how come you didn't invite your friend?" He quoted friend with his fingers making her laugh at his antics.
"I did, but he couldn't be here." She lied as earlier she had mentioned to him about inviting her friends and she didn't want her lie to get caught.
"I can understand, bechare ka heart break hua rahega." Rey gave her a sympathetic look and the next minute both were laughing their guts out.
Arjun & Purvi
Arjun Kirloskar and Purvi Rawat are Taani's best friends. She had met them on her first day of college. Arjun is originally from Mumbai and Purvi had moved down from Uttarakhand to attend college in Mumbai. They connected soon and now Arjun was dating Purvi since three years.
"Restaurant band hone ka time ho raha hai. Abhi toh bata de jo batane ke liye hume bulaya hai?" Arjun demanded.
Taani had asked Arjun and Purvi to meet her for dinner, to tell them about her alliance. The entire evening, they kept nagging her to spill the beans, but she wasn't budging. She wanted them to be happy for her and support her decision, but feared their reaction.
"Haan please. Suspense toh aisa bana rahi hai jaise teri shaadi hone wali hai." Purvi rolled her eyes.
"Shaadi ka toh pata nahi par rishta jarur taiy hua hai." Taani finally revealed.
"WHAT?" Both, Arjun and Purvi, asked her in disbelief.
"You heard it right. Mera rishta taiy hua hai."
"Kab? Kaun? Kahan? Kaise?" They started bombarding her with questions not letting her answer any.
"Guys let me speak!" Taani raised her voice to shut them up.
"You better be joking!" Purvi gave her a horrific look.
"Kyun mere liye rishta nahi aa sakta kya?" Taani asked narrowing her eyes. Purvi's reaction had pinched her.
"Tu na kahin ki baat kahin aur le jati hai. Mere kehne ka matlab tha ki abhi tak tera graduation nahi hua hai, toh shaadi kaise?" Purvi explained on seeing the look of hurt on Taani's face.
"Mujhe toh yeh samajh nahi aa raha ki tune haan kaise keh di." Arjun furrowed his brows at her.
Taani's interaction with people was very limited. Arjun and Purvi were the only people with whom she interacted the most and had grown comfortable around. Also, marriage was something that they never discussed. So, this news was a big shock for the two.
"Ladka decent hai aur mumma bhi.." Taani tried to explain but Purvi interrupted her.
"Aunty ne tujhse kaha ki ladka accha hai aur tu maan gayi?" Purvi widened her eyes at Taani.
"Aisa kuch nahi hai. Decision mera khud ka hai." Taani cleared her confusion.
"Yehi baat toh hazam nahi ho rahi. I need the full story!" Arjun demanded.
"You remember kuch saal pehle mere gaadi ka tyre puncture hua tha.." Taani started but got interrupted again.
"Tere gaadi ke tyres na har saal puncture hote rehte hai. Change karwa de unhe!" Arjun practically yelled at her for not getting them changed yet.
"Haan voh karwa dungi. Tujhe story sunni hai ya nahi?" Taani asked getting irritated by their constant interruptions.
"Accha sorry, continue." Arjun said.
"Haan toh jab mere gaadi ka tyre puncture hua tha aur voh ladka, jo meri help karne aaya tha, jo bhai ke aane tak ruka tha. Yaad hai?"
"Tere mystery guy ki story nahi maangi!" Purvi wondered what was she saying.
"Exactly!" Arjun agreed, "Jo pucha hai voh bata!"
"Ussi ka rishta aaya hai!" Taani announced, getting mad at them for not letting her tell the details the way she wanted to.
"Maa khana laga do. Bohot bhook lagi hai!" Rey said as soon as he entered the house.
He had had a very tiring day at work juggling projects which were close to the deadline. He was so involved in his work that he had skipped lunch and was now famished.
"Tum jao change karlo, main tab tak khana laga deti hoon." Juhi instructed him.
"Do projects ek saath karne ka bada shawk chadha hai. Halath dekh apni!" A scolding came his way and he looked at that direction.
"Bhai!" Rey exclaimed. His fatigue vanished seeing his brother. "Aap kab aaye?"
"Mujhe ek jhatka dene wali news mili. Bas confirm karne aaya hoon." He chuckled referring to Rey's alliance.
"Aapne already bata diya?" Rey asked Juhi.
"Abh tumhari bhook kahan gayi? Jaldi fresh hoke aao. Aur Armaan, tum bhi chalo, khana lag gaya hai." Juhi ordered them knowing that if their talks start, it would be difficult to put a pause on them.
...
Armaan Mallik
Armaan Mallik is Rey's elder cousin. He is the son of Ananya, Rannvijay's sister. He has a younger sister, Muskaan. Their father passed away when he was quite young, around ten. Ananya wasn't financially stable to look after both her children, so Rannvijay took their responsibility. Armaan, Muskaan and Rey, even though cousins, grew up as siblings. Armaan grew up and joint the company and achieved great heights. He was appointed as the head of their branch in Melbourne, and shifted there with Ananya and Muskaan.
...
"Aapko kaise pata chala?" Rey asked Armaan after they were done with dinner and were ready to retire for the day.
"Don't worry abhi tak kisiko bataya nahi hai. Main yahan kaam ke silsile mein aaya tha aur yahan aake Maami ne yeh shocking news di. Also, when did you decide to get married? Last time I checked, you were running away from even the thought of it." Armaan laughed.
"Like this was my decision?" Rey rolled his eyes at him.
"Huh?"
"Mom kahin pe Taani se mili aur mera rishta uske saath fix kar diya. Fir mujhe emotionally blackmail karke uss se milwaya, aur do din baad roka! Can you believe it?"
"Maami ne acchi class leli teri." Armaan laughed seeing the look of horror on Rey's face. "She had to do this, warna teri gaadi kabhi aage nahi badhti. But you tell me what made you agree?"
"To start with, usse itni jaldi shaadi karke settle nahi hona hai, which is what I want. And clearly, she doesn't need to marry me for a secure future and that sort of stuff, she is well equipped to have that for herself. And most importantly, I know she will understand me and my ways of life."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Pata nahi. Par jitni baar maine uss se baat ki hai, uss basis pe I am sure of it."
"Finally, a girl has managed to break that wall and I can sense that soon she will make her way into your heart."
"You're making it sound as if I was a loner for this long." Rey made a face at Armaan.
"Well technically you were. I mean yeah you tried dating, but that didn't work out for you. Maine itne tips diye honge ki unki ek book ban jaye, fir bhi tu single ke single hi raha." Armaan feigned pity.
"Enough dissecting me." Rey frowned and then with a knowing smirk asked, "Aapke yahan aane ka real reason kya hai?"
"Jab pata hai toh puch kyu raha hai?" Armaan gave a lopsided grin.
"Bas confirm kar raha tha." Rey replied tongue-in-cheek.
"Yeah whatever. Now I'm off to sleep. Kal ek meeting hai jiski mujhe subah uth ke preparation karni hai. Good night."
"Good night."
"How did this.. I mean.. How?" Purvi was still unable to grasp the reality. How and from where did the alliance come for her friend, was a question which was bothering her.
"Kahin yeh koi tragic love story toh nahi? Voh teen saal se teri khoj mein deewana hoke bhatak raha tha aur abh finally usne tujhe dhund liya?" Arjun said dramatically and started laughing at his own words thinking how ridiculous they sounded.
"How many movies did you have to watch with her?" Taani asked faking worry for him.
"Five freaking Bollywood masala movies! Shukar hai ki sirf do din ke liye bemaar thi, warna mera kya hota?" Arjun feigned hurt and the two started laughing.
"Abh agar tum dono ka hogaya ho, toh Taani, can you please continue." Purvi gave them a stern look.
"Last paper ke baad jab main ghar pahuchi tab mumma ne bataya ki papa ke koi friend ki anniversary party ka invitation aaya tha. Toh jaana mandatory tha. So mumma jabardasti mujhe wahan le gayi." Taani paused to think about the exact details.
"Aur fir uss party mein tum unse mili aur pyaar hogaya." Arjun teased her.
Taani rolled her eyes at him and continued, "Party mein mumma ne mujhe Singhania aunty se milwaya aur.."
"Ek minute. Singhania?" Purvi asked.
"Yeah, Juhi Singhania." Taani replied.
"Wife of Rannvijay Singhania?" Purvi further asked to conform.
"Yeah. But how do you know them?" Taani was intrigued.
"Maine diploma Architecture mein kiya tha. Uss time ek project ke liye research karte waqt, I came upon SRS Creations, their company. Unke projects itne interesting the ki maine decide kar liya tha ki main Mumbai aake unke company mein internship karungi. But then I changed course for degree, so never thought of it again. Until few days back." Purvi answered.
"Oh haan, I remember. SRS has an interior designing department headed by The Mansi Roy. Hum uss din yahin discuss kar rahe the ki hum teeno ko wahan apply karna chahiye, for internship." Arjun added.
"Mansi Roy ke under internship. Are you out of your freaking mind? Voh freshers ko intern nahi rakhti." Taani stated the obvious.
"Unless.." Arjun thought.
"Unless what?" Taani asked.
"Unless she receives a strong letter of recommendation." Arjun smiled wickedly as an idea struck him.
"And from where will she receive it?" Taani questioned.
"Tum Juhi Singhania se apne mom through mili. So, hum aunty se keh ke ek aur meeting fix kare unke saath toh?" Arjun grinned at his brilliant idea.
"No! No! No! No! No! No! No!" Taani exclaimed.
"Why not?" Purvi asked.
"Because.."
"Because?" Arjun asked her to continue.
"See Taani, hume ek acchi jagah internship karni hogi as the experience will count ahead. So abh luckily hume chance mil raha hai toh why not?" Purvi tried to make her understand.
"Can we talk about the internship later?" Taani wasn't on board to ask her probable mother-in-law for this favour.
"Arre tu apni story bata rahi thi na, continue with that. Yeh sab hum baad mein dekh lenge. We still have time. And story toh tu batayegi hi, par sabse pehle uss ladke ka naam toh bata!" Purvi demanded.
"Exactly. Aakhir kis naam se tujhe chidhana hai aaj se?" Arjun chuckled.
"Rey.." Taani spoke in a soft voice.
"Abhi se itna sharma rahi ho ki unka naam bhi nahi bataya ja raha?" Arjun teased.
"Mm-hm." Taani cleared her throat and said, "Reyansh."
"Ooo Reyansh!" Arjun hooted.
"Singhania." Taani completed
"No ways!" Purvi exclaimed.
Taani just nodded her head affirmatively.
"Mujhe laga koi normal ladka hoga. Teri toh future CEO ke saath setting ho gayi! Not bad Taani, tera future toh set!" Arjun grinned.
"That's not why I said yes." Taani explained herself.
"Of course not, you idiot. I know you would never do such a thing." Arjun hit on her head telling her to not over-use her brain. "But you can do one thing. Letter of recommendation apne hone wale pati se hi likhwa le!"
Hello everyone
I know you all were excited for the roka ceremony. But if the entire update was dedicated to it, it would have been boring. I've tried my best to do justice to the ceremony. If you all expected more, then I'm sorry. Also, I think I've given a decent character sketch of the new characters and deliberately not included every detail in it. There might be a few questions about them in your minds, feel free to ask, if any.
Now coming to the question of the update [I guess it's become a ritual to have a question]
What do you think Taani will do? Will she agree to what Arjun suggested and ask Rey for a favour? If so, what will be Rey's reaction to it?
Please comment down below
...
~| Special Mention |~
Happy Birthday TaShaYou know that I would have written an OS for you and made a birthday thread and what not, but you also know how lazy I am when it comes to writingSo, I thought why not dedicate this chapter to you? To say the least, you are pretty desperate to know the entire story all at once!But guess what? You ain't getting any details from me!And before I forget, thanks a lot for helping with the pictures. Finding them was a task!
Posted: September 12, 2017
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