"I wont ever let you fall" he said to her as he caught her in his arms.He had his arms around her waist and she had her arms wrapped around his neck.
She had closed her eyes.she was afraid,afraid of falling.Afraid of losing herself but his words brought her back to the present,soothing her.She opened her eyes and looked into his hoping to find some thing,a clue to some sign or emotion to help her understand him but all she could see was nothing, a mask sheilded the person who he was.Sheilded him from getting hurt,she knew she had hurt him and that was one of the reasons that changed him,if not change him it had only increased the distances between them.That fiasco with Akash had ended up hurting everyone she loved.Akash was a loser,some guy who was using her.He was some pathethic creep,by the time she had realised that she had lost Uday,he had drifted away.
A knock on the door snaaped her out of her thoughts and brought her back to the present.She realised the position she and Uday were in.
They were in a position some people would have considered awkward but they were fine,They were comfortable,way more comfortable here then they were anywhere else.They were comfortable,way more comfortable here then they were anywhere else.It seemed they both didn't wanted to be away as if they were one only ONE.Something was always between them but today no one was there as if they were meant to be together.Manayata couldn't resist UdayVeer for the first time 'even UdayVeer wanted that but he never knew it would only happen like this.Spark flew as both of them got lost with each other .Udayveer slowly took one off his hand and slided it slowly on her face as if it was now only left to shine for her.She gently closed her eyes for first time otherwise they were meant to be more opened ,he danced his hand till he went close to her lips.
"Manyata beta! Open the door" She heard her mother call out to her snapping her out of her trance.She blinked breaking the eyecontact between them.
Turning away and trying not to look at his face she replied saying "Mein abhi aayi Ma!". Regaining her balance she lightly slapped Uday's hands indicating him to let go.
His eyes followed her burning her and ignighting all that she now felt for him all over again.She tried her best to supress the blush which was threathening to show."Uday! What have you done to me?"She thought."What's happening to me?"
"Beta!"Komal said as she entered the room nd smiled as she saw Uday there too.
"Agli baar Uday kamre mein hai toh chupana ani afterall apka mangetar hai" Uday smirked hearing this his trademark smirk.The smirk that now adorned his face making it an even more pleasant sight to see.
"Hum chalte hai Komal aunty!I'll take yoour leave" he said as he left the room leaving a flushed Manyaata behind.
"Pata hai beta!Aaj Vasundra didi yaha hoti toh kitni kush hoti,apne dono laadlo ko ek saath dekhke"
"U mean Uday ki mom ma!"
"Haan! Uday ki Maasa beta" Komal replied as she smiled "afterall unki hi kwaish thi ki aap dono bade hokar shaake kare aur ek din aap Jaigadh mein unka sthan lo"
Manyata forced a smile and tried not to cry,she had a few foggy memories about Uday's mom.She was a sweet woman just like her mom and Unnati.Uday was somewhat unlike her.Heck! She did'nt even know what he was like,everytime she met him she unveiled another layer in his character/No one could ever figure him out.Suddenly she was clear about one thing.
Uday had wanted to marry her just to fulfill his mother's last wish.It was diappointing but what has she expected a proposal where Uday would knock her off her feet or some declaration of undying love for her.
Uday was not that a bad guy.He was ohkish,marriageable type,perfect in a way and as J jiji would say "a perfect catch"
"manyata what are you thinking" she said as she mentally slapped herself.
"What is right and true" some part of her conscience replied.
Picking up her cell she texted Uday. " MEET ME IN MY ROOM IN 5MINUTES xx Manyata" It read.
Uday arrived 3 minutes later only to find Manyata preparing herself for a serious conversation.
"Hey Princess!"he said
She turned around.Her eyes were closed. "I'll marry you!" This was all he needed to hear that day,ask her what happened that changed her opinnion.He wanted to hug her.The family had got Manyata back long ago but he just got HIS PRINCESS back!
"But we will have no physical relationships until we get to know each other better" she continued. If that was supposed to break his heart that it ufortunately didnot suit it's purpose but what he felt for her now was respect.
"Dont worry princess" he replied.That was the first time she saw him smile.Not smirk but smile,the genuine one.
"So when do we announce it?"She asked.
"How about tomorrow? At DS's birthday party?Lets give them a sar-par-eyes" He said imitating her,no imitating the girl she once was.
"More of a shock" she said as she walked out of the room with him..Uday just smiled at the comment and walked along with her.
The next day was DS's birthday party,one of the most important events in her social calender.She might steal her spotlight for a few minutes but hey! That was the best gift she coulf give her.
Before she knew it the day had passed and a new day had begun indicating a new start.She spent the morning with her grandmotherand family,clicking pictures and addressing the press and now it was afternoon
"Have u seen Mom and Dad Nandu!" Manyata asked her younger sister JaiNandini!
"Yeah! They have gone to their bedroom for their afternoon 'nap' and stop calling me Nandu!It sounds so creepy" J replied faking a shudder
"Jiji! tu bhi na" Manyata said as she hit her sister and walked away!
Later that evening dressed by the best designers in the country Manyata waited for her "date" to pick her up.
There were only 5 minutes for the party to start and that IDIOT OF HERS had not yet arrived.Uday arrived exactly on time,not the time that he told Mnayata he would come to pick her up but the time the event started.He looked handsome dressed some designer outfit which she was too pissed at the moment to describe.
"Sorry Manyata der ho gayi!" he said as he checked her out.
"DER! You are two minutes late MISTER"
"Looking pretty Princess! aaw! U missed me?That's nice.Hume pata nai tha that you will miss me nahi toh hum aur der kar dete!"
"Pata nai dadi kya kar rahi hogi! Kitni pareshan hogi aur tu hai Mr-DO-Minute-late" she said.
"TUM kitni bolti ho princess"He said as her pulled her cheeks"DS ko first mile toh lein.
"Chalo was all she said as she pulled him towards the car."Whoever said she was turning out to be a proper princess would have banged his head right now.
When they had arrived at the venue the party had started and everyone was on the dance floor.DS she said as she touched her grandma's feet and took her blessings.
"Manyata"Her grandmother said as she hugged her.
For the next few hours Manyata stood there with her family and fiance greeting the guests and chatting with aquaintances. She was getting bored.
"May I have this dance" She heard a voice ask her.
"I' sorry but!" she stopped as she looked at his face "I'would love to dance!" She said as she placed her hand is and let him lead her towards the dance floor.
The music played and Uday pulled her close to him and their bodies were almost touching. They danced the whole dance without caring about the people looking at them,nothing mattered,no one-no family or no friends,not even the media who was present there.As the song seemed to end Uday twirled her around and while they were dancing he slipped a ring on her ring finger.
"Bachpan mein humare maa ne humein yeh angooti di thi aur kaha tha ki'Uday bade hogar yeh angooti apne princess ko pehnana aur aap humari princess hain Manyata'"
Manyata was shocked.She never expected this from him.Not Uday! but this gave her immence joy and satisfaction,she smiled.Her face glowed.She could feel tears from in her eyes.She smiled.
Uday could see those tears but he couldnot figure out why she was shedding them,was it joy or happiness or pain or was it an act.He saw her smile. She hugged him which came as a shock to him.He pulled her apart for a second and wiped the tear that threathened to fall and then again embraced her in a hug.
"Every tear of yours has an importance in my life.Don't waste them princess!"
"These are tears of hapiness Uday" was all she said.
That was two years ago.So much had changed since then,she had transformed from a total jhalli to a dutiful wife to a proper Maharani. And maybe she was on her way to become a mother.Recently she had discovered that she was having the same symptoms that J had when she was pregnant. She had missed her chumps and was hungry 24/7 followed by some other symptoms now and then.How would Uday react when he got to know this was he ready?
"Manyata" he said as he placed wet kisses on her neck and placed his hands around her waist.Snapping her back to reality.
"Yeah!"She replied while she tried not to lose herself to the romantic mood her husband was in.
"Don't u think we should think about starting a family" he murmered as he nuzzled her neck.
She savored the thought for the a moment and then remembering what she was experiencing she replied.
"Saachi Uday agar yeh sawal tumne 8 mehene pehle pucha tha toh mein jawab deti par ab jo ho goya ho gaya" she said as she moved away, winking at her husband she moved from the room leaving her husband there to process what his not-so-innocent had just said.
A few weeks later even the family had discovered that something wierd was going on with manyata so at one of the get together Brijraj simply stated
"Uday Manyata seems to be eating a lot these days!Don't let her overindulge! You would'nt want a plump wife would you"
To which uday replied.
"It's Okay Uncle Brij I love my wife anyways,she's perfect and on second thoughts I would'nt want to starve my future son or daughter would I?"
Leaving the family shocked and processing what he just said before'.he was jumping with joy just like Manyata left him that fine day.
Anupamaa
