***********Part 5***********
"Acha, ab hum chalte hai, theen din baad haldi ki rasam ke liye ayenge followed by sangeet and mehendi and the marriage will be the next day exactly at 12 noon according to the mahurat" Naintara explained as she stood up.
"Arre lekin itni jaldi ja rahe hain, have breakfast first. Geet ne banaya hai" Mohender requested as he walked up to them.
"Nehi Mr. Handa. Geet ke haath ka bana hua khana toh ab hum tabhi khaiyege jab woh hamare ghar ki bahu banke ayengi" Naintara informed him as she reached her hand out and patted Geet's cheek. She and her grandmother bid goodbye and headed out towards their car, both silently thanking god for the turn of events.
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Naintara smiled as she saw her grandmother admiring the ointment filled bowl given by Geet. "Isn't she just perfect?" Naintara asked smirking at her grandmother, minutes ago she had been objecting about this alliance and now here she was smiling as she reminiscing about the girl.
"That's the problem Naintara... She is too perfect" Savitri sighed in defeat as she stared longingly at Geet's bowl.
"Ma, stop with all this. She is what god is giving us. Just accept it as a blessing from god" Naintara whispered.
"I still don't feel right about this" Savitri commented.
"Dadima, aap yeh kya keh rahi hain, aap hi ko tho jaldi thi na Veeray ki shaadi ki phir aab jab sab sahi ho raha hai, itni acchi ladki hain Geet. And why are you forgetting what Guruji said? Dono ki kundali mil rahi hain, aur tho aur shaadi ka mahurat ussi din ka hain jis din hum Veeray aur woh Chaani ki karne wale the!" Naintara pointed out the positive points to her grandmother.
"Hum maante hain yeh sab par-" Savitri nodded her head in agreement, even though she knew that the girl deserved someone that was perfect like her but Savitri could not hide the desire to have the girl for her grandson no matter how imperfect he may be for her.
"Par war kuch nahi, it is final. Veeray is marrying Geet in four days." Naintara declared halting her grandmother's apprehensions.
"Now let me call Myra and order her to design Geet's wedding attire!" Naintara stated as she dialed Myra's number.
"Shaadi ka joda? Lekin woh tho ready hain na. Jo joda Channi ke liye banaya tha usiko sirf Geet ke size me alter karva do" Savitri devi pointed out.
Naintara glared at her grandmother for voicing out such a thing. "We had bought that dress for Chaani not Geet. Geet ke liye hum alag se shaadi ka joda banvaynge" Naintara informed her grandmother.
"Oho! So Geet huh?" Myra asked as she heard Naintara's words.
"Yes, Geet." Naintara smiled.
"So… a change in bride? Should I take it that everything worked out for the best if I go by the sudden happiness I hear in your voice?" Myra asked, as always the hint of teasing very evident in her voice.
"Yes, it's almost perfect" Naintara stated.
"Almost huh? Tell me what I have to do?" Myra questioned knowing very well that she would soon give her the task or tasks that will take them towards perfection.
"You remember that material…. I mean the one that I had bought for her, the one I had been saving for her marriage" Naintara explained trying to hold back the sudden tears that stung in her eyes.
"Par… woh… woh tho aapne Pa-" Myra tried to point out not understand why her sister-in-law would want to part with something that was so precious to her.
"I know but I do not want it to remain an unfulfilled dream…. This is why I want to make at least part of it a reality. Hum Geet ko us shaadi ke jode main dekhna chahete hain" Naintara whispered as she swallowed the lump in her throat.
"Didi?" Myra called out to her in concern.
"I am fine, just get that material and the design and head straight to the designer. I want it to be perfect" Naintara ordered.
"Not to worry, I got it! I promise, I will make this perfect for you!" Myra assured her sister-in-law.
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"How is your feet now?" Naintara asked her grandmother once she finished making the important calls regarding the alterations that needed to be done because of the change in the bride. The media and the few close relatives were informed about the change in bride making sure to make a convincing lie regarding the change.
"Pata nahi dard kahan gayab hogaya. Geet ne jo laipe lagaya ussai itni arrami milrahi hain hamme, hum bata nahi sakte" Savitri Devi replied, still not able to comprehend how the girl managed to make the ointment in such a short time and how effective it proved to be.
They had been about to go upstairs to the study to talk with Geet when Savitri Devi had complained about the pain. Naintara had immediately asked whether she had taken her arthritis medication and of course her grandmother had conveniently replied that she had forgotten to bring it with her. Naintara began to dig through her own purse in hope of finding her grandmother's medication when she saw the girl rush past her, she was puzzled by the girl's behavior and wondered where she had taken off to so suddenly. Did she go back to her room? Restroom? Naintara pondered as she waited for the girl. It was nearly after 5 minutes when the girl rushed back into the living room carrying a small bowl in her hand.
Naintara watched in astonishment as the girl tended to her grandmother, messaging some kind of paste on her feet. She gazed at her grandmother who instead of cribbing about the pain or reprimanding the girl from applying such unknown substance on her feet was in fact thoroughly enjoying the attention; if the smile on her face was anything to go by. Naintara looked at the girl who seemed to be oblivious of everything as she conducted everything mechanically as if she had performed the task numerous times before but what really troubled her was the fact that the girl had not yet spoken a single world. She could not help herself from shooting a glare at her grandmother; if not for her pain then she would have been having a long conversation with the girl.
"Yeh kya hain?" Naintara asked indicating towards the substance in the bowl; it seemed to be some kind of paste. She hoped she would get a reply from the girl but it was the girl's father who replied while the girl diligently messaged her grandmother's feet.
"Arre Naintara ji, this is an ayurvedic medicine. Geet makes the best ayurvedic medicines; learned it from her mother. Darji ko yehi lagathi thi, unhe bhi arthritis tha" Mohender answered glad that things were working out in his favor. He hoped this sudden act from his daughter would be enough to win the hearts of the grandmother and granddaughter duo.
The whole ride back to Mumbai was a four hour drive but both grandmother and granddaughter were too immersed in their planning and discussing about the marriage to notice the long drive. They discussed on how to take things after marriage, wondering how Veeray would react after seeing the girl, will he be shocked like them, taken by her beauty and forget everything about Sasha? Although two months ago he himself has declared that he felt nothing for Sasha except friendship but ever since Naintara had announced Veeray's engagement to Channi, Sasha had started her own schemes to make Veeray fall in love with her and from what Naintara noticed it was working. Her brother was falling in love with Sasha that is if he isn't already in love with her. Naintara sighed dejectedly at the thought, if her brother was already in love with Sasha then it would be very difficult to make Geet be accepted by her brother. She knew no matter what, her brother would not go back on his words now, she knew that he will marry whichever girl Naintara presented at the mandap but will he accept her as his wife? Will he love and care for her as his wife? The questions and doubts filled Naintara throughout the whole ride night evading her sleep.
Sleep evaded Naintara that night, the excitement of the impending wedding and the guilt of forcing her brother into this marriage did not let her have a peaceful sleep. She smiled as she remembered the shocked faces of everyone when she informed them that Veeray will be getting married to the serpanch's daughter Geet not Channi. She lied stating that after meeting Geet, she found the girl to be very beautiful and sanskari, in clear terms she voiced that Geet was more fitting to be the Badi Bahu of their family. The lie would have been more convincing if Myra had controlled her expressions but alas the stupid girl was grinning in that mischievous fashion as she ran about already preparing to make the necessary changes. Dev, her forever objective husband as always objected about her decision, along with Vicky her youngest brother who chose to support his brother-in-law Dev rather than his elder sister, Myra of course seemed immune to the anti atmosphere as she busied herself with making alterations and handling the change in plans while Veeray…. The one who should have opposed, should have displayed his anger and opposition towards her decision had simply stated that it made no difference to him, he will marry whoever his sister chose for him. That one statement sent Naintara into a frenzy…. She did not want her brother to make any compromises; she wanted him to be fully committed to his marriage, to make an honest attempt to fulfill all his responsibilities towards Geet as her husband. Naintara headed out to the study fully knowing that is where she would find her brother…. She had to talk to him, know what his thoughts were… what he really wanted…
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In two days she will head back to Madhi again along with the beautician and the wedding attire, accessories for the bride, the shagun she would stay there till marriage, discuss and learn more about Geet through her father and two brothers, explain everything to Geet about her new family and its members, perform the many rituals of marriage and dress her for the wedding…. Four days! In four days Geet will enter the Khurana mansion as the Badi Bahu…..
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Naintara missed being part of her brother's haldi ceremony because she had to come to Madhi to assist the Handa family with the marriage preparations. It was her grandmother who had insisted Naintara, stating that it was important for a woman to be present in the house of the bride and even going so far as to emotionally blackmail her by crying on how the poor girl Geet had no mother nor any female relative to help her with such an important event in her life. Hence Naintara had given into her grandmother and came to Madhi to perform Geet's haldi rassam. But there was no one at the haveli; except Geet's father and Geet herself, which surprised Naintara. Mr. Handa had explained saying Geet did not like to be around many people, she seldom went out of house and because of being around her brothers and father she knew nothing about the rituals and the womanly duties and ways of life. He asked for forgiveness and requested Naintara to perform all the rituals as he himself did not knew anything. He also requested her to explain and teach everything to Geet about marriage and her new responsibilities anyway she felt right. Naintara did not fail to notice the emphasis put on "anyway".........
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"Chalo Geet, ab Bidaai ka waqt hai" Naintara said as she entered the room. The whole marriage had gone smoothly, there were not many people present at the wedding, just close relatives and few family friends. The marriage had taken place at the Haveli upon serpanch's insistence instead of at the temple as it was planned. Naintara was just glad that the wedding happened without any mishap. Her brother, as promised followed all the rituals, took the pheras, tied the mangalsutra and filled the maang with sindoor but he never did take once glance at Geet. Naintara sighed, Geet had too much to do, and she wondered if the girl was capable of following what Naintara planned for her.............. She hoped for the best but for now she was happy that finally her brother was married, Geet was now officially the Badi Bahu of Khurana's…. Mrs. Maan Singh Khurana……
****Angel****
Errr… I know there is not really much of Maan in this one, Ahem… the next part WILL have Maan, you will get to know Maan's thoughts and views on this whole marriage…. Was he forced into this marriage? Whether he is in love with Sasha or someone else? Will he accept Geet as his wife? What will be Geet's reactions after leaving her home of 18 years? Will she finally have her happiness? Is she finally out of darkness? I am sure you all have these questions…. I hope I have kept you all hooked to this ff, if not then I promise you will soon be hooked to it, there is a lot more to come!
I hope this little preview will make up for Maan's absence in this part.
*******Preview*******
"Sabhal ke" Maan whispered to his wife holding her left arm as she steadied herself.
Edited by Angelskiss - 14 years ago
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