Teeku ka Teeka
Ofcourse he did not attend the roka ceremony at Roorkee. If her parents were shocked they certainly did not show it.
She would not admit it to a soul but when the 5 SUVs of family members disembarked and assembled in the tastefully decorated Gupta living room, she realized he was missing
But Chandan flew into her arms, he was dressed in a pearl studded cream color designer sherwani and chudidar, and had GELLED his hair
"I missed you so so very much she tried not to cry
"Teeku, pair chhuo beta in laws ke Himani nudged
"Dulhe raja missing hai, I am telling you our Teeku is not telling us the whole truth Bani mumbled to her Mom
"She probably will go see him someplace later her Mom whispered back
"She looks like she doesn't even care, so I bet you are right Bani concluded
"Bani Meeta can you make sure Mrs Vaidya does not get served anything with onion Himani made a face
"Sheesh Bani mumbled "I mean seriously, in 2018?
"Don't question other people's faith beta Himani was firm
"Its not faith its silly Bani's voice grew louder
"We can argue .. may be tomorrow? Himani was not at all happy
"I forgot to ask about dietary restrictions, and apparently now I hear Mr and Mrs Vaidya both wont eat onion during Navaratri Himani was shocked
"Huhmmm Bani sighed in an exaggerated way "Did they tell u why they didn't bring Hari?'
"Harit hai beta
"Yeah why?
"She said it's a Monday and the underprivileged that get into trouble over the weekend usually look forward yto receiving legal help first thing Monday
"Gareebon ka lwayer hai Mummy? Bani was stunned
"Hes a judge's son, he can be whatever he wants to be Himani said firmly
Chandu and Teeku walked hand in hand around the hall as she visited with her in laws, she wore a pale pink ghaghra and and choli and a gorgeous silver chiffon dupatta with Swarovski crystals embedded on it
She looked like a vision
But...
"Aap aaj hi chalo Alka hugged her
"Dad wont agree Teeku responded shyly turning red
"Shes a doll Suman gushed
"Devarji ko foto bhejte hain Alka giggled childishly
Teeku posed with Chandan smiling widely, her eyes sparkled like the stones she wore
Alka hit send and "Ab dekhna helicopter karke aa jaawenge she winked
Teeku didn't care she was gone...
The ceremonies happened, Vaidya gave her many clothes and many jewelry and draped her in a red dupatta and handed her coconut and fruits and money by forming abag of it in her lower belly
Every one did teeka
The pandit talked to both parents and elders and they drew a date
The day after Baisakhi they all agreed
"ITNI jaldi? Gupta looked at his wife
"Aapko aur samay dein kya? Vaidya asked
"Nahi,... koshish karte hain, ek dye ka container dry port par aaya pada hai Customs waale release nahi kar rahe, usme Gupta sighed
"No... its OK bhaisaab... sab tayyar hai, hum to infact 2 saal se teeku ko manaane ki koshish mein hain Himani's voice trailed off
"Is shubh mauke par rona nahi chahiye but is saal pehli baar, March 5th ko Hemant ki barsi par hum nahi roye Vaidya teared up
Guptas nodded compassionately
"Yeh to us din hi hamey pasand aayi jab yeh bejhijhak GHANTON neeche waiting room mein ruki rahin Lakshmi giggled
"Haan... ab kya bataayen... umm.. ziddi haigi thodi beti, behenji Gupta mumbled
Himani did not like that at all
"Chhoti hai na Lakshmi nodded understandingly
Harit's phone dinged incessantly... when he went back to his office he checked
Alka Bhabhi and Suman Bhabhi had sent 10s of pictures...
Except for the ones where she was ceremonially seated in the ritual chair, she was holding Chandan's hand
He noticed her henna, a rich red, vine like pattern going up all the way to her elbow, her sparkling clear skin enhanced the ruby red art.