They all reached goa by evening. As soon as they saw the venue they all were mesmerized.
Vicky : "Ye saari preparation engagement ke liye hai... To shaadi ke liye kya hoga..." He said getting getting awestruck seeing the beauty of the venue.
The resort near sea beach was decorated like a bride with red roses and fairy lights and so was the sea shore. The sea waves were making it look divine. There were pillars on the beach in front of the resort prepared as the entrance for the guests. They were decorated with light pink and gold net curtains and each pillar was covered with red and white flowers alternately and the sand was filled with glasses which had lit candles in it. After entering the resort; at both sides of the gate had two short stands which had a huge golden color bowl filled with water, red rose petals and floating candles. The interior had orchids in each of the corners.
Taani : "Guys...mere bhai ki sagai hai...to special kaise nahi hogi...and mere paas jyada time nahi tha warna sab kuch aur bhi acha hota..." She said straightening her lips as she wasn't happy with the arrangements to which everyone gasped.
Nil : "Taani... Tumhe ye kam lag raha hai... Itna to koi wedding me bhi nahi karta..." He said making an unbelievable face.
Taani : "Ary bhai ki sagai jisse hone ja rahi hai unke samne to ye sab kuch bhi nahi hai... Wo iss world ki sabse beautiful ladki hai and bestest bhabhi bhi... I must say bhai is very lucky to have her" she said winking at Swayam.
Swayam : "Okay... Enough.. Bohot ho gayi tumhari bhabhi ki tareef...ab batao mummy papa kahan hai..."
Taani : "Kya kaha aapne... 'Meri bhabhi' matlab aap bhi ready ho gaye sagai ke liye... Yeee mai abhi mummy ko batati hoon..." She said dancing in joy.
Swayam : "No way... Wo to galti se bol diya... Waise mom dad aa gaye hai... I'll just talk to them.." Saying so he was going to search them only to be stopped by Taani.
Taani : "Bhai...wo log raaste me hai... And jab tak wo dono ayenge...tab tak hum fresh ho hate hai" everyone agreed and left for their respective rooms.
* * * * * *
(An hour later)
Everyone was settled in the lobby and Swayam was continuously pacing right to left.
Bharat : "Abe yaar...tere chakkar katne se uncle aunty jaldi thodi na aa jayenge..." He said getting irritated by his movement.
Swayam : "I don't understand unn dono ko Paris jane ki kya jarurat thi..."
Taani : "Bataya to tha bhai... Bhool gaye na... Bola that baadam khaya karo..." She immediately shut up seeing his angry face.
Swayam : "I know... But ring lene ke liye all the way Paris jane ki kya jarurat thi... India me nahi milti kya..." He said making weird face "Waise bhi waste hi hone wali hai..." He said to himself.
Taani : "Wo bhai... Mujhe jab pata chala aapki engagement ke bare me to mai Paris me thi and wahin pe I ordered the 1921's antique queue's ring... Usko prepare karne me thoda time lag gaya isliye mummy and tauji ko jana para lene ke liye" she said making a sorry face. Sharon looked at her with hurt clearly visible on her face.
Kriya : "What... 1921's antique queen's ring...matlab wo emerald wali" she said with wide eyes to which Taani nodded "Are you serious... Matlab wo ring world me single piece hai which costs 8 million dollar" to which Taani again nodded casually and everyone's jaw dropped "Oh my god... Swayam your would be wife is so lucky man... I so wish ki meri bhi Taani jaisi koi sister in law hoti" to which Taani's eyes widened and she looked up only to find Rey staring at her. They had a short eyelock (LLHH) moment which was disturbed by Swayam (as usual).
Swayam : "Are you crazy Taani... Kya jarurat thi itni expensive ring lene ki... And on top of everything mai ye engagement karne bhi nahi wala..." He said making an unbelievable face to which Taani chuckled a bit.
Taani : "Engagement to aapko kisi bhi keemat par karni padegi.." She thought till then Mr. and Mrs. Shekhawat also came there. Swayam saw them and went near them and everyone followed.
Swayam : "Thank god aap dono aa gaye... Mai kabse wait kar raha tha... Mujhe aapse bohot important baat karni hai..." He said trying to avoid any other guest interruption.
Suhana (Swayam's mom) : "Beta we will talk later... Right now we need to get fresh... Am too tired now for anything" she said patting his cheeks lovingly.
Rishi : "Haa beta bohot lambi journey thi... Am also very tired... We will talk later okay..." He said caressing his hairs. While leaving both of them gave a assuring smile to Taani.
Taani : "Acha bhai... An mummy and tauji rest karne chale hi gaye hai...to aap bhi ready ho jaiye..."
Swayam : "Ready.. Kis liye Taani"
Taani : "Bhai wo aaj aapke better future me liye ek puja rakhi hai... So usi ke liye..."
Swayam : "Please... You know mujhe sagai nahi karni to phir ye sab kyu..."
Taani : "Ye sirf ek puja hai... Isse kuch nahi hota...bas sab aapko blessings denge. And aapki sagai hogi ya nahi ye to kal hi pata chalega..." She said the last line in her mind. Swayam didn't want to but later agreed for the puja or rather a ritual before engagement well he didn't knew that.
* * * * * *
Guests started coming and everyone assembled in a huge hall room to perform the ritual and were waiting for Swayam and Taani to join them.
Swayam came and first saw Sharon wearing a peach color Saree. She looked so beautiful he so wanted to resolve everything between them but stopped himself. He went near the stage and sat on the small stool arranged for him. On the other hand Sharon was on a verge of crying so she excused herself and ran towards the exit only to find Taani coming towards the hall. She didn't want to face anyone so she tried running away but failed. Taani saw her getting out of the hall and followed her.
Taani : "Sharon..." She called out and Sharon stopped in her way. Taani neared her and put her hands on her shoulder and turned her towards herself. Sharon couldn't take it anymore and broke in her arms.
Sharon : "Taani... Why is this all happening... Please Taani rok do na ye sab... I know you can... Please Taani do something" she said between her sobs and cried harder.
Taani : "Sshhh... Stop crying... Rone se kuch nahi hota... You have to be strong...you trust me na..." She said breaking the hug to face her and Sharon nodded weakly. "Then listen agar bhai kuch nahi kar rahe to ab aapko hi karna parega ***********" she said to her and Sharon wiped her tears and took a deep breath.
Sharon : "Haa... Mai hi karungi... Uss loser se kuch nahi hone wala... Bloody weakling..." Saying so she flared her nose making Taani smile at her. Then they both headed towards the hall where function was taking place.
They entered together and found all pair of eyes looking at them only but Taani's eyes stopped at one pair which belonged to Rey. Those eyes speak a lot every time but now they seemed blank. They had nothing in them neither passion nor determination and no happiness. She could always read his eyes and she always knew him more than he himself does but now she failed to understand him, why was he looking so lost... Here Taani was busy in searching something precious in Rey's eyes and on the other hand Sharon too did same thing. She was staring at Swayam shamelessly, through his eyes she was peeping in his soul which only belonged to her. He so wanted her but his male ego was not letting him do that, learning this Sharon smirked knowing what she has to do now. All four of them were busy in their personal worlds in their LLHH but it was disturbed by Suhana.
Suhana : "Taani.. Beta jaldi aao hum aapke liye hi wait kar rahe the... Pandit ji bhi aa gaye hai..." She called as Swayam was getting very restless to run away. Taani neared the stage and stood there little far from Swayam.
Few ladies started murmuring something inaudible looking at Taani. She avoided their disgusting gaze and focused on her bhai as pandit ji (priest) started spelling some chants.. Soon he called his parents to give him blessings and both of them offered some chants together and performed the ritual at last Swayam took blessings from both of them.
Pandit ji : "Dulhe ki koi behan hai..." To which Swayam felt uncomfortable listening 'dulha'(groom) but kept quite looking at the crowd.
Rushi : "Ary haan haan.. Taani beta aao" he gestured Taani to join them.
Pandit ji : "Wo dulhe ki behan ka neg (duty) hota hai apne bhai aur hone wali bhabhi ko tilak karna...ye lo beta... Ye bohot acha shagun (good omen) mana jata hai..." He handed over a plate of vermilion and rice to her which she took smilingly but that didn't last for long.
Aunty : "Pandit ji agar ye shagun (good omen) hai to iss ladki ko kyu de rahe hai iski to khud ki sagai toot gayi hai wo bhi ek hi saal me...To ye Swayam beta ki sagai ka shagun kaise kar sakti hai... Aur bura mat maniyega bhai sahab (Rishi) par ye koi aapki sagi beti aur Swayam ki apni behan to hai nahi...hum to kahenge ki aisi apshaguni ladki me haath se tilak karwane se kahin aapke apne bete ke sath koi anhoni na ho jaye..." She said making a disgusted face and looked at Taani.
Taani's hold at the plate tightened and everyone else was just grasping the information that her engagement broke except Mr. and Mrs. Shekhawat. Slowly all the guests started whispering and the hall started echoing with with their voice.
Taani : "ENOUGH" She shouted on top of her voice "Bohot ho gayi aap sab ki baatein... Agar aap logo ko humari khushiyon me shaamil hona hai then you are welcome but mere personal life pe comment karne ka right maine ya meri family ne aapko nahi diya hai... Aur agar aapko itni problem hai then darwaja aapke piche hai... Aur jis jis ko bhi problem hai wo yahan se jane ke liye free hai..." Saying so she turned towards a shocked Swayam who was first shocked learning about her broken engagement and then witnessing this fierce side of Taani for the first time. Seeing him Taani took a deep breath and kept the plate on the floor and kneeled down in front of him and placed her left hand on his cheek "Bhai.. Aaj aapka din hai.. Please don't spoil it for anyone and I know your reverie... So I promise I will clear everything but not now please" saying so she passed an assuring smile to him to which he simply nodded. Then she applied tilak on his forehead and stick some rice on it. She touched his feet and he jumped up making her smile and Swayam hugged her from side thinking he must talk to her in personal but before that he has to deal with too many stuff.
On the other hand when everyone was busy in the function Rey was busy in his own thoughts
Rey : "Taani ki sagai toot gayi... Par usne kisi ko bataya kyu nahi... And kyu tooti hogi uski sagai.. Visesh to kitna acha tha he also loved Taani... And that lady how dare she say those words... I wish I could pull her tounge out of her throat... Ughhh... Relax Rey Taani se baat karni paregi..." He thought.
* * * * * *
The function was over everyone was heading towards their respective rooms, suddenly Taani came running and stopped Sharon and as the gang was there only they turned towards them.
Taani : "Ary aap sab yahin pe ho acha hua... Actually pandit ji he kaha ke sab ko tika lagana hai so aap sab unke pas chalo" she said looking at everyone and they nodded and started moving back to the hall then she stopped Sharon by holding her hands "Ary Sharon wo mere haath me thora sa tilak laga hai... Aao mai hi aapko deti hu" saying so she applied tilak on her forehead too and went away smiling leaving a confused Sharon behind but oblivious to them Rey also watched the two.
Rey : "Ye Taani karna kya chahti hai... Pandit ji ne to kaha tha ki dulhe ki behan hone wale dulha and dulhan I mean apne bhai aur bhabhi ka tilak karti hai... To usne sharon ko tika kyu lagaya..." He was thinking but his chain of thoughts broke by Kriya's call "Ha Kriya.. Yeah am coming" he said on the phone and hunged up.
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Ishaani
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