Last part - Happily ever after
Maan looked up from the fire to see his bride being lead to him dressed head to toe in red, the colour of love; passion and care. She looked like an angel, the unforgotten angel that's solely made for him. The Lengha matched her beauty, the dupatta stood tall covering her face but the blush and the shine was still visible. Maan stared at the women who changed his world, changed him by walking into his life. Everything in the last 3 months was a smooth sail, Dadi and Mohinder finalised the date after which both sets of family got busy with arrangement. Of course in between Maan took full advantage of this courting period, after all he had all the right now since Geet was his fianc.
Geet walked mesmerised seeing the love in her lover's eye, if she had any doubt it was cleared by the glow in his face. Now she knew she looked truly beautiful. She tightened her hold on the bouquet seeing the change in Maan's eyes from love to admiration to something beyond that told her of his state. Her fear may have been silenced but her nervousness and her want grew bountiful. She watched Maan from under her lashes, dressed immaculately in a gold sherwani matching Geets design. If he hadn't already had her heart, he sure stole it with his looks today. It seemed like a century, the hall was indeed long prolonging both Maan and Geet's wait. Immune to all this Muskaan walked ahead of her mother showering petals feeling ever so special on this special day, finally her mama and papa will live together. While Pari and Pinky helped Geet walk, the Lengha was heavy and adding to it was the enormous trail, which was held by Armaan (Naintara's boy) who had the important task of looking after his new chachi and like the obedient child he was, he carried his task with upmost diligence. Dev stood proudly at the side of his brother, making sure everything is perfect, the same was for Geet's brother's finally their angel was setting down with the man that was meant for her. So with excitement Brij, Teji and Lucky conducted all affairs. Her bhabi's were much the same leaving Nandini to fret over the extra attention that was bestowed over Geet. Naintara well, she was unconfused hence she jumped to one side to another, sometimes fixing Maan's turban and then running off to Geet and helping her cover the long distance between the door and the stage.
'Naintara samal ki' Sasha smiled seeing her friend turn clumsy
Dadi watched with happiness and Mohinder, well he cherished every aching second, both knowing that Maan and Geet were finally receiving their share of happiness. In the mist of all these it was Vicky who noticed Rajji laughing and goofing around with Yash who was also counting down his days to walk down the aisle. Was love striking there too? Vicky is Maan's half-brother whom he advised like a counsellor and treated as an acquaintance, but never the less the young brother loved him like his own knowing his older brother didn't know how to love like normal people. But now things have changed, Maan before cared but never showed it and now he loved and showered in abundance. It was Anni and Arjun who dared to pull Maan legs who only smirked looking ahead at the beauty.
'Finally by my side, I've never been this impatient' Maan breathed holding onto Geet's hand the minute she reached the Mandap deepening the shade of her cheeks
'Panditji can you please start' he urged resulting in giggles and hoots
Every hurt, every pain, every tear evaporated into blissful drops when Maan and Geet were formally addressed as husband and wife. With each round Maan made a promise to care, love and cherish Geet till eternity while Geet made her own promise. But it was when they seeked the blessing of their elders had they truly realised that from now onwards they were tied to one another. Tied to a life of togetherness. Dadi blessed them with a happy life and Mohinder wished for a long prosperous unity. Anita was also present who may not express in words but she appreciated the new couple. Her son was a married man now and the joy was clearly expressed. She may not have a hand in raising him but was truly proud of giving birth to such a generous humble being.
It was time for the bidaai, the most awaited moment for Maan and one which Geet dreaded. Like any daughter, she too didn't want to leave her family behind especially a father who loved her like a mother.
'Beta she's my gem and now she's your, please take care of her' Mohinder requested folding his hands while Maan side hugged Geet giving her the strength to take the final steps from being a daughter to his wife. He promised to never force her to choose one, because marriage wasn't just a bond of a pair but a formation of a family, his and hers.
'Papa move in with us' Maan requested one more time seeing his beloved cry hugging her father, in all sense Mohinder had gained a son in Maan and not a son-in-law. Something Geet always wished for has finally come true. It was Brij and Teji who pushed the car once they were seated, Dadi once again thanked Mohinder before the Khuranna's settled in a car taking Raji and Muskaan with them to the Khuranna Mansion.
'Don't worry Uncle Geet would be really happy' Lucky shouldered giving Mohinder the support of a son, the Handa's watched as the car speed down the street dissolving into a sphere of dust.
'Geet I love you' he muttered against her forehead trying to calm his crying lover
'I know' she sniffed looking back to catch the last glimpse of her father. The rest of the ride was spent in comfortable silence with Maan enveloping his woman in his warmth.
Once arrived Maan stood out tall gently pulling Geet out to stand opposite Dadima who carried the Arti at the entrance with a broad smile. Her lonely grandson was married now and she for one was over the moon.
'Atcha Anni and Naina take Geet to her room please' Dadi commanded later in the night dampening the gaming spirit for the rest but the same obviously couldn't be said for Maan who's been waiting for this time for the last 3 hours.
'Musky come to me' Raji prodded seeing a reluctant Muskaan not moving from her mother's lap
'Geet I'm unsure now what to call you Bhabi or' Naina joked walking Geet down the corridor resulting in a giggling Anni
'Geet's fine' Pari intruded answering on behalf of Geet, her friends were truly her family, her strength.
'How much?' Maan asked coming straight to the point, in front of him were the women gang which included little Muskaan too stopping his entry into his own bedroom where they imprisoned his angel, his Geet.
'Papa i want a Barbie dream house' she uttered immediately hugging his legs while the rest of the girls gasped, what would they do with a fake plastic house?
'I take it that you all want something else' he laughed seeing their expression, Pinky for one was about to explode, poor Adi
'Take whatever you want' he said passing Musky over to Rajji before entering the solitude of his room. Dev stood at the side with a wade of cash, handling out for one for each of the girls (Sasha, Pinky, Pari, Raji, Anni and Meera). Naintara being his wife took the most of course
There in the middle sat Geet with a shy smile and downcast eyes playing with the rose petals, it looked like she was complaining. It was only when she heard the girls laughing outside that she looked up to see Maan standing against the pole of the bed. Her questioning eyes beckoned him closer until finally he lay in her lap while she brushed his hair.
'We're finally together' he whispered moving her hands to his mouth placing a light kiss
'Our happily ever after' she smiled looking down at the man who made her heart beat, who made life beautiful. They stayed like that talking about anything and everything, occasionally Maan kissed here and there instilling faith in himself that this was indeed true and not a dream.
'Kya hua' he asked jumping up seeing Geet pull her earrings off
'I'm not used to such big jewellery, so it's getting itchy and painful' an agitated Geet said scratching around her ear
'Don't touch, I want to take it off' Maan demanded moving his hands slowly drawing patterns
'Maaan' she moaned flicking his fingers off
'GEET only me' he commanded sliding out the heavily designed gold earring.
'How does it feel now?' he huskily teased nuzzling her neck sending shivers down her spine
'Mama, papa' Muskaan shouted from the other side of the door pushing both Geet and Maan out of their moment.
'I want to sleep near you two' Musky cried the minute Maan opened the door
'Sorry jiju but she's adamant' Rajji apologised seeing her sister worrying
'It's ok Raji and thank you' Maan said picking up Muskaan before closing the door and heading back to Geet
'Geet maine kaha na I want to do this' Maan cribbed seeing Geet loosening the necklace to which Geet made a sorry face. It was then the father-daughter duo got started, Muskaan busy pulling out the bangles and Maan too busy drawing circles on Geet's skin while taking off another ornament. Geet watched both one in anger and the other with love, but needless to say she loved every minute of it.
'Ok now you change, I don't mind helping but Musky's here so control' Maan joked handing Geet her nightly
'Maaannn' she moaned whacking his hand, it was after she entered the bathroom that she let herself blush. Maan was pulling all the strings and she followed, this was love. The love she dreamed of, the love she deserved.
'Ready' Maan asked offering Geet a hand to which she cuddled in, Muskaan was on the other side sleeping peacefully. Life was turning into a pretty picture, with Maan; Geet and their little princess.
It was in the wee of hours of the morning when Maan woke up to a missing Geet, looking around he noticed the light switched on the balcony. Carefully after covering Muskaan, Maan turned the other way to walk to his woman who beckoned him like a moth to fire.
'You're awake' she asked feeling his firm hold around her waist
'hmmm how can I sleep when my beauty is here' he said kissing her cheeks, together they witnessed a multitude of colours swarming the sky, the blues, the reds, the yellow and the oranges creating a picture of their own. The perfect picture of the sun rise, finally it was safe to say that the sun spread its glory into Maan's and Geet's life.
'Ajj se har subah tum se suru aur har raat tum pe khatam' Maan voiced turning his wife to look into her eyes while making the final promise
'Ajj se har subah app se suru aur har raat app pe khatam' Geet reiterated placing her head over his heart and engulfing him in a tight hug, indeed the darkness of the past was behind them and the light valleys awaited with eager eyes. Truly this was now a case of entering the light and leaving the darkness far back. Their journey into the dark was now complete.
Time itself is the enemy when one is low but the same time is also the healer of all bad in due time. Now it's a question of having hope and being optimistic. All works out fine in the end.
The good, the bad and the ugly turns into just another chapter of life.
Note: I didn't exactly dwell in the marriage function since i don't know the specific in an Indian marriage, but thanks to FFs, shows and Movies i know quite a bit. In my culture the bride takes her younger siblings or cousins with her who stay a few nights with her to make the transition from one house to another easy, familiar face etc. Hence i kind of mixed the two a bit here. Sorry hope you don't mind. It's the final and last chapter, hope you like it. It took me ages since i lost the flair of writing, sorry about that.
Take care
Bye to one and all
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