Pooja whistled as soon as Chandini made her way down the stairs holding on to Advay's arm. Chandini blushed and giggled at the sighs and gasps from her sisters. This is too much attention, she wanted to hide behind Advay. But he held on to her with pride as he led her down the stairs. She clung on to him, her heels weren't too high yet they were going to take time getting used to.
"Have you grown in height?' Pooja frowned. Chandini lifted her saree to her ankle and showed her, her beautiful golden heels, strapped to her feet.
"Wow, that is beautiful,' Meghu gasped getting down to her knees and assessing her sister's stunning pair of shoes.
Chandini gasped at how pretty Meghu looked in her peach saree.
"You look beautiful,' She choked on her tears admiring the pretty girl at her feet.
Advay sat on the sofa beside Nani, waiting for the girls and for Leela Maasi to gather. He admired his stunning wife as she smiled and giggled with Pooja and her sisters. Pooja too looked stunning in her mustard saree. Advay rested his cheek against his Nani's head, he had never felt this good in a very long time.
"Are you happy?' She asked.
"Hmm.'
"Did you give her the necklace?'
"I did,' He sighed, as he continued watching Chandini who kept throwing furtive glances towards him.
"Tell her the truth Cheeku.'
"I am not going to tell her the truth.'
"What?'
"What is the need Nani,' He frowned, "she is so happy, has moved away from Dev. How does anything matter now?'
"And what about Indrani?'
"I don't know,' He let out a heavy sigh.
"What about Micku?' Nani asked again in a stern voice, "the truth has to come out Advay. Tell her the truth.'
"Okay I will,' He sighed, he just wanted a few more days with her. Just some more time of loving before all hell would break lose.
"Do you think she will forgive me Nani?'
"She will,' Nani smiled, "I know my Chandini, she is a sweet child. She will forgive you.'
Advay nodded to himself, maybe it was time he came clean. It was time he told her the truth.
"I will tell her the truth after Diwali,' He said, "Just want to have a happy Diwali with her Nani.'
Nani nodded, it made sense. No one knew how Chandini would react. She had only just started smiling, it was harsh to take away her happiness. Diwali wasn't that far away, he had waited for all this time, he could wait for another few weeks or so.
Chandini settled between her sisters and Advay as soon as they reached the venue. The chairs were covered in a white silk fabric and held together with ribbons in pink. It was a spectacular event held in an open lawn beside the sea. Palms and coconuts surrounded them along with shrubs of roses and daisies and other wild flowers. Soft warm fairy lights hung low from the trees and the decorative pillars draped in soft pink fabric that fluttered in the cool evening breeze. Chandini gasped in awe at how rich and luxurious the event was. And the bride and her mother were her students, she felt proud of herself. She knew them personally. They had given her and Advay a special invite along with an invite for the rest of the family.
Shikha and Meghu felt their jaw hit the floor at how stunning the stage was. It was strewn with roses in pink and white. Chairs in red and gold were arranged around the havan where the groom and the bride had already taken their seat. They were late.
Chandini smiled to herself, their seats were close to the stage. She smiled at the blushing bride as her sisters and her mother helped her adjust her lehenga and her dupatta while she sat beside the groom. She looked stunning in her rich magenta lehenga. Advay laced his fingers into Chandini's and kissed the back of her hand as he continued chatting to his Nani sitting beside her. Her sisters were busy chatting with Pooja while Aadi played with Murli and Shilpa.
She rested her head on Advay's shoulder and watched the wedding. Tears welled her eyes as she watched the bride's father hand her to her husband. Memories of her own wedding flashed before her eyes. Memories of how Advay had held her family captive in their own house, memories of how they had fled in the middle of the night from the Haveli. She flinched ever so slightly. Why had he done all that? She frowned.
Advay circled his arms around her and held her closer, sensing her discomfort. He scanned the venue, it wasn't too busy thankfully and Chandini knew most of the women. Yet she looked distressed. Why? He thought.
He stroked her hair as he continued holding her close to his heart and went back to chatting to Nani. The pheras started and they were handed a bunch of rose petals and rice mixed with kumkum to shower upon the bride and the groom. Chandini smiled to herself sitting up in her chair so she got a better view of the event. Tears finally trickled down her cheeks as the pheras began. The pandit began explaining the significance of every phera and the vow the couple make towards each other. Advay gasped in horror, as his own vows flashed before his eyes. Vows of wanting to hurt her, of wanting to upset her, of wanting to destroy her. Yet here she sat beside him beaming and blushing like a bride.
He lowered his gaze to find her sobbing softly as she continued watching the wedding. He sighed as the reason behind her distress finally dawned upon him. Chandini giggled softly in between her sobs as soon the pheras came to an end and she showered all the flowers in her hand upon the happy couple. Tears didn't seem to want to stop from streaming down her pretty face.
Advay handed her his kerchief and studied her moist face with guilt gripping his heart.
"I am sorry Chandini,' He finally whispered as she wiped her face.
She raised her glistening eyes to him.
"I am sorry I ruined our wedding.' He said, "sorry for everything I did.'
"It's okay,' She breathed as she struggled to blink her tears away. It wasn't the wedding that upset her, it was how he had fought to marry her that stunned her the most. She lifted her hand to his head and raked her fingers through his hair.
"What?'
"I can't forget how badly hurt you were that day,' She sobbed softly, "I thought they were going to kill you.'
"Is that why you are crying?' He asked, she never stopped surprising him.
She nodded. "Those men, they attacked you from all sides, you had blood pouring down your forehead.'
"Hmm.'
"Why?'
"What?'
"Why did you fight? Why did you have to marry me?'
"Because Tum Meri Ho, sirf meri, mine' He smiled, "I have wanted to marry you forever, I have loved you all my life. You had to belong to me... not to that asshole PP.'
She giggled.
"Let's marry again,' He said wiping the tear from her cheek.
"What?' She gasped in awe.
"Let's marry again,' He cuddled her closer, "I'll give you a proper wedding. A wedding ten times better than this one. What do you say?'
"It's not how beautiful the wedding is,' She said, "it is how beautiful the marriage is that matters. So long we have a beautiful marriage between us, I am happy.'
"Damm, I was hoping I could get another suhaag raat.'
"Suhaag Raat, first night?' She narrowed her gaze at him, "you made me stand all night?'
"What?' He gasped, "When?'
"You said don't move or you will touch me all night.'
"I said don't move, you fool,' He shook his head in despair, "and you stood all night like an idiot. I never said don't sit down. All I said was don't move from the spot.'
"You made me stand all night... you abuser.'
"Yeah is that what I am now,' He slid his hand up her waist. Chandini gasped, they were at a wedding, was he not ashamed ever.
"Why did you stand all night?' He asked
"Because I didn't want you to touch me... you pervert.'
"And who was it moaning my name on the kitchen floor last night,' He whispered in her ears. Chandini blushed giggling to herself.
"You have no idea what you missed out now,' He bit softly at her ears, "I wanted you to move that night, so I could have had my way with you.'
"Liar... you were exhausted, you had hacked ten men to death.'
"I was.' He chuckled. She rested her head on his chest, they had come a long way.
"Hey Chandini.'
"Hmm.'
"Will you marry me?' He held her gaze in his loving eyes, "all over again.'
She nodded. "I can marry you every day, forever , in every life.'
He folded her in his arms and held her close to his heart. His heart was beginning to heal finally.
Cricket
Arjun
Jhanak
Tum Se Tum Tak
