Sorry for making you guys wait again, I just didn't know what to come up with, decided this will have to do 😳 The chapter is called ''Mixed Bag'' instead of ''Wedding Bells'' as it features almost everyone, here goes
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Chapter 14- Mixed Bag
Prem had been away from Delhi for only a week but the welcome he got upon reaching his place made it look otherwise. His mother hugged and kissed him countless times, his grandparents were teary eyed and his brothers who were usually inexpressive of their feelings gave him bone crushing hugs. Even Lalit, shook his hand and patted his head. Prem realized how much he would miss them when he went to London and inwardly strengthened his conviction to come back after a couple of years.
Later that day, he lay in bed with his head in his mother's lap as she ran her fingers through his hair and asked- Prem, for how many years do you plan to stay in London?
Prem looked up at his mother and sighed wondering if he should let out his conversation with Heer regarding the issue and tell his mother what a mistake she'd done by choosing Heer as her daughter-in-law. But then decided to ask her a question- I know you want me to stay with you ma, then why did you choose Heer? You knew she'd want to stay there
Gayatri sighed- Prem, you know how much this union means to your father and grandparents
Prem- yes but is important enough to send me away? I've always I wanted a girl who would adjust with the family, not a girl for whom the whole family would have to adjust!
Gayatri- Prem, we're not adjusting…I often wonder why you say that! You know, for your father this marriage is the perfect excuse to send you away
Prem was shocked- papa wants to send me away? I've been away for 15 years and he WANTS to send me away again?
Gayatri laughed- look at your face! {she pinched his cheeks} what a puppy face! He wants his eldest son to do good…he's always wanted you to be successful and he knows how important the job in London is for your career. You would never have agreed to go otherwise, so this marriage happening is all very convenient for your dad…but hang on a minute, why did you say what you just said about Heer?
Prem bit his tongue, he should've have been more careful- said what ma?
Gayatri- don't act smart with me, what do you mean by saying a girl for whom the whole family would have to adjust? Did she say something when you met her?
Prem's mind was racing a 100 miles a minute to do damage control- no ma…I meant…I meant about her wanting to stay in London for a few years
Gayatri was half satisfied with the answer but decided to drop the issue, her son was old enough to deal with things himself. But she had to know how long he was going to stay there- Prem, you haven't answered me yet…how long do you plan to stay there?
Lalit Juneja entered the room- five years at least!
Prem got up and looked at his dad not sure if he'd heard him right- did you say five years papa?
Lalit- yes, your boss Inder told me five years there would give you a shot at CEO. That's what I want for you
Prem mumbled- I was thinking a couple of years would be enough
Lailt- only if they're good enough for you to try for CEO
Prem- you know they aren't papa
Lailt- then five years it is!
Prem- papa, why is it so important? I'm doing well enough here in Delhi. Why do I need to go away for so long again? I've been away for 15 years
It broke Gayatri's heart, her husband was being irrational. Why was success so important to him? She could see that her son wanted to stay with his family, was he being forced to go away? She decided to interfere- Prem is right, why send him if he doesn't want to go?
Lalit Juneja clenched his teeth. His wife had always been a bit of a weakling, he blamed her lovesome attitude for Preet's rakish ways. One idiotic son was one too many for Lalit Juneja to handle, he had high hopes from his eldest- Gayatri you cannot keep him under your wing forever! Prem, success is important. There's never a concrete answer for everything in life, somethings are just the way they are and we must go with the flow to adjust to them. Do me proud son, I want to see you as the CEO of your firm before I retire, you have 8 years to do it…8 years too many in my opinion {he turned around to leave and paused at the door} Gayatri, I was hoping if I could get one of those delightful sandwiches you make with the evening tea?
Gayatri patted her son's head before getting up and answered her husband- why don't you freshen up? I'll just make you one {she faced her son} Prem, do you want one?
Prem smiled- sure ma, I want everything before I'm sent away
Later, as Gayatri stood making sandwiches in the kitchen she wondered why her husband had always been so cold and indifferent to the feelings of their eldest son, she could see that he was unhappy at the prospect of being away for so many years, besides he was 26 and about to get married…he should be allowed to make his own choices. She also wondered if it really was that way or if her perception was blinded by her own need to have her son nearby and sighed in frustration. Lalit was right about one thing, there was never a concrete answer for everything in life!
Three days before the wedding
He hated his phone, why did it have to ring when he was sleeping? Didn't it realize how tired he was these days? How hard he'd been working, preparing for the wedding, juggling work and studying when people didn't notice…study-ing…study…ex-aaa-m-mm…the words seemed to ring in Preet Juneja's head and he got up saying 'SHIT'…today was D-day! The entrance exam for MBA! He answered his phone- hellooo?
Meher said a cheery hey and laughed when she heard him groan- get up Preet! It's your big day!
Preet- big day my bottom! I can't believe I let you talk me into doing this!
Meher- well believe it! You have to reach the venue at 9 a.m., hurry up now you have only two hours…good luck and let me know how it goes
Preet- yeah yeah, I will…thanks for the wakeup call
Preet got up and arched back, he'd slept on his study table again! At least this bit would end today; he hurried off to the bathroom to get dressed.
Coming out of the exam hall at 12 p.m. he ran into a girl dressed simply in a jeans and white kurti, it was her fault and she muttered a quick 'sorry' before bending down to pick up the contents that had fallen out of her duffel bag and Preet got down to help her hoping to getting a better view when he felt a hard hand on his shoulder and turned around to see a six foot four inch ogre like man staring hard into his eyes
Man- carry on, my sister is quite capable of gathering her stuff
Preet gulped, sister? Nodded and scurried away cursing his luck. This was the first time he'd come across an angel like girl, why did she have to have an ogre for a brother? To make things worse, the exam had been totally rubbish! He knew he wasn't going to pass.
Brother- you should watch where you're going, how was the exam?
Girl- it went well bhai, I even got the hostel accommodation form
The brother muttered- I wonder why bauji even allowed you to come here for the exam, if I had it my way you'd be sitting in the house waiting for a good marriage proposal to come along
The girl sighed, this was exactly what she wanted to escape. She was mad at her brother for butting in between as she believed she was quite capable of gathering her stuff AND handling herself! It was bad enough to have him with her all the way from Calcutta! She hoped and prayed that she got into the university. It was her ticket to freedom, two years away from the shackles of her family in Delhi! Something she was looking forward to.
Heer & Maya had gotten back from Dubai two days ago to a house filled with relatives from Punjab. Maya hated every minute of it and regretted her decision to stay at Heer's place. Everything from the parathas to the gallons of sweet tea made each morning for the three dozen people staying at Maan house to the long queues for the wet bathrooms in the morning and sharing a bedroom with half a dozen village girls was a bit too much to handle! She was fuming on the roof staring at the moonlight when she saw him. Tall, dark and tired…he giggled at her description, he was sleeping on the roof of the adjacent house, Maya sighed…looked like the Juneja house was also bursting with people. She hurried back downstairs when she heard her friend call out to her…she was going to find out who he was.
Veera was having a hard time wooing Nihaal, the guy was a mannequin. He wore the stuff she asked him to wear, barely smiled or voiced his opinion and didn't even laugh at her jokes. Everyone laughed at Veera's jokes, every guy complemented her on her clothing, looks and style but Nihaal was different. He was totally oblivious of Veera's feelings. The fittings came to an end and Veera sadly gathered her stuff and headed back to the Juneja house. Nihaal sighed and sat down to read a book, he'd always known Prem's youngest sister had a thing for him. At first it had been amusing, Veera followed him around everywhere, unnecessarily tried to talk to him, Nihaal laughed it all off as childish attitude, infatuation, but things had gone way beyond his control in the last couple of years. Veera had become irritating now, Kulraj had been married for five years but he'd been unable to forget her. Her visits seemed to add injury to his wounds, she was everything he'd wanted and Kiran had come along and whisked her away. Nihaal sighed he knew he had to find a way to tell Veera he wasn't even remotely interested in her.
Wedding Day
Prem paced around his room wondering if it was right; getting married to someone you didn't love- and he was most certain, would never learn to love right. His thoughts were disturbed when his phone rang, it was his savior, his ally, his friend.
Prem smiled- hello?
Person- hey, it's your big day
Prem sighed- how can I ever forget?
Person- don't worry Prem, things will be under control once you're married
Prem- how?
Person- trust me, I'll guide you through it
Prem- I trust you, but how can you be so sure when you've never been married?
Person- I have a degree in psychology I work in advertising, I know people…so I know how it works, just relax and get married…I will handle the rest
Prem looked at his off white and dull gold sherwani after he hung up and went to take a shower before getting dressed. His friend swirled some leftover coffee in a mug and looked at a picture- Prem's college photograph and silently thought, 'too much of a mother's boy aren't you? Well, it's time things changed. You have to get married so you realize how wrong you've been all along'
Heer was equally nervous at the other end, Maya was harassing the hairdresser and the makeup assistants in an attempt to make sure everything from Heer's hair to dress came out perfect. She also gave her friend special 'instructions' on how to behave on her 'big night'…Maya Binder's philosophy was simple, the harder you play to get, the quicker they fall for you. Heer needed a drink to calm her nerves, but she knew her mother would have a fit if she asked for it.
The baraat reaches the venue that has been booked for the occasion. More than 400 guests are visiting from Ambala and Ludhiana to witness the ceremony, some saying the marriage won't go through like last time while others are surprised that Balraaj Maan is giving his daughter to the family who are indirectly responsible for his elder brother's death. His younger brother Balwant had phoned from Calcutta to say he is disgusted and that he and his family will not be attending. Balraaj is sorry to hear that but the wedding must go through.
Prem is looking dashing in an off white and gold sherwaani, Teji welcomes him and he's led to the mandap where the rituals start and the bride is brought down the stairs. Heer looks like an angel in the red and gold lehnga. Veera & Meher look at the dashing couple and beam with pride, everyone's praising the outfits they've designed. Heer comes and stands next to Prem, they look at each other, it seems that the person standing in front of them is saintly, they had met and been attracted to each other in Dubai, but something was different today. May be it was Veera & Meher's outfits, the heat of the moment or the blessing of the holy fire; but whatever it was, it was different in every sense of the word…they exchange garlands and sit down in front of the holy fire. Surinder and Saraswati tie the dupattas and Balraaj and Teji give Heer's hand in Prem's…that simple contact sends a jolt through their bodies and both steal a glance at each other. The ceremony starts and after taking 7 rounds round the holy fire the pandit ji gives Pem the mangalsutra, he feels her skin as ties it round her neck…she looks at him and blushes…his touch does something to her. Prem puts the sindoor on her forehead…and they become man & wife.
The newly weds take everyone's blessings and Surinder Juneja & Baldev Maan's dream comes true. Bidaai takes place after dinner, it's an emotional affair and the Junejas bring their DIL home.
The necessary rituals are performed and the newly-weds are mercilessly teased by Preet, after which they are taken up to their room. Veera and Kulraj stand in front of it blocking their brother's way and ask for money…
Kulraj- Prem bhaiyya, you know you've got to pay a special tax before going in today!
Veera- yes! And extra special payment because we've worked tirelessly for the last 6 weeks to get you married
Prem smiles- I knew the two of you would ask for this, I have something inside for you…let me step in please
Kulraj- never! You'll just close the door behind you…we don't trust you with this
Prem- I won't…and just let me in…Heer is here with you two
Veera- all right then, but if you don't come out in five minutes we'll take your bride away
Prem smiles and goes inside, he comes back in a couple of minutes. He has two jewelry boxes in his hand and he gives one to Kulraj and the other to Veera, they open their boxes and squeal in delight when they see diamond earrings in them. Hearing them squeal Preet and Harman come up and before they can reach Prem Heer's room the couple is pushed inside by Kulraj and Veera.
Once inside, the situation is quite awkward…you don't know somebody and they become your spouse…what are you supposed to do? Prem thinks, jump on them? Nooo, that is not a good idea…do what they do in the soaps his grandmother watches? The guy sleeps on the couch while they take some time to know each other? He hoped he wouldn't have to do that because he wasn't sure if he could even fit on the damn couch…what do I do? Thought Prem, and suddenly he had an idea…
Meanwhile Heer was equally uncomfortable, standing in the middle of a decorated room wearing a heavy dress and jewelry…oh God! Why didn't I listen to Maya? She'd never been with a guy…let alone being with a guy…she'd never been kissed…she'd been approached more than a few times but never thought she had the time for any of that…she had studies, then came work…oh God! I don't even know this man and in a couple of minutes I'll be required to undress and fulfill his desires? I should've never come to India…oh damn! Oh dear God! She shudders when she feels a hand on her shoulder, 'oh my God, here we go' she thinks
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All right, I've written the suhaag {ahem} night sequence but it'll have to wait because I don't like it 😳 thanks for wonderful comments, they shape up the FF so please voice your opinion 😊
Ciao!
Sampoorna
Bindi
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