I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE CHARACTERS.
___________________________________________________________________________
Hey, this is a new FF with a very different and broad idea. I hope you all like it and please do criticize me and tell me how it is.Thank you😳
Chapter 1
coo-coo!
coo-coo!
coo-coo!
coo-coo!
coo-coo!
I sat up quickly as my eyes widened, a bit shaken by the loud noise of the rooster. I rubbed my eyes as I tried to wipe the sleep out of them. I felt a chill through my spine as I just realized how cold it had gotten.
I sighed as I looked besides me and noticed my two sisters sleeping and completely unaware of the rooster's constant noisemaking and to the fact that we have to get up early in order to milk the cows. Khushi and Meher. What am I supposed to do about these two? I smiled lightly as I placed my hand on both of their heads. I shook my head as I quickly got up and took my shawl and wrapped it soothingly around me.
Guess, I have to milk the cows again all alone. I closed the door shut and walked out in the veranda, noticing papji sleeping on the small wooden bed outside. He was snoring quite loudly and held an empty alcohol bottle in his hand. He could never stop the addiction and there was nothing I could do about it. Ma had done everything to stop his addiction from going to the doctor to get the injection to going to the gurdwara and making him swear to not drink again, but he never stopped. Every evening, starting from five o'clock P.M. , he would begin his usual desi alcohol and continue throughout the night. Most of the time beating up ma, Khushi, Meher and me, but we had no control, afterall he was the man of the house.
I shook my head and took the large steel jugs as I noticed ma sleeping in the kitchen. I noticed how tired she looked in her sleep and so I let her sleep and tried to make no noise. I opened the main gate of the door and closed it silently before I began to walk down the rugged and uneven pathway. I walked to my family's small plot of land and down to the cow shed.
I smiled as I looked at Lala, my favorite cow. I smiled as I sat down on the small stool and began to milk the cow.
"So,Lala, how are you?" The cow mooed as I smiled and patted her head.
I began to take food for Lala and placed it in front of her.
"Heer Di!Di!" I heard a loud shout. I looked up to see Khushi running through the field. Her loose pony tail flying up as she ran with a worried look on her face. I looked at her curiously as I ran up to her. I felt worried too because Khushi never woke up so early ever in her life.
"What happened Khushi?Is everything ok?" I said as I held her shoulders.
"Di...woh...You know Mahi right?"Khushi said as I shook my head remembering Laxmi who was my 10th class classmate.
"Well...um..."Khushi stuttered as she looked at me biting her lip.
"What Khushi?Tell me."I said shaking her shoulders.
"She's having the wedding."Khushi mumbled.
"What?"I said shocked as I looked at her.
"Yes, Mahi's parents already saw the groom and settled it. It's...a...blind marriage"Khushi stumbled.
Blind marriage. It's a tradition that lives in this village. A tradition which has been going on for more than 50 years. The tradition is that the bride and groom never see each other before getting married. Only the groom's and bride's families see each other and settle everything. The marriage occurs without neither of the groom or bride knowing anything about each other nor seeing each other's face. Many young girls my age do complain, but what can we do? It's a tradition which all of us have to follow.
"God...Where's Mahi now?"I said looking at her.
"Well...she's having her bidaai right now,"Khushi mumbled again.
"What?"I said a bit shocked.
"Yes, Mahi's family had a small secret marriage. Apparently. the groom is a bit older"Khushi said.
"A bit older?"I questiongly asked.
"Yes, I heard he's 41 and has a young daughter and an older son,"Khushi said.
"What?Mahi's only 20!"I said a bit to loudly as my voice hollowed quietly through out the fields.
"I know. I heard the band marching back as the doli came and then I heard our neighbor Soni Aunty standing on the terrace and telling me"Khushi said as an expression of sorrow filled her up.
"Well, another marriage gone by in a week. It seems like every girl in this village is leaving," I said as Khushi agreed. I heard Lala moo as I looked back and patted her head.
Khushi smiled as she grabbed some food and fed her. I smiled as I tried to divert my mind from Mahi and her new life.
"Where's Meher?" I asked as I filled up another jug of milk.
"Where else?She's still in her bed. God, she's a lazy bull"Khushi said as I giggled and shook my head.
"Let's go. Ma will be waiting for the milk" I said as Khushi smiled and picked up a jug and stumbled a bit as her small slender figure shook and tumbled as I laughed and pushed her lightly.
*****
We quickly got home and closed the door. I noticed Khushi and I had gotten a bit late and saw papaji sitting on the wooden bed and saw the village head sitting next to him drinking tea.
I looked at them curiously as did Khushi
"Sat Sri Akal" We folded our hands and quietly went into the kitchen where ma was quietly making rotis. I noticed a small bruise near her eye and knew in a second that it was given by papaji. I gave her the two large jugs of milk and looked up at her.
"Ma,why is the village head here?" I whispered as she looked through the barred window at the veranda where papaji and the village head were sitting.
"I don't know either...I wonder what it is about?" Ma said as I noticed Meher entering the kitchen. She smiled and asked the same question.
"Look, I have this really nice family, the Juneja Family. The family is wealthy and owns companies all over the world. The best part is that the poor old man has three sons, Prem, Arnav and Preet, and only one wife. The family is well reputed and from the Sekhon village which is near by. They came from Delhi a few days back and they are looking for a girl. Well, not one girl, but three. They are so desperate that they are offering 1 crore to the family. And their demand is that all three girls should come from the same family and a humble one too. They believe if the girls are from the same family then they would not try to run after the property and seprate the family. The Juneja family believes in the tradition of the marriage and after all Mr. Lalit Juneja got married to his wife following this custom" The village head spoke and every phrase of his widened all our eyes in shock except papaji's who smiled and I could tell he liked the idea.
"You are my good friend which is why I am telling you about this proposal."
" I know and you are right. So, yes, I will meet with the family" Papaji said.
"What?" Meher said in shock as she stared at papaji through the window.
"I can't believe it. What are we supposed to do?" Khushi said as her eyes filled up as I placed my hand on her shoulder.
I couldn't believe papaji would do this and why would he do this. A blind marriage?Why?
Papaji smiled as he let the village head leave and bid him adieu. He smiled and called out ma. Ma quickly walked out to him.
"See,our dreams are becoming true. Now our daughters will marry rich and we will be rich to! " Papaji smirked as he shook ma's shoulder.
I noticed ma looking at him nervously as she looked back at us then at him.
"Um...well...a blind marriage. Um...I think...this is not right. This is our daughters' futures we are talking about" Ma said. I noticed the expression on papaji's face changing as his eyes turned red.
"Oh Really?! So, now you are the head of the house!You will make the decision?!" Papaji yelled as he placed his hand on her cheek and shook her. He grabbed her and threw her on the floor and pressed her head against it.
I quickly ran out up to mom.
"Papaji please stop!Stop!"I yelled as tears ran down my cheeks as Khushi and Meher tried to pull him back.
"I will if you agree to this proposal!"Papaji yelled. We looked back at each other as I heard Ma scream.
"Yes!We will do it!" We pleaded and papaji stopped as he let go of ma and smirked walking away to his room.
I grabbed ma as we hugged her tightly as she sobbed and hugged us back.
"I'm so sorry. I can't even help you three at all. I'm so weak" Ma said as she hugged us.
"Ma, please don't say this. You have done much for us." I said.
"Yes, ma we love you,"Khushi said placing her hand on her cheek as she hugged us and waited for the day to come and wait for her daughters' bidaai...
CHARACTER SKETCH
Prem Juneja-29 years old. Handsome, and arrogant. He believes he is made for the world and the world should be beneath him. He has a soft heart which he always keeps hidden. He does not believe in traditions and only obeys his parents and no one else. He is the CEO of Juneja Globals.
Arnav Juneja-27 years old. Handsome,humble and a bit short-tempered yet treats others right. He is young at heart and serious, but comes out to be open hearted and sweet. He respects the idea of marriage, but believes that he should be compatible to the women he is with. CEO Of Juneja Asian Hotels.
Preet Juneja- 25 years old and funny and cute. He is bubbly and the joker of the family. He believes in true marriage and traditions. He is the CEO of Juneja Europe Hotels.
Heer Maan-20 years old and shy and innocent. She believes in traditions and is always obedient. She knows how to keep her family's status up high.
Khushi Maan- 19 years old and very bubbly. She is the girl that most men like, but not quite up to some expectations. She always keeps the energy up.
Meher Maan-18 years old and very funny. She does not like to get tied into relationships yet respects them.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CH.1-PAGE 1
CH.2-PAGE 2
CH.3-PAGE 5
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
