Hi everyone
I decided to venture into writing another FF. The first part was written a while ago and posted in the PriDa thread. I have decided to continue it.
Thanks Carie for suggesting the name 🤗🤗🤗🤗
This happens after all the misunderstandings have been cleared up and all 3 couples and Ila are in Manali with Suman (veggie). Yes Ila is still alive in my story. 😃
PART -1
The weather in Manali was just beginning to turn a little chilly. Damini was finally secure in Prithvi's love for her and there were no secrets between them. He was working on trying to be more romantic for her and he had woken her this morning with kisses and a cup of tea that he had prepared himself. She liked to think that whatever they had been through had made their love stronger. They were closer than ever. Their offices were next to each other and he stopped by several times a day on one pretext or the other. She would sometimes pretend to be angry with him but she loved it and he knew that. Gone were the days when he would disappear without telling her - now he kept her updated on his whereabouts. He called her even if he was running 10 minutes late because he knew she would worry.
He would usually wake up early and go work out, but he had gotten into the habit of being around when she woke up because it made her happy. She had finally learned to make aloo parathas just the way he liked it from her mother-in-law. Maaji was such a darling - always willing to help. She had cared for Avni like her own daughter during her pregnancy. Avni had just had a baby 3 months back and everyone was very excited with the new baby girl whom they had named Khushi. Avni would enjoy the break from having to care for the baby by herself- though maaji helped as much as she could, maaji was still recovering and Avni tried to get her to rest as much as possible. Avni was still the same person she was caring and considerate and Damini was thankful that the bitter experiences has not changed her as a person.
Roshni and Varun - those two were getting married soon. They had started dating in earnest soon after the misunderstandings were cleared up. They had decided to take it slow. Damini understood Roshni's reluctance. With both her and Avni - there was so much they did not know about their husbands when they married them - things that they found out later and hurt them deeply - though things turned out fine in the end. Rosh was being smart about it and everyone supported her including Mama (Ila). Maaji was the only one who wanted to see them married sooner, but Prithvi had convinced her that it was good to wait.
She had to pinch herself to make sure she was not dreaming sometimes. She always hated the thought of getting married because she would lose her sisters and her mom. Here things had worked out so well that her sisters would always be with her and so would her mom. Prithvi cared for Mama like his own mother and so did Sameer and Varun. Instead of losing her family, she had gained a whole new one or added members to her existing one - depending on how you looked at it. How did she get so lucky? Now all of them had 2 mothers. Even though they still called him Jeej, both Avni and Rosh looked up to Prithvi as their big brother. She liked her brothers-in-law as well. She had always liked Varun but had learned to like Sameer as well once she realized that he repented his misguided actions caused due to his love for his mother. Maaji had also apologized on his behalf and he had more than made up for his actions. Sameer (though she still called him Jai sometimes) had been a very good husband to Avni and a great father to Khushi, never letting either of them out of his sight. Sameer's now worked in the PR department of Gujral industries and had finally found his calling.
This trip to Manali was long time coming . First they could not make it because Avni's baby was due and then it was winter so the weather was too cold. Now that winter was almost gone - it was the perfect time to visit. She loved seeing the house in which Prithvi grew up . It was so peaceful here. She never wanted to leave. Mama was doing much better now that everything was settled. Her surgery had gone well and the doctors expected her to live for a long time. Her mother and mother-in-law got along well and were always discussing their children and their lives. They had plans to extended the Manali home and add a few more rooms. She smiled when she remembered the reason for that discussion.
They almost had not made it to Manali this time either as a family. She touched her stomach lovingly. Prithvi had turned paranoid with the news of the impending arrival. He was afraid something would happen to her. She had to get four different doctors to assure Prithvi that everything would be fine before he had agreed to take this trip. She still remembered his expression when she told him she was pregnant - he was surprised and scared at the same time. Everyone was hoping for a boy this time but both of them only wanted a healthy baby. Prithvi had taken to watching her like a hawk at all times - she found it incredibly cute. He waited on her hand and foot and honestly it was starting to get a little annoying. But she was enjoying it nevertheless.
Damini's reverie was interrupted by someone calling her name. She saw Prithvi coming towards her
Prithvi: There you are. I have been looking all over for you.
Damini: Why? Is everything OK?
Prithvi: (coming and sitting down next to Damini on the swing). Everything is not OK. I left you taking a nap in the room and you were not there anymore.
Damini: Prithvi I wanted to sit on the swing.
Prithvi: OK OK but you could have left a note. He gives her a mischevious smile and winks at her.
Damini: Oh my. Now you are giving me lessons in romance?
Prithvi (hugging Damini): Meri itni jurrat (how can I be so brave?)
Damini: Wahi toh (Exactly).
Prithvi: No nausea any more?
Damini: No . I am fine. I feel refreshed after the nap.
Prithvi: Are you sure you are up to a party this evening
Damini: Yes. I want to meet all your friends and neighbors. I want to meet these people who you grew up with.
Prithvi: They have all been dying to meet you too. Maa is the talk of the town. She shows up with not one but two bahus, one prospective bahu and one granddaughter. People are dying to meet you. They are doubly interested to meet you once they learned that the 3 bahus are sisters.
Damini: Why should that make a difference?
Prithvi: This is a small town Damini and this is exciting news for them. People here are very friendly but they tend to be a little nosy. They don't respect your privacy and will ask you questions that you consider rude. I just wanted to warn you about that. If someone asks you something you don't want to answer just smile and tell them to ask me.
Damini: What? I can handle this.
Prithvi: Damini....
Damini: OK. As you say hubby dearest. Mere pyaare patidev.
Prithvi: Come on. As I was looking for you Avni asked me to remind you about lunch.
Damini: Hey bhagwan I forgot. The 3 of us were going to get together and make lunch.
Prithvi: Need some help.
Damini: No we will manage.
Prithvi: Damini I do not want you to tire yourself out.
Damini: No Prithvi, we are just making simple food - it is tradition that the daughter-in-law prepares food for the family.
Prithvi: Since when did you start following traditions
Damini: It will make maaji happy. She has us do grihapraveh when we got here. I never got to do it because we ended up staying with Mama. Don't get me wrong- I love you for that.
Prithvi: Yup I am a confirmed ghar jamai and a joru ka ghulam. Prithvi laughs.
Damini watches him because she loves hearing him laugh. He laughed a lot more and was much more relaxed now that all that nastiness was behind them.
Damini: and I love you even more because you just don't care about what the world says. Ok now let me go. I have to go help Avni.
Prithvi: OK but don't tire yourself out. If you need help, ask and I will be there.
Damini (thinking to herself) - I know you will stand outside the kitchen the whole time.
Prithvi kisses Damini on the forehead and they walk back inside the house.
(to be continued)
