FF - Piya ka Ghar - Pt 6 Pg 33 - Page 22

"Nidhi, would you prefer to go shopping with Anjie?"

Shyama's nervous tone cut through the sweet daydreams that Nidhi had been indulging in.

In fact, she had not stopped dreaming even with eyes wide open ever since that day when Ashutosh had grabbed her hand right outside her college and sworn eternal love.

She had been too stunned to react and he had taken that to be hesitation on her part.

"Nidhi, I swear I will make sure you want for nothing. I am qualified enough to find myself a job and support a good lifestyle for both of us. We can get a transfer to a college in Mumbai where you can complete your studies. That way, we will be away from both families. We can build a beautiful life for ourselves, just you and me! I will give you so much love that you will not want for anyone else'e love, neither parents nor in laws!"

Nidhi had felt so choked, listening to his passionate words, that she had been unable to reply. The mischievous Anjie had taken full advantage of the situation.

"Bhai, let go of her hand please. She is getting engaged on Sunday!"

Ashutosh had been devastated.

He had held Nidhi's hand even tighter if that were possible.

"You can't get engaged to someone else, Nidhi. I know you love me as much as I love you. How can you be happy with someone else? Don't do this to me, Nidhi. Don't do this to us! I will come and talk to your parents, I will beg them if need me. If they insist on my parents approving, I will go back to Delhi and beg my family if need be. But please don't even think of marrying someone else!"

Nidhi had opened her mouth to protest that she would not even dream of it. But Anjie had once again preempted her.

"Bhai, there is no point now. In fact, the boy's sister visited Nidhi's home and gave her a family bangle as shagun even! The engagement ceremony is just a formality now. The commitment has already been made!"

Ashutosh had glared at her.

"Anjie, you are my cousin. I would imagine my emotions and happiness would matter more to you than some stupid commitment that does not take into consideration the feelings of Nidhi's feelings?"

"Bhai, who told you Nidhi is not happy? See, how happily she is wearing the kangan?"

Anjie had caught hold of Nidhi's hand and lifted up for Ashutosh to see.

Ashutosh hardly paid attention to the kangan.

"Nidhi, tell me you don't care for me. Tell me your consent was taken for this alliance and I will go away and never bother you again. But if you have been coerced into it, this bangle means nothing. It can be removed just as quickly!"

Ashutosh had been about to remove the bangle when Nidhi had found her voice.

"Don't!"

Ashutosh's eyes had filled with hurt and he had almost dropped her hand when she spoke the next words.

"Mallika Jiji made me wear it!"

Ashutosh had been stunned and had looked from Nidhi to Anjie in confusion.

Anjie had started laughing.

"Bhai, silly bhai, Nidhi is getting engaged to you on Sunday. Mallika Didi met Nidhi's family and sorted everything out!"

"You mean both of you were having fun at my expense?"

"Anjie...not me..I would never hurt..!"

Nidhi's quick denial had brought a smile to his lips.

"You'd never hurt me? That means you love me?"

She had been lost in the expression in his eyes.

"Bhai and Nidhi, we are standing on the roadside. Please remember!"

Nidhi had snatched her hand away immediately and had blushed a fiery red.

"Anjie, is there a good restaurant nearby? Where we can all sit comfortably and chat? Mallika came to Nidhi's house? How did all of this happen?"

"Bhai, I think you should call home. Maasi's health has been impacted by your leaving home. Everyone is worried!"

"Maa's unwell?"

Ashutosh was at once worried.

"Please go back home immediately!"

Nidhi's softly voiced plea had the desired effect.

"Yes, I will leave for the airport right away and take the first flight out!"

Ashutosh had turned to leave. Hardly a few feet and he had come rushing back.

"Keep dreaming of me till Sunday!"

He had rushed away quickly even as Nidhi's eyes had grown soft and dreamy.

"Nidhi, here is the money that Baba has given...Nidhi, where are you?"

Nidhi came back to earth as Shyama's tone grew shriller.

"Maa, I don't want to go with Anjie. I want you to choose for me!"

"But beta, she will understand their taste's better. Baba does not want you to fall short of their or their relatives's expectations!"

Nidhi hugged her mother.

"Maa, how many times have you told me about your dreams for my wedding? I want them all to come true, Maa. I want to wear whatever you saw me wearing in your dreams!"

Shyama's heart melted. What a big heart her daughter had!

"Okay then. Let us show them Dilliwale that we are not so lacking in taste after all. We may not have as much as money but we will give our best to make this the most memorable day of your life, beta! Your Baba and I want you to be the happiest bride in the whole world!"

Both mother and daughter teared up at the thought of the impending separation. For the joys of the wedding ceremony would be followed by the sorrows of separation.

"Maa, I am scared!"

"Don't be! You have no need to be scared when you are getting a husband who will love you just as much as I do!"

Nidhi blushed hard at her mother's words.

"Maa...!"

"Is it not the truth? What did he say when he met you outside your college?"

Nidhi was shocked.

"You know?"

"My cousin Shanti saw the two of you and Anjie. She shut her mouth when I told her you were getting engaged. So, damad ji could not wait till Sunday to see you?"

Nidhi thought to tell her mother the truth but refrained. How would her parents react if they knew that Ashutosh had left home and had not even known of Mallika's visit.

"Achcha chalo...we have shopping to do!"

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Ashutosh swallowed hard when he saw the vision of beauty that appeared in front of him.

She was dressed in a baby pink Benarasi silk saree with simple but elegant gold ornaments adorning her neck, her ears and her wrists. Strands of gajra had been neatly entwined around her long plait. The sweet fragrance from the flowers added to his intoxication, for he was already drunk on her sheer beauty. Her kohl lined eyes, the coral lipstick that drew attention to her plump lips, the natural blush that stained her cheeks, she presented a vision of such exquisite beauty that he fell in love with her all over again.

"Beta, you're happy now?"

His mother's whispered question brought him back to the present.

He did not have to give her a verbal response for the shine in his eyes were answer enough.

Mrs Mathur beamed at her son before looking gratefully in her daughter's direction.

Mallika smiled back but her mother could see that the smile did not really reach her eyes.

It did not matter! Even if it was just a facade that she was putting up for her brother's sake, Mrs Mathur was grateful to her for her efforts.

She recalled the warm hug that Ashutosh had given Mallika on his return home.

"Thank you, Didi! Thank you for proving that my happiness matters most!"

"Stupid boy! You doubted that?"

Mallika had gently punched him on the shoulder and he had held his ears in apology.

He had then bent down to take her blessings.

"This is what you want, Ashu. I have my misgivings but hope that they will be proved unfounded. I hope you get all the happiness in the world. My brother deserves that and more!"

Mrs Mathur had exchanged a joyful glance with her husband, glad that all problems had seemingly come to an end. She had even had a small satyanarayan puja performed at home, as a means of thanksgiving and ahead of the auspicious even that was to take place in the family.

Looking at the glowing faces of her son and her daughter-in-law to be, Mrs Mathur could not help sending a silent prayer up again asking for their everlasting happiness and prosperity and for the evil eye to be warded off always.

"Behenji, shall we get the rituals started?"

Yog Verma addressed his sambandhan ji most respectfully.

"Haan haan, bhaisaab..shubh karya mei deri kyon?"

The families sat opposite each other with the pandit ji reading out the lagna patrika and thus formalizing the alliance between them. Nidhi's brother Rohan placed the tikka on Ashutosh's forehead and offered him neatly gift wrapped suit length as was the custom.

As Ashutosh took hold of her hand to place the ring on her finger, Nidhi lifted her eyelids shyly to take a peek at him.

He looked incredibly handsome in his cream sherwani suit. It was the look of intense love and devotion in his eyes that captured her heart and had tears gathering in her eyes. She could help the light shiver that coursed through her body.

"Devi Maa, let his eyes be filled with the same intensity of love for me all through our lives together. I love him so much that my heart overflows with it every time I see him or think of him. I am not able to put it in words like he does but please let him know that my heart is filled to the brim with him and him alone!"

Nidhi made a silent but fervent plea to the Divine Mother.

Mallika offered Nidhi several beautifully wrapped parcels as gifts as demanded by tradition.

He opened it almost apologetically as he passed it on to the Nidhi.

"Beta, damad ji ko pehna de!"

Mallika's eagle eye looked at the ring critically.

"Looks like a rather old design? Was it specially made for my brother or are you simply...?"

Nidhi's eyes filled up with tears as her father's face fell.

"Beti, I must not lie. It is not new. It was given to me by my father-in-law. Everything happened so suddenly that we could not...!"

He could not bring himself to voice the fact that he could not raise money to get a new ring in such a short time.

"I think it is wonderful. The ring comes with the blessing of two generations. Ashu, I think you are incredibly lucky. Imagine having the blessings of not just your father-in-law but his too!"

Yog looked gratefully at Armaan as he spoke. The man was a heaven sent who had saved his pride!

Armaan smiled at him in acknowledgment of his gratitude.

His smile broadened when he saw Mallika glaring daggers at him!

"Youa re so right, Armaan bhaiyya ...and thank you, Uncle! I am blessed to wear this ring!"

Ashutosh put his hand forward so Nidhi could push the ring onto his finger.

It was a perfect fit!

Wonderfully simple yet a v heart warming chapter Uma

I will try to get back with a detailed review soon

Please check ur pm

Off to read!