Bride in waiting
"Itni sari sariyon ka hum kya karenge? Skinny jeans, tights, dresses, suits, jeans ke alawa kuch pehanti nahi yeh Himani looked at the stacks of sarees Shyam's acquaintance had hand delivered from Benaras. Gorgeous hand crafted, ethnic creations in new age colors including Teeku's fave lilac, lavender and pinks and fuschia
"Ma, hum yeh rakh lein? Bani had picked out 4
"Jee beta.. umm Himani swallowed the rest of the line
Its as if Bani could not wait to make her own selections
"Ma, agar pehni nahi ya lekar nahi gayin Teeku to hum rakh lenge Bani said confidently
"Arey nahi beta, Dad ne kehkar banvayi hain, pichhle 15 20 dinon mein 4 karkhaanon mein din raat baney hain yeh Himani was outraged
"She doesn't even know how to wear them Bani mumbled
"We all were there at some point beta
"But you never insisted I wear them, I get away with wearing shorts even, in summer Bani winked
"To who hamari galti hai, hum maante hain Himani was not happy
Meeta peeked, she had gone to work after returning from Bareilly
"Wow saree... Teeku ke liye? she smiled
"Aap bhi dekh lein jo pasand aaye le lein Himani said somberly
"AREY? Ma yeh Teeku kee hain, hum banwa lenge Dad se kehkar, jab aap inki god bharai karengi Meeta winked rubbing her belly
"I didn't have to go thru the misery of sickness I already got 4 Bani chuckled smugly showing the ones she had filched
Meeta and Himani exchanged a look without her knowledge
"Oh yeah you are very smart Bhabhi Meeta mumbled
"I am done with one Bani said smugly
"Dhruv Bhaiya aapki sun lete hain na. Vibhu is a monster Meeta yawned and leaned on the headboard adjusting the pillow
Meeta smiled "Waise bete hamare hain she teased Meeta
"Hum apni tubes tie karwa lenge Ma Meeta complained
"Jee beta... agar Vivaan ki behen Vihaan hue to hamey Surbhi ki behen chahiye, woman power should be greatrer or equal Himani finger pointed
"Hamara ho chuka bas Meeta yawned and snoozed
"Umm.. bete Teeku se baat ki kya? Himani whispered
Keeping things democratic not favoring one DIL over the other
"Mom aajkal ke bache sab jaante hain Bani scoffed
"Phir bhi beta, she has never had a boyfriend
"That YOU know of Bani insisted
"She would have told me if she wanted birth control I have spoken to her about it many many times Himani was deeply hurt
"To ab bhi aap hi baat kar leejiye Bani said dismissively
Meeta opened her eyes
"Bhabhi that's not the point, Mom wants us to reach out to her and set expectations
"They all look like stiff lawyers. Masti to karenge nahi Bani chuckled
"Lo Himani waved a hand at Bani
"Bhabhi shaadi ho rahi hai unki Harit se, lawyer hain to he wont have sex? Meeta looked at her incredulously
"Nahi... nahii.. hum aisa nahi keh rahe bus you know... they seem like they plan everything
"Umm.. kya keh rahe ho beta? Himani was confused
"Mom, between the three of us... ladka hamey to dull laga Bani said with an expression of befuddlement
"NAHI TO Meeta shrieked "So tall so handsome... kitne ache baal, he speaks like a foreigner
"Who to London ki wajah se Bani mumbled
"This request is going nowhere, bani aapka man na karey to aap rehne dein, Meeta aap baat kar lein beta. Also set up an hour a day when she comes to teach her how to wear a saree
Jee Mom Meeta dozed off
Garima Sood, Teeku's boss I cant believe you want to just quit
"I get to take care of him, and be with him Garima
"Just think about it, don't be hasty. What if u are able to convince the husband to move to Delhi?
"I don't know... he is a lawyer she said unsure
"You are not used to small towns Avantika. It's a big deal. How will you even fit in?
"Umm.. his sister in laws are educated too
"Where are they from?
"I don't know...umm.. uh.. UP only I think
"You left home after college and went to Symbiosis Pune and have been living independently in Delhi for 5 years. Can u actually find your bearing in a sprawling joint family?
Avantika wasn't fazed one bit
Not because she adored Bareilly
Because Chandan was there and at this time she could not think beyond the kid
"If there was a branch I would jump at it. I don't have a job lined up there Avantika looked confused
"It's a bank HQ in Manila... there is no way they are opening in Bareilly she laughed
"I can try to work remotely for a month and try for a back end role?
"After an MBA? Garima was stunned
"Umm.. I guess Teeku nodded confidently
"OK.. lets do this... go on loss of pay for 3 months?
"And then come back and bring Chandu? Avantika articulated a dream scenario she had been wishing for secretly
Garima laughed hysterically
"As if u are going there to nab him?
"Umm.. I miss him a lot you know Teeku was offended by Garima's ridicule
"I am saying if your husband is willing to move, you will have your job waiting for you Garima finished
They had exchanged phone numbers awkwardly after joining the family back in the lawn that night upon Alka Bhabhi's insistence
"U can give me his number Teeku nodded
"Hamey nahi maloom she said flippantly as Teeku stared in shock
"Harit apna number daal dein isme she grabbed Teeku's phone from her hand and handed it to Harit.
He disappeared with her phone in the crowds, she caught up to him an hour later
He fished in his black sherwani pocket as she wondered if his wardrobe was all black like a goth.
"I should unlock my phone if u are giving me your number she mumbled
He handed it back to her
She wondered if he had the black Apple phone case
HE DID
She keyed in her code and gave it back
Harit Vaidya he created a contact 9812XXX
Sh extended her hand adorned with henna and engagement ring to get his cell phone
"Just call me he urged handing her phone back
She did looking at his phone
He didn't answer the call, just ended it and added her name. Avantika Gupta.
"