So I'm back again...this time with an extremely long post like I had mentioned.
Wedding and everything after all in one big chapter...I was nice and didn't split it up.
Thank you guys again for all the lovely Comments and/or Hitting the Like Button 😃
Please excuse any spelling and grammatical errors 😳
*Things get BOLD towards the end so you have been warned. Please if you have any issues please PM me instead of reporting me. I will be more than happy to do the necessary edits. Thank you so much for your cooperation.*
So without further ado here is the next chapter...
Chapter 59: Two Hearts, One Soul; Underneath the Moonlight
Prem flipped a pen around his right fingers with great easy; pleased that his cast was finally off his arm. He regularly exercised his fingers now to help the rehabilitation process to regain his muscle strength and full operation of his hand again. He took a deep breath and sighed that he was sitting in Kunal's bedroom being guarded like some criminal by his friend and brothers. He had spent the last few days living at the Kapoor's residence so he could maintain the ritual of not seeing the bride before the wedding. He was hoping that he would be allowed to stay at home after the Sangeet but that didn't happen. His brothers had caught him hiding in the closet with Heer and dragged him back to Kunal's house.
"Here's your dumbbell...why don't you go and do some exercises for your hand?" Preet suggested. "There's some time before we have lunch."
Prem took the weight from his brother's hand and looked at him thinking how much he would like to drop the dumbbell on his foot. Earlier in the morning before the Haldi ceremony he had stolen Kunal's cell phone and made a quick call to Heer to see how she was doing. Needless to say he got caught by Preet who immediately took the phone away before he could even utter a single word to her. "Thanks I'll do that," Prem grumbled.
"PB you've been in a sour mood all morning," Preet said. "Just a few more hours, okay?"
"He just can't wait to be all alone and get his hands on someone tonight," Kunal joked.
"Hey, that's my wife you're talking about!" Prem said. "Respect man, show some respect."
Kunal held up his hands blocking himself as some cushions flew through the air towards his direction. "Okay, excuse me. I'm sorry. But don't go acting all innocent. This isn't some TV serial where you're going to wait several months before you consummate. We all know what's going down tonight. I bet the elders of the family have already started the clock...wondering when you'll deliver them a grandchild."
Prem turned pale at the mention of children while Kunal and his brothers laughed at him. "He loves to romance Bhabhi that's for sure. If we had shown up a few seconds late last night I'm scare to think what we might have been interrupting in that closet," Harman said.
"Nothing was happening. I was only hiding from you guys," Prem pouted. He then mumbled under his breath, "Anyways, Heer wouldn't have let me do anything."
"Heheheh...good thing Heer Bhabhi knows how to keep him in check," Preet snickered.
"She'll be keeping him in check for a lot of things from now on," Kunal continued teasing. "Like my Dad for example. He says all these things about how he's the man of the house and all this other nonsense but the minute my Mom says anything...it's yes dear, you are absolutely right. Mom tells him exactly what to do and how he should act...and he does it because he knows if he doesn't she'll kick him out of the house."
"Wow, sounds a lot like Bauji and Ma. Well, Ma has to keep an eye on him and the sweets. He's always trying to eat them and of course smoke his cigars," Harman said. "I swear a couple of days ago he and Balraaj Uncle were out behind the pool house enjoying some cigars. Ma and Teji Auntie had gone to the temple so they had no idea."
"How did you know they were smoking?" Prem asked.
"Because I could see and smell the smoke," Harman replied. "Though I wonder how they didn't get caught...doesn't the smell of the smoke stick to your clothes?"
"They had a fan on blowing the smoke away from them," Preet answered causing his brothers to look at him. "Who do you think was their look out? I promised not to say anything if they gave me some compensation."
"You bribed Bauji and my father-in-law?" Prem asked in disbelief.
"Hey, there was no bribing...we were just exchanging services...a trade. I set up the fan for them and kept an eye out on any intruding people and they gave me fifty dollars each," Preet grinned with satisfaction.
"You got a hundred dollars?" Harman replied.
"They were getting some funds ready for PB's wedding...you know you're seeing some family members again after a long time...you have to give a little something to the kids cause you never know when you're going to see them again. The smallest they had were fifties. Oh, and they were of course setting aside some funds for PB when the bride's side tries to steal his shoes," Preet explained. "Speaking of which...we are not going to let them succeed, right?"
Harman smiled confidentially, "Absolutely...there is no way they are going to get the shoes."
"How many pairs did you buy?" Kunal asked.
"Just enough to keep them guessing. They are either one size larger or one size smaller then PB's really shoes. And I've already marked with a red marker on the inside of his shoes just in case we get confused," Preet said.
"You guys are taking this game a bit too seriously," Prem replied.
"Hey, we're trying to save you from having to pay," Preet said.
"Ah, Prem doesn't really care whether his shoes gets taken or not as long as he gets the girl," Kunal said.
"Knowing Bhaiya he probably would help them," Harman mused.
"No helping...I don't care if Meher is on the bride's side...I'm not letting her win," Preet reported.
"Ah, so now we know what's really going on," Prem said crossing his arms. "What, you two made a bet or something?"
"Ahhh," Preet smiled nervously and then composed himself, "No, of course not. Why would we make a bet?"
"I think that confirms it all right," Prem replied.
"What did you bet?" Harman probed. "Come on out with it. We're on the same side here."
"Well, we are both taking Man's Food for fall semester...it's a really easy credit course to take to complete our science requirement. If I win she has to do my homework for two class periods and if I lose she does mine," Preet answered.
"So you're cheating in class," Kunal replied.
"No, we are not cheating. It's homework. Cheating would be if she took a quiz or exam for me," Preet clarified. "It's only two homework assignments."
The boys turned their heads as they heard a knock against Kunal's bedroom door. "Come in!" they greeted. Mrs. Kapoor smiled as she opened the door, "Hope I wasn't disturbing anything. Just wanted to tell you lunch is ready."
"Thanks Mom," Kunal said as he got up from his bean bag chair and began following her out the door. The Juneja brothers followed suit and continued talking merrily about the plans they had to thwart the bride's side from getting Prem's shoes.
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Heer wrapped her hair tightly in a bath towel before exiting the bathroom to take some much needed rest after being woken up so earlier in the morning to perform the Haldi ceremony. She wore a pair of comfy gray sweatpants and a plain white t-shirt. She collapsed face forward on her bed and closed her eyes for a few minutes. She groaned when she hear her bedroom door open and the voice of her sister asking, "Heer Didi what are you doing?"
"Sleeping," she mumbled into her pillow.
"You don't have time for that. Lunch is ready. I went ahead and made a plate for you. It's like a mad house downstairs. Everyone is asking where you are. I told them you were busy cleaning up and you'd be down later," Meher said.
"I'm not hungry Meher," Heer replied as she rolled over onto her back.
"You have to eat something. Dinner is going to be late tonight'with the wedding and everything going on...all the guests you'll have to meet who knows when you'll be able to eat next," Meher said.
"Really, I'm not very hungry at all. I'm still stuffed from breakfast," Heer said.
Meher sat on the bed with the plate of food in her left hand while she held a spoon in her right, "Don't make me shove this food down your throat. You'll thank me later for it."
"Meeeheerrr," Heer whined as she tried moving away from her sister.
They were interrupted when Ashlesha came walking into the room. "Wow, I can't believe everyone downstairs. I just had to get out of that mess and find someplace quiet to eat."
"Ash, Heer Didi won't eat anything," Meher reported.
"I suspected so. She's got to be all nervous and stressed out...who can really eat at a time like this? You're worry about how you'll look tonight, right? If the wedding saree will still fit properly?" Ashlesha asked.
"Of course it will fit alright, she tried it on just last night. She couldn't have gain weight since then," Meher replied.
"I'm just not hungry," Heer said as she sat up and started to towel dry her hair.
"You're stressed," Ashlesha simply stated and sat on her bed and began eating her food. "Ooooh, I forgot how good Teji Auntie's chicken curry is."
"Mama makes the best," Meher replied with a smile.
"Knock-knock," Veera said as she popped her head into the room. "Mind if we come in?"
"Sure," Heer smiled.
"It's like a zoo downstairs. People are behaving as if they haven't seen food in days. Ma came out holding a huge plate filled with samosas and the next thing you know it was empty," Veera said.
"It's got to be the guys," Ashlesha replied. "They descend on food like nobody's business."
"I bet Nihaal Bhaiya had one in each hand," Meher replied with a giggle.
"Hey, where is Maya?" Ashlesha asked.
"What do you mean where is she?" Veera replied and pointed behind her. "She's right here."
"Um, where?" Heer asked arching her eyebrow. "There's no one behind you."
"What?" Veera said and turned around to inspect. "Where did she go? She was right behind me." Just as she finished saying that Maya appeared in the doorway all flustered. "What happened to you?"
"I got lost," Maya sarcastically replied. "I'm not going downstairs again if I have to. Your cousins...I know they are your family and all but...ugh...so I had my plate of food and I was following you and then one of the aunties stopped me to ask me for my help in something...so I but my plate on the table. I swear not within two seconds of me putting my plate down someone was eating from it. So after I finished helping the auntie I went back into the dining room to fix myself another plate. And what happened? But of course someone needed my help to bring something out of the kitchen. I go in there and help them bring another plate of samosas out and I see another one of your cousins walking away with my food. I had to go through this four times...four times. So nobody better ask me for anything from my plate."
"Um sorry?" Veera meekly replied.
Meher sighed and looked at her sister again, "Heer Didi please eat something."
"Meher how many times do I..." was about all Heer could say when a spoonful of rice and aloo gobi was stuffed into her mouth. "Meher!" she grumbled.
"Didi it's not nice eating with your mouth open," she instructed. Heer swallowed the food and glared at her sister. "Say ahh," Meher said as she put another spoonful of rice in front of her. Heer silently crossed her arms in front of her chest and turned her head away in defiance.
"Leave it...if she really isn't hungry there is no need to force her to eat," Ashlesha said.
"But she'll be hungry later. It's not like we can hand her a samosa while she's on the mandap," Meher explained.
"Well, at least eat a samosa Heer Bhabhi," Veera said. "Meher does have a point."
"Okay fine if it will make you leave me alone," Heer sighed. Meher smiled and handed her a samosa on a napkin.
"So nervous about tonight?" Maya probed. There was a round of snickers from the other girls in the room as they looked at Heer for a response.
"What's to be nervous about...we follow what the priest tells us to do for the ceremony," Heer replied.
"Very funny...that's not what I meant and you know it," Maya said.
"Uh-heh," Heer sputtered as her cheeks turned red while the girls started giggling. "Shut up," Heer protested and threw a pillow at Maya.
"Hey, don't make me spill my food," Maya replied as she ducked. "Or you'll be the one going downstairs in that crazy mob to get me another plate."
"Good luck coming back," Veera said. "They are all wondering where you are'they seem so eager to see you and talk to you...if you went down you probably wouldn't come back for a few hours."
"She should rest because we all know what's going to happen later after the wedding ceremony...family is going to descend on her and Prem...forcing them to chit-chat and carry on long dull boring conversations asking about this and that...where are you going for your honeymoon, when are you graduating, where are you working...blah, blah, blah, blah..." Ashlesha said.
"Anyways we need to start getting you ready after lunch," Meher said. "We still need to dry and straighten your hair."
"Yes, indeed...lots of work to do," Ashlesha said in agreement.
"Meher are you still scheming of ways to get Prem Bhaiya's shoes?" Veera asked.
"Of course," she replied. "But I can't discuss that...you are on the groom's side."
"She's got a bet going with Preet," Ashlesha explained. "She's determine to best him at his own game."
"Well, if that's the case I'll help," Veera replied. "Anything to get Preet."
"Ah, familial love...what did he do to you this time?" Maya asked.
"Nothing, just fun messing with him. I'm sure he had a chance to mess with me he would do it," Veera answered. "I'll be your insider."
"Will he trust you? You've been hanging out with us a lot," Meher replied.
"Trust me...just leave it to me. I'll find out what they are doing...I have my ways," Veera said with a mischievous glint in her eye.
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The wedding venue was decorated extravagantly like it was some huge ceremony for a celebrity. No expenses were spared to make this one of the most memorable events as two childhood friends celebrated the joining of their families as their children entered into holy matrimony. Both sides of the family were buzzing around chatting and eagerly waiting for the wedding ceremony to commence. Prem entered the large white tent in a cream colored sherwani holding the wedding garland in his hands in nervous anticipation of seeing Heer. His breath caught in his chest as he stared at his soon-to-be wife slowly walking from the other side towards the mandap. She was looking stunning in her red and gold bridal saree. Preet smirked and nudged his brother to walk forward. "If you keep standing here and starring you won't get married PB." Prem blinked coming out of his reverie and began walking again.
Heer blushed afraid of making any eye contact with Prem as Meher and Ashlesha made teasing comments about her soon-to-be husband's behavior. Eventually the two sides made their way towards the mandap to exchange the garlands. The boys playfully lifted Prem up preventing Heer from placing the garland around his neck. "Stop playing around," Ashlesha ordered.
"It's just a little joke," Kunal said. "Relax, we know Prem is very eager to get married...he'll beat us if we do it again." The boys put Prem back down on the ground and grinned as Heer placed the garland over Prem's head. Prem gave a loving gaze as he placed the garland in his hands over Heer's head and gently mouthed the words, "I love you," causing her to blush and look away. The family members present began teasing them making them both red in the face.
The elders of the family soon came and took over the ceremony as they started instructing Prem and Heer on what they needed to do next. The Priest sat at the mandap and began the ceremonial and religious rites that needed to be completed for the couple. As these proceedings were being done the younger siblings and cousins from the bride's side and groom's side started their games fighting over the groom's shoes. Prem and Heer were obviously to all the things going on behind them as they were concentrating on what needed to be done. The young couple snuck shy glances at each other as they performed the rites. The elders of the family just chuckled softly in delight at seeing them acting so modestly; knowing full well how happy they truly were feeling inside.
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Ashlesha gave a triumphant smile as she scurried to Meher and Maya hiding her secret package underneath her duptta. "I got it!" she squealed in delight.
"Really that easily?" Meher asked.
"Something isn't right...there is no way the boys would give it up that easily," Maya said tapping her chin.
"I don't know...no one was guarding the shoes. They were all busy celebrating and everything," Ashlesha replied.
"That's because you have the wrong shoes," Veera said as she quickly walked up to them. "Thos are fakes. The real shoes...they've already hid them."
"What? Where?" Meher asked.
"I don't know. Preet couldn't tell me everything because he got called away to do something and then Harman was busy talking to one of our uncles...but I know the ones you have are fakes," Veera said.
"Well, we will just have to search for where they would hide the shoes," Maya replied.
"The real shoes have been marked with a red marker...on the inside sole," Veera said.
"Let's check the groom resting room," Meher suggested. The girls all agreed to the suggestion and ran off to locate Prem's real shoes.
Meanwhile, Preet and the boys stood there snickering as he saw the girls go running off. "They must be finding a place to hide the shoes. They just don't know that they have the fakes! Haha!"
"Um, is that Veera with them?" Sang asked with some concern.
"What?!" Preet and Harman exclaimed.
"That little traitor!" Preet grumbled.
"You didn't tell her anything did you?" Harman asked.
"I just told her that we hid the real ones and the ones at the mandap are fakes...and the real ones have been marked by a red marker," Preet answered sadly.
"Well, where did you hide the real ones?" Kunal asked.
"I gave them to Kiran Jiju to hide them. I don't know," Preet replied. In a panic the boys started searching for Kiran to find out where the shoes had been hidden.
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Prem grinned as he and Heer finally stood up to complete the saat phere. The family members gathered around and started to throw rose petals as they walked the seven rounds. Heer gave a gently smile as she felt Prem's nervous fingers tie the mangalsutra around her neck. He grinned widely as the Priest moved the prayer plate towards him that had the sindoor. He took a pinch and filled Heer's maang sealing them in unity and completing the final stage of the wedding ceremony. Family and friends broke out into cheers and clapped fervently that they were now husband and wife. It wasn't long before the reception party was in full swing with good food, dancing, and all around merriment.
"Ahaha!" Meher grinned brightly as she marched over to Preet with Prem's shoes in her hands. "Guess what I found."
"That's not fair. You cheated!" Preet replied.
"I did not!" Meher retorted. She then looked at Prem and stuck out her hand, "Okay Jiju pay up."
Prem just grinned and put his hand in pocket to take out a wad of cash. Preet put his hand on his brother's arm stopping him from completing the action. "No PB, we'll get the shoes back. You don't have to pay a thing."
"How are you going to take them back when I have them?" Meher replied. "This is his size and these are the shoes you marked. I'm not letting these leave my sight."
"Forget it Preet, she's got the shoes. I'm tired of walking around bare foot in the grass," Prem said.
"None of this would have happened if Veera hadn't told them about what we were doing," Preet said.
"Look I found the shoes fair in square after you guys ran and hid them again," Meher replied. "Face it I won the bet so nah-nah-nah..."
"That's right...all we knew was we didn't have the right shoes. We still had to look for them," Ashlesha said backing up what Meher had explained.
"But you still cheated! Cheaters!" Preet shouted. Kunal, Sang, Harman, and the rest of the Juneja cousins all bellowed the same sentiment.
"We did not!" Meher, Ashlesha, and the rest of the Maan cousins countered.
"All right...all right..." Prem said trying to calm the situation down. "The fact is Meher has my shoes so I have to pay them. Sorry guys, rules are rules and the party is about over." Preet gave a scowl and grumbled along with the rest of the groom's side as they saw Prem dole out the cash to Meher and the rest of her cousins.
"Hey, no way she can't get paid," Harman objected as she saw Veera come up in line.
"Why not? She helped too," Ashlesha and Meher replied.
"She's a traitor that's what she is...she betrayed all of us," Preet huffed.
"I just choose to work on the winning side that's all," Veera replied with a smile as Prem handed over a fifty dollar bill. "Thanks Bhaiya!"
"Okay I got everyone right?" Prem asked.
"Me," Maya said sweetly as she came running up. "I was in the washroom when Meher decided to go and collect."
"Here you go. All right, hand my shoes over please," Prem said.
"It's been great doing business with you Mr. Juneja," Meher replied handing his shoes over.
"You're a tough negotiator Ms. Maan," Prem chuckled. "Thanks."
"No, thank you," Meher smiled.
"All right guys, let's get them on the dance floor," Preet challenged as he hiked up his sleeves and led the charged. Meher and the girls all screamed and started running towards the dance floor where they all broke out into dance.
Prem gave a mirthful smile at their actions and went to find a place to sit and put on his shoes. His ears perked as he heard the familiar rustle of fabric and payal chimes come up behind him. He felt a gentle touch on his shoulder and he immediately placed his hand on top of the soft feminine hand. "Finally got your shoes back?" Heer asked.
"Yes," he replied as he pulled her hand down and inspected her mehndi. "Now I can stop worrying about getting bug bites and stepping on sticks and things."
"How much did it cost you?" Heer inquired.
"Doesn't really matter...Meher was happy. And she won the bet...which in some ways is a good thing...it will make Preet work harder in school," Prem replied. "Are you ready to go?"
"Yes, but everyone is still having so much fun," Heer replied.
"Yeah, they are," Prem said as he looked at the dance floor. He then murmured, "But it's time for bed and other things..."
The sly remark had not gotten passed Heer's ears and she gently hit his shoulder, "Prem..."
"What, aren't you tired? I know I am," Prem said trying to cover up his previous remark. "It's time to sleep."
"Okay, let's go inform," Heer suggested. "Do we need to call the limo?"
"Nope, it should be here any minute now," Prem said with a smirk as he held her hand.
"Ah, you're little plan, huh?" Heer replied.
"You know if we don't make them leave our families would be here partying until the next morning," Prem said.
"But the venue has set a curfew of 2:00am," Heer said.
"It's 1:30 right now," Prem answered.
"What? Really?" Heer replied.
"You've had too much fun dancing with your cousins that you lost track of time," Prem said chuckling.
"Let's go then," Heer said dragging him towards the parents.
Much to the disappointment of the partiers that were immensely enjoying themselves the reception was drawing to a quick close. Everyone gathered out front to wave goodbye to Prem and Heer as their limo arrived to take them to the Juneja hotel. Teji cried profusely hugging her daughter as if she wouldn't be seeing her again. Heer was overcome with emotion herself at her mother's words and was shedding tears. Prem respectfully stood to the side letting them have their moment. Balraaj gently placed his hand on his wife's shoulder, "You'll see her tomorrow. It's not like she's not coming back to the house. Let the children go and get some rest...it's very late."
"My baby..." Teji sniffled as Balraaj pulled her away from Heer. He then motioned to Prem to take Heer.
"We'll see you tomorrow morning Mom," Prem softly said.
Teji nodded and then rested her head on her husband's shoulder trying to control her tears and waved goodbye to the couple as they got into their limo. Fifteen minutes later, shuttle buses came to pick up the rest of the family members staying at the Juneja hotel. They had been timed that way to give the newly wedded couple some space and privacy from their family as they made their way to the hotel.
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Continued in the second post just underneath this
Edited by iheartChai - 14 years ago
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