Part 19
Dadi smiles as she sees Khanak.. dressed in a lovely mustard coloured saree.. her pleasure dripping in those grey eyes experienced with age.. "You look so beautiful my dear in sarees... Nazar naa lage kissiki..." And then she smiled even more broadly as she saw Maniya... exclaiming.. "Ahaaa... Maniya... jaao hum nahin baat karenge tumse, bina bataaye hi chalein gaye.." Manu smiled as he endearingly yet gently leaned forward... kissing daadi on her forehead and laughing spoke.. "Dadiya... come on... ek bhool to Bhagwaan bhi maaf karte hain... " Daddi could not help but smile at that slapping him with a chide and asked him to sit.. she turned to Khanak and softly asked.. "Laado, Shaan kahaan hain? baat hui tumhaari uske saath. Main to usse bahut gussa hoon.. yeh kya tumne ijaazat kaise de di..." Khanak was now very careful and alert as she did not know what daadi was talking about and she did not want to reply anything wrong... as she chewed on her lip trying not to frown and luckily for her daadi spoke to Manu.. "Ab tum hi tumhaari friend ko samjhao.. dono ne tay kar liya ke shaadi ke baad honeymoon pe nahin jaayenge.. Shaan says he is a busy doctor and Khanak is only too happy to design his clinic... ab bataao yeh bhi koi baat hui?" Manu smiled gently at daadi and murmured "Dadiya... arre why do you not understand.. this is a novel.. new way of being on a honeymoon... hun take a chill pill... honeymoon shunymoon hota rahega.. aap pehle theek to ho jaayiye.." Daadi gave him a strange look and then her cell rang and she smiled indicating to Khanak to take answer the call...
Clueless Khanak took the cell and spoke a soft.. "Hello?" Her pulses raced at hearing his soft baritone.. surprised at hearing her voice... "Surprises never cease... so you are visiting daadi.. she must be very happy... Okay I called to inform daadi that she needs to take her medicine.. Will you make sure she does... " Khanak flushed a soft pink and Manu hid a smile, not needing any indication of who the caller was.. and as if an imp prodded him he spoke in a louder voice than required.. "Sssooo Dadiya... what say I tell you a joke..." Before she could say bye and hang up his voice boomed from the other end in an explosion... "Aahh I see your Christmas decoration is with you... mind you Jingles.. daadi is very astute I need not remind you... you better watch out.. especially that buffoon... ask him to keep shut!!" Her face turned another shade of pink this time flushing with anger as she began to speak something but he spoke.. "No Jingles.. watch out what you speak... I am clear on this.. there are no two ways.. I will do anything for you.. but not.. not for that buffoon..." And to her extreme stupefying surprise he hung up on her...
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Upon daadi's insistence, they stayed there for lunch. Alby making sure all her favourite dishes were prepared on short notice.. She made sure that daadi took her medicines and was fluffing her pillow with the nurse's help when the door swung open and she felt the tiny hairs on the back of her nape rise in warning... his fragrance hit her.. he smelled of clean soap and cologne.. Daadi smiled "Shaan.. tum aa gaye.. chalo accha hain, Maniya ko bhi company mil jaayegi.. lunch uski aur Khanak ki farmaaish par banaaya hain.. Chalo jao ab kha lo.." He sat at daadi's side making her intensely aware... so close at her side as he leaned forward to kiss daadi at her forehead.. "Hey beautiful... aapne khaaya?" She smiled as she tucked his lock of hair at his forehead and spoke softly.. "Yes beta... I just did... dekha kitna thakaa lag rahaa hain.." He looked at daadi and shook his head.. as if saying 'No I am fine' but daadi then spoke "Khanak, main keh deti hoon, shaadi ke baad iski lagaan kheench ke rakhna.. samjhi tum? Yeh kissiki sunta kahaan hain.. jao ab.. kha lo..."
Khanak looked down avoiding to look into daadi's eyes.. she felt his hand move and he spoke.. "What say.. are you going to listen to daadi then... or will I have a say?" His hand gently tucked her errant curl and daadi smiled a knowing look as she blushed a deep rose pink.. biting her lip... as she felt his fingers linger at her cheek longer than required.. but she merely bit her lip as daadi spoke.. "chal ab tere chonchle bahut ho gaye.. Khanak ne bhi kuch khayaa nahin hain.. meri dekhbhaal kar rahi thi.. Aur Maniya bhi..." He instantly interrupted.. "I.. I think we should eat.. I am hungry.. so chalein Sweet heart?" So saying he rose taking her arm... She moved to walk ahead but his arm kept her close to him and she almost jerked as his hand slid against her waist.. his hand skimming lightly against the silk exposed there.. suddenly disturbing the thousands of those flitting little wings in her belly... daadi looked on endearingly... as they left the room... her eyes filled with happy tears...
Outside the room she jerked away from him turning to waive her finger at him in anger.. "I am warning you Doc!!! You do that again.. and I.. I will" she did not get any further as his hand completely engulfed her finger and pulling her close to his chest murmured.. "Yes.. do what Jingles... " leaning forward to her utter surprise least expecting him to do that... but then she heard him furiously whisper in her ear.. "Dad is watching from the room below... " She bit her lip and he hid her from Dad's eyes... as he appeared in front of her.. pinning her to the wall and holding one hand above her head on the wall and the other lazily sliding it across her face to trace a soft pattern against her cheeks, to her nose, to her lips as she looked into his eyes... her heart beating faster at every little touch.. and graze... She whispered softly.. "Do.. doc please... why are you doing this?" Biting her lip... he leaned forward as she held his arms, her fingers curling in the sinewy strength as if they were her only life line... His nose replaced his finger as he hoarsely whispered... a slight curl to his lips visible only to her.. "Dammit.. is it so much to ask to act.. in order to convince your loved ones...?" She spoke her heart breaking.. in an equally angry whisper.. "Damn you Shantanu.. I never wanted to be a part of this.. this pretence.. I hate deceiving.. especially.. loved ones..."
He glared at her... his teeth grinding against each other as his eyes fell upon the soft flick of her tongue as it darted quickly in and out to moisten her lips... He wanted nothing more than to lean forward and taste her... feel the softness under his own... he wanted to kiss her senseless... but he suddenly closed his eyes and moving back spoke in a soft yet harsh tone.. "Damn you Jingles.. damn you.. all I ask is for you to pretend a little.. not asking you to have a roll in the hay with me!!" She heaved her chest in anger... "Just let me go.. now.. else.. else I won;t be responsible for my actions.. " suddenly they were both glaring at each other and did not notice the soft approach of feet.. and the voice spoke.. "Uh oh.. a lover's tiff already!?" Both of them whirled around as a young man almost the same height as Shantanu but a little sturdier as he leaned against the pillar on the other side as he smiled lazily and murmured... again.. "So what say should I leave you alone or help you here..." Shantanu's face turned as a warm smile appeared on his face... "Bhai... when did you come?" He moved to hug the other man as Khanak in a nervous gesture tucked her curl behind her ear as Akshay khandelwal moved toward his younger brother and hugged him hard.. "Chote.. how are you? You look.. good" Turning to Khanak he looked with an amazed look in his eyes... "Oh my god.. is this really you.. Khanak?! My my.. a real metamorphosis!! Must say.. chote.. wait till your bhabhi sees her..." And he busrt out laughing as Khanak blushed again biting her lip as she spoke in a soft voice.. "Hello Bhaiyya... how are you?" Akshay nodded gently patting Khanak at her head in an endearing gesture and then smiled "Good.. very good.. I can see why Chote is so eager to get married now..."
Manu had a spectacular time chatting with Dad and Akshay bhaiyaa.. he gelled very nicely with both the Khandelwal men except for Shantanu, usually threw him an odd look or two.. She felt a strange void within her as Madhavi spoke to her about some shopping.. Now a mere week left before they would tie the knot here in this very bungalow... Almost all the arrangements were made now and the invites were too almost distributed... She managed to convince Mom that she was pretty comfortable with whatever she would choose for her... but Madhavi smiled gently and tipping her chin murmured... "Chal pagli.. you stole my favourite son's heart... now on, only what you want... nothing less for my favourite DIL... " Khanak looked down feeling a sharp twisting pain in her heart.. as if someone had twisted a knife there.. but a smile pasted on her face...
She nodded and caught Manu's eyes... she pleaded him for help as he smiled and winking at her came over to her and spoke.. "Kanks.. I think we must make a move.. we need to..." Before he could steer her away Shantanu appeared there at her side and said.. "Aah sweet heart... don't tell me you are leaving... But I wanted to take you for something important..." This time Manu intervened as Madhavi moved away to instruct Alby about something... "SK... we have to leave.. Kanks needs to sign some documents.. regarding her business.. so.. if we may.. excuse us..." Shantanu's nostrils flared and h glared at Manu but she intervened.. "Shantanu he is right.. I need to go.. please..." that did it and he merely moved out of their way as slowly they said their byes to all and after bidding daadi too they left...
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The day donned clear and bright... she looked down at her mehendi bedecked hands... the design a beautiful conventional one where one hand had a dulhan and the other of a groom.. surrounded by a curve of lines and flowers.. the colour of course a deep reddish maroon... As she saw them she remembered someone in the family had said... 'Darker the shade of red.. that much more your groom loves you' He reyes filled with a soft sheen as she felt how strange were the ways of destiny... here she was marrying today the man of her dreams.. the one who she loved since knowing the meaning of the word love... but all she felt was an emptiness... a strange pain that left behind a void... She took in a deep breath as she stirred gently out of bed and felt an arm at her waist.. She smiled as she saw the slim fair hand also bedecked with mehendi.. and turned to lift the hand away.. but the hand grabbed her and spoke in a husky voice... "Jai Shri Krishna Didi... what's the rush.. I know.. jijaji is going to take you away from us today forever.. but jaani, hum bhi to hain, yahaan.."
Khanak giggled as the dark eyes of a young girl shone at her and she suppressed her smile and swatting her hand spoke.. "Stop it Mahi.. do you know I am so nervous darn it.. " Mahi rose stretching and giggled and spoke... "Really.. kaain pan.. man ma to laadu phooti rahya che.. nervous my foot!!" Aa pillow came flying at her in her face for that comment.. which she giggled and avoided it smartly by ducking but Khanak got her saying.. "aah.. we shall see about the laddoos when it is your turn.." Mahi's feet braked as she said that and making a 180 degrees turn rushed to her to hug her and spoke.. "Please didi... don't speak loudly... I.. I .. feel shy.." Khanak smiled at her cousin's sudden change of colours... and she murmured... "Why pray tell me should I keep quiet.. and what is taking the two of you so long... beating about the bush.. it just takes guts to declare your love.. just tell kaka that you love Manav.. simple.." At that Mahi smiled softly but simply poked her tongue out and escaped to the washroom...
Enjoy friends... as the next part will be their wedding... If possible today or then Monday.. am still drafting... enjoy...
Edited by jparker - 14 years ago
Jhanak
Shiv Shakti
