~Tera Mera Pyaar ty vm pg 68 - Page 31

Part Twenty-One

"Why are you trying to push me away Manyata?," he said to her.

She turned solemn recalling her conversation with her father earlier that day.

"Udayveer sacch yehi hai ki..," she trailed off.

"J Nandini is not used to having to share the spotlight. She wants to be the queen of my kingdom but the fact is you and I shall rule together. Main use pyaar nahin karta. Main tuhme chahta hoon," he said letting his warm breath caress her face.

He cupped her chin.

She slowly looked up into his eyes.

" I know it will take you time to accept your duties and realize your responsibilities, but don't push the ones that care about you away. Don't destroy your connections or your happiness for someone's material happiness," he stated firmly.

She sighed.

" I'll speak to Unnati later. I have some things in mind that I need to start doing. I am sorry, I should have never tried to push you away. You are just too clever," she quipped.

He smirked and kissed her cheek.

She looked at him surprised and a blush formed on her face.

"Yeh kis ke liye?," she asked.

"Hum toh sirf aapko pyaar karna aata hai," he declared.

"Mujhe mar karna, mujhe pyaar ka matalab samhj nahin aata," she said softly.

He smiled.

"Don't worry I will teach you. Just think about what I told you. Remember you are worth it," he said before letting himself out.

Manyata knew she better get started on her princess duties. Dadisa had already unofficially crowned her. She needed to take up work with charities and she needed to educate herself more.

She called Unnati up the next day and they made a list of charities she could possibly work with. Manyata tried to enjoy her time with them as well. She started to work with NGOs and hospitals. She decided to enroll in more courses. She kept herself busy.

One day Unnati was waiting for her when she returned from one of her charitable events.

"Manyata the wedding one week away. You need to start grooming for it. It's been ages since we went to the spa. Why don't we get everything done today?,"Unnati suggested.

"I am feeling tired today but I guess since it might relax me , I will come with you,"Manyata said.

They got into the car, on the way Unnati started the conversation.

"It looks like your last fight with Dada really made you make some changes," she quipped.

"Don't tell him but I do realize he was probably right about everything,"Manyata quipped.

Unnati laughed.

"No worries Manyata. I won't tell him!"

Manyata stared out at the window.

She couldn't believe she would be a married woman this time next week. She wasn't sure how much more her life would change.

The girls had a gala time, Manyata got shy when the salon girls teased her about her upcoming wedding and what would follow after. Unnati helped her pick out some things for the room she would soon be sharing with Udayveer.

She tried not to blush too much. But then a thought crossed her mind, would she ever live up to the expectations to her new role? She consoled herself that as soon as Udayveer realized how she could be at times, he would divorce her and marry someone else. She had to be objective and not expect too much from this union. There was no gurantee it would work. However deep in her heart she wanted to believe it would.

The day of the sangeet arrived. She wore a lengha that was teal and bliue. Udayveer shined in a blue sherwani that matched her outfit.

"Aap badi soni lagri ho meri honewali maharani," he quipped.

She looked down at the floor. He turned her to look at him. They shared an eye lock.

She smiled slightly.

He took her hand kissed it. She backed away and some nok-jok along with some dancing followed. Mahi Mahi from Miley Naa Miley Hum played. Udayveer came close to her, and Manyata pushed him away with some jhatkas. The guests had a blast and so did both families. No one had ever had this much fun watching the bride and groom at a wedding function before.

The festivities lasted until late. Udayveer took her aside and held her close.

" This time tomorrow it will be just you and me," he whispered.

She tried to look into his intense glare and moved away a bit, he pulled her close again.

She gasped in surprise.

He let his hot breath linger on her neck.

" You kept fighiing and now see, you will be mine after all," he said.

She turned solemn.

" You do understand I don't know anything about being a maharani," she quipped.

He smiled brightly.

"Hum hain na. Don't worry about anything," he assured her as he tucked some hair behind her ear.

He slowly let go of her realizing it was getting later. He kissed her forehead before he left.

Haldi ceremony was six hours later. Komal lovingly applied haldi to her first. Manyata smiled as it tickled her. Bua even applied it on her and shed a few tears in regret for harming her. Manyata hugged her, getting some haldi on her clothes by accident. J Nandini slowly but surely agreed to out some on her sister.

"Manyata Jiji, I hope you have a great married life. I have now realized you and Udayveer are made for each other. I am sorry for my silly behavior," she said.

Manyata smiled and pinched her nose. J Nandini yelped but soon was giggling with others as they covered Manyata up.

Meanwhile Unnati was leading some cousins and close friends in covering Udayveer up in haldi.

"Dada this is just like Holi for us except only you will be getting colored today," Unnati declared.

Udayveer tried to enjoy everything despite for the first time he was not in the lead but at the disadvantage here. Everyone would get to gang up on him this time.

After some of the hali was taken off of him, someone said it would be applied on Manyata before she washed all of hers off. It was considered good luck if the dulhan got haldi that was once on her to be husband's body onto hers as well.

Udayveer grinned.

"Hey Unnati mujhe Manyata ki ek photo chaiye hai isse halat mein," he quipped.

Unnati smiled.

"Theek hai Dada, let me see what can be done."

She was able to convince J Nandini to send her picture. She knocked on her brother's door.

"Dada yeh lo,"Unnati said.

Udayveer ran a hand through his hair before taking a look at the picture. Unnati beamed at his expression. He chuckled out loud.

" Keep this handy, I might need to blackmail her later," he joked.

"Don't worry Dada I saved your pictures for my Bhabhi as well, we will both sit over tea and share your embarrassing pictures together," Unnati quipped before running off.

Udayveer yelled after her but she didn't stop. He shook his head and went to get ready for the big day.

Dadisa applied haldi from Udayveer onto Manyata. She felt a strange feeling when the haldi that was once applied on him was now applied on her. She felt some goosebumps.

She snapped out of it when she realized it was time to shower then get dressed for her wedding.

Jewels adorned her ears , neck and arms but the brightest oranament was her smiled. Komal applied kajal behind her ear to keep the evil eye away from her. Unnati and J Nandini would lead her down to the mandap.

Dadisa and Komal did the aarti.

" Finally aap humare damaad bane wale ho,"Dadisa declared.

Udayveer smiled brightly. Giraj was glad everything had worked out. He knew his son would not only get more power through this marriage but he would get a girl who would also challenge him to be a better monarch.

All eyes went to Manyata as she descended the stairs into the hall. The couple exchanged garlands. They barely looked away from each other. When the panditji started the mantras, Udayveer kept his eyes on Manyata whenever he could. Unnati handed him the manglasutra to place around his bride's neck. Manyata felt goosebumps as he tied it around her neck. He gently moved the maang theeka to the side to apply sindoor. He applied enough that even from a far distance one could tell she was now a married woman. They stood up for the pheras and made the seven sacred vows. He never let go of her hand. Even when it was her turn to lead the way, his grip remained firm.

After the pheras they signed their marriage certificate. Manyata hoped this relationship would work out for the best. Udayveer knew as along as he believed in himself and Manyata everything would work itself out no matter what came next.

They bent down to take blessings from everyone. Since the next day was Manyata's birthday, they hold a birthday party cum grand reception for her tomorrow. For now everyone would retire for the night.

Udayveer kept grabbed her hand when they played the ring finding game. She gave him annoyed looks. He would let her hand go and grab the ring. She was frustrated that he kept winning.

After the games, he suddenly lifted her up.

"Wow Manyata what have you been eating. I don't know how I will carry you up the stairs like this," he quipped.

"Then put me down then duffer! What is the use of all those hours at the gym, you cannot even lift anything," she snapped.

He smirked.

"Chalo maharani," he quipped.

She struggled to make him put her down but he continued on to carry her up the stairs as his girl cousins awed.

He put her down at the threshold. He covered her eyes and led her into the room. He locked the door and turned to look at her.

" Why did you cover my eyes?," she said as she walked around the room. She ended up walking towards the trolley.

"Ruk jao Manyata. I just need to do one thing before I open your blindfold," he quipped.

Udayveer lit the candles and then blew out the matches. He led her to stand before the trolley, and then took off her blindfold.

She looked down at the chocolate cake in surprise.

"Happy Birthday Manyata!," he whispered.

"Wow tuhme mera birthday yaad tha!," she inquired.

"Kyun nahin yaad karte?," he inquired.

" I never imagined it would be like this," she admitted.

He smiled at her.

"Chalo cut the cake!," he said.

" Thank-you Udayveer," she exclaimed.

She cut the cake and made a wish as she blew out the candle.