KR SS : Meant to be (Ch 5 Pg 37) - Page 10

Chapter 3 - Entering Singhannia House again

As Kria and Rey stood at the door of the Singhannia house waiting for his mom to perform the ritual of aarti .. Kria closed her eyes reminiscing her past .. she went back to the day she had first entered this house as a 10 year old girl .. scared .. nervous .. clutching Anita Aunty's hand and continuously tugging at her saree trying to feel her , fearing that she may also leave her just like her parents ..

Her parents had met with an accident a week back and had expired on the spot .. she was their only daughter and no close relative of her had come to take her responsibility ' Since Anita Singhannia and her mom were childhood friends .. Anita had taken her complete responsibility on her lone shoulders .. Kria had heard a lot about Anita Aunty from her mom but had never met her .. but just one look and one touch .. she knew she could trust her ..and Kria went along with Anita Aunty ..

As Kria entered the huge house she saw a boy almost of her age running towards her ..

"Kria Beta .. this is Rey .. my son .. and Rey .. she is Kria .. I had told you about .. "

Rey came and hugged her .. "Hi Kria .. " he smiled

"Kria .. now he will be your best friend .. ok " she gently made her shake hands with Rey ..

Then she looked at Rey .. "Show Kria her room .. and you need to share with her all your toys .. ok ?" she ruffled Rey's hair ..

"Come Kria .. I have cleaned your room myself .. come" he pulled her .. Kria was a bit afraid and was not ready to leave Anita Aunty's hand ..

"Kria .. don't be scared .. this is your house too now .. and I am here only .. ok .. now go with him "

"Ya .. I will even give you my favorite cars if you want to play .. " Rey smiled again at her ..

***

That was the start of a budding friendship .. a bond so strong that they themselves never realized what they meant for each other ..

For the first few days .. which went on to become months ..she cried every night .. she was at an age where she didn't even know what death meant .. she felt maybe her parents would come back .. she waited for them .. she talked to them in her room .. she didn't let Anita Aunty leave her room in the night .. she slept with her ..

Many a nights she just woke up screaming .. and immediately felt if Anita Aunty was nearby or no .. she had bad dreams .. she had nightmares .. sometimes she felt , she would wake up one day and find herself alone and even Anita Aunty would be gone ..

But , as time passed .. slowly and steadily she learnt to handle herself .. her feelings .. her loneliness ..

In all this Rey was with her .. he was not old enough to understand so much himself but he knew what loss of a loved one meant .. he had lost his father when he was just 6 ..so he understood what Kria must be going thru ..

Rey had been with her like her shadow .. she had joined his school and his class .. he made her comfortable in every possible way .. he talked to her about almost everything .. he made her laugh .. he fought with her .. he pulled her piggy tails .. he played pranks on her .. and if she got really angry he would come and catch his ears and do sits ups and that would make her just forget why she was angry on him in the first place ..

His friends became her friends .. they all hung out together .. They shared almost everything with each other .. their little secrets .. their crushes .. their dreams .. their worries .. their aims .. their fears .. their joys ..

They almost became each other's personal diary ..

When he wanted to propose the head girl of his class .. she helped him and even made him rehearse all his lines in front of her '

For her first date he picked the dress for her ' even though he wanted it to be 2 inches longer, but had to shut his mouth because Kria threatened to spoil his date .. But he made sure that she returned safely in the night ..

They had each other's shoulders to cry on during heartbreaks .. some bitter .. some mutual .. but one quality which they just found between themselves .. which they never could find with anyone else .. was that they could lift the spirits of the other .. they just somehow knew the frame of mind of the other .. they knew how to make the other smile .. something so simple but so rare ..

***

She felt his hand around her shoulder and a gentle squeeze .. She opened her eyes to look at him ..

"Stop thinking about how you came in this house as Kria Ghai .. now you are Mrs. Kria Reyaansh Singhannia " and then he leaned a bit closer to her ears and whispered .. "at least for sometime" and then naughtily grinned at her ..

I guess this is why he is my best friend forever , how does he understand my thoughts ..

He had again made her smile but not give in so easily .. she simply rolled her eyes ..

He again whispered to her "So sweetheart, how does it feel to be my wife ?" and winked at her ..

"You know what my darling hubby .. I am so excited about all this that I just want to get off these clothes right now .. " she glared at him ..

He chuckled .. "Even I am so excited sweetheart .. my hands are itching to strip you off them " and then gave a short laugh ..

"Shut up " she hissed .. "Just wait till we reach your room .. "

"Hmm .. I am waiting sweetheart .. I just love my impatient wife" plastering his sweet smile on his face ..

She nudged him hard with her elbow on his side ..

"Ouchh"

Unaware of the eager and inquisitive ears of Rey's cousins they were having this banter between themselves ..

***

"Bhai and Bhabhi .. not so soon .. you can't enter the house so easily .. " Rey's cousin sister interrupted and blocked their path with her hand as Rey and Kria were about to enter the house after his mom performed the aarti a and tilak and Kria pushed the bowl of rice with her leg ..

They both looked confused ..

"Why .. we are done with the ritual" he said frowning at her ..

"Hmm .. yes .. we have completed the usual ritual .. now here comes the ritual which we want you both to do .. " and all his cousins started laughing ..

Kria simply glared at them .. If she stands here one more minute in this dress she would just tear it apart ..

"Ok ..tell me fast .. what do we have to do .. " Rey immediately asked .. looking at the way Kria was feeling uncomfortable ..

"You need to pick Bhabhi in your arms and then take her to your room " they all mischievously raised their eyebrows and blinked their eyes ..

"Oh .. that's it .. " he said relieved .. and then looked at Kria ..

"What the f*ck " she said under her breath and glared at everyone .. praying that this stupid drama gets over as soon as possible ..

He put his right hand on her back and bent a bit to lift her when he just stood rooted in that position .. "aah"

All his cousins and even Kria shouted .. "What happened " with wide eyed and open mouths ..

He looked at Kria sheepishly .. its so much fun teasing her and troubling her .. how could he so easily let her go .. "She is so heavy .. my poor back .. " and made an innocent doleful face .. .. earning a hard whack on his head from her .. "What do you mean I am heavy .. you need to gym more and be strong .. " she narrowed her eyes and spoke sternly .. then wrapped her arms around his neck to strangle him ..

"Look .. my bride is gonna kill me .. " he looked helplessly at his cousins .. who were laughing uncontrollably at the scene in front of them '

"You are so dead now Reyaansh Singhannia " she muttered under her breath .. as he picked her up to walk towards the stairs to his room .. when again he was stopped ..

"Now What .. " he seemed p*ssed off now ..

"Well now its Bhabhi's turn to perform a ritual .. "

"WHAT" she almost screamed ..

"Yes .. now you have to kiss Bhai .. " and his cousins giggled at the stunned looks of Rey and Kria ..

Kria immediately took her lower lip in her mouth and started looking away from Rey .. her right hand was clutching his shervani .. and she looked very uncomfortable ..

Slowly in almost an inaudible voice she said .. " I .. I ' can't "

"No .. Bhabhi .. you have to .. otherwise we won't let you go to your room .. " now the cousins surrounded them making it impossible for Rey to make a move ..

Kria lowered her eyes .. gulping helplessly ..

"Of course she will kiss me .. " Rey said confidently .. Hearing this Kria shot a bewildered look at Rey .. but he simply smiled ..

"That too on my lips .. " this earned him a loud applaud , whistles and lot of hootings .. from his cousins .. all his cousins started giving each other hi-fives ..

Kria now clutched him with both her hands and looked at him with fearful wide eyes and shaking her head sideways indicating that she won't do it ..

"Sweetheart don't be scared .. " he lowered his head a bit .. and she backed her head a bit .. he gave her a sweet smile and then winked ..

What's is this guy up to .. before she could think anything else .. he dashed towards his mom's room which was in front of them ..

***

He put down a confused Kria and looked towards his mom .. "Ok .. Mom .. here she is "

His mom smiled '"Kria .. I know Rey's cousins will not stop troubling you .. but I wanted Rey to bring you here before you could go in his room .. "

She took Kria to the photograph of Rey's Dad ..

"I so wish he would have been here today to bless you both .. " she moved her hand over Kria's forehead ..and then kissed her forehead ..

Kria hugged Rey's Mom .. She had tears in her eyes ..

"Shh .. don't cry .. today I am really happy .. whatever I had dreamt of has come true .."

Kria looked up in her eyes to see what she meant ..

She gently made her sit on the bed .. and Rey put his head on her lap ..

"From the time you entered this house .. I never wanted you to ever leave me .. " she gently caressed her cheek with her right hand .. and Rey immediately took her left hand and kept it over his cheek ..

Kria smiled ..

"Whenever I saw you both .. I felt so proud that you share such a strong friendship bond with each other .. but somewhere in my heart I used to feel that if you both would fall in love with each other .. then you would be always there with me .. "

Kria's mouth opened in shock but she quickly closed it .. she felt guilty in her heart for lying to Rey's mom ..

"When Rey told me that you both are planning to get married .. I just couldn't believe myself .. I just hope you are are happy with the preparations as 15 days was such a short period "

"Please Aunty .. It's the best .. You have done so much for me .. " she could feel only love and gratitude for this woman ..

His mom waved her hand to indicate her displeasure over what Kria said ..

"I know you will make a great wife to my naughty Rey" and she lightly hit Rey on the head .. Rey took his mom's hand and kissed it .. he too felt bad for what he was doing ..

"I have these 2 bangles for you .. this was gifted to me by my mother .. I really want you to have them .. "

Kria took them ..

"I know they are a bit old fashioned .. and I also know that you don't like bangles and accessories ..don't wear them if you don't like it .. but just keep them "

"No .. Aunty .. I will wear them'" she said smiling ..

"And yes .. instead of Aunty .. mom will do .. whenever you feel comfortable .. "

Kria hugged her tight .. and kissed her on the cheek .. " I love you .. "

"I love you too Kria .. " now tears flowing from her eyes too '

Rey sat up .. "Hey .. hey .. what about me .. "

Rey's mom hugged him and kissed him on the cheek " Of course I love you ... now take care of her "

"Ok .. cry babies .. I love you both .. please stop crying " ..

Hearing this both Kria and his mom gave a short laugh ..

Then Rey put his cheek towards Kria and pointed at it with his index finger .. " Aren't you forgetting something here "

She pulled his cheek hard .. making him cringe in pain and making his mom laugh hard ..

"Now Kria .. go and change .. I know how uncomfortable you must be in this attire .. we put you thru all this .."

"Yes .. I am a bit uncomfortable in these .. but its fine now .. "

"I think .. You are the most prettiest bride .. and you enhance the beauty of this dress " she said again cupping her face ..

Kria twitched her nose disbelieving what she heard .. "Really .. I don't like all these and still you think I look so good so when you see the one who likes all these .. "

Before she could complete her sentence .. Rey shut her mouth with his hand .. "Ya .. I know you are going to start liking all these .. I know you told me you would make an effort .. . but lets keep some surprise for mom too .. " he looked directly in her eyes and spoke strictly ..

She understood what she was about to say .. and quickly gave a sheepish smile ..

"Ok .. now off you go .. take rest and get changed into .. what you say .. comfy shorts " his mom said with a laugh ..

Kria stood up and quickly hugged his mom tight "Thank you .. Mom .. you are the best " and grinned widely looking at the smiling faces of Rey and his mom ..

***