Some moments later, the car turned
inside as the gates opened up. Radhika slowly opened her eyes and glanced up,
without shifting her head away from Dev's chest, and found the car entering
inside the Purohit house.
As the car moved through the open
gates, Radhika let her gaze scan around the house that seemed to have been lit
up entirely with fairylight bulbs. Thousands of colourful lights tinkled
everywhere, from the trees to the walls to the bushes to every non-living
entity. Multi-hued shimmering curtains were put up on the porch and floral
garlands hung in a wavy pattern above; the sweet fragrance from the flowers
spread across in the aura and gave her a beautiful welcome. A small smile
curved her lips across the tear drenched face.
"Radhika ghar aagaya" Dev mumbled
gently, stroking her back once as the car halted.
Her lips widened some more ' this
was now her house too. "Hmm" mumbling, she got up to sit upright. Opening the
door, Dev got down and came to open her door.
Glancing up once at him, she was
about to step down when she saw him holding his hand out. Her smile turned a
little shy and she slid her fingers on to his hand. He curled his fingers
around her soft hand, and led her out of the car.
Dadima came to them, and gently
placed a hand on Radhika's back. "Chalo beta...... andar aao"
Meanwhile inside,
Vaishali and Mrinalini had already
reached ahead of them in other cars, to prepare for the gruh pravesh.
"Ma. Who log aagaye" Mrinalini
informed excitedly as she saw the car halting out in front of the porche and
Dev getting down.
Vaishali grinned and took hold of
the aarti ki thali that Deepika bought in eagerly. She was too excited to
welcome her daughter ' her Gudiya in to this house.
Outside,
Radhika and Dev edge forward toward the door with twined hands. Dadima followed
along with a joyous grin. As Radhika stepped in the porch, the Purohit House
doors were flung open to welcome the new daughter of the family with open arms
and love. She glanced up and found Vaishali standing in front, holding an aarti
ki thali in her hand and a wide affectionate smile across her lips.
Dev and Radhika halted in the
doorstep, as she came forward to perform the aarti. Vaishali circled the plate
around them, smiling widely, for a few times and then applied a tikka on Dev's
forehead. She put some rice on both their heads as blessings.
Receiving such warm welcome,
Radhika smiled underneath her veil and Dev grinned widely feeling joyous.
"Deepika......." Vaishali turned to
her. Deepika nodded and quickly bought forward a pot of rice and placed it in
the doorstep. Mrinalini, meanwhile, bought a huge brass plate that had the
thick kumkum water, and placed it just ahead of the pot.
"Radhika beta......ab iss kalash ko
gira kar, humare ghar main apna pehla shub kadam rakho" Vaishali said
affectionately.
Smiling sweetly, Radhika forwarded
her right leg to push the rice pot with her toe. The rice splashed all over on
the floor, and Radhika placed her right foot first on the kumkum plate and then
her left one. Dev too stepped alongside.
"Andar aao beta" Vaishali greeted
lovingly.
Radhika lifted her foot and then
placed them on the white sparkling floor. As she walked ahead, her red
footprints trailed behind ' marking the entry of gruhlakshmi inside the house. Dev
walked beside her.
After they had taken in a few steps,
they halted. Coming to them, Vashali framed a cheek of Dev lovingly. "aaj meri
barso purani tammana mere bete ne poori kar di. Maine jo vaada diya that Gudiya ko......woh
aaj teri wajah se poora ho paaya" she said, glancing at Radhika affectionately.
"Thank you beta"
Radhika's lips again curve in to a
small smile.
"Ma thanks mujhe kyun? Dhanywaad to
hume Kanha ka karna chahiye na?" Dev said and glanced at Radhika. He could
never thank the Lord enough for giving him a precious gift like Radhika.
"Hmm yeh bhi sahi hai" Dadima
agreed. "Mere Dev ke chehre ki khushiyan, iss parivaar ki khushiyan......sab
Radhika ke wajah se aayi hai. Aur Radhika ko iss ghar main Kanha ne bheja hai"
"Haan Maaji" Vaishali agreed with a
smile and touched Radhika's head. "Beta andar chalo......pooja gahr main"
Bobbing their head in affirmation,
Dev and Radhika sauntered towards the temple to take blessings. They both
folded their hands and bowed their heads slightly, praying to the Lord for a
few seconds. Others too prayed for their successful life.
Meanwhile, Deepika bought another
plate with thick kumkum paste. Vaishali asked Radhika to place her hand on the
paste and then to leave the imprint on the wall. Radhika did so.
"Ghar ki bahu......ghar ki lakshmi
hoti hai. Wahi ek ghar ki sukh sampatti ko aur badhati hai. Aur tumhare haathon
ke yeh nishaan usi gruh lakshmi ka prateek hai" Dadima explained.
Radhika just nodded once, smiling a
bit.
"acha ab tum log chalke thoda sa
aaram karlo" Dadima said, as they all were ambling out of the pooja ghar. Most
of the relatives had gone inside, leaving only the Purohit members.
Thrilled, Dev's eyes sparkled
instantly and a small smile curved his lips up ' finally he can spend some
loving moments with his wife alone!
On the other hand, Radhika's heart
thumped hard, and her cheeks felt warm. She looked at him from the corner of
her eyes shyly.
"erm....Radhika chalo tum mere
saath......mere kamre main chalo aur aaram karlo" Dadima said, stroking her
back.
Instantly Dev's smile vanished and
a frown came instead. "aapke kamre main??" he asked hurriedly, unable to hold
back.
Everyone turned to glance at him.
"Haan. Radhika thak gayi hogi na. To who bhi to aaram karna chahegi na?" Dadima
replied in an obvious tone.
Hearing this, Radhika's smile too
disappeared, feeling disappointed but she remained mum.
However Dev couldn't fathom why
Dadima was taking his wife to her room. "Haan Dadima. Radhika aaram kar sakti
hai. Mere.....umm.....humare kamre main aaram karegi na?" he said the words
slowly, with an as-a-matter-of-fact tone.
Automatically Radhika's lips curved
shyly, hearing his trailing words. She loved him saying "humara kamra"
Meanwhile, Dadima pursed her lips
sternly and others chuckled or smiled to themselves seeing Dev's impatience.
"Kyun re besharam? Sharam nahi aati
tujhe?" Dadima chided.
Dev frowned, wondering what should
he feel ashamed for? "Sharam?kyun?"
Hitting his arm lightly, "Dev abhi
Radhika tere saath tere kamre main nahi jaayegi" she informed in a no nonsense
tone.
His frown deepened in to a
bewildered scowl. "Kyun????" he asked, his voice rose by a notch in impatience.
How long was he supposed to wait to meet his own wife!!
Listening to his impatience filled
voice, everyone cracked up. Dev glanced around, puzzled, wondering what joke
had he said.
Dadima pulled his one cheek
lightly. "Kyunki yahi rasam hai" she informed in a sweet tone.
"Rasam? Ab kaisi rasam?" Dev asked,
frowning irately.
"Dev beta humare yahan rasam hai ke
saare reet aur pujaon ke baad hi patni apne pati ke kamre main jaa sakti hai.
Uske pehle nahi" Dadima replied gently.
"Haan aur iska matlab yeh hai Dev
ke tujhe apne kamre main jaake aaram karna hai aur Radhika ko Dadima ke kamre
main" Vaishali added sweetly, with a teasing smile.
His heart winced in pain and he
glanced at Radhika once, before looking away from all of them.
"Dev thode samay ki baat to hai. Ek
baar saare rasmein ho jaaye.....phir hum kyun tumhari patni ko tumse door
rakhenge?" Dadima asked.
"Nahi" he mumbled, dejected.
Seeing his cute disappointed face,
Dadima couldn't hold back a smile. She framed his cheek to turn his face to
her. "acha ab tu jaa aur thodi der aaram karle. Kitna thaka huwa lag raha hai"
But he looked away again, sadly.
"ab kaisa aaram?" he murmured beneath his breath, peeved.
Seeing his sad face, Dadima moved
closer and cupped his face. "Dev. Yahan dekh. Bas thode samay baat hai
hmm......" she pacified him lovingly.
Dev glanced up and nodded, because
he had no option anyways.
Dadima smiled back in return and
led Radhika inside to her room. He kept glancing at his new bride, being taken
away from him. His heart pinched badly.
"tsk tsk......." a voice floated to
him and he jerked his gaze only to find Mrinalini showing a sympathetic face to
him..
Inching closer, "tsk tsk
tsk........Dev.....dekho na.......tumhe aur kitne ghante Radhika se dur rehne
pad sakte hai na?" Mrinalini said in a soft tone, showing mock sympathy '
ridiculing his situation.
Hearing this, Dev glowered at her furiously.
Mrinalini chuckled. "Dev go and
have some rest......alone" she added in the same sympathetic tone.
Sighing in anger and annoyance, he
removed his garland and then turning, stomped to his room.
Others giggled loudly seeing this,
to infuriate him some more. He glanced back at glared at all of them for a
second, before sprinting off to his room.
Meanwhile, Dadima bought Radhika
inside the room, Vaishali followed them.
"Beta ab tum thode der ke liye
aaram kar lo. Phir uske baad naha
do ke.......tumhe bahar aana hai na mooh dikhai ke liye" Dadima said sweetly,
caressing her head.
Radhika nodded, agreeing.
Vaishali came closer to her, and
helped her to remove the garland from her neck. "Beta ......tumhe hum yahan
kisi bhi cheez ki kami mehsoos nahi hone denge. Aur waise bhi tumhe to maine apni beti banane
ka vaada kiya tha na?"
The words bought a small lump in
Radhika's throat, but her smile widened.
"Acha ab tum thodi der aaram karo"
Vaishali said, placing the garland aside, and turned to Dadima. "maaji......aap
chahe hain to mere kamre main chalkar aaram kar leejye"
"Kyun? Main yahan Radhika ke saath
hi aaram kar loongi. Hum dono dher saari baatein bhi karenge? Kyun Radhika?"
she asked, tugging her arm.
seeing such childlike excitement in
Dadima, Radhika smiled to herself.
"Aur waise bhi mera yahan rehna
bahut jaroori hai" Dadima said, infusing some seriousness.
"Kyun?"
"are who mera pota aur iska deewana
pati.....kabhi bhi aa sakta hai yahan pe. Apne patni se milne" Dadima replied, her
tone turned a little teasing at the trailing words.
Radhika's cheeks turned red hearing
this.
Vaishali smiled, agreeing. "Haan
maaji yeh to hai. Acha hoga ke aap yahi rahe" she too played along.
"Hmm. Main rahoongi yahan pe to
kadam bhi nahi rakhega who" Dadima said, showing mock sterness. "Warna Radhika
ka man pighalne main jyaada samay nahi lagega. Kyun?" she teased.
Beneath her ghoonghat Radhika
blushed deep red, seeing even the elders teasing her.
Vaishali and Dadima chuckled.
"acha main chalti hoon ab. Aap dono
aaram kar lena" saying, Vaishali turned to leave the room.
Dadima shifted her gaze to Radhika.
"Beta......tum thoda sa so jao. Thak ho gayi na kaafi"
"Nahi Dadima.......woh moohdikhai
ke rasam ke liye phir der ho jaayegi" Radhika replied gently.
Smiling, Dadima touched her head.
"Acha theek hai. To tum fresh ho jaao. Hmm"
"Jee" Radhika nodded.
Few hours later........
After an early morning breakfast,
all the ladies gathered out in the main hall where the mooh dikhai ceremony was
about to take place. Since men weren't allowed to participate in this function,
they chose to sit upstairs in the hallway seating area and watch. Dev too was
seated along with the men, wearing a light pink and white kurta pajama. He sat
in such a position that allowed him to see the bride's seat properly.
"are Mrinalini beta kahan hai
tumhari nayi devrani?" a lady asked.
"Jee abhi aati hi hogi. Dadima
bulane gay.......lo aagaye" Mrinalini said quickly, as she saw Dadima bringing
out Radhika from the room.
Dev jerked his gaze towards
Dadima's room and found Radhika stepping out with her slowly. She was wearing a
red and green traditionally designed lehenga, the embroidered dupatta carefully
covering her face.
His heart again twinged in pain,
thinking himself to be such an unlucky man at this point ' even though he has
such a beautiful wife, he cant even look at her!! Nevertheless, he let his gaze
check her out in the lehenga. The red and green colour accentuated her
fairness, her embroidered dupatta was draped in wavy pattern across her chest
and stomache, but left a small waist region exposed; probably for him! He
chuckled to himself at the thought. The dress looked extremely beautiful on
her, and he imagined in his brain as to how her pretty face would be gleaming
at this point. What else can he do other than imagining, thanks to the customs!
"aao beta......yahan baitho"
Vaishali asked Radhika to sit on a small raised stool.
Nodding, Radhika sat down with her
knees curled up.
"Vaishali yeh rasam tumse hi shuru
hogi. Tumne bhi ab tak bahu ka chehra nahi dekha na?" Dadima said.
"Jee maaji" Vaishali nodded, and
she turned to take a small box in her hand before stepping closer to Radhika.
Kneeling down, Vaishali opened
Radhika's ghoonghat a little and found her beautiful face shimmering with
happiness.
Radhika smiled at her beautifully,
and Vaishali's heart swelled in joy. "Bahut khush raho. Aise hi humesha
muskurate rehna" she blessed and after covering the ghoonghat, she placed the
box on Radhika's lap.
"Kholo na Radhika.....hum bhi to dekhe
ke Kaki ne kya diya hai?" Deepika said enthusiastically.
Radhika slowly opened the red box
and found a beautiful piece of necklace in it. Her eyes sparkled in amazement,
but at the same time her heart felt warm.
"Waah Radhika......yeh to bahut
khoobsurat hai" Deepika exclaimed chirpily.
Upstairs in the hallway, Dev leaned
a little from his couch to see Vaishali's gift and smiled upon noticing the
beautiful set.
"acha Mrinalini ab tumhari baari"
Dadima instructed. Mrinalini nodded and came forward.
The ladies continued with the
ceremony with everyone praising Radhika's beauty.
"are waah Vaishali.....tumhari bahu
to chand se bhi jyaada khoobsurat hai" a lady said.
"Sach much Maaji......Dev ki kismat
to bahut achi hai. Itni sundar patni mili hai" another one commented.
"Wow Mrinalini......she is really
beautiful. Really Dadima.....Dev's really lucky" another young relative said.
Radhika beamed happily, hearing the
comments and the blessings she received.
Meanwhile Dev couldn't stop
grinning, after hearing the continous praises flowing in for his beautiful
wife. Inadvertantly his heart swelled and gloated in pride. Sipping his tea, he
kept his gaze glued on to Radhika's figure while his ears heard each and every
single word of praise showered on her.
Almost an hour later, Dadima called
Dev downstairs, startling him. "Dev!!!"
"huh?" He had been so busy in
staring at his beautiful wife that he didn't even realize how the time flew by.
"Kya huwa? Neecha aa na. Ke wahi
baithke apni patni ko ghurte rahega?" Dadima teased, in a mock stern voice. The
entire clan of ladies burst out laughing.
Instinctively Radhika's cheeks
flushed wondering if he had been actually staring at her the whole time during
the ceremony, that too in the presence of so many relatives. But at the same
time, a small part of her heart loved the fact.
Dev too blushed feeling
embarrassed, for he was caught. "erm....jee.....jee Dadima" he fumbled a little
and quickly getting up, he went downstairs. Other men too followed him.
"aaja......." Dadima asked him to
come near them. Radhika sensed her heart racing a little as she found him
standing right in front of her. Dev glanced at Radhika briefly, before looking
at Dadima.
"Ab to mooh dikhai ki rasm ho chuki
hai. To main chahti hoon ke ab tu Radhika ka ghoonghat hataye" Dadima said,
smiling. She knew that Dev would love this idea very much.
Instinctively Dev's face broke in
to a wide joyous smile and he wanted to hug Dadima. But he controlled himself
and turned to look at Radhika ' his beautiful bride.
"chal....ab ghoonghat hata de.
Taake sab meri pyaari bahu ka chehra ache se dekh sake"
"Jee" Dev nodded and lifted his
hands up to hold the rim of her ghoonghat.
Radhika's heart beat accelerated
some more. Dev slowly began lifting the veil, underneath his heart thudded in
elation. Everyone else looked on.
And then, Dev's gaze found her
beautiful face ' she looked amazingly beautiful and stunning, just as he had
assumed!! A wide exuberant grin flashed across his face, as he rested the veil atop
her head, and kept gazing at her lovingly. How can anyone look away from such a
beautiful, cute face? He wondered being lost in her beauty!
Radhika's cheeks went warm as she
met his eager, loving gaze and glanced down shyly.
"Dev" Dadima called out gently,
placing a hand on his arm to bring him back from the trance.
Startled, he shivered a bit as he
turned his gaze to Dadima.
"Kya huwa?" she asked, putting an
innocent face.
"Kya huwa?" he shrugged,
uncomprehending.
All others present in the hall
burst out laughing. Dev and Radhika glanced around at everyone, confusedly. But
soon realized and blushed crimson red.
"Oh My My My!! Whom do we have
here??" Laurence's voice pierced in as the laughing halted.
Dev and Radhika looked up in the
direction his voice came from; Dev's face brightened up a little.
"Oh My God!!" Laurence said,
halting his steps in front of Radhika. His eyes were tinkling in amazement,
seeing Radhika's beauty. He was awestruck.
"Radhika. This is Laurence, my best
friend!!" Dev introduced, flashing a wide smile at Laurence.
"And Laurence, this is my wife
Radhika" he almost announced it proudly, but his pitch was normal ' although
everyone was well aware of this fact, still he wanted to tell the world proudly
that the beautiful blushing bride was his.
Radhika's heart tingled after
hearing him and she glanced at him. It was the first time he said that word
since it was officially true; he seemed like he would explode with satisfaction
saying it now.
"Oh Yes. I am meeting my friend's
beautiful wife, the same girl who made him fall head over heels in love with
her!" Laurence quipped with a laugh.
Dev just grinned and glanced at
Radhika, who blushed some more.
"Hello beautiful lady" Laurence
said to her.
"Namaste" Radhika folded her hands
with a sweet smile ' a small part of her brain reminded her about Vishaka's
warnings against him.
"Ah. Namaste" Laurence too folded
his hands. "You're really very very beautiful. Just like some sweet angel"
Radhika couldn't help the tinge of warmth
coming in her cheeks. "Thank you" she said gently.
"No. I should be thanking
you......for coming in to my friend's life" he said, patting Dev's shoulder
once.
Beaming at that, Dev glanced again
at Radhika. She too looked at him and blushed lightly.
"Now I understand why Dev couldn't
resist himself from falling in love with you! How can anyone? Dev's a real
lucky guy" he remarked, winking an eye at Dev.
Inadvertantly Dev's arm came across
Radhika's shoulder and he held her arm possessively. He didn't know why he felt
the need to do so, it just happened. "You're right. I am the most luckiest man
to have her as my wife" he said, turning his gaze to look at her. His voice was
filled with pride and love.
Radhika shivered, feeling his tight
yet cozy grip; the redness in her cheeks automatically intensified. And as he
mentioned the word 'wife' again with the same satisfied tone, she glanced up to
meet his loving eyes and smiled shyly.
"ahem ahem? Knock knock" Laurence
said to bring them back.
Dev and Radhika quickly turned
their gazes to him and blush a little.
"Right. So.....what did you do?
Sprinkled some magic on my friend?" Laurence smiled sweetly. "whatever you did
was for good, otherwise I was scared that my friend would never find his
someone special anywhere!!" quipping he laughed again.
"Shut up!" Dev punched his shoulder
lightly. "That was good I didn't find anyone anywhere else.....because someone
was waiting for me here....and no one this world can be as nice as her" he
again turned to give Radhika a loving look.
"Yup. That I have to agree"
Laurence agreed cutely. "So.....Rads bhabhs.......can I call you that?"
"Hmm?" Radhika didn't understand
what he just said.
"Radhika......woh tumhe bhabhi keh
raha hai. He even mentions me like that" Mrinalini quickly filled in.
Comphrending, "Oh" Radhika's smile
returned.
"Yeah. I even call her like that.
Mrin bhabhs.......because her actual name is like a tongue twister for me.
Whats it......Mrini.....li.....mal.....ni....."
"Oh you jerk! Shut Up!" Mrinalini
hit his arm. Laurence and Dev burst in to laughter.
Mrinalini smiled at both the guys.
"So can I call you that?" Laurence
asked controlling his laughter, looking at Radhika.
"Yeah sure"
"Thanks. Anyways I didn't have an
option. If I didn't call you my sister in law, Dev would have surely broken our
friendship by now! Infact my limbs would be hanging out somewhere if I look at
you without calling you my sister" he said, making an innocent somber face,
with a teasing glint in his eyes.
Dev pursed his lips. "Laurence!!!
Don't over exaggerate ok!"
"What? You know what Rads
bhabhs......when I saw you for the first time.......?" Laurence trailed off his
words to shoot an impish glance at Dev.
Dev's brows twitched, wondering
what was he up to?
"Wait you are meeting her now for
the first time right?" Mrinalini asked, quickly.
"No bhabhs. I have met her before!
Dev you remember right? My face almost got smashed" he said, glancing at Dev
again.
Dev understood the incident he was
referring to ' the same when he had shown him the pics of Radhika and he had
got jealous. "Damn! Is he gonna reveal that
in front of the whole family??" He didn't want the iinstance to be opened
up in front of all his family and relatives. They would leave no stone unturned
to tease him!
"When have you met her before?"
Dadima asked curiously.
"Ah. Shall I tell them Dev?"
Laurence asked, knowing that Dev wouldn't like the idea exactly.
"Don't you dare to!" Dev warned in
a grim tone, almost threatening him.
"Oh comeon Laurence tell us na?"
Mrinalini prodded, even more curiously now.
"Ok. Fine. Actually when I first
saw Rads bhabhs.......I was literally floored. And to say the truth......."
"Laurence stop your mouth! Or
else......." Dev interrupted coldly.
Radhika glanced at both the men,
wondering what was going on.
"Ok. Ok........Fine. Don't smash up my face! I wont say anything. Cool"
Laurence said.
Dev sighed, calming down. "That's
better"
"Oh. Here you go. I have got
something for this pretty lady" saying Laurence pulled out a small box from his
pocket and held forward "Here....my wedding gift for you"
Radhika looked down at the
shimmering box, smiling, and glanced up at Dev once. He too smiled back at her
and blinked once.
"Thank you" Radhika said, accepting
the gift.
"You're welcome my sweet bhabhs"
Laurence said cutely. "Open it" he added hurriedly.
"Radhika open it na......"
Mrinalini also demanded.
Nodding Radhika opened the small
box and found a beautiful solitaire ring inside. Her eyes widened in
wonderment. So did Mrinalini's; most other ladies had the same reaction.
"Wow! This is so beautiful" Dev
exclaimed.
"Thanks" Laurence shrugged with a
grin. "Anything for my Friend"
Dev felt touched. "Thanks a lot
Laurence" saying, he moved ahead to hug him.
"Hey Man. Its ok" Laurence said.
"But what about my gift? You got
one for? And me?" Dev asked, inching back.
"Oh! I thought I couldn't get you a
better gift than Rads Bhabhs. Everything else would look pale in comparison"
Laurence answered, blinking once; his tone had the genuineness.
Dev couldn't deny that, and nodded.
Laurence smiled warmly. "So did you
like the gift?" he asked to Radhika.
"umm.....Yes, its really very
beautiful. Thank you Laurencejee" Radhika said sweetly.
"No. My name's just Laurence. No
jee"
Dev chuckled. "Laurence it's a way
of showing respect. In india
people add a suffix of 'jee' to show respect" he explained.
"Oh! Is it? Thanks Bhabhs. That's
so sweet. But just call me Laurence. Don't gimme so much respect. People might
think I am old, which precisely I am not" saying, he winked an eye boyishly.
Radhika and Dev smiled.
"acha ab chalo. Bahut baatein ho
gayi ab thode........games bhi ho jaaye" Dadima interjected excitedly.
"Games?" Dev asked.
"Haan Games. Shaadi main bhi to
kuch fun aur masti honi chahiye na? Chalo sab samjhati hoon" Dadima replied,
already feeling thrilled, and turned. "Mrinalini......." she gestured.
"Jee Dadima"
Mrinalini placed a huge wide bowl
of diluted milk interspersed with rose petals in between Dev and Radhika, who
sat opposite facing each other. All the relatives and friends had made a huge
circle around, to watch the game between them.
"Milk? Are they supposed to drink
this milk? Milk drinking competition?" Laurence asked, confused.
Each and everyone present there,
burst in to another round of laughter.
"No Laurence. It isn't a milk
drinking competition. Dadima will explain" Arjun said.
Dadima pulled out a ring and held
it up. "Hmm to Game aisa hai ke main yeh ring ko iss dhood main daloongi aur
tum dono ko yeh ring search karna hai. Jo pehle ringe nikalega who jeet gaya" she explained the
rules.
"Bas?" Dev shrugged and smirked
overconfidently.
"Sab sun to le. Iss dhood main sirf
ring nahi hoga. Bahut kuch mix kiya huwa hai. Lekin tum jeetoge tabhi jab tum
iss ring ko nikaloge. Dekho main yeh ring teen baar andar daloongi. Jo sabse
jyaada baar ring dhoond nikalega who winner hoga. Aur who doosre ke upar raaj
karega" Dadima continued elucidating.
"raaj karega?" Dev asked, twitching
his brows.
"Yes Deverjee. The one who wins
this competition will dominate over the other for the rest of the married life"
Mrinalini quickly explained in easy terms.
Arching a brow, "Oh" Dev pursed his lips and turned his gaze to Radhika. She
too looked at him. A corner of his lips twitched, as he rolled his sleeves up.
She just lowered her eyes shyly.
"To samaj gaye na?" Dadima asked
aloud.
Dev and Radhika nodded. "Jee"
Dadima put the ring inside the milk
and swirled her hand a few times to let the ring be mixed in. Pulling her hand
out, "Chalo Start!" she announced.
Dev and Radhika both plunged their
hands inside the milk. As their hands roamed, they could sense many nuts, small
round pieces, rose petals, everything but the ring!!
The Ladies cheered up for Radhika,
while the men ganged up to cheer for Dev.
"Comeon Radhika! You gotta win!"
Mrinalini cheered excitedly.
"Yes. Dev comeon. Tumhe hi jeetna
hai. Aur dikha do ladkiyon ko ke hum kya hain" Vivek added in a lively tone.
"huh? Kya hain? kuch nahi" saying
Mrinalini and girls burst out laughing.
"Who to abhi pata chal jaayega na"
Vivek retorted loudly.
Amidst all this, Dev and Radhika
continued searching for the ring.
"Chalo Radhika....tumhe hi jeetna
hai" Dadima too backed her.
This shocked Dev and quickly jerked
his gaze up to her. "Dadima aap uska side le rahi ho?"
"Hmm. Who mere pote ki patni hai
na?" Dadima replied, making innocent face.
At that moment, Vivek smacked Dev's
head lightly. "Concentrate! warna who log baazi maar jaayenge"
"Oh. Yes" saying Dev again turned
back his attention to the milk and the ring!
Some seconds passed. Dev and
Radhika were fully immersed in finding the ring, when suddenly their hands
brushed past each other beneath the milk. Instinctively Radhika's breathing
hitched, while Dev swiftly looked up sensing a small quivering of her hand and
found her cheeks turning red. A small impish smile quirked the corner of his
lips and he again looked down at the milk ' his focus now diverted solely to
her hand!
Radhika continued rummaging through
the milk after that small instant silently, when she felt his hands again
brushing past her; this time his fingers held her's deliberately. She hurriedly
glanced up only to find his eyes gleaming with mischief, and a small beguiling
smile. That was enough for her focus from the ring to be completely scattered!
"Comeon Radhika kya huwaa??"
Mrinalini's urgent excited voice reached her the next second and pulled her out
from the trance.
Startled, she blushed and looked
down to search the other corner of the bowl.
His hand followed her's, and again
tried grabbing them. Her heart again skipped a beat ' shattering her focus
again. Glancing up, she tighetened her eyes and shook her head by a minuscule
fraction, pleading him to not to do so. But he just glanced at her with the
impish smile, indicating that he was in no mood to leave her free.
Sighing slowly, she again moved her
hand to other direction. But he made it rather difficult for her to search;
everytime his fingers would tug her's, or he would tangle his finger with hers,
or would just grab her hand.
Dadima saw that something fishy was
happening because Radhika was repeatedly jerking her hands beneath the milk.
She glanced at her and then at Dev, only to find his face filled with an impish
smile. Her brows arched in response, as his smile confirmed her doubt and she
quickly hit his arm.
"Oww!!" Dev flitted his gaze to
her. "Kya huwa? Aap mujhe maar kyun rahe ho?"
"Maar kyun rahe ho?" she imitated
his voice poorly. "Kyun re? Game chup chap khel nahi sakta?"
"Wahi to kar raha hoon?"
Thinning her lips briefly, "Game
ring dhoondne ka hai. Radhika ke haath ko pakadne ka nahi!" she snapped.
Listening to this, everyone burst
out laughing. Radhika went red in face; while Dev too blushed a tinge and
looked down bitting his tongue sheepishly.
Patting his shoulder, "Ah! Good one
my Naughty friend!" Laurence supported him instead.
But instantly earned a scold from
Dadima. "Hmm. Laurence now do you want me to hit you as well?"
"Oops! No granny. Sorry!"
"Acha ab shuru karo na game. Aur
tujhe sirf ring dhoondna hai okay!" Dadima warned.
"Jee Dadima" Dev shook his head
obediently and shot a glance at Radhika before looking down at the milk bowl.
The game resumed again, Dev and
Radhika started searching again. A moment passed and Radhika quickly pulled her
hand out excitedly. "Mil gaya"
her voice rang loud in excitement.
Dev quickly flitted his gaze up,
baffled, and found her holding the ring.
"Yeeee!!!!!!!!!" Instantly the
girls team burst in to loud cheers and applauses. "Yeaah!! Girls won!!!"
Dadima too joined them. "Mujhe to
pata tha ke meri Radhika hi jeetegi" she said, touching Radhika's chin
lovingly.
"Lekin Ma ab to aur do round baaki
hai na" Susheel said. All the boys instantly backed him.
"Haan aur usme bhi Radhika hi
jeetegi Babuji" Deepika replied sweetly.
"Dekh lete hain Bahu. Dev iss baar
humari naak nahi katni chahiye" Susheel warned, turning his gaze to Dev.
Dev nodded seriously and glanced at
Radhika, who seemed to be gloating in her happiness like a cute kid. His pulse
quickened ' how can he want that sweet smile to be wiped away from her face?
"All the best Dev" Vivek's
encouraging voice floated in his ears.
Yet he cannot let his team lose as
well! "Thanks Bhaiyya" Dev replied.
"Yeh lo........" Dadima said,
putting the ring back in to the milk.
Dev and Radhika plunged their hands
again and started searching quickly; the men and ladies where cheering for them
respectively.
Suddenly again Dev's fingers
started tugging and grabbing her's. A sharp silent gasp escaped her throat and
she swiftly glanced up, but to her utter surprise found him looking in to the
bowl very seriously as if he was hardly aware of the happenings inside. Her
brows twitched in puzzle for a brief second and then she shifted her focus to
the ring.
A small impish smile twisted Dev's
lips up, but he quickly smothered it and continued with his game ' to shatter
her focus and win this round! His fingers again brushed past her and grabbed
her index finger tightly; however he did this very furtively so that no one
notices his tricks.
Radhika again gasped silently and
her concentration automatically went haywire. She pulled it together and again
started searching, however he never allowed her to do so peacefully.
Some more seconds passed as the
flock waited anxiously to see who gets the ring.
Just then, "Got it!!" Dev
announced, drawing his hand out; he had the ring!
Radhika looked up, stunned but soon
felt disappointed.
"Yeahhhh!!!!!!!!" this time loud
cheers and applauses came in from the boys side. While the girls just looked
away smirking, as if hardly acknowledging their win.
"Sabaash mere Dev!" Susheel patted
his back, proudly.
Dev grinned. "Thanks Chachajee"
saying he glanced at Radhika.
Seeing him to be so elated, she
felt really nice ' rather than feeling disappointed at her own defeat, she felt
happy for his win.
Just then Dev arched his brows
naughtily and winked at Radhika inconspicuously. Noticing his impish crooked
smile and wink, she felt puzzled. But the next second a small thought flickered
across her brain ' had he deliberately held her hand to shift her focus?? As
comprehension washed over, she initially felt shocked and then angry; thinning
her lips angrily, she glowered at him.
"acha chalo. Ab third round. Jo
isme jeetega. Wahi winner hoga" saying Dadima put the ring back in the milk.
Dev and Radhika share a glance and
then look down in the milk. They both plunged inside their hands, and soon Dev
tried applying his trick again. However, she was more prepared this time and
didn't let herself be affected by his touches, either she deftly moved her
hands out of his touch or pretended to hardly affected. Sensing this Dev
glanced up to her, in mystification. Yet he didn't leave hope and tried his
best to distract her. But again she would just move out of his way cleverly and
all his attempts went futile. Sighing in frustration, he began searching for
the ring diligently, not wanting his team to loose.
Everyone else kept their gazes
glued to the milk bowl anxiously, wondering who was going to get the ring this
time, as Radhika and Dev continued groping through the nuts and petals for some
long moments.
Suddenly a flicker of brightness
flashed across Radhika's face as she sensed her fingers to have got hold of the
ring. "Mil gaya!"
she pulled out the ring excitedly.
But simultaneously another excited voice
echoed as well. "Mil gaya!!"
Dev said aloud.
They both swiftly glanced at each
other, puzzled, only to find that they both were holding the ring; he held the
rear end while she had the front end between her fingers. Their brows twitched
in confusion.
A collective disappointed sighs ran
across the swarm of relatives.
"Oho!! Dadima yeh to dono ne saath
main ring utha liya! Ab kaise tayr karenge ke kaun jeeta aur kaun haara?"
Mrinalini wondered aloud, disappointed.
Dev and Radhika glance up at her,
with the same question running across their mind as well.
"Na Dev jeeta........aur na Radhika
jeeti. In dono ka pyaar jeet gaya"
Dadima replied with a smile.
The words bought a smile on Dev and
Radhika's face and they share a loving glance. Indeed their love won.
"Lekin Dadima. Ab hume kaise pata
chalega ke kaun kiske upar dominate karega?" Deepika asked, confused.
Dev looked at her. "Bhabhi.......shaadi
main to do logon ko ek doosre ke saath chalna hota hai na.......to phir yeh
dominance ki baat kaha se aajati hai"
This instantly earned him huge cheers
and applauses from the entire throng. Radhika's lips curved in to a beautiful
smile, feeling delighted at his words.
"Wah Wah........dekha mera pota
kitna samajdar hai" Dadima said, patting his back proudly.
Dev just grinned at everyone
elatedly, and then shared another loving glance with his wife.
"acha ab chalo. Yeh game to ho gaya. Is game main to na
koi jeeta aur na koi haara. Lekin agle game main hume pata chalega ke Dev apni
patni se kitna pyaar karta hai" Dadima announced for the next game.
"ek aur game?" Dev asked.
"Hmm. Chalo main sab batati hoon"
Dadima said with an excited smile.
Few minutes later, Dev and Radhika
came out drying their hands and took their seats. The huge bowl of milk had
been removed and their seats were now bought a little closer.
Seeing everyone to be seated again,
Dadima spoke. "Acha to suno. Game aisa hai ke Dev ko Radhika ke mehendi main
apna naam dhoondhna hai"
"That's it?" Dev asked, shrugging
with the same overconfident tone.
"Yes. You have to find your name in
her mehendi within one minute" Mrinalini continued explaining the rules.
"One minute?" Dev asked, baffled.
"Kyun bachu? Kya huwa? Saara
confidence udd gaya
hawa main?" Dadima asked.
Pursing his lips briefly, "Ok.
Fine. I am game" Dev replied, bringing back the same confident tone.
"Ok. Radhika bring your hands
forward" Mrinalini instructed.
Radhika nodded and held out her
palms out in front of him.
He looked at her hands and
instantly his brows twitched, seeing the intricate design. How was he supposed
to find his name in that??
"Ready. Start!!!" Mrinalini said
aloud, ticking on the stop watch.
Swiftly, Dev held her hands and
bent his face down to look at the design closely. But the moment he touched her
hands, the soft skin of her's demanded his attention totally. His lips again twitched
in the corner impishly and he rubbed fingertips against the back of her hand.
He was rewarded with an instinctive, almost inaudible, gasp from her in
response and his heart fluttered.
"50 seconds to go!!" Mrinalini's
loud voice pierced and burst his momentary trance, and he frowned realizing
that he had already spent 10 seconds on touching her skin! Damn! Muttering a
curse to himself, he began focusing on the complicated design.
However the task wasn't as easy as
it seemed to be. The mehendi design was so complex, with lines, curves and
arches tangled over one another, that he could hardly spot his name in that.
"are you sure my name's in it?" he
mumbled to Radhika, while his intense gaze kept searching.
"Hmm" she mumbled back in
affirmation.
Sighing, he looked in to other
hand. "Which hand?" he asked again in a mumble with gritted teeth, for some
help.
"30 seconds!! And Radhika please
don't prompt!!" Mrinalini's stern instructions floated to them.
Dev cocked his head sideways to
glare at her.
Mrinalini shrugged. "What? Stop
glaring at me and concentrate on the game. 25 seconds!!" she gave a smile.
Exhaling, he swiftly turned his
gaze back and continued searching his little name in the ever so complicated
design. Never had he thought that a mehendi design could give him a headache,
but now it was.......Because his eyes were getting strained looking in to that
tangled lines and curves continuously.
Radhika saw some tensed creases in
his forehead, this pinched her heart and she wanted to stroke his head lovingly
so that he can relax.
"please mujhe koi clue to do" Dev
almost pleaded in a mumble, without shifting his gaze.
"No Prompts! I can see everything!"
Mrinalini said aloud. "15 seconds!"
Dev gave a peeved exhale.
Seeing his frustration, Radhika
wanted to give him a clue badly ' his name was on the Venus mount near the
thumb of her right palm. However probably since it was written in a curvy,
twisted pattern he wasn't able to locate it easily!
Dev didn't give up hope and
continued shifting the direction of her hand from one side to another, but he
couldn't spot his own name in that design ' complicatedly knotty design!
"tik tik 1..........tik tik2.......3.........4..........5......."
Mrinalini started counting the seconds.
Taking a breath, Dev continued his
search. "Kahan hai mera naam? Please gimme some clue na?"
"Radhika. No Prompts! Tik tik
6.........7........8.......9" Mrinalini continued in a loud voice.
"tik tik......"
"I got it!!!!" Dev almost screamed
excitedly, and looked up at others.
Mrinalini stopped the watch and
leaned to get a better view.
"Kahan?" Dadima asked eagerly,
leaning in too.
Dev touched his index fingertip
near Radhika's right Venus mount, where his name was written in small letters.
"yahan?" he looked up for her affirmation.
She smiled sweetly in confirmation.
"Hmm"
His face burst in to a grin and, curling
his fist he jerked his hand within, in celebration. "Yes!!!"
Another round of applauses cheered
him up, while his grin transformed in to a triumphant beam.
"Jeeyo mere laadle. Aaj tune apni
Daadi ka naam uncha rakh liya" Dadima praised him, coming near and patted his
back.
"Thank you Dadima. Umm....Waise aap
keh rahe the na ke iss game se pata chalega ke main Radhika se kitna pyaar
karta hoon?" he asked
"Hmm who to aise hi deverjee. Kehte
hain ke agar dulhe ne dulhan ne haathon main naam dhoond liya to who us se
bahut pyaar karta hai" Deepika chirped in.
"Oh! Phir to mera pyaar saabit ho gaya na?" he asked with a
crooked smile, glancing once at Radhika.
Radhika just smiled shyly and
looked down.
"Haan........aur waise bhi tune to
apna pyaar Radhika ke liye kabka saabit kar liya. Iss game ki jaroorat nahi
hai......yeh jaan ne ke liye ke tu Radhika se kitna pyaar karta hai" Dadima
replied sweetly, touching his cheek.
"Congrats my friend" Laurence came
in to give a hug. Dev got up and embraced him.
"umm......lekin paseene to bahut
chute the deverjee ke. Kyun?" Mrinalini teased, getting up.
Inching back, he tightened his eyes
at her. "Bilkul nahi. Dev Purohit kisi challenge se nahi darta!" he said
pulling his collar, smugly.
She smirked. "Oh really? To who kya
tha? jo tum Radhika se keh rahe the? Hmm? Right Radhika......he did ask your
help right?" she asked glancing at her.
Radhika looked at Dev once and then
shifted her gaze to Mrinalini. "umm..... Bhabhi......nahi......"
However Mrinalini interrupted her. "Huh?
Tum to aise hi kahogi ab! Don't I know?"
"Bhabhi jab who keh rahi hai to
sahi hi hoga na? Anyways you were right there standing with an imaginary stick
to hit us if I asked for a prompt" Dev retorted and broke in to guffaw.
Mrinalini huffed. "Stop it!"
"Oho!! Chup bhi karo ab!" Dadima
ordered. "Mrinalini jaise bhi ho Dev ne jeet liya na?"
"Hmm......woh to hai" Mrinalini
conceded and then bought a smile. "Congrats"
"Thanks Bhabhi!" he said cutely.
Dadima smiled and framed both Dev
and Radhika's cheeks. "Khush raho tum dono"
"Dadima khush to rahenge hi
na......ab to khushiyan aur badhengi. Kyun Bhabhi?" Deepika turned to wink at
Mrinalini.
"Ofcourse. Because ab hoga dance
aur music ka program" Mrinalini answered, smiling.
"Ab kaisa dance?" Dev asked,
curiously.
"Dev humare ghar main ek naya
sadasya aaya hai. To uske liye hum khushiyan to maneyenge na? to bas isiliye
bahuwon ne milke yeh program banaya hai" Vaishali answered sweetly.
"Oh" Dev smiled.
"Chalo chalo.........have your
seat" Mrinalini tugged Dev and Radhika'a arm, and began leading them to the
special seat.
She took them to a raised dais,
which was used for the mehendi function as well, the difference being that the
dais was now swathed in baby pink colour, while the background was adorned with
golden and pink shimmering curtains.
Making them sit on the golden couch
in the centre, "tum dono yahan baitho.......aur aaram se sab kuch dekho ok" she
patted their cheeks and turned to leave.
Dev and Radhika share a small
loving, smiling glance.
Everyone else took their seats as
well and the dance program began. A girls v/s boys team formed as the song
started playing out.
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0watZP6Wd5Y[/YOUTUBE]
Guys stood across the stairs as
Mrinalini, Deepika and other ladies came down, pretending to be hardly noticing
them. Vivek and Arjun who were leading their gang, went up to the ladies and
showed a requesting gesture........
As the playful and lyrical
bickering commenced between the groups, relatives and friends began enjoying
it.
Some moments flew away when Dev's attention
shifted from the dancers to Radhika. He looked at her from the corner of his
eyes but found her immersed in smiling and clapping at the performers. Unable
to resist himself, slowly he cocked his head by a fraction to look at her. Her
beautiful sweet face had his heart skipping a beat; surely he must have done
lots of good deeds enough to get a lovely wife like her, he thought to himself.
She noticed him turning to her, and
she too looked at him only to find him flashing a charming smile at her. Her
heart skipped a beat and she lowered her gaze shyly.
Seeing this, his smile widened some
more and he slowly placed a hand above her's.
His warm loving touch made her pulse
quicken and she flitted her gaze to his hand, before looking up to meet his
eyes. His face again broke in to a charming smile.
"chodiye na" she requested in a
whisper shyly.
"Hmm?" he bought his face a little
closer, feigning to have not heard her.
She saw him getting closer and her
heart again skipped a beat. "Umm.......haath chodiye na?"
His lips twitched in the corner
naughtily. "Hmm?" he again bought his face some more closer.
Radhika stared in to his eyes for a
small second, lost in to him. But then quickly yanked herself out and glanced
around to see if anyone's noticing them; thankfully everyone was immersed in
the performance! Glancing back at him, she pulled her hand away and hid it
behind her dupatta.
He frowned by a fraction. "Kya
huwa?"
"Sab log hai yahan pe. Kya
sochenge" she mumbled, keeping her gaze to the dancers.
He too turned his gaze to the dance,
but his head bent down slightly to her. "To?"
"Dekhiye.......acha nahi lagta" she
replied, gazing at the dance.
Sighing, "Great! Patni hone ke baad
bhi.......tum wahi raag alaap (singing the same tune) rahi ho!" he replied,
feeling a little irked.
She cocked her head to look at him.
"naaraz mat hoiye"
He deepened his frown deliberately,
to let her give in to him.
"Umm......suniye na. Please naaraz
mat hoiye" she requested with a sweet smile.
"Ek shart pe" he mumbled.
"Kya? Umm.......haath pakadne ke
siway kuch bhi" she hurriedly added.
He couldn't control his lips from
twitching impishly, after hearing her condition ' she probably didn't even know
what she invited on herself, he thought naughtily.
"Pakka?" he asked, turning his gaze
to her.
"Hmm" she affirmed with a sweet
smile. He wouldn't do anything extreme anyways beause so many people were
seated across them, she assured to herself.
"Great" saying, he swiftly put an
arm around her shoulder.
Realizing his move, her eyes
widened up, shocked "Yeh aap kya kar rahe hain?"
"Kyun? Tumne kaha na ke haath
pakadne ke alawa kuch bhi kar sakta hoon?" he replied with an impish wink, and
tugged her body closer.
She gasped slightly in response,
but soon realized what she'd let him do. "Umm. Chodiye na......" she tried
moving back.
Tightening his hold, "No ways!" he
replied in a firm voice and turned his gaze to the dance performance.
Sighing helplessly, she too turned
her gaze to the dancers......but her gaze stumbled on some relatives who were looking
at them and chuckling amogst themselves.
Instantly her cheeks went red.
"Dekiye.....sab dekh rahe hain. Please chodiye na" she pleaded looking ahead,
wondering what the relatives would be thinking?
He shrugged, unaffected. "Main kya
karoon? Tumne hi mujhse waada kiya tha"
She cocked her head a fraction to
him, with pleading eyes.
"Radhika don't sit so stiff. I am
your husband afterall, but you make me seem like I am an unwanted stranger
holding you" he retorted.
She didn't know an answer to this;
her posture was stiff because she was feeling really shy to sit like this in
front of so many people.
Looking down, "aisa nahi hai......"
her mumbled voice came out.
"Mrs. Radhika Purohit. Please enjoy
the song. Aur raha sawaal aapko chodne ka.......to who to hone se raha" he
said, winking an eye. "Poore haq se byahke laaya hoon tumhe........itna to haq
banta hi hai mera......hai na?" his tone turned loving.
She remained silent, but a small
shy smile pulled her lips up.
"Haan agar tumhe acha nahi lag raha
to tell me. I will move back" he added in a somber tone, knowing that it will
work in his favor.
It did and she quickly looked up. She
couldn't deny that it was very cozy in his arms, yet she was shy to be so close
when so many eyes were observing them.
"Shall I move my arms?" he asked,
glancing at her.
His tone had a tinge of pain that
she didn't like. A second passed and she answered. "Nahi rehne deejye" she
replied with a shy smile. She couldn't resist giving in when there were so many
factors pulling her inside.
"Good!" he approved her action and
turned back his gaze to the performance. She too shifted her gaze ahead,
blushing lightly.
As the next dance number started
playing out, Dev slowly bought his free hand to hold her hand that was near to
him. Her breathing hitched and she glanced at him from the corner of her eyes.
He looked down at her hand and began fondling it. She tried moving her hand
back, but he didn't allow her to, rather bought their intertwined hands to his
lap and continued fondling it.
"I hope you wouldn't mind me
breaking the small condition?" he murmured huskily, but his gaze stuck on the
dancers.
She loved him doing do as his
touches were sending tingles down her skin, making her blush, and she allowed
him. "Hmm"
Their hands were intertwined and
stroking each other's lovingly; they both kept their gazes glued at the dances,
however no one knew that all their attention was on each other.
Sometime later, after a few songs
and dances, audience applauded the performers again.
Mrinalini sauntered up to the dais
only to find Dev and Radhika sittiting cozily with their hands twined. Her lips
curved in to a smile.
Stepping up, "Hey tum dono yahan
itne aaram se bahon main bahein dalke baithe ho?" she asked coming to them in a
teasing voice.
Seeing her, Radhika's posture
suddenly stiffened and she automatically moved a little away from Dev; she hurriedly
jerked back her hand from his hold as well.
Dev literally cursed his fate as he
pulled his arm away from her. "Damn!"
"Kya huwa? Chalo na? ab tum log bhi
dance karo" she said, grabbing Radhika's arm.
"Bhabhi main?" Radhika asked,
stunned by the suggestion.
"Haan tum. Aur tum bhi" She
replied, looking at both of them.
Radhika didn't favor the idea as
much, because she wasn't comfortable dancing around so many people.
"Umm.....nahi Bhabhi itne saare log hai. Rehne deejye na. Aap log maze keejye
na" she said with a smile.
Dev sighed a little, hearing those
words again. "She's right bhabhi.......bahut saare logon ke saamne yeh kabhi
enjoy nahi karti!!" his words were dipped in sarcasm.
Radhika swiftly shot a glance at
Dev, deciphering what he was hinting at.
Shrugging once, "Yeh to aane nahi
waali. To main wahan aake kya karoonga? Radhika ke bina mujhe kya maza aayega"
he added sweetly.
"Oh Please Radhika" Mrinalini
requested, tugging her arm.
Seeing all this murmuring action on
the podium, Dadima came up to them. "Kya huwa?"
Everyone looked up at her. "Dadima
please inse kaho na ke yeh bhi dance kare" Mrinalini said
"Haan beta......jaao na tum dono
bhi dance karo" Dadima backed her.
"Umm.....nahi Dadima. Mujhse nahi
hoga" Radhika replied in a soft whisper, feeling unsure.
"Radhika beta......tumhari shaadi
main agar tum enjoy nahi karogi to kaun karega? Hmm? Shaadi tum dono ki huwi
hai.....chalo.......utho aur thoda nacho gao" Dadima ordered affectionately.
However Radhika was still feeling
hesitant.
"Oh! Kahi aisa to nahi ke tumhe Dev
ke baahon main aaram se baithna hai!" Mrinalini asked, arching her brows
teasingly.
Hearing the comment, Radhika's
cheeks went entirely red. "erm.....nahi.....umm.....aisa kuch nahi hai" she
replied and glanced down.
Seeing this, Dev's lips again
twisted up naughtily. "Haan Bhabhi shayad aisa hi hai. Ise na yahan meri bahon
main bahut maza aa raha hai. Thodi der pehle khud kaha isne!"
Radhika jerked her gaze up to him,
shocked, and found him smiling naughtily.
"haan Radhika agar tum nahi aayi to
hum sab yahi sochenge" Mrinalini swiftly interjected, teasing.
Glancing back at Mrinalini, she
parted her lips to say something but pursed it again. She was feeling too shy
to say anything.
"Oho beta......ab chalo na. Dekho
sab raah dekh rahe hain" Dadima urged.
"erm......lekin dance ki tayariyan
to aap logon ne ki hai. Mujhe to kuch bhi nahi aata" Radhika said gently,
trying to evade.
"Don't worry! The steps aren't that
hard, you will learn soon. They are random steps. And anyways this isn't a
competition where you need your steps to be perfect! All you need is to enjoy
yourself" Mrinalini replied sweetly.
"Radhika chalo na" Dev too urged on
this time.
Radhika looked at all of them for a
second. "Acha theek hai" she agreed in a mumble.
Mrinalini tugged her arm eagerly
and she stood up.
"Dekha Dadima.......hum keh rahe the
to maani nahi. Aur Dev ne ek baar kya keh diya jhat se maan gayi" Mrinalini
teased as they sauntered down the dais.
Hearing the comment, Radhika
blushed red again and Dev grinned sweetly. "Ofcourse meri patni meri hi baat
sunegi na" saying he nudged Radhika's shoulder.
As the reached near the dancing
area, Mrinalini found Dev still following with them.
"Dev?"
He looked at her.
"What are you doing here?"
He shrugged, uncomprehending the
question. "You called me here"
"Nope! This is only girls team.....you
gotta go there" saying, she pushed him lightly towards the boys area.
Dev tumbled behind, but quickly
caught balance.
Mrinalini and other girls giggled
at that. Radhika felt a little shocked initially, when he was about to fall,
but then she too smiled a little.
Dev saw her smile and was stunned
to see her making fun of him. Tightening his eyes, he pursed his lips showing
mock sterness.
"Dev aaja.......tum humare team
main ho" Vivek said, patting his shoulder.
"Jee Bhaiyaa. Samajte kya hain yeh
ladkiyan apne aapko?" Dev spoke, glancing at Radhika.
"I know! Chalo inhe dikha dete
hain......ke yeh kya hain!" Vivek and Dev clapped their palms.
Mrinalini and Deepika smirked.
"Dekh lena aap sab!"
Another song started playing out in
the background.
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocNFQioWM5c[/YOUTUBE]
Mrinalini, Deepika and Radhika were
standing in the front, and the rest stood behind them. Similarly in the guys
team, Dev, Vivek and Arjun stood in the front while the rest were at the back.
They all were eyeing their counterparts in the other gang, standing right
across from them, with a playful ready-to-take-on look.
As the lyrics began flowing out the
guys' team broke in to an enthusiastic dance with random yet full of energy
steps. The boys animatedly showed funny hand gestures aimed towards the women,
winked at them, whistled, teased with their lyrics, clapped amongst mocking the
girls etc.
Seeing their apparently teasing gestures
the girls scowled and huffed, and then crossing their arms looked away. Even
Radhika followed their suit, feeling a little miffed at the manner Dev was
showing those gestures. Yet she glanced at him from the corner of her eyes.
However Dev seemed to be enjoying
her cute irritation and he continued his lively jig along with the boys.
When the music paused for a small
second, the girls exchanged a determined glance amongst themselves and began
nearing the boys with a fake sweet look. The boys looked on skeptically; Dev
had eyes only on his sweet wife.
Coming just an inch away from them
the girls halted, and as the lyrics floated again they folded their hands in
the form of Namaste. Unlike the men, their bodies moved in rhythmic movements
to the lyrics. Deepika asked Radhika to watch and follow her steps carefully '
mostly the steps were from the actual song itself and weren't very hard, so
Radhika picked up pretty easily.
But as the tempo of the music
turned teasing, so did the girls movements and gestures. Radhika actually found
herself enjoying this vibrant and lively dance ' she felt light and easy, and
continued teasing the boys lyrically.
Dev furrowed his brows, seeing her
teaming up with the ladies and ridiculing him. However the next second, as he
found Radhika's cute bubbliness while she enjoyed herself in the dance, momentarily
forgetting all her reservedness, he began adoring her.
Her cute gestures, facial
expressions and beautiful dance had him literally mesmerized for many moments,
until someone tapped his shoulders to call him. This instantly jerked him out
of the trance and he found Vivek motioning him to get ready.
In the next second the lyrics for
men soared across again and they began nearing the girls, with their hands on
flanks, curt eyes on them and mouthing the lines. Girls stepped behind, never
moving away their teasing gazes from them.
But then suddenly the guys broke in
to an impromptu jig, stunning the girls a little. Seeing the startled faces of
the girls, the guys broke in to a ridiculing laughter.
Exhaling in frustration, the girls
twisted their lips angrily and turned their back to walk away.
Just then the music's tempo slowed
down, and Radhika found her hand being tugged. Her feet halted automatically
and heart skipped a beat.
Dev slowly edged forward gazing at
her lovingly, as the romantic melody kept playing for a few seconds.
Her gaze roamed aimlessly on the
ground, as her heart pulsated.
Subsequently when the sweet words
floated across, he came up to face her and began mouthing the words lovingly.
But Radhika, who had already been
blushing, glanced down shyly upon seeing him.
Inserting his finger beneath her
chin, he nudged her face up mouthing the lyrical words silently"Jab chand chup jaave......tusi mukhda
dikhaya karo" (when the moon hides
behind, show your face to me)
Radhika's shy smile widened and her
blush deepened, as she gazed in to his loving, affection filled eyes.
"Jab
chand chup jaave......tusi mukhda dikhaya karo"
Soon another high pitched lyrical
tune for the girls followed and the ladies broke in an exuberant dance
immediately, teasing the couple.
Dev and Radhika glance at them and
smile.
Just then Dadima came up to the
centre where Dev and Radhika stood. Reaching close, she started swaying her
hips slowly with sweet facial expressions.
Everyone else, including Dev and
Radhika had their eyes widened up in shock seeing her dance so gracefully. They
all start clapping for her.
Dadima halted after a few steps and
covering her face laughed to herself, feeling shy. Dev put his arm around her
and hugged her fondly.
Inching back, Dadima took a wad of
notes and circled over Dev and Radhika's head and kissed their foreheads.
Suddenly the tempo of the music
rose to an even higher energetic and exuberant level. The group of men and the ladies
started circling Dev and Radhika together.
Dev and Radhika slowly look at each
other and found the same sparkling happiness reflecting in both their eyes '
happiness in anticipation of a new future, their future; and were soon lost in
each other's loving eyes.
As everyone else continued circling
around them, they went in to a beautiful trance of love and kept gazing at each
other lovingly, forgetting everything else around them. Dev had a small crooked
smile on his lips, while Radhika's lips were curved shyly.
When the beat of the music finally
started slowing down, Dev inched closer and framing a cheek of her's placed a
loving peck on her forehead. Radhika just closed her eyes, smiling shyly.
Some hours later..........
In Shastri House, Devki paced her
room anxiously for several moments. After the wedding most relatives had
started leaving, and now only a few were left. Post lunch, she got some time to
herself and her brain again began pondering worriedly about an issue that had
been hounding her brain since yesterday ' about Amma's cruel act!
The relevation had shocked her to
the hilt but she chose to remain mum, keeping the situations in mind. She
didn't want any sort of glitches in the marriage. However, now when the
marriage was done with smoothly, the nagging questions again started troubling
her. She didn't know what step should she take ' should she tell Shastrijee or
not?
If she didn't, wouldn't it be wrong
on her part to hide such a big thing from him? She cannot keep him in dark
regarding Amma's such atrociousness! Her brain reminded her.
But if she said the truth, then
what would be the consequences? What would Shastrijee go through? He would feel
really hurt and heart broken after knowing about Amma's act! He would be
shattered!! And so would Vishaka be; already she was angry on Amma, and if she
comes to know about this she would surely start hating Amma!!
A small shiver passed through
Devki's body and she shook her head, disagreeing to the earlier option. "Nahi
main unhe yeh sach nahi bata sakti. Agar maine
unhe bata diya to najaane unpe kya beetegi" she wondered aloud, feared.
However her conscience didn't allow
her to remain quiet; it kept pricking her to tell the truth. Sighing
helplessly, she looked up and found Lord's picture. She walked up to it and
folded her hands.
"Thakurjee main kya karoon? Agar maine inhe sach bata
diya.....to who nahi seh paayenge. Aur nahi kaha to who galat hoga......meri
aatma mujhe chubati rahegi. Main kya karoon. Mujhe koi raah dikhaiye. Koi raah
dikhaiye"
Meanwhile in Purohit House,
Dev and Radhika were mostly
immersed in their relatives. Dadima had asked them to stay away for a few more
hours, since one more pooja was remaining. Dev had to agree reluctantly. He
mostly sat with his friends and cousins, chattering with them. While Radhika
was mostly surrounded by the relatives, aunties and kids, who wanted to meet
the new bride eagerly. She was introduced to the entire clan and they all kept
her busy all the time. This hardly left Dev and Radhika any time to even glance
at each other.
Few hours later......It was almost
early evening when Vaishali strolled inside Dadima's room, looking worried.
"Maaji"
Hearing her voice filled with so
much anxiety, Dadima swiftly looked up. "Kya huwa Bahu?"
She seated next to her on the bed.
"Maaji......ek problem ho gayi hai"
"Kya huwa? Aur tum itni pareshan
kyun ho?"
"Maaji. Who darasal aaj hume shaam
ko who puja karne jaana tha na......matt main" Vaishali began slowly
"Hmm. Jaana hai na thodi der main"
"Nahi maaji. Wahi to main aapse
kehne aayi hoon"
Dadima frowned, hearing her words.
"Nahi jaana hai? Kyun?"
"Maaji abhi matt se bade pujarijee
ka phone aaya tha. Who keh rahe the ke aaj iss pooja ke liye muhurat hai hi
nahi"
Dadima's frown now deepened in to a
disbelieving, shocked scowl. "Kya??"
"Haan maaji"
"Par aise kaise ho sakta hai? Maine khud kal matt ke
panditjee se phone pe baat ki thi. Unhone to kaha tha ke aaj shaam ko acha sa
muhurat hai iss pooja ke liye" Dadima said, confused.
"Hmm. Bade pujarijee keh rahe the
ke un panditjee se koi galati
ho gayi thi. Who muhurat aaj ka nahi kal ka nikla hai. Balki aaj to koi muhurat
hai hi nahi iss puja ke liye" Vaishali replied in the same anxious tone.
"Yeh to gadbad ho gayi. Lekin
Panditjee se aisi galti huwi kaise?" Dadima asked, frowning a little.
"Pata nahi maaji"
"Kaisi gadbad? Kaunsi pooja?"
Radhika asked gently, stepping out from the washroom.
Dadima and Vaishali jerked their
gazes to her.
"Kya huwa? Aap itne pareshan kyun
lag rahe hain?" Radhika asked slowly.
"Umm......yahan aao beta"
Radhika nodded and came to them,
and sat down.
"Haan Beta pareshani ki baat to hai.
Who aaj shaam ko jo pooja hone waali thi who cancel ho gayi hai" Dadima
informed.
"Oh. To ab?"
"Ab beta who pooja kal ki ho
sakegi" Dadima replied warmly, however her face remained tensed.
Precisely which Radhika didn't understand.
"Dadima lekin aap itni si baat ke liye itna pareshan kyun ho rahi hai? Kya uss
pooja ka aaj hona bahut jaroori tha?" she asked innocently.
Dadima smiled. "Haan beta......uss
pooja ka aaj hona bahut jaroori tha. Khaas kar tere aur Dev ke liye"
"Jee? Main kuch samjhi nahi"
"Beta......baat aisi hai ke humare
parivaar ki yeh parampara hai ke jab tak nav vivahit var vadhu iss pooja ko
nahi karlete who apne vyavahik jeevan (married life) ko aage nahi bada sakte"
Deciphering what she was trying to
say, Radhika's face went a little disappointed. The other ladies noticed it
easily.
"Radhika main jaanti hoon ke tumhe
thoda bura lag raha hai" Dadima said.
Swiftly looking up, Radhika shook
her head in disagreement, bringing a fake smile.
Framing her cheek, Dadima spoke.
"Na beta. Hum jaante hain ke tujhe thoda sa to dukh ho raha hai. Main jaanti
hoon ke tum bhi Dev ke samay bitana chahti ho.......uske saath baatein karna
chahti ho. Par beta.....ab riwaaz yeh kehte hain to kya Karen......?"
Radhika held her hand gently.
"Dadima main samajti hoon. Rasm aur riwaaz ko maan na bahut jaroori hota hai.
Agar aap log kuch keh rahe hain.....to jaroor humara acha hi hoga"
Seeing this, Dadima and Vaishali
share a smile.
"Mujhe pata tha ke tum samaj jaogi"
Dadima said, caressing her jaws.
Vaishali also agreed with a smile.
"Haan beta......tum to itni jaldi samaj gayi......lekin ......."
Comphrending her anxiety, "Hmm.
Main jaanti hoon ke tum kyun pareshan ho rahi ho? Dev ko leke na" Dadima said.
Radhika looked at her,
understanding her concern.
"Haan Maaji. Waise hi who Radhika
se milne ke liye itna utawla huwe jaa raha hai. Hum us se kahenge ke use aur ek
din apni patni se dur rehna hai to najane kya karega?" Vaishali mumbled.
Bobbing her head in affirmation,
"isi baat ki to mujhe bhi chinta hai" Dadima said, deep in thought.
Just then Deepika entered inside,
calling them. "Dadima. who Sharmajee aaye hain"
Dadima masked her worries and
smiled. "are Sharmajee agaye. Kahan hai? Radhika chalo" she swiftly got up to
meet the relative. Vaishali followed them.
After sometime Dadima came to Dev,
who sat talking with some cousins. "Erm.....Dev"
Dev swiftly looked up. "Haan
Dadima"
"Beta mujhe tujhse kuch baat karni
hai. Mere saath aana" she called gently.
Bobbing his head once, "Jee" he got
up and followed Dadima to the guest room.
"Kya baat hai Dadima? aap mujhe
yahan kyun laayi hain?" he asked curiously.
"Umm......batati hoon" she replied,
closing the door behind them.
"Kya huwa?"
"Pehle aa......tu yahan baith jaa"
she said, holding his arm and led him to the bed.
Seating himself, he glanced at
Dadima who sat beside. Her face looked tensed. "Kya huwa? Aap itni pareshan lag
rahi hai?" he asked, touching her cheek once.
Dadima smiled a bit, seeing his
concern. "Kuch nahi beta. Bas tujhse ek baat karni thi"
"kis baare main?"
"Umm.....woh......tujhe yaad
hai.....erm.....woh abhi ek pooja karne jaana hai. Matt main" she began slowly.
She didn't want to hurt nor wanted to enrage him.
He nodded. "Hmm. Lekin bhaiyya
bhabhii kuch baat kar rahe the ke pooja cancel ho gayi hai aur hume nahi jaana.
Isiliye main bhi tayar nahi huwa?"
"Haan. wahi usi pooja ke baare main
tujhse baat karni thi. Who pooja to cancel ho gayi"
Shrugging, "Hmm. Lekin phir kab
karni hai who pooja" he asked casually.
"Kal" she answered.
"Oh"
"Hmm. Erm.......beta who kya hai na......woh jo pooja aaj
hone waali thi uski bahut manyata hai. Humare parivaar main us pooja ke baad
hi......" she trailed her voice hesitantly.
"us pooja ke baad hi kya?" he prompted.
"Beta.....baat aisi hai ke humare parivar main uss pooja ke
baad hi koi bhi nav vivahit dulhan dulhan apne vyavhaik jeevan ko shuru kar
sakte hain" she continued slowly.
His brows twitched in confusion.
"Tu samaj raha hai na. Uss pooja ko kiye bina......pati
patni paas nahi aate" she clarified some more.
He understood this time, that the couple isn't supposed to
consummate before performing the pooja. Simultaneously with the comprehension,
a dejected frown filled his face. "Oh" his voice went low.
Seeing him to be calm, her heart felt some relief. "Haan.
Beta. Aur aaj to who pooja ho nahi sakti. Isiliye.......tum aur
Radhika......bhi......" she trailed her voice for him to understand the rest.
He looked up somberly. "Hmm"
"Haan. Beta. Lekin sirf aaj ki baat hai. Kal who pooja ho
jaaye phir uske baad tum dono......apna naya jeevan shuru kar sakte hain"
Dadima said, smiling. Her heart felt much relieved seeing Dev's calm and
understanding response.
Bringing a smile on his face, "Koi baat nahi Dadima. Main
samaj sakta hoon" he assured her.
Dadima's smile widened. "Mujhe pata tha tu jaroor samaj
jaayega. To aaj Radhika mere saath......mere kamre main soyegi. Aur kal se tere
paas aajayegi. Hmm"
This instantly crumpled his face in to a shocked frown.
"Aapke saath?" the words flew out of his mouth.
Seeing this reaction, Dadima was surprised wondering as to
why was he suddenly so shocked. "Haan. Who maine kaha na ke.......pooja hone ke baad
hi......"
He scowled as comprehension washed over him ' he wasn't even
supposed to share the room with her today because the pooja was cancelled!
"Oh. Wait Dadima. Aap mujhse yeh kehne aayi thi ke.......aaj
mujhe aur Radhika ko alag alag rehna hai??" he asked, shocked utterly.
"Haan" she replied, as-a-matter-of-fact.
This frustrated him like anything; already he had stayed
away from his wife for so long and now again?
Exhaling in frustration, he got up. "Dadima. Lekin kyun?"
"are beta.......tu achanak se itna gussa kyun ho raha hai.
Pehle se to tune sab aaram se suna na? Ab kya huwa?" she too got up.
"Because Dadima shayad main aapki baat ko samjha hi nahi" he
replied in the same tone.
"Kya matlab?"
"Dadima mujhe laga ke pooja nahi huwi to......main aur
who......i mean......" he paused, feeling a little uncomfortable to let the
word out. "Par lekin aapne to mujhe aur use alag rakhne ka socha hai!" his
voice again became irritated.
"Are beta bas chota sa rasm hai" she tried pacifying.
However, this only peeved him some more."Dadima. Main subah
se rasmein......riwaaz sab maanta aaraha hoon. Aapke kehne pe Radhika se itne
dino se maine
theek se baatein bhi nahi ki hai......mila nahi hoon us se. Aur ab aap keh rahi
hain ke mujhe aur ek din intezaar karna hoga?" he asked, feeling annoyed at the
customs.
Dadima's forehead creased, not knowing how to make him
understand when he is so angry. "Dekh beta.....main jaanti hoon ke tu Radhika
se milne ke liye bahut tadas raha hai......lekin beta rasmon ka maan bhi to
tumhe rakhna hoga na?"
"kab tak? I cannot spend some lone moments with my wife? How
long should I wait?" he said almost angrily, and turned around.
Sighing, she came around to face him. "Beta. Tu samaj na.
Kyun itna gussa kar raha hai?"
"To main aur kya karoon Dadima?" his voice grew strained,
sad. "aap hi bolo? Itne dino se inn customs ke wajah se main chup baitha. Ab
who jab mere paas aachuki hai to bhi aap mujhe dur rehne ko keh rahe ho?"
"Beta main kya tujhe aur Radhika ko alag rakhoongi? Bas yeh
ek riwaaz phir uske baad to.....tumhe saath main hi rehna hai"
He sighed, solemnly. "Dadima wait. Lekin mujhe yeh samaj
main nahi aa raha ke hum dono aaj mere kamre main kyun nahi reh sakte? I mean
why should we stay apart? The only condition is that.....um.......I......I
shouldn't move ahead with her. But we can still stay in the same room na?"
Dadima pursed her lips briefly while a frown filled her
face, hearing his idea. "beta...... yeh tu kaisi baatein kar raha hai? Are.....tum
dono ek saath ek hi kamre main......poori raat bitaoge.......to kya......?" she
trailed her words again.
"I understand Dadima. Main aisa kuch nahi karoonga jis
se.......humare parivaar ki parampareyein (traditions) tooth jaaye" he assured
her.
However she was least assured, and shook her head in
disagreement. "Nahi beta. Main iski ijazat nahi de sakti. Tum dono jawan
ho......ek doosre se itna pyaar karte ho. Aise main......aur upar se tu to in
pooja aur havan main bharosa bhi nahi rakhta. To phir tujhe behakne main kitna
samay lagega? Aur phir Radhika bhi........nahi sambhal paayegi. Nahi main iski
ijazat nahi de sakti" she replied firmly.
"Dadima please. Main keh raha hoon......trust me. I won't do
anything like that. Main aapka bharosa nahi toothne doonga" he pleaded
Hearing his pleading voice, she felt very bad but was
helpless. "Dekh beta.....mujhe tujhpe pura bharosa hai. Lekin teri umar hi aisi
hai....aur phir who teri patni hai.....tujhe pata bhi nahi chalega ke kab tere
kadam phisal gaye. Kyunki tere nazron main who galat nahi hoga......agar tune
apne kadam bada liye" she paused.
"isiliye keh rahi hoon beta. Ek din aur Radhika se dur
rehle. Hmm" she said, cupping his cheek.
Sighing, he cocked his head away. "Dadima you don't trust me
at all"
"Nahi beta. Mujhe bharosa hai apne Dev par. Lekin tujhe aur
Radhika ko ek saath kamre main rehne doongi to.......poori raat mujhe chinta
lagi rahegi"
She bought a smile and again turned his face to her. "Dev.
Beta iss tarah rooth mat na. Dadima ki baat ko samajne ki koshish kar. Main
teri bhalayi ke liye hi kar rahi hoon"
Blinking once, he glanced down dejectedly. "Dadima please
mujhpe bharosa karo. I promise I wont......"
"Beta mujhe tujhpe bharosa hai.......lekin......"
He looked up and stared at her silently for a second, and
then his forehead tensed as a small idea flashed across his brain. Lifting his
hand, he quickly placed it on her head.
"Dadima......main aapki sar ki kasam kha ke kehta hoon ke
aaj raat main Radhika ke saath apna vyavahik jeevan shuru nahi karoonga" saying
he bought his hand down. "But please let her stay with me" he pleaded, almost
beseeched.
Dadima was a little stunned by this sudden promise.
"Please Dadima.......main kisi bhi halat main aapke sar ki
kasam ko jhukla kar aage nahi badhoonga. Even if I fall weak, I would pull up
myself and not let myself sway....... because I have sworn on you. And you
know......i would never ever break it"
His sincere plead melted her heart and the decision. She
knew that he wouldn't go ahead now, and she can trust him blindly.
"Please Dadima......" he implored earnestly, seeing her
silent.
Smiling, he cupped his cheeks. "Kyun re? humesha mana leta
hai na mujhe?"
A smile broke on his face, hoping that she had agreed.
"Ab tune meri kasam khayi hai......to tujhpe bharosa na
karne ka to koi sawaal hi nahi" she said sweetly.
His smile widened, excitedly. "So you agree? Who aa sakti
hai na aaj yahan pe?"
"Haan" she bobbed her head in affirmation.
He quickly moved in to hug her. "Thank you Dadi! Thank you
very much!!!!"
Grinning, "Pagla" she stroked his back fondly.
Dadima came back to her room and found Radhika and Vaishali
waiting for her.
"Kya huwa Maaji? Dev maan gaya?" Vaishali asked, a little anxiously.
"Mm...hmm. Main maan gayi" Dadima answered, sweetly.
"Jee?" vaishali's brows twitched in confusion. Radhika too
frowned faintly.
"Hmm. Manane to gayi thi......lekin khud maan ke aagayi"
Dadima replied with a chuckle, remembering how he had made her agree to him.
Vaishali and Radhika share a puzzled glance.
Sensing their confusion, Dadima came up to Radhika and
cupped her cheek. "Sach much who tujhse bahut jyaada pyaar karta hai. Aur
isiliye......aaj tum wahi uske kamre main rahogi"
Radhika's lips curved up automatically in delight, and heart
thumped. But the next second she quickly hid her eagerness.
Dadima laughed, noticing her reaction. "are jab khushi ho
rahi hai to chupa kyun rahi ho?"
This made Radhika's cheeks to turn red and she glanced down
shyly.
Dadima laughed again.
"Lekin Maaji huwa kya? Aap yeh kya keh rahi hain?" Vaishali
asked, shocked. How can she let them stay together without the pooja being
performed.
Dadima smiled at her once and then told them about Dev's
promise.
"Oh. To Dev ne aapko kasam de di"
"Hmm. Aur main mana nahi kar saki kyunki main jaanti hoon ke
who mere sar ki kasam ko nahi todega" Dadima replied gently.
Radhika smiled shyly to herself, feeling elated by the step
Dev took.
"Sach much......dekha na......tumhare saath samay bitane ke
liye tadpa jaa raha hai. Tum bhi tadap rahi hogi na? kyun?" Dadima teased.
Radhika couldn't do much than blushing deep.
"acha suno......umm......Mrinalini aur Deepika se keh do ke
Dev ka karma saja de. Bhale hi inki suhaagraat nahi ho sakti.......phir bhi inn
dono ke man ka Milan
to hoga na?" Dadima said sweetly, cupping Radhika's face, who in return who
could do precious little than flushing.
Dinner was a huge grandiose affair with an extravagant
buffet arranged in the beautifully bedecked lawn, for all the relatives and
friends who'd come in for wedding. The varied range of dishes looked sumptuous
for anyone to resist and everyone joined in soon with lots of chatter and
gossips doing the round uninhibitedly.
Mrinalini took Dev and Radhika to a special swing arranged
for them, near a tree. "Tum dono yahan baitho........I will bring food for you"
saying she turned to bring food.
Dev and Radhika share a small loving glance, and then enjoy
the cool evening breeze that brushed past their skin gently. Even though they
were seated together everyone could easily see or hear their talks, so they
opted to be quiet. They kept looking at their family members who were enjoying,
laughing and having fun to the core. This warmed up their hearts very much.
"Kitne khush lag rahe hain na sab?" Radhika mumbled.
"Hmm. Bahut"
Some moments of silence pass......when Mrinalini comes in
with two plates of food. "Here you go......" she forwarded the plates in both
her hands slowly, without spilling.
"Thanks Bhabhi......" Dev said, smiling, and took the plate
from her.
"Dhanyawaad Bhabhi......." Radhika also said, taking the
plate.
"uh....uh.......aise nahi......ek minute......" Dadima said,
coming to them.
"Kya huwa?" Dev asked, smiling a bit.
"Khana shuru karne se pehle......pehle ek aur choti si rasm
hai" she replied in a firm voice.
Instinctively Dev gave out a sigh. "Ek aur rasm?"
"Hmm"
"Kya?"
Dadima smiled. "Rasm aisi hai......ke tum dono pehla ek
niwala (morsel) ek doosre ko ane haathon se khilaoge......phir khana shuru
karoge"
Dev's face broke in to a beam, bright as sunshine. While
Radhika blushed to herself, knowing that he would be super excited.
"Kyun? Nahi nibhani hai rasm?" Dadima asked, arching a brow.
"erm......nahi nahi Dadima......pehli baar koi itni pyaari
rasm sochi hai
humare ancestors ne.......hume saare reet riwaaz ka maan rakhna chahiye na" he
said impishly.
Hitting his shoulder lightly, "Haan. Haan......sab pata hai
ke tujhe reet riwaaz maan na acha kitna lagta hai" Dadima retorted playfully.
"Chal ab khila use......" she said lovingly.
He grinned. "Jee Dadima". Turning to Radhika, he took a
small piece of roti, scooped some sabzi in it and lifted it near her lips.
As Radhika took the morsel inside her lips, she was unable
to control the redness from growing in her cheeks, because his fingers touched
her lips. Dev too beamed to himself for the same reason.
"acha ab Radhika tum khilao......." Dadima said warmly.
Radhika, too, pulled a small morsel of roti, sabzi and went
ahead to feed him.
His lips curved a little, impishly, before he parted his
lips to have the morsel and as she feeded him, he quickly bit her finger
lightly.
She gasped instinctively, breaths stuck to throat for a
small second. He just winked at her micheviously, as she was pulling her hand
back. Her cheeks went redder.
Dadima and Mrinalini shake their heads, noticing this, and Dadima
swiftly caught his ear. "Badmash!"
Dev's face crumpled in to a pained frown "Ow!"
"Kyun re badmaash!! Sharm nahi aati tujhe? Kya kya karta
rehta hai?" Dadima rebuked, still holding his ear.
"Oww!! Dadima please.......atleast don't hurt me today!" he
pleaded. Radhika's face too turned a little pained.
But Mrinalini laughed and Dev glared at her.
"Kyun re meri bahu ko satata hai?" she said, releasing his
ear.
Rubbing his ear pinna with his free hand, "apni patni ko
nahi sataoonga to aur kise sataoonga?" he asked, with a cute frown.
Radhika blushed at this, while Dadima and Mrinalini smile.
Patting his head once, "chal......ab tum dono khana kha lo"
Dadima said sweetly.
Dev grinned again. "Jee"
Dadima and Mrinalini turned towards where others were
dining. Dev shot an impish glance at Radhika and winked at her, that only
intensified her blush.
They both start having their food silently. After a moment
passed, he leaned down a little to her. "Umm.......Radhika mujhse khaya nahi
jaa raha"
"Kya huwa?" she asked looking up, concerned for his tone
sounded serious.
"erm.....woh kya hai na tumhare haathon se khane ke baad......ab
apne haathon se khane main kuch maza nahi aa raha" he replied, looking at her.
Hearing this, her lips twisted in to a smile. "aap bhi na"
He grinned "are sachi......jhooth nahi keh raha.
Please......khilao na apne haathon se. Rasm hai"
"Rasm sirf ek niwala khilane ki hai.......poora khana
khilane ki nahi" she answered with a chuckle.
"Oho......to kya huwa. Hum iss custom ko thoda sa stretch
kar denge. Dulha aur dulhan poora khana ek doosre ke hathon se khayenge"
She giggled, listening to this. "aap khana
khaiye.......thanda ho jaayega" saying she fed herself a spoonful of rice.
Sighing, he too had a piece of roti. "Theek hai......jitni
man maani karni hai karlo.....thodi der baad to mere paas hi aaogi na. Tumhe
pata hai na.......Dadima maan gayi hai......" he said excitedly.
This again warmed her cheeks. "Hmm"
"Well.......tumhe pata hai mujhe Dadima ko manane ka idea
kahan se aaya?" he asked cutely, bending his face to her.
She looked up. "Kahan se?"
"Tumpar se"
Her brows puckered, confused. "Jee? Mujhpar se?"
"Haan. who kya haina......maine socha ke agar main tumhari who kasam
dene waali technique opt karoon......to Dadima jaroor maan jaayengi. And
see......she agreed! Jaise maine
tumhe apni kasam di to.......tum mujhe mana nahi kar paati ho na......waisi hi
......Dadima bhi mana nahi kar paayi" he winked.
Her face was again filled with a smile, knowing his tricks.
Arching a brow impishly, "kyun acha kiya na?" he asked.
She just blushed and returned her attention to the food.
"Are bolo na? acha kiya na?" he prompted, knowing that she
would feel shy.
She smiled, guessing his teasings. "aap khana
khaiye......thanda ho jaayega"
He beamed and glanced down at his plate.
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