A.N - Sorry for a bit of a late update. I've been at work for the past few days and haven't had time to update. But here it is, and I hope everyone will enjoy.
Chapter 3Chakor could feel the stares and pointed fingers that faced her way as she and Suraj accepted congratulations for their wedding. "Yahan pe hamen badhaee dete hain, aur phir hamare baare main peeth ke piche baat karte hain." She muttered as she watched a particular aunty - who had been none too quiet talking about her nataks to other guests - loudly congratulate them and give them saree duniya kee kushiyan. As she watched her go Chakor stuck her tongue out quickly and muttered, "Aap kabhi na mile toh zaroor saree duniya kee kushiyan milegee."
Suraj who had been listening to her rambling for the past hour finally couldn't contain himself and he left out a bellowing laugh. Everybody turned their heads toward him and he tried to calm himself down.
Chakor watched as his laughter died down, but a big smile didn't leave his face. And she couldn't help but stare. Sure she would never deny that Suraj was handsome, but his constant smirking and sneering face always ruined his image. But Suraj smiling was a whole other side of him that she hadn't ever seen. Chakor wished that it had stayed that way, because a smiling Suraj reminded her of a bright summer day that could cheer her up from all unhappiness.
"Tum muskarate ache lagte ho." Her eyes opened wide with shock as she didn't know where that had come from and she quickly looked away from him. He snapped his head towards her and the smile that adorned his face froze. "Tum ne kuch kaha?" He asked her quietly as he looked away to shake hands with another guest. "Nahi to." Chakor curtly replied back as she accepted another aunty's gushing congratulations.
With one more look at each other they went back to shaking hands and greeting guests that came to congratulate them.
Unbeknownst to them, two people had been watching the exchange.
Vivaan felt jealousy flair through him as he watched the whispered conversations that occurred between Suraj and who was supposed to have been his wife today. He had to talk with Chakor as he realized it had been this jealousy that had spoken to her last night and this morning. He had to somehow fix this whole mess that had only happened because of Suraj.
(-That morning-
As Vivaan was kicked out of Suraj's room he felt anger explode in him. Seeing the look on his face Imli grabbed his arm and took them back to their room. "Hame kuch to karna hoga." She said to him before going to get ready. That was when he saw Tejaswini knock on Suraj's room door with a gold platter holding clothes and jewellery. He quietly walked towards her and saw her go inside as Suraj opened the door. He managed to catch the door before it closed all the way. The following conservation between Mother and Son made Vivaan want to strangle Suraj. It had been all him behind everything then. He walked back to his room as he heard Tejaswini say "Ek baat karni tee...")
Vivaan knew he shouldn't have blamed her so easily. But it was okay because he would apologize and Chakor being the wonderful person she was, she would forgive him and all would be right. Yes, Vivaan knew with Chakor his life would never have any problems and very soon they would be together again.
The other person stared at Suraj with a perplexed look. She then turned her gaze towards Chakor and her look turned amazed.
Tejaswini could not believe, that what she was not able to accomplish for 10 years had been done by this simple girl seated by her son.
The day the girl had arrived back in Azadganj it was as if her son had been lit up again. He began showing real emotion again and she realized now that there was something in her that could bring life back into her son.
She watched as her son smiled again and she looked towards the girl and saw her whispering something. He let out another snort of laughter before containing himself. But the smile never left his face.
Tejaswini watched this go on for the rest of the greeting for the new couples. The girl would whisper something - she realized that it was never directed towards Suraj - and her son would chuckle and smile at her antics.
By the end Tejaswini knew that no matter how much the girl, nahi Chakor, annoyed her, she was vital to her son's life and happiness. She began plotting, because if Chakor could bring a smile onto her son's face without trying, and Tejaswini knew that Suraj didn't like her, then she must hold something that was meant to save Suraj.
Another chuckle and smile snapped her out of her thoughts and Tejaswini knew what to do.
Chakor's arm was starting to hurt and she wasn't sure if she could crack another joke for the life of her. By the third time that Suraj had laughed at her muttering she found her own smile forming. She was glad her face was partially covered so he wouldn't be able to notice.
She felt someone walk up to her again and Chakor lifted her head only to meet the eyes of Ranjana maa. She had been hoping not to make this encounter today because of the glare she had received from the lady the night before. Chakor let out a small sigh and she felt Suraj turn towards her way as he too noticed the new presence.
Ranjana arched her eyebrow and scathingly remarked to the two of them, "Tum dono sach main ek doos re kai liye bane ho. Ek to saare Azadganj main ek gundhe ki taara rehta hai, or dusree to sab ke samne mahan banne ki natak kartee hai. Phir logo ko dokha detee hai."
A voice behind her silenced her, "Bas Ranjana. Mere bete aur bahu sai tum to dhoor hee raho." Tejaswini glared at Ranjana for insulting Suraj and Chakor in front of all of the guests.
Ranjana gave a huff and after glaring at Chakor one more time left to check on her own son and bahu.
Tejaswini turned back to the couple before her and a smile fell upon her her face. They honestly did look well together, with Suraj's tall bulky frame and Chakor's fit but curvy stature. "Tum dono ko nazar na lage. Kaskee un logo kee jise apni zaban par lagam nahi rehta." She made a face as she shook her head toward Ranjana.
Chakor let out a snort. Then realizing what she just did covered her mouth with wide eyes. She looked at the older lady in shock but was surprised to find a small chuckle escape her as well. Chakor turned towards Suraj and found a matching look on his face as he watched his mother straighten herself again.
Chakor watched as Tejaswini opened the box she held in her hands and take out gold bangles adorned with one of the most beautiful designs she had ever seen. "Yeh kangan Suraj ke pardade neh apni bahu ko diye te, aur unho ne hame. Ab yeh kangan hum tume dena chahte hain kyun ke ab tum hamaree bahu ho." With that said, Tejaswini grabbed Chakor's hands and slipped on the gold bangles. They fit her perfectly. "Hum yeh tume somte hai, aur iska khayall dyanse rakna. Kyunke tume bhi apni bahu ko yeh ek din dene honge." By now all the guests were watching the exchange between the Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law.
Tejaswini gave a kiss on her sons forehead and then her bahu's. "Tum dono apni zindegi main aise hee haste rehna." And with that said, Tejaswini went back to talking with her guests before they left for home.
Chakor was shocked to say the least. Where had that come from? One kinute she was joking with Suraj, then she was being insulted and now. She stared at the bangles on her hands. They were so beautiful that she felt she had to take them off and put them somewhere safe so they wouldn't be wrecked. It looked like small intricate designs were wrapped around by small bows all around. There was one on each hand and suddenly she couldn't wait to show Imli because Chakor just knew her sister would love them too.
That was when it all came frashing back to her. The wedding, her marriage to the wrong man and how her sister hated her for taking the father of her child away from her. A tear slipped out of her eye and she hastily wiped it away. This was not the time to let anyone see her weak, least of all the man next to her.
Suraj watched as he saw a tear trickled down Chakors cheek before she wiped it away. He felt a stabbing in his chest as he realized that her unhappiness was becuase of him. But isn't that what he had wanted? Her to lose all hope and happiness from her life for trying to ruin his? His mind was agreeing with him but his heart cried out in pain as another tear slipped down her cheek.
His hand shot up as he caught the tear on his finger and he wiped it away. Chakor turned her head towards him and for the first time since that morning he saw her eyes and he couldn't look away.
Edited by PotterHeadAMP - 9 years ago
