43| Wedding bells, again

Started writing on 20th December 2020.

Completed on 24th December 2020.

Word count : 3779 words

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- D I V Y A -

"You're ready? You're looking so beautiful. Nazar na lage meri bachchi ko." Mumma came inside my room and said.

Leaving her own daughter, she went to Natasha and hugged her tightly, "You're looking amazing beta. We need to look for the priest soon." (May no one cast an evil spell on my daughter)

Ofcourse! Hugging your to-be daughter-in-law leaving your daughter is pretty normal!

Wait! Does she know about Dhruv and Natasha?

I don't think so....

"Huh?" Natasha asked.

"Nothing. Enjoy. I'll go and check everything outside." Mumma said and went out.

"You're the bride. You can rest by the time. I'll go out and see what's happening out." Natasha said and I nodded. She went out leaving me inside, again.

It's my haldi! I should be the one enjoying it. But instead, I was the one sitting inside my room.

Leaving all the thoughts aside, I stepped outside my room and saw Dhruv and Natasha talking about something. But it didn't look like they were discussing. She was stuck between him and the wall.

"Will you go on a dinner with me?" Dhruv asked her.

Wait! What? He's Dhruv right? The ice-hearted man is asking for a date?

"Do I have to answer you now?" She asked and he nodded. "Okay, then I'm ready."

"Then I'll pick you up from your house tomorrow evening." He said and I decided to leave. Eavesdropping is a bad habit!

Going out, I saw everything prepared. Thank God the temperature is in control or otherwise, I would've become a walking popsicle.

"Divya!" Hearing a voice calling me, I turned back.

"Maya! Last time you were complaining that I didn't call you. But this time when I called you, you were busy!"

"Okay, my fault. You know how my son is."

"What did he do?"

"He fought and injured himself."

"When? Why didn't you inform me?"

"What would you do? You can't even leave your home."

"You're right, but you shouldn't hide it, right?"

"Okay!! My fault. Tell me how is everything going on?"

"Good."

"Did he escape into your house to meet you?" Maya asked.

"What?"

"Don't hide it. It happened in my time too."

"Really?"

"What do you think? During my wedding, my husband was head over heels for me. I mean it's the same now too."

"Amazing!"

"I know. I heard the function is going to be held together. The groom and the bride side would be doing the rituals here."

"I heard that too."

"You mean you're not confirmed?"

"I don't know."

"What a bride you are?" Maya exclaimed.

"Divya! Let's go." Mumma came towards us and said.

"Is everyone here?"

"By everyone, do you mean Ayaan?" Maya teased and mumma laughed.

"Stop it. Let's go." I said and we went out. I sat beside Ayaan and couldn't help but gawk at him. Sitting shirtless, he was looking more tempting than ever. But the thing was- every girl present there was shamelessly drooling at him, all my cousins included.

"Stop staring me like this. I can't control myself." He whispered. Although there was much space between our seating, we could still hear each other.

"I'm not. You're thinking too much."

"Hmm..." He hummed and looked straight. I saw mom coming towards us with a bowl in her hand. Suddenly, she stopped and looked as if she had seen something shocking. Walking straight to us she looked at us angrily. "What happened mom?"

"Where were you last night?" She asked him.

"At home, in my room."

"And where were you last night?" She asked me.

"I was in my room."

"Was he there with you?" She asked me. How come she know it?

"No..."

"Why do you think I was here last night? Don't you remember I told you that I need to work upon something."

"Oh! I remember it. But what about this." She said, pointing towards a mark on his neck. Hickey! Everyone would have seen it by now! "Now don't tell me that you don't know. You can't just bite yourself. It's practically not possible."

"Mom actually-" I was about to say something when she cut me off.

"Leave it. I understand your situation but others won't." She said and applied haldi on him. "I don't want others to see the proof of your intimate moments. Hiding it with haldi is the best option for now. Especially from your dadi."

"How come you did it first? I should be the first one to apply haldi on them." Dadi shouted while coming towards us.

"They're my children."

"They are my grandchildren." Dadi said and applied haldi on us. The way mom rolled her eyes on dadi's statement, I couldn't help but chuckle. "What's the matter?" Dadi asked and I nodded in negative. "I know what it is. Don't worry. She's just like that, an idiot."

"Who?"

"Kritika." Dadi said and mom glared. Dadi turned to me and said, "Do you think I'm scared of her? It's me who's the mother-in-law, not her."

"Yeah, ofcourse mom. You're my mother-in-law but for Divya, I'm her mother and she's my daughter." Mom said and I smiled.

"And what about me? You all are family. Am I adopted?" Ayaan asked and everyone chuckled. "There is nothing to laugh." Being the only teddy there, I became the main target of everyone. In between, Diya came towards us. Taking haldi in her hands, she smiled and applied it all over my face.

"How are you?" I asked.

"I'm fine. How are you?"

"As you can see. Everything's well. How are they?"

"Who?"

"Your children."

"They're well." She looked down to her belly and said.

"Have you thought about their names."

"We don't even know their gender. How will we name them this early?"

"She's right." Ayaan interrupted in between. Taking haldi in their hands, everyone applied it on us. Not applied but threw!

Natasha came towards me and squatted down. "I can't apply it on your face. I'm not married."

"Then get married."

"Even if I marry someone now, your haldi would be over by then. So there's no need." She said and I chuckled.

××

The next day in evening when I was roaming around in the house, I saw Dhruv coming out of his room. He looked as if he was going on a date. How can I forget that he had a date with Natasha? Even Natasha didn't inform me!

Running towards him, I stood between his way which made him stop eventually. "What?" He asked.

"Where are you going?"

"Out."

"I know. But for what?"

"Work."

"Which work? As per what I know, you don't wear anything like this when you're leaving for your hospital." I said while looking at his suit. He rarely wears these coats as for him, his medical coat is his best friend.

"I have..... some..... work."

"Are you going on a date?" I asked which made his face colourless. Ofcourse because I know his secret plan. All thanks to eavesdropping!

"No... Who told you?"

"No one. Just a guess." I said while munching the apple in my hand and walked away. "I hope it's true. Atleast you would have a girlfriend this way." I shouted on my way back. He would've heard what I said.

Walking towards the kitchen I saw mumma cooking something, "Mumma, what are you making?"

"Gajar ka halwa." She said and I could already feel my mouth watering. "Dhruv wanted me to make this."

"But he's not here."

"I know. He had some work out."

"He told you?" I asked and she nodded. "You know where he went and for what?" She again nodded on my question.

"He told me that there's an important board meeting, and he needs to go there." Mumma said. This means he lied!

"He lied. He's not going to any board meeting."

"What?"

"He went on a date."

"Seriously?" She asked and I nodded. "I couldn't believe this is happening. Finally my son has decided to settle down."

"I told you right?"

"Do you think I would believe this?" She said with a blank face.

"Huh? But I'm not lying."

"And I know my son. Don't you remember I used to send him to blind dates? Did he ever bring any good news? No right. What could he do now?" She said and shifted her gaze to halwa.

"Mumma..... I'm not lying. Believe me..."

"Oh really? Then who's his date?"

"I can't tell you."

"I knew you were lying."

"I'm not lying. I'm just not sure about them and their relationship."

"If he has chosen a girl for him, then I won't approve." She said. But why doesn't she want her son to marry? "I've already chosen a girl for him. And she'll be his wife, that's it."

"Who?"

"I can't tell you."

"Mumma..... This is cheating."

"No it's not." She said while giving all her attention to halwa. Carrying my legs, I went back to my room and sat down to rest.

"Divya di!" Someone shouted and jerked me from my dream.

"Who the hell is this?"

"Us." My cousins shouted.

"Let me sleep. I'm tired."

"No, we won't. Get up. And still three days are left for your wedding. There's no need for you to collect energy now."

"Huh?"

"I mean you'll have your wedding the day after tomorrow. You need enough energy for your wedding night, not today." She said and I couldn't help but widen my eyes in shock. "What? We're not kids. Even kids know these things nowadays."

"Okay, okay. Now go out and let me sleep."

"We won't let you sleep tonight.'

"Huh?" I exclaimed and they bought a big box. "What's there, inside?"

"Tambola."

"I'm not gonna play these kitty party games. Just go out or else, you stay here and I'll go to another room."

"We won't let you." They caught my hands and closed the door. "Now you won't go anywhere."

"Are you small kids? Why do you have to play these games?"

"There's no particular age to play a game. Now let's play." They said and dragged me in all the games.

××

Sighing, I took a deep breathe and tried to shift on my place due to back pain because of sitting at the same place for a long time. "What's the name of groom?"

"Ayaan." I said. She nodded and applied henna on my hands. I felt like sleeping but then, the design would go wrong because of my movements. So I decided to be against my sleep.

"Divya." Natasha sat beside me.

"Hmm... How was your date?" I asked and she stiffened.

"What date? Which date?"

"Evening date with my brother."

"I didn't go on a date with him yesterday."

"See, you yourself are telling about your date. I never said about the day."

"Did he tell you?" She asked.

"No."

"Then? I never told you. Does anyone else know about it?"

"Actually, I was passing around when I saw you and him together. He asked you for a dinner." I said and she looked shocked. "I mean I just heard about your date. Nothing more nothing less." I said and she looked relieved. "By the way, how was your date?"

"Alright."

"Wasn't it good?"

"Do you think? I seriously don't have a heart to listen to his no. I know he doesn't like me. Even if he likes me, it would be either out of pity or out of impulse." She said and sighed. "It could never be love."

"What name should I write here?" The mehndi designer asked Natasha.

"Wait! I don't want to apply this on my hands."

"Why?" She asked.

"Because after few days, it would make our hands rough." I said and she nodded. "But then I have to apply it because it's my wedding."

"But it looks good." Diya said while coming towards us.

"But there's a difference between looking good and feeling good." I said.

"But when you look good, you feel good." Natasha said.

"Oh God! Stop it. Why does it feel as if we're giving a motivational speech?" I said and they laughed. "Well Diya, how many months are left for them to come out?"

"If we're going through the nine month period, then six months are left."

"How do you feel while being pregnant?" I asked.

"Divya! Are you pregnant?" Natasha shouted everyone looked towards us for to sudden high pitched voice.

"No..... I am not. I'm just asking."

"Pregnancy is a phase which you can never forget. Sometimes you feel it's too good that you're carrying a life inside you and ofcourse you won't have any periods. But then you feel irritated because of smells and vomiting."

"Smells?" I asked.

"You need to smell everything before eating it. Now I can't eat most of my favourite food because they smell foul, even if they don't."

"You mean it sucks?" Natasha asked.

"A type of. But then it's just starting. As I've heard, there's more to it as the months pass." Diya said.

"I'll never be pregnant then." Natasha said.

"But look at the other side too. You'll give birth to a new life which men can't. I mean, isn't it amazing?" Diya said and we looked at Natasha to give the answer.

"What? Even if I decide to be pregnant, there are many years to it. And I need to find a man first."

"Okay then. Find your man first. We'll look forward to your pregnancy later." I said.

Taking a glance at my surrounding, I saw everyone bustling around like the last time. The only main difference was my state of mind. Last time, I wanted this not to happen and was irritated by everything. But this time, I love all rituals.

"Divya!" Natasha said and directed my phone towards my ear, "It's your husband."

"Hello." I said while my hands were tickling due to the mehndi cone's tip.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

"Nothing. Just sitting."

"Just sitting and doing nothing."

"It's my mehndi."

"Isn't it over by now?"

"Nope. It's been three hours I'm sitting in the same position. I feel like a dead person."

"Should I come there?"

"No.... A big no! Last time when you came, mom caught us the next day. Now I don't want any other trouble. And also, the wedding is tomorrow. Just have some patience."

"I'm having enough patience. I was just coming to help you. If you have any other idea then I don't mind." He chuckled on the other side.

"I don't have any idea. And you don't have to come." I said and Natasha kept it on speaker. "What the hell Natasha?" I whispered.

"Well Divya, what should we plan for tomorrow?"

"Satsang." Natasha said. I tried to take my phone back but alas. All thanks to henna which wanted to dry more. (Spritual discourse)

"Huh? It's not Divya right?"

"Yes. My name is Natasha as far as I remember." She said.

"Give this phone to Divya."

"I won't. And she won't talk to you before the wedding. Now bye." She said and switched the call off. I looked at her and raised my eyebrow, "What?"

"What's the need for you to talk like this?"

"Don't tell me what to do. I won't let you both talk and meet before your wedding. Can't you wait for just twenty four hours?"

"I can but there's nothing wrong in talking over phone. That's not even video call."

"Why do I feel that you're the one who's more desperate here?" She said and I glared, "I mean you're more desperate between you and your husband."

"I'm not."

"You are."

"I'm not."

"Maybe you could. I'm not sure."

"If you're not sure then do not state anything about anyone."

"You're not anyone for me. You're my best friend." She said and I rolled my eyes.

"Idiot!"

"I know right."

××

"How long will you take just to wear your lehenga?" Mumma shouted.

"Coming."

"I'm your mother. Why do you have to hide inside and wear your dress? You can just change it outside."

"Mumma please. Some privacy is needed."

"Privacy? I'm your mumma! I've seen you naked." She shouted and I stepped out from my bathroom.

"It sounds gross mumma!"

"Gross? What happened to your shame when you used to wake me up at night, just to direct you to the bathroom."

"That was years ago. Atleast twenty two years ago."

"So? For me, you're still my little Divya."

"Okay, okay. I won't say anything else. How am I looking?" I asked while wearing my wedding dress.

"Good. But you look fatter than last time."

"Mumma! I'm not fat."

"Okay you aren't, only if you want to think." She said and I looked at her with shock, "You are!"

"I'm not....... Am I really fat?"

"I'm just joking. You look good. Even if you're fat, it doesn't make any change."

"Mumma, my hair is just done. Why do you have to do this?" I said when she patted my head.

"Nothing is wrong with your hair. Stop exaggerating."

"Divya! Are you ready?" Natasha asked while coming inside.

"I am. And you look good."

"I know I look good."

"Self boasting!" I muttered under my breathe.

"I heard that."

"Okay girls. Don't fight." Mumma interrupted in between.

"We are not fighting."

"Wasn't it a fight?" Mumma asked and we nodded. "Wait a minute." She said and taking a small amount of kajal from her eyes in her finger, she came near me and printed it behind my ears. "You're safe now." She said and walked to Natasha. Doing same with her she sighed and smiled. "Okay then. I'll go out and check if they arrived. It's almost the time." She said and went out.

"Your baraat may be on the way!" Natasha winked and I glared. "Why do you have to be angry? Your prince charming may be coming on the way. Just a wait of few hours."

"For what?"

"After few hours, you could be all wild you want. I pity your husband."

"Why do you make it sound as if I'm a vampire who would suck all his blood?"

"Maybe you would. Who knows?"

"Natasha!!!"

Ring... Ring....

My phone rang and I picked it up fastly. "Hello!"

"Hey!"

"Ayaan? It's not your number."

"I know. Dadi took it when she came to know about me calling you everyday. So I had to use Shrey's phone."

"Dadi took your phone?"

"Hmm... She told me to have some patience and snatched my phone from me."

"When?"

"Yesterday night."

"That's why you haven't called me a single time today?"

"Hmm....."

"Where are you? Baraat must be arriving anynow right?"

"I'm on terrace."

"What? What the hell are you doing there?"

"I wanted to hear your voice. That's why I'm hiding here and used Shrey's phone."

"Are you an idiot? When will you arrive then? Just cut this call and arrive soon."

"Okay then. I'll meet you there. I'm coming there in few minutes."

"Okay! Come soon." I said before cutting the call. Hearing a throat clearing sound I turned back and saw Natasha still standing there. "Did you hear everything?"

"Hmm..... Your husband is dumb. He could've came here earlier if he wanted to meet you."

"Okay. But he's not dumb."

"Wait a minute! So now you'll say that I can't call him by these idiotic names because he's your husband. Okay I understand."

"I never meant it that way."

"Hmm.... I know."

××

Walking towards the mandap, I was feeling nervous. I wasn't even this nervous last time. But this time it's too different. Maybe because last time I had no feelings but this time it's the opposite.

He smiled and forwarded his hand to me. Giving my hand to him, I smiled and stepped forward while he caressed my hand with his thumb.

"Is it over guys? There are many rituals left. You can continue this at night." Shrey shouted and everyone laughed. I couldn't help but blush at the moment. And just like me, Ayaan's ears were red by the time. Slightly pushing his hand, I stepped forward and sat on my place.

"So let's start the wedding." Panditji said. After a number of rituals we stood up for the pheras.

In the First Vow Ayaan said, "You will offer me food and be helpful in every way. I will cherish you and provide welfare and happiness for you and our children."

Ofcourse, I will!

"I am responsible for the home and all household responsibilities." I said.

But they should be equally divided. If it is, then yes.

In the Second Vow he went, "Together we will protect our house and children."

Hmm...

Then I vowed, "I will be by your side as your courage and strength. I will rejoice in your happiness. In return, you will love me solely."

All I want.

In the Third Vow he said, "May we grow wealthy and prosperous and strive for the education of our children. May our children live long."

Okay...

"I will love you solely for the rest of my life, as you are my husband. Every other man in my life will be secondary. I vow to remain chaste." I said.

Truly!

In the Fourth Vow he went, "You have brought sacredness into my life, and have completed me. May we be blessed with noble and obedient children."

But for that we need to give birth to a child first.

Then I pledged, "I will shower you with joy, from head to toe. I will strive to please you in every way I can."

I'll try.

In the Fifth Vow he took the lead and said, "You are my best friend, and staunchest well-wisher. You have come into my life, enriching it. God bless you."

You too.....

Then came my turn, "I promise to love and cherish you for as long as I live. Your happiness is my happiness, and your sorrow is my sorrow. I will trust and honor you, and will strive to fulfill all your wishes."

No doubt!

In the Sixth Vow he went, "May you be filled with joy and peace."

Thank you.

And I said, "I will always be by your side."

Forever...

In the Seventh Vow he went, "We are now husband and wife, and are one. You are mine and I am yours for eternity."

For sure.

And at last I smiled and said, "As God is witness, I am now your wife. We will love, honor and cherish each other forever."

Love you.

*****

TIED TOGETHER BY LOVE 💍

Hope you like the chapter!

•• Merry Christmas ••

And the next chapter will have something big!!!

Till then bye bye....