Chapter 16: Shopping with the Singhania's

"Oh the designs for the decorations look so beautiful; My Meera is going to look like a pari sitting on that stage!" Suman says as they walk towards the boutique. They had come to shop for everyone's clothes for the engagement, and Suman had managed to convince the Rao's to come as well. Suman wanted everyone present.

Every. Single. Person.

Everyone should be wearing brand-new clothes that she approves of for the son's engagement.

"Maa, what about bhai? He'll be sitting on that stage too." Aarav says as he wraps his arm around his mother.

"He'll look good too, but my Meera will look absolutely stunning!"

Priya and Rohan were back from their honeymoon and had joined everyone today as well, Shourya had booked the boutique for the whole day so his family could shop peacefully and have the attention of all the employees. As they waited for an employee, Shourya leans down to whisper something in Meera's ear.

"I've asked them to keep that lehenga and sherwani from your folder out for us to try."

Meera looked up at him, surprised. "Really?!"

"Of course, anything you want, remember?"

Rohan watched the interaction between the two as he guided in wife in, Priya never blushed like Meera, she would get giddy and attack him with hugs and kisses, but even that was usually when he got something for her. Sweet nothings never got such cute reactions from her.

"Welcome! Please come in!" The manager got everyone settled into the boutique, they were quite a large group.

"Shourya sir had called earlier, why don't I take the couple getting engaged to the side to pick out some outfits, and you guys can browse for yourselves." The manager took the couple upstairs to the bridal section.

The group dispersed as they looked around for themselves. Reema seemed to be on a mission to find her daughter-in-law the best dress in the entire boutique, whilst Suman was getting the Rao ladies to try on outfits. Muskaan found a light blue sharara, Anushka decided on a navy lehenga, and Suman chose a light pink silk saree for Rohini. Raj, on the other hand, chose kurtas for the Rao men. A cream-coloured one for Suraj and a navy one for Virat to match his wife. The Rao's didn't fuss too much about what was being selected. Since the Singhania's had insisted on paying, they didn't want to come across as ungrateful.

Priya had also come out, wearing a flashy, neon green lehenga. Reema was showing off her daughter-in-law as they heard footsteps coming down. It was Shourya, wearing the sherwani Meera had chosen, of course only he knew that. Once he got down he stood on the platform in the middle of the boutique. "Oh, that is stunning!" Suman says looking at the subtle gold embroidery on the velvet fabric.

And then there was another set of footsteps. They caught glances of the emerald, green skirt, with golden birds embroidered on the border of the skirt, as she got further down the stairs they could see a matching blouse that had a sweetheart neckline. Her chest was covered by the same coloured dupatta, it had golden tassels across the border and small golden motifs scattered across the dupatta. She finally reached the bottom where Suman guided her to stand next to Shourya.

"Oh my god! Mera bacha! So beautiful, you look like a princess." Suman says.

"Shourya bhai, please move off the platform, I want to get a picture of Bhabhi!"

"So pretty, di!"

"My daughter looks like an angel!"

"It's actually really gorgeous."

And like that Shourya was shoved to the side as everyone gushed over Meera.

He didn't mind though, he couldn't seem to take his eyes off of her. The lehenga was stunning, but to him, it was her who was the beauty. The one who was bringing the lehenga to life.

"But Bhabhi, I don't know if this one is it. I mean you look breathtaking. But it doesn't quite go with the decorations. What do you think maa?"

Meera's face drops slightly, she loves this one though.

"Yeah, actually, maybe we should try something in a lighter colour. You too, Shourya. Maybe you try a suit instead." Suman agrees.

Meera peers over at Shourya, silently telling him she wants this one. The pout on her face and the lack of twinkles in her eyes does something to him. He doesn't like it.

"Maa, maybe we can get this sherwani and lehenga for another occasion. Maybe an event at the wedding, like the sangeet?" Shourya suggests.

"Hmmmm, they are beautiful. And you guys look so elegant together in these." Suman says, "Okay then, we'll get these for one of the wedding functions. Maybe the sangeet."

Meera smiles at Suman, almost jumping with happiness. Meera didn't care when she wore it, just as long as she got the chance to wear it. The crowd disperses as Shourya helps Meera upstairs to try the next dress on.

"Thank you," Meera whispers as she slides her hand into his.

"You don't have to be. Anything you want, remember?"

Meera giggles whilst nodding.

Rohan looks away from the couple to focus on Priya, who was twirling in her lehenga, he tried to focus on his wife but the image of Shourya holding Meera's hand won't leave his head. When did they get this close? What does he see in her?

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Once they had decided on everyone's outfits, The men, except for Shaurya and Rohan, left to distribute invitations. Everyone else was going over to the Singhania's trusted jeweller. Rohini had managed to convince Suman that the Rao's will buy specific jewellery, "yeh shagun ke kaam hote hai Suman Bhabhi, jo kaam hame krne chahiye woh hame karne dijiye."\

(These are rituals Suman bhabhi, please let us do what we should be doing.)

They were seated at the store, and again just like last time Shourya had booked the entire store to avoid any disturbance. "Sabse pehle meri bahu ke liye gehne lenge! Meri Priya pr toh saab aacha lagta hai!" Reema says when they get settled. A worker comes around to serve them juice. Suman was about to say something, she also wanted to buy Meera jewellery, but Sunita devi stopped her.

(First, we are going to get jewellery for my daughter-in-law. Everything looks good on my Priya.)

Reema took her time as she chose two diamond chockers, white gold bangles, earrings and a number of other things. Priya's eyes widened at the huge bill as the worker passed over their jewellery. Priya liked a few other things too but thought it was too early to ask for those. Yet.

There was something about the way Reema would raise her voice when she would repeat the prices of the jewellery, the way Priya's eyes would go googly when wearing the pieces and the way Rohan would glance Meera's way that didn't sit well with Shourya. He didn't like it, he'd have to keep an eye on these three.

"Meera Bhabhi, this necklace will look so beautiful on you!" Riya runs over with it, and puts it around her neck. The women start looking around for jewellery for each other, and Shourya takes the opportunity to steal Meera away.

"I think they've forgotten we need engagement rings too," he says as they walk over to see them. Shourya chooses a simple gold band, and Meera's heart sets on an oval diamond, solitaire ring wrapped in yellow gold. Shourya got her a diamond band to go with it and upgrades the solitaire from 3 carats to 5.

"Yeh ring? Thodi choti nahi hai Suman Bhabhi, aur Shourya ki ring bhi bohot simple hai. Priya ki ring dekhi hai? Isse toh badi hi hai." Reema tells Suman, analysing the rings in her hand.

(This ring? Don't you think it's a little small Suman bhabhi? And Shourya's ring is very simple too. Have you seen Priya's ring? I'm sure it's bigger than this.)

This time Suman can't seem to hold back, she takes the rings from her hand and passes them to the cashier, "Mere baccho ko jo rings pasanda aye hai, woh wohi lenge. Phir chahe who tumhari Priya ki ring se choti hai ya phir chahe use teen gunna badi." She turns to Meera, "beta kuch aur pasand aaya hai tumhe?"

(My kids will buy the rings that they like. Whether it's smaller than your Proya's ring or three times bigger.)

(My child, do you like something else?)

And with that theirshopping comes to an end. Shourya drives the Rao's home, before heading home.He was exhausted.