Chapter 21: Pooja and Sangeet

Okay so I clearly have no self-control and I've decided to update another chapter. But I'm promising myself it's the last one for today. I'm NOT going to do any more today. But, dear readers just know that things will just keep getting cuter!! <3

The wedding rituals were starting today with a pooja and temple visit. Later that night was going to be their sangeet. The twins and Muskaan had organised everything for tonight, and it was going to be a surprise for everyone, all they knew was the venue. It was a palace booked for all the events, including the sangeet, mehendi, haldi and wedding.

Suman had gifted a number of sarees to Meera, but she decided to wear a silk pink saree with golden embroidery. She paired it with a simple gold choker, matching earring and the bangles Suman had gifted her. She decided to not wear any makeup, her hair was put into a low bun. Shourya is wearing a softer pink coloured kurta to match her. The families were going to meet directly at the temple for the pooja.

Meera's father held her hand as they approached the temple stairs. The Singhania's were already there, waiting for them. Apparently, the colour scheme for everyone else was light beige, making Shourya and Meera stand out. "Aaye aaye sambhdiji, aap hi ka intazaar tha," Neel teases as the Rao's stop in front of them.

(Come come, our relatives. We were just waiting for you.)

Shourya takes in Meera as she stands in front of him, she was looking like a devi.

"Chalein, panditji intazaar kr rahe honge." Suman says as she takes her almost daughter-in-law's hand to guide her upstairs. Today Meera hasn't looked up at anyone, hasn't said her greetings or anything, she's too shy after all it's a pooja for her wedding. She's going to be the bahu of the Singhania's by the end of this week. Shourya Singhania's wife.

This temple also had a number of stairs to climb, seeing that Meera's saree was a lot for her to handle, he offered her his hand. She shook her head and managed to get past 6 stairs by herself.

But she was clearly struggling, shaking his head Shourya approaches her, and gently wraps his arm around her shoulders so that she got two hands free to manage her saree as well as some support to make sure she doesn't fall. The rest of the family falls slightly behind them to let them have their moment.

"You look beautiful, sweetheart."

"Thank you."

"Aren't you going to compliment me?"

"I-well. . . you look good too."

"Just good?"

"M-ore than good."

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The pooja went really well, the panditji blessed the couple and prayed for their long lives and happy marriage. The elders had gotten to the bottom of the stairs, deciding to get home to get ready for the sangeet whilst the youngsters had decided they wanted to look around the market and explore the temple a little more.

"Kuch pasand aaya toh mujhe batana, hmmmm."

(If you like something let me know, okay.)

Meera nods as Shourya's hand lands on the small of her back. They walk through the market and everyone finds small things to buy for themselves.

"Maa keh rahi thi ki tumhe yahan se chudiyan le du, accha shagun hota hai."

Shourya says as they near the bangle store. Meera picks out bangles for all the women before deciding on which ones to get for herself. There were some pink ones and some red ones. She turns to Shourya, "aapko konsi aachi lag rahi hai?"

(Maa was saying to buy you bangles, it's a good omen.)

(Which ones do you like?)

"Dono acchi hai, dono le lo."

(They're both nice, get both of them.)

Shourya pays for them before handing the bag over to Riya. He pulls out the pink bangles and takes them out of their plastic wrapping. He lifts Meera's hand and begins to slide the bangles onto her wrist. Meera begins to shuffle around as her soon-to-be husband softly fills her wrists with bangles.

"Aur toh nahi chahiye?" He whispers looking into her eyes.

(Do you want more?)

There is a soft clinking of Meera's jewellery as she shakes her head. Rohan and Priya watch on turning green with envy. Priya is jealous of the way Meera is being treated and Rohan is jealous of the way Meera would shyly peer up at Shourya.

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Meera was finally wearing her green lehenga. She was so excited when she was finally ready, Muskaan, Meera and Anushka were twirling around and giggling once they were all ready. Anushka was so pleased to see Meera laughing and dancing, even if it was only in the presence of just her and Muskaan.

Suman decided that Meera needed to go heavy with the jewellery for the Sangeet, so she got her golden chudiyan and kadde, heavy earrings with a saharaa and two necklaces, one choker and the other a longer mala.

Suman had said it was because all the guests were coming together today, this included a lot of high-profile people and being the bahu of the Singhania's, Meera had to look like it. However a part of Suman knew there was also another reason and that reason made her uncomfortable, so she decided to talk to her husband.

"Raj, mujhe aapse kuch baat krni hai."

(Raj, I need to speak to you.)

"Bolo saarkar, aapke liye aapke gulaam kya kr saakta hai."

(Tell me, mistress, what can this servant do for you.)

"Raj, please I'm very serious right now."

"Kya hua hai Suman?"

(What happened Suman?)

"Woh, aaj mein Meera ko tyaar kar rahi thi. Aur Reema aai. Woh- I can't believe mein aisa soch rahi thi"

(Today Meera was getting ready, and Reema came. And- I can't believe I was thinking this.)

Raj settles his wife onto the couch before prompting her to continue.

"Reema aai aur phir?"

(Reema came and then?)

"Woh kehne lagi ki Priya ne yeh pehna hai, Priya ne woh dala hai. Aur usne yeh bhi kaha ki logon ko lage ga ki Priya aur Rohan ke liya aaj ka program hai kyunki Priya itni zaada tyarr hui hai."

(She kept saying that her Priya is wearing this and she has that on. And then she said that it looks like the function is for Priya and Rohan because Priya is looking better.)

"Oh Suman, humne baat ki thi na. Uski baaton par dhyan mat diya karo."

(Oh Suman, we talked about this right? Don't pay attention to what she says.)

"Mein nahi deti, lekin usne jab aisa kaha toh mere dil mein yeh baat beth gayi. Aur uske jaane ke baad meine. . . ."

(I don't, but when she said that then my heart just stopped. And after she left I. . . .)

"Tumne?"

(You?)

"Meine Meera ko thode aur heavy gehene de diye. Pata nahi kya hua mujhe, par Reema ki baat ka itna gussa aaya tha, aise kese wohe keh sakti hai ki aaj function uski Priya ke liye rakha hai aise lagega?"

(I made Meera wear more heavy jewellery. I don't know what happened to me, but I felt so angry at what Reema had said. How can she say that it seems like today's event is for her Priya?)

"Tumhe bhi pata hai,mujhe bhi pata hai, aur aaj ke saare guests ko pata hai ki aaj raat ke stars Shourya aur Meera hai."

(We both know and all the guests know that the stars of tonight's events are Meera and Shourya.)

"Mujhe pata hai, abhi itna bura lag raha hai ki Reema ki baatoen mein aagi."

(I know, I feel so bad now that I fell into Reema's stupid talks.)

"Koi baat nahi, ho jata hai. Woh aaj kal baat hi aisi krti hai. Par agar Meera ko gehne zada lag rahe hoge toh kuch aur pehna dena. Hmmm"

(Never mind, it happens. She's become like this these days. But if Meera feels like it's too much then you'll take some of the jewellery off.)

"Ji, thank you."

"Aapke gulaam hai, thank you mat boliye na"

(I'm your slave, please don't say thank you.)

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All the guests were downstairs when Shourya and Meera made their way down together. The couple looked enchanting together like they were made for each other. Shourya could tell Meera was really happy, and that was what he had wanted. Shourya was also really impressed by the decorations, the cheeky trio had done an amazing job.

Once the couple got down, Suman and Raj took Meera away to introduce her to all the relatives. Suraj and Rohini did the same with Shourya. Although it was the sangeet, it was organised more like a ball. The trio wanted to do something different for their favourite Shourya and Meera.

As the night progressed Rohan watched his wife interact with people and also watched Meera interact with people. There was a distinct difference, Meera was more shy, soft-spoken and would only speak when she felt the need to whereas Priya was louder, and flashy, and wouldn't think before saying the first thing that came to her mind. But that's what he had wanted at the start, then why is he slowly changing his mind now? Why does he find Priya's laugh loud and obnoxious now?

The night was filled with loud music, folk songs and singing, dancing, playing a number of games and just a lot of fun. Somewhere along the night, Shourya had managed to pull Meera aside to tell her what was on his mind.

"Meera, I've been wanting to tell you something since this morning."

"Ji?"

Shourya looked at Meera in the warm soft light, her jewellery twinkling slightly as she gazes up at him. He lets out a dreamy sigh before saying,

"I've fallen in love with you. Mujhe tumse pyaar ho gaya hai Meera."

Did we just hear a confession from Shourya?!!