Chapter 142
It was night. The haveli was decorated with flowers and colorful ribbons.
The diyas were lit up on each side of the corridors, doors and hallways.
The haveli was lightening up with the soft glow of diyas and candles.
Abhishek entered the haveli, sitting on a ghodi only to be greeted with a dance performance by his younger siblings.
The dhol and the music was playing loudly in the background.
Everyone's face was contorted with the wide smiles and the excitement was clearly visible on their faces.
Vanya and Sadhwi stepped in front, singing the lyrics and gesturing towards Aditya and Arush before pointing at Abhishek.
Vanya and Sadhwi held Aditya and Arush's hands and dragged them in front.
They all moved together in sync, throwing their hands in the air with the beats.
Aditya and Arush ran towards Abhishek and helped him to hop down the ghodi.
Abhishek walked towards the main gate where Tripti was waiting with the aarti thaal in her hand.
Aditya, Arush, Vanya and Sadhwi were dancing in the background on the dhol beats and Advait and Reyansh were walking beside Abhishek.
Tripti rotated the thaal in front of Abhishek's face and applied tilak on his forehead.
"Thoda neeche aao, beta. Tumhe theek se tilak to lagane do." Tripti told Abhishek to bend down a bit but her eyes were sparkling with mischief.
"Na na, buddy. Ye inki chaal hai." Reyansh spoke up and pulled Abhishek back, "Mujhe bhi aise hi fasaya tha inhone." Reyansh added.
"Ye cheating hai damaad ji, aap mere chote damaad ko mere khilaaf bhadka rahe hain." Tripti said feigning anger.
"Mai usey bhadka nahi raha hoon, bacha raha hoon, Mom." Reyansh teased.
Abhishek chuckled and bent down a little. Tripti grabbed a chance and quickly pinched his nose playfully as the part of the ritual. Reyansh shook his head in defeat.
"Tune to meri naak katwa di, buddy." Reyansh said.
Tripti narrowed her eyes and stood up on her tippy toes to pinch Reyansh's nose, "Ye lo phir tum bhi lo." Reyansh gasped and moved back, "Ye cheating hai, Mom." He whined making everyone laugh.
They entered the haveli and a pavilion was set up in the middle of the grand hall.
The priest was seated there making arrangements for the pooja.
Abhishek sat down in his respective place and everyone was standing, waiting for the bride.
After a short wait, Sia stepped down the stairs, slowly and gracefully.
Her face was covered with the veil and she was stepping down the stairs carefully.
Everyone smiled looking at her and Abhishek stood up to help her, he made his way to her side before holding her hand.
He helped her to walk towards the pavilion.
He adjusted her lehenga and made her comfortably sit down in her place.
"Shuru kariye." Abhishek said.
"Ohho badi jaldi ho rahi hai, bhai." Aditya teased him.
"Hm hmmm, raha nahi jata. Tadap hi aisi hai." Arush said with a dramatic voice.
Everyone's head snapped in his direction and they passed him a glare but Advait honoured him with a stern one.
"Sorry." Arush said meekly, looking away awkwardly.
Sadhwi who was standing beside him, giggled at him and Arush looked at her with a pout, "Sadhwi, tum bhi?" He asked.
"Aap sabhi log apna apna sthaan grehan kar lijiye." The priest instructed.
Everyone sat down on the chairs set in front of the pavilion. The priest started to chant the sacred mantras. Everyone was listening to him silently with focus and only his voice was echoing in the Hall.
"Var-vadhu ka gathbandhan karne ke liye var ki behen aage aayein." The priest said.
Vanya stood up in excitement and walked towards them. She held the ends of the bride's and groom's dupatta and tied it together tightly.
"Bhai, mera shagun?" Vanya asked, forwarding her palm in front of him.
"Bhaiya se maang." Abhishek dismissed her.
Vanya passed him a mock glare, "Shaadi aapki hai to mai bhaiya se kyun shagun maangun?" She complained.
Abhishek rolled his eyes, "De dunga, shaadi to ho jaane de." He replied.
"Good for you." She said with a smirk and walked back to her place.
"Ab var-vadhu phero ke liye khade ho jaiye." The priest said.
The bride and groom stood up in their places.
Abhishek gently helped her to get up on her place.
They started taking pheras around the sacred fire.
The priest was chanting mantras loudly.
The atmosphere was filled with purity and positivity.
Everyone was looking at the scene in front of them with relief in their hearts.
They took seven rounds around the fire and the priest instructed them to sit back down on their places.
"Ab aap vadhu ko mangalsutra pehnaiye." The priest instructed Abhishek.
Shreya walked to them with a box in her hand. Abhishek picked up the chain from the box and tied the chain around the bride's neck. She sucked a sharp breath when his cold finger tickled her soft skin.
"Vadhu ki maang me sindoor bhariye." The priest passed another order.
Abhishek pinched the vermillion between his finger and thumb and gently lifted up her veil just enough to let his hand go inside it.
He applied the vermillion on her hairline.
She closed her eyes feeling relieved and a lone tear fell down her eye.
Abhishek pressed his lips on her head over the veil making her smile.
"Vivah sampann hua, aaj se aap dono pati-patni hain." The priest announced and everyone clapped their hands and the youngsters cheered up in joy.
"Congratulations bhai!" Aditya, Arush, Vanya and Sadhwi said loudly with enthusiasm.
The bride and the groom stood up from their places and took everyone's blessings. They patted their heads and showered them with their love and blessings.
"Bas Sia shaadi ho gayi hai, ab to ye ghunghat utha lo." Shreya spoke up.
Everyone looked at her, "Abhi, tu Sia ka ghoonghat utha." Tia told Abhishek.
Abhishek turned towards Sia and held the edges of her veil. He gently and slowly lifted up the veil from her face revealing Sia's glowing face. She was smiling widely, her cheeks were hurting from the smile for a long time. She was feeling like the happiest and blessed person in the world.
"Ab tum dono jaa kar change kar lo, humein thodi der me Mumbai ke liye nikalna hai." Reyansh said.
"Aap sab baad me aaiyega. Mai, Adi aur Vani pehle jaa rahe hain. Humein jaa kar greh pravesh ki taiyariyaan bhi karni hai." Shreya said making everyone nod.
~________________________________________~
Everyone reached Mumbai and the cars entered the Malhotra Mansion's driveway.
Slowly and lazily everyone stepped out of the cars.
The fatigue was clearly noticeable by their exhausted faces and slumped body postures.
Abhishek opened his side of the car's door and stepped down before walking towards the Sia's side door and opening it.
He stretched out his hand in front of her like a gentleman and Sia placed her hand on his before getting out of the car.
She looked in front and her eyes widened looking at the scene in front of her.
A big poster of Abhishek and Sia's photo was hanging up from the height of the mansion.
The firecrackers were sparkling in the night sky.
The fairy lights were covering the mansion enhancing its beauty.
Sia felt blessed and happy looking at the efforts they had put in to welcome her in their family.
Abhishek held her hand and they both walked to the door where Shreya was standing with the aarti thaal in her hand.
She rotated the thali in front of them before applying tilak on their foreheads.
"Apne seedhe pair se iss kalash ko girao." Shreya instructed Sia and she gently forwarded her right leg and made the kalash fall down and the rice under it scattered on the floor.
"Ab iss dhaal me apne pair rakho aur ghar me pravesh karo." Shreya said. Sia placed her feet in the thaal and entered the mansion leaving her footprints behind her.
"Hmm to aaj se huyi tum is ghar ki bahu aur mai huyi tumhari jethani." Shreya said firmly, "Mere saare hukum manne padenge, devrani ji." She said feigning authority.
"Aapke hukum ko to bhaiya bhi nahi taal sakte to phir mai kaun hoti hoon aapko naa karne wali?" Sia said with a chuckle.
Shreya rolled her eyes, "Sirf bolne wali baatein hain, ek baat tak nahi sunte hain ye meri." She complained.
Advait rolled his eyes at her, "Apne pati ki burai karne ka poora time milega aapko, filhaal rasmein poori kar lete hain." He said, "Huh!" Shreya huffed and looked away.
"Ab hum chalte hain, beta." Amrit spoke up and Tripti's eyes teared up listening to the sentence.
Tripti pulled Sia tightly to her chest. Tripti started crying hugging her little daughter to her heart.
Sia felt bad, her own eyes were misted. She had always wanted to be the daughter in law of the Malhotras but the feeling of leaving her family behind aches her heart in the most indescribable way.
"Rona band kariye, Mom. Main yaheen to hoon aap jab kahengi mai tab aapse milne aa jaungi." Sia said, her voice was weak.
But Tripti kept crying, she was already missing her daughter. Amrit stepped forward and pulled Tripti back, "Tumhe itna rota dekh kar humari beti bhi dukhi ho jayegi, Tripti. Wo yahan khush rahegi, rona band kardo." He said gently.
Tripti stopped crying and wiped off her tears.
She pecked her daughter's forehead. Amrit also hugged his daughter, his eyes were teary but he kept his emotions in control to not weaken his daughter.
Amrit and Tripti took their leave followed by the Khuranas except Vanya.
Sadhwi came with a small pot which was filled with the milk mixed with the water.
The rose petals were flowing in the pot.
She put the pot down on the floor and stood on Abhishek's side.
"Mai isme ring daalungi aur tum dono ko wo ring doondhni hai, jisne bhi pehle ring doondhi wo jeet jayega." Shreya explained, "Aisa kehte hain, jo iss rasam me jeet jata hai zindagi bhar usi ki chalti hai." She added.
"Mai to tujhe hi jeetne dunga, Vanu." Aditya whispered to Vanya who was standing beside him.
"Mai khud jeet sakti hoon, huh." Vanya replied, flipping her hair back.
"Koi bhi jeete, chalegi to humesha teri hi." Aditya replied making her smile.
Shreya's voice caught their attention, "Chalo tum dono ek dusre ke saamne baith jao." She ordered Abhishek and Sia. They both settled down in front of each other on the mattress placed on the floor.
"Mai to meri bhabhi ki side hoon." Aditya said and walked to sit down on Sia's side, "Me too." Arush said and settled down behind Sia.
"Gaddaro." Abhishek scoffed.
"Mai to apne Abhi ke saath hoon." Shreya spoke up before walking towards Abhishek's side.
"Dekha mere saath meri bhabhi hain." Abhishek said to Sia and she looked up at Advait who smiled and settled down behind her, "Agar tumhare saath bhabhi hain to mere saath mere bhaiya hain." She retorted with a proud smirk.
"Vanu, tu bhi humari team me aaja." Aditya said.
"Haan Sadhwi, tum bhi yahan aa jao. Wo haarne wali team hai." Arush spoke up.
"Shut up. Mai mere bhai ki team me hoon." Vanya replied, "Mai to shuru se hi bhai ki team me hoon." Sadhwi replied innocently and they both settled down behind Abhishek.
Abhishek and Sia looked into each other's eyes with a challenging look before dipping their hands in the pot.
They both started searching for the ring, the air was heavy with the challenging atmosphere.
Everyone's gaze was sharply fixed on the pot, the silence was chilling till Sia excitedly raised up her hand in the air.
She was holding a small ring in her hand and a glowing smile was on her face.
"Yay!!!" Sia's team yelled in the joy of victory.
"Kyun? Nikal gayi saari heropanti?" Sia teased.
Abhishek made a face and his team looked away trying not to make eye contact.
"Kya bhai? Kya fayda aapka itni body banane ka?" Arush said with disappointment.
"Bataun abhi?" Abhishek glared at him.
"Bhaiya!" Arush complained making Abhishek earn a look from Advait.
"Iska matlab ab saari umar aapko Sia bhabhi ke ishaaron par naachna padega, bhai." Aditya said and his eyes were twinkling with mischief.
"Wo to waise bhi naachna padta, apni biwi ke aage koi bol sakta hai kya?" Vanya asked, raising her brow.
Everyone laughed together, Advait glanced at his family with the love in his eyes. He was capturing the precious moments of his family in his eyes. His world revolved around his family.
~________________________________________~
Sia was in her room, she had changed her lehenga and put on the comfortable clothes.
She was sitting on the bed wearing a light pink simple suit.
She was waiting for Abhishek, her eyes were fixed on the door.
Her heart was pounding loudly in anticipation, she knew that nothing intimate was going to happen between them tonight but she was feeling anxious.
On the other side, Abhishek was about to entered his room when Vanya with Aditya and Arush stepped between him and the door. They all passed him a mischievous look and Abhishek irritatingly raised his brow at them looking at their disgusting expression.
"What?" Abhishek asked.
"Shagun dijiye." Vanya asked, forwarding her palm.
"Tere paas aur koi kaam nahi hai kya, har waqt paise maangti rehti hai." Abhishek said.
Vanya gasped, "Haww bhai, mai apne haq ke paise maang rahi hoon. Ye rasam hoti hai room me jaane se pehle apni behen ko paise dene padte hain warna room me No Entry." She declared, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Koi paise vaise nahi milenge." Abhishek said in a dismissed tone.
"Ye galat baat hai, bhai." Arush said.
"Koi galat baat nahi hai." Abhishek replied, "Aur ek second ye rasam to behno ke liye hoti haina to tum dono yahan kya kar rahe ho?" He asked.
"Hum bhi to aapke pyare pyare chote chote bhai hain." Aditya said, batting his eyes to look innocent.
Abhishek passed him a look before opening the door, "Arey arey bhai, pehle paise dijiye tab hi hum aapko andar jaane denge." Vanya repeated.
"Paise lene to jaane de, meri maa." Abhishek said tiredly.
"Oh!" Vanya clicked her tongue sheepishly.
Abhishek entered inside the room and Sia's breath hitched in her throat.
Abhishek closed the door behind him and passed a small smile to Sia before walking straight towards the cupboard.
He took out the cheque book from it and signed on a cheque before tearing it away from the book.
He walked out of the room and forwarded the cheque to Vanya who accepted it with a victorious smile.
"Isme to koi amount hi nahi likhi." Vanya pouted, looking at the cheque.
"Apne mann se likh lena." Abhishek replied making Aditya and Arush's jaw hung down to the floor.
"Hum gareebo ka bhi bhala kar dijiye, bhai." Arush said dramatically, joining his hands but Abhishek ignored him and closed the door in front of his face.
Abhishek entered the room and Sia looked at him with her loudly beating heart. Abhishek slowly walked to her side and settled down in front of her on the bed. He gently held her hand and kissed on it.
"I'm not able to believe, Abhi." Sia whispered, "I'm your wife now." A tear fell down of her eye.
Abhishek quietly wiped it off with his thumb, "Please don't cry. You are my wife now and I can't see tears in my wife's eyes." He murmured.
Sia nodded with a smile on her face, "Ab sab theek ho jayega, Abhi."
Abhishek slightly shook his head, "Ab sab theek ho gaya hai, Siyu." He replied, looking into her eyes with purity.
He pulled her in a gentle hug and the butterflies erupted in her stomach. He pressed a soft kiss on her temple making her melt in the hug.
~________________________________________~