Chapter 4 - The Bajaj Wedding

3 years ago

Tvfanatic85

@Tvfanatic85

5 years ago

Prerna had started her small business - publishing house after 1 year of work experience at Bajaj Industries. She had learned all the knickknacks that were needed, and when she knew she was ready, she had prepared the business plan for her publishing house. Mr Bajaj, though thoroughly impressed, had said nothing and Prerna took it as an affirmation. For the world she was Mrs Bajaj - yes Mr Mehra though had filed the divorce papers but neither Prerna nor Mr Bajaj was present on the 6-month date at the court because that was the ill-fated day that she had lost everything. Legally she was Mrs Prerna Bajaj. That was her name in all official documents - Prerna Sharma Bajaj. 

She was Kukki’s mother. The girl that Prerna hadn’t even given a second thought when she had gone off to fulfil her so-called love story still gave Prerna all the love and care. Prerna poured out all the love left in her on Kukki. As for Mr Bajaj, he was her friend, her mentor. She knew that Mr Bajaj felt more for her. She could feel his love in every single moment. Every single time that she turned around, she would find his eyes staring at her. It was like a warm embrace that protected her from any danger. His hands would itch to hold hers every time they were sitting next to each other. However, they had this thick invisible glass shield of their past. Prerna didn’t know how to break, or in a way, they both didn’t know.

It was Prerna’s big win in the business world, and Kukki insisted they took a holiday. This time she wanted to go to the beach, so they had agreed on going to Cape Town. Mr and Mrs Mehra joined them. Prerna had found a big sister and friend in Mrs Mehra. She just wanted them to be there. Prerna could see Mr Bajaj loved this town. It had taken her time to adjust to this laid back Mr Bajaj who would play games with Kukki, laugh freely and did not necessarily always wear the three-piece suit. The Bajaj that a very few people knew. Kukki being one of them and now even she was included. They were all enjoying their time at First Beach. Prerna mesmerizingly kept looking at Mr Bajaj who was at the waves surfing without not a care in the world-conquering one dangerous wave after another. She loved watching him like this, but after each and every twirl would have him lost in the waves and that was enough to give her a heart attack. Prerna had gotten marks on her own hands with her own nails, terrified as Mr Bajaj kept on repeating the same stunt again and again. It was afternoon when she felt a tug on the gown she was wearing. 

“Kukki!!! What happened beta??” Prerna.

“I am tired. Can we go back to the room now??” Kukki.

“We surely could but let your dad come back, it would only take 5 mins” Prerna, but she could see that Kukki was restless. With a heavy heart, she went to the hotel with Kukki. Mr Bajaj still hadn’t returned. It was more than an hour. Kukki was fast asleep after lunch. Prerna kept looking at the door every now and then. Prerna couldn’t take it any longer and went to Mr and Mrs Mehra’s room. She requested Mrs Mehra to stay with Kukki for some time. They looked at Prerna confused, but then Mrs Mehra nodded. Prerna, relieved, couldn't run to the beach any quicker.

Prerna arrived at the beach to find Mr Bajaj still on the surfboard. She stood with her hands at her waist. Mr Bajaj suddenly saw her and, confused at her reaction, came out of the sea.

“Is everything okay?? Kukki??” Mr Bajaj.

“Remember us?? Have you?? I thought you would never stop your very nice surfing action,” Prerna replied sarcastically, folding her arms in front of her.

“Sorry!! I love this place and the thrill of being on that board. Takes a lot of load off my shoulders.” Mr Bajaj explained.

“But it puts the fear of God in me to watch you doing that,” Prerna replied, concerned.

“Kukki??” Mr Bajaj asked, trying to avoid the topic.

“At the hotel with Ashwini di,” Prerna said knowing full well what Mr Bajaj was trying to do.

“Come on, Prerna!!! Those are harmless waves, and they can do nothing. It is all safe and there are guards,” Mr Bajaj said as he went close to Prerna, turned her around and pointed her towards the coast guards standing at their stations.

“Still please!!!” Prerna literally begged, looking sideways at Mr Bajaj. For a moment their eyes met, and they stood like for how long they didn’t remember.

“Let’s go eat,” Mr Bajaj suddenly said, breaking the beautiful moment. Awkwardly Prerna moved away from him. Mr Bajaj went to get his stuff while Prerna stood there angry with Mr Bajaj for stopping when he did. Instead of going back to the hotel, they explored some nearby restaurants and were having a small meal sitting on a hill of rocks near the sea under the sun when they saw a couple getting married afar.

“That is beautiful. I….. I…. want to have that” Prerna said, not looking directly at Mr Bajaj.

“What??” Mr Bajaj asked, who was busy with his food and was not paying attention. 

“I want to have that,” Prerna said, finally looking straight at Mr Bajaj.

“Ya sure!!!” Mr Bajaj forwarded the food. Prerna made a face and irritatedly pointed towards the couple.

“I don’t understand??” Mr Bajaj said. Prerna took the lunch packet that Mr Bajaj was holding, took his hand in hers and gathered up all her strength and said what she had been wanting to say for so many days.

“Marry me!!!” Prerna said

“What?? Prerna Kukki understands…..” Mr Bajaj replied. He thought Prerna feared what Kukki might think of them. She was getting big and now understood many things. 

“I am not saying this for Kukki. I am saying this for myself.” Prerna said. Mr Bajaj got up and tried to leave as Prerna caught his hand.

“This has nothing to do with Kukki, or my past, or my revenge, or anything else. It is about me. I won’t say I love you as I don’t know what it is anymore but what I know is I want that and I want that with you and only you” Prerna said standing up closing the distance between them and holding Mr Bajaj’s face in her hands. Prerna had expected anger, she had expected counter-arguments about her past, she had not expected a constricted smile or shyness that she was seeing in Mr Bajaj’s face right now. It made her smile. 

“Are you proposing Mrs Bajaj??” Mr Bajaj.

“Yes,” Prerna.

“Really??” Mr Bajaj.

“Yes, Really!!!! So???….” Prerna.

“No….” Mr Bajaj said with finality and started walking away.

“Excuse me!! What do you mean by no??” Prerna asked, coming in front of him.

“NO… NO… that is the worst proposal I have ever seen in the history of humankind. You don’t propose like this, Mrs Bajaj. I wouldn’t agree to such a bad business proposal…. Forget about marriage,” Mr Bajaj said 

“So what?? You like… You want me to propose…. Propose…. How??” Prerna started following Mr Bajaj.

“Well, if I can remember the person who proposes has to do all that thinking.” Mr Bajaj poked a finger at her head.

“Are you kidding me??? You want what??? Candle lights?? Dinner?? Flowers?? “Prerna.

“Orchids are my favourite,” Mr Bajaj said, smiling and Prerna, although irritated, continued.

“Of Course. A bit of champagne, sorry scotch for the man…… Then I get down on my knees and propose….. Pledge my life to you,” Prerna mock enacted the entire scene.

“Carry on!!! Explain some more. What are we wearing??? And day or night??” Mr Bajaj asked thoughtfully. Prerna threw up her hands in the air. 

“Fine!!! Then the answer is no” Mr Bajaj said and walked away.

“No… No… Wait!!! I will think of something. I will.. Oh!!!! Oh!!!! wait” Prerna turned around and started searching for something. She found a beautiful coral stone, took it in her hands and went down on her knees and asked again.

“Now???” Prerna asked with hope.

“Nah!!!! Boring!!!” Mr Bajaj said after a bit of thinking.

“So…. So…. what do you want me to do?? Blackmail you just the way you did with me??” Prerna asked irritatedly and Mr Bajaj turned around suddenly as Prerna bumped into him, heads banging. Both of them started rubbing their heads and Prerna banged their heads again, making a sign of thorns on her head.

“First, you won’t be able to, ” Mr Bajaj said and unnoticed by Prerna quietly took the coral from her hands and tucked it in his pocket.

“I won’t be able to do what anyway??” Prerna asked

“Blackmail me,” Mr Bajaj said 

“Really??” Prerna said

“Yes!!” Mr Bajaj said

“Don’t give me the devilish smile, Rishabh Bajaj.. I am not the same Prerna Sharma anymore and I have learnt from the best,” Prerna said

“Seriously??” Mr Bajaj said 

“Seriously!!!” Prerna said 

“And right now, stop speaking because you are destroying your proposal more and more by making me angry with your words. I mean, how many almost marriages have you had? Let me count - what was his name… Naveen babu, then almost marriages with Mr Basu, and all those were much more melodramatic than ours. Still, every time you through that so-called blackmail, which was actually a deal and the only proper marriage at my face.” Mr Bajaj said.

“I am not doing that. It’s just that it was our thing. Regardless of whether you like it,” Prerna said, trying to handle the situation. 

“Wow!!!! blackmail, that is what you remember about our story. I am done. I am going back to the hotel as I have no intentions to spoil my thrilling mood.” Mr Bajaj.

“That is not what I remember out of the story, but that is how it started. That is exactly what I want to change about our story. Have some memories about us I can remember and smile” Prerna said and Mr Bajaj stopped at his place. Mr Bajaj’s heart was jumping out of joy but he controlled himself as he wanted a bit of revenge for all the wait that he endured, so he kept.

“You know what?? fine!!!! You have left me no choice.” Prerna said. She moved back towards the small hill standing on the edge.

“Either you agree to marry me or I am jumping off this hill,” Prerna said and Mr Bajaj smiled at her madness.

To his utter surprise, the next moment she had taken off her tunics and stood there just in her bikini, ready to jump in the water. She had no intention of jumping, but her legs slipped on some rocks and she fell into the sea. Mr Bajaj scared dived in the water next to her. After some time they both come out on the shore coughing heavily.

“Are you mad??” Mr Bajaj said

“Yes or No??” Prerna asked, getting up and moving towards the hill again.

“You know how to swim. I am not giving in to this stupidity,” Mr Bajaj said.

“You still jumped into the water,” Prerna said. Both kept looking at each other for some time and then both of them started laughing hysterically.

“Yes or No??” Prerna asked again

“No!!!” Mr Bajaj shouted but still, Prerna hugged him knowing his answer was yes, and Mr Bajaj hugged her back smiling. Then with a small awkwardness, Mr Bajaj moved his lips near her face. He was completely ready for Prerna to move away, but she moved forward and nibbled lightly on his lower lips. Mr Bajaj, having got the encouragement, deepened the kiss. Prerna felt like she was home again. This is where she belonged today, tomorrow and forever. After some time they broke the kiss breathless.

“So let’s go get married. We could still make it in time.” Prerna said excitedly.

“What??” Mr Bajaj said, stunned.

“Yes!! the beach wedding. The ceremony has completed, but the pastor must be there if we try to move fast. Let’s just get married, what’s the issue. They already have a setup, decorations and everything… Profit with no investments,” Prerna said, fixing her hair and wiping sand off her hands and legs.

“But it is someone else’s wedding,” Mr Bajaj said

“We will not hijack the photographer or the reception. We just need the Podium where the marriage happened. I am pretty sure nobody would pay any attention to it. So Why not???” Prerna.

“But…. But…. look at us. You want to get married like this??” Mr Bajaj said. They both looked at each other. Mr Bajaj, shirtless in shorts along with Prerna in a bikini. Both of them wet, half covered in mud. 

“On the paper, legally and for the world, I am Mrs Bajaj. We are doing this for us. Why does it matter??” Prerna said, irritated.

“But…. I thought you would want a….. You know….. What matters is I want you to have your fairytale wedding. What's the rush???” Mr Bajaj explained.

“Fairytales don’t exist. Just reality and mine are you. I want it to be that way for the rest of my life starting today. So for the last time I am being shameless and asking you again - Will you marry me right now or not?? Or should I go??” Prerna asked. Mr Bajaj just smiled.

“Come on, Mr Bajaj. Where is the guy who was surfing the waves this morning? Let's make our own story our way as we are,” Prerna said, hugging him around his waist.

Mr Bajaj quietly whispered in her ear.

“Think Mrs Bajaj and think carefully.” Mr Bajaj asked, looking at her sideways, tucking some hair behind her ear. Prerna shivered even with this little proximity from him and moved her hands around his neck. Then she bravely nibbled on his lower lips in her inexperienced manner, trying to show her commitment, love and longing to be with him. And so that is what they did. She however found her discarded tunics and slid it on herself.

The wedding was over and the pastor was having his food at the reception when Mr Bajaj quietly went near him and asked him if he could get them married. The pastor, although surprised, went along with them, getting happy about spreading some more love in the world. However, when he reached he got very uncomfortable looking at them but quietly went on with the wedding. That is how they had truly become Mr and Mrs Bajaj reciting their vows in the beautiful setting sun, light sea breeze, no witnesses, just one another. When the pastor had asked for rings, Prerna looked at Mr Bajaj concerned. Mr Bajaj just smiled. He took off his black onyx and put it on Prerna’s finger. Prerna tried to stop him, citing that we can get one later. But Mr Bajaj had already put it on her finger. Prerna knew what this ring meant to him and was in tears, which Mr Bajaj quickly wiped off. 

“Enough salt for a day,” Mr Bajaj said, and they started laughing. They saw the pastor wiping his tears as well, as he announced them, Man and Wife.

Once they came back to the hotel, they checked on Kukki who knew nothing about anything except that her parents were smiling a lot and kept bumping into each other and kept forgetting stuff. 

“Dad, what is your ring doing in mamma’s finger?” Kukki asked while they were having dinner with Mr and Mrs Mehra. All the elders coughed at a time.

“I….” Mr Bajaj said

“We….” Prerna tried to find an answer, and none of them had any.

Mrs Mehra smiled at Prerna while Mr Mehra suddenly became very busy with the food.

When Prerna and Mr Bajaj had come back to the hotel Mr and Mrs Mehra confused with their behaviour kept looking at them concerned. It was Mrs Mehra who first saw the ring. She smiled and Prerna tried to hide her hands.

“There is nothing to hide. Congratulations!!!! Finally!!!” Mrs Mehra has said quietly to Prerna, who just smiled. “But remember, I will take complete revenge. You will fight time with your husband just I had for mine,” Mrs Mehra mocked anger and Prerna got scared. Mrs Mehra started laughing hysterically and Mr Bajaj and Mr Mehra looked at them surprised.

“Dear Lord Rishab, I don’t know how she doesn’t get scared of you” Mrs Mehra. All three were looking at her, surprised. Mrs Mehra patted Prerna on the cheeks.

“Congratulations!!!! Congratulations to both of you” Mrs Mehra had said, hugging Prerna while Mr Mehra just smiled and patted Mr Bajaj on the shoulder. Prerna came out of her thoughts when she heard Kukki’s voice.

“Oh, you gifted her for the award. That is so cool.” Kukki said excitedly.

“yes!!!” Mr Bajaj and Prerna said in unison, relieved.

“So are we ready for the game night??” Kukki asked

“Game night??” Prerna and Mr Bajaj again said in unison, making a sad face.

“Why are you talking in pairs?” Kukki asked. “And Mehra uncle, stop the treasure hunt that you are doing on your plate with your knives.” Looking at Mr Mehra, who just wiggled his shoulders.

“Kukki, how about this??? Why don’t we skip the game night and have a harry potter rewatch? All parts all night, no questions asked. What do you say?? we can order room service - Pizza, Momo and ice cream,” Mrs Mehra said, trying to sound excited.

“Oh!!” Kukki said dreamily

“No way….” Mr Bajaj and Mr Mehra shouted, but both got a kick from their respective wives. 

“Ouch!!!” Mr Mehra and Mr Bajaj shouted however both controlled themselves the next moment.

“Are you both okay??” Kukki asked. 

“Yes!!! yes!! Never better” Mr Mehra and Mr Bajaj both said in unison.

“Why is everybody talking in pairs?” Kukki shouted, irritated. All the elders gave a constricted smile and went in with their food. 

While Prerna and Mrs Mehra both went to the room to take care of Kukki, Mr Bajaj and Mr Mehra were having a drink. 

“Is your leg okay?? when the wife kicks there is no Rishab Bajaj or Mehra?” Mr Mehra asked quietly. Mr Bajaj gave a constricted smile. 

“Congratulations. You deserve it. Now I need to get going for a harry potter re-run and some amazing junk food,” Mr Mehra said, finishing his glass and getting up from his chair. 

“Don’t worry. She will be asleep after the first one.” Mr Bajaj shouted to Mr Mehra back.

For the world, nothing had changed but for Prerna and Mr Bajaj everything had. They couldn’t wait to be alone. During the wee hours of the night alone in their suite as they became one, Mr Bajaj made Prerna feel so much loved that it brought tears to her eyes. It was as if she was missing this her entire life and she gave up herself completely. 

Current Day

Prerna was dreaming about it and smiling when the driver reached the Bajaj mansion. She woke up as she heard her mother. They entered a dark mansion as the driver brought all of Veena’s other stuff.

“Mr Bajaj and Kukki must have slept,” Prerna said.

“But you called to inform them we were coming today??” Veena interrogated.

“Well, Mr Bajaj tried to arrange a band but….” Prerna thought, but she controlled herself. All that came out was “Mr Bajaj and Kukki were out all day exploring the city. They were so tired when I had talked to them last. I had only asked them to sleep. I don't know how much time packing will take. Woh sab chodo!!! Come, I will show you your room,” Prerna said.

Veena was happy, and mother and daughter were talking again until it was late. Prerna tired and slept in Veena’s lap only. Veena happily kept caressing her head and after some time slept herself. Prerna woke up after some time and carefully got off from the bed to not wake up her mother. She then went to check on Kukki, only to find Mr Bajaj sleeping beside her in her room. Prerna gave a faint smile, looking at her family. Trying not to wake them up, she went near Kukki and kissed her on the head. Then she caressed Mr Bajaj’s head and quietly whispered “Thank you!!! Thank you for everything”. She was just getting up when her saree got stuck in his watch. As Prerna tried to take it out, she saw the coral beads bracelet in Mr Bajaj’s hands and smiled at the memory. She had given a coral to him that year on Kukki’s birthday and their own birthday’s which Mr Bajaj had tied into a bracelet. Since she liked it so much, she started giving them each year, adding more and more of them to the bracelet. She kissed the corals and then went to her room to freshen up. She changed her clothes and took care of some mail. Exhausted, she came back and slept on the other side of Kukki’s bed with Mr Bajaj's hands in hers just like last night.