Chapter 30

look at the second pink lehenga. something of that sort.

Geet ' daadi wont it be too much. Look u have made me look like a bride.

Daadi ' that's what I wanted. I had missed pampering u on ur wedding day. It was a hurried affair because of me so I want u to look like a bride.

Geet ' but daadi it is just a family affair and I look over dressed.

Daadi ' no u r not overdressed. Its ur first karvachauth every one will look at u and expects u to be the best as u are Mrs maan singh khurana. We will have some family guests too. I will give u the details.

U have met my sister. Her daughter sujata and bahu tanvi will be here with their husbands. And tanvi's husband and son work for khuranas' sort of coz their business is supported by us. Tanvi's bahu kiya is a little rude types dnt mess with her she is elder to u.

Geet tried to absorb all the info given to her and make faces of them based on more info of their nature was given by daadi while she made geet wear the nath too.

Now the bride was totally ready according to daadi.

Daadi called maan fifth time to remind him for coming home by 6 for puja. He seemed too reluctant not knowing why he is needed for geet's fast. He was not into rituals anytime and was ignorant of his role. Daadi had assumed that geet wud have informed him of his need and explained it as a chatter box she is.

The puja was begun after basic formalities with the relatives. Puja begins in advance to the rising of moon in que with the expected time of its rising. Geet sat with others for the ritual. It was a splendid sight women adorned in lovely attires sitting around a small water pool. All the men sat at a distance waiting for the moon to rise and the ordeal of the ladies to end. Maan was nowhere to be seen. Puja wud end soon and moon would be also seen. This made daadi very anxious and at the same time angry on maan.

Daadi went down and found maan lazily sitting in his room.

Dm ' maan aap yahan hai. Aur mein pareshan hu. Geet kitni udas lag rahi hai. Thik hai ki aapko rituals pasand nahi par vo pure din fast karke aapka wait kar rahi hai aur aap aise yahan baithe hai. Upar jaiye isse pehle ki vo chaand dekhe.

Maan came up with daadi still trying to gather what has to be done by him.

By now moon was seen and ladies were completing the ritual one by one. Bari daadi was doing the puja. Maan searched for geet. He saw someone sitting on the ground doing something. NT moved to bring in clear view of geet sitting and arranging her thali. She got up adjusting her heavy lehenga. Maan cud not move his gaze off her. She was looking beautiful. He stared blankly at her. She didn't see him and was standing there with her head bend down. Daadi moved to her side. Everyone had done their part and it was geet's turn. She looked at daadi with teary eyes who looked behind her. She turned to look at maan. She gulped in, one drop escaped the corner of her eye. She wiped it before anyone cud see it but maan marked it.

Dm ' kissi ne aapse kuch kaha?

Geet just nodded in denial. She knew if she spoke her voice wud tell daadi. She kept a hand over daadi's and she kept her's over geet's. maan saw how the two women assured each other. Each's eyes had tears and glared at maan in unison. Maan raised his shoulder with a sigh.

As soon as daadi had left every women had done her bit of taunting on maan's absence. Daadi was the protector as everyone feared her. Geet never back answered so was quite standing in the corner bearing all the wrath silently.

He was again spell bound by her beauty and was staring at her. He was relieved when she turned to offer jal to moon. But the relief was very short lived as he saw her bare back. Her skin glowed and seemed so seductive when all it had was two strings holding the choli. She raised her hand offering flowers and her back muscles flexed. Maan cud feel his body getting tensed by the view.

She turned to face him. Daadi stood near them instructing geet with each step. Everyone eyed them or rather envied the gorgeous couple. They seemed so much like made in heaven.

Geet looked at the moon thru the sieve and then maan's face thru the sieve. She took his arti very mechanically but their eyes met and she cud see some uncomprehendable emotions there. His emotions were becoming uncomprehendable for his own self too. The slight touch of her index finger on his forehead to apply kumkum was so soothing. He stood there silently admiring her when daadi broke his thoughts.

Dm ' maan paani pilaiye.

Maan raised the silver tumbler for geet. She sipped in a few sips then he gave her a sweet to bite. She took a small bite. He expected her to feed him in return coz he had seen NT feed dev.

Daadi smiled ' maan aapne to fast ki nahi ki geet aapko paani degi.

Maan ' to dev ne fast kiya hai?

Dev ' haan bro. here 3 of us have fasted for our wives.

The father son duo had fasted along with dev.

Bari daadi ' beta ye tradition nahi hai. Fast to larkiyo ko rakhna hota hai par ye nayi pirhi biwi k liy kuch bhi karegi. Dekho mera beta aur pota dono fast karte hain.

Dev ' daadi aap fir suru mat kijiye.

Kiya ' haan waise bhi mujhe dekhna hai maan geet k liye kya gift laya hai?

Maan was surprised that's when dev passed NT beautiful diamond earrings. Each male member had brought some or the other jewelry piece for their wives but everyone was anxious to see maan's gift that too his first karvachauth gift. This was to be given by no other but The Perfect Maan Singh Khurana who has dominated and dictated them for all these years.

Dev always got best gifts for NT but here NT was also curious for it was first time seeing maan buy gifts.

Daadi understood maan's plight. She was prepared in advance that maan could create such fiasco. She handed over a beautiful box to him.

Maan handed over the box to geet. Daadi asked geet to open the box. It was a beautiful diamond necklace paired with equally lovely earrings. Everyone admired it. It was worth the admiration not only because of its cost but its beauty too.

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Dm ' ye hamara hai. Aapke daadaji ne mujhe karvachauth pe diya tha aur mein chahti hu isse geet pehne. She nudged maan to make geet wear it. He picked up the necklace put it around her narrow neck and moved behind her to fasten it. Coming close to her was a long time wish come true. He inhaled her scent. His fingers slowly removed her choti out of the way in process caressing her nape. The caress made geet get goose bumps all over. He saw people were eyeing his each move and geet was also feeling awkward by the poking eyes. KODAK He hurried the process and moved to the front.

NT was sad that daadi gave such a beauty to geet and not her. She was in her worst mood. Usually her gift used to be the best of all but this time daadi stole her charm. Had it not been daadi maan wud have not given anything and she wud again become the cream.

Others burned in envy.

Tanvi ' so actually maan got nothing for geet. Geet but atleast daadi thought for you.

Geet ' oh he took the pain of coming here from his busy schedule that is the gift for me.

Her statement was a double sided sword. One side a taunt for maan and the other to stop this bickering by others.

Maan cud very well understand the taunt which other people were oblivious to.