Milan 'A Wedding Story' Ch:19 pg 66 New Aug 5 (No PMs) - Page 38

Fewwwww!! He is back..... soothing. Now waiting for the wedding.

Night is still young 🙇🙇

Thanks for update and nice one...

After so long u update.. Eagerly awaiting for maaneet wedding

Thanks dearies for all the comments and likes. Love reading your thoughts as you read along. Sorry about the late post but it's here now :)

16: Sealed

Geet was not sure when she fell asleep, for when she woke up the next morning, he was gone.

Was it my imagination?

Heart fluttering in alarm, her eyes darted around the room, until they fell on a makeshift bouquet of wildflowers on the nightstand. They were fresh and droopy, weighed down by the moisture from last night’s rains.

“You didn’t forget Maan,” she smiled and bent down to sniff at the fragrant flowers when her eyes spied a note written on the back of a wedding card:

A lovely morning it is but not as lovely as my bride who I see lying by my side, as pure and innocent as the first light. Geet! If you are still wondering why I had to leave just take a peek at yourself!

She looked up in confusion and caught her reflection in the mirror. Her color transformed into a deep crimson upon noticing the state of her partial undress. The card slipped from her trembling fingers as she scrambled to reclaim her chiffon scarf from the bed. She closed her eyes for several moments before daring to read further.

So you see? Now don’t blame me. Blame yourself! Yet, I can’t wait to see you again. Geet, what kind of dilemma have you landed me in?

A sharp knock on the door made her drop the card again.

***

“Geet! Mrs. Sharma just called. Maan is back safe and sound!” Kiran announced drawing her daughter into an ecstatic embrace.

“Is he really? That’s wonderful.”

“Yes, our prayers were answered. He got in at around 5 am. She said he’d just arrived from the airport.”

“Oh... is that so?”

Kiran stared perplexed at Geet. She had expected a far more animated response. “What’s up? Are you..?” Then suddenly she spotted the tell-tale bunch of blooms and her daughter’s face told the rest of the story.

“Hmmm...” she murmured, propping Geet’s flushed face in her hands, “It seems that damaadji isn’t as honest as he makes us all believe, do you agree beta?”

“Mama...please!”

“Alright...I’ll let it go.” Kiran laughed. “What matters most is that both of you are happy and understand each other and I believe that you do, don’t you?”

Geet’s shy nod was just the answer she sought.

“I’m glad because there is no time left to intervene or change plans.” Kiran declared briskly, “both of you have to take part in a very important ceremony this evening.”

“What do you mean mother? And what kind of ceremony?”

“What I mean is that today you’ll be officially promised to Maan.” She smiled, “It is your Sagai or have forgotten already?”

“But...he has just returned from an extensive trip. He must be exhausted.”

“Exactly! That was your father’s concern too and he offered to postpone the function by a couple of days. But it appears Maan was feeling very guilty for all he has put us through. He said he was willing to do anything to make reparations.”

Kiran’s eyes assumed a sharp glint, “Seems like he’s in a hurry to get rid of his single status and I can’t say I blame him. My daughter happens to be quite the rare gem;” she said while placing a tender kiss on Geet’s forehead.

“Now let’s not tarry anymore. The ceremony is scheduled for 4 O’clock and there’s a lot to be done. We don’t want to keep everybody waiting, in particular you know who...”

Kiran happily observed the delightful transformation that came over her daughter’s complexion. The change was remarkable. Maan had managed to win over Geet and by doing so had absolved her mother’s heart of all concerns and worries. Now if only her daughter would understand her responsibilities and grow up; she sighed.

***

Maan, as he waited impatiently for the arrival of his betrothed, worked unsuccessfully on loosening the tight Nehru collar of his beige silk sherwani. He felt stifled and wondered yet again why the happiest days in one’s life must be spent in such discomfort.

He would have rather preferred presenting himself in his favorite old black cord sports jacket had it not been for his mother’s interference---

“My son! You can’t wear that!” She had remarked with a rare disapproving frown on her face; “You need to dress the part! Geet, I’m sure, will look like a doll. You don’t want to let her down, do you?”

Unable to come up with a compelling enough excuse to counter her argument, he had given in reluctantly. Though right now he sorely regretted the decision. Geet for sure wouldn’t care about how he looked, or would she? Unfortunately, he had no clue.

“Why is she taking so long?” He muttered under his breath. But the words didn’t escape the astute ears of his future father-in-law who eyed him sympathetically.

“This is just the beginning my son, you’ll get used to it. I hope it doesn’t make you want to change your mind though...”

Maan was saved from giving a reply by the arrival of the girl who of late had claimed sole occupancy of his mind. Dressed in a lemon green and navy blue lehenga sari, embroidered elaborately in silver thread, Geet indeed looked like a doll- a living breathing doll-lovely enough to make his heart stop and start several times over.

But why wouldn’t she look at him? Hadn’t she read his note? He had been desperate since morning to know of her feelings.

***

Meanwhile Geet was battling her own anxieties. Ever since a child she had detested ceremonies, particularly the kind that centered on her except birthdays when she got to eat cake, play with her friends and be showered with abundance of love and gifts. But those days were long gone.

She found the present situation especially unsettling. What with dozens of eyes trained on her, critically appraising every aspect of her manner, her looks, her dress, her figure. Nothing could be more distressing. The only way she could restrain herself from making a run for it was by keeping her gaze affixed steadfast to the ground. Thus she failed to meet her fiancés eye henceforth managed to elevate his angst by a considerable degree.

As a consequence, the prospective bride and groom sat quietly side by side and submitted to the various rituals in relative silence much to the surprise of everyone present.

Jai applied the tikka on Maan’s forehead and presented him with a silver tray containing fourteen churahey and a coconut wrapped in gold leaf. Maan was then blessed and entrusted with several gifts despite his vehement protests.

Then it was Geet’s turn. Mrs Sharma first draped over her head a red ornate chunni-- a family heirloom that had been passed down the generations. Geet was then presented with jewelry that her mother helped her wear and a dot of henna was applied to her palm for good luck. Then she too was blessed with every possible kind of thing in the world---a few made her go red in the face and had everyone laughing at her expense.

Finally, it was time for her and Maan to exchange rings. She was assailed with a feeling of severe abashment as with trembling fingers she slipped the simple band of gold around his finger. It was astounding given that just a few hours ago she had flung her arms around his neck and hugged him with complete abandon. She was quite certain that her betrothed was wondering along the same lines though he chose not to give word to his thoughts when it was his turn to seal the deal. Yet the pressure on her fingers conveyed all.

tbc

PS: thanks in advance for showing your appreciation :)

Update after long. Was waiting for it. Thank you

Lovely update

Poor geet is soooo nervous and she is confusing maan

Lol loved how geets mom found out about her son in laws honesty

Waiting eagerly for their marriage

Thanks for update and nice one...

At least maaneet got engaged and geet mother came to know maan came to see geet before maan going to home and she is happy for that....

It's sooo adorable story. .I liked it soo much...Maan nd geet r sooo likeable...they r soo lovely...waiting to see them get married

awesome

maan is waiting for geet n thinking why she is taking this much time to come but geet is very nrvous as every bodies eye are on her so not looking at maan who wants to get his answer for her looking in her eyes about bote he writ in morning

thanks for updating!

Chapter 16

liked Maan's note!

oh Kiran picked up on Maan's lie! she is happy for Geet!

glad that Maaneet got engaged!

Geet is so nervous and Maan wonders why she is not looking at him!

can understand Geet's state!

hope Maan does not misunderstand her!