“We are going to honeymoon? On a Mediterranean cruise? A private one at that?” I exclaimed. I had heard they were expensive, and the ones I had heard of wasn’t private. This one actually was. I’m not sure what I looked like, but when he gently pushed my chin up, I realised my mouth was open forming a perfect ‘O’.
“Isn’t is like too costly? It might as well be the budget of our whole marriage! More than that?” I asked him. I mean sure it sounds great! Great doesn’t even define it, but it’s way too costly. And that too for 15 days!??!
“Extravagant is the word you probably are looking for jaan. And that’s dad for you. He goes out and out when he does something.” He said.
“But do we take this Kartik? We as in both of us cannot afford something like this.” I said.
“I would have bothered with denying when he wouldn’t have had paid for it. But seeing he already has done it, we might as well go and enjoy. And I don’t want to hurt him again. Returning this might do it.” He said, it did make sense.
A gift is given with love. Money doesn’t matter behind it. If we say this when the gifts are cheap and handmade, it really should be said when they are overtly extravagant, having money is no crime.
“So when are we leaving?” I asked. I was excited for this. It looked fun. Only him and me on the European waters! What was not to like!
“Tomorrow, we will go to Delhi first and take a flight from there.” He replied.
“Ohh. That’s too soon. No time to shop! Or meet family. We have to start rushing then Kartik. Of we plan to get our packing done.” I stressed. Like there was literally some hours over a day left. We had so many things to do.
“Naira chill, we can go to shopping now itself, and then we can go to Singhania house. It’ll all be done okay. No big deal.” He assured me.
“But it is a big deal, we would have to hurry like really hurry.” I replied
“Naira?” suvarna maa called me. “Coming maa” I shouted and ran.
“Naira, these are some things I got for you, when Manish ji said he’ll be giving you tickets to Europe.” It contained everything I could think of. Skirts, dresses, both short and long ones, crop tops, jackets, overcoats. She had thought of everything. Oh my. Did I not have the best parents in law?
“Thank you maa.” I gave her a hug, a very tight one. I had gotten all the love in one day it felt like. “I had promised your mother, after she passed away, you’ll never not have a mother. I’ll love you like my own.” She said, rubbing my back.
“And thank you darling. For giving is our Kartik back. If it wasn’t for you, he wouldn’t he asked. Thank you my child.” She said, “Go now, rush to Kartik. Before he starts missing you.”
I gave her a shy smile. I would really start missing me in some time, I went to him.
“Well I don’t need to shop, what about you? Do we go and get a few things?” I asked. He was just looking at the heap on my hand.
“It’s one day you are here, and no one cares about me.” He said, folding is hands against his chest.
“Really? This is the time you find to do all the drama? And may I remind you, you get the same privileged treatment at my place. So I for once getting importance wouldn’t hurt, especially when I’m the princess. And your queen too I might add.” I replied, rolling my eyes.
“And a mendaki. You again began with tar tar tar, oh the queen of the world.” He said.
“Well I got married to a mendak, I must be a mendaki. And by the way, did I tell you? I love this mendak.” I said
“This mendak loves you too my lady.” He replied, putting his arms around my waist, pulling me closer. Giving me a peck on lips. A soft little kiss, to remind me we love each other, not that I had forgotten. I just loved those kisses.
We went to the mall, and got him some T shirts, jackets, suit and overalls. He went to the washroom, while I went through some shorts, and tracks for him.
After which we went to Singhania house, and informed them about our honeymoon plans. Everyone was ecstatic, Gayu di and bhai had there mouths open, Kartik informed me, I looked exactly like that when I had read that envelope.
“Aren’t you very lucky? Marriage in a palace, honeymoon on a cruise? What else can you ask for?” Gayu di said.
“A husband like Kartik di, but I already have him.” I replied.
We even told them, about the reunion of son and father. They were so happy to hear it. Dadi, badi dadi actually had years in their eyes, saying their daughter was now settled in her home. And that they didn’t need to worry any more. That I’ll always keep my family together, just like maa.
They gave us all the instructions of how to take care, and what all to eat, take proper warm clothes. Families, they’ll keep telling this even after I had my own kids. They are like that, always loving and caring.
We bid them good bye soon after that, as our packing and preparations were all left, which we did immediately after reaching to Goenka Villa.
The night passed in jitters for both of us, we were both excited about the journey. I had never went to Europe for one, and the pictures that I had seen on Internet were too appealing. We were going to Greece, Croatia, Corsica, Rome, Venice and I was jumping in excitement
We were together in Switzerland too, but I was being a dumb ass person there. And we didn’t romance at all in the city of love. But now, we were going to honeymoon. I already had some plans and demands.
I’m the morning we did pooja together. We touched feet of our elders.
“Take care children. Don’t have too much fun, and call us everyday.” Dadi said. “Remember you have an oldie here waiting for you Kittu.”
“Have fun kids, happy journey. Remember we are just a call away.” Dad said. “Thank you dad, and not only for your wishes, for best wedding gift ever.” I replied. Maa just gave me a hug and asked to take care.
Luv Kush handed us big lists of things they wanted from Europe. Kartik asked, “Have you ever looked at yourself? This list is bigger than you.”
To give him some credit, it actually was, “Bhaiya, half of it is what mishti wants, the rest half is us. And get it all don’t return without it.” They threatened us.
We made our good byes and left to Delhi.
Here we come Europe.
Authors notes –
Another chapter done. Nothing happened in this one as such, but I think this would be the situation in a few chapters to come, kaira all around. So tell me if you are ok with that.
Well a cruising honeymoon around Europe? What do you think? Appropriate? Lavish? Tell me what you think.
And, umm. Actually I was a very bad student at geography, barely scraping through, so if I mess up with something in Europe, I already apologise.
We are in the palace, need I remind you about watching yrkkh? Keep Commenting. Keep loving kaira, shivin and yrkkh.
Happy reading.