Hello Everyone.
Chapter 78
The Wedding Part 1 !!
“What ?!! Are you serious chachi ?!!” Karthik asked.
“You heard me Karthik !! The groom and the bride don’t see each other during the haldi ceremony.” Keerti chachi announced.
Naksh chacha, Om and Rudra were sitting on the bed and laughing at his misery. Just then Ishana entered the room.
“Chachi, the garlands have arrived.” She said.
“Thank you, Ishana. I will be down in a minute. And you, Karthik freshen up and come down, we have to get going with your haldi. Its your wedding today and there are lots of other things remaining to do.” Keerti chachi said.
“But chachi….” He started to say but was cut off by her.
“Its final, Karthik. Naira is not coming and neither can you meet her until after the baaraat. Do you understand ?!! And you are not to smuggle yourself there or get her here by any means. Ohkay ?!!” She said angrily now While Karthik scowled at her.
Om and Rudra laughed, then shooed everyone out of the room. Only the two of them along with Karthik were left.
“ Don’t worry, Chachi said you can’t go there. But you can still talk to her and meet her.” Rudra said to a depressed Karthik.
“But not now. After your Haldi ceremony. Because, Chachi told we have to send the remaining haldi to Naira’s house as shagun. We have planned something for you. Consider this as a wedding present from our side.” Om said and smiled at both of them.
“That’s another thing. Haldi is for girls and women. Why on Earth am I having it applied on me?!! Unbelievable !! The whole world is against me.” Karthik groaned with irritation.
Om and Rudra chuckled at his state. Karthik went to freshen up and then the three of them went downstairs.
An hour later, Karthik sighed as he sat on the bed. He was stuck in his room still covered with haldi. Keerti Chachi had prohibited him from removing it until she told so.
“Bad enough I can’t do anything for Naira. It’s so unfair that Om and Rudra are allowed to go there and give the shagun. What about me ?!! Even I wanted to go and meet her, And on top of that, Half an hour of torture with those aunties putting this haldi. Why does a boy have to put Haldi ?!!” he muttered to himself. Just then Naksh Chacha entered his room.
“Can I please change now ?!!, Chacha.” He asked.
“Not yet !! Someone wants to see you.”Naksh Chacha said grinning.
“Like this ?!! No way !!” Karthik asked horrified and shielded his face with his haldi covered hands.
“Too late !! Mr. Husband.” He heard Naira’s chuckling voice and removed his hands that were covering his face to have a look.
“You’re here ?!!” he asked as he searched around the room but didn’t find her.
“I’m here.” Naira said and he turned to the sound and saw the source. The phone in Naksh Chacha’s hand.
“We are skyping her. Now you can enjoy as much as you want !!” Naksh Chacha said and winked at Karthik. He gave the phone to Karthik, then left the room.
“Naira. Just a minute. Please. I’ll go, wash my face and come. Then I’ll talk to you.” Karthik said.
“I have already seen you. And don’t you want to see me ?!!” Naira said bashfully.
Karthik’s eyes perked up at that. Was she shy ?!! He picked up the phone and slowly turned the camera so that they were both facing each other.
His breath caught in his throat. Though this was the haldi ceremony, She was just wearing a simple orange saree with no jewellery and no make up. The effect was breath-taking. The orange saree made her skin glow like gold. Her hair was straight and she looked so beautiful with haldi on her cheeks and hands.
“Gorgeous.” He whispered.
She looked down and blushed.
“Not so bad yourself as well.” She said.
“You are freaking me out, babe. Where is your usual talkative self. This silent treatment is not going down well with me. What happened ?!!” he asked.
“I guess the fact that the day has actually come. Miss Singhania to Mrs Goenka. Well you get it right ?!! Life’s going to be so different from today. But at the same time, wonderful.” She accepted dreamily.
“It sure will be wonderful with you by my side always.” He said and smiled.
“Anyways, I heard you troubled Keerti Chachi a lot today.” She asked him mischievously.
“Me ?!! I didn’t do anything. She was the one who refused to let me see you.” He said defending himself while Naira chuckled at his childish nature.
“So were you planning to sneak in again ?!!” she asked him.
“Yes !! It would have been a replay of what happened in the mehendi ceremony.” He said and they both grinned. Their mehendi ceremony played before their eyes.
“Ohkay bye. I gotta go now. Mumma is calling me. I have to go wash the haldi and then we have to come there as well. By the way, You are not allowed to see me in my wedding attire until we both are at the mandap.” She said.
“Why not ?!!” he asked groaning.
“It’s a tradition and I want to see you there. In front of all the others. No where else.” She said softly.
“All of you will kill me one day. But fine. I agree.” He said giving a suffering sigh.
“It’s finally happening, Karthik !!” she said.
“Congrats Mrs Goenka. We are going to get married.” He said softly.
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The entire Goenka Mansion was in a frenzy. The guests had started arriving. Last minute arrangements were taking place. Naira along with her mumma, Anika and Shivaay had already reached there two hours ago.
“Naira, the baraat has left. They will be here in some time.” Anika said.
Naira turned, her smile wide and clear radiance visible in her eyes.
“It’s really happening, isn’t it ?!!” Naira asked Anika.
“Yup, should I Pinch you to make you believe it ?!!” Anika asked teasingly.
“No. Go down. You enjoy the baraat.” Naira said and pushed anika out of the room.
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The baraat entered into the Goenka mansion driveway, Karthik in a gold and red sherwani with a turban on his head and regal-looking sat on a horse. Ishana, Soumya, Om and rudra danced in front of the horse while Keerti Chachi and Naksh Chacha walked along the sideways. But soon enough they were also pulled in by the dancing troupe. They all danced. Karthik laughing atop the horse.
Karthik got down from the horse and the party stood in front of the door. Mrs. Singhania, wearing a resplendent green saree performed Aarti and put tilak on his forehead.
“Dear Son-in-law, Please enter !!” Naira’s mumma said oh so sweetly.
Karthik made a move to enter, But Anika stopped him.
“I want my gift first. Then only I will allow you to meet Naira.” She said.
“What is this ?!! No money now. Only if you manage to get and keep his slippers.” Soumya said on behalf of Karthik.
“Soumya !! Everything is fair in love and war. And this is both. So no money, No entry !!” Anika replied.
Karthik laughed amused, and asked Om for his wallet. He took out some money and handed it over to her.
“Enter Jiju !!” Anika said.
Everyone laughed and entered. Karthik was made to sit while everyone else went on to attend the guests and look after what they needed.
“When will Naira come ?!!” Karthik asked Rudra.
“Have patience my man. She’ll come soon.” Rudra answered chuckling lightly.
“Naira is coming.” Ishana announced as she saw Naira at the top of the stairs.
Karthik turned around to see Naira descending the stairs. She looked like an angel. Wearing a red and gold saree, She absolutely complimented him. Her ethnic jewellery accentuated her look. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. Naira’s eyes soon met his and she too held his gaze, not looking anywhere else.
Naira came down and Keerti Chachi came in front of her and hugged her, told her she was looking absolutely wonderful. Karthik walked up to her and tried to say something but was cut off.
“Come on kids. Let’s Begin the Varmala ceremony.” Naira’s mumma said.
Karthik and Naira stood on the mandap facing each other. Anika and Ishana handed them the garlands.
“Naira, First you have to put it on Karthik.” Keerti Chachi said.
Naira nodded and raised the garland to put it on him. At the last minute, Om and Rudra lifted him up that she couldn’t reach him. Everyone laughed.
“How can you do this ?!!” Anika asked.
“All is fair in love and war !! Remember that ?!!” Om said in a teasing tone.
“Don’t worry, I am with my daughter at this.” Naksh chacha said and moved towards naira.
He and Shivay lifted Naira up so that Karthik and she were on the same level.
“What say Mr. Goenka ?!! I win ?!!” Naira asked him smiling playfully.
“I lost a long time ago.” He answered.
“Get used to it.” Naira said, a smirk playing at her lips.
She put the garland around his neck and everyone clapped. Karthik lifted the garland and tried to put it on Naira but Naksh Chacha and Shivay brought her down and Karthik couldn’t put it around her neck.
“Come down, then you can put it.” Shivay said.
Karthik stepped down and again attempted to make Naira wear the garland but this time, They pulled her back at the last minute. Naira giggled and Karthik scowled. He looked at her with a pleading look and she smiled and moved forward. Karthik put the garland around her neck and everyone smiled again.
“Please sit down. We will begin the wedding ceremony now.” The pandit jii said.
Karthik and Naira sat down in the mandap. The rest of them stepped down to give everyone a clearer look.
“Om !!” Ishana exclaimed as she came running towards where he stood with Rudra and Soumya.
“Where is the fire Ishu ?!!” Rudra Joked.
“Don’t pay any heed to him, dii. What happened ?!!” Soumya said ignoring the joke cracked by Rudra.
“The shoes. Karthik’s shoes are missing !!” Ishana exclaimed.
“What ?!!” Om shouted.
Precap : Wedding Part 2
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So this was part one. The rest of the wedding will be in the upcoming chapter. I know it was a long chapter but then I didn’t want to rush through the wedding. Its sort of fun to write such scenes. I hope it wasn’t dragging and that you all liked it.
If it isn’t understood then I would like to clarify that Anika, Shivay and Naira’s mom are on one team. That is the ladkiwalle. While Om, Ishana, Rudra, Soumya, Keerti Chachi and Naksh Chacha are on another team. The ladkewalle.
The “Joote doo, Paise loo.” Also coming up in next chapter.
Also the number of comments are decreasing as we proceed to the end. Please don’t do so. I request everyone of you to comment.
Do comment. Keep smiling. Keep watching Yrkkh !!