~~~IMPORTANT~~~
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Moving on… ???
“Words in double quotes” – Talking
‘Words in single quotes’ – Thoughts
(Words in braces) – Telephone conversations
Chapter 1
“Are you done?”
“No.”
“It’s been three hours. Come out already!”
“Please no. Please, I beg of you. Please don’t make me do this. Please!”
“You have to do this. There’s no way out of this. Now come out!”
“This isn’t fair. How could you treat me this way? I’m your daughter and yet…yet, you’re treating me like this? How could you? How could you Maa!?”
Shramishtha scoffed. “Whatever! I don’t give a damn about your feelings about this. You will do it and that’s it Ragini!”
The door to the room opened and Swara came inside, her bag in hand. She had just come back from the market. She looked at the occupants in the room in confusion.
Her father, Shekhar, stood to the side with a miserable face. Her mother was glaring at the bathroom.
“Maa, please! Spare me! Oh spare me dear mother!” came a voice from the bathroom. Swara instantly recognized it as Ragini’s.
Swara went up to her father and tapped his shoulder. “What’s going on in here Papa?” she asked with uncertainty.
Shekhar gave a defeated sigh. “Your mother has asked your elder sister to put on a saree.”
Swara’s eyes widened at his words. ‘Ragini and Saree in the same sentence? Apocalypse, apocalypse! Run for your lives!’ she looked at her father in horror. “Papa, you know Ragini hates traditional dresses. Top and jeans define her! Blazers, palazzo pants, boots, sneakers, T-shirts, glasses, wrist bands…all these are more of Ragini’s style. She would rather wear a giant baggy sack than a Saree!”
Shramishtha turned to look at her younger daughter with a glare. “Stop encouraging your sister Swara. She will have to wear a Saree today and that’s it! Her future groom and his family are coming to see her.”
Swara gasped at her words. “Groom?!”
“Yes.” Shramishtha’s face softened and her eyes teared up. “A proposal has come for our Ragini. Oh, My little Ragini is all set to get married soon! It feels like it was just days ago when she was walking around, holding my hand. And now…now she will leave this house, forever, to go live in her husband’s house.”
“If you’re so sad about it, then let’s just skip the entire thing and tell the boy’s family that you don’t want me to marry! Then I won’t have to wear this stupid Saree!” Ragini shouted from the bathroom.
Shramishtha’s sorrowful face instantly converted into one of anger. “Shut up you idiotic girl! Get dressed soon and come ou-Aaa!” Shramishtha screamed as Ragini stepped out.
“Bwhahahahahaha…!” Swara practically fell over laughing as she saw how Ragini had put on the Saree. “Ragini, you look ridiculous!”
Ragini blew away a strand of hair that fell before her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest in irritation. “Whatever! I don’t give a damn. I did the best I could to wear it. But this stupid thing wouldn’t fit right!”
Shramishtha looked towards the sky in exasperation. “What am I supposed to do with this girl?!” she stepped forward towards Ragini. “Even your younger sister knows how to wear a Saree. Why don’t you?”
“Then marry her off to the boy that you’ve selected for me.” Ragini retorted, earning a glare from her mother.
“Hey! Don’t pull me into this mess.” Swara exclaimed. “Well, on second thought, maybe I will marry him if he is handsome enough.” Swara joked.
“Shut up both of you! Swara, come help me dress up your sister.” Shramishtha ordered. She turned to look at Shekhar. “What are you doing here standing idle? Go check if the guests are here already. Why are you adamant on making me more angry?! I bet it’s your fault Ragini is so stubborn and reckless! It’s your genes that’s responsible!”
Shekhar gave a tired sigh and left the room. He knew arguing with his wife was fruitless. “Sometimes I wonder why I married this bossy woman.”
“I heard that!” came the sound from inside.
Shekhar sweat dropped. ‘Oops! Guess I’m sleeping on the couch tonight.’
#Elsewhere#
“The girl is beautiful I tell you. Beautiful!”
“Indeed Sujata. She looks so sanskari too. She is no doubt perfect for our Sanskar.”
“Yes bhai. She is the one for you I tell ya. She’ll fill your life with so much happiness that you’ll never want to leave her side! Right Maa?”
Sujata nodded. “Yes Laksh. You’re absolutely right!”
Sanskar’s eyebrow twitched as he kept listening to the rantings of his mother, father and his little brother. They had arranged his marriage without informing him. Their excuse was that he was ‘too busy in his business and too stoic.’ As if that justified them making one of the most important decisions of his life!
He sped up the car in his anger. His parents were busy chatting, but Laksh, who was in the front seat beside him, noticed it. “Wow Sanky! You sure seem excited to meet your about-to-be wife and my future bhabi.”
Sanskar turned to glare at him. “If you value your teeth, you’ll shut up.”
Laksh raised his hands in surrender. “Hey, I’m joking, okay? Calm down.” he spoke lightheartedly. “But I’m not kidding. Ragini really is very beautiful. I bet she’s more beautiful in real life than the photo that I saw. You already saw her photo. Don’t you think the same?”
“If you find her that beautiful, why don’t you marry her yourself?”
Laksh chuckled. “I could. But I’ve chosen her for you big bro.”
Sanskar turned to look at him with wide eyes. “You chose?!”
“Yep! I was the one who showed Mum and Papa her photo.”
Sanskar gripped the steering wheel harder and squeezed hard enough to make the cover crease.
“Oi! What did the steering wheel ever do to you? Leave it.”
“I’m imagining it to be you.” Sanskar bit out “Just why? Why would you do this to me?! I was fine without a girlfriend till now. I wanted to wait a year or two before marrying a girl.”
“Na-uh! That’s too late if you ask me.”
“But I’ve got an company to run. The Maheshwari Enterprise depends on me.”
Laksh sighed. “Bhai, yes your company needs you. But what about you? You need someone in your life as well. Someone who’s would give your u their whole attention and love.” Laksh spoke in sincerity. “Besides, the more sooner you marry, the more sooner I’ll get to be an uncle.”
“If you like kids that much then why don’t you marry yourself?”
Laksh smirked. “I would. But if I want to marry, you need to marry first.”
“That’s ridiculous! Maa and Papa won’t disagree if you want to marry before me.”
“I know. But it’s necessary for you to find happiness before me.”
Sanskar looked at him in confusion. “Lucky, bu-”
“No ‘but’s! Now be sshhh and keep driving.”
#One hour later, Gadodia house#
“They’re here!” Shekhar exclaimed as he saw the car approach. “Caleb, go tell the others.” Shekhar told him. Caleb was a school friend of Ragini and lived only a few blocks away from their house. In fact, he spent most of his time in the Gadodia house, spending his time with Ragini. Caleb was a good fellow, someone Shekhar knew he could trust.
Caleb sighed. “Okay Uncle.” saying so, he went inside to inform the women in the house.
Shekhar looked at him go with a confused look. ‘Was it me, or did he really sound depressed?’ his thoughts were interrupted by the car parking in front of him. ‘Whatever! I’ll see to it later.’
#Inside#
“There!” Shramishtha exclaimed, satisfied with her work.
“Finally done!” Swara huffed out, exhausted from dressing up Ragini. With the amount of resistance her elder sister did, it was a wonder that she and her mother managed to put the Saree on Ragini properly. Nevertheless, it was done at last. And Ragini looked absolutely stunning!
The pink saree she wore matched the blush on her cheeks. Her long eyelashes highlighted with mascara made her eyes look beautiful. Her golden earrings and bangles jingled as she moved. Only thing short of was a crown. With it, she would pass off easily as a princess.
Ragini went and stood before the mirror. Her eyes widened on seeing her reflection. “This…this thing is…this thing is me?! The heck?!”
“Beta, you look pretty.” Shramishtha complimented. And she wasn’t lying. Ragini looked like a sight for sore eyes. Looking at her beauty, no man would refuse to marry her.
“I look like a freaking doll! And I hate dolls!” she screamed in disgust. “This pink dress is…is…ugh!!! I look like a freaking pink ball of nausea!”
“Shut up! You look lovely. This is what a proper lady should look like.”
Swara giggled at Ragini and Shramishtha’s actions. ‘Aww…Ragini looks so cute. The guy will no doubt fall in love with her at the first sight!’ Swara thought in excitement. Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. “Yes? Who is it?”
“It’s me, Caleb. Shekhar uncle told me to inform you that Ragini’s the guests are here.” Caleb shouted from the other side.
Shramishtha gasped at his words. “They’re here already!?” she checked herself in the mirror. “Ragini, come out with tea when I call for you, alright? And don’t mess up!” saying so, Shramishtha opened the door and left the room.
Caleb watched her go and turned to look at Ragini. As she tucked her hair behind her ear and looked up, her eyes seemed to entrance him. He looked at her from head to toe. Eventually, their eyes met. “You look good.” he complimented.
Ragini smiled. “Thanks.”
Swara raised an eyebrow in question. ‘Wasn’t Ragini cussing and throwing a fit since we made her wear a Saree? But now, to him, she didn’t say anything rude? I understand that they had been childhood friends. But still, strange…’
“Um…I…I should go check if Shekhar uncle wants me to get him something. Bye!”
Before Ragini could stop him, Caleb left the room. ‘Ugh! Now who am I supposed to ask help from to get rid of this marriage proposal?!’
“Oho! Already lost in thoughts about your future husband, I see. Are you that excited to meet my future jiju?” Swara joked.
“I would rather think about insects and centipedes than think about some rich snob who has come to ask for my hand.”
Swara rolled her eyes and hugged her sister. “I’ll miss you so much once you’re married Ragini. I’ll miss our crazy talks, our pranks, our fights an-”
“Aww…I’ll miss you too Swara.” Ragini hugged her back. “But this question won’t arise at all if you help me break off th-”
“Hey! No tricks Ragini. Maa says he will be perfect for you. He is rich, kind, generous and from a respected family. You’ll live like a princess with him!”
Ragini rolled her eyes. “Whatever! Let’s just go meet him.” her mother’s words came back to her. “Oi Swara! How am I supposed to take tea to them, when I don’t even know how to make it?”
Swara sighed. “You should feel lucky that I am here to help you. It’s really time you learned to cook something. What will you feed your husband if you don’t know how to cook?” Swara chided.
“Well, he can start stocking his fridge with bread and jam.” Ragini joked. “And it’s not like I don’t know how to cook at all. I can cook Maggie!” she said with pride.
Swara ran a hand over her face. “Just keep quiet and follow me to the kitchen. I’ll make it for you to take it to them.”
“Ai ai Captain. Lead the way!”
************************************
To be continued…
Next chapter – Ragini and Sanskar’s first meeting.
Do give your views and comments.
~ ? Mona ?