Update
25
Priya:
Ram yeh kya..you are not telling me…kya hai boliye na?
Ram:
Biwi..I won’t tell you anything..bas will just sweep you off your feet!
Priya:
Woh toh aap kar chuke…so what is new?
Ram
laughed loudly..
Ram:
Priya, you know for all that calm and mature exterior, you are just a little
kid.
Priya
blushed.
Vikram
and Neha walk towards them.
Ram
had his arm casually around Priya’s waist.
Vikram:
Ahaaa so finally Mr and Mrs Kapoor..congratulations. Bahut serious discussion
ho rahi hai?? Aaj raat ka plan??
Ram
and Priya gaped!
Ram:
Vikraaaaaaaaaam Chup kar tu!!
Neha:
Gosh Vikram..did you look at the buffet spread? Bhook lagi hai yaar..let us go
and eat! Ram, Priya chalo na let us go and eat.
Ram:
No no you guys carry on…bhook nahin hai!
Priya
raised her eyebrow..
Vikram
and Neha: Haaaaaaaaaaaaaw bhook nahin hai ya lunch khaane ki bhook nahin hai…
Ram
blushed..Vikram tu merese pitega..
Vikram:
Arrey sach toh keh raha hoon..dekh raha hoon tum donon ko and winked!!
Krishnaji
came and hugged Ram and Priya..
Krishnaji:
Priya..I am so so happy today..I have waited for this day for a very very long
time. I am waiting to spend time with you beta..
Ram
opened his mouth and closed it at once -
JAWDROP (thinks) yeah right..you want to spend time with her…I want to… forget
all that..I want to atleast talk to my biwi without anyone landing right
up..sab ke sab haddis) Ram looked irritated..Priya gently nudged him..he came
back to his senses.
Krishnaji:
Ram, Priya..chalo lunch karte hain..bidai ka time ho raha hai..I need to go to
Kapoor mansion and get everything organised for Grihapravesh and a few other
rituals!
Ram:
What? More rituals? Maaaaaaa…
Priya
looks smug and hides a smile. Ram glared at her and mouthed silently..Just you
wait Priya..
Priya
quietly challenged him.
Krishnaji
gave Ram a stern look and Ram went quiet.
Ram
( irritated) chaliye lunch karthe hain ( yeah right like I need it..koi
samajhtha hee nahin!)
Priya:
Ram aap chaliye..mein abhi aatee hoon Ma se kuch baat karni thee about my
things.
Ram:
No tum baat karo..I will wait. He sulked.
Priya:
Raaaaaam..ek minute mein abhi aatee hoon..do one thing na..just get yourself
something to eat..I will join you in a minute.
Ram:
Mmmm
Ram(
thinks) Why are these women like this..hamesha mummy ke peeche peeche? Aaj ke
din mujhe yahaan akeli chodke chali gayi.
The
lavish buffet did not interest Ram. He just picked out some salad and got back
to Priya. Priya was in an animated conversation with Shipra.
Priya:
Ma…I have kept everything ready..aap bas bhej dijiye na? Obviously, I cannot
spend the whole day wearing all this..
Shipra:
Ok beta..will send it across as soon as we go home..Oh Ram aa gaye aap? Yeh
kya? Aap sirf salad khayenge?
Ram
looked absently at his food..Gosh this is stupid he thought..He gave a sheepish
grin. Priya looked naughty..
Shipra
left them alone to enjoy their first meal together as husband and wife!
Priya
( softly) Ram…I thought someone told me long back..just leaves? And that I
needed the stamina!! Kya hua? She smiled naughtily at him.
Ram:
( laughs) Gosh woman..you drive me crazy..ek toh you are looking sooo…soooooooooo
mmmm sexy..I am all over the place..I can’t help looking at you..can’t even
speak to you..and now this ( points at his plate) I don’t want to eat..I just
want to be with you…ALONE not here in this family circus!!
Priya:
Raaaaaaaam…I am all yours na? Kahaan bhaagi jaa rahi hoon..our wedding na? Log
toh honge? Chalo, you don’t want to eat salad..don’t..I will get a plate for
you..hum saath mein khayenge ok?
Priya
went and got some food- there was so much to choose from !
Priya
broke off a piece of puri..dunked it in the rich paneer makhanwala and brought
it close to Ram’s mouth..Ram smiled and opened his mouth and polished it off
her fingers…Priya blushed..Ram was happy!
Ram:
MMMMMMMMMM that was really really tasty..but bas itna?? Itney se mann nahin
bharta Priya…
Priya
blushed: Ram sab dekh rahe hain..aap khayiye..she looks clearly uncomfortable
at the hooting and whistling by others in the family, took his plate of salad
away and gave him his plate.
Ram:
(softly) Priya….aur khilao na..so yummy..
Priya:
Ishhh Raaaaaam aap bhee na!
Priya
quietly ate..hiding the blush, struggling to keep a straight face..Dadi walked in..
Dadi:
Yeh kya..tum donon bas itna khaoge? Arrey..jao aur meetha leke aao..
The
passing waiter got a tray full of sweets..
Dadi:
Ram..issmey se tum ek sweet Priya beti ko khilao..
Priya
looked shocked: Dadi…naaahin..Raaaaam…nnnn
Ram
needed no encouragement..he took a piece of pedha and took it close to Priya’s
mouth..she looked flustered..all the teasing and the cameras!!! Gosh!!
Priya
blushed and took a tiny bite..Ram proceeded to eat the rest of it!!
Ram
(winked) Waakai..it is very tasty!!!
Priya
could not eat anything more. This was so embarrassing. She played around with
her food and finally gave up!
Dadi’s
announcement that it was time for bidai got the rest of the Sharmas and Kapoors
busy ..
Just the moment he waited for.. it was time
for Bidai..he could be alone with Priya in the car but he was worried.. Priya
looked very calm and composed but he knew she would cry and he did not have to
strength to watch her cry. He was nervous.
Priya
took the blessings of the elders and bid goodbye to the rest of the family and
close relatives. Sudhir was trying to put up a brave face but just could not.
Priya was his life- how could he bear to separate from her- she was his
princess- the one who ran to him and enveloped him in a bear hug when he came
home from work..the little girl grew up to be such a sensitive, warm human
being- successful, intelligent but grounded and rooted in culture. She was his
pride. Priya bowed down to touch his feet..Sudhir hugged her tight. He did not
want to let go of his little girl. Sudhir sobbed like a baby. Priya wiped his
tears and shook her head.
Sudhir:
Papa..yeh kya..mein kahaan jaa rahi hoon..I am just a phone call away..I will
be there the moment you call ok?
Sudhir
nodded tearfully..Ram just stood a little
afar so that they could have their father-daughter moment. Ram (thinking) Gosh
must be so tough letting his daughter go away with another man..I would never
let my daughter go with someone..no way..oh oh…ab uske liye time hai..Ram..you
are nuts..shadi abhi abhi hui..you are thinking of your daughter’s wedding!!!
Priya
hugged Shipra, who was inconsolable..Priya kya karenge hum tumhaare bina?
Priya:
Maa..aap papa ke saath peaceful life enjoy karenge..ab meri shaadi ki tension
nahin hai na? Don’t cry ma..I always want to see you smile..rote hue aap ache
nahin lagte..
Having
bid her goodbyes Priya went to Ram..He held out his hand..she took it. Ram
opened the door of the black Mercedes his other hand going straight to the top
of her head..Priya smiled at him..memories came flooding back..how she fell in
love with her husband! Priya got in gracefully and Ram shut the door and got in
beside her..Priya waved out to her parents and relatives and the car slowly
made way out of the Kapoor farmhouse towards her house….
Priya
sat looking out of the window and her life went on a rewind..her childhood, her
school and college days- lovely moments spent with her parents- in fact every
moment she spent with them was lovely. Tears slowly flowed.
Ram
just let her be for a while..he knew she was crying. It must be so tough-
leaving all her loved ones behind to follow him and adopt his family as her
own. Ram knew that he had to never let her be unhappy..he would fill her with
happiness and joy. Ram slowly took her palms in his and patted it..no words
said..silence..sniffing. He pulled out a snowy white handkerchief and extended
it to her. Priya took it, wiped her tears and gave a small smile. He took a
bottle of water and gave it to her. She accepted it and had a sip.
Ram
simply nodded and called her closer. She put her head on his shoulder. He
patted her like she was a baby. Priya felt secure. She shut her eyes and
drifted off to sleep. Ram just looked at her- she looked so beautiful- she must
be really tired. For Ram..this was bliss..just watching his lovely wife
sleeping on his shoulder.
The
car came to a stop outside the massive gates of Kapoor Mansion. Kapoor Mansion wore a festive look and there
was a lot of buzz inside with the welcoming party waiting for Ram and Priya.
Priya stirred and looked confused. She had slept on Ram’s shoulder!! She was
embarrassed!
Ram
smiled at her: So gayi thee tum..you were tired. Didn’t have the heart to wake
you up.
Priya:
Sorry Ram..woh mein..kal raat ko nahin so payi na isliye…God aapke Sherwani pe
mera make-up ..uff wait let me wipe it off!
Ram
smiled..it’s ok Priya..so what?
Priya:
who ..koi dekhega toh kya samjhega?
Ram:
Priya uff tum bhee na? This was just a little make-up on my sherwani..not your lipstick on me!!! He patted her head as
she blushed. Chalo come home darling!!
Ram
and Priya walked towards the main entrance where there was a nice red carpet
and flowers being showered on them.
At
the doorstep was a decorated brass pot filled with rice. Krishnaji gave instructions
to Priya. Priya carefully lifted her saree to reveal her beautiful mehendi clad
feet- her anklets jingled as she used her right foot to knock down the pot of
rice. A relative placed a decorated brass plate containing vermillion water.
Priya stepped into it and with Ram holding her hand she slowly walked into the
Pooja room.
Priya
was the Grihalakshmi of the household. She took pack of matches and lit the
traditional lamp. Both Ram and Priya stood with hands folded and prayed for a
happy and peaceful life ahead.
Having
done with the Grihapravesh formalities Ram and Priya walked into the living
room of Kapoor mansion. Priya did look uncomfortable to be under the gaze of so
many people. Ram, on the other hand wanted to take her upstairs to their
room..While the women were talking and laughing, Priya sat quietly, waiting to
go and change!!
Ram
got up..
Ram:
Priya..come, I will take you to our
room..all your stuff must have arrived. Why don’t you freshen up and get
changed..I need to make a few calls.
Priya:
Yes Ram.. and looked at Krishnaji.
Priya:
Ma..mein jaaon?
Krishnaji:
Beta..this is your house..you can come and go as you please. You must be tired.
Go and get changed and take some rest.
Ram
took Priya’s hand and slowly went up the stairs amidst a lot of cheering and
good-natured teasing.
Ram
took her their room..opened the door and as she was about to step in he swooped
her into his arms and shut the door in a flash! Priya’s face was just inches
away from his..his arms holding her securely by her waist. Ram looked at her
with so much love…she blushed deep and buried her head in his chest. He slowly
let her down.
Ram:
Welcome home Mrs Kapoor…gosh how I have waited! Ab aur nahin..
Priya
blushed looked down..
Ram:
Priya…look at me..
Priya
just shook her head. Ram just put his hand under her chin and raised it…he just
looked at her…tracing lines on her face..her hair..her eyebrows..her ears..she
was tingling…she shut her eyes..Ram’s finger traced her lips..He could not wait
any more..he cupped her face and his lips just swooped down on hers- gently…with ultimate sweetness.
It was filled with longing. Priya responded to him, shyly. It was a strange
feeling- butterflies in her stomach..thousands of them.
They
broke off the kiss coming up for air..Priya was blushing deep red and Ram
laughed!
Ram:
Kya hua?
Priya:
Nahin..aap..feels awkward.
Ram:
Kya? Awkward? Why? I am your husband.
Priya:
Haan par..you know..I have never…mmm
Ram
pulled her closer to him: You have never what? Kissed before??
Priya
just nodded shyly..
Ram:
Toh maine bhee kahaan kisiko kiss kiya?
Priya:
Aapne bhee nahin ..?
Ram:
Kya nahin kiya..arrey I have not kissed anyone before..never wanted to..par tum
ho na..jab se tum aayi meri zindagi mein I could think of nothing else!!
Witch..you drive me insane.
Ram
kissed her cheek.
Ram:
Priya…just look around..I have got some things for you- there is a saree and
blouse in that package..some jewellery too- just get changed..much as I would
love to be here with you..I know you need some time for yourself. I know you
are still not very comfortable..I will go and make some calls. You get changed
and rest for a while. We will be leaving for the airport in 3 hours!
Priya:
Airport???
Ram
winked…haan airport..and wahan se… to……to
continue from where we left off..he
touched her lips again and planted a quick kiss on her lips.
I
will get changed and go downstairs..just go through all the stuff …don’t bother
to pack anything..I have got everything delivered at our destination.
Priya
could do nothing but nod shyly.
Ram
changed into the cream trousers and the red sweater Priya had gifted
him..splashed after shave and came out..Priya stood looking out of the
window..Ram went to her..hugged her from behind and nuzzled her ear.
Ram:
Biwi….you look so hot..I cannot wait..but mmmmm got to go now..jao jaake tayyar
ho jao. I am in the study downstairs!
Priya
watched her man go..he was so handsome..and her fingers touched her lips..she
blushed thinking of how it felt to be
kissed..in anticipation of things to come!!
