I cannot even express how happy and excited I feel today. I am wearing my new green churidaar that dadi brought for me today. The whole house is buzzing with excitement, there are fresh flowers everywhere and marigold garlands have been used to decorate the whole house. Maa's friends, the relatives and my grandparents are also here. Everyone is so busy.
Right now, Maa is getting ready for her haldi. I go see her and find her wearing a beautiful yellow saree. She looks happy, but I am happier than her today. I see everyone apply the haldi on her face and body and I also apply it to her face, and Tarika Chiti playfully smeared the haldi on my face as well. Patti got very emotional when she was applying the haldi on maa, she took her into her arms and started crying, but she quickly started smiling and started caressing her.
After the haldi ceremony, we got really busy preparing for the Sangeet ceremony that is going to be held tonight in the hall downstairs. We had very less time to prepare for all the dance performances. I felt that maa was slightly panicking because she would have to dance with Papa tonight but they have not rehearsed their dance even once yet.
Everyone gets so excited when Papa arrives with all his family members for the Sangeet. I still couldn't believe that all this was happening for real. Some months ago we were just strangers, he was only a teacher for me and now he is becoming my papa. I feel very lucky. Dadi told me that this is all God's plan and I really want to thank God today for everything he's provided me so far. Thank you so much God.
Papa takes me into his arms and hugs me tightly as he enters the hall. "You look so handsome Papa", I tell him and he winks at me and says, "thank you my Princess. This is all by your grace my bachcha. I hope your maa thinks so as well", and we both laugh.
I stare at Papa as his eyes look for maa in the big hall. He finally sees her and stands transfixed as he watches her talk to Tarika Chiti and her friends. He doesn't move or blink even once and when maa raises her head and finds him staring at her, she lowers her head immediately and starts blushing. I start grinning at both of them.
Everyone dances during the ceremony. Even if we had very little time to practice, everyone was dancing really well and was enjoying themselves thoroughly. I also danced along with my friends. At last, it was time for maa and Papa's dance. Everyone stood up and started clapping excitedly as they waited for them to go on the stage. I wish both of them good luck as they walked towards the stage.
I see maa reluctant to start dancing at first, but then Papa offers her his hand and as soon as maa slowly places her hands in his, everyone in the hall start clapping and shouting excitedly. The "ye moh moh ke dhaage teri ungliyon se ja uljhe" tune start playing in the background and they start dancing. It did not seem even once that these two have not practiced this dance before. Both were dancing beautifully and with the perfect sync. Everyone stood up and clapped loudly for them after their dance. The ceremony ended very late in the night. We enjoyed it a lot and there was no one in the hall that did not dance with us.
The next day was even more busy. The whole house was a mess. Everyone was busy with the final preparations. Papa was soon to arrive and I was already dressed in my new orange lehenga. I so wanted them to get married quickly so I could live with both of them as soon as possible! How lucky am I to be able to witness the wedding of my maa and Papa! I am so excited and I rush into maa's room to watch her get ready.
Maa looks... I cannot even describe how beautiful she looks right now. She is wearing a ravishing red lehenga and she sees me and starts smiling. She takes me into her arms and I see her eyes brim with tears and I tell her, "maa, it is such a happy day why are you crying now? Please don't."
"These are tears of happiness my dear", she tells me, "as long as you are in my life Ruhi, I will never have to cry my Angel. You're my biggest blessing and thank you my love. It is only because of you that your maa is getting married today. I would never have witnessed these precious moments if it wasn't for you. Thank you for coming in my life and bringing your Rajat Papa in this as well."
I wipe the tears off her face and tell her, "No maa. Thank you for bringing this happiness in my life. I am very happy maa. I will have a complete family now. Thank you. I love you."
She hugs me tightly and I tell her, "by the way maa, I am sure Papa will faint if he sees you dressed like this. You look really beautiful. I am sure he wouldn't be able to stop staring at you." We both start laughing and we hear a knock on the door. It was Tarika Chiti, she peeks in and tells us, "Akka, Rajat Jiju is here, he wants to talk to you."
I am shaking as I enter her room. I am not even sure what am I going to tell her right now, I only needed to see her. Will I even be able to look at her when...?
Ruhi rushes into my arms as soon as she sees me coming in. "Oh papa, you look so handsome. This sherwani matches with that of maa. By the way, are you ready to see maa? Brace yourself papa, do not faint", she tells me before she starts giggling.
She asks me to close my eyes as she starts dragging me towards her. I start smiling already imagining how beautiful she must be looking in her bridal outfit, as my bride.
"You may open your eyes now", she tells me excitedly and when I do as told I...
I get dumbfounded. I start staring at her open-mouthed. I don't even know what I should be saying or doing next. She is looking even more beautiful than she was in my dreams and thoughts. Her outfit, the red chunari on her head and her jewelleries are only adding to her beauty. She is glowing and shining, like a goddess from out of this world. I keep staring at her as she keeps lowering her eyes and turning even more red.
"Rajat", she snaps me out of my staring session, and asks "how do I look?"
I raise an eyebrow and tell her, "are you crazy Purvi?"
She gasps, "why, what happened, is something wrong?"
I then smile widely and tell her, "how do you expect me to praise the epitome of beauty? Would words ever suffice to tell a goddess how beautiful she looks right now?"
She turns scarlet and mumbles, "Rajat..."
"Maa, papa", Ruhi Interrupts us, "dadi is calling me downstairs. I'll have to leave you two alone. See you."
I wait for her to close the door and then I move closer to Purvi. I kneel down infront of her and take her hands in mine.
I wish I could capture this very moment forever in my mind.
"Purvi", I tell her, "I don't even know where to start. To be honest, I never thought I'd get married one day. But when you and Ruhi came into my life, I don't know what happened. It felt like we were meant to be a family. I felt this strong connection and there was like a relationship between us already. I know we've been through a lot. We know why and for whom we are getting married today."
I pause to wipe the tears from her face and I continue, "today, before we culminate our wedding, I want to tell you Purvi, I will never leave any dearth in loving you and Ruhi. Ruhi will always be my first love and my first child. I will never abandon you two as long as I live."
I sense her tighten her grasp around my hands as she sees tears start streaming down my face.
"Purvi, there will be ups and downs, there will be mistakes, clashes of opinions, but I'll always try to be understanding. I don't expect a lot from others Purvil, but all I expect is for you and Ruhi to be forever in my life. I'd readily give my life, my heart and all of my love to you two. I know we have set boundaries in our relationship, and I will always respect it. I promise you", I tell her before lowering my head.
"Rajat", she adds, "Ruhi chose you as her father, chose you to be part of our family. She is my everything and if you mean the world to her, you mean a lot to me as well. I will always love the father of my daughter with all I have. Rajat, I know I have a lot of love in me, but I forgot how to show it. You'll have to forgive me if I take some time. You're extremely special to me Rajat. I will always respect you, stand by you and support you. I promise you."
We look at each other for some time and for the first time ever, we embrace. That short while felt surreal, out of this world. I wish time could have paused there.
.
The wedding ceremony was packed with emotions. Her parents were crying on one side, my mother was bawling out on the other. Both of us cried when Ruhi tied our gathbandhan and as we took the 7 rounds around the fire. These moments felt like a dream. Who would have thought that I'd be applying sindoor to the forehead and tie a mangalsutra on the neck of someone who was a complete stranger some time back? Would we even have met if it wasn't for Ruhi? How destined was it for two strangers to have bonded in such untimely circumstances because of this one child, our child, our precious Ruhi?
We were showered with flowers and blessings at the end of the ceremony. Purvi cried when she hugged her parents and bid them farewell. When we were about to leave, Tarika and Simmi started teasing us, "where are you planning to go for your honeymoon now?" Purvi and I simply looked at each other and started smiling.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Thank you guys for your reviews. Glad you all are liking the story. Keep reading... Keep reviewing and Sorry for the late update ...