Part 71
The new Mrs Gujral
4:40 AM
May 30th 2011
There is loud clapping and whistles again. Khanak's eyes are closed she is just "feeling" the moment. Her husband returns the maang teeka pendant to its place and returns the ring back to the gold container
Madz (to her sister) Koi isko tissue do!
Shaan grabs the tissue and quickly rubs his fingers, she opens her eyes, Bai and Aada are standing in front, she looks up at them, and quickly is up herself to hug them tight. He is so overwhelmed emotionally she is unable to say a word. They stand there for a few minutes that way, the threesome in a tight squishy hug
Then her Dadi and her family streams in to congratulate followed by her new in-laws, Dadi and Maasi and Chacha's family, followed by Rahat-Noor; Ram Renuka Aman-Saaz; Ritu Kritik; Viren-Nivs, the brigade of young girls lastly the guys, and then Pradeep and his wife and Dharam and his wife.
Friends, neighbors they are all happy, they will talk about the wedding, the man and Khanak for a long time.
Pandit brings out a tray of sweets and hands some to Shaan, he feeds Khanak her first bite as husband, she follows suit except she looks at a spot somewhere behind his ear instead of his eyes, while feeding him
Bai: Khanak kuch kha le beta
Khanak: Hmmm''' paani?
Madz: Shaan would you like something to drink?
Her in laws discover she has been fasting, they are shocked.
Shaan's Dadi: Kyon beta?
Khanak: Its OK Dadi main bilkul theek hoon (hugs Dadi)
Shaan: can she get something to eat quickly? (looks around)
People scuttle all around trying to bring her something to eat
Khanak: I am OK
Shaan: If you've starved for a day, no! You are not! (pissed)
Khanak looks at her Bai "Bai sabko kyon bola?"
Shaan: Get something to drink first!
Akshay brings some bottled Tropicana apple
Akshay: khanak, here you go!
Reassures her parents not to run around trying to find juice
Someone brings a paper cup, she has some juice, it makes her acidic.
Her husband cannot go too far as the thing is tied between them.
He is standing with friends chatting, she is a few feet away surrounded by friends and family.
DJ: So Jeeju?
Shaan: Shaan is fine (grinning)
DJ: Returning home barefeet?
Shaan: Pretty much!
DJ heckles and nudges the girls looks at Khanak "Kya yaar tera hubby itna kanjoos?"
DJ: Yaar phir aap hamari Khanak ko yahi chhod jao, aap itne kanjoos ho?
Shaan: Nope! I cant!
Khanak feels the warmth rush to her face
Khanak: I will tell dadi?
DJ: Ofcourse not! Abhi se pati ko defend kar rahi hai? (winks)
Khanak: Oh! No! Go after him then! (smiles)
DJ: To "Jeeju"
Shaan: Hmm
DJ: Chaliye deejiye
He taps Akhil's shoulder, Akhil turns around to find "paradise" a bunch of girls
His most favorite, of all Souma.
By now the pairings are complete
Rohan-Vandana
Samar Narang-Deepa
Akhil-Souma
Akash-Simi
Akhil: Kya bhayya?
Shaan: Do you have cash on you?
Akhil: AUD? I do! INR nahi hai bhayya (in broken Hindi to impress Souma)
Souma: You should take that home, we honor only Indian here.
Akhil I will go get some for you then (just to her!)
DJ: Plan kyat ha aapka?
Shaan: yahi, Rs 100 per head?
DJ: khanaaak Kitna cheepad hai rey tera pati! (shrieks)
Khanak looks at her husband
He has a totally challenging look for her like saying "Wanna argue honey?".
She looks away!
Deepa: Is se zyaada to hamey joote bechkar mil jaayenge
Souma: Chal hum sab log Jeeju ko eke k pair jooti khareed denge. Gosh! Jeeju! (disgusted)
Shaan: How about Rs.200 per head
DJ: Chhheee!
Shaan turns around and whipsers something into Prad's ears, he sprints away.
Shaan: There is over 10 of you girls, abhi that's too expensive, agreed the jooti is hand crafted and all, but itaint worth more than Rs.5000, so lets cap it at Rs 500.
Souma: uggghh!
Vandu: He shud just be barefeet the rest of his life, Khanak can you please go throw all his shoes from your 9th floor apartment
Khanak: will do!
Shaan gives her a "Now! Really?"
DJ: "Jeeju" hum atleast Rs.2000 per head lenge!
Shaan: Ouch! Aint happenin!
Dadi walks up with a sack.
DadI: Kaun mere pote ka mazaak uda raha hai
Souma: Dadi aapka pota ekdum kanjoos hai!
Dadi: Nahi to!
Vandu: Hum to Khanak Di ko yahi rakhne ki soch rahe hain!
Dadi: Who to hoga nahi! (hugs Khanak)
Turns to Shaan, "haan bhai tumne kitne ki baat ki?"
Shaan: Now'.. rs. 1000 per head
Dadi: beta, bahut zyaada hai! (shocked)
The girls are really upset, but smile anyway
Dadi digs into her bag and says "Lekin main to sirf Rs.200 ke hisaab se laayi hoon"
And produces a red Tanishq earring/ring box, and hands it to DJ
DJ opens it to find the cutest pair of earrings inside!
DJ: Dadiii
Jumps up and down and hugs her!
The other girls, mujhe bhi dikha!
Dadi: Kya dikha, yeh lo tum sab
Hands one to each, they all touch Dadi's feet or attempt to but she says "Betiyan Lakshmi hoti hain"
They hug her, she is laughing hard
Shaan looks at his wife with the most intense expression
The guys are happy that their "girls" are happy!
Someone runs inside and grabs his jootis
DJ: khanak! What a guy! I am impressed
Dadi: Guy kya? Main laayi hoon! What a chick bolo!
They all laugh and squeal
Madz:Chalen? Already 5 baj gaye, Khushboo bechari soyi nahi.
She walks up to her new daughter in law "Chalo beta, we should go"
Sunil, Anil, Nandini's husband they all line up to talk about who will take which car back," converstaions that are routine in affluent families" she thinks.
Bai sprints up and offers her a bowl of khichri, its still warm, Khanak is surprised
Bai says she had asked for it to be made with dinner last nite and put it away, she feeds Khanak a few spoons, her Aada feeds his baby also. Its 5 AM no time to eat khichri so she is unable to eat.
Ritu: Mystery, sorry ab Gujral ka koi derivative banana padega
Khanak smiles :You could call me mystery"
Ritu: I could if your hubby wont kick my b---
The use of the word hubby for the first time sends Khanak's heart rate soaring.
"It is true then" "It is true" "I am his wife now" "Shantanu Gujral's wife"
She can hear her husband talking about some "Boston red Sox" game with Samar.
He calls out to Akshay to bring his phone, Akshay says Dadi's got it, she appoints Akhil to get it.
Khanak has no idea where hers is even.
Prad walks up to her "Welcome to the Gujrals Khanak!"
Khanak: Thanks! (smiles)
Prad: So can I ask you something?
Khanak nods, Prad "What was that status message about?
Khanak: Oh! Just nothing!
Shaan has to return, since he has eyes in the back of his head
Prad: You must tell me otherwise I will lose my bet with Akhil!
Khanak: Ha ha!
Shaan:That would be a good thing then, so you don't need to know (lazily mocking)
Khanak:Its OK! (looks at her husband, he has the most inscrutable expression)
Prad: Is it about taking time off?
Khanak: Close!
Prad: So?
Khanak: I was going to return to work on the 13th now it may be the 7th (lies through her teeth)
Shaan is not angry at the preponement, which shocks her no end. She is confused
Ritu walks up, tere who do green Samsonite hai na?
Runs away when Khanak nods
Ram and Renuka walk up and hug her.
Ram: Don't worry about work Khanak and that's an order!
Khanak:I don't worry about it I enjoy it!
Renuka: He says that all the time about you. You guys must plan a trip to Kerala backwaters sometime
Ram:Where are you going anyway? Oh right, Khanak told me, US?
Shaan:Boston, Chesapeake Bay!
Renuka: How lovely, I am glad its not Singapore or Dubai
Shaan smiles
Khanak is embarrassed
Renuka :Paln for Kerala also
Shaan:I would LOVE to!, may be a month or two after we return and get caught up at work?
Ram: Sounds fair! Oh BTW, I have reqs open to hire a bunch of people for Certosa
Khanak: so did we get it? (her eyes sparkle)
Ram grins indulgently "Yes, its yours ONLY if you promise to take an extra week off"
Khanak blushes "Fine! I will work from home then" (smiles)
Ram: No you will not!
Khanak is very happy!
Ram and Shaan talk about work Renuka starts talking with Saaz and Nivs
There was so much to look forward to today onwards''''
Her heart raced in anticipation, work, her "own home" and ofcourse the new entity called HUSBAND!
Dadi: Beta Bidai ki tayyari ho gayi!
Her heart stops beating
Khanak: Jee Dadi!
Most people have boarded their cars or the bus, the bride's family has found warm nooks in the hall and spread dhurries and rolled up dhurries to form pillows and are ina horizontal position, some are half asleep
The shehnai starts playing the "Babul songs" for the billionth time, the 20 something girls chatter and giggle.
Someone hands some puffed rice to Khanak, she tosses it over her head.
Her parents hug her and so does Ritu
Khanak is sobbing
Ritu: Dahej mein main chal sakti hoon kya?
Shaan: Ofcourse! (hugs her warmly, she sobs into his chest) Silly girl!
Ritu: I hate you Gujral! You stole my friend!
Shaan (looking at his teary eyed wife straight in the eyes) I did!
Vandu: He shud just be barefeet the rest of his life, Khanak can you please go throw all his shoes from your 9th floor apartment
Souma: You should take that home, we honor only Indian here.
Akhil I will go get some for you then (just to her!)
*Nudges Souma * Ooohh !! Nice catch ...huh ! 😉😉😉😉
