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Author's POV
Taani smiled widely at his response, glad that he liked them. Truthfully, she knew he won't ever accept gifts given by her parents, hence she was glad when his father simply gave her a credit card to shop certain gift items for him for this ceremony and she happiuly obliged choosing the best things for him. She was actually happy that she got to gift him things that she actually loved and not her mother's choice.
Now, it was her turn to be presented with the gifts his family brought. First, Harsh and Rajni came forward smiling widely at the couple. They blessed both of them keeping their head and Rey finally found the smile coming back on his face seeing his family. Taking a red dupatta with zari work and diamonds embroidered on it, she kept it on Taani's head and Rey felt his heart skipping a beat seeing her draped in that bridal dupatta.
Then she put a small red dot with vermillion on her forehad and fed her sweet. Harsh smiled big at her kissing Taani's forehead and then did the same with Rey before slapping his cheek lightly making all chuckle. They gave them some cash before Rajni presented her with dry fruits, and a lot of bridal gifts.
"Dadi ye sab bahot zyada hai!"
Taani said hesitatingly seeing the expensive gifts in front of her while Rajni laughed pulling her cheek,
"Pagal! Aaj roka hai, or tum hamari beti ho. Abhi to inn gifts ki aadat daal lo, or tum in sab gifts ko dekh ke shocked ho to unka kya jo ye sab log alag alag laye hai tumhare liye including your this future husband."
She said looking fondly at Rey, Taani was surprised and looked around now seeing everyone carrying a gift for her then at Rey who nodded confirming Rajni's words. Harsh laughed patting her head,
"Jee le beta, ab tujhe duniya ki har khushi milegi. Singhania family mein tumhara bahot bahot swagat hai."
Taani's eyes turned teary hearing him, she bent down taking their blessings and theu hugged her, she again tried saying,
"But fir bhi..."
She was saying when her mother stopped her,
"Taani ye kya mana kar rahi ho. Shagun ko kabhi mana nahi karte."
Taani sighed along with everyone seeing her parents greedy eyes swarming along all the gifts kept there. Everyone rolled their eyes at Sheetal's words but decided to keep the mouth shut for Taani's sake. Taani just nodded forcing a smile when Harsh again said,
"Itne khubsoorat chehre pr, ye jhooti smile achhi ni lagti. Chal hasde ab."
Taani smiled genuinely this time at him before she again sat beside Rey. Next Rajesh and Vandana came forward blessing both of them, Vandana gave her a beautiful designer saree with matching jewellery and accessories which Taani loved.
Avantika and Ranvijay were next, his mother's eyes brimmed with tears seeing her son going to get married soon. She wards of evil eyes away from them by putting a kala teeka behind their ears and Ranvijay hugged the couple blessing them. Avantika kissed Taani's head fondly and Rey pouted at her making her giggle at her son. She gifted Taani with two sets of bangles that her mother and Rajni gave her during wedding since both of them belonged to Rey's wife and she was glad gifting them to Taani.
(Rajni's bangles)
(Avantika's mother's bangles)
Rishi and Gauri climbed the stage after his parents, Rishi chuckled seeing his 'MONKEY' sitting there like a groom. He pulled his ears making him whine loudly, Taani laughed seeing the exchange and all the others too. Gauri caressed Taani's cheeks pecking them, she gifted her a pair of long diamond earrings.
Sheetal and Raj's eyes were widening every second seeing the gifts, they couldn't wait to het a hold of all of these things. They couldn't deny that Taani was going to get married in the most influential and rich family the world has ever seen.
Next was Karan and Amna, they came up the stage and Karan hugged Rey tightly before bending and kissing Taani on the head,
"Ye agar kabhi pareshan kare, to mujhe batana."
Rey frowned at him and sulked while Taani giggled nodding, Amna smiled saying,
"Rey tum kitne chote the jab main ghar mein aayi thi shaadi karke, or ab dekho tumhari shaadi ho rahi hai."
Rey blushed at his bhabhi's words before hugging her and pecking her forehead,
"Main aapke liye humesha chota rahunga bhabhi."
She nodded happily, with tears in her eyes and blessed both of them. She gifted Taani a beautiful and heavy necklace that looked like a queen would own.
Ishita and Veer came up and Ishita gave her a beautiful suit, she asked Taani,
"Pasand aaya?"
Taani nodded excitedly,
"Bahot sundar hai bhabhi. I would wear it soon, pakka!"
The trio laughed ta her and Veer said to her,
"Vese Karan bhaiya ne sahi kaha, agar ye parehsan kare to hume batana. Iski class hum lagaenge."
Rey sulked saying,
"Kya bhaiya!"
Taani was so happy in all this that she completely overlooked the hateful expressions her parents wore seeing all the love she was getting. Swayam and Sharon looked at each other as a plan of irritating them came in their mind, Ashish raised his brows knowing his buddies were upto some mischief when Swayam said fanning himself,
"God, it's so hot! Koi jal raha hai kya?"
Ashish tried stifle his laughter seeing Taani's parents caught faces when Sharon said nonchalantly,
"Pata nahi, but kitni garmi hai. Taani kitni achhi hai, ut family I tell you, ladke valon ke liye koi arrangements hi nahi kiye. Na hi cold drinks na hi kuch snacks. Matlab itni garmi mein paani hi puch lete."
Swaaym nodded and Sheetal and Raj fumed hearing her words but since they couldn't say anything, they just went inside to bring ask servants to bring snacks and drinks for everyone. Swaron burst out laughing seeing them along with Ashish who shook his head at them,
"Tum log bhi na!"
Swayam gave him a stink eyes,
"As if unhone Taani ko kam pareshan kiya hai."
The trio kept laughing completely unaware about the girl who was admiring Ashish, and his soothing laughter. Naina sighed knowing she could only admire him from afar just like people admire stars but can never get him.
Naina focused on the ceremony where Siddharth Twinkle came up the stage with Siddharth helping his wife. Taani smiled seeing the love and care for his wife in Siddharth's eyes and knew that Rey would be the same with her. Instead of sitting down she got up so that Twinkle won't have to bend down for the rasm, Twinkle shook her head,
"Arre, Taani baitho, uth kyu gayi?"
Rey too got up and Taani denied shaking her head,
"Nahi, aapko rasm ke liye neeche jhukna padega or vo is condition mein thik nahi hai. Hum aise rasm karlete hai na."
Rey had a proud wide smile on his face ta her gesture, and he thanked the almighty coz he knew that he found the perfect girl he was looking for. Who would take care of his family as here. Even his whole family awed at her gesture and Twinkle and Siddharth blessed her hugging her, Taani caressed her swelled bellyu and keeping down she whispered kissing Twinkle's belly,
"Chachi can't wait to see you little one."
Everyone chuckled at her words when the coupe gave Taani her gift, a diamond watch and Siddharth said winking at Rey,
"I know you like watches Taani, through sources."
Rey rolled his eyes at Siddharth's teasing before hugging them. Then helped Siddhath in taking Twinkle down the stage.
Swadhinta and Adarsh came up the stage, they hugged the couple and Adarsh told her fondly,
"Welcome officially to the family Taani."
Swadhinta nodded excitedly,
"Yes, I can't wait for the day when you would finally enter our home permanently."
Taani smiled at her while none heard the small mutter beside Taani that came from her fiance,
"Neither can I!"
Adarsh and Swadhinta gifted her a beautiful diamond bracelet before hugging the couple and going down the stage.
Kanchi and Mishkat came on the stage next and Kanchi again shrieked,
"Finally I am getting a devrani, dekhna Taani tumpe bahot hukum chalane vali hoon main."
Everyone burst out laughing at her words and Taani nodded readily,
"Okay bhabhi! No problem!"
Mishkat slapped the back of Kanchi's head muttering 'pagal' before saying jokingly,
"Karan bhaiya or Veer bhaiya ne tumhe iski complaint karne ko bola hai na." he said pointing at Rey, then pointed at Kanchi, "But agar iski karni ho to mere pas aana."
Kanchi pouted making Rey laugh and kiss her cheek,
"Koi ni bhabi, main hoon na aapki team mein."
They both high fived and mishkat looked at Taani, she nodded high-fiving with him and all of them laughed before Kanchi gave her a beautiful pair of Jimmy-Choo golden diamond studded stilletoes. Taani's eyes widened seeing the expensive pair of footwear, she never thought one day she would own a pair of these heels. She thanked Kaanchi and Mishkat and both of them stepped down the stage.
They heard Gauri say in delight,
"Chalo bhai, ab sab choto ki turn. To kisse shuru kare?"
"Mom, pehle me, pleaseeeee!"
Naina said making a pouty face and the whole family smiled seeing their princess. Rajni laughed gesturing her to go and she squealed. Ashish smiled admiring her, she looked so beautiful and innocent that his heart skipped a beat.
Naina went up the stage and nervously gave the gift to Taani, the latter smiled widely and opened the box only to see a beautiful solitare embedded in a thin and sleek rose gold chain. The locket was so beautiful and she was sure expensive and she knew Naina doesn't earn yet.
She raised her brows at Naina,
"Naina, ye bahot expensive hai, ye kese?"
The girl bit her tongue before shrugging her shoulders,
"Ohho bhabhi, chodiye na. I wanted to give you something, apni pocket money se liya hai."
Taani shook her ehad at the girl before hugging her tightly,
"Thank you so much! Mujhe bahot pasand aaya."
The girls were hugging each other when Rey sulked groaning,
"Mere liye aaj tak ek button ni kharida tune, Taani ke liye seedha necklace. That's not fair."
Before Taani could know she and Naina both showed their tongues to him and squealed together,
"Don't be jealous!"
Rey knew about Naina's this side but he froze seeing Taani doing the same. His gaze made her realise what she did and she blushed ten shades of red at her act making everyone chuckle and Rey admire her.
Sanskar went up the stage next and hugged both Taarey at the same time tightly squeezing both of them. He presented the gift to Taani,
"Bhabhi, mujhe gifts ke bare mein koi idea ni hai. Hope aapko achha lage."
He said hesitatingly, Taani caressed his cheek looking at the huge basket of make up stuff in his hand.
"I love that you made the effort, vahi bahot hai."
Sanskar had a huge smile on his face at her words and he leaned kissing her forehead fondly, Rey smiled before continuing to change the mood,
"Ves mera gift? Tum sab sahi ho, bhabhi aa gayi to sab mujhe bhul gaye." Everyone chuckled at his complain when he asked again, "And ye bata, ye itne ache se girl's stuff kese liya?"
Sanskar mumbled looking in the direction he was gazing since morning,
"Bas, someone helped me with it."
Taarey followed his gaze only to see Taara talking to Ishita and Kaanchi, smiling keeping a hand on her mouth. They then looked back at Sanskar only to see his gaze stuck on her as if she held his whole world in her. Taara looked up feeling a gaze on herself and was stunned seeing Sanskar gazing at her. She looked away for a second before looking back ta him, not able to look away from his face and his eyes.
A knowing smile came on Taarey's lips, Rey sighed seeing the two idiots while Taani giggled and moved forward whispering,
"Aaj Taara bahot khubsoorat lag rahi hai na?"
Rey held back his laughter knowing what she was doing and Sanskar took the bait, not in his senses,
"Bahot zyada!"
Taarey found it so difficult to hold their laughter now when Taani again said,
"Bahot zyada ya sabse zyada?"
"Sabse zyada!"
An answer immediately came making taarey burst into laughter, he finally came back to his senses and realised what he did. Biting his tingue he climbed down the stage without looking at Taarey once. They shook their heads at him before looking at AshSwaRon coming up the stage.
The trio hugged the couple, all of them squealing in excitement, Swaron gifted Taani with a pretty designer gown and Ashish gifted her with a beautiful diamond set.
Taani's face turned into an awe seeing the gifts, she shook her head at them,
"Aap sab bahot zyada kar rahe hai, ye sab main kese?"
Ashish shook his head, keeping his hand on her ehad,
"Taani, Rey is our best friend, our family but tum bhi ab family ho. You are just like Taara to me, I have two little sisters now. Surely I can do this for my sister."
Swayam nodded in agreement,
"Even I don't have a sister, but now, I found one in you."
His words brought tears to her eyes, she never knew what a brother is as she neve r had one, but the almighty was so kind to her that he gave two brothers to her and she can't thank him enough. Taani hugged both of them at the same time and Rey hugged Sharon kissing her forehead.
Last but not the least, Harshali and Vansh screeched rushing up to Taarey,
"Ab hamari bari." They brought the gift out from behind them and forwarded it to Taarey, the couple sta on their kness in front of the kids and took the gift, a beautiful handmade card with hearts on it and 'WELCOME CHACHI!' written in bold. They awed ta the gift, before pulling both of them closer and hugging them, Taani whispered kissing their foreheads,
"This is the best gift today. Thank you chachi ki jaan."
Rey smiled widely at her word and Taani's eyes filled with tears seeing the love and care his family showered on her. The day couldn't get any better.
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