3 YEARS LATER
*𝑽𝒂𝒓𝒖𝒏 𝒊𝒔 𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒔 𝑨𝒌𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒊*
"Hello Akku." Varun says, greeting Akruti.
"Bol." Akruti says.
(Talk.)
"Tum aaj aa rahi ho na?" Varun asks.
(You are coming today? No?)
"Ha aa rahi hoon." Akruti confirms.
(Yes. I am coming.)
"Tumhe pata nahi sakta kitni kushi ho rahi hai. Normally, toh tujhe dekhne ke liye bohot excited rehta hoon, aaj toh woh excitement triple ho gayi hai." Varun says, excitement clearly showing in his tone of voice.
(You don't know how excited I am. Normally, I am excited to see you anyway, but today that excitement has tripled.)
"Mujhe bhi. *𝒅𝒐𝒐𝒓𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔* Arrey koi aaya hai. Ek minute phone pe raho main abhi aati hoon." Akruti says, putting the phone down on her vanity table.
(I am, too. *𝒅𝒐𝒐𝒓𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔* Oh, someone is here. One minute, stay on the line, I will be right back.)
*𝑨𝒌𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒊 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆*
"Mil gaya kya?" Varun asks.
(Did you get it?)
"Varun.... iski kya zaroorat thi?" Akruti says, blushing.
(Varun.... what was the need for this?)
"Apni pasandida aurat ke liye, ek pasandida look toh de sakta hoon na? Ek baar shaadi karlo Mrs Bharadwaj, ek kya haazar ese looks aapke front door pe liyaunga mein." Varun says, a smug look appearing on his face.
(Anything for my only woman, I can give a look designed for you? No? Marry me once Mrs Bharadwaj, not one, but I bring a million of these looks for you on your front door step.)
"Oh ho, esa hai ji?" Akruti says, her face showing she is impressed, and then she breaks out into a little laugh.
(Oh, is it like that?)
"Bol do ek baar Akku, chaand sitaro kya, saari duniya tere aage bicha du." Varun says, his voice slowing down.
(Tell me once Akku, forget the moon and stars, I will lay down the whole world in front of you.)
"Hayyyeeee. Ek hi toh dil hai Varun sahab kitni baar jit loge?" Akruti says, clenching her heart.
(Hayyyeeee. I only have one heart Varun sir, how many times are you going to win it?)
"Har baar." Varun says.
(Everytime.)
"Main abhi pata rahi hoon Varun yahi pigal jaungi." Akruti says.
(I am going to melt right here, Varun.)
"Tum toh abhi pigal ne waali ho, mein toh kabse pigla hua hoon? Teri aawas hi kaafi hai, esa lagta hai ki sunta hi jau." Varun says.
(You will melt right now, I have been smitten for so long. Your voice is enough. It's like I can listen to you for ages.)
"Tum saare cheesy lines aaj hi nikaloge kya?" Akruti says, slightly laughing.
(Are you going to use all of your cheesy lines today?)
"Abhi toh saari zindagi bhaar ki cheesy lines hai, har roz kehta rahunga! Sun ne ke liye tyaar ho?" Varun says.
(You've got your whole life to listen to these cheesy lines, yet I will tell you every day! Are you ready to listen to them?)
"Haa. Par abhi ke liye iss cheesy line waala maska rokna padega kyunki mujhe tyaari bhi hona hai." Akruti says.
(Yes. But you'll have to stop the cheesy lines at the moment because I still have to get ready.)
"Jo maine bheja hai, wahi pehn ke aana, bohot sundar lagogi." Varun says.
(Wear what I have sent you, you will look really nice.)
"Theek hai, jab nikalti hoon tab ek message bhej dungi." Akruti says.
(Okay, when I get out, I will message you.)
"Theek hai." Varun says as he hangs up the phone.
(Okay).
*𝑨𝒌𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒊 𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒍𝒚 𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒂 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒃𝒍𝒖𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒂𝒓𝒊 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒌𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆, 𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒈𝒔. 𝑫𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒊 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒎 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑨𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒆 𝑱𝒂𝒚𝒂*
"Haye meri bachi. Kitni badi ho gayi hai." She says as she gets a bit of kohl from her eyes and applies it to the back of Akruti's ear. "Meri bachi ko nazar na lage." Her eyes get teary.
(Oh, my child. How mature you have become.)
(May you be protected from the evil eye, my child.)
"Arrey Auntie ji, aap kyu esi senti ho rahi hai? Abhi kaha ja rahi hoon?" Akruti says, comforting Auntie Jaya.
(Oh, Auntie, why are you being so sentimental? I am not going yet, am I?)
"Shaadi ke baad hume na bhul jana." Deepti says.
(Don't forget about us after you get married.)
"Main? Aur bhul jau aapko? Ho hi nahi sakta." Akruti says confidently.
(Me? And forget you? Not possible.)
"Chalo ab nikalte hai, Disha kaha hai? Tayar hui hai ya nahi?" Jaya auntie asks.
(Come on, let's leave. Where is Disha? Has she got ready or not?)
"Ha woh aa rahi hai, abhi usko leke aati hu neeche, Saanvi di ko bhi message kardiya hai woh Jiju ke saath waha hi milege." Deepti says as she leaves the room.
(Yes, she is coming, I will come downstairs after getting her, I've also messaged Saanvi di, she says she will come with brother-in-law and meet us there.)
"Theek hai, main aur Akku neeche jaate hai." Auntie Jaya says.
(Okay, me and Akku will go downstairs.)
*𝑨𝒌𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒊 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑱𝒂𝒚𝒂 𝒂𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒎 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒔𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒂 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑫𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒊 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆, 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒅𝒐 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒂 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆.*
BHARADWAJ RESIDENCE
𝑨𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒂 𝒇𝒆𝒘 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒘𝒂𝒋 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒌 𝒖𝒑 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒔.*
"Oh ho, abhi se phool waala swagat." Disha says teasing Akruti.
(Oh ho, already a flowery welcome.)
"Akruti beta tum aa gayi?" Mrs Bharadwaj comes to the door greeting Akruti with a smile.
(Akruti, you have arrived?)
"Ha, auntie ji. Kaisi hai aap?" Akruti says, also greeting Mrs Bharadwaj with a smile. She touches Mrs Bharadwaj's feet for blessings.
(Yes, Auntie Ji. How are you?)
"Betiya pair nahi chuti, aur abse mujhe Maa bulana. Andar aao, Jayant aur Varun bhi aa rahe hoge. Tab tak tum Saanvi aur Rehan se mil lo, Akku beta do minute ke liye tum rasoi mein aaogi?" Mrs Bharadwaj says.
(Girls don't touch feet, and from now on, call me Maa. Come in, Jayant and Varun should be coming down soon. Until then, greet Rehan and Saanvi. Akku, will you come into the kitchen for 2 minutes?)
"Ha maa, Saanvi di aur Rehan bhai se mil aati hoon aur jaldi rasoi mein aati hoon." Akruti says as she walks towards the living room.
(Yes, mom, I will go and greet Saanvi di and Rehan bhai and then come to the kitchen.)
*𝑨𝒌𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒊, 𝑫𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒊, 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒂 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑱𝒂𝒚𝒂 𝒂𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒌 𝒕𝒐𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒎 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒕 𝑺𝒂𝒂𝒏𝒗𝒊 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒉𝒂𝒏*
"Kaisi ho bhabhi?" Rehan says.
(How are you, sister-in-law?)
"Achi hoon. Aap kaise ho bhai?" Akruti asks.
(I'm good. How are you, brother?)
"Mein badiya." He replies.
(I'm great.)
"Acha hai. Saanvi, lagta hai ab toh tum mujhe yaad bhi nahi karti... na koi calls... na koi texts..." Akruti says as she pulls a pouty face.
(That's good. Saanvi, it seems like you don't even remember me anymore... no calls... no texts...)
"Sorry bhen, todhi si busy ho gayi hoon. Ho sake toh maaf kardena. Itne saare clients aa gaye hai ouff poocho hi mat." Saanvi apologises.
(Sorry, sister, I've become a bit busy. If you can, please forgive me. There have been so many clients lately, don't even ask.)
"Koi baat nahi. Chalo mein abhi aati hoon maa ne bulaya hai." Akruti says, walking out of the living room and towards the kitchen.
(No worries. I will be back in a moment, mom has called me.)
*𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒔𝒊𝒕 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒇𝒂, 𝑨𝒌𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒊 𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒖𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒃𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉*
"Kya kar rahe ho Varun?" Akruti says, slapping his chest.
(What are you doing, Varun?)
"Oh ho, koi toh hume rokhlo." Varun says deeply, staring into Akruti's eyes.
(Oh ho, someone stop me.)
"Varun koi dekh lega, sharam toh karo." Akruti says, trying to free herself whilst blushing uncontrollably.
(Varun, someone will see, have a bit of shame.)
"Toh dekh ne do, hum toh ishq lada rahe hai jaaneman." Varun says as he moves Akruti's hair to the side and buries his face into Akruti's neck.
(Let them see, I'm just playing with love, my lover.)
*𝑽𝒂𝒓𝒖𝒏 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒑𝒖𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏*
"Itni jaldi humko nani banane waale ho kya?" Mrs Bharadwaj says as she lets go of Varun's ear.
(Are you going to make me a grandma this quickly?)
"Nani? Aap toh dadi banegi na?" Akruti says.
(Nani?(mother's side) Won't you be a Dadi?(father's side))
"Nani aur Dadi dono banugi. Bola na mujhe bhi Maa bulana, yeh toh mujhe sohbhagya hai ke mujhe ek bahu ke swaroop mein ek beti mil rahi hai." Mrs Bharadwaj says, a warm look appearing on her face.
(I will be both a Nani and Dadi. I told you that you should call me Mother, it is my luck that in the form of a daughter-in-law I have found a daughter.)
"Maa woh-" Varun says as still holding Akruti's waist.
(Mom-)
"Aur tum! Akruti ko do minute ke liye bhi nahi chhod sakte kya? Chipke rehte ho." Mrs Bharadwaj says jokingly.
(And you! Can't you leave Akruti for two minutes? You stay stuck to her.)
"Kya karu maa? Magnet hai woh, mujhe keechti rehti hai aapni taraf." Varun says, backhugging Akruti.
(What can I do, mom? She's a magnet. She keeps pulling me towards her.)
"Jao, mujhe Akku se akle mein baat karni hai." Mrs Bharadwaj says to Varun.
(Go, I need to talk to Akku alone.)
"Theek hai." Varun says as he pecks Akruti's cheek.
(Okay.)
*𝑨𝒌𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒊 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑴𝒓𝒔 𝑩𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒘𝒂𝒋 𝒈𝒐 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒊𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒏*
"Sab theek toh haina Maa?" Akruti asks Mrs Bharadwaj.
(Is everything okay, Mother?)
"Ha beta, dekho ab tum iss ghar ki bahu ban ne jaa rahi ho, iske saath bohot saari responsibilities bhi aati hai, par mujhe pura vishwaas hai ki tum achhe tahr se yeh responsibilities nibhaogi aur sab ko bohot kush rakhogi. Iss liye mein abhi se yeh tumhe de rahi hoon." Mrs Bharadwaj says, handing Akruti the keys of the house.
(Yes child, look you are now going to be the daughter-in-law of this house, with this comes great responsibilities, but I have full faith in you that you will fulfil these responsibilities and will keep everyone happy. That is why I am giving these to you right now.)
"Maa, mein vaada karti hoon ke aapko aur ghar ke sabhi sadasyo ko mein kush rakhungi. Bas mujhe aapka aur Papa ka ashirvaad hi chahiye." Akruti says.
(Maa, I promise you I will keep you and the members of this household happy. All I need is the blessings of you and Papa.)
"Sada kush raho beti. Ek aur cheez bhi thi." Mrs Bharadwaj says.
(Always remain happy, my child. There is also one more thing.)
"Bataye Maa." Akruti says.
(Tell me, Mother.)
"Yeh humare pushteni kangan hai. Mein chahti hoon ke tum yeh sabhi shaadi ke rasam aur shaadi ke din yeh pehno." Mrs Bharadwaj says, handing over a red velvet box with golden bangles.
(These are our ancestral bangles. My wish is to see you wear them for the pre wedding ceremonies and on the wedding day itself.)
"Theek hai Maa." Akruti says, a wide smile appearing on her face.
"Chalo, sab intezaar kar rahe hoge." Mrs Bharadwaj says as they both leave the kitchen.
(Let's go, everyone must be waiting.)
*𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒎, 𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒉𝒊𝒎𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆*
"Namaste Pandit ji. Yeh humari hone waali bahu hai. Akruti." Mrs Bharadwaj introduces Akruti.
(Namaste Pandit ji. This is our to be daughter-in-law. Akruti.)
*𝑨𝒌𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒊 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔.*
"Sada kush raho putri." The priest says.
(Always stay happy, child.)
*𝑴𝒓𝒔 𝑩𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒘𝒂𝒋 𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆*
"Toh Pandit ji, ek shubh tareek aap pataye Akruti aur Varun ki shaadi ke liye." Mr Bharadwaj says.
(So Pandit ji, please tell me an auspicious day for Akruti and Varun's wedding.)
"Iss mahine ki Tees tareek inn dono ke liye bohot shubh hai. Aur ek tareek hai 8 mahine ke baad."
(The 30th of this month is quite auspicious for the individuals. There is also another date for 8 months later.)
"Bohot kiya intezaar ab kar hi dete hai shaadi inn dono ki." Disha says.
(We have waited for quite a while. Let's get these two married.)
"Maa hum tees tareek hi paka kar lete hain." Akruti says.
(Maa, we will confirm the 30th.)
"Oh ho, kisi se toh raha nahi ja raha." Saanvi teases Akruti.
(Oh ho, someone cannot wait.)
"Theek hai pandit ji, hum Tees tareek ko hi paka karlete hain." Mr Bharadwaj confirms.
(Okay, pandit ji, we will confirm the 30th.)
"Chaliye toh fir tees tareek hi sahi. Aap ko uss din ka shubh muhrat nikal ke bhejta hoon." The priest says, getting up from his seat.
Okay, so let it be the 30th. I will take out an auspicious time and send it over to you.)
"Pandit ji, yeh aapke liye." Akruti says, handing over a box of mithai.
(Pandit ji, this is for you.)
"Dhanyavaad Akruti beta." The priest says.
(Thank you, Akruti.)
*𝑴𝒓 𝑩𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒘𝒂𝒋 𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆.*
"Toh iss baat pe mu meetha ho jaye." Deepti says excited.
(So on this note, let's have something sweet.)
*𝑫𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒊 𝒈𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆, 𝑽𝒂𝒓𝒖𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑨𝒌𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒊 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒖𝒑 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒆𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔*
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Author's note-
Hey there 👋🏼,
Hope you enjoyed this chapter! If you did, please leave a like and comment on the chapter! I would really appreciate any suggestions/improvements.
See you in the next chapter!
- Author Ahmeli 🤍