Chapter 74

Sagar's POV



We all had our food and came back. As usual, mom retired to her room and we all went to Damini's room to enjoy a romantic comedy movie. Damini was sitting beside me. Sahil, Samar and Swati kept teasing Damini and me...

Manyata kept smiling at all those funny things.

Damini was blushing so hard that ultimately she hid her face in her hands. I snaked my arm around her waist and pulled her towards me. She glared at me but I winked at her and pulled her harder and everyone else started laughing again. Finally, she hid her face in my chest. I was feeling do good.

" Let's go to our room Bhai... You both have a Roka ceremony tomorrow... Let her rest... " Sahil said smirking at me. I knew why was he looking at me like that. I glared at him as I didn't want him to tell anything in front of all of them specially Manyata and Swati.

" Yeah... You go I am coming." I said but he kept standing there.

He pulled Damini out of my arms, said good night and then pulled me off the couch and then out of their room.

" Hey ... Leave me... I will come after saying good night. " Swati was giggling, Samar was trying not to laugh.

" Say good night.. "

" Good night Damini.. "

" Good night.. " she said shyly.

"Done?? Now... spend some time with your brother too. Come Samar..." He dragged me to my room.

" So what am I suppose to do. Mom said you both have done everything... I just have to do the rest of the things. " Sahil asked.

" The ceremony is at my place so you don't have to do much. I have arranged most of the things... Aunty gave us a list of things to do... I have ticked the things that have been taken care of.. rest you do... I have to see the arrangements at my place. By the way, Dini is going with me as per her mom's instructions. " He said and I glared at Sahil who did not let me say goodbye nicely. But he just didn't bother. He kept reading the list.

" Ok, no problem. I have to get sweets and fruits from the market in the morning. Plus have to pick the sarees from the shop... Hey, why did you people not got them with you... It will look so awkward to go into a shop and get sarees. " Sahil made a face at that.

" They had to finish and pack it beautifully. " Samar said.

" I don't want to go there... Sagar you go.. "

" No mom has already asked me to do some other things. I have to take mom to temple too before the ceremony. I am busy, take Swati with you. "

" Ok... Fine I will go with her. "

After that Samar said good night and he went off with Damini as she was to stay there with her parents. We also slept as we had to get up early.

*********



Mom was overexcited and was about to panic if everything was in order or not.

I had finished almost everything and got ready. Mom was ready and we were waiting for Swati and Manyata to get ready...

" Where is Swati?? I need to leave now... As I have to go.. and pick the fruits, sweets and clothes. "

" She is not ready till now.. you go alone... " I said to him.

" No way I will not go to pick the dresses alone... Tell her to come fast." Sahil was adamant.

He turned all of a sudden and just then we saw Manyata entering the room. He bumped into her making her lose her balance. She was just about to fall when he caught her in his arms.

They both froze for a few seconds and then they realised and Sahil straighten themselves and released her.

" Manu is ready.. she can go with you. Swati will come with us. Manu beta... Please go with Sahil as Swati is not ready yet." mom said to Manyata but she seemed reluctant. She looked at me and I nodded.

" Ok, aunty. " She said, Sahil was still looking at her.

She went away with him and I said to mom that she should not have done that... Manyata looked uncomfortable. Mom said it was a good idea and this way, they will get to spend some time together. I shook my head at that.. but I knew the reality that mom was unaware of.

Finally, Swati came and we all went to Mr Mathur's place. They welcomed us wholeheartedly and made us sit there. Aunty and mom greeted and hugged each other.

I touched the feet of her parents and Mr Mathur. My eyes were looking around to see Damini. But could not see her. Samar wiggled his eyebrows at me and smiled. Swati and Samar started teasing me.

Swati said, " I want to see Damini bhabhi, where is her room? "

" Oh, I will take you there. " They both went away and I took a deep breath. They were teasing me. I wanted to see her too

Sahil and Manyata also came with all the things. They greeted everyone. He placed everything near mom and Mayata asked about Swati. Mom said that she had gone to meet Damini. She also wanted to go... So aunty sent someone to take her there. I told Sahil to make a video call to dad so that he could be a part of this. Sahil did that.

Her father started the ceremony. He gave me Sagan (gifts, money, sweets etc) fed me laddoo and gave his blessings. I touched his feet again.

Then they called Damini, my eyes were on the door from where she was to come. Finally, I saw her coming... She was looking awesome. I couldn't take my eyes off her. She was walking towards us, looking downwards only while I wanted her to look at me. She looked so pretty in that saree. Swati and Manu were following her.

Aunty made her sit and Mom went near her she touched my mom's feet and mom kissed her forehead and hugged her. My mom started the ceremony and gave her Sagan ( gifts, sarees, jewellery, dry fruits sweets etc. )

( this is also known as thaka ceremony. The couple is given sagan together. There is often an exchange of gifts and sweets such as fruit, Indian sweets or dry fruit. )

So the ceremony was done and everyone was so happy. We took blessings from everyone. The gift were exchanged. My dad was also very happy and said that he would be back within 10 days.

The dates were fixed for engagement and wedding. The engagement was fixed after 15 days and wedding in a month.

I was happy that within a month, she would be mine. We all had food and as usual, the parents were discussing the marriage plans and we all were enjoying and teasing eachother. After the ceremony we came back. Damini stayed with her parents as they insisted.

The bungalow was ready. So we had to shift there. It was fully furnished so we just needed to shift there. We planned to shift there after a very small pooja.

Though the bungalow was rented mom insisted that before we shift, there should be some pooja as we were going to have a wedding there.

So we planned to have a pooja on the next day and then shift there. We didn't want mom to take stress so we took the responsibility for the pooja as well. Samar also came forward help.

We all arranged everything that was needed for pooja. The Pundit Ji came and started to prepare for the pooja and havan. He asked to get the Prasad which should be prepared at home. He had not told us about it... We had everything that was ordered from outside.

I was about to ask mom to make something but Manyata said that she would make it and mom should attend the pooja. She came with a bowl full of halwa within 15 minutes.

I smiled and nodded at her and she just smiled back. Damini also came with her parents and uncle.

The pooja and havan was performed and everyone attended it.

Swati, Damini and Manyata distributed prasad among everyone. Then food was served. Everyone enjoyed the food. Mom and aunty talked about the various rituals of their side.

I caught Damini's hand and took her aside. But all those morons were hell bend to irritate me. Sahil and Samar came and took Damini away. We all went out to see the city beautiful. Ultimately, they all left us alone and went to some movie.

We went to Lake and spent some quality time together while boating and chatting. She told me that she had followed me to lake when I had come to meet Maurvi here.

I told her that I came here to seek Maurvi's help to win her heart. She blushed and side hugged me. I took her to another side of the lake where there was no one.. and exchanged some notes on how to kiss. Oh, I wanted this one month to get over as soon as possible.