More than all the stars in the sky - An Addicted Prequel

The trip-2

I was feeling so guilty about everyones request for this story. Here it is:

We were back in our hotel room. We were going to dinner in a few minutes. He was talking on the phone with someone inside while I was standing  in the little balcony that the room opened out to. What's the big deal if he doesn't propose formally? When has he ever done anything the conventional way? He kissed me on our first date. We made love our first weekend together for godsakes. He is always 2 steps ahead in thinking about what to do next. I should just let him take the lead. I sigh!

"Mom wants to talk to you." Virat comes out to the balcony and gives me his phone.

I look at him questioning. He shrugs as if he didn't know what his mom was going to talk about.

I take the phone and smile hearing her go off about how if we were in India, she would have had a big ceremony for the engagement. She is assuming that Virat and I are already engaged. Virat was smiling secretly looking out at the view outside. Not fair Virat! I didn't say yes yet. A girl likes to have her way sometimes. Can someone please explain that to my heavy-handed 'boyfriend.' Yes, please notice the reference - 'boyfriend' not 'fiancé.'

"Sure aunty. I understand. Actually, about the engagement...." I start to explain, but fail. I didn't want to worry her.

I turn around and walk inside escaping Virat's glare.

"You are not engaged yet, Manvi. You need to have the ceremony." she doubles down. "I asked him to find a temple there. That's the minimum."

"Actually aunty..."

"Stop this aunty business at least now..."

I laugh nervously.

"Did Virat give you the saree?"

"Saree?" I ask looking towards Virat who has now retrieved a gift box that was wrapped in golden foil with a red bow. He walks to me with it, squinting at me as if mad, and puts it in my hands. "Mom sent..." he says.

I sit on the bed placing it in my lap. I open it as instructed. "Wow, its so pretty aunty. I don't think I have seen such a royal pink." I marvel at the elaborate and intricate work on the delicate fabric. "It's so so beautiful."

"I have got it especially made for you. Just like my mother-in-law got one made for me when they came to see me. She gave me the saree and announced to the whole town that I was her daughter-in-law, even before the formal engagement ceremony. So, I was her bahu before I was Virat's dad's fiancé. Get that." she explains. Tears stir in my eyes at her words. Suddenly, I think of my mom and what a big deal she would have made if I were getting engaged. "There should be a pouch inside with the kada bangles she gave me. That's for you too. You get the bangles. Jeevika gets the choker because she is the badi bahu."

I laugh sweetly. "Thanks Mom." I smile. It was as if a switch flipped, an unmistakable relationship has been invoked. Mom. I suddenly feel so much love all the way from across the globe.

She smiles. "I am so happy you called me Mom. I am your mom too now. Always remember that. You are my bahu before you are my Virat's wife.

"Yes." I look up at Virat still standing out in the balcony. He was now looking at me, leaning back on the railing, as if worried. I shake my head assuring him they were happy tears.

"We are having a grand wedding and I wont hear anything else about it." she declared. "But, beta, for engagement, it is going to be just you both. You wear the saree and I already explained to Virat to get blessings from the temple. He said he found one but its far away. That doesn't matter. You are going there. He will put the ring on your finger in the temple, in front of god, and take blessings for  a long and happy marriage. Don't listen to him crib about driving so far. He is your responsibility now. He has to listen to you."