The Pursuit Of Love

27

"Varahi, you have to make halwa" The priest said as the couple touched his feets. The sweet dish was supposed to be cooked by the daughter-in-law.

Varahi nodded , walking to her in-laws , greeting them and wishing them a happy new year.

"Everyone would be here within an hour , till then let's prepare everything" Ragini said as she patted Varahi's head , accepting her greetings.

"Halwa and?"

"No , you make halwa rest we will see” Ragini replied as both of them moved to the kitchen.

"Chachi kaha par hai mummy?" Varahi asked , preparing for halwa .

"I will call her , you start" Ragini replied and Varahi nodded as she gathered all the required things on the slab.

"Varahi" A voice reached her ears making Varahi flinch as she turned around to look at her husband standing quite close to her.

"Dara Diya apne" Varahi whispered, looking at her palm which was resting above her chest.

Without replying, Avyaan moved toward her, making her eyes widen as she stepped back so as to maintain proper distance between them.

"Avyaan aap-" Varahi halted in between as Avyaan touched her earrings and then looked at her , "I hope now I am not - the busy husband who doesn't get you this stuff" He whispered looking straight in her eyes.

They were standing quite close , Avyaan bending a little so as to reach for his not so tall wife’s face.

"Right?" Avyaan asked and Varahi nodded.

"Sundar lag rahi ho" Avyaan whispered  , tracing her jumka with his finger tip.Varahi's heart skipped a beat as she looked at him close.
She let out a sigh as he leaned even closer. Varahi stepped aside as she heard the foot steps.

"Avi?," Shalini called him , quite surprised to find the male in the kitchen , while Varahi sighed, not regretting stepping aside a bit.

"Chachi, I came to take two cans for Dhruv and I," Avyaan explain  , turning to take two cans of soft drink from the refrigerator. The ladies nodded.

"Bhai" Dhruv called for Avyaan , as he moved out of the kitchen.

"So? What was going on?" Shalini asked , folding her arms above her chest as she looked at Varahi wriggling her brows.

"Where is ghee?" Varahi asked , turning around to find it in the shelfs when she kept the box on a slab a few moments ago.

"Here" Ragini said , smiling as she pointed towards the slab, making Varahi feel so embarrassed.

"Oh"

"So kiss viss? Or we came early" Shalini asked again as she walked toward Varahi , bumping her shoulders softly as she asked her.

"Chachi," Varahi said , looking at her in disbelief, feeling so embarrassed.

"Arey batao toh sahi beta ji''

"It's not like what you think" Varahi replied.

"Toh kuch bhi nahi?" Shalini asked , her brows coming together as she asked her.

"Chachi" Varahi called her out , feeling embarrassed as the ladies softly laughed.

~

As all the relatives and family members gathered for Puja on the occasion of new year and also for Avyaan's grandfather puja , everyone sat around as the priest started applying tilak.

"Avyaan , bahu ko tika lagao" The priest asked after applying tilak on Avyaan's forehead , nodding Avyaan dipped the tip of his ring finger in the red liquified-powder and pressed his finger on her forehead above her red bindi.