Amor Fati - Our Love, Our Fates [COMPLETE]

Part 47 - Bliss

Flashback continues

Nikhil

Nikhil knocked on the door to her Grandfather's room and waited. It was a Saturday afternoon, just a month away from the engagement; Nikhil wondered if it was about work.

He heard his Ajja call him in and he entered, shutting the door behind them.

The sight in front of him filled him with amazement. His Ajja was seated on his bed, and in front of him lay few sets of jewellery. Nikhil knew zilch about gems and jewellery, but as he walked towards the bed, he realised that these sets were exquisitely crafted and seemed pretty expensive.

"All these ..." his Grandfather indicated with his hands, as he beamed with happiness "... are for Rohini. Your Ajji's jewellery. How I wish she was here now!"

"Me too" Nikhil added as he sat down beside his Grandfather. " But Ajja. Rohini does not need all these ..."

Sadashiv Shastri cut off his grandson's words - "This is between me and Rohini. Of course, for the engagement, I am going to invite so many people. I am so happy ..."

"Ajja, I wanted to talk to you about this as well" Nikhil interjected. "We don't want anything big or gaudy - neither I, nor Rohini. We only want our near and dear ones there. Rohini wants it to be a quiet affair, and I have promised her that it will"

His Ajja simply nodded his head

"Yeah, so you have already started dancing to your would-be wife's tunes?"

His laughter boomed through the corridor 

"Don't worry, we will all try and keep it simple. You are the last one in the family to be getting married for now ... I won't be there to see the next generation grow up and get married.

Now tell me, which of these three sets would suit Rohini the most?"

"I have no idea ..." Nikhil mumbled, a bit morose now. "They are too keeping everything a secret from me ..."

A slight knock on the door and Nisha entered

"Oh Ajja, you really did go to the vault? Good, I think all these sets are exquisite, but this one ..." she picked up a beautiful emerald encrusted gold set

"... Rohini will look absolutely beautiful in this. What do you say Nikhil?"

Nikhil simply nodded, raising his hands in defence.

Nisha laughed - "At least find out the colour of her saree. it will be easier to colour coordinate then ..."

Nikhil walked out of his Ajja's room a little later, after Nisha promised that she would look into all arrangements.

...

Nikhil met Abheek downstairs in the hall. Abheek clapped his brother's back jovially while entreating him to try and complete most of the project work before the marriage took place.

"You guys would need some time off for your honeymoon too... Let me know where you guys want to go. Let that be my gift to you both" Abheek offered generously.

Madhukar Nayak had met Sadashiv Shastri a few days before and the two families had set the wedding date just a month after the engagement.

"I will" Nikhil promised his brother. He soon left. The idea of honeymoon now stuck on his mind, like a bloom.

...

Rohini

Rohini had been working relentlessly for the past few days, as the day of the engagement neared. She groaned as her eyes flew over the dimensions scaled down on the sheet of paper on her drawing board.