Sweet Tidings

Chapter 14

"A great marriage is not when the 'perfect couple' comes together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences." – Dave Meurer

"What counts in making a happy marriage is not so much how compatible you are but how you deal with incompatibility." – Leo Tolstoy

They slowly break away from each other but keep looking into the other's eyes. Pragya shies away her eyes but Abhi keeps a finger under her chin and lifts her face to look at him.

"Why do you love me and since when?"

"I love you because you are the most beautiful woman both inside and out. I love you because you are rich. Not in money but in kindness. I love you because you make me, sing better songs and inspire me to be a better person. I love you because you keep me grounded. And about from when I fell in love with you. I fell for the girl who didn't hesitate to point out my mistake in front of many of my fans. I feel for the girl who taught two boys to share an ice-cream. I fell for the woman who is ready to endure even hell for her loved ones. I fell for the woman who is ready to sacrifice her life for her sister's safety."

"You know about Bulbul and Purab! You won't do anything to them right. They have no fault at all in this. Bulbul has even broken up with Purab for Alia. Please don't be angry on Bulbul and Purab!"

She continues to rant about how they both are innocent and doesn't look at Abhi who is trying to get his words in and fails miserably. He taps on her button nose and she stops.

"Guess this still works. But I like the other method better. Now listen and don't interrupt. Samjhi." She nods.

"Yes, I came to know about them and you. And don't worry I won't hurt them. Although I beat Purab once." She opens her mouth to speak and points at her nose to unmute her but he doesn't pay heed to her.

"But, main abhi un dono ki shadi karana chatha hoon. And don't worry. I even found another boy for Alia and he accepts her, but I haven't told her. Before you ask, he is Arjun. Yeah, I know he doesn't want to settle after his sister, but I convinced him to take a chance once. Also like you might have noticed Alia is somehow changed around Arjun. So I believe she may love him in a corner of her heart but might have accepted Purab for my sake when I gave them the idea. So, meri help karogi, un dono jodiyon ko milane mein."

She nods and keeps her hand on his out stretched palm. "But what about Akash and Racho?" "Akash is already repenting what happened and I'm sure he will win her trust once again."

"Thank you. This is the best day of my life. I can't believe this is real."

First she pinches herself and it stings, she pinches Abhi's arm. When he shouts. "What are you doing Fuggy? This isn't the right way. Come I'll show you."

Saying so he comes close to kiss her, but she keeps her hand on his mouth to stop him. But he sensually kisses her palm, that makes her gasp and Abhi takes the chance and kisses her as if, he will die if he leaves her.

He breaks away when he feels her breathless but still keeps caressing her lips with his thumb and her neck with his fingers.

"You will not leave me right like others?"

"Why will I leave you? The moment you leave from my life, I'll die. I'll never leave you but tumhare bahut chances hai ki tum mujhse door chali jaogi. After all I irritate the hell out of you. And I'm not going to change that habit of mine."

"Shut up!"  "Kisne ne tumhe akele leave kiya? Give me all the pain you have endured. After all main hi tumhara medicine hoon."

"Papa ne. He left Ma for another rich woman. We were left with nothing and Ma had to struggle so much for raising us. Then all of those boys also rejected me saying I'm less beautiful than Bulbul or demanded Ma's hall as dowry. My best friend Suresh also loved Bulbul only."

"All of them were fools to leave a diamond like my Fuggy. But I thank them with all my heart. Because only when they all left, you came to me. I'm one lucky bastard to have you. Even though I don't deserve you, I'll never leave you as I'm selfish. But you don't leave me ever."

"If you don't deserve me, then who deserves. This Pragya only belongs to her Abhishek and you only belong to me. Plus I fell in love with the child inside of you. You make me feel energized and help me in boosting my confidence. We both are opposite but you complete me like a puzzle."

"So, my better half will you give me a chance to dance with you. And promise I won't drop you this time."

She happily gives her hand into his and they started dancing to "janam janam".

This time instead of pushing her around Abhi started helping her in moving in flow and even survived some stamps on his foot. He made her lose her inhibitions and both started swaying happily to the music. While still dancing he gives her a bouquet of red roses out of nowhere. She was surprised and smelled it. He took one rose from the bouquet and caressed her cheek with it.

She blushed and tried to move away from him but he caught her hand and back hugged her while she kept her head on his shoulder. He again gave her a gift this time gift wrapped. He makes her sit and he himself gets on his knee to her level.

She opens her gift to see her favorite novels, "The Langdon Brown" Series by Dan Brown. And all of them limited edition. Pragya happily hugs him but leaves him too quickly for his liking and was about to open the novel to start reading, when a hand held hers.

"Just because I gave you these books doesn't mean you will ignore me for these books. Now keep them aside, you can read them later."

She pouts but keeps them aside. Abhi pecks on her pout. "This pout won't work today."

"Okay two more gifts and done."
"OK."

"So, Pragya Abhishek Mehra, I married you under a misunderstanding. But that supposed mistake is now a blessing under the disguise. You have become the best part of my life and you have also seen me at my worst. So will you marry this duffer, dumb and sometimes irrational and irritating husband of yours again?"

"Nobody, insults my husband."

"Come on, I gave such a big speech and you only heard this?"

"Yes!" "As in Yes yes!" "Yes in all the ways." "Oh my God! Fuggy, I love you!"

He took her in his arms and twirls her around and finally keeps her on ground and kisses her passionately.

He takes out a small box from his pocket. "I never kept this ring on your finger with full faith and love, so this new ring which I give with all of my love."

He makes her wear the ring. While she is busy admiring the simple diamond platinum ring, which is what she likes, he takes out another box. "The next gift is a mangalsutra. The last one I didn't tie it with the best intentions, so will you allow me to tie this new one to you in front of that Ganapati idol." pointing to the direction where she didn't see the idol before.

He holds her hand and takes the seven pheras around the candles and ties the mangalsutra. He also fills her maang. "You may now kiss the bride."

She laughs hearing his comment and hugs him happily and pecks on his cheeks once.