Cherished Moments

Cherished Moments

The priest chanted the mantras as the bride and groom took the pheras around the holy fire. Men sat wearing the pink safas for the ceremony while the ladies in their traditional bridal attires witnessed the union from behind their veils. During the wedding, all eyes should have been on the bride and groom, but that was not the case; for everyone was far more interested the in the young couple who sat taking care of a baby girl. 

The couple Kunwar Pratap Singh Sisodia and Ajabde Punwar the exes whose engagement had ended abruptly and according to the latest gossips were involved with other people. To see them with a baby, all smiles and together generated far more attention than the marriage in itself.

Both Pratap and Ajabde had returned to the palace with shopping bags and a baby in their arms. Dheerbai had tried to instigate the others about Ajabde’s actions, but she had silenced her in one go,

“She’s mine” her voice was calm yet authoritative. Her glare had scared everyone even Pratap who in all the years of knowing Ajabde had never seen this side of hers.

SajjaBai glanced at the duo and then looked at her elder sister; this was the dream – Pratap and Ajabde married with a child, their small and happy family. Fate worked in strange ways, no longer engaged to each other but still, they were doing their best to be perfect parents to the child they had rescued. She jumped when she felt Jaiwanta Baiji’s hand on her,

“Behena” Jaiwanta Baiji whispered, “where are you looking? The last phera is taking place.” Sajjabai nodded her head and focused her attention on the couple taking the final round inside the mandap.

The baby made a noise making Ajabde rock her gently. She had chosen to sit farther from the mandap as the baby cried being near the fire. The ceremony was beautiful, the couple looked regal, and she smiled watching her siblings throw petals at them during the pheras. She kissed the baby’s forehead for her arrival into their home had given Ajabde some of the most cherished moments of her life. Everyone had helped out with taking care of the young one especially her siblings. Patta, Heer, Jagmal, Maan and Chand were excited to take care of the baby while she had to freshen up and get dressed. As she patted the baby’s back she smiled looking at the henna on her hands, Jiwa had applied henna on her hands, when the ladies had frowned seeing Ajabde’s bare hands.

“Jija” Jiwa’s voice was soft, “Maajisa told me that I’m her daughter that makes you my elder sister. May I apply mehendi on your hands?” Ajabde had nodded her head knowing fully well that if she spoke up, then there would be tears. Jiwa was a kind-hearted, responsible, caring individual. She was perfect for her impulsive, impatient, sometimes careless brother Patta. Her siblings had been blessed with good partners, both Shakti and Jiwa were the sensible ones for sure.

Jiwa moved back on seeing  Pratap walk the baby around to calm her down. Patta frowned seeing her move away from the mandap; they fought when instead of helping them with their plans, she was busy applying mehendi on his Jija’s hands. Dheerbai had created a ruckus as well, but her words had hit him hard,

Jiwa looked straight into the woman's eyes, “I will not apologise because I did nothing wrong.” Her words were clear, voice confident and she made sure to emphasise each word, “I was with my family. Ajabde Punwar is my husband’s elder sister that makes her my Jija too, and I do not apologise for spending time with family.”

Dheerbai made a face as she saw Pratap, Jiwa and Shakti all at the back taking care of the stray Ajabde had brought back to the palace. She was irritated that none of the elders had scolded Ajabde, but that was to be expected, the girl was the Managing Head of the Punwar business group but not for long.

She smirked seeing Ajabde join them, “enjoy these moments Ajabde for these are the only ones you’ll get with them.”

She looked back towards the mandap as the priest declared the wedding ceremony to be complete. Hansabai Punwar had married her husband, Rao Ramrakh Punwar in the end after all.