Six months after
Everyone had gathered in the living room.
"Manav, you have called me. Is something wrong?" Worry lines formed on his face.
"Please have a seat uncle." Manav gestured to him to sit next to himself.
Manav gets up from his place and drags Simmi with him, despite her protests. When he reaches near Sanjay he takes Simmi's hand and keeps on Sanjay's hand.
"Uncle, will you marry my mother?".
Simmi slaps hard on Manav's face and raging with anger she shouts. "Have you gone insane?. Did you forget that I'm the widow of your father? How can I get married?" Simmi was furious. Her eyes were red with anger.
"Mom, I haven't forgotten anything. I know that you were forced to marry. It was a namesake marriage. You always loved Sanjay uncle." Manav came near her and folded his hands in front of her.
Simmi was stunned hearing all this from her son's mouth.
"How do you know"?
Manav embarrassingly said," I had overheard your conversation".
"Bua please agree with us or I will be forced to give rise to your brother" Abhi smirked.
"Why, you all are after my life.? It is your age to get married and not mine." Simmi let her hand hang loosely on her side.
"Mom, please, think about Sanjay uncle, he didn't get married as he still loves you. He has wasted his youth but at least you can enhance his life now." Manav pestered Simmi.
"Simmi, I had waited for you for so long. I'm ready to marry you even if you are a widow. I don't believe in all this, I had loved you from my heart. Please agree with what these young men are saying." Sanjay who was sitting silently got up and came near her.
Simmi was in deep thoughts. After a long time, Simmi spoke," I am ready to do whatever you all are saying but I just want a simple court marriage." Simmi shrugged helplessly.
"If Nani (Rajini)would have been alive, she would have been so happy." Manav was missing his grandmother who died some time back.
"She will bless your mother from wherever she is. Abhi, I wanted to tell you all that, the day after tomorrow Sanket and his wife are coming to meet you and finalize everything". Sanjay told them.
Pankhuri who was sitting behind hid her face in her palms on hearing what Sanjay said.
" I think that would be great if in the presence of Sanket uncle only, we arrange mom and Sanjay uncle's marriage. What do you all say? Manav suggested.
"I think I agree with Manav."
Abhi nodded his head in agreement.
This morning lots of hustle and bustle was going on in the Kapoor mansion as Sanket and his family were supposed to come for lunch.
In one room, a man was seen pacing around.
"Abhi, will you stop pacing around, you are making me dizzy." Manav was sitting at the edge of the bed.
"I'm very anxious. I don't know what will happen." Abhi said while sitting next to him.
"Come with me," Manav said, dragging him.
"Why have you brought me to the temple?". They stood in front of their temple.
" Abhi, do you remember whenever we used to have our exams, you used to be nervous as hell. At that time mom used to bring us to this temple which used to calm our nerves. Now sit down for some time." Leaving him there, he walks off.
At noon the doorbell rings
and the whole of the Kapoor mansion fills up with movement. The butler John opens the door and invites everyone inside. Sanket was so excited to be back to the place which once was like a second home to him.
"Hi, Simmi, how are you? He side hugged her.
" Hi, Sanket, I'm good. Long time no see." Simmi hugged him with equal fervour.
"Yeah, it has been a long time since I met my childhood friend."
Simmi hugged Prajita, "how are you dear?"
"I'm fine. Sorry to hear about everything that has happened in the past months." Prajita caressed her back.
She just nodded."Let's sit and talk.".
By then both the young men came into the room and took blessings from the elders.
"So, young men, you are willing to marry my daughter. Other than being the CEO of one of the biggest enterprises, what other qualifications do you have? Give me one good reason that I would marry my daughter to you." Sanket was trying to suppress the smile that was making its way.
The abruptly asked questions startled everyone, they were speechless.No one can question him as he was the father of the girl and it was his right.
"Uncle, apart from being the CEO, I'm a singer and composer. I love Pankhuri very much and can give my life for her." Abhi answered in a serious tone.
"Band Baja wale (in India sometimes sarcastically a musician is referred to as). Bhaiya, winking at Sanjay," how can I marry my only daughter to such a person." Dramatically facepalms himself.
Abhi and Pankhuri were shocked on hearing this. Their faces were drained of colour. Tears started brimming on their faces. Sanket starts laughing hysterically, "Simmi, bhai, look at their faces. As if I have announced their death sentence. Young people, I am ready for your marriage, the moment I came to know that you are Raj bhaiya, son. He was as dear to me as Sanjay bhai."
This relaxed all of them.
"Bhai I think we can get them engaged tomorrow itself. The marriage will be held on 16th February. If everyone agrees with me, is it ok?" Sanket announced. His voice was laced with excitement and happiness.
" I'm ready. If only I can find a girl for Manav I would marry both the boys on the same day." Simmi was happy for Abhi but she also wants her only son to be settled.
After finalising everything, everyone proceeds for the lunch and they disperse for the day.
The next day in the evening both the mansions were decorated very beautifully with lights and flowers. Everyone's face reflected happiness and excitement.
In one room one person was striding here and there. The door of the room opened and someone entered, "are you nervous?"
"Yes, a little bit. I have never worn traditional clothes that is why I'm feeling odd." he spokes
"You are looking handsome in these clothes and you should be happy that you are marrying the love of your life. Look at me, I'm still waiting. Chill and be happy." His voice was sadistic.
"Don't be pessimistic, you will get your love". He tried to sound positive.
" Come on, now let's make a move, everyone is waiting for you."
They proceeded toward the Khanna mansion. Abhi was desperate to see his sweetheart all dressed up for him.
All eyes turned toward the stairs as Pankhuri was descending, she was looking like an epitome of beauty in her orange lehenga and decked up with beautiful traditional jewellery. Abhi's heart skips a beat on seeing his angel, his breath hitches and he forgets to breathe.
"Bro, breathe or else we will need a doctor". Manav whispers. But his breath sticks in his throat as soon as he sees who is next to Pankhuri.
" Bro, breathe."Abhi chuckles upon seeing his brother's condition.
The girl dressed in pale green lehenga was looking no less than an angel. Manav didn't know how to react.
Pankhuri stands adjacent to Abhi."You are looking like an angel, my angel".Pankhuri's face which was already red turned into a deep crimson. Simmi came forward, as well as Aprijita. Both the lovers exchanged the rings and then took the blessings from their elders.
Thereupon Sanjay called Manav."yes uncle."
"Manav, you can call me dad, now that I'm marrying your mom".
"Unc oh sorry dad, you had called me." Manav scratches the back of his head.
"I want you to meet someone."They went towards a couple.
" Ajay, meet my son Manav. Manav this is Ajay and his wife Rati. They are my best friends and I want you to get married to their only daughter." He chuckles.
"You don't need to answer instantly. Meet my daughter first and then you can reply." Ajay takes him out of the awkward situation.
He dabs the girl standing next to him. The moment the girl snaps her head, everything seems to be still around him. Manav couldn't believe that the girl he wanted to spend his life with was in front of him and above all his family wanted him to marry her. The moment he had seen her on the staircase with Pankhuri, he thought of introducing her to his family but things turned out to be in his favour. Sanjay's voice breaks his trance, "if you don't like her we can find another girl."
"No, no she is fine." Manav hurriedly replies and everyone starts laughing.
"Dad, mom knows. "
"Yes, Manav I know".He turns to find Simmi behind him. He hugs his mother. Deepti was standing silently, a blush crept on her face on seeing all the things that were happening. Sanjay and Ajay walk on stage, taking the mic , he makes an announcement.
"Good evening everyone, first of all, I want to thank each one of you for attending my niece's engagement and giving the pair your blessings. There is one more good news which I want to share with you all. My son Manav is getting engaged with Mr Ajay Sachdeva's daughter Deepti. Please both of you come to the stage for the rituals.
"You both need to answer my questions, once all this is over" Manav whispered.
After the rituals were over Ajay took the mic, "good evening everyone, as you all know that my daughter got engaged to Manav son of late Mr Naman Khurrana. I would like to thank everyone for their presence and blessing the couple." The celebration ended on a happy note.