My eyes fluttered open, feeling the warmth of a strong hold on my waist.
As I blinked away the remnants of sleep, my heart skipped a beat at the sight before me.
Vayu lay there, his head gently resting over my belly, his hands wrapped around my waist in a protective, loving embrace.
For a moment, everything felt surreal—the soft rise and fall of his breath, the peaceful look on his face.
I couldn’t help but smile, my heart swelling with love for this man, who in his own quiet way, was already becoming the father I knew he would be.
I was just admiring the view in front of my eyes when I started coughing badly.
I tried my best to stifle the coughs, not wanting to disturb Vayu’s peaceful sleep, but it was no use.
The coughs grew louder, and before I could even realize it, his eyes fluttered open. Without missing a beat, he gently lifted me to sit comfortably against the headrest.
"Sunflower, are you okay?" he asked, his voice laced with concern as he quickly stood up and switched on the kettle.
I nodded, trying to smile through the coughs, but he wasn’t convinced. He hurried back, handing me a glass of warm water.
"Careful, sip slowly," he whispered, sitting beside me, his hand gently rubbing my back.
I took small sips, feeling the warmth of the water soothe my throat. His hands continued rubbing my back to ease my condition.
I smiled softly, feeling the warmth of his care. "Good morning, Mr. Kashyap," I whispered playfully.
He chuckled, his eyes twinkling as he leaned in closer. "Good morning, Mrs. Kashyap," he replied, his voice tender yet filled with joy, as he gently kissed my forehead.
And suddenly, he leaned down to my belly, softly peppering kisses over it. His voice turned tender as he whispered, "Good morning, little one."
I felt a surge of warmth in my heart, watching him bond with our baby. My fingers gently ran through his hair as he continued talking to our baby, making the morning feel even more magical.
He pulled away, standing up as he fixed his hair, and looked at me with a mischievous smile. "Get ready, Sunflower!” he said casually.
My brows furrowed, confused. "For what?" I asked, still trying to process what he could be planning next.
His smile only deepened. "The surprise, sunflower! The main surprise is still not done," he teased, making my heart race with curiosity.
I tried to press him for more details, but he just winked and walked away, leaving me even more intrigued.
I sighed and went to take a shower, the warmth of the water helping me wake up fully. After finishing my routine, I stepped out, and my eyes immediately landed on a beautiful red saree lying on the bed.
Vayu wasn't in the room, but a small sticky note was attached to the saree, drawing my attention. I moved towards it, curious, and gently plucked it off.
The note read:
"Beautiful saree for Mrs. Kashyap! Get ready and come downstairs, everyone is waiting for you."
I smiled, my heart fluttering at the thoughtfulness behind his gesture.
I carefully draped the red saree, adjusting the pleats until they fell perfectly.
Sitting in front of the mirror, I started applying some makeup, the soft clicking sound of the bangles on my wrists filling the room.
It was a beautiful reminder that I was married now.
With delicate hands, I applied the vermilion in the parting of my hair, the red contrasting against my dark locks.
I took a final glance at my reflection, feeling both nervous and excited. A deep breath later, I stood up and walked out of the room, ready for whatever awaited me downstairs.
I was busy with my phone when I heard the soft, tingling sound of anklets. My head snapped toward the sound, and there she was—my Sunflower, Mrs. Kashyap!
Draped in a stunning red saree, the delicate nuptial chain resting against her slender neck, and the vibrant vermilion marking the parting of her hair. The pallu of her saree softly covering her head.
She looked like a dream, a sight that made my heart skip a beat.
The urge to kiss her right there welled up inside me, but with our family members all around, I controlled myself.
Navi rushed over, pulling Reya into a tight hug. "Oh my God, you're looking so pretty, bhabhi!" she exclaimed with excitement.
Mummy followed, gently casting off the evil eyes, blessing her with a smile that showed how much she adored Reya.
Just then her eyes locked onto mine, and she raised an eyebrow, silently questioning me about the surprise.
I just smiled, letting her curiosity build as everyone gathered for breakfast.
Once the breakfast was done, I made my way over to her, pulling her aside into a quiet corner.
My hand found its way to her waist as I leaned in, my voice low, "Ready for the surprise, Mrs. Kashyap?"
She let out a soft sigh, her impatience clear in her eyes as she leaned closer. "Kashyap, tell me what's it? I can't wait anymore!"
Smiling, I gently placed my hand on her belly, feeling the warmth beneath my fingers.
My eyes stayed on hers as I whispered, "Little one, ask your Mumma to have some patience. The surprise is worth the wait."
She rolled her eyes when we heard a throat clearing voice. Tanu's teasing made us chuckle as we exchanged a quick glance.
"The night wasn't enough?" she asked playfully, her voice full of mischief.
“Shut up, Tanu!” Reya glared at her, slightly pushing me away.
Shaking my head with a smile, I gently took Reya's hand, guiding her out of the cottage. "Let's go, Mrs. Kashyap," I whispered, excitement building for the surprise ahead.
Everyone settled into the car while Navi and Tarush accompanied me and Reya.
Reya turned to Navi and asked, “Navi, why's everyone all dressed up like they're going to attend some wedding?”
Navi chuckled, “Because we're going to attend a wedding bhabhi!”
Reya looked at me with her questioning eyes, but I just smiled, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. She sighed and leaned back into my chest.
Navi turned around with a grin. "You’ll know soon, bhabhi! Just enjoy the suspense!"
Reya rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. I wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her closer, and whispered, "Trust me, Sunflower. You’re going to love this."
She let out a playful huff, but I could see the excitement building in her eyes.
The car finally stopped and I carefully guided Reya out of it.
Reya’s eyes widened in awe as she realized where we were.
A beautiful, serene Gurudwara, nestled amidst the hills. The white marble structure gleamed in the soft morning light, and the peaceful sound of kirtan floated in the air, instantly filling the space with a sense of calm.
She looked up at me, her eyes filled with surprise and emotion.
“Kashyap... we’re here?” she whispered, her voice soft.
I nodded.
“Why?”
I smiled, taking her hands in mine. "To get married, again."
She blinked, clearly surprised, as I continued, "For our Anand Karaj.”
“The Rajasthani wedding was beautiful, and now it's time for a proper Punjabi wedding, Sunflower.”
Tears glistened in her eyes as she smiled, squeezing my hand. “I wasn't expecting this, Vayu!” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.
I leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “But the surprise won't end here, baby!”
Before Reya could ask anything more, Mummy called us, motioning for us to come inside.
As we stepped into the Gurudwara, the peaceful hum of the kirtan filled the air. Our families were already seated on opposite sides of the hall, waiting for us.
Mummy came forward, carrying a beautiful, red holy chunari embroidered with delicate golden thread. With a loving smile, she gently placed it over Reya’s head, covering her in the sacred cloth.
I held Reya's hand as we knelt before the holy Granth Sahib, ready to begin the sacred ceremony.
The priest began chanting the Ardaas, invoking blessings for our union. I could feel Reya's hand trembling slightly in mine.
“Just breathe, Sunflower,” I whispered to her, squeezing her hand gently.
As the priest started reciting the Lavan, the four hymns that are the essence of our marriage vows.
Each Lava was a promise, a commitment to love and support each other through life's challenges.
With each Lava, Reya and I stood up together, taking our steps around the Granth Sahib.
As we took rounds around the Granth Sahib, I could see tears glistening in her eyes.
I leaned in closer, whispering, “I’ll always be by your side, through everything.”
She nodded, biting her lip to hold back a smile, her vulnerability making my heart ache with love.
With the final and fourth round, we completed our rounds and sat down in front of the Granth Sahib.
The priest concluded the ceremony. Reya turned to me, her eyes shining with joy.
I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close as the kirtan played softly in the background. Sweets were distributed and once everything was done, everyone settled back into the cars.
“Vayu, I'm very tired!” Reya whispered, placing her head on my shoulder.
“It's going to be a long day, Sunflower!” I said gently caressing her cheeks.
The car drove through the hills of Mussoorie and I couldn't wait to see Reya's reaction for the upcoming surprises.
My eyes slowly opened and I blinked a few times, slowly realizing I was nestled in Vayush’s lap.
The gentle hum of the car and the warmth of his embrace had lulled me to sleep. I sat up, rubbing my eyes, and looked around—just the two of us in the car.
"Where is everyone?" I asked, still feeling a bit groggy.
"They went back to the cottage to pack everything. We’ll be heading home soon," he replied, his voice soft as he brushed a strand of hair away from my face.
I looked at him and smiled. Just then Navi knocked on the window, grinning widely. “You woke up bhabhi! Come on, jaldi bahar aao!” she called.
I carefully stepped out of the car, my eyes adjusting to the surroundings. We were standing in front of a beautiful, quiet church.
The air was crisp, and a sense of calm surrounded us. I turned to Vayu, confused.
"Why are we here, Vayu?" I asked, but before I could get any more words out, he swept me up into his arms, lifting me effortlessly.
"You're about to find out, Sunflower," he whispered, his eyes sparkling with mischief as he carried me towards the entrance.
The church was almost empty—only Navi and Tarush stood inside, watching us with knowing smiles.
The soft light filtering through the stained-glass windows painted the space with hues of blue and gold, creating a serene and magical atmosphere.
Vayu gently placed me down on the church floor, and before I could ask anything, Navi appeared beside me, handing me a bouquet of fresh white flowers.
I frowned, still trying to piece together what was happening.
Just then, a priest, holding the holy Bible, approached us. His kind eyes held a quiet wisdom, and with a subtle nod at Vayu, it was clear they had planned this moment.
I turned to Vayu, speechless. His expression was soft, filled with love, as he reached for my hand.
"The Christian wedding!" I exclaimed in surprise, my eyes widening as it all came together.
"I told you, Sunflower," he whispered, "our wedding isn't over yet."
Vayu stepped closer, a soft smile on his face. "You wanted to get married according to every religion," he whispered, his hand reaching for mine.
I felt my heart swell at the thought. He remembered. He always remembered.
I had once mentioned in passing how I loved the beauty of different traditions and dreamed of celebrating our love in all forms.
He gently pressed his forehead against mine. "And I want to give you everything you've ever wished for, Sunflower."
My eyes got filled with tears when the priest opened the Holy Bible and began to read the sacred verses.
His voice echoed softly in the nearly empty church, as Navi and Tarush stood quietly in the background, witnessing this intimate ceremony.
Vayu and I stood in front of the altar, holding hands.
The priest spoke about love, commitment, and the sanctity of marriage, blessing our union in the eyes of God.
He then asked us to exchange vows.
Vayu, his eyes fixed on mine, gently squeezed my hand before speaking.
"I, Vayush, take you, Reya, to be my wife. I promise to love you, honor you, and cherish you, in sickness and in health, for as long as we both shall live." His voice, full of emotion, trembled slightly as he spoke each word with sincerity.
When it was my turn, I swallowed hard, the gravity of the moment sinking in.
"I, Reya, take you, Vayush, to be my husband. I promise to stand by your side, to love you, support you, and honor you, for better or worse, in all the days of our lives."
The father then asked for the rings. Tarush stepped forward, offering us the rings, and we slid them onto each other's fingers, the simple yet profound symbol of our commitment.
The priest raised his hands, blessing us and declaring, "By the power vested in me by God, I now pronounce you husband and wife."
“You may kiss the bride now!” The priest announced, making me blush hard.
Vayu turned towards Navi and Tarush with a mischievous grin and said, "Tum log aankhein band kar rahe ho ya main kiss kar doon?"
Navi rolled her eyes, laughing, “Hume nahi dekhna tumhara PDA! Hum bahar wait karte hai!” Saying so both of them left.
Then, with a playful shrug, Vayu turned back to me, his eyes softening as he leaned in and gently kissed me, sealing the moment with tenderness and love.
As we pulled away, emotions flooded inside me, overwhelming and intense, as I wrapped my arms around him tightly.
Tears rolled down my cheeks, soaking into his shirt, but I didn’t care.
This wasn’t sadness, it was joy—pure, unfiltered joy that had been building up inside me through every surprise, every gesture.
Vayu’s arms circled around me, holding me just as tight, as if he knew exactly what I was feeling without saying a word.
His chin rested on my shoulder, and I could feel his steady breaths as he whispered, "You're not just my wife, you're my world, Sunflower!"
I pulled back slightly, just enough to look into his eyes, the tears still coming, but my heart so full of love. "I don’t know what I did to deserve you," I managed to say, my voice shaking.
"You loved me," he replied softly, wiping a tear from my cheek, "and that’s all I’ll ever need."
I leaned forward, placing my head over his chest as he gently caressed my hair.
We moved back into the car and Tarush started driving as we headed back to the cottage.
I was excited to meet our family but then Vayu informed me they had already left for Bangalore for our reception.
The car finally stopped in front of the cottage and as we stepped inside the cottage, the setting sun cast a soft golden glow through the windows, making the room feel warm and intimate.
Vayu led me to the center, where a simple setup had been arranged, with a small rug and a few cushions.
My curiosity raised as I looked at him with doe eyes.
“What's all this?” I asked him.
“Nikaah!”
“Don't tell me you've literally planned all this just because I wrote it in my bucket list?”
He shrugged his shoulders, “Fortunately yes!”
A man in his 60s entered, maybe an elderly maulvi, and with a knowing nod, he began chanting the sacred vows of the Nikah after we both got settled in front of each other.
Navi and Tarush stood in front of us, clearly enjoying the moment.
The air was filled with a different kind of serenity, something deeply spiritual and peaceful.
Vayu sat across from me, his eyes locked onto mine, filled with love and promise. The maulvi read the sacred vows in the Quran and finally he asked each of us the most crucial question:
"Qubool hai?"
My heart raced as Vayu was asked first. Without hesitation, he replied, "Qubool hai." The words echoed through the room, reverberating in my heart.
Then it was my turn. The maulvi repeated the question, and with my hand in Vayu’s, I softly but firmly replied, "Qubool hai."
He asked us two more times, and each time our answers were the same—Qubool hai—as we affirmed our commitment to each other.
After the vows were exchanged, he recited a prayer, blessing our union under the eyes of Allah.
Tears welled up in my eyes again as I realized how much effort Vayu had put into making sure we honored every tradition, every aspect of our love, no matter the faith.
The maulvi smiled gently and concluded the ceremony, saying, "Mubarak ho! Aaj se aap dono shohar aur begum hain."
Vayu turned to me, his eyes filled with love. He lifted my hand to his lips, kissing it softly as we both sat there, married in every sense now—Hindu, Sikh, Christian, and Muslim.
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.
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To be continued!
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