Shruti's POV
The home was decorated with flowers and lights. His mom rushed towards me. I bent to touch her feet but before I could do that, she hugged me.
Maurvi and Aunty made us enter the home in the whole traditional way.
I was pleasantly surprised to see that they all welcomed me with open arms and hearts.
When Siddharth came to hug her she pulled his ear for pulling the stunt and marrying without his parents.
Uncle came and hugged me too. When I tried touching his feet he shook his head and said, " Please don't do this beta... "
I was surprised but then he smiled at me and said, " Confused ?? Let me explain... First of all, I believe that it is better if your kids love and respect you for what you are not just because you are their parents. Respect should not be shown just publically. Respect should be there in our hearts, eyes and manners. So there is no need to touch my feet. " I just smiled and nodded.
" What are the other reasons, dad? " I asked.
" There are a few more like I don't want to treat you as daughters-in-law, you are as much a part of this family as any of us are. I always wanted to have daughters and got boys only, so now, I have two beautiful daughters and in our traditions, girls don't touch the feet of their parents. " I was on the verge of crying to hear him say that.
" And the most important reason is that it doesn't match my personality and as it is I am not that old or old fashioned. I am very young at heart. So please spare me... But you can touch the feet of your mom, she is getting older. The typical Lalita Pawar type saas... " He said the last line in a very low voice and winked at me. I tried my level best not to laugh.
" Enough !! I heard you... Nice joke!! Now face the music Mr Young Jindal. Sleep in the guest room. "
" No!! Sudha please, yaar !! I was just trying to make an impression on my new daughter. Don't spoil my image!!"
" Why do you want to live with an ageing woman?? Lalita Pawar?? After all, you are younger than Sid, isn't it? This old woman may disturb you as she might cough all night. "
" Jaan... It was a joke... Why are you behaving like this?? Oh no !! Are you getting mood swings?? Shit !! " He said looking alarmed.
What happened?? She was having mood swings ?
But why ??
Oh, ok... maybe because of menopause...
" Shut up !! There is nothing like that. Don't say another word or you will sleep in the garden. " Mom was threatening him. Siddharth, Bhaiya and Maurvi were trying not to laugh.
" Sorry Jaan, I was just trying to make her smile. You are looking very young and beautiful even younger than Maurvi and Shruti. Isn't it girls?? "
" Yes, dad " Maurvi said.
" Yes, uncle..." I said.
" Who is uncle?? I am dad. " He said and I nodded.
" Mom looks very young. In fact that day one of my father's friends said that he thought that mom was actually, Gautam's sister. He was very impressed when I told him the truth. He wanted to meet mom and ask her the secret of her beauty. " Maurvi said.
" What?? No !!! Tell him to keep off, she is mine. Or I will break his teeth. " He looked angry and overprotective just like his sons.
We all were smiling by now.
" Don't you dare tease me again... I still have many admirers... " Mom said.
" No way... You are mine. Sorry, darling. You know how I am. But you are still mine. " He placed his arm around mom in quite a possessive way and she shook her head and then smiled. I loved to see them like this.
After some time Maurvi's parents also joined us and gave their blessings.
We all sat down in the living room and uncle asked Sid to explain everything. He told them each and everything. I also briefed them about my dad's health.
All the men and Maurvi were still planning to make everything perfect. I just wanted to hear every idea.
Everyone had their own views that how to break the news to my father.
" I should go home as usual and try to show all the proofs to my father to make him realise that Nihal is trying to manipulate him. " I said. But Sid refused to let me go alone.
"' No !! I can't let you go alone. We are married... So we are in it together. I have seen how that Nihal behaves, I swear, I will kill him this time even if he tries to just touch you. I will not listen to your silent plea. " He said.
" Siddharth, Please try and understand... "
" No !! I don't trust him, his friend or even your father as he is absolutely biased. You are not going alone. " He insisted.
" Please at least listen to me... My dad will not even let me enter the home, if I go with you and tell them immediately that we are already married. He would shut the door on our faces. How will I explain everything to him? " I tried to persuade him.
" We will see... I have already seen him hitting you twice. I will go wild if he even goes anywhere near you. If he was forcing you to marry his friend, he might try to force you again and will hit you. My decision is final, I didn't marry you to leave you alone to solve every issue on your own. "
" But... "
" I think he is right, even I think that Sid should go with you. I will also be there. " Bhaiya said.
" Absolutely !! You are my daughter and I can't let you go alone and face that pathetic cousin of yours. In fact, Gautam will also go. " Dad said.
" Why don't Mr Jindal and I go and talk to her dad first and try to make them understand everything and persuade him to accept their marriage? " Maurvi's dad suggested.
" Yeah, we can do that... " dad said.
" Dad, uncle... I am so touched that you all are there to solve my issues. I am the luckiest girl in the world. But, he is my father... He loves me a lot. It's just that he is still bound in those old traditions and beliefs. As a daughter, I must go and tell him myself that I got married and denied him, his right of doing my Kanyadaan. I should go and tell him why I did that. "
" We can understand beta, but still think from Sid's point of view. He is your life partner now, how can he think of letting you go all by yourself. I would have slapped him, if he had allowed you to go alone. Beta, I don't want to impose our decisions on you, but it is a question of your safety and as your dad and head of this family, I insist that you go with Sid and Gautam. Mr Gupta and I will follow you. " Dad said and everyone nodded including me.
I was so overwhelmed today... My father saw that Nihal hit me still he didn't say anything to him. Here this whole family is going there to fight for me.
I hugged him all of a sudden and said, " Thank you so much, uncle. "
" WHAT?? Uncle??? No!!! Call be Dad!! " He said glaring at me. I smiled and touched my ears. He hugged me.
They made a plan to convince my father. It seemed to be a good idea. I was somewhat relaxed after that.
Once all the discussions were over, we all had a grand dinner planned by mom. It was awesome... I didn't realise it, but I was really hungry.
Mom said that we will have a grand reception to announce our wedding once we tell my parents. They had already started planning it.
Mom and I talked for some time and I liked her. She did her best to make me feel at home.
After some time she told Maurvi to take me to our room. Maurvi took me to Siddharth's room, I mean our room from now.
It was so tastefully decorated. Maurvi teased me and wished me luck to get some sleep at least tonight and went to her room.